Chapter 112

"Although many sisters-in-law have only been on the island for a few days, our island is not big and everyone can see the basic situation. These officers and soldiers have been busy with training recently and have no time to build houses." Xu Wen waved his hands.

Song Baoying added: "In fact, except for my sister-in-law who just got married, everyone should be able to adapt to this situation. It's just like we can never count on them when we need them most at home."

Xu asked: "..."

I'm afraid Song Baoying's resentment won't go away for a while.

She shook her head and said helplessly: "Although this is not pleasant to hear, it seems to be true. However, the biggest difference between being on Rainbow Island and at home is that at home we don't know what our men are doing or where they are going every day. We can only guess and worry.

It’s different on the island. We can see them every day, and we feel at ease and not so worried. Even as Mrs. Song said, in most cases they can’t help the family, including building the school this time.”

Some sisters-in-law were confused and asked, "Can this school still be built?"

One moment he said he would build it, and the next moment he said he didn't have time to build it.

Xu Wen raised his hands halfway and said, "Blame me. What nonsense! Simply put, the school must be built, but the officers and soldiers are not available to help at the moment. If we want to build the school building as soon as possible, we can only rely on ourselves."

"Ah?" Song Qin reacted quickly and asked in surprise, "Are you saying that we should build our own school?"

Xu Wen nodded, "Yes! To be more specific, all of us sisters-in-law on the island, that is, almost all of you in this room, are here to build this elementary school. Because those sisters-in-law who couldn't come, their children need to be taken care of day and night, and they probably can't get away to help."

The huge room was quiet for a moment, and then there was a chattering sound.

Most of them were not very supportive, or more precisely, they did not believe that they could build a school on their own.

When the discussion died down, Xu Wen spoke up, "I understand what you sisters-in-law are thinking. When I first heard this suggestion, I felt it was incredible just like everyone else! Building a house is so complicated, it requires so much technical and physical work. We are all women, how can we do it?

I mentioned this to my husband, but he didn't believe it either. Most people don't believe we can do it. But, let me ask, what's wrong with us? As one of my sisters-in-law said, 'Men are just in name only at home. We farm the land, support the elderly, take care of the children, and repair the broken house. We can do all these, so why can't we build a house?' To be honest, the sister-in-law who said this is right here. Her name is Wang Lingling."

Most of the sisters-in-law resonated with this statement, and thunderous applause broke out as soon as Xu Wen finished speaking.

When the applause died down, Xu Wen continued, "It was sister-in-law Wang Lingling and several other sisters-in-law who first suggested that we build our own school. They told me that some of them were carpenters, some were strong, some were bricklayers, and even those who knew nothing were willing to help move bricks and tiles.

I admire their courage and appreciate them. So I think we can give it a try, and by the way, we can also prove to the men at home and others that we are not dodders who depend on men to grow! We can be great without them!

But don't get me wrong! I'm not advocating that we really don't need men. I just want to say that they have the ability to defend the country and we have the ability to protect them and do all the logistics work to make them feel at ease. "

Amid the thunderous applause, many sisters-in-law volunteered.

"I can do carpentry, too. Take me with you!"

"I can build walls, so count me in!"

"I can't do anything, but I can help!"

"I can sell my strength!"

"I can draw, is there anything I can do to help?"

"I can sing and dance... Forget it, I'll just lift wood!"

“…”

Among the various sisters-in-law who signed up, one of them suddenly called out the skill that Xu Wen lacked the most.

"I can draw. I studied architectural design."

The sister-in-law who was speaking was called Xiaoyu, and she was half local. She was from Haicheng, which was very close to here, and she could speak Cantonese and Mandarin, and she spoke Mandarin very well.

Xu Wen was stunned. To study architectural design, one must at least have a technical secondary school degree, right?

Seeing Xu Wen in a daze, Sister Li took the initiative to explain to her: "This Sister Xiaoyu just came to the island with her husband after the rotation. She is less than a month pregnant. Her husband's name is Zhang Qinglong. Squad Leader Zhang has no special advantages except that he is a veteran. He is not well educated and seems to have not even finished junior high school. The amazing thing is that this Sister Xiaoyu is a serious college student. I heard that her family is very rich. It seems that her father is an officer."

