Chapter 40

"Find me a job?"

Hu Xiu was used to getting up early, and today was no exception. She was bending down to change the honeycomb coal in the coal stove when she was startled by her son's words.

Huo Xiao took the fire tongs from his mother's hand, picked out the burning honeycomb coal in the coal stove, and shoveled away the burnt coal slag at the bottom: "Tingting thinks you are still young, and I'm worried that you will be tired and bored staying at home all the time. As for the children, you don't have to worry, we can take turns to take care of them." As he spoke, he put new honeycomb coal into the coal stove, aligned it with the hole, and then picked up the kettle on the ground and put it on.

Unexpectedly, it was her daughter-in-law who brought it up. Hu Xiu felt warm inside: "How can it be tiring? In the past, we had to go to the fields to earn work points every year. That was tiring."

Another thing is that her sons and daughters-in-law are very considerate. They will rush to do everything at home, whether it is housework or taking care of the children. Why is she tired?

Thinking of this, she quickly waved her hand: "I don't want to go to work. I'm fine at home. I'm learning how to make clothes recently."

Huo Xiao adjusted his military cap: "Really?"

Hu Xiu rolled her eyes at her son, annoyed by his dawdling: "Alright, don't you want to go out for drill? Hurry up and I'll talk to Ting Ting later."

Hearing this, Huo Xiao nodded and said, "Then I'll go out."

"Go, go."

At this time, the neatly dressed Wei also came out of the room: "Brother-in-law, I'll go with you."

As a man, who doesn't have a dream of being a soldier? After learning yesterday that we could go on drill together, Wei Wei has been thinking about it.

For this purpose, he even wore a military uniform.

Of course, his military uniform is just an ordinary style, which is slightly different from the formal military uniform.

Huo Xiao glanced at his brother-in-law and thought that he looked like an arts soldier.

But he just thought about it in his mind, said goodbye to his mother, and led his people out.

When Li Ting got up, before she had time to worry about what to do with her second brother, she learned from her mother-in-law that he had gone to learn to beat the bamboo sticks.

She was a little amused: "It can be fun for myself."

Hu Xiu was having breakfast with her daughter-in-law and the twins. Upon hearing this, she smiled and said, "It's a boy. By the way, Tingting, does your second brother have a date?"

Ruting blinked and said, "Probably not. I haven't heard of it."

Hu Xiu picked up the steamed egg and scooped a spoonful for each of the two children who were busy eating. She also gave a spoonful to her daughter-in-law, and finally poured the rest into her own bowl: "Xiao Rui is 25 years old, right? This age can be determined."

Li Ting swallowed the food in his mouth and said, "It's up to him. Has anyone approached you to propose marriage?"

Hu Xiu smiled: "You are smart, but some people are jealous. However, I don't think it is very reliable."

"It's not that I'm smart, it's just that my brother has been very popular since he was a child, so he's used to it." Ruiting was talking about her brother in her previous life, who was 70% similar to Ruiwei in appearance. From childhood to adulthood, he had stuffed countless love letters into her hands and asked her to help pass them on.

Luo Wei is naturally no less conservative. Don't think that people at that time were very conservative. As far as I can remember, there were girls who showed their love in a high-profile manner. It was only in the past two years when the overall environment became tense that they became more restrained.

Speaking of this, one can't help but think of his own son's childhood. Hu Xiu curled her lips, disliking Huo Xiao for being dull since childhood, and no matter how handsome he was, no girl dared to approach him.

But...thinking about it the other way around, it's a good thing this way, otherwise how can I wait for my daughter-in-law?

Thinking of this, Hu Xiu became happy again: "By the way, Xiao told me that I don't want to find a job. I am so free now. Recently, I have been learning how to operate a sewing machine from Wen Lan."

Especially now that the weather is getting warmer, she would go to the back hills for an outing almost every day after sending the children to school, picking some wild flowers to put in a vase.

Or I would just sit under the magnolia tree in front of the house, drinking tea and reading newspapers. It was so relaxing and comfortable. Who would want to go to work?

After listening to her mother-in-law's daily life, she felt a little envious: "As long as you are happy, by the way, when you learn it, you must make me two more sets of nice clothes."

