Chapter 63 Chapter 63 (12 more) During a mission...
Dagu Village.
"Mom and Dad, Qinghe has replied!"
When he got home in the evening, Zhou Feng excitedly raised the letter sent back from Hua City in his hand.
Xue Lanhua wiped her wet hands on her waistband and rushed out to grab the envelope. "Oh, how come it's so fast this time? I thought I'd have to wait another half month."
"They say the road is being repaired outside, so the postman came quickly." Zhang Meizhi followed closely. "Where's Big Brother? Let Big Brother see what's written on it."
As she spoke, Zhang Meizhi's eyes kept turning to the other package Zhou Feng was holding. "My little sister is so filial. Is this something she's sending to our family again?"
"That's also for our parents." Zhou Feng glanced over.
"Giving it to my parents is not the same as giving it to our family..." Zhang Meizhi muttered softly.
Lu Qingshan just arrived home and started reading the letter.
The letter reported his safety as usual, as well as the current conditions of the children, and included some dried fruits and half a pound of dried meat that were not available in the countryside.
He read until the end, but he still didn't mention what Xue Lanhua cared about most.
Xue Lanhua: "Why haven't you mentioned the pregnancy yet? Qingshan, take another look. Did you miss something? I specifically asked you to write to me last time."
Zhou Feng also frowned, "Yeah, I even sent the recipe..."
"What recipe?" Zhang Meizhi asked curiously.
"You don't understand." Zhou Feng didn't tell the truth.
Zhang Meizhi is quick-witted, so her family tries not to tell her about such private matters.
Zhang Meizhi herself wondered, "Is this a recipe for pregnancy? Something to regulate the body? I don't understand."
Lu Qingshan read the letter again: "Mom, there is indeed no mention of it. Maybe she is not pregnant yet."
Xue Lanhua was very anxious: "It's almost been a year since we got married, why is there still no news? Although they both have children, it's best for this young couple to have a child of their own to feel safe and secure."
Lu Qingshan: "Mom, I see that my little sister is in a good mood every time she writes to me. From what she describes, she seems to be living a good life. Maybe it's just that her destiny hasn't arrived yet. Don't worry."
"What do you know? Even if life is good, it still has its ups and downs. Captain Zhao is a good person, but..."
"Okay, Mom, don't blame me for speaking harshly. Even if you are anxious about this matter, you can't help my little sister here." Lu Qingshan said.
Lu Fengshou cleared his throat and added, "I see that Qinghe is becoming more resourceful every day. He's smarter than you are. You can tell from the letters he's sent. I'm afraid he's been studying over there. You don't need to worry about him anymore."
"That's what I said, but what mother wouldn't worry about her child?"
Xue Lanhua sighed, thinking that she would write to urge him next time, and then she went back into the kitchen.
"Which parent doesn't worry about their children?"
In the Zhaojiagou Village Brigade, Sun Juhua also covered her mouth with her hands, laughing and sighing, "I'm just worried about my son Zhan Ming, so I come to ask about him every now and then. It's not like you said that I'm anxious to ask the child for money."
Old Master Zhao was sitting in the brigade yard enjoying the cool air, fan swaying in his hand, smiling without saying a word.
The staff members nearby looked at each other, raised their eyebrows and smiled mockingly.
Zhao Xiaoliu rummaged through the box. "Aunt Sun, my brother Zhan Ming and sister-in-law really didn't send any letters this time. How about... if I get your letter in a couple of days, I'll send it directly to your home so you don't have to run back every few days?"
Sun Juhua looked inside the box again and again. "Really? No, I sent him a letter last month. It should have arrived by now."
"Really? Why don't you come in and look for it yourself?"
“…Then forget it.”
Sun Juhua lowered her head awkwardly, and when she walked out, she saw a familiar figure coming towards her.
Fan Meiyu was wearing a fashionable Dacron shirt and plaid pants. Her hair was simply tied up at the back with a silver hairpin that looked expensive.
When their eyes met, Fan Meiyu awkwardly took a half step to the side to make room.
Sun Juhua rolled her eyes but didn't walk away. She looked at her former daughter-in-law and said, "I was wondering who this well-dressed person is. It turns out to be you. You left the children behind and took a lot of my Zhan Ming's savings. You're living well now. Maybe you've hooked up with a rich old man in the county town."
