Chapter 133: Very vain

Meng Jiusi was still hesitating.

He was used to giving, and suddenly receiving something so precious, he was very confused and didn't know what to do.

"That's settled!" Lin Zhao saw her fourth brother's character flaws and felt a bit sad inside; he had never been loved unconditionally.

Poor Fourth Brother.

Detestable human traffickers!

"Fourth Brother, when are you going to treat your foot?" She changed the subject.

Meng Jiusi said: "Tonight."

"The kerosene lamp is too dim, I'll bring you some candles tonight."

"Okay."

Seeing her sister frowning and swatting mosquitoes, Meng Jiusi said: "... I dried some mosquito-repellent herbs, do you want to take some back later? Find a piece of cloth to put them in, and carrying them on you can prevent mosquito bites."

"Is it really useful?" Lin Zhao's eyes lit up.

She needed it.

The four cubs needed it too.

Ever since the mosquito-repellent sachets lost their effectiveness, she and the four cubs had been miserable.

Gu Chenghuai didn't attract mosquitoes; she didn't know if it was because his muscles were too hard for mosquitoes to bite.

"Useful," Meng Jiusi said decisively.

When talking about his profession, his expression was confident.

"Then I want some, your three nephews and one niece need them too," Lin Zhao didn't stand on ceremony with her own brother.

Thinking of her fourth brother's two cubs, she hesitated for a moment and asked: "Fourth Brother, is it okay for my two nephews to live with their biological mother?"

Meng Jiusi was silent, a trace of worry flashing in his eyes.

To put it nicely, his ex-wife had a gentle personality; to put it bluntly, she was weak, and her maternal family was full of crooked ideas. Once he left, it was hard to say.

Lin Zhao saw something and said: "Fourth Brother, don't worry too much, I'll find a way to inquire about the two nephews' news, and if they aren't living well, I'll bring them here."

It was dangerous for a girl to take a long-distance bus, and Meng Jiusi was afraid his sister would have an accident, so he shook his head, "They are with their biological mother, they should be fine."

At least they wouldn't go hungry.

He had left quite a bit of money.

Lin Zhao was half-believing.

It didn't look very reliable.

She frowned slightly, no way, that Fourth Sister-in-law wasn't clear-headed too, right!? Don't.

Whatever, anyway, she would find a way to inquire.

"Fourth Brother, where is your home?"

Meng Jiusi avoided this question, "You should go, it won't be good for you if you're seen later."

No one in the Bumper Harvest Brigade knew they were siblings, and if they were seen, who knew what nonsense would be spread.

"I won't, you tell me first," Lin Zhao nagged her fourth brother the same way she nagged her eldest, second, and third brothers.

The three Lin brothers had been listening to their sister's coquetry since they were young and couldn't handle it, let alone Lin Xiao Si, who was seeing his sister act coquettishly with him for the first time.

Meng Jiusi's brows softened.

Before his brain could even function, he blurted out an address.

After saying it, he covered his face in a daze.

And then his expression turned serious.

"Zhao Zhao, it's dangerous for a young girl to take a bus, especially a pretty one. Don't rely on your strength and think you're fearless, it's really dangerous."

Meng Jiusi had heard of young girls being kidnapped in the capital, more than one case. Places like train stations were a mix of good and bad people, and who knew which person with a smile and an honest face would be doing the business of kidnapping.

"I'm not stupid, if I go, I'll definitely call someone," Lin Zhao pretended to be unhappy.

Meng Jiusi was nervous and at a loss, "I... I..."

He wanted to comfort his sister but was clumsy with words, unable to say anything nice, and was so anxious he bit the flesh inside his mouth, sucking in a breath of hot air from the pain.

"Fourth Brother?" Lin Zhao said worriedly, "Did you bite your mouth? Are you okay?"

Of course it hurt when he just bit it, but... Meng Jiusi met his sister's concerned eyes and felt it didn't hurt so much anymore.

