Chapter 156

Xu Wen rolled his eyes, "You said a one in one probability is 100 percent. When you give birth to a boy, I'll see how you can convince Dongsheng!"

As a result, Dongsheng changed sides on the spot: "It's just a sister! I heard her tell me it's a sister."

Xu asked: "..."

Xu Wen certainly didn't believe it, but Zhu Meizhen, Sang Xiaoqing and Xu Wang all believed it firmly.

They all agreed that children are very intelligent and can sense the gender of the fetus in their womb.

It is said that babies understand yin and yang.

Xu Wen didn't believe this kind of thing which had no scientific basis, but he also tried not to listen to them.

Even if Xu Wen took a step back and said that Dongsheng was already six years old and was not considered an infant and could not communicate with the yin and yang, it would be of no use.

How does that saying go?

Don't try to wake up someone who is pretending to be asleep.

So, now everyone in the family except Xu Wen has always believed that Xu Wen is pregnant with a baby girl.

Zhu Meizhen also listed a lot of other "evidence".

For example, a pointed belly indicates a girl, and a round belly indicates a boy.

She said Xu Wen’s belly was pointed.

Even though Xu Wen looked in the mirror for a long time, he still didn't know where the tip was.

There is also a line above and below the belly button of a pregnant woman, which becomes more obvious during pregnancy.

They say that if you are pregnant with a boy, the line will turn darker, but if you are pregnant with a girl, it won't.

Xu Wen is so white that I can’t even see the lines. She must be a girl.

Xu asked: "..."

Could it be because she is very white?

There is also a saying that pregnant women who are pregnant with girls will become prettier, have whiter skin and better skin, while pregnant with boys will become uglier, for example, their faces will develop spots and become darker.

Xu Wen couldn't get any whiter, but her complexion looked better, which proved that she was pregnant with a girl.

There is also a very traditional theory, called "Qing Palace List", which also assumes that Xu Wen is a girl.

Xu asked: "..."

Okay, if you are happy, just treat it as a girl!

You’ll know once you unload the goods.

Even though the prize hadn't been announced yet, everyone agreed that she would give birth to a girl.

Among them, Lu Yuanzheng and Dongsheng are the most popular. This father and son pair especially hope for a girl.

Xu Wen looked at the two, one big and one small, with a smile, feeling somewhat helpless.

There are usually only a few fetal movements at a time, and they may not occur for a long time.

Dongsheng waited for a while, and when he felt sleepy, he yawned and fell asleep between Lu Yuanzheng and Xu Wen.

The six-year-old boy didn't sleep well, and Lu Yuanzheng was particularly afraid that Dongsheng would hit or kick Xu Wen in the stomach.

But their hometown is too cold. They haven't been back for years, and the room feels even colder with few people.

If Dongsheng slept alone, he would not be as warm as under the quilt.

Lu Yuanzheng stared at Dongsheng for a while, and suddenly said, "How do I use that earth heater you mentioned? I want to try it."

Xu Wen shook his head, "That's too troublesome! It would waste charcoal. It's not necessary. We only come back for a few days a year."

"Staying here for a few days is still staying here. One day at a time is enough to keep it warm."

"But the New Year is coming soon, and it's unclear whether you can buy a radiator."

"Your saying, 'Money makes the world go round' is sometimes quite true."

Xu asked: "..."

Lu Yuanzheng was a man of action. Early in the morning on the first day, he ran to the market alone to buy a radiator.

Radiators are only used in buildings here, and are basically only found in houses allocated to employees.

Ordinary people can’t even light a stove, so why would they want to use a traditional heating system?

In the afternoon, Lu Yuanzheng returned with a small truck, and the bicycle he rode was also pulled back by the truck.

Xu Wen and Dongsheng heard the noise and went out to see, and saw that he really had bought it.

Judging from the quality, it should be first-hand.

After Lu Yuanzheng unloaded the goods, Xu Wen paid the money and then asked, "Where did you buy this?"

Lu Yuanzheng touched the tip of his nose: "Scrap station."

Xu asked: "..."

"So, you were the owner of the scrapyard?"

"Um."

It’s not that the journey is long and I can’t bear to buy a new one, it’s mainly because I don’t have the tickets.

You need a ticket to buy anything now.

It was difficult to exchange so many tickets at the end of the year. Just when he was about to give up, he passed by a scrapyard and had an idea. He went in to ask. Although this shop didn't have it, they recommended another scrapyard to him. Lu Yuanzheng rushed over to see this set of radiators that had just been replaced by someone else. It looked very new.

No tickets are required to buy scraps.

Lu Yuanzheng sent Xu Wen and Dongsheng to Xu's house, then returned to the courtyard and started to adjust the radiator according to the heating principles that Xu Wen had told him.

