Chapter 190
Preference for sons over daughters
oilfield middle school.
The children were studying when suddenly the principal came in.
"Gao Xiaobing, Liu Xiaohong, Nie Weimin, the rest of you come out for a moment," he said.
Several children were concentrating on doing their papers and were all confused. After listening for a long time, they finally understood what the principal meant.
"Go take photos for a clothing factory? I'm the only boy there? Then I don't want to go." Nie Weimin said subconsciously.
"Your mother would like to invite a few more people, but you are not allowed to eat or spend money when you go out. Also, I will only invite those who are good at studying. Those who are not good at studying should get out of here as soon as possible." A group of boys came out, and when they heard that Nie Weimin was going to take pictures, they all came up, wanting to go too.
When everyone heard what Principal Chai said, they immediately rolled their eyes.
Before entering the school, they thought that Principal Chai was impartial, fair and just. But after entering the school, they realized that he only cared about study and grades. If you didn't do well in the exam, he would scold you in various ways until you became deaf.
If you do well in the exam, he can think of ten thousand different ways to compliment you until you feel proud. Then, if you do poorly in the next exam, he will scold you again.
All the male classmates were dejected, but Liu Xiaohong and Gao Xiaobing were extremely happy.
Originally, they had taken photos for the clothing factory, but they didn't expect that this would be in the photos again.
As for the little girls, who doesn’t like taking pictures? The two of them were very happy, one holding the other’s hand and jumping quietly.
Principal Chai said, "Our Director Chen said that the pictorials we take for you will be published in newspapers and magazines such as the New Youth Daily, Shanghai Literature and Art, and Shanghai Daily. Liu Xiaohong and Gao Xiaobing have both agreed. Why don't you go, Nie Weimin? Just because you are handsome, do you think we should accommodate you?"
Like his father, Nie Weimin hates taking pictures.
However, Chen Lina has really put a lot of effort into promoting her own clothes.
There was no such thing as advertising at the time. Of course, newspapers were so serious that they would not allow you to advertise. However, even good wine needs to be hidden in a remote alley. Without advertising, how could sales come from? Without advertising, how could women today accept new fashions and trends?
So, what should she do if she wants to find a unique way to promote her own clothes?
After all, she had many friends and connections. Guo Bin had an idea for her, which was to submit a photo column. He coordinated with major newspapers across the country, such as Shanghai Literature and Art and Shanghai Daily, to publish a set of pictures of the frontier.
In terms of image, Liu Xiaohong is the best in the mining area.
The girl is almost 1.7 meters tall, thin and tall, with fair skin and a pair of big watery eyes that seem to be able to speak.
The management at Oilfield Middle School was so strict that she would receive several notes in her pencil case at least every day.
In short, out of the 18 boys in the class, at least 17 were writing love letters to her.
Gao Xiaobing was not bad either, a beautiful woman with a round face. She came from a well-off family and was of course much more confident than Liu Xiaohong. When she received the note, she would hand it over to the principal of the school right away, unlike Liu Xiaohong who would always hide it and secretly burn it when no one was around.
So, these two girls have completely different personalities.
As the new force in the frontier and the second generation of oil field workers, Chen Lina has made some plans. She plans to let these boys and girls wear the clothes she makes, work on the farm, bask in the sun on the oil wells, and study in Hu Yanglin. In a word, she is promoting both the city and the clothes, which is really killing two birds with one stone.
So, even though Nie Weimin refused to go, Principal Chai slapped him on the head and said, "If you don't go, you will have to do three more papers for me today."
Nie Weimin rubbed his neck and felt awkward for a long time, then followed the two girls out.
The person photographing them was the great reporter Guo Bin, who had not been to the border for seven or eight years.
Of course, Guo Bin also took this opportunity to return to the border to visit his uncle and appreciate the magnificent scenery of the border.
If you want to travel, isn't September in the border area perfect?
"Guo Bin, I believe in Master Jin's photography skills, but our border is really a bit chaotic. You drive my car and take good care of these three children. I know you have to choose a place to shoot, but try not to go too far. There are many gas guzzlers and it's not safe."
Guo Bin was driving the first new jeep newly equipped in the mining area, and he was full of confidence. "Don't worry, I will at most take them to the Devil City, then to Hu Yanglin, walk in the desert, and stay at Loulan Farm at night, don't worry."
So, he drove the car, took his three children, Chen Tiantian who came to help from the clothing factory, and Jin Liang, and went to collect materials and take photos.
