Chapter 51

Li Aimei didn’t give in, even though she only ate coarse grains every day and refused food from Pei Xisheng.

Outside of work, she focused on learning and memorizing medicinal herbs. Despite starting her studies later in life, she worked hard and made steady progress.

Jiang Xi believed that with her dedication, Li Aimei could become an excellent team doctor in two months.

To help her see patients smoothly after Jiang Xi left, Jiang Xi compiled medical notes listing common diseases and treatments. For more complex cases, Li Aimei could consult a better doctor in town.

Li Aimei cherished the notes, which made Jiang Xi feel a bit embarrassed.

When the captain learned about Li Aimei, he secretly asked Jiang Xi to confirm her abilities. After verifying, he decided that Li Aimei would become the team doctor and join the next training session.

Jiang Xi was fully supportive.

After Li Aimei agreed to join the army, Pei Hejun contacted them to apply for family housing. Since the army needed doctors and the clinic was short-staffed, they asked her to report directly to the clinic after her transfer. 

Although it’s not a military hospital, it’s a team doctor position serving townships, similar to her current role but under army management.

Jiang Xi agreed, as having a job was important for her, even if it was small.

Everything proceeded smoothly.

As the year ended, Jiang Yu and Jiang Mi came home with top marks on their exams, surprising Jiang Xi, who hadn’t expected much. She went out, bought some meat, and made dumplings.

With the semester ending, the Chinese New Year was approaching.

During this time, the villagers didn’t work, and many caught colds and fevers. The clinic was very busy, with a steady flow of patients, both young and old.

Some villagers stayed around to chat, and Jiang Xi overheard various gossip. For instance, Zhou Xin was harshly criticized for his performance at the commune and risked being dismissed from his position. Meanwhile, the team leader received praise and brought home a beautiful red porcelain washbasin, which his wife proudly displayed.

Jiang Xi listened to the gossip while managing patient records and handling payments, with Li Aimei busy administering medicine and injections. As her departure neared, Jiang Xi allowed Li Aimei to handle things on her own. Although busy, Li Aimei did well without making mistakes.

Jiang Mi, watching this, said enviously: “Sister, I want to do what you do too.”

However, Jiang Xi shook her head: “You can’t do it.”

Jiang Mi was upset: “Why not?!”

Jiang Xi explained: “I have a skill, but you don’t. What can you do?”

Jiang Mi was hurt but couldn’t argue. She went to Jiang Yu for comfort. Jiang Yu, learning to knit with Pei’s mother, took the needle away and advised Jiang Mi to be careful. She added: “Big sister is right. Without skills, who would want you to be their apprentice?”

This depressed Jiang Mi for a while, but after having an extra fried egg made by Pei’s mother, she cheered up.

The New Year holidays passed quickly.

Afterwards, the villagers got busy again with planting early rice and managing their fields, and there was a farewell to say.

Pei’s parents decided to stay in the military area for their old age as they had their food supply registered there. Only Pei Hejun, Jiang Xi, Jiang Yu, and Jiang Mi were leaving.

Pei Hejun had bought tickets in advance, and Chai Ming helped with the move. They had so many bags that some had to be sent over separately. Pei’s mother even wanted to send them the pot.

As the car departed, Jiang Xi felt a pang of sadness. She was leaving behind the people she cared about the most: Pei’s parents, Jiang Yu, and Jiang Mi. It felt like leaving home for college.

Jiang Yu and Jiang Mi also felt sad and comforted each other. Jiang Xi sat in the back seat, feeling emotional but trying not to cry. Pei Hejun, noticing her through the rearview mirror, struggled to find words but couldn’t say anything.

Chai Ming, trying to lighten the mood, said: “Don’t be too sad. I have a plan to make sure uncle and aunt want to live in the military area.”

Jiang Xi asked: “What’s the plan?”

Chai Ming joked: “Sister-in-law, you should get pregnant soon. Then they’ll come to take care of you.”

Jiang Xi was speechless, while Pei Hejun was also taken aback.

