Chapter 104: Is it possible?

"Why is that?" Lin Zhao mimicked her son's posture, tilting her head slightly, her eyes brimming with deep amusement, as if she truly didn't know the reason.

The second cub saw that his mother was teasing him. He tapped his right toe on the ground, drawing circles quietly, and said uncomfortably, "Mom~~!" his tone drawn out.

The childish voice was soft, glutinous, and sweet.

The clever little boy didn't stop thinking. He quickly realized why Grandma Wang wasn't settling scores with them. "Grandma Wang wants the imperfect items Mom brought back, that's why she isn't bickering with me and my brother. I know."

He looked at Lin Zhao. "But why? The supply and marketing cooperative has these things too. I saw them, right, Brother?"

The big cub nodded.

He guessed boldly, "Could it be because imperfect items are cheaper?"

Lin Zhao shook her head. "Not just cheaper; the key is that they don't require ration coupons."

"No coupons needed!" The twins' eyes lit up.

Don't let their small size fool you; they knew that no matter what you bought, you needed coupons.

Mom even needed a coupon to buy a bicycle.

"Imperfect items are also a very precious resource. Plus, the fight between the second cub and Wang Yaozu was just a minor scuffle that didn't cause any particularly serious consequences, so his grandma chose not to hold it against you." Lin Zhao looked at the two cubs with a smile, her voice softening. "You two don't need to lay low anymore. How do you feel?"

The second cub rolled his eyes, pretending to think, and said, "A feeling of relief."

"You even have to think about that?" Lin Zhao tapped the tip of his nose.

The second cub touched his nose, smiling brightly. "This makes me look serious."

"What about the big cub?" Lin Zhao didn't forget her eldest son. "Were you scared?"

The big cub was also smiling. With their identical faces, one could easily distinguish him from the second cub just by their smiles.

The younger brother's smile was uninhibited and extremely dazzling, like the sun hanging in the sky at noon, radiant and full of vitality.

The older brother's smile hovered in his brows, eyes, and lips; it was subtle and clean. In his small heart, there was a pure and vast world.

"No, I wasn't scared, because I know Mom and Dad will protect us." The big cub always put Mom before everyone else when he spoke.

Lin Zhao rubbed her eldest son's cheeks. "Right, we will both protect you well."

The fourth cub gave her big brother a bear hug and said in a milky voice, "Pro-tect... big brother."

"Little sister, it's not 'pro-tect', it's 'protect'." The second cub, a little perfectionist, couldn't help but correct her.

"Pro... tect!" The fourth cub mimicked obediently, her tone high and her pronunciation forceful, but it was still wrong.

The second cub mimicked an adult, sighing exhaustedly.

Even Mao Dan couldn't help but laugh.

He felt the Gu family was truly wonderful, and then he began to imagine: if his father hadn't sacrificed himself, would his family be like this too?

As he thought about it, a tiny arc appeared at the corner of the little boy's mouth.

Lin Zhao beckoned to Mao Dan, her voice gentle. "Mao Dan, you come pick too. If there's anything your family is missing, take it back; I'll give it to you."

Mao Dan was stunned for a moment. He waved his hands in a blur and said hurriedly, "No, my grandma says I can't randomly accept other people's things. Thank you, Auntie." He didn't forget to thank her politely.

Lin Zhao's heart softened; sensible children always make one's heart ache.

She said, "It's fine, these remaining things aren't worth much money."

The Ning family was a glorious family in the village. The captain had appealed several times for the commune members to look after the Ning family. Some listened, some didn't care, some forgot as soon as they heard, and some even felt that since they couldn't even feed themselves, how could they look after others...

Gu Mu had a son who was a soldier, so her awareness went without saying. She helped the Ning family as much as she could.

She also knew a lot about the situation of Mao Dan's family.

"Third daughter-in-law, before it gets cold, find a way to get a thermos. The Ning family is missing one, and it's a struggle for your Auntie Ning to even drink a mouthful of hot water in the middle of winter," Gu Mu said.

Lin Zhao had received three thermoses this time. She hadn't brought out the other two, saving them for her own family. Hearing her mother-in-law's words, she said, "There's one extra in the room, give it to the Ning family first. If Mom and the sisters-in-law want one, I'll bring more back when I get them."

The reason she was able to bring back three thermoses was that Li Fen and Wang Ju had given their shares to her, giving her face.

Hearing this, the big cub and second cub exchanged a look and quietly slipped back into the room.

They slipped back out, the big cub carrying a tin thermos.

"Fine, give it to the Ning family first. I don't need one; the thermos the third one bought still keeps things warm," Gu Mu laughed, then said to Huang Xiulan and Zhao Liuniang, "You two don't be in a rush either. Since the salesperson is our own family, you can buy one whenever you want."

Lin Zhao nodded; that was true.

Huang Xiulan and Zhao Liuniang smiled and agreed.

It was hot, so they could get by without a thermos.

After the few of them finished talking, the big cub carefully put down the thermos and smiled at his mother. "Mom, is this the one?"