Hu Xiu liked what he heard, so he immediately agreed: "Of course."

Time enters April.

The midterm exam is also coming soon.

While students are busy cramming, teachers also have no time to relax.

So, after having lunch at noon, Ruting hurried back to the office and started carving the test paper on the cling paper with a steel plate on top.

Gu Fang, who had already carved the wax paper and was about to put it on the mimeograph machine, said with relief: "Don't worry, take your time. You can make it in time. I'll help you print it later. My skills are very good now. I usually won't drip ink on the paper."

Carving words on wax paper is a technical job that requires a lot of strength. Ruting is a novice, so not only are her movements slow, but she also dares not be distracted.

So, when I heard my friend's words, I didn't dare to look up and distract myself. I just said gratefully: "Thank you in advance. There is only one question left. I will print it together with you later."

It was only after becoming a teacher that I remembered that at that time teachers had to print the test papers themselves.

She has been practicing recently, but she still feels more at ease with Fangfang's help.

Gu Fang: "What's the big deal? It took me several times to become proficient under the guidance of Teacher Wang. I will go to print first."

"OK!"

Ting Ting's speed was indeed getting faster and faster. After about ten minutes, she put away the stylus.

I looked at the watch on my wrist again to make sure that the test paper could be printed out before the start of the first class in the afternoon. Then I let out a sigh of relief and stood up and walked towards the mimeograph machine.

Gu Fang saw her coming and called out, "You shake the handle and I'll get the printed test paper.

After calming herself down, she reached out and grasped the handle.

When two people work together, their speed is naturally fast.

The man in this room held the handle and turned it at a steady speed, while Gu Fang in the other room, wearing rubber gloves, methodically took down the printed test papers one by one and laid them flat to dry.

As the two of them cooperated more and more tacitly and their speed became faster and faster.

Suddenly, Tingting frowned, feeling that the smell of ink that used to smell good was a little pungent.

Then, a sour and nauseating smell rushed into her throat, causing her to cover her mouth subconsciously and rush out.

Gu Fang was confused for a moment before she followed him out worriedly.

When they found the person, they saw Tingting squatting beside the well and vomiting.

Gu Fang quickly went forward and squatted beside her, helping her to smooth her back while asking worriedly, "What's wrong with you? Did you eat something bad... Tingting, are you pregnant?"

Hearing this, Ruting, who was too embarrassed to think, was stunned for a moment, then turned around abruptly and looked at his friend who also had wide eyes.

Finally, Gu Fang spoke first: "Is...right?"

Ruting's mind was still confused.

Her marriage with Huo Xiao was different from the normal process, so when they first had sex, she asked to wait for a while before having a child, so she usually used contraception.

However, when I think about how I feel sleepy, tired, and drowsy these days...

Ruiting took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down.

Gu Fang already had a smile on her face, and she was even a little excited: "Of course it is. I'll go to the health station to check it out later."

We need to check it out. We need a conclusion to feel at ease.

However, there was no rush at the moment. Feeling the nausea in her heart disappear, she said, "Let's get the test paper out first."

Gu Fang: "I'm on the test paper."

Li Ting smiled and said, "There's no rush. I still have a class in the afternoon."

Upon hearing this, Gu Fang stopped persuading her friend, but she ultimately did not let him touch the mimeograph machine again.

Really pregnant!

When the doctor smiled and told her that she was 5 weeks pregnant, even though she was mentally prepared, her head still buzzed.

However, she was not really 22 years old after all, so she quickly calmed down and started asking the doctor what she should pay attention to.

Just wait until I stand at the door of the health station with the certificate issued by the doctor, and feel the warm sunlight shining on my body.

Some indescribable emotions gradually surged in Lu Ting's heart.

Seems happy, but also seems helpless.

This feeling lasted until I got home from school. When I saw the dragon and phoenix twins smiling and jumping towards me, all that was left was full of anticipation.

Li Ting thought that the child she and Huo Xiao had would definitely be extremely adorable.

Thinking of this, she squatted down, held one of the little guys in each hand, gave each of them a kiss, and then asked with a smile: "Have you been good today?"

