Chapter 49 Chapter 49 Celebration

When Meng Yufei was working in the office in the morning, she felt a little uneasy and looked at her watch every once in a while.

Little Zhang Yuguang noticed a few times and couldn't help but asked with a smile: "Sister Meng, do you miss Qinqin?"

Meng Yufei smiled and nodded, "I brought her here for a few days, and now she's in kindergarten. I'm still a little uncomfortable with it."

Xiao Zhang said: "I also feel a little uncomfortable. Every day I can see a little person lying on the table drawing. Today, when I looked up, I couldn't see him anymore. My heart was shaken and I almost wanted to ask why Qinqin disappeared."

As they talked, they both laughed. Xiao Zhang picked up the account book in his hand and said, "By the way, Sister Meng, I have sorted out the ticket information of my family members this month. Please check it.

Because all the family members' tickets were compiled into separate books last month, this month's work was much easier. Xiao Zhang spent half a day yesterday to sort it out.

Meng Yufei took the account book, sorted out her thoughts, and began to look at it carefully.

At 11:25 am, Meng Yufei stared at the watch on her hand. She had finished her morning work, packed her bag, and was just waiting to get off work.

11:30, get off work on time.

Meng Yufei picked up her bag and went downstairs, quickening her pace to the kindergarten in front. At the gate, there were already several parents standing there who had come to pick up their children from school.

"It was the first day of school. I don't know if my kid was used to it. Before leaving in the morning, he held me and cried for a long time."

"You'll get used to it after a few more days of school. This is in the family compound, what can go wrong? I didn't want to come to pick him up, but his father insisted on coming to pick him up on the first day. I won't come tomorrow."

"You are so tolerant. I can't do that with such a young child."

"What's there to worry about? They can walk and run now. Just let them come back on their own. They can't be lost."

…

When Meng Yufei arrived, some parents were already walking home with their children. Through the half-person-high fence of the kindergarten, she saw a group of children standing in a line inside. When they saw their parents coming, they ran out in a flash.

There were also a few children who came out of the kindergarten gate and walked home by themselves. They seemed to be very familiar with the road to the family compound.

Meng Yufei looked around among the group of children and immediately found her daughter, who was waving at her with a bright smile. It was obvious that she had seen her earlier. Meng Yufei quickly smiled and waved to her daughter.

Xia Qinqin saw her mother coming to pick her up from school, but there were too many children and her mother couldn't find her at once. Xia Qinqin stood on tiptoe and waved to her mother vigorously.

Finally, Mom found herself~

Xia Qinqin turned to Fangfang beside her and said, "Sister Fangfang, my mother is here to pick me up. I'll go back first."

Fangfang said, "Okay, let's play together again in the afternoon." She wanted to go home with Mrs. Zhang after get off work.

Xia Qinqin happily ran to Meng Yufei and raised her head and said, "Mom, you are here to pick me up from school."

Meng Yufei bent down, pushed back the loose hair on her daughter's forehead, and said with a smile, "Yes, were you happy in kindergarten this morning?"

Xia Qinqin nodded and said, "I'm happy. I'm sitting with Sister Fangfang. Teacher Zhou and Teacher Tang are playing hand-tossing with us. It's so fun. I run so fast that I can catch up with the kid who threw the hand-toss to me in no time. Hehe~"

Meng Yufei led Xia Qinqin to the cafeteria, listened to her daughter's sharing, and said with a smile: "Really? Qinqin is really amazing."

Xia Qinqin continued, "I made several friends today and shared my candies with them. They said they would bring me some candies from home in the afternoon."

Meng Yufei said: "Qinqin made friends so quickly, that's great, you can also bring some candy over this afternoon and share it with your friends."

Xia Qinqin said happily: "Thank you, Mom." Yeah, I can eat a lot of candy in the afternoon.

When they arrived at the cafeteria, they saw that the chef had cooked glutinous rice and pork ribs for lunch. Meng Yufei remembered that it tasted good the last time she had it, so she ordered one portion.

I took a look and found that today's dishes were quite rich. I wonder if the chef cooked a few more dishes to celebrate the first day of kindergarten. Also, it seemed that there were more people coming to the cafeteria to eat today than usual.

I also ordered a portion of stir-fried shrimp with green onions, a portion of stir-fried bok choy, a bowl of kelp soup and half a pound of rice.

