Chapter 148: Gaining Experience

Compared to Yuan Qin, Meng Guangbai was closer to his father; hearing his brother's words, the little guy shook his head like a rattle-drum, terrified.

"No!"

"I don't want Dad to get hit!"

"Getting hit hurts so much, no! I don't want Mom to be with us anymore!"

The child's tone was urgent and flustered.

His older brother quickly comforted him, "Alright, don't mention them in front of Dad anymore, understand?"

Meng Jingmo was a bit older and knew the situation of those who had been taken away. Some of the luckier ones were sweeping toilets; his father had been sent away, so he was surely in an even worse spot.

He could only say that children without a father to protect them grew up at an astonishing speed.

"Mm, I won't say it," Meng Xiaobai nodded earnestly.

Yun Xiang Yunjian looked at the Meng brothers lazily, not rushing them. They were leaving, and who knew when they would return, so he let them take a few more looks.

Meng Jingmo looked at Yun Xiang Yunjian.

"Uncle Yun, let's go."

Yun Xiang Yunjian clicked his tongue and walked in front to lead the way, his gaze falling on them from time to time.

"Are you two really not afraid that I'm a bad guy?"

"Not afraid," Meng Jingmo said without thinking.

He had observed this Uncle Yun; the watch on his wrist had to be worth over a hundred yuan, and while his clothes looked low-key and ordinary, the fabric was actually very high quality, and he was even wearing leather shoes.

Selling him and his brother wouldn't even be enough to pay for that outfit.

This person wasn't short on money.

Yun Xiang Yunjian raised an eyebrow and curled his lips into a smile, "You've got a good eye, kid. Your Uncle Yun here isn't short on those petty gains."

"I'll take you two to the provincial capital of X Province, and once we're there, we'll meet up with my old comrade-in-arms, who will send you to your father."

Meng Jingmo blinked, eyeing him suspiciously, "... Were you a soldier before?"

"What?" Yun Xiang Yunjian squinted at the brat, "Don't look like one?"

"... That's not it." Meng Jingmo denied.

It was just... he looked a bit like a hoodlum who had turned over a new leaf.

Yun Xiang Yunjian's work was special, and he often traveled all over the country, taking the train more often than some people rode their bicycles.

He led the Meng brothers onto the train with practiced ease.

Young Master Yun, who came from a good family, never sat in hard seats, so he booked sleeper berths—three of them!

As soon as he got on the train, he lay down first.

"Those two berths are yours. Lie down if you want, or sit if you don't. It's best not to leave the compartment; be careful of getting drugged and kidnapped."

"I'll watch over Meng Xiaobai," Meng Jingmo didn't want to trouble Yun Xiang Yunjian too much.

Meng Xiaobai's voice was soft and milky, "I'll follow Brother, I won't go anywhere."

Yun Xiang Yunjian: What if they need to take a dump?

"Tell me if you need to use the toilet, and I'll take you."

Meng Jingmo thanked him politely, "Thank you, Uncle Yun."

Feeling no threat, the thorns on his body softened, retracting into his skin, revealing a well-mannered side.

Yun Xiang Yunjian didn't dislike Meng Meng Jingmo; in fact, he looked at the brat with new eyes. This kid had a plan; he was smart.

The train whistle blew, "Toot, toot, toot!"

The train started moving.

The Meng brothers leaned close to the window, looking outside, watching the station platform recede, clearly feeling... that they were leaving.

"Brother, the train is moving," Meng Xiaobai hugged his brother's arm, feeling uneasy after the fact.

"Don't be afraid, we're going to find Dad. Dad is waiting for us," Meng Jingmo comforted his younger brother.

Hearing his brother mention Dad, Meng Xiaobai clenched his fists and waved them a few times, full of anticipation.

Meng Jingmo watched the platform recede until it became a small dot before slowly retracting his gaze.

He would come back.

When he returned, the Yuan family...

A dark glint flashed in the young boy's pitch-black eyes, despite his still-childish face.

