After finishing work in the kitchen and canteen, Wen Nuan called together several team leaders from the factory at noon, intending to study the method of making compressed biscuits with everyone.
Lao Zhong had already prepared wheat flour, oil, yeast, eggs, white sugar, and a can of milk powder in advance.
Lao Zhong brought the things to Wen Nuan and asked her, "How do you do this?"
Then he looked at Wen Nuan again and said, "Just you tell me and I'll do it."
Now Wen Nuan's belly is quite big, and she is pregnant with twins. Lao Zhong definitely can't let Wen Nuan do everything herself as he did before.
And Wen Nuan said a few days ago that what we are going to make now are biscuits, but they will be a little denser than ordinary biscuits.
Lao Zhong has seen how to make warm baked biscuits before. It is not particularly difficult, but you need to use an oven. The process is indeed a little more complicated than making steamed buns.
Sister Juxiang stood beside Wen Nuan, looked at her belly, and agreed, "That's right, let us do the heavy work, Xiao Nuan, you can arrange it."
Sister Juxiang knew that Wen Nuan would probably go on maternity leave soon, so she called someone from Beijing to help take care of her. And she did need to be careful about her belly when she was pregnant with twins.
Even though she had given birth to three children, her belly only became as big and warm as this when she was about to give birth.
Wen Nuan knew that everyone was concerned about her, so she motioned to Lao Zhong to take the dough over: "Let's knead the dough first, but don't make it too wet, and it doesn't matter if it's a little hard."
Wen Nuan asked Lao Zhong to divide the ingredients into several portions, have several people work together, and then see who makes the best pancake.
Everyone is quite familiar with the step of kneading the dough, but the dough for making biscuits is relatively dry, unlike the soft dough for making steamed buns and dumplings, so it is a bit difficult to knead.
Juxiang's sister-in-law Lao Zhong had already kneaded the dough first, and she also worked hard to knead the dough in her hands several times.
Seeing that Sister Juxiang was sweating from exhaustion, Wen Nuan smiled and said, "Don't worry, take your time. After the biscuits are made, we still need to find a hydraulic press to compress them."
Making cookies is only the first step. The key is to compress the cookies into small pieces so that they can be easily carried.
Wen Nuan heard from Gu Qinghan that the army often organizes field training, which lasts for at least a week.
This kind of compressed biscuits can be useful.
Last month, a squad of ground crew went for field training. We received some flour from them, but they got punctured by a thorny wooden barn on the way and all the flour was scattered.
Compared to carrying a large bag of flour to last for two or three days, Wen Nuan learned that some military compressed biscuits in later generations were enough to last for a day or two.
Although it is impossible for them to achieve such good results now, but under such simple conditions, the compressed biscuits they made, one piece of which can replace a meal, can be considered a success.
Everyone's dough was kneaded, and then covered with a white cloth for the first fermentation, which would make the dough softer.
The temperature at noon is still a bit high, so the first fermentation time is shorter.
Wen Nuan walked over, pinched the dough one by one, and said to everyone: "Now you can roll out the dough. Make sure to roll it evenly. The thickness of the dough should be about one centimeter. Then cut it into small cubes."
"Okay, isn't this easy? It's not as hard as me making stuffed buns."
"That's right. I thought it would be very difficult. It's just like making steamed buns."
"But these cookies can be kept longer than buns, so they are good as a snack."
Wen Nuan heard everyone's discussion and did not intend to beautify these compressed biscuits. She said bluntly: "These compressed biscuits are actually for emergency consumption by our soldiers. Look at our comrades. Sometimes they go to field training or hunting, or go on missions. They are hungry for most of the day, or even the whole day."
"But if we can make compressed biscuits, a biscuit the size of a palm board can be used as a meal. It's just for convenience. Don't expect them to be delicious or fragrant."
Every time Gu Qinghan went up the mountain to hunt, he would be there for a whole day. At noon, everyone would bring some steamed buns and steamed bread with them, or they would eat wild fruits from the mountain.
However, the steamed buns would spoil easily in the summer and become hard in the winter. Many soldiers complained that they were hard on their teeth.
If there are compressed biscuits in the future, everyone can take a small pack with them. It can solve a meal, mainly for emergency use, not for tasting as a delicacy.
After hearing this, everyone nodded, indicating that they understood Wen Nuan's meaning.
Sister Juxiang said, "I think so too. These biscuits are just for the convenience of everyone, so that our soldiers can have something to fill their stomachs even in harsh environments."
