This was Wen Nuan's second trip to town, and this time she came with Gu Qinghan.
Gu Qinghan said that before she officially joined the kitchen team, he should buy her a bicycle so that she could ride it to and from get off work.
But before buying a bicycle, Gu Qinghan took her to a photo studio first, "We agreed to take a family photo last time, so let's take one today."
Gu Qinghan had always wanted to take a photo with his family, but he had waited for a long time and had no time. Today, when he went out to town, the first thing he wanted to do was take the photo.
Thinking of being buried in the avalanche, he vaguely remembered that Wen Nuan called him a liar. They had agreed to take a family photo together, but he lied.
He couldn't lie to her.
Lele let Gu Qinghan hold her, so Wen Nuan felt much more relaxed this time in town, and said with a smile, "Okay."
The little guy seemed to know that he wanted to take a photo. He kept waving his little arms and looked very happy.
When we got to the photo studio, we found it was quite warm inside. In order to look better, Wen Nuan took off her cotton jacket, revealing a red stand-up collar sweater, which made her look less bulky.
Gu Qinghan glanced at her, frowned, and asked, "Aren't you cold?"
Wen Nuan touched her nose and raised her eyebrows: "It's not cold, it's quite warm in here."
Gu Qinghan withdrew his gaze, a little bit unbelieving, but when Wen Nuan walked to the mirror in the photo studio and carefully adjusted her hair, he guessed it, so he smiled helplessly and said nothing to her.
Seeing Wen Nuan fixing her hair, he fixed Le Le's hair as well. However, Wen Nuan had already tied her hair into a small bun before she went out, and pinned it with the small hairpin that Qing Lan bought for the child. Now it didn't look messy, except that the places where it was not tied were a little frizzy.
But still cute.
Wen Nuan tidied her appearance, walked over to Gu Qinghan, and straightened his collar.
The man was wearing a green military cotton jacket issued by the army. Wen Nuan thought he looked good in anything, so she agreed early in the morning to let him wear a military uniform for the photo.
"It's okay. You're so beautiful, you'll look good in any photo." Wen Nuan smoothed the traces of his coat and smiled with satisfaction.
Gu Qinghan looked at Wen Nuan with a smile. She was actually very pretty, especially when her hair was messy. She was so beautiful that it made his heart tighten.
Fortunately, only he knows this kind of beauty.
Gu Qinghan said: "Let's go over there."
Wen Nuan and Gu Qinghan sat on the chairs for taking pictures. Lele let Gu Qinghan hold her, and her little head twisted around curiously, and no one knew what she was doing.
But the photographer was also very good. He held a small, brightly colored toy in his hand and asked Lele to look over there.
When the little guy saw something brightly colored, he immediately started laughing.
Wen Nuan tilted her head slightly, leaned towards Gu Qinghan, and smiled. The photographer immediately pressed the camera and froze the picture with a "click".
After taking the family photo, Gu Qinghan thought for a moment and said softly, "Let's take a photo of each of us individually."
Wen Nuan looked at him and nodded: "Okay, I haven't taken a photo with you yet."
Every time she went to Sister Guihua's house, she felt a little envious when she saw the photos of her and Captain Zhou hanging on the wall. It was a pity that Gu Qinghan was too busy with work and she had never had the chance to take a photo with him. Now this opportunity was just right.
Gu Qinghan put Lele on the ground covered with red velvet, then asked the comrades in the photo studio to get the toy and give it to her to play with first.
The little guy got the toy he had always wanted, and started playing with it by himself without making a fuss.
However, when he saw Wen Nuan and Gu Qinghan sitting together, he still raised his little head and looked at them seriously.
Maybe he was a little curious, so when he saw them sitting together so properly, Lele started to laugh.
Gu Qinghan felt the warm head leaning towards him, and he also slightly tilted his head and leaned towards her.
Then he heard Wen Nuan say softly: "Qinghan, smile."
When the photographer saw two such good-looking comrades sitting together, the man who had been having a serious face suddenly smiled and quickly pressed the shutter.
Although the photos won’t be available so soon, Wen Nuan feels that their group photo will look good.
