Dreaming of Lion Rock: Recipe in Hand

Chapter 182: Returning Home at the Summer Solstice

Chunni had long ago sent a letter to Xiazhi about the fact that she had given birth to twins, a boy and a girl.

Xia Zhi was happy for Chunni and wrote back saying that he would go home again this year to see the twins, and their grandparents... He also bought a pen for Qiu Guo and Yan Ning and sent them back, asking his sisters to study hard and make progress every day.

In the summer, she received a reply from Xia Zhi. Chun Ni started to wait and wait, but after sending Qiu Guoyan Ning to the train to go to college, she still didn't see Xia Zhi.

Finally, in October, when the sweet osmanthus was fragrant, Chunni finally waited for the summer solstice with a huge bag on her back. At this time, Chunni was walking in the yard with Chuchu in her arms. Chuchu and Cici were at the age when everything was curious, and they always liked to go to the yard. Look at the sun, the blue sky and white clouds, or the sweet osmanthus or bougainvillea in the yard.

When Chunni and Xiazhi looked at each other, they had the illusion that they were in different worlds.

"Sister, I'm back!" Xia Zhi seemed to be taller than the last time he came home. Standing under the sun, his huge shadow pounced on Chunni.

I have become a man, Chunni muttered to herself, then she smiled widely and said to Xiazhi, who was tired but energetic, "Welcome home."

Xia Zhi nodded happily and went forward to hug Chunni. It was the movement of Chuchu in Chunni's arms that brought Xia Zhi back to his senses.

"Hey. This is Chuchu, right? How come she's so big? Come here, uncle, give me a hug."

Chu Chu: Where did this weird uncle come from? Go away, go away.

Chuchu resisted a bit, but was still held in Xiazhi's arms. Chuchu smelled the stench on the strange uncle, frowned in disgust, and leaned her upper body outward.

Xia Zhi thought Chuchu was very cute and kissed Chuchu on her little face again.

Chuchu: The strange uncle's mouth stinks! I can't stand it!

Then Chuchu burst into tears loudly, crying heartbrokenly.

Chunni hugged her daughter back with heartache and glared at Xiazhi who had just returned home.

Xia Zhi said that he felt wronged. He just kissed his little niece, so how could he make Chu Chu cry?

Chuchu's crying made Cici in the room restless, twisting her body restlessly. Old Mrs. Chu had no choice but to carry Cici out. Seeing Chuchu crying so sadly, Cici began to cry, leaving Xiazhi at a loss. The soldiers, who were used to the flashing of swords and the shadows of swords on the battlefield, had no way to deal with the two little babies.

Old Mrs. Chu was also very happy to see Xia Zhi return, and hurriedly asked Sister Ma to go to the village to buy a chicken.

"This chicken should be stewed with mushrooms. It will make your tongue smell delicious!"

Xia Zhi hugged his grandmother before going to clean up the room he lived in.

Mrs. Chu carried Cici to the backyard. The mushrooms planted at home had grown out, and each one was plump and cute. Chunni would pick a few from time to time, and either cook them, or make soup, or wrap them into mushroom and lean meat buns, which were all very delicious. Sometimes when there were too many mushrooms, Chunni would pick some mushrooms and give them away to others. The old man's family, the captain's family, Sun Ping's family, Li Shuhua's family, etc., each family praised the fresh mushrooms. Chunni also secretly decided to find a way to expand the scale of cultivation in November!

Back then, when Chunni built this house, the family was simple, with nine rooms in the front yard, two rooms for each of the four siblings, and a main hall. Unexpectedly, in just a few years, there were not enough rooms. Grandpa and grandma lived in Xiazhi's room. Chunni and her husband lived in Chunni's original room with the twins. When the twins grow up, it will be troublesome to live in separate rooms. Besides, Qiuguo and Yanning are older and need their own privacy. It is not suitable for them to live together all the time. Although Xiazhi has gone to the army, it is impossible not to leave a room for him. Aunt Chuhua comes to visit the two elders from time to time, so a room should be left for her. Besides, some friends who come to visit also need guest rooms, which can only be arranged in the backyard.

