Chapter 28
Oatmeal sweet fermented rice
In the corridor of the health hospital, the doctors had not started work yet. As usual, they recited quotations first and then sang songs, starting from "Unity is Strength" to "On the Golden Mountain in Beijing".
Chen Lina was also exhausted, so she lay down on the hospital bed without caring about anything and fell asleep while hugging her two children.
The sun rose high, shining on the family's buttocks. The heater on the wall suddenly became hot in the morning. That was because the workers in the boiler room had come to work and were shoveling coal inside.
Suddenly, the sound of footsteps woke her up.
"Nie Gong, it's really you. Oh, I don't know what to say. The child's illness is not serious, right?" A group of people in white coats walked in.
Nie Bozhao didn't know who the person was, so he stood up and shook hands with him. "Who are you?"
"Chief Engineer Nie, this is Director A of our health hospital."
Nie Bozhao then shook hands and said, "Hello, Dean."
"Chief Engineer Wang said that the workers in the mine worked all night last night and collected the samples you requested. They were waiting for you to come down to the mine for analysis today, but they couldn't find you. A call was made to Secretary A, who then called the hospital. Only then did everyone know that you had really gone to the hospital?"
Dean A shook Nie Bozhao's hand and said, "Secretary A just called to criticize our work. From now on, the base's health room must be staffed and have sufficient medicines. I dare not delay your work any longer."
Secretary A was the one who urged Nie Bozhao to improve his work progress.
Secretary A has a red telephone that goes directly to Beijing, and he has to report work progress every day. So Secretary A is very anxious. After all, surpassing Britain and catching up with the United States, and developing oil, are what the current leader is most concerned about.
At present, the Soviet Union, Europe and the United States are also obtaining his research results through various channels.
In other words, the significance of this person is even greater than that of the base.
"Director, please help my son check to see if he has polio. Also, the child didn't get the sugar pills, so he may need a booster shot," said Nie Bozhao.
Chen Lina was so tired that she simply refused to get up.
Nie Bozhao then took the child from Chen Lina's arms.
The director personally took the stethoscope, lifted the eyelids, listened to the heart and lungs, and examined the patient very carefully for a long time. He said, "No, his fever has gone down, so it has nothing to do with myelitis. How come this child has never been fed sugar pills?"
Nie Bozhao lowered his brows and said, "It turns out that his grandmother took care of him and forgot to replant the tree."
"Then give him a booster shot of sugar pills. It's nothing. Remember to go to the health center at this time next year to get another one. Now almost all the children in our base have taken sugar pills. He will be fine." said Dean A.
When Chen Lina took the children out, I was really shocked.
All the patrolmen from the base security team were standing outside the door.
"Dad, they are not here to catch car thieves, are they?" Nie Weimin felt guilty and scared, after all, he was a thief.
Nie Bozhao smiled and asked, "There is no cake on the steering wheel, who will drive now?"
Whoever stole it should drive it back. Chen Lina said, "I'll drive it."
After getting in the car, Chen Lina dared to ask, "Are these people here to chase the car or you? Are they going to take me away as a car thief?"
Nie Bozhao was sitting in the back holding Sandan, and said with emotion, "Comrade Xiao Chen, when you were playing dumb, you never thought that you could marry someone so important to the Republic, right? They are indeed here to pursue me, but the main reason is that I suddenly didn't go down the mine today, which delayed the progress of the work, and Beijing is anxious. As for the car, you don't have to be greedy, think of a way, I will get you one."
It can be seen that in this vast and lonely Gobi Desert, she really wants a car, a car like the Jeep Boy.
"Are you important to the Republic?"
"It's probably quite important. With me, we don't have to follow the example of the United States and go to the Middle East to fight and fight for other people's oil like bandits." There was a hint of pride in Nie Bozhao's tone.
Chen Lina smiled and thought to herself, you are so beautiful.
Looking back to his previous life, whenever Nie Bozhao saw the oil price soaring, he would sigh and say that if he were still in the oil industry, he would guarantee that he could lower the price of oil products. Chen Lina found it funny.
The jeep was driving in front, and several Dongfeng trucks were following closely behind.
As we were walking, the jeep in front suddenly stopped.
