Chapter 206 Oh my!
Yan Ping certainly understood all this, but she just didn't want to give them all.
Deep down, she still looked down on the relatives from Uncle Lu's hometown. She felt that the Second House owed favors to Uncle Lu, and regardless of Lu Shaotang's job or the benefits the Second House had enjoyed over the years, even if she didn't give any gifts, they should still do their best to entertain them.
With so many good things, she still wanted to keep them for her own family and relatives.
Besides, her daughter-in-law and son were still working in the capital, and they needed to use their connections and find a partner.
She agreed, opened her bag, and took out two packets of milk powder, a packet of brown sugar, a bottle of malted milk, two packets of snacks, and some food coupons, intending to give them to Fang Dihua.
Forget about Lu Shaocai, she wouldn't give anything, and even if she did, she wouldn't give so much!
Lu Shaocai was listening outside, so he deliberately called out to his father, "Dad, let's go."
Uncle Lu responded and took Yan Ping's bag to leave, but Yan Ping pulled him. She shrugged her shoulders and whispered, "Are there fleas here? Why do I feel itchy all over? Uncle Lu, can you help me check?" Uncle Lu
helped her check, and sure enough, there were red spots on her back. "Did you bring medicine? I'll apply it for you. It's inevitable in the countryside, so just bear with it a little."
Yan Ping said angrily, "The last time I was bitten was when I led the nursing team to the countryside a few years ago. I haven't been bitten for several years. Uncle Lu, I did this all for you. I wouldn't go to anyone else's invitation except for you. Even the last time I went on a mission, it was for you."
Uncle Lu patted her on the back, "You've worked hard."
Lu Shaocai gritted his teeth when he heard this outside, and he hated Yan Ping to the extreme.
In the past, he could enter his parents' room at will, but he didn't restrain himself after Yan Ping got married, and ended up being tricked by Yan Ping.
His father told him clearly not to enter his stepmother's bedroom at will, as it was inconvenient.
Later, whenever his father and stepmother were together, he couldn't enter their room at will, because Yan Ping might do something intimate.
Now that he came to his own home, this vixen actually played the same trick!
After not seeing her for a few years, his hatred for Yan Ping not only did not disappear, but became even stronger.
His father had gone back to his hometown, where he already had sons and grandchildren. Why should she follow him?
He also felt that Yan Ping had come along just to keep an eye on his father, fearing that his father would treat him well and bring his family back to the capital.
Not only did she come alone, but she also brought Hu Xinda's son, nephews and nieces?
What was her intention?
Didn't she just want to monopolize the grandfather's time and energy?
Didn't she just want to demonstrate to him that her nephews and nieces had more status than his biological son?
He and Yan Ping were irreconcilable!
Anyway, they had already fallen out in the capital, so there was no need to pretend to be harmonious now.
Yan Ping was only a few years older than him. As a stepmother and stepson, how could it not be awkward at this age?
The children Yan Ping gave birth to later were younger than his children. How could it not be awkward living under the same roof?
When they were in the capital, Yan Ping always looked down on him and Meifeng, treated Meifeng like a babysitter, and disliked them for being unhygienic and impolite, and for causing trouble outside.
She wanted to drive them to the countryside.
How many children in the compound were not playboys? How many did not cause trouble?
Why was he so hopeless? Why couldn't he be tolerated?
He and Yan Ping battled wits and courage for more than ten years, and in the end he was defeated and returned to his hometown with his family. How
could he be willing?
How could he not hate?
He was furious in his heart, thinking that sooner or later he would have to vent his anger!
Zhao Meifeng saw that they brought things out, but didn't give her anything, so she used her eyes to gouge out Lu Shaocai.
Lu Shaocai pushed her and told her not to feel uncomfortable now. Wouldn't it be better to settle down in the city? Even
if he couldn't go back to the capital, it would be good for his father to arrange a job for him, Changfu and Changshou in the county.
Lin Shu had already set the table, and the children were all up. There
were many people in the family, and Fang Dihua and Lu Lao were tolerant of the children. They never set rules for the children that they had to wait for the adults to start eating before they could eat.
The adults ate on high stools at the high table, and the children ate on low stools at the low table.
A few children could fill up a table, so there was no need to squeeze with the adults.
Hu Xiaole saw a group of brothers and sisters sitting there eating, and his appetite became better. He rushed over and wanted to squeeze in between Panpan and Tiantian.
