Chapter 13

Secretary Wang's office is at the back of the second floor.

When Ruiting, holding Miaomiao in her arms, led her mother-in-law and Guoguo to find them, she saw through the glass window that the other party happened to be in the office, so she raised her hand and knocked on the door.

Wang Chunling was busy writing or drawing. When she heard the voice, she said without even raising her head, "Come in!"

Ruting pushed open the door. There was a heater in the house. The temperature was not as high as that in the kang room, but it was much warmer than outside.

She didn't look around, but turned around and closed the door to prevent the warmth from leaking out, then she called out, "Secretary Wang."

Wang Chunling paused, looked up to see who was coming, and immediately stood up with a smile: "You came early enough, thanks to me for waiting so early, otherwise I would have missed it."

Just listen to this, after all, Huo Xiao made an appointment at this time yesterday.

But she still showed a grateful smile on her face: "Thank you Secretary Wang for your trouble again. It is a blessing for the common people to have a good official like you who is dedicated to serving the people."

Wang Chunling wasn't going to get all excited for a few words of flattery, but everyone likes to hear nice words, so the smile on her face unconsciously became more sincere: "Don't stand there, sit down and rest your feet first."

As they were talking, their eyes met the twin dragon and phoenix in the two people's arms, looking around with big watery eyes. He curiously took out two candies from the drawer and handed them over before sitting down on the chair opposite the two people.

Hu Xiu was considered a smart person in the village, but being in such a serious office, he was somewhat intimidated, so apart from keeping a smile, he basically kept silent.

Fortunately, my daughter-in-law is a capable person. She gets along well with the commune secretary without stuttering at all.

Wang Chunling also felt comfortable talking to Tingting. This girl was young, but she spoke very eloquently. Thinking that she was a new bride, she smiled and joked, "I guess Comrade Huo Xiao will apply for his family to accompany the army this time, right?"

Ruting didn't understand how the topic turned to this. She was stunned for a moment before replying, "It's not certain yet."

Wang Chunling glanced at Hu Xiu, thinking that it was the mother-in-law who was unhappy. Then she thought about how she and her husband were busy with their own things and they only saw each other once a year. She said sincerely, "As a revolutionary couple, if conditions permit, it's better for them to be together."

Li Ting pursed her lips and smiled. Just as she was about to say something in response, the phone in the office suddenly rang.

Hu Xiu sat up straight subconsciously, his eyes fixed on the phone.

Seeing this, Ruting patted the other person's hand soothingly. When she was sure it was Huo Xiao calling, she turned to look at her mother-in-law and said, "Mom, you answer it first."

Hu Xiu was indeed extremely anxious, and felt that she could only feel completely at ease when she heard her son's voice with her own ears.

So, when Secretary Wang waved, he stood up hurriedly.

He had only taken half a step when he turned back and said, "You should answer it first." After all, his son is married now.

Ruting waved her hands quickly: "You take it first." She was not ready to face Huo Xiao yet.

Fearing that her mother-in-law would persuade her again, she simply took out a handkerchief from her pocket and wiped the corners of the kid's mouth, which was sticky from eating so much candy.

Seeing this, Hu Xiu had no choice but to step forward and answer the phone. "...Hello... It's me. How are you? What happened... You can't tell me? Okay, okay, I won't ask. I know you want to keep it a secret. Are you injured? I'm glad you're not injured... Really? That's great..."

Ruting watched her mother-in-law choke up at first, calm down, and then smile happily.

I couldn't help but wonder what the man on the other end of the line, 3,000 kilometers away, would look like at this moment? He should be a good communicator, right? After all, she managed to appease her mother-in-law so quickly. If she was a difficult person, she would definitely not force herself...

Just as her mind was racing, she suddenly felt something in her arms touching her face.

Ruting came back to his senses and lowered his head.

The little boy said in a baby voice: "Mom, grandma is calling you."

At this time Hu Xiu also came over, his face full of joy: "Don't talk on the phone for too long, hurry up and talk to that kid." As he said that, he stretched out his hand to pull the man up from the chair and pushed him towards the phone.

Ruiting felt uncomfortable as if he was being forced to do something unpopular, but he could only bite the bullet and say, "Hey!"

The other party must have been waiting. After hearing her voice, a low and cold voice came over: "藺葶?"

The voice was quite pleasant and youthful. Ruting thought to herself, "Yes, it's me."

The man on the other end of the phone paused, as if he didn't know what to say.

Seeing that he was equally nervous, Tingting relaxed and took the initiative to ask, "I just heard from mom that you were coming back, right?"

"Yes, once some things here are handed over, you can take your family leave."

