Three or Two Things about Rebirth

Qiu Luming held his forehead with his hand and asked, "Did you write a love letter when you were in the first grade of junior high school?"

Yes, in her so-called first love, with whom she had never even held hands, she actually wrote a love letter to that boy, but she never imagined that her parents even knew about it.

"I think we should do this. Don't tell her about this for now. Just pretend that no one knows anything. From time to time, the second child can mention the matter of Xie Zhi and his girlfriend during dinner. Although Youyou is not smart enough, she is a kind-hearted child. She knows what not to do and will never interfere in other people's relationships." At the end, He Manshu's voice was full of helplessness and pity.

"Yes, nowadays little girls have strong rebellious psychology. If we say something, Yoyo will be embarrassed. If there is a fuss, it will be embarrassing for everyone." Qiu Jiashu agreed, "Xie Zhi and the third child are good friends. I can see that they only treat her as their friend's sister. They don't have her in their hearts or eyes at all. We treat her as our own treasure, but others only remember that the youngest daughter of the old Qiu family is not good at studying, not smart, and is aggressive and only knows how to fight with others.

I don't need to mention it. Youyou would run into them at work. After Xie Zhi got his job, he would send that woman to work every day and pick her up after get off work. On the day of the spring outing, he brought his girlfriend with him. They swam by the river and played around. Everyone in the company saw it, and Youyou should have seen it too. So when Han Meifen came to call for help, I thought Youyou had jumped into the river out of anger."

"Bang!"

"Uh!"

The heavy punch made Qiu Jiashu groan.

"Does anyone say that about their sister?"

"Mom! You just know how to bully me!" Qiu Jiashu hissed in pain.

"It just so happened that the person who saved Youyou that day was Xie Zhi. After all, he saved a life. Youyou will definitely think too much. Alas, you saved Xie Guang. It would have been better if you were transferred here."

"That's enough! Get ready and go to bed!" Qiu Jiye whispered, "I'm not worried that Yoyo will make a mistake, I'm just worried that she will be sad. This child may not understand that feelings can't be forced. Second brother, you two will always have something to talk about, you should comfort her more."

"Row."

"Qiu Jiye, I regret coming to this mountain valley with you now. No matter how outstanding my children are, what's the use if they can't even find a decent life partner!"

"What nonsense! In the situation back then, did we have any better way to go except supporting the border areas? We are not the only ones who have experienced these hardships! I can only say that this is the fate of our generation, and it is inevitable!" Qiu Jiye raised his voice, "Whether a person is happy or not is not absolutely related to the environment he lives in. Are those who marry high-ranking officials, scholars and wealthy people necessarily happy? Are those women who marry ordinary people necessarily unhappy? Happiness is a kind of ability. You should not be whining here, but teach our only daughter how to master the ability to be happy!"

"Why are you yelling at me? I suffered so much giving birth to her, and you made her sound so scary. I've been worrying about her every day for the past 20 years. Don't I want her to be well? You only said you felt sorry for her, but how much have you taken care of the child?"

When Qiu Jiye saw his wife crying, he immediately surrendered, "I was wrong. I was too concerned and confused. I apologize!"

......

Qiu Luming listened to her parents and brothers worrying about her and arguing about her. She leaned her head against the wall, slightly looking up at the few stars shining through the gaps in the curtains. She kept watching until dawn in the east, when all the stars disappeared.

For breakfast, just as they had discussed, the whole family acted as if they knew nothing and only chatted about things at home and outside during the meal.

"My eldest brother just had a major operation and has established himself in the Second Hospital. My eldest sister-in-law is also working in the medical department, but it's a pity that she has lost her original profession."

"What's a pity? Wasn't it she who persuaded your eldest brother to go to Harbin? She was happy to do it even if he didn't have a job! Dabao was well educated by his grandfather, but now his grandmother, who only graduated from junior high school, has to go to Harbin to take care of the child. What good can she bring out? It's a pity for my smart grandson!"

Qiu Jiye pointed at his wife and said to Qiu Luming, "Look at your mother. Isn't she the same as Mrs. Li above? All the good things are bought by her son, and all the unpleasant things are instigated by her daughter-in-law."