Spare ribs and shrimps are Xia Qinqin's favorite foods, so this is to celebrate her first day of kindergarten.

The mother and daughter walked home with their lunch boxes. Along the way, Xia Qinqin, carrying her small schoolbag, talked happily non-stop, sharing her morning kindergarten experience with Meng Yufei.

After returning home, Meng Yufei put the lunch box on the dining table, poured a glass of water and handed it to Xia Qinqin, saying with a smile: "After talking so much, are you thirsty? Have some water."

Xia Qinqin took the small cup and said, "Yeah, I'm thirsty."

Meng Yufei took the small schoolbag off her shoulders, opened the bag, took out the water bottle inside, shook it, but no sound of water was heard.

"Qinqin, you drank all the water in the kettle."

Xia Qinqin raised her head and drank a sip of water, then wiped the water stains from her mouth and said, "Yes, I drank it all. It was Teacher Zhou who fed me."

Meng Yufei asked: "Have you thanked Teacher Zhou?"

Xia Qinqin put the cup in her hand on the table and said, "Thank you. Teacher Zhou taught us singing today, and she even praised my singing voice for being beautiful."

Meng Yufei said: "Really? Then when will you sing it for Mom?"

Xia Qinqin touched her head and said, "Well... I haven't learned it yet. When I learn it, I will come back and sing it to you, Mom, okay?"

Meng Yufei smiled and said, "Okay, I'll call my dad to come and listen to you sing."

"Yeah, okay~"

While talking to her daughter, Meng Yufei went to the kitchen to get a plate, poured the dishes in the lunch box into the plate, and then rinsed the lunch box. It is best to wash the lunch box at this time, just rinse it with water, otherwise the oil stains will dry and cold water will not be able to wash them off.

When Xia Junshan got home, Xia Qinqin was playing on the sofa. When she saw him holding two coconuts, her eyes lit up, and she quickly slid off the sofa and ran over, smiling and saying, "Dad, are those coconuts in your hands?"

Xia Junshan smiled and said, "Yes, to celebrate our Qinqin going to kindergarten today, Dad went to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy it. How about it? Are you happy in kindergarten today?"

Xia Qinqin smiled and nodded, "Happy~ When mom came to pick me up from kindergarten, she also asked me if I was happy, hehe, the same question as dad."

Xia Junshan's eyes moved slightly, and he looked at his daughter with an innocent smile and said softly, "Because Mom and Dad hope that Qinqin can be happy forever."

Xia Qinqin touched her head and smiled: "Qinqin is very happy today~"

Meng Yufei just came out of the kitchen with her bowl and chopsticks. She saw the coconut in Xia Junshan's hand and asked with a smile, "When did you buy it?"

Xia Junshan said, "I left work early and ran to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy it. I couldn't send Qinqin to school this morning, so I bought a coconut to make up for it."

Xia Junshan felt very upset when he thought about not being able to send his daughter to kindergarten on her first day.

Meng Yufei said, "Then you can open the two coconuts now. We will have coconut milk instead of wine at noon to celebrate Qinqin's promotion to the senior class of kindergarten today."

Xia Qinqin clapped her hands and said, "Great! Congratulations!"

Xia Junshan weighed the coconut in his hand and said with a smile, "Okay, I'll open it right away."

Xia Junshan went to the kitchen, got a knife to open the coconut, poured the coconut juice into the exclusive cups for the family of three, and brought them to the dining table. Meng Yufei had already set the table for the dishes.

After sitting down, Meng Yufei raised her cup and said, "Today, we celebrate Xia Qinqin's first day at the kindergarten, and also celebrate her successful promotion to the senior class."

Xia Junshan raised his glass with a smile, "Congratulations, little Qinqin. Dad hopes that you will study hard and be happy every day in the future."

Xia Qinqin happily held the cup in both hands, raised it high and clinked glasses with her parents, smiling and saying, "Thank you, Mom~ Thank you, Dad~"

The family of three clinked their glasses to celebrate this memorable day.

—————

Yin Guixiang finished her morning work and left the kindergarten with her three daughters, preparing to go to the cafeteria at the back to eat. However, she ran into Captain Xue at the entrance of the kindergarten, who was waiting for them with lunch boxes in his hands.