Radiators were installed in all five main rooms, including the bathroom he had renovated for Xu Wen.

He also dismantled the stove at home and replaced it with a small pot he had found while shopping.

Even the smallest industrial boiler is not small when placed at home, and it takes up half of the storage room.

After finishing the work, Lu Yuanzheng went to the coal factory and bought some coal.

I bought it on a business-to-business basis through the help of an acquaintance.

Individuals need to buy tickets, where can they get so many tickets?

This busy work lasted until midnight. We had to light the boiler and fill it with coal.

As a result, there were still a few places that were not ideal, so I took it down and reinstalled it again. I finally breathed a sigh of relief when I heard the sound of circulating water.

When he felt the warmth of the radiator, it was already daybreak. Seeing that it was still early to go and pick up Xu Wen, Lu Yuanzheng lay down again.

It was noon when I opened my eyes again.

He washed his face, went to Xu's house to have lunch, and then Xu Wen and his mother returned home.

Xu Qi heard that there was heating, so he was very curious and came here to play.

Xu Wen thought it was just right, he could keep Dongsheng company so that Dongsheng wouldn't be afraid of being unfamiliar with the place.

The heating had been circulating all day, and as the journey was long and the charcoal was added frequently, it was always burning, and the temperature in the room gradually rose.

As soon as you enter, it feels warm.

Xu Wen took off his heavy military coat and handed it to Lu Yuanzheng, rubbing his frozen hands, "This is a familiar feeling!"

The heating in the north is really something I miss.

After having the heating, Xu Wen doesn’t like to go out as much anymore.

Coincidentally, it’s Chinese New Year.

On New Year’s Eve, the family of three went to Xu’s house for dinner as usual.

The meal was sumptuous, but the Xu family couldn’t set off firecrackers or put up spring couplets this year, so it felt a little lacking.

Because of grandma.

Grandma has been gone for a whole year.

Before dinner, Zhu Meizhen picked out some of her grandmother's favorite foods and asked Xu Qiushi and Xu Wen to "deliver" them to her grandmother.

In fact, it is burned next to the grave.

Although I don't know how it became popular to say that the dead can receive the burned things, to some extent this practice can indeed comfort the living.

To make up for some irreparable regrets.

After eating the New Year’s Eve dinner, the couple returned home.

Dongsheng didn't come back, so he followed Xu Qi to play with firecrackers.

Although the Xu family is not allowed to set off firecrackers, the children can still play with them.

Xu Wen thought that he had to come over early the next morning anyway, so he agreed.

After they returned home, Xu Wen took a rest while Lu Yuanzheng brought New Year's goods to give to his uncle and younger uncle.

Sending New Year gifts means giving New Year’s goods, usually from the younger generation to the older generation.

Xu Wen and Lu Yuanzheng were both well-mannered in terms of proper etiquette, but they were obviously becoming increasingly distant from their elder and younger uncles.

In the past, when I was on a long journey, I would write sealed letters home from time to time, and I would also give my uncle and younger uncle some money during the holidays to show my filial piety.

However, Lu Yuanzheng didn't write a single letter throughout the entire last year.

Everyone knows why.

Lu Yuanzheng was lucky enough to survive. What if he really couldn't survive?

He originally entrusted his child to his uncle because he trusted them and they were his relatives.

Xu Wen’s appearance was a surprise.

At that time, Lu Yuanzheng trusted his family more to treat Dongsheng well.

He had always kept Dongsheng's background a secret from the people in his hometown because he hoped they would treat Dongsheng as their own son.

To my uncle, Dongsheng is their cousin.

At that time, Xu Wen and Lu Yuanzheng were still a plastic couple, and they had nothing to do with Dongsheng.

As a result, Xu Wen was determined to take care of Dongsheng even at the cost of her own future. Although in her eyes it was not a sacrifice, it was in the eyes of others, including him.

His elder uncle and younger uncle, not wanting to take care of Dongsheng, spread rumors and slandered Xu Wen as a jinx in order to ruin her reputation.

No matter how long the journey is, no matter how generous one is, he can't just ignore it.

But when he came back, his uncle and younger uncle had already been punished. He couldn't say anything, but he still felt alienated.

No matter how estranged they were, the Lu family had raised him, and he could not be ungrateful, so he still had to give them gifts during festivals.

The uncle was fine. Seeing that the journey was long, he put down his things and left. He just sighed and didn't say much. He told him to come over for dinner the next morning.

Lu Yuanzheng said that he would go to Taoyuan Production Team to celebrate the New Year.

The uncle was stunned for a moment, his expression obviously hurt: "Here, on New Year's Day, a daughter-in-law cannot visit her parents' home."