After taking the photo of the two of them, Wen Nuan looked at Le Le who was playing with toys over there, and said, "Why don't we take a solo photo of Le Le, just take a photo of her playing with toys now."
Gu Qinghan looked at Lele and also felt that the way she was playing with toys by herself was the most natural and the cutest, so he lowered his voice and asked the photographer to capture this scene.
"Well, this little baby is so cute." Even the photographer couldn't help but praise it.
Gu Qinghan had already walked towards the little guy, then picked up Lele who was sitting on the ground, and said to the comrade who was taking the photo: "Thank you, comrade."
Wen Nuan followed Gu Qinghan out of the photo studio, glanced at the supply and marketing cooperative across the street, and said, "Let's go check out some bicycles now. I wonder if they have any."
In the past, there was a sufficient supply of bicycles in the city, and the worst that could happen was that you had to go to a few more supply and marketing cooperatives.
But Wen Nuan asked Sister Guihua a few days ago, and she said that the supply and marketing cooperative in the staff compound didn't sell bicycles, and the supply and marketing cooperative in the town sometimes didn't have any stock, so one had to wait.
Gu Qinghan walked in front holding the child, glancing at Wen Nuan from time to time, "Let's go take a look first."
I don’t know if it’s because the temperature has warmed up in the past few days, but there were a lot of people in the supply and marketing cooperative in the town today, especially in front of the food counters, where there were queues.
Gu Qinghan originally wanted to buy some snacks for Wen Nuan, but seeing that there were so many people around, he took her to the bicycle counter first.
There weren't many people selling bicycles, but there were still people looking in. However, the salesmen only let people look but not touch.
Wen Nuan looked at the three bicycles behind the counter, and then she came to Gu Qinghan and said, "There are three bicycles. I wonder how much each one costs."
"Let's go ask first, but everyone says that the quality and materials of the Phoenix brand are better, so let's buy a better one."
Gu Qinghan walked over to the counter without any hesitation and asked the salesperson, "Comrade, can I take a look at that Phoenix brand bicycle?"
The salesperson sat at the counter and said casually, "You need a ticket to buy a bicycle. Do you have your ticket?" without even looking up.
"Yes, these are our tickets." Gu Qinghan took out the bicycle voucher that he had prepared long ago from his pocket. He had obtained this voucher when he was in the provincial army, but he had never used it before, so he kept it in his military luggage bag.
He just remembered it because Wen Nuan had to go to work in the kitchen recently.
The salesman took a look at the bicycle coupon that Gu Qinghan handed over, and finally raised his head. Then he looked up and down at Gu Qinghan who was holding the child, then stood up and said with a smile: "Comrade soldier, you want a bicycle, right? Our supply and marketing cooperative just received three new ones a few days ago."
She patiently introduced them: "One is a Forever brand bicycle, the price is 165 yuan; the other two are Phoenix brand, but a little more expensive, 185 yuan, which one do you want?"
In fact, Wen Nuan also thought about buying a second-hand one. Second-hand ones are cheaper, and it can probably be bought for around 130 yuan.
However, Gu Qinghan said that she might have to drive Lele to and from get off work in the future, so she should buy a car of better quality, which would not cost her another twenty or thirty dollars.
Gu Qinghan did not hesitate and directly took out 185 yuan and gave it to the salesperson, then asked her to issue a receipt.
The salesperson probably had never seen such a straightforward person before. He quickly wrote out the receipt and said to Gu Qinghan, "Comrade, there are two bicycles inside. You can go and see which one you want." Then he opened the door of the counter and motioned for him to go in.
Gu Qinghan looked at Wen Nuan and said, "Go pick one."
Wen Nuan glanced at the brand new bicycles behind the counter. In fact, there was no need to choose carefully. The quality of the products that could be put on the shelves for sale in this era was top-notch.
Wen Nuan was too lazy to go in, and pointed directly at the car behind the salesperson and said, "Comrade, let's go to the one behind you."
The salesman was also obviously stunned and asked, "Don't you want to take a look before deciding?"
