Chapter 123

"I was stolen by human traffickers right after I was born." Meng Jiusi's gaze was calm, his voice steady. "I also have a twin brother, who is my third older brother. Above him are two more older brothers, and below me is a younger sister. My younger sister is married to an army officer and has four children; they are the twins we saw earlier..."

Meng Laoyezi had an impression of Gu Da Cai and Ercai. "Are they those two little boys with the sharp eyes?"

"Yes, that's them." A smile appeared on Meng Jiusi's face. "They are my own nephews. I am their fourth maternal uncle."

Meng Laoyezi hadn't seen his grandson this happy in a long time, and he began to feel cheerful as well.

"I can tell, you really like your younger sister."

It was good that his grandson hadn't been abandoned.

Meng Jiusi felt a bit embarrassed, but still said, "She is very good."

The way his younger sister looked at him didn't have a hint of disdain; her eyes were clear and bright. She even brought him dumplings and peach pastries, and because she was afraid he would be bitten by mosquitoes, she brought him mosquito repellent... She was truly very, very good.

"I'm happy for you that you've reunited with your real family, Gu Laoyezi." Meng Laoyezi patted his grandson's head, his weathered face full of a gratified smile.

That skinny little black monkey from back then had finally found his own family.

Meng Jiusi added, "I told them... I won't change my surname. I will be your grandson for my entire life."

Hearing this, Meng Laoyezi was both happy and sad.

He pointed at Meng Jiusi, his finger trembling slightly. "You silly boy, you silly boy!"

Meng Jiusi didn't think he was silly. "You raised me when I was small, and I will provide for you in your old age; it's only right and proper. Besides, the Lin family has so many children, they won't miss one."

"Nonsense!" Meng Laoyezi's eye sockets turned red, and he turned away, ignoring this silly boy.

To use the words of those who had brought him down, he had saved too many people who shouldn't have been saved and was a cancer to the nation—

His own children and grandchildren had published notices in the newspaper to sever ties with him.

Jiusi originally didn't have to end up in this state; after all, he wasn't a true member of the Meng family. As long as he published a notice, he could have lived his own peaceful life. But this boy was silly and stubborn; he simply refused, and even after losing a leg and having his family scattered, he insisted on suffering with him. He was truly stupid to the core!

He had never seen anyone so stupid!!

He was stupid in the capital, and after coming here and finally finding his relatives, this silly boy said he wouldn't change his surname. How could he not change his surname?!

He knew that country folk were very particular about this; if you didn't change your surname, how could they accept you from the bottom of their hearts?

Jiusi had cut off his own path.

Meng Jiusi knew his grandfather was angry, but he had his own persistence.

"My father said he wouldn't force me to change my surname, and I could see he was being sincere." He said seriously, "Gu Laoyezi, my family is different. They are open and honest; what they say is what they mean. They aren't hypocritical people; I can tell."

"Bullshit." Meng Laoyezi turned his head back; it was rare for the peaceful and refined old man to curse. "You can tell? You've only met them once, what can you tell?"

"People's hearts are hidden behind their skin, you know." His voice was full of complexity.

If he hadn't been backstabbed by his own relatives, he wouldn't have ended up in this state.

Meng Jiusi didn't explain much. "You'll know once you meet my younger sister, Gu Laoyezi. She's coming to bring me things again tomorrow."

Meng Laoyezi didn't say anything more.

He had said so much because he was afraid his grandson would be disappointed and hurt.

"I hope so."

Meng Jiusi picked up a peach pastry and gave it to him. "Gu Laoyezi, you eat the peach pastry. These are all for you; I'm very full."

I know, you ate dumplings, right.

Meng Laoyezi always felt his grandson was showing off. He looked at him several times but couldn't tell.

The Lin family walked slowly toward the village.

As Lin Shisheng was walking, he felt his younger sister trailing behind. He turned his head to look—

Zhaozhao was holding onto Chenghuai's arm, saying something. Immediately after, her husband ruffled her long hair and then half-squatted down. His younger sister had a bright smile as she jumped onto his back, wrapped her arms around his neck, and stretched her head out, her brows curved as if she were about to kiss him.

