Chapter 2: Brother Eighty Soldier 02

When I came back after breakfast, the dining table at home was already open. There were only two people at the table, Wang Tonghua and daughter-in-law Zhang Xiaohua, and Du Baozhen were still angry and locked themselves in the room.
Although Wang Tonghua had already made concessions in her heart, she wanted her to coax her daughter and couldn't let go of her elder's figure. Du Baozhen didn't come to eat, and she suffocated her breath not to let people call.
Jiang Rui put away the bamboo basket, looked at Wang Tonghua's expression, did not speak too much, sat down and picked up his breakfast.
There are four bowls of pumpkin porridge on the table, a plate of pickles, and two bowls of porridge with half an egg on each.
Eggs are a tight item, if it weren't for the few rabbits at home, and exchange rabbit fur with rabbit cubs for some eggs, the dinner table really didn't even have a bit of meat.
It’s not that I haven’t tried raising chickens, but chickens are different from rabbits. They don’t have the strength to lay eggs when they are fed to grass. Enough for my family's soup, soup, water and water, how can there be surplus food?
Therefore, the egg is not for everyone. The Du's six people only boiled two eggs. The team just finished harvesting rice, and the farm didn’t have much work to do. The two men in the family worked so they had to eat a good meal. His daughter-in-law Zhang Xiaohua was pregnant with the child and had to make up for it. Du Baozhen was bothered by studying and had half an egg every day. As for Wang Tonghua and Du Baoqin, they can only order dried pickles.
Jiang Rui ate fast. Seeing Wang Tonghua finished eating, he didn't get up immediately. He glanced at the door of the room from time to time, knowing that her anger was gone, and then said, "Mom, I'll go and call Baozhen for dinner."
Zhang Xiaohua also echoed: "Baozhen still has to read, don't be hungry."
"Can you starve to death without a meal? It's not what you are used to." Wang Tonghua muttered, put down the dishes and went to the yard to feed the rabbits.
This is agreed.
Jiang Rui and Zhang Xiaohua looked at each other, got up and smiled at her: "Sister-in-law, eat more, there is still in the pot."
There are not many houses in the Du family, and the two sisters share a small room.
When Jiang Rui opened the door, Du Baozhen was lying on the narrow desk in front of the window. Hearing the movement, she immediately stuffed something into the drawer. When she turned back, she was relieved to see that it was her.
Jiang Rui's complexion did not change, he stepped forward and patted her on the shoulder, and said softly: "Go to dinner, today's pumpkin porridge is sweet."
Du Baozhen curled his lips. Du's family cooks a big pot of porridge every day. Naturally, sugar can't be eaten. What is added to the porridge is a penny and a packet of saccharin. Although it is sweeter than sugar, it has no nutrition and eats too much. It’s not good for the body. The reason for adding it is just to satisfy the craving for sweetness.
"I don't want to eat." Du Baozhen was unhappy, crying before, and his voice was a little dumb.
There was a table and a stool in the room, and the stool was sat on, Jiang Rui could only sit on the edge of the bed, and the two of them looked at the same level. She stretched out her hand and touched Du Baozhen's red and swollen eyelids, "Are you still angry? I can't get through with myself if I regenerate qi. What should I do if my body is starved?"
Du Baozhen's eyes were moist again, choking in her throat, looking at her aggrievedly, "It's my mother that is too unreasonable, so why should Zhao Nan save me and I will marry him? If so, I would rather drown!"
"Don't talk nonsense." Jiang Rui covered her mouth, her always soft expression rarely became serious, "It's all children, you die if you die, don't you want your parents? Don't me?"
"Woo...A sister--" Du Baozhen threw herself into her arms and cried loudly.
Jiang Rui patted her on the back until she cried enough, and then said: "Let’s go to eat first. I haven't eaten well these days. Is it heartbreaking to be hungry and thin?"
After crying, Du Baozhen had a faster headache, rubbing her eyes to retort, "Mum won't feel bad anyway."
"Do you know Mom doesn't feel bad?" Jiang Rui took her hand off and wiped her face with a clean handkerchief.
Du Baozhen raised her head to facilitate her movement, wrinkling her nose and muttered: "She just loves me, and she can't bear the Zhao family. I think she can't wait to marry herself."
"You." Jiang Rui nodded his nose, a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, "What nonsense, be careful mom hear it, reward you with bamboo shoots and fried meat."