He waved his hand, "It's fine."

He licked it with the tip of his tongue, and there was a faint salty, bloody taste in his mouth.

He had bitten it open.

Seeing his sister was teasing him on purpose, Meng Jiusi's peaceful black eyes were filled with helplessness.

After his mouth didn't hurt so much, his tone became serious.

"It's not safe for a young girl to take a bus. Those criminals who kidnap women and children appear in groups, and they have many tricks. You must never go on a long journey alone."

Lin Zhao felt a little warm inside, but her face showed helplessness.

"I know, didn't I already say, I'll call someone if I go on a long journey."

Meng Jiusi thought of the Lin brothers, and his tense expression finally relaxed.

"As long as you know what you're doing, I don't want you to have an accident."

He hadn't recognized his sister for many days, but he had already started to lean toward the three Lin brothers.

Lin Zhao smiled.

"Fourth Brother, I told Eldest Uncle about finding you, and Eldest Uncle was very happy. He asked me to bring you some things, and I'll have Chenghuai send them to you when it gets dark."

Meng Jiusi was indeed lacking everything, and after thinking about it, he didn't stand on ceremony with his sister and said embarrassedly: "Sorry to trouble you."

"What's this, we're a family," Lin Zhao emphasized softly.

"Fourth Brother, don't have any psychological burden. Dad said we siblings are the closest people in this world, an existence we can trust and rely on no matter what happens.

I'm your sister, you really don't need to say thank you to me every time. I'm very happy to have the chance to take care of Fourth Brother."

She stared at Meng Jiusi, her gaze serious, "I'm very happy that Fourth Brother could find the way home and return to our side."

Because of his bumpy experiences since childhood, compared to others' malice, Meng Jiusi was even less accustomed to accepting kindness.

Even if he whispered repeatedly in his heart that he was no longer that 'pitiful bastard' that anyone could step on, he had a father, a mother, brothers, a sister, and many nephews and nieces... he was still uncomfortable, even so at a loss he wanted to escape.

He was silent, his eyes lowered, and Lin Zhao couldn't see his emotions.

She picked up the sharp stone Meng Jiusi used to cut pig grass and bent down to cut pig grass. Of course, people who came to receive education weren't qualified to receive labor tools.

Lin Zhao's movements were a bit unfamiliar at first; after all, she hadn't worked in the fields since marrying Gu Chenghuai, but fortunately, she had muscle memory and became familiar with it again before long.

Cut enough quickly so Fourth Brother could go back and treat his foot.

"Fourth Brother, take your time getting used to us, no rush, Dad told me not to force you."

Lin Heling was as meticulous as a hair, and he had seen many people. He only had to meet Xiao Si once to know what kind of personality he had.

He specifically exhorted Zhao Zhao and the siblings to take it slow.

"... Dad said that?" Meng Jiusi came back to his senses and saw his sister helping him cut pig grass, hurriedly trying to snatch back the 'small tool' in her hand.

"Yeah," Lin Zhao dodged to the side and stuffed the cut pig grass into the basket, "Dad specifically told us."

Seeing his fourth brother didn't resist listening to the Lin family's affairs, she continued: "For the past twenty years, whatever I and my brothers had, Dad and Mom would always prepare an extra portion. Our family still has a room for you, your room lacks nothing, Dad makes new clothes for you every year, your wardrobe... is full of clothes, thick ones, thin ones, from childhood to adulthood..."

"Dad said, he didn't have the chance to let you wear the clothes he made before, which is one of his great regrets," her smile deepened, and she said: "We'll organize the ones made in the past two years and send them all to you, just wait to receive them."

Lin Heling made them according to the eldest and second brothers, and the clothes were a little small, which fit Meng Jiusi just right.

"By the way, Dad also said he wants to make you a new cotton-padded jacket. It snows here in winter, and it's very cold. By the way, by the way, he also wants to make one for Grandpa Meng. He raised you, he's a benefactor of our Lin family, and we will repay him as much as we can."

