Chapter 127
"Yes, Auntie, I just received the notice not long ago. Has Comrade Qin received the notice?" Lu Qin simply stopped to chat with her, with the spring afternoon sun on his head, feeling warm and comfortable.
In the back seat of the car, Kong Dongdong heard a familiar voice and cautiously poked his head out. Sun Juan's attention was immediately drawn, and she smiled. "She got it, but she's not as good as you. She got it by the skin of her teeth."
Lu Qin had long known about the Ning University Qin Shi had applied for. Setting aside the fact that Ning University was a good institution, with its prime location near the sea, it was also the closest good school to their province, allowing those who passed the entrance exam to take a direct train from the county. Following this trend, after the policy was released at the end of the year, it was estimated that population migration for the next decade or so would be a one-way flow from their province to the province where Ningchuan City was located.
"Aunt, we can't say that. There are not many people in the province who are admitted to Ningda. Comrade Qin has always been very hardworking and excellent, and I have spent a long time preparing. Let's not talk about this for now. Aunt, you must be very happy after Comrade Qin was admitted," Lu Qin said with a smile.
How could Sun Juan not be happy? The blisters in her mouth hadn't healed for days, only improving after her daughter's admissions notice came in. She wasn't going to rush into it now, but the blisters were a bit annoying, so she went to get some medicine.
Sun Juan smiled and invited him, "I have nothing to do this afternoon, why don't you go to my house?"
Lu Qin refused. "Just congratulate Comrade Qin for me. Auntie, I have things to do at home. We'll talk next time. When school starts, we'll wait for Comrade Qin to leave together so we can take care of each other."
Sun Juan's eyes lit up. "Okay, I'll have to trouble your sister and brother-in-law to take care of you when the time comes."
Lu Qin replied naturally, "No problem." People these days are afraid to leave the house. That's because the times, characterized by restricted population movement, have led to most people having no experience of traveling. He simply extended his hand, letting things take their course.
Seeing the child's face flushed from the sun, Sun Juan stopped nagging him. She stepped back and reminded him, "Hurry up and ride slowly. There are so many things on the bike. Be careful not to let the child fall.
Lu Qin: Even if he falls, he won’t let Kong Dongdong fall too.
"Don't worry, auntie, I have good skills, Dongdong." He turned his head and called to the person behind him.
"Goodbye, grandma!" Kong Dongdong waved his little hand.
"Hey, goodbye! I'll bring you some candy next time." Sun Juan had touched her pocket before and it was empty.
Lu Qin nodded and drove the kid home.
Watching them leave, Sun Juan's eyes wrinkled. She thought of Lu Qin's suggestion: it would be great and safer for her daughter to go with their family.
It was almost four o'clock when Lu Qin arrived home with his bags.
Lu Chunnong took out a bunch of food from Kong Dongdong's arms. She looked down and suddenly paused. She squatted in front of her son and reached out to poke his belly lightly. The child's belly was already protruding.
"Mom." Kong Dongdong smiled and squinted his eyes, pulling his belly back in, but couldn't help sticking it out again.
"What did you eat? You're so full." Lu Chunnong stopped teasing him and put the coat beside him on.
Kong Dongdong's eyes curved as he counted on his fingers, "I ate meat and vegetables in the canteen. The aunt gave my uncle a big piece of meat, and I ate it all. The sauce inside the meat was delicious."
Lu Chunnong was amused by him, with a bright smile and tenderness in his eyes, "You know everything."
"I know." Kong Dongdong raised his chin, his face serious, "It's the dark and red one, a little sweet, it melts as soon as you take a sip."
Lu Qin had nothing better to do after unloading his luggage. After hearing his vivid description, he crossed his arms and mercilessly interrupted him, "Kong Dongdong, that's not called sauce. The sauce your grandma puts in the jar on the kitchen floor is sauce."
"Ah" But that's not what Kong Dongdong remembers. Wasn't the sauce he took a sip of before black and red?
"If he says it is, then it is. Why are you arguing with a kid like him?" Sun Laimei just happened to hear this. "The seasonings in the stew are just for flavor. It's still a sauce. We all end up eating it anyway."
Seeing that they all looked at him disapprovingly, Lu Qin compromised and said, "Yes, yes, that's right."
Kong Dongdong was good-tempered and his eyes curved with laughter. Lu Qin scratched his temples. His Kong Dongdong was really adorable.
Sun Laimei opened all the packages that Lu Qin brought back, took out the usable ones and used them, and washed the dirty ones.
Lu Qin watched her busying around and had nothing to do when he was free.
After looking around and not seeing his brother-in-law, he asked and found out that Kong Yue had gone to the Public Security Bureau. Kong Yue was planning to ask for leave the day before school started so that he could get half a month's salary and help Qin Mingzhi deal with more work problems. He was a hard-working person.
As for her sister, today is the weekend, and she is also preparing to work until school starts. She has to prepare lessons and correct homework every day. Kong Dongdong still has to go to school.
So if you think about it carefully, Lu Qin is the one with the least time in the family. And he is happy to stay at home.
But this tranquility was soon broken.
His uncle, the captain Jiang Manzhu, came to the Kong family with a large group of people.
At that time, Lu Qin was still sleeping in. When he heard the noise, he was about to open the door, but he went back to tidy up in front of the mirror.
