Three or Two Things about Rebirth

Qiu Luming brings her own lunch every day. If the police canteen or the border defense brigade improves their food, she will have an extra portion of food, which she often gives to Uncle Li in the guard room.

Sometimes there were no readers in the reading room at noon, and even Sister Wan and Liu Qi from the lending room would come over to eat together. Everyone would chat while eating. Uncle Li was a talkative person, and he would often talk about the topic of the War to Resist Sino-US Resist USSR and Aid Korea, over and over again, and never tired of it.

At noon that day, Fang Yuan had someone deliver a lunch box of pig-killing dishes, and the people on the first floor gathered together for lunch again. Of course, Xiao Ma was not included, as she still refused to talk to Qiu Luming.

Sister Wan gave two pieces of braised pork to everyone, Qiu Luming shared the pig-killing dish with everyone, Liu Qi didn't eat blood sausage, but only sauerkraut and tender pork, and Uncle Li poured the remaining soup from the lunch box into his own bowl and soaked the rice, "Xiao Qiu, don't tell me that rice soaked in soup is hard to chew! Back then, my comrades-in-arms ate frozen potatoes and snow in Korea. If they had the hot soup from the pig-killing dish, they wouldn't have frozen to death or starved to death..."

Well, the conversation has started again.

"We were fighting 17 countries before. It was so difficult! We were poor and had just established our country, but we were not afraid! We crossed the Yalu River with high spirits and fought! We fought with our lives at risk! In the end, the foreign devils were so scared that they wet their pants when they heard our charge!"

Qiu Luming wrapped a piece of pork belly and a spoonful of pickled cabbage and put them into her mouth. Although there was no mashed garlic, the taste of this fatty but not greasy food was so delicious that she shook her head.

This season is the time to slaughter pigs for the New Year. Every day, the sky above Jiayang is filled with the cries of fat pigs. If you are popular, you can go out and eat one or two pig slaughtering meals every day.

The pigs raised by the Border Defense Brigade were fatter and bigger, but there were many officers and soldiers, so a pig would be eaten up in one or two days. Alas, after working hard for a year, just for this one meal.

"Our country sent 290 million volunteers... Without the sacrifices of the martyrs, we wouldn't be able to sit here and eat pig-killing dishes!"

"Uncle Li, why didn't you cross the river back then?" Liu Qi asked with a smile.

Uncle Li ate a large piece of pork belly and said, "Don't mention it. Gather at the riverside to select forty guards for the leader. I was chosen right away!"

"That's because you look energetic and your eyes are bright." Qiu Luming answered quickly. After saying that, he took another look at the bearded Mr. Li and didn't think he looked very energetic.

"A hero doesn't brag about his past achievements. I'm not brave enough to do that. I feel ashamed when I think of my fallen comrades!"

Sister Wan smiled and said, "Uncle Li, whether you have crossed the river or not, you are always a hero!"

"What kind of hero is he? He's just a rough guy. But don't worry about the door of the library. I will definitely keep a close eye on it!"

Speaking of the gate, the door opened and footsteps came towards the reading room.

Ma Zhenyi pushed open the door of the reading room and was suddenly surprised to see so many people. He was stunned for a moment and was about to turn around.

"Do you want to borrow a book or read a magazine?" Sister Wan stood up. "We'll be done eating soon."

Ma Zhenyi pointed at the magazine rack. Sister Wan sat down and said, "Then come in!"

Qiu Luming remained calm, took Ma Zhenyi's reading card and told him to do as he pleased.

The four of them stopped talking, quickly finished their meal, and went their separate ways. Before leaving, Uncle Li hinted to Qiu Luming to call him if he had any problems.

Qiu Luming poured himself a cup of boiled water, stood up and walked slowly in the corridor at the door for ten minutes to digest the food, then sat back behind his desk and drank some water. The water temperature was just right.

