Chapter 107: Little Fengzi

Lin Zhao wiped the sweat from her eldest son's forehead and said, "Is that so? There's a little girl. Is she as big as you and your brother?"

The big cub pondered, "No, she looks smaller than us, she's a little sister."

The second cub squeezed forward, bringing his sweaty head in front of his mother, and said with a smile, "Mom, there's me, there's me, I want to be wiped too."

"Okay, okay, okay, Mom will wipe you." Lin Zhao said with a smile.

The second cub was satisfied.

"Mom, there's also a person who walks with a limp. I asked him what was wrong with his foot, and he said it was broken by someone. Then I asked him if he reported it to the public security, and he said some things are useful to report to public security, and some are not. Mom, why did he say that? What things are useless to report to public security?"

The little boy's eyes were full of confusion.

Lin Zhao restrained her smile and was a bit silent. She was weighing her words.

The second cub's words were many and dense. Before Lin Zhao could answer, he took out the jade gourd Grandma Ning gave him and smiled at his mother, "Mom, look at my jade gourd. Grandma Ning gave it to us, is it good-looking?"

Lin Zhao's gaze fell on the white jade gourd, her expression astonished.

Such a big move!?

In the original book, jade would be very valuable in a few decades.

This jade gourd of the second cub had fine, oily, and moist jade quality, uniform light transmission, smooth lines, and soft color. It was clearly good jade.

"You all have one?" she asked.

The big cub also took out his own, "Yes, Tie Chui has one too. Grandma Ning gave it to us as a meeting gift, telling us to play with Mao Dan in the future."

Lin Zhao discussed with the twins, "Mom will keep them for you?"

It wasn't that she was greedy for the children's things, but she was worried that they would cause trouble if they took them outside.

The big cub took the initiative to stuff the jade gourd into his mother's palm, "Okay, Mom will help me keep it."

"Mine too, Mom help me keep it. I'm willing to give it to Mom." The second cub's little mouth was as sweet as if it had been dyed with honey.

His expression was earnest.

Not strange; children at this age are the closest to their mothers, pure and simple.

Before Lin Zhao could speak, Tie Chui also gave her his jade gourd.

"Third Aunt, help me keep it too." He grinned.

Lin Zhao didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

"Tie Chui, you should let your mom help you keep it," she laughed.

Tie Chui scratched his head honestly, "I trust Third Aunt. The jade gourds look the same, it's right to put them together!"

Lin Zhao thought to herself, this isn't a question of trust, Gu Gu Dasao is still here.

"How about you ask your mom what she thinks?" she found a random reason.

Tie Chui was even more confused and said righteously, "Why ask my mom? Grandma Ning gave it to me!"

Huang Xiulan came out of the kitchen and heard the whole conversation between her third sister-in-law and her youngest son. She was so angry she laughed.

The honest boy even asked why?

Why didn't the big cub and second cub ask?

"Third sister-in-law, help him keep it," Huang Xiulan spoke up.

"Tie Chui trusts you, and I trust you too." She emphasized.

The third room had a thick foundation and didn't lack that little bit.

In fact, the bottom line was also because the jade gourd was jade, not gold. Huang Xiulan felt it wasn't worth much money, and couldn't even exchange for a white flour steamed bun, so it didn't matter how Tie Chui kept it.

Since the big sister-in-law had spoken, Lin Zhao didn't decline and said, "Okay, I'll help keep it."

To avoid the big room not valuing it and breaking or losing it, which was very possible. After all, by the time the jade gourd became valuable, it would be at least ten years later. Ten years is too long, and there are too many changes.

"Tomorrow, Third Aunt will give you a hard-covered notebook. You write down the things you put here, so you don't forget."

Tie Chui learned everything from the twins. The big cub and second cub started learning characters, and he followed along. Now he also knew quite a few characters.

"Okay," he said obediently.

Huang Xiulan felt that her third sister-in-law was truly attentive to Tie Chui. Her honest boy had good fortune ahead.

