Five years of marriage, always separated [1970s]

Ye Fan saw that the chilblains on his hands had gotten a little better, and after Geng Zhiye finished his meal, he still asked him to soak his feet to ward off the cold.

Geng Zhiye asked Ye Fan if she wanted to take a bath. Ye Fan was very tired after a busy day and just wanted to rest early. But it was too early to go to bed now, so she took out the foot bath bags she bought a few days ago and threw one bag into Geng Zhiye's basin.

Dabao burst out laughing.

Geng Zhiye was puzzled: "What are you laughing at?"

"This is what my mother used. It contains motherwort and safflower. Mom, what else?" Dabao asked, trying to hold back his laughter.

Ye Fan: "Chinese medicine doesn't say men can't use it either."

Geng Zhiye fished it out and threw it into the leaf basin: "Don't bother me. Don't let the cold air get out and then bring out the heat."

Erbao leaned on the back of the sofa and asked, "Dad, do you want me to make you a cup of brown sugar ginger tea?"

"No need!" Geng Zhiye raised his hand and moved his daughter's head aside: "Don't make me angry here."

Geng Zhiqin didn't go home at night, and Erbao came to her and said, "Little one, come to your sister. We don't want to play with uncle."

Geng Zhiye was a little surprised to see his sister before, and he was still surprised to see her again. He asked Ye Fan in his ear: "Why is she here too?"

Ye Fan whispered two words: "Lai Fu!"

Geng Zhiye understood and snorted. Ye Fan patted him on the waist, suggesting that he should keep his voice down.

Geng Huihui didn't want to stay with her aunt, so she winked at Geng Sensen. After watching an episode of the TV series, Geng Sensen reminded his aunt to go to the back with him to rest. Geng Huihui pulled Ye Jingjing and said, "Sleep with your sister tonight."

There were only the couple left in the main room. Geng Zhiye asked, "Did you buy a gift for Dabao?"

Ye Fan nodded: "Buy a little golden peanut."

"Hollow or solid?"

Ye Fan: "Of course it's hollow. The price of gold is quite high recently, and a hollow one will cost two or three hundred."

"Give Dabao a solid one later?"

Ye Fan didn't know what to buy for Dabao. Thinking that his little Guanyin had been wearing it for many years, he decided to buy him a jade Guanyin today: "Wait until the price of gold drops and buy one each for him and Erbao."

"You decide." Geng Zhiye looked at the cotton slippers on his feet and said, "This pair of shoes is comfortable. Do you have any more at home?"

Ye Fan took a pair from the closet: "Wear them when you go to the army?"

"It will be bad if someone sees us. But who cares!" Geng Zhiye found a bag to pack it up and prepared to take it back tomorrow.

Ye Fan was afraid that he would have to lead troops to help with disaster relief when he returned, so he gave him all the remaining chocolates at home: "If you don't have time to eat, just eat some of this to fill your stomach. These are sweet and high in sugar."

Geng Zhiye saw that the chocolates were all in small packages, so he grabbed a handful and stuffed it into his coat pocket.

As expected, the political commissar, training staff and others knew that he was going back today, and they were waiting for him in the courtyard early. When Geng Zhiye got out of the car, they came forward, saying that they would help carry the things, but in fact they took the things and divided them up.

In the end, all that was left was a pair of shoes and some chocolates.

Geng Zhiye couldn't help but curse "bandit" and asked, "Is the disaster serious nearby?"

Political Commissar: "Two companies have been dispatched to help the villagers clean up the road."

There were militias in nearby towns and villages, and the county would also ask for armed police support. Geng Zhiye counted the number of people and decided that two companies were enough, so he went back to the dormitory first.

Ye Fan was also in the staff dormitory at this moment.

Those who lived in the capital went back, and those who lived in other places did not go back. Ye Fan was puzzled: "It's impossible that every family has its own problems, right?"

The junior brother who was only one year younger than Ye Fan was not that old, the same age as Geng Huihui, 25 years old. He said: "My brother wrote to me a few days ago and asked me to go back for a blind date, saying that the girl was very virtuous. I won't go back!"

Ye Fan was surprised: "Is being virtuous bad?"

"Of course she is good. But she is pretty or well-educated. Even if she is not pretty, but only has an elementary school diploma, she has a business mind and can make money, so the letter will not only contain the words 'virtuous'." The junior brother said, "Sister, you have a good family background. Anyone who dares to introduce you to a partner must be of equal status. People in my hometown don't introduce you randomly."

Ye Fan: "When someone told your mother about this, didn't she consider whether we were a good match?"

