Chapter 16: Good Life

Once Gu Chan left, the atmosphere at the dinner table improved quite a bit.

Huang Xiulan took the initiative to speak, breaking the stagnant atmosphere, "I didn't expect pickled cabbage fish to be so fragrant. Third Sister-in-law really knows how to eat."

"It's not bad," Gu Mu said, "When we catch fish another day, ask Third Sister-in-law how to make it, and we'll make it too."

As soon as the head of the family said this, several boys screamed excitedly.

"Grandmother, I'll go catch fish," the monkey Tie Dan said hurriedly.

Gu Mu scolded, "Go where? How old are you, dare to go into the river, be careful I'll beat you!"

She waved her cattail-fan-sized palm to scare the troublesome stinky boy.

Tie Dan was so scared he almost choked on a fish bone. He spat out the small fish bone and said sensibly: "I won't go."

Bang Bang patted his chest, luckily he didn't say it, otherwise the one being scolded would be him. His grandmother didn't care if he was the eldest grandson, she scolded him if he made a mistake.

Afraid that the cubs would really go catch fish, Gu Mu said to her two sons: "Eldest, Second, you two find time to go."

Gu Yuanshan and Gu Yucheng agreed.

"Gu Da Cai and Ercai must have eaten pickled cabbage fish until they were full," Tie Dan's voice was full of envy.

Sigh, why wasn't he a child of the third branch.

While talking, he took the soda handed by Gu Da Cai, drank a beautiful sip, and learned the adult's appearance to sigh with great emotion.

Zhao Liuniang rolled her eyes at her son, "What, am I not generous?"

Laimei said honestly: "Not generous, Mother is stingy!"

Zhao Liuniang didn't pay attention to the son who deserved a beating.

What a broken child.

The Gu family hadn't eaten meat for over a month. Although the fish sent by Lin Zhao wasn't much, it was oily, which could be considered barely satisfying the family's craving. Not a drop of fish soup was wasted, and they were still reminiscing about the taste of pickled cabbage fish while lying in bed at night.

The old couple's room.

Gu Mu was mending the wear on the old man's sleeve, saying: "Third daughter-in-law has changed quite a bit these past few days. I don't hope for anything else, just hope she treats Gu Da Cai and the others well. Even if she spends money recklessly, it doesn't matter. What do you think?"

Gu Fu, who could snore and fall asleep at any time on the bed: "..."

What could he say?

"Mm," he said vaguely.

Gu Mu was dissatisfied with this answer, "Go to sleep."

Gu Fu turned over, and within a few seconds, snoring sounded in the room.

That night.

Lin Zhao continued to draw prizes.

Completed quite a few tasks today—

Including entertaining maternal family, 10 points.

Making new clothes for children, 10 points.

Sharing pickled cabbage fish with husband's family and getting good reviews, 10 points.

Tidying up the backyard, 50 points.

10 points for one lottery draw, can draw 8 times. The prizes drawn here basically belong to daily necessities.

Want to draw high-level ones, such as various skills, need at least 500 points.

Lin Zhao thought about it, and still drew the 10-point ones.

It seemed that the first two lottery draws had used up all her good luck, and she didn't draw any super big gift bags tonight.

The things drawn weren't big, but they were very practical.

【Corduroy fabric × 10 feet】

【Medical sanitary napkins × 5 packs】

【Fine wool yarn × 5 catties】

【Soda × 10 bottles】

【High-elasticity hair ties × 3】

【Salted duck egg × 1】

【High-quality first-grade white sugar × 1kg】

【Rice cake × 3 pieces】

Although it couldn't compare to the first two times, Lin Zhao was very satisfied, it was all picked up for nothing.

After drawing the prizes, Lin Zhao hugged the fragrant and soft little daughter and closed her eyes to sleep.

Next day.

Lin Heling learned that his daughter was coming back, looked at his wife, and said warmly: "Why tell me only now."

