Chapter 32

The first day of teaching went smoothly.

School ended at 5:30 in the evening. When Tingting was about to leave school, it was already past 6 o'clock in the evening.

Tianjing is located in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, and it is often cloudy and rainy in March.

The sky was clear in the morning, but at around 2pm it started to drizzle.

"Is Teacher Xiaozhen still here?" Principal Huang would check around the school after school every day, and he never expected that there was someone in the office next door.

Li Ting smiled and nodded: "Let's make a summary of today's class and then prepare to go back."

Upon hearing this, Principal Huang showed relief on his face: "Teacher Xiaolue is a responsible person, that's good. By the way, it's raining outside, I have an umbrella here, you can use it."

Ruiting waved her hands quickly: "Thank you, Principal. My husband Huo Xiao is here to pick me up." It was because she saw her husband at the office window that she left at this time.

Principal Huang was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "Go ahead, don't keep Captain Huo waiting for too long." In his heart, he felt that the young couple had a very good relationship.

Ruting felt a little embarrassed: "Principal, I'm leaving now."

"Go ahead!"

Worried about getting her books wet, she held her bag in her arms and jogged through the corridor when she went out.

Just as I was about to run to the gate in the rain, I saw a tall man striding towards me with an umbrella.

Seeing this, Li Ting stopped walking unconsciously.

Even though she had guessed that her husband would come to pick her up, she couldn't help but feel happy at this moment.

Then, when the others came to her and enclosed her under the umbrella, she looked up and asked with a smile, "Didn't the guard not let outsiders in?"

Huo Xiao took the shoulder bag from his wife's arms and put it on his back, then tilted the umbrella towards his wife: "No, but it's raining now, just say hello, shall we go?"

Ruiting saw the man's actions, and she wanted to hold his arm so that the umbrella could cover both of them.

But if they really do this, the whole army will probably be filled with rumors about them tomorrow.

You might even be asked to have a talk with someone from the Political Department.

How ironic! They are clearly a serious couple.

"What's wrong? Did you forget something?" Seeing that his wife didn't move, Huo Xiao asked in confusion.

Ruting came back to his senses: "No, let's go."

The purpose of school is to make it convenient for children to go to school.

So when it was built, it was only about ten minutes' walk from the family compound.

The tank division was located in Tianjing and received better financial support than some remote units.

But the conditions are generally tough these days, and the situation isn't that good. At least there aren't cement or asphalt roads everywhere.

It is predictable that the dirt road will become muddy and difficult to walk on after it rains.

Fortunately, to match her military uniform, she wore a pair of rubber shoes today, which are much more waterproof than cloth shoes.

But there was a special situation. Looking at the long and shallow ditch in front of her that was more than one meter wide, she felt troubled.

It would be a waste of effort and time to go around. After all, we have to go to the brigade commander's house for dinner in the evening, and it would be inappropriate to go too late.

So, Ruiting decided to jump over.

Thinking of this, she took two steps back.

But he didn't expect that as soon as he jumped up, his waist would tighten, and then his whole body was suspended in the air and clamped under Huo Xiao's armpits.

Then, with a confused look on her face, Ruting maintained this posture and was held by the man across the ditch.

Really, it’s so easy. There’s no need for running or jumping. It’s just that the steps are bigger.

Huo Xiao was completely unaware of his wife's resentment. After he put the man down safely on the ground, he said disapprovingly, "Don't jump over when you encounter such a situation in the future. It's easy to slip."

1. The...

After staring at the man's long legs for several seconds, Ruting decided not to care about his behavior of pinching the pig just now!

When you get home.

The couple changed into clean shoes at the door.

I hurried to the bedroom to change clothes.

It’s okay, I can just go back and change my shoes.

But in order to protect her, her husband's clothes were mostly wet.

So she went straight to the closet, took out some clean clothes and handed them to her husband who had already taken off his clothes: "Put them on quickly, or you will freeze."

When Huo Xiao reached out to take the clothes, he touched his wife's hand.

The cold temperature made him frown instantly. He pulled her hand over and placed it on his abdomen to warm it, and said unhappily, "Why didn't you tell me you were cold?"

Ruting was not prepared for his action. Feeling the warm and firm abdominal muscles under her palms, she curled her fingers a little embarrassedly: "It's not that cold. Hurry up and put on your clothes."

Huo Xiao didn't quite believe it, but he still obediently put on a clean shirt and asked, "Are your feet cold?"