The quartermaster touched his chin and said thoughtfully: "This is good. If it is really made, maybe we can apply for it as a war preparedness tool."
"This food and grass is the logistical supply of the troops, which is equally important."
Most people of this generation have experienced the war and the difficult three years.
Knowing how precious and important food is, it would be really exciting if we could do something good for the organization now.
The quartermaster glanced at Wen Nuan and couldn't help but admire her deeply.
Since the establishment of the factory, Wen Nuan has been trying to find ways to benefit the experts in the research institute. Later, she came up with the idea of quick dishes for the border guards.
He also thought that Wen Nuan had received dividends from the factory and happened to be pregnant, so she would no longer worry about the factory's affairs.
After all, the profit-sharing contract has been signed, which means she won't have to do anything in the future and can have a stable income every year.
This is something many people dream of.
But Wen Nuan did not relax at all. She came back to the kitchen team every day, now with a big belly, to teach everyone how to make compressed biscuits, which was also to seek benefits for the soldiers in the army.
He felt that if Wen Nuan wanted to take his position as the chief steward someday, he would definitely give it to her without hesitation.
Unfortunately, Wen Nuan doesn't want these titles at all.
*
It was four o'clock in the afternoon.
After the second fermentation of the dough, the biscuits are baked in the oven at high temperature.
Wen Nuan looked at the plates of cookies coming out, and after they cooled down, she let everyone have a taste.
Everyone was not polite. The main thing was that the cookies were baked just right, not burnt or scorched, bright yellow, and looked very fragrant.
Old Zhong took a bite and nodded: "The taste is okay, but not sweet enough. The peach cakes my kid eats are much sweeter."
The quartermaster also picked up a piece and said as he tasted it: "It feels quite crispy, but not fragrant enough."
"I think kids might like it, it's crunchy."
Wen Nuan actually just wanted everyone to eat something, and then he took out a jar of sesame seeds and said, "Have you all eaten? Then crush the biscuits and add some sesame seeds to mix."
Sister Juxiang still had half a cookie left to eat, and asked in disbelief, "Do you really want to crush it?"
Someone asked: "If they are crushed, can they still be called cookies?"
Wen Nuan smiled and said, "This kind of biscuits are not filling. We need to compress them and crush them into small pieces to make the density of the biscuits smaller."
After hearing the warm words, the quartermaster nodded and said, "It means compressing a few biscuits into a small biscuit, right?"
Wen Nuan nodded and smiled: "As expected, it is our leader, that's right, and these cookies are too crispy. After being made into compressed cookies, they will be a hard little piece, which is easier to preserve."
The quartermaster looked at Wen Nuan and raised his eyebrows: "No wonder you asked me to find a hydraulic press, that's why."
"Okay, let's get started. Crush the biscuits first. We'll compress them by hand first. Once I purchase a hydraulic press, we can use the machine to compress them."
Wen Nuan shook off the flour in her hand, then looked at Lao Zhong and said, "Let Team Leader Zhong lead us to complete the remaining steps. After all, our Team Leader Zhong is a little stronger."
Old Zhong smiled cheerfully: "No problem, leave it to me, you just need to come over and check it out when the time comes."
Wen Nuan smiled and said, "Thank you for your hard work, squad leader Zhong. I'll come back tomorrow. I'm going to pick up the kids from school now."
Just as Wen Nuan was about to leave, the quartermaster stuffed a paper bag into her hand and said, "Give Le Le some biscuits, too."
Wen Nuan looked at the paper bag in her hand and said with a smile, "Thank you, Chief Steward. I'll come early tomorrow."
"Don't worry, don't worry. Go ahead. The child is waiting for you."
*
Wen Nuan didn't bother to be polite with the quartermaster. She took the biscuits and left the kitchen, heading towards the kindergarten.
When they were about to arrive at the kindergarten, Wen Nuan met the elders of Hua Hua, Le Le's playmate in the kindergarten.
Huahua's father is Lin Guoqiang, the head of the 44th Regiment, and her mother Liu Chunyan works in a medical equipment factory. The children in the family are taken care of by their grandmother.
But Huahua's grandmother didn't just take care of Huahua and her siblings. When she came to Beicheng, she also brought Lin Guoqiang's brother's son with her, saying that she also wanted her child to join the army.
Wen Nuan saw Aunt Lin and took the initiative to greet her: "Aunt Lin, are you here to pick up Huahua too?"
