Chapter 23: Accomplish Good Things

It was still early, so Lin Zhao chatted with her old classmate for a while. With popsicles to relieve the heat and standing in the shade, it was barely tolerable.

"You've changed a lot compared to before." Lin Zhao's expression was appreciative, her tone light and rising.

Facing the appreciation of a great beauty, Guo Meizhu didn't know where to put her hands and feet.

"H-have I?" the girl, who was sharp and spicy when working, said uncomfortably.

"Yes, you're glowing with confidence now." Lin Zhao's brows and eyes were earnest.

Guo Meizhu's face burned.

Confident?

... Am I?!

"Thank you." She said with a red face, her whole face shining.

The one praising her was Lin Zhao!

Guo Meizhu remembered things from when they were in school—

Her father was transferred here, and she transferred schools with him. When she first arrived, she had an accent and couldn't even understand the lessons. Other students were in twos and threes, but her personality wasn't exactly outgoing, and she didn't even have anyone to talk to, always alone.

And Lin Zhao at that time, although a girl from the countryside, was good-looking, studied well, and had a good personality. She could chat with anyone and was particularly popular, a shining existence.

Later, she was lucky enough to become desk-mates with Lin Zhao and received a lot of help from her.

For a long time, they had a very good relationship.

After graduating from high school, her family arranged a job for her, and she became a ticket seller at the cinema, while Lin Zhao returned to the countryside, which reduced their meetings.

Looking at it now, Zhao Zhao was already a mother, but her skin was white and delicate, and her smile was warm and bright, still the same as when she was in school; she shouldn't have suffered.

Guo Meizhu was happy for her.

"Come find me if you want to watch a movie in the future; I can still save a few tickets."

Lin Zhao didn't know that in just a few breaths, her old classmate had remembered things from school. She said with a smile: "Alright, thank you first."

"It's getting late, you guys hurry in." Guo Meizhu looked at her watch; the showtime was coming, and she urged them to go in.

"Alright then, we'll go in first and chat when we have a chance." She was also about to have a job, so there would be plenty of chances to meet.

"Yes!" Guo Meizhu responded lightly.

Lin Zhao took the two cubs to the screening hall.

The second cub was chattering, his lively big eyes turning constantly, his mouth not stopping.

The elder cub, on the other hand, was quiet, not making a sound.

Lin Zhao saw that her good eldest son had something on his mind, so she asked: "Why aren't you talking?"

The elder cub looked up at her, "Mama, is the thing that auntie was wearing on her hand a watch?"

"Yes, that's a watch." Lin Zhao said.

Speaking of watches, her expression was complicated.

A watch had once appeared before her, but she hadn't cherished it and even scolded Gu Chenghuai for burning money. She really regretted it now; with money but no tickets, she couldn't buy one.

Don't think about it; thinking about it made her heart burn with regret.

"How did you know that was a watch?"

The second cub explained on his behalf: "Little Aunt keeps pestering Grandma to buy her one, and Brother and I have heard it several times."

Lin Zhao's eyes were sarcastic, but she didn't say anything.

Gu Xing'er really had the temperament of a young lady but the fate of a maid.

But wasn't all her willfulness dependent on her third brother who was a soldier?

Now that Gu Chenghuai had let go and didn't care, let's see how she would act out.

"Why doesn't Mama have a watch? Is it because Father won't buy you one?" The elder cub looked stern, his expression dissatisfied.

"No, it's because I don't want one; I don't think I need it." Lin Zhao explained. Gu Chenghuai was very willing to spend money on her; she wouldn't let the elder and second cubs misunderstand their father.

It was she who had been too stingy before, only thinking about saving money.

So the numbers in her family's passbook were quite impressive.

"You need one; Mama is pretty, and you'll look even prettier wearing a watch." The elder cub said earnestly, "When Mama goes to work, a watch will be very useful."

When Little Aunt tricked Grandma into buying a watch, she said she needed a watch for school and needed to tell time.

Mama also needed to tell time when she went to work.

"Buying a watch requires a watch ticket. Once I get a ticket, I'll buy one." Lin Zhao touched the elder cub's slightly fair little face, her heart feeling soft.

People said some children came to repay kindness; her cubs were all like that.

The elder cub was relieved, "Mm."

Lin Zhao found their seats with her two sons and sat down.

The children were at the cinema for the first time, their eyes looking around, unable to take them back.

They were very well-behaved; even if they were surprised, they didn't shout or scream, just looking at everything around them with those bright, clean eyes.

Until...

The lights all around dimmed.

The moment the lights went out, Lin Zhao turned sideways, half-hugging her two sons, holding their hands tightly, and said softly: "Don't be afraid, the movie is about to play, so the lights have to be turned off."

She was explaining when several beams of light lit up, and the picture appeared. The people sitting in their seats instantly quieted down, and even the most lively and active children stopped talking, looking at the screen with bright eyes.

