Chapter 92

The durian trees are brought back from the central island.

In July and August, Xu Wen went for a stroll on the Central Island with Lu Yuanzheng and accidentally discovered a durian tree in the camp.

It is said that the previous garrison officer in the camp liked it so much that he brought it back from thousands of miles away.

The officers and soldiers in the barracks were all men, and they generally didn't like the smell. They thought it was too smelly and wanted to shovel it away.

Xu Wen pleaded for Durian, saying that they would move it back to Rainbow Island when there was a chance in the future.

And all the ripe durians were picked on the spot.

I went home and ate a lot of durian, and also made some delicious durian mille-feuille.

Xu Wen enjoyed the meal, but Lu Yuanzheng and Dongsheng both hid outside the door while she was eating.

Every time Xu Wen asked Lu Yuanzheng to move the tree back, Lu Yuanzheng always had a perfect reason to refuse.

This time when the private plots were divided, Lu Yuanzheng could no longer hold back and could only help move the trees back.

The reason why durian is so expensive is because it is rare and only bears fruit once a year.

It takes six to eight years from planting to the first fruit, so no wonder it is so expensive.

A tree like the one Xu Wen brought back can produce about eighty fruits a year, which is equivalent to achieving durian freedom.

Seeing Xu Wen so happy, Lu Yuanzheng began to regret not moving it back to her earlier.

Dongsheng squatted beside him and asked him: "Dad, you obviously think it stinks, why do you still help mom plant stinky fruit trees?"

Lu Yuanzheng said meaningfully: "You are still young. When you grow up, you will understand why."

"Then I'd better not grow up." Dongsheng looked disgusted. Does he have to accept this kind of stench when he grows up?

Lu Yuanzheng: "..."

The sisters-in-law were also finishing up making cloth shoes.

After sewing the sole, all that remains is to sew the upper and the sole together.

The soles also need to be hemmed before sewing.

Just wrap the cut edges of the soles with white cloth and run a sewing machine around them.

In this way, a pair of cloth shoes is completed.

Of course, they are all cloth shoes, but the quality and appearance vary from person to person.

The cloth shoes made by Mrs. Li are works of art, and both the front and back are particularly beautiful.

The stitches on the sole are fine and smooth, and the force is even when tightening after threading. The cotton thread on the sole is of average size.

In comparison, the shoes made by Xu Wen are just a show for buyers, with uneven stitching, stitches not arranged in rows horizontally or vertically, uneven force applied to the stitching, and the cotton thread on the sole can be seen as ridges horizontally and peaks sideways.

Xu Wen thought about it and decided not to give this defective product to Lu Yuanzheng, so he threw it away.

Lu Yuanzheng saw this and picked it up from the trash can again. He was particularly unhappy that Xu Wen threw away the things given to him, and his face was full of displeasure.

"These are the shoes I made, so how do they become yours?" Xu asked, raising his eyebrows.

They don't have a special trash can at home, so sometimes the trash remains in the dustpan. Sometimes they just happen to have unwanted cloth or woven bags and use them to hold the trash.

When Lu Yuanzheng picked up the shoes, there happened to be no other dirty things inside.

He picked up the shoes and patted the dust off them. It was rare for him to show his unhappiness so obviously. "You always say you made these shoes for me. Now they are mine!"

"It's not well made. You will be laughed at if you wear it outside." Xu Wen tried to convince him.

"Who's kidding?" Lu Yuanzheng sat on the chair and put on his cloth shoes.

A little bit bigger, just right for a shoe insole.

Lu Yuanzheng jumped up and down on the spot, walked back and forth in the living room twice, like a child who had just got new clothes, his joy was beyond words.

What else could Xu Wen say? He didn't mind, and she seemed quite happy too?!

And he was encouraged and said that he would make him another pair when he had time.

Lu Yuanzheng was also very happy and asked her on the spot when she would do it.

Xu Wen immediately changed the subject and asked Lu Yuanzheng: "How are you going to celebrate Dongsheng's birthday?"