Aunt Lin saw Wen Nuan and walked over to her with a smile. "I originally wanted her brother to pick her up, but Hua Hua insisted on asking her mother to come pick her up."
Then she smiled helplessly and said, "Huahua insisted that Lele's mother always came to pick her up, but her mother was also busy at work, so how could she have time to pick her up? That's why I came here."
In Aunt Lin's eyes, the child's behavior was just making a fuss. Someone could just go and pick him up, but why did he have to ask his parents to pick him up? Adults don't have so much free time.
Hearing this, Wen Nuan said calmly: "The child is young, maybe an adult would make him feel more at ease."
Aunt Lin shook her head and chuckled, "We are in the army here, it's very safe. The child knows the way, so it's no problem for her to walk home by herself. But those teachers insisted that the parents pick her up. Really."
"Besides, the child can just run around in the compound until he's seven or eight years old, and then go to primary school. Why do you insist on sending him here to attend kindergarten? Isn't that a waste of time?"
She has to cook and pick up the children, which makes her very tired.
This kindergarten charges a fee, and it's not paid for by the army. If I had known this was the case, I would not have allowed Huahua to go to any kindergarten.
Wen Nuan frowned when she heard Aunt Lin say this.
However, there are many older generations who think like Aunt Lin, so Wen Nuan didn't intend to argue with her and said, "That's not the case. Children can make some friends when they come to school. I see that our Lele really likes playing with you Huahua."
Wen Nuan had met Hua Hua's mother before, but she might have been rushing back to work at that time, so the two said goodbye without saying a few words.
Huahua's mother is a pretty good person, but she may be too busy to take care of her child.
Aunt Lin glanced at Wen Nuan and immediately smiled: "That's right, our Hua Hua often talks about you Le Le."
The entire family compound knows that Wen Nuan is a famous person. Although Hua Hua is still a child, if she gets along well with Wen Nuan, maybe she can bring this old woman into the factory.
Even if I can’t get into the factory, I can work in the kitchen!
Everyone talked as they walked, and soon they arrived at the kindergarten.
Fortunately, Wen Nuan came early. Le Le, the impatient little boy, wanted to rush out of the classroom as soon as he heard the bell, but he was caught by Teacher Xue Li this time.
Wen Nuan took two quick steps and used gestures to remind Lele that he hadn't put on his schoolbag yet.
The little guy went back to put on his own small schoolbag, and then under the guidance of the teacher, he lined up and slowly walked out of the classroom.
Wen Nuan waved to the little guy, and when the teacher told him that he could leave, Lele ran towards Wen Nuan.
Wen Nuan touched the child's head and found that it was soaked with sweat.
She took out her handkerchief and wiped it for her, saying, "Don't worry, look at your sweat."
Lele smiled, raised his little head, hugged Wen Nuan, and said proudly: "Mom, I rushed out for the first time again!"
"Don't be so fast next time. You should first check whether your mother has come. If your mother hasn't come yet, you should wait for the teacher, okay?" Wen Nuan knew that Lele was anxious to go home, but she still had to teach her a lesson.
Although this is in the army, for such young children, danger is still everywhere.
There may not be any kidnapping, but a small accident on the way home will still make parents feel distressed.
Lele listened to her mother's words, smiled and nodded, then put her wet little head on the warm belly and said with a smile: "I know, mom, let me hear if the baby has been naughty today."
Wen Nuan didn't know whether to laugh or cry, but she didn't interrupt her behavior. She just asked softly, "How is it? Is the baby well behaved today?"
Because Gu Qinghan would feel the baby's movements like this before going to bed every day, Lele watched it so many times that he also liked to join in the fun.
Lele raised her head and said in a baby voice, "Don't worry, mom. The baby is very well behaved."
Wen Nuan smiled happily: "Really?"
Lele nodded vigorously: "Of course it's true, Dad is not at home, I will protect Mom!"
Then Lele touched her warm belly and said with a smile: "The babies are very well behaved today. I will praise you. Sister Lele will buy you some candy later."
Wen Nuan was amused by the child's words. She patted the child's head and said with a smile, "Our Le Le is so well behaved, so these cookies are for you."
As she spoke, she handed over the biscuits that the quartermaster had given her, Lijia.
This time, Lele doesn’t have to complain about being hungry anymore.
I have to go to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy snacks every time, especially now that summer has arrived and the weather is hot, the children are shouting for popsicles all day long.
Huahua sometimes clamored for food, but Aunt Lin was unwilling to buy it for her, for fear that the child would get used to it and clamor for food all day long.
