mtlumby2d Chapter 446 3 Military Service in the 60s
Chapter 446 3 Military Service in the 60s
There's nothing in this house. If they don't find a way out, the mother and daughter will starve to death here.
Xie Qingyu acted swiftly, taking the two yuan she had saved from the bottom of her trunk into the house, and carrying Tuanzi, she headed towards the brigade headquarters.
Many people saw Xie Qingyu being carried back unconscious, and now that she's out, some people have come up to greet her.
However, there was a bit of a "joining in the fun" element to it, and lazy women like Xie Qingyu weren't very popular in the village.
If it weren't for the fact that she married a military officer, someone would have reported her for her capitalist practices.
Xie Qingyu naturally noticed this, and basically just responded twice and left.
These people were even more surprised to see Xie Qingyu holding Tuanzi.
Xie Qingyu, afraid of frightening Tuanzi, walked even faster with Tuanzi in her arms.
When Xie Qingyu arrived at the brigade headquarters, only the village party secretary was there, and he didn't give her a friendly look.
"What are you doing here?" The village secretary naturally disliked people who didn't work.
"I want to send a telegram," Xie Qingyu stated directly.
"Who are you taking pictures of?" the village party secretary asked, somewhat surprised.
"For our man," Xie Qingyu said bluntly.
"Give it to Sanwazi?" The village secretary never expected this.
“My son and I are starving at home. They didn’t even carry water for us. Besides, Tuanzi is so old and has never seen his father. We should take him to see him.” Xie Qingyu’s words were reasonable and well-founded.
After thinking about it, the village secretary realized that it would indeed be a good thing if Xie Qingyu left with her people, so that the Nie family wouldn't cause trouble so often.
Moreover, this person can't do any work. Although he has a good attitude, he works incredibly slowly, so there's no point in keeping him here.
And then there's this child...
The village secretary glanced at the child and thought that the child looked exceptionally beautiful today, but he was being raised like a fool, and at two or three years old he still couldn't speak.
"Come with me." The village secretary led Xie Qingyu to send a telegram.
The telegram was sent from the brigade headquarters.
It's an area jointly managed by several nearby brigades. There's a telegraph machine there, but it costs money.
"When do you plan to go? We need to get you a letter of introduction," the village secretary asked.
"Send the telegram, pack your things today, and we'll leave tomorrow," Xie Qingyu said. "We'll also need your help to get us a letter of introduction."
The village secretary didn't say anything, but spoke to the person guarding the door and led Xie Qingyu inside.
Telegrams are charged by the word, and Xie Qingyu doesn't have much money right now, so these few words need to be concise yet convey her meaning.
"Immediately bring my child to join the military."
Xie Qingyu didn't even use punctuation marks, which should be concise and clear enough. As long as her cheap husband isn't stupid, he should be able to think of submitting an application report for them and remember to pick them up.
The village party secretary was also busy, issuing a letter of introduction for Xie Qingyu.
Because he didn't know how many days it would take to get there, he extended the timeframe for his letter of introduction.
Xie Qingyu took out some money and handed it to the village secretary; it was definitely more than the money she spent on sending the telegram.
"I wonder if the village's oxcart will go to town tomorrow and if it can give us a ride." Xie Qingyu's intention was quite clear.
"Have them take you there tomorrow. Go early in the morning so you can buy a ticket," the village secretary said, taking a puff of his pipe.
"Thank you, I'll go back and pack my things now." Xie Qingyu picked up Tuanzi and went back.
She doesn't mind spending a little more money, otherwise it would be troublesome if she had to walk to town tomorrow. She might be able to walk faster on her own, but it won't be any faster with a small child in tow.
Xie Qingyu's decision to go back and pack her things went unnoticed, mainly because at this time of day, everyone in the family had already gone out to work.
Even if there's no work in the fields right now, you can still earn work points by going up the mountain to cut pig feed or dig ditches.
Xie Qingyu looked around at the things in the house; if you really counted them, there were quite a lot.
The original owner brought a lot of things with her when she went to the countryside, but she traded a lot of them here, including thermos bottles and clothes, which she used to exchange for food.
There aren't many left now.
Xie Qingyu assessed her own capabilities. She also had a child to take care of and didn't have much strength to carry things, so those two suitcases were just right.
She didn't plan to come back anytime soon, so she took as many things as she could with her.
However, she couldn't bring blankets or similar items, but she could bring bed sheets. Xie Qingyu had brought these bed sheets back from the city, and they were still soft even after three years of use.
After packing the sheets and clothes into a box, Xie Qingyu noticed that Tuanzi had very few clothes.
