Chapter 90 Chapter 90 Five years passed in a flash.
By early May 1974, spring ploughing had already ended.
The weather gradually began to warm up, the crops in the fields sprouted, the hillsides were green, and the whole place was full of spring.
The locust flowers are in full bloom this month.
The Sophora japonica tree grows very fast. It takes one year for a tree to grow and three years for a hill to grow. Once it grows, it will form large tracts. However, its flowering period is short, only about ten days to half a month.
If you don't pick them quickly, you will miss this opportunity.
At around nine o'clock in the morning, a large patch of locust flowers bloomed on the hillside in the southwest corner.
Many little kids were climbing up the trees with baskets in their hands to pick flowers. These flowers can be eaten after being steamed and are very delicious.
If adults are willing, they can also beat a few eggs and spread them into pancakes, or just use white bread to make buns.
However, these days, few parents are willing to spend white flour at this critical moment. This is not the time of autumn harvest, and people can't work without eating something good. Being able to beat a few eggs and make a pancake is already the best.
Mu Mian's family is willing to spend money on food, and they make some locust flower buns at this time every year.
Chop the fresh minced meat and mix it with the locust flowers. It has a unique aroma and no kid will dislike it.
Mu Xi liked it very much, so he was quite active in picking locust flowers.
Just like now, she is climbing the tree like the monkey, and her movements are quite fast.
For some places that are difficult to pick, just cut off the branches. They will grow again next year anyway.
Although she is small, she is very strong, and in this respect she is very much like her father.
On the tree branch next to her is her little friend Xiao Yuanzi. The two little sisters, who are only half a year apart in age, are inseparable and do everything together.
Xiao Yuanzi was currently breaking off a branch with a grin on her face. Two seconds later, the little girl decisively gave up and said, "Xixi, I can't break this. You can do it later."
Mu Xi turned her head and took a look. Her chubby face was serious, like a big sister. "Okay, let me take this off first."
Just as she finished her words, a childish boy's voice came from a little below, "Sister, I can't get this either."
The person who spoke was Mu Dong, whose nickname was Dongdong. Anyone could tell that this name was taken after Mu Xi.
He is four years old this year. His father Mu Qing and his mother Zhao Fangya got married in June 1969.
Zhao Fangya was also an employee of the machinery factory. Her home was in the Hongqi Brigade, and it was Mu Qingxian who took a fancy to her.
Then his mother Tang Cuixiang asked a matchmaker to tell the girl that she was also satisfied with Mu Qing, and they got married after dating for two months.
The couple gave birth to Mu Dong in May 1970.
Last year, she gave birth to another child, a girl named Mu Nan, nicknamed Nan Nan. She is just one year old and is not yet able to run around the mountains and fields with her brothers and sisters.
Hearing Mu Dong's words, Mu Xi looked down and said, "Why don't you go somewhere else first?"
Mu Dong had a short haircut and his head was the size of a kiwi fruit. "There's nothing else to look for."
Next to him was a little girl named Xiaotuanzi, the eldest daughter of Xu Lele’s second brother Xu Zhiyong, also born in 1970.
The little boy grabbed the tree with both hands and started to move down. "There are more on the tree. I'll go over there."
Mu Dong: "That tree is too high. If you fall down, you will definitely get a big hole in your head."
The little girl's face was puffed up, "I won't fall! My aunt praised me for being the best at climbing trees. She said she wasn't as good as me when she was a kid!"
Mu Dong was not to be outdone, "My aunt also praised me like this."
After saying that, the little boy added, "My five aunts all praised me like that!"
Only the little girl who was her aunt Xu Lele was defeated and ran away angrily. Her little back clearly showed...she didn't want to talk to this person anymore.
Mu Dong was left sitting on a tree branch, laughing in a very cocky way.
Mu Xi rolled his eyes like a little adult. Four-year-old boys are just childish.
