Chapter 76 Chapter 76 Gossip

After dinner, Xia Junshan cleared the dishes and went to wash them. He had eaten noodles but no vegetables tonight, so he had fewer dishes to wash.

Meng Yufei took a rag to wipe the table and let the two children go play.

Xia Qinqin took Lu Yannan to the study, walked to the desk and said, "Brother Yannan, let me draw for you."

She took out drawing paper and brushes from the drawer and spread out her half-finished painting. The previous picture of the kindergarten was already completed, and now she was drawing the cafeteria, which was just behind the kindergarten.

Lu Yannan looked at her paintings, was silent for two seconds, and said, "When did you learn to paint? Who did you learn from?"

Xia Qinqin lowered her head to select a paintbrush from the drawer, and said without raising her head: "I started learning when I was a child. My grandpa taught me. My grandpa is amazing. He not only taught me to paint, but also taught me to write."

Lu Yannan didn't bother to figure out how young she was when she was talking about "when I was little", and just asked, "Then write a few words for me to see."

Xia Qinqin finally chose her paintbrush, a blue pencil, which she planned to use to paint the glass windows of the cafeteria.

"Then wait a moment. I'll write it to you after I finish drawing the cafeteria."

As he said this, he sat on a chair, picked up his paintbrush and began to concentrate on painting.

Lu Yannan turned around and looked around the bookcase, then nodded. There weren’t many books, but they were suitable.

He noticed that there was a copybook of calligraphy in front of him, placed within his reach.

He turned around and looked at Xia Qinqin who was drawing next to him, guessing that this copybook was most likely hers. Lu Yannan asked, "Xia Qinqin, can I have a look at this copybook?"

Xia Qinqin was concentrating on painting and nodded, "Oh, sure."

Lu Yannan took the copybook, opened it and found that it was Ouyang Xun's regular script "Thousand Character Classic". The handwriting was elegant and the structure was strict, which was quite suitable for beginners.

After flipping through the pages, he found that he had only one page left. He turned around and asked, "Xia Qinqin, why don't you practice calligraphy?"

Xia Qinqin was interrupted one after another while painting. She frowned a little unhappily. She stopped the brush in her hand and looked up and said unhappily: "Student Lu, please don't disturb me when I'm painting. This is impolite behavior."

Lu Yannan walked over with the calligraphy, spread it on the desk, and asked her, "Did your grandfather buy this for you too?"

Xia Qinqin nodded: "Yes, he sent it from Hai City."

Lu Yannan said: "He sent it to you so that you can practice calligraphy, but you have only finished one page and you don't listen to your elders. Do you think it is polite?"

Xia Qinqin was stunned by what he said and blinked her big eyes.

Lu Yannan pointed at the calligraphy on the table and said, "Practice calligraphy first and then draw."

Xia Qinqin shook her head and refused: "No, I want to paint now."

She held the paintbrush, tilted her head and smiled: "Grandpa said that I can do whatever I like. Now I like painting." Then she lowered her head and continued painting.

Lu Yannan pursed his lips, his eyes fixed on the copybook in front of him, silent, not knowing what he was thinking.

After a while, Meng Yufei came in and asked with a smile: "Are you painting?"

Xia Qinqin heard her mother's voice and quickly stopped painting. "Mom, I'm painting today's cafeteria. It's so big."

Meng Yufei walked over, looked at her painting and praised it, "Well, it's well done. The blue color used on the glass looks very nice."

"Hehe, I think it looks good too." Xia Qinqin said with a smile.

Lu Yannan looked up at Meng Yufei, somewhat confused. Is there anything to exaggerate about this?

Aunt Meng and Uncle Xia seem to praise Xia Qinqin every day, and they can find something to praise even for small things.

He slowly lowered his head and stared at Xia Qinqin's painting, thinking in his heart, Grandpa would also praise himself, but only when he did an excellent job.

Those who are not complacent benefit, and those who are not self-righteous are knowledgeable.

This is what my grandfather taught me, and also what he required of me.

Meng Yufei noticed that Lu Yannan was looking at a calligraphy book and asked, "Yannan, do you like this calligraphy book?"

Lu Yannan asked, "Aunt Meng, is this calligraphy for Xia Qinqin to practice?"

Meng Yufei said: "Yes, her grandfather picked it for her."