Originally, Wen Nuan wanted to buy some for Hua Hua as well, but Aunt Lin obviously didn't like it, so she had to give up.
Besides, it is not a good idea to buy random food for the child. If the child is not feeling well, she will be the culprit.
So it is better to do more than less. When Wen Nuan took Lele to buy popsicles, she would deliberately avoid Huahua to prevent her from looking greedy and looking pitiful.
Lele took the paper bag handed to her by Wen Nuan and shouted happily: "Wow, there are cookies? What kind of cookies are these? Are they chocolate flavored?"
Lele had eaten chocolate-flavored wafers in Beijing before, and since then he has been clamoring to eat them.
However, there were no such fashionable snacks in the north city. They were bought at the largest state-owned store in Wangfujing, Beijing. Lele always remembered that chocolate cookie.
Wen Nuan shook her head: "No, it's just ordinary biscuits, do you want to eat some?"
Lele had already torn open the paper package and said with a smile, "Of course, I want to give one to Huahua!"
Before Wen Nuan could say anything, the little guy took the paper bag, walked quickly, and caught up with Hua Hua, the little boy in front.
Wen Nuan watched Lele pass the paper bag to Huahua. The two half-grown children were smiling happily.
Just when Wen Nuan was worried that Aunt Lin would have an opinion, Le Le handed the paper bag to Aunt Lin again, as if to ask her to have one too.
Aunt Lin was not polite at all. She reached into the paper bag and took out three cakes directly.
Then she touched Lele's head with a smile and said, "You are so good. Thank you, grandma."
Lele distributed the cookies to them, and quickly ran back to Wen Nuan, saying with a smile, "Mom, I distributed the cookies to Hua Hua and her grandmother, so there are no more cookies left."
Wen Nuan responded, "It's okay. If Lele wants to eat, mom will make some for you tomorrow."
"Hmm..." Lele turned the paper bag upside down again, still not quite believing that the cookies were gone. Then he said unhappily, "I wanted to leave one for my mom..."
"How about..." Lele handed the half-eaten biscuit in his hand to Wen Nuan. The little guy was not tall enough, so he could only stand on tiptoe. "This is for mommy."
Wen Nuan squatted down a little bit, looked Le Le in the eye and said, "Then Mommy will eat one bite, and the rest is for Le Le."
As he said this, he took a bite and tasted it carefully, but it seemed not sweet enough.
"Then I'll eat it."
"Eat, and let's go home now."
The setting sun stretched the two people's shadows into a long line. Wen Nuan took the jumping Le Le and walked towards the family compound.
*
The next day, after sending her child to school, Wen Nuan returned to the kitchen.
When the quartermaster saw her coming back, he immediately took out the compressed biscuits and asked, "Comrade Wen Nuan, take a look, is this biscuit okay?"
"Wait a minute, let me wash my hands." Wen Nuan took a look at the biscuit, then went to wash her hands, took the biscuit handed to her by the quartermaster, and broke it lightly.
Wen Nuan looked at the crumbs that were easily broken off and said slowly, "It's not enough yet. We have to keep pressing."
The quartermaster took the cookie back, took a bite, and frowned: "It's quite hard."
Seeing that the quartermaster was still a little confused, Wen Nuan said, "It's not enough, and it needs to be a little sweeter."
She ate a little yesterday, which was pretty good, but the compressed biscuits are mainly for energy.
The right amount of sugar is the key to replenishing energy. This is not something you eat every day, so if it is a little sweeter it would probably be more suitable for emergency use.
The quartermaster had no objection. Since Wen Nuan said it was not enough, it seemed that a machine would have to do it.
A few days later, the quartermaster went to Beijing in person to get a machine and tested it again.
Then he took the test product and gave it to Wen Nuan to try.
Wen Nuan weighed the biscuit that had been compressed under the hydraulic press. It was a small piece but still had weight, so she said, "It has weight. Let me see how it tastes."
Compressed biscuits are different from ordinary biscuits. They are hard and do not taste like crispy biscuits.
Wen Nuan took a small bite and smiled at the expectant gaze of the quartermaster. Then she said, "It's almost done, but for a better taste, I suggest some sesame and green onion flavors."
Wen Nuan reminded him again: "The sesame seeds need to be fried, otherwise they won't be fragrant enough. It's best to use dehydrated green onions to prevent the biscuits from having too much water."
When the quartermaster heard this, he nodded several times and said, "Okay, I'll tell everyone right away!"
