The spring is cold and the wind is howling!
On the gravel road from Beijing through Yunshan County, a convoy of three jeeps, two buses, and a large truck were speeding crazily.
In the car in the middle, Zhou Yang looked at the falling snowflakes outside the car window in a daze.
They were a family of five when they came here, but now when they went back, he was the only one left, which made Zhou Yang feel empty in his heart.
It's not like he hasn't been separated from his wife and children in recent years, sometimes for three to five days, or sometimes for two or three months.
He didn't feel anything before, but this time it made him feel particularly different.
Maybe it’s because this time it’s really different!
Zhou Yang knew very well that his daughter-in-law would stay in the capital to attend university, and if nothing else happened, she would stay there for four years.
If that silly girl wants to go to graduate school, it may take even longer!
College these days is completely different from what it was more than ten years ago. Going to college now is really hard, with a lot of academic pressure and a tight schedule.
Unlike later generations who go to college and have so much time to enjoy the romance, you and I. Especially when my wife has four children to take care of, I need to seize the time to study.
Therefore, in the next few years, it is very likely that only during winter and summer vacations will the girls be able to return to the village to spend some time with him.
As for the New Year and festivals, don’t think about it!
On the one hand, there are very few national statutory holidays these days. You have to go to work and go to school even on Saturdays. The remaining Sunday is too short, so you can’t go there.
And forget about the so-called May Day holiday, Dragon Boat Festival holiday, National Day holiday and so on in later generations, there is no such term at all.
On the other hand, Zhou Yang himself was not at ease with his wife running back and forth with her two children.
So Zhou Yang felt uncomfortable at the thought of being separated for such a long time.
But the matter has come to this, and he has no choice. After all, the stalls in Babaoliang have been opened. He can't just abandon it just because his wife is going to the capital to go to college, right?
Besides, the international situation will be turbulent in the next few years, which will be a rare opportunity for him.
For example, if there is going to be chaos in the Luotuo family this year, which will trigger a second oil crisis, Zhou Yang plans to use this opportunity to make a lot of money, and take the opportunity to spread out in the entire Middle East and control the oil and gas resources there.
As long as we lay out our plans early, we won’t have to worry about being manipulated in this regard after we develop in the future.
For another example, next year we will have to fight the monkeys again. Zhou Yang plans to use this opportunity to develop the domestic aviation industry and produce several far-reaching fighter aircraft.
If this time point is missed, once the country's overall strategy shifts and vigorously develops the economy, these large-scale military projects are likely to be shelved indefinitely.
There are also the "Western 81" military exercises of the Woolly Bear Alliance, the Fifth Middle East War, the Anglo-Afghan War, etc. Although these things have little to do with our country, in Zhou Yang's view, behind every major event are rare things opportunities, he really didn't want to miss these good opportunities.
However, you can't have your cake and eat it too. If you want to shoulder the heavy burden given by the country, you can no longer keep your wife and children on the bed like before. At least not now...
From the passenger seat, Liu Yunlong was also quietly observing Zhou Yang. When he saw that he had been silent since getting in the car, he knew that he was thinking about his wife.
Liu Yunlong has been following Zhou Yang for more than two years, and has witnessed with his own eyes his step-by-step growth from a little-known person to a popular figure in both the military and political circles.
It is inevitable for most people to be successful when they are young, especially in terms of family and personal life. It is really difficult for many people to control it.
But Zhou Yang did not. He was as truth-seeking and pragmatic as ever, and as humble and unassuming as ever.
Especially when it comes to treating family, he is not only good to his wife and children, but also to his father-in-law and his family. He is an absolute model husband, a good father, and a good son-in-law!
Now because Li Youwei is going to college, the family has to be separated. I think he must feel a little uncomfortable.
Thinking of this, Liu Yunlong suddenly coughed and said, "Director, I want to move in with you in two days, is that okay?"
Zhou Yang was stunned for a moment, then asked: "Why?"
