The Spring Festival in the 1970s was much more lively than Tian Mi had imagined.
The hardship and poverty of life have not affected people's enthusiasm for celebrating the New Year at all.
Starting from the 29th, every household in the family quarters began to hang up ice lanterns, a scene that Tian Mi had never seen before.
It is naturally incomparable to the exquisite, dreamy and magnificent ice sculptures of later generations.
Most of them are just tall or short cylinders, and some are even shapeless and look weird and soft.
But after dark, put candles inside and hang the ice lanterns high up on thicker wooden poles. It looks bright and artistic.
Tian Mi was very fond of the overly rough ice lanterns made by the military families.
I was even so excited that I wanted to try making one myself, but of course, that idea fell through.
One is that ice lanterns look simple but are quite complicated to make. Another is that she is worried about catching a cold. After all, if she catches a cold now, she will have to endure it.
However, even though they didn't make it themselves, a cylindrical ice lantern was hung in front of their house.
According to her husband, seeing that she liked it, he "took" one from Zhou Jianshe.
It was early January and spring had not yet arrived. Everywhere you looked, it was still covered with ice and snow.
But today, on the way to my eldest sister's house, I don't know if it was a psychological effect, but Tian Mi always felt that the temperature had warmed up because of people's enthusiasm for the New Year.
"It's a little early today. How are you? Are you sleepy? Did you vomit?" Tian Yu was playing with his daughter, throwing and picking up sandbags. When he saw his sister come in, he greeted her with a smile.
Tian Mi shook her head: "I don't feel anything, just like usual." If her period hadn't come and the hospital had issued a urine test report, she really wouldn't have noticed anything wrong with her body, as if she had a false pregnancy.
"This child is a well-behaved one." Tian Yu was relieved and hoped that he would not make trouble in the future.
Hearing this, Tian Mi raised her eyebrows in agreement: "Where's the third sister?"
"She went out to play. It's a rare two-day holiday during the Chinese New Year, so I asked her to go out for a walk. What's the point of a little girl staying at home all day? So she said she wanted to wait for Lu Xiaoyan to get off work, and then make ice lanterns together. She ran out after breakfast."
"Third sister has become a lot more lively since she made friends." Tian Mi knew Lu Xiaoyan, who was also a nurse at the health center. She was outgoing and straightforward, and took good care of the third sister. Knowing that the little girl was with her, Tian Mi just sighed.
"That's right. She's just too timid. She needs more practice. By the way, are you hungry? Go have breakfast first. I'll keep it warm in the pot for you."
"I'm a little hungry." Tian Mi touched her stomach and went to the kitchen, asking subconsciously, "Sister, have you eaten?"
"I'm done eating, you eat yours. The boiled eggs in there are also left for you, remember to eat them."
Tian Mi brought out two bowls from the kitchen, one bowl was rice porridge, and the other bowl contained a white flour bun and a boiled egg.
In this era, the food was considered very good. She knocked the eggs on the table and said, "Let Guoguo come over. Give her half of the eggs."
Tian Yu poked the corner of his mouth and drooled. His eyes were fixed on the fat girl holding the egg in her second sister's hand. He took out a spit towel and wiped it for her. Then he glared at his sister and said, "Just pinch off a fingernail-sized egg white for her to taste. This girl is greedy. Don't say that in the future. Otherwise, you won't be able to coax her if you don't give her the egg."
"Just half an egg." Tian Mi finally broke off half of it and put it in the bowl, motioning the little girl to come over and eat.
"Your sister makes you sound like a stepmother, half today and half tomorrow. What are you going to do? This is your first pregnancy and you don't understand. A pregnant woman needs to eat good things to replenish her body." Tian Yu muttered as she went to the kitchen. She took out a small wooden spoon used by the little fat girl, mashed half an egg into small pieces, and scooped it for her daughter.
Tian Mi suppressed a smile: "Okay, next time I'll hide and eat."
"Second aunt, don't hide. Guoguo wants to eat." The little fat girl was very smart. She understood what was said between the two and protested immediately.
Before he finished speaking, he snorted at his mother: "Mom, you are so bad."
