But Xibao wasn’t willing. He turned over in bed, heaved and puffed trying to turn over but can’t, his limbs tirelessly moving. Seeing his mother and that dark, ugly guy, all cuddly and chatty, he let out an unsatisfied cry and started wailing out loud.
Lu Jiang and Feng Qingxue immediately surrounded the bed, unable to hold back their laughter.
"All talk and no action, this little guy can really make it!" His plump face was clean, not even a single golden spot on it.
Feng Qingxue poked her son’s chubby cheek, "Didn’t you say that his godfather prepared a gift for him? There are so many things in your suitcase, which one is his?"
Lu Jiang remembered, "The little tank made out of bullet shells, that’s it!"
It was a very poorly crafted little tank, but each bullet shell had its own story.
Lu Jiang took it out and placed it in front of his son. Little Fatty’s eyes lit up, he lay on the bed staring at it, "Ah, ah, ah, ah," he babbled, reaching out to touch the barrel of the tank.
"He seems to really like it." Feng Qingxue laughed.
Lu Jiang hummed in response, he would’ve taken out the mini tank earlier if he knew it would keep Little Fatty quiet.
With Little Fatty behaving, the parents were relaxed.
Lu Jiang brought a lot of gifts for his wife: red flowers, snow lotus, musk, matsutake mushrooms, Tibetan knives, cordyceps, dried yak meat, and so on. He packed everything in a haphazard manner, "I exchanged my salary and allowances, and tickets in the last few months with local people for these items. I also asked them to keep collecting these for me, and I’ll exchange with them after I get back to the unit."
Originally, doing this kind of thing was not allowed, but he made a report in advance and said that his wife studied medicine, and there was a lack of medicine in their rural hometown, so he wanted to exchange some medicinal materials to take home. The regiment commander was grateful for Feng Qingxue’s efforts, and specifically approved his request.
Feng Qingxue was very pleased, "We are raising a flock of ducks at home. I’ll make you a whole duck soup with cordyceps one day. What a nourishing meal!"
Lu Jiang asked uncertainly, "So we are allowed to raise ducks again?"
Feng Qingxue gave a smirk, "Now the state has issued a directive encouraging people to vigorously develop the sideline animal husbandry. Whatever the policy, we follow and change when it changes."
Anyhow, the people were used to the constantly changing policies from above.
At this time, the rules weren’t as strict as they would become later. If you had the means, you could raise a few more - not too many. If you were unable, you could raise a few less. You could eat the animals yourself or sell them to the supply and marketing cooperative or food station. But private trading was not allowed.
Previously, Jin Cuihua had discreetly bought eggs for Feng Qingxue.
Lu Jiang understood, "Don’t butcher the ducks anymore, keep them for laying eggs. I notice that Xibao likes to eat egg custard."
"This little guy has a good appetite, what is there that he doesn’t like to eat? Didn’t you notice when we are eating, he follows along making smacking noises? If it weren’t for sweet potatoes and eggs conflicting with each other, dad would’ve already spoon-fed him a few spoonfuls of porridge."
Lu Jiang thought about it, and that’s true!
"Eating well is a blessing, growing fast and strong from eating is great!"