Daya and Erya saw Captain Xue and shouted, "Dad, why are you here?"

Captain Xue smiled and said to his two daughters, "I'm here to take you home." He then said to Yin Guixiang, "I took a leave this morning and sent Mom, Big Brother, and Tiedan on board. From now on, we will be the only family living at home."

Daya asked in disbelief: "Really? Grandma is gone?"

Captain Xue nodded and said, "Yes, he left this morning and should have taken the train back home by now."

Daya said to Erya happily, "Sister, grandma is gone. There will be no one to compete with us for meat and candy in the future."

Erya said ignorantly: "Is the bad grandma gone? She doesn't scold people anymore."

Daya patted her sister on the shoulder and said, "No one will scold us anymore."

Hearing her sister's words, Erya's eyes lit up and she smiled happily.

Captain Xue looked at his two daughters and whispered, "Dad was wrong before. I won't bring grandma home again." He raised the lunch box in his hand and said, "Look, Dad just bought glutinous rice and pork ribs in the cafeteria. They are delicious. Let's go back and eat together, okay?"

Arya smelled the aroma of pork ribs coming from the lunch box and couldn't help but say, "Wow, it smells so good."

The eldest girl raised her head and glanced at Yin Guixiang. She obviously still remembered that her mother had said before that she would not eat with her father and grandmother. But now that the bad grandmother was gone, she would not eat with them either?

Yin Guixiang asked: "Where did you get the meat coupons?" The troops' wages and subsidies for this month have not been paid yet.

Captain Xue said, "I borrowed it from my comrades yesterday, but I didn't use it last night. I went to the cafeteria at noon today and saw glutinous rice and pork ribs, so I used the remaining meat ticket."

Yin Guixiang glanced at him and said, "Then I'll return it from your ticket when the time comes."

Captain Xue nodded and said, "Okay, aren't all the notes and money in the house in your hands? It doesn't matter whose money you use."

Yin Guixiang said, "How can it be the same? You said yesterday that brothers should settle accounts clearly. I think we should also settle accounts with each other. Tell me, how much money have you sent back to your hometown every month since you got married? Have I ever said no? And this is how your mother repays our little family."

Captain Xue sighed and said, "I... but they are my parents after all. Now I am rich in their eyes. If I don't send money back, I will really be criticized in my hometown."

Yin Guixiang snorted and said, "I didn't say I wouldn't send them money. Even if they are your biological parents, I will accept the money for your reputation. We can still afford 20 yuan a month."

Captain Xue smiled and said, "Guixiang, I'm glad you understand."

Yin Guixiang coughed lightly and said, "However, I am not happy to give this money. Look at what kind of person your mother is. Look at my mother. Since we got married, she has never asked for a penny from us. She even sends us things every year. She also took care of our three children during their confinement. Why? Your mother is my biological mother, but my mother is not!"

Captain Xue asked, "Then - what do you want to do?"

Yin Guixiang said, "How about this, you should also send my mother twenty yuan in the future. This is fair."

"twenty?"

"Why, do you think it's too much? My mother is not worth the money?"

"No... okay, the money in the family is with you anyway, you can use it however you want." Captain Xue compromised.

Yin Guixiang was satisfied and said, "Okay, let's go home and have dinner. The children are hungry."

Captain Xue's monthly salary and allowance totaled ninety-four yuan. After deducting the forty yuan he sent to both sides' parents, he was still left with fifty-four yuan, which was more than enough to support his family.

What's more, Yin Guixiang now has a job and her salary for this month will be paid soon. I heard that it is set at 28 yuan a month. Of course, she will save her salary separately.

On the way home, Yin Guixiang thought to herself: My mother will definitely not want this money from me. Not only did she give me all the betrothal gifts when she got married, but she also gave me a lot of things as a dowry. My parents are the type who don't want to trouble their children. Let her save this money quietly for me, just in case.

Now she has seen through it. While her three children are still young, she should save more money for them. Otherwise, she can't say for sure whether her money will be taken away by that old hag in the future.

The family returned home, opened the door, and at first glance they felt that the house was a little different. After a closer look, they found that a lot of things were missing.

The kettle, porcelain cups, and tea tray on the dining table were all gone, even the tablecloth covering them was gone. Also, the New Year paintings hanging on the wall, the glass bottles on the chest of drawers…

Looking at the somewhat empty house, Captain Xue felt a little embarrassed and said, "Mom said she was in a hurry to go back and wanted to bring some things back as a souvenir, but she was a little anxious when she packed it."