Then Zhou Yang thought about it. Li Qian was also admitted to college this year. If nothing else happened, she would report to school soon, and Liu Yunlong would be alone by then.
"Move here. From now on, you, I, Bei Xuan and Lao Zhang will live together as four lonely people!" Zhou Yang said with a smile.
"I think so too!"
"By the way, when will your wife report to school?"
"On the 22nd, there is still one week!" Liu Yunlong said.
"Yeah, when is her due date? Don't give birth to a baby right after she goes to school. What should we do?" Zhou Yang said.
"The due date is at the end of June. I discussed it with my mother two days ago. After Qianqian gives birth, she will go to the capital to take care of her confinement!" Liu Yunlong said.
"Do you mean your mother-in-law or your mother-in-law?"
"Mother-in-law, my own mother is in her hometown in Northern Jiangsu and she can't leave at all!" Liu Yunlong said.
"Well, where do you plan to place the child after he is born? School shouldn't be possible, right?" Zhou Yang asked again.
"The school will definitely not work. I plan to rent a house near their school when I send Qianqian to report at school. After Qianqian gives birth, she will have confinement outside." Liu Yunlong said.
"What should I do after the child is born? Should he stay in the capital or..."
Before Zhou Yang could finish speaking, Liu Yunlong said: "My father-in-law and mother-in-law plan to take the child back to the county town and let them take care of it!"
"This is also a solution. After all, you, a grown man, can't take care of your children. Your wife is in school, so you can only leave it to Lao Li and his wife!"
Then Zhou Yang said again: "The Normal University your daughter-in-law is going to attend is not very far from my place. How about letting her move there and live with my daughter-in-law, so that we can take care of each other!"
Zhou Yang knew that Li Qian was admitted to Beijing Normal University, which was just a few blocks away from the Family Hospital of Beijing Medical College, and it was only thirty or forty minutes away on foot.
In addition, the wing rooms in his house are vacant, so it won't be a big deal if there are a few more people!
"Is this convenient?"
"It's convenient. What's the inconvenience? Anyway, there are so many empty houses at home, so it's better than renting someone else's house!" Zhou Yang said.
"Okay, then I'll go back and discuss it with Qianqian!"
"good..."
Just as he was talking, a loud singing sound came from the car window, as well as bursts of laughter.
Even the cold wind howling outside could not suppress the lively voices of the group of medical students in the car behind.
Liu Yunlong said with some envy: "These young people are really energetic. They were singing and laughing along the way. I was really happy!"
"You say this as if we are old, but we are also young people!" Zhou Yang said with a smile.
Liu Yunlong shook his head and said: "We are exhausted day by day, how can we compare to anyone with this energy?"
Zhou Yang said with deep sympathy: "Yes, these medical students are indeed very energetic, I have to admire them!"
At this time, Liu Yunlong looked at the snowflakes falling more and more outside the window, and couldn't help but said: "They say that auspicious snow heralds a good harvest. It seems that there will be another good harvest in the village this year!"
Upon hearing this, the expression on Zhou Yang's face suddenly froze!
He suddenly remembered something: from 1978 to 1983, there were consecutive severe droughts in the north.
Especially this year, a large-scale drought occurred across the country. As many as 603 million acres of crops were affected, 269 million acres were damaged, and grain production was reduced by more than one-third.
It is precisely because this year's drought is so severe that the grain harvest in Fengyang County, Anhui Province has been severe, and many farmers are preparing to go out to beg for food again, so there is an incident of 18 red handprints from the Xiaogang Village production team of the Phoenix Commune. The household contract responsibility system was launched.
Similarly, Saibei Province, as a large province with agriculture and animal husbandry as its economic pillar, has also been greatly affected this year. Many places have experienced reduced grain production or even no harvests.
Thinking of this, Zhou Yang couldn't help but frown...
.........
(Eighteen red handprints)
(Original copy of Fentian)
