Chapter 126

The Song brothers left with the four Gu cubs, and the living room became much brighter.

"Zhaozhao, Chenghuai, drink tea," Song's Aunt greeted enthusiastically, taking candy and watermelon.

Lin Zhao sipped tea freely.

Uncle Song laughed. "You sent me the tea, haven't tasted the flavor, right?"

"No." Lin Zhao shook her head, smiling. "I know Uncle loves drinking tea, and I just got a jar of tea, so I thought of sending it to you. Don't mention tasting it, I didn't even smell it."

Regardless of whether this was true or false, it was always heartwarming.

Uncle Song's face was full of gratification. "Know you're filial."

Lin Zhao put down the teacup and became serious. "Uncle, I have good news to tell you, don't be too excited."

"What?" Uncle Song was full of suspicion, various thoughts popping into his brain.

Could it be...

Zhaozhao is pregnant again?

Thinking of this, his brows furrowed into several small knots, and his gaze toward Gu Chenghuai flashed with a hint of displeasure.

Gu Chenghuai: "?"

Lin Zhao didn't know what Uncle was guessing in his heart. Her tone was serious and proper, and her face was also taut. "Uncle, my Fourth Brother has been found!"

Boom—

The sound of a brain exploding.

Uncle Song froze in place, his ears buzzing. It took a long time for him to come back to his senses.

He looked at Lin Zhao fiercely, his gaze locked on her, his voice tight. "Zhaozhao, who did you say?"

He must have had auditory hallucinations!

"Your Fourth Brother?" Uncle Song's voice almost split.

Lin Zhao nodded seriously. "Right, it's my Fourth Brother."

Uncle Song suppressed his excitement, his body leaning toward her, his words urgent. "Where is your Fourth Brother? How is he? Is his body healthy? Is he married? Does he have children...?"

There were too many questions that needed answering, and a string of questions popped out of his mouth.

Lin Zhao raised her hand to make a gesture of 'calm down, this matter needs to be kept secret'.

The volume of her voice wasn't loud.

"My Fourth Brother is one of the members sent to our village for re-education. There's a slight problem with his status, and his foot was also injured by someone, but it's fine. My Fourth Brother knows medical skills; I'll send him the needles tonight, and he can heal himself."

Without waiting for Uncle Song to ask, she continued on her own without leaving any gaps: "My Fourth Brother is married and has two children, but he divorced. The children are with their mother in the city. As for the rest of the situation, we didn't ask much. I'll ask when we get more familiar."

Uncle Song looked at Lin Zhao's expression and knew Little Four's situation wasn't good. After she finished speaking, his hanging heart completely died.

It really was.

His status was tainted.

Fortunately, he was fine.

"As long as he's fine."

He had seen those sent to various brigades; they were truly miserable. Some had nothing but the clothes on their backs, their eyes numb and dull, like wandering souls.

"Zhaozhao, if Little Four lacks anything, tell me, I'll prepare it."

Lin Zhao laughed. "Uncle, did you forget I work at the supply and marketing cooperative? I can get a lot of things."

Uncle Song's eyes were full of indulgent smiles. "Know you're amazing. If you need me, just say it."

"I definitely won't be polite," Lin Zhao said righteously.

Uncle Song's smile deepened, patting her hair, helpless yet heartwarming.

He hadn't seen her much in the past few years and was afraid Zhaozhao would become distant from him.

"Chenghuai, Zhaozhao's work, I trouble you." Uncle Song said with a smile.

Gu Chenghuai helping his niece find work really added points in his heart.

"Thanks to you for providing Zhaozhao's education, she's a high school graduate, work isn't hard to find," Gu Chenghuai was very humble, not feeling he was amazing, he believed that while the platform was important, personal ability was even more important.

If it weren't for his wife reading so many books and being spoiled by her uncle into being bright, confident, and generous, she wouldn't have been able to handle that job.