Mrs. Li is a warm-hearted person. Since she opened the canteen, men, women, old and young on the island have all gone there to buy things, so that her canteen has become the news distribution center of Rainbow Island.

There is no one on the entire island whom Mrs. Li doesn't know.

However, among the many new soldiers and sisters-in-law and children who had just arrived on the island, Sister Li was most impressed by Xiaoyu because she felt that Xiaoyu was somewhat similar to Xu Wen.

Even Xiaoyu was more hardworking than Xu Wen. She was a college graduate with a high level of education and was offered a golden rice bowl. But she refused and married a soldier.

At least Xu Wen has not graduated from college yet, and Lu Yuanzheng is at least a cadre.

In short, Xiaoyu and Zhang Qinglong's family and personal conditions are too different, and it is hard to imagine how these two people got together.

Xu Wen was a little surprised, but he could understand it. Most of the time, women have high IQs, but when they are in love, their IQs drop rapidly. Even if they meet a scumbag, it is difficult for them to realize it unless they are deeply hurt.

She just got to know Xiaoyu and it was hard for her to comment on their situation as a couple. She only knew that Xiaoyu studied architecture, could draw design drawings, and was willing to help, and that was enough.

Of course, not all sisters-in-law support it, and there are still a small number of sisters-in-law who have not spoken out. Maybe they don’t have enough confidence in them? !

This is entirely voluntary, and Xu Wen and Song Baoying are not an official organization, so it would be better if everyone is willing to build it together, but it is also okay if they are not willing.

After the matter was roughly decided, it was time for free chat.

You can talk to anyone you want about anything.

Although it was already past twelve o'clock, no one was sleepy, except for a few children who couldn't hold on any longer and went to sleep after eating and drinking their fill.

Xu Wen was actually a little sleepy, but she was used to her bed. Plus, it was not quiet here, so she couldn't fall asleep and just chatted with the people around her.

People from all over the world gathered together. I don’t know if it was because the night made people less guarded, or because they were all military wives and had a common language.

The conversation was lively, covering all kinds of topics.

Chatting about hometown delicacies.

Talk about men and children.

Talk about how you met your partner.

Let’s talk about why we went to the island.

It was not until dawn that all the sisters-in-law fell asleep.

I didn't sleep for long before I was woken up by loud slogans outside.

"Thank you all for your hard work! After dinner, sisters-in-law should take a nap first. How about we have a meeting in the cafeteria after breakfast tomorrow to discuss building the house?" Xu Wen said while yawning.

She was the one who organized the party, so naturally she had to clean it up.

The sisters-in-law had no objection and agreed one after another.

Everyone consciously put the mats in order and took the trash away.

Finally, Xu asked some of their more experienced people to clean up the auditorium and return the mats.

It mainly belongs to Mrs. Li. Lu Yuanzheng from the battalion headquarters said she doesn't need to worry about it, someone will come to get it.

After breakfast, Dongsheng went out to play, and Xu Wen went back to the bedroom to catch up on his sleep.

This time I slept until the afternoon, but I didn’t wake up naturally.

She was woken up by two guests at home.

Song Baoying and Xiaoyu.

Xu Wen asked them to sit in the living room for a while while he washed his face and cut some fruit and brought it out.

Xiaoyu is much more graceful and elegant than Wang Lingling and the others, and there is an obvious difference in their temperaments.

Sometimes, whether you are willing to admit it or not.

It is said that all people are equal, but when the people who make a living on the land stand together with the people who earn wages in the city, the contrast is particularly obvious.

When Song Baoying, who was a salaried worker, sat with Xiaoyu, there was still a clear difference in their temperament.

Mrs. Li’s information should be accurate. This Xiaoyu is probably really a second-generation.

After exchanging pleasantries, Song Baoying got straight to the point, "I brought Sister Xiaoyu to see you because I want to discuss the school building. How many rooms should we build and how big should it be?"