After two more rounds of experiments, they finally made the compressed biscuits. After Wen Nuan tried them, she said, "Take them to Commander Xu and find... at least 20 people to test the results and see how long a pack of biscuits can last."
Seeing that the quartermaster was about to run out in a hurry, Wen Nuan couldn't help but remind him, "Don't let Commander Xu eat, he has a bad stomach."
Sister Juxiang looked at Wen Nuan and gave her a thumbs up: "Little Sister Nuan, you are so thoughtful, no wonder everyone likes you!"
Wen Nuan is loved and supported by nearly a hundred people in the kitchen and the factory, and it is not a false reputation.
She not only seeks benefits for everyone, but also cares about everyone here.
Wen Nuan smiled and said, "Thanks to everyone's kindness, I am always late and leave early."
Old Zhong sneered: "What are you talking about? Our kitchen team cares for female comrades in need of help, this is something worthy of praise!"
"Besides, if anyone dares to say anything bad about our kitchen team, I won't forgive them!"
Sister Juxiang quickly covered her warm ears and glared at Lao Zhong with dissatisfaction: "Go away, do you think everyone is as rude as you? Don't let the child hear it, it's not good for prenatal education."
Lao Zhong slapped his mouth and said with a smile: "My fault, my fault. I will be more civilized next time."
Wen Nuan looked at the harmonious scene and smiled too.
*
The quartermaster over there took the compressed biscuits he had just made to Commander Xu's office.
Seeing that he was still carrying a paper bag, Commander Xu asked with a smile, "How is it? What new dishes did the kitchen team prepare for everyone to try?"
The quartermaster smiled, put the compressed biscuits on Commander Xu's desk, and said with a smile: "Commander Xu, here is something more exciting than new dishes!"
Commander Xu looked at the paper bag and raised his eyebrows: "What is so precious?"
Then Commander Xu took it and looked at the thing in his hand. He said in a flat tone: "Isn't it just a cake? What's so special about it?"
The quartermaster heard it and said, "Of course not, this is called compressed biscuits."
Afterwards, the quartermaster gave Commander Xu a long explanation, saying that he was dying of thirst in the end.
The quartermaster said, "If Comrade Wen Nuan wasn't pregnant, I would have asked her to come and explain it to you. But in short, this is a kind of biscuit that can keep you full for half a day. It is suitable for field training and emergency situations."
Commander Xu frowned, looking a little unconvinced, and said, "Just a little bit?"
The Quartermaster: Don't underestimate it. Commander Xu, if you can find some people to test it, it's lunch time now, so we can give it a try. "
"Okay, I'll try it too." Commander Xu picked up a biscuit and was about to put it in his mouth.
The quartermaster hurriedly stopped him: "Comrade Wen Nuan said that Commander Xu has a bad stomach, so let someone else try it."
Commander Xu smiled and waved his hand: "Come on, Xiao Yu, try this thing and see if it can really be eaten. Give the rest to the comrades outside, and be sure to report your true feelings truthfully."
"Yes, Chief!"
A week later, the quartermaster went to Commander Xu's office again.
The chief held the small piece of biscuit and raised his lips: "Xiao Luo, the superiors said that this thing is very useful. Your kitchen team has made a great contribution this time!"
The quartermaster did not dare to take credit for it, and hurriedly said, "This was all Comrade Wen Nuan's idea, and we just did what she said."
Commander Xu had guessed it a long time ago, and then said, "Go back and tell everyone that your superiors have approved the ingredients for you. I'm afraid you will be busy for a while."
The quartermaster almost jumped up and said, "Thank you, Chief!"
Seeing the quartermaster leave, Commander Xu picked up the phone and said with a smile, "Commander, I have good news for you again."
"Your granddaughter has made a great contribution this time, and she deserves the third-class merit!"
The person over there was silent for a while, then burst into laughter without caring about his image: "My granddaughter, Lu Mingfei, is definitely not an ordinary person!"
*
Time flies, and it’s the end of August in the blink of an eye.
Wen Nuan's due date is in the next two months. She has already asked the quartermaster for maternity leave, and the compressed biscuits are also very successful.
Now the compressed biscuits have also entered the production stage. The quartermaster also said that when she returns from maternity leave, he will send her a third-class merit award on National Day.
The grade of merit was not important to Wen Nuan. The main thing was that the compressed biscuits were successful. Wen Nuan felt relieved and could focus on preparing for the birth of her baby.