Qiu Luming looked a little tired, but smiled and said, "My mother is better than 99% of the mothers-in-law in the county!"

"That's right, my future daughter-in-law is so blessed!" Qiu Jiashu also said.

"Do you have a partner?" The whole family looked at Qiu Jiashu suddenly.

"No, no, no! That's just what I said." Qiu Jiashu explained hurriedly.

Qiu Luming felt that since his second brother could joke about this topic, he must have gotten over the shadow of that day.

"By the way, Huifang said her dad is going to host a dinner this Sunday and asked you all to go." Qiu Luming remembered the call from Qin Huifang, "Dad, you should arrange your work well and don't use being on duty as an excuse. I heard that Director Qin is going to be promoted to deputy county magistrate. We should not flatter him, but also don't offend him openly."

"You're teaching your father a lesson!" Qiu Jiye observed his daughter's expression, but couldn't figure out what was going on. "Who did you invite? If anyone forces people to drink, I won't go."

"It was all our family, Xie Zhi's family, Zheng Wei's family, Han Meifen's family, and the Public Security Bureau and the Grain Bureau who rescued people that day. Dad, you should go and sit for a while. No need to flatter or smile flatteringly. Just don't make a long face. I promise that no one will dare to force Dean Qiu to drink!"

***

On Sunday afternoon, the four members of the Qiu family went to the Friendship Hotel for a banquet.

Qiu Luming took half a day off for this purpose and dressed up carefully. He wore a white georgette shirt with the hem tucked into a long skirt with a white background and blue floral patterns, which made his waist look slender. His sleeves were made of gauze, which was both cool and could cover the wounds on his elbows. He wore a pair of milky white flat-heeled sandals and stood in front of his family. Qiu Jiye was the first to praise him.

When they arrived at the banquet hall of Friendship Hotel, the two tables were almost full. Qin Guobang exclaimed, and stood up to greet them, "President Qiu! You're here!" As he spoke, he pulled Qiu Jiye to the main seat. His attitude was humble and his words were polite, really giving him enough face.

Qiu Luming glanced at Qin Huifang, and she happened to look at him too. The two smiled knowingly. It seemed that they had done a good job in their ideological work.

Han Meifen's parents sat at the last seat, and together with the parents of the Qin, Qiu, Xie, and Zheng families, ten people filled up a round table.

There were about ten people sitting at a table near the door, all young people.

Qin Huifang's second brother greeted everyone attentively and tried his best to let Qiu Luming sit on the main seat. However, Qiu Luming refused and after some pushing and shoving, Qin Huifang finally pushed him to sit down.

Qiu Luming looked around and found that neither of Han Meifen's brothers had come. When she asked about it, Han Meifen whispered, "They don't want to come here to apologize. No one wants to come."

Qiu Luming looked at his second brother, who did not smile at anyone.

But think about it, Han's father is Director Qin's subordinate. Although he is nominally thanked by the Qin family, he still can't escape the need to toast and drink, and he can't avoid showing his flattering side. Han Meifen's two brothers are very proud and naturally don't want to attend such occasions.

In the presence of elders and leaders, the young people at the table were very restrained. They listened attentively to the movements at the main table, raised their glasses at the right time, or went to the main table to toast, like puppets.

Only Qin Huifang was the most lively. She seemed to be reborn after the flood. A smile was welded on her face, and no one knew why she was so happy.

Qin Guobang called her over to toast the elders. She held the wine glass and muttered a lot of grateful and auspicious words, thanking everyone. Finally, she walked to Qiu Jiye and He Manshu, put down the wine glass, took a step back and was about to kneel. Fortunately, Qiu Luming had given He Manshu a shot of prevention at home, and she said "No" and supported Qin Huifang, otherwise it would have been easy for her to kowtow successfully.

At a banquet, the Qin family was very tactful, while the Qiu family was silent and taciturn.

Qiu Luming didn't expect that after Qin Huifang toasted her with a drink alone, Xie Guang also brought a glass of orange juice to express his gratitude.