Tian Mi: “Hahahaha”
Tian Yu
After Tian Mi finished her breakfast and washed the pots and dishes, she sat down at the sewing machine to continue her unfinished down jacket project.
Her craftsmanship is just average. She can barely make a vest, but the threads inside the clothes are not straight, so it's only acceptable from the outside.
But it’s different with long-sleeved down jackets, the sleeves always get twisted.
She had tried to undo it several times, and had even planned to ask her elder sister for help if she couldn't put on the sleeves today. But there was no way, the fabric could not withstand being undoed again.
"Making clothes again? There's a lot of fun outside these days. Not only are there people making ice lanterns, but there are also people skating. Don't you want to go and have a look?"
Hearing this, Tian Mi hesitated for a few seconds, but still shook her head and refused: "Wait until I sew the sleeves well. If they are not well done, you will always worry about it. Sister, why do I feel like I am addicted to making clothes?"
“Haha, don’t you feel a sense of accomplishment after you finish it?”
"Yeah, you're like that too?"
Tian Yu grabbed a handful of peanuts and put them on a small plate. He peeled them and said with a smile, "It's the same when you first learn it. Once you can make it, you don't want to touch it. I'm like that. Apart from my family, if anyone else asks me to help make clothes, I really get annoyed."
Tian Mi understood what this meant. It was just like when she first learned to drive, she really thought it was fun, but after that wave of excitement wore off, she would rather take a taxi when she went out.
One of the sisters was making clothes while the other was taking care of the baby and peeling peanuts. Tian Yu would occasionally put a peanut into her sister's mouth.
Just when Tian Mi had finished sewing one sleeve and was showing off to her elder sister with great satisfaction, little Chen Zhao ran back with an anxious look on his face.
Then, before the two sisters could ask what was going on, the kid pulled one of them out by the hand, saying angrily, "Mom, Second Aunt, someone is causing trouble for Third Aunt, and my eldest brother asked me to come back and call you."
Hearing this, Tian Mi frowned. She broke free from her hands, took the coat hanging on the rack and put it on, and asked worriedly: "What do you mean? Who would cause trouble for your third aunt? Where is she?" As she spoke, she handed over her eldest sister's coat.
Tian Yu took the clothes and was also puzzled: "Why is your third aunt so stubborn? Who is she? Why?"
Although Chen Zhao is young, he is still very talkative: "At the health station, it's Deputy Battalion Commander Zhou Dajun's mother. She just brought a boy to the health station to find my third aunt. She said she wanted to meet my third aunt for a date. She also said that she mentioned this to you and you agreed."
"She farted!" Upon hearing this, Tian Yu was furious.
With a dark face, she locked the door tightly and handed Guoguo to Chen Zhao: "Second brother, you hold your sister and walk behind. Your second aunt and I will go to the health station first."
"Hey! Mom, slow down with your aunt."
"knew."
Having said that, thinking of the honest nature of the third sister, the two sisters still took the biggest steps possible.
But before they had walked a few steps, Tian Mi turned back and waved at little Chen Zhao: "Zhao Zhao, go tell your father or your second uncle about this and ask them to go find Deputy Battalion Commander Zhou."
"Yes, yes, then give Guoguo to me."
“.”
The health station is not far from the family compound.
When the two sisters brought Guoguo to the health station, the situation was better than they expected.
Zhou Dajun's mother Feng Erhua had been driven out, and the person who drove her out was Tian Xin's master, the head nurse who had eaten at home.
There were already quite a few military families who had gathered around to watch the show. When they saw the two people coming, although they felt a little embarrassed, none of them were willing to leave. They all looked excited to watch a big show.
Seeing this, although Tian Yu let go of most of his worries, the anger in his chest was still burning.
She usually doesn't bother with older people, which is why, when old lady Feng came to her house last time and wanted to tell her younger sister about her good-for-nothing son, although she was so angry that she wanted to vomit blood, she was still willing to save face on the surface.
But she was obviously wrong. Some people not only don't know how to be shameless when given the chance, but also take advantage of others.
Thinking of this, Tian Yu stood in front of Feng Erhua in one step, put his hands on his hips and shouted: "Old lady Feng, my sister is only 16 years old. Last time you came to my house to ask about dating, I rejected you. What do you mean by doing this today? Are you bullying me because I have no one at home?"