The third one was a battalion commander and would continue to rise sooner or later. The third one's wife was an intellectual and worked in the supply and marketing cooperative. Both of them had a bright future. The four cubs were one cleverer than the other. The third room would take off sooner or later. It was just that her Tie Chui could squeeze in, was valued by the twins, and was liked by the third sister-in-law. This luck... being taken off was only a matter of time.

The second cub hugged his mother and said, "Mom, my brother and I also want hard-covered notebooks."

"Okay, okay, okay, you all will have them." Lin Zhao's eyes were indulgent.

There were still quite a few points left in the lottery wheel. She could try to draw a few times later.

She had only drawn once casually last night and drew pork, grain, oil, red beans, etc. It was all food.

The big cub's face was solemn. He said to the second cub and Tie Chui, "We must practice writing well, otherwise we won't even recognize the characters we write ourselves."

"I am practicing, Brother, I listen to you, I practice with copybooks every day," the second cub said.

The copybooks were found at the recycling station.

Tie Chui: "I listen too, I practice too."

The light was dim at night, and it wasted lamp oil. The few children put their study time during the day, and only went out to play after recognizing characters and practicing writing.

The big cub was steady and self-disciplined, especially able to endure loneliness. With him, he would never forget his daily study tasks no matter what he was doing. Under his influence, the second cub and Tie Chui also gradually cultivated good study habits.

With such a sensible eldest son, Lin Zhao was truly worry-free.

"Dinner is ready, go wash up," Huang Xiulan remembered the main business and called out.

The bamboo curtain of the main room door was lifted from the inside, making a "da" sound.

Gu Fu pressed his pants pocket, a smile appearing on his face, in a very good mood.

He greeted his grandsons and granddaughters, "Wash your hands and eat."

The children moved with a clatter, washing their hands obediently. They used soap to wash, rubbing each finger several times, and finally rinsed off the foam with clear water. Then, as they walked to the dining table, they smelled their hands, and upon smelling the fragrant scent, they curved their eyes and smiled.

The food on the dining table was no different from usual: coarse grain steamed buns, half a basin of clear-fried cabbage, another cold-mixed shredded carrot, and a bowl of porridge with only a few grains of rice for each person.

The only difference was the golden vegetable boxes.

"Vegetable boxes!!" Lai Mei had been guarding the stump for rabbits in the mountains with her little friends all afternoon, and only then did she see the vegetable boxes.

"Your third aunt started cooking as soon as she got off work," Zhao Liuniang said, "You ran off without a trace."

The Lin family didn't have the habit of scolding people at the dining table, which was also Lin Zhao's habit.

She smiled and changed the subject, "Second sister-in-law and Lai Mei, try it and see how it tastes. If you like it, I'll make it again in the future."

"There's nothing Third Aunt makes that isn't delicious," Lai Mei praised first. Seeing the elders like Grandpa and Grandma starting to eat, she didn't stand on ceremony and picked up a vegetable box.

Taking a bite, the thought that Tie Dan often had arose—it's truly wonderful that Third Uncle's family moved back.

Not to mention tasting meat every ten days or half a month, there was also other feeding from time to time. It's truly happy.

After dinner, Gu Fu couldn't wait to call his third son to accompany him to the foot of the mountain.

As soon as he finished speaking, Gu Mu glared at him.

"Go where? Don't look at what time it is? It's not dark yet, I think you want to kill the whole family!"

The few little monkeys were sent out of the house. She was afraid the neighbors would hear, so she still kept her voice down.

Gu Fu explained hurriedly, "I didn't think of going to that old house now, I plan to go to the foot of the mountain to pick up some firewood, and go over when it's dark."

Of course, he also had other calculations in his heart, thinking that those people would also have to pick up firewood to cook, and if they could meet, it wouldn't be anything to say a few words.

Gu Mu restrained her anger and exhorted, "That's fine, keep a count in your heart, don't let people see you."

Most of the people in the brigade were good, and there wasn't so much calculation in their hearts, but... there were also those who didn't like the Gu family. However, the captain was still very fair and just. He didn't want the captain to step down.

