Jiang Jun smiled: "So you look like your dad too?"
"Yes, people say that when my dad and I stand together, we look like a family." He Xiangdong said, "Hey, how do you know? You haven't even met my dad!"
He Xiangdong's father, He Zhenguo, is the battalion commander of a special forces battalion. He is often on missions outside. He has moved into the compound for less than a year, and few people have seen He Xiangdong's father.
Jiang Yun laughed: "Your mother is at home, and you said that I can tell who you look like by looking at the photo. So you mean that you don't look like your mother. That's what you said yourself!"
He Xiangdong laughed out loud: "Oh, that's true! No wonder my mom always says I'm heartless."
Jiang Yun smiled: "You're quite good this way. You're very sincere to others. I like that."
The two of them were walking and chatting all the way. Just then, Chen Yuefei and a group of boys were riding bicycles to compete in speed, and they passed by them like the wind.
He Xiangdong quickly pulled Jiang Yun to the side of the road and looked at the boys' backs enviously as they walked away: "It's great that boys can run around everywhere."
Jiang Jun shook his head. "To each his own, well, we're pretty safe in the compound. Don't look at them running around. When they get into trouble, it's a different story. They're bound to get beaten up."
The fathers in the compound hold different positions, but their methods of dealing with their sons' troubles are all the same: a slap in the face at the mildest, and a beating with a belt at the worst.
He Xiangdong agreed: "That's right. When my brother got into trouble and people came to our house to complain, my dad would slap him twice and wouldn't let my mom stop him. Every time, my mom would hug my brother and cry with him."
Jiang Jun was secretly shocked. This kind of domestic violence was actually accepted as justified. She secretly wondered what kind of beating Chen Yuefei would receive if he was caught stealing bullets.
He Xiangdong's home was on the other side of the compound, just east and west of Jiang Yun's home. The two of them chatted and laughed as they arrived.
When entering the house, Jiang Jun noticed that the door curtains of the He family were made of plain fine cotton cloth, with patterns embroidered with colored threads, which showed that the hostess was dexterous and the house was particularly homely.
Hearing the noise at the door, He Xiangdong's mother came out from the inner room with an embroidery frame in her hand.
He Xiangdong's mother, Bai Xiuzhen, was a member of the Xian ethnic group. She had typical Xian features: a large face, a high nose bridge, and single eyelids. When she smiled, her eyes were invisible. Her voice was gentle, "Is it Xiaojun who is here? She's so pretty, and you can tell she's a good kid. Xiangdong has told me about this several times."
Jiang Jun was a little surprised. It was very rare to see parents smiling so kindly at their children in the compound. Bai Xiuzhen must be a small leader with good personal relationships in the unit.
"Hello, Aunt Bai!" Jiang Jun greeted politely and took out the sketch she had drawn. "I heard you weren't working today, so I came here to learn embroidery from you."
Bai Xiuzhen took Jiang Yun's drawing and looked at it. Her eyebrows raised high and her eyes lit up. "Oh, such a beautiful drawing, did you draw it?"
Two people came out from the inner room, each holding an embroidery frame in their hands. They were both family members of the compound. One was called Liu Min and the other was called Zhao Ailian. They were both Bai Xiuzhen's colleagues and neighbors. Upon hearing what had happened, they all came forward.
"It's really beautiful. Embroidered pillows will definitely look good."
"It's so small, I can only embroider handkerchiefs and collars."
"Why does this flower look familiar? I feel like I've seen it somewhere before."
Several people were talking at once, looking at the sketch from left to right.
Jiang Yun explained modestly: "I'm not a good painter. It took me several days to finish it."
Liu Min slapped her thigh and said, "I remember now. I saw it at Director Ye's place. She had this same flower embroidered on her handkerchief. It's exactly the same."
Director Ye is Ye Qingyin, the office director of a certain unit in Beijing. Being able to work in the great capital is like being close to a great man. In the eyes of these family members, he is like a god, unattainable.
Zhao Ailian glanced at Jiang Yun and said, "You're the eldest child in Deputy Section Chief Jiang's family, right? I didn't realize you're quite capable."
This pun can be said to be a compliment to Jiang Yun's painting skills, or it can be said that Jiang Yun has the means to get close to Ye Qingyin.
An adult spoke to a middle school student in such a tone, was he bullying her because she didn't understand? Jiang Jun quickly glanced at Zhao Ailian, lowered his head and pretended to be stupid: "I saw it on the bulletin board, thought it was beautiful, and learned to draw it."
Bai Xiuzhen smiled and tried to smooth things over: "Xiaojun is really good. You can learn to draw just by looking at it. Come on, I will teach you embroidery. You have such deft hands, you will definitely learn quickly. Xiangdong, go get my basket, and you can learn with Xiaojun too."
He Xiangdong ran into the house and took out Bai Xiuzhen's basket, which was filled with various colored threads and embroidery needles, as well as a rare pair of small scissors.
Jiang Jun asked in surprise: "Aunt Bai, where did you buy all this?"
She had seen it at the military service center, but apart from white cotton thread and black cotton thread, there was also military green cotton thread that could be used to sew military uniforms and blankets. She had never seen even a trace of the red, yellow, and green colored threads.
Bai Xiuzhen smiled and said, "I bought it at the Beijing Department Store when I went to Beijing last time."
It is not easy to go to the capital. Whoever wants to go there will be asked by neighbors and colleagues to help buy things to bring back. Bai Xiuzhen is famous for her dexterity and good taste. The fabrics and embroidery she buys are often borrowed by people in the compound to imitate.
He Xiangdong said, "Mom, next time you go to Beijing, you must take me with you!"
Bai Xiuzhen smiled and nodded: "If you don't get carsick, I would have taken you there a long time ago. Look at Xiangnan, he can ride in the car for any length of time and he's fine."
It is not easy to go to the capital. If you don’t follow the army’s truck, it will be troublesome to take a bus by yourself. You have to bring dry food and a water bottle, and carry a bunch of luggage. You have to find someone to ride a bike to take you to the county town to take a long-distance bus. You can only take it to the suburbs of the capital and then take a bus to the city.
There is only one long-distance bus to Beijing every day. There are many people on the bus but few on the bus, so it is definitely overloaded. The diesel bus also has a strong smell, and many people can't stand the smell. They get carsick when riding in the bus, and they have to pray that the long-distance bus will not break down on the road.
Liu Min said quickly: "I heard that the division headquarters will drive to Beijing next month. We will all go then. Sister Bai, you have to take us to the department store. I have been thinking about it for a long time."
Speaking of going to the capital, several people were interested. Bai Xiuzhen patiently taught Jiang Yun how to print patterns on cotton cloth and how to start stitching. From time to time, she discussed with Liu Min and Zhao Ailian what to buy when they went to the capital, and then go to visit the famous Zhonghua Gate.
Jiang Jun seemed not to hear their conversation. She just followed Bai Xiuzhen's instructions and learned to embroider seriously. She finished it in one go and embroidered a small daisy in a proper manner.
She didn't expect that embroidery was easier than she imagined. She borrowed an embroidery frame from Bai Xiuzhen, returned home with great interest, and sat at the desk embroidering whole afternoon with full concentration.
A black shadow flashed in front of the window, and Chen Yuefei appeared again.
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