Chapter 10

The next day.

Ruting was woken up by the noise.

But my eyes were so sore that I didn't want to open them, so I lazily turned over in the quilt.

"Is the lady awake?"

A gentle and loving voice reached Ruting's ears. She was stunned for a moment, then suddenly opened her eyes: "Mom?"

Li Taohong smiled and responded: "Hey!"

Li Taohong is 47 years old this year. Her skin is considered fair in the countryside, she has short hair and an oval face. Although her face is carved by the traces of time, one can still see her good looks when she was young. The original body and the second brother Li Wei inherited the charming peach blossom eyes from her.

After confirming that it was her mother, her slow brain finally started to work again. She sat up with her messy long hair and said, "What time is it? Why are you here?"

As she spoke, she leaned over and picked up the watch on the bedside table.

7:10.

Fortunately, it’s not too late. Thinking of this, Li Ting rubbed his eyes again. Last night, she and her mother-in-law hugged each other and cried bitterly. They must have cried a lot. Even though she applied an ice towel before going to bed, she still didn’t feel very comfortable now.

But after that cry, the grievance that had been pent up in her heart also dissipated.

Seeing the young lady rubbing her eyes, Li Taohong, who was sitting on the kang, patted the pillow and said, "It's still early. If you feel sleepy, take a nap for a while." After traveling on the road for so many days, the young lady was tired and thin.

"I'm not going to sleep anymore. When did you arrive?" Ruting shook her head, threw back the quilt and sat down on the edge of the kang.

Seeing that the lady really didn't want to sleep, Li Taohong didn't force her. She turned around and handed her the clothes that she had placed at the end of the kang to her: "It's only been a short time since I got here."

In fact, she and the old man had spent the whole night baking pancakes on the kang. After taking a nap, they set out at dawn.

If I hadn't been worried about disturbing my in-laws, I would have come even earlier.

Ruting didn't quite believe what her mother said, but she didn't ask any more questions. She quickly put on her clothes and turned around to fold the quilt, only to see her mother already bending over to make the bed.

"What are you standing there for? Go brush your teeth and wash your face."

Hearing this, Ruiting retracted her hand that was about to grab the quilt and turned to pick up the toothbrush and towel on the dressing table.

Then, just before opening the door, I suddenly remembered that I was woken up.

She paused, retracted her strength, and opened the door just a little.

Instantly, clearer sounds came through the slightly opened door.

Most families in Xiangyang Brigade live in two-room mud and thatched houses with north-south kangs. The Huo family's house is a rare brick and tile structure in the village.

The house was newly built the year before last. It faces south and has three rooms in a herringbone pattern. The kitchen is built separately on the west side, and the facade faces east.

The place where Li Ting lives now is the master bedroom in the east wing of the Huo family's wedding room.

The door of the room faced the living room, so she could see the situation outside clearly.

The number of people who came to watch the fun was less than what she had expected, only about ten.

Just as she took a deep breath and prepared to rush out, someone slapped her on the butt.

The unsuspecting Ruting was startled suddenly.

Li Taohong scolded: "Why are you so startled? Don't you need to wash up?"

Ruting straightened up and coughed lightly, "I'll go out now." Then he pushed the door open with gritted teeth.

Then, not surprisingly, it became the focus of everyone.

It was at this time that Lu Ting saw that the person playing with the dragon-phoenix fetus by the window was the original body's father.

Luo Shengli has superb woodworking skills and brings new toys for Guoguo and Miaomiao every time he comes.

This time was no exception. Ruting glanced at the two extra wooden horses and called out with a smile, "Dad."

Lu Shengli is one year younger than his wife. He is 46 years old this year. He has a strong build, thick eyebrows and sharp eyes. He looks very difficult to approach.

In fact, he is well-known for his good temper, honesty, kindness, and he loves children the most.

The original body was born in the countryside, and was able to keep away from worldly affairs. In addition to studying hard and making progress, he also relied on the pampering of his family.

The victory for the father is even greater.

According to his logic, a girl should get married when she grows up and should not enjoy herself at home.