Meng Jiusi was deeply moved.

He buried his head in cutting pig grass, his hand holding the pig grass unsteady.

His throat rolled, his voice adding a bit of hoarseness, "Zhao Zhao, let Dad make them for you. My status is special, I can't wear too well, just give me an old cotton-padded jacket."

"Old cotton-padded jackets aren't warm," Lin Zhao frowned.

She comforted her fourth brother in a soft tone, "Don't worry, Dad knows what he's doing. He'll use new cotton and sew a few large patches on the outside of the jacket, no one will be able to tell."

Meng Jiusi knew his sister didn't like hearing him say thank you, so he didn't say it again.

Lin Zhao was very satisfied.

She had great strength, and after getting familiar with it, she cut very quickly, filled the basket, and clapped her hands, "Full, let's go back!"

"Mm."

Meng Jiusi was afraid of running into villagers and looked at his sister, "You go first?"

"No," Lin Zhao refused, "I still need to get mosquito-repellent herbs from you, your three big nephews and one niece are about to be swollen from mosquito bites!"

She was a mosquito-attracting type, and the four cubs were too.

Without the mosquito-repellent sachets, they couldn't sleep well at night.

"Have your brother-in-law bring them to you at night," Meng Jiusi felt it was too dangerous.

Lin Zhao smiled: "It's this late, no one from the village comes to the foot of the mountain, Fourth Brother don't worry, I won't have any accidents, and even if I run into someone, I have things to say."

She was a military dependent and had a job, so the villagers who needed her basically were willing to give her some face. She came to ask for some mosquito-repellent herbs, no one would say anything.

In the final analysis, the madness of the big cities hadn't reached the countryside yet.

The Bumper Harvest Brigade wasn't close to the county, and it wasn't easy to go there. The brigade members didn't know much about things outside, only vaguely knowing that some bad elements had been caught in the city and were being sent to the countryside to receive education.

Seeing that there were skinny little cubs among the people receiving education, many people in the village said it was nonsense.

It was only after the brigade leader scolded them that they didn't dare to continue complaining.

That was also the case.

The people of the Bumper Harvest Brigade didn't torment Meng Jiusi and the others; those who didn't like trouble just ignored them, and those who liked trouble would look a few more times.

Meng Jiusi looked at his sister and sighed softly, "Really lawless."

"If someone sees you, you must stay far away from me and pretend we aren't familiar, you know?" He exhorted worriedly.

"Got it," Lin Zhao picked up the basket full of pig grass and walked forward first. After walking a few steps, she slowed down and turned her head naturally, "Fourth Brother, I'll have your brother-in-law bring you food tonight, sleep later."

The mountain road wasn't easy to walk, and Meng Jiusi walked slowly with his lame foot.

Noticing his sister's deliberately slowed pace, his eyes were full of softness.

"Okay."

The sun had completely set, the heat of the day was already gone, and when the mountain wind blew, it brought bursts of coolness.

The siblings chatted as they walked toward the foot of the mountain.

"Fourth Brother, what do you do at night?"

Meng Jiusi was slightly stunned, reviewing his life over the past few days, his voice peaceful, "Lying on the bed, looking at the ceiling in a daze, or reciting medical books."

Feeling these were a bit boring, he smiled awkwardly, "Very boring, right."

"No," Lin Zhao's eyes were full of surprise at 'why would you think that', and she said word by word: "I think it's very cool."

Reciting medical books.

She felt her fourth brother was shining.

"Fourth Brother, how about I bring you some medical books to pass the time?"

People always needed goals and things they loved. Just enduring like this, Lin Zhao was worried about her fourth brother's mental state.

Traditional Chinese medicine was so awesome, every traditional Chinese medicine doctor was worth protecting!!

Meng Jiusi was moved, but he was afraid his sister would bring trouble upon herself, so he opened his mouth to refuse.

Lin Zhao guessed what he was going to say and cut off his words, her tone overbearing, "That's settled, I'll go find some when I have the chance."

