QTIMP -Chapter 80 Character Persona – Lazy (Part 28)

So she pretended to be attracted by the delicious food again. Lu Hongjun didn’t mind at all. After all, no matter how much this little lazy bug pretended not to care on the surface, once they were in bed she would still be completely seduced by him.

The next day, since they didn’t have to go to work, they didn’t get up so early. Of course, the truth was that she simply couldn’t get up anyway.

At noon, Lu Hongjun made lunch for her. After they finished eating, the two of them first went to the regimental commander’s office. This visit had two main purposes.

The first was that his assignment had ended and he had received commendation from the higher authorities.

The second was to make a phone call to both sides of the family. Especially now—Si Qiu really missed Wang Xia. The old lady worried about everything.

Since she had married so far away, even writing letters back and forth wasn’t convenient. Who knew what unpleasant thoughts the old woman might be worrying herself with again.

When they arrived at the commander’s office, the guard standing outside knocked on the door. After hearing a response from inside, the two of them entered together.

Lu Hongjun gave a salute, but the commander quickly stopped him.

“Hongjun, take your wife and sit first. Xiao Zhao, pour them some water. Give me one minute—I’ll be finished right away.”

The commander only glanced up briefly before lowering his head again, scribbling across the documents. After Xiao Zhao poured the water, he stepped out and closed the door behind him.

Seeing the steaming cup, Lu Hongjun took another cup and began pouring the water back and forth for Si Qiu so it would cool down faster.

After signing the document, the commander neatly organized it and locked it away. Just then he noticed the scene and shook his head with a smile.

“I called you two here today mainly because the higher-ups praised Comrade Si Qiu for the temporary assignment she handled some time ago.”

As he said this, the smile on his face widened.

“Comrade Si Qiu did very well. After discussion, both the division headquarters and the regiment have decided to give her a reward.”

Two envelopes were then pushed across the desk. At Commander Bai’s signal, Si Qiu picked them up. Opening the first one, she saw that it contained a letter of commendation. After reading it, she handed it to Lu Hongjun.

The other envelope contained several Great Unity banknotes along with a few coupons. The money was brand new, and the coupons were crisp and straight. In addition to grain coupons and oil coupons, there was even a radio coupon.

Si Qiu waved the coupons in front of Lu Hongjun.

“Brother Lu, do you think I should mail these coupons back to my mom, or buy the items first and then send them?”

Lu Hongjun leaned back slightly to see the coupons she was waving.

“Send the radio. If you mail the coupons, the two of them won’t bear to buy it. And it might attract attention from others. But if you mail a radio, it’ll have the army’s postal stamp—it won’t get lost.”

“Alright then. I’ll buy it tomorrow and mail it to them.”

“And sort out the other coupons too. It’s very hard for them to get those over there. We’ll just keep enough for ourselves. If we don’t have enough later, I can trade with my comrades.”

As Lu Hongjun spoke, he folded the commendation letter back exactly as it had been and carefully placed it into the envelope.

Commander Bai watched the couple discussing things and didn’t interrupt. Instead, he leisurely sipped water from his enamel mug. Once the two of them had clearly finished discussing, he set the mug down and gave a light cough.

Then he took out quite a few coupons from the drawer, placed them on the desk, and pushed them forward.

“Since you’re short on coupons, take these and use them. Your auntie and I are just two people—we can’t use so many.”

Just as Si Qiu was about to refuse, Lu Hongjun stood up. With quick, efficient movements, he gathered the coupons, straightened them out, and slipped them into his pocket.

“Then I won’t stand on ceremony, Commander. When my mother-in-law mails some local specialties, I’ll bring some over for you and Auntie.”

“Get lost! Who wants your specialties? You brat can’t even compare to your younger brother—always grinning like a fool all day.”

He said that, but the fine wrinkles at the corners of his eyes never relaxed.

“Alright. Didn’t you say you wanted to call home? Go ahead.”

As he spoke, he tilted his chin toward the telephone.

Knowing his wife was anxious, Lu Hongjun first called the brigade at her parents’ place and asked them to notify them to come to the phone in ten minutes before hanging up.

Soon after, the brigade’s loudspeaker started blaring.

“Hello, hello! Captain Si Shi of Team One and his wife, please come to the brigade office. Your youngest daughter is calling you!”

Oh, that was something new. As soon as the broadcast rang out, it was like a summons. Anyone who had nothing better to do started heading toward the brigade office.

Si Shi and Wang Xia were tidying up their vegetable garden. With the autumn harvest approaching, they were trying to get everything sorted out beforehand, otherwise once the busy season started, there would be no time.

Hearing the loudspeaker, the couple didn’t even bother changing clothes. They simply washed their hands and hurried over.

By the time they arrived, quite a few people had already gathered outside the brigade office, chatting.

“Hey, Xia, your youngest daughter is really filial. She’s either sending packages and letters or making phone calls.”

“Exactly. Before, we all thought that girl was unbelievably lazy, but who knew that after getting married she’d change so much.”

“Oh, come on. No matter how good a daughter is, she can’t support them in old age.”

Wang Xia was anxious to answer her daughter’s call and didn’t bother arguing with them. Once she had the time, she’d settle accounts with them one by one.

The couple had arrived quickly, but the phone only rang after a short wait. The party secretary picked it up, spoke a few words, confirmed that the call was indeed for them, and handed over the receiver.

Wang Xia rushed forward first. Pressing the receiver to her ear, she shouted, “My little girl, it’s Mom!”

Si Qiu hadn’t paid much attention at first, but the moment she heard that sentence, tears nearly fell.

“Mom, it’s Qiuqiu. I miss you.”

Si Qiu didn’t cry, but with just that one sentence, Wang Xia’s tears began to fall.

Of course Si Qiu heard it and quickly changed the subject.

“Mom, some time ago our unit had an external assignment. I did really well, and the leaders gave me a reward—a radio coupon. Lu Hongjun said we’ll go buy a radio in a bit and then mail it to you. There are also some ration coupons. Don’t you dare exchange them with anyone. These meat and oil coupons are for you and Dad to nourish yourselves. If my eldest or second brother takes good care of you two, then you can let a little slip through your fingers for them. But if they turn out to be ungrateful wolves, then just use the coupons to hire someone to do the work. Our village has nearly a hundred households—surely there’s someone willing to work.”

At that time, phone lines leaked sound terribly. Those standing nearby could naturally hear bits and pieces, and their gazes immediately drifted toward those two families.

“Alright, alright. Do you think your mother doesn’t understand these things? Don’t mail that radio to us. Save your money properly—you two will have children to raise in the future. Your father and I are busy anyway. Who has time to listen to that thing?”

“Mom, why are you being so annoying? Whenever you give me something, I never refuse. But when I try to give you something, you keep pushing it back and forth. Really—married daughters are like water that’s been thrown out.”

On the other end of the phone, Si Qiu stomped her foot angrily. She hated arguing with her mother about this the most. She only gave things because she had them—if she didn’t, she’d definitely take care of herself first.

“Alright, alright, you stubborn girl. I don’t like hearing you talk like that.”

Si Shi, who was standing nearby, anxiously poked his pipe and said, “Let me say a few words to my little girl.”