Chapter 24
Halfway through the meal, Li Jinfeng came over again, insisting on pulling Ye Qingzhi and the few children to her house for dinner.
“Next time, we’ll definitely go next time. We’ve already cooked today. You see, the few children have almost finished their food. Really, we’ll go to your house for dinner next time,” Ye Qingzhi said, holding Li Jinfeng’s arm. “Sister, you have many guests at home. It’s not good for the hostess to be away for too long. You should go back.”
After sending Li Jinfeng away, Ye Qingzhi’s food was almost cold. She was too lazy to reheat it, so she just poured some hot water over it and finished it.
When it was time to clean up the dishes, the few children all helped. He Jingyan swept the floor, Ye Anmin wiped the table, Ye Anjie took out the trash, and the youngest, Yangyang, helped put away the bowls and chopsticks.
“Our Yangyang is so amazing. He can already help Mama with chores,” Ye Qingzhi said, bending down to kiss Yangyang’s small cheek, not stingy with her praise.
Yangyang grinned. “Yangyang is amazing.”
“Yes, Yangyang is amazing. Yangyang is great.” Seeing the three older children come in, Ye Qingzhi smiled again. “The three big brothers are also great. Keep it up.”
“Big brother, second brother, third brother are great,” Yangyang said loudly.
Seeing the three older ones’ embarrassed expressions, Ye Qingzhi’s eyes were full of smiles.
At this time, corporal punishment was the popular method of education. Being obedient was expected, and disobedience was met with a beating. At most, a job well done would earn a “not bad.” It was rare for someone to praise as directly as Ye Qingzhi.
He Jingyan had not had any contact with Ye Qingzhi before, and He Jingyang was still too young to understand. Ye Anmin and Ye Anjie felt that their mother had really changed a lot.
But comparing their past and present lives, the two brothers felt that it was normal for their mother to have such a change.
In their hearts, their mother was a very good mother. It was only because of the great pressure of life that she had become taciturn.
Now that their mother had someone to rely on and their life was more comfortable, she was no longer under pressure and naturally became more talkative and cheerful.
The two brothers thought this way because of Ye Qingzhi’s subtle guidance. After all, they were a mother and sons who lived together day and night. If she changed too much, it would definitely arouse their suspicion.
After more than three months of gradual change, she had made them understand that the reason she hadn’t spoken much before was because life was too difficult. Now that she had someone to rely on and could raise them well, she had also become more cheerful and generous.
The effect was very good. The two children did not doubt her transformation, and even they had become more cheerful and sunny.
After cleaning up, the few of them washed up, then sat around to soak their feet. There was a stove next to them with an iron rack on it, on which a kettle was placed. It could both provide warmth and boil water, and it was convenient to add hot water while soaking their feet.
“Jingyan, you’re eight this year. I want you to start primary school this year, but school has already been in session for two months. It will be a bit stressful to catch up with the other children’s learning progress. What do you think?” Ye Qingzhi decided to ask He Jingyan’s opinion first.
If he himself was unwilling, then he could start from preschool. Anyway, he could be assigned a job after he graduated. If worst came to worst, he could also join the army. There would always be a way out.
School? He Jingyan suddenly looked up at Ye Qingzhi.
Every time he saw other children go to school, he was very envious. But Xu Baoli and He Dali and the others had never mentioned it. He hadn’t expected Auntie Ye to bring it up on the second day after arriving at the base.
Seeing that He Jingyan was silent, Ye Qingzhi thought he was unwilling. “What’s wrong? You don’t want to go to school? Jingyan, let me tell you, not going to school is not an option. Only by studying can you become a cultured and knowledgeable person. Not to mention the distant future, just look at the soldiers under your father. Those who are uneducated can’t even be a good squad leader.”
He Jingyan realized that Ye Qingzhi had misunderstood and quickly explained, “I’m not unwilling. I want to go to school.”
Seeing that he was not being perfunctory, Ye Qingzhi nodded in satisfaction. How could a child not go to school? Only by learning knowledge could one have a rich and wonderful future.
The water was a bit cool. She took the kettle and added some hot water. “Pull your feet back. Be careful not to get scalded.”
