Chapter 91 Chapter 91 It seems like I’ve returned to my youth
"I need to think about it again."
Lu Qinghe understood something: "Will it take a long time?"
"Yeah." Zhao Zhanming nodded. "It's quite a long time. It'll take a year to complete. And the location is in Beijing. I won't be considered accompanying the army after I go there. I can't make any arrangements for you and the child. I don't want to leave you here alone."
One year?
It's not convenient to make a phone call these days. If that happens, wouldn't it be more troublesome than a long-distance relationship?
"I fully support your decision, but... if we have to be apart for a year, it's really a long time. We're so far away from each other, it's hard to see each other regularly."
"Yes, I share your idea, so I'm still considering it. I absolutely cannot leave you here alone, so I hope we can find a solution that satisfies both of us. If that's not possible, I'll put your further studies on hold for now."
"Will that affect your future development?"
"No," Zhao Zhanming assured her. "Although this is the organization's suggestion, the final decision is still mine. Besides, further studies aren't something you can only do now. There might be better opportunities in the future."
"That's fine. I'm just worried it will affect your progress."
"I know what I'm doing."
The matter of further training was put on hold temporarily. Zhao Zhanming needed to consider it himself and also report to the organization. Before long, it was the end of the year.
As the New Year was approaching, Zhao Guodong, the third brother of Zhao Laosan who worked at an agricultural and sideline product factory, came over.
In recent years, the family has not had much contact with Zhao Guodong, but they can still see him once or twice a year.
The Zhao family's parents were restless, and Zhao Guodong often helped to mediate between them, so Lu Qinghe saved a lot of effort in arguing with the Zhao family about those things.
"Sister-in-law, I'm here for no other reason than to tell you and my eldest brother that I'm going back to my hometown in a couple of days. If you're not going back this year, I'll help tell your family."
Lu Qinghe: "The child is young and the house is cold. I don't want Ranran to go back with me and freeze. If someone gets upset, it will be like last year, where we won't even be able to live comfortably."
Zhao Guodong smiled shyly: "Sister-in-law, I understand all this, don't worry, I will talk to the family."
"Please help me take this fifty yuan back. As we said before, it's a small token of our appreciation for the New Year."
Zhao Guodong accepted it as he was told, paused, blushed again, and said with a smile: "Sister-in-law, I haven't seen my eldest brother for a long time. When he is home, please say hello to him for me. Also, I... I'm dating someone."
"Oh." Lu Qinghe was also happy. "This is good news. Where are you from?"
"She's not from the provincial capital. She came from another rural area to live with her relatives. She's a colleague at an agricultural and sideline factory, helping with packaging bags. She's diligent and calm. She just came here last year. I helped her move things one day, and that's how we met. We're both a little interested in each other, so I found someone to act as a matchmaker. But I still have to tell the elders about this and meet her in person, so I was thinking, sister-in-law, could you and big brother help me get to know each other first, and then I could bring her home to meet my parents."
"That's a good thing, of course there's no problem with that."
Lu Qinghe paused and asked, "Who is the matchmaker?"
"The workshop director of the agricultural and sideline products factory is an older woman in her forties, and I'm quite familiar with her."
"Where is home?"
"Local from Hua City."
"Okay, then you can tell me a time."
Zhao Guodong was stunned, his eyes widened, "Sister-in-law, do you really agree?!"
Lu Qinghe laughed: "Didn't I agree just now?"
"I, I thought you were just saying it casually to please me, but who knew you would actually set a date."
Lu Qinghe was amused by his surprised look and smiled, "Of course, without setting a date, how can you two formally meet each other? If not, how can you two make an appointment to meet together openly? You are not a child anymore, so this must be a serious matter."
"Can……"
Zhao Guodong chuckled: "But I didn't expect that you, sister-in-law, agreed so readily. After all... ahem, after all, a few years ago, because of those things at home, there was some unpleasantness."
"Home is home. You've helped me deal with them over the past few years. I have a clear distinction between the two. Don't worry about that."
Now that Zhao Guodong has been released, his relationship with his family has indeed become worse and worse.
But he is different from Zhao Zhanming. Zhao Zhanming is an adopted son. After several huge quarrels with his family, he gradually became indifferent to them.