Wen Nuan met Gu Qinghan's gaze and smiled at the salesperson: "No need, Phoenix is our state-owned brand after all, and there must be strict inspection standards when it leaves the factory; and our supply and marketing cooperative will definitely arrange for comrades to check it carefully before putting it on the shelves. Aren't you still worried? Please take it out for me."
The salesman felt very relieved after hearing Wen Nuan's words. He finally met someone who knew what he was doing.
In the past, many people came to buy bicycles, and they wanted to check everything from the bell on the handlebar to the factory logo on the rear of the bicycle.
But it's no wonder that everyone is so cautious. After all, this bicycle costs more than 100 yuan and requires a ticket. Who wouldn't check it carefully
I was so upset about missing a screw that I couldn't sleep well for a month.
So the salesman took a key, unlocked it quickly, and pushed the bicycle out.
She looked at the baby in Gu Qinghan's arms, and then said, "Comrade, you are so straightforward. I have a small woven seat that can be placed on the front bar of a bicycle. Your child can be placed on it."
"If you don't mind, take it."
She nodded to the salesperson with a warm smile: "How could you dislike it? Thank you, comrade."
She was still worrying about where to buy a seat suitable for her child. Isn't this just perfect
Wen Nuan still remembers that when she was a child, she sat on the back seat of a bicycle and her feet were caught in the wheels countless times.
It's just right now. With this small seat, when Lele grows up, we won't have to worry about her feet being pinched by the wheels even if we put her on the back rack of the car.
Then the salesman took out a child seat made of rattan and tied it to the front bumper with a rope. "Okay, put the child in it and try it out."
When the little guy saw Wen Nuan holding the handlebars of the bike, he thought it was some big toy and started dancing with excitement to get on and sit on it.
Gu Qinghan put Lele on the seat on the front bumper. Worried that the seat was unstable, he shook it with his hand, but the seat was tied very firmly.
It was the first time for the little guy to ride a bicycle. He happily patted the handlebars of the small seat and babbled a bunch of baby talk whose meaning was unknown.
Seeing that she was happy, Gu Qinghan turned to look at Wen Nuan and said, "Let's go and take Le Le for a ride."
Coming out of the supply and marketing cooperative, there is a big road. Although it is a muddy road, because many people walk on it, the ground is relatively flat and there are no big potholes.
Gu Qinghan was riding the bike, Wen Nuan was sitting at the back, and the little guy was sitting at the front, babbling in the wind.
When they came out of the supply and marketing cooperative, Wen Nuan had put a woolen hat on the child. The snow had melted in the past few days and it was still a bit cold, but the little guy was not used to wearing a hat and pulled it off.
Now as the bicycle rode forward, the little guy's fluffy hair fluttered in the wind, swaying back and forth.
Wen Nuan sat in the back seat and didn't dare to move, for fear that Gu Qinghan would not be able to hold the front of the car. However, her worry was obviously unnecessary, as Gu Qinghan's long legs were more than enough to hold the ground.
*
Thinking that it was almost noon, Wen Nuan said that she wanted to celebrate the purchase of a new car, so she asked Gu Qinghan to ride to the state-owned restaurant in town.
"I heard that there is stewed goose in an iron pot here. Sister Guihua said it's quite delicious. Let's go and try it." Wen Nuan jumped out of the car and picked up the little guy on the seat. However, the child obviously didn't sit enough. His chubby little hands kept holding the handle of the seat and refused to let go.
Even though she is still a little baby, when Lele holds on with both hands, she holds on tightly and is unwilling to let go even when Wen Nuan holds her.
She stared at Wen Nuan with her big eyes, snorted, and then turned her head away.
Wen Nuan looked at Le Le who was unwilling to let go and didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "This little guy, why does he like riding in the car so much? I'll let you ride in a while, let's go eat first!"
No, even food can't attract her anymore.
Lele still held the handle, his brows furrowed, and he was unwilling to get off the car.
Gu Qinghan didn't expect that Lele would like riding in a car so much, so he set up the tripod and then locked it.
After putting the car keys away, he immediately flexed the little guy's fingers and said, "Be good, Dad will take you to sit later. Now let's go eat first."
The little fellow babbled and frowned, but he just didn't want to let go.
Gu Qinghan was afraid that he would hurt her, so he simply took out the bicycle key and handed it to her: "You can play with this first."
