Chapter 21 Chapter 21 "Have you ever thought about going with Dazhu to join the army...

When Jiang Qiuyue saw Jiang Youcai, she knew he was there to bring her food and she greeted him warmly.

"Sister Qiuyue, this is the sweet potato vermicelli I made at home, and there are some houttuynia cordata. There are all over my farm. You can dry them and make tea with them." Jiang Youcai finished speaking, and then saw a tall man walk up to Jiang Qiuyue, holding Lin Nannan's hand. "Sister Qiuyue, what is this?"

The man seemed hostile to him, with a look of vigilance in his eyes that he could not understand.

Before Jiang Qiuyue could answer, Lin Zhengrong spoke first, "I am her lover."

"Lover?" Jiang Youcai responded belatedly, "So... so it's Sister Qiuyue's lover. I'm... your neighbor's nephew. Hello, hello. My name is Jiang Youcai. You're so tall!"

Looking at the hand that Jiang Youcai extended, Lin Zhengrong looked around, indicating that he should not extend his hand at this moment, "Are you familiar with Qiuyue?"

"It was OK. My brother and I helped Sister Qiuyue build the kitchen. I was so happy during those days working at Sister Qiuyue's house. The food that Sister Qiuyue cooked was the best I've ever eaten!" Jiang Youcai still misses it when he thinks back to it. "At that time, I told my brother that whoever marries Sister Qiuyue will be so lucky. She's pretty, she can cook, and she's good to the children."

Jiang Qiuyue also felt that she was pretty good, so she asked Jiang Youcai to sit in the yard. She took out some peach cakes for Jiang Youcai to eat, and said, "Thank you for thinking of me. Since you're here, why don't you have a meal at my house before you leave?"

"No, I have to get home before dark." Although Jiang Youcai missed the food cooked by Sister Qiuyue, he was not so shameless. "I just waited for you to come back because my mother asked me to ask you how to make braised fish."

After returning home, he kept praising Jiang Qiuyue's cooking to his family, which made his parents itch. His family couldn't afford meat, but he and his brothers would go to the river to catch fish from time to time. When they were lucky, they could catch a carp weighing six or seven kilograms.

It was a kind of affirmation that someone liked the food she cooked. Jiang Qiuyue was happy to share. She asked Lin Zhengrong to take the food into the room and generously talked to Jiang Youcai about the starting point, "Remember, you must add hot water, not cold water. You can add a little vinegar before serving, it will be more appetizing."

"So many seasonings are needed." Jiang Youcai heard Jiang Qiuyue say that she needed ginger, cooking wine and sugar. No wonder he felt that the braised fish made by Jiang Qiuyue was so different. It turned out that so many seasonings were added.

Jiang Qiuyue knew that most people don't have so many seasonings. "I don't usually eat like this. I should treat myself better during festivals, right?"

Jiang Youcai thought it made sense, "I'll let my mother try it next Mid-Autumn Festival."

The two of them were sitting at the door chatting about cooking. Lin Zhengrong had been watching from behind for a long time. It was only when his son came over and pulled his hand that he lowered his head to look.

"Dad, I'm hungry." Lin Beibei was not really hungry, she was craving for peach cakes. There were so many peach cakes at home, which child would not be tempted?

Lin Zhengrong pretended not to notice Lin Beibei's thoughts and said, "Then go talk to mom."

Lin Beibei thought that her father couldn't make the decision and asked her to ask her mother, so she happily ran over, rubbed her stomach, and said she was hungry.

Hearing him say this, Jiang Youcai realized that it was getting late. "Oh, I forgot the time when I was talking. I'll go back first, Sister Qiuyue. I'll bring you the fish next time I catch it!"

"Okay, big or small ones are fine, I'll make you some smoked fish." Jiang Qiuyue doesn't know how to catch fish, but if someone is willing to give her fish, she's willing to give the prepared fish to them as a reward.

She thought that the relationship between neighbors should be like this, everyone should come and go in a friendly manner and help each other when there is something. When Lin Zhengrong went to the army, she spent more time with her neighbors.

After hearing about the chance to eat smoked fish, Jiang Youcai made up his mind to catch more fish next time!

After Jiang Youcai left, Jiang Qiuyue cut the screw's butt and told the two children to wash the Houttuynia cordata.

She can't eat raw Houttuynia cordata, but making tea with it after drying it can help relieve the heat. Many people make this tea in the summer.

Lin Zhengrong was carrying some peach cakes to give to someone and met Chen Meiru who was delivering some rags on the way.

"Dazhu, you are so polite. It's not a big deal, but you still bought me some peach cakes." Chen Meiru thought that Lin Zhengrong was really generous. He was a soldier and had a lot of money. She would build a good relationship with Jiang Qiuyue in the future. "Then you go. My Hai Zhi is here."

