Chapter 258: Never forgot your kindness

"If it weren't true, could it be fake?" Lin Zhao didn't answer but asked, looking at him with a smile.

Gu Hangbao jumped three feet high, let out a scream, and said excitedly: "I want to bring my new clothes, and my new shoes."

"Hat, gloves, and scarf, and my bag too." Xiang Yubao added.

"Right, right, right." Gu Hangbao echoed, spinning in place, a bit unsure where to start.

"Don't panic first, let's take the clothes first." Xiang Yubao's emotions were very stable, saying to his brother.

"Uh-huh." Seeing his brother was very calm, Gu Hangbao was influenced and calmed down too.

Lin Zhao ruffled the second cub's short hair, "When you encounter a little thing, you're like a headless fly; learn from your brother, how steady he is."

Gu Hangbao stood next to his brother and proudly puffed out his chest.

"My brother is the best."

After praising his brother, he said without any inferiority: "I'm the younger brother, it's nothing if I'm not steady; my brother will remind me, right brother?"

Xiang Yubao was busy, but didn't forget to respond to his brother, "Right, who told you to be my younger brother."

Getting this sentence from his brother, Gu Hangbao was happy enough to go to heaven.

Lin Zhao watched Gu Hangbao stick to Xiang Yubao and patted his head, "Alright, stop bothering your brother; you help pack too, don't just stand there."

Gu Hangbao hurried to help.

"Don't bring things you shouldn't, okay." Lin Zhao was afraid they would move the whole house to the Dongfeng Brigade, so she reminded them.

Xiang Yubao looked up, "What's called things we shouldn't bring?"

"For example, the soccer ball." Lin Zhao stared at the soccer ball the twins were stuffing into the bag.

Xiang Yubao knitted his brows, "The soccer ball is useful; we want to play with Brother Dadan and the others?"

"Right." Gu Hangbao supported his brother, looking at Lin Zhao seriously, "Dadan and the others have never played."

"It's New Year's, where do you two have time to play soccer? Leave it at home, play with Brother Dadan and the others after the New Year." Lin Zhao said.

"No!" Gu Hangbao hugged the soccer ball, his face full of unwillingness.

He was so anxious his hair stood up.

"Playing for an hour is good too, I want to bring it." His eyes were pleading.

Xiang Yubao's mind wavered; seeing his brother really wanted to bring it, he swallowed the words that came to his mouth, hesitated, and said: "If we play ball, it won't be as cold outside."

He even knew how to be circuitous.

Both cubs wanted to bring it, so what could Lin Zhao say, "If you want to bring it, bring it; you two carry your own things."

Gu Hangbao's face fell.

The look in his eyes toward Lin Zhao appeared resentful.

"Mom~~!!!"

Lin Zhao made a gesture to stop, "Calling Grandpa, Grandma, and Dad is useless; the things I want to bring aren't few either."

After speaking, she turned and left.

Gu Hangbao froze on the spot.

"Brother, look at Mom!" He stomped his feet, his tone revealing dissatisfaction.

"Mom isn't wrong; carry your own things." Xiang Yubao's expression was serious.

Gu Hangbao didn't make a sound, obediently packing his things.

Not long after, he looked at Xiang Yubao, "... Brother, aren't you helping me?"

"Helping." Xiang Yubao said, "We help each other."

Gu Hangbao breathed a sigh of relief; his original intention was—if the things were too heavy, let his brother help him lift them.

Lin Zhao had just left the children's room when she remembered something and turned back.

"Xiang Yubao, Gu Hangbao, your father prepared new clothes for you; do you two want to see them?"

Hearing this, Xiang Yubao and Gu Hangbao put down their things and greeted her, their identical faces full of the same anticipation.

"Want to see." The little brothers said almost in unison.

"They're in my room."

The two little friends rushed out; when they reached the door, the little brothers' shoulders bumped, and both their bodies swayed.

"Brother, you bumped into me!" Gu Hangbao said.

Xiang Yubao retorted, "You bumped into me too!"

