1970s: Hot wife accompanies the army, cold-faced rough man is not easy to tease

Chapter 351 Praise, Just Keep Praising (Two Chapters Combined)
Soon it was the day the twins turned one month old, and the family had a meal together.

Both the Lu and Gu families have members holding important positions. Lu Youyou is not one to seek the limelight, but although there was no ceremony, she received quite a few gifts for the twins' full moon celebration.

In an era when there were very few households with ten thousand yuan, two infants who had just turned one month old had become very wealthy. Both families had given them a lot of gifts, but the Song family was even more outrageous.

This was the first time that Grandpa Song had great-grandchildren. He couldn't witness the birth of the twins in person, so he sent things back to China, and he even came back in person when they were a month old.

This was quite something; gold and jade were given away by the box, and when they returned, the old man took ten rolls of film with him.

The two children weren't shy at all. Although the older sister had a louder voice, she laughed heartily, making the old man grin from ear to ear. As for the younger one, needless to say, the fact that he looked just like Gu Qingye was enough to make the old man ecstatic.

"Da Bao, Er Bao, your great-grandfather will come to see you again next year to celebrate your birthday!" Song Huanian held the two children's hands reluctantly. "Don't forget your great-grandfather!"

The older sister giggled, as if she really understood. The old man was even more delighted: "Good, good, good! My two darlings, be good, grow up well, and stay healthy. I'll bring you gifts next time I come!"

Grandpa—

Gu Qingye has tried to stop him countless times in the past few days, but he can't stop the old man's love for the child.

“I’m giving this to the two children. What, are you going to stop Grandpa?” Song Huanian pretended to glare.

Gu Qingye smiled wryly. The Song family was such a large family, and he was worried that others would have opinions about it, making things difficult for the old man when he returned.

As if knowing what he was thinking, Song Huanian stroked his meticulously groomed beard and slightly raised his chin: "Qingye, it seems you have some misunderstanding about Grandpa. You don't think I'm very poor, do you?"

The same scene has happened many times these days, and each time it ends with the old man winning completely.

"Grandpa, the children are still young, we can't spoil them."

Song Huanian patted Gu Qingye on the shoulder with a smile: "What, with parents like you, how could you not raise your child well?"

Lu Youyou glanced at Gu Qingye, suppressing a laugh without saying anything. Although this man wasn't as outgoing as the old man, he doted on his daughter with an unspoken affection, making it more likely that he would raise a little tyrant.

"Alright, that's enough. You guys take care of yourselves, and remember to take lots of photos, and keep the negatives!"

Song Huanian bent down, gazing at the stroller with reluctance to look away.

The two children were already asleep, but the older sister was still proudly raising her hand, and the younger brother was smiling even in his sleep.

"Grandpa is leaving soon, you all be good..." The old man's voice was so soft that it was almost inaudible, for fear of waking them.

"Grandpa, please take care. I'll send you the baby's photos later."

"Alright, alright, then Grandpa will wait. Don't see me off anymore, go back!"

After seeing the old man off, Lu Youyou moved back to her own home, and the two nannies went with her.

After discussing it, both sets of parents agreed that Zhou's wife and Qin's mother would stay here to take care of the children until they were two years old.

Lu Youyou's maternity leave ended just as the final exams were about to begin. She didn't have to attend classes when she returned to school; she only needed to check on the progress of the two project teams and organize her work plan for the future.

She was worried that going back to work might cause engorgement, but she overestimated herself. Just two days after returning to school, her meager milk production stopped completely, saving her the trouble of weaning.

After two days of crying without getting enough breast milk, the chubby girl immediately shut up, not wasting a single tear.

The second child remains good-natured, smooth and agreeable, and there's nothing about it that he can't accept.

So only Gu Qingye's world was achieved, but his wish to savor it was never fulfilled.

That evening, after Da Bao and Er Bao fell asleep, the two of them went out for a walk.

Lu Youyou hooked her finger around Gu Qingye's, and after taking only two steps, he wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her into his arms.

"what happened?"

"I was afraid you'd get tired," Gu Qingye replied naturally.

Lu Youyou looked up at him and smiled helplessly.

When she got out of bed for the first time after giving birth, she said, "I feel like my legs don't belong to me." Gu Qingye kept that in mind and from that day on, he would always put his arm around her shoulder or wrap his arms around her waist when they walked.

Therefore, he no longer wears his military uniform after get off work, because it's inconvenient to hold hands or hug while wearing a uniform.

Lu Youyou gave him a reproachful look: "I'm almost fully recovered. The hospital check-up said I've recovered about 80%."

Gu Qingye didn't answer, but instead hugged her even tighter.

He would never forget what Lu Youyou had said before: her lower body seemed to have been taken apart and then put back together, and the gaps between her bones seemed to be more than ten centimeters wide...