When Chen Meiru returned home, the child had wet the bed, so she had to wash the sheets before leaving.

When I arrived at Lin's house, I saw Jiang Qiuyue cutting screws and wondered what good this thing could be. "Qiuyue, I just saw Dazhu."

"He is just about to go to my sister-in-law's house." Jiang Qiuyue looked up with a smile.

"You are so polite. We are all from the same village. There is no need to send peach cakes." Having said that, Chen Meiru couldn't hide the smile on her face. "You are lucky. Dazhu is a capable person. Your life will definitely get better and better in the future, much better than Zhou Cuicui's."

"Oh, look at my mouth, I don't think what I say. But don't mind, Zhou Cuicui wanted to marry Dazhu at the beginning, but the Zhou family refused to lower the gift price, so the matter didn't work out. Dazhu himself didn't even know about this." After starting, Chen Meiru couldn't help but continue.

Jiang Qiuyue found that Chen Meiru couldn't keep secrets at all. She pretended to be surprised and said, "No wonder I thought she didn't like me. Is she still thinking about Dazhu now?"

"That's not the case." Chen Meiru shook her head. "Her husband has a lame leg, and life at home is hard, so she feels bad when she sees you and Dazhu living a prosperous life. Don't take it personally, she just has an annoying mouth, she's not a bad person, just don't have much contact with her in the future."

Having said this, she quickly changed the subject, "But Qiuyue, have you ever thought about going to the army with Dazhu?"

Jiang Qiuyue said she had never thought about it.

"You used to be the one who had to serve your parents-in-law, but now that the relationship is severed, there are only you and the two children at home. Dazhu is so well-off, if it were me, I would keep a close eye on him and not let those vixens succeed."

Chen Meiru suddenly thought of this, "Many things need men to do. You should think about it. If you can really join the army, wouldn't it be better for you and Dazhu?"

Jiang Qiuyue said that it seemed impossible, "Dazhu is not at the group level yet, it is difficult to apply for a house, I can't go."

Moreover, she didn't want to change the social relationship she had built up with great difficulty. When she went to the military academy, everything was unfamiliar, and the military academy was strictly controlled. She had to be very careful if she wanted to buy meat on the black market.

Jiang Qiuyue didn't want to live a complicated life. In Taohua Village, most people quarreled with each other, and those who didn't like it would just confront them. Wang Chunhua's family next door was well controlled by her, so there was no need to worry.

It was different when she went to the Military Family College. Lin Zhengrong had colleagues, right? Would the wives of his colleagues have to socialize? Regardless of whether she went to work or not, as long as Lin Zhengrong's workplace was there, she would be forced to participate in some of it.

Jiang Qiuyue was indeed attracted by Lin Zhengrong's looks, but she was not really a womanizer. She knew clearly what kind of life she wanted most.

In this life, she just wants to stay away from the workplace.

Of course, if Lin Zhengrong wanted to have a couple's exchange, she would also consider it. After all, she had never tasted a man, and she might like it after the experience.

At this time, Lin Zhengrong had already reached the door. He stopped when he heard Chen Meiru talking to Jiang Qiuyue about joining the army.

He didn't tell his family about the promotion. He was afraid that Wang Chunhua and Lin Fugui would ask for more money after knowing it, so he kept it a secret. Later, they broke off the relationship, and he never found a chance to tell Jiang Qiuyue.

"Can't I follow the army if I'm not at the regimental level?" Chen Meiru didn't know about this.

"Not necessarily, but it is easier for group-level people to apply for housing, while others have to queue up." Jiang Qiuyue said.

Chen Meiru felt sorry for Jiang Qiuyue, "It would be great if she could join the army. You should ask Dazhu to work hard and take you three mothers over as soon as possible."

"Don't worry, I'm not bad in the village. I have a good sister-in-law like you, and Aunt Niu often helps me. Even if Dazhu is at the regiment level, I would prefer to live in the village." Jiang Qiuyue thought that Lin Zhengrong could work harder, but that didn't mean she had to change with Lin Zhengrong's changes. Even if she was a housewife, she was an independent individual. She took care of the family and educated the children, and she was also contributing to the family. As for spending a little more money, it was within the range of Lin Zhengrong's salary. If she didn't treat herself better, would she learn from the heroine in the melodrama and starve herself to support her children?

Chen Meiru laughed out loud at the compliment, "That's right, we are all from the same village, we will help if you ask us anything. Look at me, I forget the time when I am chatting. I will go home first, and I will ask you to come with me next time if I need anything."

She offended Zhou Cuicui today, and they probably won't go together in the future.

Jiang Qiuyue had finished cutting the butt of the screw. When she heard Chen Meiru was leaving, she thought of something, "Sister-in-law, can I borrow your sewing machine? I bought two pieces of cloth and want to make a new dress."

