Chapter 74

Xu Wen also thinks so.

She hesitated for a moment but didn't go forward, fearing that if she told the truth, Wang Ying would think she was making fun of her and she would start crying and making a fuss.

Wang Ying obviously hadn't given up yet and kept asking the postman questions.

Xu Wen shook his head and took the letter back to the cabin before opening it.

All is well at home.

Xu Wen and Sang Xiaoqing moved into the new house.

The family of three finally had their own little nest.

Sang Xiaoqing gave birth when Xu Wen was in Beijing.

Sang Xiaoqing gave her a little nephew, whose birthday was in spring and whose name was Chunsheng.

Name after Dongsheng’s brother.

This is the attitude of the Xu family. They regard Lu Yuanzheng and Dongsheng as real members of the Xu family.

The letter also asked Xu when he could go home.

Grandma's birthday is coming soon.

She's getting older here, and every birthday she passes is one less.

Xu Wen picked up his pen and wrote back.

He wrote about some interesting things he experienced on the island.

He wrote that his family of three was living a good life.

She said she might not be able to go back for grandma’s birthday, but she could go back for the New Year.

Because Xu Wen had to go back to Beijing to take the annual final exam.

By then, Lu Yuanzheng will take his annual leave and go back with her.

Because annual leave is only once a year and the time is limited, I can't go back for my grandma's birthday.

After she finished replying the letter, she let it dry, folded it up, put it in an envelope, sealed it with glue, affixed a stamp, and went out to give the postman the letter.

After taking only two steps, I heard Wang Ying crying.

Xu Wen turned around and saw Wang Ying pulling Zhao Gang's sleeve and crying, saying something inaudible.

Zhao Gang's honest face was obviously softened, and he finally nodded.

After returning from a long journey in the evening, Xu Wengang had just coaxed Dongsheng to sleep and came out of the room rubbing his shoulders.

Seeing this, Lu Yuanzheng stepped forward and massaged Xu Wen's shoulders, "Did that brat Dongsheng sleep with his head resting on your arm again?"

"Yeah. I don't know if all four or five-year-old kids are like this, but I always feel that Dongsheng is becoming more and more dependent on me." Xu Wen slowly moved towards the bedroom, with his head slightly tilted back.

Lu Yuanzheng followed her, his hands still gently pressing her shoulders and neck, "I don't know. Maybe it's because our relationship is getting better and better, and we're getting closer and closer? I've raised him for more than four years, and I've never seen him be so close to me. It shouldn't be related to age, right?"

It was the first time for him to be a father, so he didn’t quite understand.

As they talked, the two of them entered the bedroom. Xu Wen lay on the bed. Lu Yuanzheng sat beside the bed and put his big hand on the connection between Xu Wen's neck and back and pressed gently. He promised her, "I will try to come back earlier next time. Dongsheng is older now, and it will be inconvenient for you to give him a bath."

"I've thought about this a long time ago. But how could you stay still at that time?" Xu Wen hummed comfortably, "Fortunately, Dongsheng is very well behaved and independent. Now he can take a bath and dress himself. I don't have to worry about him much at ordinary times, except that I have to coax him to sleep at night."

"I've been here for half a year, and things on the island are basically on track. As long as there are no accidents, I can live the kind of life you said, going to work and leaving get off work on time. Haven't I always been home on time to accompany you and Dongsheng recently? The reason I didn't come back today was because of the trivial matter between Zhao Gang and his wife."

"Well, did Wang Ying go to mess with you guys again?"

"It's not a big deal. Wang Ying wanted to know her college entrance examination results. She went to Zhao Gang for help. After all, they are still husband and wife. Zhao Gang was soft-hearted, so he naturally went to the instructor. If the instructor couldn't solve the problem, he would go to Shi Lei.

Shi Lei has been busy these days with recruiting soldiers and the retirement of veterans, so he has no time.

I and the instructor of the first company took Zhao Gang to Zhongxing Island. They didn't have a phone. We called various numbers to check for her and found out that she had failed the exam. We were busy for a long time and came back late.