Fan Meiyu is a pretty girl and lives in the east of Zhaojiagou.
When they proposed marriage, firstly, Zhao Zhanming thought that Sun Juhua would have a say because she had studied for many years, and secondly, Sun Juhua was attracted by the fact that her family was large and she had an older brother who was a government employee in the county, so she had good conditions.
However, no one expected that the marriage would end abruptly after only three years when Fan Meiyu filed for divorce.
Even now, the Zhao family still hasn't figured out why Fan Meiyu divorced.
Fan Meiyu is the youngest in the family and has a good background, so she is a little spoiled. Although she is unwilling to follow Zhao Zhanming to suffer in the army, Zhao Zhanming has never lacked her money.
Sun Juhua had made things difficult for Fan Meiyu, but she couldn't handle the seven people in Fan Meiyu's family, including six brothers. After making things difficult for her twice, her brother from her mother's side came directly to her house. In the next two years, life was not that difficult.
No matter what, Fan Meiyu's life is much better than other women in the village.
Sun Juhua had also guessed that Fan Meiyu had taken advantage of Zhao Zhanming's absence to have an affair with someone else outside, thus cheating on Zhao Zhanming.
But the family carefully checked and found that Fan Meiyu almost never went out except to her parents' home.
Maybe, it's just that I'm not satisfied.
There was no other reason, the Zhao family could only think so in the end.
But only Fan Meiyu knew that her life was not as good as others thought.
It is now 1966. Within three years, an armed incident will occur with the Russians on Pearl Island on the northern border. This incident will be quite serious, and the military district where Zhao Zhanming is located will also second personnel to participate in the armed defense mission.
Of course, Zhao Zhanming was also involved.
It was also during this incident that Zhao Zhanming died in a mission.
When Fan Meiyu learned the news in her previous life, Zhao Zhanming had already passed away for half a month. At that time, the province had not yet changed its capital city, and the entire suburbs of Hua City were in chaos and in danger at all times.
In this situation, the Zhao family, as Zhao Zhanming's adoptive parents, did not want to risk going to Hua City even though they knew their son had passed away. Therefore, the task of collecting the ashes fell on Fan Meiyu.
Fan Meiyu also blamed herself for being too naive at the time and agreed after being persuaded by her in-laws.
As a result, she encountered a landslide on the way. Although she survived, she was left with a lifelong disability.
In order to vent her anger, Fan Meiyu often abused her son Zhao Zirui after being discharged from the hospital.
If she hadn't given birth to this child, she might have divorced Zhao Zhanming in the second year of their marriage.
In the second year of her marriage, when she went to her eldest brother's house in the county town, she met her childhood classmate and first love. Her first love was divorced and proposed to her.
She just softened her heart for her son for once!
Just once!
Who would have thought that her soft-heartedness that time would lead to her being disabled for the rest of her life.
Later, Zhao Zhanming's pension was also embezzled by his parents-in-law. She did not want to be a widow and wanted to leave Zhao Zirui and remarry, but because of her disability, she could not get married. After all, no family wants to have a burden.
Fan Meiyu died in 1977. At that time, her only son, Zhao Zirui, was admitted to university and was about to leave the mountain village to study in Beijing.
Fan Meiyu was unwilling to accept this.
She never thought that her son would be so successful. She hoped that her son would take her away and take care of her in her old age.
But Zhao Zirui refused.
The abuse in his childhood left Zhao Zirui with a psychological trauma. It was the last time he visited Fan Meiyu before leaving.
That winter, Fan Meiyu died in her mother's home, feeling unwilling and full of resentment.
When she woke up again, Fan Meiyu found herself back in the second year after her marriage.
It was three days before she met her first love again.
This time, Fan Meiyu did not show any mercy.
She decisively chose her first love who had a stable job in the county town.
What son, what Zhao Zhanming, they all could die. She must live a decent life in this life!
Later, under the protection of her parents' family, she secretly had an affair with her first love from a classmate. Although there was no substantial development, they held hands and agreed to be together after Fan Meiyu's divorce.