"There's still 20% left to heal, so we can't be too careful." Gu Qingye lowered his eyes and kissed her hair.

The dog in front barked twice in agreement. Recently, Gu Qingye had given it a task: whenever Lu Youyou walked around the house, it had to follow closely behind to prevent her from falling.

Lu Youyou bent down and stroked the dog's head: "You're too dedicated to your duty!"

Zhui Feng barked again. Obeying orders is a military dog's duty; it's what it should do.

"Watch your step," Gu Qingye suddenly said.

Before Lu Youyou could even see what was under her feet, she was lifted off her feet. She was still in an hunched position when she was carried around the waist and moved half a meter.

What's on the ground?

Lu Youyou turned around and glanced at it. It was just a shallow pit the size of a fist. She might not even step into it, let alone trip over it.

"Aren't you being a little too cautious?"

However, Gu Qingye's eyes were filled with so much worry that they were almost overflowing. If the doctor hadn't said that moderate exercise would help with recovery, he probably would have carried her on his back.

Lu Youyou smiled helplessly, leaned over and wrapped her arms around his lean waist, giving him a light kiss on the lips.

"Should I say thank you for your thoughtful care, Comrade Gu?"

"Mmm—" Gu Qingye returned the kiss and smiled, "You're welcome."

Zhui Feng squatted about a meter in front of him, glancing back every now and then.

No wonder Little Grey doesn't want to go for walks lately. Dog food is delicious, but too much of it can make you feel full.

*
Two years have passed in the blink of an eye. The first batch of graduate students that Lu Youyou supervised has already graduated, and now the second batch is about to graduate as well.

"Professor Lu, someone is looking for you downstairs."

"Okay, thank you!"

The student who was passing by suddenly turned to face Lu Youyou's smile, and his face flushed several shades red.

He had been at Tsinghua University for three years, but he still couldn't get used to Professor Lu's stunning beauty. He'd heard that Professor Lu already had a three-year-old child, yet she was still so young and beautiful. Of course, he wouldn't dare to have any improper thoughts. Lu Youyou joined the university as an associate professor, and now, four years later, she had firmly established herself as a professor. Not only within Tsinghua University, but also across all universities in the country, no one had risen through the ranks faster than her.

However, all of this is the result of solid and practical scientific research. The number of publicly disclosed achievements in four years is countless, and I heard that there are even high-level missions. This kind of strength is something that cannot be envied at all.

When Lu Youyou came out, the student who delivered the message had already reached the other side of the corridor, but still couldn't help but peek down.

His companions felt the same way, and the inevitable sigh that followed followed: "Ah, I wish I were Professor Lu's student."

Now Lu Youyou has a heavier research workload, and her undergraduate classes have been suspended for two years. Unless she gets into Tsinghua University for graduate studies, she won't have the chance to attend her classes.

Countless people envy the freshmen four years ago, who not only got to listen to Professor Lu's lectures but also had the opportunity to ask her questions after class, unlike nowadays where even undergraduates rarely get to see her.

Lu Youyou went downstairs and smiled as soon as she saw the "visitor".

"Mingjuan, what brings you here?"

Duan Mingjuan was wearing a white shirt and black trousers, and had a neat short haircut, making her unrecognizable as a student.

“You’ve grown up, you’ve matured!” Looking at her former students, Lu Youyou suddenly understood the feeling of being a gardener.

Duan Mingjuan almost lost her smile; the teacher was clearly more "fresh" than the student!
If it weren't for Lu Youyou's mature demeanor, many people would probably mistake her for a student who hasn't left the ivory tower.

"Teacher Lu, please stop teasing me. What kind of maturity do I have?" Duan Mingjuan said embarrassedly.

"It's rare for you to come all this way, so I'll treat you to lunch."

Duan Mingjuan immediately shook her head: "No, no, no, I should be the one treating you to dinner. I'm already working now, and I'm finally able to repay my mentor!"

When she was in graduate school, Lu Youyou often brought her and Niu Dazhuang food and drinks. Despite studying so hard, she didn't lose any weight and actually gained several pounds by the time she graduated.

Lu Youyou didn't refuse and patted her lightly on the back: "Calling me 'mentor' makes me sound old, like an old lady in her seventies or eighties."

Duan Mingjuan couldn't help but chuckle, covering her mouth and saying, "Even if I call you 'Master' ten more times, you'll still be in your prime. You'll never be associated with words like 'seventy or eighty' in your life!"

It has been six years since the two first met, and Duan Mingjuan feels that her teacher hasn't changed at all.

Lu Youyou smiled and said, "Alright, let's go. Tsinghua University opened a new cafeteria last year, and the food is pretty good."