Lin Zhao's family finished their meal and boarded the train.

The sleeper car wasn't as crowded; there were four berths inside, and someone was already there.

It was a young woman with clear eyes and a gentle temperament, carrying a cute little girl who looked about three years old.

"Mom, I want to sleep on top," Hengbao said as soon as he entered.

Gu Gu Chenghuai put away the luggage, his tone casual, "You and your brother share a bed; you two discuss it."

The twins were still small, so he would take care of them.

Zhao Zhao wasn't feeling well, so she would sleep in a bed by herself.

Hengbao looked at Xiang Yubao, his expression expectant.

Xiang Yubao looked at the upper berth, then at the lower berth, and nodded, "Okay, let's sleep on top."

He had never slept that high up before.

There was a berth below that Gu Gu Chenghuai had bought, and Lin Zhao sat down without standing on ceremony, saying to the twins, "Sit below for now; you can go up when you want to lie down."

The two cubs took off their shoes, climbed onto the bed, and touched the window.

Hengbao touched the window and pushed it upward, and the window slid open.

A warm breeze hit his face.

"There's wind!" Hengbao shouted, wanting to stick his body out.

Lin Zhao reached out and pulled the overly lively boy back, slapping his bottom twice.

"Behave!" She sternly said, pretending to be angry, "What if you fall out? If you're this naughty again, I won't bring you out next time."

Hengbao covered his bottom, his expression both shy and embarrassed.

He wanted to get angry but knew he was in the wrong, so he turned away, facing the wall of the carriage, showing Lin Zhao only a sulking back of his head.

Mom had spanked his bottom in front of his brother and younger siblings; he had lost all his face!

Lin Zhao ignored him and took out an enamel mug, adding some white sugar before handing it to Gu Gu Chenghuai, "Go get some hot water."

Gu Gu Chenghuai glanced at Hengbao and left with the mug.

Xiang Yubao poked Hengbao's shoulder.

"Are you sulking with Mom?"

Hengbao secretly looked at Mom, his bright black eyes full of resentment.

Lin Zhao couldn't help but laugh.

They were so small, yet so concerned about their pride.

Xiang Yubao pulled his brother to sit up straight, looking at him cross-legged, his voice childish yet filled with serious gravity, "You're in the wrong."

Hengbao opened his eyes wide, his face full of grievance.

"Before we came out, didn't we promise Dad and Mom that we would listen to them along the way? You didn't even ask before trying to climb out the window. If you had climbed out and the train started moving, and you didn't hold on tight and fell, what would happen?" Xiang Yubao lectured his brother, "You climbing out just now made me want to hit you."

Hengbao subconsciously covered his bottom.

He looked at his brother in disbelief.

Meeting his brother's stern face.

The child picked at his fingers, feeling somewhat at a loss.

A moment later.

Hengbao couldn't withstand his brother's death stare, so he held out his hand, "Brother, you can hit my palm instead."

Xiang Yubao didn't hit him, just asked, "Do you know you were wrong?"

Hengbao nodded like a chicken pecking at rice, "I know, I know."

"I'll let it slide this time, but if there's a next time, I'll hit your bottom," Xiang Yubao threatened.

Hengbao blushed, feeling uncomfortable, "I... I won't do it again."

"You were just angry at Mom, you have to admit you were wrong."

Hengbao listened to his brother the most; he awkwardly moved his knees, shuffling over to Mom's side, watching Lin Zhao's expression while grabbing her clothes, his loud voice becoming much softer, "Mom, I wasn't angry at you, I just..."

He blushed and whispered, "I'm a big kid now, and being... spanked by Mom, I felt really embarrassed."

Lin Zhao laughed, hugging Hengbao, "It was my fault; I won't do it again. It's rare that Hengbao didn't stay angry; you really are a magnanimous kid."

Hengbao was easy to coax; he buried his head in Mom's arms, nuzzling, his mouth sounding like it had been dipped in honey, "Mom is a magnanimous mom too."