Gu Qinghan applied to stay in the army since last month, and even if he was on a mission, he would not be away for more than three days.
Because Dr. Zhao and Dr. Li also said that pregnant women with twins are very likely to have premature births.
However, Wen Nuan is almost full-term, so it should not be a problem to give birth two or three weeks earlier.
But carrying twins is indeed more difficult than carrying a single baby. After Wen Nuan finished her work at the factory, she stopped trying to be stubborn and stayed at home to wait for the birth of the baby.
That day, Gu Qinghan got up early and planned to send Lele to kindergarten.
Wen Nuan couldn't sleep either, so she got up too. Seeing this, Gu Qinghan went over to the kang and helped her out of bed, saying, "You should rest for a while. I'll go and see Le Le off."
This kindergarten does not have winter or summer vacations. It was established to facilitate military families. If there is no one to take care of the children, they can be sent there if they are over three months old.
Wen Nuan was afraid that her child would get tired of studying, so she gave Le Le a ten-day vacation in August and asked Gu Qinglan to take her out to play.
"I can't sleep anyway, so I might as well get up. It would be better to have breakfast early." Wen Nuan gets hungry easily now. Sometimes she will have a midnight snack with Gu Qinghan. She is a little more clumsy now.
Gu Qinghan gently placed his hand on Wen Nuan's round belly and said distressedly, "Baby, be good and don't make your mother too tired."
The little girl who had just changed her clothes saw her father talking to Wen Nuan's big belly again, so she rushed over and shouted, "Mom, I want to talk to the baby too!"
Gu Qinghan saw the child rushing over, and quickly grabbed her, reminding her: "Gu Wanyue, don't worry at home, just walk slowly."
Lele, who was caught, stuck out his tongue and said, "I know. I won't bump into the mother and the baby."
Then she gently put her head over, rolled her big black eyes, and said with a smile: "The baby said he still wants to sleep, let's not face them."
The little fellow said it as if it were true, and even raised a finger and said "hush".
Wen Nuan asked, "Then mom won't send you to school?"
Lele was a little unhappy at first, but she suddenly thought of something. She took the doll that Commander Lu had given her and said, "Huahua said she wanted to play with the doll with me. Mom, you can play with Auntie at home. I'll ask Dad to go to kindergarten with me."
As she said this, she stuffed the doll into her own schoolbag.
Wen Nuan looked at the cute little guy and said with a smile: "Then go to the kindergarten and play with Hua Hua. I'll ask Auntie to pick you up in the afternoon. Don't run out of the kindergarten by yourself, okay?"
Before, Huahua brought a picture book for Lele, and Lele agreed to bring her a doll to play with.
The relationship between these two little kids is getting better and better.
Gu Qinghan had already brought breakfast to Wen Nuan, and then said to her, "Wife, eat breakfast first. I'm going to the kindergarten with Le Le now."
As soon as Gu Qinghan left, Gu Qinglan came over with some fruit and asked, "Sister-in-law, why did you get up so early? Why don't you sleep a little longer?"
"If you can't sleep, get up and have breakfast." Wen Nuan looked at Gu Qinglan and asked, "Why did you come so early? Have you had breakfast? If not, go to the kitchen and make some noodles."
Wen Nuan had a big belly and couldn't sleep well, so she just got up.
Gu Qinglan went to the kitchen and filled herself with noodles, saying, "Oh, I have to do an operation with Doctor Zhao later, and I'm afraid I'll be very busy today, so I'll bring the fruit to you first. Has Lele gone to school? Where's Aunt Chen?"
Gu Qinglan has been learning from the old man for more than half a year. She usually goes with him to see patients and helps during surgeries. She has become very proficient at it.
As for Director Xu's mother-in-law, she was criticized by the political commissar for introducing a date to Qinglan. Although she had some opinions about Qinglan, she couldn't stand Qinglan's diligence and capability.
Now in the hospital, everyone knows that Gu Qinglan is the old man's last disciple, so they still give her some face.
So Gu Qinglan's work is going smoothly.
Wen Nuan drank some water and said, "They just went out. Aunt Chen and Aunt Liang went to the supply and marketing cooperative. They will probably be back soon."
Aunt Liang and Aunt Chen are about the same age. They get along very well and make plans to go to the supply and marketing cooperative together every day.
In this hot summer, many things cannot be kept for long. You have to go to the supply and marketing cooperative every day to buy them fresh.
Gu Qinglan quickly finished her noodles, then watched Wen Nuan eat slowly. After she finished eating, she took her pulse.