"Then we're even." Gu Hangbao laughed, looking very good-tempered.

Xiang Yubao pulled him, and the brothers walked out of the room one after the other, heading straight into their father and mother's room.

Lin Zhao: "..."

The things Gu Chenghuai entrusted his fourth uncle to bring back were placed on the table in the main room.

After the twins went in, they could see them at a glance.

"Wow, a pink cotton skirt!!" Gu Hangbao's raised tone rang out.

Xiang Yubao also said wow, "There's even fluff on it; little sister will definitely like it."

The clothes for his wife and children were made by someone Gu Chenghuai specifically found.

—The tailor was a military wife; she and her husband were both from the countryside, the pressure from both their original families was high, and there were many children in the family, so life was difficult. Fortunately, the military wife knew how to make clothes and also knew some embroidery, occasionally taking on clothes to earn some food for the family.

After learning from Gu Chenghuai what kind of person Lin Zhao was, the five sets of clothes immediately appeared in her mind. After telling Gu Chenghuai her ideas and getting his consent, she started making them.

The final product was naturally satisfying.

Otherwise, Battalion Commander Gu wouldn't have begged his fourth uncle to bring them back.

All these things were told to Lin Zhao by Meng Jiusi.

For example, the fluff on her and Seeing Yaobao's clothes was rabbit fur Gu Chenghuai had hunted himself.

"My clothes have them too." Lin Zhao said to the twins.

Xiang Yubao spread out his clothes and said: "Mine don't."

"Mine don't either." Gu Hangbao didn't let a single sentence drop, immediately following up, pouting his small mouth and saying: "Dad is biased!"

"?"

Lin Zhao wanted to confiscate his new clothes.

Xiang Yubao vindicated his father, "We are upright men, what fluff to sew on clothes, I don't want it."

Hearing this, Gu Hangbao chuckled and scratched his head, "That's right."

The attack was too swift!

But, when he saw the fluff on his younger brother's clothes, he questioned: "Why does Qian Bao have it on his clothes too?!"

Xiang Yubao said dryly: "... Because Qian Bao is small."

"No." Jingmo looked at him and shattered his fantasy, "Because there wasn't enough rabbit fur, so you two don't have any."

Meng Jiusi brought the twins back, and just as he reached the door, he heard this; his footsteps paused, and after a moment, he walked into the room steadily.

"Xiang Yubao, Gu Hangbao, if you two like fluff, Little Uncle will give you some."

He explained, "Your father didn't hunt many rabbits; the rabbit fur was only enough to make them for your mother and younger brother and sister. He prepared something else for you two; you two flip through it."

A few words soothed the twins' scattered hearts.

The little brothers went to flip through the luggage.

Then they took out a wooden toy.

The two cubs looked closely, it was a wooden gun.

"Gun! It's a gun!!" Gu Hangbao's eyes were excited.

"Right, a wooden gun, your father made it for you himself." Meng Jiusi said.

He watched his brother-in-law make it with his own eyes.

No way, that guy made it in his courtyard, doing a little bit every day, and even mooching food and drink after he finished.

Gu Hangbao held the wooden gun in his right hand, shooting 'biubiu' at the wall, simulating the sound with his mouth.

"I like this gift, Dad is really good."

Lin Zhao pinched his face and pulled it lightly to the left and right, "Worldly Gu Zhiheng, missing a bit of rabbit fur, you say Dad is biased; giving you a separate gift, you say Dad is really good."

"How can there be such a realistic little friend like you?"

Gu Hangbao raised his small face and said reasonably, "It's what Mom said, treat everyone equally."

"Okay, treat everyone equally, there is rabbit fur at home, I'll sew it onto your and your brother's collars, do you want it or not?" Lin Zhao looked at him with a smile that wasn't a smile.

"No, no, I have a scarf, I don't want that, only little friends like that, I'm a big friend now!"

Heh.

Then you're making a fuss.

