Chapter 22: Grind a Little More

Gu Chenghuai didn't rush back to the dormitory but went to the Family Committee to find the Women's Director.

The Women's Director was named Qian Guiying, over fifty years old, a true iron lady who was more capable than men.

Qian Guiying also had a special status; she was the wife of the highest leader in the military region.

This wasn't strange; not just anyone could be the Women's Director of the military region.

The family members who could come to follow the army, their men were at least battalion-level. These people had different levels of education, different personalities, and came from all over the country; without some means, one couldn't suppress them.

Qian Guiying was very surprised by Gu Chenghuai's visit.

She had only seen Gu Chenghuai at her own home; this was her workplace, and the people who came here were all because of disputes in the compound. What was he doing here?

Soldiers emphasized quick battles and quick victories. After exchanging polite greetings, Gu Chenghuai told her what he had just heard.

The smile on Qian Guiying's face vanished instantly.

There was such a thing?

"I know about this." Her expression was serious, "We will investigate. If the investigation results are as you said, I will deal with it according to the rules."

"Then I'll trouble you." Gu Chenghuai thanked her.

Qian Guiying often heard her husband say how excellent the young man in front of her was. Originally, her impression of Gu Chenghuai was that of a sharp knife; looking at him now, his image was more three-dimensional and vivid.

He was not only a sharp knife of the military region but also a girl's husband and the father of several children.

"What are you thanking me for? It's my work negligence that I didn't let you find out." Qian Guiying's voice was full of apology.

"You're too kind." Gu Chenghuai said.

Some people in the family building were difficult to deal with in their own ways. Even though he didn't live there, he had heard a little bit; they were much harder to manage than the soldiers under his command.

Qian Guiying thought of something and asked: "Are you planning to bring your wife and children to follow the army?"

"It depends on my wife's wishes." Gu Chenghuai said.

His expression and tone were no different from usual, but Qian Guiying still heard the indulgence in the young man's words.

"Discuss it with your wife. Being separated for a long time isn't like being a married couple. If you have any thoughts, you have to apply for housing in advance."

Gu Chenghuai nodded, "Mm."

In the short term, Zhao Zhao shouldn't have any thoughts of following the army; he would grind a little more when he went back.

As a man with a wife, he didn't want to sleep in a cold dormitory either.

No one knew these thoughts; they were all hidden on that cold but truly handsome face.

Lin Zhao walked out of the post office with the two cubs.

The second cub suddenly slapped his head and said with annoyance: "Oh no, I forgot to ask Father for bicycle tickets!!"

"No rush, talk about it next time." Lin Zhao knew how hard it was to get bicycle tickets. A classmate's family had wanted to buy a bicycle and couldn't get tickets for three years; she didn't know if they had bought one now.

"Alright." The second cub still felt it was a pity.

He was an optimistic cub, but unfortunately, he threw the matter to the back of his mind in less than a minute.

After walking for a while, the elder cub asked: "Mama, where are we going now?"

"First to the county government building; I want to find your father's comrade to ask about something." Lin Zhao answered with a smile, "Watching the movie will have to wait a while, is that okay?"

"Okay! Mama's business is important!" The elder cub said.

The second cub thought of his father's words, turned his head to look at Lin Zhao, his black and white eyes filled with earnest light, "Is Mama going to ask about the job?"

"That's right." Lin Zhao felt a bit sweet in her heart, "Your father helped find it."

Heaven knows that when she was angry at that time, she wrote a bunch of nonsense and didn't have any expectations. She knew better than anyone how hard it was to find a job.

Especially since the job she wanted had to be decent and easy. She didn't want to work in the workshop; she heard it was noisy, hot as a steamer in summer, and stuffy in winter. She couldn't bear that suffering.

Who would have thought the children's father would find her such a good job as a sales clerk? He was worthy of being her man; he really had ability!

She was too embarrassed to say it when calling just now; she would write a letter to praise him when she went back!!

"Mama is going to be a sales clerk?!!" The elder cub asked excitedly.

Children in the countryside all knew what being a worker meant.

Lin Zhao was also excited and tried to keep calm, but her mouth kept curling up, "It's not certain yet, but it's basically a done deal."

A sales clerk job; she hadn't even dared to think about it before!

The elder cub didn't understand the second half of what his mother said, but he could understand the first half.

Mama meant she couldn't guarantee it yet.

"Mama will definitely be a sales clerk!" He said earnestly.

The second cub nodded like a garlic masher, "Grandma said Father is an excellent soldier, and brave warriors don't tell lies. If Father says there is, there is!"

Lin Zhao believed it too.

She was just dazed.

The first reaction to a dream coming true is dazed, right?

"I'll take your word for it."

The mother and three sons walked lightly and soon arrived at the entrance of the county government building.

It was called a building, but it was only a three-story red brick house.

It wouldn't be eye-catching later, but now... it was definitely eye-catching.

