Chapter 17: Sick not light

Lin Lin Er Dan didn't explain the reason, vaguely saying: "My brother's words have always been many."

Actually, after Lin Mu and Lin Shisheng brought things to see Lin Zhao yesterday, people in the village started spreading gossip, saying that Lin Mu was biased toward her married daughter, and didn't give meat and eggs to her own sons and biological grandsons, etc.

It was said quite ugly.

The Lin family children heard it, and they were very angry in their hearts.

Seeing that their aunt brought things back, they had to show off from this end of the village to the other end.

The eldest nephew talked too much, Lin Zhao couldn't wait, and returned with Lin Er Dan.

As for Gu Da Cai and Ercai, they were distributing candy to their older brothers and sisters.

Lin Heling sat in the yard waiting for his daughter to come home.

Glancing at Lin Zhao's figure, he turned to face the main room and said: "Zhao Zhao's mother, daughter is back."

Lin Zhao entered the door and happened to hear this sound. She ran over with light steps and sat on the small wooden stool next to her father.

"Father, how is your health?"

Lin Heling smiled, his eyes gentle, looking at Lin Zhao's complexion, and found that her complexion was okay, nodded in his heart, and answered his daughter's question: "Very good."

Lin Mu walked out and said with a smile: "Your father sees you, and all his ailments are gone."

Hearing the sound in the yard, Lin Eldest Brother and Second Brother came out with their respective wives.

"Zhao Zhao is back." Lin Eldest Brother was full of smiles.

He walked toward Lin Zhao, staring at her forehead, "Can't see the bump, does your head still hurt?"

"It hasn't hurt for a long time," Lin Zhao replied, looking at the others, calling them one by one: "Eldest Brother, Eldest Sister-in-law, Second Brother, Gu Gu Ersao."

Eldest Sister-in-law Chen Yu was a soft-tempered person who was diligent and kind.

She smiled: "Mm, have you eaten?"

"Eaten."

Lin Gu Gu Ersao Qiu Lian glanced at her sister-in-law's empty hands, curled her lips, afraid that her parents-in-law would be angry, so she only revealed her unwelcoming thoughts, and hurriedly lowered her head to cover it up.

The little sister-in-law came back to sponge off a meal again, it really never ends!

Lin Zhao had long known what kind of temperament her second sister-in-law had. Whatever attitude the other party had, she had the same attitude, ignoring her late-mother face.

Lin Second Brother frowned, his eyes glanced coldly at his wife's top of the head, and soon retracted his eyes, looking at Lin Zhao with a warm expression: "Zhao Zhao, I caught a rabbit. You like eating spicy rabbit meat, right? Let Mother make it for you in the afternoon."

"Okay, I haven't eaten rabbit meat for a long time, thank you Second Brother."

Listening to the conversation between the siblings, Qiu Lian rolled her eyes secretly. The father of the children was really unclear, treating his sister better than his wife, is he stupid?

Although full of complaints, with the hot-tempered Lin Mu suppressing the house, she didn't even dare to squeak, only daring to force it in her heart.

Lin Mu said: "Knowing you are greedy, it's already prepared. Whenever you are hungry, just say it, Mother will go do it."

"Okay," Lin Zhao said unceremoniously.

Lin Heling didn't see his grandchildren, and asked her: "Gu Da Cai and Ercai? Didn't you bring them?"

"Brought them, they are playing with Dadan and the others."

As soon as Lin Zhao's words fell, a group of children entered the room, and as soon as they came, the yard instantly became lively.

"Mother, Gu Da Cai gave me two candies, they are especially sweet, I saved one for you," Lin Xibao said to her mother.

Chen Yu flashed surprise in her eyes, looked at Lin Zhao, saw that there was no difference on her sister-in-law's face, knew that she was clear about Gu Da Cai sharing candy with her daughter, and set her heart at ease, looking at her daughter again, softly: "You keep it yourself, Mother doesn't eat."

