Five years of marriage, always separated [1970s]

Ye Fan solved the case in an instant. How could a salesman be worthy of the most promising officer among his classmate?

"You're awesome!" Ye Fan sneered unhappily.

Geng Zhiye smiled bitterly, "I don't know why the speaker may not mean anything but the listener may take it seriously. That's not right. My classmates must think that working in the supply and marketing cooperative is a good job and they don't think it's shameful. When they asked the female comrade in the infirmary about me, they told me directly."

Ye Fan raised an eyebrow: "Nurse?"

Geng Zhiye: "I am half a doctor. I can give IVs, injections and prescribe medicines."

Ye Fan: "Younger than me?"

Geng Zhiye nodded.

"Given her age, she had no chance to take the college entrance examination. Did she go to a medical school? After graduating from technical secondary school, she was sent to the military academy's infirmary? It seems that her family has connections." Under normal circumstances, graduates from medical schools are assigned to street health centers or township clinics, and the treatment is far worse than that of university infirmaries.

Geng Zhiye: “I don’t know about that.”

Ye Fan: "Does she know where your home is?"

Geng Zhiye shook his head: "I didn't - I told my classmates, because some of them have the opportunity to stay in the capital, so I asked them to come to my house when they are free."

"If you come back, you can handle it yourself."

Geng Zhiye quickly assured: I would never dare to trouble Madam.

"What a hippie!" Ye Fan scolded with a smile.

Geng Zhiye smelled the fragrance of the food and pulled her up: "Let's eat first."

Dabao lay by the door of the main room for a while and looked in. Seeing that his parents had finally finished their conversation, Dabao immediately ran out, "Dad, come here, I have something to tell you." and went to his room.

Geng Zhiye looked at Ye Fan: What happened to my son that he couldn’t tell you?

Ye Fan couldn't help but curse: "Little brat!"

Geng Zhiye instantly realized that it was related to her, and walked in with a smile: "What are you doing?"

"I'm telling you, mom..." Dabao was really not afraid that his mother would hear him, so he spoke in a normal voice and said that his mother had fed Wang Aihe rat poison, which scared her so much that she bought a house from the factory, and then moved away as if she was being chased by a wolf.

Geng Zhiye couldn't help but raise his eyebrows when he heard the word "rat poison". Then he understood what his son meant: "I'll scold her later."

"Do you dare?" Dabao looked doubtful, "Aren't you afraid that my grandma will scold you?"

Geng Zhiye: "If your grandma knew about this, she would scold her."

Dabao decided to meet his grandfather at the weekend and tell his grandmother that Ye Fanfan was becoming more and more lawless.

The weekend came quickly, Geng Zhiye rested at home for three days and it was the weekend. Ye Fan made Zhang Xiaoming work hard for a day, and she went back to her parents' home. Zhang Xiaoming had no complaints, because Ye Fan suggested to help the uncles and aunts wholesale popsicles, Zhang Xiaoming could get an extra five yuan a day, and if he worked twenty days a month, he would get a hundred yuan, which was equal to Dong Ying's two months salary plus bonus.

Dong Ying was initially worried that the presence of elderly people would affect her business, but in the end she made much more money than she did in July last year. Dong Ying lamented to Zhang Xiaoming more than once that Ye Fan's mind was full of gold and silver.

Zhang Xiaoming now has a house. His father-in-law's family is powerful, his wife has a decent job, and he has said that he will have another child in two years. His life is full of goals, and he doesn't feel tired even if he is busy for a week.

Zhang Xiaoming's job selling vegetables in a car is not really hard, but it is exhausting. Otherwise, he is willing to take over the shift, and Ye Fan will not be able to go back to her parents' home without worry.

When he arrived at his mother's house, Ye Fan wanted to sigh, because Geng Dabao called grandpa as soon as he entered the door, and then went to his grandfather to complain, not allowing Ye Fan to sit down.

In order to satisfy his grandson, Ye's father scolded Ye Fan as if he were a soldier. Before he had finished ten sentences, Geng Dabao said distressedly, "Grandpa, my mother wanted to force Wang Aihe to take medicine because she was angry with Wang Aihe. It was not my mother who took the initiative to cause trouble. Don't make it so serious, as if my mother is crazy and can kill people and betray the country at any time."

Father Ye was both angry and amused: "That's just this once, it won't happen again."

Ye Fan nodded quickly.

