Chapter 101: Holding a grudge

Lin Zhao said: "Grind this into powder and mix it with honey to drink; it's good for Father's body."

Lin Shichang was an honest man; he did whatever his sister said and wouldn't ask about things he shouldn't.

He agreed, "Good, I'll tell Father."

Lin Shisheng was skeptical. It wasn't that he didn't want his father's body to be better, but from the time he had memories, his father had been like that. He had eaten good medicine, like lingzhi, but it didn't seem to have any effect.

"Zhao Zhao, where did you get this? Is it reliable?" He was afraid his sister had been swindled.

Lin Zhao certainly wouldn't tell the truth and only answered half the question, "Reliable, don't worry, Second Brother, that's my own father, I wouldn't harm Father."

Lin Shisheng curled his lips helplessly, "Am I afraid you'll harm Father! I'm afraid you'll be swindled!"

"Don't worry, no one can swindle me!" Lin Zhao said, and then looked at Lin Shichang again, reminding him: "Eldest Brother, there's only this one portion, don't lose it. The honey is in the bag. Give the other things to Da Dan and the others."

Lin Shichang didn't stand on ceremony, "Good."

Lin Zhao sent her two brothers to the gate, remembered the matter she had set with Sister Fen, stepped forward, and said to Lin Shichang: "Eldest Brother, and about Sister Xiangxiang..."

Hearing this, the Lin brothers stopped and turned around, their eyes unable to hide their curiosity as they looked at her.

"What about it?" Lin Shisheng couldn't help but ask.

Lin Zhao curled her lips, a joyful smile flowing in her clear pupils, "The meeting time is set, the day after tomorrow."

"Eldest Brother, Second Brother, don't forget to tell Sister Xiangxiang when you go back."

Lin Shichang thought it was a good thing, and the smile on his masculine, wheat-colored face deepened, "I won't forget."

He looked more like Lin Mother, his brows heroic, and he was tall, looking capable. He was very popular when he was young, not only liked by unmarried girls but also eyed by the aunts in the brigade; he was their number one candidate for a good son-in-law.

Didn't expect him to talk to someone secretly and get married as soon as he reached the age, which hurt quite a few people's hearts.

Lin Shisheng rode his bike to carry his eldest brother back to Dongfeng Brigade.

The two of them had just reached the entrance of the village when they saw several Lin family children.

Lin Xibao saw the bicycle, her eyes suddenly widened, her pupils shining so brightly they could light a lamp. She ran forward rapidly, her two braids jumping, full of vitality.

"Dad, Second Uncle, you're back!"

Lin Shichang looked at the smile on his daughter's face, and all his fatigue vanished.

In an instant, Da Dan and the others also ran over.

The mischievous boys stared at the cloth bag in Lin Shisheng's hand, their eyes burning.

Did Little Aunt give them good things again!?

Their eyes were as fiery as little dogs seeing bones. Lin Shisheng's mouth twitched.

He took out what his sister gave his own father and gave the rest to Da Dan.

"Your Little Aunt gave them to you, Da Dan, you divide them."

Da Dan took them with a grin.

With a wave of his hand, he took his younger brothers and sisters back to the village.

Returning to the village, the brothers specifically circled around the crowd, walking slowly, as if strolling.

When they passed by for the first time, the few women chatting didn't even raise their eyes.

Da Dan and Er Dan looked at each other, neither said a word, stepped back, stepped back again...

Then Da Dan took a chicken cake from the cloth bag, divided it into two, and took half for himself and half for Er Dan.

The brothers strolled by the crowd again.

Er Dan suddenly raised his voice: "Brother, the chicken cake is really delicious!"

"That's for sure!" Da Dan took a bite and echoed vaguely, "Sweet and soft, very fragrant! This is made with eggs and sugar, both are good things, of course it's delicious!" Actually, he didn't know how it was made, but eggs and sugar were always right; anyway, it smelled sweet, so it couldn't be wrong.

The brothers' voices weren't small, and the few people chatting weren't deaf, so they naturally heard it clearly.

Several people turned their heads in unison to look.

Only to see Da Dan carrying a large cloth bag, which was bulging, and who knew how many good things were stuffed inside.