Lin Xibao smiled, "I only eat one, it's enough. Mother has a baby in her belly, you eat one too." 【

Upon hearing this, Lin Zhao's face revealed surprise, "Is the eldest sister-in-law pregnant again?"

Chen Yu gave her daughter a playful glare, looked at her sister-in-law, and said embarrassedly, "It's been over two months."

Lin Zhao said, "Congratulations to you both. When the eldest sister-in-law gives birth, I will send you a pig trotter."

"Talking big, do you think pig trotters are that easy to get?" Lin Mu tapped her daughter's forehead lightly, fearing the eldest daughter-in-law would have too high expectations, and smoothed things over for Lin Zhao: "Just do your best; it doesn't matter if you can't get one, your eldest brother will also find a way."

Lin Zhao didn't explain further; whether it would work out or not would be known in a few months. She had attended school in the county, and that schooling wasn't for nothing; she had quite a few connections.

"I know."

After the elders finished speaking, Dadan placed the net bag filled with items on the table and said to Lin Fu and Lin Mu, "Grandpa, Grandma, these are the things my aunt brought."

With that placement, the items in the net bag were clear at a glance.

Lin Mu's brows knit tightly, "Zhaozhao, why did you bring so many things?"

"If Mother won't accept them, I can only bring them back myself," Lin Zhao said casually.

She untied the knot of the net bag and took out the items inside one by one.

As she took them out, she said:

"This is canned meat."

"This is two jin of meat."

"This is dried noodles. Mother, you should cook a couple of portions for Father and yourself every few days. They are white flour noodles, very soft, unlike coarse grains that scratch the throat; they taste good even in clear soup."

"A small jar of oil. This oil is fragrant; it tastes very good for stir-frying."

"And these salted duck eggs; they ooze oil with a poke, perfect with porridge."

"Finally, there is soda. I bought quite a bit, so you all can have a taste too."

The Lin family looked at the items on the table, stunned.

Any one of these items would be hard to get; where did Zhaozhao get them?

Lin Mu grabbed Lin Zhao's wrist, took her into the room, away from everyone, her expression solemn, her gaze locked on her, and said sternly, "Did you go to the black market?"

Lin Zhao shook her head and said earnestly, "Of course not! I don't even know which way the black market entrance faces!"

"Then where did you get these things?" Lin Mu was still worried; she feared her daughter was testing the law with her own body.

"I already told you, from my classmate," Lin Zhao deliberately put on a cocky expression and said proudly, "Mother, you don't think I went to high school for nothing, do you?"

"Some of my classmates work at the grain and oil station, some at the meat processing plant, and some even work at the supply and marketing cooperative. Isn't it the simplest thing for me to ask them to buy things?"

"Don't worry, Mother, I'm not stupid; I definitely won't go to the black market."

She indeed had never been, so of course, she appeared righteous and confident.

"It's good that you haven't," Lin Mu said, "And don't go in the future. The black market cracks down hard on speculation and profiteering; if you get caught, it's no joke."

Lin Zhao's expression was as firm as if she were taking an oath to join the Party: "I'm not stupid. Only people without connections go to the black market. I have connections, so why would I go to the black market? I won't go, I won't."

Even though she hadn't gone to the black market, she was still lectured by Lin Mu for ten minutes.

"Why bring so many things back? Didn't I tell you not to bring things when you come back? With so many good things, it would be better to keep them for my grandson and granddaughter to eat. You are married into the Gu family, don't think about your maiden family's affairs. Your father and I have several sons, do you think we won't have food to eat? You thoughtless girl."

Lin Zhao was unconvinced and said righteously, "It's not that there's no food, but there are no good things to nourish the body."

Lin Mu couldn't refute this.

Everything required coupons, and even if she had the ability, she couldn't get dried noodles or canned meat...

"This world, it's really becoming harder and harder to understand," Lin Mu sighed deeply.

