Chapter 21: Zhao Zhao, Be Reasonable

"Mama doesn't know?" The second cub's face was full of disbelief, as if something had shattered.

Lin Zhao nodded calmly, "... I didn't know in the first place."

She pinched the second cub's cheek and pulled it gently, "Not many high school students know how to make cameras."

High school doesn't teach this.

The second cub's expression was solemn, "Then what do we do?"

"Study hard, get into university, and have brilliant teachers teach you." Lin Zhao said happily.

Thus, the second cub had his first life goal.

The five-year-old child grinned, his tone spirited: "I'm going to get into university, build a camera, and give one to Mama, to Brother, to Grandpa and Grandma, to Tie Chui—one for everyone."

Lin Zhao was silent for a moment and said, "Good luck."

"Mm-hmm." The second cub nodded his head fast.

Seeing his younger brother had a goal while he didn't, the elder cub's little face wrinkled.

The expression on his face couldn't be easier to understand.

"You're still a child, don't think too much for now. You'll know when you start school." Lin Zhao touched her eldest son's prickly shaved head and comforted him softly.

The elder cub was a sensitive and thoughtful child, but he was obedient. Hearing her words, he stopped thinking too much, and his expression relaxed.

Just then, the waiter called Lin Zhao to pick up the food.

She let her two sons occupy the table and went to pick up the food herself.

The taste of the food at the state-run restaurant couldn't be called top-tier, but they were generous with ingredients, and the portions were large.

The mother and two sons shared a bowl of shredded meat noodles; they hadn't eaten much of the other two dishes before their stomachs were bloated.

Fortunately, Lin Zhao was prepared and carried lunch boxes with her. She packed the pork stewed with vermicelli they hadn't touched much into one lunch box, and the radish stewed with bone soup into another, and walked out with her two sons.

"Dinner is taken care of; we'll heat it up and keep eating when we get back."

The second cub took the initiative to help his mother carry the lunch box, saying nice things: "Cooking is tiring, Mama should rest for a day."

The elder cub agreed, "Mama has been cooking for several days in a row; it's very tiring. When we get back, Brother and I will heat the food, and Mama can rest."

Lin Zhao was moved.

What does it feel like to have two little sweet pepper sons?

Warm!

Too warm!

Two thickened little cotton-padded jackets.

"Alright, then it'll be hard work for you two little men."

The elder cub was very happy to do things for his mother, "It's not hard work; I like helping Mama."

"Truly Mama's good son." Lin Zhao took the elder cub's hand.

The elder cub stared at the hand held by his mother, his smile even brighter.

Mama's hand was so soft; he liked being held by Mama.

Seeing this, the second cub walked to Lin Zhao's other side and held her other hand, his mouth curled up, his smile exceptionally pure and bright.

Lin Zhao looked at the sun, estimated the time, felt it was about time, and took the two cubs to the post office.

Twelve o'clock.

Gu Chenghuai's call arrived as promised.

Lin Zhao answered the phone, her slender white fingers curling, and heard a low, pleasant male voice, "Comrade Lin."

The familiar voice traveled to her ear along the current, a bit strange, and also a bit novel.

This was the first time Lin Zhao had spoken to Gu Chenghuai on the phone.

"It's me, Comrade Gu." She mimicked the other person and said solemnly.

Gu Chenghuai's deep black eyes revealed a smile that was hard to detect.

He went straight to the point:

"There's a sales clerk job at the supply and marketing cooperative. It's basically settled, but it needs to go through a process. Take some time to go over..."

Before he could finish, Lin Zhao interrupted the children's father in astonishment, "A job?"

A sales clerk at the supply and marketing cooperative?!

It felt like a big pancake had hit her on the head.

Hearing the confusion in his wife's tone, Gu Chenghuai immediately guessed she had forgotten what she wrote in her letter again. Helplessness appeared in his eyes as he explained: "Didn't you say you wanted to work? You don't want it anymore?"

As he spoke, his tense body relaxed, and he leaned against the counter.

Lin Zhao recalled her mood when writing the letter. She had been very angry at the time and wrote everything, filling several pages. Later, she gnawed on a braised chicken leg and didn't bother to check. Mentioning wanting to work, it was possible.

"I do!"

"Gu Xing'er said I was eating for free, said I was sucking your blood. I want to work. Once I work, I can support myself and the four cubs."

Gu Chenghuai's handsome brows furrowed slightly, and he said: "Then what do you need me for?"

Lin Zhao pouted and didn't speak.

"Don't hurt the innocent." Gu Chenghuai's voice revealed a trace of helplessness.

Lin Zhao's hand holding the phone tightened, and she said unhappily: "That's your sister, born from the same mother's belly."

"You also said that's my sister, just a sister." Gu Chenghuai pinched the bridge of his nose and said in a deep voice: "You can't punish me for her mistakes, Zhao Zhao, be reasonable."

His voice was superior, and it was even more seductive when he deliberately lowered it.

Lin Zhao's jade-white ears burned; this person was deliberately being bad again.

Her mouth couldn't help but lift, and she said: "Then you're not allowed to secretly give Gu Xing'er money, otherwise... otherwise I'm taking the four cubs back to my maiden home!"