Lin Zhao's gaze shifted to Xiang Yubao's face, and Xiang Yubao shook his head, "I don't want it either."

He emphasized, "I didn't want it in the first place!"

Seeing Yaobao loved brightly colored things; seeing that red skirt, she held it in her arms and wouldn't let go.

"I want it!!" She suddenly spoke.

Lin Zhao looked at her, only to see the little milk ball putting the clothes on herself; the child, not even reaching her knees, had short arms and short legs, and the way she put them on was called difficult.

"Pfft..." Lin Zhao couldn't help but laugh.

"Seeing Yaobao, you want to wear the new skirt?"

Seeing Yaobao nodded her small head a few times, and said in a milky voice: "Want to wear, wear..."

She gave the clothes to Lin Zhao and consciously stretched out her two arms.

Lin Zhao was helpless, "You want to change now?"

This skirt was thick, slightly long, with fluffy collars and cuffs, a diagonal placket, and red bow buttons, a bit like a disc button. Besides this top, there were also bright red fleece-lined pants, which felt very soft, and the bottom was tightened, like a small lantern.

Just looking at the clothes, one could imagine how cute the little girl would be wearing them.

Seeing Yaobao urged, "Want to change."

While speaking, she stretched her arms out wider.

Lin Zhao didn't try to persuade her much, "That's fine."

She deftly changed Seeing Yaobao into the cotton-padded clothes her father had someone make.

These clothes really suited her; the already exquisite and beautiful baby girl became even cuter.

"Beautiful, little sister looks beautiful in these clothes." Xiang Yubao praised first.

He reached out to touch the fluff on the collar, laughing and teasing his little sister, "Seeing Yaobao, is the fluff comfortable?"

"Mm-hmm." Seeing Yaobao's liking was obvious, the corners of her mouth lifting.

Meng Jiusi said: "These clothes suit Seeing Yaobao."

Little girls are still suited for such fresh colors; those black, gray, and blue ones, it's okay for men to wear, but girls don't have any vitality wearing them.

"It is beautiful, but children grow fast, I'm afraid she won't be able to wear this set by next year." Lin Zhao said.

"If she can't wear it, she can't wear it, we'll just buy new ones then." Meng Jiusi said indifferently, "Just consider it taking care of that military wife."

He pinched the small tuft on Seeing Yaobao's head, his voice extremely gentle, "I'll entrust someone to make a set for Seeing Yaobao every year from now on."

Gu Hangbao asked without standing on ceremony: "Little Uncle, is there one for us?"

"Yes." Meng Jiusi's eyes were gentle.

He teased his nephew, "I wouldn't dare not prepare one for you; if I didn't prepare one, I'd become that biased uncle!"

Hearing this, Gu Hangbao felt embarrassed for a rare moment, drawing circles on the ground with his toes.

Twisting his body, he shouted with a wavy tone: "Little Uncle~~!!"

"Alright, alright, I won't say it." Meng Jiusi's expression was doting.

He looked at Lin Zhao, "Zhaozhao, how are the things prepared?"

"I'm about done here." Lin Zhao answered.

She asked the twins, "Xiang Yubao, Gu Hangbao, how about you two? It's time to set off."

"Right away, right away, give us two minutes." Xiang Yubao said quickly, pulling Gu Hangbao to rush out of his father and mother's room, returning to their room to continue packing.

The two cubs didn't drag their feet anymore and packed very quickly.

Not long after, each dragged out a large bag.

Lin Zhao: "..."

How is this any different from moving house?!

Noticing her gaze, Xiang Yubao felt very guilty, his eyes shifting.

"Little Uncle, how are we going back?" He pretended to be calm and took the initiative to ask Meng Jiusi.

"By ox cart." Meng Jiusi took Xiang Yubao's bag and picked up Gu Hangbao's.

He said: "I made an appointment for an ox cart from the neighboring brigade; the grandpa driving the cart is waiting at the entrance of the village."

Hearing there was an ox cart, the little brothers immediately became calm.

There's an ox cart, it's fine to bring a bit more stuff.

