Chapter 226

After some operations.

He didn't know how long he had waited.

Meeting Battalion Commander Gu's expectant gaze, the young operator shook his head regretfully.

"I couldn't get through; they said... the lady of the house went back to the brigade!"

Gu Chenghuai felt disappointed, but he didn't show it.

"Today is the weekend, she probably took the children back to celebrate their birthday." He smiled helplessly.

The operator thought the battalion commander's wife was quite particular, even taking the children back specifically for a birthday.

He dared to say that in the entire military district, not many people even celebrated birthdays.

It wasn't that Lin Zhao was particular, but that her father was; when the head of the family was particular, the younger generation in the family would also care about holidays, birthdays, and such celebratory activities.

For their grandson's birthday, Lin Heling and Song Xiwei also made a gesture, the couple sending Xiang Yubao and Gu Hangbao a set of matching brother outfits.

They were cotton-padded jackets.

And they were made by Lin Heling himself.

When they saw them, the two cubs were so happy their mouths almost stretched to the back of their heads.

"Grandpa made them, they're so pretty." Xiang Yubao touched the clothes, "When it gets colder, I'm going to wear them to school so everyone knows that the clothes my grandpa makes are especially pretty."

Gu Hangbao added, "Xu Juanjuan shows off his cotton jacket, I'm going to show mine off back, roar roar!"

"?" Lin Zhao was suspicious, "How do you know classmate Xu Juanjuan has a cotton jacket?"

"He wore it to school!" Gu Hangbao said loudly.

Lin Zhao was speechless, "Wearing a cotton jacket now... it's a bit hot, isn't it."

"It is hot, his mother said he insisted on wearing it, and if she didn't let him... he wouldn't go to school." Xiang Yubao explained.

Lin Zhao wasn't surprised; some children were just like that, always having strange requirements and ideas, normal, normal.

Lin Shichang, who had been sent by the family to run errands, said, "You two can't make such strange requests, you have to listen to your mother."

"We know." Xiang Yubao promised obediently.

When he spoke, Lin Shichang felt very reassured, his eyes even softening.

Lin Zhao asked her eldest brother, "How is my sister-in-law, is her health okay?"

"Good." Lin Shichang smiled.

Zhaozhao cared about her sister-in-law, having him bring meat back every few days, and he didn't know where she got her connections.

Thinking of the things his wife had instructed him to bring, he handed them to Lin Zhao, "Zhaozhao, your sister-in-law asked me to give these to you."

"What is it?" Lin Zhao took it, opened it without standing on ceremony, and saw it was a red cardigan sweater.

The knitting was delicate, the buttons were made of ox horn, and the style and color were both very pretty; it wouldn't be out of fashion even after a few decades.

"Sister-in-law knitted this for me?" Her eyes were full of surprise.

"Of course." Lin Shichang answered.

"Where did you get the yarn, and it's red too." Lin Zhao's smile was bright.

Lin Shichang looked at her with smiling eyes, "If you want to get it, there's a way. The source of the pork you provide is confidential, so the source of our yarn must also be confidential; that's only fair."

"Stingy." Lin Zhao complained, "Still acting mysterious with me."

She muttered, "If you won't tell me... I'll go back and ask sister-in-law."

Lin Shichang let her be, "Fine."

Lin Zhao immediately put the cardigan sweater on and smiled at her eldest brother, "The size is just right, eldest brother, thank sister-in-law for me when you go back."

"Why thank her, we're family." Lin Shichang smiled, "Thanks to you, we have meat to eat every few days at home, and your sister-in-law's pregnancy is going very well; if anyone should be thanking anyone, it's us thanking you."

Remembering his purpose, he added, "By the way, your sister-in-law used the leftover yarn to knit gloves for Xiang Yubao and Gu Hangbao; they're birthday gifts."

Lin Shichang looked at Qian Bao and Seeing Yaobao's chubby little faces, his eyes full of affection, "We don't have any extra yarn on hand, so Qian Bao and Seeing Yaobao will have to wait."

He ruffled his little nephew's hair, his voice coaxing, "When it's your birthday... you won't be left out either."

Qian Bao stood there, his little face calm, his words childish, but paired with that straight little face, he had a strange sense of steadiness.

He nodded his little head, "Thank you, eldest uncle."

Seeing Yaobao dove to hug Lin Shichang's leg, giving him sweet talk in a milky voice, "Eldest... uncle is the best."

Saying it word by word.

Lin Shichang picked up his little niece, the smile on his lips unstoppable, "Good girl."

He unwrapped the snacks he brought to feed her.

The two birthday stars had gifts, and he hadn't forgotten the twins either, having someone make snacks the little brother and sister could eat.

"Eldest uncle, are there snacks for us?" Gu Hangbao put on his new gloves and leaned in eagerly.

"Yes, you all have a share." Lin Shichang fed half to him and half to Xiang Yubao.

The two cubs felt that having a birthday was truly the best thing in the world.