It's probably because the original owner didn't know how to make clothes.
In the remaining box, Xie Qingyu packed some odds and ends, such as toiletries, mirrors, and scissors—basically anything she could carry with her.
After Xie Qingyu finished tidying up, only a few large items and the quilt on the bed remained in the room.
However, it's not enough to just set off like this.
Xie Qingyu looked at the address where the money had been sent each quarter and estimated that it would take at least three or four days for it to arrive. During these few days, they would definitely need to prepare food for them.
Xie Qingyu thought for a moment, and finally spoke when the rest of the family returned home in the evening.
In the afternoon, Xie Qingyu cooked the last bit of rice, and she and Tuanzi ate their fill. When the other two families were eating in the courtyard, Xie Qingyu went out into the courtyard.
As she watched her walk over, Sister-in-law Nie instinctively wondered when she had offended her.
"I'm taking Tuanzi to the military base tomorrow. I have a quilt left at home. If you want it, you can exchange it for eggs. If not, I'll ask other families."
Xie Qingyu's words struck the ears of everyone in the courtyard like a thunderclap.
"Are you going to find your third brother?" Both Nie Lao Da and Nie Lao Er asked at the same time.
“Yes, Tuanzi has never met his father before, it’s time for him to meet him.” Xie Qingyu used the same excuse.
"Can he join the army?"
"Let's go over there and take a look first. If it doesn't work, we'll figure something out," Xie Qingyu said nonchalantly.
They hadn't received the news back home yet, but Xie Qingyu knew that her husband had just been promoted to deputy regimental commander, enough for them to accompany him to the army.
"Ten eggs." Sister-in-law Nie ignored all that; she was preoccupied with Xie Qingyu's bedding.
That was a cotton mattress. It's very difficult to get cotton these days. She had saved up for several years and only managed to save a little over a pound, just enough to make a padded jacket for winter.
"That's too little." Xie Qingyu shook her head. She had knowledge, but she wasn't stupid.
“Fifteen eggs,” Sister-in-law Nie said, also volunteering.
His two boys are both grown up, and one blanket isn't enough to cover them.
Sister-in-law Nie became a little anxious upon hearing this, "Sixteen eggs."
"Thirty eggs for the mattress, forty-five eggs for the quilt. If there are no eggs, you can have other food or money," Xie Qingyu said calmly.
Sister-in-law Nie and Sister-in-law Nie exchanged a glance.
"I need a mattress."
"I want a blanket."
Sister-in-law Nie had a little more money, so she asked for a quilt.
They all knew that Xie Qingyu's price was very cheap.
“We’ll leave tomorrow morning, and I’ll give these to you,” Xie Qingyu said. “But you have to give me the eggs today.”
Xie Qingyu's words made Sister-in-law Nie and Sister-in-law Nie hesitate and look at each other.
Knowing their concerns, Xie Qingyu took out the letter of introduction from her pocket. "The letter of introduction has already been issued, I'm definitely leaving."
"Okay." Sister-in-law Nie gritted her teeth and immediately went inside to get things for Xie Qingyu, afraid that she would change her mind.
"You're leaving tomorrow morning. Have you bought your tickets? How are you getting there? The village's oxcarts aren't going to town tomorrow, so your second brother and I could take you both there."
"No need, I've already spoken to the Party Secretary, and he'll send us by oxcart tomorrow," Xie Qingyu declined their offer.
Sister-in-law Nie and Sister-in-law Nie have already brought the things over.
There certainly weren't that many eggs at home; it was already difficult to gather a dozen or so. The rest were other foods.
The mixed grain buns are quite a good thing, and they also have a little brown sugar.
Xie Qingyu thought about it for a moment and accepted the brown sugar, making up for the rest with money.
Xie Qingyu immediately boiled all the eggs.
The two families pooled together twenty eggs, and boiling them all at once seemed extravagant.
The children in the yard craned their necks to look. These eggs were usually saved to barter for other things, and they hadn't eaten them much.
After Xie Qingyu finished cooking, she took everything back into the house and put it in her handbag. She also put the money in the handbag, and sewed the remaining one yuan into her inner clothing, just in case.
After Xie Qingyu finished doing these things, she checked her surroundings to make sure she hadn't forgotten anything else before stopping. Then she looked at Tuanzi, who was following her feet.
"I almost forgot about you, you little mud monkey." Xie Qingyu said she was going to give him a bath today, but she still hadn't remembered.
Fortunately, the weather is just right now, so I can take a shower tonight.
Xie Qingyu went to the kitchen and boiled water again.