Song Xiwei, which was Lin Mu, said: "If I told you, you wouldn't be able to sleep all night, so I just didn't tell you, it's the same telling you now."

Lin Mu's original name was Song Meihua. After she was with her husband when she was young, she felt her name wasn't good, so she pestered Lin Heling to change her name, and later changed it to Song Xiwei.

Don't look at her now that she's old, she was also a flower when she was young, a bully flower, a black whip swinging with wind, spicy and gorgeous.

Lin Heling wasn't very old. He was handsome when he was young, and he was also a handsome little old man when he was old. There was no strange smell on him, and he was always fresh and clean. Plus he was tall and had a straight figure, in temperament he beat all his peers. If it weren't for the patches on his clothes, some people would believe he was a big leader from the city.

He smiled: "Zhao Zhao's room must be tidied up. She is lazy, she wants to lie down as soon as she gets home."

"It's tidied up. I tidy it up every few days. Hearing she was coming back yesterday, I tidied it up again. She can lie down as soon as she gets back," Lin Mu looked at her husband and smiled. Her family's man looked good, looking at his face, she could eat half a bowl more rice.

Lin Heling was used to her staring at him, and said: "How long will Zhao Zhao stay? She rarely comes back, it would be better to stay for a few more days."

Lin Mu couldn't help laughing, "You wish your daughter hadn't married?"

"As a father, who doesn't want to see their daughter get married?" Lin Heling asked back, and then said: "Marrying off a daughter makes a father feel empty in his heart."

Lin Mu thought, luckily Zhao Zhao married close, and it was convenient to return to her maternal home, otherwise her father would be even more worried.

Gu family.

Lin Zhao got up early, made egg custard, filled the twins' stomachs, sent the two little ones to the old house, and returned home to start cooking hanging noodles.

Not long after, Gu Da Cai and Ercai were woken up by the fragrance.

The brothers wore new clothes, leaned against the kitchen door, and kept looking inside.

Ercai said with a grin: "Mother, what are you doing, so fragrant, so fragrant, I was dreaming, and woke up as soon as I smelled the fragrance."

"Eating hanging noodles this morning, drinking soda," Lin Zhao's smile was warm.

"Soda?!!!!" Gu Da Cai's eyes were bright, his tail tone raised, "Is it the soda sold at the supply and marketing cooperative?!" he asked excitedly.

"Soda!!!" Ercai also exclaimed, his voice as bright as his biological grandmother's.

"Yes," Lin Zhao said warmly.

She reminded the two children who were scanning the kitchen, searching for the location of the soda: "Hurry up and wash your face and brush your teeth, use facial soap, don't forget to apply baby cream on your face."

"Okay!" Gu Da Cai pulled Ercai to wash up.

The two children hadn't eaten hanging noodles, nor had they drunk soda, and were all super expectant.

Lin Zhao served three bowls of clear soup noodles, dotted with small green vegetables and finely chopped green onions, with oily fried eggs lying on top.

Just as it was placed on the stone table in the yard, the two cubs who had applied baby cream and were fragrant ran out.

"Wow, eggs again!!" Ercai's tone was happy, pulling his brother to sit down.

At this time, Lin Zhao came out with three bottles of soda.

"Eat quickly, or the noodles will get mushy."

Gu Da Cai and Ercai's eyes lit up, their eyebrows dancing with joy.

The brothers sat down, but didn't rush to use chopsticks. They waited for their mother to sit down and pick up her chopsticks before they moved theirs.

Ercai took a beautiful bite of the fried egg, and instantly his spirit flew, "Mother, this egg is delicious."

Gu Da Cai nodded in agreement, his mouth oily.

Lin Zhao took a bite of the noodles, the taste was just right, "This is a fried egg, fried with oil, of course it's delicious."

"Mother, I like eating fried eggs, can you make them tomorrow?" Ercai said unceremoniously.