Pan Pan immediately tilted her butt and pushed him away, "You go sit over there."
He asked Hu Xiaole to sit next to Lu An and not to come over and squeeze with them.
Hu Xiaole actually obeyed and sat over there, not daring to make a scene.
Pan Lili followed Yan Xin and wanted to go over there to be with her brothers and sisters, but she didn't dare to go over by herself, so she looked at Yan Xin.
Without Yan Xin's permission, she didn't dare to go anywhere.
Yan Xin frowned and whispered, "Girls should be quiet and stop laughing."
Lu Shaotang and Lin Shu's children don't look like rural children at all. Most rural children are black, rough and dirty, with big snot or dirty faces, but Pan Pan is as delicate as a jade sculpture, white, tender and handsome, and looks quite educated. She looks better than the city children.
This made Yan Xin even more uncomfortable.
They didn't come to lick her daughter from the city, but wanted her daughter to curry favor with them. How could she tolerate it?
Pan Lili didn't dare to move and sat beside her to eat obediently.
Uncle Lu looked at them and said with a smile: "Yanxin, don't restrict the child, let Lili and her brothers and sisters have fun together."
Seeing Uncle Lu's words, Yanxin let his daughter pass.
Pan Lili ran over happily, ran two steps and looked at Yanxin fearfully, and walked over slowly.
Tiantian waved at her: "Sit here, I'll give you a boiled egg and a portion of egg custard. The sesame oil egg custard made by my mother is the most delicious egg custard in the world!" With
that proud little look, she also glared at Hu Xiaole, as if to say, "If you dare to say it's not the most delicious, I won't give it to you."
Yan Xin looked at Tian Tian's proud look, and immediately thought: Oh my God, how dare this child say that? How can this child be so unrestrained in front of adults? This child is really shameless! This child is really unruly! How come the adults in their family don't care? Just let a little girl be so unruly?
She stole a glance at Uncle Lu and Father Lu and others. They were all smiling at the children and chatting casually. They didn't feel that the children were wrong at all.
Yan Xin looked at Yan Ping, seeking approval in her eyes: Aunt, they are really used to children.
Even if Aunt is good to children, it won't be like this, especially girls.
Although Yan Ping felt that the Lu family's children were a little unruly, she would not say anything. After all, she was a guest who only came to stay for a few days. After she left, she would not have much interaction with them, and she was not responsible for educating other people's children.
Uncle Lu ate the kimchi and spicy cabbage made by Lin Shu yesterday and they were delicious. Today, he asked for more.
At this season, beans and other things have not grown yet. Lin Shu pickled sour radishes, turnips, and cabbages, which were all stored in the cellar last year.
This is also the last batch of pickles in March. If you want to eat them again, you have to wait until new vegetables are harvested.
Uncle Lu ate the food and praised it endlessly, "Xiao Lin's cooking skills are more than enough to be a canteen chef. This side dish is better than the canteen chef. He can open a pickle shop."
Panpan said, "Grandpa, my mother can also make preserved eggs, yes, preserved eggs!"
Preserved eggs? Of course Uncle Lu has eaten them and likes them very much, but it takes a lot of skill to make preserved eggs.
Lin Shu smiled and said, "It's just for fun. Preserved eggs must be fermented with lime, not too much."
Yan Xin bit her lip unconsciously and glanced at her brother.
She and Gao Tingting were still hoping that Yan Bin would seduce Lin Shu, but this guy blushed when he secretly looked at Lin Shu. His infatuated look was really unbearable to watch.
It was thanks to him that he didn't stare at Lin Shu all the time, otherwise he would have been exposed.
After dinner, Father Lu asked his eldest brother Lu and Lu Shaocai to prepare the supplies for the burial. Second brother Lu, Lu Shaotang and the boys of the grandchildren all went.
According to custom, women are not allowed to go to the burial site.
Children also don't go, for fear of bumping into something and getting scared.
Second sister-in-law Lu knew that Uncle Lu and his wife would not do her any good when they came back, so after dinner she said goodbye and went to the water mill to continue grinding incense flour.
She could make money by grinding incense flour, and it was her own money. She didn't want to delay it at all, unless Yan Ping could give her more money, otherwise she would not serve.
Anyway, Yan Ping would be gone in a few days.
The incense factory was open as usual, and it was time for others to go to work.
Zhao Meifeng also had to feed the pigs, and she would not accompany Yan Ping. She and Lu Shaocai were husband and wife, with the same interests, and Yan Ping was irreconcilable.
