Chapter 190

Yuan Xiang's face burned, and she endured her shyness, "Soon."

She and Comrade Li are not young anymore, and their families are quite anxious. They have understood each other for a period of time and can move to the next step.

Seeing the embarrassment on Yuan Xiang's face, Lin Zhao smiled kindly and asked again: "When?"

Aunt Song drank some water and smiled: "There's a good day at the beginning of next month; we plan to hold it then."

Lin Zhao didn't feel the time was rushed. In the current social environment, many people get married after meeting just once; Sister Xiangxiang and Comrade Li have at least known each other, so it's not sudden.

"Congratulations, Sister Xiangxiang. I'll bring the twins over to join the fun then."

The boy-girl twins will have to skip it; they are too young, better to leave them at the old house.

"Welcome, welcome." Aunt Song's aging face was full of smiles, and her gaze toward Lin Zhao was very soft.

Her eyes swept over the things she brought, and she said: "Zhaozhao, this chicken was given to you by Xiangxiang's grandfather. You helped Xiangxiang find such a good partner; her grandfather is very happy and praises you to everyone he meets. This chicken is what you deserve; it should have been sent to you earlier. You can kill it to eat or keep it to lay eggs, whatever. Also this basket, mushrooms picked at home, and some freshly picked vegetables. It's nothing fancy, just add two dishes to the family's meal."

So polite, Lin Zhao didn't refuse and smiled: "The family is just short of vegetables, thank you, Aunt."

"Thank for what? I'm your own aunt. If you say such polite things again, I'll have your mother lecture you," Aunt Song said deliberately.

Lin Zhao covered her mouth with her hand, "I won't say it."

Aunt Song and Yuan Xiang didn't stay long; they still had to prepare for the engagement at home. Although it wouldn't be a big affair, there were still many trivial things that needed to be prepared in advance, so after drinking the sugar water, the mother and daughter proposed to leave.

Lin Zhao saw them to the door.

Returned home.

Gu Hangbao, who loves to join in the fun, ran to Lin Zhao holding a pillow embroidered with Da Huang.

He tilted his head and asked: "Are we going to eat at a banquet next month?"

Xiang Yubao also looked at his mother with eager eyes.

Lin Zhao looked at the two similar little faces in front of her, raised her eyebrows slightly, and tapped the tips of the little brothers' noses with her slender index finger.

Her voice was smiling, "The family isn't starving you, so why do you want to eat at a banquet, hmm?"

Every household is not wealthy, and the banquet food isn't anything special; after all, there isn't much oil or fat.

"Hehe." Gu Hangbao scratched his head, his smile very bright, "I want to go join the fun."

He bowed slightly and brought his head in front of Lin Zhao, "Mother, you will take me and my brother, right, right?"

Adults love to fool children, thinking children are a big trouble and unwilling to take them anywhere; he knows all of that.

Lin Zhao didn't notice the second cub's little thoughts, just assuming the children really wanted to join the fun, and smiled, "Yes, I'll take you."

After thinking for a moment, she added, "Next month is the engagement; when the wedding comes, I'll take you all."

"Go where?" Xiang Yubao asked.

"To the county. Your cousin is marrying into the city; the wedding should be held in the city." Based on her aunt's temperament, she should want to hold it in the city more, though it's possible they'll hold a simple one in the countryside too.

Gu Hangbao: "Mother, why didn't you marry into the city?"

This was a very provocative question; it's fortunate his father wasn't there. Lin Zhao was silent for a few breaths and said: "I don't want to live in a pigeon cage."

Gu Hangbao's eyes widened, "What's a pigeon cage?"

Xiang Yubao remembered the pigeons in the picture book of small animals and spoke up, "Pigeons that can fly?"

Children's words are truly fun.

Lin Zhao shook her head and explained in words children could understand: "No, it has nothing to do with pigeons; it means the place where you live is very small."

"The buildings many people live in in the city are the kind of houses your uncle lives in. Your uncle's house is considered big; other rooms are even smaller. You trip over your feet doing anything, and it's hard to turn over in bed. I went there once; if I had to live there every day... I definitely wouldn't be happy."

"I wouldn't be happy either." Xiang Yubao laughed foolishly, saying the reason he didn't want to live there, "You can't dig wild vegetables or catch fish if you live in the city."

