Chapter 23 p1
After having a substantial relationship, their feelings underwent a qualitative change. For example, Ye Qingzhi used to feel a little embarrassed when she asked He Qiming to do things, but now she was particularly righteous.
Another example was spending money. Before, she felt a little guilty when she spent He Qiming’s money, but not anymore. She felt it was only natural for a husband to spend money on his wife.
“One, ten, a hundred, a thousand… three thousand four hundred yuan?” Ye Qingzhi gasped, looked up at He Qiming. He had to support his family and had also built a house, yet he could still save so much money?
He Qiming was skilled and quick-witted. He had become a squad leader during his time as a new recruit. He was promoted quickly, and of course, his salary also rose quickly.
When he married Xu Baoli, the family had not yet split. He was afraid that Xu Baoli would not be able to manage, so he still gave money to the family every month.
When he found out about the family split, he had thought of giving the money to Xu Baoli to manage. But when he went home to visit, he found that not only did Xu Baoli have someone in her heart, but she also didn’t care much for their child, so he didn’t mention it.
Now that Ye Qingzhi was wholeheartedly living with him, he of course had to hand over all the family’s money. Besides, this was agreed upon before the marriage.
“From now on, I’ll leave all this money in your care. This box contains all kinds of tickets. You can take them as you need,” He Qiming said, hugging Ye Qingzhi from behind, his chin resting on her shoulder.
“I need to use them today,” Ye Qingzhi said, tilting her head. He Qiming’s breath on her neck was a little itchy.
She had originally planned to go to the town in the morning, but she hadn’t been able to get up and had missed the procurement vehicle.
She was thinking of going tomorrow, but at a little past nine, Li Jinfeng came to find her. She said there was a car going to the town at noon and asked if she wanted to go shopping together.
Of course, Ye Qingzhi agreed. Although she had brought a lot of things with her, she was still missing even more, like tea, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar, pots and pans. She also had to order a few pickle jars to pickle more vegetables, otherwise there would be no vegetables to eat when it got cold.
Worried that she would forget something, Ye Qingzhi took out a pen and paper and handed them to He Qiming, asking him to help her write them down.
“I’ll write?” He Qiming looked at her in confusion. Didn’t she know how to read?
“I know all the words, but I don’t write well. My family favored boys over girls, and life was not easy after I got married. How could I have money to buy paper and pens, or the time to practice writing?” Ye Qingzhi stuffed the pen into He Qiming’s hand. “I can practice in the future. At least it has to be presentable.”
In the original host’s situation, besides being able to read, it would be a bit fake if she could also write well.
Sure enough, He Qiming thought it made sense. He picked up the pen and paper and quickly wrote down the things Ye Qingzhi wanted to buy.
“Besides the daily necessities I just mentioned, I need to make a thick cotton-padded jacket. It’s much colder here than back home. The cotton-padded jacket I made before is a bit thin. It’s fine for now, but it definitely won’t be enough in a while,” Ye Qingzhi said, opening the ticket box.
She was already wearing a new cotton-padded jacket. Back home, they were still wearing summer clothes. The temperature difference between the two places was huge.
“I thought of that before, so I bought a lot of cotton. Besides these quilts, I also had an old tailor in town make a thick cotton-padded jacket for you and the children. I’ve saved some wolf and rabbit skins and left them at the tailor’s shop. You can go choose a style later and have the old tailor make it for you,” He Qiming said with a smile.
Ye Qingzhi suddenly understood. No wonder He Qiming had asked for her and the children’s measurements before. She had thought he was calculating the cloth tickets, but she hadn’t expected him to have already made thick clothes for them.
“Honey, why are you so good?” Ye Qingzhi couldn’t help but kiss him.
He Qiming’s gaze darkened. He turned and caught her lips, pecking them a few times. “Say it again.”
Ye Qingzhi chuckled lightly. “Honey.”
“Wife.” He Qiming couldn’t resist and bit her slender white neck. “The Tibetans make sheepskin coats. They’re very warm. I know you’re afraid of the cold. I’ll have one made for you later.”
It was already this cold now. How cold would it be when it was minus twenty degrees? Ye Qingzhi couldn’t even imagine.
“Do you still have to do drills in the winter?” Ye Qingzhi asked curiously.
“We have cold-resistance training, so we’re more resistant to the cold. By the way, you can buy leather boots from the herdsmen. You don’t need tickets for those. Buy a pair for the children too. It’s not good if their feet get frostbitten,” He Qiming said, writing down “leather boots” and “fur hats” on the paper.
He suddenly slapped his forehead. “I almost forgot this. I also got some yarn. It’s all in the wardrobe. Here, look.”
He opened the wardrobe, and it was full of wool yarn, in red, blue, yellow, and pink.
He didn’t know what color Ye Qingzhi liked. A comrade’s wife had recommended these few, and he had pulled some strings to buy them.
“So much?” Ye Qingzhi happily picked up a ball of yarn, already planning how to distribute it in her mind.