But Zhao Guodong is his biological son. In the early years, the old couple of the Zhao family treated him quite well. Now that he has grown up, they hope that Zhao Guodong will contribute more to the family. Unexpectedly, he asks for more and more. He has to support the second son of the Zhao family of four. Although he gradually has some opinions, he certainly cannot give up the blood relationship too harshly.
"sister in law."
After hearing this, Zhao Guodong's eyes were red with emotion. He rolled up his sleeves and wiped the corners of his eyes. "Sister-in-law, I really understand my elder brother more and more. He had a difficult time in his early years. Sister-in-law, you are really kind."
"Alright, alright, is it okay to stand at the door and cry?"
Zhao Guodong wiped his nose again: "I'm fine, sister-in-law, I'll set a time with the matchmaker over there and call you."
"become."
When Zhao Zhanming returned home in the evening, he heard that this matter had been discussed and was a little surprised that Lu Qinghe agreed.
"I thought you'd find it troublesome."
"Guodong came to Hua City when he was eighteen. He's been here for almost five years now. He's been helping out a lot at home, so it's no big deal to help out a little."
"Well, if you feel like going, go ahead. I'm just afraid you'll force yourself."
"Won't."
Lu Qinghe reached out and fed Zhao Ran a mouthful of rice porridge. Zhao Zhanming changed his clothes and came over to take over. "I'll look after her. You go and rest."
Lu Qinghe handed it over and ruffled Zhao Ran's fluffy hair. "This child's hair is too fine. Is it because he didn't have his hair shaved when he was a child?"
Lu Qinghe said with some regret: "At that time, everyone urged me to shave Zhao Ran's hair, but at that time I saw that her hair quality was poor and I was afraid that it would not grow back for a while, so I didn't take it seriously and let it go. But now she is almost two years old and her hair is still neither long nor short. I went to the hospital for a check-up before, and Sister Yulian also said that Ran Ran's hair is not due to vitamin deficiency."
"So it's innate?" Lu Yao came over and asked.
"Even if it's natural, we have to find a way to fix it. Otherwise, it won't look good when it goes to kindergarten, and I'm also worried that it will affect the quality of my hair when I grow up."
Zhao Zhanming viewed his daughter as an old father. He looked at her from left to right and felt that Lu Qinghe was exaggerating.
Zhao Zhanming: "I think Ranran's hair is okay. People always say that the little girl is a little girl. She is still a little girl. How can her hair grow out so quickly?"
"That's alright."
Lu Qinghe was a little helpless: "Look at how tiny it is. I can't even tie it into a braid. No, no, I have to go ask tomorrow."
Zhao Zhanming's filter was slightly reduced after Lu Qinghe said this. "Compared to other children of the same age, it is a little less. I heard that black sesame seeds are effective. Why not buy some and try it?"
Lu Qinghe nodded. "Well, I'm going to Zhao Guodong's agricultural and sideline products factory. I'll ask someone I know to buy some more. I'll grind it into a paste and give it to the children for every meal."
The next day, Lu Qinghe asked everyone around.
In addition to black sesame seeds, walnuts are also said to be useful.
"Ginger slices are also useful. Try rubbing them on your child's head."
"Forget about the ginger slices." Lu Qinghe quickly shook her head. "Ginger slices are spicy, and the child's scalp is delicate. If they scratch the skin, it will damage the hair follicles."
It is better to supplement the child with food. Now that Zhao Ran has stopped breastfeeding, it is time for her to eat.
In the evening, Lu Qinghe received a call from Zhao Guodong.
The matchmaking time was scheduled for the weekend morning. After asking for the location, Lu Qinghe hugged Zhao Ran and asked Xiao Li to take her there.
"Xiao Li, I heard that you took leave in October before the New Year to go home and get married?"
This Xiao Li is not the same Xiao Li. The previous orderly Xiao Li had gained enough experience and was promoted to a regular employee in the company. This new orderly also happens to have the surname Li.
In the rearview mirror, I could see Xiao Li nodding shyly. "Yeah, isn't it a bit early? My family always told me to study hard with Captain Zhao first, and then get married when I'm capable enough to join the company. But we... hehe, I'm not afraid of my sister-in-law laughing at me. We've been childhood friends, and we've known each other since we were little. I've been away for two years, and when I came home for the New Year, she got a little anxious, so she just got married."