"Yes, thank you, big cub." Lin Zhao praised him, then said, "Later, you send Mao Dan back, and take Da Huang with you."

To avoid Mao Dan being bullied by the rowdy children of the brigade.

Gu Mu agreed wholeheartedly, then looked at Mao Dan and said, "Mao Dan, the thermos is for your grandma. It's an imperfect item, not worth much money, so don't take it to heart."

"Your Uncle Chenghuai is a soldier just like your father. It's only right that we look after you."

Mao Dan, a child not even ten years old, couldn't out-talk an adult. Besides, the Gu family members were all kind. The little boy mumbled and moved his mouth, unable to say a word of refusal.

He just kept thanking them.

"Thank you, Auntie, thank you, Auntie..."

Lin Zhao grabbed his arm. "No need to be so polite."

The arm held in her hand was as thin as a bamboo pole, without even two taels of meat on it.

She naturally withdrew her hand. Seeing Mao Dan's hair was long enough to cover his eyes, she asked for his opinion, "Your hair is covering your eyes. How about letting your uncle help you trim it?"

"Yes, yes, it needs a trim. It's hot, and long hair makes people even hotter. Mao Dan, if you don't mind, let your uncle trim it for you," Gu Mu also said. "Your uncle used to trim your aunt's hair all the time. His haircutting skills aren't bad; they're on par with a barber."

Children of poor families grow up early. Mao Dan had no father or mother, so he was most sensitive to other people's emotions.

Knowing that Auntie Gu and Grandma Gu were both thinking of him, he nodded. "Okay, thank you."

"You child, you're quite polite. We're all neighbors, why be so polite?" Gu Mu said with a smile, then went to the kitchen. Hearing from the twins that their mother had made something good, she went to take a look.

With his wife and mother speaking up, Gu Chenghuai had no objections. Without a word, he went back to the room to get the scissors and oilcloth.

Lin Zhao looked at Bang Bang and ordered, "Bang Bang, bring a low stool."

"Okay!" Bang Bang responded and went to work.

The second cub climbed onto Lin Zhao's arm, his eyes full of curiosity. "Mom, Dad can even cut hair?"

The big cub also looked suspicious.

"He can!" It was Zhao Liuniang who spoke.

As if remembering something, her expression became complicated. "What can't your dad do?"

"Before you were born, every time your dad came back, he would trim your mom's hair. That skill was better than what a barber could do!"

Whatever was in fashion, the third one would trim it for his wife. In her life, she had never seen anyone spoil his wife like that.

The big cub listened quietly and nodded in agreement.

"The county is far from the brigade. Mom would have to spend a long time going there once. If Dad can trim hair, Mom won't have to walk so far."

"?"

Zhao Liuniang hadn't expected the big cub to have this reaction; she was almost crying.

How was this son raised? She wanted to raise one too!

The second cub cupped his face and said with a smile, "Before we were born, Dad was already doing things for Mom. He deserves praise!"

Now, the envy in Zhao Liuniang's eyes was about to overflow.

"Third sister-in-law, how did you raise your children?" she asked.

Lin Zhao smiled at the twins and said, "Bang Bang and Lai Mei are also very good."

They were all raised by Gu Mu, so how could they be bad?

Zhao Liuniang knew that too.

But.

People are most afraid of comparison.

Bang Bang brought the low stool.

"Third sister-in-law, how about letting the third one trim Bang Bang and Lai Mei's hair too?" Zhao Liuniang said.

Children's hair grows fast. They had just trimmed it last time, and it was almost pressing into their eyes again.

"Sure, trim it for anyone who feels it's long," Lin Zhao laughed. She pressed Mao Dan onto the low stool, took the oilcloth from Gu Chenghuai's hand, and wrapped it around the little boy's neck.

"Your uncle's hands are very steady, don't be afraid. If you're really afraid, just close your eyes."

Gu Chenghuai stared at his wife's face, his eyes revealing helplessness, but also indulgence.

"Mm, I'm not afraid." Mao Dan's voice was crisp.

He looked at Gu Chenghuai openly, his eyes, which had been blocked by stray hair, showing no signs of dodging.

——Uncle Gu is a soldier just like my dad, I'm not afraid!

Gu Chenghuai's opinion of this child changed. This was the first little guy who had looked him straight in the eye for so long without his body trembling. He was worthy of being a hero's descendant.

His slender fingertips turned the scissors nimbly. He withdrew his deep gaze and began to act as a barber.

Lin Zhao felt this scene was so rare. She went back to the room to get her camera and found an angle to take a photo.

Mao Dan heard the "click" sound. It wasn't that he wasn't curious, but he could hold himself still.

The big cub saw his toes move and said super warmly, "Mao Dan, don't be afraid, the 'click' sound is my mom taking a picture."

"You know what taking a picture is, right? It's being able to print you onto a small piece of paper."

Mao Dan had heard of it. A few days ago, Auntie Lin took pictures of Yuan Bao and the others, and he had watched from afar.

"Thank you, Auntie."

Lin Zhao was slightly startled. She curved her ink-black eyes, her tone light. "No need to thank me. I'm taking a picture of your good brother's dad; I only caught your profile."