Jiang Yu and Jiang Mi, understanding the joke, felt happier. They hoped for a baby soon. Jiang Mi said excitedly, “Sister, give me a brother soon!”

Jiang Xi blushed and glared at her, forgetting to correct her seniority. Jiang Mi was confused about her reaction.

Chai Ming laughed and said, “Little friends, if your eldest sister has a baby, it won’t be your brother but your nephew. They will called you ‘aunt.'”

Jiang Yu suddenly understood, thinking of her two aunts who were similar to Zhang Xiuyun. She said, “I know, I also have two aunts.”

Jiang Mi remembered this too but quickly shook her head: “I don’t want to be an aunt.”

She had a bad experience with her eldest aunt, who always pressured her mother about having a son. Jiang Mi looked at Jiang Xi and said, “Sister, I like both boys and girls.”

Jiang Xi chuckled, thinking it was too early to worry about this.

As she thought about it, she looked up and met a pair of eager eyes in the rearview mirror. Her face turned even redder, and she looked away.

If she wanted to have a baby, she needed to sort things out with the system first; otherwise, she feared the system might spy on her.

_

Military District Family Courtyard

The New Year festival ended quickly, and life returned to normal, though the children were still enjoying the holiday.

Qin Yue started the day early, making breakfast and washing clothes. Even though it was cool at the seaside, the temperature dropped during the New Year holidays, requiring extra layers and more clothes to wash.

She noticed holes in a piece of clothing caused by fireworks and sighed. If the dress was mended twice more, it would become too worn for the children to want to wear it, and new clothes would need to be bought, but there weren’t enough cloth coupons.

Qin Yue had only bought one new piece of clothing when she first married; she hadn’t bought any more due to a lack of coupons. However, she had to provide for her three children.

Qin Yue had high hopes for her children, thinking they might become important in the future. However, she was skeptical because they had received poor grades in their final exams and had fought with each other. The teacher had been so angry that she had brought them to Qin Yue’s home. Qin Yue could only apologize repeatedly.

After the teacher left, Qin Yue tried to understand why the children fought, but they ignored her. She had to inform Lu Jianguo, who responded with physical punishment. Qin Yue tried to intervene but was accused of being hypocritical by the children.

Despite feeling frustrated, she remembered why she married into the family and explained things earnestly, though she was unsure if the children believed her.

With the Chinese New Year approaching, they were supposed to visit the Qin family, but due to Lu Jianguo’s military duties and his children needing to pay respects to their biological mother, they couldn’t go.

On the day they went to pay tribute to Lu Jianguo’s first wife, Qin Yue waited at home alone, shivering under a blanket and doubting her choice in marrying Lu Jianguo. However, when he returned with hot roasted sweet potatoes, she felt it was worth it.

At least in this life, she wasn’t pressured to have a son, and Lu Jianguo treated her well. Even though his other children were not close to her, as long as she and Lu Jianguo were together, she could enjoy their future success.

Qin Yue, while washing clothes, heard the noise from the children and said without turning around, “Food is on the table. Eat it yourselves.”

Lu Rushan went to the kitchen first, followed by Lu Rushong, who yawned and shouted, “Stepmother, my brother wet the bed.”

Qin Yue: “…”

Her scalp tingled, but she got up to handle it.

The one-year-old child, still lying on the wet bed, laughed. Qin Yue muttered while cleaning up, “Didn’t I tell you to cry when you need to pee? Don’t you remember?”

It took over an hour to finish washing all the clothes. Qin Yue missed the convenience of washing machines, which were too expensive and required a lot of tickets. To support the three children and send money to her grandmother, she had to wash clothes by hand.

Fortunately, the weather wasn’t too cold.

After finishing, Qin Yue stretched her aching limbs. A military wife came over with a gossipy look and said, “Xiaoqin, we’re getting a new military wife soon!”

Qin Yue asked, “New? Whose family is joining the army?”

The other woman whispered, “It’s Captain Pei. Something happened, and he was in a coma. He recovered a few months ago and re-enlisted, bringing his wife along. The higher-ups have arranged a job for him.”

Qin Yue shuddered, thinking: Jiang Xi!

***

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