Last year she didn't know when Dongsheng's birthday was, and by the time she came to find Lu Yuanzheng, Dongsheng's birthday had already passed. This year, she had to celebrate Dongsheng's birthday no matter what.

"Shouldn't you just eat something nice on his birthday? Make his favorite braised pork? Or take him shopping for some clothes?" Lu Yuanzheng didn't have much idea about celebrating birthdays.

In fact, whether in the army or in the production team, no one cares much about celebrating birthdays.

Adults basically skip it.

If there are children at home, we will cook an egg for them and give them a dime or two in pocket money at most, which makes the children very happy.

Xu Wen knew that given their current financial situation, eggs were not considered a good thing, but braised pork in brown sauce was quite up to standard.

Xu Wen shook his head, "I want to hold a small birthday party for Dongsheng."

After listening to this, Lu Yuanzheng hesitated for a moment, but still shook his head and rejected it: "We can't make such a big deal. We can just keep it low-key as a family of three."

"Why? Dongsheng will be very happy."

"He will be very happy. But many people will not be happy. It will mainly lead to some not-so-good consequences. The island is so small. If you let Dongsheng invite the children to his birthday party, then the children's parents must know, right? I am the highest-ranking cadre here. Do you think they will send gifts? As long as someone sends gifts, others will follow suit. Maybe they will even compete with each other in giving gifts."

Lu Yuanzheng sighed, "It will also invisibly bring pressure and burden to other family members. You held such a great birthday party for Dongsheng, making it so grand and lively, then other children will definitely ask their parents to hold such a birthday party for themselves when it is their birthday. Slowly, an unhealthy culture of comparison will be formed."

Xu Wen was stunned for a moment, "I didn't think so much."

She just wanted Dongsheng to have a happy birthday.

Lu Yuanzheng stopped beside her and rubbed her head, "I know. It's because of me that I have to let you down."

Xu Wen shook his head, a little ashamed: "You are right. I didn't consider it enough."

Neither gift-giving nor comparison is acceptable.

Once it starts, it becomes a vicious cycle.

Besides, she and Lu Yuanzheng had good conditions, so giving their child a lavish birthday was no big deal. But most warriors came from ordinary families, and if they really wanted to learn from them, it would be a huge expense just to celebrate their children's birthdays every year.

And it is unnecessary expenditure.

Lu Yuanzheng saw that Xu Wen was a little disappointed. He knew that she had been preparing for Dongsheng's birthday for a long time. She had spent a month just researching the cake.

He thought for a moment and suggested, "How about I take a day off and take you guys out to play?"

"Where can we go? At most we can go to the central island. It's better for us to stay at home."

"Take you out to sea."

The weather was particularly good on Dongsheng's birthday, a sunny and breezy day.

Moreover, the winter in Rainbow Island is neither too cold nor too hot, and it is very comfortable to be outdoors.

Early in the morning, Lu Yuanzheng was busy preparing meals for the "picnic", while Xu Wen was busy preparing the cake.

The cake base was prepared the day before, but beating the cream took some time.

It’s the same “fake cream” that I learned to make last time.

Xu Wen also tried to improve it, but it was useless. The magic mirror told her that real whipped cream was processed by equipment, and she couldn't make it herself. She could only use milk and gelatin to make this fake cream that looked very similar but tasted a lot worse.

The cake base is divided into three layers, and each layer is filled with fresh fruits.

Xu Wen didn’t have a piping bag or nozzle, so he couldn’t make complicated patterns. He simply smoothed the cake surface and then wrote on it with homemade jam: Happy birthday to little Dongsheng.

After everything was done, Lu Yuanzheng drove the boat borrowed from the fishermen on Central Island and took Xu Wen and Dongsheng out to sea.

For safety reasons, we did not head towards the high seas, but instead headed towards the central island. After moving away from the main channel, we stood on the sea and let the boat drift on its own.

Xu Wen made a tricorn hat out of newspaper and drew some beautiful cartoon patterns on it.