"Have you ridden an ox cart before?" Meng Jiusi asked the two cubs.

"We have." Xiang Yubao said.

"You two lead your younger brother and sister to the village entrance." Meng Jiusi instructed the twins.

Xiang Yubao signaled to Gu Hangbao.

The two led their younger brother and sister out the door.

Da Huang, carrying Xiao Jin, and Hu Po followed.

Gu Hangbao turned his head, "Mom, Da Huang...?"

"Together with us." Lin Zhao said, "Of course the reunion dinner should be as complete as possible."

The careful Xiang Yubao asked: "Did you bring food for Da Huang and the others?"

"... I brought it." What a worrying cub.

Xiang Yubao set his heart at ease, called Da Huang and Hu Po in a light tone, and made a gesture to set off.

The two dogs' tails spun wildly, and they rushed out.

Xiao Jin, who was on Da Huang's head, was almost thrown off.

Fortunately, the little golden monkey had a flexible body and stabilized itself.

"Xiao Jin is amazing!!" Gu Hangbao felt Xiao Jin's move just now was really cool and praised loudly.

The little golden monkey heard the sound and turned its head, its eyes clear and agile.

"This monkey's courage has grown." Meng Jiusi said.

He looked at Lin Zhao and praised with a smile: "You have a knack for raising anything."

Lin Zhao didn't stand on ceremony, "That's right."

"Aunt, when will Xiao Jin be willing to let me hold it?" Jingmo looked at the little golden monkey jumping on Xiang Yubao's shoulder, his eyes extremely greedy.

"Wait until we get home, you feed it, and it should be willing to let you hold it."

Jingmo's eyes brightened, "Really? I fed it every day before, but it wouldn't let me touch it."

He could only touch it occasionally.

"Really." Lin Zhao said, "Xiao Jin was timid before and didn't like strangers touching it. Now its courage has grown a bit; if it's in a good mood, it will agree if you want to hold it."

"That's great, I'll feed it when I get back." Jingmo clenched his hands, cheering himself on.

"Don't feed it too much; Xiang Yubao and Gu Hangbao feed it secretly, and I see its weight is a bit over the limit." Lin Zhao reminded.

Jingmo agreed.

The group arrived at the village entrance, the ox cart from the neighboring brigade was parked there, and Old Zhuang, who was driving the cart, was also there.

He was talking to the twins with a face full of affection.

Meng Jiusi's expression was apologetic, "Sorry to keep you waiting."

"It's nothing." Old Zhuang waved his hands a few times, "It's only right."

He looked at Lin Zhao, his gaze grateful, "Thanks to Comrade Lin, our brigade has earned quite a bit from mushrooms, and everyone can have a bountiful New Year."

Lin Zhao was slightly stunned.

How is this still her business?

"I didn't do anything; it's your diligence and steadiness... that allowed you to live a good life." She said seriously.

"No, no, no, you were the one who started it; your father told us. You are a good comrade, you've made something of yourself, and you haven't forgotten your fellow villagers; the members of our brigade all say they want to thank you." Old Zhuang said.

The father here refers to Gu Father.

Old Zhuang took the initiative to help, put away the things Lin Zhao brought, and helped Xiang Yubao, Gu Hangbao, Jingmo, and Guangbai sit down.

"Thank you, Grandpa Zhuang." The children thanked him politely.

Old Zhuang smiled until his mouth couldn't close, "Good children."

It's a pity he didn't have candy in his pocket, otherwise he would have wanted to stuff a few for every doll.

Seeing the children sit down, Old Zhuang added: "The ox cart has just been washed, and the straw spread is clean; it won't dirty your clothes."

Lin Zhao: "Sorry to trouble you."

"It's nothing, it's nothing." Old Zhuang laughed happily.

"I heard I was going to pick you and your four children up, so the people in the village washed it voluntarily, and even the straw was spread by them in the early morning; everyone hasn't forgotten your kindness." ===== CHAPTER 259 =====