Lele heard the two keys jingling in Gu Qinghan's hand and immediately let go of them. Then, she took the key with her little hands and began to study it carefully.
Wen Nuan and Gu Qinghan looked at each other and smiled at the same time.
"Let's go in and eat first." Gu Qinghan took the child and let Wen Nuan walk in front.
Wen Nuan looked at the prices. Eating here was a little cheaper than in Beijing, but she only ordered a goose stewed in an iron pot and asked for one for Lele.
She just glanced at the table next to her. A pot of stewed goose was actually a lot of food. The little guy couldn't eat much. For just her and Gu Qinghan, one dish would probably be enough.
However, Wen Nuan didn't want her child to eat too many seasoned foods, so she ordered an extra bowl of cold noodles for her child. The noodles were buckwheat noodles, with cucumbers, tomatoes, eggs and kimchi added, which could be eaten as a vegetable for Wen Nuan.
The wait time for stewing the big goose was a little longer, so Wen Nuan would feed the little one first. When the child had eaten most of the food, the comrades from the restaurant would bring out a big pot with a few scallion rolls on the edge of the pot. The goose meat was stewed until it was soft and fragrant. When you took a bite, the rich soup splashed out. It was paired with the soft and delicious potatoes, which was extremely delicious.
Wen Nuan picked up a big piece of meat for Gu Qinghan and asked with a smile: "Is it delicious? This big piece is for you, eat more."
"It's not as delicious as what you cook." Gu Qinghan looked at Wen Nuan who was smiling, and picked up a piece of goose leg from the pot that was still boiling hot and fragrant and gave it to her: "You should eat more too."
Seeing that her parents ignored her, the little girl knocked on the table with the spoon in her hand and cried "Ah".
That angry little expression seemed to be saying: Why are you ignoring me? I'm angry! !
Gu Qinghan and Wen Nuan looked at the slightly angry Lele, pinched her cheeks together, and said with a smile: "Stingy girl!"
After dinner, Gu Qinghan rode Wen Nuan and the child all the way to the staff quarters, riding very steadily.
In this day and age, riding a brand new bicycle is still quite impressive. The little guy in front kept laughing and attracted a lot of attention when we were in the town.
Now when I ride towards the staff quarters, there are not so many people on the road, and occasionally I can see some comrades walking.
Wen Nuan sat on the back seat and said to Gu Qinghan who was riding the bike, "If we had known earlier that we would have bought the bikes before taking the photos, we could have asked the people at the photo studio to include our new bikes in the photos."
Hearing this, Gu Qinghan braked the car, propped up the ground with one leg, turned his head slightly to look at Wen Nuan, and asked, "Do you want to go back and take another photo now?"
Wen Nuan couldn't help but laugh out loud, and then when she saw that there was no one around, she reached out and hugged Gu Qinghan's waist: "Forget it, we're almost back to the family compound, we'll take pictures next time we go out to get the photos."
Gu Qinghan retracted his gaze, pedaled again, and raised the corners of his lips slightly: "Okay, let's go take pictures next time."
*
When they returned to the family compound, many people noticed them. To be more precise, they noticed their new bicycles.
Some familiar aunts saw Gu Qinglan riding a new Phoenix brand bicycle and immediately raised their voices: "Oh my, what a fancy bicycle, and it's new!"
Some people in the staff quarters also bought bicycles, but not many, after all, most of their activities are within the staff quarters.
The aunt who was talking was the mother of Captain Zhang who lived next door to Sister Juxiang. Wen Nuan had met her several times before. Sister Juxiang said that her daughter-in-law had just given birth to a daughter and was in the period of confinement after the baby was born.
Wen Nuan saw that some people had come over to see their new bicycle, so she got off the back seat and smiled, "Yes, auntie, we just bought it."
Aunt Zhang's eyes lit up when she saw the new bicycle. She looked it over and asked, "How much does it cost? It looks like a Phoenix brand, right? That's expensive, at least 20 or 30 yuan more expensive than other brands."
The price of the bicycle was actually transparent. Both new and used bicycles cost more than 100 yuan, so there was no need to hide it. Wen Nuan said, "Well, it's a little more expensive."