There was the least amount of red, so of course, she would knit it for herself. A cardigan, a pullover, and there would be enough left for a vest. There wasn’t much pink either, only enough for a cardigan. There was the most of blue and yellow. The blue could be for He Qiming and the two older ones, and the yellow for the two younger ones.
By this calculation, she would have the most sweaters. The few little ones would need another set for changing.
“Can we buy more? It’s cold here. I’m afraid we won’t be able to stand it without sweaters and wool pants,” Ye Qingzhi said, counting the balls of yarn.
“Red and pink are a bit difficult, but the others are no problem,” He Qiming nodded.
Ye Qingzhi breathed a sigh of relief. That was fine. She had enough for herself. The main thing was the few children.
“The things we mailed should have arrived, right? I’m afraid I won’t be able to carry them back by myself,” Ye Qingzhi said, putting away the letter.
“You and Sister-in-law Li and the others can buy what you need. I’ll talk to Wang Heng and ask him to help,” He Qiming said, putting his arm around Ye Qingzhi’s waist. “Last night… are you really alright? How about I go with you tomorrow?”
He had something to do today, otherwise he wouldn’t have had to trouble others.
Ye Qingzhi’s face flushed, and she shot him a coquettish glare. “Then why didn’t you go lighter when I asked you to?”
“It’s not my fault. Who asked my wife to be so beautiful?” He Qiming held Ye Qingzhi’s hand and gently caressed it. Because of the farm work, her fingers and palm had fine calluses. “Wife, let’s buy some more vanishing cream. The weather in the Northwest is dry, the wind is strong, and the sun is harsh. If you don’t apply something, I’m worried your skin will get sunburned.”
Even if He Qiming hadn’t said it, Ye Qingzhi would have bought vanishing cream. She also had to buy a few clam oils for the children. In just one day, Yangyang’s face was already a little chapped.
She would also buy some white vinegar to soak her hands in, to see if she could get rid of the calluses.
“Sister Qingzhi, the car is about to leave. Are you ready?” Li Jinfeng called from outside.
“Ready, I’m coming.” Ye Qingzhi slapped away He Qiming’s hand. “I’m going now. When the children wake up later, tell them not to run around.”
Ye Qingzhi put on her basket and ran out. She found that besides Li Jinfeng, there were also Zhang Dama and two other sisters-in-law she didn’t know.
“Qingzhi, come quickly.” Li Jinfeng waved at her and enthusiastically introduced her. “You know Zhang Dama. This is Regiment Commander Xu’s wife, Bai Xue, Sister-in-law Bai. This is the 1st Battalion deputy battalion commander’s wife, Zhao Lan, Sister-in-law Zhao. Sister-in-law Bai, Sister-in-law Zhao, this is Regiment Commander He’s wife, Ye Qingzhi.”
“Hello, Sister-in-law Bai. Hello, Sister-in-law Zhao.” Ye Qingzhi sized them up.
Bai Xue had pretty features and an elegant temperament, but there was a hint of arrogance in her eyes, as if she looked down on people.
Sister-in-law Zhao was the opposite. Her features were rather ordinary, with a round face and a friendly smile that easily made people like her.
“So you’re Regiment Commander He’s wife? You’re so beautiful. You don’t look like you’ve had children at all,” Sister-in-law Zhao said, holding Ye Qingzhi’s hand and looking her up and down. Then she teased, “No wonder Regiment Commander He has been hiding you at home. It turns out he’s reluctant to let you show your face.”
Beside her, Bai Xue was also sizing up Ye Qingzhi. She was probably the only one here who knew the truth.
So beautiful. No wonder He Qiming lost his heart after just one visit home and didn’t even take a fancy to the nurse she had introduced.
“You’re too kind, Sister-in-law Zhao. You’re all very beautiful. Didn’t you say the car was about to leave? Let’s go,” Ye Qingzhi said with a smile, not wanting to discuss her appearance too much.
“Look at me, I can’t walk straight when I see a pretty girl. Let’s go, let’s go.” Sister-in-law Zhao familiarly linked her arm with Ye Qingzhi’s and even reached out to touch her face, asking with envy, “Do you have a skincare routine? What is it? How is your skin so good, like a peeled egg?”
“Skin like hers can’t be maintained,” Bai Xue suddenly said.
“What do you mean?” Zhao Lan turned to look at her.
The military compound seemed harmonious on the surface, but it was actually divided into two factions: the city faction and the country faction.
The city folk looked down on the country folk, thinking they were uncultured, vulgar, and rude.
The country folk looked down on the city folk, thinking they were pretentious, squeamish, lazy, and greedy.
Among them, Bai Xue was one of the representatives of the city faction, and Zhao Lan was from the country faction.
The two of them would talk and laugh on the surface, but in reality, they looked down on each other.
For example, this time, Zhao Lan felt that Bai Xue was mocking her.
“I mean, she was born with it. Such good skin comes from the womb. How can it be maintained by skincare?” Bai Xue shook her head and looked at Sister-in-law Zhao’s skin. “Difficult.”