Du Baozhen smiled, hugged her waist, buried her head on her lap, and whispered: "Sister, I really don't want to marry."
"I know, have you noticed that the attitudes of your parents have been softening in the past few days. Think about it, since childhood, what has really forced you?"
Du Baozhen was silent for a while, then slowly shook her head, "This time is different, sister, mom will never give up the Zhao family."
The big and small things of the Du family are in charge of Wang Tonghua. Du Baozhen has been lively and naughty since she was a child. She has tried her bottom line many times and can feel her mother's determination this time. She was panicked, and that's why it made a lot of noise.
Not only her, the original owner Du Baoqin also guessed that Wang Tonghua did not intend to abandon the Zhao family, but the silent Du Baoqin knew their mother better, knowing that in the end this matter mostly fell on her, and Du Baozhen hadn't realized it.
"Don't be afraid, there is me, let's find a way together. Now what you have to do is to eat well, and you will have the strength to fight when you are full. Don't eventually give in to your parents. You are also ill. Don't you just lose out?" Jiang Rui advised again.
Du Baozhen got what she said, hurriedly raised her head to look at her pitifully, "Sister, you have to help me, you can't ignore me."
"I got it." Jiang Rui led her out, "when did you care about you?"
Du Baozhen settled on a snack, held it to her obediently, and thought to provoke others, "I think Zhao Nan was uneasy and kind when he saved me. See you next time, I will let my brother beat him!"
Jiang Rui glanced at her, his tone still soft and gentle, "Without him to save you, you still have your life here to beat this and that? Besides, I heard that he will return to the army the next day after saving you. It was a few more days before Aunt Zhang came to our house. This incident was mostly meant by Zhao's parents."
Du Baozhen pouted her lips, and there was nothing to say.
There was no one on the dinner table. Du Baozhen peeled off his half of the egg in twos and then passed it to Jiang Rui's mouth, "Sister, divide you half."
Jiang Rui tilted her head and pushed her hand away, "I don't need to replenish my brain, what can I do with it."
"But you still do so much work."
"It's not hard work. I can't get tired. I don't like eggs. Eat it quickly. The porridge is cold."
Du Baozhen was dubious, "Really don't like eating?"
"I really don't like eating."
"It's so strange that you don't like to eat eggs." Du Baozhen muttered, eating the eggs in two mouthfuls, then picked up the bowl and gobbled it up. She was hungry and panicked all morning, and she ignored the gentleness of the girl.
Jiang Rui cleaned up the tabletop, "I'm going to wash the dishes. After you finish eating, send the dishes to the kitchen room."
"Hmm..." Du Baozhen couldn't say anything, and nodded indiscriminately.
In the yard, Wang Tong absently fed the rabbits, full of thoughts that came up before.
She wanted her eldest daughter to marry the Zhao family instead of her younger daughter. The more she thought about it, the more excited she became, and the more she thought about it, the more she felt good, but now she has calmed down a bit and found that there is a key question. Can the Zhao family agree? What if the second son of the Zhao family admits death like her younger daughter?
You have to think of a way to explore Zhao's tone...
She looked at Jiang Rui's busy figure in the stove, and gradually got an idea.
After Jiang Rui cleaned up the stove, seeing that the sun was not big today, he went back to the room and changed into an old long-sleeved shirt, ready to go up the mountain to scratch the dead leaves and make a fire.
As soon as she left the house, Wang Tonghua stopped her and made a fuss, "Why did you turn this old antique out and put it on? Go and change your clothes."
"Mom, I am going up the mountain."
Wang Tonghua drove her in, "Someday you can't go up the mountain? Now help mom to go to the reservoir. A few days ago, your aunt Zhang gave us honey. Our house has nothing good. You can send these two bunnies. ."
Jiang Rui glanced at the bamboo basket. There were two small dumplings that were not born long ago. They could be raised in two days to exchange for some eggs and salt. He hesitated: "The eggs are almost gone..."
"I know." Thinking of the tight days, Wang Tonghua felt annoyed again, and she strengthened her determination to marry the Zhao family-she has been struggling in this life, but there is no reason for her children to continue suffering.
"If you don’t have eggs, give your dad and them some honey water. I heard that honey is a good thing, and it’s more nutritious than eggs!" She originally planned to give half of the honey to her parents, but now she had to give it up. Anyway, the good things are sent back. , Can't enter the mouth of parents.
