Chapter 8: Grow Up and Become a Cadre in the Future

Wang Guozhong from the police took out a pen and paper and carefully recorded every detail of the events… After writing down the final question, he closed the notebook.

“We’ve understood the situation. All reactionaries are paper tigers. I believe that with the victim’s testimony, the perpetrator will definitely receive the punishment she deserves.”

“Thank you, thank you. We common folks only ask for justice…”

After sending the two police officers out the door, Lei Dashu returned to the fields to continue working, and Zhao Cuilan went to the river to wash clothes for the whole family. Worried that Lei Qingyun might disturb An An and Lele, she brought him along as well.

Once everyone had left the house, Si Yueyue returned to the space in her rental home and boiled water to make formula for the babies.

While the kettle was heating up, Si Yueyue headed to the small warehouse to look for ingredients to make breakfast.

Although the family tried to provide her with the best they could, their supplies were limited, so she dared not take more than necessary.

When she arrived at the small warehouse, she pulled out some millet and red dates she had sorted the day before. Just as she was about to leave, she caught sight of a box of delicate formula on the side.

“How is there still formula? Didn’t I already take it out? Could it be…”

Startled by her own thoughts, Si Yueyue quickly left the space and returned to her room. She immediately opened the wardrobe and searched for the formula. Seeing it still intact inside, she confirmed her suspicion.

“The space is actually this amazing—it can replenish supplies by itself? No way, I need to test this out first.”

Muttering to herself, Si Yueyue went back into the space, walked to the kitchen, opened the refrigerator, and took out a carton of milk. She returned to her room in the 1970s and hid it away.

Just after she finished hiding the milk, the two babies started bawling loudly. Si Yueyue hurried to nurse her younger son first.

Only after the younger one had his fill did it become the older one’s turn. Not long after he began to suck hard, the older child started wailing. With no other choice, Si Yueyue picked up both sons and brought the formula into the space to prepare their milk.

A moment later, seeing her two sons lying contentedly on the couch, fed and satisfied, Si Yueyue finally let out a small sigh of relief.

Having two sons this time really was quite a bit of work.

—

Meanwhile, on Lei Jun’s side—

After leaving the post office, he headed straight for the staff dormitory of the machinery factory. Upon arriving at the communal building, Lei Jun went directly up to the second floor.

Knock knock knock…

“Coming, who is it?” Lin Muchen’s mother asked as she opened the door.

Seeing the elderly woman in front of him, Lei Jun smiled and greeted: “Auntie.”

“Oh! It’s our in-law Big Brother! Quick, come in and have a seat. Xiao Hui, come see who’s here!”

Mother Lin beckoned Lei Jun into the house as she called toward the room for Lin Xuhui.

As soon as Lei Jun put down the heavy basket on his back, Lin Xuhui came dashing out like a little cannonball.

“Uncle!”

“Hey, looks like Xiao Hui’s gotten taller again.” Lei Jun lifted his little nephew in one swift motion.

“Hee hee hee… Uncle, Xiao Hui has already grown up! I’m a big kid now!”

“Yes, that’s right. Xiao Hui has already grown taller and more grown-up—a real little man now.”

Lin Xuhui looked proudly at Mother Lin. “Grandma, did you hear? Uncle said Xiao Hui is tall and grown up now, a little man!”

“Alright, alright, Grandma knows.”

Mother Lin chuckled and nodded. This little guy still remembered what was said at home this morning.

Seeing the puzzled look on Lei Jun’s face, Mother Lin explained:

“This morning, he was making a fuss about going to school with Xiao Huang. His parents told him that once he grows tall and big, he can go to school with his brother. Looks like he took that to heart.”

Hearing this, Lei Jun pinched the little one’s cheek. “Oh? So our Xiao Hui wants to go to school now? Very good, a studious boy—work hard and become a cadre in the future.”

Lin Xuhui nodded earnestly.

“Mm-hmm! Uncle, when Xiao Hui becomes a cadre, I’ll take Grandpa, Grandma, Dad, Mom, Grandma and Grandpa from Mom’s side, Uncle and Auntie… all of them to the county town to have fun.”

“Good! Uncle believes Xiao Hui can definitely do it.”

The little guy, encouraged by his uncle’s trust, nodded firmly. “Mm~!”

Mother Lin looked at her grandson with eyes full of love. Both kids in their family were obedient and well-behaved—not like those other households where the kids ran around the streets with sticks chasing each other.

Lei Jun put his nephew down and began taking out the supplies Zhao Cuilan had prepared from his basket, placing them on the table and speaking to Mother Lin.

“Auntie, my mother prepared some food for the family. I brought it all together. Please take it and keep it well.”

Mother Lin looked at the pickled vegetables, eggs, and greens in front of Lei Jun. Smiling cheerfully, she nodded and put all the supplies away.