Uncle Song laughed and didn't speak again.

There were many children with high education, and so many junior high graduates didn't have work, wasn't it because they didn't have connections? This society was complex yet easy to understand. Personal ability was just icing on the cake; it didn't matter if they didn't have it, as long as they had the opportunity, they could rise.

"Zhaozhao, is your father's body still okay?"

Lin Zhao drank tea and laughed. "Very good. My father is taking new medicine, his body is slowly getting better, and my mother says my father can sleep well at night. She takes my father out for two laps every afternoon."

"Being able to sleep and walk means he's really better." Uncle Song felt relieved. He knew too well how deep the affection was between his sister and brother-in-law; they had spent decades together, and neither could do without the other.

Lin Zhao remembered the courtyard she had on Dongjie, moved her bottom next to Uncle Song, and looked at him. "Uncle, can you find a craftsman to renovate the courtyard?"

"Why do you ask this?" Uncle Song didn't understand. "Isn't your house being built with bricks and tiles? What are you renovating?"

"I'm talking about the courtyard I have in the county," Lin Zhao explained, curling her lips slightly, not continuing, waiting for Uncle to ask.

"You have a courtyard in the county?" Uncle Song was very confused. "Where is the courtyard?"

Lin Zhao spoke slowly. "On Dongjie, it's very dilapidated, hasn't been lived in for a long time, and that courtyard fell into my hands. I want to renovate it. My parents said to find Uncle, said Uncle knows many people and will help me."

Song's Aunt knew about this courtyard and asked in surprise: "The courtyard facing the street?"

"Right, Aunt knows?" Lin Zhao looked at Aunt.

"I know. That courtyard was eyed by quite a few people before, but was blocked by the street office staff. I didn't expect it to fall into your hands." Song's Aunt was happy for Zhaozhao. "Your luck is really good. That courtyard isn't small, and the orientation and layout are good. It will be more comfortable to live in after renovation than a building."

She didn't ask how Lin Zhao got it. Since Zhaozhao could open her mouth to ask Old Song for help, the property rights of the house must be fine.

Uncle Song listened to his wife's meaning, that the courtyard was good, and said: "Zhaozhao, Chenghuai, bring me to see it this afternoon. I'll take a look on the spot first, then help you find someone. If you have any opinions, say them, I'll write them down, and guarantee to handle them for you neatly."

He was meticulous in everything he did, and for his niece's courtyard, he would definitely be even more careful.

Gu Chenghuai added hot water to Lin Zhao's cup, his voice low and slow. "I have no opinion, I listen to Zhaozhao completely."

Uncle Song frowned, thinking he didn't care about anything.

Just as he wanted to say something, Lin Zhao's tone was light, and she said to Gu Chenghuai: "You are responsible for buying bricks and glass, finding someone to dig a well, right, and also wiring, I want electric lights, I want new furniture, I also want a sofa..."

She put forward a string of requirements.

Gu Chenghuai listened carefully and noted them down one by one. "Okay, you don't have to worry, I'll get it done."

Considering that after he returned to the army, his wife would be bored at home alone, he suggested: "Do you want a television?"

Uncle Song knew he had thought too much, his expression relaxed. Regardless of whether this kid was pretending or real, at least he had heart.

Lin Zhao didn't notice the change in Uncle's eyes, her eyes bright. "Can you get a television ticket?"

Seeing the spirit in her eyes, Gu Chenghuai had nothing he didn't understand. "I'll think of a way."

He would write a letter when he went back and ask Yunli if he could get one.

Television, huh.

This was an era where having a radio could make one look down on ten miles and eight villages.

Lin Zhao hesitated for a moment. "Is it too high-profile?"

"Not high-profile, every cent of our family's money comes from proper sources, not afraid." Gu Chenghuai comforted her emotions.

His expression was calm, not fake at all.

"Is it very expensive?" Lin Zhao felt heartache for the money again.