"If you have a good match, you should get married first. There is no order of priority. It's up to you two."
As he spoke, Lu Qinghe took out a red envelope from his pocket. "My husband, Zhao, was busy at the time, so he told me about this a few days ago. I didn't know about it at the time and didn't prepare any gift money for you. Please keep this red envelope and bring it to your wife when you go home for the New Year in a few days."
Xiao Li wanted to refuse, but he was driving.
Lu Qinghe smiled and said, "I just want you to drive well so that you don't have to shirk responsibility."
"This, this, sister-in-law..."
"The serviceman in front of you also has the surname Li. It's called fate. He received red envelopes when he got married and had children. Just accept them." Xiao Li nodded embarrassedly and thanked her again: "Thank you, sister-in-law, no wonder..."
"What?"
"Hehe, it's nothing. Before I came here, everyone told me that Mrs. Lu is a good person, although Captain Zhao seems to have a bad temper... cough cough cough!"
Xiao Li stopped talking halfway when he braked hastily.
Lu Qinghe knew what he meant without asking, and said with a smile: "People say that my old Zhao looks very bad tempered, right?"
"...Sister-in-law, I, I didn't say that!" Xiao Li paused and couldn't help but mutter, "Yes, they did say that, but I've noticed that no matter how fierce and stern Captain Zhao looks, his expression softens in front of you, sister-in-law."
"That's true." Lu Qinghe admitted with a smile that was not at all concealed, "But he was also strict with you during training."
Xiao Li was startled and glanced carefully behind him in the rearview mirror. "Sister-in-law, you and our team leader have a really good relationship. I heard you two have been married for many years."
"Almost, quick..."
Lu Qinghe calculated in his mind and was suddenly shocked.
It has been 1974 since the Chinese New Year. I married Zhao Zhanming in 1965, and now... almost ten years have passed.
"Sister-in-law, what did you say?"
Lu Qinghe came back to his senses and said, "I said, it's been almost ten years."
After the Chinese New Year, in the second half of the semester, the three little kids in my family have grown up and are about to go to high school.
Zhao Zimo has won many provincial awards and will even participate in national competitions next year.
And Zhao Ran.
Her and Zhao Zhanming's child is already two years old after the Chinese New Year.
Time flies.
Xiao Li was a little surprised and said sincerely, "It's been almost ten years and the relationship is still so good. I hope my wife and I can be like my sister-in-law and our leader in the future. And I'm not complimenting you, you still look very young."
If you do the math, Lu Qinghe himself is almost 35 years old.
As they arrived at the agricultural and sideline products factory, Xiao Li helped Lu Qinghe push Zhao Ran's stroller out of the trunk, then turned around to find a parking space and waited outside.
When Lu Qinghe arrived at the agreed location, Zhao Guodong and the director were already waiting there.
"sister in law!"
Zhao Guodong waved happily. The matchmaker next to him was shocked when he saw Lu Qinghe getting off the jeep, and his expression became a little more respectful.
"Hello comrade, my last name is Yu."
"Director Yu, I heard Guodong mention you."
Director Yu was a capable woman with short hair. Upon hearing this, she immediately smiled and said, "Thank you for coming all this way. I've never heard Guodong mention that his brother and sister-in-law are so capable before."
Lu Qinghe was a little surprised.
It turned out that Zhao Guodong had never taken the initiative to mention his family relationships outside.
Zhao Guodong lowered his head and smiled, "My brother's status is special, so it's not convenient to mention it outside. My sister-in-law is a famous illustrator. She has serialized her works in illustrated magazines and published books."
Director Yu was stunned. After hesitating for a moment, his eyes widened. "Oh my God, you can't be that... Comrade Lu Qinghe?"
"You know me?"
"Well, anyone with a little-grown child at home who's been to school for a while knows you. A few years ago, your picture of learning Chinese characters and pinyin was the most famous in the illustrated magazine, but you haven't seen it much in the past two years."
Lu Qinghe smiled and said, "I've been studying for the past two years, and I have a new child."
"I was just about to say that your daughter is really pretty and seems to be quite smart."