Lin Shisheng hurriedly turned his head back, wearing an expression of sour teeth.

"What kind of expression is that?" Lin Shichang also turned his head back, just in time to see what he shouldn't have. He also hurriedly withdrew his gaze and cleared his throat to cover his embarrassment.

Lin Shisheng couldn't stop laughing.

Behind them.

Gu Chenghuai tilted his head to dodge his wife's attack and lowered his voice to coax her, "There are people in front; let's mess around when we get back to the room."

Lin Zhao giggled and stopped messing around. She rested her head on the man's shoulder, looking at his face, her eyes and brows full of smiles. "Gu Chenghuai, the moon tonight is so bright and so round."

The man looked up. With the Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, the high-hanging moon was indeed bright and round.

"Your birthday is coming up soon. How do you want to spend it?" Thinking that he hadn't had time to spend Zhaozhao's birthday with her for the past two years, Gu Chenghuai felt guilty and self-reproachful. "I'm here this year and can accompany you. You can make any request, and as long as I can do it, I will satisfy you."

Lin Zhao only then remembered her birthday was approaching. "Having you here and our family reunited is the best, best thing for me."

Gu Chenghuai only felt a cluster of pink roses bloom in his heart, a corner collapsing with a boom, his voice softening by several degrees. "No other wishes? How about I take you to the city to play, eat good food, and buy you a few pretty outfits? It's getting cold soon, so it's time to add a few pieces of clothing."

"We can also stroll through the bookstore and buy a few books you're interested in."

"When I returned, I heard there's a zoo in the city; I'll take you to see it. It seems there's also a theater; we can go see that too. It doesn't matter if one day isn't enough; we'll bring a letter of introduction, stay in a guesthouse for a night, and come back the next day..."

Gu Chenghuai spoke for a long time without hearing a response. He tilted his head to look, and as he turned, his thin lips brushed against a patch of softness. He was stunned for a moment and looked somewhat guiltily at the people not far ahead, only feeling relieved when he discovered no one had noticed them.

"Pfft..." Lin Zhao curved her eyes. "Don't be afraid, Mom and Dad aren't paying attention to us."

Gu Chenghuai's deep eyes were helpless yet indulgent. "You did that on purpose?"

"Yeah." Lin Zhao answered righteously.

Gu Chenghuai gave an indulgent smile and bounced the person on his back upward. "How about my proposal? Does the leader approve?"

Lin Zhao beamed. "Approved."

"Good, you ask for a day off then, and I'll go find the brigade leader to get the letter of introduction." Gu Chenghuai began arranging things directly.

Asking for leave was no problem; at worst, they'd just deduct a day's wages. Lin Zhao asked, "Are we taking the cubs?"

"Do you want to take them?" Gu Chenghuai felt it didn't matter either way; he could keep an eye on the four cubs regardless.

Lin Zhao thought for a moment. "Let's take them. It's rare to go out, so let's take them all along and let them broaden their horizons."

If they didn't take them, Yubao and Hengbao would definitely be disappointed.

"Then we'll take them," Gu Chenghuai said.

"And it'll deepen our parent-child bond, so you won't have a shallow impression on the four cubs when you return to the army," Lin Zhao said with a smile.

Gu Chenghuai was silent for a moment. "Thank you."

"No need to thank me!" Lin Zhao patted his shoulder lightly, her expression pleasant.

Thinking of her fourth brother, her tone was light. "My fourth brother is really quite good. He's a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine and was able to heal his own foot using silver needles; his medical skills must be very high."

"Fourth brother is also a good person; he's very peaceful and holds no resentment toward us. He accepts us in his heart, which is really great. Mom and Dad are very happy and gratified; I can tell."

Gu Chenghuai walked very steadily and nodded with a smile. "Give him some time; he will call them Mom and Dad."

"No rush," Lin Zhao said seriously. "As long as we know Fourth Brother's whereabouts and can help him, that's already very good. Our whole family thinks so."

She muttered, "It's much better than before when we had no idea where he was."

