Chapter 45

The eldest sister and the second brother calculated the date before setting off.

The day we arrived in Tianjing happened to be Sunday.

Ruiting originally planned to go to the train station to pick her up in person, but her husband and mother-in-law wouldn't allow it.

Thinking about the little baby in my belly that was not even three months old, I decided to be cautious and just wait at home.

However, when Huo Xiao borrowed a car from the brigade commander to pick people up, Li Ting was not idle either, and prepared dinner ingredients with her mother-in-law.

At around five in the evening, when only a dish of braised pork was left simmering in the pot, the anxiously waiting Ruting finally heard the sound of a car engine, and she hurriedly got up and walked out.

As soon as I walked out of the door, I saw my second brother jumping out of the car, holding a three or four-month-old baby in his arms.

Then my eldest sister also got out of the car from the back seat.

Huo Xiao was helping to carry the luggage. When he saw his wife coming over, he asked with concern, "You must be anxious waiting."

Ruting was anxious, and upon hearing this, she hurriedly asked, "Why did it take so long? Did you encounter any trouble on the way?"

After taking the child from her brother's arms, she said, "We've been on the bus for three or four days. We were worried that Roubao might be feeling unwell, so my brother-in-law took us to the hospital on the way back."

Hearing this, Lu Ting subconsciously looked at the fat baby who was already asleep: "His name is Roubao? Is he okay?"

Speaking of her son's nickname, the uneasy Ruishuang suddenly laughed: "Yes, Meimei chose it. She said she loves meat buns the most... The child is fine. The little thing is very strong."

Speaking of her niece, Tingting looked into the car again: "Yes, where are Pingping and Meimei? Aren't they here?"

After confirming her sister's welcoming attitude, Lu Lu who came over with all her might was relieved: "They both have to go to school and can't come. I have already made an appointment with them to bring them some small skirts from the big city when I go back."

"That's good. I, your aunt, can buy the skirt for you..."

"That's not what I meant." It was just a casual remark, but now it sounded like someone was asking for money, and she felt shy and embarrassed all of a sudden.

Tingting patted her eldest sister's hand and said with a smile: "What are you thinking about? You and second brother must be hungry, right? Let's go into the house first. My mother-in-law has prepared a table of delicious food."

Hu Xiu, who came out from the kitchen after hearing the noise, said with a smile: "Yes, come in quickly. You must be tired these days. Take a rest, have a good meal, and have a good sleep. Then you will be full of energy tomorrow." As he said that, he enthusiastically took Li Shuang's hand and led her into the house.

The dragon and phoenix fetus that came out next had its entire attention attracted by the little baby.

I wanted to touch it, but I was worried about disturbing my little brother.

So, in the end, I could only circle around my aunt, watching her with laughter.

After her eldest sister and her second brother, who was carrying luggage, were escorted into the house, she looked at her husband who was about to return the car and said with a smile, "Thank you for your hard work, our Captain Huo."

Huo Xiao smiled, raised his hand and smoothed his wife's long hair, which was loosely tied behind her, and said, "I'm going to return the car, you guys eat first."

How could she eat first when her husband was working so hard? But she didn't say anything, just waved her hand at him: "Got it, go and come back soon."

When she got home, she found that there was no one in the living room except two large pieces of luggage.

She went directly to the room prepared for her eldest sister.

Sure enough, everyone is here.

The eldest sister was putting her sleeping nephew into the quilt.

The child's facial features are very similar to those of a radish, and he is well-bred, like a jade-like baby. Hu Xiu loves him so much that he wishes he could hold him in his arms and kiss him for a few words.

Guoguo, who saw his brother's appearance clearly, took the opportunity to start while the adults were chatting in a low voice.

But he didn't dare to use force, and just used one finger to tentatively touch his brother's little hand.

Seeing this, Miaomiao first widened her eyes, and when she found that the baby was not awake, she couldn't help but reach out and touch it gently, then she covered her mouth and curled her big eyes.

Seeing this scene, Tingting was so happy that she shook her head at the two children and whispered, "Brother needs to sleep. When he wakes up, you can play with him, okay?"

Guoguo cleverly covered his mouth and nodded with a smile.

Miaomiao took the opportunity to make a request: "When my brother wakes up, I want to hug him."

Li Ting teased her: "You'll have to ask your aunt."

Hearing this, Miaomiao raised her head and looked into the eyes of her beautiful aunt.

In fact, there is no such aunt in her memory.

But mom said that my aunt is my biological sister, just as close to her as she is to Guoguo, so my aunt is a family member.

