Chapter 31: Weird

Lin Xibao shrugged, lifted her arm to show off nonexistent muscles, and said, “Nai says a strong body matters more than anything, and I’m not pretty anyway—black spots or white spots don’t matter. But Ye said I shouldn’t look down on myself—every girl is a precious treasure.”

She grinned and leaned close to her aunt, repeating firmly, “Auntie, Grandpa says I’m a treasure.”

Her voice couldn’t hide her joy and pride.

In the Lin family, no one didn’t adore the gentle, courteous Lin family head—he never used his life experience as a talking point, always humble and mild, supporting his children to walk the paths they chose.

Lin Zhao pinched Xibao’s cheek and showed off too, “What’s there to boast about? Your grandpa used to hold me in his arms, cooing ‘Zhao Bao,’ ‘good girl,’ ‘little sun’—did I ever brag about it?”

Lin Xibao looked up at her aunt, nodding vigorously, “...You did.”

Hmm, the smile at her aunt’s lips was impossible to suppress—she even wanted to grab a mirror and make her look.

Lin Zhao glanced at Lin Xuan and Lin Zheng; the two girls smiled with crinkled eyes and nodded too.

Da Dan and Er Dan looked on expectantly, waiting for their aunt to ask them.

Lin Zhao didn’t notice her nephews’ eagerness to join the conversation; she shrugged, a smile lingering on her lips.

“Fine, be proud—I’m proud to have such a great dad. Is that too much?”

Lin Fu’s eyes sparkled with amusement.

This was exactly why he preferred daughters—they were so thoughtful, still thinking of him and Xiwei even after marriage. He unconsciously forgot how troublesome and exhausting Lin Zhao had been just a few years ago.

Er Dan seized the moment to find his opening, “Not at all!”

Da Dan, robbed of his chance, shot his brother a glare at the back of his head and hurried to add, “Not at all! Not even a little!”

Lin Zhao finally noticed them, “Oh, Da Dan and Er Dan are back too.”

Er Dan feigned grievance, “I’ve already been back for a while.”

“Here, have some candy.” When an aunt felt cornered, she changed the subject.

Er Dan took the candy, his grievance vanishing as his face lit up, “Hehehe, thank you, Auntie.”

“You’re welcome.” Lin Zhao handed candy to Da Dan too.

“Thank you, Auntie.” Da Dan accepted it graciously, then ran off with his brother to discuss how to make the candy last longer.

Lin Zhao found a gap to talk to Lin Xuan and Lin Zheng; Xibao slipped over quietly.

“How have you two been these past few days?” she asked.

Lin Zheng, precocious, sensed her concern and felt warmth in her chest, “Great! No one’s forcing me and Sister to work all day, Nai even lets us go out to play—kids from the village want to take us along, and we’re both very happy.”

Lin Xuan, quiet and reserved, simply nodded.

What she didn’t tell anyone else: since Mama wasn’t home, she hadn’t woken up screaming in the middle of the night—she’d actually slept two whole nights through. It felt so good.

“Children should be carefree and innocent. There’ll be plenty of work when you grow up—right now, there are adults at home, so if you can slack off, do it.” Lin Zhao stated her life philosophy.

Lin Mu heard this but kept her expression unchanged—she was strong-willed, fiercely vital, able to work the fields, hunt, mend clothes… she never felt tired, even enjoyed the busyness—but she never demanded Zhaozhao be like her.

Zhaozhao could choose her own life.

Want to read books? Read.

Want to marry? Marry.

…

Song Xiwei was confident that no matter how Zhaozhao lived her life, she could always catch her.

That was why Lin Zhao lived like a sunflower—bright and bold.

Hearing her aunt’s words, Lin Xuan suddenly looked up.

“What? Did I say something wrong?” Lin Zhao smiled.

Lin Xuan shook her head quickly, blushing, hesitated a few breaths, then said, “It’s just… what you said doesn’t match what the villagers say.”

Lin Zhao knew what the villagers said—they called the Lin family strange, freaks, different from everyone else.

“We don’t need to live like anyone else.”

She bent down, meeting Lin Xuan’s gaze with gentle eyes, whispering, “You are you—a unique existence in this world. Don’t let others’ words weigh on you. At your age, you should grow up happy.”

Lin Zhao felt Xuanxin carried too much burden; she hoped the girl would open her heart and find the joy a child deserves.

In the book, Lin Xuan’s fate was mentioned in one line—

They heard that the girl from the neighboring village, Lin Xuan, had thrown herself under a train.

Just one sentence made Lin Zhao’s chest tighten, a dull ache pulsing.

Xuanxin was terrified of pain.

“If you ever face something you can’t handle, come to me. I’ve got an extra room, just for you. I’ll build you a new bed, a new wardrobe, a new desk, and big bright windows—when you open them, sunlight floods in, and lying in bed will feel wonderful. You’ll always have an escape route—I am your escape route, no matter what happens.”

She spoke seriously; Xibao and Lin Zheng stayed silent, both watching Lin Xuan.

Lin Xuan met her aunt’s eyes, and the dark clouds around her dissolved under gentle sunlight.

She nodded, solemnly promising, “I’ll remember.”

Lin Zhao hugged her niece, whispering in her ear, “I’m taking this as a promise—keep it in your heart, don’t ever forget.”

“Mm-hmm.”

