Winter arrived unexpectedly and when the first snow fell, the border war was tense.
As a general, Meng Zhixu naturally had the duty to go to the border, and Bai Zhaomei, who also had the ambition of being a general, also had to follow Meng Zhixu to the border.
This is earlier than the originally planned date of going to the border.
The Bai family is very busy.
Fortunately, Xie Chuntao and Qiuniang had already sewn their winter clothes in autumn.
But Bai Zhaomei has been drawing money too fast in the past six months, as if she has grown a lot overnight.
The good coat is half too short on the body.
So Mrs. Bai and Zhen's mother-in-law and daughter-in-law took Xie Chuntao and Eugene Gui to sew again overnight. Zhen said that she was good at needlework, Xie Chuntao was also fast at sewing clothes, and Eugene Gui, who was not good at needlework, was helping with thread.
In the embroidery workshop, Qiuniang, with the help of You Hongye, made thick knee-protecting gloves, a hat and a furry hat for Bai Zhaomei.
Zhen was worried that it would be too cold at the border, and her cotton-padded jacket and trousers were filled with thick cotton, which was particularly inadequate.
"It's still too thin." Zhen shook her head slightly as she watched Bai Zhaomei try on the cotton-padded jacket and trousers.
"It's not thin. It's stuffed with so much cotton that my fifth brother's head is sweating." Eugene Gui said from the side.
Wherever it was thin, the great-grandmother and mother-in-law couldn't wait to stuff it with all the cotton in the house. Not only that, they also used all the warm fabrics in the shops in the town.
Old Mrs. Bai glanced at Yu Jingui, who was so frightened that he kept silent.
"Mom, my second sister-in-law is right, it's very thick."
Bai Zhaomei was not worried at all about going to the border early, but was very excited.
At this time, according to the requirements of Mrs. Bai and Mrs. Zhen, he put on the thickest cotton jacket and cotton trousers, thick cotton shoes, thick gloves and hat, walking around the yard to show off.
There was thick snow in the yard, but Zhen deliberately refused to let it be swept, and asked Bai Dazhuang to bring in the snow outside to create a knee-high snow road, just to simulate a scene for Bai Zhaomei with knee-deep snow on the border.
Then let Bai Zhaomei put on a cotton coat and walk in the snow to feel it.
Because the cotton-padded clothes were too thick, it was very difficult for Bai Zhaomei to walk step by step. She soon broke out in a sweat and wanted to tear off the heavy cotton-padded clothes.
"What do you know? The border is no better than at home. Drops of water turn into ice, the wind is so strong, and the snow is so heavy. Even the biggest wind and snow here can't compare with it," said Zhen.
"Mom has never been to the border." Bai Zhaomei said with a smile, "I asked the soldiers around General Meng and they said they can bear it. They are still drinking wine against the moon in the wind and snow."
Zhen shook her head slightly.
She has never been to the border, but she heard from her grandfather.
The strong wind from that outlet can blow apart houses, the snow is as big as a mat and can bury people and horses, and a pot of boiling water condenses into ice in mid-air when thrown out.
Her grandfather's rheumatism contracted during those years on the border. Even though there were fiery earth dragons in the capital, he still felt cold all over in winter.
She didn't want Bai Zhaomei to suffer the cold at the border.
As for General Meng's personal soldiers, they are young and have not yet felt cold.
Besides, these personal guards all have fox fur, which naturally has better cold resistance than cotton-padded clothes.
"I think this is not enough." Mrs. Zhen said worriedly. Her youngest son was going to the border for the first time, and she didn't know whether he would adapt to it in the first year.
When Bai Zhaomei heard what her mother said was not enough, she immediately made a grimace and said to Xiao Fuyuan who was standing aside: "Sister, you are smart, tell me if the border is not that cold."
Xiao Fuyuan tilted her head, she really didn't know, she had never been there.
But it must be very cold!
After all, the heating equipment in this era can only burn fire and kang.
"Fifth brother, you should listen to your mother and wear thicker clothes." Xiao Fuyuan said.
She didn't want Fifth Brother to get frostbite at the border.
