Starting a new chapter in life

Chapter 115 He Zhicheng is Disciplined

On the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month, Lunar New Year's Eve, He Jiaoxu and his wife, along with He Zhicheng and his family of three, arrived at their doorstep in their jeep around noon. The trunk was filled with bags and packages, which He Zhijun helped carry into the house.

"Dad, this car doesn't look like the one you used to drive when you came here. Is this a car borrowed from the military?" He Zhijun asked, circling the jeep twice.

He Jiaoxu nodded happily: "This car will be my assigned vehicle from now on, making it much more convenient to come here again."

"Dad, with your rank, you shouldn't be eligible for a car, right?" He Zhijun didn't give his father any face at all.

He Jiaoxu said somewhat awkwardly, "That's right. Actually, this vehicle was originally meant for our brigade commander, but he has few relatives, so logistics usually takes care of him when he goes on official business."

So he didn't actually need the car that much. It wasn't because I kept going to his house and talking about how much he missed his grandma that he transferred the right to use the car to me.

But I didn't take advantage of the company. I paid for the vehicle's maintenance and regular wear and tear myself; I give the logistics department eighty yuan a year.

He Zhijun raised an eyebrow: "I didn't say anything. Dad, you're a veteran Party member, of course I trust your integrity. You would never take advantage of public resources. I was just asking out of curiosity. But the brigade commander really doesn't have many relatives. Doesn't he need a car?"

He Jiaoxu sat at the dining table with his sons and continued chatting: "His wife's family background wasn't considered good back then. When the movement started, in order to protect him, his wife's family published a notice in the newspaper severing ties with him."

Later, those who were supposed to be sent down were sent away, while those who were supposed to be criticized and denounced didn't escape. His side was also affected, but it was only because his former leader insisted on protecting him that he wasn't implicated.

However, he could have been promoted to a higher military rank. Even if he didn't become a division commander, he would have been a strong contender for the deputy division commander or even a brigade commander. But now he is only a brigade commander. At his current age, the possibility of him being promoted further is not high, and he will probably stop here.

However, his wife's family was right to protect him. Although there weren't many of the older generation left, at least the children from back then had been gradually brought back to his side to take care of, so his family was all nearby and he didn't need to travel far.

He Zhijun understood: "Actually, you could be a brigade commander. Look, you're not much younger than a brigade commander, and you're only a regimental commander now. There's not much room for you to rise, so there's nothing to regret."

He Jiaoxu... wants to hit someone, what should I do?

Jingyan and the women sat on the sofa making dumplings. Jingyan was the main force, while the others were just going through the motions. When she heard He Zhijun's words, Jingyan whispered to Cui Hongru, "Mom, has Zhijun always been so sharp-tongued? He doesn't know how to beat around the bush. His directness is too hurtful."

Cui Hongru smiled and replied, "Zhijun never says hurtful things. You don't know that your dad is the one who is very straightforward. If Zhijun had been more subtle today, he might not have understood. It's better to be direct, so he doesn't have to waste his time trying to figure it out."

Jingyan really couldn't understand how this family came together. Her mother-in-law had high emotional intelligence, spoke softly and gently, and even when she was unhappy, her words were still gentle. She had never seen her lose control of her emotions.

She didn't have much contact with her father-in-law, but in the limited times they did, what impressed her most was that he did more than he said. He never complained about being tired when accompanying her mother-in-law out, and he had no objections to what she wanted to buy, only paying for it.

They weren't picky about food, clothing, or daily necessities. I did find that my father-in-law lacked emotional intelligence. But in the military, as long as you can lead troops, you don't need to be tactful. So it's fair to say he's in the right place.

Grandma chimed in, "Your father's personality is just like your grandfather's. Your grandfather was very down-to-earth back then. I had plenty of eloquent men around me back then. Let me put it this way, my Cheng family is a business family. The people we associate with are either businessmen or government officials, and their hearts are as thin as lotus roots."

I grew up in that environment and I'm quite averse to people who are cunning and scheming. That's why I took a liking to your grandfather as soon as I met him. My father also felt that I could handle a reliable person like him and that I could live a smooth life in the future.

However, what I liked about that era was that reliable people were safer. But nowadays, being stubborn isn't so good, after all, times have changed. That's why I insisted on sending your older brother to the army. The root cause was that he was also stubborn, and I was afraid he would starve to death if he had to make a living outside.