The two of them were eating something happily, and the fragrance drifted over, making people's mouths water.

"Da Dan..." Finally, someone couldn't help but call out.

Da Dan felt his back straighten instantly, his chin lifted slightly, and his tone carried a bit of showing off, "What? You're asking what this is? Food! What else could it be. Where did it come from? Heh, our brigade definitely doesn't have it, of course, it was sent by my salesperson Little Aunt."

"..." They were shown off.

The person who spoke fake-smiled, "Da Dan, still holding a grudge? We were just chatting casually, why are you taking it to heart?"

The chat was about Lin Zhao not having to go back to her maiden home to get autumn goods.

Da Dan pretended not to understand, anyway, he greeted with a smile, "How could that be, I forgot long ago."

No one believed it.

If he had forgotten long ago, how could he come to show off several times.

Showing off in front of them was one thing, but he also deliberately angered their children, making their kids cry every day. If this wasn't holding a grudge, what was.

These Lin family children were wickedly bad, their hearts had as many eyes as a beehive.

"We were wrong, your Little Aunt is a good person, okay?" The woman glanced at the large cloth bag in Da Dan's hand and finally gave in.

She didn't want her children to cry every day for the next few days.

Da Dan was satisfied in his heart, but his expression didn't change, "My Little Aunt has always been very good."

As the words fell, he took his younger brother home.

Under a certain tree.

Xibao, Lin Xuan, and Lin Zheng were also surrounded by several little girls, their eyes fixed on the things in their hands.

"Xibao, what are you eating?" A seven-year-old girl with dark skin wiped the corner of her mouth and looked at Lin Xibao.

"Chicken cake, my aunt bought it for us." Xibao was radiant.

Lin Xuan nodded silently.

Lin Zheng's expression was serious, "My aunt is very good to us, she thinks of us whenever she has good things."

"I like my aunt the most!" Xibao added with a smile, "The shuttlecock we play with was also sent by my aunt. Is the shuttlecock fun?"

The little girls nodded one after another, "Fun."

A girl picked at her hands and said unhappily: "I also have an aunt, but my aunt is not good to me. She loves to snatch my things and always quarrels with my mother. They quarrel so fiercely, I'm scared every time."

Xibao's brain turned fast and immediately said: "Let adults solve adult matters, children don't get involved. If they quarrel again in the future, come out and play with us, so when you go home, they will have finished quarreling."

This was the principle her aunt taught her.

The girl hesitated, "Is this bad?"

"What's bad about it." Lin Zheng said calmly, "You can't help much at home anyway, it's better to go out. My aunt says bad emotions are contagious, and smart people will stay far away."

Xibao and the others' aunt was a salesperson, the most powerful educated person in the entire brigade. In the hearts of the little girls, they had envy and a little worship for Lin Zhao.

That girl nodded convincingly and said: "Xibao, Zhengzheng, I'll listen to you. Your aunt is a high school student, even more powerful than many educated youths. Everything she says is right, I'll run far away in the future."

Lin Zheng nodded in agreement and broke off a corner of the chicken cake for her, "Give it to you."

The little girl didn't dare to take it and said stammeringly: "Is, is it for me?"

"Hmm, you listen to

"What's wrong with that?" Lin Zheng said calmly. "You can't help with much at home anyway, so you might as well go out. My aunt says bad moods are contagious, and smart people stay far away."

Xibao and the others' aunt was a salesclerk and the most amazing intellectual in the entire brigade. In the hearts of the little girls, they felt both admiration and a small amount of worship for Lin Zhao.

The little girl's face was full of conviction as she said: "Xibao, Zhengzheng, I'll listen to you. Your aunt is a high school graduate and even more amazing than many educated youth. Everything she says is right, I'll stay further away in the future."

Lin Zheng nodded in agreement and broke off a corner of chicken cake for her: "Here, for you."

The little girl didn't dare to take it, stumbling over her words: "Is, is this for me?"

"Mm, you listen to advice," Lin Zheng said in a calm tone.

"Thank you, Zhengzheng, you're just as good as your aunt."

This praise scratched Lin Zheng's itch, and for a moment, her eyes smiled brighter than usual.