Lu Yannan asked again: "When will she finish practicing? Can she lend it to me after she finishes?"

Meng Yufei said, "If you like it, take it back first. Qinqin likes painting recently, and I don't know when I can finish practicing this calligraphy."

Lu Yannan pursed his lips and shook his head, saying, "No, I'll borrow it back after she finishes practicing."

Meng Yufei said: "Okay, but you have to wait for a while."

Xia Junshan finished washing the dishes, walked over and said, "Isn't there a movie tonight? Do you want to go watch it?"

"Yes!" Xia Qinqin immediately said loudly.

She jumped off the chair, walked to Meng Yufei, pulled her clothes and said, "Mom, I want to go to the movies."

Meng Yufei said: "The movie shown in the evening is the same as the one shown in the afternoon."

"Then I want to watch it again." Xia Qinqin said coquettishly.

Xia Junshan said, "It's being shown outdoors tonight, so there will be more people there. The island residents will also come, so it must be very lively. Let's go and watch it again."

Xia Qinqin nodded quickly and said, "Go ahead, go ahead, Mom."

Meng Yufei smiled and said, "Okay."

"Great!" Xia Qinqin jumped up happily.

Xia Junshan said, "Then let's move a few small stools over together." He raised his hand and glanced at his watch, "Let's go and take a seat first, otherwise we won't be able to see anything."

"Okay, bring the small stool." Xia Qinqin hurried out to find a small stool.

Xia Junshan and Meng Yufei held two benches in each hand, while Xia Qinqin pulled Lu Yannan and ran in front, "Hurry up and take a seat."

When they arrived, the open space outside was already crowded with people, talking noisily, and children were running around in the crowd, laughing.

Master Zheng and Chen Yanze were setting up the curtain, and Xiao Zhang was busy helping them.

Xia Junshan found an empty space in the back and led them there. "Let's sit here. There are too many people in the front. It's very crowded."

"Okay." Meng Yufei nodded and walked over to put down the small stool.

They had already seen the movie, so they just came to watch it for fun.

Xia Qinqin looked around and said with her mouth open, "Wow, there are so many people here."

Looking back, I found a few people on the tree. I pointed in surprise and said, "Mom, look, someone is climbing up the tree."

Meng Yufei looked over, and then the moonlight made it clear that there were indeed several people on the tree. She turned around and said to Xia Junshan with some concern, "Is it too dangerous to be on top of the tree?"

Xia Junshan smiled and said, "It's okay. The people here are good at climbing trees. Didn't you see that coconut tree? They can climb up it. This tree is not very tall, so it's okay even if you fall down."

Xia Qinqin said, "Dad, I want to climb trees, too." She seemed to be having a lot of fun.

Xia Junshan said, "Let's talk about it when you grow up. Children shouldn't climb trees."

"oh……"

Over there, the screen was set up, the projector was turned on, a beam of light shone on the screen, and the noisy crowd cheered.

"Xiao Sanzi, don't run away, the movie is starting, come back quickly!"

"Big girl, bring your brother back and sit down."

…

The crowd in front began to move around, looking for their own seats, and the air was filled with adults shouting at their children.

After the movie started, the crowd gradually quieted down. People kept coming to the venue. They were originally sitting in the back corner, but now the area was crowded again.

After watching for a while, Xia Qinqin kept scratching her hands and legs, feeling uncomfortable: "Mom, it's so itchy, there are mosquitoes biting me."

Meng Yufei said, "Then let's go back. People here are very anxious, it's hot, and there are many mosquitoes."

Xia Junshan nodded: "Okay." He turned to Lu Yannan and asked: "Do you want to go back? If you want to continue watching, I will stay here with you."

Lu Yannan said: "I want to go back."

They carried the small stool and left again, giving the place to the people behind them. They sent Lu Yannan back to Commander Li's house first, and then the family of three went home.

After arriving home, Meng Yufei saw in the light that there were several red spots on Xia Qinqin's fair arms, obviously caused by mosquito bites.

Meng Yufei lowered her head and blew on it distressedly, and asked her, "Does it hurt?"

Xia Qinqin shook her head and said coquettishly, "It doesn't hurt, it's just itchy. Those little mosquitoes have been biting me!"