Ruting rolled her eyes at her husband and while helping him button his shirt, she said angrily, "Do you still need to cover my feet?"

Huo Xiao curled his lower lip: "It's not like I haven't covered it before."

Hearing this, the roots of Li Ting's ears felt a little hot. Those were all unconscious movements after falling asleep, okay? She really didn't put her feet on his abdominal muscles on purpose!

Thinking of this, her cheeks flushed with anger and shame, she stopped helping the man button up the top two buttons and slapped him fiercely, "Button them yourself!"

Huo Xiao...

When the family of five arrived at the brigade commander's house carrying baskets, it was Mrs. Pang who opened the door for them personally.

Li Ting first handed the basket in her hand to the other party with a smile, and then said embarrassedly: "I'm sorry, are we late?"

Although she was called Mrs. Pang, she was a few years older than Hu Xiu. She was not very good-looking, but she always smiled when she saw people and was very friendly.

When Pang Lihua saw clearly that there was a bag of snacks and a pickled rabbit in the basket, the smile on her face became even friendlier. She hated people who came with expensive gifts the most: "It's not too late, it's not too late, you came just in time, come in quickly."

As they talked, people moved aside and looked at the twins held in the arms of the young couple with curiosity: "These two have raised their children so well."

Tingting put the child on the ground and asked Guoguo and Miaomiao to call her auntie.

Hearing this, Mrs. Pang smiled even more and said angrily, "Hey, you are also a stingy person. At my age, why are you calling me aunt? Call me grandma! Let's talk about our own things...Isn't this Xiao Huo's mother?"

Hu Xiu didn't expect the other party to greet him specially, so he quickly responded, "It's me."

Seeing her nervousness, Mrs. Pang led a few people into the house and smiled to comfort her: "Don't be shy, just treat it as your own home. By the way, how old is the eldest sister this year?"

Hu Xiu also laughed: "I am 47 years old."

Pang Lihua: "You are three years younger than me, and we are about the same age. You should go out more often. I envy you because you have two grandchildren. Unlike me, I have several children whose parents I don't even know where to go to for debt collection."

Unexpectedly, the brigade commander's wife was so humble and the topic was so plain. Hu Xiu slowly relaxed and even exchanged a few words with her with a smile.

At this time, the brigade commander who was sitting in the living room also stood up and walked over: "I'm here."

"Brigade Commander." Huo Xiao called out, then looked at the unexpected person sitting on the sofa: "Political Commissar Liu."

Political Commissar Liu put aside his displeasure and joked with a smile: "I came here uninvited, Xiao Huo, please don't worry!"

Huo Xiao seemed not to notice the smoke between the leaders and curled his lips: "How could it be."

The brigade commander smiled and waved his hand: "Alright, alright, stop wasting time and sit down to eat."

Pang Lihua also said, "Yes, you guys take a seat first, I'll go and bring the last dish over."

Seeing this, Ruting handed the child to her mother-in-law and hurriedly followed.

Although I may not be able to help much, I have to show my attitude. How can the whole family just sit and wait for the leader's wife to serve them?

The dinner was very good.

There are fish and meat, and several delicious dishes are prepared in various ways.

Normally they were willing to eat the radish, not because they were greedy, but because of the attitude of Brigade Commander and his wife.

Who doesn't want to be valued?

At the dinner table, when Political Commissar Liu showed up unexpectedly, Li Ting thought he was there for the matter between Battalion Commander Cao and Liu Wenyan.

But I didn't expect that the other party didn't say a word throughout the whole process.

And the attitude is also very friendly.

This was completely different from the empty-headed and rough person she had imagined from Liu Wenyan's behavior.

But it also made Li Ting even more confused.

Political Commissar Liu is clearly a very shrewd man, so why did he allow Liu Wenyan to commit suicide?

Even rabbits bite when they are cornered. If Captain Cao is doomed to failure, she doesn't believe that Political Commissar Liu will get away with it in this special period.

Thinking this in her mind, when the couple returned home and sat together soaking their feet, Ruiting asked about it.

Huo Xiao: "Political Commissar Liu was too busy in his early years, and his wife raised all his children. Political Commissar Liu probably didn't know about Liu Wenyan's affair with Cao Wenze at first."

Hearing the loophole in her husband's words, she rolled her eyes and said, "Then you will pretend to be deaf and dumb when you find out later?"

Huo Xiao chuckled: "Cao Wenzhe is quite capable, so Political Commissar Liu naturally wants a promising son-in-law."

