The 1970s: Military Family Beauty

Jiang Furong was afraid that little Baoying would cry, so she originally wanted to push the stroller around in a big circle on the road before going home.

Unexpectedly, halfway through the journey, little Baoying began to doze off.

Grandma Jiang was very anxious: "The child needs to sleep after eating. Hurry up, don't let him fall asleep on the way. If the child sleeps with his mouth open, he will breathe in the cold air and get diarrhea."

In an era of lack of medical care and medicine, especially in rural areas, diarrhea can be fatal.

This is my first time helping someone take care of a child, so please make sure nothing goes wrong.

Fortunately, the road is not far and it is just after passing two alleys.

The wheels of the stroller chug along the red-brick alley. Jiang Xiaocui, standing on the porch, turns her head to look outside and greets them happily: "You're finally back. Oh my, this is the baby you were supposed to take care of? So cute, just like a New Year picture! Muah, little baby, smile."

Jiang Xiaocui likes little boys. Seeing that little Baoying is well-behaved and cute, she immediately started teasing him.

Little Baoying was no longer sleepy. He stared at Jiang Xiaocui with wide eyes and raised the biscuit in his hand: "Biscuit, here you go."

Jiang Xiaocui laughed exaggeratedly: "Hey, give it to me? Why are you so caring?"

When they arrived at the door of the house, Jiang Xiaocui bent down and together with Jiang Furong, lifted the stroller up the steps and pulled the front of the stroller into the house.

Jiang Furong looked at the two empty bowls on the table: "Are they both gone?"

Cooking and feeding Qian Yuyan at her house took up quite a bit of time, and it was already half past one.

Jiang Xiaocui replied: "They've all left. The two of them kept asking where you've been. Have you eaten? The steamed buns are still hot in the pot. I don't think you'll be back soon. I'm preparing the cabbage now. I'm only halfway done."

Grandma Jiang waved her hand and said, "You two can talk later. First, clean up the child's sleeping place. He is so sleepy."

Children can fall asleep immediately when they say they want to, so don't be careless.

Jiang Furong quickly reassembled the wooden boards from the stroller into a crib, took the military blanket from the bench and spread it underneath, then put a small quilt and pillow on it.

Jiang Xiaocui looked at it fondly and couldn't let it go: "This little quilt is very beautiful. Is it warm enough? How about taking my quilt and covering him with it?"

Grandma Jiang took off Xiao Baoying's cotton pants and said, "This quilt is thick enough. Xiao Cui, go get a basin so I can help him pee."

Jiang Furong watched Jiang Xiaocui bring the basin over to collect the urine and cried out, "This is our basin!"

"It's okay, it's just boy's urine, and people drink it!" Jiang Xiaocui didn't care: "Just pour it out and wash it with soap."

Jiang Furong looked at it with her scalp tingling: "Wait, there's a spittoon at home, I'll go get it."

But little Baoying would not wait at all. He peed as soon as he heard the peeing sound.

Grandma Jiang came up and praised the child: "This child is so good, he eats when he is told to eat and pees when he is told to pee. Look, he is already smiling."

He fell asleep with his face tilted back before even taking off his cotton-padded jacket.

No crying, no making a fuss, and no need to coax.

A child who is so easy to take care of is more likable than one who is good-looking.

Jiang Furong couldn't feel the cuteness of the child and secretly vowed never to use the washbasin at home again, not even for washing clothes.

The first thing she planned to do after receiving her nanny salary was to buy a washbasin.

"Auntie, I need a favor from you," Jiang Furong took out an old raincoat and an old mosquito net and gestured on the baby carriage, "I want to make a small tent. I'll use the raincoat as the shed and the mosquito net as the front curtain. We won't be afraid of wind or snow. Little Baoying can still see us while sitting in the carriage."

When not in use, just fold it up and put it in the storage compartment under the car for easy access.

As long as Xiao Baoying is picked up and dropped off safely, Qian Yuyan will have no objection.

Although I can only do it for two months, I still have to try my best.

Jiang Xiaocui understood it immediately: "We'll put a few more sticks on the car, right? You mean to use this raincoat to make a small mosquito net? I see! Wow, Furong, you're so smart. You can do anything with your little brain."

Jiang Furong was so flattered that she didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "How can this be called clever? Isn't that how big trucks build a shed?"

Jiang Xiaocui shook her head: "A big truck is a big truck, but no one has ever thought about this kid's car. Furong, you just have a good brain!"

Grandma Jiang said with relief, "That's right! At Captain Qian's house, Furong kept talking a lot, and I saw that Captain Qian couldn't win over her and just listened to her. I thought Captain Qian was hard to talk to, but who would have thought? She nodded and said yes to everything Furong said, and there was nothing she couldn't say no to."

Jiang Xiaocui smiled brightly. "Really? I told you, people who can talk well can get things done. I'm sure you'll understand! Mom, didn't Furong tell you? We didn't charge for the cabbages we brought back home. They're on my brother's account. The soldiers also told us they'll have to drain the fish pond in a few days, so I quickly went to the service center and bought over ten pounds of salt."

By the time everyone wants to pickle vegetables, fish and meat, there is not enough salt and they can only wait for the service center to restock.

Grandma Jiang smiled and said, "Your brain is working better now! Go get the cabbage quickly. I'll eat and rest for a while. The child won't sleep for long."

"Yes, yes, I'll get it right away." Jiang Xiaocui put down her apron and walked to the back. "The fire is still burning in the stove. We don't have much firewood at home. I have to go out and get some. Furong, where do you usually get firewood?"

The little firewood and branches in the courtyard were used up in no time.

"I haven't picked it up before. My dad always did it before," Jiang Furong said vaguely, and took out a small notebook: "Aunt, you bought a lot of things here. I'll record them in the account first and tell my dad when he comes back."

Jiang Xiaocui was a little embarrassed: "What's there to write down? I didn't buy much. Hey, don't write it down. We're all family. It would be so awkward to write this down."

Jiang Furong insisted on writing and even made a little joke: "It is discipline not to take a single needle or thread from the masses. Even if you are my aunt, I cannot let you spend money in an unclear way."

These words touched Jiang Xiaocui's heart.

She hadn't come to her brother's place expecting to eat and drink for free, but she had met her sister-in-law for three days and had said less than five sentences in total. She had also heard gossip, which made her feel uncomfortable.

"Okay, I'll give you an account." Jiang Xiaocui was not the one who was shy, so she told you everything she bought.

Jiang Furong still had something to ask: "Aunt, Sister Li introduced me to be a nanny. What gift do you think I should give her to thank her?"

It seems too late to buy a gift to thank someone after receiving your salary, and it seems insincere.

Jiang Furong started to advance future money as soon as she took up the job.

Jiang Xiaocui thought for a moment and said, "I still have quite a bit of vermicelli noodles. Can I take a bundle? Or maybe give her some cabbages?"

Jiang Furong didn't understand the market situation and didn't know whether it was appropriate to give vegetables as gifts.