Chapter 10

"Ready soon, go call Ercai and the others to get up," Lin Zhao instructed.

Gu Da Cai wiped the sweat from his forehead and was about to rush out of the kitchen to call his younger siblings when Ercai happened to rush into the kitchen.

Seeing his brother, he complained unhappily: "Brother, you got up without calling me! We always got up together before!"

Gu Da Cai felt guilty.

He was too happy, only focused on talking to Mother and helping Mother, and forgot Ercai.

Seeing his eldest son at a loss, Lin Zhao helped him out: "Ercai, your brother saw you sleeping like a little pig and unable to get up for a long time, so he did it on purpose to let you sleep a while longer; why are you so fierce?"

With one sentence, Ercai's anger was punctured, and he gave his brother a flattering smile: "Brother, I wasn't being fierce to you."

Gu Da Cai was a generous child and wasn't angry with his younger brother, "What about the third and fourth cubs?"

Ercai answered: "Still sleeping, should I call them?"

"Call them, Mother steamed egg custard for us," Gu Da Cai said.

Ercai widened his eyes in shock, his tone rising: "Egg custard?"

"Hmm," Gu Da Cai leaned his mouth close to his brother's ear and whispered: "Mother beat four eggs."

"Wow!" Ercai went "wow" and rushed into the room to call the twins; he couldn't wait to eat the egg custard.

The third and fourth cubs were also forcibly woken up; the two little babies were about to cry, cursing "bad" in their mouths, but they obediently followed the second brother's arrangements.

Seeing this, Lin Zhao felt that the cubs she gave birth to were really worry-free.

The fourth cub hugged her leg, pointed her little finger at Ercai, and complained in a milky voice: "Bad, brother."

Lin Zhao kissed her daughter's fair, clean little face and said on purpose: "Then I'll punish your second brother so he can't eat egg custard, okay?"

Gu Da Cai and Ercai showed envy when they saw Mother loving their younger sister.

The fourth cub was anxious and hurriedly said: "Brother, food."

Meaning she wanted to give her brother food.

Lin Zhao lightly scraped her daughter's nose, a smile on her lips, "Alright, alright, give your second brother food."

The fourth cub smiled, revealing four little rice teeth.

Her second brother was moved, wanting to take a bite of his sister; how could his sister be so good!

"Gu Da Cai, you take your younger siblings to eat the egg custard, I'm going to the neighbor's," Lin Zhao took the thank-you gift she prepared this morning and went to the neighbor's.

Gu Da Cai and Ercai, entrusted with a heavy responsibility, responded solemnly and first took their younger siblings to wash their faces.

"Ercai, third cub, fourth cub, you wash your faces and brush your teeth first, I'll teach you."

He squeezed toothpaste for his younger siblings.

Ercai stretched out his tongue and licked it lightly, "Brother, it's sweet."

Seeing his action, the twins learned to do the same.

Gu Da Cai hurriedly stopped them and said anxiously: "Toothpaste cannot be eaten."

He turned his head and looked at Ercai angrily: "Ercai, don't put everything into your mouth; you'll teach the third and fourth children bad habits."

Ercai listened to his brother most; as soon as his brother was fierce, he became honest, brushed his teeth obediently, and didn't even dare to smell the face soap he originally wanted to.

Watching his younger siblings wash their faces clean, Gu Da Cai took the children's face cream from the room and applied it to Ercai and the twins.

"Fragrant," the fourth cub spat out a word.

The third cub didn't cry or make a fuss when he was a baby, and after he could talk, he didn't say much, just nodded.

"Brother, I'm hungry, can I eat now? If we leave it any longer, it'll be cold," Ercai didn't care about applying face cream; he only wanted to eat the egg custard.

"It won't be cold," Gu Da Cai said, put the face cream back in its place, and then said they could eat.

Ercai hadn't eaten egg custard many times since he was born, especially such a large amount of egg custard, and his face was full of smiles.

"Getting up and having egg custard to eat, this is too happy."