Fang Dihua was responsible for accompanying Yan Ping, after all, she was her sister-in-law.
Yan Ping first gave Fang Dihua the gifts and food coupons she brought, and said with a smile: "Your eldest brother missed home so much that I didn't have time to prepare anything. I advised him not to wait until the New Year, and then it would be just right to come back to worship the ancestors, but he couldn't wait, saying that he missed his parents and his second brother and had to come back to see them. Besides, he and I have been married for so many years, and I have been busy all the time. I didn't have time to go back to my hometown to meet you, so I came together."
What to say, of course, had to be said in a nice way.
Fang Dihua nodded.
Grandma Fang: "I went to the city a few days ago and stayed in a courtyard for a few days. I finally know how difficult it is for you to live in the city. We all know that it is not easy for you to come back."
Grandma Fang was afraid that the daughter-in-law would not say anything nice, so she helped to find money.
Fang Dihua saw that Yan Ping gave so many things and 100 kilograms of food coupons, and she refused repeatedly, "Sister-in-law, it is not easy to have so many things. You have a fixed amount of food in the city. Take the food coupons back."
She only accepted milk powder and malted milk, and pushed the other gifts together with the food coupons back to Yan Ping.
Fang Dihua has always been down-to-earth. She doesn't give what she doesn't want to give, and doesn't take what she doesn't want. She never shouts and refuses with others.
Yan Ping dealt with her and felt her temper at first sight, knowing that she was not greedy.
If it were someone else, they would just hate her for giving too little. After all, a retired leader from the capital should bring more good things back to his hometown.
If he didn't bring enough, people would laugh at him and complain.
Seeing that Fang Dihua was unwilling to take so much, she insisted that Fang Dihua accept it.
Fang Dihua saw that she was giving it sincerely, so she was too lazy to refuse. At most, she could treat her well and let her eat more comfortably.
The main thing was that the two families were far away from each other and didn't visit each other often. It was okay to give her something once in a while.
After giving the gifts, Fang Dihua and Grandma Fang accompanied Yan Ping to visit the incense factory and let her try making it.
Fang's mother was responsible for showing off Lin Shu's intelligence and ability, and praising the eldest and second brothers Lu, as well as the eldest and second sisters-in-law Lu, etc. Anyway, she had to let Yan Ping know that the brothers of the second house were hardworking and capable, and would never think about getting benefits from the first house, so Yan Ping didn't have to be afraid.
Yan Ping had to ask about Lu Shaocai's family indirectly, and casually said that Lu Shaocai never cared about Uncle Lu's health when writing letters, but only asked for money and bills. He was in his forties, and he couldn't let a retired father support his family, right?
What could Fang Dihua say?
She never said bad things about people. Even if it was Song Chunfang, she would slap her in the face and not talk about it afterwards. What's more, Lu Shaocai was her nephew.
She just listened but didn't talk. She said that Lu Changfu and Zhao Meifeng had made great progress and were doing a good job.
As for Lu Shaocai, she would not lie or flatter him. After all, he was always eating his wife and children and didn't go to work to earn work points.
Both parties were thoughtful, so they had a pleasant chat.
After visiting the incense factory, Fang Dihua said she wanted to take a break, and then accompanied Yan Ping to visit the water mill.
This was a relatively novel thing. As for dirty places such as farmlands and pig farms, forget it, she was not interested.
Yan Xin and Yan Bin followed.
Panpan, Tiantian and others carried small baskets and shovels to dig wild vegetables for the rabbits.
Granny Fang didn't go because her bound feet were inconvenient. She wanted to go to the well platform to show off her happiness in her old age to the old men and women in the village.
In the ancestral nursery, Father Lu accompanied Uncle Lu to fill the graves of his parents with soil, press new paper, burn paper, and offer sacrifices. He also led the children and grandchildren to worship.
After the worship, Uncle Lu asked the eldest brother Lu, the second brother Lu, Lu Changfu and others to go to work, and asked Father Lu and Lu Shaotang to accompany him.
Next, they had to repair the grave and plant a few pine and cypress trees next to it.
Lu Shaocai said he was going home to dig a few saplings and fetch water with a bucket.
On his way back, he happened to meet Fang Dihua and Yan Ping, and deliberately said loudly: "Second aunt, my father said that he would burn more paper money for my mother. I took all the money at home and asked me to come back to ask for it."