……

Dazai and the others didn't stay outside for long; after showing off, they went home, arriving just after Lin Shichang and Lin Shisheng.

Lin Shisheng told the family what his sister had entrusted him with.

Upon learning that his daughter had brought him something, Lin Heling's smile was warm; he took the items and placed them by his side.

"Tell your sister I will use them," he said in a clear, gentle voice, his tone unhurried.

"Mm," Lin Shisheng agreed, then looked at Song Ximei and said: "Mom, there's also the matter of Xiangxiang. Zhaozhao said she and her colleague have set the time for the meeting, it's the day after tomorrow."

Song Ximei thought to herself that in this regard, Zhaozhao was like her; she didn't like to drag things out.

"Got it."

Just at this moment, Xiangxiang's mother came again.

When she appeared at the door, the Lin family was a bit surprised.

It wasn't that they didn't welcome her, but she had only come yesterday and everything that needed to be said had been said; coming again today, the two families weren't exactly close.

"Auntie."

"Great-Aunt!"

A string of the Lin family's younger generation called out.

"Hey!" Xiangxiang's mother responded with a smile, put down the things she brought, sat next to Song Ximei, and said to her: "I brought a few pieces of clothing for Xiangxiang, and I also brought a jar of my pickled vegetables."

"Big Sister is so thoughtful," Song Ximei said, pouring her a bowl of cool boiled water and adding a bit of white sugar. "You came at the right time. Zhaozhao sent word back saying she and her colleague have set the time for Xiangxiang to meet that young man, it's the day after tomorrow."

Xiangxiang's mother was overjoyed: "Zhaozhao handles things so efficiently. It's hard for her to think of her sister; I truly don't know how to thank her."

Song Ximei didn't say that family didn't need thanks; her daughter had indeed put in the effort. "Zhaozhao likes the pickled vegetables you make. When you have time, help her pickle some more. There aren't many vegetables in winter, and pickled vegetables are good for eating with rice."

Zhaozhao's Great-Aunt had a knack for making pickled vegetables; following the same process, what she made was just more fragrant. The radish strips were crispy and juicy, like eating fruit when bitten into, and the cabbage tasted good too, sour and spicy, especially appetizing.

Xiangxiang's mother agreed instantly: "Small matter, I'll make more and send them over when the time comes."

Zhaozhao was her own niece; even if the marriage introduction for Xiangxiang didn't work out, could she not make pickled vegetables?

"Mm."

After finishing her conversation with her own sister, Xiangxiang's mother went to find her own daughter.

As soon as she saw her, she said:

"Xiangxiang, the meeting time has been set, it's the day after tomorrow."

"On the day of the meeting, get up a bit earlier, take a bath, change into decent clothes, and comb your hair neatly. Once you get to the county, listen to Zhaozhao in everything. Zhaozhao is familiar with the county and is also careful. If you have any questions, ask her directly, don't be shy; that's your own cousin. If you see that young man and think he's alright, be proactive; if you don't think so, don't force it. You are Mom's only daughter, Mom hopes you live well."

Even if the husband's family felt Xiangxiang had brought shame to the family, Xiangxiang's mother didn't blame her daughter; she blamed herself, blamed herself for not standing up for her and letting her father-in-law arrange that heartless child-bride engagement for her.

She had harmed her own daughter.

Xiangxiang understood everything in her heart: "I'm not stupid, Mom, don't worry."

"I know what's good and what's bad," she emphasized.

Xiangxiang's mother touched her daughter's rough hair and said again: "Mom brought you clothes, wear them well when you go to the meeting the day after tomorrow."

Cloth coupons were precious, and country girls didn't have many clothes; the ones she brought also had patches, just fewer of them.

"Alright," Xiangxiang agreed.

Xiangxiang's mother had to hurry back before dark and didn't dare to delay any longer; after speaking with her daughter, she hurriedly said goodbye and left.

Song Ximei looked at Lin Shisheng: "Second Son, see your Great-Aunt off."

……

The Gu family.

Lin Zhao was sitting in the room altering clothes.

Gu Chenghuai adjusted the lamp wick to make the light brighter and said: "The commune will have electricity in the second half of the year."