After wandering around the mountainside for nearly two hours, the four little kids started walking home with their baskets, chattering all the way, and they didn't stop until they were almost home.
Xiao Yuanzi held Mu Xi's hand and opened her mouth to say something else when suddenly a singing voice came from not far away.
Xiao Yuanzi changed her mind and said, "My aunt is at your house."
Mu Xi thought of something and squinted his eyes. "Your aunt is so clingy. Last night I heard her say that she didn't want to go home and wanted to sleep with my aunt."
Xiao Yuanzi said in a serious tone, "My mom said that my aunt wanted to stay with your aunt the whole time because she was nervous."
Mu Dong laughed and said, "Why are you still scared even though you're an adult? I can sleep by myself and I'm not scared at all!"
Little Dumpling: "You are so stupid, my aunt is not afraid."
Mu Dong: "What is that?"
Little Dumpling: "Because..."
…………
…
While the four little kids were still staggering and chattering.
At the same time, in the Mu family yard.
Mu Mian, who was about to turn twenty in a few months, sat leaning on a chair under the eaves, her waist-length hair casually braided behind her, her round eyes staring straight ahead.
In the middle of the yard
, Xu Lele stood straight and upright, singing a red song with his mouth open and closed.
Her voice is very wide, and coupled with the passionate tune, she sounds like a soldier returning from a victorious battle, reporting his achievements to his motherland.
Some time ago, the art troupe of the military region near the provincial capital was recruiting soldiers.
Xu Lele signed up and submitted the materials.
She met all the basic requirements and passed the first round of hard requirements.
I will go to participate in the selection the day after tomorrow. Whether I can pass depends on this. If I pass, I will join the art troupe and officially become an art soldier.
However, I don’t know how long I have to wait until the art troupe starts recruiting again.
The art troupes of that time were different from those of later generations. A few decades ago, art troupes had recruitment plans every year.
Not at the moment. The timing of recruitment depends entirely on the arrangements of the military district. The last time we recruited was when Xu Lele was in the second year of junior high school.
I just missed it that year because the art troupe had educational requirements and you had to have a junior high school diploma.
Unless one is extremely talented, it is rare for one to be admitted as an exception.
From Mu Mian's perspective, Xu Lele's talent is above average. As long as everything goes well, there is an 80/90% chance that he can get in.
The singing was still floating in the yard. When the last word fell, Xu Lele's serious look disappeared in a second, and his face was bitter. "How is it? Is this one okay?"
Mu Mian gave a thumbs up, "It's really great, like the sound of nature!"
Xu Lele took two or three steps forward and sat down on the chair next to Mu Mian. "Really? Don't lie to me."
Mu Mian opened her big eyes, "It couldn't be more true. It's better than the last two days. As long as I perform normally the day after tomorrow, I will definitely pass!"
Of course, these words were not said out of emotional comfort to Xu Lele. Mu Mian really felt very good.
Xu Lele has a very high vocal range. She is always running and jumping outside, so she has a great lung capacity and a lot of breath, and her high notes are quite shocking.
The most important thing is the tone quality. The only thing lacking may be some skills. They don’t know any professionals, so they can’t do it in this aspect.
Xu Lele was still a little nervous, "Why don't I go find Shi Xiaolian and ask her for some advice."
Mu Mian held him back, "Don't bother with it anymore. If you get your voice hoarse again, it won't be worth it."
Zhao Meihua, who was teasing Mu Nan, smiled and interrupted, "Xiaomi is right. Le girl, you just think too much. In my opinion, if you can't pass it, no one can."
Xu Lele laughed innocently twice, "Since Grandma Zhao said so, then I will definitely pass!"
Nan Nan, who was being led by the old lady and staggering slowly, followed suit and shouted, "Pot!"
Mu Dong just walked in with a basket, "Xiao Nannan, why are you calling me?"
The old lady laughed, "She didn't call you."
Mu Xi followed him in, and the little girl ran straight to Mu Mian carrying a basket, "Aunt, look at how much we picked up, aren't we super capable?!"
