40: They asked for money in the names of Grandma Xiao and Xiao Niannian.

Xiao Niannian didn't wait for Regiment Commander Wang, but she did wait for Lu Jing.

"Comrade Lu."

Hearing Xiao Niannian call him, Lu Jing hummed in response.

"What is it?"

"We caught over ten wild rabbits and Wild Chickens today. I wanted to ask you if we could sell them to the Logistics Department for some money."

Hearing Xiao Niannian's words, Lu Jing pulled a stack of cash and a thick stack of ration coupons from his pocket.

"I'll buy them."

He bought them?

This stack of money probably amounts to several dozen yuan, and those coupons must be twenty or thirty pieces, right?

"Take this money. If you catch more later, sell them to me. I'll take them all."

Xiao Niannian instantly understood that Lu Jing bought them only because he saw she wanted to sell the Wild Chickens and wild rabbits.

"I don't want your money."

Xiao Niannian refused.

"I'm buying them to supplement the meals for the men in our battalion. We always add extra dishes when they return from missions, and I report the expenses to the battalion... I was just about to mention this to you."

Adding extra dishes was true, but buying these items was to save Xiao Niannian an extra trip. He bought them directly under his name and gave them to the men in the battalion to eat, so Xiao Niannian got the money and they got the food.

Xiao Niannian looked up at Lu Jing; his expression was calm.

Could it be that she was mistaken, and Lu Jing really did intend to do this?

"Take it. Consider this money a deposit."

Lu Jing stuffed the money and coupons into Xiao Niannian's hands.

"I can accept the money, but I don't need the coupons." Xiao Niannian took the cash and handed the coupons back to Lu Jing.

"These coupons were issued by the unit, and I don't usually have much use for them. Since I eat at your home every day now, you and Grandma Xiao have worked hard. Consider these coupons my meal money."

Xiao Niannian still refused to take them. They had already taken advantage of Lu Jing too much.

"We've already taken advantage of you too much; we really can't accept these coupons..."

Lu Jing had no choice but to put the coupons away.

"I'll take the goods to the battalion first. If you hunt anything else in the future, give it all to me. Don't go to the black market yourself; investigations are strict everywhere right now..."

Hearing Lu Jing's words, Xiao Niannian was slightly surprised; he actually knew she planned to go to the black market.

Seeing Xiao Niannian's surprised look, the corner of Lu Jing's mouth subtly lifted.

She watched as Lu Jing walked away, carrying a large bundle of things.

Xiao Niannian counted the money; this was cash she earned with her own ability. She had been wondering how to make money, and unexpectedly, the opportunity had arrived.

"Grandma, this is the money Lu Jing gave me."

Hearing her Granddaughter's words, Grandma Xiao was greatly surprised.

"Niannian, how could you accept Xiao Jing's money? Give it back to him quickly."

Seeing Grandma Xiao's anxious look, Xiao Niannian smiled and explained.

"Please hear me out. I sold those rabbits and chickens to him. He said he paid fifty cents per catty, and the extra money is a deposit. I will sell him any prey I catch in the future, as he wants to supplement the meals for the men in their battalion..."

"But that's so much money! We're taking too much advantage of Xiao Lu. He only earns this much in a month..."

Hearing Grandma Xiao's words, Xiao Niannian sighed internally, feeling her grandmother was too kind. She truly wasn't trying to take advantage of Lu Jing; she would just send him more game in the future.

Catching this game was not illegal in this era.

"Grandma, I'll give him extra later. We definitely won't take advantage of him. We'll find a way to repay him later."

"Alright."

Grandma Xiao went back to sewing clothes.

Watching Grandma Xiao sew clothes, Xiao Niannian felt she needed to earn more money. The Back Mountain was a restricted area guarded by the Military Unit. If she got the chance, she would check out other mountains, look for valuable medicinal herbs, and then sell them for money to buy Grandma Xiao a Sewing Machine so she wouldn't have to work so hard.

Yesterday, Uncle Wang and Aunt gave Grandma Xiao money, but Grandma Xiao didn't accept it. Xiao Niannian felt the same way. She currently had several thousand yuan in her hands, and although she couldn't spend it openly, it was enough for several years. Moreover, she was about to enlist soon and would receive a subsidy. When she had time, she could also go to the Back Mountain to catch game and sell it for money.

It wasn't easy for Uncle and Aunt to raise two children.

Xiao Niannian thought of Xiao Dong's furniture. She returned to her room, locked the door, and then used her Mind to open the cabinet in her Space.

Xiao Niannian discovered an Iron Box inside one of the cabinets. After opening the Iron Box, she found a Wooden Box inside, which contained a large stack of money, some coupons, and other items.

She counted it and found over five hundred yuan. These coupons and this money must have been sent to Grandma Xiao by Uncle Wang and the others over the years.

She also saw many letters.

After Xiao Niannian took them out of the Space, she saw they were all written by Uncle Wang.

"Mother Xiao, hoping this letter finds you well. Today I am mailing you one hundred and twenty yuan. This money is for you and Niannian's household expenses..."

"Mother Xiao, how is your health lately? Has Niannian been obedient? Today I am mailing you sixty yuan. Please use it for Niannian's tuition. I heard Niannian's grades are excellent; tell her to study hard, and we will fund her university education..."

"Mother Xiao, I heard from your son's letter that you fell and stayed in the hospital for half a month. Don't worry about the medical fees. Today I am mailing you one hundred yuan. You must recover fully... Once you feel better, I will take leave and come pick you up to bring you to the Military Unit..."

"Mother Xiao, are you feeling better recently? It would be better for Niannian to study here in Yangcheng. The Division Headquarters has an Elementary School, and the County Town has a Middle School. My wife is a Middle School Teacher and can help tutor Niannian. Niannian will be my and Cheng Yu's daughter from now on..."

When Xiao Niannian saw these letters, she was deeply moved. She hadn't expected Uncle Wang and Aunt to send Grandma Xiao so much money every year, and they had written many times asking Grandma Xiao to bring her to the Military Unit so they could take care of both of them.

Furthermore, Xiao Niannian saw that the letters mentioned Grandma Xiao being sick or falling down several times, and Uncle Wang and Aunt sent money each time, ranging from fifty to a hundred yuan.

That beast, Xiao Dong, actually demanded money from Uncle Wang and the others by falsely invoking Grandma Xiao's and her name.

This money amounted to over a thousand yuan, and there were dozens of coupons and receipts.

The next time she saw Xiao Dong, she was definitely going to beat him up severely.

They had been at the Military Unit for four or five days, and Xiao Dong and Xiao Yueyue should be arriving soon.

Could that Xu Yang be Grandpa Xu and Grandma Xu's Grandson? She heard Uncle Wang and the others say that several regiments in the Division Headquarters were nearby, but some battalions were still more than ten kilometers away from the Division Headquarters.

Xiao Dong and Xiao Yueyue were like leeches; once they latched on, they would never let go. Xu Yang would definitely suffer a huge loss when he met them.

Based on her understanding of them, even if Xu Yang offered a thousand yuan, Xiao Dong and Xiao Yueyue wouldn't agree. A thousand yuan was a lot, but Xiao Dong and Xiao Yueyue were aiming for a lifetime of leeching. They would never give up the identity of an Officer's Wife and an Officer's Father-in-Law.

Once they arrived, they would definitely publicize the status of fiancée everywhere. Perhaps this news would even reach the Family Courtyard here.