Lin Zhao held her mother, rested her head on Lin Mu's shoulder, and said, "It will slowly get better. Before that, you must accept the good things I use to show filial piety to you and Father, otherwise, I will never come back again."

Lin Mu turned her head to look at her, meeting Lin Zhao's beautiful eyes, which were filled with sincerity.

"I'm serious!" Lin Zhao emphasized, her voice soft but her attitude firm.

Her father had ruined his health during the time he fled from famine, and although her mother looked very healthy, she was actually overworked.

In the original book, after she died, her father passed away the following year. Not long after her father left, her mother also passed away, with an interval of less than half a year.

Thinking of this, Lin Zhao's heart felt like it was being gripped by a giant hand, making it hard to breathe.

She would never forgive Gu Xing'er!

Lin Mu was helpless and could only say, "Accepted! Your father and I will accept them!"

Only then did Lin Zhao beam.

Very good.

In this lifetime, her father and mother would definitely live to a ripe old age.

Outside the courtyard.

Lin Heling called his two grandsons over to ask them about some things, all regarding their recent situation.

Gu Da Cai and Ercai were very familiar with this routine and sat there, starting to chatter away.

They talked about how many good things they had eaten and stood up to show off their new clothes and shoes, their smiles brighter than the morning sun.

"How are the third and fourth cubs?" Lin Heling asked, concerned about the twins.

"They are doing well too. Mother makes them malted milk and steams egg custard for them," Ercai said.

Gu Da Cai added, "Mother also makes new clothes for the third and fourth cubs. Mother even said she would take Ercai and me to see a movie!" When mentioning the movie, his childish voice was filled with joy.

"Why is your hair gone?" Lin Fu touched the bald heads of his two grandsons one by one and asked with a smile.

"A barber came to the village yesterday, and Mother had my brother and me shave our heads," Gu Da Cai said.

"Mother said shaving them bald is cool!" Ercai touched his prickly forehead and laughed happily. In front of his grandfather, who had a great temper, the loud voice that was exactly like his grandmother's was restrained quite a bit.

Lin Heling didn't believe the "cool" excuse his daughter gave. He feared Zhaozhao was afraid the two cubs had picked up something terrible on their heads, so she had them shaved as a precaution.

"Bald is good; it makes your heads look even rounder." Feeling that his daughter had grown up, Lin Fu felt very gratified, his eyes overflowing with smiles.

He had a gentle nature and never spoke loudly, making him out of place with the rest of the village, yet the children all liked him and were willing to listen to him.

Gu Da Cai and Ercai were very close to their grandfather, clinging to Lin Heling and pestering him to tell stories.

Lin Heling didn't refuse and, sure enough, began telling them stories.

Dadan and the others were tempted by the meat and candy their aunt had brought. Seeing their grandfather telling stories to Gu Da Cai and Ercai, their attention was immediately diverted, and they sat in a row to listen.

After Lin Zhao finished talking with her mother, she stepped out and saw her father telling stories. She walked over quickly and sat on the wooden rocking chair next to her father. The wooden chair rocked a few times, making Lin Fu dizzy, so he reached out to hold the armrest to steady it.

However, he was used to it and didn't scold his daughter, continuing to tell the story in his unhurried tone about a monkey who knew no bounds.

Lin Zhao had listened to it since she was a child and never tired of it; sometimes when her father said the first half of a sentence, she could finish the second.

This scene gave Lin Mu, Lin Shichang, and Lin Shisheng the feeling of returning to the time before Zhaozhao was married.

After listening to the story for nearly an hour, Lin Mu noticed Lin Heling's voice was a bit hoarse and interrupted them.

"That's all for today. Dadan, Lin Er Dan, take your younger brothers and sisters out to play." Lin Mu divided the candy her daughter had brought among her grandchildren and then shooed away the group of little ones.

Making such a racket at home!

The children were still eager for more, but didn't dare to make a fuss; they took the candy and ran out of the house.

