Everyone was heartbroken and couldn't continue the conversation. It was Grandma Luo who noticed the atmosphere was not right and changed the subject.
"Yuxiu, the children are so old now, have they been to the hospital for a checkup?"
"No, they are in good health, so they didn't go to the hospital to check their growth. I checked their pulses privately, and they are growing normally. They eat well and are well-nourished. They are also stronger than other children of the same age." Otherwise, they wouldn't be growing so well.
It is one thing for the three little kids to be chubby, but it is all right if they have well-proportioned bodies, well-proportioned bones and flesh, and are of normal height and weight.
In later generations, people did not like to take their children to the hospital for examinations; one reason was the radiation problem, and the other was that the hospital was not clean and was always filled with the smell of disinfectant and various medicines, which was not good for children's breathing.
Unless necessary, if the children have minor illnesses or pains, they would rather find some herbal remedies that the older generation used to raise their children to treat the children.
Grandma Luo suddenly understood. "You are a doctor too. I forgot about this. Are you still seeing patients in the hospital? I heard from your grandfather that you were working with your teacher at the First Hospital in the West City."
"No, I have too many things to handle, and I can't carry out the work of the West City First Hospital. After much thought, I quit all the less important positions. I don't go to the Medical University anymore, and I go to Huazhong University of Science and Technology once in a while, but not often."
Grandma Luo expressed her understanding. She was indeed busy, juggling research and the medical research institute. She juggled so many roles that she barely had time for her family. Fortunately, she married into the Yan family; if she had been in a different family, she would have been looked down upon and gossiped about. Some older generations have unenlightened ideas, believing that a woman's place is at home, caring for her husband and raising children. Or, they believe that a woman's role is to take care of the family after work. Such ideas were prevalent in the 1980s and 1990s.
Therefore, when a woman gets married, it is her second life, so she must choose carefully.
Zhong Yuxiu continued, "Grandma Luo is retired now. Doesn't she feel bored because she has too much time on her hands when she doesn't go to work at the hospital?"
"It's okay. I've been busy for most of my life. I don't know how long I can go on in my life. Every day from now on will be free and mine. I will spend more time with Old Qiu. When we die, we are dead. Death is like the extinguishing of a light. I have dedicated most of my life to the country in the past few decades. For the second half of my life, I want to live quietly with you, Grandpa Qiu." It doesn't have to be grand. The little things in life and the long-term flow of water are the true meaning.
The old man’s idea is very practical, and it is probably a wish that has not been fulfilled for many years.
They were born in a time of war, experienced war, and longed for peace; after peace, they longed for a strong country; today, the country is getting stronger step by step, like a dragon reviving, and they are old, and want to live a leisurely life, not dedicating themselves to the country, not considering their families, but just living the leisurely life they want.
There were topics to talk about, and the men talked about men's things, so Grandma Luo and Zhong Yuxiu were able to chat together; time always passed quickly, and by dinner time, the dishes ordered by Mr. Wu and Mr. Cheng were all on the table, including the dishes that Mr. Yan Guofeng liked to eat, and all the dishes that Zhong Yuxiu liked were also served.
Only Mr. Qiu and Mrs. Luo were unable to order any dishes later; however, they shared some of their favorites. As people who had walked the Long March together and carried weapons together, it wasn't surprising that they shared many common culinary interests.
After dinner, they sent everyone away one by one. When Grandma Luo and Mr. Qiu left, Zhong Yuxiu specially thanked Grandma Luo.
"If you hadn't been there when I got pregnant and gave birth, I might not have felt so at ease. It's because of you that I feel at ease."
Grandma Luo took her hand and smiled kindly. "You came to thank me in person before, and I received your gratitude. Now that I'm old, I don't ask for anything else but to spend a leisurely life with your Grandpa Qiu. However, I also want to see you young couples happy and content, with everything you deserve."
"Thank you." Thank you for your blessings.
"In the future, please don't thank me all the time. It's a bother. Considering the friendship between your grandfather and me, this little favor is just a matter of lending a hand." Grandma Luo said with a smile to comfort them. Seeing that it was getting late, she said goodbye to them and left with Grandpa Qiu.
Only Yan Guofeng, Yan Rushan and Zhong Yuxiu were left at the bottom of the Zhong family's small building.
After watching his comrades disappear from his sight, Yan Guofeng came to his senses, and Zhong Yuxiu seemed to hear a faint sigh.
"Grandpa, let's go back and wash up and go to bed early in the evening." Yuxiu said.
Yan Rushan supported the old man and said, "Grandpa, let's go back."
"Let's go back." Yan Guofeng obeyed and followed them back to the house. He closed the door, isolating himself from the darkness outside and the house was brightly lit.
Yan Rushan took care of Yan Guofeng while he went to the bathroom to wash up, while Zhong Yuxiu took care of the children in the hall with Wang Daya and Gong Zhaodi; Gu Lingguo, Fang Guozhong and Feng Zheng cleaned the kitchen, washed the dishes and cleared up the mess.
After sending Yan Guofeng to the bathroom, Yan Rushan went upstairs to get his and his wife's pajamas. The weather was getting hot; it was no longer possible to wear thick clothes like in winter. In summer, people wore thin and cool clothes.
"daughter in law."
"What's wrong?" Yuxiu looked back and saw Yan Rushan holding two sets of pajamas, one for her and the other for Yan Rushan. Hers was green, his was gray. They were made of the same material and style, the only difference being the color. "Grandpa hasn't finished washing them yet."
Yan Rushan nodded, put the clothes on the rack at the bathroom door, and then came to her side again.
"Grandpa takes a shower, it should be soon."
"That's not urgent." Zhong Yuxiu smiled and shook her head, then asked, "Who will be watching over Hongxing Village when we return to Shangjing?"
Yan Rushan said: "He is from the company, and he is at work. Let him help supervise the work."
"That's fine." Zhong Yuxiu listened and accepted it. "I don't know when the bullfrog farm will be able to harvest the first crop."
"It will only take two or three months. We have raised a lot of bullfrog seedlings. After two months, we will have no shortage of bullfrogs to eat." There is no need to go outside to look for them.
The meat of bullfrog is tender and not sticky. It can be stir-fried, steamed or boiled.
Bullfrogs were sold at sky-high prices in later generations. One reason was that there were few bullfrogs, and even farmed ones were in short supply; wild bullfrogs were even more expensive and difficult to find.
"That means we'll have something to eat when we come back from our trip." Yuxiu couldn't help but smile at the thought. "That's great! We'll have something delicious to eat when we come back from our trip. But, what should we bring with us when we go out?"
Yan Rushan was successfully led astray. "It's hot, so there's no need to bring thick clothes. If we encounter a place with a big temperature difference, we can buy more and travel light."
"Children's things are indispensable. They are hard to find. We adults can make do with them, but not children."
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