In order to get more money from Zhao Zhanming, Fan Meiyu persisted until the beginning of the third year of her marriage. Only after receiving Zhao Zhanming's half-year salary did she negotiate a divorce.
After all, Zhao Zhanming was a soldier. In order not to arouse other people's suspicion, she lived in her mother's house for three months. Later, she used the excuse of going to the county town to live with her eldest brother, and then married her classmate and first love Dong Dali.
Now she and Dali have been married for four years, and their life is getting happier day by day.
However, Fan Meiyu rarely goes back to her parents' home now. Once she returns here, whenever she sees the people from the Zhao family, she thinks of her miserable previous life.
If it wasn't for her mother's 60th birthday, she really didn't want to come back.
Fan Meiyun glanced at Sun Juhua without hesitation, "My life is incredibly good now, but that's because my current man has a stable job and lives in the county town. Oh, and he's the same age as me, very handsome, much better than your son!"
Sun Juhua spat, "Bah! I've never seen it before, so who knows what it looks like?"
"I'm too lazy to waste my time on you, you black-hearted old woman. You'll get your comeuppance sooner or later! Get out of the way. I need to book a ride to the county town tomorrow. You deserve to stay in this shabby mountain area for the rest of your lives!"
Sun Juhua cursed a few harsh words, and Zhao Xiaoliu came over to smooth things over before she left cursing.
After the mule cart that Fan Meiyu had arranged to take to the county town left, the yard was in an uproar.
"Hey, that Fan Meiyun hasn't come back since she divorced and remarried. What kind of guy did she find in the city?"
"I heard he's a teacher. His parents used to be from Zhaojiagou, but were later transferred to the county town to teach. His son also teaches there."
"With such good conditions, how could he fall for Fan Meiyun? Ahem... Fan Meiyun isn't that pretty."
"I heard that the man was also married for the second time and had a child. Fan Meiyu didn't have a child, so they agreed."
"Tsk... Didn't Fan Meiyun have any dealings with that place before her divorce?"
"That's not the case. I heard that he remarried six months after the divorce. But this woman is quite cruel. I heard that on the day of the divorce, his son ran out to look for her, and she slapped him several times in the street. His son was only about three years old at the time, and he was almost deafened by the beating."
"...This is the Black Widow!"
"Who said she wasn't? I always thought she was quiet, but who knew she was so cruel behind the scenes."
Sun Juhua cursed all the way home.
From Fan Meiyu to Zhao Zhanming, and from Zhao Zhanming to Lu Qinghe.
"Fan Meiyu is no good, and that girl Lu Qinghe is no pushover either! We had set up all these good rules before, but they changed them just because of her! At least we had Zhao Zirui to keep us in check before, but now they're gone and won't even reply to my letters!"
Zhao Chengshi smoked his pipe and frowned, "This can't go on."
"Yes, Dad."
Zhao Guodong, the third son of the Zhao family, was lying on a mat in the yard, eating sunflower seeds. "When people heard that our family couldn't even afford the betrothal gift, they wouldn't even bring me in to propose marriage. Where's the money we saved over the years? Didn't my eldest brother send back quite a bit?"
"Just be quiet for a while. If your sister-in-law hears you, she'll definitely start crying poor again."
Zhao Guodong curled his lips, "What's wrong? I don't understand why you bully me because I'm young. Mom and Dad, please don't be partial!"
Sun Juhua: "I'm not partial. When your eldest brother sent money home a few years ago, our family was well off, but your second brother got married at that time. This year, your second sister-in-law gave birth to her second child, and that child was born with a miscarriage. The medical expenses alone cost a lot of money. Moreover, when your eldest brother divorced, Fan Meiyun took away most of the savings. Add to that the food, drink, defecation, and urination of our whole family over the years, and the funeral expenses of your grandparents... When you add up all the mess, it's strange that we can be rich."
Zhao Guodong didn't believe it: "But after my eldest brother got divorced, the child is still at home. He sends back dozens of yuan every month, and I haven't seen you spend it."
Sun Juhua and Zhao Chengshi looked at each other.
They still had some money left. If it were in the past, when Zhao Zhanming was still sending money home, they would definitely be willing to spend it.