Xu Wen pointed to the painting on the opposite wall and said, "The school building is so small anyway, how to lay it out..." Xu Wen hesitated for a moment and asked Xiaoyu, "Sister-in-law, you have experience, why don't you take a look first?"

It must be no difficulty for Xiaoyu to look at the map. She stood in front of the map for a long time.

Seeing that she was holding her waist all the time, Xu Wen asked her to sit on the sofa and found a pillow for her to cushion her waist.

Song Baoying said: "You should ask your sister-in-law to be careful. I didn't even notice it!"

Xiaoyu shook her head, "I'm sorry for being so coquettish. I've only been pregnant for more than two months."

Xu Wen and Song Baoying could both tell that she was making fun of them and looked very uncomfortable.

Song Baoying comforted her: "It's like this in the first few months of pregnancy! Pregnancy reactions are very painful. How about this, why don't you go back and rest first and talk about it tomorrow?"

Xiaoyu shook her head. "Didn't we say we'll have a meeting tomorrow morning? At least we need to have a general framework today so we can discuss it at the meeting tomorrow."

Xu Wen also comforted her: "Your health is more important."

Xiaoyu still insisted on staying and asked Xu to borrow paper and pen.

An expert can tell whether something is good or not at a glance. This little jade must be of some real material.

I just drew a square without a ruler, but it turned out to be more horizontal and vertical than if I had used a ruler.

Just like how home-cooked dishes like Chinese cabbage and tofu are the best way to test a chef’s culinary skills, in the era before computers, simple lines were also the daily routine of architectural designers.

Xiaoyu explained to Xu Wen and Song Baoying while sketching, "It's very humid on our Rainbow Island, especially when the rain returns. I suggest that the school be built in a two-story wooden house, just like the family compound. The upstairs can be used as a classroom for the children, and the downstairs rooms can be used as music classrooms, art classrooms, or to store sports equipment and other rooms that are not used every day.

First, build a row of six rooms, six on each side. One room will be used as the teachers' office, and the rest will be used as classrooms. These six rooms are enough for the children on the island now."

This idea coincided with Xu Wen's.

Xiaoyu circled an area in front of the teaching building and explained, "This area will not be planned for the time being. If there are more children on the island in the future and there is not enough space for one class for each grade, we can build another teaching building here."

Song Baoying raised her thumb and praised Xiaoyu, "Sister-in-law, you are so thoughtful."

Xiaoyu smiled shyly, "Don't expect too much from me. I have never designed any buildings seriously. It's just that elementary schools are relatively easy, so I dared to apply."

"Everything has a first time. From now on, Rainbow Island Army First Elementary School will be your first work!" Xu Wen patted her on the shoulder to encourage her.

"It's really my honor!" Xiaoyu nodded, and then drew a sketch in the box: "We can build a playground here, and an activity area here. We can put a ping-pong table, a badminton net, and basketball, etc., to enrich the children's activities during recess.

Let’s build a corridor here so that the children can have a place to sit when they have a rest... let’s build an octagonal pavilion here...”

Xiaoyu quickly planned out all the functional areas of the school.

Song Baoying added some suggestions based on her own experience.

Xu Wen raised several opinions from a student's perspective.

The individuals discussed until sunset, and then went home.

As soon as they left, Lu Yuanzheng came back with dinner.

Seeing that Xu Wen didn't look well, he frowned and asked, "Didn't you get enough rest last night?"

Xu Wen leaned on the bean bag with his brows pinched, and hummed: "I didn't get enough sleep today. I just discussed the design of the school with the two sisters-in-law you saw."

"I said it's already dinner time but I haven't seen you go to the cafeteria to get food." He even waited for a while in the cafeteria, wanting to have dinner with her.

"So you came back just to bring me food?"

Lu Yuanzheng nodded and said, "I came back to see you."

He sat down next to Xu Wen, put his thumbs on Xu Wen's temples, and gently rubbed circles. "I haven't seen you for a day. I miss you. You were not at home last night, and I didn't sleep well. I always felt like something was missing."

Xu Wen tilted her head back and leaned into his arms, "Me too. I chatted with the sisters-in-law until after midnight. In the afternoon, Song Baoying woke me up again."

