In 1959, what's wrong with me pedaling a tricycle?

Wang Xingguo modestly said a few words, but that was the truth. It was already quite good for an ordinary person to have a relative who was an ordinary cadre, since although there were many cadres, the population of Beijing was even greater.

After putting the two children down, Wang Jianhua pointed to the cabinet and babbled, "Eat~Daddy~candy~".

Wang Xingguo asked with delight, "Oh, son, what do you want to eat?"

"Candy~ I'll eat it..."

Li Xiuping came out with a smile on her face and said, "Your son is very greedy. Lian Sheng and Zhengang came over once and brought the rascal some candy. He's so greedy that he even learned the word 'candy' just to eat it. Lian Sheng got married and had his banquet five days ago, but you were away on a business trip and I had to take care of the two kids, so I couldn't go to his wedding. I took it upon myself to give him two rabbits and a bottle of oil for him to use for cooking at the banquet."

Wang Xingguo said happily, "Lian Sheng has finally decided to get married. But Zhengang's baby is due soon, I wonder if it'll be a boy or a girl. I guess I'll have to go on a business trip again after the baby is born."

Li Xiuping said, "Zhengang said his wife likes sour foods, so it's very likely a boy. By the way, are you taking another five days off this time, honey?"

Wang Xingguo nodded and said, "Yes, it's still five days off this time. Usually, if you don't work overtime, you can only have five days off. We're still quite short-staffed. With my promotion, I might have to work even more overtime in the future. Anyway, don't worry too much since I'm not home. My job isn't dangerous. Just take care of our son and wait for me to come home."

Li Xiuping nodded.

That's what she said, but Wang Xingguo was always away on business trips, how could she not worry?

But there was no way around it; work is work, especially since her husband was now a soldier. Soldiers are duty-bound to obey orders, a fact even a woman like her knows.

After the noodles were cooked, both bowls had a poached egg. Wang Xingguo said speechlessly, "Wife, why are you being so wasteful? You should have kept the eggs for yourselves."

Li Xiuping explained with a smile, "Just cook it for you and eat it. When you were away on business, the organization sent people to visit and ask if I had any difficulties. I was a little nervous at the time, so I mentioned that my sister-in-law and child were still young and lacked nutrition, and that I could never buy eggs when I went to queue up. I didn't expect that they would send three catties of eggs over the next day. I really just mentioned it casually and didn't have any intention of asking the organization for anything."

Wang Xingguo had some doubts that the receipts and items were not given by the organization.

Because those tickets were a special supply!

He hadn't thought it through before, but later he realized that it was impossible for a lowly cadre like him to get a special supply ticket.

So he suspected that his former boss was secretly helping to take care of his family under the guise of the organization.

After thinking for a moment, he said, "Honey, if they come again next time, try to trick them by asking if they were sent by the old leader. See if they have any special reaction on their faces."

Li Xiuping asked in surprise, "Honey, you mean these people are the old leader's men? What about those receipts?"

Wang Xingguo nodded and said, "I do have this suspicion because my rank is not high enough for special supplies. I need to be at least at the deputy division level, which means I need to be promoted one more level to qualify as a high-ranking cadre. Only at this level can I enjoy certain special supplies."

Shen's mother asked, puzzled, "Xingguo, why doesn't the old leader just give us the gifts directly? Why do we have to do it this way?"

Wang Xingguo shook his head, also somewhat puzzled, and said, "I don't know what happened either, but my old boss took good care of me, and there's no doubt that he treated me very well. But why would he do this? I really can't figure it out."

Li Xiuping laughed and said, "If you can't figure it out, then don't think about it. Honey, you should eat your noodles. You must have been eating compressed rations again on this business trip. You look much worse."

Wang Xingguo nodded in agreement, but didn't rush to eat. Instead, he fed the poached egg to his son and nephew.

Actually, he wasn't that malnourished; he just didn't get enough rest from sitting on the train all day, which made him look a bit haggard.

After feeding him two poached eggs, Wang Xingguo wolfed down the noodles, finishing two large bowls in no time.

After eating and drinking his fill, Wang Xingguo checked his watch. It was already four o'clock in the afternoon. He said to Li Xiuping, "Honey, I'm so sleepy. Don't cook for me tonight. I'm afraid I won't wake up until tomorrow."

Li Xiuping nodded and said, "Okay, I'll tell everyone not to disturb your sleep, and we won't wake you up for dinner tonight."

Wang Xingguo greeted Shen's mother and went back to his room to sleep.

The next morning at five o'clock, Wang Xingguo woke up. His son was not sleeping in the room; he guessed that his aunt had gone to sleep. He hugged and kissed Li Xiuping, which woke her up.

She rubbed her eyes, glanced out the window and saw that it was still dark, so she asked, "Honey, is it going to rain today? It doesn't seem to be light yet."

Wang Xingguo whispered, "It's only five in the morning. Why don't we do something to contribute to the country?"

Li Xiuping gave Wang Xingguo a playful chuckle and rolled her eyes.

Around six o'clock, the two got up to wash up, and Li Xiuping started making breakfast.

A little while later, Wang Xingning also got up.

Looking at his third sister brushing her teeth at the door, Wang Xingguo suddenly remembered something.

He then asked Wang Xingning, "Third brother, tell me honestly, are you confident you can get into a vocational school or high school?"

Wang Xingning spat out the foam in his mouth and replied with a bitter face, "Second brother, I'm afraid I won't pass the exam..."

Wang Xingguo didn't pressure her to study hard. He nodded and said, "Alright then, since you won't pass the exam, you'll have to start preparing for your job search."

Wang Xingning immediately asked excitedly, "Second Brother, Second Brother, what kind of job are you planning to help me find?"

Wang Xingguo said with a laugh, "You're making it sound like I can arrange a job for you. I'll have to discuss this with Uncle Zhao to see if I can get you a good job."

"Thank you, Second Brother. You're the best."

Wang Xingbang and the others also got up, greeted each other, and then brushed their teeth at the door.

Their family doesn't lack money for finding a job right now, but if possible, Wang Xingguo still wants to find his sister an easier job.

He himself has suffered enough, never being able to stay home, and he can't bear to see them suffer as well.

After washing up, Wang Xingning and Wang Xingmin went to help their second sister-in-law make breakfast. Wang Xingguo held his son and played with him for a while before Director Zhao woke up and got up to wash up.

Wang Xingguo greeted them, walked over, and told them about Wang Xingning's situation.

After thinking for a moment, Director Zhao said, "Don't rush this. Let Xingning go to work when I have a good job recommendation quota. Anyway, if there isn't a suitable job after graduation, I'd rather she stay home and help take care of the children first, and go to work later than settle for something less."

Wang Xingguo nodded and said, "Okay, we'll listen to you. We'll leave this to you."

Director Zhao nodded and was about to continue brushing his teeth when he suddenly turned to look at Wang Xingguo. He was a little surprised because Wang Xingguo was wearing a military uniform!