Lin Zhao told the guard who she was looking for, and the guard went to call the person.

Hearing someone was looking for him, Yang Junzhi immediately guessed who it was and went downstairs without a moment's delay.

Seeing Lin Zhao and the elder and second cubs, his gaze paused.

Chenghuai's sons were already this big?

"Is this Director Yang? I'm Gu Chenghuai's wife, Lin Zhao." Lin Zhao took the initiative.

The elder and second cubs called out well-behaved, "Uncle Yang."

Both knew this was their father's comrade-in-arms. In the children's hearts, comrade-in-arms meant good brother, like him and Tie Chui.

"I know you, the elder cub and the second cub."

The second cub's eyes widened, grinning, and asked: "Did Father talk about me?"

"Yes, your father said he has a clever second cub, and an elder cub who is steady and sensible at a young age."

One sentence coaxed the two children into beaming with joy.

Yang Junzhi took them to his office.

He took a cup to pour tea and took out some candies for the elder and second cubs, "Come, eat some candy."

The brothers didn't take them, looked at Lin Zhao, and only took the candy after Lin Zhao nodded, smiling and thanking him: "Thank you, Uncle Yang."

Yang Junzhi was also married and didn't have children yet; he was just at the age of envying other people's children. Seeing the two children were well-behaved and clever, he felt a few more points of liking.

"Really sensible." He said.

He hoped his children would be like the two cubs in the future.

"Sister-in-law, Chenghuai told you, right, about the supply and marketing cooperative." Yang Junzhi looked at Lin Zhao.

"He did, this is troubling you." Lin Zhao said gratefully.

"Sister-in-law is too polite. Chenghuai and I have had a friendship for many years, and it just so happened there was a spot, otherwise I wouldn't dare to guarantee it. Besides, I didn't lose out; instead, I earned a hundred yuan." Afraid the comrade-in-arms hadn't discussed it with his wife and gave him too much money, Yang Junzhi said in a joking tone.

He gave the extra money to his brother-in-law, only saying to take care of the comrade-in-arms' wife.

"It should be; jobs are hard to come by, can't let you work for nothing." Lin Zhao said sincerely.

Yang Junzhi could naturally see her sincerity and felt his comrade-in-arms had a really good eye.

No wonder he didn't like the female soldiers from the literary and art troupe introduced by the military leaders; it turned out he liked this kind, suitable and complementary to him, and they would definitely be harmonious in the future.

"Sister-in-law, the job is basically settled. How about this: I'll wait for you at the entrance of the supply and marketing cooperative tomorrow morning. You bring the introduction letter from the team, and after the exam... " Afraid Lin Zhao would be nervous, he added: "The exam is just going through the motions. You're a high school student, don't worry. After going through the process, I'll take you to transfer your grain relationship, and the matter will be settled."

Lin Zhao got the firm answer, and the smile in her eyes deepened.

"Thank you."

Yang Junzhi remembered another thing his comrade-in-arms had entrusted to him and said: "By the way, the slip for the bricks and tiles has also been obtained. It's not easy for you to handle so many bricks, so I found a friend in the transport team to help you send them over."

With this connection, Lin Zhao naturally wouldn't be hypocritically refusing.

"I was just worrying about how to transport them; this is really troubling you! When the cubs' father comes back, we'll invite you and that comrade from the transport team to dinner."

Yang Junzhi didn't stand on ceremony, "Alright."

After finishing the business, he sent Lin Zhao and the mother and three sons downstairs.

After leaving the county government building, Lin Zhao could no longer restrain the excitement in her heart and said to the two cubs: "Elder cub, second cub, Mama is about to have a job; it's a sales clerk at the supply and marketing cooperative."

"When I was in school, I envied the sales clerks standing at the counter; I thought it was the best job in the world. It's so good, I have one now too."

The elder and second cubs were also happy for their mother.

"If I go to work, you two will have to eat at the old residence, is that okay?" Lin Zhao asked again.

The brothers hadn't been close to their mother for long and were at the age of being clingy; they were reluctant, but looking at the smile on their mother's face, they couldn't say no.

The elder cub said first: "It's okay."

Hearing his brother say that, the second cub also nodded: "Brother is okay, I'm okay too."

He didn't forget to make a request: "Mama must also prepare things for Brother and me, just like you prepare things for the third and fourth cubs."

"Of course." Lin Zhao said softly, "Only for that meal at noon; you two will still eat at our house in the afternoon."

"There are also days off; when I have a day off, I can bring you to the county." She drew another pie for the two cubs.

The elder and second cubs were coaxed by their mother like this and felt it was fine for Mama to go to work; they would see each other at night anyway.

"Alright! Mama, are we going to see the movie now?" The second cub inquired.

"Yes."

The mother and three sons went to the cinema again.

Lin Zhao had been taken to see movies by Gu Chenghuai and was quite familiar with the county cinema.

The ticket window was on a wall facing the street, more than a meter high, requiring one to step up three steps to reach it.