In fact, it is not difficult to guess what Political Commissar Liu is thinking. In his opinion, it would be best if his daughter could really capture the person.

As for the fact that Cao Wen Ze is not happy at the moment, it doesn't matter. They are both young men and women, and they will develop feelings for each other sooner or later.

Of course, he didn't know how the girl, who seemed to be well-behaved in front of him but was actually spoiled, "chased men", otherwise he wouldn't have let her do what she wanted.

To the point where he is now laughed at by the entire army.

After listening to her husband's analysis, Tingting still curled her lips: "Anyway, I don't believe that Political Commissar Liu doesn't know that his identity will make Cao Wenze embarrassed. Isn't he just bullying others by taking advantage of his power?"

Hearing this, Huo Xiao rubbed his wife's head and did not refute it.

The army is also a society, and leaders have different personalities.

There are many cases like Cao Wenzhe's.

Political Commissar Liu is quite particular about this.

But Huo Xiao didn't say these words because he was worried that his wife would get angry.

Just as I was thinking about changing the subject, I heard my wife ask, "When we went to the brigade commander's house just now, the brigade commander and the political commissar looked a little unhappy. Is it because of Cao Wenzhe?"

Huo Xiao: “No.” The leaders were very busy, and the matter of Cao Wenzhe was really nothing in their eyes. It was just a matter of a word, so there was no need to come to their house to discuss it.

Ruting suddenly realized: "Then I won't ask anymore."

Huo Xiao rubbed his wife's head with amusement. "There's nothing you can't ask. You know what the situation is like outside. The commander of the guard brigade is anxious to push forward various military trainings, while Political Commissar Liu believes that political discrimination and political acumen are the most important right now."

It's hard to say who is more reasonable.

Although improving the soldiers' military skills is the top priority, the current situation...it's hard to say.

Thinking of this, Li Ting became curious again: "Do you and Political Commissar Xing also quarrel?"

Hearing this, Huo Xiao immediately recalled the scene of him and Lao Xing slamming the table and arguing during the day. He reached out and pinched his wife's cheek, but what he said was: "Don't argue. Lao Xing and I are not impulsive. We discuss everything together."

Ting Ting believed what he said, after all, her husband and Political Commissar Xing both had good tempers: "That's good, the worst thing is not to hurt the relationship... Wait, did you pinch my face just now?"

Huo Xiao couldn't quite follow his wife's train of thought. Seeing her covering her cheek with her hands, he raised his eyebrows and asked, "Did it hurt?"

It’s really pinched!

Ruiting collapsed: "You just washed my feet with your hands! No, you also rubbed my head!"

Huo Xiao didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "I used a towel to dry my hands, and I washed not only my own feet, but also yours. Are you still complaining about yourself?"

Reed...all rejected!

The next morning.

Ting has to go to school at 7 o'clock.

Kindergarten starts at 8 o'clock.

So she couldn't personally send the kids off on their first day of reporting.

As usual, Hu Xiu gave her daughter-in-law some snacks. Seeing that she was worried, she smiled and said, "What are you worried about? Didn't you make an appointment with Director Pang yesterday? I can do it alone."

That’s right. Li Ting smiled and said, “Then I’ll go to school. But Miaomiao and Guoguo might cry on their first day at school. Please don’t take them back just because they’re crying.”

Hu Xiu looked nonchalant: "I plan to go to school to accompany you. I won't cry."

1. The...

Awesome, my mother-in-law.

Of course, Ms. Hu Xiu's current pride did not last long.

When Ruiting returned home at noon, she saw the little girl Miaomiao with eyes swollen from crying.

In fact, the little girl had been coaxed into calm down at this moment, but when she saw her mother, she immediately pursed her lips and started to cry out in grievance.

People are all made of flesh and blood. Although she cannot say that she now treats the two children as her own, she is happy after all.

Without even taking off her bag, she bent over and hugged the child to comfort him: "Don't cry, dear! Who bullied our Miaomiao?"

Hu Xiu, who was cooking in the kitchen, heard the noise and stuck her head out, not knowing whether to laugh or cry: "Crying again?"

Tingting walked over holding the child and asked: "What happened?"

When this was mentioned, Hu Xiu frowned: "Didn't you give Miao Miao a box of crayons yesterday? She took them to kindergarten to draw, and the crayons were snatched away by the little boy sitting behind her."

Li Ting frowned: "Have you come back yet? Have you apologized?"