Father Ye turned to Dabao and said, "Would you like some watermelon? Your grandma bought a big watermelon this morning, weighing more than 20 kilograms, and is waiting for Dabao and Erbao to come over and cut it."

Dabao immediately asked where the watermelon was.

Ye Fan's eldest brother was also at home today, and he went to the kitchen to get a watermelon. Ye Fan was surprised: "Where's Jing Jing?"

As soon as these words were spoken, several members of the Ye family sighed at the same time.

Ye Fan thought of something and couldn't believe it: "She went to sell popsicles with Xiaohui?"

Li Mingyue nodded helplessly.

Ye Fan was shocked: "Doesn't she feel hot?"

Li Mingyue: "I don't need her to ride the bike, I don't need her to yell, it's comfortable to sit on the bike with a hat on."

The bike Chen Xiaohui rides has a big bar with a pretty little chair tied to it, and she sits on it very comfortably.

Ye Fan asked: "Will you be back at noon?"

Li Mingyue shook her head: "They're going to a restaurant."

Ye Fan: "To go to a restaurant, right?"

Li Mingyue wanted to sigh again: "She didn't eat anything good. Xiaohui took her to eat noodles with soybean sauce. I think she thought it was new to eat outside and said the noodles with soybean sauce in the restaurant were delicious. Xiaohui said she wasn't picky about food and ate a lot, but that's not enough to lock her up at home."

Children are at the age of growing up, so eating well will prevent them from getting sick. Ye Fan could understand what he said: "Remind Xiaohui to watch her and don't let her get heatstroke."

"Xiaohui brought a bag with a water bottle and Huoxiang Zhengqi water in it." Li Mingyue still felt distressed when she mentioned her daughter, "Fanfan, don't do this next summer vacation?"

Ye Fan had calculated that he should be able to change his career next year, but he couldn't say it openly, so he just said half-truthfully: "Write a letter to Su Yuanhang in Hengshan Island someday. He graduated this year and stayed in a provincial unit. Ask him if there is any profitable business over there. I will go over to get the goods and let Xiaohui sell them later."

Selling big items does not require walking around, so even if Jingjing wants to go out with her aunt, she can play nearby. Just like Geng Huihui is now selling popsicles in the park without delaying her reading.

It was Geng Zhiqin who told this story. The two of them were selling popsicles together, and when they went to a cool place to rest and chat, Geng Zhiqin complained that the Chu family was too controlling. Chen Xiaohui told her family about it, and Li Mingyue realized that Geng Huihui was also involved.

Li Mingyue had never worried about money. She had a spacious house and a high salary. Geng Zhihui and his wife were in a similar situation to her and Ye Jin, so she curiously asked Geng Huihui why she loved making money so much.

Chen Xiaohui said that Geng Huihui wanted to decorate the house by herself, and added that she wanted to make money to buy a house.

Ye Fan mentioned asking Chen Xiaohui to sell things. Li Mingyue remembered Chen Xiaohui's purpose of making money and asked, "Fanfan, do you think we should buy a house for Xiaohui?"

Ye Fan: "Xiao Hui wants it?"

Li Mingyue shook her head: "No. I just envy Huihui for having her own house before she even graduates."

Ye Fan looked at her mother and said, "You and my dad can use half of the money to buy her a house nearby. We can cut off ties with that place, and we don't have to worry about her giving the house to them."

"I mentioned it once, and she wanted to buy it herself." Tao Chunlan couldn't understand why Chen Xiaohui was so stubborn. "She said our money was for our retirement."

Ye Fan: "Then you go talk to her first, and take her along when the transfer is done. It will take forever to rely on her to do it on her own."

This is what Tao Chunlan thought, but she didn't dare say it in front of Chen Xiaohui because she felt that Chen Xiaohui could only do small business and would be cheated if she did a big business.

Tao Chunlan was willing to pay for the house because she was worried that she would get into trouble by being too clever: "Then I'll wait a few days and take a look?"

Ye Fan: "The sooner we get her, the less worries we will have. I feel she is more suitable for academic research."

Father Ye couldn't help but nod his head: "Although there are open and secret struggles in every circle, the academic circle is still better. The worst case is plagiarism of articles or evaluation of professional titles. If she did business like you, I would worry every day that she would be framed and get silver handcuffs."

Dabao was happy. Father Ye asked, "What do you want to do in the future? Do business with your mother?"