Gu Da Cai agreed.

As for the twins, their faces were already buried in their small bowls, eating while swinging their little short legs, their smiles sweet.

Lin Zhao brought half a bag of brown sugar and a handful of hard candy out, arrived in front of the neighbor's door, and knocked "bang-bang-bang."

"Who is it? Just come in, why knock?" A hearty female voice came from inside.

Lin Zhao pushed the door and entered; Wang Wang Chunhua was stunned when she saw her, "Gu Da Cai's mother?"

They had been neighbors for so long, and she had never seen Gu Da Cai's mother visit.

A visitor was a guest; she was only stunned for a moment before greeting her granddaughter to get a stool and pour water for the neighbor.

Wang Wang Chunhua looked at Lin Zhao's forehead, saw that the bump was much smaller, and said with a smile: "The bump on your head looks much better; does your head still hurt? If it hurts, go to the county hospital and take a look; hurting your head is no small matter."

"Much better, thanks to Auntie's help," Lin Zhao smiled.

She said to the Wang child who was about to pour water: "No need to pour water, it's just a short walk; I just came to deliver something and have to go back soon; the children are all at home."

As she spoke, she placed the things she brought on the table.

Her temperament didn't like to push things off on others.

"It was really troublesome for Auntie yesterday; these candies are for the children to sweeten their mouths."

Joy bloomed on the faces of the Wang children; they looked at the candy on the table with burning eyes and kept swallowing their saliva, but they didn't make a fuss about eating it, showing they were taught well by their family.

"Why be so polite?" Wang Wang Chunhua hurriedly tried to give the things back to Lin Zhao, but Lin Zhao pressed her hand down.

"This is a thank-you gift, Auntie, just accept it; Gu Da Cai and the others have been taken care of by you quite a bit, these things are nothing," Lin Zhao didn't like pushing things back and forth, her beautiful face stern.

When she smiled, she was very sweet, but once she cooled her face, she was like a white plum hanging on a branch in winter, cold and unapproachable.

Wang Wang Chunhua's expression was blank, and just as she was about to say something, she only saw Lin Zhao's back as she walked away quickly.

"Gu Da Cai's mother..."

Hearing her voice, that figure walked even faster.

Wang Wang Chunhua didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

What kind of style was Gu Chenghuai's wife's?

You couldn't find a second one in the whole brigade.

"Grandma, I want to eat candy," the Wang family's little grandson tugged at his grandma's clothes.

Wang Wang Chunhua brushed his hand away, "Gently, gently, you'll tear the clothes; you little brat, tear the clothes and see if I don't beat you."

The naughty child hurriedly let go; when his grandma said she would beat people, she really would.

"Grandma, candy," the little boy asked pitifully for candy.

Wang Wang Chunhua couldn't bear it; candy was so rare, she would save it for the New Year.

"Go, go, go, why eat candy for no reason, get out of the way."

The little boy relied on being young and hung on her leg, howling: "Grandma, I want to eat candy."

The other children didn't move either, staring straight at the candy, their eyes expectant and fiery.

Wang Wang Chunhua couldn't help it and dug out a candy for the eldest grandson, "Soak it in water and share it."

After dropping the sentence, she was afraid of being pestered again, walked quickly into the room, and hid the candy.

The news that Lin Zhao went to the Wang family with things quickly spread throughout the village.

A group of aunties who talked about this and that gathered together again, starting to spit and talk, one sentence after another.

"Heard Gu Chenghuai's wife brought things to the Wang family; know what she brought?" The most gossipy woman in the whole brigade who loved to talk about right and wrong lowered her voice.

"Who knows, Wang Chunhua didn't come out to show off, and no one dared to run to Gu Da Cai's mother and ask," said the second most gossipy auntie.

At this time, Hearing Changsheng's mother snorted, full of contempt, and expressed her opinion: "Who doesn't know she's a stingy one, she can't even bear to make clothes for her own cubs; what good things could she send to the Wang family, maybe a few rotten sweet potatoes."