"Okay, just say it if you want to eat," the family didn't lack oil, it was easy to eat.

In this era, adults and children were lacking oil, and the two cubs had a big appetite. After eating a bowl of noodles, they even drank the soup.

"Are you full?" Lin Zhao asked. It was really reasonable for people to say that half-grown boys eat their fathers poor.

"Full," Gu Da Cai wiped the fine sweat on his forehead and said with a smile. Eating hot noodles in the middle of summer was really hot.

The two children looked at the soda on the table, not in a hurry to drink, and consciously went to wash the dishes.

After washing the dishes, they came out and looked at Lin Zhao eagerly.

Ercai asked: "Mother, can we drink soda now?"

"Yes, as long as you aren't full," Lin Zhao said.

Gu Da Cai had plans. He thought about it and discussed it with his younger brother, "Ercai, open one bottle first, let's share it, and drink the other bottle after coming back from Grandmother's house in the afternoon, okay?"

Ercai felt his brother's idea was very good, and agreed without thinking, "Okay!"

Lin Zhao respected the brothers' decision and opened a bottle for the two cubs.

"Ercai, you drink first," Gu Da Cai let his younger brother drink first.

Ercai took a small sip, his eyes curved into small crescent moons, "Brother, you drink too, soda is really good to drink, the tongue is numb, sweet."

After tasting the flavor, he hurriedly gave the bottle to Gu Da Cai and urged his brother to drink.

Gu Da Cai also took a sip, and laughter flew out of his black eyes, "Good to drink!" He particularly agreed with his younger brother's words.

Lin Zhao caught a glimpse of the brothers yielding to each other, and a smile appeared at the corners of her mouth. What kind of fairy precious cubs are these, purely here to repay kindness, she didn't need to manage them at all, the brothers had their own ideas in their hearts.

Gu Da Cai saw the smile on his mother's face, felt inexplicably shy, and asked in a low voice: "What is Mother laughing at?"

"Laughing that my life is so good."

Ercai grinned. He was familiar with this. People in the village all said his mother's life was good.

He grinned, "My brother and my life are also good!"

As she spoke, she took the soda handed to her by Gu Da Cai, took a delightful sip, and sighed with deep emotion, imitating the manner of an adult.

Lin Zhao laughed, this appearance must have been learned from his grandfather.

"You two drink slowly, I'm going to tidy up, we'll set off in a while!"

Ercai thought of something and stopped her, "Mother!"

Lin Zhao stopped, looked back at him, and asked: "What's wrong?"

"Can I bring my candy?" Ercai's expression was serious, "My brother and I want to give Dadan brother and the others candy."

Dadan was Lin Eldest Brother's son. Dadan also had a twin younger brother Lin Er Dan, ten years old this year, and the brothers had an eight-year-old younger sister named Lin Xibao.

"So generous? If you share it all, you won't have any left," Lin Zhao teased her two sons with a smile.

Gu Da Cai said: "Dadan brother and the others shared eggs with Ercai and me, and shared candy with us during the New Year."

"Brother is right, we are willing to share with them," Ercai followed.

Reluctance was certain, but the two cubs were generous children who were willing to share with their relatives.

Lin Zhao said: "If you want to bring it, bring it, it's up to you, you can handle the candy I gave you yourself."

"Thank you, Mother!" Ercai said loudly.

Lin Zhao rubbed his head and went into the room to tidy up.

A meat canned food, two catties of meat, a jar of oil, a bag of hanging noodles, salted duck eggs, three bottles of soda, a small bag of candy. Thought about it, brought that box of new snowflake cream.

Packed it in a net bag, went out of the room, and locked the door.

"Gu Da Cai, Ercai, are you ready?"

Gu Da Cai and Ercai came out of their room, their pant pockets bulging.

"Ready," Ercai pressed his pant pockets with his hands, afraid the candy would fall out.

Lin Zhao glanced at it and knew that the two boys had taken all their stock.

