In the morning, Zhao Qinglan was still half asleep when she heard a noise outside, so she quickly sat up.
"Qinglan, you're awake?" Li Huai asked from the other end of the line.
"Hmm, you were awake a while ago?" She was somewhat surprised to hear Li Huai's voice.
"No, I was a little earlier than you."
"What's going on outside?" Zhao Qinglan asked in confusion as she began to put on her clothes and shoes.
"It looks like it's Mom and the others." Thinking that he didn't know what his mother-in-law was doing outside, he felt embarrassed to go out alone.
"I'm going out to take a look." With that, she got dressed and opened the door.
As soon as she went outside, Zhao Qinglan saw her mother and sisters busy at work.
"Qinglan, you're up," Madam Sun said with a smile.
"Mom, what are you doing?"
"Didn't you say yesterday that you were out of steamed buns? We'll steam some more for you."
I don't know how much money I've spent since my daughter went back home and brought them here.
Although Sun didn't mention it, she kept it in mind. She didn't have much ability to help her daughter now, so she could only do what she could.
Having guessed at her mother's thoughts, Zhao Qinglan didn't say anything, but simply joined in.
A short while later, Li Huai came out dressed.
Seeing this son-in-law who pleased her greatly, Mrs. Sun was very enthusiastic.
Li Huai wasn't a talkative person, and soon he felt he couldn't keep up. He hurriedly said he had to go to the military camp, which ended the conversation.
Before leaving, he reminded Zhao Qinglan to call his office if anything happened.
After he left, Madam Sun asked about it.
"Qinglan, isn't your son-in-law eating anything?"
"Mom, don't worry about him. There's a canteen in the army. He can get a ready-made meal there."
"Ah, being a soldier is really great."
Hearing her mother's感慨 (sentiments/reflections), Zhao Qinglan smiled but remained silent.
Serving in the military means being provided with food, lodging, and a stipend, but it's not an easy job; the responsibilities are equally heavy.
Li Huai is of a high rank. If it were an ordinary soldier of a lower rank, his family wouldn't even be eligible to accompany him, let alone have separate accommodations.
When Xiaoduo and the others got up, they were able to eat a hot breakfast.
After finishing breakfast, Zhao Qinglan glanced at the clock at home and quickly called her mother and sister to get ready.
If they hurry, they can still catch the bus that takes the military to send children to school in the city.
"Are you all coming to the city with me, or staying at home?" Zhao Qinglan asked the children for their opinions.
"Mom, I want to go with you." Xiao Duo immediately raised her hand.
Erwa looked at his older brother. He had been to the city once before and thought it was just so-so. Besides, it was quite cold outside.
Anyway, now that his stepmother is back, he can still eat the meals she cooks.
"What are you going to the city for?" the eldest child asked instead of answering.
Zhao Qinglan didn't try to brush off the child and explained seriously, "Grandma and my aunts rented a house, and it's not ready yet, so I went to help them tidy it up."
"Then you guys go ahead, I'm not going." Cleaning the house is no fun at all.
The second child immediately echoed his brother's sentiment, "I'm not going either."
Seeing that neither the eldest nor the second child would go, Xiaoduo also became hesitant.
Seeing her daughter's expression, Zhao Qinglan smiled. "If Xiaoduo doesn't want to go, she can stay home with her brothers. Mom will be busy with chores and won't be able to look after you."
"Okay, then I won't go either."
Seeing her daughter and granddaughter discussing things together, Mrs. Sun found it quite unusual.
In their village, which adult would consult a child's opinion before making a decision?
Zhao Qingzhu and Zhao Qingju, on the other hand, thought this was really good.
The mother and her three daughters packed some food from home. Zhao Qinglan went next door to inform Wu Mei and asked her to look after the children for her. Then she quickly left with her mother and sister.
When they arrived, the military trucks that were supposed to take people into the city were almost ready to start moving.
Seeing that Zhao Qinglan had brought several unfamiliar faces, some of the military wives who had come to the city with her asked her questions out of curiosity.
Upon learning that she was Zhao Qinglan's mother and younger sister, everyone was quite welcoming.
After hitchhiking into the city, Zhao Qinglan and her group didn't rush to their rented house first. Instead, they went to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy the daily necessities they needed.
She brought all the tickets with her when she left home, because she had just gone on a shopping spree and didn't have enough. She even borrowed some from Wu Mei when she went to find her.
They bought quite a few things here and there, and it was only because there were so many of them that they were able to carry them all.
After buying the things and taking my mother and the others to their rented house, it was almost time for the military truck driver to go back.
After thinking it over, Zhao Qinglan was still worried about leaving her mother and sister behind, so she went over to tell the waiting soldiers that she would wait for the afternoon bus to take the children back.
After saying that, she went to find a phone and called Li Huai.
"I won't be going back for lunch. You'll have to take care of the children's meals. We have steamed buns, so please bring some vegetables back from the cafeteria."
Li Huai guessed that Zhao Qinglan probably still wanted to help her mother and sister, so he didn't ask any further questions and simply agreed.
However, before hanging up, he still asked one more question.
"You'll be back tonight, right?"
"Yes, I'll take the bus that picks up the kids this afternoon." The rented place should be almost ready today, and my mother and sister can move in.
"That's good, I understand."
After hanging up the phone, Li Huai felt a surge of excitement.
He should get what he wants tonight, right?
However, he didn't know if his mother-in-law and two younger sisters-in-law would come back to stay. The thought that they might come back made him feel depressed again.
Sigh, she's clearly his wife, but he can only look at her but not touch her. Who can understand his suffering as a man!
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