So, not only was Lu Ting raised by Jiao, but her sister Lu Ting was also raised by Jiao.

In this room, he finally saw the daughter. The shallow-eyed Lu Shengli felt his nose sore, but he was too embarrassed to cry in front of so many people, so he forced a smile: "Daughter is awake? Dad brought you some sweet cakes, go and eat them."

Hu Xiu also smiled: "Yes, I've warmed it up in the pot for you. Go have breakfast first."

Hearing this, Ruiting did not hesitate any longer. She smiled at everyone, put on a thick jacket, pushed the door open and walked out.

When I closed the door, I could vaguely hear someone say, "Your daughter-in-law is so blessed..."

Ruiting did not stop because of this and went straight to the kitchen.

There were no proper washrooms in those days. People usually washed themselves in water from the kitchen vat and then poured the dirty water behind the house.

After cleaning up, he took out the vanishing cream from his pocket.

While I was applying it on my face, my parents pushed the door open and walked in.

Li Ting guessed that the two of them would have a lot of questions to ask, and she was mentally prepared, but she was still shocked by her mother's words.

She stared with wide eyes and almost stuttered, "Mom, what did you say?"

Li Taohong ordered her husband to serve breakfast to her daughter, and then pulled her to sit at the table. She said with a kind look in her eyes, "Why are you so surprised? You will remarry sooner or later anyway. Do you really have to be a widow in the Huo family for the rest of your life?"

Speaking of this, Li Taohong felt depressed and uncomfortable again.

I don’t know what happened to Tingting’s fate. Ever since she dropped out of university, everything has been going wrong for her.

When looking for a job, I met someone with a backer, and finally I chose an excellent son-in-law, but before I even met him, I became a widow again.

The days really seem to be soaked in bitter water.

Li Taohong even planned to go back and get the girl's horoscope and secretly ask the blind man locked in the cowshed to have it calculated.

If it really doesn't work out, it would be good to change your fate.

Li Ting had no idea what her mother was thinking, and her mind was filled with the word "remarry".

Frankly speaking, until now, she is still unfamiliar with the identity of being married, let alone remarrying.

And she thought her parents were more curious about the fact that she ran away with the money.

"What are you staring at? I'm talking to you." Seeing the lady staring blankly, the impatient Li Taohong reached out and started poking her on the forehead.

Seeing this, Lu Shengli, who had been silent the whole time, immediately blocked his wife's hand, pushed the bowl of porridge towards the young lady like a peacemaker, and said with a smile: "Why are you in such a hurry? Let Tingting fill her stomach first."

Tingting curled her eyes and said, "Thank you, Dad."

Li Taohong rolled her eyes at her husband and said, "You are the only one who knows how to be a good person."

Although she said this, she suppressed her temper and waited for her daughter to pick up the bowl of porridge before explaining: "Mom is not urging you to remarry now, but reminding you that you have to have your own rules for some things... Don't worry that your mother-in-law is unhappy, she took the initiative to bring it up."

Ruiting was not surprised by her mother-in-law's stance.

She first stuffed a piece of sugar cake into each of her parents' mouths, and then expressed her attitude amid their joyful expressions: "I don't object to remarrying, but I have to stay with Huo Xiao for three years first."

"Three years?" Li Taohong frowned. In her opinion, one year was the right time.

Although it is infuriating that the Huo family kid made his daughter a widow at such a young age, he did it for the sake of his family and country, which is worthy of admiration.

But three years is too long. By then the girl will be 24 years old. I think she was already pregnant when she was 18.

In fact, Ruiting doesn’t know whether she will remarry or not, and no one can predict what will happen in the future.

But she knew very well that she didn't want to do that right now.

She has the protection of being a martyr's widow, a sensible mother-in-law, a pair of adorable twins, and a well-fed and worry-free standard of living. Apart from a man, she has everything she needs, so it really doesn't matter whether she gets married or not.

Unless you meet someone you like.

But how easy is it to like someone?

I didn’t meet him even when I was 29 in my previous life, and it is even more impossible in this age of information blockade and limited activities.

It’s better to find a job first. After all, spring will be here in a few months.