So, the little girl who didn't like talking to strangers raised her head and asked in a baby voice, "Auntie, can I hold the meat bun?"

Ruishuang was looking around the room that her sister and her aunt-in-law had obviously put a lot of effort into tidying up. She smiled and nodded when she heard that, "Okay, but there has to be an adult present when you hold the baby."

Miaomiao's eyes lit up: "Okay."

Guoguo jumped up and down: "I want to be hugged too, I want to be hugged too... um..."

Hu Xiu covered the noisy grandson and whispered, "Don't disturb your brother."

Then he looked at the brothers and sisters of the Lu family and said, "Let's go out. Go wash your face and hands first, then you can eat."

Just as the 膠膠 and 膠威 had been simply cleaned up in this room, Huo Xiao came back.

Seeing this, Hu Xiu and Lu Ting went to the kitchen to serve the dishes.

After the family sat down and started eating, Ting drank half a bowl of soup out of habit before asking, "When will my second brother report to the cultural troupe?"

Wei: "We have to leave tomorrow morning."

The day after tomorrow is the registration deadline, and he would not want to rush through it. To put it bluntly, he was recruited because of his looks, and he does not want to give people the impression that he is frivolous.

Huo Xiao suggested: "Tomorrow morning, the military procurement vehicle will go to the city. Second brother can take the military vehicle, and then transfer to another bus in the city to get to the division headquarters."

Wei smiled and said, "That's good. It saves us a lot of time. What time in the morning?"

"It's a bit early. We have to leave at five."

"That's okay, just get up early..."

While her husband was talking to his second brother, Ting was also chatting with her eldest sister about her parents, the changes in their hometown, and Secretary Wang's rabbit-raising business.

By the way, I also told her some gossip about the family compound.

The two sisters were both interested in improving their relationship, and they interacted with each other, becoming closer over the course of a meal.

After dinner, the family began to pack up the food they brought.

Li Taohong and Lu Shengli still felt guilty about letting their eldest daughter take refuge in the home of their younger daughter.

So this time I prepared a lot of good things.

There are pickled fish, pickled meat, various dried mushrooms, dried dates, etc., a whole bag of food.

While tidying up, Hu Xiu scolded her in-laws for being too reasonable and said that they were afraid that they would move all the good things at home here.

As for the one who was unable to intervene, considering that his second brother had to get up early the next day and had been busy for several days, he suggested: "Second brother, why don't you take a shower first? After you take a shower, let Huo Xiao take you to sleep with his friend?"

Wei thought about it and shook his head: "No, the weather is warmer now, I can just sleep on the sofa."

Li Ting frowned: "That won't work?" The sofas nowadays are made entirely of wood. Even with a thin mattress, it's still uncomfortable to sleep on. Especially since the second brother is over 1.8 meters tall and can't even straighten his legs. Won't he be in pain all over tomorrow?

Thinking of this, she said, "If you don't want to be squeezed with strangers, why don't you sleep with Huo Xiao? I'll sleep with Mom."

Hearing this, Huo Xiao and Lu Wei looked at each other and then frowned at the same time.

How repulsive is this? She almost wanted to roll her eyes: "Then what do you say we should do?"

Lu Wei coughed lightly and said, "Brother-in-law, please lend me another folding bed. I will stay in the living room for the night."

Huo Xiao stood up immediately: "I'll go now."

Looking at her husband's back, which looked like he was being held by a dog, the corners of her mouth twitched.

The next day.

Ruting, who was planning to get up early to see his second brother off, overslept again.

When her mother-in-law called her to get up, it was already half past six.

Not only did she fail to catch up with her second brother, she didn't even hear the 5:30 wake-up call.

In particular, there is a large wicker cradle in the living room. According to my mother-in-law, she borrowed it from Sister Lan's house next door.

Ruiting, who hadn't heard anything, felt a little embarrassed. While eating breakfast, she tried to save face: "...I've been able to sleep better and better since I got pregnant."

Hu Xiu rolled his eyes at his daughter-in-law with amusement, thinking that she was also a sleepyhead before she got pregnant.

But she didn't say this out loud, thus saving his face.

Huo Xiao, who was sitting next to his wife and biting a steamed bun, curled his lips but also did not expose her.

Only Lu Qing didn't understand and responded seriously: "It's easy to feel sleepy when you're pregnant. It's good that you don't have morning sickness."

After finishing the last mouthful of porridge, she nodded without blushing, "Yes, I wasn't like this before."