Zhao Lan felt a surge of anger, but Regiment Commander Xu’s position was higher than her husband’s. And to argue over such a sentence would make her seem too petty.
She forced a smile. “I know. I was just asking. I’m a mother of two and I’m old. It’s normal for my skin to be bad. Hey, Qingzhi, I heard from Jinfeng that you have four sons?”
Ye Qingzhi didn’t understand why she had suddenly asked this, but it sounded like a very normal question. “Yes. Are your children in school, Sister-in-law?”
She didn’t know what He Dali and the others were thinking. He Jingyan was already eight, yet they hadn’t sent him to school.
Not going to school was not an option. Ye Qingzhi planned to ask around and have He Qiming send both Jingyan and Anmin to school.
“My older one is already nine, in the second grade this year. The younger one is six and will start primary school next year. How old are your children? Are they going to school?” Zhao Lan asked enthusiastically.
Ye Qingzhi was also a country wife, so she naturally belonged to their country faction. And He Qiming had a boundless future. Zhao Lan felt she should try to win her over.
“Yes, my older one is eight this year. He didn’t go to school last year because of some things. If we delay any longer this year, it will be too late for him to start next year,” Ye Qingzhi said.
Hearing this, Zhao Lan was taken aback for a moment. Ye Qingzhi looked like a young girl in her early twenties, yet her child was already eight?
“School started almost two months ago this year. I’m afraid your older one won’t be able to keep up,” Zhao Lan said. She thought for a moment, then asked, “Do you know how to read? If you do, you can teach him more at home. Maybe he can still catch up.”
“I can read. I’ll go to the school tomorrow to ask,” Ye Qingzhi said. She felt that with He Jingyan’s intelligence, it shouldn’t be a problem for him to catch up with the first-grade curriculum.
“And my Wenshu is seven this year. I’m thinking of sending him to primary school too. Qingzhi, I remember your second son is also seven, right? Why don’t we do it together? The children will have a companion on their way to and from school,” Li Jinfeng said.
“We’ll see about Anmin. If he can keep up, he’ll go to the first grade. If not, he’ll go to preschool,” Ye Qingzhi said. Anjie was already six, and he also had to go to preschool.
“Your older one is eight, and your second one is seven. One a year?” Zhao Lan looked at Ye Qingzhi in shock.
“That’s not all. My third one is six,” Ye Qingzhi said with a light laugh.
Zhao Lan clicked her tongue in amazement. Three sons in three years. She was so fertile.
She glanced at Bai Xue. Not like this hen that couldn’t lay eggs. She couldn’t even have a child, yet she walked around with her chin up all day, like a peacock.
Bai Xue, who was already sensitive, immediately understood the meaning in Zhao Lan’s eyes. She was furious, but she couldn’t show it. After all, the other person hadn’t said anything. If she got angry, wouldn’t she be admitting it?
Bai Xue sneered inwardly. As expected of an uncultured country woman who only knew how to have children.
But she also started to hate Ye Qingzhi. Why did she have to talk about children, as if she were so capable? Not all of them were hers anyway.
Bai Xue forced a smile. “Why do I remember that your older son is adopted?”
Li Jinfeng and the others all looked at Ye Qingzhi. What did that mean? Her older son was not her biological son?
Seeing this, Ye Qingzhi didn’t hide it. Many people in the army knew that He Jingyan was adopted.
“Yes, Jingyan is Qiming’s comrade’s child. When they were on a mission, he sacrificed himself to complete it. His grandparents and mother are also gone, so Qiming adopted him. He is our biological child, the eldest son of the He family.”
The few of them were either military wives or soldiers’ mothers. They were more likely to feel compassion for the orphan of a martyr.
“Jingyan is well-behaved and sensible. He will definitely be filial to you in the future,” Li Jinfeng said, feeling that Bai Xue was being nosy.
Zhang Dama also disliked Bai Xue for not knowing what to say. What was wrong with an adopted son? He was the orphan of a martyr. His character was certainly not a problem. What was the difference between raising him and a biological child?
Zhao Lan became even more attentive. She told Ye Qingzhi to wait at home with her child tomorrow, and they would go to the school together.
“You and Jinfeng are both from Jiangnan. You might not know the school schedule here. Here, school starts at nine in the morning and ends at five in the evening. The winter break starts after New Year’s Day and lasts until mid-March,” Zhao Lan explained the school schedule here.
Ye Qingzhi and Li Jinfeng really didn’t know. Back home, they had a two-month summer break and a one-month winter break. Here, they had a two-month winter break.
“What about the summer break?” Ye Qingzhi had always thought it was the same all over the country.
“The summer break is from mid-July to the end of August, about thirty-some days,” Zhao Lan said with a smile, seeing their confused expressions. “It’s a short summer and a long winter here. It’s especially cold in the winter, and the children will freeze in the classrooms.”
If it was a very cold winter, the winter break could even be over three or four months. But then, there would be no summer break.
The break started after New Year’s Day. Counting the time, it was already November in the solar calendar. In another two months, it would be the break. She would talk to He Qiming tonight. They had to get the school matter settled quickly.