More and more sisters-in-law came to watch. In addition to some people asking about the price, some people began to inquire about why Wen Nuan and her family would buy a bicycle with a small baby.
Gu Qinghan watched as a group of sisters-in-law gathered around him, their voices becoming increasingly louder. Lele, who was sitting in front of him, moved closer to him, seeming a little scared.
Gu Qinghan frowned and said indifferently: "Sisters-in-law, I have something else to do, so I won't talk for now."
So he rode home with Wen Nuan and the children.
Wen Nuan thought the situation in the family compound would be better. After all, many regimental-level cadres like Gu Qinghan had already bought bicycles. But she didn't expect that the sisters-in-law in the family compound were still so curious.
The group of sisters-in-law watched Gu Qinghan and Wen Nuan ride away, and began to talk. Someone asked Aunt Zhang, who was the first to go over and chat with Wen Nuan, "Aunt Zhang, why did Deputy Head Gu's family suddenly buy a bicycle?"
Aunt Zhang didn't know, she just loved gossiping, but she heard someone say, "Don't you know? Wasn't there an avalanche before? Didn't Deputy Commander Gu's wife save people and make contributions? There was a commendation meeting before to praise her."
They all know about the commendation ceremony, but what does it have to do with buying a bicycle
"Oh my, you guys don't know yet? I heard that Comrade Wen Nuan got a job. She's supposed to be working in the kitchen."
The canteen kitchen is the best logistical unit of the entire army. There are countless military dependents in the entire family compound who want to squeeze in, but not many people have been able to get in over the years.
Wen Nuan has only been in Beicheng for a few months, but she has already got a job in the kitchen. It would be strange if people were not curious.
They gathered together to discuss whether this was true.
Aunt Zhang frowned as she listened to everyone's discussion, because her daughter-in-law worked in the kitchen. However, she had just given birth and was now at home recuperating, so naturally she couldn't go to work.
That Wen Nuan suddenly joined the kitchen team. Could it be that she replaced her daughter-in-law
Aunt Zhang was a little panicked, so she asked the person who had just spoken: "That's impossible. Doesn't the kitchen team not recruit people from outside? How could she be assigned to the kitchen team?"
"Anyway, I heard from my husband that Comrade Wen Nuan will report in March, and you will know then."
Aunt Zhang still didn't quite believe it. "No, Wen Nuan is taking care of this little kid who's still breastfeeding. What can she do in the kitchen?"
The man said, "Then I don't know."
*
After Wen Nuan and Gu Qinghan returned home, Gu Qinglan happened to come over from the medical office. Seeing Gu Qinghan and Wen Nuan buying bicycles, she shouted, "Brother, sister-in-law, did you buy bicycles? This bicycle is so cool!"
Gu Qinglan has reported to the Medical Department for a few days, and Gu Qinghan specially sent someone to find out what the Medical Department is saying.
The comrades there all said that Gu Qinglan was both eloquent and capable, and that she studied very hard. She was also the last one to return to the dormitory every day. In just one week, she had filled two notebooks with notes.
The comrades at the Medical Department didn't know what Gu Qinglan had encountered while working in the countryside. They all thought that she was trying to avoid being sent to work in the countryside as educated youth, and asked Gu Qinghan to arrange a place for her to join the army. However, after getting along with her for some time, everyone still liked Gu Qinglan's cheerful personality and her hardworking qualities.
Wen Nuan knew that she hadn't slept well this week in order to fit in and get started quickly. Since Gu Qinglan reported to the medical department, she rarely came to their house.
Sometimes Wen Nuan would ask Gu Qinghan to come over for a meal after she made some soup, but Gu Qinglan only came over once.
Wen Nuan looked at Gu Qinglan's face, which had become a little thinner, and said with a smile, "Your elder brother said that it would be convenient for me to go to and from get off work, so he bought me a bicycle."
"Don't mention it. I just came back from riding a bicycle, and everyone in the family compound was so curious. They all asked me how much it cost and what the difference was between the Phoenix brand and other brands. I didn't know what to say. Fortunately, your elder brother was smart and came straight home." Wen Nuan suddenly felt that Gu Qinghan's icy face was still quite useful.