To be precise, she and Lu Yuanzheng divided the work and cooperated with each other.

Lu Yuanzheng was in charge of painting and she was in charge of coloring.

Xu Wen placed the cake on the small wooden box between Dongsheng and himself, "Happy birthday, Dongsheng!"

Lu Yuanzheng left the rudder, came over and sat behind Dongsheng, rubbed his head and said, "Happy birthday!"

Then light the candles on the cake.

Xu Wen explained to Dongsheng in detail the meaning of making a wish, "Close your eyes, make a wish silently, and then you can blow out the candle. It has to be blown out in one breath for it to count!"

Dongsheng obediently closed his eyes, then opened them after a while and blew them out with a breath.

They didn't have plastic knives and forks, so they used a homemade saw. So they didn't dare let Dongsheng make the first cut, for fear that he would cut his hand.

There were no disposable plates, just ordinary household plates.

Xu Wen and Dongsheng each held a large cake and sat on the boat to eat, while Lu Yuanzheng took a fishing rod and started fishing.

He couldn't eat any cake no matter what, all the failed ones went into his stomach.

After eating the cake, Xu Wen put on life jackets for himself and Dongsheng and went swimming in the sea.

The sun was high when they came out and the sea water was not warm, but they were used to the beach and after getting used to the water they no longer felt cold.

Lu Yuanzheng did not go into the water, firstly to watch the boat, secondly to fish, and thirdly to be ready for rescue at any time.

Dong Shengshui is better than Xu Wen.

Xu Wen swam around the boat for a while, climbed onto the boat, went into the cabin, changed his clothes and came out.

Lu Yuanzheng handed her the towel around his neck and asked her to wipe her hair.

Xu Wen stood up, while Lu Yuanzheng sat and looked up at her: "Is it more comfortable than swimming in the small pond back home?"

Xu Wen snorted, sat down next to him, and kicked him. "How dare you mention the small pond? You took advantage of me the first time we met."

Lu Yuanzheng held her calf and squeezed it, "You are mine now."

Xu Wen pulled back his legs with all his strength, "That was not the case at that time! Lecher! Hooligan!"

Lu Yuanzheng touched the tip of his nose. "This is called fate! But you are really brave! Let's not talk about whether the pond is safe or not. Who would go to a cemetery to herd sheep all day long?"

"At first I was afraid to go. But the grass there was good and there were few people, so herding sheep was not hard and it didn't interfere with my reading." Xu Wen explained, "At that time I didn't like interacting with people. I was always afraid that people would notice that I was different from before, and I was also afraid of saying the wrong thing. Besides, except for you, no one has ever been to that pond, okay?! I didn't just jump in. I observed for a week before I dared to take a bath there. That place is a place that no one goes to, and there is absolutely no one there. Who knows where you and your son came from?"

"I'm used to getting up early, waking up on time. If I have nothing to do, I want to go see my parents and grandparents. I also want Dongsheng to recognize his ancestors... I'll do it for my uncles and aunts to see." Lu Yuanzheng pointed at Dongsheng, who was lying like a fish near the boat, "This kid is used to being in the sea. He can't adapt to not touching water when he goes home. He jumps into any puddle he sees. If he hadn't gotten covered in mud, I wouldn't have gone to that pond."

Xu Wen leaned his elbows back on the boat, propped himself up and half-lyed, half-sitting, squinting his eyes and looking at the sky with emotion: "So, fate is really metaphysical. Tell me, I traveled through time for decades, could it be just to meet you?"

"I think so!" Lu Yuanzheng nodded unceremoniously, "I am very charming!"

Xu Wen felt unbalanced after hearing this and kicked him.

Lu Yuanzheng was kicked by her and shook his body slightly. He smiled with his lips hooked, "Okay, okay, I was so shameless in my last life that I made an appointment with you to come to me."

Xu Wen was satisfied and retracted his feet, "That's good enough."

It's a rare opportunity for two people to have such a quiet space to chat undisturbed, chatting about everything under the sun.