"That's generally true." Lu Yuanzheng nodded, "But Xu Wen is pregnant now and needs someone to take care of her. Plus, tomorrow is grandma's death anniversary, so the Xu family will follow the old customs this year."

The Xu family has not been allowed to post spring festival couplets or set off firecrackers, nor go out to pay New Year's greetings for three years, so this year they can break the custom.

The uncle sighed deeply, his face looked very sad, and in the end he said nothing.

Lu Yuanzheng went home again and brought some New Year's goods for his uncle to celebrate the New Year.

My uncle is similar, but my aunt is the one who only cares about eating and not being beaten.

"I heard that Pengcheng is a place that makes a lot of money?" The auntie seemed not to notice Lu Yuanzheng's alienation and asked enthusiastically, "When you leave, can you take your uncle with you?"

Lu Yuanzheng refused: "Auntie, I'm not in Pengcheng. I'm on the island, and it's still a day's journey from Pengcheng."

"One day is not too long. I see your eldest uncle has made a lot of money in Pengcheng. Why don't you talk to your eldest uncle and bring your uncle along?"

Lu Yuanzheng chuckled, his tone adding a bit of sarcasm that he couldn't suppress, "Auntie, my eldest uncle is narrow-minded and holds grudges. My eldest uncle still remembers what you said to Xu Wen before! Do you dare to let my uncle follow him to Pengcheng? Aren't you afraid that my uncle won't come back?"

My uncle shuddered.

The little aunt's face also turned very ugly.

Xu Wen, who was playing with his son at home, sneezed twice in a row and wondered, "Who is saying bad things about me?!"

The sound of firecrackers on New Year's Day in 1980 was still lively and festive.

Xu Wen thought it was probably a retroverted uterus, so her belly wasn't too noticeable.

She wore a loose red sweater with a thick coat on top, and her hair was tied into a simple bun.

Dongsheng looked particularly fashionable in a denim jacket and a pair of leather shoes.

Lu Yuanzheng was dressed similarly to Xu Wen, wearing a dark red sweater inside, a tweed coat outside, and black leather shoes underneath.

It was not yet five o'clock when they arrived at Xu's house. Zhu Meizhen saw the three of them come in and put the dumplings into the pot.

Except for Zhu Meizhen who was busy, everyone else still had to wish everyone a Happy New Year even though they had just separated last night.

Especially now that there are more children at home, the atmosphere of New Year's greetings is even stronger.

Xu Qie took the lead and led Dongsheng and Chunsheng to kowtow to Xu Qiushi and wish him a happy new year and ask for red envelopes.

Sang Xiaoqing and Xu Wen also gave the three of them a thick red envelope.

Zhu Meizhen, who was serving dumplings to the table, saw this and sighed: "This family is better off now, and the children's red envelopes are fatter!"

"It will be thicker next year!" Xu Wen said firmly.

Zhu Meizhen nodded, "You're right! You young people should work hard to make money this year! Your father and I are old, and we can't do much, so we can just help you take care of the children and cook."

"Mom, doing a good job in logistics is also crucial." Lu Yuanzheng took the initiative to set the table for everyone, "Look at our comrade Xu Wen! She is the most outstanding military family member on the island. She has done a great job in logistics support! She has reduced a lot of burdens for me and my comrades.

He generated electricity, built schools, and led his military dependents into business. Before I went home, I went to the headquarters for a meeting, and our military commander said he would give Comrade Xu Wen a special award later!

Xu Wen and Uncle Sang Xiaoqing were often not surprised to see Xu Wen.

After hearing this, Xu Qiushi and Zhu Meizhen were very proud and followed suit to praise Xu Wen.

Only Xu Wen asked Lu Yuanzheng calmly, "So... will you give me a bonus?"

Lu Yuanzheng: "..."

Xu family: "..."

After dinner, Xu Wen and Lu Yuanzheng had to go back to their own home to wish their uncles a happy new year.

On the way, Lu Yuanzheng asked Xu Wen, "Do you have any new ideas?"

"Ah?" Xu asked, not understanding what he meant.

"These past few days, every time someone came to our house and asked me to take them to Pengcheng, you looked thoughtful. Sometimes I would see you in a daze at home."

Xu Wen was shocked, "Lu Yuanzheng, you make me feel insecure! It feels like I have no secrets in front of you."

Lu Yuanzheng: "..."

Xu Wen was just joking.

After Lu Yuanzheng finished his talk, he sighed and said in confusion: "I have indeed thought about it, but I don't have any specific rules yet. This year will be a year of great changes for us.

For example, this year, urban residents can build or buy their own houses. This year, the production team's communal meal model will also change. Our Weizhuang Commune should be contracted to each household. There will be five special economic zones.

besides……"

Xu Wen glanced at Lu Yuanzheng and said, "You should also have economic reforms, but I'm not sure about the details. But you'd better be prepared, because you may have to earn money to support yourself."