In the car, Nie Bozhao was holding Sandan, Nie Weimin and Erdan were squeezed beside him, and the four of them were sleeping soundly in the warm car.
Chen Lina stopped the car, opened the door and got out. The snow in the early morning was so dazzling that she couldn't open her eyes.
Right in the middle of the road, there was a snow-white little rabbit with white fur, half-squatting. It was not afraid of people coming, and it kept jumping and jumping on Chen Lina's legs.
She squatted down and picked up the little rabbit. The snow was blowing and the white fur was so beautiful. However, the little rabbit was snow blind and couldn't see anything, so it jumped onto the road.
Turning around, she put it in the trunk.
When we returned to the base, Secretary A and Chief Engineer Wang were waiting at the gate of the base, and Xiao Chen was there too.
When he saw that the car driven in by Chen Lina was opened wide, he whistled.
"Nie Gong, how is the child? It's just a cold and fever. There's no need to go to the hospital. Look, Secretary A has come here so early in the morning." President Wang became furious as soon as he saw him.
"Leader, it's not that I want to delay my work. I have three sons. No matter how important scientific research is, I still have to take care of the children. Comrade Xiao Chen is still a child himself, and he has to help me take care of my three sons. If I leave him alone like before, I'm afraid something will go wrong. Shouldn't you solve my difficulties and the difficulties of our base employees?"
"If you have any difficulties, just tell us and we will help you solve them," said Secretary Ah.
It was a very cold day. The sky was dazzlingly blue. It was too cold and the air was thin. Everyone's nose was frozen red. It was dry, really dry.
"The base cannot just have a health center anymore, it must have a hospital with resident doctors. Also, our No. 1 base has been established for seven or eight years, and there are many families. Leaders should take care of all the issues that need to be resolved. I'm a scientific researcher, so I won't say much. You leaders should discuss these matters." Nie Bozhao said and gave Chief Engineer Wang a look.
Well, here comes the opportunity to ask for benefits.
"Secretary, our mining area's profit this year is still considerable. I saw the summary issued last month, and the output of Daqing Oilfield cannot compete with ours." Chief Engineer Wang immediately understood and started bargaining.
Secretary Ah smiled and said, "It's like this. The leader called the red phone to personally commend you, and the first person he mentioned was your No. 1 base, Nie Bozhao. I was just thinking about whether we should also assign a confidential secretary to Nie Gong, and add two more people to Nie Gong's research team."
"No need for a secretary. Hurry up and find me two students with the same major from Northern University of Technology, and also a car like Mr. Xiao's.
I have to have one, otherwise, if there is an emergency, the truck is difficult to mobilize, and the target is too big, I always have to have a car to enter and exit the base at any time. "
Chief Engineer Wang pretended to be angry when he heard this. "Niegong, people don't act like that. You know, all universities are closed now. If our Secretary A helps you get people from universities, it will be risky. As for the car, don't even think about it. You know, there are only a few cars in our mining area. Secretary A just got a Shanghai car recently. The old Hongqi is his treasure. He will definitely not give it to us. If you have an emergency, I will carry you on my bicycle and we will go to Umay."
Secretary A really has an old Red Flag, and now he has been rewarded with a new Shanghai. He is thinking of giving the old Red Flag to the leader of the base below.
Although several bases have been opened up now, the No. 1 base has had several leaders since its survey ten years ago, when it laid the foundation, dug oil wells, and installed the nodding machine. The only one who has been there is Nie Bozhao's.
Others complained about the hard work and were transferred to other places.
In fact, Secretary A has also been considering whether to give the Red Flag car to this veteran of the No. 1 base.
But Chief Engineer Wang said it, of course he had to be polite to Chief Engineer Wang first. "I was just thinking of giving that small car to Engineer Wang. Engineer Wang, you can use it in the future. When you come to the mining area for meetings, you don't have to take the truck all the time."
President Wang waved his hands and said, "Secretary, I'm used to riding in a truck. I can't ride in a car. How about this? Give the car to the worker and let him drive it around the base. We are the leaders. After all, he is the one who is truly in charge of scientific research. I won't allow him to waste his time on meaningless things."
