Chapter 30

"Bound to come"

Lin Shisheng found it funny, "How could I guess that."

"But your expression..."

He paused in his tone, carefully examining Lin Zhao's complexion; she was beaming, happier than when she had been admitted to high school back then.

It was definitely a great thing.

"Is your husband coming back?"

Lin Zhao shook her head, "He didn't say he was coming back."

"Then what else is worth you being this happy?" Lin Shisheng was truly puzzled.

For a moment, he wondered if it was a job.

But.

Zhao had been hurt by jobs when she first graduated, and since then, no one in the family mentioned the word 'job' again.

Another point was that jobs in the county were very hard to find, so it shouldn't be possible.

At this moment, Chen Yu came out of the room.

The topic was temporarily interrupted.

Lin Zhao greeted her with a smile, "Sister-in-law."

"Zhao is back, why didn't Gu Da Cai and the others come?" Chen Yu asked with concern.

"I thought it was too much trouble to bring them, so I didn't." Lin Zhao replied, then turned her head to Lin Mu and said, "Mom, put the watermelon in the well; it'll be icy cold when we eat it, even better."

Lin Mu said, "It's already been lowered."

"There's watermelon?" Lin Heling suddenly felt his head ache, but the pain vanished in an instant, and strange yet familiar images flashed through his mind.

A boy in a small suit holding a watermelon, and a pretty girl in a dress standing next to him.

Sunlight passed through the gaps in the camphor trees, dancing on their hair.

They looked at each other and smiled, their smiles bright.

In an instant.

Those two smiling faces dissipated rapidly like slow-motion footage in a movie.

Lin Heling looked dazed.

Song Xiwei saw his abnormality at a glance and asked, "What's wrong?"

"An image suddenly appeared in my mind." Lin Heling said, "And then it was gone again, just like before."

"If you can't remember, don't think about it. Don't force yourself, your head will hurt." Song Xiwei urged him worriedly.

Lin Heling felt helpless, "I know."

Lin Zhao's eyes were worried, "Is Dad okay?"

"It's an old problem, it's fine." Lin Heling said.

He didn't want Zhao to ask him about the past; after all, based on the memories he could vaguely recall, his original family was quite extraordinary, and such extraordinariness was not a good thing in the current social climate.

Everyone knew he was a poor man who had lost his past memories, so let them think that way; it was better for this family and better for the children.

Lin Zhao knew how tight-lipped her father was, so she didn't ask further, only saying, "I only have one father in this life, Dad, you must take good care of your health, otherwise I'll be very sad."

Lin Fu touched her head and said warmly, "That goes without saying, I'm still waiting for you to take me to the capital."

This was the big promise Lin Zhao had made to her parents when she was in middle school.

"I remember, Dad, you take care of your health, and when the time comes, I'll take you there to watch the flag-raising, climb the Great Wall, go to the People's Park (Summer Palace), go to the teahouse, go to the theater, eat roast duck..." Lin Zhao listed them one by one, her eyes as bright as lamps, "I'm also going to buy a courtyard house in the capital and bring you and Mom over."

Even Chen Yu was energized by what she said, "What's a courtyard house? A yard? Buying a yard under the Imperial City, that must be very expensive."

Lin Zhao couldn't directly say that it would open up in the future and the whole society would change, and by then there would be 'gold' everywhere. She could only vaguely say, "Maybe one day in the future, everyone will be able to make a lot of money."

Lin Heling didn't think Zhao was spouting nonsense. He pondered for a few seconds and agreed somewhat, saying, "What Zhao said is also possible. History is a cycle; it needs to develop, and it cannot, and will not, remain like this forever."

Time.

It needs time.

Lin Zhao thought her father was very wise. If she hadn't died early in the book, she would definitely have been among the first batch of rich people, having everything she wanted and enjoying endless blessings.

"Dad, you're so great, I just love listening to you talk."

Lin Heling's light-colored, gentle eyes bloomed with a faint smile; his daughter just spoke so nicely.

"Dad, I have a job." Lin Zhao remembered the main reason she came back, her tone cheerful and light.

Her eyes curved slightly, her expression carrying a hint of wanting praise, and her tail was about to wag.

Lin Heling was happy for her and asked knowingly, "Chenghuai helped you find it?"

"Yes." Lin Zhao nodded.

Song Xiwei put down the dustpan in her hand, pulled a stool, and sat opposite Lin Zhao, her face showing no emotion, "Where is the job?"

"If it's too tiring and requires shifts, you can't do it; you can't endure that hardship."

This was her own mother.

She saw through Lin Zhao completely.

"A salesperson at the supply and marketing cooperative, I can do it." Lin Zhao said.

Song Xiwei knew that her daughter had always envied those who were salespeople; this was getting her wish.

"This job is good, easy and decent. How much money did it cost to get it? Mom will give it to you."