Several hundred, right?

Gu Chenghuai's expression still didn't change. "It's fine, money is earned to be spent, as long as you are happy, it's worth any amount."

Lin Zhao moved over and hugged his arm, shaking it. "Since you said so, then I want a television."

She knew the original book's plot, knew that television sets would change from black and white to color in the future, and also knew that televisions would become bigger and clearer in the future, but these were just concepts in her brain. In fact, she hadn't watched much black and white television.

"If I get the ticket, I'll buy it. I'll ask around and try to get it before the county courtyard is renovated," Gu Chenghuai promised.

"Okay, I'm already looking forward to it," Lin Zhao curved her eyes.

Gu Chenghuai looked at the smile on her face and wished he could send the television to her immediately.

Uncle Song didn't speak, becoming more and more satisfied with Gu Chenghuai, and could tell that the young couple usually got along like this.

As long as Zhaozhao lived well, he could rest assured.

With a creak, the door was pushed open.

The Song brothers entered with the four cubs.

Except for the twins, all of them were holding white ice cream.

Song Yunjin handed one to his sister and brother-in-law. "Sister, Brother-in-law, eat ice cream, dissipate the heat."

Song Yuncheng distributed them to his parents.

"Why did you buy them for me?" Song's Aunt fanned her son's shoulder, and Song Yuncheng exaggeratedly bared his teeth.

He said aggrievedly: "Mom, you don't know my sister's habit. If I left you out, my sister would definitely beat me."

Gu Chenghuai raised his eyebrows and looked at Zhaozhao in surprise.

Lin Zhao's murderous gaze flew to Yuncheng. "Song Yuncheng, do you want to get beaten!"

She raised her sandbag-sized fist, her expression threatening.

Song Yuncheng stretched his hand across his mouth and begged for mercy with a face full of pleading. "I was wrong, I'll shut up."

The little person in his heart cried so loudly.

He didn't say anything wrong.

He used the money from selling exercise books to buy ice cream before, thinking his mom didn't like ice, so he didn't buy any for his mom, and was chased by his sister and beaten. His sister's strength was so great that she beat his arm until it was swollen!

Song Yuncheng apologized in time, but these words had already been heard by Hengbao.

The child licked the ice cream, his curious eyes drifting over. "Mom, you used to hit people when you were little?"

Song Yuncheng: Hit, why not hit, she was irritable and very fierce.

Lin Zhao glanced at Yuncheng, her gaze soft, looking gentle and her temper not bad at all. "Your uncle made a mistake, so I educated him."

Yubao was well-behaved. "Mom, I won't make mistakes."

Hearing this, Hengbao looked at his brother, his expression serious. "Brother, everyone makes mistakes, Grandpa said so."

Is saying you won't make mistakes too full?

Yubao was a little smart ghost. His brain turned, and he changed his wording, using a tone of negotiation: "Mom, if we make mistakes, tell us first. If we still don't change, then you can beat the children, okay?"

Uncle Song saw it in his eyes and heard it in his ears, feeling that these two cubs were really smart.

Lin Zhao bit off a piece of ice cream, let it melt in her mouth, then swallowed it, glancing at Yuncheng lightly.

Song Yuncheng avoided her gaze, met Yunjin's sympathetic gaze, and felt stuffed for a moment.

Mm, it seemed he hadn't seen wrong, his sister's gaze really had murderous intent.

Lin Zhao's voice was soft. "Okay, I'll educate you verbally first."

If that doesn't work, I'll slap your butts.

The twins felt relieved.

Gu Chenghuai saw Lin Zhao eating quickly and said with concern: "Zhaozhao, don't eat so fast, be careful of stomach aches."

He also looked at the twins. "You two too."

The twins were still small and couldn't eat too much ice. Yubao let them lick one bite each, didn't let his younger brother and sister eat anymore, and handed the milk bottle to their hands.