Yuanbao's mother looked at her in surprise, "Haven't you heard?"

"Heard what?" Hearing Changsheng's mother looked confused.

"Lin Zhao bought meat buns for Gu Da Cai and Ercai, and even made dumplings for them to eat yesterday. Oh right, Tie Chui also ate at the Gu family's third branch," Yuanbao's mother said.

Hearing Changsheng's mother rolled her eyes, her tone sour, "Who knows what she's pretending to be; maybe she'll change back in two days. A dog can't change its habit of eating poop; I don't believe someone who only cares about herself will change for the better."

Yuanbao's mother wanted to say something else but saw Gu Da Cai and Ercai walking over with the twins.

The two big friends weren't running and jumping like usual, walking like monkeys, but walking slowly, quite refined.

Yuanbao's mother saw the new shoes Gu Da Cai and Ercai were wearing at a glance, stood up in shock, and asked: "Gu Da Cai, Ercai, did your mother buy you shoes?"

Gu Da Cai gave a shy smile, and Ercai said loudly and proudly: "Yes! My mother said these are Warrior shoes!"

The gossip crowd present looked at Hearing Changsheng's mother without changing their expressions, seeing a colorful face as they wished.

Everyone's eyes were full of smiles watching the show, and they stood up one after another, walking toward Gu Da Cai and Ercai to look at the shoes on their feet.

"The shoes bought are different, they look impressive," Yuanbao's mother praised with a smile, "Gu Da Cai, Ercai, these shoes of yours must have cost several yuan, right?"

Gu Da Cai was shy and embarrassed, his little ears almost smoking from being surrounded.

Ercai lifted his right leg, turning his foot left and right, letting everyone see his shoes from all angles, and said happily: "Good-looking, right? My mother didn't say how many yuan, my mother is so good to us."

Yuanbao's mother looked at Ercai's lively appearance and laughed, "Yes, your mother is good to you."

Buying two pairs of shoes for several yuan, how could that not be good.

Hearing Changsheng's mother muttered sourly: "Really doesn't know how to live; buying shoes for children, money has nowhere to spend, a wasteful woman."

The women who lived frugally and wished they could split a penny in two nodded.

It was wasteful.

There were also those who were clear-headed.

"Gu family's third branch has a subsidy every month, and in these few years, I haven't seen Lin Zhao buy anything lavishly; she must have saved a lot of money, so what's wrong with buying shoes for the children? If I had money, I would buy them for my kids too," Yuanbao's mother retorted.

She was envious, but not sour.

The women who got along well with Yuanbao's mother followed up: "That's right, if you have things in your pocket, who wouldn't want to buy."

Whether you can bear to is one thing, whether you have money is another.

Hearing Changsheng's mother curled her lips, full of disdain.

Who couldn't open their mouth and say that; did that money fall from the sky? Buying what buying.

? -

Because of the two pairs of shoes, Gu Da Cai and Ercai ran around the whole village, becoming the most beautiful children in the whole village in one leap.

The two children even ran to the Gu family's old house on purpose.

Walking in front of Gu Fu, "Grandpa, look at my new shoes, my mother bought them for me and my brother, good-looking, right?" Ercai showed off like a peacock spreading its tail.

Gu Fu nodded with a smile, "Good-looking."

Gu Da Cai also wandered in front of his grandpa, and after receiving a word of praise, he was satisfied.

The children of the Gu family heard Ercai's loud voice, as if he was talking about some new shoes, and ran out one after another.

Seeing the shoes on Gu Da Cai and Ercai's feet, they didn't become jealous out of envy.

"Gu Da Cai, Ercai, these shoes of yours are the Warrior shoes the educated youth talk about, right?" Gu family's eldest grandson squatted down and touched Ercai's shoes, his expression envious.

Ercai nodded heavily, smiles flying from his eyes.

"My mother bought them for me and my brother."

Bangbang was in school and knew how rare a pair of Warrior shoes was, the envy in his eyes almost flowing out, "Third Aunt is really generous to you."