Jingyan and Zhou Jie were both amused by Cui Hongru. Jingyan asked curiously, "What about Zhijun? Why did you let him join the army? He's very quick-witted. He could do well in other industries too."

"Zhijun, that's because he's been mischievous since he was a child. It's not a problem when he's young, being a bit naughty is fine, but he's still rebellious as he's grown up. He can't settle down. I'm afraid he'll be led astray by unscrupulous people if I leave him outside, so I put him in the army. At least the environment there is relatively simple."

But I never expected that this kid, in order to avoid training, would turn himself into a technical soldier. Even though he's occasionally unreliable, he's become much more stable since marrying you, and I'm very pleased with that." Cui Hongru had no intention of saving face for her son.

"Oh right, I picked up the cheongsams you ordered a couple of days ago. I'll take them back with me this time. Grandma's isn't ready yet; she said she'll pick them up after the New Year, after the first month of the lunar calendar." Jingyan suddenly remembered the cheongsams and hurried inside to get them.

Women, it's in their nature to love beauty. Once the cheongsam was out, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law forgot about holding the baby and petting the cat, and hurried inside to change. And you know what? In this day and age, everyone has to work, and not many people have much extra weight.

So when she stepped out in that cheongsam, the men in the room were all stunned, especially He Zhicheng. In his memory, his wife had always preferred a simple and frugal style, but seeing her today, he finally had a sudden inspiration:

"Xiaojie, you look really good in this outfit. You used to dress too plainly. This looks much better and shows off your figure. When spring comes, I'll bring you over again to the tailor to have a couple more outfits made for spring and autumn."

Zhou Jie did like it, but she was used to being frugal, so after hesitating for a moment, she shook her head and refused: "I have plenty of clothes in my wardrobe, so I don't need to make any for spring and autumn. When I can't wear the clothes in my wardrobe anymore, I'll buy them and come back to take my measurements and have them made to fit perfectly."

Although He Zhicheng's emotional intelligence was a bit low, it wasn't completely nonexistent. "Oh dear, Grandma said that a woman's clothes are never enough. After the New Year, I'll take you there to have a few more clothes made. Don't always think about saving money. No matter what, our family can still afford clothes."

Jingyan also advised, "Sister-in-law, a daughter dresses up for her lover. If your brother is willing to spend money on you, we shouldn't offend him. If you refuse when he offers to give it to you, he'll develop a habit of not caring for his wife anymore, and that would be a huge loss for you."

He Zhijun turned to Jing Yan and asked, "Then why didn't you buy two items? Did you not have enough money?"

Jingyan shook her head: "I just gave birth, and the flesh around my waist and abdomen is too loose. I like cheongsams, but my current figure is not suitable for them. Once I recover, I will make a couple of them even if you don't say anything. I saw how nice Mom and my sister-in-law looked in them today, and I'm getting a little impatient."

He Zhijun nodded: "If you want to buy it, that's fine. Or I'll drag you along for my morning runs every day during the Spring Festival. Trust me, if you exercise with me, you'll definitely see results in a month or two."

Upon hearing this, Jing Yan quickly waved her hand: "No need, really no need. I plan to start making braised meat at home after the New Year. I don't plan to make too much now, just once every few days. With something to do, I can lose weight quickly."

"Shall we make braised pork today? Mom and Dad haven't had it before." He Zhijun only remembered after Jing Yan reminded him and quickly asked.

Jingyan nodded: "I plan to braise the bones at home this afternoon. Since it's just for family, I'll use whatever meat we have. It should be flavorful by tomorrow morning. By the way, Mom and Dad, when are you planning to go back to Yangzhou? Can you stay here a few more days?"

Cui Hongru shook her head: "We'll go back on the third day of the Lunar New Year. We still have some neighbors and leaders to visit for the New Year. Your sister-in-law's family is also there, so we need to let her go back to see her family during the New Year. We won't stay here any longer."

Jing Yan understood: "Perfect timing. Zhang Xiaofen brought us some pork belly and bones yesterday. I'll make a lot more today so you can take some back with you. Also, take some of the sausages we made ourselves when you go back to your parents' home so your family can have a taste."

Cui Hongru smiled and said, "That's great! We'll accept it without hesitation. Meat is in short supply in Yangzhou this year. We went to the supply and marketing cooperative yesterday, but there wasn't much good meat left. So we only bought some fruit and malted milk powder. We didn't bring any meat with us."