Gu Chenghuai said: "Our family's accounts have always been managed by you; I don't keep money on hand, so what would I give her? Besides, I listen to my wife."

He said it earnestly, and Lin Zhao's mood improved.

"Is the job you mentioned real?"

"Didn't you say jobs are hard to find now? How did you find it? What should I do?" Thinking about the job, Lin Zhao couldn't help but feel nervous, and questions popped out like beans being spilled.

Gu Chenghuai didn't care about the phone bill at all and explained the situation patiently and meticulously.

"I've already remitted the money. Go directly to the county government building and find Yang Junzhi. He's my comrade-in-arms and will take you through the whole process. It's nothing, just going through the motions. You're a high school student; isn't a sales clerk job a piece of cake for you? You'll definitely have no problem."

His wife was good-looking and a high school student; a mere sales clerk job was just something she could handle with ease!

"Alright." Hearing Gu Chenghuai's arrangements were all set, and the sales clerk job was basically a done deal, Lin Zhao's brows and eyes relaxed.

"Thank you, Father of the cubs."

Gu Chenghuai gave a low laugh, "No need to be formal, Mother of the cubs."

Seeing her two sons clinging to her arm, on tiptoe, wanting to hear their father's voice, Lin Zhao said to the person on the other end of the phone: "The elder and second cubs are here too. Say a few words to them."

"Alright."

Lin Zhao handed the phone to the elder cub. The elder cub tightened his expression, held it with both hands, and his whole body stiffened with nervousness.

"Don't be so nervous, it won't break. I've been holding it for a while and it's fine." Lin Zhao said softly.

Her voice reached Gu Chenghuai's ears, and the young officer raised an eyebrow.

The elder cub held the phone, moved his mouth, and before he could speak, a voice came from the receiver.

"Elder cub."

The current changed the person's voice; adults could vaguely hear some familiarity, but to the children, the voice on the other end was extremely strange.

The elder cub was nervous, shocked, and stuttered: "Is, is there a voice?"

"That's your father." Lin Zhao said amusedly.

"Father?" The elder cub hesitated and called out tentatively.

Gu Chenghuai seemed to see his son's face; his eyebrows and nose were like his, his eyes were like his mother's, his personality was quiet and well-behaved, and he was shy and cute when he smiled.

"It's Father." Gu Chenghuai responded and asked: "How is everything at home?"

"Very good." Speaking of home, the elder cub had things to say, "Mama took me and the second cub to Maternal Grandmother's house. Second Uncle caught a wild rabbit, and Maternal Grandmother made spicy rabbit meat for us; it was delicious."

Gu Chenghuai gave feedback in time, "When Father goes back, Father will take you to hunt rabbits."

"Father knows how to hunt rabbits?" The elder cub asked with wide eyes.

In a child's heart, knowing how to hunt rabbits was super cool.

Sharpshooter Gu Chenghuai: "..." You underestimate your father too much!

"I do." He said, "Father will teach you how to use a slingshot next time I go back."

The elder cub's eyes brightened, and thinking that he and his brother didn't have a slingshot, his gaze dimmed again, "We don't have a slingshot."

"Father will make you one."

In a few words, the father and son became close. The elder cub gradually relaxed, his eyes flashing with happy light, "Thank you, Father."

"Father, Mama said she wants to build a brick and tile house. Did you get the bricks and tiles?"

Gu Chenghuai's voice was gentle, "I did."

The elder cub looked up at Lin Zhao, his brows and eyes dancing, "Mama, Father said he got the bricks and tiles!"

"I heard." Lin Zhao's gaze was warm.

At this time, the second cub stared eagerly at the elder cub, his voice pitiful, "Brother, is it my turn?"

The elder cub looked reluctant but didn't hog the phone. He told his father and gave the phone to the second cub.

After giving it, he followed the second cub's previous example, pricking up his ears to listen to his father's voice in the receiver.

"Father!" The second cub said loudly.

As soon as Gu Chenghuai heard this lively voice, the second cub's little face with its cunning look seemed to appear before his eyes.

"Mm." He responded.

"Father, when are you coming back?" Across the phone line, the second cub felt no distance and spoke to his father very comfortably. While speaking, he observed the phone in his hand with shining eyes; it was so magical.

"If you don't come back soon, Brother and I will almost forget what you look like!"

Gu Chenghuai's expression didn't change, "It's alright, Father remembers you."

The second cub gave a sheepish grin and said softly: "I remember Father too. Mama let Brother and me look at your photo last night."

Gu Chenghuai guessed that what his wife let the two cubs look at was the photo on their marriage certificate.

"When Father goes back, our whole family will go take some photos."

The second cub said happily: "Alright."

"Mama made Brother and me new clothes, and Brother and I are going to wear new clothes to take photos!"

"I also want to wear my little military cap!" He added excitedly.

Remembering his father didn't know they were about to have little military caps, the second cub added: "Mama said, when the New Year comes, she's going to give Brother and me a little military cap each!"

