Chapter 259: The difference between one and N

"I said, it's your own hard work, it doesn't have much to do with me." Lin Zhao's tone was light.

Old Zhuang didn't mind, he knew Comrade Lin was a good person, and the brigades in the whole commune felt the same way.

A flash of pride crossed Meng Meng Jiusi's eyes, and he looked at him apologetically, "My sister is a bit embarrassed."

"It's nothing, Comrade Lin is a city person, not used to the style of doing things in the village, understood." Old Zhuang waved his hand.

Lin Zhao: Huh?

What are they saying?!

She really didn't feel that she had much merit. The mushroom planting technology was painstakingly practiced by Gu Father, she only provided a guide on paper, which didn't count for much.

What did Grandpa Zhuang say, kindness? This is too exaggerated!

Meng Meng Jiusi helped Lin Zhao sit on the ox cart, and he sat on it himself.

And chatted with Old Zhuang.

"Uncle Zhuang, you've prepared all the New Year's goods at home, right?"

Old Zhuang looked back, saw that everyone on the ox cart was sitting steadily, and flicked the whip, the whip breaking through the air with a crisp sound.

The ox hooves left the spot.

He answered Meng Meng Jiusi's question, "Prepared, all prepared!"

"With extra money at home, every household has cut meat!"

Old Zhuang's old face was full of smiles.

"For the New Year, my family also has meat." Gu Hangbao moved forward and took the initiative to join the conversation.

"Right, there must be meat for the New Year. After a year of hard work, adults have to reward themselves, and the dolls have to taste the meat." Old Zhuang agreed.

"Little kids all like meat." Gu Hangbao said a useless sentence, then said his real purpose.

"Grandpa Zhuang, is it hard to drive an ox cart?"

Old Zhuang turned to look at him, his kind old face smiling into wrinkles.

"What? You want to learn?"

Gu Hangbao didn't expect his purpose to be exposed so quickly, and smiled awkwardly.

He stretched out his hand, compared his thumb and little finger together, and giggled, "A little bit."

"Even if you want to, you can't." Old Zhuangtou shook his head and refused him, fearing the child would be unhappy, and even explained: "You are too small, you can't learn. When you grow a few more years, if you still want to learn, I'll teach you."

Gu Hangbao looked at his white hair, and after a while, said: "Then eat well and drink well, be healthy, wait for me to come find you."

It's no wonder Gu Hangbao is like this, after the weather turned cold, an old man in the Harvest Brigade passed away, and the twins understood for the first time that people leave when they get old.

Because of this, Xiang Yubao, Gu Hangbao, and Li Bao huddled together and cried quietly.

Those few days they were exceptionally clingy to their grandparents.

Old Zhuangtou didn't know about this, he only felt warmed.

"Alright, I'll eat well and drink well, be healthy and wait for you to grow up... to find me to learn to drive an ox cart."

Gu Hangbao bloomed with joy, "Then it's a deal."

"It's a deal." Old Zhuangtou also indulged him.

Such a clean-looking, cheerful, generous, and polite child, no one would not like him.

Gu Hangbao was full of curiosity about the ox cart, and as he talked, he rubbed up to Old Zhuangtou's side and sat side by side with him.

"Grandpa Zhuang, you say driving an ox cart is the same as driving a car?"

Old Zhuangtou: How would he know this?

But he pondered, it should be the same principle, right?!

"... This Grandpa doesn't know, when you grow up, learn to drive an ox cart, and then learn to drive a car, you'll know if it's the same or not."

Gu Hangbao felt Grandpa Zhuang's words made sense, and said: "Mm-hmm, when I know, I'll tell you."

Listening to him say 'you' one by one, Lin Zhao said to Xiang Yubao who was sitting quietly by her side: "Treasure, when talking to someone as old as your grandpa, you can't say 'you' and 'your', you must say 'you' (polite form), saying 'you' (informal) is very impolite, after getting off the cart, tell Gu Hangbao what I said, you know?"

"I know." Xiang Yubao nodded obediently.

"Just like giving things to Grandpa with both hands, right?" He looked at his mother seeking praise.