"Huh? What do you mean? Support yourself?" Lu Yuanzheng frowned. Their funds were all paid by the country.

"That's exactly what it says. My understanding is that you'll have to pay for your own troops."

"Are you saying that we have to earn money for weapons and food while fighting?" Lu Yuanzheng didn't believe it and thought Xu Wen was joking.

"It seems that it should be so."

Lu Yuanzheng: "..."

"But don't be afraid. It won't happen now. If I remember correctly, it will take another four or five years for such a policy to be introduced.

But doing business is a process that accumulates over time. You can't just receive a notice today and become nouveau riche tomorrow, earning enough money for milk powder... no, military pay and allowances, right?

I want to start planning for you in advance.

You see, we will be on an island for some time in the future. There are not even ordinary people on the island now. How do you do business?

You can't let the soldiers work themselves to death all day and make handicrafts to sell like the sisters-in-law, right? Or should you let your comrades take turns, training today and moving bricks at the construction site tomorrow?"

Lu Yuanzheng: "..."

Both knew that this was unrealistic.

Lu Yuanzheng was also a "study master" and couldn't help but want to cheat. "Then do you remember anything about how the army did business in this era?"

He wanted to learn from the scriptures.

Xu Wen looked at him sympathetically. "You might feel like crying even more if I tell you this. According to my limited understanding, many troops are stationed in the city. They usually 'make a hole in the wall', that is, they open a door on the wall facing the outside, rent out the houses along the street to businesses, and then use the rent collected to invest in other businesses."

Of course there are other ways, but this is really beyond Xu Wen's knowledge or common sense.

The magic mirror couldn't find anything either. After all, many things related to the army were classified as confidential, and what could be found were rare.

Of course it would be useless even if we found it, after all, under the current conditions on the island, we do not have the normal business qualifications.

Lu Yuanzheng also knew this. After thinking for a while, he asked Xu Wen, "What do you think? If I go back and ask Lao Lian to change my unit, will he agree?"

Xu Wen was stunned for a moment, then smiled unkindly.

Laughed till tears came out.

"You wouldn't go on such a long journey, would you? You didn't retreat in the face of a huge enemy force. Are you going to desert the army just to do business?"

Although Lu Yuanzheng was joking, he was really embarrassed: "Wife, you also know the saying 'A good cook cannot cook without rice'."

When Xu Wen started his business, Xu Wen also gave him 1,000 yuan as start-up capital.

What do they have on Rainbow Island?

An island that is not even as big as Wei Zhuang Commune. Apart from the stationed troops and their families, there is not even a single permanent resident.

There isn't even a proper house, so what are they going to use to make holes in the wall?

Even if there is, who are the holes for?

"That's why I'm thinking of a solution!" Xu Wen said in a coquettish voice, "You see so many people actually want to go out and explore. If there is a suitable business on our island, we can ask them to come to the island. At least their wages are guaranteed. For ordinary people, it's okay to work harder, but don't delay their wages."

Lu Yuanzheng nodded, "Well, my wife, you try your best. If you have any ideas, tell me immediately. If I can't do it, I will file a report and support you."

Xu asked: "..."

"Didn't you say that eating too much softened milk is bad for the stomach?"

"My wife said that everyone has their own expertise. She is responsible for making money to support the family and I am responsible for protecting the country. I have to listen to my wife."

Xu asked: "..."

Three, six, nine go out.

This is a common saying circulated in Wei Zhuang Commune.

It means that if you are going on a long journey, it is best to go out on the third, sixth or ninth day of the lunar calendar, so that you will have a safe journey and everything will go smoothly.

Lu Yuanzheng's vacation ended at the end of February in the solar calendar. In order to accommodate his schedule, the Xu family discussed and decided to set off for Pengcheng as a family on the sixth day of the Lunar New Year, which was in late February in the solar calendar.

Before leaving, they set off a string of particularly loud firecrackers for good luck.

This route is particularly lively.

With thirteen people including adults and children, how could it not be lively?

A few old men were embarrassed to let Lu Yuanzheng buy so many sleeper berth tickets. On the one hand, they thought it was too expensive, and on the other hand, they were afraid of causing trouble for Lu Yuanzheng. They just said that the children and women should sleep in the sleeper berths and they could sit in the hard seats.

No matter how much we persuade him, he won't give in.

Xu Wen had no choice but to say to Lu Yuanzheng: "Just let them do what they want! This is purely the incomprehensible pride of some male chauvinists."

The father-in-law insisted on sitting in the hard seat, and his sons-in-law Lu Yuanzheng and Xie Dechun had to accompany him.