Xia Junshan also squatted down and looked at the red envelope in his daughter's hand with heartache. Hearing his daughter's coquettish words, he immediately said, "Those mosquitoes are too bad. Look how they bit our Qinqin's hand. Dad will help you beat them next time."

Meng Yufei said: "Put some floral water in the bath water later."

Xia Junshan said hurriedly: "I'll go and boil some water for bathing."

After giving Xia Qinqin a bath, the mosquito bites on her hands finally stopped itching, and she lay in the mosquito net listening to her mother telling stories.

Xia Junshan turned on the electric fan, and a clanging sound rang out, accompanied by a cool breeze. Xia Qinqin fell asleep to Meng Yufei's gentle voice.

After she fell asleep, Meng Yufei picked up Xia Qinqin's hand again, looked at the red envelope on it, and lowered her head to blew it.

Xia Junshan went to turn off the electric fan, walked over and whispered, "It will disappear in two days, don't worry."

"Well, I'll apply some floral water on her tomorrow."

The two of them then quietly closed Xia Qinqin's door and went back to sleep.

After May Day, we go back to work as normal.

Xiao Zhang got up early today, changed out of yesterday's military uniform, opened the closet and picked out something, and finally chose a white long skirt.

People on the island usually wear flat shoes, and Xiao Zhang does the same. But today, looking at the black cloth shoes in front of her, she thought about it and took out a pair of high-heeled sandals that she hadn't worn for a long time.

After putting it on and taking a few steps, she felt more energetic. She picked up her bag and went out.

After reaching the door, she went back into the house, changed out of her high-heeled sandals and put on white flat sneakers, which looked good together.

The most important thing is to walk comfortably.

After Master Zheng and Chen Yanze finished their breakfast, they went back to pack their luggage and went to the front desk of the guesthouse to check out. As soon as they walked out, they saw the girl in a white dress and white shoes, carrying a military green shoulder bag, standing under the big tree in front of the door.

Xiao Zhang saw them coming out, raised her head and smiled, facing the rising sun. At this moment, the girl's smile was particularly bright.

Master Zheng glanced at Chen Yanze beside him and saw that his face was calm, with his dark eyes hidden under the lenses, and he didn't know what he was thinking.

Xiao Zhang came over with a smile and said in a very calm manner, "Master Zheng, Comrade Chen, good morning. I'll take you to the pier."

Master Zheng said, "Don't bother Comrade Xiao Zhang. We can go by ourselves. We memorized the way when we came here yesterday. We will just go straight along the road ahead. We won't waste your time. You can go back to your work."

Xiao Zhang said, "It was Director Meng's job to send you to the pier. She also asked me to tell you that she thanked you yesterday. Today, she has something else and cannot send you off. I hope you don't mind."

"Director Meng is too polite." Master Zheng said hurriedly, "You guys are busy, we can just go back by ourselves."

Xiao Zhang smiled and said, "Please give me a chance to perform. Otherwise, I will have a hard time reporting to the director when I return."

Master Zheng smiled and said, "Okay, I'll trouble Comrade Xiao Zhang then."

Xiao Zhang led them to the pier and continued to introduce them to the island scenery that he had not introduced the last time he came.

Master Zheng asked her, "Comrade Xiao Zhang, were you a soldier on the island before?"

Those who work in the family compound are either from the army or family members. Xiao Zhang is either a family member or a member of the army.

Xiao Zhang nodded and said, "I used to be a soldier in another place, in a cultural troupe. After I left the troupe, I was assigned to the family home on the island."

"Oh, so you are still a military member now."

Xiao Zhang nodded: "Yes, my connections are still in the army."

Master Zheng smiled and said, "No wonder you looked so energetic in your military uniform yesterday." Then he turned to his disciple and said, "Xiao Chen, don't you agree?"

Chen Yanze nodded and said nothing.

Little Zhang Yuguang looked at Chen Yanze and couldn't help laughing. Oh my, he looks more and more beautiful the more I look at him.

When we got to the pier and were about to board the boat, Xiao Zhang smiled and said, "Comrade Chen, can I meet you at the cinema next time? Can you please save a front row seat for me?"

Before Chen Yanze could say anything, Master Zheng smiled and said, "That will definitely work. Next time you go to the cinema, just go to the projection department to find us."

Xiao Zhang smiled and nodded: "Okay."