Every time someone from the Lei family went to town, they never forgot to bring a little something for them. Although it wasn’t anything expensive, it was filled with thoughtfulness. Whenever she had the chance, she would also pack something for them to take back.

After all, with relatives, mutual giving and receiving was what kept relationships lasting.

“How is everyone back home?”

“Father and Mother are doing well. They won’t even agree to take a break—they insist on going to the fields to earn work points.”

“Hahaha… that’s how it is when you’re older—you just can’t sit still.”

“Exactly.”

“Dajun, you’ll eat lunch here today, right? Auntie will go cook now. Help keep an eye on Xiao Hui, okay?”

“Sure thing.”

Mother Lin went out to the makeshift kitchen they had built outside to start preparing the meal, while inside, the uncle and nephew spent some time bonding.

Lei Jun suddenly remembered the candies he bought at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative. He took some out from his pack and gave them to Lin Xuhui, placing the rest on the table for the rest of the family to enjoy later.

—

Although the apartment building was a multi-story structure, it was far less spacious than the family courtyards back in the village. On each floor, the kitchen and bathrooms were communal, and lining up to use them could be time-consuming.

The Lin family had two workers at the machinery factory, so they were assigned a 20-square-meter two-bedroom apartment. The elderly couple stayed in one room, while Lin Muchen and his wife lived in the other with their child.

The place wasn’t large, but it was enough for the family to squeeze in and manage.

However, since their unit was at the very end of the floor, they had slightly more usable space.

So, for the sake of convenience, they had built a simple coal stove in the corner of their unit. This way, they didn’t have to queue up in the communal kitchen.

As Mother Lin finished cooking, the three generations of the Lin family—along with Lei Zhenzhen—returned downstairs, carrying food they had just picked up from the factory canteen.

Just as they reached the bottom of the building, a mouthwatering aroma of meat wafted through the air.

One of the neighboring workers sniffed the air eagerly and said: “Whoa~ Who’s making their own meal today?”

“And it’s meat too—smells amazing!” he added, gulping hard. He supported his entire family on his own and still had to send money back to his hometown. If it weren’t for the factory canteen, he wouldn’t even catch a whiff of meat.

Wang Dahua looked at Father Lin beside him and smiled. “Worker Lin, is your wife the one cooking meat? Every time she cooks, the whole floor smells incredible.”

The other workers nearby nodded in agreement.

“Exactly. I live on the same floor as Worker Lin. That private stove of theirs is so convenient—no need to line up in the kitchen. And Aunt Lin’s cooking? The flavor’s out of this world…”

Lin Xuguang, listening to the adults speak, couldn’t help but swallow hard. It had been several days since he last ate meat.

Was Grandma really cooking meat today?

“Worker Lin, if your wife ever has the time, could you ask her to teach my wife how to cook? Our meals are so bland and watery lately, I can barely eat.”

“Eh, that’s nothing. Your auntie just watches the kids at home. I’ll let her know when I get back. You just tell Da Hu’s wife to come by.”

“Sounds good! Once she learns, I’ll set up a stove outside too and treat the family.”

“That’s a great idea. It’ll be easier to reheat food in winter, too. Otherwise, by the time we get home from the factory, everything’s frozen stiff.”

“Alright, we can all set one up together, or even share one between a few families.”

“Yeah, there’s still time before winter. We’ll figure it out later.”

As they chatted and laughed their way upstairs, just as they reached the turn in the staircase, they saw Lei Jun walking over with Lin Xuhui in his arms.

“Mom! Dad! Grandpa! Uncle is here!”

“Big Brother, you’re here!” Lei Zhenzhen smiled brightly and pinched her younger son’s cheek as she greeted her brother.

Lin Xuhui looked up at the tall Lei Jun and called out happily: “Uncle!”

The Lin family men nodded at Lei Jun. “Big Brother, where are you headed?”

“Oh, the meal’s ready, and I saw you all weren’t back yet, so I thought I’d take Xiao Hui down to meet you. Didn’t expect to run into you all here.”

As he spoke, Lei Jun gently set Lin Xuhui down. The moment the boy’s feet hit the ground, he darted toward his brother and pulled candies from his pocket to share with him.

Seeing her two sons, Lei Zhenzhen immediately knew that her big brother had spoiled the boys with treats again. “Let’s go back.”

The Lin family said their goodbyes to their coworkers and headed back upstairs. On the way, Lin Xuhui chattered excitedly to his parents about how he had grown taller and was now a big boy…

Meanwhile, the workers behind them, watching their retreating figures, finally understood where the delicious smell of meat had come from—it was for entertaining in-laws.

Just as they suspected—these days, most families scrimp and save. Who can afford to eat meat every few days? The monthly meat coupons barely cover anything.