Chapter 19

On this side, Gu Chenghuai remitted the money to his comrade and subsequently sent a telegram home.

Lin Zhao didn't know that her venting at the time had brought her an easy and decent job.

At mealtime, the Lin family's children all returned.

They washed their hands, and the table was already filled with dishes, including spicy rabbit meat, braised pork, stir-fried tomatoes with eggs, and mushroom soup, and even the rice was thicker than usual.

The group of little gluttons had bright eyes and let out muffled screams.

"Meat—"

Lin Zhao extended her index finger to her lips, her voice tinged with a smile: "Shh—! Be low-key when eating meat!"

Gu Da Cai and Ercai immediately covered their mouths, their two identical eyes curving.

The family sat down, and after starting, Lin Zhao's first chopstick picked up spicy rabbit meat. Her mother was generous with the seasoning, and with one bite, it was numbingly spicy and delicious.

"Delicious!" She curved her eyes and smiled; she hadn't eaten this bite in a really long time.

Ercai wanted to taste the spicy one, but his chopsticks were caught by his mother, "Little children can't eat too spicy food. You and your brother eat the non-spicy one." Do you really want to get inflamed?

"Dadan brother and Lin Er Dan brother are both eating it," Ercai looked at his mother with clear eyes, his expression aggrieved.

"How old are Dadan and Lin Er Dan, and how old are you?" Lin Zhao asked back, her mouth not stopping while speaking, sucking on the numbingly spicy rabbit meat, her eyes revealing enjoyment.

Ercai pouted.

"Ercai, the non-spicy one is also delicious." Gu Da Cai was an obedient little child; he knew his mother didn't let them eat spicy food for their own good, so he helped his mother persuade his younger brother.

Ercai listened to his brother the most and stopped pestering.

Lin Heling saw this scene, his eyes carrying a smile.

Seeing her daughter "bullying" her two grandsons, Lin Mother glared at Lin Zhao without a hint of anger in her eyes, "How old are you, why are you still bullying your own children?"

She picked up a piece of spicy rabbit meat for Gu Da Cai and Ercai each and said, "You are still young, it's okay to taste the flavor, but you can't eat too much."

Gu Da Cai's little face glowed, "Thank you, Grandma."

"Thank you, Grandma, Grandma's cooking is the best," Ercai followed up with flattery.

Lin Zhao raised her eyebrows slightly and glanced at him lightly; he had said her cooking was the best in the morning, and at such a young age, he was already well-versed in the art of balancing things. It wouldn't be strange if he did business nationwide when he grew up.

The Lin family didn't have that many rules, and everyone talked while eating, the atmosphere lively.

Qiu Lian didn't speak, just buried her head and ate hard. Every extra bite she ate meant less for the sister-in-law who came to take advantage and the two little rabbits, which was worth it.

Lin Shisheng frowned as he watched, but didn't want to ruin the family's appetite, so he endured it without speaking.

Lin Xuan watched her mother's mouth stuffed full, not even as good as Ercai, her face flushed red, and she looked at Lin Zhao with an apologetic gaze.

Lin Zhao smiled at her, and the little girl's expression slowly relaxed.

This personality is too soft; she will be bullied.

After eating, Lin Zhao and her two sons were sent home by Lin Shisheng.

On the way.

Lin Zhao used a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from her forehead and asked Lin Shisheng: "Second Brother, has Third Brother written? When is he coming home next time? I miss Third Brother!"

The names of the Lin brothers were taken from the characters for prosperity and flourishing: Lin Shichang, Lin Shisheng, Lin Shifan, and the stolen twin younger brother was named Lin Shirong.

"The last time was three months ago. Third brother is far away, and it takes more than half a month to come back once. He says he has to go on missions from time to time, so he still can't come back this year," Lin Shisheng said.

He understood his third brother; a person who had handed himself over to the country had long since lost control over his own life.

Lin Zhao also knew that her children's father was also a soldier and also had many helpless situations.

"Alright."

Changing the subject, she asked again: "Does Third Brother have any female comrades he is close to?"