On the ferry, Master Zheng looked at Xiao Zhang who was still waving at the pier and said to the person next to him, "Xiao Chen, I think this Comrade Xiao Zhang is a nice guy and a good match for you."

Chen Yanze said: "Master, you also know that with my status, it is not appropriate for me to consider these matters right now."

Master Zheng lowered his voice and said, "That's why it's appropriate. As you just heard, Comrade Xiao Zhang is still a military member. If you marry her, you will become a military dependent."

Chen Yanze lowered his eyes and said nothing.

Master Zheng advised, "In the past, marriage emphasized matching of social status, but now it is a new society, advocating free love. I see that Comrade Xiao Zhang is interested in you, so why not give it a try."

"Since you called me Master, I have to tell you something from the bottom of my heart. When you are looking for a partner, besides looking for someone you like, you also have to consider practical issues. You have to consider what you need most right now."

Chen Yanze said: "I know Master is doing this for my own good, but I don't have time to think about this right now."

Master Zheng glared at him and said, "If you don't have time now, then when will you have time? I heard that the theater will send a few people to the theater in Qiong County to provide technical support in a few months. It is the most difficult county in Qiongzhou City. I don't know when I can come back, and I don't know who the hospital will send in the end. You have to be prepared."

"Yes, I understand."

Chen Yanze remained silent as he looked at the endless sea outside, and thought to himself with self-mockery that it was already news that a college student from Haishi had come from Haishi to this remote Qiongzhou City. If he went to Ying County again, he would be treated as a rare object.

After seeing the person off, Xiao Zhang returned to the office in a good mood, only to find a stranger in the room.

Meng Yufei saw her coming back and hurriedly said, "Xiao Zhang, come and say hello. This is the new head of the personnel department, Chief Wang."

Section Chief Wang is a middle-aged woman in her early thirties. Unlike Section Chief Chen who was a little serious before, Section Chief Wang's round face was smiling this time. Without waiting for Xiao Zhang to say anything, she walked up to him and said with a smile, "Hello, Xiao Zhang. We will be colleagues in the future. Please take care of me."

Xiao Zhang said hurriedly: "Hello, Chief Wang, you are so polite."

Section Chief Wang smiled and said, "I heard about the May Day event you were in charge of yesterday. It was a great success and Commander Li was very satisfied. Unfortunately, I should have come earlier and missed this event."

Meng Yufei smiled and said, "There will be many more opportunities in the future."

Section Chief Wang chatted with them for a while and then went back to the office.

After Xiao Zhang and the others left, he whispered, "This Section Chief Wang seems to be easy to get along with."

Meng Yufei smiled and said, "Yeah, you seem quite enthusiastic."

Then he jokingly asked Xiao Zhang: "Did you send the person away?"

Xiao Zhang nodded: "Send them off and watch them get on the boat in person."

Meng Yufei smiled and said, "Is Comrade Xiao Chen also on board?"

Xiao Zhang said: "Of course, but I told him that I will look for him next time I go to the cinema."

Meng Yufei thought for a moment and reminded him, "I think that Comrade Xiao Chen must have an unusual family background. It's a bit strange that a college student from Haishi Foreign Language School was assigned to Qiongzhou, and to work in a movie theater."

In this case, it is likely that the other party's family background is not good.

Xiao Zhang said: "Since he was assigned a job, it means the organization gave him a chance, so we should also give him a chance."

After a pause, Xiao Zhang smiled and said, "Besides, if it weren't for this, he wouldn't have come here, and I wouldn't have met him. It seems that we are quite destined to meet each other."

Meng Yufei smiled and said, "That's right."

After hearing what Xiao Zhang said, she thought that he had already made up his mind and did not continue the topic.

"By the way, I heard that there will be new people coming to the supply and marketing cooperative, and they said they had previous work experience in the supply and marketing cooperative. I don't remember anyone in the family home who has experience working in the supply and marketing cooperative."

Xiao Zhang said: "I don't remember either. Maybe they were transferred from outside?"

"Captain Jin's family will also come here to join the army in the next two days. Do you think it could be her?" Meng Yufei guessed.

Xiao Zhang was surprised and said, "Captain Jin's family is also coming to accompany the army? He returned to his hometown to get married at the end of last year. It's his second marriage."