"Not bad, Wei Min, you two sisters are in the car." Gao Xiaobing and Nie Weimin were sitting in the same row and said quietly.
Nie Weimin's two sisters, Chen Tiantian and Liu Xiaohong, hadn't seen each other for a long time. They were sitting in the last row and chattering quietly.
"Gao Xiaobing, stop making jokes like that. If anyone gossips about any of my girls, I'll make trouble for you."
Gao Xiaobing is a good student with a straightforward temper, just like her mother He Lanshan. "Don't think I don't know that you like Liu Xiaohong."
Liu Xiaohong was really embarrassed because Gao Xiaobing let her out of the cage. She was so excited that she didn't even know to lower her voice.
"Shut up."
"I tell you, my score in this final exam will definitely be better than hers. Just wait and see if you don't believe me." Gao Xiaobing whispered in Nie Weimin's ear.
Liu Xiaohong and Chen Tiantian stuck out their tongues at each other and continued their private conversation.
When Nie Weimin got shy, his face would turn red. He suddenly stepped forward and said, "Brother Guo, can you drift?"
“I’ve seen other people play it, but I can’t.”
"Come on, give me the steering wheel and I'll drift for you," said Nie Weimin.
Guo Bin, a man with a youthful heart, would not have been so close to Nie Weimin. He stopped the car and said, "Okay, come on."
It is now August, the best season of the year in the frontier. Wheat is in its harvest season, with golden waves of wheat rustling in the wind, cotton still growing in green fields, and all kinds of melons and fruits are fragrant.
Sitting in the jeep and looking outside, the sky was so high and blue, it was so beautiful.
Guo Bin was sitting in the back seat and had just fastened his seat belt when he heard a loud bang. The three little girls in the car were all screaming and all the things in the trunk were flying around.
"Fuck Nie Weimin, you're not drifting, you're flying. Get down, I'll drive." Guo Bin didn't wear a seat belt and almost flew out of the window.
Chen Lina and He Min were waiting anxiously in front of the delivery room of the health hospital.
Because Anna is pregnant and is finally giving birth.
My younger sister was sitting in the corner, waiting. Her mother Anna went in to give birth, also quietly, without any sound.
After a while, Leng Qi came in, sweating profusely. "What's the matter? You haven't come out yet?"
"The doctor just came out and said that as long as it is possible, they will try their best to help her have a natural birth. Don't worry. Some people take a whole day and night to give birth." Chen Lina advised him.
Unlike Chen Lina, Anna had been in the delivery room for four hours, but the baby hadn't been born yet. The doctor said that she might have to undergo a caesarean section, and asked Leng Qi to be prepared. Leng Qi had just rushed out and went directly to the hospital to deposit a thousand yuan, just to prevent Anna from suffering.
If the production director hadn't held the phone with one hand to report him, he would have given him another thousand yuan.
"The first time I was so nervous, I didn't know what to do. It was when my mother died." Leng Qi sat next to his sister and whispered to her that he was nervous, but was embarrassed to tell others, so he only dared to tell his sister. After all, she was a little girl, so he was not ashamed.
The younger sister held Leng Qi's big hand, tilted her head to his shoulder, and without saying a word, patted his chest gently, as if coaxing a baby.
It was exhausting, really exhausting. He Min left first because she had something else to do in the factory. Hu Su also came to take a look around, but couldn't stand it anymore and left too. Now the assembly line was producing a lot of clothes, so someone had to keep an eye on the clothing factory at all times.
Chen Lina went back to the base and cooked some pig trotter soup. When she came back, it was already dark and Anna had not been born yet.
Leng Qi didn't curse his mother today, because Anna always hated him cursing his mother the most.
Fortunately, his sister was always with him, so he didn't have to worry so much.
Every time the doctor came out, Leng Qi would say, "Cesarean, Cesarean." But the doctor said that Ms. Anna insisted on a natural birth, and they also felt that she still had the conditions for a natural birth, but it might take a little longer.
This made Leng Qi anxious.
At midnight that day, the laborer got off work and heard that Anna had given birth, so he ran over to take care of her.
Well, the two brothers sat for a while, but the laborer had to work overtime, so he left again.
People come and go, but the only ones who stay there are Leng Qi and the little satellite.
When Chen Lina came back after taking care of the kids at home, her sister was already asleep in Leng Qi's arms. Leng Qi was still waiting outside, with his head down and the child in his arms.
"Or else, let's talk to Dean Hu. Don't listen to Anna and let him do the cesarean section directly." Chen Lina said.