"Electricity? Hiss!" Lin Zhao was so excited she pricked her finger with the needle, hissing in pain.

"Are you alright?" Gu Chenghuai gripped her hand nervously and looked at her finger; there was a shallow hole pricked into her left index finger, but luckily it wasn't bleeding.

He said with an apologetic and regretful tone: "I shouldn't have brought this up while you were doing needlework."

"It's fine, I was just too excited," Lin Zhao smiled at him. "It doesn't hurt anymore."

"Is it really going to have electricity? Did you ask Comrade Yang?"

Gu Chenghuai massaged his wife's finger, his movements getting lighter and lighter: "Mm, the whole commune will have electricity in the second half of the year, it's all in the plan."

Lin Zhao's pitch-black eyes brightened: "This is a good thing, having electricity will be much more convenient."

She leaned her upper body forward, her clear, beautiful eyes staring at the man, the corners of her mouth holding a smile that exuded sweetness, happiness, and joy.

"Did you ask specifically because you heard from Ercai that I bumped my leg?"

Gu Chenghuai didn't deny it: "Mm, there are many children at home, and it's very noisy when they make a fuss. It's inevitable that you'll be in a hurry; having electricity will be very convenient."

Lin Zhao leaned over and kissed the corner of his mouth.

*Smack. *

Gu Chenghuai was hooked into a smirk, his gaze as soft as spring water in March, his voice slightly hoarse, tinged with laughter: "Watch out for the needle."

"I'm paying attention," her light, happy voice rang out.

The topic was temporarily suspended.

Gu Chenghuai stared at his wife, and after a good while, he suddenly said: "How about buying a sewing machine?"

Lin Zhao thought for a moment: "That works too. With four cubs in our family, making clothes takes quite a bit of time; a sewing machine can save me a lot of trouble."

"I'll go get the coupon," Gu Chenghuai said in a gentle voice.

Lin Zhao's eyes curved, her smile radiant: "Alright, then I'll trouble the capable cubs' dad."

"It's no trouble," he was also a part of this family.

Gu Chenghuai saw his wife altering clothes one after another; he could tell the first few were for Lin Xuan and Lin Zheng, and the one she was currently altering, she was just taking in the waist.

"Who is this one for?"

Lin Zhao said: "For Sister Xiangxiang. I don't wear this outfit much anyway, and since I'm already at the needlework, I'll alter it for her while I'm at it. It'll be better for her to look decent for the meeting; first impressions are still quite important."

The first impression Comrade Gu gave her was very, very good: wearing a military uniform, his military cap pressing down on his brow, his eyes deep and black, his figure tall and straight, handsome like someone who had walked out of a black-and-white movie.

Gu Chenghuai felt his wife was truly good; she was beautiful and kind, how could there be such a perfect girl? He truly liked her to no end.

"Knock, knock, knock—"

Three rhythmic knocks on the door rang out.

"The door isn't locked, come in," Lin Zhao said, facing the door and raising her voice.

Dazai and Ercai walked in, holding the twins.

"Mom."

"Mom~"

Four childish voices with different tones rang out.

"Why are you all here?" Lin Zhao stopped what she was doing and looked at the four cubs.

Ercai pulled up a stool and sat next to her: "I haven't seen Mom all day, so I came to chat with Mom."

Lin Zhao couldn't help but laugh.

Dazai pulled open the drawer, fished out a practice sheet, sat under the lamp, and practiced writing with a pencil, looking at his mom from time to time, the corners of his mouth curling up.

As for the twins, the fourth cub was nestled in her dad's arms, wanting to play on a swing. Gu Chenghuai indulged his little cotton-padded jacket, swinging his arms left and right, and the little milk-bun giggled.

The third cub sat obediently next to his dad, watching Lin Zhao quietly.

Lin Zhao touched her youngest son's cheek and wrinkled her nose at him; the little kid smiled milkily.

After teasing the overly quiet third cub, she took a moment to ask Ercai: "What do you want to chat about with me? You say it, I'm listening."

Ercai said: "Mom, my brother and I suffered a big loss today, and I'm a bit angry."