"So you don't have time to think about me now, do you?" Lu Yuanzheng said sourly, "Wife, why do I feel like you're busier than me when we're on the island?"

It seems that he is busy, but he has not left the island. Just like now, if you want to ask, you can meet him during dinner.

But Xu Wen is really busy. First, he went off the island with Song Baoying for five days, and now he is holding a pajama party.

They are all busy and do not return home at night.

Xu Wen raised his head in an exaggerated arc and said with a smile: "At least I'm busy so I don't cause you any trouble. Do you want me to be like those sisters-in-law, complaining about you not being home all day long?"

Lu Yuanzheng was silent for a while and asked her, "Isn't there a more compromise solution?"

Do you have to be either too idle to find fault all day long, or too busy to take care of your home?

"I'm afraid there won't be any in the future."

Lu Yuanzheng frowned, "Are you really planning to build a school by yourself? Can you do it?"

"Is it possible? I have to give it a try first. Besides, if it doesn't work, don't you still have my back?"

Lu Yuanzheng lowered his head and kissed the corner of her lips. "You are such a compliment! I am embarrassed to say no."

She regarded him as her last resort, how could he let her down?

After breakfast the next day, Xu Wen and other sisters-in-law held an impromptu meeting in the camp cafeteria.

The theme of the meeting was how to build a primary school.

Xu Wen first took a pen and paper and asked the sisters-in-law who were interested in participating in the school construction to write their names so that they could be assigned tasks later.

Xiaoyu briefly introduced the scope of the school and its various functional areas.

Finally, there is division of labor.

"Before Sister Xiaoyu draws the drawings, the first thing we have to do is to clear the weeds on the school site." After Xu Wen said this, he vaguely felt that this job was familiar.

I think I did it when I was in high school.

Xu Wen sighed and thought that teaching in this era is called quality education. What he learned in school is really useful!

For example, they were sent to work at the new school site during military training, so wouldn't that be useful now?

Xu Wen suddenly felt more confident.

She was familiar with weeding and had done it with Lu Yuanzheng before.

"I see there are 45 sisters-in-law who have signed up. So, let's split into groups of five, and each person will mark out an area to clean up. This will save chaos, is that ok?"

"Can!"

"I agree!"

"I have no opinion either."

“…”

"Since everyone has no objection, let's gather tomorrow morning after breakfast at the place where we want to build the primary school!" Xu Wen announced that the first meeting ended successfully.

Xiaoyu said that this kind of house has a simple structure and is easy to draw. It will definitely be finished before everyone has cleared the weeds.

Every sister-in-law is ready to show her skills.

The tools used in the construction of the family compound and the camp were still there. Xu Wenxian brought a few sisters-in-law from the camp headquarters to get the tools.

Sickles, hoes, axes, wheelbarrows, shovels, pickaxes, etc. are all available.

Wang Lingling and other sisters-in-law who usually have some inferiority complex finally have their highlight moment.

Xu Wen also didn't expect that Wang Lingling, who seemed not very flexible, could be so efficient at work.

With a swipe of his hand, the weeds in front of Xiaoxiao fell to the ground.

The sisters-in-law in the city, led by Jiang Yiyi, all praised Wang Lingling and the others for being so great.

They had never done this kind of work before, but they were not afraid of the hard work. They followed Wang Lingling's example, bent down and started cutting weeds.

An unexpected sister-in-law also came, Wang Ying.

Xu Wen remembered that this sister-in-law wanted to leave the farm at first by any means necessary, so why is she now taking the initiative to work on the farm?

Wang Ying looked up and met Xu Wen's puzzled gaze. She took the initiative to explain, "I am too lazy to do this job. But you are all doing it. I don't want my son to be laughed at when he comes here to study in the future."

If this school is built well, it will become a legend on the island.

If other children like her son were proud to say, "My mother is one of the people who built our school," her son would definitely feel disappointed.

She didn't want her son to be inferior to others.

Xu Wen nodded, "Very good! Keep it up!"

Whatever the reason, progress is a good thing!

At least it shows that Wang Ying is responsible.