Secretary Ah said directly, "Okay, send a driver from the base tomorrow to bring the car for the laborers."
"Secretary, let's make it clear first. I can take the car, but I don't have a driver's license yet. In case of emergency, let my family member drive first. You can't accuse me of using the company car for personal purposes." Nie Bozhao said.
It is better to distinguish between public and private matters. Otherwise, when the car arrives at the base and Chen Lina is about to drive, other family members may make a fuss and gossip about Chen Lina, which will be bad.
Well, Nie Bozhao thought, you are not greedy for cars, I will get you one, this is love at last.
The sun is warm today, and long strings of large icicles are hanging from the eaves of every household.
Someone passed by Nie Bozhao's house and looked inside. What was new was that Nie Gong's yard was bustling with children and adults.
You know, in this kind of family area, whoever has more people at home on weekends means he or she has good popularity.
If someone's house is never visited and the door is closed every day, that would be terrible, as his family would definitely have bad relationships with others.
It's not unusual to see that normally no one visits Nie Gong's house but it's suddenly filled with guests.
A white fluffy little rabbit with a rope tied to its legs was squatting in the corner, bumping around aimlessly.
The tender little hand came closer cautiously, holding some shredded green vegetables. The little rabbit stopped immediately, sniffed, licked, and began to eat with a gurgling mouthful.
"Wow, this little rabbit is so cute." Chen Tiantian couldn't help but exclaimed, and she and Nie Weimin squeezed together to look at the little rabbit together.
Erdan wanted to get closer, so Chen Tiantian started yelling, "Erdan, Erdan, go away! You'll scare the little rabbit."
Erdan is cheerful by nature and also the most heartless. He approached suddenly, scaring the rabbit so much that it shrank and Chen Tiantian also screamed. Then he smiled again and rushed over to find Chen Lina.
She was also sitting outside in the sun. A foot-long icicle hung from the eaves, dripping water. Erdan ran over and buried his head in Chen Lina's arms. "Mom, Mom."
"What's the matter, Erdan? If you have something to say, just say it. Mom is here." Chen Lina said.
Erdan rubbed his head, not knowing what to say, and just said, "Mom is so nice, it's so nice to have a mom."
The kids didn't know what to say, they only knew that their mother could drive a jeep, feed them moon cakes, and when they were all too sleepy to open their eyes and returned to the base where the kang was cold and they couldn't even get in, she would suddenly pull out a plush white rabbit from her arms.
Erdan thinks that Mrs. Yao is really a good person, even better than his own mother.
The guy from Harbin Institute of Technology next door took half a day off and was using a piece of large wire to make a cage for his rabbit.
He is also from the Kazakh ethnic group. Although he is also wearing work clothes, his hair is very curly, his nose is even higher, and he smells strongly of mutton. When he speaks, he also smells strongly of mutton skewers. "Xiao Chen is really awful. It turns out that his mother never hugs these children. What is that called? Sun Gong always said that loving children do not hug them, loving mothers often spoil their children, and only strictness can educate children well."
"Such a lovely child, why don't you hug him?" Chen Lina said, patting Erdan's round butt. The flesh was bulging and looked so comfortable.
Anyway, it's not her child, so she won't feel burdened if he gets bad habits, haha.
Sandan was concentrating on watching Uncle Ha weaving a basket. When he saw Chen Lina pat Erdan's butt but not himself, he stood up shakily, fell on her lap and kissed her with saliva dripping from her.
Chen Lina smacked him on the cheek and asked Ha Gong, "By the way, how did Xiao Gong offend the people from Mulan Farm and make them chase him in a truck in the middle of the night? Is it true, as Nie Gong said, that he found a girl at Mulan Farm?"
Ha Gong smiled meaningfully, "No, no, Mulan Farm has some good stuff, and Xiao Gong probably owes someone money."
"What good stuff?" Chen Lina was very curious, but looking at the way Harbin Institute of Technology smiled, she always felt that it was not a good thing.
Harbin Institute of Technology carried a rabbit basket and listed all the treasures: "You can drink, sing, and... hang out with friends."
"Being friends with educated youth?" Chen Lina was so naive that she couldn't think of anything worse.