Leng Qi knew Anna's character very well, so he waved his hand and said, "She has studied nursing and knows her own body. It's better not to distract her and let her concentrate on giving birth."
Well, Chen Lina had no choice but to sit down again and wait with Leng Qi.
There was a big clock hanging outside the delivery room. It was ticking, moving forward one by one. At three o'clock in the morning, a loud cry suddenly rang out in the delivery room. Then, the midwife came out and said, "Congratulations, Minister Leng, a big fat boy, 15 pounds and 20 grams."
The corridor was originally quiet, but the noise woke up Nie Weixing.
"Congratulations, Leng Qi, big fat boy." Chen Lina said, smiling sincerely, but she felt that Leng Qi, who loved his daughter so much, would probably be greatly disappointed.
Leng Qi had been sitting there like a statue, and didn't react for a while. It was not until the midwife repeated what he had said that he asked, "Is my wife okay? Is she asleep or awake? Can I come in?"
"You can't go in, but the baby will be out soon. Wait and hold the baby. Both mother and child are safe." The midwife said and pushed the door in again.
Leng Qi suddenly stood up, punched the air twice, walked quickly back and forth in the corridor, stopped in front of the delivery room door, knelt on both knees, put his lips on the ground, and was actually kissing the ground that people were coming and going. His feet had stepped on it countless times, and his shoulders were twitching.
Chen Lina felt a little jealous and quickly looked away.
"Dad Leng's mouth is dirty." said my sister with a smile.
The laborer had so many children, one after another, like giving birth to babies, he should not have been as ecstatic as Leng Qi. Of course, he would not be like Leng Qi, who was so ecstatic that he didn't know whether to be grateful or sleep, and knelt on the ground, kissing the floor and crying with joy.
The child was taken out in the blink of an eye. There was a little baby in the cradle, wet from taking a bath, with two very big and fierce eyes.
As soon as Chen Lina hugged him, the little boy opened his mouth and burst into tears with a very loud voice.
Chen Lina was about to take the baby back to the ward, and when she saw Leng Qi punching non-stop, she said, "Minister Leng, you've always said you wanted a daughter, and I don't think you're disappointed."
"My daughter, I have a satellite, that's enough. Wouldn't it be nice to have a son who is like your guard?" Leng Qi punched the air twice again and started dancing in the corridor.
"So, what you said about wanting a concubine was all a lie?"
"Chen Lina, you have to believe it. Every man wants a son. When Anna gives me four sons, I will consider having a daughter-in-law." As he said this, he laughed loudly and threw another set of punches, only missing a backflip.
"You favor boys over girls. I don't know why Anna wants to marry you." Chen Lina said angrily.
Leng Qicai didn't care and was jumping for joy. "No, I have to ask Xiao Wang to go to the base right now and tell Bo Zhao that my first child is also a son, no less than his."
"Mr. Nie has been working overtime for several days. It's the middle of the night. He doesn't want to know about you and doesn't allow anyone to disturb his sleep." Chen Lina said.
Leng Qi didn't think so. "It's not whether he wants to know or not. I'm also the first son. You know, I'm more handsome and have a brighter voice than your Wei Minsheng. Even if he doesn't want to listen, he has to listen, because I'm better than him."
Well, this person's competitive spirit and vanity are beyond redemption.
Here, Guo Bin took a few children to the farm first, asked them to change into clothes from the clothing factory at the homes of their fellow villagers, and then came out to pretend to work, or walk in the wheat fields, and take pictures.
The clothes were all sorted by Hu Su.
As for Gao Xiaobing, because she is short, she is suited with clothes that can show her petite and vigor. As for Liu Xiaohong, because she is tall and pretty, she is suited with clothes that are particularly refreshing and elegant.
Nie Weimin was there to serve as a background for the two girls. After all, it was not tiring for a man and a woman to work together.
The two girls were having a lot of fun taking photos. Gao Xiaobing would occasionally pay attention to Nie Weimin, but Liu Xiaohong completely ignored him after he kissed her.
Even after school, people would go out of their way to avoid him and go back to the farm alone.
Today I am taking photos at Loulan Farm, and tomorrow I plan to go to Devil City, Grand Canyon, and Hu Yanglin.
Tiantian takes care of all the clothes by herself. Nie Weimin is changing clothes at his fellow villager's house. Boys' clothes are simple, denim pants, white shirt, and then change into another set of black sweater. They look almost the same.
He said, "Tiantian, haven't you noticed that Liu Xiaohong has been very arrogant recently and ignores me."
