QTIMP -Chapter 63 Character Persona – Lazy (Part 11)

A few of them took the sweets. Whether they were here on business or not, at least they had to say the right things.

“Aiya, look at you talking. We’re not outsiders, don’t worry. If you’re ever not around in the team, I’ll just go upstairs to remind her if something comes up.”

Si Qiu wasn’t socially anxious or unable to talk to people.

So she smiled sweetly and said, “Then I’ll be troubling all of you a bit. I’m the kind of person who becomes completely lazy the moment I get home. If anything comes up, just come upstairs to my place.”

“Aiyo, when this girl smiles, my heart just melts. Commander Lu really has a good eye for a wife. Look how beautiful Xiao Qiu is.”

“Exactly! With a face like that, even if she sat at my table, I could eat an extra bowl of rice without touching the dishes.”

Although no one knew the exact background of the Lu family, everyone knew it was impressive. Plus, the two Lu brothers were indeed capable men.

Si Qiu, being at the supply station, had the advantage of getting early news and could buy some rare items.

Naturally, as long as people weren’t too excessive, everyone was happy to say a few kind words.

After saying goodbye to the team at the intelligence post, the two of them leisurely walked toward the dispatch room.

“You said the person delivering the dry goods would come soon. Can you carry all this back?”

“Such a small thing could stop your man? Don’t worry, I won’t let you lift a finger.”

“Aiya, Brother Lu, you’re really so good. I knew you’d care about me. And my Brother Lu is really amazing—everything you do is just perfect.”

Lu Hongjun accepted her sugary compliments with a smile and flawlessly carried the packages. After all, there were indeed a lot of items sent by her mother-in-law, and the dry goods brought by the villagers were of good quality, so they bought more.

They kept some for themselves and sent some to both sets of parents.

Naturally, all these large and small packages caught the attention of the intelligence post downstairs. People couldn’t help talking about them. Slowly, the topic turned to Si Lai.

After all, she was a girl from the same village who had married one of the brothers. Si Qiu had only been here a short time, and already her family had sent two packages—and each one bigger than the last.

“Commander Lu Hongjun’s wife’s family really pampers their daughter.”

“Exactly! Commander Lu Hongqi’s wife’s family is a bit worse. She’s been married with the army for almost a year, and it seems her family only sent letters twice. Haven’t seen even half a package!”

“You can’t compare like that. What difference does it make if her family sends packages? They can’t support her for a lifetime! And the Hongjun commander’s wife—they say she can spend money, but she’s lazy, and she’s just lucky to have a pretty face. Not like the Hongqi commander’s wife, who not only knows how to handle daily life but is also very capable.”

This was said by a squad leader’s wife from the second battalion. Coincidentally, she had been with the army at the time, and she and Si Lai had traveled on the same train. So they had always gotten along well.

From what Si Lai had casually mentioned, this woman particularly disliked Si Qiu. She was Si Qiu’s ultimate “haters”: anytime someone praised Si Qiu, she would immediately contradict it.

But not everyone agreed with her.

“You can’t compare the two like that. The commander Hongjun’s’s wife has her own job, earns over thirty bucks a month, and neither her parents nor in-laws have to worry about her. She has no children, so she can spend however she wants.”

“Even without burdens, who can really spend that much? Everyone still saves up for raising children and living in the future,” the woman countered, not agreeing with the others.

A group of people were chatting back and forth, making a lively commotion.

When Si Qiu and Lu Hongjun returned home, Si Qiu gave the instructions while Lu Hongjun opened the parcels and immediately began sorting them.

First, he opened the parcel from her mother-in-law’s house. He took out the letter wrapped inside and handed it to Si Qiu. Then he started organizing the contents: dried vegetables and cured meat, some soybeans, and wood ear mushrooms. Since the parcel came from near the forestry station, these were all local specialties.

At the very center of the parcel, there was a wooden box wrapped separately in a rag. Seeing how securely it was packed, Lu Hongjun handled it with extra care.

He pried open the box with effort, and the fragrance of herbs drifted out: ginseng, deer antler, eleuthero, Fritillariae Thunbergii (ping bei mu)—all carefully wrapped individually and neatly categorized.

“This ginseng isn’t young. How much did you say you sent Mom last time? That probably wouldn’t even buy this one root!”

Lu Hongjun held the ginseng in an aluminum lunchbox, examining it closely.

Hearing him, Si Qiu handed the letter over. “We haven’t paid for this ginseng yet—it’s on Mom’s account! This one hundred-year-old root alone costs 820 yuan. Quickly wrap the ginseng separately, then pack some seafood and dried vegetables to send to Mom and Dad. Last time, she also mentioned that Grandpa isn’t in great health and wanted a high-age ginseng root. Then pack some seafood as well. I’ll find two pieces of cloth; you go and get the money sent to my parents. Just send a round number—it can be considered their hardship fee. After all, it’s a thirty-li distance each way, all covered on the old lady’s feet.”

“The quality is over 800 yuan—that’s a bargain. Wait one more day; it’ll be allowance day, and the vouchers will be ready. You can pick some to send to Mom and Dad. I still have a set of unworn military uniform—let’s send that back too.”

Lu Hongjun turned the lunchbox over in his hands, inspecting it.

Si Qiu squatted down, reaching into the wooden box to sort through the other items. She found two or three ginseng roots that were 20–30 years old, and three that were over fifty years old.

“Keep two of the fifty-year-old roots for emergencies, and send the rest to your parents. Use the younger ones for soup, and the older ones, they can find someone to see if they can make medicinal wine. Should we send some to Grandpa’s side too?”

Lu Hongjun, skilled in this sort of thing, had everything sorted and packed in just a few minutes. The food for the household was all stored in the kitchen cupboards.

All that remained were the letters for the two families. If they finished writing them tonight, tomorrow they could include some vouchers for Si Qiu’s family, and the parcels would be ready to send.

“Let Mom handle the distribution over there. If anyone really wants something, Mom can collect more next time.”

After delivering the meals and finishing eating, Lu Hongqi was stopped by people downstairs, asking questions back and forth.

The two quickly understood that Si Qiu had gone to pick up a parcel mailed from home today.

Lu Hongqi didn’t think much of it—after all, he knew his father-in-law’s family. When Si Qiu got married, even though there wasn’t a full “three turns and one ring” dowry ceremony, they gave 588 yuan as the bride price.

At that time, giving 80 yuan at a wedding already showed a family valued their daughter-in-law.

But as it turned out, her dowry consisted of just 10 yuan and two quilts.

It had been almost a year since the wedding. Although his wife rarely wrote home or sent items, he occasionally mailed vouchers and money, yet the other side had never reciprocated.