“Mama, I also want to go to school,” Ye Anmin said, looking at Ye Qingzhi with a serious expression.
“Of course you’re going. I’m just hesitating whether to let you go directly to primary school or to preschool first,” Ye Qingzhi said. She also wanted to know Ye Anmin’s own thoughts.
Ye Anmin’s eyes lit up. “I’ll go to primary school with big brother.”
“You’ve missed two months of lessons. If you go to primary school, it will be very hard to catch up with the learning progress,” Ye Qingzhi said, laying out the difficulties beforehand.
Neither He Jingyan nor Ye Anmin were afraid of hardship. It was just a matter of memorizing a few more pages of a book and writing a few more characters. Could it be as hard as going to cut pig feed at five in the morning?
After soaking their feet, they each went back to their rooms and lay down on their beds. Yangyang was taken care of by his three older brothers, so Ye Qingzhi didn’t have to worry.
Not long after, she heard the sound of the door opening. She got up, put on her coat, and went out to see. Sure enough, it was He Qiming who had come back from dinner.
“Why are you up? The temperature difference between day and night is large here. It’s very cold at night. Go back to bed,” He Qiming said, drinking a few sips of hot water and rubbing his hands. “I’m going to brush my teeth and wash my face. I’ll be quick.”
He was indeed very quick. Ye Qingzhi felt that she had only been back in bed for a short while before He Qiming had finished washing up and returned.
“Did you buy everything you needed today? If you’re missing anything you can’t buy, let me know, and I’ll find a way,” He Qiming said, drying his feet and taking off his coat to get into the quilt. He didn’t immediately lie down next to Ye Qingzhi, worried that the coldness of his body would freeze her.
Ye Qingzhi held his cold, large hand and rubbed it. “We’re not missing anything at home. The most important thing now is the children’s schooling, especially Jingyan. He’s already eight this year. I suggest he go directly to primary school. He’s smart and willing to work hard. He can definitely catch up.”
He Qiming’s body slowly warmed up, and he was even warmer than Ye Qingzhi, who had been in the quilt for a while. He reached out and pulled her into his arms, his thighs sandwiching her somewhat cold feet.
“This is my fault. I shouldn’t have sent Jingyan back to my hometown in the first place,” He Qiming said with great regret.
At that time, after He Jingyan’s biological father had sacrificed himself, he had to go on a mission right after and had no way to take care of the child. He could only send him back to his hometown, thinking that even if Xu Baoli didn’t like him, at least he would be fed and clothed. He had never expected Xu Baoli to treat He Jingyan like that.
After divorcing Xu Baoli, he had been urgently recalled to the army and could only entrust the two children to his parents’ care. The next time he went back was the last time he visited. The reason he had agreed to a blind date was to find a suitable partner and then bring the children to the base, so that he wouldn’t be unaware if the children were being bullied.
No wonder they said that when fate comes, you can’t stop it. It was just that coincidental—he was divorced and had met the newly widowed Ye Qingzhi.
The two of them had hit it off at their first meeting. After getting to know each other, they felt they were a good match. It could only be said that they had not met the right person before, but now they had.
“What’s done is done. What we need to do now is to make it up to Jingyan properly,” Ye Qingzhi said, shifting her body to a more comfortable position. “Is there any problem with the school? Can he join the class?”
“That’s not a problem. What about Anmin and Anjie? What are your plans?” These two brothers were seven and six, also of school age.
“Anmin wants to go to the first grade with Jingyan. Anjie will definitely go to preschool. I heard from Sister Lan that the preschool and the primary school are in the same school. It will be good for the three children to go to and from school together,” Ye Qingzhi said happily.
This was the good thing about children being close in age. They could go to and from school together, and their relationship would naturally be good.
“Alright. I don’t have much to do tomorrow. After the morning drill, I’ll take the children to the school,” He Qiming nodded.
After talking about the children, Ye Qingzhi started to talk about what had happened that day.
After only half a day of contact, Ye Qingzhi had already discovered that the family compound was not as harmonious as it seemed on the surface. The city wives and the country wives were fighting fiercely.