Gu Hangbao added loudly: "And you can't swim."

Hearing this conversation, Song Song Yunjin laughed out loud, "There are swimming pools in the city; you can go to the swimming pool to swim. Next time I'll take you there, and I'll teach you how to swim."

Gu Hangbao looked at him, "Does it cost money?"

"Yes."

Gu Hangbao curled his lips, "It doesn't cost money to swim in the village. Father taught me and my brother how to swim; we know how."

Song Yunjin was worried they would go swimming by themselves and reminded them: "When children go into the water to swim, there must be an adult nearby, otherwise you must stay away from the water. Do you hear me?"

Xiang Yubao's little face was solemn, "Mm-hmm, Father and Mother have both said so. Gu Hangbao and I remember, and we've told other children too!"

"Good." The youthful boy smiled with gratification, the expression on his face could be called loving.

Lin Zhao's mouth twitched.

She covered her face with a book and closed her eyes to rest.

Just at this moment, two girls appeared at the door; they didn't rush in, standing outside and knocking on the door panel.

"Comrade Lin..."

Da Huang and Hu Po barked symbolically a few times to alert the owner of the courtyard.

Lin Zhao opened her eyes, took the book off her face, and looked outside; it was Su Song Zhiqing and Educated Youth Guan.

She straightened her body a bit and waved at Da Huang and Hu Po; the two guard dogs wagged their tails and retreated into their kennel.

"Come in, my Da Huang and Hu Po don't bite people randomly." Lin Zhao beckoned to the two female educated youths.

Da Huang had grown increasingly majestic and looked very fierce, but the people in the village knew it wouldn't bite randomly, so they weren't afraid. The two female educated youths had been to the Gu house and had even held Hu Po, so they weren't afraid either.

They entered the courtyard.

Catching a glimpse of the flowers blooming in the corner, their eyes brightened slightly, and their expressions showed undisguised liking.

"What kind of flower is this?" Educated Youth Guan asked.

"Bougainvillea." Lin Zhao smiled. She had drawn the flower seeds and used a nutrient solution to promote growth, so they grew very fast and bloomed beautifully.

Looking at them every day was a feast for the eyes.

It would be even better if Yao Bao didn't always want to wreak havoc on them.

"It's really beautiful; it makes people feel happy." Educated Youth Guan said with a smile.

Lin Zhao said generously: "If you like them, I'll move a few plants to your courtyard."

They were just flowers; she was happy to share them with people she liked.

"Can you?" Educated Youth Guan was pleasantly surprised, and Su Song Zhiqing also showed surprise.

"Yes." Lin Zhao smiled and then instructed Song Song Yunjin, "Song Yunjin, you go ahead and dig up a few plants."

"Alright." Song Yunjin responded, took the tools and got busy, and the sisters Sister Xuanxuan and Zhengzheng went to help.

The two female educated youths felt a bit embarrassed, but it couldn't be denied that they were very happy inside.

"Thank you, Comrade Lin."

Such beautiful flowers, just looking at them made people happy.

"It's nothing." Lin Zhao didn't care and asked casually: "Do you have something you came for?"

Su Song Zhiqing said: "Our courtyard has been aired out, and we plan to move in today. I heard from the aunties in the village that a new house needs to be warmed. You gave us the idea, so logically we should have invited you, but we know you don't like noise, so we thought we'd bring the food over."

Lin Zhao understood; no wonder they were holding an enamel basin.

She didn't decline and said to Xiang Yubao: "Xiang Yubao, go to the kitchen and get a bowl."

Su Song Zhiqing reminded, "Get a big one."

Xiang Yubao nodded randomly, trotted to the kitchen, and took the biggest bowl. This bowl was Gu Gu Chenghuai's and was a size larger than an ordinary bowl.

Educated Youth Guan opened the lid of the floral enamel basin and poured the food into the bowl.

"We didn't have many meat coupons left, so we only bought one jin. Fortunately, we had planted a lot of vegetables before, and we were lucky enough to buy a block of tofu, so we asked the auntie in the village to make a stew."

Su Song Zhiqing was a bit embarrassed, "Neither Educated Youth Guan nor I are very good at cooking, and we were afraid of wasting the ingredients, so we asked someone else to make it."