Hu Xiu: "I returned it. The teacher is watching it. But a few of the crayons are broken. Miaomiao is worried about the crayons."

As for the apology... "The two little things teamed up to beat up the kid, so an apology is enough."

Hearing this, Li Ting's frown relaxed. She first praised Guo Guo for his bravery, and when the boy straightened his chest proudly, she kissed the girl in her arms again: "Miao Miao, you did a good job. Don't cry. If you are wronged, just fight back. Mommy will get you a box of crayons in a few days. Now let's go draw a little flower, okay? A little flower that we have never drawn before."

When Miaomiao heard this, she easily let go of her mother's hand that was tightly around her neck and asked in a choked voice, "Do you want to draw now?"

The little girl is good-looking and well-raised. She is usually well-behaved, quiet, and delicate. It is rare to see such a pitiful little girl.

Ruting suddenly felt distressed and said, "Yes, I'll teach you now."

In her heart, she thought that Miaomiao was indeed a rare talent in painting, so she had to ask Huo Xiao if there was a teacher who could teach her formally.

Of course, before that, I have to find out whether I can learn painting these days.

In Ting's opinion, it is normal for children to quarrel with each other.

It was over, but before Xiaohua had finished painting halfway, Ding Feiyan came to the door with a basket in one hand and a little boy in the other, and said with an embarrassed look: "I'm sorry, sister-in-law, I have spoiled this bully in my family. I will beat him up later."

As he spoke, he pushed the basket in his hand forward.

Only then did Ruting realize that the child who stole her daughter's crayon was from Ding Feiyan's family.

She avoided the basket and glanced at the sullen little boy standing next to her mother before she stepped aside to let him in. "I've just asked Guoguo and Miaomiao, they're not angry anymore, so Comrade Ding doesn't need to take it too seriously."

Hearing this, Ding Feiyan's pretty face showed a grateful smile: "Thank you, sister-in-law, you are really capable. You are a sensible child raised in a dragon and phoenix environment. Unlike my child, he wants to be beaten three times a day."

Ruting didn't believe this. Although she had only been here for a few days, her mother-in-law had already become friends with several military families.

Therefore, she still has a general understanding of the situation in the family compound.

For example, Ding Feiyan gave birth to three children, and only this one is a boy. She spoiled him to the utmost.

The two girls above were treated like grass. My mother-in-law said that the clothes of the two girls were made of urea bags.

This would be fine if it were a rural family. After all, for a family so poor that the whole family has to share one pair of pants, clothes made from urea bags are also a good thing.

However, Fang Shuigen is a military officer, deputy chief of staff at that, at the battalion level, so his family life is not that difficult.

Look at Ding Feiyan’s little son next to him, he is dressed in fine materials.

Suddenly, she felt a little disgusted, but she didn't show it on her face. She first poured more tea for the boy and stuffed two candies into his mouth. Then she smiled and said, "My child is sensible, but it's all thanks to my grandmother. She taught him everything."

Hearing this, Ding Feiyan continued to praise, "Sister-in-law is a blessed person. Unlike me, my mother-in-law doesn't help take care of the children, and she also makes things difficult for me from time to time. But it's also my own fault. If I could have half the ability of my sister-in-law, my life wouldn't be like this."

藺葶...It was really uncomfortable to wear such a hypocritical compliment. She twitched her lips but could only respond with a few appropriate compliments.

Hu Xiu, who was listening in the kitchen, understood that her daughter-in-law was impatient to deal with it, so she brought out a bowl of food at the right time and said with a smile: "Xiao Ding, you haven't had lunch yet? Just eat at home."

Hearing this, Ding Feiyan stood up immediately: "No, no, I've already eaten. Auntie, sister-in-law, I'll go back first. I'm really sorry for what happened today."

Ruting stood up and tried to persuade him to stay: "Keep some for later. My mom's cooking is pretty good."

Ding Feiyan thought she was a person who understood the ways of the world, so she had no nerve to stay. The longer they tried to keep her, the faster she left.

After I got out of the door, I was about to smile and say that I didn't need my sister-in-law to send me off, but my hand felt heavy.

She looked down and found that it was the basket she had brought over, and the smile on her face immediately froze.

Ruting seemed to notice nothing, her smile still bright: "It's just a fight between kids, why do you need to bring things to my house?"

Ding Feiyan moved the corners of her lips, wanting to say something else.

