Accidentally entered a high gate

"Okay." Ma Lifeng handed the water glass to Zheng Chunfang. "By the way, if anyone asks you if I'm particularly good to you, just say that I was only diligent when you were pregnant, during your postpartum period, and when you were in junior high school. Otherwise, I wouldn't even pick up a fallen oil bottle."

"Cough cough cough... cough cough cough..."

After Ma Lifeng handed the water glass to Zheng Chunfang, she started drinking. Before she could even swallow, she heard Ma Lifeng telling her to tell others that he wouldn't even pick up a fallen oil bottle. Her husband might not be diligent, but he did what he was supposed to do. "Couldn't you have waited until I swallowed before teasing me?"

"I'm not kidding you." Ma Lifeng looked at her seriously and said, "There are three reasons why I want you to say that. First, I'm not as good as they say. Second, I don't want to become the enemy of other men. Third, I don't want you to worry every day that I'll be taken away by another woman."

Zheng Chunfang: "..." She must have done a lot of good deeds in her past life. "You're even better than they say. I'll go make you some dumplings."

"I want the chive and egg filling."

"Okay." When they came to Beijing, they brought the old chive roots from their garden with them. "You can read now. I'll call you when it's cooked."

"Call me when you've kneaded the dough, and I'll roll out the wrappers for you."

"OK."

After agreeing on their plans, the couple went about their own business.

On the other hand, more and more people are comparing Ma Lifeng to their own husbands.

"Can't you help me wash the vegetables? Look at Ma Lifeng. He not only helps his wife take care of the children, but also supports his wife's education."

"You saw him with your own eyes helping his wife take care of the child?"

"I didn't see it, but that's what Director Lü and the others said."

"They used to call Ma Lifeng a rabbit."

"You! You just don't want to help me with the work."

"You're just deliberately causing trouble."

"How did I cause trouble?"

"You used to be able to do things yourself, but now you insist on making me do them for you."

"I used to be stupid. Are you in or not? If not, you don't get to eat!"

"Fine, I won't eat it then!"

……

The next day, Zheng Chunfang specifically asked Ma Lifeng to go out with her. Usually, she would leave first because her workplace was farther away than Ma Lifeng's.

Zheng Chunfang soon noticed that several men were indeed looking at Ma Lifeng with unfriendly eyes.

Zheng Chunfang leaned closer to Ma Lifeng and whispered, "A few people look like they want to beat you up."

Ma Lifeng replied in a low voice, "Whether I get beaten up or not depends on you."

"Don't worry, I definitely won't let you get beaten up."

The couple chatted for a few more minutes before parting ways.

Zheng Chunfang wanted to practice with Ma Lifeng after work in the evening, and then go chat with the aunties in the family compound.

As soon as she arrived at the grain store, Liu Lili looked at her and smiled, "I heard that your man treats you very well?" Liu Lili was her colleague.

Zheng Chunfang: "..." The fact that her man was good to her had already spread from the steel mill to other workplaces? "Who told you that? My man only helped me when I was pregnant, during my postpartum period, and when I was in junior high school. Otherwise, he wouldn't even pick up a fallen oil bottle."

Liu Lili: "..." Really? "I heard it from my neighbor. My neighbor's second son works at the same company as your husband. My neighbor said that your husband not only cooks for you, but also does your laundry."

"My wife can only cook noodles and poach an egg. As for laundry? My wife just wrings out the duvet cover for me."

Liu Lili: "..." Really? "Are you saying this because you're afraid I'll think I married a tyrant?"

"My wife really can't cook. If you don't believe me, I'll invite you to my house when we're off work."

It appears to be true.

She thought to herself, if Xiao Zheng's husband were truly that good to her, Xiao Zheng would have told them long ago how wonderful he was to her. Since Xiao Zheng started working here, her husband has never once driven her home or picked her up. "Is your husband very busy with work?"

"I'm alright? I'm not really sure. Anyway, I just sit there and don't move as soon as I get home. Where's your partner?"

"My husband is similar. I heard your husband dotes on your daughter?"

"Yes. My husband was so happy when my daughter was born."

"Men are always very happy to become fathers for the first time. When are you planning to have a second child?"

"Once my daughter starts kindergarten, would you like to have another one?"

……

In the evening, after getting off work, Zheng Chunfang saw several women chatting by the roadside and went over to them. "Sisters, what are you talking about?"

A middle-aged woman looked at Zheng Chunfang and said with a smile, "When we compare goods, we end up throwing them away; when we compare husbands, we end up throwing them away too."

"Pfft!" Zheng Chunfang laughed as soon as she heard that. "You're not comparing your husbands to mine, are you? Let me tell you, my husband is just... blah blah blah..."

Women: So you only lend a hand during special times? However...

"That's still better than my man. He wouldn't even let me pour him a glass of water when I was in postpartum confinement."

"My husband is the same. He complains when I ask him to dry my hair with hot water."