Qianbao didn't make a fuss, sat by the sofa, and drank milk obediently holding the little milk bottle.

Yaobao didn't want to drink milk, wanted to eat ice. Seeing her little brother didn't cry, she rubbed her teary eyes and obediently took her little pink milk bottle, drinking milk with a 'gudong gudong'.

Hengbao winked at Yubao, leaned over, and whispered in his brother's ear: "Look, I said I handled Qianbao, Yaobao would be hard to make a fuss."

The loud-voiced child's whispering wasn't small, clearly reaching everyone's ears.

Even Yaobao, the person involved, heard it, the little dumpling's brows furrowed, her cheeks puffed out.

Uncle Song and Song's Aunt couldn't stop laughing.

Hengbao really was a treasure.

Gu Chenghuai said: "Eat your ice cream obediently."

"Oh." Hengbao giggled and ate the ice cream 'ga ga'.

Song Yuncheng was afraid his sister would be bored, threw away the ice cream stick, and suggested: "Sister, do you want to go ice skating? I'll treat you."

Lin Zhao finished the ice cream, Gu Chenghuai took the little wooden stick from her hand, took out a handkerchief to wipe her fingers, and beckoned to the twins to come over. Yubao and Hengbao walked over with smiles and stretched out their hands.

"Ice skating? If I remember correctly, wasn't that skating rink closed?" Lin Zhao looked at Song Yuncheng.

"It was closed, but I don't know why it opened again." Song Yuncheng wasn't interested in delving into the reason why the skating rink closed and opened. "Sister, while it's still open, let's go play. If it's completely closed or changed to something else one day, we won't have the chance to go."

Lin Zhao hadn't gone to play for a few years and really wanted to go. "Okay, let's go play!"

Song Yuncheng held his heart, leaned on the sofa, and pretended to be pained. "Your family has six people, my wallet is going to be empty!"

Everyone was amused by his appearance.

Yubao asked: "Mom, what is ice skating?"

"I know, I know." Song Yunjin took the initiative to say: "Wearing shoes with wheels and sliding on the ground, a 'chi liu' and you can slide out far, understand?"

Yubao's little brain couldn't imagine it and tried hard to find a substitute. "Is it the same as skiing?"

"... About the same," Song Yunjin said.

Yubao furrowed his little brows. "I don't like snow, snow is too cold, hands and feet are cold, face and ears are also cold, hands and feet are itchy."

They were cold because the cotton clothes they wore were old and not warm, and they didn't have hats, scarves, or gloves, so they were definitely cold outside.

Lin Zhao felt guilty and heartbroken, hugged her son, and said: "It won't be cold this year, I'll make you new cotton clothes, and also cotton hats and gloves. With these, you won't be cold when you go out to play in the snow."

Wearing new clothes, there were no children who weren't looking forward to it.

Yubao nestled obediently in his mother's arms, his face overflowing with smiles.

He said: "Mom should also have new cotton clothes."

Lin Zhao's heart almost melted. "Mom and Dad both have them, our whole family has them."

The twins grinned.

Song Yunjin just learned that Yubao and Hengbao were frozen in their hands and feet in winter before, looked at Song's Aunt, and said: "Mom, don't I have two old cotton clothes? Take them apart, re-fluff the cotton inside, and make cotton clothes for Yubao and Hengbao."

"Do I need you to tell me? I'm already doing it," Song's Aunt said.

She had started doing it a long time ago, but the speed was slow, it hadn't been finished in half a month, and it was in the finishing stage.

Song Yunjin hugged Hengbao's shoulder and looked at him proudly. "Hurry and thank me, plus the cotton clothes your mother promised to make for you, you have two sets of cotton clothes now."

"Thank you, Uncle!" Hengbao thanked him seriously. "When I make a lot of money in the future, I'll also buy new cotton clothes for Uncle!"

Song Yunjin didn't take it to heart and laughed: "Okay, I'll wait."