The family with the best conditions in the village is Hu Haizhi's. The sewing machine was Chen Meiru's dowry, and she was the only one in the village who had one.

"Of course, you can go whenever you need it. Oh, Dazhu, you're back, we were just talking about you." Chen Meiru said goodbye with a smile.

Lin Zhengrong looked at Jiang Qiuyue. She said that she would rather stay in the village than join the army. Why?

"Is there something on my face?" Jiang Qiuyue asked curiously when she saw Lin Zhengrong staring at her.

"No." Lin Zhengrong felt depressed. He had never thought of letting Jiang Qiuyue join the army before. He was busy in the army and often had to go on missions. He only stopped in the past few months.

He thought that instead of letting Jiang Qiuyue and the child go to a new environment, it would be better to let them stay in the village, at least there would be someone familiar to take care of them. When he was on vacation, he could still go home to visit them.

So when Political Commissar Wang and Chen Guowei made the suggestion, he was not tempted.

"Why are you staring at me?" Jiang Qiuyue was almost embarrassed by being stared at. "I have to cook. The beans in the yard have sprouted. Go water them."

She turned and went into the kitchen, and Lin Beibei followed her in to light the fire.

Soak the sweet potato vermicelli in water in advance, cut the salted pork into thin shreds, heat the oil in a pan, add the shredded pork, red pepper and minced garlic, and add the vermicelli and seasonings after the aroma comes out.

Lard is needed to stir-fry vermicelli. Looking at the last bit of lard, Jiang Qiuyue made up her mind and used it all, otherwise the fried vermicelli would not taste good.

Before serving, sprinkle a handful of scallions to enhance the flavor, and the crystal clear vermicelli is ready.

The last dish was stir-fried river snails, which also required a lot of ingredients. When Jiang Qiuyue was talking to Jiang Youcai about how to make braised fish today, she realized that she didn’t have much seasoning left.

But when cooking, you have to be serious and not let every hard work in the kitchen go to waste. Let’s have a big meal today and we can think about the future later.

After sautéing the garlic and chili, add the bay leaves and screws. Pour soy sauce and rice wine from the side of the pot. With the sound of "sizzling", the aroma of the various ingredients rises.

Before serving, add a handful of chopped green onions. Unfortunately, there is no oyster sauce or chicken essence, otherwise it would be more fragrant.

"It's time to eat!"

As soon as Jiang Qiuyue finished shouting, Lin Beibei and Lin Nannan had already set the table.

After Lin Zhengrong finished watering the vegetable garden, his short-sleeved shirt was soaked with sweat, and the fabric stuck to his chest muscles. Jiang Qiuyue happened to be sitting opposite Lin Zhengrong, and she sighed silently in her heart, this is what it means to be a beauty that is a feast to the eyes.

The vermicelli was chewy and tasty, but hard to pick up. Lin Beibei tried to grab it with his hands, but was stopped by Jiang Qiuyue.

"Don't grab food with your hands at the table. Be a well-mannered child." Jiang Qiuyue reminded gently that children don't know what to do and what is bad, and she needs to guide them. She will only give a stern lesson if the child makes the same mistake again and again.

"I know, Mom, but I really can't pick it up." Lin Beibei was distressed, "Look, Nannan can't pick it up either, and neither can Dad!"

At this moment, the vermicelli in Lin Zhengrong's chopsticks just slipped away.

Jiang Qiuyue turned around and took a look. She first picked up some vermicelli for the two children, and then picked up a piece for Lin Zhengrong with her chopsticks. "Okay, three kids, eat quickly. Everyone should eat their fill."

Lin Zhengrong's face became warm without being noticed when he was called a kid. The vermicelli in the bowl tasted a little more fragrant. He chewed it slowly for a while before swallowing it.

The Lin family was having dinner, and smoke was rising from other houses in the village.

Today, Lin Zhengrong went to deliver peach cakes. Many people saw it and the people who received the peach cakes were very happy. After Chen Meiru returned home, she gave half of the peach cakes to her family and planned to take the remaining half to her parents' home tomorrow.

Chen Meiru had just finished washing the dishes when Zhou Cuicui suddenly came.

"Sister Meiru." Zhou Cuicui called out unnaturally.

"What's wrong?" Chen Meiru thought Zhou Cuicui would never talk to her again. After all, she had said something harsh during the day. Seeing Zhou Cuicui coming over, she thought that Zhou Cuicui had let it go. She felt happy. "Have you eaten?"

"I've eaten Sister Meiru, I..." Zhou Cuicui looked at Chen Meiru embarrassedly, and after a long while, she spoke in a low voice, "It's that... Daxi saw your child eating peach cakes and kept asking for some. I really couldn't help it. Can you give me a little bit?"