This movie was called "Tunnel Warfare," 96 minutes long, and had just been released on New Year's Day this year.

At the same time, at the Lin family.

The room where the second branch lived.

It was rest time, but Lin Shisheng didn't lie down. He sat on the edge of the bed, looked at the woman who was mending clothes, and said: "I see the clothes on Xuanxuan and Zhengzheng are torn beyond recognition. Didn't Mother give you fabric? Make them some clothes."

Hearing this, Qiu Lian's hand shook, and the needle pierced her left index finger, the pain piercing her heart.

She hissed, a flash of guilt in her lowered eyes, and tried hard to keep calm, smiling reluctantly: "No rush, make them when it gets cold."

"Make them now." Lin Shisheng said, "I remember their cotton-padded clothes can still be worn, but their summer clothes can't be worn anymore. Besides, that bit of fabric isn't enough to make cotton-padded clothes."

"Make them in these few days; Mother said she wants to take a look." His tone was very hard.

Qiu Lian's face turned pale.

The fabric had been given to her maternal niece; what could she use to make them?

And Mother-in-law wanted to see...

Her heart was thumping wildly with fear, and on such a hot day, she shivered violently.

"Is there a problem?" Cold light flashed in Lin Shisheng's eyes as he pursued the question.

Qiu Lian hurriedly said: "No, no, I'll make them, I'll make them."

Lin Shisheng had checked last night; the fabric his mother gave the two daughters was indeed missing. Out of consideration for Lin Xuan and Lin Zheng, he couldn't do anything to this woman for the time being, but how much she stole, she would have to return.

Time slipped away.

The movie ended, and the people in the cinema stood up and left one after another.

Lin Zhao didn't rush out with the two children; she waited until the people had mostly left before taking her sons out of the cinema.

On this not-long, not-short road, the elder and second cubs didn't speak; the two children were still immersed in the movie plot and couldn't come back to their senses for a long time.

Truly cute, exactly the same state as she was after watching her first movie in life.

Dazed.

"It's getting late, the road is long, we have to hurry back." Lin Zhao said.

The elder cub came back to his senses: "Alright."

The second cub's eyes were very bright, and he softened his voice to act spoiled: "Mama, I haven't seen enough, can we watch it again tomorrow?"

"No!" Before Lin Zhao could speak, the elder cub denied his younger brother's request first, "Mama has business tomorrow!"

His expression was extremely serious, "Mama's work is important; you're not allowed to make trouble!"

The second cub also remembered his mother had business tomorrow and didn't make a fuss about watching it tomorrow. He looked up with his cute little face, his tone pleading: "Mama, when you have time, can you take Brother and me to watch it again? I haven't seen enough."

This was a small matter. Lin Zhao was someone who spoiled her cubs and naturally wouldn't refuse.

"Alright, I'll take you when I have time. Don't rush; there are plenty of good movies. As long as you are well-behaved and don't cause trouble, I'll take you to watch them the first time a new movie is released."

The second cub happily hugged his mother.

"Mama is so good~ Mama is the best, best Mama in the whole team~~" His happy voice floated up.

The elder cub also wanted to hug Mama, but his ears turned red before he could, and in the end, he didn't hug her.

Lin Zhao took her two sons back to the team. When they arrived, the sun was gradually setting, and she could see half the sky in the west dyed red by the fiery sunset, stunningly beautiful.

At the entrance of the village, several aunts and sisters-in-law were talking with saliva flying, all looking spirited, not knowing whose gossip they were talking about.

Seeing Lin Zhao and the mother and three sons, the topic paused, and they greeted them with smiles.

"Chenghuai's wife is back from the county."

"Elder cub, second cub, was it fun in the county?"

"Gone for a whole day, must have visited quite a few places!"

"Did your mother take you to eat at that state-run restaurant?"

"These two cubs of the Gu family's third branch are wearing new clothes and look bright-eyed and clear-browed, just like their father."

The Harvest Production Team wasn't very close to the county, but it wasn't near either. A trip took more than half a day, and few people went. When they lacked things at home, they would ask acquaintances to bring them back.

People were naturally curious, and they were all very curious about everything in the county.

Facing the bean-spilling questions from everyone, the second cub wasn't timid at all, answering one by one with a smile on his face: "It was very fun in the county. Mama took Brother and me to the state-run restaurant, and also took us to see a movie. The movie was really good!"

The elder cub added: "We also talked on the phone with Father and said a lot of things!"

As for what was said on the phone, Lin Zhao had reminded the two cubs not to blurt it out, and the elder and second cubs naturally listened to their mother.

"Mama also bought us popsicles. Do you know what a popsicle is?"

He used his hands to gesture the size, "This big. When I first got it in my hand, it was still steaming, and when I ate it, it was icy cold, and I wasn't hot anymore."

Lin Zhao's eyes were helpless.

She had long known the second cub loved to show off, but why did the steady elder cub love to show off too?