Grandma waved her hand: "There's no need to be so polite among family. Ever since I moved back, Jingyan has never let the house go without meat. The Zhang Xiaofen she knows is a cheerful and generous girl."

Every day, if the slaughterhouse had any leftovers, she would bring them over to ask Jingyan if she wanted to keep them. We get meat without even leaving the house, and we don't need ration coupons. The food quality is really high.”

Cui Hongru laughed and replied, "Oh, Mom, now that you mention it, I'm thinking of retiring and moving in to freeload off you."

Jingyan replied with a smile, "That's great! Mom, you'd better keep your word."

The lunch menu included steamed sausages. After steaming the sausages, they were sliced ​​thinly and served. Everyone tried them, and Jingyan frowned: "The taste is indeed not as good as the smoked ones. It's a bit bland. Next time, let's try adding some chili powder."

Sister Wang tasted it and said, "It's definitely not as fragrant as stir-fried green peppers. There's still not enough fat. The seasoning is just right. Next time, let's try a 3:7 ratio of fat to lean meat. If steaming it doesn't taste as good as stir-frying, then we'll just stir-fry it from now on. No matter what, it's still meat."

Everyone was busy in the afternoon. After watching Jingyan stew the meat, Cui Hongru sighed, "Nothing is easy. Just look at all the braising spices. We have to wash, boil, soak, and cut them. Just looking at it makes me feel tired."

He Jiaoxu had a different opinion: "If Jingyan works like this, she can probably recover a lot in a month. Look at her bending over and squatting. I can't even imagine how hard it must have been for her to make braised meat when she was pregnant, with no one in the family to help her."

Jingyan's favorite thing is that everyone in her family thinks of others, which explains why her family is so harmonious. Of course, simple family relationships are also very important. "Dad, I didn't feel tired back then. I went to sell braised meat very casually, only going every two or three days. I would pack it up at home and sell it in individual packages. The other women who sold vegetables with me all said I was lazy."

Cui Hongru pursed her lips: "Don't listen to them. You have the salary of a soldier. Even if you don't earn money, you won't starve. Don't make things difficult for yourself. Whether you do business or work, it's just a way to pass the time while earning money."

Jingyan smiled and nodded without replying, but her grandmother asked, "So, is your work at the hospital just a way to pass the time?"

Cui Hongru... "Well, no, I just want to do it. I've studied professional nursing, and I feel like it would be a waste if I didn't put what I've learned to use."

“That’s it. Your intentions are good, but it’s not wrong for women to be ambitious or have aspirations. As the leader said, women hold up half the sky. Maybe in the future, we women will be able to hold up a whole sky.” Grandma was even more ambitious.

"Xiao Jie, back then, the world was unstable, and Xiao Li was still young. It was hard for you to take care of the family at home. But now Xiao Li is eight years old and started elementary school this year. If there's anything you want to do, you'll have the time to do it."

Don't be fooled by Zhicheng's words. As a member of the family, he should contribute to the household and do chores when he gets home. Look how spoiled you are; he won't even pick up a fallen oil bottle. If this continues, he might not remember your kindness in the future.

Listen to Grandma, you can't spoil a man too much. You married a husband, not a son. The conversation had gotten to this point, and Grandma couldn't help but say a few words to her sister-in-law.

Zhou Jie nodded thoughtfully. He Zhicheng wanted to retort, but before he could speak, He Zhijun said, "Brother, you come home every day. Your wife cooks at home. After you eat, do you wash the dishes? How many times have you swept the floor? How many times have you washed the clothes?"

He Zhicheng was speechless after being cornered by his younger brother. After thinking for a long time, he asked, "You mean you do all that at home?"

He Zhijun nodded proudly: "Before we had children, Jingyan never cooked for me when I came home. She did enough at home. After we had children, I started washing all the clothes at home."

I'm much more skilled at changing diapers than Jingyan is, not to mention I participate in all the other housework. Every time I finish, Jingyan smiles happily and even kisses me as a reward. Have you ever done that?

He Zhicheng's face flushed red instantly, and he stammered, "Don't talk about your marital affairs so openly. Aren't you ashamed?"

He Zhijun was a little confused: "What's wrong between my husband and me? What did I say?"

Grandma watched the two brothers bickering and laughed heartily, agreeing, "Xiaojun, you should teach your older brother a lesson."