Chen Tiantian had no idea of his troubles, so she said, "You deserve it. Who told you to treat her like a babysitter every day? She should just ignore you."
"So, I was so nice to you when you were little, but you ignored me when you grew up."
Tiantian was so busy that she didn't even bother to pay attention to Nie Weimin and just turned around and left.
At night, I still stayed at the home of my fellow villagers in Loulan Farm.
Nie Weimin, Liu Xiaohong and Gao Xiaobing are students. Although they were allowed to play outside for two days by the principal, they still have a lot of homework to do.
Guo Bin and his photographer Jin Liang, accompanied by the director of Loulan Farm, went out to hunt rabbits at night.
When Chen Tiantian worked at the wool textile factory, she was responsible for serving tea and water and handling logistics.
Now I work in the garment factory, following Hu Su, and am still the one serving tea.
Sitting on the kang and watching the other three studying with their heads leaning against each other at a kang table, she was really envious.
"Tiantian, where did you get this comic?" Nie Weimin saw Chen Tiantian flipping through a comic book, "Water Margin", with the words "Dragons and Phoenixes" and the name Su Xiangdong written on it, and he was stunned.
Tiantian looked up a little embarrassedly and said, "Someone gave it to me. It's pretty. What's the matter?"
Nie Weimin quickly shook his head and said, "It's okay. You continue to watch yours. I'm just curious and want to ask."
"By the way, you also like this book. You remember Lin Chong's Night Escape? That's the story here, right?"
Youbu likes to read the Water Margin comic book, and now Chen Tiantian is also reading it, and the books belong to the same person. There is no other possibility, that is, Chen Tiantian and Youbu are connected again.
Let’s talk about the mining area.
Anna gave birth successfully and gave birth to a big fat boy. Leng Qi was so excited that day that he went straight to the street, handing out wedding candies to everyone he met and announcing to everyone that he had a son.
His behavior really proves how inconsistent men are in their words and deeds.
As for Chen Lina, she, Erdan and Sandan were standing at the busy train station.
Deng Dongya's son, Deng Chun, was to be sent to the mining area.
He should have been sent here half a year ago. But, it is said that the boy ran out to steal the bacon hanging on someone else's roof, but he failed to steal it and was chased by someone. He jumped off the roof and broke his leg. He was recuperating for more than half a year. Recently, after recovering, he returned to his old ways and was lazy all day. That is why Deng Dongya sent someone to send him here.
"Mom, don't worry, I will take great care of Xiao Deng. But will he go to the same school with me?" Sandan said.
Erdan just finished his high school entrance exams, and the scores haven’t come out yet, but now is the time for him to excel in knowledge. “Don’t worry, Mom. I heard that he’s not doing well in school. I will give him extra lessons.”
Chen Lina smiled and said nothing.
No matter what Deng Chun is like now, under her influence, that little guy is not easy to deal with.
Also, he must have worshipped Su Xiangdong as his godfather when he was very young.
Su Xiangdong, the biggest oil tycoon in the Republic, a mysterious figure who is hard to find his head or tail, would he have met Chen Lina earlier with the arrival of this young man, so that he could be caught by the laborers and given a good beating, and at the same time, all the oil thieves in the border areas could have been eliminated?
Just look at this: at the exit of the train station, as soon as the train from Shanghai arrived, there was an announcement on the radio.
Sandan and Erdan were very excited. They rubbed their hands together and wanted to see if the new brother was as cute as in the photo.
After a while, Director Zhao Yalu was looking around in the endless stream of people. He saw Chen Lina from a distance and waved to her hurriedly.
"Director Zhao, where is the child?" Chen Lina was puzzled when she saw that Zhao Yalu was alone.
When Erdan and Sandan saw that there was no one around Director Zhao, they became anxious and thought that they would miss their cute little brother if he had to sit on the train for four days and four nights.
As a result, a young man jumped out from behind Zhao Yalu and said, "Mom."
He shouted in a crisp voice.
He has big round eyes, is thin and fair, and wears a pure white shirt, denim jeans, and a pair of white sneakers. The boy is a little thinner and smaller than Nie Weijiang, and looks very handsome.
That's right, Chen Lina could guess what he was thinking with just one glance.
This little bastard is still as cunning as he was in his previous life.
His mouth is sweeter than Sandan’s, and his heart is darker than the three brothers Nie Weimin combined.
Well, for the sake of Deng Dongya, and in order to catch that big oil thief Su Xiangdong as soon as possible, she had to slowly deal with this little bastard from now on.