"Eldest uncle, my father sent us birthday gifts, guess what they are..." Gu Hangbao sat next to Lin Shichang, his eyes excited.

"So happy, it must be something you really like." Lin Shichang said.

"Mm-hmm." Gu Hangbao nodded like a chicken pecking at rice, opened his arms to draw a big circle, his tone floating up to the sky, "My brother and I both super like them."

He opened his dark eyes wide, looking eagerly at Lin Shichang, "Can eldest uncle guess?"

Lin Shichang pretended to think for a long while, finally shaking his head, "I can't guess. You two like too many things, I can't guess at all."

Most importantly, children's temperaments were unpredictable; yesterday they liked cloth balls, today they could like iron hoops... who could figure that out.

Gu Hangbao lifted his chin slightly, his expression proud, "Fine, I knew no one could guess."

He stood up and announced the answer spiritedly, "They're big cars and airplanes!"

His little tone was full of smugness and pride.

Lin Shichang, however, showed a look of surprise, looking at Gu Hangbao and saying, "What kind of big cars and airplanes, I've never seen them."

The acting was quite heavy, but he was also genuinely trying to make his nephew happy.

Gu Hangbao's whole face lit up, and he rushed into the house excitedly, "I'll go get them!!"

Not forgetting to explain, "We were afraid of breaking them, so we didn't dare leave them outside; my brother and I hid them in the room."

Lin Shichang was very serious, "For valuable items like these, you do have to hide them."

Lin Zhao watched her eldest brother act, the corner of her mouth twitching.

Coax him, coax him, if he keeps coaxing, Gu Hangbao's mouth might not be able to close!

Gu Hangbao received affirmation and smiled even more brightly, feeling his cheeks ache, so he reached out to rub them.

He called his brother to go back to the room and get the gifts their father sent.

The two cubs came out quickly.

Holding the toy cars and airplanes in their hands.

They leaned in front of their eldest uncle, their eyes sparkling, the meaning very clear.

Begging for praise.

Lin Shichang understood, "So this is what your father sent specifically for you, they look really nice! Your father really misses you!"

Every sentence was what Xiang Yubao and Gu Hangbao wanted to hear.

The two children smiled until their eyes narrowed into crescents.

"My mother said these are very hard to buy. My father must have put in a lot of effort." Xiang Yubao said.

"Definitely!!" Lin Shichang saw his nephew's cherishing, didn't touch the gifts their uncle-in-law sent them, measured them with his eyes, and expressed his view, "These things are so novel, you can't find them in the whole county, only in big cities; if he didn't put in effort, how could he get them. Spending money is secondary, he might even have had to owe favors."

Gu Hangbao understood half of it, looked down at the cars, and said, "My father told my mother, owing favors is nothing to fear, he will repay them, told us not to worry."

Lin Zhao: "?"

Battalion Commander Gu must have said that to her, he didn't seem to mention the four cubs at the time, where did the little guy hear that?

He even learned to report false military intelligence.

Naughty.

For the sake of his birthday, she wouldn't discipline him yet, save it up, and talk about it later.

Hearing Gu Hangbao's words, Lin Shichang was speechless; his brother-in-law taught his nephews like this, not afraid of teaching them wrong...

He subconsciously looked at Lin Zhao, meeting his sister's complicated gaze.

He immediately guessed what was going on.

For a moment, he wanted to grab Gu Hangbao by the waist onto his lap and swat his butt a few times.

The little brat who talks nonsense!

Little rascal.

Fortunately, he remembered this was a little birthday star.

He only pinched Gu Hangbao's cheeks and said, "Owe too many favors and it won't be good."

Gu Hangbao looked at his eldest uncle, "My father said wrong?"

Lin Shichang couldn't say wrong; his brother-in-law was a capable man, and for him, owing favors might really be nothing. Even more, to people at that level, it counted as an exchange of benefits, the kind where both sides benefit, but... Xiang Yubao and Gu Hangbao were young, they didn't understand, and this concept could easily bury bad seeds in their young hearts.

"... You just need to remember, some favors can be owed, some cannot." He said.

Seeing Xiang Yubao wanted to ask for the reason, Lin Shichang spoke first, stopping his words.

"As for the reason, you'll know when you grow up."

The little brothers moved their mouths, not making a sound again.

Because of this little episode, the two cubs lost their mood for sharing and sent their respective treasures back to the room.

Lin Shichang watched his two nephews' disappearing backs and looked hesitantly at Lin Zhao, "... Are they angry?"

"No." Lin Zhao shook her head, saying very confidently, "You underestimate your own nephews, they don't get angry that easily, just a bit confused, they'll be fine in a moment."

"As long as they aren't angry." Lin Shichang breathed a sigh of relief, "I came to deliver gifts, not to cause trouble for people; if I provoked those two boys into being angry, neither Father nor Mother would let me off."

The education Lin Heling and Song Xiwei gave them was—don't provoke the birthday star; on this day, "they" have privileges, whatever they say goes.

Because of this, the children of the Lin family especially looked forward to birthdays, full of good feelings about the day they were born.