Chen Meiru suddenly stopped laughing. It turned out that she came for the peach cake. She used to bring food to Zhou Cuicui's house. But maybe they had a quarrel today. She was not so happy to hear Zhou Cuicui asking for food again. But she still broke half of the cake and passed it to her. "The peach cake was sent by Dazhu. I don't have much at home. You can give it to Daxi to taste."

"Dazhu gave it to me?"

"Yes, before he broke up with Wang Chunhua, my son Haizhi helped to run around, and Dazhu is a kind person, so he gave gifts to each of our families."

Seeing that it was getting dark, Chen Meiru said, "Let's go back quickly, otherwise Daxi will cry again." She really didn't like Daxi. Every time he saw other children eating, he would cry for food. He was not sensible at all.

Hearing that Lin Zhengrong had sent peach cakes to several families, Zhou Cuicui unconsciously crushed half of the peach cake in her hand. When she came to her senses, the peach cake was broken into four or five pieces.

After walking out of the Hu family's gate, she looked at the peaches, flipped her hand, and threw them all on the ground.

When I got home, my son ran over to me in delight, "Mom, where's Taosu? Where is Taosu? You didn't forget to bring it back, did you?"

"Yeah." Zhou Cuicui's eyes were empty.

"I don't care. I want to eat peach cakes. Why doesn't Uncle Dazhu send them to our house? I want to eat peach cakes!" Chen Daxi immediately lay on the ground, rolling around, and clamoring for peach cakes.

But this time, Zhou Cuicui didn't coax her son anymore. Instead, she grabbed him and beat him, "Eat, eat, eat. I told you to eat peach cakes. You want to eat everything. Why don't you eat shit?"

After being slapped several times in a row, Chen Daxi was stunned. His mother had never treated him like this before and usually coaxed him. When his buttocks began to hurt, Chen Daxi cried even louder.

But when Zhou Cuicui heard her son mention Lin Zhengrong again, she attacked even harder.

Chen Ping, who was in the kitchen, heard his son crying and limped over, "Why did you hit your son?"

He held his son in his arms and said, "If you are angry, just come to me. There is no need to hit my son."

"How dare you say that? It's because you are incompetent. When your son wants to eat a piece of peach cake, I have to beg him!" Zhou Cuicui pointed at Chen Ping's face, "Why didn't you just die? You are such a waste!"

Chen Ping's face changed immediately, but it was a fact that he was lame, and the work points he earned were even less than those of a woman. He had no status at home and could only endure Zhou Cuicui's scolding.

Zhou Cuicui slammed the door and went into the room, and Chen Ping had no choice but to sleep with his son.

The next morning, Zhou Cuicui left angrily without even cooking breakfast.

Jiang Qiuyue was still asleep at this time. Lin Zhengrong had the habit of getting up early to exercise, so now breakfast was made by Lin Zhengrong.

Breakfast is simple, just sweet potatoes, brown rice and some sauerkraut.

When Jiang Qiuyue got up, the two children had already prepared breakfast.

"Mom, the snails yesterday were so delicious. Can I go touch the snails with Brother Zhuangzhuang today?" Lin Beibei said while drinking porridge.

Jiang Qiuyue said no without even thinking, "You are too young to play in the river. Tell Zhuangzhuang that if he dares to go, I will let his grandmother beat him up."

"Okay." Lin Beibei sighed softly, but he was a good boy and listened to his mother the most.

Seeing his son like this, Lin Zhengrong suggested, "After dinner, I'll take you fishing, and you and Nan Nan will watch by the river."

Hearing about fishing, Lin Beibei got excited again, but she still needed her mother's consent, so she went to see her expectantly.

Only with Lin Zhengrong leading them did Jiang Qiuyue nod, "Remember to keep them away from the shore. It would be best if they can catch fish, but if not, forget it, just take them out for fun. I'm going to borrow a sewing machine from Sister Meiru today, you guys go by yourselves."

"Don't worry, I will definitely catch a lot of fish!" Lin Zhengrong said, "So much that you won't be able to eat it all. I'll make smoked fish and store it!"

Jiang Qiuyue didn't think too much about it. She thought Lin Zhengrong just wanted to catch more fish. After all, every fisherman is very confident in himself before setting out.

After breakfast, Jiang Qiuyue put the fabrics and needles and threads into a basket. When she was about to go out, someone outside the door suddenly yelled, "Jiang Qiuyue, get the hell out of here!"

The voice sounded familiar and distant. When she thought of who it was, she put down the bamboo basket without saying a word, picked up a wooden stick as thick as her wrist, and rushed out.

"You don't have to do anything." Lin Zhengrong grabbed Jiang Qiuyue's wrist. The soft touch felt like an electric current running through his body. He took the stick and subconsciously lowered his voice, "I'm here, just watch."