“Ahem…”

Tingting gave her husband a sharp look: "What's wrong with you?"

Huo Xiao swallowed the food in his mouth and shook his head: "I am chewing, are you done?"

Ruting curled her lips: "Yeah."

Not daring to offend his angry wife, Huo Xiao stood up to clean up the dishes: "I'll go wash the dishes."

Seeing her brother-in-law carrying the dishes and chopsticks and walking neatly to the kitchen, and her aunt holding the children to wipe their mouths, Ruishuang looked at her sister who was sitting on the stool holding her belly and not moving, and suddenly laughed.

It's great that although her life is a mess, her sister is doing well...

"Sister, I'm going to school. If you have anything to say, just tell my mother-in-law directly." Li Ting sat and rested for a few minutes. When her husband came out after washing the dishes, she got up and prepared to go to work with him.

Lu Sheng also stood up: "Don't worry about me, my aunt said that she would take me to the temple in the back mountain after sending the dragon and phoenix fetus away."

"That's good. If you have anything, you can come to school to find me." After changing her shoes, she called to the bathroom, "Mom, Huo Xiao and I are going to work."

Looking at the young couple, I helped you put away your slippers and carry your bag, and you helped me put on my military cap, and their actions were intimate and natural. Lu Shuang thought, now my parents should be relieved that my sister is indeed doing well.

Huo Xiao sent his wife to school before joining the army.

Recently, relations with Country E have become increasingly tense, and the authorities have repeatedly stated that they must be prepared for renewed conflict at any time.

The soldiers of the tank division not only need to train in physical combat, but also need to focus on technical skills such as tank technology, shooting, and communication.

As the person in charge of military command, Huo Xiao was naturally very busy.

Not only do they accompany and monitor the soldiers' training progress, but they also need to adjust the training plan at any time according to the soldiers' progress.

As usual, he arrived at the office half an hour early, opened his notebook and began to organize his plans.

He had only written half a page when several military officers under his command came rushing in.

Huo Xiao carefully put the cap on the pen and then frowned and asked, "What's the matter?"

Dong Xiao was not afraid of his friend's cold face, and he stepped forward with a smile: "Captain, I heard that my sister-in-law's elder sister or younger sister is here?"

Hearing this, Huo Xiao knew that nothing had happened in the camp, so he relaxed and said, "It's my sister," while turning the pen in his hand.

Upon hearing this, several unmarried officers became agitated.

My sister-in-law is pretty and has a nice personality. Her brother is a gigolo among gigolos. Her sister, who is from the same mother, must be not bad either.

Thinking of this, the oldest but still single commander of the third battalion laughed: "Captain, how old is our... ahem... our eldest sister-in-law?"

Huo Xiao smoothed the blue bow on the pen cap, his tone still calm: "27 years old."

After saying this, he looked at his subordinates who were in a state of amorous feelings and did not keep them in suspense: "Mother of three children."

As for his eldest sister's divorce, Huo Xiao didn't intend to say anything more.

There are no secrets in the army. My elder sister came here to stay in peace. If the news gets out, I'm afraid some gossipers will start to spread rumors.

Everyone was unaware of what the leader was thinking and they all wailed, saying how difficult it was to find a wife as all the good candidates had been taken by the animals.

Huo Xiao was too lazy to pay attention to them. He looked at Dong Xiao again and raised his eyebrows: "Are you curious too?"

Dong Xiao waved his hands and said, "I'm not in a hurry to get married. I just want to accompany these animals for a walk."

As he said this, he looked again at the pen tied with a bow that was spinning in Lao Huo's hand. He couldn't help but say awkwardly: "Captain, your pen..." Isn't this too unmanly?

Hearing this, Huo Xiao lowered his eyes and glanced at the pen in his hand. Thinking of the fact that his wife had secretly given him a gift on May 5th of the solar calendar, he couldn't help but curl his lips and said, "This is the birthday gift your sister-in-law gave me a few days ago."

Dong Xiao suddenly realized something, and then he responded, "That's not right, I remember your birthday is still more than a month away."

The third battalion commander said with some envy, "I remember the regiment commander's birthday is May 5th of the lunar calendar, right? It's ok for my sister-in-law to send him a gift, but why did she do it so many days in advance?"

Huo Xiao glanced at the people and said with some disdain: "Can't we celebrate both the lunar and solar calendars?"

Dong Xiao was bewildered: "You celebrate two birthdays a year?"

Huo Xiao coughed lightly and pretended to be normal: "Your sister-in-law insisted on celebrating two birthdays for me."

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