He Qiming had never really paid attention to the affairs of the family compound, let alone that there were so many schemes inside.
“This Sister Lan, just be polite to her on the surface. Don’t get too close,” He Qiming advised.
“I know. I was careless today,” Ye Qingzhi said, feeling a little uncomfortable.
“It’s a case of the calculating against the unsuspecting. You can only blame others for being too scheming. Let’s not take it to heart,” He Qiming said, hugging Ye Qingzhi and kissing her red lips to comfort her.
As he comforted her, the atmosphere became more and more ambiguous, and the two of them rolled into one.
The next day, when Ye Qingzhi woke up, He Qiming was no longer beside her. Even the few children were already up. She hurried to get up and get dressed to go out.
This body was still weak. Having children at such a young age, and one after another, and not being well-nourished after childbirth, and also having to do heavy farm work, it was really normal for the original host to die of exhaustion.
Last time, He Qiming had said that she could buy cow’s milk or goat’s milk. Ye Qingzhi planned to ask a military wife about it. If possible, she wanted to order some goat’s milk for both her and the children to drink.
“Mama, eat,” Yangyang said, handing his steamed bun to Ye Qingzhi.
“No need. You eat it yourself.” Ye Qingzhi lifted the pot lid and saw a basin of cabbage, a basin of shredded potatoes, and a few steamed buns. “Did your papa get these from the canteen? When did he get back?”
“Papa came back with breakfast and then went out again. He said he’ll be back later to take us to school. Mama, am I going to primary school like big brother?” Ye Anmin asked, leaning against Ye Qingzhi.
It was clear that he really didn’t want to go to preschool. He probably felt it was embarrassing to go to preschool with his younger brother.
Ye Qingzhi chuckled lightly. If he wanted to go to primary school, then he could. Anyway, He Jingyan also had to be tutored at home. Teaching one was the same as teaching two.
Although she had been out of school for many years, as an undergraduate, she was more than capable of teaching two primary school students.
As Ye Qingzhi was eating breakfast, she saw He Qiming come back in his training uniform. He patted the dust off his clothes at the door and picked up a bun to eat.
“You didn’t even wash your hands,” Ye Qingzhi said, pushing him.
He Qiming looked at the two fingerprints on the bun where he had squeezed it, smiled, and stuffed it into his mouth in two bites before going to the washbasin to wash his hands.
Never mind a little dirt on his hands. When he was on the battlefield, the bombs would send dust flying everywhere, often into the cooking pot. Every bite would have sand in it, but he would still eat with relish.
But he didn’t tell Ye Qingzhi these things. Being clean was not a bad thing. He would just be more careful at home in the future.
“I’ve already spoken to Director Wang from logistics. The three children will go to school today. Jingyan and Anmin will be in the first grade, and Anjie will be in preschool.” He had just gone out for this.
“How much is the tuition?” Ye Qingzhi asked curiously.
“The army only charges for textbooks. There are no tuition and miscellaneous fees. The Chinese and math books for primary school add up to fifty cents,” He Qiming said, picking out the minced meat from the cabbage and putting it in Ye Qingzhi’s bowl. “There’s mutton for lunch. I’ll get an extra portion. You and the children are too thin.”
Fifty cents? Then the textbook fees here were the same as back home. It was just that back home, they also had to pay one yuan for tuition and miscellaneous fees.
Ye Qingzhi had originally wanted to say it was cheap, but then she thought of the income of the villagers back home, and then of the original host’s pitiful one-yuan savings. To send two children to school would have really been the death of her.
Worried about delaying the children’s schooling, Ye Qingzhi quickly finished her breakfast, took out the clam oil and applied it to the few children’s faces and hands, and prepared to take the three of them to school with Yangyang.
“The wind is strong today. You and Yangyang should stay home,” He Qiming said, finishing his porridge in a few gulps and standing up.
“It’s their first day of school. Yangyang and I should still see them off. And we can get to know the way. Otherwise, we won’t even know where the school is,” Ye Qingzhi said. She wanted to pick up Yangyang, but He Qiming picked him up first.