"Right." Lin Zhao praised him as the big cub wished, "Good memory, good habits must be cultivated from a young age, Xiang Yubao, you did very well."

Xiang Yubao smiled until his eyes curved, and imitating his mother's manner, whispered: "I will supervise my younger brother and sister, and let them also be polite children."

"I believe you." Lin Zhao hugged his shoulder with one hand and rubbed his head smoothly.

Meng Jingmo and the others sitting on the cart were thoughtful and also kept it in mind.

Meng Meng Jiusi watched his sister teaching the children, and a proud smile appeared in his dark eyes.

Zhaozhao taught the children really well.

Noticing the gaze drifting over from Meng Meng Jiusi, Lin Zhao looked over, "What's wrong?"

"You taught the children very well." Meng Meng Jiusi gave praise.

That expression was as if he was looking at some parenting expert.

Lin Zhao was silent for a moment.

"I don't have any parenting experience, I just teach them how Mom and Dad taught me."

Meng Meng Jiusi was slightly startled.

Did Mom and Dad also teach Zhaozhao and the others like this?

Inexplicably, scenes flashed through his mind, and he suddenly felt that with such enlightened parents, the childhood of Eldest Brother, Second Brother, Third Brother, and Zhaozhao and the others must have been very good.

A bit envious, and a bit regretful.

"Really good."

Lin Zhao felt her little brother's heart surging, and changed the subject, "Little Brother, who is making our family's reunion dinner this year?"

"Dad said he'd make it." Meng Meng Jiusi thought about how Mom and Dad were also very caring toward him, the regret in his heart faded, leaving only joy.

"Dad also said, whatever we like, he'll make it." He added.

Lin Zhao was very expectant, "Haven't eaten Dad's cooking for a long time, really miss it, I'll definitely eat a few more bites tonight."

The supply and marketing cooperative was so busy before the New Year that she didn't even have time to go back to her maiden home!

"Eat boldly, I've prepared something for digestion." Meng Meng Jiusi said.

"I forgot to ask, how is your work, Little Brother?" Lin Zhao asked with concern.

Just after asking, she remembered that Meng Meng Jiusi worked at the military district hospital, and work should be kept confidential.

She hurriedly added: "I forgot your work has changes, consider I didn't say anything."

Meng Meng Jiusi couldn't laugh or cry, "It's not like I can't mention a single word."

"I'm doing quite well, more comfortable than my previous work. The military camp is very quiet, I adapted very quickly, you don't need to worry."

He took the initiative to say: "My education is alright, my medical skills are passable, my salary is also quite considerable, and there are rewards for developing new medicines. The place I live is not far from the hospital, the military camp has a school, it's convenient for Meng Jingmo and Meng Guangbai to go to school, and there's a supply and marketing cooperative, basic things can be bought..."

If you want to buy something rare, you have to take a car to the city.

Just like the cowhide soft-furred cotton shoes he gave the four cubs, they were bought in a rush in the city.

Meng Meng Jiusi told Lin Zhao more meticulously about the things he had written in his letters to his sister.

After all, Zhaozhao would follow the army sooner or later.

Meng Jingmo and Meng Guangbai added from time to time, telling quite a few interesting things.

Later, they were talking enthusiastically, and Gu Hangbao, who was chatting with Old Zhuangtou, couldn't sit still and moved back.

From time to time, he asked about his father and Maodan.

Hearing Meng Jingmo say that there were retired military dogs in the military camp, the twins' pupils widened.

"Have you seen them?" Xiang Yubao asked Meng Jingmo.

"I have." Meng Jingmo said calmly.

"Meng Xiaobai and I wanted to adopt one, but my father's work is too busy, we can't raise one for the time being." Disappointment overflowed in his words.

Meng Meng Jiusi patted his son's shoulder and comforted him: "There will be an opportunity for you to adopt one in the future."

He had concerns, "Adopting a military dog is not a simple matter, if you want to adopt them, you must be fully prepared, that is a life, a life whose life and death are entrusted to us humans, it cannot be decided carelessly."

"Your great-grandfather and I are busy with work, you and Meng Xiaobai are at school, our family rarely even lights a fire, how can we raise a dog?"

Meng Meng Jiusi listed the difficulties of raising a dog one by one to his two sons.