"Don't worry, don't worry." Lin Zhao waved her hand.

"Eldest brother, I made a cake, take some back with you later."

She said whatever came to mind.

Lin Shichang was using his fingers to braid Seeing Yaobao's hair, and hearing this, he looked up.

"What cake?"

Lin Zhao narrowed her eyes, "The kind you ate when you were little."

When her brother was little, the city was very lively, with all kinds of shops standing in great numbers, restaurants, tailor shops, teahouses, watch shops, barbershops... everything.

The Lin couple wasn't short of money, and they were willing to buy anything novel for their sons.

The Lin brothers had eaten many good things, and cake was one of them.

"Zhaozhao, you know how to make it?" Lin Shichang's tone was full of surprise.

"Uh-huh." Lin Zhao was especially proud.

"Father told me about it before, I tried it and made it."

Lin Shichang didn't doubt it, giving a thumbs up, "Amazing. No wonder Father always says you take after him, indeed."

Their brothers' strength, hobbies, etc., all took after their mother, while Zhaozhao's cleverness took after their father.

Anything that fell into their hands became easy.

"Haven't eaten cake for many years, I'm in for a treat today." Lin Shichang remembered the past, feeling a bit dazed.

If the times hadn't changed, Zhaozhao would definitely be more comfortable than she is now.

Thinking this, he felt very sorry for his sister.

He had to work harder and be better to Zhaozhao.

Lin Zhao's tone was smiling, "I made a big one, I'll cut a third for you later, take it back for Father, Mother, and Xibao and the others to taste."

"Good." Lin Shichang nodded with a smile.

The twins, who had just stepped out of the room, vaguely heard familiar words and walked over with light steps.

"Can we eat cake?" Gu Hangbao's eyes lit up.

Lin Zhao touched his belly, "Your belly is so round, don't rush. Go busy yourself for a while, we'll talk after twelve."

Gu Hangbao was easy to dismiss, saying, "Okay, we'll go find Li Bao and the others to play."

"Go on!"

The two cubs rushed out of the house, their backs revealing full vitality.

Seeing Yaobao wanted to be her brothers' follower, anxious to leave her eldest uncle's embrace, her little face full of urgency.

At this moment, Lin Zhao said softly, "Seeing Yaobao, come here, Mother will braid your hair nicely, using the new hair ties."

Hearing this, the little girl immediately threw her brothers to the back of her mind, stumbling into Lin Zhao's arms, her smile sweet.

"So tiny, and so vain." Lin Zhao hugged her daughter, who was soft and fragrant, making one want to take a few bites.

Lin Shichang's eyes revealed a reminiscent smile, "Like you."

"..."

Lin Zhao acted as if she didn't hear.

Changing the subject, she said, "Is there still no news about my second brother?"

"No." Lin Shichang's eyes flashed with worry, comforting his sister, "The transport team is just like that, they lose contact a few times every year, Xiao Er is clever, he'll be fine."

Lin Zhao said, "My second brother is just a temporary worker, how could he get involved in going out?"

She was genuinely puzzled; when she first heard the news, she was dumbfounded.

She had never seen such an active temporary worker.

Should she say it's worthy of being her second brother, he's active everywhere.

Lin Shichang: "He must have some plans, let him be, it's good that Xiao Er doesn't stay in the village, so as not to have all sorts of messy people coming to the door."

"Eh?" Lin Zhao was astonished.

"Eh what." Lin Shichang laughed, "Ever since Xiao Er joined the transport team, there have been plenty of people wanting to play matchmaker for him."

Lin Zhao asked, "What kind of people? What's second brother's attitude?"

"All kinds of people, there are young wives who just lost their husbands, widows with daughters, even some who just turned eighteen..." Lin Shichang said patiently.

Lin Zhao: "!!"

So exciting!

She hadn't been back to her maiden home for only a few days.

"Second brother suddenly became a hot commodity!"

Lin Shichang was very clear-headed, "It's not him that's hot, it's the transport team job that's hot!"

Lin Zhao was silent for a moment, "What's second brother's attitude?"

"Xiao Er has no interest." Lin Shichang said, "He said marriage is too bitter, too oppressive, he doesn't want to marry for the rest of his life. Anyway, he has two daughters, the task of continuing the family line is considered complete, whether he marries or not is fine, he chooses not to."

He was a bit worried; he had a happy family, and he hoped his brother would too, he was afraid his brother would be lonely in the future.

"What's Father and Mother's attitude?" Lin Zhao asked again.

"Father said let him be, as long as Xiao Er is comfortable." Lin Shichang said, "Mother and Father have the same meaning."

Lin Zhao finished braiding her daughter's hair, her smile bright, "Father and Mother are truly great, I also want to be such an enlightened parent."

She rubbed her nose against Seeing Yaobao's little face, her voice soft, "Our Seeing Yaobao is the same, do whatever you want, as long as you're happy."

Seeing Yaobao raised her little fleshy hand to touch her braid, her smile very sweet, "Cub is happy."