Seeing her decision had been made, Jiang Rui didn't persuade him to move, so he could only turn around and change clothes.
"Replace the new set made the year before last!" Wang Tonghua confessed behind him.
Jiang Rui changed into a white floral shirt and aqua-blue trousers. They were all very good. They were very cool. She had a pair of plastic sandals under her feet. This suit was bought by her mother cruelly. It was the facade of a young girl. He could only go out as a guest. Will wear it.
As soon as she came out, Wang Tonghua felt her eyes light up, and couldn't help but tsk in praise: "My daughter is beautiful, let alone our team, I think the entire Chaoyang Commune can be counted!"
Jiang Rui lowered his head slightly, "Be quiet."
"What are you afraid of?" Wang Tonghua circled her, and the more she looked, the more satisfied she became. In the past few years, Du Baoqin hadn't grown much, and his clothes were flat before and after wearing clothes. Now his chest and buttocks are protruding, and his waist is even thinner. It is hard to move his eyes.
Wang Tonghua was determined that even if she couldn't talk to the Zhao family this time, with her daughter's appearance and temperament, she was afraid that she would not find a good one?
She happily pushed the basket into Jiang Rui's hand and pushed the person out, "Go, see your auntie Zhang's mouth is sweeter, remember to walk under the shade of the tree and don't get tanned."
It's not early or late now, there are no people on the road, Jiang Rui walked fast with his head down, he didn't meet an acquaintance at all, otherwise he would have to spend some time talking.
The Zhao family is on the mountainside reservoir and the Du family is at the foot of the mountain. Although they are in the same brigade, the two actually have no contact. Jiang Rui walked past the reservoir dam and went up a gentle slope. A courtyard and several brick houses appeared in front of her. From memory, she knew that this was the Zhao family.
The courtyard door was closed tightly, and she tiptoed and looked in, "Is Aunt Zhang at home?"
Zhang Liyun was picking beans in the house. Hearing the sound, she saw a young girl who was a little familiar standing outside her yard. The sun hit her and her eyes were dazzling, "You are?"
Jiang Rui hurriedly smiled and said, "Auntie, this is Baoqin, Baozhen's sister. You went to my house a few days ago."
Zhang Liyun also heard about the two daughters of the Du family. They occasionally met on the roads in the village, but they couldn’t match the name with the person for a while. When she said that, she immediately remembered, hurriedly opened the yard, and welcomed them with a smile. Come in, "It's Baoqin, come in quickly."
The conditions of the Zhao family are better than those of the Du family, and the hall is much brighter, and the house is fully furnished.
Zhang Liyun was about to pour her tea, Jiang Rui hurriedly stopped, handed the bamboo basket over, and said: "The rabbit in the family has given birth to a cub a few days ago. My mother asked me to give her aunt a couple to play with."
Zhang Liyun took a look, didn't shy away, just smiled and said: "Your mother is too polite. You sit first, there is canned food in my aunt's house, it is sweet and cold, and it is comfortable to drink."
Jiang Rui wanted to stop her again, got up to leave, but was firmly pressed on the chair, "This hot day, how can you make a trip for nothing and be obedient."
After speaking, Zhang Liyun entered her bedroom, and Jiang Rui had to sit and wait for her.
Zhang Liyun took out the can from under the closet, but did not immediately walk out of the door, but looked at Jiang Rui in the hall from the crack of the door. Seeing the figure from the face, and then seeing the pair of feet that are neatly closed from the figure, he nodded while watching.
How can Jiang Rui not feel such an obvious sight? I just pretended not to know, but looked curiously at the family portrait on the wall.
Zhang Liyun and his wife had four children, named Zhao Dong, Zhao Nan, Zhao Qianqian, and Zhao Bei. Among them, Zhao Qianqian was the daughter.
In the photo, Zhang Liyun and his wife are sitting, each holding a child on their lap, and two teenagers stand behind them.
Jiang Rui had seen Zhao Nan secretly when he was not Du Baoqin. At this time, he recognized that the boy on the left was him. At that time, he was fifteen or sixteen years old, with a calmness that did not match his age, a pair of long and narrow eyebrows, but a bit sharp and pressing. It was really hard to imagine that this would be the look of a rural teenager.