"I didn't expect Fourth Brother to return, appearing suddenly when I had no idea."

"It's all thanks to the sons. If it weren't for their amazing powers of observation, I wouldn't have discovered it was Fourth Brother so early. I think the two cubs deserve a reward, don't you?"

Gu Chenghuai had no objections, but he said, "Aren't you spoiling them too much?"

Lin Zhao was slightly startled. She straightened her upper body and stared at him. "What? Can't I spoil them?"

"I didn't say you couldn't spoil them; I mean don't spoil them rotten." Gu Chenghuai wasn't a father who couldn't stand his children being treated well, but he felt his wife was spoiling the twins a bit too much. The two cubs were five years old and already living better than other children in the village, and with Zhaozhao spoiling them like this, he was afraid the two boys would turn out crooked.

"Not at all!" Lin Zhao poked his face in annoyance. "The twins are sensible. You only see me spoiling them; why don't you see how worry-free they are?"

Gu Chenghuai wanted to say more, but the sound of Da Huang barking came from afar, and immediately after, the identical-looking children ran toward them.

"Mom!"

Before they even arrived, their crisp shouts reached them first.

Seeing Mom being carried on Dad's back, they thought Mom had injured her foot, and looks of worry appeared on their two identical faces.

They ran quickly to Gu Chenghuai.

"Mom, did you hurt your foot?" Yubao looked up at Lin Zhao, his little brows furrowed.

Hengbao's little child-voice was full of unease. "Mom, I'll go call the physician!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he was about to rush forward.

Lin Zhao hurriedly said, "I'm fine."

Hengbao stopped, turned around, and looked half-believing. "Really?"

"It's true." Lin Zhao shook her legs. "Mom was tired from walking, so I let your dad carry me."

Yubao looked at Gu Chenghuai. "Is that right, Dad?"

Gu Chenghuai nodded. "Mm."

Yubao felt relieved, his little milky voice saying, "Dad, carry Mom steadily; don't let her fall."

Gu Chenghuai: "..."

Before he could speak, Hengbao gave Lin Zhao a milky, cute smile. "Mom, when I grow up, I'll buy you a car with four wheels so you won't have to walk wherever you go, and then you won't get tired from walking."

Lin Zhao gave Gu Chenghuai a look. See, can cubs like this be spoiled rotten?

She looked at her sons softly. "What if I don't know how to drive?"

Hengbao's brain turned quickly, and he immediately thought of a way. "What's hard about that? I'll hire a driver for you."

He thought for a moment and added, "And I'll hire an auntie who can cook and wash clothes, so Mom won't have to do anything at all."

Gu Chenghuai looked at his sons, whose hearts and eyes were full of their mother, and pursed his lips.

These two boys have Zhaozhao on their minds all the time; they shouldn't be spoiled rotten, right?

"Wife, you're right," he said.

Yubao shifted his gaze from his mother to his father, his dark, bright eyes full of surprise. "What did Dad say was right?"

"Nothing," Gu Chenghuai denied.

Yubao was unhappy.

Lin Zhao smiled and changed the subject. "Why did you two come out? It's already dark; aren't you afraid?"

Yubao was full of spirit. "Not afraid, my younger brother and I have Da Huang with us."

"That's right," Hengbao took over the conversation, took the initiative to hold Mom's hand, and said in a light tone, "Da Huang is very mighty; it can even beat adults. It will protect us, so we aren't afraid."

"Right, Da Huang?"

He used his other hand to rub Da Huang's head.

Da Huang: "Woof—"

"Look, Da Huang said it will protect us!" Hengbao smiled, his eyes curving happily.

Lin Zhao patted Gu Chenghuai's shoulder, signaling him to put her down.

After her feet touched the ground, she held one cub in each hand and said, "Da Huang is a member of our family; we must take good care of it and its babies."

"Mm!" The twins nodded solemnly.

While they were talking, the family returned to the Gu house, and the Lin family brought out their bicycles, about to head back.

Seeing this, Lin Zhao hurriedly said, "Dad, Mom, wait a moment, I'm going to get the flashlight."