Yin Guixiang said nothing. She walked to the door of the small room and looked inside. Sure enough, everything inside was swept away, including the sheets and quilt covers. Fortunately, the weather was hot and she didn't have a quilt to cover herself with, otherwise she would have to carry everything back with her.

Forget it, she still finds things that old hag has used disgusting, so just take it.

Daya said unhappily, "Mom, my rattle is gone."

Yin Guixiang said: "Just think of it as a gift to your cousin."

Captain Xue immediately said to his daughter: "Dad will buy you a new one."

Yin Guixiang looked around and luckily nothing was missing from her master bedroom. Captain Xue, who was following behind her, said hurriedly, "Mom didn't come into our room."

Forget it, it's good that they're gone. Yin Guixiang said, "Let's eat first, and we can go to the market to buy the things we need at the weekend."

Captain Xue nodded and said, "Okay, our family hasn't been to the city for a long time, so this is a good time to go shopping."

Erya came up to Captain Xue and pointed at the lunch box and said, "Meat, eat meat."

Captain Xue said with a smile: "Er Ya is hungry, let's eat now."

At the dinner table, Captain Xue was eager to pick up some ribs for his two daughters. "Dad said last time that he would buy you some meat. Keep your word."

Daya nodded while chewing on the ribs and said, "Yeah, that counts."

Captain Xue asked again: "Is Dad a good dad?"

Daya paused and said, "The father now is a good father." The implication is that he was not a good father before.

Captain Xue touched Daya's hair and said earnestly, "Dad will always be the good dad he is now."

Yin Guixiang looked at the man trying to please his two daughters and thought with amusement in her heart: Humph, it is because of the stimulation from his mother and his elder brother that he finally knows who is his closest person.

—————

After Zhao Meixia got off work from the supply and marketing cooperative, she entered the family compound and did not go straight home as usual. Instead, she turned to the canteen and ordered a portion of glutinous rice and pork ribs to take home.

At home, Mrs. Tang was cooking in the kitchen. The rice was already cooked in the pot. She had just finished cooking sour beans, and now she was frying leeks and eggs in the pot. She would fry some Chinese cabbage later.

Zhao Meixia put the lunch box on the dining table, put her bag on the sofa, and then came to the kitchen to help.

"Mom, let me help you."

Mrs. Tang said, "Oh, put on your apron quickly, don't get your clothes dirty." I thought to myself, I would have to wash them if they got dirty. She was wearing a white shirt today, which would be difficult to wash!

Zhao Meixia took the apron hanging behind the kitchen door and put it on, then sat under the stove to light the fire. After a while, the two dishes were ready, and Mrs. Tang brought the dishes to the table while Zhao Meixia went to wash her hands.

Mrs. Tang saw the lunch box on the table, opened it and saw the food inside. She was surprised. It was glutinous rice and pork ribs! This dish is not cheap.

"Meixia, did you bring back this glutinous rice pork ribs?" Mrs. Tang said to Zhao Meixia who had just washed her hands.

Zhao Meixia nodded and said, "Yes, I bought it in the cafeteria."

When she heard that it was bought from the cafeteria, Mrs. Tang pulled back her expression and asked, "How much is this one?"

Zhao Meixia said: "It's not bad, it's not very expensive."

Mrs. Tang said, "Tsk, didn't we have fried eggs and some mustard greens for lunch? Why are we cooking pork ribs? It's not appropriate for the festival."

Zhao Meixia just said: "I have something to say later."

When the battalion commander got home from get off work, the two children also came back from school. The eldest son, Hou Yuanchao, was 13 years old and had just started the first year of junior high school. The youngest daughter, Hou Kangmei, was 10 years old and was in the fourth grade of elementary school.

Hou Kangmei entered the house first, sniffed the air, and said loudly, "Oh! I smell the aroma of pork ribs, grandma, are you roasting pork ribs today?"

Mrs. Tang said, "You have a very good nose, girl. How could I get the money to buy spare ribs? Your mother bought them from the canteen."

Hou Kangmei quickly ran to the dining table, looked at the glutinous rice and pork ribs on the table, and said happily: "Last time I heard from Lanzi next door that the glutinous rice and pork ribs in the cafeteria are delicious. I must try them today."