Hearing this, Lin eldest sister-in-law Chen Yu felt something strange in her heart, but she didn't show it. Her mother-in-law said she would pay, so it must be her and her father-in-law's private savings, which had nothing to do with her, so she couldn't say a word against it.

In the Lin family, there was no such thing as a married daughter being like spilled water.

"I have money." Lin Zhao certainly wouldn't want her parents' money; the father of her cubs was capable, and she was also going to start making money.

"But..." Song Xiwei was worried that the Gu family would take advantage of Zhao.

"Mom, I'm not short of money. If I were, I would definitely say so. If I had any trouble, I would definitely come back to find you and Dad first. You are my foundation; I'm not being falsely polite." Lin Zhao's expression was serious.

She still wanted to show filial piety to her parents.

Her mother certainly wouldn't accept it, but it didn't matter; she would send grain, meat, and sugar, and even if she didn't accept it, she would have to.

Anyway, her parents' health was the most important thing.

"Mention it if you need to." Song Xiwei said again.

She could hunt and had saved a lot of money over the past few years. During those special years, even with money, one couldn't buy grain, which was why Zhao had the heart to marry early and become a Gu family daughter-in-law; after that, everything required coupons. Money was money, and coupons were coupons; lacking either meant one couldn't buy anything.

"Mm-hmm." Lin Zhao nodded.

Lin Shisheng struggled to find his voice, his brain still a bit dazed, "Zhao, you really became a salesperson at the supply and marketing cooperative? But, I haven't heard that the cooperative is hiring."

"The salesperson job is popular. When a position appears, many people are eyeing it, and it's basically handled internally. A comrade-in-arms of Chenghuai works at the county government, and his brother-in-law happens to be the director of the supply and marketing cooperative. It was a coincidence."

Speaking of this, Lin Zhao felt fortunate; it was thanks to her brain cramping that night and writing nonsense, otherwise this job might not have fallen to her.

You know, one step late, and you lose everything.

"It was a coincidence. So, what belongs to you will come sooner or later." Lin Shisheng was happy for his sister.

"I heard that the supply and marketing cooperative has imperfect items as employee benefits. This job is good and suits you."

The corners of Lin Zhao's mouth curled up, "Does Second Brother need anything?"

Lin Shisheng didn't stand on ceremony with his sister and said, "Fabric and cotton, keep an eye out for me."

"Okay."

Lin Zhao turned her gaze to the silent eldest brother, "What does Eldest Brother's room need?"

A smile appeared on Lin Shichang's dark face, and he said, "A thermos, I guess. Boiling water in winter is troublesome, a thermos is convenient, and by the time it gets cold, your sister-in-law's belly will be big too."

"Okay, I've noted it down." Lin Zhao agreed.

"Does Sister-in-law need anything?"

Chen Yu shook her head, "A thermos is enough, sorry for the trouble."

"It's no trouble, just a small thing."

Chen Yu was nearly three months pregnant, and sitting for a long time made her waist ache. She raised her hand to rub her waist quietly. Seeing this, Lin Shichang said something to the family and helped his wife back to the room to rest.

After they left, Lin Zhao stood up, dragged a stool, sat next to Lin Shisheng, and asked in a low voice, "Where is Gu Gu Ersao?"

"... She went back to her maiden home." Lin Shisheng didn't want to say more.

The alarm bell in Lin Zhao's mind rang.

... Went back to her maiden home!?

She felt the green light on Second Brother's head was even brighter.

She was conflicted in her heart, not knowing how to say it; she couldn't shout in Second Brother's ear, 'Second Brother, you've been cheated on,' and she couldn't say it.

Lin Zhao's lips moved repeatedly, weighing the words she was about to say.

"Second Brother, is it really okay for Gu Gu Ersao to stay at her maiden home alone?"

Lin Shisheng was surprised, "Where is she alone? That's her maiden home, the place where she lived since she was little."

He curled his lips, sarcasm flashing in his eyes, "She has a close relationship with her maiden home, let her stay, let her stay as long as she wants."

Lin Zhao had a headache.

"..."

Second Brother didn't understand her heart.

"Second..."

The word 'brother' was still lingering on the tip of her tongue when Lin Shisheng interrupted her with a smile, "I know what I'm doing."

Know what you're doing, know what.

You know what you're doing, and you're green in the book.

Lin Zhao was so worried she wilted.

Seeing that she was truly worried, Lin Shisheng could only say helplessly, "I have someone watching her. After all, she is my wife, and the mother of Xuanxuan and Zhengzheng. I can't just ignore it."

Sigh, Zhao's heart is too kind, I'll have to keep an eye on her more in the future.

"Who did you ask to watch her?" Lin Zhao asked nervously, her eyes like a cat sensing danger.

Lin Shisheng was amused by her eyes and rubbed his sister's braids hard, messing up Lin Zhao's hair.

"Second Brother!" Lin Zhao feigned anger.

Before she could hit him, Lin Shisheng ran out quickly.