Fang Dihua was really crying because of his stupidity. If you don't have any ability, what's the point of using such words to upset your stepmother?
Can your mother crawl out of the grave and fight with your stepmother for the family property or what?
Fang Dihua asked him to go home and ask Lin Shu for it.
But Lu Shaocai was in no hurry to leave. "Aunt, my father said that he would definitely return to his ancestral tomb and be buried with my mother after a hundred years!"
He glared at Yan Ping fiercely. As long as I, Lu Shaocai, am alive, you, a vixen, will never be able to enter my ancestral tomb!
If you don't believe me, just wait and see!
Lu Shaocai could feel a breath of malice coming out.
Nowadays, country people value ancestral tombs and believe that people must return to their roots and be buried in ancestral tombs after death, otherwise they will be wandering ghosts.
Yan Ping didn't believe this. After all, she was from the city and there was no such thing as ancestral tombs. Everyone was buried in the cemetery.
But - she was very angry when Lu Shaocai said this.
She shared the same idea as many other women, believing that they should be buried together with their husbands after death, sharing the same bed and coffin.
She also didn't want Lao Lu to be buried with the old woman who died!
Why?
Lao Lu and the old woman before him had never lived together for even a few days. It was she and Lao Lu who had been together for half their lives, and it was she who took care of Lao Lu in his later years!
Naturally, she and Lao Lu had a deep relationship!
Yan Ping's face was uncertain, with a hint of cruelty at the corner of her mouth. What are you so proud of?
When your father dies, I will bury him in the Capital Cemetery, and I will naturally be buried with him after a hundred years.
I have a son, and my son is younger than you!
Just wait and see if you don't believe me!
Lu Shaocai was still there grumbling and saying self-righteous and harsh words. He had no way and power to deal with Yan Ping, and could only get a little psychological satisfaction from this matter.
Although Yan Ping did not say any harsh words, she had planned how to implement the harsh things in her mind.
She ignored Lu Shaocai, but smiled and took Fang Dihua's arm, pretending to be very close sisters-in-law.
Fang Dihua froze, but she was lucky that she did not get rid of Yan Ping. This was really something she learned from Old Lady Guan.
She knew that this was the family affair of the eldest wife, and she was an outsider and would definitely not get involved.
Seeing Yan Ping like this, she knew that Yan Ping was much more capable than Lu Shaocai. Lu Shaocai was just yelling and was very stupid without any brains.
She said to Lu Shaocai, "Okay, go home and get some paper."
Fang Dihua and Yan Ping left first, and Yan Xin and her brother were a little behind.
Yan Xin naturally wanted to vent her anger on her aunt, "Cousin, you haven't made any progress in all these years."
It's stupid not to recognize the reality!
Lu Shaocai was so angry that he had nowhere to vent.
He had just deliberately provoked Yan Ping, wanting Yan Ping to quarrel with him, to embarrass Yan Ping in her hometown, and to make the whole village laugh at her, so that his father would definitely be angry with her.
Who knew that Yan Ping was still the same as before, clearly very angry but refused to quarrel with him, so that he couldn't find a chance to get angry.
Unexpectedly, Yan Xin jumped out to accuse him. He immediately poured out his anger towards Yan Ping and raised his hand to hit her.
Yan Bin immediately pushed him away, "Lu Shaocai, you just talk, why do you want to hit someone?"
Yan Xin sneered, "Don't block him, let him hit you!"
If Lu Shaocai dared to hit her, no matter what, his uncle would hate him even more.
Sure enough, Lu Shaocai just gestured and didn't dare to really hit anyone. He ran away with a livid face.
Sister Lin went out to the alley to collect firewood. When she saw this scene, she went home and told Lin Shu.
Lin Shu whispered, "To put it bluntly, when they fight, I just watch for fun, I don't take sides."
Uncle Lu brought Lu Shaotang with him, so she just had to respect him, since they wouldn't have to deal with each other all the time.
Lu Shaocai wasn't a good guy either, so she just had to be on guard against him and keep her distance, and didn't want to get too close. When
they fight, she just watches for fun.
Of course, they shouldn't fight in their hometown, after all, father-in-law is still very close to Uncle Lu, and if Uncle Lu and Lu Shaocai have a fight, father-in-law will be sad.
Lin Shu didn't want to make things difficult for Father Lu.
Because Lu Shaotang had to go back to Qizhou to work after visiting the grave, Lin Shu and her eldest sister packed some food for him.