Worthy of being her son, really generous.

"Set off!" Lin Zhao said.

Don't know what poked Ercai's laughing point, the little boy giggled, his laughter crisp.

Mother and three children walked out of the big gate, Lin Zhao locked the big gate, and took her two sons back to her maternal home.

The half-grown boys were full of energy, didn't shout a word of tiredness on the way, their backs were like birds out of a cage.

"Mother, can you sing?" Ercai plucked a pig-tail grass from the side of the road and turned back to ask his mother.

"No," Lin Zhao said.

"Can you?"

Ercai shook his head, "I can't either."

"Can Gu Da Cai?" Lin Zhao didn't forget her eldest son.

Gu Da Cai held his mother's hand and said: "I can't either."

Lin Zhao remembered that there was a cinema in the county, and it seemed that a new movie 'Tunnel Warfare' was released, so she asked: "Want to watch a movie?"

The two children's faces showed joy.

Ercai threw away the dog-tail grass in his hand, rushed toward Lin Zhao, stopped hurriedly, his little body tilted forward and bounced back, his tone urgent and excited: "Mother wants to take my brother and me to watch a movie?"

"Right," Lin Zhao saw her son full of expectation and drew a big pancake.

Ercai cheered, his laughter disturbing the sparrows resting on the tree.

"Watch a movie! Watch a movie!!"

He muttered about watching a movie all the way, his mouth didn't stop.

Lin Zhao looked at the brothers' happy appearance, and smiles bloomed in her eyes.

Talking and laughing all the way, mother and three children came to the entrance of the Dongfeng Brigade.

Lin Dadan waited at the entrance of the village with his younger brother and sister. Seeing his aunt, a group of children ran over excitedly.

Dadan and Lin Er Dan were already ten years old, running the fastest, stopping in front of Lin Zhao in a flash, shouting in unison: "Aunt!"

Lin Xibao followed and ran, her yellowing hair flying in the wind, grinning, like a little madman, "Aunt!!"

Behind them were the two girls of Lin Second Brother's family, Lin Xuan and Lin Zheng, one 9 years old, one 7 years old.

"Aunt, I miss you so much," Xibao hugged Lin Zhao's waist, her smile brighter than the sun.

Lin Zhao was carrying things, afraid of bumping into her niece, so she hurriedly raised her hands, "Slow down, slow down."

"Did your grandmother let you wait at the entrance of the village?" she asked, "How long have you been waiting?"

"Not long, came after eating," Lin Dadan answered his aunt's words, his eyes constantly scanning the net bag in his aunt's hand.

He saw it, there were quite a few good things.

Noticing the eldest nephew's gaze, Lin Zhao stuffed the things into his hand, "What are you looking at, don't know how to take it, my hands are sore."

Lin Dadan took it beautifully, grinned, and said: "I'm afraid Aunt will dislike me."

"Why, treat Aunt as an outsider?" Lin Zhao pretended to be angry.

Lin Dadan panicked, hurriedly shook his head: "No, no, Aunt, let's go home quickly, Grandfather is waiting at home, always missing you."

Hearing this, Lin Zhao quickened her pace.

Lin Dadan and Lin Lin Er Dan were like Heng and Ha generals, hugging their own aunt on the left and right, walking toward home.

Running into people from the same brigade on the road, the aunt asked casually, and the social butterfly Lin Dadan skillfully exchanged pleasantries with people, the teenager smiled brighter than a flower, and took the initiative to say: "Right, my aunt is back to her maternal home."

"What? You ask me what my aunt brought, look, this whole net bag is full."

"My aunt is really filial? That's for sure, Grandmother said, my aunt is the most filial daughter in ten miles and eight villages."

Lin Zhao, who couldn't get a word in the whole time: "..."

She bumped Lin Er Dan with her elbow and asked in a low voice: "After not seeing each other for a while, why did your brother suddenly become a chatterbox?" ===== CHAPTER 17 =====