But things are different now. Now they spend more money than they earn. The remaining money, as they have discussed, is the money saved for their retirement and coffin. There is not much in total, and they cannot take out a single cent.
"Third brother, your eldest brother only brings home fifty yuan a year, and your second brother and you two are lazy. It's already hard enough for your father and I to cover the family expenses. I think you should put your marriage on hold for now."
Zhao Guodong: "I'm almost nineteen, and it's time for me to get married. How can you be such a parent? You're telling me not to get married yet."
"That's not what I meant."
Sun Juhua explained, "I'm thinking, there's no future for me staying in this mountain forever. Why don't you just go to Hua City and look for your eldest brother to see if he can use his connections to find you a job in the city, even if it's just a temporary job."
Zhao Chengshi nodded. "I think so too. Your second brother didn't get drafted into the army, and autumn is almost here. You should go and give it a try. If the recruitment doesn't work out, ask Zhao Zhanming to find you a job. Then we can introduce you to someone. The conditions will definitely be much better than what they offer now."
"Will it work?" Zhao Guodong asked doubtfully, "You all know what kind of person my eldest brother is. When my second brother asked him to use his connections to join the army, he refused. How can I do it if I go?"
Zhao Chengshi: "It must be difficult to join the army. Your second brother is too lazy and doesn't want to stay in the city and work in the factory. Just say that you are more diligent, maybe you can make it."
"But my brother doesn't even reply to my letters."
"Then go and find it."
"Only?" Zhao Guodong frowned. "I've only been to the county town a few times in my life. How can I take the train? Will you give me money?"
"Give."
Sun Juhua made up her mind. "I'll pay for your round trip. I'll also find someone I know to get you a letter of introduction from the brigade. This has to be done no matter what. Otherwise, in two years, if Lu Qinghe has another child, their relationship with our family will become even weaker, and it will be even harder to ask him for help."
Zhao Guodong: "Okay then, I'll go if you ask me to. Don't blame me if it doesn't work out."
"Stupid boy, when you get there, say some nice things to them and beg them. I don't believe Zhao Zhanming would be so unkind as to not remember our kindness!"
-
Military Family Courtyard.
"Mom, mom, help! Lu Yang is bleeding!"
"Wow wow wow...Brother Lu Yang is going to die, wuwuwuwu, I don't want it!"
Meng Bin frowned and covered Zhao Zirui's mouth with his hand. "You're not going to die, you're not going to die, stop making noise."
Lu Qinghe rushed out and was horrified to see Lu Yang staring blankly at one of his fallen front teeth.
Lu Qinghe: “…”
Lu Yao pulled Lu Yang over and said, "Mom, look!"
Lu Yang rarely let Lu Yao open her mouth, "Ah - Mom, I feel like a tooth has fallen out."
"He's bleeding!" Lu Yao said seriously.
Lu Qinghe breathed a sigh of relief. "It's normal to bleed a little. Let me see how much."
Lu Yang opened his mouth even wider.
"It's okay, just a little bit, it's healed now." Lu Qinghe said as he took a look inside, "Oh, there's a little white mark on the tooth below, it's sticking out, no wonder it fell out so easily."
"Ah? No, no, let me take a look." Lu Yao squeezed her head over to take a look.
Zhao Zirui regained his composure and ran over to look on tiptoe.
After reading it, Lu Yao laughed, "Haha, Lu Yang's words will be leaky from now on! Leaky Lu Yang!"
“You are only four! Lu Yao, sooner or later you will lose your teeth!”
"Hahaha……"
Lu Yao laughed even louder.
This time, Meng Bin didn't side with Lu Yao. "He's right, Lu Yao. You'll be eight soon. By then, all your teeth will have fallen out."
"Ah?" Lu Yao was stunned. "Is this true, Mom?"
Lu Qinghe nodded.
Lu Yao wanted to cry but couldn't. "Then I'll become an old lady. How ugly."
“It will grow back.”
As Lu Qinghe spoke, he turned around and took his son's upper front teeth, wrapped them in a newspaper, and was about to throw them onto the roof, but then he became a little unsure.
"Sister Yuzhi—" Lu Qinghe went out and called out, "The child fell. Should we throw him on the roof or bury him underground?"