The wind was really strong today. Not long after they went out, Ye Qingzhi felt her face and hair were covered in a layer of dust. It seemed she had to buy a few silk scarves, and the scarves also had to be knitted quickly.
Passing by Li Jinfeng’s house, Ye Qingzhi knocked on the door. “Is Sister Jinfeng at home? We’re about to take the children to school. Do you want to go together?”
“Yes, yes.” Li Jinfeng came out with her two children. “We were just about to look for you!” Seeing that He Qiming was also there, Li Jinfeng was taken aback for a moment. “Is Regiment Commander He taking us to the school? Then we don’t have to trouble Sister Lan.”
“We’ll make a detour to Sister Lan’s house in a bit and let her know. We’re planning to have the children start school today. What are your thoughts?” Ye Qingzhi looked at Li Jinfeng’s two daughters.
The third, Li Wenshu, was the same age as Ye Anmin, seven this year. She had a more lively and somewhat competitive personality. The fourth, Li Wenhua, was five this year and had a more timid and shy personality. It was optional for her to go to preschool.
“Of course, we’ll go together. The few children will have a companion if they go to school together,” Li Jinfeng said. She had been worried that her one daughter would be bullied. It would be best if she could go to and from school with Ye Qingzhi’s three sons.
The few of them had met on the train and had arrived at the family compound together. They were also all from Jiangnan, so their relationship was very good. Before long, they were all talking together.
As for Li Wenhua, she was still hiding behind Li Jinfeng, clutching her clothes and looking at them timidly.
The group arrived at Zhao Lan’s house. She was just coming out with her child. Seeing He Qiming, she knew that Ye Qingzhi and the others didn’t need her help today.
“Sister Lan, we came to let you know that we’re going to register ourselves today, so we won’t trouble you,” Li Jinfeng said with a smile.
“Alright then. You go on ahead. If you need any help later, just let me know,” Zhao Lan said, still with a warm expression.
“Okay, thank you, Sister Lan. We’ll be going now,” Li Jinfeng said with a smile, waving her hand.
The registration for the few children went smoothly. After watching them go into the classroom with the teacher, Ye Qingzhi and the others watched at the door for a while. After confirming that there were no problems, they turned and went back with their children.
“It’s a good thing you have your three sons. Otherwise, I’d be really worried that Wenshu would be bullied,” Li Jinfeng said gratefully.
“They’re all children of soldiers. They probably won’t bully others,” Ye Qingzhi said, a little uncertainly.
Back at home, Ye Qingzhi gave Yangyang an apple to gnaw on. She had to start preparing the dishes for tonight.
The three of them had entered the military compound together. Originally, the housewarming was supposed to be in order of rank. But because Ye Qingzhi was carsick and not feeling well, Li Jinfeng had hosted first, then it was Ye Qingzhi’s turn the next day, and finally Zhang Dama.
The meat had been bought the day before. There was pork and mutton. As for vegetables, there were only cabbage and potatoes here.
Ye Qingzhi planned to make pork and pickled vegetables stewed with vermicelli, with some potatoes and dried beans added in, otherwise there wouldn’t be enough to eat. Then there would be radish stewed with mutton, cabbage stewed with tofu, and scrambled eggs with scallions. Two meat dishes and two vegetable dishes, a total of four dishes.
It wasn’t that Ye Qingzhi wanted to be lazy. One, a clever housewife can’t cook without rice. Two, it was the custom here.
In Jiangnan, the emphasis was on a variety of dishes, but the portions were small. In the Northwest, the variety of dishes was small, but the portions were large. Each dish was served in a washbasin.
So she didn’t want to be special. She would do as the Romans did. Like Li Jinfeng, she would just make four dishes.
After a busy morning, she had finally washed and cut the vegetables. After lunch, she would stew the mutton, and then just wait for the guests to arrive in the evening.
“Qingzhi, Qingzhi, come quickly! Your Anmin is fighting with someone!” Zhao Lan ran in, panting.
What? A fight?
Anmin had always been sensible. How could he get into a fight on his first day of school?
Without another thought, Ye Qingzhi asked Li Jinfeng to help watch Yangyang and hurried to the school.