"How many days off?"

"It's still uncertain, but it will be at least 20 days."

"Isn't that too rushed? It would take 20 days to go back and forth, right?"

"No, I was transferred to a new unit, which is only four days' drive from home."

So I can at least rest for six or seven days, which is fine...

"Tingting!"

The subconscious replied: "Yes!"

When a short low laugh came from the receiver, Ruiting, feeling that she had done something stupid, awkwardly turned her body to the side, avoiding her mother-in-law's curious gaze.

Fortunately, the man opposite was considerate. He just smiled a few times and then said sincerely, "Comrade Lu Ting, thank you."

Hearing this, Tingting pursed her lips and said, "Nothing to thank you for..."

"Thank you no matter what." Thank you for not giving up, thank you for staying with your mother.

Ruting could hear the seriousness in the man's words, but, precisely because of this seriousness, she didn't know what to say.

Fortunately, after a few seconds of silence, the other party spoke again: "The call time is up. When I decide which day I will go back, I will call the commune again."

"good..."

Hu Xiu was extremely excited after successfully getting through to her son on the phone.

After saying goodbye to Secretary Wang, I went downstairs with light steps.

But her good mood did not last long. Just a few steps out of the living room on the first floor, her daughter-in-law was bumped by someone and staggered.

Hu Xiu subconsciously reached out and grabbed his daughter-in-law. After the man stood firm, he turned around and frowned at the reckless guy and asked, "What's wrong with you? Why are you bumping into people?"

You have to react quickly, otherwise you are bound to fall.

By then I will still have to protect the little one in my arms, so what good can I bring with me?

Thinking of this, Hu Xiu looked at the man with a sharper gaze, and reasonably suspected that the other party did it on purpose.

Qian Revolution certainly did it on purpose, it was the first time he had seen such a beautiful woman. Even if the man was a military officer whom he could not afford to offend, it was worth it to take the opportunity of bumping into her to touch her. He had done this many times anyway.

But I didn't expect this woman to react so quickly. Not only did I not touch anything, but I was also pointed at and yelled at by the damn old woman.

However... Qian Geming was quite confident in his face. He tugged at the hem of his Zhongshan suit and changed his strategy: "I'm sorry, I wasn't paying attention just now. I hope this female comrade didn't hurt you?"

Most people of that era were simple and honest, and seeing that he had a good attitude, Hu Xiu's expression softened.

It was Ruiting who could see through the other party's ill intentions at a glance.

She frowned, ignored him, and turned to look at her mother-in-law: "Mom, aren't we in a hurry?"

Hu Xiu looked at her wrist and said, "Yes, yes, the supply and marketing cooperative should be open... According to the time, Xiao should be able to come back in time for the New Year. We need to go to the supply and marketing cooperative later to buy more New Year goods. Oh, by the way, he didn't come back when you two got married, so we should weigh some candies for the children in the village..."

Thinking that there were a lot of things to buy, she quickened her pace.

It’s already hard to buy things from the supply and marketing cooperatives, and it’s even harder during the Chinese New Year.

When they went out the door, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law greeted the gatekeeper again.

It was just a courtesy.

Unexpectedly, the other party waved at them.

When the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law approached, they heard the eldest master say, "The man who bumped into you just now made his fortune by rebelling and looting. He has a very dirty mind. Girl, be careful. This world is... a mess."

Ruiting could tell from the beginning that the other party had bad intentions, so she remained calm.

On the contrary, it was Hu Xiu who, after being reminded, realized belatedly that the man had done it on purpose.

She immediately became angry. How could she want her daughter-in-law to suffer such a loss? She was so angry that she was shaking all over and turned around to find someone to settle the score.

Fortunately, Ruting was quick to stop the person, thanked the gatekeeper first, and then dragged her mother-in-law away.

She was also angry and disgusted, but the other party only bumped into her, so she was not in the right to make a fuss.

Besides, it would be better for them to get out of this situation safely with the children, and then go back to tell their second brother Lu Wei, who has many friends from all walks of life and is the best person to deal with this kind of villain.

However...this incident also reminded Li Ting that in the next ten years, there will be countless rebels similar to Qian Revolution or even more blatant ones, some of whom will be in high positions of power.

Perhaps...the army is the only pure land.

"Tingting, don't be angry. Mother will remember this. When that brat comes back, I'll ask him to beat you up." Hu Xiu, who had calmed down, knew that if the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law went back, not only would they not gain any advantage, but they might also be blamed for it, and it would be the daughter-in-law's reputation that would be ruined.