In the gossiping crowd, an aunt wearing a gray patched jacket said in surprise: "Your mother actually was willing to take you to eat at the state-run restaurant and take you to see a movie; how much money did that cost!!!"

The second cub, who had a long mouth, said loudly: "Father said, a man must be able to support his wife and children; he can support us!"

Hearing this, a string of question marks appeared in Lin Zhao's mind.

Did the cubs' father say that?!

Glancing sideways, she saw the elder cub with a stern little face, nodding solemnly, and wondered if she had missed a sentence?

Hearing the second cub's answer, the gossiping aunts and sisters-in-law had nothing to say.

They cast complex looks at Lin Zhao.

Clearly, he was a good man from their team; why was he snatched away by someone from another village?!!

The aunts regretted not having introduced their own daughters to the Gu family's third son earlier.

Lin Zhao was anxious to see the twins and didn't care about the two cubs who were showing off endlessly, walking straight toward the old residence.

Before she had walked halfway, she ran into Su Yuxian.

Su Yuxian's steps were light, her mouth curled up, her cheeks flushed, her eyes brighter than ever, and she was surrounded by excitement.

Lin Zhao had never seen her like this; this was... she was about to accomplish good things with the male lead, right?

Su Yuxian looked up and also noticed Lin Zhao.

She walked over with a smile, her voice peaceful: "Lin Zhao."

"Are you going home?" Lin Zhao had a polite smile on her face, exchanging pleasantries.

"Mm." Su Yuxian said.

As if she had just thought of something, she smiled shyly and said: "I'm getting married soon."

Lin Zhao: "??"

Why was the female lead telling her she was getting married?

They didn't seem to be very close.

"Oh, congratulations." Lin Zhao was respectful but kept her distance from Su Yuxian and the Lu family she was marrying; she just wanted to stay far away from them.

"Will you come that day?"

Lin Zhao certainly wouldn't go.

She was cannon fodder; where would she take the initiative to bump into them?

"... Yes." As if.

Su Yuxian smiled, "That's good."

She wanted Lin Zhao to witness the beginning of her happiness.

Just then, Gu Mu walked over.

Not having seen the elder and second cubs all day, she was so worried she had no heart to do anything.

"Third daughter-in-law, you're back! Where are the elder and second cubs?"

"They went to play with other children." Lin Zhao nodded to Su Yuxian, walked toward her mother-in-law, and asked: "Did the third and fourth cubs make a fuss?"

"No." Gu Mu smiled.

Tie Dan had been taught a lesson yesterday and had learned his lesson today; not only was he not mischievous, but he also helped take care of the two cubs.

Gu Mu and Lin Zhao walked toward the old residence.

Gu Mu saw that her third daughter-in-law had a faint smile on her face and was in a good mood. After hesitating for a moment, she asked: "... Did that girl from the Su family have something to do with you?"

"Nothing big, just said she was getting married and wanted to invite me." Lin Zhao didn't hide it.

"Are you going?" Gu Mu said.

Lin Zhao sensed her mother-in-law's reluctance for her to go, so she said: "You don't want me to go, Mother?"

"It's not that." Gu Mu was afraid her tone was too strong and would have the opposite effect, so she softened her voice: "I just feel that girl from the Su family has an impure heart."

How could someone like Liao Hongjuan teach a daughter with a good personality? She didn't believe it.

Lin Zhao smiled, "I didn't intend to go; I'm very busy."

Gu Mu: "..." What are you busy with? This explanation wasn't strictly necessary.

"Mm." She responded with a strange expression.

Lin Zhao didn't explain.

She planned to talk about the job after it was settled to avoid any mishaps.

Don't blame her for being cautious; there were too many people who became enemies because of jobs in this era; she had to be on guard.

"Mother, who is Su Yuxian marrying? I haven't heard of her going on any blind dates." Lin Zhao asked knowingly.

She knew from the book that the person Su Yuxian married was a future military bigwig, with good conditions and a handsome appearance; the only drawback was that he had a drag-along child.

She didn't know these things in reality.

Gu Mu said: "The soldier boy from the Lu family, the one whose first wife died in childbirth."

"How did they meet?" These weren't written in the book; Lin Zhao really didn't know.

"This matter isn't decent." Seeing her third daughter-in-law was curious, Gu Mu said: "I heard it was that girl from the Su family who was forward, borrowing letters to keep in touch with the Lu boy, and it's been several years..."

Lin Zhao suddenly understood.

She went to the old residence to pick up the twins and returned home.

She bathed and changed the little brother and sister's clothes when she got home.

The elder and second cubs finished showing off in the village and went straight to the old residence to share what they had seen and heard in the county with Tie Chui and the others.

"What? Third Aunt took you to eat at the state-run restaurant, and you ate shredded meat noodles and two other dishes?!" Tie Dan exclaimed, the tears of envy flowing from the corners of his mouth.

"That's the state-run restaurant!! I don't even know what it looks like!!" ===== CHAPTER 24 =====