Feng Erhua is in her early fifties and has a kind face. She looked aggrieved when she heard this: "Sister Tian, what you said is not right. You clearly agreed at that time. Otherwise, why would I let my second son spend dozens of dollars and come all the way from our hometown to meet your Tian Xin? We even rejected the good marriage proposal from the mayor's family. How can you be like this? Why don't you admit what you said? Isn't it not fair to do this?" As she said this, she wiped her eyes aggrievedly.
Hearing her singing and crying like this, Tian Yu became even more angry.
Not only did this guy just make random connections, he even mentioned his own worth. How could a town mayor's family be interested in a second-rate guy who has no looks and no job? Is he blind
The most infuriating thing was that after Feng Erhua said that, it seemed as if she had really agreed to let her third sister meet someone.
The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. Tian Yu rolled up his sleeves and was ready to have a good fight with the other person.
Worried that her elder sister would be angry with her, Tian Mi reached out and pressed her elder sister's arm at the right time. When she saw her elder sister looking over, she said gently, "Sister, don't be angry. I'll take care of this."
As she spoke, she turned her gaze to the old woman who was still wiping her eyes to gain sympathy.
It’s true, this is the first time she has seen such an old Bai Lian in real life, which is really an eye-opener.
When I was watching videos in the past, I saw some two-faced mothers-in-law who worked hard in front of their sons, but when their sons were not around, they would abuse and scold their daughters-in-law.
At that time, she thought it was a joke. After all, they were just ordinary people, so how could there be so much intrigue? It was like a palace drama.
But now, having seen it with his own eyes, Tian Mi realized that he was ignorant. At least there really were old white lotuses in the world.
Of course, she was also very clear about Feng Erhua's motives.
Isn't it that he just wants to take the opportunity to ruin the third sister's reputation, thinking that it will be easier to marry a girl if she loses her good reputation
There's no point in reasoning with this kind of person!
Tian Mi looked up and down at the short and ugly man next to Feng Erhua, who looked nonchalant. When she met his greasy eyes, she turned away in disgust.
She turned around and smiled at the head nurse who had been blocking the door, "Sister Yun, I've asked my husband Lou and my brother-in-law Political Commissar Chen to ask Deputy Battalion Commander Zhou to come over. Please help me keep an eye on my third sister and don't let her out. Also, can you please ask someone to invite Brigade Commander Wang or Political Commissar Liu? Tell them that there are hooligans and reactionaries here, and ask the chief to make the decision."
The head nurse's eyes lit up, and she turned and ran: "I'll go right away."
"You are talking nonsense. When did I become a reactionary? My family has been poor peasants for eight generations, and my son has never been a hooligan. You are a conscienceless person. Don't think you can talk nonsense just because your husband is the head of the regiment."
Seeing that Feng Erhua could barely maintain her pitiful expression, Tian Mi snorted coldly: "Look, I didn't even call out the names, but you already took the seat by name?"
What do people fear most these days? Of course, they are afraid of being labeled a reactionary.
Feng Erhua is illiterate, but she worked as a handyman in a second-rate opera troupe for two years when she was a child. She has seen a lot of darkness and filth, so naturally she has some tricks up her sleeve.
Later, the environment changed and the troupe was disbanded. She fell in love with a man and used rumors to ruin the man's engagement and forced him to marry her.
Although she suffered a few months of grievance at the beginning, as a man, he was completely obedient to her after some coaxing, crying, and burrowing into bed with her. Later, she gave birth to two big fat boys, and he had the final say at home.
It’s just that the man passed away early, and life became difficult.
However, she was a smart person and soon set her sights on the most favored daughter of the village secretary.
Her eldest son took after his dead father and was good-looking, so she would often tell that girl how outstanding and amazing her son was and how much he loved her.
Sure enough, the little girl, who had never seen the world, was quickly won over and insisted on marrying the eldest brother.
In the end, the village secretary not only had to pay a large dowry to marry his daughter off, he also arranged for his son Zhou Dajun to join the army. After more than ten years, he even became the deputy battalion commander.
If she had not done it intentionally back then, her eldest son might not be where he is today.