In addition to studying with Mr. Zhao, Gu Qinglan also pestered Li Yunhua to learn some Chinese medicine every time she came.
I don't know if it's because the old man took off his hat, but Li Yunhua comes to Beicheng more often than before. Sometimes she even goes to the military hospital for medical consultations. Gu Qinglan is also very sweet-talking, which makes the two old people happy and they are willing to take her with them.
Under the guidance of the two masters, Gu Qinglan is now quite capable and can give pulse diagnosis to the Wen Nuan.
Gu Qinglan put away her hand and said, "It's fine. When Dr. Zhao is free the day after tomorrow, I'll ask him to come over and check on you."
Wen Nuan smiled and said, "Okay, thank the old man for me."
Then, Wen Nuan smiled and said, "Have you communicated with Da Xiang?"
Ever since Gu Qinghan said that he also knew about Gu Qinglan and Li Daxiang, Wen Nuan asked Qinglan to write a letter and have Gu Qinghan bring it over.
But I don’t know whether Qinglan wrote it.
Gu Qinglan put away the cotton ball and said, "No, there is no need to rush for a few months. Sister-in-law, didn't you say that he would be back by the end of the year?"
Gu Qinglan is very busy now and really doesn't have time to think so much. Moreover, Gu Qinghan said that Li Daxiang and the others are in closed training now. Even if she writes a letter, Li Daxiang may not reply.
It’s better not to write it.
Wen Nuan raised her eyebrows and smiled, "Yes, a few months won't make a difference. The most important thing now is your career."
After all, both of them have already settled down and don't need some time. Besides, Qinglan has just started studying with the old man. Medicine is a subject that cannot be learned in a year or two, not even the basics.
Wen Nuan said, "Then you should go back to the hospital as soon as possible and come back when you have time."
That night, after Chen's mother took Lele home, the little guy hugged his doll and said, "Mom, many children like my doll today, and they also said they want to bring toys to play with me tomorrow."
Seeing the child sweating profusely while running, and Chen's mother still chasing after him, Wen Nuan said with a smile, "You don't have to walk so fast. Look at you, you are sweating profusely."
But I was still happy for her, so I asked, "Does Lele still have to take the baby to school tomorrow?"
Lele nodded: "Of course, I will also put a beautiful hairpin on it so that my friends can take a good look at it!"
"By the way, Mom, can you make a beautiful skirt for my doll? Huahua said the doll's skirt is a little dirty."
Wen Nuan thought there was nothing to do, so she asked Le Le to go to the cupboard to find a piece of cloth she liked.
In the past few months, Chen's mother made several sets of baby clothes for the baby in her belly, and had some cloth left over, which was just right for Lele's doll.
When the little guy heard it, he ran to the room, opened the cupboard, pulled out a few pieces of brightly colored cloth, and then ran back to the warmth happily.
The little guy smiled and said, "Mom, you have to make a skirt for the doll, she is a girl."
"The clothes that my aunt made are all for boys. They are ugly!"
Chen's mother came back just in time. After hearing what the little guy said, she laughed breathlessly and said, "Le Le, isn't it good to have a boy? Wouldn't it be great if your mother gave birth to two younger brothers?"
Almost everyone of this generation wants a boy, even Chen Ma herself.
Mother Chen knew that Wen Nuan and Gu Qinghan both loved Lele, and usually they didn't dare to discuss the gender of the child.
Moreover, the baby clothes made by everyone are the same. Wen Nuan will make them in the shape of whatever fabric she prepares.
Of course, it is impossible to make it into a small skirt. Even if it is a little girl, such a small baby certainly cannot wear a skirt.
So in Lele's eyes, any clothes that are not skirts are boys' clothes.
When Lele heard what Chen Ma said, he frowned and said, "I don't want a brother, I want a sister!"
Zhuzi from Sister Guihua's family is still little, white and chubby, very cute.
Although Lele knows that he is a younger brother, he still likes him very much and always likes to go over and play with the little brother during holidays.
But sometimes at night when I listen to the fetal movements in my warm belly with his father, I would say, "Our baby must be a little girl. She is so cute. I will give all my little skirts to her in the future!"
Gu Qinghan would sometimes join Lele in making trouble, and would say with a smile: "Hello, little sister. Be as obedient and sensible as Lele in the future."
But sometimes when Gu Qinghan thought about marrying off his daughters in the future, he would change his mind with a melancholy look on his face: "Let's have sons. I'm afraid they won't marry well."