Dabao shook his head: "I want to do something interesting. When I fill in the application form, I will study whatever I find interesting."

Speaking of aspirations, Ye's father asked his son-in-law, "I heard that your second brother Benben is taking the entrance exam this year. Hasn't he received the admission letter yet?"

Geng Zhiye nodded: "I'm applying to a military academy, so the process is slow."

Father Ye was very surprised: "He is a soldier? In the army like you are now?"

Geng Zhiye: "Yes, if nothing unexpected happens, he will go to the south to command the school. Unlike my eldest brother, he believes everything he sees and hears. He has a quick mind and is suitable for this path."

Father Ye nodded: "You are transferred to the army now, and it's good for him to go to the army school. Not to mention after graduation, at least there will be no veteran soldiers who dare to bully him in school."

Geng Zhiye only found out these two days that his nephew's first choice was the Army Command School. Before that, he thought Geng Benben wanted to go to a school related to the Air Force, and Ye Fan didn't know that he stayed in the capital, so the whole family couldn't help but sigh - what a coincidence!

Ye Jin cut the watermelon into small pieces and gave one piece to her niece first: "Is that enough?"

Erbao stretched out two fingers, and Ye Jin cut a small piece, and then cut a big piece, "This watermelon is good."

Ye Fan took a piece and ate it while asking, "Did you buy it at the market?"

Ye Jin was surprised: "You don't know?"

Ye Fan was confused by the question: "What do I know?"

Ye Jin was sure that she didn't know, so he glanced at Geng Zhiye and said, "They were grown in Yujia Village. Didn't I give you a few?"

Geng Zhiye said he had only been home for three days and didn't know anything. Ye Fan said she was often not at home at noon or in the afternoon. Then Ye Fan asked, "Dabao, did grandma buy the melons for our family?"

Dabao shook his head and nodded again: "Grandma buys from the villagers. Uncle Hongwei asked the eldest and second uncles to sell popsicles in the East Park, and he went back to sell watermelons. Every time he went to our doorstep first, he would let Grandma pick first."

Geng Zhiye asked Ye Fan: "Didn't Zhang Xiaoming tell you?"

Ye Fan: "No one buys watermelons in the morning, and we make more money selling popsicles than watermelons in the afternoon. Xiao Ming probably thought I wouldn't get involved in the watermelon business, so he didn't bother. But I didn't run into Hongwei selling watermelons."

Dabao: "His watermelons are delicious. They are sold out every afternoon when they arrive at our place. It doesn't stop him from going to the popsicle factory to buy two boxes of popsicles."

Tao Chunlan couldn't help but say, "This child is so capable."

Ye Fan nodded: "He is indeed very hardworking. But he works one day and rests two days, and his brother and cousin take over."

Tao Chunlan: "That's about right. Otherwise, I would have to sell meat and vegetables in the morning, watermelons at noon, and popsicles in the afternoon. How could my body handle that? By the way, he said that the watermelons were cheap. Is that true?"

There are still purchase restrictions on grain in the city, and when there is no grain in the countryside, the only options are to buy expensive pasta in restaurants or eat vegetarian food. Under such circumstances, people would definitely not be willing to use good farmland to grow melons. Ye Fan said, "We grow them by the mountains and rivers. In the past, it was impossible to grow crops in those places, and we couldn't eat all the vegetables we grew, so they were left barren. When Xiaoqin and I entered the village, there were only a few trees on the dirt hills. Xiaoqin told me that when I accompanied Aunt Yu back to the village to visit her grave during the Qingming Festival this year, there were trees all over the hills. There were chestnuts, hawthorns, and pears. It was a waste of money to grow them."

Tao Chunlan: "This is good. I won't need to support Wen Tao anymore."

Ye Fan nodded and handed her father another piece of watermelon. Father Ye took it and said, "You should cut off the watermelon pulp and keep the skin for pickling."

Tao Chunlan frowned: "Can we finish all the food in the yard?"

“That’s how we ate before.”

Tao Chunlan didn't want to pay attention to him immediately: "I couldn't even eat enough vegetables before." After a pause, "Since you want to recall the past so much, let's have a watermelon rind feast at noon."

Dabao was anxious: "Mom——"

Tao Chunlan said quickly, "I was just kidding. Grandma knew you were coming today, so she bought the meat early. I asked someone from Yujia Village to buy it this morning. By the way, Fanfan, he said he is Zhiye's cousin?"

