Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 69 Xiaohong's Welcome Party and Military Training

Chen Hui said, "We're in China, so we have to pay the domestic price. Forget it, I'll just take the Dupont. It'll be enough to show off. I'd be willing to pay three or four thousand yuan." Reluctantly, he put the Cartier back in the box, picked up the Dupont, thought for a moment, chuckled, and said, "I haven't seen many people use this. Haha, let them be jealous."

Xiao Wei asked, "Do you have a flint yourself?"

Chen Hui said, "Yes, my old man also uses a kerosene lighter, but I don't know what brand it is. It's just a plain shell with no markings on it, just a few stamped numbers on the bottom. I don't know what they mean." As he spoke, he took out the lighter that Xiao Wei had thrown to him at the market and put it on the table, saying, "Here, take this back. I'll use this from now on."

Xia Maosheng said, "I know what you mean. It's considered a treasure of Chinese-made products. Actually, it's an American product. We only produced a few batches domestically before production stopped. The core is American, but it's assembled domestically. The shell is made in China. The quality is quite good. At the time, it was mainly supplied to the military. It was a real treasure."

Xiao Wei asked Chen Hui, "Your dad was also a soldier?"

Chen Hui nodded and said, "Yes, I used to, but that lighter wasn't. It was a gift from someone. The cooperative used to sell them, but you needed a ration coupon, and they were quite expensive. They're not sold anymore."

Xia Maosheng nodded and said, "There aren't many people who have that now. Back then, not many were produced, and even fewer were distributed locally, mainly because they were expensive."

The group ate and talked. In Northeast China, people usually steam hot food in a large pot, cooking rice and vegetables all at once. In fact, the taste of stir-fried dishes changes after steaming, but no one cares. It's mainly convenient and quick.

With the pickled vegetables they brought from home, the young men devoured the food, soup and all, and then, patting their bellies, they leaned back in their chairs. Xiao Hong was clearing away the dishes when Xiao Wei said, "It's the middle of the night, don't bother washing them. I'll do it tomorrow. Just leave them there for now and sit down and rest for a bit."

Xiao Hong rolled her eyes at him and said, "You talk like it's the truth. Are you really going to use it tomorrow?"

Xiao Wei nodded and said, "Sure, starting tomorrow I'll take care of washing the dishes, uh, I'll also take care of chopping vegetables, and after a while I'll take care of cooking too, okay?" He raised his eyebrows at Xiao Hong and gave her a wink, and everyone laughed. Xiao Hong laughed along and said, "Come on, you're a grown man, are you going to stay in the kitchen all day? If you can cook, you're good at stir-frying and stuff, but I'll do the cleaning."

Xiao Wei took a toothpick and put it in his mouth, saying, "I'm serious. You're already tired from school all day, and you still have to take care of me every day. I didn't know how before, but now that I've learned, I definitely can't let you work so hard. You can do it again after you graduate."

Xiao Hong hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Really?"

Xiao Wei nodded and said, "Really, I keep my word. Just put it away there."

Xiao Hong nodded and said, "Okay, then I really won't care." With a blushing face and a grin, she took the dishes and chopsticks into the kitchen, washed her hands, and sat down next to Xiao Wei, saying, "Perfect timing! Why don't you go stay in the dorm for a month in a couple of days? When you come back, you can start cooking, okay?"

The three of them stared at Xiao Hong. Xiao Wei blinked and asked, "What's wrong? What am I going to the dorm for?"

Xiaohong said, "Tomorrow is the welcome party, the day after tomorrow is a holiday, and the day after that we start military training. It's for a month, and we can't go home. They say it's some kind of closed military training, and everyone has to live on campus."

Xiao Wei scratched his head, then turned to Xia Maosheng and Chen Hui and asked, "What's military training?"

Xia Maosheng said, "I've heard of it, but I've never seen it."

Chen Hui said, "I'm studying at an open university, so I don't even have to attend classes. What kind of military training is that? What is military training anyway?"

The three of them looked at Xiaohong again. Xiaohong said, "I don't know either. That's how we were notified. Oh, right, we have to pay money tomorrow. They said it's for military training uniforms. I asked, and they say it's like a military uniform, but it's specially made for students' military training. Senior Sister Chen said it's really ugly."

Xiao Wei asked, "You're still seeing that Senior Sister Chen? Where is she from again? Pulandian? Right? Why don't you invite her over for a meal sometime?"

Xiao Hong nodded and said, "We've always kept in touch. She's helped me a lot; she's so kind and helpful, and it's saved me a lot of trouble."

Xiao Wei said, "Then we should thank them even more. You're so carefree all day, you didn't even say a word when you came back."

Xiao Hong stuck out her tongue and said, "Then I'll invite her over to play tomorrow."

Xiao Wei reached into his pocket and, after a while, pulled out three hundred yuan, handing it to Xiao Hong and asking, "Is this enough?"

Chen Hui pointed at the money in Xiao Wei's hand and said provocatively, "Why did it take you so long to pull out three hundred yuan? Are you short of money or just reluctant to spend it?"

Xiao Hong laughed and said, "You didn't notice, but when he takes out his money, he first counts it in his mind, then counts it in his pocket, and only takes it out after he's finished counting. It's not just for hundred-yuan bills, but even for tens of yuan, he doesn't get it wrong. I think that's pretty impressive. I can't do that. I have to take it out and count it."

Xia Maosheng stared wide-eyed and said, "Holy crap, that's awesome! You even have that kind of skill? How did you learn it?"

Xiao Hong took the money, laughing so hard she almost fell over, and said, "So good! First, she's stingy, and second, she's timid, afraid someone will snatch the money. Hahaha, I'm dying of laughter!"

Xiao Wei's face flushed slightly as he said, "There are so many thieves, I was afraid of arousing their suspicion if I took something out, so I secretly counted it out and only took out the exact amount. After a while, I got used to it. It's not stingy at all, am I?"

In the early 90s, the most common thing across the country was probably thieves; they were everywhere and would steal anything.

Chen Hui asked Xiao Hong, "Your party is tomorrow? Are outsiders allowed to go in and watch?"

Xiao Hong smiled and pocketed the money, saying, "You guys are going? I don't know either. I'll ask tomorrow. The party's in the evening. Come over before school ends tomorrow. If they let you in, go watch. If not, just eat here."

Xia Maosheng asked, "Military training costs three hundred yuan? That's so expensive!"

Xiao Hong paused for a moment, then laughed and said, "No, there's not that much, it's thirty yuan. He told me I was going to live at school for a month and gave me some money to keep in case."

Xia Maosheng laughed and said to Chen Hui, "I thought military training would cost 300 yuan. I thought this school was too greedy. How many people could afford to train like this?"

Xiao Hong said, "I don't usually spend much money, and," she blushed a little, "I'm willing to lose things, but I don't dare to carry too much money with me. I only ask for money when I need it."

Xiao Wei said, "Then you'll be staying there for a month. Remember to take the blankets and stuff out to air them tomorrow. They've been unused for so long, they're definitely damp, and you'll easily get sick." Xiao Hong nodded in agreement.

Chen Hui asked Xia Maosheng, "Are you going to see it tomorrow? I've never seen a university gala before."

Xia Maosheng said, "Sure, I've never seen it before. I've never even been to university. It'll be perfect to visit tomorrow. Oh, and let's call Lao Li and the others over to cheer on Xiao Hong."

Xiao Wei glanced at him and said, "You should think about how to trick them into going to the mulberry grove in a few days. Let me tell you, Lao Xia, if there aren't enough people, we'll be exhausted."