"Know, know." Gu Fu winked at Gu Chenghuai.

The old woman is getting fiercer and fiercer!

Gu Chenghuai sighed in his heart, looked at his wife, and left with his father.

The father and son came to the foot of the mountain and looked at the few thatched huts from afar. The weeds around them had been cleared away. The old broken house without a courtyard wall stood there, looking exceptionally lonely.

Gu Fu was worried, "... There isn't even a courtyard wall. If wild boars run down the mountain, how can these people run?"

Even experienced hunters couldn't do anything about fierce wild beasts.

Gu Chenghuai said, "They will build a courtyard wall."

"They are old and young, none of them look like people who can do work." Gu Fu was still worried. He was a kind-hearted person, and even if Mr. Qiao wasn't inside, he would still be worried.

"I'll go find the captain tomorrow to talk about it," Gu Chenghuai added.

Gu Fu patted his son's shoulder, smiling with a face full of wrinkles.

He hadn't achieved anything in his life, but he had given birth to a son who had achieved something.

While talking, Gu Chenghuai didn't idle, bending down to pick up firewood, his movements nimble.

A rustling sound of footsteps came.

The person who came approached with a limp. It was a face that was strange to both father and son of the Gu family.

He carried a bundle of firewood, his skin was fair, his eyes were as black as ink, his facial features were soft, and his figure was thin and long, looking scholarly.

Meng Jiusi saw the two, nodded, and passed them to walk towards the thatched hut.

"Wait." Gu Fu called out lightly.

Meng Jiusi stopped, turned back to look at him, his eyes puzzled.

"Among your group, is that old gentleman with gray hair surnamed Qiao?" Gu Fu looked around, and seeing no one, asked cautiously.

Hearing this, Meng Jiusi's expression didn't change, and he said lightly, "Not clear, we are not familiar with each other."

Gu Fu believed this.

Gu Chenghuai didn't believe a word of it. It was normal not to be familiar before settling down, but after settling down, saying they weren't familiar was a bit deliberate!

The young man disappeared with one foot high and one foot low. Gu Fu said sadly, "Young, why is his foot not good? Sigh."

Don't know what mistake he made.

The Gu father and son were afraid of running into people from the brigade and didn't dare to stay long, tacitly walking further away to pick up firewood. During the process of picking up firewood, Gu Fu mumbled a lot about things in Haicheng before, and Gu Chenghuai listened very attentively.

Foot of the mountain, thatched hut.

"Someone is asking about me?" Old Mr. Qiao's expression was surprised.

Meng Jiusi nodded, "Mm, the one who called me was a father and son, they should be people from the brigade. That old man looks honest and down-to-earth, and his son... has a lot of momentum. Looking at his standing posture, he looks very much like a soldier."

Just don't know if he retired or not.

Old Mr. Qiao had doubts in his heart, but it didn't show on his face, smiling lightly.

"Perhaps it's someone I helped casually when I was young, who knows. What should come will come, let's wait."

Meng Jiusi saw that the old gentleman had a count, didn't say more, walked to the corner, made a simple three-stone stove, and boiled soup to drink.

This clay pot was something he had managed to keep, and although a corner was broken, it was fortunately still usable.

Others were also trying to find ways to get food.

Just at this time.

The captain came over, followed by two young men, one carrying a sack and the other holding a large bamboo basket.

Seeing the weeds beside the house cleared away cleanly, the captain nodded with satisfaction and shouted, "Everyone come out."

Everyone in the house walked out.

Before coming to the Harvest Brigade, everyone had suffered unspeakable torture.

Even someone as calm as Old Mr. Qiao didn't want any more changes.

The captain waved to the young men who followed him.

"Put the things down."

The two did as told.

The captain looked at Meng Jiusi and the others and said, "You don't have grain, right? I'll take the lead and send you fifty catties of coarse grain first, and some vegetables, etc. Consider it on credit, and pay it back with work points later."

He thought about it and still felt he should distribute grain to these people. Not only distribute grain, but also count work points. Above only said education, not taking people's lives.

