Xu Mingxuan was silent for a while after hearing this. Then he said, "Lan'er, if that's the case, we need to start preparing. First, we need to find a way for the people in the valley of the appropriate age to leave the valley and participate in the high school graduation examination to obtain a high school diploma. We'll need to find a school that agrees to let them take the exam. The key is how to find such a school. Anyway, there are still a few years before the college entrance examination is resumed in '77, so there will be opportunities! As for participating in the college entrance examination at that time, we'll discuss it after they get their high school diplomas."
Chen Lan continued to ask, "Brother Mingxuan, what about the work unit certificates? It's easy for our own children. We live here, so the neighborhood committee can issue the certificates. But what about the many people in the valley who are of the right age to take the exam? What will they do? Do I have to forge certificates again? But if I forge too many at once, I'm worried something might go wrong."
Xu Mingxuan thought for a moment and then said, "As for the work unit certificates, that's also easy to handle. Let the border defense battalion issue the work unit certificates. After all, for decades, almost all the grain produced in the valley has been supplied to them. Moreover, the valley has not only provided them with grain for decades but also so many living supplies every year. And the six fat pigs at the end of each year were not given for free. I believe they will be very willing to help with such a small favor."
Hearing Xu Mingxuan say this, a large stone in Chen Lan's heart finally fell! Otherwise, if the children couldn't get work unit certificates because they lived in the valley and therefore couldn't participate in the first year of the college entrance examination, she would have felt guilty to death.
When the three of them arrived home, Jiahui had already served the meal and was waiting for them, chatting with her Uncle Leopard and Uncle Mountain Cat.
When men drink, they have endless things to talk about, especially comrades who haven't seen each other for almost ten years. They talked about everything from the glorious years of the war to their current jobs and lives.
Finally, Leopard and Mountain Cat said to Xu Mingxuan, "Political Commissar, we two will be leaving tomorrow. We can't take too long of a leave from our jobs. Weidang will stay with you for now to recover from his injuries. He doesn't need to rush back after his injuries heal. Going back would just be suffering."
Xu Mingxuan knew that they had already delayed their return for Weidang's sake for too long, so he didn't insist on them staying. He only asked about the situation of another comrade who worked in Qinhuangdao.
Leopard hesitated for a moment and then explained, "Political Commissar, Shanying had already requested leave and was supposed to come with me and Mountain Cat to see Weidang off. However, his wife had a falling out with him over his leave request and went back to her parents' home alone. He got married late, and his children are still young. His sick mother and several children are left without anyone to care for them, so he couldn't come."
At this point, Leopard looked up at Xu Mingxuan's expression. He didn't notice any abnormality on Xu Mingxuan's face.
Then Mountain Cat continued to explain, "Political Commissar, Shanying also asked us to give you a message. He said he's sorry to you, Political Commissar. For so many years, you have always taken care of us, and you have never asked us to do anything for you. But at this crucial juncture, he can't help. Shanying feels very guilty. Political Commissar, please don't blame him!"
Xu Mingxuan sighed and shook his head, saying, "I don't blame him. Every family has its own problems. His wife is not wrong either. After all, life is hard, and the whole family relies on his meager salary for a living!"
Hearing this, Chen Lan left the space for the men to continue eating and chatting and went upstairs to her room to prepare the things that Leopard and Mountain Cat would take home the next day.
The journey was too far, and it was summer, so it was really difficult to prepare much. Grain was too heavy to carry, so they would give them grain coupons and money. Of course, money and grain coupons would also be prepared for Shanying, as his family was indeed in financial difficulties.
She was afraid that clothes bought for their families would not be suitable, so she decided to give them fabric. She was afraid that the meat would go bad in the heat, so she would give them Russian Vika sausages.
There were also thermoses, flashlights, enamel basins, soap, and towels. She also prepared two large canvas bags for each of them to carry these items.
She packed a little bit here and a little bit there, and before she knew it, she had packed two large bags for each of them. Fortunately, both of them had been soldiers and were strong, so Chen Lan didn't worry that they couldn't carry them.
As for the food for the journey back, they would go to the state-run restaurant tomorrow morning to eat and pack.
Thinking of this, Chen Lan took out a military satchel and a military water bottle from the system's warehouse. Chen Lan thought that using the military satchel for dry rations and the military water bottle for water would be perfect.
After Chen Lan finished preparing the items, she went downstairs and heard Xu Mingxuan instructing Jiaxing to take a letter of introduction and ride his bicycle to the train station to buy tickets. Chen Lan quickly took out ten large black stones from her pocket and handed them to Jiaxing, urging him to hurry.
The next morning, after the whole family had breakfast at the state-run restaurant, Xu Mingxuan bid farewell to everyone and went to the party school for classes. Jiayao also took four donkey burgers on his bicycle to the hospital to work with his master. Jiaxing also took breakfast on his bicycle to the hospital to deliver food to Weidang and Jiahe.
The only ones left to go home were Chen Lan and Jiahui, mother and daughter, and Leopard and Mountain Cat. The mother and daughter packed the donkey burgers and flatbreads they had packed from the state-run restaurant into two military satchels, filled the military water bottles with cool boiled water, and then handed them to Leopard and Mountain Cat, respectively.
Then, the mother and daughter, each carrying two large backpacks, prepared to see Leopard and Mountain Cat off at the train station.
Leopard and Mountain Cat stubbornly refused to let the mother and daughter see them off, saying, "How can two grown men like us let two women see us off? It's too embarrassing!"
Chen Lan was not one to haggle, so in the end, she acquiesced to their wishes. She handed them the money and coupons she had prepared in advance, along with the train tickets for their return journey, separately. She also gave Shanying's share to Leopard to pass on.
She then explained the items in the backpacks, such as the thermoses and enamel basins, which were fragile and prone to damage, and asked them to be careful on the road.
The two men were so moved that they couldn't speak, only nodding continuously, their eyes red as they quickly reached out to take them.
Finally, before they left, Leopard and Mountain Cat said, "Sister-in-law, thank you and the Political Commissar for taking care of us for so many years. We will never forget the great kindness of you and your husband."
Chen Lan waved her hand and said, "Brother Leopard, Brother Mountain Cat, it's too formal to thank each other. Be safe on the road, and when you get home, remember to write and let us know you're safe."