The words that needed to be said were all clear. It was getting late, and the twin siblings were starting to get sleepy. Seeing her grandsons fussing, and knowing her son couldn't stay and had to leave early the next morning, her mother-in-law reluctantly stood up. Without another word, she patted Xu Mingxuan's uninjured shoulder, took Mingzhe's hand, and prepared to leave with Uncle De and Mama Cui.
Xu Mingxuan immediately got up and quickly stepped forward, putting an arm around his mother-in-law's shoulders. "Mother, the camp isn't that far from home. Don't worry! I'll come home to see you whenever I have leave. If you miss me, you can also come to the camp to see me."
His mother-in-law's face lit up. "Really? You can really visit me? It won't affect your work?"
Xu Mingxuan said with great certainty, "It won't affect my work. There are parents in the unit who aren't worried about their children who have joined the army and visit them."
His mother-in-law nodded, but still looked disappointed as she led Mingzhe away.
The couple, each holding a baby, bid farewell to his mother and Uncle Fu and went upstairs. They quickly washed the two children and put them to bed. The twins were probably exhausted from learning to walk that day, and they fell asleep in no time.
The couple also quickly washed up, applied medicine to Xu Mingxuan's wound, and took a San Qi tablet to promote blood circulation and remove stasis. They leaned side-by-side against the headboard and spoke in hushed tones.
Chen Lan said with some concern, "Mingxuan Ge, it's a good thing that we're liberated now and the people are the masters! But your work might become more difficult."
Xu Mingxuan looked at Chen Lan in confusion. "Lan'er, why do you say that?"
Chen Lan thought for a moment. "Mingxuan Ge, think about it! What's the purpose of you joining the army?"
Xu Mingxuan quickly replied, "Of course, it's to overthrow the feudal ruling class, for the people to become masters of their own destiny, and for everyone to live a good life!"
Chen Lan continued, "Yes! Exactly! The key issues are the words '(become masters)' and '(live a good life)'. Mingxuan Ge, no matter what, as someone in the organization, shouldn't you take some practical actions to demonstrate the benefits of 'being masters'? Let the soldiers truly feel that liberation is good! That after liberation, everyone can be masters and live good lives."
Xu Mingxuan was even more confused. He raised his voice slightly and questioned, "Lan'er, you mean that soldiers will only serve well and protect the country if they see benefits? How can you think that way?"
Chen Lan saw that the conversation was going too far afield. The seventy-year generational gap between them made it difficult to explain clearly in one go.
She said, "Mingxuan Ge, calm down. Please let me finish, okay?
My point is, now that the country is stable, you, as someone working in the organization, must think for the soldiers. Let them learn a skill in the camp so that they have a way to make a living when they retire, and can live good lives. This way, their future worries will be resolved.
For example, if some soldiers want to study and write, the organization should arrange for people to teach them cultural knowledge; if they want to learn to cook, do hair, drive, or repair cars, or go back to farming and raising livestock, you need to organize people to teach them these skills, so that every soldier in the camp has a skill.
Wouldn't the soldiers then feel a sense of belonging? They would also train and study harder, diligently practicing their skills. This would fully demonstrate the benefits of being masters of their own destiny.
If you need books on these topics, I'll have my father-in-law prepare them for you later. When you return to the camp, you can set up a small library. You can organize soldiers who want to learn to study together. Isn't this part of your organizational work?
Also, you're doing ideological work for the soldiers in the camp. As the saying goes, 'A thousand people have a thousand thoughts, ten thousand people have ten thousand appearances.' You must face different people and different situations every day, deal with different personalities and different occasions. You need to treat them differently and adopt different measures.
I asked my father-in-law to buy you a few books on military construction." Saying this, she used her mind to open the system's warehouse and took out three books: "How to Strengthen Ideological Construction in the Army," "How to Effectively Conduct Ideological Work in the Army," and "How to Strengthen Party Building in the Army."
Xu Mingxuan listened to Chen Lan's words and looked at the titles of the three books. He excitedly hugged Chen Lan and said with a choked voice, "Lan'er, thank you, Father, and thank you too! You and Father have considered things much more thoroughly than I have. I never thought of these things. Su Dan Novel Network
Lan'er, thank you! Thank you and Father! I want all the books on skills you mentioned. Just as you said, when I return to the camp, I'll set up a small library and organize the soldiers who aren't on patrol to study.
You're right. As their political commissar, I have to be responsible for their future lives and teach them the skills to survive in peacetime."
Chen Lan again used her mind to open the system and search for imitation military supplies and labor protection products. She selected three reputable stores and purchased a full set of clothing, from head to toe, from each. She took out the three sets of clothes from the system's warehouse for Xu Mingxuan to choose from.
Xu Mingxuan compared them carefully and selected one. Chen Lan saw that the stitching, the cotton filling, and the thickness of the fabric in this set were better than the other two.
So, she decided to buy fifteen hundred sets of clothes from this store. After bargaining with the store's customer service, Chen Lan promised that if they offered discounts, she would purchase from them again. The manufacturer, wanting to keep Chen Lan, a major client, as a customer, made a huge concession. Although the price wasn't reduced, they gave Chen Lan two hundred quilts as a gift.
Chen Lan thought, this won't do! Two hundred quilts aren't enough to go around! Isn't this creating conflict?
So, she went back to negotiate with the manufacturer's customer service. The manufacturer finally agreed to a price of one thousand yuan per set. Each set included five items, from the Lei Feng hat worn on the head to the cowhide cotton boots worn on the feet, plus a thick quilt. They also promised to guarantee the quality and not to cut corners, otherwise, Chen Lan could return the goods unconditionally.
Chen Lan immediately placed the order. Seeing that the total transaction price was 1.5 million, she winced as if she were bleeding.
Xu Mingxuan saw Chen Lan's expression and asked, "Lan'er, what's wrong? How much is it in total? Does Father not have enough money?"
Having just spent a large sum of money, Chen Lan didn't want to speak and gestured with her hand.
Xu Mingxuan didn't understand and kept looking at her. Chen Lan said weakly, "One point five million."
Xu Mingxuan's mouth gaped open in astonishment and remained that way for a long time.
After a long silence, he said, "Lan'er, maybe we shouldn't buy it. How can our family have so much money?"
When Chen Lan heard Xu Mingxuan say this, she immediately decided to take the opportunity to build goodwill. So, she said, "Mingxuan Ge, it's okay. For now, let Father-in-law borrow some money to cover it.
I'll have Father-in-law sell some of my jewelry and the antique vases from my dowry.
Old items like antique vases and jewelry are very valuable to Father-in-law.
When spring comes, I'll dig more wild vegetables, gather more mountain goods and medicinal herbs, dig up a few more wild ginseng and reishi mushrooms, and hunt a few more wild boars for Father-in-law to sell to people over there. Then we can save enough money."
Xu Mingxuan, moved, hugged Chen Lan and rested his head on her shoulder. "Lan'er, thank you, and thank you for your hard work! How long will it take you to save it alone? I'll come back to help you when I have leave."