As soon as she finished speaking, she rushed into the house, returned to the room, and fetched the flashlight.

Lin Heling took it, his voice gentle. "We're leaving first. If there's anything, send someone to pass us a message. Go back quickly and let Yubao and Hengbao sleep early."

"I know," Lin Zhao replied obediently.

The family of four, along with Da Huang, watched the four members of the Lin family go far away before they turned and returned to the house.

Yubao thought of something and asked curiously, "Mom, what were you doing on the mountain just now?"

Lin Zhao led her sons through the main gate, not telling the truth, and said vaguely, "Didn't I say, we were too full, so we went out to digest our food."

Yubao and his younger brother looked at each other and laughed.

"Mom, we aren't stupid!" Yubao pinched his brows like a little adult, looked at their mother, and said, "The reason you made up, even children wouldn't believe it."

Hengbao also said, "That's right, that's right. If you wanted to digest food, you could have done it in your own courtyard; why did you have to go up the mountain? And you wouldn't let us follow. You adults have secrets; my brother and I guessed it a long time ago."

Lin Zhao pinched the children's soft little faces and said amusingly, "Then guess, what is the secret?"

Hengbao and his brother had guessed it a long time ago, but they hadn't guessed it right. He held his little face, squeezing his chubby cheeks together as if making a funny face.

"Mom, tell me." He acted like a spoiled child, his voice soft.

Lin Zhao shook her head. "Not now, I'll tell you when there's a chance."

Hearing the sound in the courtyard, Gu Mother came out in her cloth shoes and whispered to the twins, "Yubao, Hengbao, you two aren't sleeping yet?"

If their mother didn't come back, the two boys wouldn't sleep at all; they were truly clingy.

"Coming," Yubao replied.

He pulled his younger brother toward the main room.

Hengbao remembered that Mom was resting tomorrow and turned his head to say, "Mom, are you taking us to Great-Uncle's house tomorrow?"

"Yes, sleep early, and I'll take you there after we eat tomorrow morning," Lin Zhao said, her voice tinged with a smile.

The twins looked forward to it, replied, and obediently returned to their room to sleep.

The next day.

Lin Zhao slept until she woke up naturally. Feeling a soft little thing beside her, she opened her eyes and saw the cute and adorable Yaobao.

"Yaobao? Why are you here?" She hugged the little dumpling and kissed the well-behaved baby's face.

Yaobao smiled, showing her little rice-grain teeth, her sweetness exceeding the limit. "Waiting for Mom," she said in a milky voice, rubbing her little head against her mother's face.

Lin Zhao hugged her daughter and got up, seeing Seeing Qian Bao sitting cross-legged at the end of the bed flipping through a dictionary. The intensity of his focus was enough to make adults feel ashamed.

"Seeing Qian Bao," she called softly.

The little cub didn't hear the first call, and only raised his head after the second.

Seeing Qian Bao calmly put down the dictionary, moved his fair, tender little legs—which had two small red bumps from mosquito bites—over, and called out in a soft voice, "Mom~"

Lin Zhao saw the mosquito bumps and frowned. "How did you get bitten by mosquitoes?"

Did the mosquito repellent sachet stop working?

Yaobao said angrily, "Mosquitoes are bad."

"Right, mosquitoes are bad. Yaobao, move over a bit; Mom is going to get the ointment to put some on your brother," Lin Zhao said softly.

Yaobao turned over and fell onto the bed hugging a thin blanket. She was so small that she was mostly covered by the blanket. She scrambled to pull the blanket, but couldn't get her body out, and called for her brother in a panic.

"Brother, blanket, blanket..."

Seeing Qian Bao calmly moved over and pulled the blanket for his younger sister, opening it in two or three tugs.

In a short while, Yaobao's little face was flushed from the struggle. She wiped her forehead and said, "Oh my, I'm exhausted."

Lin Zhao couldn't help but laugh.

After applying ointment to Seeing Qian Bao, she checked Yaobao's body. She also had a small red bump on her foot; it seemed the mosquito repellent sachet really was useless.