They talked about the past and the future until Dongsheng got tired from swimming and climbed onto the boat, "Dad, Mom, I'm hungry."

Xu Wen sat up straight and went to the stern to get all the aluminum lunch boxes they brought. "We can't let the little birthday boy go hungry. Come, eat."

Lu Yuanzheng took Dongsheng to the cabin to change into clean clothes.

So began the "Picnic on the Sea".

A particularly luxurious meal.

There is not only braised pork, but also braised spareribs, fried crabs and two green vegetables.

The one who likes to eat braised pork is Dongsheng, but the one who likes to eat braised spareribs is Xu Wen.

Swimming is a very physically demanding activity, and Dongsheng felt sleepy right after his meal.

Xu Wen held him in his arms while Lu Yuanzheng drove the boat back to Rainbow Island. After sending the mother and son home, he went to the Central Island to send the boat back.

"You go by yourself, how are you going to come back?"

"Swim back."

Xu asked: "..."

Seeing Xu Wen's disapproving expression, he rubbed her head and said, "I'm just kidding. Ask someone to drive our boat with me, and come back together."

After Dongsheng's birthday, Lu Yuanzheng started reporting for his vacation.

Xu Wen's final exams are coming up soon, and it's time for him to set off for Beijing and return home for the New Year.

It's time to leave. I didn't expect Xu Wen to be busier than Lu Yuanzheng.

The life and work of the troops are carried out step by step. Even when Lu Yuanzheng is on vacation, Shi Lei is in charge. As long as the general direction is grasped, the people under him will not let down.

Xu Wen is different. The work she is going to hand over is very professional and there are only a limited number of people who can take it over.

For example, the commissioning of wind power generation is now coming to an end.

The electricity supply on the island is basically normal.

All the construction workers were thinking about going home for the New Year, so they worked day and night to finish the project as soon as possible.

Only one or two technical personnel were left in the temporary power supply station to celebrate the New Year.

They are here to prevent equipment failure, record parameters, etc.

Strictly speaking, it is not even a power station. Firstly, it is an experimental base for wind power generation, and secondly, it supplies power to the military.

There is no electricity charge for the time being, only service is provided.

Xu Wen and two soldiers who are familiar with electricity have been following the equipment since the first day it was deployed on the island until now.

However, they understand electricity but not much about wind power generation.

Xu Wen is more professional than them all, and his notes are always extremely detailed.

Before leaving, I took the time to teach them some knowledge about wind power generation and left my notebook with them.

She also has to teach soldiers and children. The classes cannot be stopped when she leaves. At most, they can have a winter vacation during the Chinese New Year.

Jiang Yiyi volunteered to sign up, and Wang Ying also took the initiative to stand up. She had been attending the class for so long just for this day.

Xu Wen asked them to teach one class each.

As for the sisters-in-law's cloth shoe-making competition, Xu Wen didn't have time to participate, and even if she did, she wouldn't win a prize with her level of skill.

The sisters-in-law were reluctant to let Xu Wen leave and felt that if Xu Wen stayed, the New Year would be very lively.

Xu Wen said: "I will be back after the Chinese New Year. When I come back, we will have a lively time every day!"

Before leaving, Xu Wen asked several sisters-in-law who were good at needlework to help make some cotton-padded clothes for him.

The climate on the island is actually the most comfortable at this time, neither too cold nor too hot.

Long sleeves are just right.

Children like Dongsheng are afraid of both cold and heat, so in winter they can only wear a layer of autumn clothes under their single clothes.

However, it is now the coldest time of the year in the north, and the weather is freezing cold.

You have to travel through four seasons on the train, so you have to prepare cotton clothes in advance.

After packing everything, Lu Yuanzheng's leave application was approved, and the family of three set off to leave the island.

Just like when we came here, we took a boat, a car, and a train for a week before arriving in Sijiucheng, two days before Xu Wen's final exam.

On the first day of their arrival, the family of three, who had been on a long journey, stayed in the guesthouse to rest and did not go anywhere.