The people standing at the door of the thatched hut didn't expect the captain to send them grain and were stunned for a moment.

After several breaths.

The coldness in Meng Jiusi's eyes dissipated a bit, and he thanked them earnestly, "Thank you."

The captain waved his hand indifferently, "It's only right. On the contrary, you guys, what did above say, how you do it, let you write inspections, write them, don't be stubborn, it's no good for you. As the old saying goes, a hero doesn't suffer immediate losses."

"You guys think about it seriously."

Before the few could answer, he took the two young men and left.

In front of the thatched hut, no one spoke, and no one knew the waves that had suddenly risen in their hearts.

In the blink of an eye, the sky turned dark.

Gu Fu and Gu Chenghuai came to the old house at the foot of the mountain.

"Dong dong dong."

A dull knocking sound rang out.

The door that could barely serve as a decoration was opened.

Old Mr. Qiao looked at the two people outside the door, his gaze finally falling on Gu Fu's face, trying hard to recall, trying to remember him, but it was in vain.

He, his mind was empty.

"Are you Mr. Qiao?" Gu Fu suppressed the excitement in his heart and asked with a trembling voice.

Qiao?

Able to accurately call out his surname.

Should be an acquaintance.

An old acquaintance he had forgotten.

Old Mr. Qiao thought with emotion.

His old and wise eyes were stained with traces of apology.

"My surname is Qiao."

Gu Fu's expression was pleasantly surprised, and he pursued, "Are you Mr. Qiao from the Qiao Mansion in Haicheng?"

"Qiao Mansion?" Old Mr. Qiao laughed a little, "A long time ago, there has long been no Qiao Mansion."

"It really is you, Mr. Qiao!" Gu Fu's eyes were shockingly bright.

He rarely introduced himself excitedly, helping his benefactor find his memory.

"It's me, I'm Gu Feng, the thin boy who sold cigarettes at the entrance of the dance hall and was bullied. You helped me, you took me to the Qiao Mansion, and taught me how to read..."

Before he finished speaking, Old Mr. Qiao remembered.

"It's you." The defense in his eyes disappeared, and he looked at Gu Feng with a smile, saying, "Didn't expect to see you again. Little Fengzi, you've aged too. I wasn't wrong when I sent you away back then, right? I said, if there's fate, we'll meet again in the future. Look, we really met again."

While talking, he opened the door and let the Gu father and son into the house.

There wasn't even a stool in the house, and the bed was also casually spread with rice straw.

Gu Fu took a look, and he couldn't describe the feeling in his heart.

"Mr. Qiao, why are you..." Afraid of poking Mr. Qiao's pain, he opened his mouth and swallowed the question he wanted to ask, only saying, "My family has old beds and old bedding. If you don't mind, when it gets later, I'll send them to you."

Old Mr. Qiao wasn't pretentious and accepted his kindness, "Don't mind, why would I mind? I still have to thank you. I here... lack everything."

"That's good, I'll send them to you with my boy later," Gu Fu said.

Then he introduced his son, "This is my third one, Gu Chenghuai."

"A good young man, served in the army, right?" Old Mr. Qiao's eyes revealed appreciation.

Gu Fu said proudly, "He is still a soldier now."

He didn't say his son was already a battalion commander; it sounded like showing off.

Gu Chenghuai saw the benefactor his father always had on his lips. His hair was gray, his eyes were sharp and spirited, giving people a graceful feeling.

"Old Mr. Qiao." He nodded to show greeting, calm and steady.

"Don't follow your dad. Your dad and I are old acquaintances. If you don't mind my current situation, call me Uncle Qiao in private." When Old Mr. Qiao was young, he secretly sent supplies and medicines and dealt with the troops a lot, so he had a natural good feeling for soldiers.

Gu Chenghuai changed his address accordingly, "Uncle Qiao."

Old Mr. Qiao patted Gu Fu's shoulder, his tone full of emotion, "This son of yours is not simple. I just said you kid have good fortune ahead." ===== CHAPTER 108 =====