Geng Zhiye chuckled, "He's the son of Aunt Yu's cousin. He's still a level above Xiaoqin. But if he wants to talk, let him talk. If he doesn't cause me trouble, leave him alone."

Tao Chunlan: "No wonder. I was wondering why he didn't go to your father's funeral."

Ye Fan: "On the day of the burial, only Grandpa Xiaoqin's family came, and no one from the other branches was invited."

Li Mingyue: "As the old saying goes, it's easier to be an official if you have someone in the court. He may think that no one dares to bully someone selling vegetables in the city."

Ye Fan nodded: "In the past, Aunt Yu's family was poor, and they were afraid that the uncles of the Yu family would borrow money and grain, so they kept a distance from us. Now they want to get close to us, hoping that I can bring them with me when I have a profitable business in the future."

Father Ye: "If it's not a big deal, take it with you. It's better to have rich relatives than to be poor."

Ye Fan thought the same way. Even if they were stingy and Ye Fan would never borrow money from them, at least they would not do bad things to the uncles in the Yu family if they had money. If the uncles were cheated and came to Yu Wentao for help, Yu Wentao would only serve her granddaughter and grandson, and Ye Fan would have to step in in the end.

Tao Chunlan stood up, took down the trash can, and threw the watermelon rind into the trash can. Seeing this, Ye's father couldn't help but sighed with pity. Tao Chunlan glared at him, "Do you want to eat meat or watermelon rind?"

"Eat meat, eat meat." Father Ye quickly retracted his gaze.

Seeing this, Dabao went out to wash his hands, came back to his father and whispered, "I know why you are afraid of grandma."

Geng Zhiye raised his eyebrows and let him continue.

Dabao leaned over and whispered in his ear: "Grandpa is afraid of grandma. Grandpa is more powerful than you, so you must be afraid."

Geng Zhiye asked: "Are you afraid?"

Dabao shook his head and sat down, waiting for his grandma to come in and said, "Grandma, I want to eat a popsicle."

"Are you hungry? I'll cook."

Dabao shook his head: "Mom said I need to eat a lot to grow taller."

To Tao Chunlan's ears, this meant "this little brat is eating me out of house and home." Tao Chunlan immediately opened the refrigerator, took out a milk-flavored ice cream for him, and asked Erbao if he wanted some.

Erbao was full after eating the watermelon and leaned against his mother to take a rest.

Tao Chunlan saw her shaking her head and gave it to her daughter-in-law. Li Mingyue took it and passed it to her husband. Tao Chunlan took out the pork from the morning and asked Dabao and Erbao how to eat it.

Ye Fan: "Let's cut the meat into shreds and stir-fry the vegetables and mix them with the noodles. Dad, is that ok?"

Everything cooked at home tastes better than in the army. Ye’s father had no objection, nor did he dare to have one, for he was worried that Tao Chunlan would ask him to go back to the army to eat in the canteen.

The food was just ready, Tao Chunlan asked everyone to serve the food, and Chen Xiaohui came back with Liangliang. Li Mingyue ran out and took her daughter down: "It's so hot, find a cool place to rest."

Chen Xiaohui: "I met a group of tourists who looked like retired cadres. They were not afraid of getting a stomachache. I don't know if they felt sorry for me because I brought Jingjing with me. They bought two ice creams each. Xiaoqin and I had them all sold out."

Ye Fan: "I'm thirsty. There's not even anyone selling water at the tourist attractions."

Chen Xiaohui's eyes lit up: "Then I won't go to the Children's Palace or the park tomorrow, but go to a tourist attraction instead?"

Ye Fan: "Maybe we'll run into someone from Yujia Village."

"Forget it. Sales are pretty good when classes are in session at the Children's Palace." Chen Xiaohui washed her face with a basin of water, then went to remind her mother to put Liangliang to sleep in the afternoon, as she didn't want to take care of the child.

Tao Chunlan subconsciously looked outside and saw her daughter-in-law in the main room. She breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Keep your voice down."

Chen Xiaohui curled her lips, took the bowl and chopsticks and went to the main room.

Geng Zhiye and Ye Fan were both waiting in the kitchen for the meal to be served. Seeing this, Geng Zhiye couldn't help but say, "She really isn't afraid of the century-long battle between mother-in-law, daughter-in-law, and sister-in-law!"

(End of this chapter)