The next day, Xu Wen returned to school to register and obtained his admission ticket number and examination room location.

The counselor knew her situation was special and gave her all the textbooks for the next semester.

No matter how good her foundation is or how knowledgeable she is, she still has to look at the tutorial to know the approximate scope of the exam.

After Xu Wen finished his school affairs, the family of three went to eat the famous roast duck.

Dongsheng likes it very much, and his mouth and hands are covered with oil after eating it.

The exam lasted two days.

When Xu Wen came out of the examination room after finishing his last subject, Lu Yuanzheng was already waiting at the gate with a gift bag and Dongsheng by his arm.

They will take the train tonight back to Wei Zhuang Commune.

The time has come to go.

However, it is much closer to go home from the capital. After sleeping on the train for one night, you can reach the city where Wei Zhuang Commune is located the next day.

Before returning home, the family of three went to the commune bathhouse to wash off their dust.

As soon as Xu Wen left Rainbow Island and landed, he called the production team and asked Xu Wen to help light the stove in the courtyard for a few days to relieve the coolness.

When they got home, the charcoal in the stove was burning brightly.

"Did Second Brother just leave?" Lu Yuanzheng warmed his hands by the stove.

Xu Wen picked up a note from the table and looked at it. "Yes. Asking us to go home for dinner."

When Lu Yuanzheng heard this, he started taking out the gifts for the Xu family from the luggage he brought back.

Some were carried back from thousands of miles away from the islands, and some were bought in the capital.

Xu Wen rolled his eyes and said, "This isn't your first time here, why are you so excited?"

"That's the case." Lu Yuanzheng answered her while counting the gifts, "Why not? I left you on the day of your wedding. Just because my parents didn't say anything doesn't mean they didn't mind. They almost made you a widow and ruined the reputation of my uncles. And then they kidnapped me to the island.

You've been away from home for a year. Your grandma, mom and dad must miss you terribly."

"Actually it's fine normally, but when I first went there and in the few days before I came back, I felt a little homesick."

Lu Yuanzheng counted the luggage he brought back and added some more charcoal to the stove so that the fire could burn a little longer.

He took Xu Wen's hand, holding the gift, and said, "Let's go home!"

Lu Yuanzheng's hands were all occupied, so Xu Wen could only take care of Dongsheng.

Dongsheng was just playing in the snow in the yard when his little hands were frozen like ice cubes.

Xu Wen let go of Lu Yuanzheng's hand, held Dongsheng's small hands with both hands, rubbed them to warm them up for a while, and then tapped Dongsheng on the forehead, "You don't feel cold either!"

Dongsheng chuckled.

Lu Yuanzheng rode a bicycle, with Dongsheng sitting in the front and Xu Wen in the back.

The two production teams were not far away, and they arrived at Xu's house before it got completely cold.

"Grandma, Mom, Dad, brother and sister-in-law, I'm back!" Xu Wenren started shouting before he even jumped off the bicycle.

As soon as she finished speaking, the door opened and a crowd of people rushed out.

Even my eldest sister Xu Wang and her brother-in-law were there.

As soon as Zhu Meizhen saw Xu Wen, she began to wipe her eyes and repeated: "It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back!"

Xu Wen patted Lu Yuanzheng on the shoulder and said, "Thank you for your hard work."

Lu Yuanzheng shook his head. "It should be."

Xu Qiushi said, "It's very cold standing outside. Let's go inside and talk."

Xu Wen walked into the house and looked around. Actually, the room hadn't changed much since she left.

I've only been away for a year, and when I came back I felt a little strange.

Everyone sat together and exchanged greetings, and Xu Wen distributed everyone's gifts to everyone, regardless of gender, age or status.

Xu Wen took the gift for his grandmother and opened the door to the inner room, but found that his grandmother was not in the room either. He asked Zhu Meizhen, "Mom, where is my grandmother?"

Zhu Meizhen sighed: "Your grandma is in the hospital!"

Xu asked, "What happened to grandma?"