Hou Yuanchao walked in with his and his sister's schoolbags and slowly hung them behind the door. When Mrs. Tang saw Sun Zi, she said, "Hey, Yuanchao, why are you carrying two schoolbags? You and Kang Mei are not in the same school, so why are you helping her carry her schoolbag?"

Hou Yuanchao smiled and said, "I just happened to run into my sister at the gate of our compound, so I helped her get it."

Mrs. Tang said, "It's just a short distance, just let Kangmei carry it on his back."

After washing his hands, Captain Hou came into the house and heard this: "Mom, Yuan Chao is such a big boy, what's wrong with asking him to carry his sister's bag? Boys should exercise more. I say, if he carries a sandbag weighing more than ten kilograms to and from school every day, he will be able to walk as fast as a flying horse in less than a month."

Mrs. Tang rolled her eyes at her son and said unhappily, "What nonsense are you talking about all day? Yuan Chao is only thirteen years old. Do you think you are as thick-skinned as him?"

Zhao Meixia coughed lightly and said, "Okay, let's eat first."

The family sat at the dining table, and Zhao Meixia announced: "I have good news for you. The appointment document has officially come down today. I have been promoted. I am now the deputy director of the supply and marketing cooperative and the interim person in charge of the supply and marketing cooperative."

Captain Hou nodded and said, "The document has been issued and it's officially settled. Although you are the deputy director, since you are temporarily in charge of the supply and marketing cooperative, it seems that no leader will be sent over for the time being. If you perform well, maybe the word "deputy" will be removed from the title."

Zhao Meixia raised her chin and smiled: "Of course, I know."

Hou Kangmei clapped his hands happily and said, "That's great. Mom, no wonder you brought back glutinous rice and pork ribs, it turns out you came to celebrate your promotion." Then he picked up a piece of pork ribs and put it in Zhao Meixia's bowl, smiling and saying, "Congratulations, Mom."

Zhao Meixia smiled and said to her daughter, "You are so sweet. I will go to the market next month to buy you a skirt. Summer is here, and it's time to wear skirts."

Hou Kangmei immediately stood up and walked over to Zhao Meixia, hugging her neck and saying coquettishly: "Ahhh! Thank you, Mom. You are really the best mom in the world." She said to Hou Yuanchao who was sitting opposite her: "Brother, hurry up and congratulate Mom together. Our mom is in a good mood now. Let's ask for more good things from her."

Hou Yuanchao smiled slightly, picked up a piece of pork ribs and put it in Zhao Meixia's bowl, and said softly: "Congratulations, Mom."

Zhao Meixia smiled and said, "I am in a really good mood today. Yuan Chao, your pair of sneakers are a little small. Mom will buy you a new pair next month."

Hou Yuanchao's smile brightened a little, and he nodded and said, "Thank you, Mom."

Hou Kangmei clapped her hands and said, "Wow, Mom is so generous."

Zhao Meixia tapped her daughter's nose and said, "Why don't you sit down and eat? Don't you want to eat spare ribs?"

Mrs. Tang then asked, "Meixia, are you going to raise the salary?"

Zhao Meixia nodded and said, "Of course it has increased. I was promoted this time, from clerk to deputy director, and my salary increased by twelve yuan per month."

Mrs. Tang calculated in her mind that Zhao Meixia's original monthly salary was 32 yuan, and with this additional 12 yuan, it would be 44 yuan a month.

Wow! This is higher than the salary of many workers.

Captain Hou said, "Since you have been promoted this time, you should hire another clerk."

Zhao Meixia said: "We have this plan, but who to recruit depends on the intention of the army. The town can't control these things now."

Captain Hou nodded and said, "Since the army has taken over the supply and marketing cooperative, we must give priority to the family courtyard in future recruitment. After all, they are our own people, and we can rest assured to use them."

Zhao Meixia said, "That's good too. Although I got a promotion, the people in the supply and marketing cooperative were mostly locals before. They may have secretly formed cliques, and they may not obey me in their hearts. Now that I select people from the family courtyard, they will have more crisis awareness, which will make it easier for me to manage them."

Zhao Meixia, who had just been promoted, was full of ambition and prepared to make a big splash in the supply and marketing cooperative.