Meng Xiaobai pointed to Seeing Da Huang and Hu Po running freely following the ox cart, without even needing to speak, Meng Meng Jiusi could guess what he meant.

Meng Meng Jiusi said helplessly: "If your aunt and the others are busy, there are still people from the Gu family to take care of Seeing Da Huang and Hu Po."

Their family didn't have deep roots in the military, and when he and Grandpa were busy, there was no one to even bring Meng Xiaobai, let alone a dog.

Meng Xiaobai lowered his eyes, "Oh."

He could only hug the little golden monkey tightly, drawing warmth from it.

He also really wanted to raise a little partner.

Xiang Yubao touched Meng Xiaobai's head, comforting his little cousin, "When we also go to follow the army, you can raise one. If you are busy, Gu Hangbao and I can help."

Meng Xiaobai raised his head, his black eyes bright.

Knowing that raising a dog had to be asked of the parents, he looked at Lin Zhao.

Meng Jingmo feigned calmness, but couldn't help but cast his gaze toward his aunt.

Lin Zhao nodded, "Sure, you can raise one each when the time comes."

Getting a definite answer, Meng Jingmo and Meng Guangbai were both happy.

The brothers leaned shoulder to shoulder, discussing which hero dog to raise.

Gu Hangbao held Lin Zhao's arm.

As soon as he came, Lin Zhao guessed that the second cub was going to make a request again.

"What kind of trouble are you going to make again? Little friend Gu Zhiheng."

Gu Hangbao giggled, "Mom, can we raise another military dog?"

Lin Zhao had long known that there was only a difference between one and N pets.

The family members would definitely become more and more numerous.

"Sure." She said, "One sheep is driving, a flock of sheep is also driving."

Moreover, she had a good impression of dogs that had performed meritorious service, and was willing to provide for these cute heroes in their "old age".

"Yay!!" Gu Hangbao was so happy he wanted to stand up, the ox cart swayed, his body tilted to the side, Meng Meng Jiusi supported him upright with quick eyes and fast hands.

"Slow down."

Gu Hangbao scratched his head, "I'm too happy."

Meng Meng Jiusi disagreed, "Even if you're happy, you can't disregard your own safety, it's not easy for your mother to bring you four alone, let her worry less."

Gu Hangbao took it to heart, sat down obediently, and grabbed the handrail.

He smiled at his little uncle, and made up for himself: "Uncle is here."

Meng Meng Jiusi's expression relaxed, "I know you're sensible."

Talking and laughing all the way, even that bit of bumping could be ignored.

The ox cart drove into the Dongfeng Brigade.

Meng Meng Jiusi pointed the way, and Old Zhuangtou drove the ox cart straight to the Lin family's door.

At this time, every household was busy pasting couplets, the village was filled with a lively New Year atmosphere everywhere, children were running and jumping, and laughter rose one after another.

"Zhaozhao, bringing the children back to your maiden home for the New Year?" The neighbor aunt greeted from afar.

Lin Zhao hugged Song Seeing Qian Bao and Seeing Yaobao off the ox cart, worried that the children's legs would be numb, and pressed them for them.

Hearing the question, she looked up and smiled: "Yes, my little brother is home for the New Year for the first time, we're having a reunion meal."

"It should indeed be eaten, it's a pity Lin Shifan didn't come back." The neighbor aunt felt it was a pity for the Lin family.

This is a rare reunion meal for the Lin family in decades.

"Your husband didn't come back either?"

Lin Zhao smiled, "Wearing that uniform, he can't help himself, he can't come back."

"You don't have it easy either." The neighbor sighed.

People in the village saw Seeing Da Huang and Hu Po were so mighty, looked at them being chubby, and gathered around curiously to look.

"These two dogs are raised really well, how are they fed?"

"The small one grows really fast, how long has it been since I last saw it, it's jumped so high! Oh my, look at its little appearance, it's even smarter than the big dog."

"What's moving in Xiang Yubao's arms, did a feather duster become a spirit?"

A group of people gathered around the ox cart, chattering, clicking their tongues in wonder.

Lin Lin Heling and Song Song Xiwei heard movement outside the door, and the couple came out.