It's not good for a daughter-in-law to stay at home and do nothing, as she is afraid of being criticized.

But Li Ting really didn't want to farm, so in the next few months, getting a proper job was much more important than going on blind dates to find a man.

Of course, the reason why I agreed with my mother for three years was mainly because I wanted to have some peace and quiet, otherwise my mother would probably urge me to go on blind dates every few days.

Li Taohong had no idea what the girl was thinking. She frowned and wanted to have a good talk with the silly boy, but her husband pulled her clothes again.

She immediately shifted her anger: "What are you doing?! Are you annoyed?"

Lu Shengli smiled in a good-tempered manner: "There is no rush for this matter. It will take at least a year to complete. My in-laws are thinking about us, so we have to save face for them."

Ruting moved his body and leaned closer to his father, then gave his mother a slightly flattering smile: "That's right, that's right! Let's talk about it in a year."

Li Taohua was amused by her rare lively look: "You silly girl, just be poor."

Outside the door.

Hu Xiu, who was planning to give malt milk to her daughter-in-law for nourishment, unexpectedly heard her say that she would wait for her son for three years.

At that moment, the tears that she thought had dried up burst out of her eyes again.

He was afraid that others would have wild thoughts, so he quickly wiped it off with his sleeve.

Then he took a few deep breaths of cold air and turned back to the main room.

Hu Xiu thought, Tingting must be too fond of the boy.

What a good girl, it's her son who is unlucky...

After breakfast.

Ruting refused her father's help, fetched some hot water and cleaned up the dishes herself.

After tidying up the kitchen, he took his parents to the main room.

Not surprisingly, as soon as I entered the room, I was surrounded by all kinds of questions.

Perhaps it was because her parents, mother-in-law, and two uncles and aunts were all there, or perhaps after she came back, the rumors were no longer true.

So right now, everyone is more curious about the outside world.

For these ladies who have basically never left the county, trains and Shanghai are simply unimaginable.

Ruting didn't think there were too many questions and he explained them to everyone one by one with a good temper.

It was not until after ten o'clock when it was time to go back and prepare lunch that everyone left reluctantly.

Before leaving, the aunts praised Ruting again and again, saying that they didn't know her well before, but now they know what a good girl she is.

He has a good temper, is handsome, knowledgeable, and is also affectionate and loyal.

She praised him so much that her ears started to burn, while her parents and mother-in-law laughed so hard that their teeth were showing.

After the crowd had gone far away, Mr. and Mrs. Li Shengli and Li Taohong suggested taking their daughter home.

This matter was discussed when the in-laws came over in the morning. Hu Xiu smiled and said, "It's time to go back and take a look. It's rare to stay for two more days."

But Li Ting shook her head: "I'll be back in the evening. You can't come here alone to take care of the child."

After saying this, without waiting for her mother-in-law to say anything else, she went into the bedroom and picked up the small bag she had packed last night.

Inside are the gifts she bought for her family in Shanghai.

at the same time.

Chengdu.

It took four and a half months.

Huo Xiao, who completed his mission at the cost of being shot in the shoulder, finally returned to the army.

He did not rush to the health station to change the dressing, nor did he have time to explain the reason to his comrades who were shocked by his resurrection. Instead, he went straight to the brigade commander's office to report the mission.

After all, he was anxious to contact his family, and although faking his death was a last resort for the mission, it was also a hasty decision.

But the mother who doesn't know the truth is probably heartbroken.

And the newlywed wife...

Thinking of this, the man with cold features pursed his lips, and guilt appeared in his narrow and deep eyes.

He paid no attention to the doctor's instructions and ran away, enduring the burning pain in his shoulder.

But I never expected that there were people more anxious than me.

As soon as the slender man appeared at the door of the leader's office, the brigade commander Wei, who had been scared by his wife several times, was already on the phone in a hurry: "Quick, quick! Call to let her know you're safe first. You can't let your good wife run away."

Huo Xiao...?

Brigade Commander Wei did not notice the dullness and bewilderment of his proud subordinate, and added with a smile: "You are lucky, little bastard. Your wife loves you so much."

Huo Xiao...???