Meng Yufei said: "I heard about it."

There is nothing strange about second marriage, after all, there are several such people in the family compound.

But Xiao Zhang's attitude was very strange, as if he had some big gossip.

"Sister Meng, Captain Jin's second marriage was really tortuous." Xiao Zhang returned to his seat with a glass of water and started gossiping.

Meng Yufei asked curiously, "What's the twist?"

Xiao Zhang said, "Captain Jin's previous wife died in childbirth, leaving behind three sons! One is ten years old, one is seven years old, and one is still in swaddling clothes. Who among these good girls is willing to be the stepmother?"

"Indeed, I have to take care of the children when I come here." Meng Yufei nodded.

Although this era emphasizes that women can hold up half the sky, in the minds of many people, the family property should eventually be left to the sons.

Even though Captain Jin is the captain, he has three sons after all. When it comes to future property and work, he will definitely have to consider the first few sons.

Xiao Zhang said, "Captain Jin's two children are famous for being naughty. Captain Cao's family introduced a girl to them before. When they came to see each other, the eldest one threw a toad at them as soon as he saw them. The girl was so angry that she turned around and left."

Meng Yufei was surprised: "Ah? This child is really too naughty."

Xiao Zhang said, "Who said it wasn't true? Director Wang later introduced a woman who was remarried and had a daughter. She was also an elementary school teacher. However, she was unwilling to take care of the child for Director Jin. Director Jin couldn't take care of the child here alone, so he sent the child to the countryside. This woman asked Director Jin to keep the child in the countryside."

Meng Yufei asked: "What happened next?"

Xiao Zhang picked up the cup and took a sip of water. "Of course there is no later. Captain Jin doesn't want to."

Meng Yufei asked again: "Who introduced the couple to get married in the end?"

Xiao Zhang said: "It was introduced by Captain Jin's hometown, but I don't know exactly who he is."

As the two were talking, they suddenly heard a quarrel outside. Meng Yufei and Xiao Zhang looked at each other.

"Why do I feel like I heard Tong Caifeng's voice?" Xiao Zhang said.

Meng Yufei nodded and said, "Me too."

The two of them got up and went out to check what was going on. The noise of quarreling came from the personnel department next door. When they went over to take a look, they saw that it was indeed Tong Caifeng, who was shouting and yelling in the room with her hands on her hips.

"Wei Shufang is gone, why don't you let me go to work at the supply and marketing cooperative? Are you guys using a backdoor again?"

When Deputy Section Chief Ma saw this, he raised the newspaper in his hand high and covered his head.

Section Chief Wang smiled and stepped forward and said, "Sister-in-law, please don't say anything careless. The selection of the supply and marketing cooperative this time was decided by the army itself, and the final decision was made by the head of the logistics headquarters. If you have any questions, I will take you to ask him in person."

As he said that, he took Tong Caifeng's hand and was about to go out, saying enthusiastically: "It just so happens that I am very familiar with the logistics of the army. I will take you there."

Tong Caifeng shook her hand off. "Why are you pulling at me? I, I didn't say I wanted to join the army."

Section Chief Wang smiled and said, "Oh, sister-in-law, what else do you want?"

Tong Caifeng curled her lips and said, "Who is going to work at the supply and marketing cooperative this time?"

Section Chief Wang said, "She is the family member of Captain Jin of the Second Regiment. She will come to the island tomorrow."

"Yang, Yang Panjun!" Tong Caifeng was shocked. Why was it still her after all the twists and turns?

Section Chief Wang was a little surprised and said with a smile: "So you know her. Then you should also know that she has worked in the supply and marketing cooperative. This time she came to work in the supply and marketing cooperative on the island, which is considered a lateral transfer."

After saying that, Tong Caifeng didn't respond, as if she was in a daze?

"Sister-in-law, what's wrong with you?" Section Chief Wang called.

Tong Caifeng came back to her senses and said, "I, I remembered that I have something to do at home, so I'll go back first." Then she turned around and left, quite absent-mindedly. She didn't even notice the two people standing at the door and just left.

Meng Yufei looked at Tong Caifeng's figure and felt a little strange. Aren't Captain Jin's family from his hometown? How come Tong Caifeng also knew them? And judging from her expression just now, it seemed that she was quite wary of this person?

Were these two people related in the past?