Watching her pour bucket after bucket of quilt into the pot, Sister-in-law Nie was a little dissatisfied, but thinking that the quilt would be hers once she left tomorrow, she forced herself to endure it.
Xie Qingyu boiled the water, went back into the house, carried Tuanzi to a stool, and then took an egg from her bag.
Tuanzi let Xie Qingyu lift him up, and stared at her with his big, round eyes.
Xie Qingyu picked up an egg and waved it in front of him, "If you call me 'Mom,' I'll give you an egg."
When Xie Qingyu woke up, she heard him call for his mother, so she knew he could speak.
Unfortunately, he won't call out to him now.
"All you do is act cute." Xie Qingyu picked up an egg and tapped it on Tuanzi's forehead, making a small crack in the egg.
Tuanzi was stunned by Xie Qingyu's sudden action. She reached out her little hand and touched her forehead. There were no tears in her eyes, but her gaze towards Xie Qingyu looked somewhat aggrieved.
Xie Qingyu quickly peeled the egg and put it to his mouth, saying, "Come and eat the egg."
The dumpling opened its mouth and took a bite, then its eyes lit up again.
Seeing him like this, Xie Qingyu took a cloth to wipe his hands, put the egg in his hand, and let him hold it and eat it himself.
The little guy had probably never eaten an egg like this before. He ate it in small bites with great relish, holding the egg in both hands like a squirrel.
After eating for a while, he looked up at Xie Qingyu and then stopped.
Xie Qingyu noticed his gaze and leaned closer, looking curious. "What's wrong? You're not full, are you?"
As Xie Qingyu spoke, she reached out to touch his stomach.
Who knew that as soon as they brought their lips close, they touched something.
It was Tuanzi who held the egg in her hand to her mouth.
Xie Qingyu then realized that he had stopped because he saw that she hadn't eaten.
She immediately took a bite, "My good son."
Seeing Xie Qingyu eat with a smile, Tuanzi withdrew her hand and silently gnawed on her food again.
At least the child wasn't spoiled in vain.
Xie Qingyu was also happy.
Tuanzi seemed to be in a good mood.
However, Tuanzi's good mood only lasted until she took a bath.
Xie Qingyu looked at the dumpling sitting in the basin and almost laughed.
Judging from the dust on Tuanzi's body, it's been a long time since it had a bath, so it doesn't like water.
Although he didn't throw a tantrum like most children and refuse to go into the water, you could still clearly feel his resistance; his little brows furrowed, and he seemed a little dissatisfied.
“You’re so dirty, you’re practically a little mud puddle. I can’t just take you to your father like this.” Xie Qingyu chuckled and tapped his forehead, unsure if he could understand.
Xie Qingyu changed the water twice before she could barely clean Tuanzi.
On the last trip, she covered Tuanzi with a blanket, telling him not to lift it, and then wiped herself in the dark.
After Xie Qingyu finished tidying up, she returned to bed to find that Tuanzi was already asleep.
Fortunately, Xie Qingyu's blanket left him room to breathe, and Xie Qingyu also went to bed to sleep.
Xie Qingyu woke up very early the next day.
He was eager to leave early and also wanted to get rid of the quilt.
I ate some eggs and cornbread for breakfast, then tidied up the house inside and out, delivered the quilts and mattresses to Sister-in-law Nie and Sister-in-law Nie, and then locked the door.
Brother Nie had also gotten up early. Seeing Xie Qingyu come out, he went up to help her carry her suitcase. "Are you two really okay?"
"Just take the train from the town, it's fine." The only advantage here is that there's a train station in the town, so you don't have to go to the city.
"Alright, be careful on the road with Tuanzi, and remember to write back to let us know you're safe when you arrive." Brother Nie had the air of an elder brother who was like a father to his children.
"Okay, big brother, you can go back now." Xie Qingyu saw the oxcart waiting at the village entrance, with many people already sitting on it.
After Xie Qingyu got in, she had basically taken up all the seats, and the oxcart set off immediately.
"Xie Zhiqing, where are you going?" someone immediately began to inquire.
"Take Tuanzi to see his father. This child has never seen his father since he was born," Xie Qingyu said.
"Will you come back?" Let's go over there and see first.
Xie Qingyu didn't say anything more.
"You know what, this child really looks like Old Man Nie," someone said, looking at the cleaned dumpling.
"They look exactly the same."
"That's right, that's right." The car was full of elderly people from the village, and they all chimed in with their opinions on the matter.
Meanwhile, thousands of miles away in his unit, Nie Shenyuan stared blankly at the telegram. He recognized the individual characters, but he had no idea what they meant when put together.
Bringing your son with you to the military camp?
Who will take care of the child?
Whose child are you bringing?