"My man is pretty much the same."

Zheng Chunfang: "..." No way? "I don't believe it. You guys continue chatting. I'm going home to cook."

After saying that, Zheng Chunfang left.

As the women watched Zheng Chunfang's retreating figure, they all thought to themselves, "That girl is so lucky."

As soon as Zheng Chunfang got home, she told Ma Lifeng what had just happened. "Tell me, are they telling the truth or lying? I remember when my mother gave birth to my second brother, she told my father what to do, and he did it."

"It must be fake, right? When my eldest sister-in-law and second sister-in-law gave birth to my second niece, third niece, fourth niece, third nephew, and fourth nephew, my eldest brother and second brother did whatever they were told."

Although Zheng Chunfang was married, she became pregnant immediately after the wedding, and after giving birth, she was busy starting junior high school. Before she even had a chance to mingle with her new wife after finishing junior high, she followed Ma Lifeng to Beijing.

Ma Lifeng is a man. I know even less about him.

Therefore, both of them felt that the women were lying.

Thanks to Zheng Chunfang's vigorous promotion, Ma Lifeng successfully stepped down from his position as a public enemy of men.

Sunday has arrived again in the blink of an eye.

As soon as Ma Lifeng opened his eyes in the morning, Zheng Chunfang looked at him and asked with a smile, "Where are we going boating today?"

Ma Lifeng: "..." His wife has gone astray.

After finishing their meal, the couple obediently went back to the courtyard to look after the bowls.

Su Jingyu smiled as she saw them return and asked, "Aren't you going boating this Sunday?"

Ma Lifeng: "..." His mother has gone astray too. "You and your youngest daughter-in-law are really a perfect mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. This morning, the first thing I did when I opened my eyes was ask you where we're going boating today?"

"Hahahaha..." Su Jingyu laughed as soon as she heard that. "Of course. There's an old saying that people who aren't family don't enter the same door."

Ma Lifeng pulled Zheng Chunfang to sit next to Su Jingyu and said with a smile, "I also need to find a way to get something on you, otherwise we'll be in a very passive position. Where's my daughter—your precious granddaughter?"

"You went to see your father's old comrade-in-arms."

Ma Lifeng: "..."

Ma Lifeng suspected that his father did it on purpose.

Su Jingyu looked at the two of them and laughed, "Why did you two have to go boating last Sunday? This Sunday would have been much better!"

……

In the afternoon, Ma Jingshan brought his granddaughter home and saw his youngest son standing at the door with a mournful expression.

Ma Jingshan: "..." Did his youngest son think he was doing it on purpose? "What kind of expression is that? You're allowed to go boating in the park, but I'm not allowed to bring Wanwan to see my old comrade-in-arms?"

Little Bowl: "..." Had her dad waited all day? Did her dad really care about her that much now? "Dad, come back and stay here. I want to see you every day."

Ma Lifeng immediately dropped his mournful expression. Not only did he have to get up early to come back, but he also had to cycle for more than half an hour to get to work. "Did you have fun today?"

"happy."

"I'm glad you're happy. Your mom made you shrimp dumplings, go and eat them."

"it is good."

After Xiaowan went to find Zheng Chunfang, the father and son tacitly changed the subject.

Time flies, and 1971 has passed in the blink of an eye.

Little Bowl is three years old (by Chinese reckoning).

Ma Lifeng's third and fourth nephews should be graduating from high school.

Ma Lifeng's third nephew is named Ma Yanhua, and his fourth nephew is named Ma Yanxing.

Ma Yanhua and Ma Yanxing were born in the same year, but in different months.

Ma Yanhua is his elder brother's son.

Ma Yanxing is the son of his second elder brother.

On Sunday, Ma Jingshan specifically called his second son and daughter-in-law over. "Yan Xing is graduating soon, what are your plans, you two?"

Ma Lixing: "We want him to go to the farm, but he wants to join the army. Has Lifeng arrived yet? I'd like to hear his opinion."

"Should we listen to his opinion?"

"Um."

"Alright."

As soon as Ma Lifeng arrived, Ma Lixing asked him what his opinion was.

"Wait a minute. I need to check in with my daughter first. Daughter, daughter, where are you?"

Little Bowl's voice came from upstairs: "I'm here."

Ma Lifeng immediately went upstairs.

After going upstairs, Ma Lifeng hugged Xiao Wanwan first, then whispered, "Your third and fourth brothers are graduating soon. Do you think they're suited to be soldiers?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Wanwan immediately put her toy on the table. "Third Brother doesn't know. I've only seen his picture, never met him in person. Fourth Brother isn't suitable for the army."

"Your fourth brother wants to join the army."

"His military service will hold his comrades back."

Ma Lifeng: "..." He really couldn't let him join the army. But how could he persuade his fourth nephew? Or... "Daughter, do you think if Dad directly reported your fourth brother's name to the educated youth office, would he break off all ties with Dad?"