The educated youth was reborn and wanted to disappear, but he was locked into a military marriage.

Mrs. Jiang said gratefully, "Brother Ziheng, thank you for your help."

"Sister-in-law, don't be so polite. Xiaochen is Jiang Ying's son and our nephew. This is what we should do." Zhou Ziheng said hurriedly.

Zhu Xiaomin smiled and said, "It's so late, I guess you haven't eaten yet, sit down and eat and talk slowly."

Xiao Zhang was a little embarrassed: "Sister-in-law, I've eaten."

Zhou Ziheng also said: "Sister-in-law, don't bother, we have eaten in the car."

Zhu Xiaomin smiled: "We have to talk anyway, so let's eat something." Instead of going to the kitchen, she led everyone to the newly moved table.

Zhou Ziheng was a little surprised when he saw the long row of tables. He glanced at Zhu Xiaomin and joked, "It does look like a restaurant."

These days, doing business privately is considered speculation. As a military dependent, Zhu Xiaomin will directly affect Lu Mingzheng.

Lu Mingzheng smiled: "We have many friends. This time, your sister-in-law and I came to Beijing for the exam. This is the only place where we can get together, so we prepared some tables."

Zhou Ziheng knew that he had spoken rashly and apologized quickly: "Sister-in-law, I didn't mean anything else."

The fact that this man traveled thousands of miles to send Jiang Sao's child here shows that he is a kind-hearted person. Zhu Xiaomin did not mind and said with a smile, "There are a few too many tables." She asked a few people to sit down, poured some water, and then served the food.

At this point, several people had actually eaten. Lu Mingzheng and Xiao Zhang had a bowl of noodles at a state-owned restaurant, while Zhou Ziheng and Jiang Xiaochen ate the dry food they brought with them in the car.

As soon as Zhu Xiaomin brought the stewed chicken over and smelled the lingering aroma, several people couldn't help swallowing their saliva and no longer hesitated to say that they had eaten it before.

Mrs. Jiang served more porridge, brought out some golden pancakes, set out bowls and chopsticks for everyone, and sat next to her son to help him pick up the food.

Zhu Xiaomin apologized and said, "I wanted to make dumplings, but the supply and marketing cooperative didn't buy any meat today, only chicken."

Zhou Ziheng said hurriedly: "Sister-in-law, Jiang Ying, Lu Lian and I are all brothers, there is no need to be so polite."

Lu Mingzheng smiled, picked up two chicken legs, gave one to Jiang Xiaochen and one to Zhou Ziheng, and chopped chicken nuggets for Xiao Zhang, saying with a smile: "Try your sister-in-law's cooking skills."

Panicked Xiao Zhang stood up quickly: "Captain, I... I can hold it myself."

Lu Mingzheng motioned for him to sit down: "We are not in the company, so you should be more casual at home."

Zhou Ziheng also felt a little guilty: "Lu Lian, since you said it's up to you, we can just pick it up ourselves." He wanted to put the chicken leg back, but he felt it was not a good idea, so he thought about it and decided to give up.

But when I took a bite, I found the chicken leg so tender and delicious that I almost swallowed my tongue. I asked in surprise, "Did my sister-in-law make this? She's such a great cook."

Lu Mingzheng looked at Zhu Xiaomin with a smile and couldn't help showing off: "Not to mention meat, even ordinary coarse grains, she can make different delicious dishes."

Zhou Ziheng couldn't stop eating. He took a piece of potato and it melted in his mouth. It tasted even better than the chicken. He couldn't help but nod his head repeatedly: "If my sister-in-law came to our camp to be the chef, I'm afraid those guys would run ten more kilometers just to smell the aroma."

Xiao Zhang glanced at him and whispered, "Sister-in-law is a college student, how can she be a chef?"

Zhou Ziheng was stunned, knowing that he had said something wrong again, and hurriedly said, "Sister-in-law, I mean that you are a good cook, not that you can only be a chef."

Another straight man who really can't speak.

Zhu Xiaomin found it funny and said quickly, "I know, Platoon Leader Zhou, don't worry about it."

Lu Mingzheng knew that he was a soldier fanatic, so he smiled and said, "Who says she isn't? She can make people copy a whole book just by using a tea egg."

Zhou Ziheng opened his eyes wide in surprise, somewhat unconvinced: "Really?"