For this, she often feels complacent.
Now she has chosen Tian Xin for her second son. What's wrong with that? She didn't despise Tian Xin for being thin and difficult to raise. Instead, the two sisters of the Tian family started to scare her.
If it was someone else, Ma Erhua wouldn't have been brought up to be scared.
But as for the reactionaries, in recent years, no one who has these words attached to them is good.
If she really admitted it, it would not be as simple as just her going to labor camp. Even her eldest son Zhou Dajun, whom she was proud of, would be implicated.
Thinking of this possibility, Feng Erhua cried even more miserably, half of it was acting to gain sympathy, and half of it was really scared: "You are talking nonsense, that day we only talked about the two children meeting each other, and didn't say anything else."
The crying child gets the milk. After hearing her sincere and miserable cry, there were actually a few people who were not firm in their stance and cast suspicious eyes at the Tian Mi sister.
Tian Mi patted her elder sister who was about to explode again, and then said, "You said you didn't lie, and you said we agreed to meet your son. Do you have any evidence?"
Feng Erhua had thought about this a long time ago. She raised her face and revealed her red eyes. "If you don't admit it, I can't produce any evidence. Your men are high-ranking officials. But can you produce evidence to prove that what I said was false?"
Tian Mi nodded: "I do have evidence."
Feng Erhua was shocked, but remained calm: "What evidence?"
"The evidence is simple. I think anyone with eyes can see that we can't possibly marry our beautiful sister to someone like this."
As he spoke, Tian Mi looked away in disgust, obviously not wanting to pollute his own eyes.
Being ugly is not a sin. After all, it is given by your parents and cannot represent your character.
But for the one in front of her, forgive her for being harsh: "My sister and I really want to marry my sister to this guy in your family. Do you think we are blind? Or do you think everyone is blind? What do you want from marrying your sister to such a thing? Because he is greasy, wretched, short and ugly, or a gangster? I am not saying anything, old lady Feng, even if you want to make friends with someone, you should see the gap between the two sides clearly, right?"
As soon as these words were spoken, some of the military dependents behind them burst into laughter, and even Tian Yu was laughing so hard.
"You! You..." Feng Erhua wanted to act like a real shrew, but was afraid that all her efforts would be wasted. Her face turned red with holding back her breath, and she also tried hard to hold down her little son who was panting. Most of the men in these military families were not easy to deal with, so she couldn't use violence.
Seeing that they were so angry that their faces turned red and their necks were thick, but they still endured it, Tian Mi was surprised for a moment, then continued: "Also, you just said that the mayor of your town wanted to marry into your family. This is not something you said casually. If it is also a random fabrication, you would be charged with hooliganism. The authenticity of this matter is easy to verify. It is not difficult to find the phone number of the police station in your town. Just one phone call and you..."
"You bitch, who the hell are you trying to scare? Do you believe that I will beat you up?" Feng Erhua, whose face had turned pale, had no time to react before the short man next to her rushed over with his fists raised, angry and scared.
Now, even the military dependents who had been skeptical just now were no longer happy. Everyone knew that the Tian sisters were pregnant. If this really happened, it would be a big disaster.
It’s one thing to quarrel and gossip about trivial matters on a daily basis, but they are still very united at critical moments, especially since they are all women and have given birth, so they know how difficult it is for women to be pregnant.
It can be said that Feng Erhua’s youngest son directly touched the sore spot of the military families in the family quarters.
Look, the crowd who were originally watching the scene started shouting and rushing over to try to stop the man’s violent behavior.
However, the next scene shocked everyone.
Tian Mi, who was tall and slender, grabbed the man's fist. Then, no one knew what she did, but everyone saw a flash before their eyes, and the short and fat man flew backwards three or four meters.
When he fell to the ground, there was a heavy "bang!" sound.
"Hiss~" The man gasped in pain, then rolled on the ground wailing, "Ouch! Ouch!"
No one is a fool, so everyone knows that he is pretending.
They were no longer curious about where Tian Mi got her ability from. They all stood in front of the Tian sisters, put their hands on their hips and scolded the Feng mother and son.
The scene was so intense that Political Commissar Liu, who had rushed over, was stunned.
(End of this chapter)