"My mother believes that being virtuous is the most important thing in life." The junior brother said, "Don't worry if you laugh at me, but compared to someone like you and someone who looks plain and honest, my mother would let me choose the latter, because it's easier to choose a daughter-in-law."

Ye Fan had been a daughter for two lifetimes and had never met such parents. Her parents-in-law were not such people either, so it was hard for her to understand. Ye Fan asked the female employee, "What about you?"

"I'm only 24, and I'll be 25 after the Chinese New Year, and my dad asked me to go back for a blind date." The female employee was annoyed when she talked about this. "He said the other party was a young and promising cadre. The town government in my hometown doesn't even have a computer. I studied computer science, so what can I do if I marry back to my hometown? If I really want to stay in my hometown, why go to the capital to go to college."

Ye Fan: "Have you bought anything for the New Year?"

The junior brother said, "We plan to go today. There is a kitchen here, and we also bought pots and pans. We can cook it ourselves later."

"Be careful of fire." Ye Fan thought, "I'll call and ask if there are any vegetables in the village. They will come again tomorrow, so ask them to send some to you."

Since Ye Fan's employees knew that people from Yujia Village often came to the neighborhood to sell vegetables, they asked Ye Fan which one of her relatives was hers. From then on, whenever they met, they would go to Yu Xiaojiu to buy vegetables and meat.

They introduced themselves as Ye Fan's employees, and Uncle Yu not only gave them a small amount of money, but also gave them some seasonings such as green onions, ginger, and dried chilies.

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately said that they would buy a little today, and then buy whatever was needed after the people from Yujia Village came tomorrow.

The next day, Uncle Yu sent over half a truckload of food, including fish, meat, and out-of-season vegetables, without asking for a penny.

The few people who stayed behind to celebrate the New Year were shocked.

After Uncle Yu left, Ye Fan's junior fellow student asked his colleague, "What did that old man just say? Did Senior Sister give you money?"

The male employee from another school nodded and said, "Yesterday I wanted to say that it was Chinese New Year, but the boss didn't say anything. Fortunately, I didn't say anything, otherwise it would be so embarrassing."

Female employee: "I ran into an alumnus when I was shopping yesterday. I envied him because he had good treatment in a state-owned enterprise, with candy, rice and oil distributed during the Chinese New Year. We are doing about the same."

Ye Fan's junior pointed at the green peppers and said, "One pound of green peppers can buy two pounds of sugar! There's more than one pound here." He couldn't help but sigh, "I used to hear from my senior brothers that Senior Sister Ye is rich and knows how to spend money. I thought she was good at winning people's hearts. I didn't expect she was so willing to spend."

The female employee nodded: "The bonus we gave to win people's hearts is enough, there is no need to give away half a tricycle of New Year's goods."

Ye Fan's move is also to win people's hearts, because high-end talents are smart and have many choices, and some of them will quit the job if you do them a little bit unfairly.

Ye Fan is not afraid of one or two people running away, but she is afraid of taking the team away. Ye Fan dare not give up the clothing business, in fact, it is also indirectly telling everyone that I have money, and if I leave you, I can spend a lot of money to find someone else. If you leave me, you may not be able to meet such good treatment and such a generous boss.

Ye Fan also did not forget his hard-working family.

After breakfast, Ye Fan called her parents' home and asked Chen Xiaohui if she wanted to go to the store.

Chen Xiaohui answered repeatedly: "Yes! Yes! Yes!"

The two families were not far from each other, and Chen Xiaohui could take the same bus as Ye Fan by walking one stop, so when Ye Fan told her what time the bus left, she would wait at the bus stop early.

The two of them went straight to the store with the most jade. Ye Fan chose a jade bracelet for her mother-in-law and mother-in-law, bought a jade bracelet and a jade pendant for himself, and bought a pendant for Dabao and Erbao respectively.

Because it was too expensive, the salesperson invited Ye Fan into the small house.

When several stacks of hundred-dollar bills were handed to the salesperson, Chen Xiaohui almost drooled with envy.

In her previous life, she knew that Ye Fan was very capable, so Chen Xiaohui didn't envy her for being rich, so when she left the small house, she said, "When I sell the furniture, I'll buy a few bracelets and wear two on each hand."

Ye Fan: "Four bracelets? What a great achievement!"

Chen Xiaohui realized it later: "I only have two hands. Well, then I'll buy a few more necklaces. Oh, by the way, why don't you take a look?"

Ye Fan: "I don't know what to buy for Dad, so I won't read it anymore."

"You still want to buy it for Dad?"

Ye Fan nodded: "I bought him a gold ring before."

"I do not know how?"

"I forgot to mention it, and I didn't think of showing off."