"You're looking for Comrade Lu, Lu Qin, right? This is his home."
"Come in first. He has been at home recently. Let me call her. Sister Lu Qinsun." Jiang Manzhu knocked twice and pushed open the yard door as if he was familiar with the place.
There's no privacy in the countryside, and important belongings and finances are locked inside. It's normal to knock twice, push the door open, and go in to see if anyone's there. If you don't find anyone, you'll naturally leave.
The people from the Education Bureau and the Provincial Newspaper behind me looked at each other, hesitated for a moment, and then followed me in.
Then the representative from the Education Bureau spoke first, "Although this yard is small, it's quite clean."
Hearing the noise, the two old hens clucked and ran away.
The two reporters holding cameras nodded. Indeed, it was. Besides the two water tanks by the kitchen door and a small chicken coop near the back, the only thing that caught the eye was the reclining chair in the middle. This bamboo and rattan chair, likely from frequent occupants, had a concave shape in the middle, like a butt, a testament to its occupants' fondness for it. There was also a low stool nearby.
Jiang Manzhu turned around and muttered, "Where are the people?"
In the inner room, Kong Dongdong jumped off the stool and reminded him quietly, "Uncle, there are people outside."
Lu Qin quickly fixed his hair and buttoned up his shirt, then picked up Kong Dongdong and said, "Let's go. Remember to call someone later."
Kong Dongdong still had a pen in his hand, so he naturally hugged him back.
So almost the moment Jiang Manzhu finished speaking, the door that was opened a crack opened completely.
When Jiang Manzhu saw him, his eyes lit up, "Lu Qin, you are at home?"
Representatives from the provincial newspaper and the Education Bureau looked over upon hearing the commotion. They saw a slender young man in a white shirt and blue overalls approaching them, holding a child. Their gaze shifted downwards. "Hey, he already has a child!" they thought.
The people who came from the provincial newspaper this time were Jiang Baojie and Liu Wen. Every time Lu Qin submitted an article, it had gone through Jiang Baojie's hands. Now he finally saw him in person. He hadn't expected someone so young to have such good looks. Thinking about it carefully, this person's face seemed quite familiar, but he just couldn't place it.
"Uncle, you're looking for me." Lu Qin put the child down and glanced at the strangers who walked into the yard one by one. He smiled and nodded to them.
Jiang Baojie came to his senses and handed the camera to a companion beside him. He stepped forward and said, "Hello, my name is Jiang Baojie, and I'm an editor and reporter for the provincial capital daily. I received Comrade Lu's submission a while ago, and today I finally get to meet Comrade Lu."
Lu Qin: This guy really knows how to talk.
He smiled as he stepped forward and shook his hand. At first, he looked as if he had suddenly realized something, then he started to speak kindly. "Hello, hello. I'm Lu Qin. You and our team leader both have the surname Jiang. No wonder I feel so close to you. Comrade Jiang actually holds two positions. That's really impressive. I also want to thank the newspaper that Comrade Jiang represents for taking a liking to my article."
Jiang Baojie smiled. He could see the pores on Comrade Lu's face when he was close. Anyone who saw the smile on the young man's face would not think that he was faking it. It was enthusiastic enough.
"That's also because you wrote it well, Comrade Lu."
There were two representatives from the Education Bureau, one in his early fifties and the other a younger man. The fifties exchanged glances, and the younger man stepped forward. "Hello, Comrade Lu, I'm from the Education Bureau. Sorry to bother you. I'm here today with the Director of the Education Bureau. We've seen Comrade Lu's outstanding performance and contributions to our county, so we wanted to give him a reward."
When he heard about the reward, Lu Qin's smile became much more sincere. No wonder he felt that something happy was going to happen today.
"Excuse me, excuse me, hello, leader." Lu Qin quickly shook the young comrade's hand, then turned to shake the director's. "I was just helping my nephew with his homework, and I was wondering who approved these elementary school homework assignments. It's truly impressive, and it really aligns with the way children think these days. It not only exercises their brains, but also teaches them practical knowledge."
Kong Dongdong looked up at his uncle and touched his head.
The Director of Education's attention was drawn to a nearby child—his nephew, it turned out. But the compliment was truly well-deserved, and he smiled broadly. "Starting this year, we'll pay more and more attention to education. I'm so glad Comrade Lu is even paying attention to this kind of news. The country should be supported by you, the young generation."
"I see that Comrade Lu has other things to do, so we won't bother you for now. These are the rewards given to you by our Education Bureau after discussion. I hope Comrade Lu can continue to work hard and bring honor to our Laiyang County."
Lu Qin then saw the Education Bureau present a banner. He took it first, and then the director pulled out a red envelope from his pocket. On it was written the words "Education Bureau," and the words "Keep up the good work."
Lu Qin accepted it flattered, "Thank you for your encouragement."
He turned around and said, "By the way, Comrade Jiang, can you take pictures? I want to record this scene and then I can buy these photos later."
Jiang Baojie couldn't refuse the two photos. Instead, his words triggered his inspiration.
"It's okay. This little bit of film isn't worth much. Comrade Lu, just stand still and I'll take your picture."
Lu Qin thanked him repeatedly and took a photo with the Education Bureau representative who was hesitant to speak.
The author has something to say:
I owe you an update now because I have a very bad cold today.
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