Lin Zhao just bought shoes for the children, and the children's impression of her was completely reversed.

Ercai grinned, "My mother is the most generous and best mother in the whole production team!"

He leaned his face over, "Bangbang brother, smell my face, is it fragrant?"

Bangbang inhaled, smelling a sticky fragrance, "Fragrant, what is this, vanishing cream?"

"Not vanishing cream, it's children's face cream my mother bought specially for me, my brother, and the third and fourth children, specially for children," Ercai emphasized.

Bangbang said gloomily: "Third Aunt is really willing to spend on you."

"My mother won't buy anything for me," the eleven-year-old youth was almost crying with envy.

"Ercai, can you let me touch your shoes?"

Ercai took off his shoes directly and said: "Sure, you can touch them."

Bangbang patted his trouser legs with both hands, took the shoe, and exclaimed: "The ones bought are different, they feel really comfortable to touch; how are they to wear? Tell me quickly."

Eight-year-old Laimei learned from her brother and touched them, "They are different; Gu Da Cai, Ercai, you two actually bear to wear them; if these were mine, I wouldn't bear to wear them at all."

Gu Da Cai thought of what Lin Zhao said, his face overflowing with smiles: "I said that too, but my mother said... shoes are bought to be worn."

"My mother also said, wait until they're worn out and she'll buy us new ones!" Ercai added.

Bangbang and Laimei's eyes were red with envy.

Ercai had a good relationship with Tie Chui; seeing him looking eagerly, he beckoned to him: "Tie Chui, do you want to try them?"

Tie Chui was flattered and asked with a silly smile: "... Is it okay?"

"What's wrong with it, we're good brothers."

During the conversation, Ercai took off his shoes, and his feet just stepped on the ground like that.

Gu Da Cai frowned, "Ercai, your feet are dirty; you have to wash them when you put your shoes back on later."

"Got it, Brother," Ercai waved his hand and said indifferently.

His new shoes, he would definitely be careful.

Tie Chui put on Ercai's new shoes, not knowing how to land his feet, his hands and feet floating.

Huang Huang Xiulan looked at the smile on her son's face and felt a bit heartbroken.

She also wanted to buy new shoes for her son, but there was no way; the Gu family hadn't split up, and she didn't have a penny in her hand.

At this moment, Huang Huang Xiulan felt envy for Lin Zhao from the bottom of her heart.

Being a bit fierce, loving to make trouble, didn't necessarily mean it was all bad.

Gu Gu Ersao Zhao Zhao Liuniang meant the same thing.

When could they split up?

Because of the Warrior shoes on Gu Da Cai and Ercai's feet, Gu Eldest Aunt and Gu Second Aunt's hearts were stirred, and it was hard to calm down for a long time.

Gu Xing'er returned home carrying a bundle of firewood, saw Gu Da Cai and Ercai, and her gaze sank.

Her eyes caught the new shoes on the two people's feet, and she stung them: "Using my third brother's money and coupons to be flashy, and still running over to show off, is that how your mother taught you?"

With one sentence, the atmosphere became cold and frozen.

Ercai sat on the wooden stool, looked up at Gu Xing'er, and said with a serious little face: "Your third brother is also my father; my brother and I are my father's sons; my father raising us is as it should be; why is Little Aunt so angry? Is it because you're jealous that my mother has money to spend?"

Gu Xing'er choked, a stuffy anger blocking her heart.

"Bang!"

She unloaded the bundle of firewood and threw it straight toward the direction where Gu Da Cai and Ercai were.

"Your ancestors!" Just as he stepped into the Gu family door and came to find his two nephews, Lin's second brother saw the bundle of firewood flying toward Gu Da Cai and Ercai, ran at full speed, jumped forward, and kicked the bundle of firewood back.

It was exactly where Gu Xing'er was.

"Ah—" Only a cry of pain was heard; when everyone looked again, Gu Xing'er was lying crookedly on the ground, pressed by the bundle of firewood she had brought back on her waist and legs.