There are stir-fried dishes in the cafeteria, but Lu Shaotang likes to eat the various side dishes made by Lin Shu.
Whether it is pickles, kimchi, salted vegetables, fried sauce, or chili sauce, he likes them all.
Lin Shu packed some for him.
Before leaving, Lin Shu gave him money again. A man must have money on him. The key is that she knows that Lu Shaotang does not spend money indiscriminately. If he is the kind of person who spends
lavishly, she will not give him money.
After lunch, Lu Shaotang drove to work, and when Uncle Lu was about to leave, he would bring someone to pick them up.
In the afternoon, the leaders of the County Revolutionary Committee brought cadres from the People's Armed Forces Department, the Military Service Department, and Director Qin of the commune to visit Uncle Lu at Lu's house.
Ding Guohua naturally came along.
Sister Lu and her husband also came with Ding Jiachang.
Of course, Ding Jiachang had no right to approach the leaders. At most, he would wait for the leaders to leave, and then he would say hello to Uncle Lu and recognize him as a relative with the help of Father Lu.
Uncle Lu was polite to his relatives, and would not put on airs or ignore anyone, but he would not make promises casually.
He had already retired and could not bring any benefits to the leaders of his hometown. Even if he still had some face, it was to ask people to take care of his second brother and eldest son, so he naturally had no time to care about others.
Besides, the Ding family had been trying to brag about his eldest grandson, just to get him to say a word to arrange a job in the county, but Uncle Lu saw through this at a glance.
How could they not look for Lu Shaotang?
Lu Shaotang didn't make any arrangements because this eldest grandson was not qualified.
If you arrange someone who is not qualified, you will be setting a landmine to hit yourself in the face!
Wasn't the lesson from the eldest son enough?
Of course, if the second brother asked, he would be willing to take care of him, after all, he was the second brother's grandson.
But the second brother didn't, which showed that the second brother didn't think highly of this grandson, so forget it.
For three consecutive days, many relatives and friends came to visit Uncle Lu. In addition to the cadres of the county commune, there were also relatives from Uncle Lu's maternal family, and brothers and nephews from his deceased wife's maternal family. They not only came to visit, but also invited him to stay for a few days. Uncle
Lu refused all of them.
Lu Shaocai's two elderly uncles and cousins wanted to help him to challenge Yan Ping, and asked Uncle Lu to make good arrangements for Lu Shaocai so that they could also benefit from it.
That day, when the county party committee officials came to visit, why didn't Uncle Lu directly arrange some jobs for Lu Shaocai and Lu Changfu?
Why didn't he have his own sons in his heart?
However, these were just the words they whispered in private, and they didn't dare to tell Uncle Lu face to face.
Uncle Lu was brave and good at fighting when he was young, and he was famous for fighting. There was no village nearby that was not afraid of him.
Later, he put on military uniforms and served as a leader for so many years. Even though he is now retired and has a more amiable temper, his thick eyebrows and sharp eyes are still majestic, and they really dare not act rashly in front of him.
In the end, Lu Shaocai watched helplessly as his uncle and cousins who came to his house excitedly to support him and instigated him to fight with his own father left in disgrace.
I was very angry!
Uncle Lu was tired of too many people visiting him, so he didn't stay at home after three days. Instead, he followed Father Lu to the infirmary to watch him treat patients.
Uncle Lu was very touched. When he was young, he always felt that his second brother was too kind and easy to be bullied by servants. Now it seems that his second brother is kind but also has his own ways, so he has been able to live smoothly these years.
Now that he is old, he has become a barefoot doctor and is loved by the common people. They all praise him as the handsome and kind-hearted Doctor Lu.
Look at those old ladies who come to look at him whenever they have something to do, and bring him some vegetables, eggs, etc. whenever they have nothing to do.
He has a very good relationship with people.
Uncle Lu was quite proud, thinking that his second brother could achieve success no matter studying, farming or being a doctor. However, when he looked at Lu Shaocai who was standing next to him, he immediately became dissatisfied.
Shameful!
Uncle Lu was not without consideration for his eldest son's family. Lu Shaocai and Lu Changfu were hopeless, but Lu Changshou was a little different from his father.
Although Lu Changshou was not so diligent and studious and did not like to study, he was open-minded and optimistic by nature. He just ate, drank and had fun every day or went to work to earn some work points. He did not have some of the bad habits of his father and brother.