There are not enough rooms to live in. When can we build a bigger and more spacious house?

Chunni has always been a Buddhist, but there are always people or things that force her to move forward! Forget it, everything will wait until the two babies are a little older.

In the evening, Chunni prepared some skewers, a rabbit, some potatoes, lotus roots and so on, planning to have a good barbecue tonight.

Maybe because his father died young, Xia Zhi has a feeling of admiration for He Yanqing, who is several years older than him. The brother-in-law and the brother-in-law get along well.

"Why did it take you so long to come back this time?" He Yanqing asked with concern.

Xia Zhi thought there was nothing to hide about his recent experience, and whispered: "I went on a mission some time ago."

"Are you not hurt?" Yan Qing frowned as he thought of the broken arm that Xia Zhi had returned home last time.

Xia Zhi patted his chest and assured: "Don't worry, everything is fine! It was safe!"

"I'm afraid you didn't tell me that you were injured. Although it is a soldier's duty to defend the country, you must also take care of yourself and don't let your sister worry."

Xia Zhi nodded repeatedly, "I know."

Xia Zhi couldn't hide the smugness on his face. He Yanqing had known him for a long time and knew that he had something else to say. So he asked, "What? Any other happy news?"

Xia Zhi had been waiting for someone to ask, "I have made a contribution this time, and the organization has promoted me to a higher level."

He Yanqing hadn't expected such a good thing to happen. He knew Xia Zhi's rank. If he was promoted to the next rank, wouldn't he be a company commander? To have reached this level in his twenties was indeed quite remarkable.

"Oh, that's good. Congratulations!" He Yanqing felt that Xia Zhi was excellent, but Xia Zhi had limited academic qualifications, and to reach this point he must have made efforts that ordinary people did not have.

He Yanqing saw Xia Zhizhi's smug expression and was afraid that he might be proud, so he advised: "Don't be too complacent. The slower you get in the future, the slower your promotion will be. Your junior high school education will be a flaw you can't avoid. I hope you don't give up learning at work and strive for every opportunity to improve your education. The revolution has not yet succeeded, comrades still need to work hard!"

Xia Zhi listened to what her brother-in-law said, reflected on it, and felt that she had been a little proud during this period. Humility brings benefits, while arrogance brings harm. Only by putting yourself in the right position can you create a better future!

After getting into bed, He Yanqing whispered to Chunni: "Xia Zhi and his men have gone out to sea to combat smuggling."

Chunni was worried. This was what being a soldier meant. She had to travel all over the place. "I don't know if Xiazhi was injured this time. I should take good care of him while he's at home."

Chunni was worried about Xia Zhi, but He Yanqing thought of another thing, "Last time you mentioned that Xue Shaohong and her cousin were selling electrical appliances in Yangcheng..."

Chunni understood immediately and was a little shocked. "No way? Liu Chang has been doing very well in real estate development in Pengcheng in the past two years, and Shaohong clothing wholesale is also booming."

The couple had long suspected the origins of the imported electrical appliances that Xue Shaohong was reselling in Yangcheng. Where did so many imported goods come from in that era?

Chunni was right to suspect, but Xue Shaohong had already gone through so many hands when she bought the goods, so the chances of finding her out were slim. Besides, that business was all about making quick money, so who would want to do that business for a long time? Xue Shaohong's electrical appliance store had long since switched to high-quality and low-priced domestic brands, so Chunni and her husband didn't need to worry at all.

As for my aunt Chu Hua, who also runs an electrical appliance store, her two-story store sells only genuine domestic products.

To put it bluntly, among all the industrialists who have accumulated capital rapidly in the past few years, none of them has not touched the bottom line, but some people know when to quit while they are ahead, while others are stuck in the mud and cannot get out.

Didn’t Chunni initially make her first fortune by selling cold-cooked rabbits on the black market?

"I understand what you mean." Chunni made up her mind to do business honestly.

Seeing that Chunni understood what he meant, He Yanqing stopped talking and hugged Chuchu to coax her.