Duan Mingjuan disagreed: "How can I treat you to a meal at the cafeteria? When I came here, I saw a new home-style restaurant that opened on Chengfu Road. Would you like to go there?"

Lu Youyou looked at her first disciple, her bright eyes filled with apprehension, as if she was worried that the disciple would disagree.

She smiled and nodded: "Okay, you're treating, so you decide."

That store is economical and affordable; it shouldn't be a burden.

The two walked over, and as soon as Duan Mingjuan sat down, she handed over the menu. Lu Youyou casually ordered shredded pork with green peppers, and Duan Mingjuan added two more dishes and a soup. She stopped Lu Youyou from ordering any more.

"That's about enough, ordering too much would be a waste."

Duan Mingjuan was genuinely grateful to Lu Youyou. Since she finally had the chance to treat everyone, she wanted to order the entire menu, even if it cost her a month's salary.

Seeing that she was still holding onto the menu, Lu Youyou took it out and put it aside, then smiled and changed the subject.

"How have you been lately? How come you have time to come to school?"

"I came to Beijing for a meeting, and came to see you as soon as it ended today."

As luck would have it, after graduating, Duan Mingjuan was assigned to the seawater desalination research institute in Hangzhou, which happened to be the one that Lu Youyou knew.

In this industry alone, Lu Youyou is a well-known figure. The research institute naturally attaches great importance to Lu Youyou's top disciple. As soon as Duan Mingjuan arrived, she was assigned to a key project team and was extremely busy. This was the first time she had the opportunity to return to her alma mater after graduation.

"Where's Dazhuang? I heard you got married?"

Duan Mingjuan blushed and nodded shyly: "We got our marriage certificate last year."

With all her students getting married, the feeling of being an elder suddenly came over her, and Lu Youyou inexplicably felt that she was one step closer to being seventy or eighty years old.

She witnessed their love story firsthand, from being bickering lovers to falling in love and understanding each other, and now they've finally become a couple, which is quite a beautiful tale.

"I remember Dazhuang went to Shanghai Fisheries University?"

“Yes, he’s a lecturer in the Fisheries Machinery Department now.” Duan Mingjuan’s smile widened as she spoke of her husband.

"He always says that he should have listened to your lectures more carefully back then. As a first-time teacher, he is far inferior to you. Dazhuang's mouth was not even under his control when he first stood on the podium."

Lu Youyou couldn't help but chuckle. She was an exception; it would be abnormal if she wasn't nervous on her first time standing on a stage.

“I heard from Dean Luo that Dazhuang is doing a good job, and he often uses you and Dazhuang as examples for the new students.”

Duan Mingjuan's eyes widened: "Really?"

Seeing Lu Youyou nod, her face showed both pride and a touch of shyness.

Honestly, the most convincing example is right in front of us, yet the dean brings up her and Dazhuang.

Duan Mingjuan heard the legend of Lu Youyou on her first day of college, so she never thought she was particularly outstanding. Now, she suddenly heard that the dean had "publicly announced" her, and to be honest, she felt a little embarrassed.

"Don't underestimate yourself. You are excellent, and so is Dazhuang."

Lu Youyou has never forgotten her plan to establish a research institute. If Duan Mingjuan and her husband are still working on the front lines by then, she will definitely try to get their help.

Her praise was sincere, and Duan Mingjuan went from being cheerful and outgoing to shy in an instant.

This is a compliment from my idol, it's like eating ten popsicles on a sweltering summer day, so refreshing!

Duan Mingjuan couldn't help but get excited and started asking questions right at the dinner table, voicing all the questions she had accumulated over time.

The dishes were served one after another, but the two of them forgot about the meal. The waiter seemed to be used to it. After all, it was a restaurant next to Tsinghua University, frequented by people who were often too engrossed in academic discussions to eat.

Finally, Lu Youyou felt hungry and called for a stop. Duan Mingjuan blushed again. She was the one who wanted to treat everyone, and she was also the one who held onto the teacher and wouldn't let her eat.

"It's okay, just have the waiter heat it up." Lu Youyou clearly didn't care about these things.

Duan Mingjuan was embarrassed: "How about... how about we order again?"

The food was piled up on the other side of the table, no longer steaming, as if even the cups, plates, and bowls were mocking how unsuccessful her first teacher appreciation banquet had been.

"It's alright, it's only 20-something degrees Celsius, you're not that delicate. Also, I'm very pleased that you've made a lot of progress."

Lu Youyou knew how to make her little fangirl forget about the so-called "mistake"—just praise her, keep praising her.

Moreover, she was telling the truth. Two years ago, Duan Mingjuan was still a bit naive, but now she has grown into a qualified scientific researcher.

Her judgment remains as good as ever; it's just a matter of whether her first disciple will be willing to give up his secure job to come and join her.