At least through these few days of observation, Uncle Lu found that although he was not as stable as Lu Ping, he was not seriously ill, and if he was trained, he would have a way out. Uncle Lu
felt that he had retired and had the time and energy to take care of his children, so it was not impossible to bring his grandson Lu Changshou over.
This way, the eldest son would be quieter and would not cry all day saying that his father did not care about him.
In the evening, Uncle Lu went to the infirmary to discuss with Old Man Lu to see what his second brother would say.
Of course, Old Man Lu was happy to do so. If he could give his children and grandchildren a better future, which father would refuse? If
he had the ability of the eldest brother, he would definitely arrange jobs for the eldest and second sons.
He said, "Changshou is okay."
Uncle Lu was still a little worried. He was afraid that the child was fine in his hometown, but would become bad after being dazzled by the glamorous world in the capital and coming into contact with bad friends.
He was really angry when his eldest son did that. Shaotang did not become bad after going to the capital. Instead, he became more motivated because of the provocation and contempt of others. Why did his eldest son slide down like a piece of mud?
However, he did not have the energy to discipline him before. Now that he has the time and energy, he will definitely be able to keep an eye on Lu Changshou and prevent him from becoming bad.
He thought about it and said to Uncle Lu, "Let Lu Ping go with him."
Changshou himself was afraid that he would be lazy, and having a peer could also encourage each other.
Lu Ping is 14 years old this year, two months younger than Lu Changshou.
Lu Shaocai has four children, the eldest daughter Lu Jinling, the eldest son Lu Changfu, the second son Lu Changshun, and the youngest son Lu Changshou.
Lu Changshun died when he was a child.
When Lu Changfu was a child, he was naughty and disobedient like his father. He played with a group of naughty children all day long. He also instigated his uncle Lu Shaoyu and his younger brother Lu Changshun to play with them.
Lu Shaoyu was strictly controlled by Yan Ping. He had to study and was not allowed to play with Lu Changfu. However, Lu Changshun was his younger brother, so he was naturally happy to play with his elder brother.
That day, Lu Changfu and a group of children went to the lime factory to play and competed in jumping across the lime burning pool.
Lu Changshun accidentally fell into a deep pit, and Lu Changfu and others were playing so hard that they didn't notice him at all.
Lu Changfu and the group of children went to other places to play and didn't return home until dark. When Zhao Meifeng asked him about his brother, he said that his brother went home by himself.
In the end, it was Uncle Lu who sent out the security guards to find Lu Changshun, but unfortunately the child had already died.
After Yan Ping knew about it, she had a big fight with Uncle Lu, saying that Lu Shaocai and Lu Changfu were hopeless.
It's okay that they are lazy and idle, but they are also irresponsible and have no responsibilities. In particular, Lu Changfu instigated Lu Shaoyu to go out and play with him several times, which made Yan Ping very angry and even suspected that Lu Changfu wanted to harm her son.
Because of this incident, Uncle Lu also felt that Lu Changfu was as hopeless as his father and there was no need to train him anymore. So after Yan Ping's commotion, he let the eldest son's family return to the countryside in order to live a quiet life.
He did not mention Lu Changshun's death to his second brother. He only said in the letter that the child had an acute illness and died.
Lu Shaocai, Lu Changfu and others naturally did not mention it either, as if the child had never existed.
Lu's father naturally did not know about this.
Uncle Lu felt that Lu Changshou should have more contact with the children of the second wife, especially Lu Ping. Although he had only met him for a few days, Uncle Lu also saw that he was stable and kind, and very responsible. He had the responsibility of a brother and knew how to educate his younger brother and protect his younger brothers and sisters.
It can be seen that Lu An was well guided by him.
If Lu Ping and Lu Changshou were allowed to go to the capital together, they would go to school together and compete with each other. Lu Changshou would surely see Xian Siqi become better.
Lu Lao Dad is 11 years younger than the eldest brother. When he was little, he would chase after the eldest brother like a little tail and call him brother, brother. The
eldest brother treated him very well. He would not only pick him up and hold him high, but also buy him candies and snacks.
At that time, his father was busy running around and was not at home often. He basically played and learned to read with his eldest brother.
His literacy enlightenment was taught by his eldest brother. He also recited the Hundred Family Names, Three Character Classic, Thousand Character Classic, Prosody Enlightenment, etc. with his eldest brother.