Wen Nuan was speechless every time she heard their words.
When Chen Ma heard what Lele said, she smiled and said, "The baby is about to come out. Let's see if what Lele said is right."
"But whether it's a younger brother or sister, your parents are equally happy."
After saying that, Aunt Chen went into the kitchen to busy herself.
Wen Nuan took the cloth from Lele and said, "Brothers and sisters are all our family, Lele, don't be partial to them."
"Haha, I just want a younger sister." Lele thought for a moment and said, "I don't want a younger brother. Boys are all smelly."
Wen Nuan looked at Le Le: "???"
Lele seemed to be recalling something, frowning and saying, "The boys in our class never wash their feet, they stink."
Wen Nuan smiled and said, "Ah? Lele might have made a mistake. It's hot now, so you might just smell like sweat."
Not to mention children, when I worked in the kitchen, it was so hot and stuffy that most people actually smelled of sweat.
Wen Nuan doesn't want her children to talk nonsense about others and cause unnecessary conflicts when they return to school.
"No." Lele looked at Wen Nuan and said, "They said so themselves. They said they would sleep on the kang if they didn't wash their feet."
warmth:"… "
Okay, there's nothing we can do about it.
In order to make a skirt for Lele's doll, Wen Nuan was busy for most of the night and kept busy until Gu Qinghan came back.
Gu Qinghan saw that his wife was still awake so late. Seeing that she was still in front of the sewing machine, he walked over and asked, "Why are you up so late?"
"Hasn't Mommy Chen already made the clothes for the child? Why are you still making them?"
In the later stages of pregnancy, Wen Nuan’s sleep quality was not very good, so she would go to bed when she felt sleepy, and sometimes it would be difficult to fall asleep again after waking up.
Since August, Wen Nuan has not gone to bed past ten o'clock.
It's so late now that Gu Qinghan feels distressed.
But Wen Nuan just smiled and said, "No, this is a small skirt I made for Le Le's doll. I just made it too big, so I took it apart and made it again."
Then Wen Nuan hugged Gu Qinghan who was standing beside her and said with a smile: "And I can just wait for you to come back. What's up? Are you hungry? Do you want me to cook something for you?"
"No need." Gu Qinghan pulled a stool and sat down with Wen Nuan. He gently placed his hand on her belly and said, "I've eaten in the cafeteria."
Ever since Chen's mother came, she knew that Gu Qinghan had to train at night, so she got up a few times even though he had fallen asleep to cook noodles for him. Later, he simply ate a little in the cafeteria before coming back.
Wen Nuan nodded: "Oh, then go take a shower first, I'll wait for you to go to bed together."
"The clothes have been taken out for you. They are over there on the sofa." Wen Nuan pointed to the clothes over there.
Hearing this, Gu Qinghan kissed Wen Nuan on the forehead and said, "Okay, then you take a rest first. If you haven't finished yet, I'll do it slowly."
Wen Nuan pushed the man and said with a smile, "It's done. Go quickly, or I'll be sleepy later."
After Gu Qinghan went to take a shower, Wen Nuan checked the doll's skirt and found that it was ok. Then she walked over to the other end of the sofa and took Lele's schoolbag, intending to put the doll in it first, so that the child would not forget it tomorrow.
Lele's schoolbag contains a clean change of clothes, as well as a bunch of paintings and picture books.
These things are probably for kindergarten children. Wen Nuan bought her picture books before, but the little one didn't like to read them. However, if her classmates shared them with her, she would read them with great interest a few times by herself.
Wen Nuan saw that her schoolbag was a little messy, so she planned to help her tidy it up.
After pouring everything out, Wen Nuan realized how messy it was, with everything inside.
Just as she was about to fold the paintings one by one, she suddenly saw a piece of paper floating out from inside.
This piece of paper is very strange, with many dots. Although it is written by a child, if you look at it carefully, you can see that it has a lot of meaning.
A thought flashed through Wen Nuan's mind, and the hand holding the note began to tremble slightly.
The moment Gu Qinghan walked in, she calmed down her nervousness, waved to the man, and said, "Qinghan, come over and take a look."
Gu Qinghan saw that Wen Nuan's face looked a little strange, and without any hesitation, he walked towards her, "What's wrong?"
Wen Nuan handed him the note in her hand, her voice trembling a little: "Look—"
Gu Qinghan threw away the towel in his hand, and his expression changed when he saw the Morse code on the note that was only used by spies.