Zhu Xiaomin laughed: "That was a few years ago. It was rare to have good food in the village."

The adults were chatting while Jiang Xiaochen was eating silently. From time to time, he would look up at Zhou Ziheng, then look at Lu Mingzheng, then lower his head again and continue eating.

He just finished eating a chicken leg and didn't go to pick up any vegetables himself. Mrs. Jiang picked some for him and put it in the bowl before he ate it.

Zhu Xiaomin saw it and knew that the child was still shy, so she didn't urge him.

Lu Mingzheng ate a few pancakes and drank all the porridge, then said to Zhu Xiaomin, "Xiao Zhang has to take Zhou Pai to the station early tomorrow morning, so you can stay here today. Let Jiang Sao and you sleep there, and we'll sleep over there."

Zhu Xiaomin was surprised: "Why is Zhou Pai leaving tomorrow?"

Zhou Ziheng nodded: "I came here specially to send Xiaochen here this time. The company gave me seven days off. I bought a ticket back home as soon as I got off the bus."

Zhu Xiaomin felt a little regretful: "Next time I come, I'll stay a few more days."

Zhou Ziheng agreed readily.

Hot water was boiled in the kitchen. After everyone finished eating, Mrs. Jiang went to clean up and the others went to fetch water for washing. Zhu Xiaomin took over from Miao Shiwen to look after the children.

After a while, Mrs. Jiang came in with a quilt. Zhu Xiaomin saw her lock the door and asked in surprise, "Xiaochen won't sleep with me?"

Mrs. Jiang shook her head, looking somewhat dejected: "After he finished his shower, he followed Zhou Pai to sleep."

Zhu Xiaomin advised: "After all, he hasn't seen you for a few years, and he's a big boy now, so maybe he's embarrassed."

Mrs. Jiang groaned, climbed onto the kang, spread out her quilt, then sighed and whispered, "Even Xiaochen has become estranged from me, and I'm afraid Niuniu has forgotten me even less."

Zhu Xiaomin patted her on the back and said, "I'll follow you every day from now on. Are you afraid that I won't stick to you?"

Mrs. Jiang thought about having both children by her side in the future, and the loneliness in her heart suddenly eased a little. She nodded and lay down.

The next day, before dawn, there was movement in the yard. Mrs. Jiang woke up first, quickly sat up, and whispered, "It sounds like Brother Ziheng is leaving." She quickly put on her clothes and went out.

Zhu Xiaomin had already woken up after hearing what she said. Just as she sat up, she heard Lu Mingzheng say outside the window: "Don't get up. Xiao Zhang will take Zhou Pai to the station."

Mrs. Jiang said hurriedly, "There's some porridge in the kitchen, just heat it up."

Zhou Ziheng said in a loud voice: "Sister-in-law, no need, it's still early, I'll go to the station to eat something and then get on the bus."

Then, there was the sound of the iron door opening.

Zhu Xiaomin was stunned for a moment, but did not go out. She lay down slowly again.

After a while, the iron gate was heard closing again, and footsteps came back through the yard. Lu Mingzheng and Mrs. Jiang seemed to say something in a low voice, and then the door was opened.

Zhu Xiaomin was still very sleepy. She tucked her head into the quilt and said vaguely, "Sleep a little longer. It's still early."

He did not hear Mrs. Jiang's response, but only heard someone getting on the kang with a rustling sound, and then his quilt was lifted and someone came in.

Zhu Xiaomin was startled. Just as she was about to sit up, she was hugged by someone. Lu Mingzheng said with a smile, "It's still early. Sleep a little longer."

Zhu Xiaomin's body suddenly relaxed, but she was helpless: "Why are you here?"

Lu Mingzheng turned her body around, leaned over and kissed her, and sighed softly: "I'm only back for this one night, I can't be away from you for even a moment."

Zhu Xiaomin felt soft inside, smiled softly, raised her body and kissed him back, and whispered, "Sleep a little longer."

"Yeah!" Lu Mingzheng responded, hugged her, buried his face in her neck, and lay down quietly.

Zhu Xiaomin turned slightly to the side, adjusted a comfortable position in his arms, and closed her eyes. But after a while, she felt his hands begin to move unruly, and in her ears she heard his voice asking, "Xiaomin, can I?"

……