Mu Mian stood up, poked his head out to take a look, and began to praise him, "You are so capable, you are the best among all the kids in the team!"
As she spoke, she picked up Xiao Xixi and shook her around. The little girl obviously liked playing this kind of lifting-up game with her aunt, and her round eyes were smiling.
Mu Dong: "I want to fly too! I picked up a lot too."
Xiao Nannan got anxious when she saw this, and walked towards Mu Mian with her short legs, "Aunt! Gray..."
At an age when she could barely speak fluently, the word "gu" was particularly clear.
Six or seven people, big and small, gathered together and made noise for a while.
Xu Lele didn't stay too long. It was already late, past eleven o'clock, and she had to go back to make lunch.
Mu Mian naturally had to start cooking as well. Mu Xi and Mu Dong could both help, one lighting the fire and the other washing the vegetables. The remaining little Nan Nan tripped Mu Mian up. She was addicted to flying and wanted Mu Mian to hold her.
She is usually taken care of by Tang Cuixiang. Yesterday, Tang Cuixiang ate something bad and had vomiting and diarrhea all night.
This morning I was lying in bed to relax and didn't have the energy to look after the child all the time, so the old lady brought little Nan Nan over.
In fact, last year, Mu Qing and Zhao Fangya had already applied for housing in the factory. It was a small one-bedroom apartment, big enough for a family of four.
But the children are young, and both of them have to go to work, so they can't be left without someone to look after them. Zhao Fangya's parents can't help, so Mu Dong and Mu Nan can only be left with their grandparents.
On Sundays, Mu Qing and Zhao Fangya would come back and stay for a day, or let the children go to the commune, which was close and very convenient.
In comparison, Mu Xi saw his father very rarely.
So few that... you can count them on one finger.
Mu Zhuo has only come back once in these years, which was during the Chinese New Year in 1971 after he was promoted to battalion commander.
A few years ago, he and Wen Zhan were on a mission and won first-class merit, and then got the opportunity for exceptional promotion.
In 1971, when he came back, the family was still discussing how to decorate the house after they were allocated it.
But the reality is that applying for a house is not as easy as imagined, because the military area in Ningzhang is close to the city, unlike some border areas or undeveloped islands.
Those bases are surrounded by desolate areas, with no one around, and many family members are unwilling to go there, so the houses in the family compounds are basically half empty.
This situation does not exist in the Ningzhang Military Region. The surrounding area is very convenient, the living conditions are good, and family members are very willing to follow the troops.
Therefore, housing in the Ningzhang Military Region’s family compound has always been in short supply.
In addition, Mu Zhuo was promoted out of turn, and he was only at the company level before, so he was not eligible to apply.
Although Mu Zhuo submitted a report as soon as he was able to apply, he still waited for a year and a half and still did not get the result.
But sometimes, things are unpredictable. Mu Zhuo was quite anxious about the house.
As a result, at the end of 1972, the Ningzhang Military Region was reformed and expanded. It was going to merge with a small base in the vicinity and would recruit a lot of new recruits.
The key point is that the house also needs to be newly built.
Who would want to live in an old house when there is a new one? The houses in the previous staff quarters have been built for more than ten years.
The family discussed it and decided to just wait until the new house was built.
And then I waited until now.
Mu Zhuo was promoted to deputy regimental commander, and his housing application was approved. It was a new three-bedroom house.
It was approved in early February this year. Nie Sihui has not taken her daughter to the army yet because Mu Zhuo is not in the army now.
After the New Year, he called and said he was going to the capital to study for three months.
When it was almost over, he bought tickets so that Nie Sihui and the others could go to the capital first and then return to the army together.
Last year the Chinese New Year was early, with New Year’s Eve falling in late January of the Gregorian calendar.
Mu Zhuo went to the capital right after the Chinese New Year, and it has been almost exactly three months now.
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