Lu Qinghe tightened her daughter's woolen hat and looked around: "You're welcome. When will the bride arrive? Let's go inside and wait."
"Yes, yes, yes."
Director Yu took his people to the factory reception room. After they sat down, Director Yu went to pick up someone, leaving Zhao Guodong and Lu Qinghe behind. Seeing that there was no one around, Lu Qinghe asked Zhao Guodong if they had any black sesame seeds and pecans. Zhao Guodong nodded and was about to say something when someone pushed the door open.
The woman's name is Qian Yurong, and her family lives in another place. The people who came were also cousins from Hua City, her aunt's family.
The people on Qian Yurong's side are very simple and speak in a kind manner.
Especially this female comrade, she has a pretty appearance and is very polite in her words and deeds.
Although Lu Qinghe was only there as a representative to take a look and go through the motions, he couldn't help but nod in approval.
"This lesbian is quite nice. You guys go in and chat slowly. I'll take Zhao Ran for a walk around the area. Come back to me after you're done chatting."
“Hey!”
The agricultural and sideline factory is next to the river, with an open space along the bank surrounded by stone bricks.
Usually Lu Qinghe was in the military family compound and rarely saw such scenery. The same was true for Zhao Ran. She looked at the river in the distance and babbled as if she wanted to speak.
Lu Qinghe taught her to recite "The sun sets behind the mountains, the Yellow River flows into the sea", and the little girl followed suit, her voice childish but clear.
"Mom, the Yellow River?"
Lu Qinghe smiled and shook his head: "It's called Qinglong River."
"Longlong?"
"right."
"Where is the Yellow River?"
"That's our mother river. It's very big. When Ranran goes to school, we'll have a chance to go see it together."
"Okay, okay."
The river water was surging, and Lu Qinghe didn't dare to take the child too far. Seeing that it was almost time, she took Zhao Ran back.
When I walked to the door, I happened to see someone pulling a cart to deliver something inside.
Lu Qinghe took Zhao Ran to the side and made room for them. Xiao Li was also not far away. When he saw Zhao Ran, he made a face from a distance to make her laugh.
"Lu...Qinghe?"
Lu Qinghe turned around when he heard the voice and saw the person next to the cart, but he didn't recognize him for a moment.
"Who are you……"
The man looked to be about thirty years old, with a hunched and skinny body and dark and sallow skin.
"You don't recognize me? Haha, it seems you've had a really good life these years."
Lu Qinghe looked carefully again and recognized it.
Isn’t this Ye Baojin?
It turns out that the car was sent by the farm.
Lu Qinghe took care of Zhao Ran and called Xiao Li over before speaking: "So it's you. I'm naturally doing well, but I can't compare to someone like you who made a mistake."
Ye Baojin gritted his teeth in hatred, "You are such a cruel woman. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have ended up like this."
Lu Qinghe frowned: "You are still saying this now. It seems that all these years of education have not been effective. You still don't realize your own problems."
Ye Baojin was startled, as if he remembered something. He shrank his neck, not daring to speak anymore, and followed the team of carts delivering things into the agricultural and sideline products factory.
"Sister-in-law, who is that?"
"I met him twice as a worker who made mistakes in the early years of the Third Front factory. He even deliberately destroyed my propaganda posters."
"Hiss... This guy hasn't learned enough lessons on the farm yet. He looked so arrogant just now."
Lu Qinghe shook his head. "It's easy to change a country, but hard to change one's nature. Some people are bad from the very beginning, and no education can change them."
"I believe this. There was one in our village a few years ago who just loved to steal. No matter how much we beat or scolded him, it was useless. We arranged a job for him, but he turned around and became lazy and ate and worked. When he ran out of money, he would steal."
Lu Qinghe also couldn't understand why the Ye family produced such a bastard. Was there a genetic mutation?
After returning home, Lu Qinghe complained to Zhao Zhanming about what happened today.
Lu Qinghe: "Even Guodong stuffed me with a basket of black sesame seeds and pecans before he left. The Zhao family can produce a good person, but why is Ye Baojin so stubborn that he refuses to change despite repeated warnings? Has his genes mutated?"
"What is genetic mutation?" Lu Yao asked curiously.