I was afraid that you would run away early. They are still there crying with Wang Ying! It seems that Wang Ying was hit hard. I am afraid that she will be depressed. "

Xu Wen shook his head, his tone particularly firm: "No. Wang Ying is in a good mood now. Even if the whole island is worried, she can also be happy. After all, her selfish character is there."

After a pause, Xu Wen added: "I hope this will teach her a lesson, letting her know that the world does not revolve around her. Life is not what she wants it to be."

Lu Yuanzheng raised his eyebrows slightly: "You don't seem surprised that she failed the exam?"

"Didn't you know this?" She turned her head and glanced at Shi Lei. "She has high expectations but low skills. She is not from the best family, her academic performance was just average, and she is even worse at enduring hardships. Her plans are nothing more than daydreams. She thinks the college entrance exam is easy. First, she has never thought about it, and second, she thinks that if I, a rural girl, can get into a famous university, then she can too!"

Lu Yuanzheng nodded, "I hope she learns a lesson and looks ahead more often!"

"I hope so!" Xu Wen was not too optimistic. He remembered something else and asked him, "Wasn't it winter when you are discharged from the army? Why are you preparing for it now?"

"It's true that we can be discharged in winter, but the discharge report must be submitted in advance." Lu Yuanzheng sighed, "No wonder Shi Lei is so sad recently. The discharge report on his desk is so thick."

Lu Yuanzheng pinched his thumb and index finger together, leaving a gap in the middle and gestured to Xu Wen.

"Tsk!" Xu Wen was surprised, "Why are there so many?"

According to the Luyuan expedition plan, at least one-fifth of the warriors on the island will have to leave.

Lu Yuanzheng sighed softly, "Homeland, country. For us, sometimes we can only choose one."

The island is now gradually becoming more stable. Although there are occasionally people with bad intentions who want to go to the island, most of them will pretend to be lost fishermen. Basically, there is no need to suppress them by force.

Defending the island, defending the island, mainly means defending.

And guarding itself is an extremely boring and especially will-destroying thing.

Every man who wants to be a soldier wants to kill the enemy on the battlefield and die on the battlefield.

I can still bear staying on this island and doing the repetitive and boring training every day.

However, most of their time was spent on daily chores such as road construction and land reclamation. Not to mention making achievements, there was not even a trace of the enemy to be seen, which dampened the enthusiasm of the young soldiers.

You can't wait until you are discharged from the army and then people ask you what you did as a soldier?

Reclaiming wasteland and planting crops.

It's no different from being at home, only more difficult and tiring.

The most important thing is that when I reached the age of marriage, I couldn’t find a partner on the island.

The young soldiers are all around 20 years old, which is their most energetic and restless age.

But apart from a few military wives, where are the young girls on the island?

During breaks, a few words can spark a fight.

The most serious incident was when a small argument almost led to a group fight between two companies.

He was severely punished by Lu Yuanzheng.

Later, the two main officers Lu Yuanzheng and Shi Lei increased the amount of training to try to use up their excess energy so that they had no time to think about random things.

But this method only treats the symptoms and not the root cause.

The soldiers, who have reached the retirement age, are preparing to leave the army.

The company commanders all went to talk to them.

Everyone's reason was surprisingly the same: to go home and find a partner.

Only a few gave the reason that they felt uncomfortable on the island and could not stay there.

Finding a partner is an objectively existing problem that cannot be solved for the time being.

Xu Wen knew that those who did not want to stay on the island were not being pretentious.

This feeling is really uncomfortable.

Their daily lives are highly repetitive, and they live in a small space all day long. The more extroverted people are and the more they like to run around, the more uncomfortable they will feel here.

It feels like being locked up at home and not allowed to go out. It feels fresh for a day or two, and you can tolerate it for a week. But after a long time, you will feel particularly depressed, sometimes you will feel so depressed that your heart will feel blocked, and you will be irritable for no reason.

They may not be afraid of their enemies or death, but they may find it difficult to accept this feeling.

Another thing that worries Lu Yuanzheng, Shi Lei, and even Song Xueqin or the military is that the people on the island want to leave, but the people on the mainland do not want to come.