Gu Da Cai and Ercai were also like little birds just flown out of a cage, running wildly with their cousins.

The three girls of the Lin family, Lin Xibao, Lin Xuan, and Lin Zheng, did not go out.

Lin Zhao said, "Why aren't you going out to play?"

"Aunt comes back so rarely, we want to stay and talk with Aunt," Lin Xibao leaned over to her aunt and said solemnly.

A little girl only eight years old, putting on the appearance of a little adult, was amusing.

Lin Xuan and Lin Zheng, the two sisters, stood not far away, not approaching.

Lin Zhao beckoned to the sisters, "Xuanxuan, Zhengzheng, come here, Aunt has gifts for you."

The two little girls smiled, their eyes bright.

Lin Xibao pretended to be disappointed and pestered her, "Aunt prepared gifts for Xuanxuan and Zhengzheng, what about me? Is there no share for me?"

Chen Yu looked at her daughter acting like a little spirit and felt she couldn't bear to watch, "Lin Xibao!"

"Eldest sister-in-law, it's fine, it's a good thing for a little girl to be open and generous," Lin Zhao waved her hand indifferently. She liked Xibao's personality very much; she was happy all day long, like a warm little sun.

"Hehe, Aunt, what gifts did you prepare for us?" Lin Xibao's face was full of smiles.

Lin Xuan and Lin Zheng were also a bit curious.

Lin Zhao took three hair ties out of her satchel, "Hair ties, one for each."

"I like them, thank you Aunt." Lin Xibao took the hair tie and asked her mother to tie it for her.

Chen Yu glanced at the hair tie; it was better than those at the county supply and marketing cooperative, and one probably cost two or three mao. She said embarrassedly, "You've spent too much, sister-in-law."

Lin Zhao smiled, "It's nothing."

Just then, Lin Gu Gu Ersao Qiu Lian walked over quickly and took away the hair ties from Lin Xuan and Lin Zheng.

"What do little girls need hair ties for? Give them to me, I'll keep them for you, and give them back when you grow up."

Chen Yu looked at her overbearing sister-in-law with extreme absurdity, unable to understand.

Is the second sister-in-law not even pretending anymore?!

Lin Zhao was also stunned, "?"

What is going on...?

The smiles on the faces of the two sisters, Lin Xuan and Lin Zheng, disappeared, and they felt incredibly aggrieved.

Those were gifts from their aunt!!

"I don't want to." Lin Zheng snatched back the hair tie, gathered her courage to refuse, and accused, "Mother says she will help us keep them, but in the end, they all go to cousin! I don't want you to keep them!"

Qiu Lian was ashamed and angry, poking her head hard, her long fingernails leaving a red mark on the little girl's forehead.

She scolded angrily, "What nonsense are you talking about? I keep your things well, who gave them to your cousin? You've actually learned to tell tales, you're spoiled."

Lin Zheng said angrily, "Mother is lying! My sister and I both saw it! You gave the fabric Grandma used to make clothes for my sister and me to cousin! I'm not telling tales, you did give it!"

Qiu Lian's temper flared, and she reached out to hit her, but was stopped by Lin Zhao, who said coldly, "Scolding is one thing, but Gu Gu Ersao, you want to hit people? Are you their biological mother?"

Not wanting to have a dispute with her second sister-in-law in front of her two nieces, Lin Zhao stopped paying attention to Qiu Lian and took the three nieces to her room.

Qiu Lian felt aggrieved. She hadn't given birth to a son and had no confidence in her in-laws' house, so her maiden family was her confidence. She gave the fabric to her niece, wasn't it also because she hoped her maiden family could support them? Why couldn't those two little girls understand her good intentions?

Chen Yu saw through her second sister-in-law's thoughts at a glance and felt she was truly sick.

Lin Fu closed his eyes, not even sparing a glance; for a stupid person, even one more look was a waste.