Lu Qinghe was speechless for a moment, and after a pause, he said, "It's like a mouse being born in a phoenix's nest."
“…”
Lu Qinghe was really angry today. It would be fine if she was alone at other times, but today she had her child with her. Who knows what that evil-minded person would do if he had no one around him.
Zhao Zhanming also looked unhappy, with his brows furrowed.
"Last time I heard you say he would be released at the end of the year?"
Lu Qinghe hummed, "I've been in there for almost five years. It's time to let me out."
Zhao Zhanming remained silent for a long time before speaking calmly, "Whether he can be released depends on the extent of his reformation. In this case, I think he will need further education."
Lu Qinghe nodded: "If it were anyone else, I would have softened my heart, but this person is really awful."
"You are soft-hearted, but I am not."
Zhao Zhanming's tone was cold. Within two days, Lu Qinghe received the news that Ye Baojin had renewed his contract for another three years.
Lu Qinghe took Zhao Ran to the hospital to buy some calcium tablets.
These days calcium tablets are like medicine pills. Without special talent and applying for special treatment, you can’t buy them at all.
The children in the family were all growing up, especially Zhao Zirui, who complained of leg and knee pain every day.
But after arriving, I found out that Ye Yulian was actually resting.
"Maternity leave?"
After Lu Qinghe found out, he felt happy and bought a basket of eggs and took them to the staff quarters of the Third Line Factory.
Ye Yulian was the only one at home; Political Commissar Guo was not there.
Lu Qinghe congratulated Ye Yulian as soon as he entered the room, and she also looked very happy.
"I'm getting older, so it wasn't easy for me to get pregnant. Lao Guo had given up, and I didn't think it would work. Who knew I'd actually get pregnant? I did a checkup, and it's almost three months."
"Congratulations, Sister Yulian. It's good that you take a vacation early so you can get some rest."
Ye Yulian smiled and nodded: "So I didn't care about anything. I took maternity leave and annual leave at the same time, just in case something went wrong, and..."
Ye Yulian said this and smiled.
"If I were to say this, you'd definitely think I'm heartless. I was supposed to bring my younger brother, Ye Baojin, back home at the end of this month, and I was upset for quite a while. But then I heard the news a few days ago that he'd made another mistake and had to spend another three years in prison."
If we add another three years, it will really be delayed until after the reform and opening up.
Lu Qinghe heard this and pretended not to know: "If that's the case, then he's probably still not behaving well on the farm."
"Serves him right. The organization is wise." Ye Yulian said, her eyes unable to conceal the joy. "If I were the organization, I would have wanted to lock him up for life. The last time I went to visit him with my mother, he blamed me, saying that we didn't find a solution for him from outside. Anyway, all he had were excuses. He didn't feel that he was in the wrong at all, just that he was unlucky."
"You really deserve to stay for another three years."
The two of them smiled at each other as they spoke.
Ye Yulian: "Okay, let's not talk about this unlucky thing. You want calcium tablets, right? I'll call the hospital later and you can go get them. A few years ago, because of Ye Baojin, I was squeezed out of my position as head nurse. Fortunately, the impact has been less in the past two years. After I give birth next year, the director said that I will still be the head nurse. I can be considered to have made it through."
"Next year, you'll have a successful career and a child. Don't forget to treat me to a meal then."
"That's for sure."
The next day, Lu Qinghe went to the hospital to get the calcium tablets prescribed for her child.
She was afraid of the cold, so after getting the calcium tablets, she put on her scarf, ear warmers and hat at the door, and then went out in her lambskin boots.
But even though he was wrapped so tightly, Wu Xingliang, who was about to come in from outside, still recognized him at a glance.
But Lu Qinghe was so focused on walking that he didn't even look at the pedestrians.
Only after Lu Qinghe walked away did Wu Xingliang take his gaze away from Lu Qinghe.
He seemed to have never noticed before that Lu Qinghe's eyes were so beautiful, so beautiful that even if she wrapped herself up like a bear, she could still be recognized at a glance.
Wu Xingliang couldn't help but recall the past.
Now both of them are no longer young, but for some reason, after seeing Lu Qinghe, his heart suddenly seemed to return to his youth.
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