He followed his eldest brother until his eldest brother left home to join the army. He respected his eldest brother like a father. When
his eldest brother said he wanted to take Lu Ping to the capital, his first reaction was that his eldest brother was taking his own child. He did not have the idea that "Shaotang went with my eldest brother before, I owed my eldest brother a favor, and I felt bad. I can't owe my eldest brother a favor in the future or I can't pay it back. I'd better not let the child go." After all, if Yan Ping hadn't reminded him from time to time that the second wife owed the first wife, he would have always thought that it was his eldest brother who was taking his own child, just like when he was young, he treated Lu Shaocai as his own child.
He couldn't go against his elder brother's good intentions, or he would be sad.
But he couldn't be overbearing and make decisions for the child, "Brother, let's ask the child what he thinks. Shaotang was willing to join the army at first, and Lu Ping's personality is quite different from his uncle's."
San'er is an energetic and restless child. He dared to climb tall trees when he was a few years old. He climbed up to fix the leaking house.
The key is that the child wants to go out and wander around outside. He has a dream of... an ancient knight.
Lu Ping likes a peaceful family life. Can he join the army?
Will it be too tiring? Will he suffer losses?
Father Lu is also a person who loves his children. If Lu Shaotang was not willing to join the army and had a big appetite, and the family was not well-off at that time and the whole family could not eat enough, Father Lu would not be very happy to let him join the army.
Lu Ping... after all, he is his eldest grandson. When he was young, he was also a white, soft, cute and sensible child. When Panpan and Tiantian were not around, he was also the apple of Father Lu's eye. He held him in his arms and teased him every day.
Now that he can eat enough at home, he doesn't really want his child to go to the army to suffer.
Father Lu doesn't have the idea that "children will have a backer and don't have to work so hard if they join the army". He believes that if they join the army, they will have to train hard, which must be very hard. Lu Ping
happened to come out of the accounting office of the brigade with his schoolbag on his back.
Now that the wheat harvest is over, he has returned to the pattern of attending classes in the morning and participating in labor in the afternoon. The so-called labor means going to the brigade office to help his father with the accounts.
At this time, rural children generally start school late, and he will not go to junior high school until this fall.
Seeing Uncle Lu and Grandpa, he ran up happily.
Uncle Lu chatted with him kindly, asking him about his hobbies, whether he likes to exercise, and what he wants to do when he grows up.
If Uncle Lu had asked him this before, Lu Ping would really have no idea.
In the past, he just went to school and participated in labor, thinking that at most he would study until junior high school. If he failed to pass the high school entrance examination, he would go home to farm. If he passed the high school entrance examination, he would go to school for two years, and after graduation he would still go home to farm.
After graduating from high school, if all goes well, his uncle will get him a job in the army. If not, he can continue to work in the brigade to earn work points, or his grandfather can help him get a job as a scorekeeper, a production team accountant, a primary school teacher, or something like that.
Anyway, the main thing is to go with the flow, and anything is fine.
Now, influenced by Lin Shu and listening to the radio every day, he gradually has his own ideas.
He has thought seriously about all the possibilities in the future.
If he studies hard, he will work in the brigade for two years after graduating from high school. When he earns enough work points, he can apply for the brigade or the commune to recommend him to study at the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers University.
He believes that if he is selected by examination, he will definitely be admitted.
He can also join the army. No matter if his uncle helps him or not, he exercises every day and passes the cultural subjects. He will definitely be selected.
And his aunt said that there will be more opportunities in the future. Maybe the college entrance examination will be restored or everyone will be allowed to do business. There will be too many ways out.
Anyway, what the aunt said is right. If you keep fit and read more books, you can seize any opportunity that comes!
He told Uncle Lu about his possible ways out and smiled: "My aunt said that opportunities are for those who are prepared. I will study hard. Whether I am an accountant or a soldier in the future, I can be competent!"
The fourteen-year-old boy is in the developmental period. His voice is a little strange, but his eyes are clear and he is very confident.
Uncle Lu likes such determined and confident children.
That’s how Lu Shaotang moved him. The
nine-year-old Lu Shaotang said decisively: “Uncle, I want to be a soldier! I will definitely be a general when I grow up!”
Uncle Lu nodded and praised: “Okay! Then Grandpa asks you, do you want to go to the capital to serve as a soldier with Grandpa?”
Lu Ping was startled and turned to look at Grandpa.
Father Lu
smiled and said: “Grandpa doesn’t care, it’s up to you. If you want to go, go. If you don’t want to, no one will force you.” Lu Ping pursed his lips and hesitated: “I want to go, but I… I can’t bear to leave home.”
