The young soldier looked at the large bowl of noodles before him, a fragrant aroma wafting towards him. It was the scent of eggs mixed with lard, and the noodles were made from pure white flour, topped with golden-fried eggs. His stomach rumbled, and he couldn't help but swallow.
Startled, the young soldier quickly stood up, resisting the temptation and hunger, and waved his hands. "Sister-in-law, you're too kind! I, I'm not hungry, really!"
As soon as he spoke, his stomach growled loudly, so loud that everyone in the living room could probably hear it. The young soldier's face instantly turned as red as a pig's liver.
Everyone suppressed their laughter, including Chen Lan, who didn't want to embarrass the young soldier.
She said with a serious expression, "Young comrade, it's wrong not to tell the truth! We should be honest comrades, say what you have. If you didn't eat breakfast, you should have told the truth. Don't say you're not hungry. Look, your stomach is more honest.
Alright! Hurry up and eat! Don't dawdle anymore! Be like a soldier charging into battle, and finish this bowl of noodles quickly, or they'll get soggy."
What else could he do? The young soldier couldn't argue with Chen Lan, and he was indeed very hungry. He had left the camp before dawn and walked for several hours on mountain paths. His stomach had been grumbling all the way.
The old mother also quickly persuaded, "Young comrade, hurry up and eat, don't be slow, consider it like being at home, what's so difficult about eating a bowl of noodles?"
His mother-in-law and Mother Liu also persuaded, "That's right! Just treat it like being at home, good child, eat quickly."
The young soldier's eyes turned red, and he let out a "mmph," then began to eat heartily. As he ate, tears began to fall.
This surprised Chen Lan, his mother-in-law, his mother, and Mother Liu.
Chen Lan hurriedly asked, "Is there too much salt in the noodles? Too salty? Don't rush to eat, I'll go to the kitchen and make you another bowl." With that, she got up to go to the kitchen.
The young soldier quickly stopped her, "Sister-in-law, the noodles are very fragrant and delicious. Except for the egg noodles my mother made for me the day I followed the team, this is the most delicious noodle I've ever eaten."
Afraid Chen Lan wouldn't believe him, he added, "Really! Sister-in-law, I'm telling the truth."
His mother-in-law quickly asked, "Young comrade, what was that just now?"
The young soldier's face turned red again, and he scratched his head sheepishly. "I remembered my mother! Auntie, my name is Zhang Er Zhuang, you can just call me Er Wa. At home, I'm the second child. I have an elder brother, and my mother calls me Er Wa."
His mother's eyes turned red, and she wiped her eyes with a handkerchief, looking at the young soldier with affection. "Poor child! You joined the army so young, you must be sixteen this year!"
Seeing his mother's reaction, Chen Lan knew she was thinking of her elder brother Chen Bowen again.
The young soldier Zhang Er Zhuang quickly swallowed the noodles in his mouth and replied, "Auntie, I'm not young anymore. I've been in the army for three years, I'm an old soldier, and I'm nineteen this year. It's just that I'm a bit short..."
He then scratched his head again sheepishly.
Chen Lan quickly smoothed things over and whispered, "Mother, don't ask anymore for now. Let Comrade Zhang eat first. He's been traveling all morning and is hungry. We can ask any questions after he finishes his noodles?"
No one else asked questions, and Zhang Er Zhuang quickly finished the large bowl of noodles, soup and all! He even let out a loud burp, which made Zhang Er Zhuang's face turn red again.
He quickly stood up and said, "Sister-in-law, your kitchen is over there, right? I'll wash the bowls." He pointed in the direction of the kitchen.
Chen Lan quickly said, "No, no, sit down. My mother-in-law and mother still have questions for you."
At this moment, Mother Liu quickly reached out and took the bowl from Zhang Er Zhuang's hand and went into the kitchen.
Zhang Er Zhuang had no choice but to scratch his head again and sit down.
Seeing him sit down, Chen Lan sat opposite him and asked, "Comrade Zhang, my mother-in-law said you came to deliver a message to your political commissar? Is there anything the camp needs our help with?"
Zhang Er Zhuang habitually stood up immediately, ready to salute, but then remembered he wasn't in the army and lowered his hand. "Sister-in-law, Auntie, it's not that the camp has something important. Our political commissar asked me to bring a message to the family, and you'll know when I tell you."
His mother-in-law anxiously asked, "What message? Er Wa, sit down and talk."
Zhang Er Zhuang sat down obediently and said, "The political commissar asked me to tell Sister-in-law that in about six or seven days, he and five or six comrades will be bringing their families to live in the valley for a while, so Sister-in-law should prepare in advance."
Chen Lan understood immediately. So it was Xu Mingxuan's comrades who were coming.
She immediately smiled and said, "Thank you! Comrade Zhang, I understand. I apologize for the trouble of coming all this way. You've worked hard!"
Zhang Er Zhuang waved his hands repeatedly, "No thanks! No thanks! It's my duty!"
With that, he stood up and said, "Sister-in-law, Auntie, the message has been delivered, and I should be heading back to the camp."
His mother-in-law and mother quickly stood up to stop him. His mother said, "It's still early, no need to rush! I still have things to ask you. It's not too late to leave after lunch."
Seeing his mother like this, Chen Lan knew she was reminded of her elder brother again. Well, let her talk to Zhang Er Zhuang and relieve her longing.
So she also joined in the persuasion and quickly said, "No rush, Comrade Zhang, I also need you to help me send some things to your political commissar. I'll go prepare now. You talk with my mother and mother-in-law, and leave after lunch."
With that, she stood up and was about to go to the kitchen when she suddenly remembered something and asked, "Um, Comrade Zhang, has your camp planted vegetables?"
Zhang Er Zhuang replied, "Yes, we've planted quite a lot! Why? Don't you have vegetables at home?"
Chen Lan quickly explained, seeing his misunderstanding, "No, it's just that we planted a bit too many vegetables this year, and I'm afraid we won't be able to eat them all and they'll go to waste.
So I wanted to ask if your camp needs any. If so, go back and tell your political commissar to send someone to the valley to pick up radishes and Chinese cabbage."
Zhang Er Zhuang immediately stood up happily and eagerly asked, "Really? Sister-in-law, we do! We really do. There are many people in our camp, and although we plant a lot of vegetables every year, it's still not enough. For almost two months after the new year, we only eat pickled radishes and soybean paste."
When Chen Lan heard this, she was surprised by how difficult their conditions were. It was truly not easy for the soldiers to maintain such a high morale under such harsh conditions. She thought, since she knew, she should help them.
So she said, "Comrade Zhang, after lunch today, please go back and tell your camp commander and political commissar that we have an excess of five thousand jin of Chinese cabbage, five thousand jin of radishes, three thousand jin of celery, three thousand jin of cauliflower, two thousand jin of carrots, five hundred jin of chili peppers, five hundred jin of eggplant, and five thousand jin of onions.
Go back and tell them clearly, and they will know how many people to send to transport them."
After Chen Lan finished speaking, not only Zhang Er Zhuang, but also his mother, mother-in-law, Chuncao, and Mother Liu, who had just finished washing the bowls, were all stunned.