Lin Shisheng chuckled, "Are you curious about when your third brother is getting married?"

"I am a little curious," Lin Zhao said smilingly, "I see Mother is very concerned."

"Mother just says it casually. If Mother really had the heart to find a wife for Third Brother, could he escape?" Lin Shisheng didn't believe it.

At home, it was his mother's word that was law. When his mother spoke, except for his father and Zhaozhao, whose words were useful, the brothers had no room to resist.

Lin Zhao said, "Mother feels sorry for Third Brother." It was also because the fourth brother was stolen that her mother gave the maternal love for the fourth brother to the third brother as well.

Gu Da Cai and Ercai hadn't seen their third uncle much, only knowing that like their father, he was a heroic member of the People's Liberation Army.

Just based on this point, they had full affection for their third uncle.

"Mother, can you let Father get a green hat for me and my brother?" Ercai suddenly said, his little black face innocent and naive.

Gu Da Cai's expression moved slightly, and he also looked at his mother expectantly.

Lin Shisheng couldn't hold it back: "Pfft—"

Lin Zhao's gaze swept over her second brother's head, her expression subtle.

Stop laughing, Ercai is just saying it casually, but brother, the one on your head is a real green hat.

Lin Shisheng rubbed his itchy nose and looked at Ercai, "Ercai, you can't just ask for green hats."

Ercai blinked his eyes in confusion.

"Is asking for a green hat against discipline?"

He had heard the phrase "against discipline" from Gu Father.

Lin Shisheng was speechless.

"No," he said.

Ercai's eyes were puzzled: "Then why can't I have one?"

He stared at his second uncle, his little face wrinkled, his eyes revealing disappointment, "My father has many green hats, I want one."

Lin Zhao almost tripped over her own feet and fell on flat ground.

"..." You are truly asking for a beating, Ercai.

"That's a military cap!" She corrected with a stern face.

It wasn't strange for children to like using colors to replace names for certain things, but if this was heard by people in the village, it would be a huge joke!

"That's a military cap. You must say military cap in the future, understand?" Lin Zhao emphasized.

Ercai didn't understand the reason, but nodded obediently, "Mm-hmm, it's a military cap."

"Good." Lin Zhao's brows were tinged with a faint smile, and she said: "If you two are always obedient, after the New Year, Mother will give you each a small military cap."

Hearing this, Gu Da Cai and Ercai's eyes lit up, hooked by their mother like fish.

"Thank you, Mother!"

The little brothers put their heads together, talking in low voices, occasionally emitting crisp laughter.

Seeing Gu Da Cai and Ercai being so obedient to Zhaozhao, Lin Shisheng's gaze was gentle and clear. With sensible children, his sister could save a lot of trouble.

Lin Shisheng sent his sister and two nephews to the entrance of the Harvest Brigade village, but didn't enter, intending to leave.

Seeing his sister unhappy, the young man explained gently: "I have things to do when I go back. I'll come to see you again after I'm busy during this period."

Hearing him say this, Lin Zhao didn't persuade him further and took the two cubs home.

Just as they reached the gate, Lin Zhao took out the key and was about to open it when Ercai raised his head and negotiated with his mother: "Mother, can my brother and I go play for a while?"

"Go back and drink some water before playing." Lin Zhao considered that the children hadn't drunk water on the way, and the weather was dry, so she was afraid the little brothers would get inflamed.

"Okay," Gu Da Cai responded.

Returning home, the two cubs rushed into the kitchen. There was cool boiled water in the kitchen, and they drank it in big gulps, then wiped their little mouths after finishing.

Ercai looked up at Lin Zhao, "We drank it, Mother, can we go out to play now?"

Saying they wanted to play was actually wanting to go out and show off.

"Go ahead." Lin Zhao was also drinking water, and hearing Ercai's words, she waved her hand to shoo the two stinky boys away.

Gu Da Cai was pulled by his younger brother and ran, shouting as he left: "Mother, I'll be back in a while to help you burn the fire."

"No rush," Lin Zhao replied.

The two cubs went out to play, and she returned to the room, opening the things her father had forced on her.

