NOVPUB
Chapter 646: Chapter 636 Unprincipled Parents
In the evening, the news that Huanlin River next to the military residential compound would release water the next day was known to everyone.
Chen’s sister-in-law from across the way even made a special trip to have a chat with Shen Yunfang about it.
"Yunfang, are you going tomorrow?" Chen’s sister-in-law asked, holding a shoe sole in one hand and an awl in the other, her eyes busy watching TV, but still chatting with Shen Yunfang. 𝑛𝘰𝑣𝑝𝑢𝑏.𝘤𝑜𝘮
Shen Yunfang greatly admired her ability to multitask.
"Of course, I am." Shen Yunfang replied, "What about you, Sister Chen? Are you going too?"
"I’ll go, for sure." Chen’s sister-in-law responded enthusiastically, "If we’re lucky, we might catch a few fish to eat. Why wouldn’t I go?" Her attitude, as if missing out was a loss, made Shen Yunfang laugh.
"Don’t laugh." Chen’s sister-in-law continued, "I’ve already arranged with my husband to have dinner early tomorrow, then head to the riverside earlier. Are you and your husband, Commander Li, going? If you are, we could wait for you." That was the purpose of Chen’s sister-in-law’s visit today.
Shen Yunfang shook her head with a smile, "We probably can’t join you. I’m planning to take the kids over there early to play, and we’ll probably leave around noon." Even though Li Hongjun had agreed to take a day off so the family could go together, Shen Yunfang thought it was better not to mention it at the moment.
"What? Isn’t tomorrow Wednesday?" Chen’s sister-in-law asked with a look of surprise, "Aren’t your kids going to school?"
Over the years, the reservoir had never scheduled water releases on weekends, as that was when children were abundant and the risk of accidents was higher. They deliberately chose a Wednesday for the release, keeping the mischievous kids confined to school and thus reducing danger. One had to admit, the reservoir management really went to great lengths.
Shen Yunfang felt a bit embarrassed by the question, parents as irresponsible as her husband were indeed rare, "Hehe, schools do have classes, but ever since the kids heard about the water release, they’ve insisted on going to see it. They’ve been begging all afternoon, and Li, unable to bear it, finally agreed."
Chen’s sister-in-law didn’t know what to say. She hadn’t realized Commander Li was such an unreliable person.
"Hehe, after all, your kid does well in school. Missing a day shouldn’t be a problem," she said, which by then was the only thing to say.
"Exactly," Shen Yunfang replied, "That’s what old Li said. He told me, ’You can go to school any day, but the reservoir only releases water once a year.’ So he agreed to let the two kids go, telling me to take them over by noon and let them play their hearts out." Whether they miss school or not isn’t important. In Li Hongjun’s opinion, one extra day of school won’t get them into university or into a high-ranking position, so why not let the kids thoroughly enjoy themselves for a day?
"Oh my, I wouldn’t have guessed. Old Li is so strict, yet he spoils the kids like this." Chen’s sister-in-law was surprised.
"Hehe, he’s just messing around. He never went to school much himself and figures the kids will turn out just like him. In our home, he’s the loving dad and I’m the wicked stepmother," Shen Yunfang said jokingly.
"You’re the lucky one," Chen’s sister-in-law said, "I didn’t realize before, but now I see that Commander Li is a really good man. Not only does he treat the kids well, but he’s also good to you. From what I can see, he always helps with chores. I’ve never heard any quarrelling from your home. A peaceful husband like that is a good man."
For the rest of the time, Chen’s sister-in-law kept talking about her own husband, who didn’t care for his wife. Shen Yunfang, as a representative of the happily married, could only smile, sympathize with her when necessary, and occasionally bad-mouth her own husband Li Hongjun to make Chen’s sister-in-law feel better.
The next morning after breakfast, Li Hongjun and his wife took their two children to the farmstead. This had been planned for a while; the water release was scheduled for eight to ten in the morning, a time when going to the riverside would be too dangerous.
They planned to spend the morning with the children, working the land, as a reminder of less fortunate times.
The farmstead was already taking shape. The residential building there had risen, needing only its roof completed. The site was teeming with activity, bustling and visible from afar.
Shen Yunfang brought the children to the farm, and the first thing she did was to point out two places they couldn’t play in because they were very dangerous: the construction site over there.
The second place was the uncultivated wasteland in the distance with the tall grass. With Manman’s short stature, once she went in, you simply couldn’t see her from the outside. So that was a particularly dangerous place for children.
Pangpang and Manman were sensible kids. Hearing their mother say those places were dangerous, they immediately raised their hands to promise they would absolutely not go to those two places.
Then the children joyfully ran around everywhere on the vast land.
Li Hongjun and his spouse were working down in the fields, occasionally glancing up to check where the kids were frolicking.
Since Pangpang and Manman were polite and sensible children, wherever they went to cause a little mischief, the uncles nearby would get dragged into playing along. Laughter and cheerful voices would come from the fields now and then throughout the morning.
When noon came, Li Hongjun’s family didn’t return home. They simply had lunch right there with everyone else. While eating, Miao Shan couldn’t resist asking, "Sister-in-law, after we finish eating, can we take a stroll by the river?"
"Sure, today is the day the reservoir releases water, right? Didn’t you see I brought the kids too? After eating lunch, we’ll all go to the river to catch fish." Shen Yunfang was not a stingy boss. The employees had been working for a month and a half without a single day off. With such an occasion, how could she possibly restrain them from going?
"Wow, that’s great." Miao Shan clapped his hands excitedly upon hearing this. "Last night, I made a fishing net. Just you watch, tonight we’ll have a feast with all kinds of fish."
"Uncle Miao, take me with you, take me with you." Manman was successfully enticed and ran over with eyes shining like stars.
"Alright, Uncle will take Manman to catch the biggest fish, how’s that?" Miao Shan boasted, feeling elated to have gained an admirer so quickly.
"Yes, yes, yes."
Everyone watching their interaction couldn’t stop laughing.
After the meal, no one rested. They immediately grabbed their homemade fishing gear and headed to the riverbank on a tractor.
By the time they arrived, the water level in the riverbed had mostly returned to normal. The water in the river was a bit murky, probably because some mud had been washed down from upstream.
The grown men didn’t fuss. They stripped off their shirts, rolled up their trouser legs, and jumped into the river with splashes.
"Take me with you, take me with you!" Manman was anxious on the shore.
Seeing her brother bravely jump into the water, she also eagerly wanted to get in.
Shen Yunfang caught her from behind, "My girl, let’s wait, Mommy will get you a net. We’ll catch fish right here. Look, your dad and brother are herding the fish towards us. You’re sure to catch the most fish in the end."
With a mixture of coaxing and deception, Shen Yunfang kept her daughter on the bank and provided her with a homemade little net. Soon she would toss a fish into her daughter’s net to keep her happy.
Ah, Shen Yunfang was the tiredest from the afternoon’s fish-catching activity. She had to keep an eye on the fish caught by everyone on the shore and watch over the children without missing a beat. Who says being a mother is easy?