However, Lu Ting did not give her a chance and said in a friendly tone, "I know Comrade Ding's apology is sincere, but I really can't accept the gift. Otherwise, what kind of person would I be? If others saw it, they might even say that I was bullying others or accepting bribes. I really can't explain it even if I say a hundred words. Don't you think this is reasonable?"

It sounded like a joke, but it really put Ding Feiyan in a bad light. She was angry that the other party blocked her way out, but she didn't dare to really live up to the reputation of bribery.

In the end, he could only force a smile and reluctantly explain, "They are just some fruits picked from the fields." Then he left in a hurry.

As she watched the person walk away, the smile on her face faded.

At this moment, Tang Wenlan from next door opened the door and asked in a low voice, "Did Ding Feiyan also send a gift to your family?"

also?

Tingting: "I didn't look at it, and I didn't want it, but she said it was fruits and vegetables. What does sister-in-law know about it?"

Tang Wenlan looked disdainful: "What fruits? If fruits really need to be covered with cloth, then it's just to get the position of Chief of Staff."

This was something that Ruting had never heard of before: "Is our regiment's current chief of staff going to be transferred?"

Tang Wenlan nodded: "This matter has not been spread out yet, but the military officers know about it. Several people are competing for it, and Ding Feiyan's man is one of them."

No wonder she was given gifts and flattered. She said that she would not do such a thing just for the sake of the child.

Ruiting was somewhat helpless, but she also knew that this was the workplace, so she finally just smiled and said, "Thank you, sister-in-law, for reminding me."

Tang Wenlan said proudly: "What is the relationship between us? Can you really be so stupid as to accept the gift? I was watching just now. If Ding Feiyan left empty-handed, I would definitely come out to stop her..."

At this point, she suddenly realized that what she said was tantamount to admitting that she had been peeking.

Thinking of this, Tang Wenlan glanced at Tingting somewhat awkwardly.

What...what is this?!

"Puchi..." Tingting laughed at the other party's cautious behavior: "I know sister-in-law is doing this for my own good, thank you so much, ask sister-in-law Lan."

"Hey, why are you being so serious? It's embarrassing...haha...I hope you don't think I'm meddling."

"How could that be? I haven't had time to thank my sister-in-law yet. By the way, have you eaten yet? My mother made pickled cabbage and bone sticks today. They go really well with rice."

"I had eaten it, but now that you said that I want another bowl."

"What are you waiting for? Come inside."

"......"

There was something going on in the camp at noon, so Huo Xiao didn't come back.

When everyone returned home in the evening, Ruiting had already prepared her lessons and snuggled into the quilt.

But seeing that her husband looked tired, she prepared to throw off the quilt and get out of bed.

Huo Xiao stopped him: "No need to come down, I've eaten before."

Although he said so, Li Ting knew that this person was probably just going to deal with it by eating dry steamed buns.

So I took the opportunity when the other person went to take a shower to cook him a bowl of noodles.

When Huo Xiao came into the house refreshed, the egg and vegetable noodles were just on the table.

Ruting called out, "Come and eat."

Huo Xiao's expression softened instantly. He hung the towel around his neck and strode towards his wife.

He first pinched her small and delicate chin and kissed her for a long time before he held her in his lap and started eating with chopsticks.

With a red face, she punched the man a few times and warned him in a low voice: "Let go! Mom is not asleep yet."

Huo Xiao: "I slept. I slept when I came back."

1. The...

When she realized that her mother-in-law was giving them space, her face turned red.

He endured it again and again, but in the end he couldn't hold it back anymore and punched him again.

Huo Xiao let her smash it, and occasionally fed his wife a few bites of eggs with chopsticks.

Ruting was so annoyed that she lost her temper.

Seeing that her mother-in-law really didn't come out, she leaned back in the man's arms and talked about Ding Feiyan's visit.

Huo Xiao's face showed no joy or displeasure. He just said, "It's right not to accept it. You did a good job."

Tingting raised her chin: "That's right, I'm not stupid."

Huo Xiao curled his lips and said, "It was my negligence this time. Next time something like this happens, I will communicate with you in advance."

"...There won't be a next time, right?"

"Before the higher-ups confirm the person, there will definitely be a next time."

In fact, Huo Xiao was right.

In the next half month, Ruiting and Tang Wenlan suddenly became the most popular people in the family area.

Just when Lu Ting was troubled and overwhelmed, the Lu family, thousands of miles away, was caught in an even bigger storm.

Ruiqing's husband was reported to have an affair!

If she didn't divorce, she would have to go to labor reform with her husband.