She had a storage ring, it wasn't simple to hide books!

"Fourth Brother, you promised to earn big money for me to spend. If your medical skills don't improve, when the country opens up, where will rich people find you to see a doctor? You have to study, and you have to study deeply."

"I'm a vulgar person, very vain. Just thinking about my fourth brother being a famous divine doctor, my face is almost smiling to pieces!"

Meng Jiusi shook his head, "You aren't vain."

Straightforward and enthusiastic, bright like a little sun.

Lin Zhao wanted to cover her mouth and laugh, but when she raised her hand and saw her own dirty hands, she was disgusted, "In Fourth Brother's eyes, everything about me is good?"

Meng Jiusi's wheat-colored ears were burning, his words exceptionally firm, "Yes."

"Hahaha, Fourth Brother keep it up," Lin Zhao was in a good mood and laughed out loud.

Her laughter had a contagious charm.

Meng Jiusi couldn't help but curl his lips, and the last remaining haze in his heart disappeared completely at this moment.

He looked up at the sky and suddenly felt that he was favored.

As they spoke, the siblings arrived at the foot of the mountain.

A woman with a beautiful appearance was cooking soup in an earthenware pot, and a little girl named Xiaoxiao was surrounding her, smiling softly.

Beside them, a middle-aged couple with a scholarly air, the man was clumsily chopping wood, and the woman was washing clothes.

Noticing Lin Zhao, Xiaoxiao hid behind her mother, only revealing a pair of eyes to look at her secretly.

Tian Ruo hugged her daughter and gave Lin Zhao an apologetic smile, "The child is timid, Comrade Lin, don't mind."

Lin Zhao shook her head, "It's fine."

Falling to this point, it would be strange if the child was a social butterfly.

She took out two candies and put them on the table, "For the child."

After saying this, she didn't look at them again and looked at Meng Jiusi, "Fourth Brother, where is Grandpa Meng?"

Meng Jiusi's face looked bad, "He went to clean the pigsty."

There were no cows in the village, and those of them who were receiving education had to raise pigs, three of them.

It was all because his foot wasn't good, otherwise Grandpa wouldn't have to suffer at such an old age.

Meng Jiusi gave the herbs to his sister.

"This is mosquito-repellent herb, it can last six or seven days. If you feel it's useless, come and ask me for more."

Lin Zhao took the leaves.

Yes, Meng Jiusi had no other container and could only use the large leaves he had picked earlier to wrap them up for her.

"Thank you Fourth Brother, then I'll go back first."

Meng Jiusi said: "Be careful on the road."

Lin Zhao waved to him and left with light steps.

"Mom, candy?" Xiaoxiao looked at the two candies Lin Zhao had put down, her eyes full of longing.

"Keep them," Meng Jiusi said gently.

Without waiting for Tian Ruo to say thank you, he walked toward the pigsty with a limp. Grandpa was old, and the job of shoveling pig manure wasn't something he could do, lest he sprain his waist.

Xiaoxiao took the candy, couldn't bear to eat it, shared one with her mother, and carefully put the other one away.

"Why don't you eat it?" Tian Ruo asked.

Xiaoxiao smiled shyly and whispered: "It's too wasteful to eat it all at once, I'll lick it every few days, and the days won't be so bitter."

Tian Ruo's heart ached, and tears gushed out.

Her Xiaoxiao.

Lin Zhao didn't know about these things.

Not long after she left, she saw a tall figure in front.

"Gu Chenghuai?"

The tall figure walked over quickly, "Did you give the things to Fourth Brother?"

"Gave them, Fourth Brother said he'll start treating his foot tonight," Lin Zhao's voice was cheerful, and she was in a good mood.

"When you send things tonight, bring a few more candles, I'm worried the kerosene lamp is too dim and he'll prick the wrong spot."

Gu Chenghuai said gently: "Okay." ===== CHAPTER 134 =====