"How childish." Lin Zhao laughed in anger, hummed, sat down, remembered something, and carefully observed her father's complexion; he looked more energetic than two days ago, "Mom, have you been making delicious food for Dad these past few days?"

"Could I treat your father badly?" Lin Mu said indignantly. That was her handsome old man, could she not be attentive?!

"That's not necessarily true." Lin Zhao muttered softly, "I was just afraid you'd be reluctant again."

Lin Mu was sharp-eared and quick-eyed, catching her voice, and said, "When has it ever been about your father that I was reluctant?"

Lin Zhao was choked.

Full.

She gulped down some water and changed the subject, "Dad, Mom, after the double-harvest, I plan to build a brick-and-tile house."

Lin Fu immediately asked, "Is there a way to order bricks and tiles?"

"I asked Chenghuai, and he ordered them." Lin Zhao said with a smile.

"Then build it." Lin Fu supported her building it, his light-colored eyes falling on her face, unable to help but smile, "It's been hard for you living in a dusty house for several years."

When his daughter was at home, the walls in the room couldn't drop dust, otherwise she would make a scene.

He didn't know how she had managed these past few years.

Lin Zhao nodded, that's right, it was too hard for her.

"When the time comes, let your brothers go help." Lin Mu's one sentence controlled Lin Shichang and Lin Shisheng for a month.

"Okay, I won't treat my brothers badly." Lin Zhao said.

Lin Fu chuckled, looking gentle, "What are you talking about treating badly? It's only right for an older brother to help his sister."

He didn't care about other families; in his subconscious, girls needed more careful protection than boys.

Lin Zhao was no longer the little girl who didn't understand anything back then; she knew that in some families, girls were tools, not even as good as cattle or horses.

"It's so good to be a daughter to Mom and Dad."

Hearing that their aunt had returned to her maiden home, Lin Dadan and the others ran back from all directions of the village, running fast, their faces full of excited smiles.

The children in the village knew as soon as they saw them that they would be able to eat something good, and the smart ones already knew they had to get on good terms.

"Dadan, your aunt must have brought you something good again, I saw it, she's carrying a basket, I don't know what it is, can you take it out for us to eat? I want to broaden my horizons." The boy speaking was about ten years old, wearing black clothes with patches, his face dark and shiny, setting off his white teeth, his face full of understandable envy.

Another boy hooking Lin Dadan's shoulder sighed, "It's so good to have an aunt."

Dadan was speechless, "You have an aunt too, and more than one."

The boy felt even worse and looked at him resentfully.

Lin Er Dan laughed, "Your grandma isn't good to your aunt, so of course your aunt isn't close to her maiden home. My grandma often says that even if an aunt is married, she's still family, and if there's anything good, she must think of her aunt, so my aunt also thinks of us. My grandpa says, feelings are mutual, you can't just take, taking just means you only know how to take advantage."

Afraid his good friend wouldn't understand, he even gave an explanation.

The boy hung his head, wilted, "My grandma doesn't listen to me."

Lin Er Dan held it in for a long time, then came up with a solution, "... Then you hurry up and grow up, when you have some success, your grandma will listen to you."

After saying that, he pulled Dadan and ran home.

Leaving behind the thoughtful dark-faced boy.

If you have success, your family will listen to what you say. This sentence left a deep impression on his heart.

Lin Xibao took Lin Xuan and Lin Zheng and ran home. As soon as they returned, the courtyard became lively and vibrant.

"Aunt!"

"Aunt, you're back!"

The three little girls shouted happily.

Seeing that her second brother's two daughters had their hair combed nicely, Lin Zhao smiled, "Who braided your hair? It looks so spirited."

Much more attentive than that woman Qiu Lian.

"Eldest Aunt braided it." Lin Zheng said generously, her eyes bright and spirited.

Lin Zhao beckoned her to come closer, wiped the sweat off her niece's face, and asked warmly, "What did you go out to do?"

Aunt's voice is so gentle, Lin Zheng felt dizzy, and said, "Went out to play, with sister and the others."

Lin Zhao glanced at the restless Lin Xibao next to her and smiled, "Did Xibao take you?"

She knew Xibao was the little bully of the village, the child king, the kind who had a hundred responses to one call.

Lin Xibao pursed her lips, stomped her feet hard, and said, "I took them!"

Aunt is wiping Zheng's sweat, and only looking at her now, does she think she's smelly?

No way, Xibao could only be self-reliant and went to the side to wash up.

Her back was so resentful, Lin Zhao could feel it from several steps away.

She walked over and stuffed a candy into the mouth of the little girl who was calm on the surface but petty in her heart.

"Is it sweet?"

The little girl, whose anger never lasted overnight, had eyes that lit up, smiling like a little sun, "Sweet! Especially sweet! The candy Aunt gives is the sweetest!"

She greedily sucked on the sweetness in her mouth and wanted to cuddle with Lin Zhao, but was rejected by Lin Zhao in disgust.

"Wash up, you're smelly, covered in sweat."