Mrs. Zhen nodded and said, "Your sister has said so."
Xiao Fuyuan looked at Mrs. Zhen's sad face and remembered the saying, "Before departure, I am afraid that I will return later." Every stitch on Bai Zhaomei's body is Zhen's reluctance and sustenance.
This fifth brother, what he wears is not only a cotton-padded coat, but also the hard work of my mother.
Nature cannot disobey.
Bai Zhaomei stepped in the snow and said, "Mom, it's thick enough. Look at me, I can't even walk on the road. How can you go into battle and kill the enemy when you are dressed like this? "
In one sentence, everyone in Lao Bai's family fell silent.
Bai Zhaomei went to the border not to play or to make soy sauce, but to actually obey military orders, go into battle to kill the enemy, and participate in the war.
War can result in injuries, bleeding, or even death.
This is a question that the Lao Bai family has been avoiding since Bai Zhaomei decided to go to the border.
Whenever it comes to Bai Zhaomei going to the border, starting from the old lady Bai, she always encourages Bai Zhaomei, encourages him to be brave, encourages him to be a general in the future, and encourages him to perform meritorious services to support his sister.
Even when people in the village asked Bai Zhaomei about going to the border this time, Bai Banban smiled and said that naturally a boy would want to join the army, since he had many sons anyway.
Everyone avoided talking about the possibility of injury and death.
Bai Zhaomei's words made the Bai family deeply aware of the life and death issues Bai Zhaomei would face.
Zhen's nose felt sore on the spot.
The eyes of Mrs. Bai, Xie Chuntao and Tian Maimiao turned red.
How old is Bai Zhaomei? Even if she is engaged, she is still a half-grown child and is about to go into battle to kill the enemy.
"...If you don't tell General Meng, the fifth brother is too young and we should wait two years before going to the border." Bai Dazhuang suddenly said.
The white board reprimanded with a straight face: "What nonsense are you talking about? Why are you in the army? Lao Wu is now a soldier of General Meng. If he doesn't go now, he will be violating military orders. Do you know how serious a violation of military orders is?"
Bai Banban felt reluctant to let go of his son, but he still clearly understood that military orders could not be violated.
"Talk to A Zhen..." Bai Erzhuang said.
"Shut up, don't cause trouble to that kid. Sooner or later, your fifth brother will have to leave like this, otherwise he will farm at home from now on and never want to work for General Shizi again." After scolding the eldest son, Bai Banban scolded the second son.
Bai Dazhuang and Bai Erzhuang both shut up, knowing in their hearts that what their father said couldn't be more correct.
Bai Zhaomei didn't expect that her words would touch the hearts of the family. He was so excited that he wanted to rush to the border immediately. When he heard that his eldest and second brothers didn't want him to go to the border, he said anxiously: "What are you worried about? My sister is not As you said, I will be fine at the border."
Lifted my sister out again.
Sure enough, Xiao Fuyuan's reputation is good.
Old Mrs. Bai was the first to say: "Yes, yes, my granddaughter said that Lao Wu is fine, so Lao Wu is fine. I also expect Lao Wang to be a general and lead me on a parade on a tall horse."
After a few words, Zhen and others were able to stop their tears.
Xiao Fuyuan acted as the koi carp again at the right time, and said crisply: "Fifth brother will be fine, fifth brother will be a general, and grandma can see fifth brother becoming a general."
She originally wanted to comfort her family by saying that her fifth brother would not be injured, but she decided not to raise a flag because there was no way she could join the army without being injured.
Which general is not injured?
Bai Zhaomei glanced at her sister gratefully and said, "Big brother, second brother, my sister said so. Don't let me stand in the way of becoming a general."
Bai Dazhuang and Bai Erzhuang came to the snow together. One grabbed his collar and the other stuffed snow into it. They said, "Good boy, you are disrespectful to your brother before you become a general."
Bai Zhaomei hid and begged for mercy: "Big brother and second brother, I don't dare anymore, it's cool, it's cool."
Dalang Sanlang also walked over to help his father deal with Fifth Uncle, and even Xiaolang took a handful of snow and threw it on Fifth Uncle.