Thinking of the mother of the little girl who had vomited on the bus, Gu Zhiheng felt his own mom was even better.

Even if, even if Mom spanked his bottom, it was because he had made a mistake first.

He understood.

The train whistled a few times and started moving.

Since they were all in the same compartment, it was inevitable they would chat a bit.

Lin Zhao learned that the woman in the same compartment was taking her daughter to join her husband in the military. The little girl had grown up without ever seeing her father, and the soldier had finally shown some conscience; once he was assigned housing, he sent a telegram to his wife in their hometown, asking her to bring the child over, and he would meet them at the train station.

Upon learning that Lin Zhao had four children—a pair of twins and a pair of boy-girl twins—the woman looked surprised, with a hint of envy.

"Two pregnancies, four treasures, that's really good."

Lin Zhao smiled.

She wasn't surprised that the other party would say that.

In the Harvest Brigade, and even the neighboring brigades, there was no one who didn't envy her.

There was no helping it; in this era, people valued having many children as a blessing, and everyone wished they could have seven or eight.

"Children are valued for their quality, not their quantity," Lin Zhao said.

Gu Gu Chenghuai agreed.

However, his and Zhao Zhao's cubs were all high quality.

The provincial capital wasn't far, and after a short trip, they arrived in the afternoon.

The family of six got off the train and headed straight for the guesthouse.

They opened one room.

They opened the door and went inside.

Inside were two beds and a bathroom.

The room was slightly dim, so Gu Gu Chenghuai pulled the light cord, and the room lit up.

"Dad, is this an electric light? Can I pull it?" Hengbao was full of curiosity, but he didn't pull it rashly, instead asking for his father's permission.

"Pull it."

Hengbao smiled, his eyes curving, and stood on tiptoe to pull the light cord.

Click, the light went out.

He pulled it again, and it lit up.

"Electric lights are really great," Hengbao said, his tone full of envy.

Xiang Yubao looked up at the light bulb on the ceiling, his eyes shining, "Having electricity is really great."

Lin Zhao hugged her son's small shoulders, brought them into the room, and smiled, "Once our house in the city is renovated, every room will have electric lights, even the bathroom."

Xiang Yubao clapped his hands happily, "The bathroom needs a bright electric light; I used to go to the bathroom in the dark and stepped right into the pit."

Lin Zhao:... Today is a smelly, smelly eldest cub.

"Our brigade will have electricity soon, too, before the New Year."

The twins were even happier.

The guesthouse faced the street, and their room was on the third floor. Lin Zhao pulled back the curtains and opened the window; sunlight spilled in, and there were pedestrians passing by below, very lively.

Hengbao tugged on Lin Zhao's hem, acting spoiled, "Mom, hold me, I want to see."

Lin Zhao fulfilled her son's little wish and picked him up.

Seeing his eldest son's expectant expression, Gu Gu Chenghuai picked him up with one hand. Xiang Yubao laughed happily.

"So many people," Hengbao exclaimed.

"It's the provincial capital, of course there are a lot of people," Lin Zhao ruffled her son's hair, not wasting any time, putting Hengbao down and saying, "You're all sticky, wash up first, then I'll take you to the state-run store."

"Is it the same as the supply and marketing cooperative?" Xiang Yubao asked.

Gu Gu Chenghuai answered, "It's bigger than the supply and marketing cooperative."

The twins were full of anticipation, opening their luggage, finding their respective clothes, holding them in their arms, and looking up at their parents.

"Where do we wash up?" Xiang Yubao asked on their behalf.

Gu Gu Chenghuai didn't speak, taking his two sons to the bathroom to wash up.

Not long after.

"Wow, it's hot water! It's so convenient! Dad, can we make a bathroom like this at home?" Hengbao's loud and happy voice came from inside.

"Don't mess around."

Following that was his father's steady voice.

Lin Zhao smiled, saying to the boy-girl twins, "Wait until your brothers are done washing, then we'll wash."

Seeing Song Qian Bao nodded.