Song Song Xiwei swept her gaze lightly, and the originally noisy crowd suddenly became a bit quiet, the people in the village were embarrassed to linger any longer and quickly dispersed.

Lin Zhao gave her mother a thumbs up, "Mom, it still has to be you, amazing."

Only then did a bit of a smile appear in Song Song Xiwei's eyes, she glanced at her reproachfully, and took Song Seeing Qian Bao and Seeing Yaobao.

Seeing Yaobao couldn't wait to show off her new clothes to her grandmother, her small voice crisp and loud, "Grandma, look!"

That expression, the desire to be praised was undisguised.

"Beautiful, Seeing Yaobao looks really beautiful wearing this." Song Song Xiwei followed her granddaughter's heart, but didn't forget Song Seeing Qian Bao, "Song Seeing Qian Bao is also spirited."

Song Seeing Qian Bao's little expression was calm.

Lin Lin Heling didn't stand still either, took Song Seeing Qian Bao, and talked to Old Zhuangtou.

Da Dan and the others were pasting window flowers in the room, heard the movement and came out to welcome their aunt, saw the things on the ox cart, and helped move them home.

Not long after, the ox cart became empty.

Old Zhuangtou also had things at home, didn't delay much, and was about to say goodbye.

The Lin family didn't force him to stay either. Lin Lin Shisheng ignored his obstruction, firmly stuffed the thank-you gift to him, and turned to run home.

"It's a thank-you gift, not walking through connections, bribing you, what's there that can't be accepted." Lin Lin Shisheng said while running, "Uncle, be careful on the way back, I won't see you off."

After finishing, the person had already run into the courtyard.

Old Zhuangtou couldn't refuse, so he had to drive the cart away.

Back home, opening the thank-you gift given by the Lin family, he realized it was a bag of fried meatballs inside.

He sighed, the Lin family is really kind.

In the main room of the Lin family, it was warm and cozy.

Lin Zhao felt her legs and feet were cold, didn't act like a stranger at all, got on the kang, held a hot enamel mug in her hand, leaned back comfortably, as free as she could be.

This kang was originally built for the frail Lin Lin Heling, and it was burned every year as soon as the weather turned cold, and it was hot at this moment too.

Meng Meng Jiusi was slightly startled, obviously not expecting his sister to be in this relaxed state with her parents.

"Really warm." Lin Zhao sighed with satisfaction.

At her maiden home, she herself was a child, she didn't need to bring children, Da Dan and the others helped her take care of them properly.

"Little Aunt, do you want a thermos?" Lin Xibao leaned over and asked thoughtfully.

"No. I'm a bit hungry, is there anything to eat?"

Sister Xuanxuan immediately followed up: "Yes! The meatballs Grandpa just fried, want to eat?"

"Help me get a few." Lin Zhao said without hesitation.

"Little Aunt wait, I'll go get them." The little girl went out of the room.

Song Song Xiwei looked at Lin Zhao sitting without a sitting posture, didn't say anything about her, only said: "If your legs and feet are cold, soak your feet with herbal medicine."

"It's alright, my body is very good." Lin Zhao said with a smile, "It's just that I didn't move on the way by car, and I got wind, it's a bit cold."

Meng Meng Jiusi walked up, held his sister's wrist and carefully took her pulse.

Indeed, there was nothing wrong.

Not to exaggerate, Zhaozhao's body was stronger than many people's.

"Body is good."

Lin Lin Shisheng interjected: "Zhaozhao has had a good body since she was a child, she hasn't even had a cold, she cherishes her life, if she feels a bit uncomfortable, she would have shouted it out early."

Lin Zhao said righteously, "If you are sick, you must treat it in time, avoiding the doctor is not allowed."

Meng Meng Jiusi agreed with this.

However—

"It's New Year's, let's not talk about this..." He gave his sister a red shrimp candy, "Eat a candy to sweeten your mouth."

Lin Zhao quite liked red shrimp candy, feeling it was more delicious than White Rabbit.

She also felt the previous topic was unlucky, happily accepted it, stuffed it into her mouth, and said vaguely: "You guys eat too, eat candy for the New Year, sweet for a whole year."