Her father had been mysterious, telling her to wait until no one was around to look.

This thing had been held by Lin Shisheng on the way, and only when Lin Zhao received it did she feel it was strangely heavy. Inside seemed to be a square box, wrapped in a piece of black cloth on the outside, stuffed casually into the net bag.

Lin Zhao opened the net bag and untied the black cloth.

As she thought, inside was a wooden box, but not an ordinary wooden box, but a gilded enamel jewelry box inlaid with garnets.

Lin Zhao held the vanity case and looked at it carefully; it was very exquisite, with patterns carved on the lid, beautiful and magnificent.

How could her father have such a thing?

She was full of doubts.

Opening the jewelry box, the things inside almost blinded Lin Zhao's eyes.

Five gold bars, a green gemstone necklace, a bright red bracelet, two crystal-clear jade bracelets, a pair of jade earrings, a pair of pure gold floral-patterned earrings, and a pair of gold-chiseled double-dragon-playing-with-a-pearl rings.

No wonder it was heavy; they were all good things.

She could buy a Sihe Academy! This was the first thought that flashed through Lin Zhao's mind.

She didn't expect that even after she was married and had children, she would still have the opportunity to sponge off her parents.

Lin Zhao was bubbling with joy; it was really good to be spoiled by her parents.

Hehe.

She must be filial to her parents in this lifetime.

Wrapping the vanity case back up, hiding it at the very bottom of the cabinet, and adding a big lock, Lin Zhao went to the old house to pick up the twins.

Seeing their mother, the twins' two identical, fair, and tender little faces were stunned for a moment, and then, the fourth cub burst into a loud cry.

She walked unsteadily toward Lin Zhao.

While crying, she called out in a milky voice: "Mother—"

Seeing her younger sister cry, the third cub also let out an "Aww" and cried at the top of his lungs.

Lin Zhao was bewildered by the brother and sister's crying.

She used to go to the county town, and even if she didn't see them for a whole day, the twins wouldn't cry. Today, it had only been half a day, and the two little milk buns were crying so hard that snot bubbles were blown out.

"Why are you crying?" Lin Zhao hurriedly coaxed the babies.

When the fourth cub was about to hug her mother, her little body twisted, she passed her and sat on the door frame, with her back to Lin Zhao, looking up and crying, while crying and saying aggrievedly: "Mother, don't take, cub, woo-woo-woo-woo—"

A tiny little thing, cute and pitiful.

The third cub sat beside his sister, wailing along, crying without tears, and even carefully scanned Lin Zhao with his eyes, being extremely smart, simply not like a child over a year old.

The little brother and sister's voices were especially loud, and the Gu family members heard the sound and came out one after another.

Lin Zhao was incredibly embarrassed.

Clearing her throat, she squatted in front of the twins and coaxed them with White Rabbit creamy candy.

"Don't cry, don't cry, I'll take you next time."

The twins were young but not easy to fool.

The fourth cub's crying stopped, her big eyes washed by tears were full of seriousness, she straightened her cute little face, and milkily and fiercely spat out one word: "Take!"

Meaning she wanted to be taken.

Lin Zhao hurriedly said: "Take, take, take!"

The fourth cub cried with joy, reached out to take the candy in her hand, and her little chubby hands clumsily unwrapped the candy paper, while the third cub leaned over to help.

Lin Zhao watched the children while asking Huang Xiulan, "What's wrong with the little brother and sister today?"

Huang Xiulan's face revealed embarrassment, and she weighed her words, saying slightly embarrassedly: "It was all Tiedan joking around and talking nonsense, saying you took Gu Da Cai and Ercai back to your maiden home and didn't take them. When the two little ones heard it, I'm really sorry, I've already lectured Tiedan..."

Just as she was speaking, she caught a glimpse of Tiedan using his younger brother Little Tie Chui as a shield, sticking to the wall and grinding toward home, acting sneakily.

Huang Xiulan's head almost exploded, and a sharp, explosive sound came from her mouth: "Gu Tiedan!"