Of course, everything is under orders.

If people are forced to come, they will definitely come, and if they are not allowed to leave, no one will leave the island.

But forcing cannot solve the fundamental problem.

Xu Wen thought for a moment and asked Lu Yuanzheng: "When we build the island, can we call on some young female comrades to go to the island? Or transfer some female soldiers over?"

"If everyone settles down here, won't that solve some of the warriors' personal problems?"

Lu Yuanzheng smiled bitterly: "How can there be so many female comrades with such high awareness as you? Besides, land reclamation, land reclamation and farming are all physical labor not suitable for female comrades.

If we transfer some female soldiers, it is theoretically possible. But if the male and female soldiers become a couple and get married, they will have children, right? Who will take care of the children?"

"Or maybe you can bring the elderly people from home over?"

"It's not easy. The elderly who can work are at home earning work points! If they can't work, I'm afraid they will have to take care of the elderly instead, right? That will distract the soldiers' attention. The most important thing is, what if their children also become winter-born?"

Xu Wen stopped talking.

Dongsheng's parents were both martyrs.

Everything has two sides.

Such parents are naturally regarded as heroes who sacrifice their lives for their own benefit.

But what about Dongsheng?

Xu Wen thought for a while and said, "How about arranging more activities to enrich everyone's spiritual life? Maybe that would be better?"

"Spiritual life?"

"Yes! For example, we can build a library on the island? Show a movie every week? Buy some volleyball and basketball balls, and a table tennis table. This way, everyone will have something to do even if they don't have to increase their training."

Lu Yuanzheng nodded: "It's not impossible. But, wife, I think this may not be very effective."

The fundamental problem has not been solved.

"That's true." Xu Wen frowned and thought.

The biggest reason for wanting to leave the island is the inability to meet social needs.

Whether it's finding a partner or meeting family members, it's extremely difficult.

The differences between the mainland and the island include not only material differences, but also the lack of fireworks and many other inconveniences.

There are no ordinary people here, and no shopping malls or supermarkets with a wide variety of goods.

For example, Lu Yuanzheng's daily consumption is either cigarettes or alcohol.

It’s hard to buy a cigarette on the island!

Xu Wen once saw a soldier who had just returned from leave. He was carrying a large woven bag filled with cigarettes and alcohol.

Not only for my own use, but also for my comrades.

Also, although the meals prepared by the kitchen staff are carefully prepared and different every day, that is only every day, and at most they will be repeated every week.

Plus, it’s hard to satisfy everyone.

Some people like this dish, some people like that dish.

Maybe there just isn't a dish you like in a particular meal.

After a day of hard work, I end up not even eating the food I like, and it’s hard to even buy the food I like.

It may seem like a minor thing that doesn't hurt or itch, but over time it will make people feel very depressed.

Xu Wen thought it would be nice if there were supermarkets and restaurants on the island.

It’s easier to run a supermarket. You can just go to the shore and wholesale a shipload of goods and it will last for a while.

But it’s not easy to run a restaurant.

The food supply is poor.

Xu Wen was concentrating on thinking about how to solve these problems, and did not notice that the big hand pressing on her shoulders and neck had slowly moved.

It went down her spine and stopped at her waist.

He stretched his thumb and index finger as far as possible and pointed at her waist, saying, "So thin!"

Xu Wen was confused for a moment and asked, "What's the truth?"

Lu Yuanzheng chuckled and didn't answer.

He changed his palm into fingers and continued to move down along the spine.

Further down is...

Xu Wen cried out and tried to sit up to get away from his grasp, but was held down by Lu Yuanzheng.

"The journey is long!" Xu Wen felt embarrassed and annoyed.

"Here!" Lu Yuanzheng's hoarse voice was accompanied by a hint of laughter, and then he covered her from behind.

One hand was retracted, and along with her raised arm, it passed through her side and the big hand clenched inside.

Xu Wenyi lay down in a hurry, but this pressed Lu Yuanzheng's hand under him.

Lu Yuanzheng laughed out loud, his voice becoming more and more frivolous: "So urgent?"