Chen Xiaohui thought about the fact that her parents bought her house and said, "I don't think I've ever bought anything for them. Why don't I buy each of them a gold ring?"

There were also gold ornaments in the jade shop, and Ye Fan asked tentatively, "How about you take a look?"

Chen Xiaohui nodded: "Then let's see if it's expensive. I can't afford the expensive ones."

Ye Fan couldn't help but roll his eyes: "If you don't have money, why don't you ask them for it?"

"Oh, right." Chen Xiaohui suddenly realized, "Then come back this afternoon and I'll take out the money." Ye Fan nodded, "Okay. If you want to buy small things, I can ask Huihui and Sensen to come."

When she got home, Ye Fan first packed up her and her children's things, planning to find an opportunity to give them to Dabao and Erbao, and then took the jade bracelet to Yu Wentao's room.

Even though Yu Wentao expected Ye Fan to prepare a gift for her, she couldn't help but feel happy when she saw Ye Fan actually bought it: "Did you buy it yourself?"

Ye Fan nodded: "I didn't buy it for Dabao's father."

"He can't wear it, so it's a waste to buy him a silver ring." Yu Wentao opened the small box and couldn't help frowning.

Geng Huihui wanted to ask what was wrong, and looked over her shoulder: "Aunt, have you been cheated?"

Ye Fan was surprised: "No. Such a valuable thing can only be taken in by the person in charge."

Geng Huihui picked it up and said, "Why does it look like the bottom of a beer bottle?"

Ye Fan finally understood: "The better it is, the more fake it looks. But it's not the best. The best has to have a zero."

Geng Huihui carefully put it down: "Wait a moment, I bought an ornament with jadeite before." She opened the bedside table and took it out to compare. "The seller didn't lie to me. He said that don't underestimate such a small piece of jadeite. If you disassemble it and make it into a pendant, the price can be doubled."

Yu Wentao gently picked up the bracelet: "It's expensive, right?"

Ye Fan: "It's not too expensive. If the price doubles next year, don't expect me to buy you a jade bracelet. If the price of gold continues to rise, I can only buy you a gold ring at most."

Geng Huihui asked her grandma to put it away quickly.

There is a mezzanine under the wardrobe in Yu Wentao's room. She put it on and turned it around a few times before putting it back inside. "Huihui, if I leave suddenly, you can take out the things in the mezzanine and share them with Erbao. The rest can be divided equally between your uncle, your father, your third uncle and your aunt."

Geng Huihui wanted to persuade her grandma not to say unlucky words, but suddenly she remembered something: "Uncle has it too?"

Ye Fan smiled and said, "Of course. Your uncle has already agreed. He will be responsible for your grandma's funeral!"

Yu Wentao was happy when she thought about her funeral: "Your uncle is a high-ranking official, and he keeps his word! Your uncle helped me with my funeral, and many people saw me off. It was so glorious."

Geng Huihui: "You are truly a Han Chinese. You treat death as life."

Yu Wentao didn't understand, because she is Han Chinese.

"Don't bully me." Yu Wentao pointed at her forehead and scolded, "You've made me so angry that I'm confused. I'll give it all to Erbao."

Geng Huihui smiled indifferently.

Ye Fan: "Xiao Hui doesn't have enough money, and she doesn't want to use my money, so she plans to withdraw money this afternoon. Hui Hui, do you and Sen Sen want to go with me to buy yourself a New Year's gift?"

Geng Huihui's salary was not low, so she said without hesitation, "Go ahead." After she agreed, she remembered to ask Geng Sensen, "I'll go ask Sensen."

Geng Huihui called Geng Sen Sen out while slipping on her slippers.

Geng Sensen was not interested in gold, silver and jade jewelry. Suddenly he remembered that his mother would arrive in the afternoon, so he immediately said he would go too.

Although jade has increased a lot this year, small pieces of jade have not increased much. The brother and sister each bought three gold-inlaid jade pendants. Gold is expensive, so they didn't buy gold chains, and planned to go home and make ropes to string them together.

Chen Xiaohui bought two gold rings and a pendant for herself. After buying them, they went to Ye Fan's house and Chen Xiaohui took her niece home.

There is no 30th this year, tomorrow is New Year's Eve. Ye Fan has no time to go to his parents' house, so he plans to send them there during the New Year.

On the second day of the Chinese New Year, Ye Fan brought her two children to her parents' home. She was surprised to see her sister-in-law and her brother: "Didn't you two go to Grandma Jingjing's house?"

Ye Jingjing looked gloating: "Grandpa called us early in the morning and told us not to go."

Dabao asked: "Did your two aunts fight?"

Ye Jingjing was shocked: "How did you know?"