Guoguo played like crazy at school and when he came back he looked almost like a mud monkey, but he still replied confidently, "Good boy, Guoguo is the best."

Hearing this, Miaomiao quietly rolled her eyes.

Tingting was immediately amused, and stood up, leading the two kids into the house.

Only then did she realize that only her mother-in-law was in the room. She asked, "Mom, my brother hasn't come back yet?"

Hearing this, Hu Xiu suddenly laughed when he thought of the afternoon when Xiaolue was surrounded by his family members and talked to him. "He came back and helped me with work, but he only stayed for a while before going back to the army."

"No one could possibly have really approached him to propose marriage... Hey, Wei Wei! Let me go!" Wei Ting had just asked out of curiosity when she felt someone pulling the braid tied behind her.

Luo Wei had almost let go, but when he heard his sister calling him by his full name, he immediately tried to pull her back.

I didn't want to, but a pair of hands stretched out from the side to block it.

Lu Wei let out a "tsk", but in his heart he was very satisfied with his brother-in-law's protection of his sister.

Just when I wanted to make a joke, another footprint appeared on my leg.

After kicking the man, she looked at her husband and kept him in suspense with a smile: "I'm back. I have good news for you."

Huo Xiao curled his lips, bent down, took out his wife's slippers and placed them at her feet. He helped her untie her shoelaces and then started to take off his own, asking, "What good news?"

Ruting supported her husband's back and changed his shoes: "I'm pregnant, five weeks."

"Bang!" Just when he felt that he was being distracted by the young couple, Lu Wei, who was about to leave first, bumped directly into the stool.

But he didn't care about the pain at this moment, and asked happily: "Really?"

Hu Xiu, who was serving rice, was also very excited and ran over in a hurry: "Tingting is really pregnant?!"

Seeing that her mother-in-law and second brother were so excited, Tingting felt a little embarrassed: "Well, I went to the health hospital for a check-up this afternoon. It's been more than a month."

After saying that, she looked at the squatting man again.

Then, not surprisingly, stiffness and confusion appeared on his face.

Li Ting did not doubt that the other party was unhappy. This person was probably stunned just like she was at the beginning.

Thinking of this, she bent down and rubbed her husband's cheek, smiling and saying, "Hey, come back to your senses."

Huo Xiao came back to his senses as expected and held his wife's hand very tightly.

His eyes were fixed on his wife. He had so many questions to ask, but when the words came to his lips he didn't know which one to ask first.

Gao's Adam's apple moved for a long time before he seemed to find his voice again. He asked in a hoarse voice, "How...how are you? Did you find out because you were feeling unwell?"

Hearing this, the last bit of helplessness in Lu Ting's heart disappeared completely. She pulled the man up by the hand she held, and then said, "When I was printing the test papers this afternoon, I felt like vomiting because of the smell of ink. I'm fine now."

Huo Xiao frowned: "It's still uncomfortable. What did the doctor say?"

Lu Wei was also worried: "My eldest sister didn't feel like vomiting when she was pregnant before."

Hu Xiu, who had been there before, thought it was normal, but morning sickness was indeed uncomfortable, so she said, "Mom will find you some sour plums later. Put a few in your pocket to relieve your stress during class."

Ruiting pulled a few people into the house and said, "Don't worry too much. There is no reaction yet. Let's eat. I'm a little hungry."

Hu Xiu had been smiling since she found out her daughter-in-law was pregnant. She immediately said, "Mom, go fry some eggs and we'll be ready for dinner."

As soon as the words fell, the person left in a hurry.

Seeing this, thinking that the young couple must have something to say, Lu Wei also followed them: "Auntie Xiu, I will light the fire."

"Mom, what is pregnancy?" Children are actually very sensitive. Miaomiao already knew that something good had happened from the reactions of her grandmother, parents and dad.

Ruting bent down to pick up the girl, but before her hand touched her, Huo Xiao took Miaomiao and put her on the stool: "Didn't you just say that you have to be careful in the first three months and not hold heavy objects?"

Ruiting touched his nose and said, "Give me some time to adapt to my new identity."