Four days had passed since the last time he met Qiu Jiashu, but Ma Zhenyi still came to the reading room. He read magazines for more than an hour before leaving. Before leaving, he took his reading card and whispered to Qiu Luming, "Don't be afraid of me. You should already know everything about me. I'm not a bad person and I won't hurt you. ... I just came here to read books and newspapers."

Qiu Luming didn't believe it. She curled the corners of her mouth and nodded slightly.

"You are very lucky that your family treats you so well. If Yun's father and brother were the same, she would not have died." Ma Zhenyi's voice was barely audible, but Qiu Luming still heard it clearly. She pretended not to hear it, firmly remembered her mother's words, and did not talk to him much.

When he got off work, Qiu Jiashu came to pick him up. Qiu Luming thought about it and decided not to mention Ma Zhenyi's visit in order to prevent his second brother from going after someone else.

In the following days, Ma Zhenyi came to the reading room once or twice a week. He managed his time well and never met Qiu Jiashu.

But he never chatted with Qiu Luming again. When he came, he just picked up two magazines, sat in the corner, read quietly and then left.

Qiu Luming gradually felt relieved. She was willing to believe that most people in this world did not like to be pestered.

***

Qin Huifang and Han Meifen are on winter vacation again. In the blink of an eye, they will graduate in half a year.

Qin Huifang said that her sister-in-law planned to introduce her to a boyfriend, but the plan was shelved because of her falling into the water. Later, her elder brother and sister-in-law were transferred to Yi City, and no one in the family urged Qin Huifang to find a boyfriend anymore.

This holiday, as soon as Qin Huifang came back, she took the initiative to say that she had a boyfriend in Harbin this semester and his family was from Daqing.

Qiu Luming was very surprised. "What an outstanding person this must be. He has bewitched our Miss Qin. One is Daqing and the other is Jiayang. Will you get any result?"

"Who said I want the result? I just want the sweet process of love!"

This statement stunned everyone. Qiu Luming had never heard anyone dare to speak so arrogantly, so he winked at her, signaling her to shut up.

"Am I wrong? We are both 22 years old. We will have to get married in less than two years after graduation. By then, relatives and leaders will introduce potential partners to us endlessly. My cousin was like that at that time. I hate this the most. It's as if I can't find a partner myself!"

Han Meifen smiled and said, "That guy's family is better off than Huifang's, and he's tall and handsome. They both look good and dress well, and they're always a couple in our school, making everyone envious!"

Qiu Luming glanced at Lu Jiaming, who looked like he had lost his parents, and asked Qin Huifang, "There is still half a year before graduation. What are you going to do?"

"What should we do? If he is willing to come to Jiayang, or can transfer me to Daqing, we will get married. If not, we will break up. There are plenty of men in the world. Who can be so desperate?" Qin Huifang looked as if she needed to ask this question.

Lu Jiaming's mouth kept moving, and he muttered in a low voice, "Tsk, I don't know who is willing to jump into the river to die..."

"Lu Jiaming, speak louder! Stop the cricket chirping!"

"I didn't say anything!"

"You must have farted wrongly!" Qin Huifang didn't have Qiu Luming's good hearing. She rolled her eyes at Lu Jiaming angrily and pointed at his nose. "Just wait!"

"Just wait!"

"You contradict me every time I say something!" Qin Huifang glared at Lu Jiaming again, ignored him, and turned to ask Qiu Luming, "You don't have a girlfriend?"

"My second and third brothers are not married yet, so I'm not in a hurry. Besides, no one has introduced me to a date." Qiu Luming said with a smile, and then asked the others, "What about you guys? Tell me, Lao Yang is so handsome and romantic, has he charmed a lot of people again?"

Yang Dawei chuckled, which was considered as his agreement.

Ma Mingjun and Zheng Wei both shook their heads.

Lu Jiaming said, "I won't do such a bad thing. If you want to date someone, you should aim for marriage. Dating without the purpose of marriage is just hooliganism!"

"If you don't speak, no one will treat you as a mute!" Qin Huifang kicked him directly on the thigh, "If you want to be together, you need someone to be willing to be with you!"