Tiedan instantly stood straight, covering his buttocks and feeling incredibly guilty, "... Mother."

Huang Xiulan walked over quickly, grabbed his ear, walked in front of Lin Zhao, and educated her son: "What should you say to your Third Aunt?"

Tiedan apologized obediently: "Sorry Third Aunt, I didn't mean it, I was just teasing the third and fourth cubs, I didn't expect to make them cry, I know I was wrong."

He was terrified and didn't dare to look at Lin Zhao, because he knew how difficult Third Aunt was to provoke.

Even though Lin Zhao looked amiable these past few days, her previous terrible temper had left an exceptionally deep memory for the Gu family children.

Lin Zhao didn't take it to heart: "It's good that you know you were wrong, I'll forgive you this time."

Tiedan's tense body suddenly relaxed, grabbing Huang Xiulan's hand that was holding his ear, "Mother, let me go quickly, Third Aunt didn't blame me..."

Huang Xiulan was about to let go when she caught sight of the big hole in his buttocks, and suddenly her anger flared up.

"Gu Tiedan, you tore your pants again!!" She was incredibly angry, raised her palm, and hit Tiedan's buttocks. A few slaps, "pa-pa-pa," didn't hurt the little monkey, but it was a loss of face, especially in front of his younger brother; it was incredibly embarrassing!

"Mother, stop hitting! If you want to hit, go hit in the room, don't hit here!" Tiedan covered his face and wailed.

Lin Zhao watched the seven-year-old child who loved face so much and almost laughed to death.

Really funny.

When she left with the twins, she could still hear the eldest sister-in-law lecturing Tiedan.

The third and fourth cubs were very obedient this time, holding their mother's hand, their little short legs moving fast, obviously frightened by Huang Xiulan's loud voice.

Lin Zhao had just brought the twins home and was planning to give the two children a bath when a male voice came from outside the door.

"Lin Zhao? Is Lin Zhao there?"

Lin Zhao was full of doubts, let the twins stay obediently, and walked quickly to the door.

Outside the door was a young man, with a bicycle parked beside him, with green mail bags in front and behind the bike, the cloth bags bulging, full of letters inside.

"I am Lin Zhao."

The courier said: "There is a telegram for you."

As he spoke, he handed Lin Zhao a piece of paper, and at the same time gave her a receipt, saying to her: "Sign on the list."

"Okay." Lin Zhao signed and handed the list back.

The courier glanced at the signature, confirmed there was no problem, put the receipt back in the bag, and rode away.

Lin Zhao looked down at the telegram and found it came from a certain military region.

It was written on it:

【Tomorrow, 12, call.】

This meant to call and contact at 12 o'clock tomorrow.

She didn't mind the few words; one had to know that telegrams at this time were charged by the word and were expensive.

Lin Zhao pondered that there might be news about the bricks and tiles, so she was full of joy, returned home, and kissed the twins' faces one by one. The little brother and sister giggled, leaned over to kiss Lin Zhao, covering her face with saliva.

As a mother, she didn't mind at all, saying happily: "Cubs, we will live in a new house soon, are you happy?"

The third cub grinned, revealing a few little rice teeth, and said crisply: "Happy."

The fourth cub clapped her hands excitedly, speaking milkily: "House, house, house..."

Lin Zhao was incredibly charmed and kissed her daughter's cheek again. She should kiss her, but if she becomes a love-struck fool in the future, she will have to be beaten.

As soon as Gu Da Cai and Ercai entered the door, they saw their mother kissing their younger brother and sister.

The two children were stunned on the spot, and after coming back to their senses, they rushed in front of Lin Zhao, looking at her eagerly.

"Mother, what are you doing?" Ercai raised his little face covered in mud spots, his eyes bright and full of expectation.

"What did you two go do, how did you get the mud on your faces?" Lin Zhao asked back instead of answering, staring at the two dirty little dolls, experiencing the heartache of having naughty children at home.

Ercai wiped his face with the back of his hand, laughed and said: "My brother and I went to throw mud cannons!"

Mud cannons?

No wonder their bodies were full of the smell of urine.