Gu Chenghuai's lips curled into a faint smile, "Is that so? Your mother is certainly good to you two." She hadn't even given him a pair of socks.

"Yeah." The second cub glanced at Lin Zhao, his smile very big, "Mama is super good to us; Tie Chui is very envious. He even shed golden beans, saying why isn't he Mama's son."

Gu Chenghuai listened patiently, "Your mother is good to you, and you two must listen to your mother."

"We listen! Grandma said Brother and I are the best-behaved! We help Mama take care of the third and fourth cubs, pick up firewood, light the fire, and even wash clothes!" The second cub was spirited, his tone proud.

Gu Chenghuai's eyes overflowed with smiles. He believed the elder cub was well-behaved, but the second cub was very mischievous; fortunately, he listened to the elder cub most.

"Great! Your mother works hard. You and your brother must share the burden for your mother. Father isn't at home, so you and your brother are the only two men in our family. You must protect your mother; if anything happens, go to the old residence and call for people."

He was far away and couldn't help with anything.

Because of this, Gu Chenghuai couldn't blame Lin Zhao at all, even if she hadn't cared about the children for the past few years.

The second cub was like a primary school student receiving a little red flower from a teacher, spirited, and said loudly: "I know! I'm a man, I will protect Mama!"

"I will too." The elder cub added, his little face flushed red.

Gu Chenghuai chuckled and said: "Second cub, give the phone to your mother."

Lin Zhao took the phone, "What's wrong?"

Gu Chenghuai said: "I've asked Yang Junzhi to help with the slip needed for the bricks and tiles. Go to the county government building and find him; he'll give it to you. Transporting bricks and tiles is troublesome; ask Father and Big Brother and Second Brother to help."

"Alright."

After responding, Lin Zhao suddenly didn't know what else to say, so she said: "I've noted down everything you said. Is there anything else? If not, I'm hanging up; I'll write you a letter."

"Mm, Zhao..."

Gu Chenghuai just let out a 'mm', and before he could finish his words, there was a loud 'clatter', followed by a 'beep-beep-beep' sound.

The other side had hung up.

He put down the phone, helplessness flashing in his eyes; he had wanted to say he was coming home to visit relatives in a while.

Forget it, treat it as a surprise.

Just as Gu Chenghuai walked out of the mail room, Sun Yeli appeared. Catching the faint smile at the corner of his mouth, he asked curiously: "I see your relationship with your wife is quite good; have you never thought about bringing your wife and children over?"

"You wouldn't be addicted to the cafeteria, would you? You're not like me, unmarried. You've been married for several years; why haven't you brought them over? It wouldn't be that something's really wrong, would it?!"

Gu Chenghuai stopped, his deep black eyes falling on Sun Yeli, his expression somewhat confused: "What do you mean?"

"Have you heard nothing at all?" Sun Yeli looked around and lowered his voice: "Over at the family quarters, there have been rumors about your wife."

Gu Chenghuai frowned, his expression displeased, "What rumors?"

Sun Yeli heard the coldness in his words and didn't dare to keep him in suspense, hurriedly saying: "It's not your fault you haven't heard, since you don't live in the family building. Many people in the family quarters are spreading... that you and your wife are a child-betrothal, have no feelings, and some even say your wife is from the countryside, has no culture, and no looks, and that you'll divorce your wife sooner or later."

"Nonsense!" Gu Chenghuai couldn't help but swear directly.

"I fell in love with Zhao Zhao at first sight, and we talked about marriage when we met the second time! My wife is a high school student; who says she has no culture!"

Gu Chenghuai felt the rumors were inexplicable.

Sun Yeli was dumbfounded.

After being dazed for a while, the usually bold soldier stuttered: "L, love at first sight?"

Gu Chenghuai's eyes flashed with discomfort, but it didn't show on his face, "What's wrong?"

"No, nothing, just feel... it's not like you." Sun Yeli scratched his head.

Who was Gu Chenghuai? The iron-blooded tough guy who had no sense of cherishing the fairer sex; would he fall in love with a girl at first sight?

It was simply inconceivable.

Gu Chenghuai looked confused.

"Your wife is very beautiful, right?" He couldn't restrain his gossiping heart.

The confusion in Gu Chenghuai's eyes quickly dissipated, and he glared at him, "You are a firm and upright soldier; how can you judge people by their appearance? Superficial."

"..." That's judging by appearance?

Before Sun Yeli could refute, Gu Chenghuai asked with a cold and stern expression: "Do you know who is spreading bad things about my wife?"

"I don't know that; I live in the dormitory too."

"Then how do you know?" Gu Chenghuai asked again.

"I'm not like you; I have my own sources of information." Sun Yeli raised his chin and said proudly.

Gu Chenghuai was the youngest battalion commander in the military region, outstanding in all aspects, but he was excessively handsome and didn't have many expressions on his face, giving people the feeling that he wasn't easy to approach, so no one dared to gossip in front of him, and naturally, it couldn't reach his ears.

"Is this why you always advise me to bring my wife and children to the military region?"

Sun Yeli retorted: "Otherwise?"

As if he had nothing better to do. ===== CHAPTER 22 =====