This was a remark made out of concern that the little boy might feel pressured. In fact, she had taken a separate photo for Mao Dan.

The thin, small little boy sat on the low stool, his hair half-covering his eyes, revealing only his dark, bright eyes.

He didn't look gloomy.

He was bathed in the sunlight.

Lin Zhao's words could fool Mao Dan, but they couldn't fool the sharp Gu Chenghuai.

The man turned his head to look at her and smiled faintly.

Mao Dan felt much more relaxed thinking he was just an afterthought.

A photo is very expensive, and he had no money.

Gu Chenghuai's hands moved very fast. In less than five minutes, he had finished trimming Mao Dan's hair.

It was trimmed very, very short.

Mao Dan touched his head, feeling very refreshed, and the corners of his mouth curled up.

He looked up at Gu Chenghuai and thanked him earnestly, "Thank you, Uncle."

Meeting his eyes, Gu Chenghuai's expression was slightly startled.

The little boy had a pair of phoenix eyes, small fan-shaped double eyelids, and the corners of his eyes were slightly upturned, looking very spirited.

Such stunning eyes were rarely seen.

So, one glance was unforgettable.

Not to mention he had just seen them.

The new army commander who had just arrived at the military region also had such eyes, almost exactly the same as Mao Dan's.

It was just that the former looked more majestic and sharp, while the latter looked clearer.

"Uncle?" Mao Dan was puzzled.

Gu Chenghuai withdrew his gaze, suppressed the full belly of doubts, and said lightly, "It's nothing."

Then he beckoned to Bang Bang and the others. "You guys, who's first?"

Lai Mei twisted forward. "Me first."

He sat on the low stool with a thud, not daring to make any requests. Whatever the third uncle trimmed it into was fine.

Why ask for a bicycle when it's free?

The big cub and second cub were both energetic little children, and the two brothers spoke sweetly, showering Mao Dan, who had finished his haircut, with praise.

"Mao Dan, you look so spirited after the haircut, like a different person." The second cub's eyes were clean and bright, his expression sincere.

"Yeah, yeah, it's just that there's no meat on your body." The big cub looked at Mao Dan's face and shook his head like a little adult.

"Mao Dan, my grandma says that children are only cute if they have meat on them. Does your family not have grain? Are you not eating?"

Mao Dan said hurriedly, "We have grain. The brigade distributes grain to my family every season."

The Ning family was, after all, a glorious family. With only one old person and one young one left in the family, the brigade certainly wouldn't ignore them. They distributed grain when they should, and meat when they should. They could wrong anyone, but they couldn't wrong a hero's family.

Moreover, the grandmother and grandson also had a pension issued by the commune. Although it wasn't much, it was enough.

"Then you should eat more." Tie Chui laughed heartily, his eyes full of clear stupidity; this was how a child should look.

He covered his mouth and laughed. "After Third Aunt moved back with the four cubs, I ate a lot of meat. I feel like I've gained a circle. Look at me, do I look better?"

Mao Dan was very supportive. "Mm-hmm."

"So you have to eat more too," Tie Chui advised.

"I am eating seriously!" Mao Dan's expression was earnest.

He was the only seedling left in the Ning family. Grandma Ning gave him everything good, but she... her health was poor, and she couldn't do heavy work.

As for cooking, it was even more of a disaster. Breaking bowls and blowing up pots were minor matters; if not careful, the kitchen could be set on fire.

From the time Mao Dan knew things, in order to live better, he consciously took over the cooking. With no one in the family who knew how to cook to teach him, he could only fumble around himself. As long as it was cooked, that was enough; as for the taste, don't even think about it.

The food he ate couldn't even be called normal. Every time he ate, he would stop as soon as he was barely full, so of course he grew up thin and skinny.

"Then why are you still so thin? You're thinner than I was before. You have no meat on your face, and your eyes are so big..." The second cub gestured with his hands.

Afraid of hitting his good brother, he comforted him: "Your eyes are quite good-looking, different from Yuan Bao and the others."

Little children also have aesthetics and can tell beauty from ugliness.

Mao Dan was very happy to be praised. "My grandma says this is called phoenix eyes. I take after my dad, my dad takes after my grandpa. The men in my family all have eyes like this."

"Wow!" The second cub exclaimed. "So amazing!"

The big cub also said, "Your family is so magical. If someone got lost, you could recognize them just by looking at their eyes."

"My grandma says that too," Mao Dan replied.

After hearing this conversation, Gu Chenghuai lowered his eyes slightly, lost in thought.

He vaguely heard Sun Yeli say that the new army commander had a legendary experience. He came out of a 'bandit's den' all by himself and was able to earn great merit, deeply trusted by the organization. The most dramatic thing was that the hero had lost the memories of the first thirty years of his life...

Such a coincidence, is it possible...?

Kitchen.

Gu Mu saw such a 'large basin' of vegetable boxes, oily and golden, and her eyeballs almost popped out.

She subconsciously covered her chest.

This must have taken, this must have taken so much oil!! ===== CHAPTER 105 =====