Unexpectedly, HIT directly said, "Not that kind of friends, but friends who give money. Some pay 50 cents a night, some pay one dollar. It's just that kind of fun."
Chen Lina was so angry that she stood up and asked, "Is there such a thing?"
Harbin Institute of Technology waved his hands and said, "Don't worry, Nie Gong has never been there. Nie Gong is a rabbit and Mulan Farm is an eagle. He will go around it whenever he passes by."
Chen Lina finally understood that the oil base was a pure land because of its strict management.
But there were bars, karaoke bars, and prostitutes at Mulan Farm, which was thirty miles away. It was no wonder that Xiao Chen and his friends always went to the farm in the middle of the night.
As for her, her impression of Xiao Chen immediately returned to its original state.
Sandaner looked at the icicles falling from the sky, curiously stretched out his red tongue, and was about to lick the big icicles, when he suddenly heard a car horn outside the door, and he shouted directly, "Uncle Xiao, Uncle Xiao is driving here."
Nie Weimin was wearing a velvet top with a neutral collar and a pair of black striped velvet cotton trousers. He looked refreshing, just like a doll in a New Year picture. He rushed out first.
He is meticulous, kind, and sensitive, and only at this moment can he give Chen Lina some of the feeling of a child.
When the gate opened, several children looked up and saw that it was the driver of the base, Xiao Chen. They were puzzled and asked, "Uncle Chen, why is it not Uncle Xiao driving? We want to see Uncle Xiao driving a car."
Xiao Chen turned the key and handed it to Nie Weimin. "Comrade Nie, this is the car that Secretary A gave to your mother on behalf of our oil field. From now on, this car belongs to your mother. Go and give her the key and the driving license."
"Xiao Chen, will Secretary A really give me a car?" Chen Lina pushed open the window, quite unconvinced, and looked at a small car shining in the evening light outside. She then took a look at the model and saw, it was an old Hongqi.
She quickly said, "Come in, Xiao Chen, and have something to eat."
"I always hear people say that the food at General Engineer Nie's house is delicious. Sister-in-law, it smells so good. What are you doing?" Xiao Chen asked.
Erdan jumped over and nodded his big round head, "Oats, oats are so delicious. Uncle Chen, do you want some?"
In the kitchen, Chen Lina brought out the yogurt she made for her children.
They were used to eating cheese and didn't like ordinary yogurt, so Chen Lina had an idea. She used some oatmeal as the sweet base and then cut canned yellow peaches into it. It became the yellow peach and oatmeal yogurt that sold particularly well in later generations.
All three children love to drink it, especially the two-year-old Sandan, who licks the cup every time he picks it up and is reluctant to let go because it tastes so delicious.
"Comrade Xiao Chen, has Secretary really given you a car?" Sister Wang heard the sound of a car and came in to see the car. To be honest, there is only one in the entire base.
Mother Ham also gave a thumbs up and said, "I heard that Xiao Chen can drive a car. Great, really great."
"Look, Xiao Chen has a car now." Sun Xiaoai said as she walked in.
Liu Xiaohong, without her pretty little leather shoes, was following behind her.
"This is a reward from the base to our Lao Nie. It has nothing to do with me. But Lao Nie can't drive, so he let me drive first." Chen Lina said.
Sun Xiaoai said, "I'm afraid you need a driver's license. My mom wanted to drive a tricycle and she even took a special test to get a driver's license."
"Yes, I am also a tractor driver in my hometown." In fact, Chen Lina has not yet obtained a driver's license, but at this moment in front of the Sun family, she certainly cannot lose.
Sun Xiaoai wore a small fur jacket made of otter rabbit skin inside and a large overalls outside. To show how hot she was, she kept fanning herself with her hands in the cold weather, saying, "Ah, it's hot, it's really hot."
After the people who were watching the excitement left, Chen Lina made way for her and came in.
"Look, the worker's room is still locked." She looked around and said.
Chen Lina poured her a cup of boiled water and placed it on the dining table. She looked outside and saw that Nie Bozhao and his brother were pushing the door and were unwilling to let Liu Xiaohong in.
The little girl was pitiful too, with snot running from her nose and looking hairy. She sniffed her nose and didn't dare to go far. She just stood outside the Nie family's door in such a cold day.