Hearing this, Huo Xiao rubbed his wife's head helplessly, then looked at the lady with big watery eyes and explained in a gentle voice: "Mom is pregnant, which means she has a child. By the time of the New Year, you will become a sister."

Miaomiao's eyes widened instantly, and she replied logically, "Am I going to have a sister?"

Guoguo jumped up and down excitedly: "I want a younger brother, Mom, I don't want a younger sister, I want a younger brother who can play with me."

Seeing that the two children were all looking forward to it and had no resistance, Tingting was also happy, but: "...Mom doesn't know if it's a brother or a sister."

The children obviously couldn't understand this and were all confused.

Guoguo was even more anxious, and she pulled her mother's hand and asked, "But...but how could mom not know?"

1. The...

The embarrassed Ruting suddenly had an idea. She pointed at the man with gentle eyes and hands on her shoulders and said irresponsibly: "Mom really doesn't know about this. Should I ask Dad?"

Seeing Qiqi staring at her twins expectantly, Huo Xiao...

After dinner.

Ruting washed up as usual, told stories to the dragon and phoenix fetuses, and finally went back to her room to prepare for class.

Huo Xiao took care of all the housework.

After he washed all the clothes and hung them out, he returned to the bedroom and saw his wife writing something at the desk.

At this moment, she was wearing a loose pair of pajamas with a cardigan on the outside, and her waist-length black hair was tied loosely behind her.

Maybe it’s because he likes the person more and more, but Huo Xiao always feels that his wife seems to be more beautiful.

"What are you doing standing there?" She noticed her husband standing still at the door and was about to put down her pen when she turned her head and asked with a smile.

Huo Xiao came back to his senses, closed the door first, and then walked towards his wife with a teacup in his hand: "I didn't do anything, I just think you look better."

Hearing this, Ruting looked at the man in surprise: "You can actually say sweet words?"

Huo Xiao had not expected that he would be able to express praise so naturally. He coughed lightly and handed the teacup in his hand to his wife: "Drink the milk."

Tingting took it and found the temperature was just right, so she took two sips from the cup. "By the way, today the doctor at the health station gave me a pregnancy certificate, saying that with the certificate I can go to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy milk powder and some popular fruits. We don't have much milk powder at home, right?"

"Don't worry about that, leave it to me." Because he had to raise the twins, Huo Xiao had been asking people to get him milk powder. Now his wife also needed to replenish her body, so her needs were naturally higher. But these things were not difficult for him.

At the moment, he was more concerned about his wife's participation in the cultural troupe: "Will I accompany you to the division headquarters the day after tomorrow?"

Li Ting: "No need? Principal Huang is with us."

Huo Xiao frowned: "I'm a little worried. After all, it hasn't even been three months yet."

Hearing this, Ruiting touched her belly which felt nothing, but still wanted to refuse.

But when I looked up, I saw that he was frowning. Then I thought that it was their first time to be parents, so it was understandable that they were worried. So I smiled and said, "If Principal Huang agrees, and if you have time."

Huo Xiao bent down, picked up his wife, and placed her on his lap. He then put his hand on her abdomen and smiled softly, "I won't make it difficult for you. The brigade commander just has some information to hand over to the division headquarters. He will be happy if I go there in person."

It seems that he has already thought it through. Li Ting put her hand on her husband's big hand with a smile: "I can't figure it out now."

Huo Xiao tilted his head and kissed his wife, then said softly, "Well, I know... Tingting, thank you."

Li Ting took the opportunity to make a request: "I heard that pregnancy is very difficult. It's no use just thanking me. You have to be nice to me, coax me more, and don't make me angry."

Huo Xiao was a little hesitant to respond: "Have I... pissed you off?"

藺婷...Is this straight guy too confident in himself?

It takes two hours to drive to the division art troupe.

The reason why this day was chosen is because the troops have a ride to the division headquarters today.

In addition to Principal Huang personally accompanying them, Lu Wei also came along.

It was originally agreed that Huo Xiao would come along, but he had something else going on and couldn't leave, so he had to ask his brother-in-law to accompany him.

Principal Huang never married, but he attached great importance to his children.