Dabao: "Your grandma's daughter-in-law is troublesome. One year when I was very young, I heard that your uncle and your aunt were getting divorced during the Chinese New Year. What was the reason this time?"

Ye Jingjing felt sorry and said, "Grandpa didn't say." Then she asked her mother why.

Li Mingyue felt distressed when she thought of her parents sighing and worrying, and she was in a bad mood: "Why do you care?!"

Ye Jingjing was so angry that she asked her sister Erbao to go upstairs.

Ye Fan waited until the little girl entered the bedroom before taking out the jade bracelet.

Li Mingyue exclaimed.

Ye Fan quickly reminded: "Keep your voice down. Don't let your daughter hear it."

The little girl was at an age where she loved beauty, so she would wear whatever she could get her hands on. She didn't dare touch Ye Fan's things, but she accidentally rubbed off a piece of the gold bracelet that Ye Fan gave to her mother.

Li Mingyue whispered, "Mom, let me try it. I have never worn such a nice bracelet in my life."

Ye Fan handed it to her. Tao Chunlan reached out and took it: "My daughter bought it, let me try it first. If you like it, let Jingjing buy it for you."

Ye Fan laughed.

Li Mingyue muttered a little bit, and looked at Chen Xiaohui. It seemed as if she was asking you.

Chen Xiaohui took out her gold rings and explained that the price of gold was high now and the money she had left this year was only enough to buy two rings.

Tao Chunlan and her husband were stunned for a moment. They had never thought that they would receive her filial piety in this life. Tao Chunlan immediately took off the ring on her hand and urged her husband to try it quickly.

Li Mingyue winked at Ye Fan and said, "You asked her to buy it."

Ye Fan shook his head slightly.

Li Mingyue was very surprised. She sat next to Ye Fan and asked in a low voice, "Have you grown up?"

"You are so old and still don't understand." Ye Fan laughed.

Li Mingyue: "You bought it too, right? Let me see."

Ye Fan rolled up his sleeves. Li Mingyue saw the gold bracelet and thought that the gold was dazzling, but it looked very good on Ye Fan's wrist, which was white and slender.

The more Li Mingyue looked at it, the more she felt it was better looking than the jade bracelet, so she asked Ye Fan to take it off for her to try.

After putting it on her hand, Li Mingyue discovered that there were a few rubies on it. Li Mingyue couldn't let it go and said, "I'll buy one when the price of gold goes down." After a pause, "I'll buy one for Liangliang. No, no, no, buy her a bracelet. I won't feel bad if I lose it."

Dabao was not interested in the jewelry, so he went upstairs to find his two younger sisters.

Now that he lives close by, he can walk here whenever he wants, so Ye Fan didn't stay at his parents' house this year. He took his children back home around 4pm.

The days were long and the nights were short, and it was dark when I got home. Yang Mengxia was chatting with someone in the alley, and when she saw Ye Fan, she shouted into the house: "Aunt Yu, it's time to cook."

Erbao hugged her shoulders and said, "Auntie, are you waiting for us here?"

"Yes. Don't press me, I can't carry you." Yang Mengxia touched her head: "I haven't seen you for a year or two. You are half a head taller than me. Erbao, are you 1.7 meters tall?"

Erbao shook his head: "I probably won't grow any taller. I'm not picky about food. How come my brother can grow to 1.8 meters tall, but I'm not even as tall as my mom?"

Dabao: "I feel stressed because I have too many thoughts."

Erbao raised her hand and hit her brother. Yang Mengxia was almost knocked down by her. Ye Fan raised his hand and slapped his daughter on the back: "Don't make trouble here!"

The brother and sister didn't dare to make a scene.

Aunt Li smiled and said it was time for her to cook.

On the fourth day of the New Year, Ye Fan did not go anywhere, waiting for guests to come to his house. Sun Laifu, who was on duty at the hospital, called and said that his teacher needed a tutor. The tutoring would start tomorrow and would last for ten consecutive days, thirty yuan a day, from nine in the morning to four in the afternoon.

After Ye Fan hung up the phone, he asked Dabao to find Chu Guangming.

Chu Guangming came over with Dabao and said, "Aunt Ye, I don't want to make up for the lessons."

"Have you saved enough money?"

Chu Guangming shook his head: "I think the small software that Dabao mentioned is quite simple. I want to try to make a small game. Can you help me ask for the price? No matter how much it sells for, we will split it equally."

Ye Fan wanted to say, can I make money from your child? But if she said it, Chu Guangming would definitely be embarrassed to bother her: "Your student's father is a very good doctor. Do you understand what I mean?"

(End of this chapter)