Don't say, the auntie in the village really had good skills; it was a very simple and authentic taste.

"It's quite good." When the lid was opened, Lin Zhao smelled a familiar fragrance. She loved eating this when she was a child; it had meat and vegetables, and eating a bowl was incredibly satisfying.

No, it wasn't just her; everyone in the village liked it.

"It's really fragrant; I haven't eaten this in a long time. Thank you both."

The two female educated youths saw that Lin Zhao was sincere, and smiles appeared on their tense faces.

"As long as you like it, we were afraid you'd think it wasn't presentable enough."

This wasn't presentable enough? How good must the housewarming food in the city be prepared?

Lin Zhao was astonished.

Worthy of being from a big city.

The two educated youths left the Gu house with the flowers. Gu Hangbao came over to look at the food in the big bowl, saw the meat slices and tofu inside, and said with a grin: "Mother, I want to eat this meat slice and tofu."

"Go get bowls and chopsticks, I'll divide it for you." Lin Zhao patted the second cub's head.

"Oh oh." Gu Hangbao responded happily, gave the pillow to his brother, and rushed into the kitchen.

Lin Zhao glanced at the pillow, "Why did you take the pillow out? How is it to use, is it comfortable?"

The pillows at home were made by her. The sewing machine Gu Gu Chenghuai bought... finally came in handy. Making some handicrafts to pass the time was really clever. The filling of course wasn't cotton; cotton is too valuable. She used cleaned straw and old clothes.

"It's comfortable." Xiang Yubao nodded repeatedly, "Very comfortable. I can lean on it when I'm writing, and it's not tiring at all."

His short little fingers poked the Da Huang on the pillow, "Gu Hangbao and I both like the pattern on it very much."

His was Xiao Jin, his younger brother's was Da Huang, his uncle's was Hu Po, the two sisters' were themselves, and his mother's was their whole family...

"As long as you like it. Put it back in the room; if it gets dirty, it has to be taken apart and washed."

Xiang Yubao nodded obediently, hugged the pillow back to the room, placed it neatly on the back of the stool, and soon hopped out.

While they were eating the educated youths' housewarming food in the Gu family's new house, Gu Xing'er returned from her matchmaking.

Gu Mu sized up her youngest daughter's expression and couldn't see anything, so she asked: "How was it? Is that young man okay?"

"Okay what okay? He's too stingy, I don't like him." Gu Xing'er curled her lips.

Gu Mu was speechless.

That young man might not necessarily like you either!

Hearing Xing'er say the other party was stingy, she couldn't help frowning, "Did you ask them for something?"

Gu Xing'er had an expression that it was only natural, "I didn't ask for anything very expensive, just a jar of vanishing cream, and he was reluctant to buy it for me. Since he's so stingy, why should I continue with him? I just said it wasn't suitable, and then I came back."

"..."

Gazing at the dissatisfaction on her face, not only Gu Father and Gu Mu, but even Huang Huang Xiulan and Zhao Zhao Liuniang were shocked, not knowing what to say.

No, you asked someone for something the first time you met, and it was vanishing cream that cost several yuan. Where did you get such a thick face?!

Gu Mu took a deep breath, "... How could you have the face to ask?"

Gu Xing'er was unimpressed, "When I meet him, I definitely have to know if he's willing to spend money on me. If he's reluctant to spend money on me, I definitely won't talk to him."

"Do you think everyone else is a fool and only you are smart? Who would spend money on you the first time they meet? You look average, but your thoughts are quite beautiful." Gu Mu scolded her for her wishful thinking.

Gu Xing'er didn't like hearing this and rolled her eyes, "You don't need to worry about it; there will always be someone willing."

Not wanting to listen to her mother's nagging, she returned to her room angrily and slammed the door shut.

Gu Mu's face was dark, "It's over, I'm afraid she won't be able to marry out for the rest of her life."

The thought of splitting the family surfaced in her heart again.

Huang Huang Xiulan and Zhao Zhao Liuniang were also worried. Fortunately, ever since Gu Xing'er moved back, their mother-in-law had said they didn't need to worry about her much. This meant they didn't have to help her wash clothes, clean her room, and certainly didn't have to cook for her separately... Life was much easier than before. Even if the sister-in-law was an eyesore and said things that were asking for a beating, they could endure it.