Knowing that Teacher Xiaorui was pregnant, I naturally wouldn't say anything against it.

He even offered to let him sit in the more stable passenger seat.

However, since Li Ting wanted to accompany Fang Cuihua, she chose to sit in the back row.

Seeing her suddenly clench her fists, I thought the little girl was nervous, so I quickly comforted her: "...There's nothing to be nervous about. Just like when you participated in the chorus a few days ago, you treated the teacher who assessed you as a cabbage."

Fang Cuihua was dressed up by the teachers again today, and the clothes and shoes she wore were also newly prepared by the teachers.

The dry and dull long hair was now all tied up on the head, and the eyebrows were trimmed.

Even without makeup, she is too thin, but at least she doesn't look ugly. Her small face, the size of a palm, can even be said to be pretty.

Before setting off, Fang Cuihua had already made up her mind when she looked at the unfamiliar self in the mirror.

She has to work hard!

She wants to become a literary soldier!

She wants to become the singer that Teacher Rui talks about!

She wants to...get away from that deformed family.

Thinking about this, I remembered that before I left home today, I found that my mother had cut up the clothes that the teachers gave her.

And staring at the picture of himself with...disgust, even jealousy.

Fang Cuihua's hands, which were placed on her knees properly, gradually clenched.

If her younger sister hadn't discovered something was wrong and secretly hidden a set, she would have had to meet the teachers wearing shabby clothes.

Although until now, she still doesn't understand why her mother hates her.

But it didn't prevent Fang Cuihua from realizing clearly that her mother didn't want her to be well.

The father, who only cared about his son and pretended to scold his mother, still disliked her even though he knew she could become outstanding.

At that moment, the 14-year-old Fang Cuihua was completely disappointed with her so-called home.

But now, hearing Teacher Rui's gentle comfort, I thought of how she accompanied me even when she was pregnant.

Fang Cuihua's nose felt sore again. She bit herself tightly and finally suppressed her tears with the pain. Then she smiled and said, "Teacher, I'm not nervous."

Why is she nervous?

She is now full of fighting spirit!

The more the woman called mother hated her, the more the man called father ignored her.

The more she wanted to find a way to survive for herself and her sister!

She also wants to...one day repay the teachers who sincerely helped her find a way out.

Although Li Ting didn't understand why the little girl suddenly became so motivated, she cheered her on happily: "Yes, that's the momentum. We are not afraid. As long as we treat the judges as carrots, potatoes and cabbages, we will surely win!"

Fang Cuihua... "Puff..."

The division art troupe belongs to the third level.

It cannot be compared with the art troupe directly under the General Political Department, but it also has more than a hundred art soldiers.

There are many columns including singing, dancing, drama and music, etc.

What Fang Cuihua is going to take part in today is the singing assessment.

Principal Huang was very familiar with the place. After identifying himself and registering, he went straight to the office of the director of the art troupe without asking anyone to lead the way.

Because they had made an agreement in advance, the art troupe's director Li Fei was already waiting.

Seeing Principal Huang leading people in, she immediately stood up to greet them, smiling and saying, "Principal Huang, you are still the same as always. I was just about to go to the door to pick you up."

This is the truth. After all, the person opposite is only a school principal now, but he still holds the rank of brigade commander. Moreover, he is a selfless combat hero who deserves the respect of everyone.

Because of this, when Principal Huang said a few days ago that he wanted to recommend a talented student with a great voice, Li Fei agreed immediately without asking any extra questions.

Principal Huang also smiled: "Don't come here for these empty places. It's not like I can't find a place. Xiao Li, listen to this kid's voice first to see if he can be specially recruited."

Hearing this, Li Fei smiled and shook her head: "You are still so impatient."

Although she said this, she also cooperated and looked towards Principal Huang.

Then his eyes lit up and he said in surprise, "This... Such good looks are more suitable for acting. The movie that Lao Zeng is planning to make needs a male second lead with such temperament. He has been looking for more than three months. Principal Huang, you came at the right time."

Wei pointed at himself and asked blankly, "Are you talking about... me?"

1. The...

Principal Huang...

Fang Cuihua...?