He couldn’t say who he couldn’t bear to leave, but he couldn’t bear to leave home.
Uncle Lu laughed, patted Lu Ping on the shoulder, and said with a smile: "Everyone is reluctant to leave home, and there is nothing shameful for a man to be homesick. Your grandfather and I are the same at this age. It is precisely because we miss home that we can participate in the battle with passion and drive out the enemies!"
Lu Ping laughed, "Then I am willing to go!"
The three of them went home, and Lin Shu and the eldest sister had already prepared dinner.
Lu Shaocai was about to go out and call his father and second uncle to come back for dinner.
Today, Sister-in-law Lu took a day off, and she came home with a bag of cucumbers, and also two big black fish sent by Lin Yue.
Lin Shu filleted the two big black fish and made pickled fish, and the fish and side dishes filled two large bowls, enough for her family to eat.
Yan Ping has been unable to find fault with Lin Shu these days, mainly because Lin Shu's cooking is delicious, and some of her dishes are at the level of what she would pay ten yuan a table for in a restaurant.
In this era where people can eat for two cents, a banquet that costs ten yuan a table is basically the highest standard.
Yan Xin was jealous and didn't want to brag at all, so she could only keep her mouth shut to avoid making a sound when Yan Ping praised Lin Shu.
At this time, Hu Xiaole came with Pan Pan and others to eat, sat down obediently, helped to distribute the bowls and chopsticks, and took the initiative to say thank you. He was so obedient... completely different from before.
Although Hu Xiaole is a bit naughty, he can act according to the situation. If he is in front of the children of the capital who curry favor with their grandparents, then he can act naughty. If he is in front of his parents and grandma, then he can act naughty. But not here.
Because Panpan Tiantian is not used to him at all and will threaten him.
The key point is that this is Panpan and Tiantian's home. He is here as a guest with his grandma. If he wants to play with them, he can only follow the rules.
Not only Yan Ping is curious, but Uncle Lu also noticed it and couldn't help but praise, "Otherwise, the ancients said, 'Birds of a feather flock together', 'Mencius' mother moved three times', 'He who keeps company with the red becomes red, and he who keeps company with the black becomes black', 'A thousand acres of fertile land is not as good as two or three good friends'. Panpan and Tiantian are really rare good teachers and helpful friends."
Grandma Fang smiled and said, "That's all because of their mother's good education."
Grandma Fang understood that Lin Shu would definitely take the children with Shao Tang in the future. In such a family compound with many people and gossips, and they are all cadres, her reputation is very important.
No matter what the occasion, Grandma Fang would publicize Lin Shu's intelligence, ability, filial piety, and education of children as long as she had the opportunity.
Who knows when it will help her career and life?
If she is good, the child is good, Shaotang is good, then the Lu family is good, and Huaer will be better too?
Uncle Lu nodded slightly, "The influence of a mother on a child is too great."
He thought that he was away from home all year round, and his eldest son was corrupted by his mother's habits.
But when Shaotang was not at home, Lin Shu educated the child very well, and it can't be blamed entirely on the mother.
His father... He had to admit that he was a negligent father. When his son was young, he was not at home and did not give his son a positive education. Later, when his son grew up, it was too late to educate him again.
Thinking of this, he felt guilty, and Lu Shaocai was not as unbearable as before.
Anyway, since the eldest son and grandson were useless, he would take Changshou away to teach him a lesson.
Lin Shu smiled and said, "Don't flatter me. My grandparents taught me when I was young. My parents are good at educating children."
This is true. Tiantian and Panpan are gifts from God. They have good genes and are well educated by their grandparents. They are naturally sensible and cute.
After dinner, Uncle Lu looked at Lu Changshou and asked him, "Changshou, what are your plans for the future?"
Lu Changshou was savoring the delicious and sour pickled fish, thinking about when to have the next meal. When he heard his grandfather ask him, he was stunned for a moment, "Ah? What are your plans?"
Uncle Lu: "..."
Is this a piece of wood?
Lu Shaocai was overjoyed when he heard what his father meant. He immediately said, "Dad, Changshou wants to be a soldier!" He raised his hand and patted Lu Changshou on the back. "You kid, are you so happy that you are stupid? Don't you say every day that you like to be a soldier?"
Lu Changshou showed a blank expression, "Ah? I don't, it was my eldest brother who said he wanted to be a soldier."
Uncle Lu sighed, this child is... hopeless.