Chapter 132: Attending a Comrades Gathering
After returning home, Lu Zhenping brought out the hot food on the stove to the mother and daughter without asking about the old house. Shen Meng and Lu Mingkai continued to eat, while he took the children and pulled a flatbed cart up the mountain to chop firewood.

"Mom, I want to go up the mountain, too. I want to catch birds."

"I think you still want to go to heaven. You've seen enough excitement today. After dinner, go to bed honestly, or I'll spank you."

Lu Mingkai was used to her sharp tongue but soft heart, so he was not afraid at all and even pouted at her.

Although Shen Meng wanted to go into the space to eat hotpot, the food was made by Lu Zhenping. She went to watch the fun and he kept it warm on the stove. It was a shame to waste it, so she ate some anyway.

The north wind started blowing again in the afternoon. Shen Meng did not let Lu Zhenping take the children out. After all, there was a coal stove and charcoal at home, which was enough to burn for a long time.

She cut a few pears and put them in the kettle, and threw in some rock sugar. The children sat around the square table writing. She didn't sleep either, and was knitting a scarf seriously.

Lu Zhenping read half of the book and looked at Shen Meng again before saying, "I'm going to the county town in a couple of days for a comrade-in-arms gathering. Do you want to go with me?"

"No, you comrades-in-arms must drink when you meet. Besides, if we all go, what will happen to the children? What will they eat for lunch?"

Mingyang paused while writing, raised his head and said to the two of them, "The teacher said that starting from next week, we will not be allowed to go home for lunch. We are afraid that the snowstorm will be too strong and the roads will be difficult to travel. Bring your own food or meals with you, and the teacher will help you heat them up at noon."

Shen Meng looked outside. It hadn't snowed yet, but it had rained for several times. As long as she wasn't indoors, she would shiver with the cold whenever she stretched out her paws.

"That's fine. You can bring your food with you later. Mom will pack it for you this morning. Zhenping, I'll go to the county town with you. We can buy some raincoats and boots for the kids. They can wear them when it rains or snows."

There was an umbrella at home. She had wanted to get it from the space several times before, but she never had the chance.

"Okay, I asked someone to buy a few pairs of officer boots and fleece scarves. They should arrive in two days. Everyone in our family has them. My parents also brought a pair. They are thick and warm. We can walk in them regardless of rain or snow."

Lu Mingkai, who was sleeping soundly, rolled over and sat up. He looked at his father in a daze, and the radar on his head moved.

"Baby too?"

"Yes, you have one too. You also have a little black hat."

Lu Mingkai hesitated for a moment and said, "Thank you, Dad." Then he fell asleep again.

"Hahaha, this brat, listeners also have good things. He is more active than anyone else. He has to confirm even his dreams. He can't suffer any loss. I don't know who he took it from."

When Lu Zhenping said this, he glanced at Shen Meng, who squinted her eyes and smiled guiltily, thinking, No one can be like me, thank you.

Mingyang and Mingliang were originally thinking that they would be very happy to have a raincoat and rain boots, but they didn't expect that their father quietly got them a big pair of officer boots. They were afraid that only a few people in the whole commune had them, so they were immediately very happy.

Mingfang saw her two brothers' erratic expressions and knocked on the table quickly. The worst thing about studying is not being distracted. Not studying well is a waste of money. She has to keep an eye on her brothers for her parents. "Okay, okay, take a rest if you're tired. The pear soup in the kettle is almost ready. Drink some and take a rest before reading."

"That's great, mom. Take a rest too."

As soon as she finished speaking, Mingyang put down the pencil in his hand, ran to the kitchen without even putting on his coat, and came back with a few enamel bowls. He poured a large bowl for each person, then went to get some cold water and put it in the kettle, and put the kettle on the coal stove again.

Shen Meng never stops them from doing some of the housework they are willing to do. Although she does not mind children from poor families becoming independent early, they have grown up and there are some things they need to be trained in from a young age, especially housework. She does not want her future daughter-in-law to suffer from it.

On the day they went to the county town, Shen Meng dressed relatively simply. She heard from Lu Zhenping that besides her, there were other military wives attending as well. She just wanted to have a good meal, let Lu Mingkai meet more people, and then go out for a stroll. She didn't want anything to go wrong.

In the morning, I packed meals for Mingyang's three children. But I was afraid that they would be hungry in the afternoon, so I put some biscuits in their schoolbags.

The road to the county town was muddy, so neither of them chose to ride a bicycle. Instead, they got on Uncle Guai's ox cart. There were other people on the cart besides them. When they saw Shen Meng and Lu Zhenping, they greeted them politely, and some even chatted with them. When they learned that they were going to attend a comrades-in-arms meeting, they looked at Shen Meng with envy.

Some people saw Uncle Guai was so happy and were very curious. When they usually saw Uncle Guai, he was never sad that time.

"Uncle Guai, what are you so happy about?"

Uncle Guai glanced at Lu Zhenping and his wife before saying, "We have split up the family and will live separately from now on. The sons have all moved out, and Juying and I will live separately with Xiangxiang."

"Oh, this is a good thing, but will Xingchang's wife agree?"

"How can they agree to that? The two big houses belong to them, and they also get half of the food rations. They also get the lion's share of the family's money. The eldest and the third brother have no objections. They just want to live a good life in the future, haha!"

In the past, Uncle Guai would have helped to cover it up, but not now. The only thing he and Juying are worried about now is Xiangxiang's marriage. As for how Lu Xingchang and Huang Maochun will live in the future, that is their own business. They just treat this son as if they have lost him.

As for the eldest and third sons, he knew in his heart that he had wronged them. Fortunately, he could still drive the ox cart for two more years, and his wife had hidden some family savings. He would immediately give the eldest and third sons a penny of the annual bonus, and their lives would be better in the future.

However, Shen Meng felt that it was not that simple. Huang Maochun now had money and food coupons, and she lived on her own. It seemed okay now, but after a long time, she would know the hardships of life, and she would inevitably have to struggle again.

But she didn't say that. Anyway, the family was divided now, which was good for Uncle Guai, Aunt Juying and Xiangxiang. They just had to wait and see whether Xiangxiang and Xiaobin had a result.

The gathering was held at a state-owned restaurant. When Lu Zhenping and his wife arrived, two tables of people were already there. The food had not yet been served, but they were still chatting animatedly.

Qin Hao had sharp eyes. He saw Lu Zhenping and his wife as soon as they entered the state-owned restaurant. He quickly stood up and waved to them.

"Zhenping, here, here. Oh, you brought a little one with you. Your sister-in-law is here too. Come and sit down."

His voice was so loud that everyone at the two tables looked towards the door. A fashionably dressed and pretty woman at the table looked over there with shining eyes, but there was a hint of contempt in her eyes when she looked at Shen Meng.