Hearing this, the emotion in her heart suddenly disappeared, and she smiled at her mother-in-law with a bit of embarrassment, "Mom and I are thinking the same thing. I also want my second brother to be put in a sack. We are good men and we should not suffer a loss in front of us."

Seeing that his daughter-in-law was not in a bad mood, Hu Xiu also laughed out loud, and then said: "Okay, but let's each file a complaint and beat him up!"

This time, Li Ting really laughed out loud. She thought that having a good mother-in-law in marriage was already a very lucky thing.

There is no market today.

But because the New Year is coming soon, a lot of people come.

When the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law arrived at the supply and marketing cooperative and met up with the villagers from Xiangyang Brigade, the cooperative was only a few minutes away from opening.

Hu Xiu's body had not yet recovered. He was holding another child in his arms and had been walking for more than ten minutes. He was squeezed in the crowd again. Not only was he gasping for breath from exhaustion, but sweat also covered his forehead.

Ruting is not much better than my mother-in-law.

It was the aunties who were familiar with the children who took them in and asked, "Did you talk to Xiao?"

Hu Xiu took a few breaths and said happily, "It's connected. Maybe I can come back before the New Year."

"Oh, that's great. The boy hasn't been back for several years."

"That's right. What about you? The eggs are sold more in the hungry group, right?" Saving money is not easy these days. People usually don't touch their savings unless it is absolutely necessary. But necessities like salt cannot be left out, so the villagers will basically save eggs and exchange them for salt and kerosene, which are necessities of life.

Hu Xiu used to sell them, but after having children, she stopped selling them.

"I bought it, but the recycling station lowered the price again. I didn't get much in exchange for my basket of eggs. I'm afraid I'll be in darkness at night from now on..."

"Yes, life is hard, and we have to use salt sparingly."

"......"

As Ruting listened to the aunties talking about how difficult life was, her mind couldn't help but move.

She had read the history of this era before and knew that in the early 1960s, the country had a policy of raising rabbits and exporting their wool in exchange for foreign exchange bonds. She wondered if the Xiangyang Brigade could do the same?

If feasible, it can solve the employment problems of many people.

As the person who came up with the idea, it should not be difficult to secure a few jobs for the family when the time comes.

Just when Tingting was wondering when to find his second brother to discuss the matter, the supply and marketing cooperative opened.

Then, everyone went into buying mode...

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law bought a whole basket of things.

When I got home, it was already 11 o'clock in the morning.

Not only were their legs and feet weak from exhaustion, but even the dragon and phoenix fetuses were so tired that they kept dozing off.

Look, he fell asleep on the table right after finishing drinking the maltose.

While the mother-in-law took the child back to the house to settle down, Ruting did not rest either.

She put out the contents of the backpack one by one.

But when I got a piece of black material, I felt a little embarrassed when I thought about my mother-in-law's plan.

"What are you daydreaming about?" Hu Xiu came out of the west room and saw her daughter-in-law holding the material for making clothes for her son.

Li Ting turned around and said honestly: "Didn't you ask me to make clothes for Huo Xiao? But I can't do it."

Hu Xiu glared at her daughter-in-law and said, "Who asked you to do it yourself? It's too much effort. There is an old tailor in our village with excellent skills."

"So you told me to do it?"

"When the time comes, just sew two stitches for your own good intentions. This is how I used to deal with Huo Xiao's father. Men are very careless in this regard and won't notice it at all. Some clothes are good to wear. Besides, there is no need to worry about being discovered. You bought the material yourself, right? You also sewed two stitches, right? That's enough!"

1. The...

Having opened the door to a new world, Ruting looked at her mother-in-law with admiration.

Hu Xiu was so happy when she saw this: "Okay, put all these things in your room. What are you going to eat for lunch? Mom will make it."

Li Ting: "Aren't you tired? Go lie down for a while. There are still some steamed buns and corn porridge left from this morning. I'll heat them up later and you can have them for lunch."

Hu Xiu was indeed tired, so she nodded readily: "Okay, but I'll just go and heat it up. When you put the food away, we can start eating."

As he spoke, he took the apron hanging on the wall and went out.

Seeing this, Ruting curled her peach blossom eyes and took a few pieces of cloth to her room.

I just opened the door and saw an envelope tucked into the gap between the back windows.

She frowned and put the cloth into the box before walking to the window.

There were no words on the outside of the envelope and no one outside the window.

After hesitating for a few moments, Ruiting finally took out the envelope and opened it.

There was only a line of crooked words on it: I know you didn’t go to see Huo Xiao a few days ago. As long as you leave the Huo family as soon as possible, I won’t report you.

There are more than twenty characters in the word, and five of them are wrong.

This was Li Ting’s first reaction as a people’s teacher.