Just at this time Zhang Liyun came out of the room, and Jiang Rui retracted his gaze and stood up.
"Sit down quickly." Zhang Liyun pried open the can of oranges, poured her a large bowl, and said casually, "The photos are all ten years ago. Our second child was taken before he became a soldier."
"Thank you auntie." Jiang Rui took it with both hands, took a sip carefully, raised his head and smiled and said, "Auntie is still as young as before."
Zhang Liyun was happy, and handed her a spoon, "I like to listen to these words, eat more, auntie has a lot."
The two of them ate and talked. Zhang Liyun had a thorough understanding of how old Du Baoqin was, how long he had studied, and what he usually did at home.
What she asked, Jiang Rui answered honestly. When the two asked and answered, Zhang Liyun slapped his thigh when it was almost lunch time: "Look at me, I talk a lot. It's time for dinner. Baoqin stays here with my aunt. Let's eat?"
Jiang Rui hurriedly refused, saying that he would also send food to the family who worked. After a long time, Zhang Liyun stuffed a bottle of canned food and a handful of fruit candy into her bamboo basket before letting her leave.
It was really not early. Jiang Rui walked down the mountain quickly. Just after he got down to the reservoir, a young woman came to face him with shoulder-length hair and a military-green bag. She recognized Zhao Qianqian. The two had no contact with each other, so they only dealt with her. Smiled.
Zhao Qianqian stayed and watched her walk away, then looked up the mountain again, and trot up for a while. When I got home, I didn't smell the fragrance of the rice, but heard her mother humming a little tune in the kitchen room. Zhao Qianqian touched her belly and shouted: "Mom, I'm back, is the meal still OK?"
"Well what?" Zhang Liyun poked her head out from behind the stove, "There is still canned food on the cabinet. Eat first if you are hungry."
Zhao Qianqian was overjoyed when she heard that there was a canned food to eat. When she found the canned bottle, she saw that there was only half a bottle left. She ran to her mother again and asked, "Who ate the other half bottle? Today, my sister-in-law did not bring Xiaobo. Have you returned to your natal house?
Zhang Liyun stared, "Why, I only allow you to eat, I can't eat it?"
Zhao Qianqian shrank her neck, picked up the can and took a sip. She squinted her eyes with beauty. She remembered the person she met on the way home, and asked, "I just saw Du Baoqin under the reservoir. What did she do in the reservoir? Our home?"
Zhang Liyun looked at her sternly, and asked instead, "Cici, what do you think of Baoqin as your second wife?"
Zhao Qian Qianqian opened her mouth: "No, don't you want Du Baozhen to be my second wife?"
"That also has to be willing."
When Du Baoqin came to the door today, Zhang Liyun was really taken aback. She went to the Du’s house that day to say that she had joined her second son and the Du’s youngest daughter. Today, she understood what the Du’s meant. Their youngest daughter was unwilling to marry, so she asked the eldest daughter to visit and let her see Look. It is best if the two families can still get married. If they can't get married, then just ask their daughter to send back a gift, and others can't gossip when they see it.
Thinking of her second son, Zhao Nan, Zhang Liyun wanted to sigh. This year is twenty-seven and eighty. His children have been running all over the floor with his childhood companions. He doesn't even have the idea of ​​becoming a family. It's silence.
He had just joined the army a few years earlier, and he could go home and live for a few days at the end of the year. Now that he has a high military rank, it is even more difficult to meet him. This time I looked forward to him for two years, but only stayed for one night, and rushed back to the army the next day. The leaders were not as busy as him!
Zhang Liyun always feels that if this continues, I am afraid that the stinky boy won't even return home in the future, so she made up her mind that she must find a daughter-in-law for her son whether she wants it or not.
As for which girl she was, she didn’t really mind. Before choosing Du Baozhen, she was also thinking that her son had saved her life. The two people might have a slightly different feeling in their hearts. Now it seems that she thinks too much, not only the son doesn’t. Thoughts, other girls have no ideas.
Fortunately, without Du Baozhen, there is another Du Baoqin that suits her better. The little girl was born white and clean, with a gentle and well-behaved temperament, but not timid and timid, she was also generous when she looked at it, and the whole brigade could not find a second one.
Such a good candidate, if the brat doesn't want to get married, then she will find the troops personally, and she will have to take a meal!