The sisters-in-law couldn't help but think of the third son's wife and felt again that splitting the family was really good, and moving out to live was really good.

The news of Gu Xing'er's failed matchmaking reached Lin Zhao's ears through Li Bao's little mouth.

Xiang Yubao's little eyebrows twisted into a knot, "Little Aunt always likes to ask others for things! We children don't ask others for things. Didn't Little Aunt's teacher teach her that you can't get something for nothing?"

"The teacher must have taught her, but the teacher can't do anything if the student doesn't listen." Song Song Yunjin said casually while eating earnestly; the stewed meat and vegetables were quite delicious.

Xiang Yubao said seriously and solemnly: "Students should listen to their teachers."

Gu Hangbao: "Little Aunt isn't Grandpa and Grandma's good daughter, so she definitely isn't the teacher's good student either. Bad Little Aunt loves to take advantage; she even snatched our sweet potatoes before. She is the baddest, baddest person. I hate her, hate her the most."

At this moment, Li Bao spoke up with some grievance, "Little Aunt snatched my chicken cake; I couldn't bear to eat it."

Lin Zhao and the others: "..."

"Did you tell your grandpa, grandma, father, and mother?" Lin Zhao asked.

The twins stared closely at their good brother.

Li Bao lowered his eyes and pursed his lips tightly, "I didn't dare. Little Aunt said she would beat me if I told the family."

How outrageous.

Lin Zhao felt this person had no bottom line.

Gu Hangbao wasn't afraid of Gu Xing'er and said angrily: "I'll help you tell Grandpa, Grandma, and Uncle and Aunt. She won't dare touch you. If she beats you, I'll help you beat her. I'll find my uncle to beat her; my second uncle is so tall, he can beat her until she cries with one punch."

Li Bao looked at Gu Hangbao with admiration and smiled honestly, "Okay."

He would listen to his good brother.

Xiang Yubao immediately thought of a way, "Li Bao, in the future when you bring food back, I'll have Da Huang send you. Little Aunt is afraid of Da Huang. With Da Huang there, she won't dare snatch your things or beat you. If she bullies you, you just call Da Huang to scare her."

"Okay." Li Bao said softly.

Song Song Yunjin had heard of Gu Xing'er's bizarre deeds before, but he still felt shocked at this moment.

"Sister, it's fortunate you split the family." He said with relief.

Having such a person in the family is really bad for one's state of mind; you can't beat her to death, but she can disgust you to death.

"Yes." Lin Zhao cheered inside.

"Sister, does your sister-in-law want to marry into the city?" Song Song Yunjin asked again.

"Yes, her aspirations are very high. She wants to find a formal worker, someone with regular features who is willing to spend money on her..."

Great speechlessness was written on Song Song Yunjin's face.

His mouth twitched.

"She really dares to think."

"City people aren't stupid. Except for those with unspeakable difficulties, very few people marry country girls. I'm afraid your sister-in-law is daydreaming."

"Even if she could marry into the city, she wouldn't find a good partner. Either he's divorced and old, or he has a physical defect, or he just has the title of a city person but is empty inside. How could good things fall to her? She looks average, has no skills, and I heard she doesn't know how to conduct herself. She'd be better off washing up and going to sleep early; everything is in her dreams."

Song Song Yunjin's words were straightforward and sarcastic.

He admitted he had a prejudice against Gu Xing'er; who told her to hurt his sister.

Lin Zhao said: "Young people, they always dare to think. When she hits the south wall, she'll understand everything. It's none of our business, no need to worry about her."

Song Song Yunjin looked at his sister, "What about my brother-in-law? Doesn't he care? That's his own sister after all."

"He doesn't care." Lin Zhao's eyes were confident.

"Your brother-in-law said that since Father and Mother are still here, he won't overstep his authority."

Song Song Yunjin breathed a sigh of relief.

Very good, brother-in-law is still very clear-headed; the thing he fears most is that kind of person who wants to interfere in everything in the family.

Lin Zhao touched Li Bao's head, "Don't be alone with your little aunt in the future. If there's no one at home, just come here, you know?"

This is a little honest child, easy to be bullied; she has to urge him a few more times.

"Mm." Little Li Bao nodded heavily.