Seeing Yaobao lay on the bed, her black pearl-like eyes staring at the ceiling, then turning to look at the wall, obedient and lovable.

The family finished washing up and came to the state-run store.

The provincial state-run store was quite impressive, with three floors, many counters, and many sales clerks.

The four cubs couldn't even take it all in.

Lin Zhao spotted the ready-made clothes hanging behind the counter at a glance and took the twins toward that side, Gu Gu Chenghuai following with the boy-girl twins in his arms.

"Comrade, do you have a yellow dress with floral patterns, one size larger?" Lin Zhao asked the young sales clerk at the counter.

The sales clerk had seen many people; she could tell at a glance who could afford to buy and who couldn't.

The family in front of her—they should be a family—the male comrade aside, the female comrade looked overly young; could she really have already given birth to four children?

This family was dressed cleanly, had fair skin, and carried themselves with confidence and composure; they didn't look short of money.

"We do. But even if it's one size larger, you still won't be able to wear it," the sales clerk reminded her with a decent attitude.

This style was for little girls, and the price wasn't low, so not many people bought it.

Lin Zhao smiled, "Thank you, Comrade, I intend to bring it for a younger relative."

The sales clerk didn't say anything more, finding one that was a size larger.

Lin Zhao took a slight look; the clothes were fine, and the size was about right, "I'll take it."

Seeing fabric with small red and white squares and blue with white flowers, she bought quite a bit; it would be fine for making clothes or bed sheets for the children.

It was rare to come here once.

Gu Gu Chenghuai paid the money and coupons in the back without a single word of complaint.

The children weren't interested in the fabric, but when they reached the candy counter, they all became excited.

"Mom, so many candies!" Hengbao smiled.

"Whatever you want, you and your brother can each pick two kinds," Lin Zhao said generously.

Since she had brought the children to the mall, she didn't intend to be stingy; she couldn't let the children go home disappointed.

Hengbao happily discussed it with his brother.

While they were whispering, Lin Zhao saw tea leaves and bought two cans.

"Xiang Yubao, Hengbao, there are abacuses here, do you two want them?"

The two cubs ran over, and seeing the abacuses, they remembered the tiny gold abacus they had found, and the brothers were overjoyed.

"We want them!"

Lin Zhao said, "Then we'll buy them, buy four."

As expected of the provincial capital, they were much more exquisite and compact than the abacuses in the supply and marketing cooperative, just right for children to use.

Xiang Yubao raised his head, "Thank you, Mom."

He clenched his small fists, "I will study bead arithmetic well and win first place in the competition."

"You mean a bead arithmetic competition? Who told you that?" Lin Zhao was a bit curious.

"Brother Gu Xingci told me; he participated in one," Xiang Yubao explained.

He hadn't told the adults, so he probably hadn't made it very far.

Lin Zhao encouraged her son, "I believe in you; study hard at school and strive to make it to the provincial level."

Not to mention the national level, let's set a small goal at the provincial or municipal level first.

Xiang Yubao nodded solemnly.

Buying the four abacuses, the four cubs each held one, unable to contain their happiness.

After buying some other things, the family of six left, still feeling like they hadn't had enough.

Gu Gu Chenghuai's voice was soft, "If you haven't had your fill of shopping... we can come back tomorrow."

Lin Zhao was thinking the same thing.

The family put their things back in the guesthouse, found a restaurant to eat, and then went to see a movie.

The provincial cinema was also bigger than the one in the small town, and there were people selling melon seeds and soda at the entrance, which was very convenient.

It was just...

Given the social environment at the time, Lin Zhao's family saw some brutal scenes of struggle.

She and Gu Gu Chenghuai immediately covered the boy-girl twins' eyes and quickly took Xiang Yubao and Hengbao into the cinema.

They didn't expect the twins to have truly seen that scene, and the two children turned pale with fright.

"Dad..." Xiang Yubao grabbed Gu Gu Chenghuai's clothes tightly, his voice flustered, "What are those people doing?"