Gu Qinglan also looked at the brand new big guy from front to back, her eyes lit up, "This car is really beautiful, I can't help but take a few more glances."
Then Gu Qinglan looked at Wen Nuan and asked, "Sister-in-law, can you ride a bicycle?"
Wen Nuan actually knows how to ride a bicycle, but she has never ridden a 28-bar bicycle, so she smiled and said, "I have ridden other people's bicycles in my hometown before, but I am not very skilled at it."
When Gu Qinglan was in her hometown, Gu Qingsong took her riding a bike. It had been many years since they had ridden a bike.
Now I don’t know if I can still ride it.
After hearing Wen Nuan's words, Gu Qinghan took Lele off the small seat and unfastened the small seat. Then he motioned for Gu Qinglan to come over and hold her, saying, "I'll take your sister-in-law to learn how to ride a bike. You hold the child first."
Gu Qinglan smiled and took over the crying Lele, "Okay, when my sister-in-law learns how to ride, I want to ride it too, to take advantage of this new bike."
"Okay, you come and try it later." Wen Nuan held the handle with both hands and put her left foot on the footrest, intending to get up from the side. She was not like Gu Qinghan, who could sit on the seat and step directly onto the ground. Her feet were simply not long enough.
Gu Qinglan held Lele in her arms and sat on a wooden block in front of the yard gate. The little guy wanted to go over and ride in the car, and kept babbling.
Sister Guihua heard the sound and was also attracted out. Seeing Lele crying, she and Gu Qinglan tried to tease her.
Wen Nuan was already on her bike. Gu Qinghan helped her hold the bike and they were practicing on the open space in front of the yard.
Wen Nuan kept pedaling. Her hands were shaking at first, and the front of the bike was swaying. The ground in front of the door was muddy and bumpy. Wen Nuan rode very attentively, and asked the man behind her: "Qinghan, hold on for me first."
"Don't worry, I'm holding you." The man's deep voice came from behind her, and Wen Nuan felt relieved.
Although the bicycle is a bit big, it has to be said that the quality of products of this era is really good. She feels like she doesn't need any effort to pedal it, and it is very smooth. The one hundred and eighty-five yuan is worth it.
Li Qiuyan, who had just returned from get off work in the kitchen, saw Wen Nuan riding a brand new bicycle passing by her house.
Behind the bicycle, there was a tall man with a doting smile on his usually serious face.
Liu Meili, who was beside Li Qiuyan, also widened her eyes in astonishment. She looked at Wen Nuan riding a bicycle and asked, "Why did she buy a bicycle? What's the use of it in the family compound? What a waste of money..."
More than a hundred yuan.
Li Qiuyan pursed her lips, then looked at Liu Meili and said, "I heard that she is going to work in the kitchen. I guess she bought it to make it easier for her to go to and from work."
"What?" Liu Meili had actually heard a few days ago that someone had arranged a job for Wen Nuan, but she didn't expect that it would be in the kitchen.
Wen Nuan had only been in Beicheng for a few months, and it was fine if she had found a job, but she was actually working in the kitchen. There were so many people trying their best to get into the staff quarters, and Liu Meili suddenly felt a sour taste in her heart.
Liu Meili frowned and asked Li Qiuyan in a bad tone: "Qiuyan, didn't you say before that there was a vacancy in the kitchen team? When will you let me go?"
Li Qiuyan's two children stole her pork. At that time, Li Qiuyan said that a female comrade in the cafeteria was going to take maternity leave, and she could be allowed to join the kitchen team then.
It's been more than a month and there's still no sign of him!
Li Qiuyan frowned awkwardly, not knowing how to respond.
Wen Nuan had already ridden her bike back to the front door of her yard and kept asking, "Qing Han, are you still holding on?"
Gu Qinglan and Sister Guihua laughed and said, "You rode so far by yourself."
"Sister-in-law, you are so awesome!"
Wen Nuan then stood on tiptoe, stepped on the ground to brake the car, and looked back at Gu Qinghan who was far away. The man was smiling and walking towards her slowly.