The two of them studied and got close to each other, and before they knew it, half a day had passed.
As the sunlight outside the window gradually took on the warm golden twilight, the whispers and rustling of pens in the study gradually subsided.
Shen Mo stretched lazily, feeling full of energy. The several difficulties that had troubled her suddenly became clear after Lu Qingyang's explanation and "special encouragement", and she felt more confident about the college entrance examination.
At dinner time, the family sat around the dining table.
On the table were home-cooked meals carefully prepared by Aunt Liu.
께Shitou and 께Yuer were placed in the baby stroller next to them, looking at the adults curiously with their big black eyes.
Fang Zhong picked up a piece of food with his chopsticks, put down his chopsticks, and cleared his throat:
"Qingyang is back early, just in time. The two children are about to turn a hundred days old. What are your plans for the hundred-day banquet? We need to hurry and decide on it."
As soon as this topic was brought up, the dinner table immediately became lively.
Ding Panyun was the first to respond positively, his face full of anticipation:
"Yes, yes, yes! This is a big deal! Shitou and Xiaoyu'er are our precious babies, so we have to make this hundred-day banquet a great one! I think we should book a few tables in the cafeteria at our military compound, invite old comrades and friends, as well as the leaders from Qingyang Factory and Xiaomo's schoolmates, and have a grand celebration!"
In the end, at the insistence of Lu Qingyang and Shen Mo, and with the approval of Fang Zhong, the venue for the Hundred Days Banquet was decided to be the canteen in the military compound, which had a more family atmosphere.
However, they did not hold a big banquet, but instead booked a relatively independent hall on the inner side of the cafeteria that could accommodate three large round tables.
The time is set on a sunny Sunday morning.
On the day of the Hundred Days Banquet, the hall was decorated simply but festively.
Three large round tables were neatly arranged, with a military green enamel basin in the center of each table - filled with flowers and green plants donated by each household in the family compound.
The invited guests are all close relatives and friends.
Grandpa and grandma, Uncle Shen is still here.
Taking Fang Zhong's comrades-in-arms as an example, they were some familiar people in Ding Panyun's group.
The protagonists Shitou and Yuer were carried out wearing the "hundred-day costumes" specially prepared by Lu Qingyang.
Shitou's sky blue "bat-sleeve" jacket and "bell-bottom pants" made him look strong and energetic.
He was not afraid of strangers at all. He was held in turn by his great-grandfather, great-grandmother, grandpa and grandma. His big black eyes looked at everyone in the room curiously, and he kept shouting "ah ah" and waving his lips from time to time, which made everyone laugh and praise: "Oh, this kid is so energetic."
께 Yuer was wearing a light yellow "bat shirt" 께 top with delicate lace and a puffy skirt, like a 께 princess.
She was relatively quiet, with almond-shaped eyes that looked just like Shen Mo, and she stayed obediently in her mother's arms. Her delicate face, paired with the delicate and soft lace, made several female guests fall in love with her and exclaimed repeatedly, "This lace is really exquisite!"
"Like a doll!"
The banquet begins.
It is carefully cooked using the canteen's stove with the tacit approval of the canteen chef.
Although it was not as rich as the delicacies from land and sea as those in the back room, in the relatively scarce 78th floor, this table of dishes could be considered extremely rich and thoughtful.
A large pot of bright red and fragrant braised pork, with glistening fat jutting out and lean meat tender and tasty, is an absolute "hard currency" and a sincere hospitality.
A whole golden stewed chicken with clear soup and tender chicken;
Return a steamed silver carp, sprinkled with green chopped green onions, which means "more than enough".
Scrambled eggs with leeks are yellow and green, and have a fresh and fragrant aroma.
Stir-fried bacon with garlic sprouts, the bacon is salty and fragrant, and the garlic sprouts are crispy and tender.
A large plate of oily and fragrant minced meat fried with pickled mustard greens.
Refreshing cucumber salad, sliced to perfection, drizzled with balsamic vinegar and sesame oil.
There was also a large bowl of tomato and egg soup, red and yellow, sweet and sour, appetizing.
There is plenty of white, steaming white flour buns;
There were also wedding cakes specially steamed by Aunt Liu—steamed buns pressed into the shape of Chinese characters for blessing or longevity peaches, dotted with red dots to symbolize good luck.
All the dishes are served in the canteen's standard large enamel basins or large plates. They are generous in portion, steaming hot and exuding an enticing aroma.
The drinks were a few bottles of Erguotou from Fang Zhong's collection.
There were no lengthy speeches. Everyone sat down around the round table. Fang Zhong, as the head of the family, simply raised his glass and said in a resonant voice, "Today is the hundredth day of our Shitou and Yu'er's birthday! Thank you all dear friends and family for coming! I won't say much else, I just hope that the two children will be healthy, safe, and grow up strong and healthy! Come, everyone, eat and drink well!"
"I wish Stone Fish a happy hundredth day! May he live in good health!" Everyone raised their glasses, and the hall was filled with laughter.
The atmosphere during the banquet was lively and warm.
The most lively part is the "Zhuazhou" ceremony.
Although it was just for good luck and excitement, everyone was in high spirits.
The two beds were covered with red cloth, on which were placed pens, abacus, planes, sewing kits, shells... as well as red eggs symbolizing safety and health, and silver locks symbolizing wealth.
Amidst the crowd's gazes and laughter, Shitou, who was being held in front of the red cloth, stretched out his chubby hands without hesitation, grabbed the shiny abacus, and hugged it tightly in his arms, causing everyone to burst into laughter: "Wow! Our Shitou is going to be an accountant in the future!"
It was Yu'er's turn. She blinked her big eyes, looked at this and that, and finally reached out and gently grasped the pen, curiously touching the pen cap with her fingers.
Everyone praised her again: "Yu'er will go to college in the future."
The joyful laughter of the Hundred Days Banquet still seemed to be ringing in my ears, but the pace of life in the military compound had quietly tightened.
The calendar turns to mid-July, and the air is no longer filled with just the summer heat, but also with the silent smell of gunpowder.
The 1978 National College Entrance Examination is about to begin.
Fang Zhong and Ding Panyun knew the importance of this exam to their son and daughter-in-law, especially for Shen Mo, as it was almost a key leap to change her destiny.
They specifically told Aunt Liu and Teacher Chen that, apart from taking care of the children, they were not allowed to be disturbed by any trivial matters at home.
The 1978 college entrance examination was held on July 20, 21 and 22.
The day before the exam, Lu Qingyang and Shen Mo took out their admission tickets.
Lu Qingyang took Chen Mo to check out the test site first.
At night, the two of them did not stay up late.
Shen Mo quickly reviewed the important formulas, theorems, and key points of current affairs, filled her pen with ink, and checked the spare refills and erasers.
Lu Qingyang seemed very relaxed, and was even in a good mood to help Shen Mo massage her tense shoulders. "Don't be nervous, just treat it as a normal test."
He soothed her gently.
The weather in Beijing in late July was extremely hot and humid.
On the first day of the exam, the sky was gray and there was not a breath of wind.
The entrance to the examination center was crowded with candidates and parents sending their children to the exam early in the morning. The noise was bustling, yet there was a sense of oppressive solemnity in the air.
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