"I heard that Xiao Chen went to college in her hometown. Why didn't you graduate at your age?" Well, Sun Xiaoai wanted to know her background.
Chen Lina said, "It was because Lao Nie's parents begged him to come here, saying that Lao Nie couldn't live without someone to take care of him. I had no interest in studying, and our families were old friends. I couldn't just watch others bully him at the base, so I came here."
"He is just an engineer, he earns his own money, he doesn't get involved in fights, and he doesn't seek promotion, who would bully him?"
No one bullies you?
How could he be so penniless if no one bullied him?
"Whether anyone bullies me or not, this home belongs to me from now on."
"Are you really willing to give up your college diploma just to work as an employee?" Sun Xiaoai still didn't believe it.
It must be so difficult for a college student to get into college, not to mention that she is a rural girl.
When Sun Zhuan'nan took the college entrance exam, it took the whole village of Sunjiazhai to work hard. The families in the east gave her bread, the families in the west gave her money, and every penny they saved was used to pay for her tuition. After she graduated, she brought honor to her family and moved all the people in Sunjiazhai out of that poor place in Zhangxian.
Chen Lina approached her quietly and said, "Actually, it is true. In our village, there is an old woman who is extremely troublesome. She always likes to steal the eggs laid by our chickens and poison our chickens. To be honest, she even dares to dig into the graves of the nephews. Guess what?"
"What?"
"I poisoned all the chickens that old lady raised to death, and I had a quarrel with her. She fell to the ground in anger and never came back to life."
Sun Xiaoai opened her mouth wide and listened, "Is he really dead?"
"Really?"
"If someone dies, won't you go to jail? No one will sue you, right?"
"I didn't even get angry with her. I just couldn't win the argument and went home so angry. Can I blame others for this?" Chen Lina looked as if she was completely convinced that she was right.
Sun Xiaoai quickly said, "Comrade Chen, I'm still busy at home. I'll leave first. Let's talk later."
Well, it's a good thing that Huang Huacai was just so angry that she fell down and lay down for two days. If I had really fought with her a few more times, wouldn't she have been so angry that she would have died?
I can’t afford to offend you, Sun Xiao said lovingly.
Chen Lina knew that she came to inquire about her because of her grandson's mother. Before she could say enough scary words, she sent Sun Xiaoai away politely with a smile.
Seeing the two children playing outside, she took the opportunity to drag Nie Weimin to the study room, slapped him twice on the buttocks, and asked, "Comrade Xiao Chen, Liu Xiaohong's mother is visiting our house. Logically, she should be able to come in, so why don't you let her in?"
Little Nie Weimin sniffed and sobbed for a long time, then called out "Grandma Yao."
"If you dare to call me Aunt Yao again, I will take off your pants and beat you. I ask you, why did you chase Liu Xiaohong away? Did I ever tell you not to bully other people's children?
Especially Liu Xiaohong, she is a girl. You brothers can love Chen Tiantian and give her popsicles every day, why do you have to bully Liu Xiaohong?"
Little Nie Weimin clutched his pants tightly, which was probably his last dignity.
Even when taking a bath, she would still show her little butt in front of her stepmother.
When she peed, she would occasionally boast a little, and would compete with Erdan to see who could pee better.
However, spanking is a very embarrassing thing.
If he really had to take off his pants and get spanked, little Nie Weimin felt he wouldn't be able to stay in the base anymore.
He didn't cry yet, but his eyes were full of tears.
"Tell me the reason, or go apologize to Liu Xiaohong and give her this bowl of yogurt. Otherwise, Mom will spank you today." Bringing the fire stick over, Chen Lina had no intention of forgiving the child.
He bullies the weak and fears the strong, despises the poor and loves the rich. If this continues, won't he really become a gangster?
"Liu Xiaohong said that her Zhangxian County Yao Po beat her, but you didn't beat anyone. She wants you to be her mother, but I don't want you to be someone else's mother." As she said this, the little girl rubbed her eyes and started crying.
Chen Lina had been sulking for a long time. She had never expected this to happen. She took the child and began to rub his head. "When will I become someone else's mother? Besides, I also beat people. All mothers in the world will beat their children if they make mistakes."