The window was square, two feet long and wide, with double doors, and several steel bars were installed outside the door.

The cinema sold movie tickets in advance, usually starting at 14:00 that day. It was just past 13:00, and a long queue had already formed in front of the ticket window.

"So many people." The second cub said.

The elder cub frowned worriedly: "Mama, can we buy tickets?"

"Let's go see first." There were many people here, and it was mixed; afraid the two cubs would be snatched away, Lin Zhao never let go of her sons' hands.

She walked straight to the ticket counter and looked up, seeing a familiar face.

The ticket seller also saw her, her face showing surprise, and she poked her head out, smiling: "Zhao Zhao?! Haven't seen you in a long time, are you here to see a movie?"

"Yes, I want to take my sons to see a movie. I don't know if we can buy tickets; there are quite a lot of people." Lin Zhao said.

On such a hot day, she thought there wouldn't be many people, but she underestimated everyone's enthusiasm for watching movies.

The ticket seller winked at Lin Zhao, and the moment she turned her head, the little braid on her collarbone swayed a few times.

"We can definitely buy them."

This meant she would save tickets.

Lin Zhao smiled, "I'll take your word for it."

Seeing it was too sunny outside, the ticket seller said: "Zhao Zhao, you find a cool place to stay first, be careful the children get heatstroke."

"Alright."

Seeing she was about to get busy, Lin Zhao took her two sons and walked away from the ticket window.

"Mama, who is that?" The second cub was curious about everything and had to ask if he had questions in his stomach.

"That's Mama's junior high school classmate." Lin Zhao replied.

When she was in school, she studied well, had a good personality, and was pretty, so she was popular and got along well with the girls in the class.

Although they hadn't seen each other for several years, it wouldn't be the case that she wouldn't save a few tickets.

"Uncle is also in junior high school." The elder cub said.

"Right, after junior high school is high school." Lin Zhao popularized useless little knowledge for her son.

The elder cub immediately expressed: "I want to go to junior high school and high school in the future."

Lin Zhao said: "There's university after high school."

The book said that the college entrance exam would be restored later. By the time the elder and second cubs finished high school, the college entrance exam should be restored, just in time for a good time.

"If I get into university, will Mama be happy?" The elder cub asked.

"Of course I'll be happy." Lin Zhao said subconsciously. Afraid her eldest son would put too much pressure on himself, she changed the subject: "As long as the elder cub is a well-behaved child who obeys the law, even if you don't get into university, Mama will be happy for you and proud of you."

The elder cub nodded obediently, still determined to get into university.

The second cub wasn't interested in this. Seeing his mother hadn't stopped after passing several cool places, he asked: "Mama, where are we going? Are we not buying tickets anymore?!"

"That auntie helped Mama save tickets; I'm going to buy her a popsicle." Lin Zhao said.

Popsicle!!!

The second cub's eyes lit up, and he acted spoiled: "Mama, Brother and I want to eat too."

"Buy." Lin Zhao agreed immediately. As a little rich woman, she could satisfy this little request of her sons.

"Mama is so good~" The second cub's voice softened a bit. The child who was loved had happy flowers dancing in his brows and eyes.

Lin Zhao estimated the time, bought four popsicles, gave one to the elder and second cubs each, ate one herself, and left the remaining one for Meizhu.

"Mama, it's still steaming." The elder cub hadn't eaten a popsicle before, hadn't even seen one.

"Eat quickly, it's hot, it'll melt in a while." Lin Zhao took a bite herself, and a coolness struck, as if all the irritability in her body had been taken away.

The second cub was frozen, hissed, "Cold! Sweet! Mama, popsicles are delicious!"

"Yes, they're best to eat in summer." The first popsicle in Lin Zhao's life was bought for her by her uncle.

She thought while biting the popsicle.

Once her job was settled, she would go to her uncle's house.

Afraid the popsicle would melt, Lin Zhao quickened her pace with the two cubs toward the cinema ticket office.

In just this short while, the people queuing for tickets were gone.

The ticket seller Guo Meizhu walked out after finishing her work.

Lin Zhao handed over the popsicle and said with a smile: "I bought this for you."

"Thank you." Guo Meizhu took it with a smile and took out two tickets from her pocket, "Movie tickets, one for you, the two children can sit in one."

Generally speaking, children of the elder and second cubs' age didn't need to buy tickets and could sit with their mother, but seeing Lin Zhao bringing two children, it would be crowded for three people to sit in one seat, so she simply saved two.

"You're really thoughtful, thank you." Lin Zhao gave her the money.

Guo Meizhu didn't like to push back and forth with people and took it generously, adding with a smile: "Got a popsicle for free, I'll treat you next time."

"It's alright, if it weren't for you, I would have broken my promise to the two boys. You helped me, treating you to dinner is what I should do." Lin Zhao followed with a smile. ===== CHAPTER 23 =====