"Those on top are buried underground, and those on the bottom are thrown on the roof!"
Song Yuzhi had a loud voice, and Lu Qinghe heard her shout clearly.
"knew--"
Lu Qinghe turned around, found a small shovel, dug a red brick in his house, and buried Lu Yang's front teeth.
"Mom, do we want to erect a tombstone for it?" Lu Yang blinked.
Lu Qinghe smiled, "This is to make the teeth grow faster. When your teeth fall out, they will be buried here."
Just a few days after she said this, one evening before the start of elementary school, Lu Yao hurriedly gave her lost tooth to Lu Qinghe.
However, this time, Lu Yao's lower front teeth fell out first. After Zhao Zhanming came back in the evening, Lu Qinghe asked Zhao Zhanming to climb a ladder and throw them onto the roof.
Lu Qinghe was quite happy to bring back a tooth. Time always flies by easily on children. In the blink of an eye, she has been here for a year, and Lu Yao and Lu Yang have grown a lot taller.
But the problem was that a few days later, the two children brought back two mouse tails.
The moment Lu Qinghe saw the tail, she was horrified and almost gave up on the spot and threw the child away.
School started in September and several children were in the first grade. It happened to be the autumn planting season. When the teacher talked about eradicating the four pests, several children became excited and wanted to be the heroes.
"Mom, look how long this tail is! It's a super fat rat! I was blocking the entrance to the hole and stepped on it." Lu Yao said proudly.
Lu Yang was also a little proud.
Only Zhao Zirui had red eyes.
Lu Qinghe decisively pulled Zhao Zirui to her side, "Ahem, you did a great job! I'll definitely credit you in the book of merit for eradicating the four pests! But you two should also consider your brother's feelings. Look, Zirui is almost crying with fear. Let's just throw this thing outside under the wall today."
Lu Yao said seriously, "Mom, if I throw it outside, someone will steal it, right?"
"...No one will steal this thing, don't worry."
Lu Yang also said seriously: "Mom, will they be eaten by other mice?"
"Yes, Mom, why don't you wrap it up in a newspaper and take it to school tomorrow!"
Bring it into the house?!
God.
Lu Qinghe couldn't help but tremble. But facing this thing, she really couldn't be brave enough!
Lu Qinghe: "But, but it will scare Zhao Zirui."
Zhao Zirui raised his little face, "Mom, I'm not scared, I just... woo woo, I just didn't catch it, I feel sad woo woo..."
Lu Qinghe: “…”
Unable to bear the nagging of the two little ancestors, Lu Qinghe endured the discomfort and found some newspaper to wrap them up.
After Zhao Zhanming came back, the task of washing the two children in the evening was directly given to him.
Lying on the bed, Zhao Zhanming laughed after hearing this. "You're really something, using Zhao Zirui as a cover. They're all dead, there's nothing to be afraid of."
Lu Qinghe snorted, "I'm not scared, I'm just disgusted, okay? There's so many bacteria on that thing. Did you check the newspaper? Is it wrapped tightly?"
"It's tight."
"That's fine." Lu Qinghe patted his chest.
Zhao Zhanming also kindly patted Lu Qinghe.
Lu Qinghe: "...What are you doing?"
"Take a picture for you."
"I need your help."
"Then I'll help you rub it."
"...Zhao Zhanming, I think you have ulterior motives. Where are you rubbing? Don't..."
Before she could finish the rest of her words, the man interrupted her.
Beside the bed, a corner of the quilt slipped into the air, swaying for half a night before stopping.
The next morning, Zhao Zhanming, as expected, received a cold stare from his wife.
Lu Qinghe: "You're just like an animal. If you don't have a mission, you'll come here. Sooner or later, the bed will fall apart because of you."
As she spoke, she felt a little embarrassed.
Zhao Zhanming laughed, "If it falls apart, we can buy a sturdy one, which will be more convenient."
"...You can't behave properly so early in the morning."
"I'm about to make breakfast, and I'm not dressed properly."
"Humph, that's compensation for my back pain."
Lu Qinghe remembered something again: "Oh, right, you go and send those kids out today. I have to go to the middle school later."
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