Lin Mu wasn’t soft-spoken; she was direct, strong-willed, incapable of sweet words. Lin Shi Sheng was a straight man who couldn’t say them either. Qiu Lian? She hated even her own gender, and everything she said was harsh and cutting. So this was the first time Lin Xuan had ever heard someone say, “I am your escape route.”

“Thank you, Auntie,” the girl whispered.

Lin Zhao’s eyes softened with a smile, “Why thank me? I’m your aunt. Your father is my own brother—you’re no different in my heart from Da Cai and the others.”

Lin Xuan had once been afraid to get close to her aunt, but over these past few days, her feelings for Lin Zhao had grown warmer.

Xibao wrapped her arms around Lin Zhao’s arm, smiling warmly but deliberately teasing, “Auntie won’t even let me stay at your house—you’re favoring Xuanxin.”

Lin Xuan suddenly felt like a bad child—Xibao said Auntie favored her, and she couldn’t suppress a secret thrill. Wasn’t that what a bad child did?

The thought filled her with shame; she lowered her head, too embarrassed to look at Xibao.

Lin Zhao said nothing, simply pulled her shoulder close, drawing her forward, and laughed in rebuttal, “I didn’t invite you? You’d go anyway.”

“I would!” Xibao beamed, “If you don’t invite me, I’ll just show up!”

“I welcome anyone who comes.”

Er Ge had taken Qiu Lian’s behavior to heart; Xuanxin had taken her words to heart. The heavy stone in Lin Zhao’s chest lifted, and she finally relaxed.

She left her parents’ home before dinnertime.

Lin Shi Sheng walked her out.

Lin Zhao was used to it.

When she was in school, she’d never walked to class alone—her father always picked her up; when her brothers grew up, they took over.

Dongfeng Team was far from Fengshou Team—overgrown with weeds and rarely visited—and Lin Zhao had become someone people felt uneasy leaving alone.

At this moment,

The road was quiet, yet filled with wind, bird calls, insect chirps…

Peaceful, yet alive.

“Er Ge, after the double harvest, I’m building a brick-and-tile house. You and Da Ge are assigned to help—I need you both to stay with me then.”

“You’re finally building a house!” Lin Shi Sheng laughed, his eyes lifting slightly—he looked steady, reliable.

Lin Fu and Lin Mu were both good-looking; none of their children were ugly. He stood nearly one meter eighty, broad-shouldered and rugged, with thick eyebrows and large eyes. Though he’d never served in the army, he’d been raised by Lin Heling to sit properly, stand straight, walk with calm, unhurried steps—outstanding in the countryside.

If he hadn’t been outstanding… he wouldn’t have been harassed by the Qiu family in such dishonorable ways.

Lin Shi Sheng fired off question after question, “If you and Da Cai stay with you, where will you and the kids live? Go live with your in-laws? But you don’t like them, right?!”

Lin Zhao blinked, “I don’t dislike my in-laws—if I did, I wouldn’t have married Gu Chenghuai.”

Before marrying, she’d thoroughly investigated the Gu family’s character—they were all honest, hardworking people. Otherwise, she’d never have married.

“Then why did you demand a household split?” Lin Shi Sheng was confused.

“It’s two different things,” Lin Zhao revealed her inner thoughts for the first time. “I don’t want to work, and I don’t want to listen to people lecturing me. So I had to split.”

“That’s it?” Lin Shi Sheng stared blankly.

Lin Zhao turned her head to look at him, “What else?”

“...Nothing.” Then he remembered something, added, “If you didn’t split, just pay them a little money—they wouldn’t complain, right?”

Lin Zhao fell silent for a moment, “I was trying to save money back then.”

“You’re not the frugal type—why suddenly want to save? You’ve changed.”

Lin Zhao’s gaze was weary.

She… didn’t understand it either.

“It’s settled then—after the double harvest, you and Da Ge stay with me. I’ll take Da Cai and the others back to the old house.”

Lin Shi Sheng remembered his sister’s venomous little sister-in-law, frowning tightly, “Better not. Your little sister-in-law…”

Before he finished, Lin Zhao slapped her forehead, “I forgot to tell you—Gu Xing’er was kicked out by her parents. Now she’s tormenting Uncle Er’s family.”

“?”

Lin Shi Sheng’s expression was indescribable. After a long pause, he asked, “Did they catch her doing something?”

“Gu Chenghuai’s grandmother adored Gu Xing’er—she favored her above all others,” Lin Zhao said.

“...”

As they spoke, the siblings arrived at Fengshou Team.

Da Cai and Er Cai waited at the village entrance; seeing Lin Zhao from afar, they charged toward her like two little firecrackers.

Now that they were well-fed, their legs were strong, and they ran faster.

“Mama!”

Two clear voices rang out.

Seeing Lin Shi Sheng, the boys beamed even brighter, “Second Uncle!”

Lin Shi Sheng bent down and scooped up both nephews—he’d worked since childhood, his body packed with muscle, lifting the two boys effortless.

“Ah—so high!” The view suddenly changed, and Erzai cried out excitedly.

Dacai’s eyes shone brightly too.

Back home.

Lin Zhao went into the room, brought out a watermelon, took it to the kitchen to cut it, and called Dacai in to carry it to her second uncle.

Dacai ran pattering into the kitchen, stared at the things on the cutting board, and frowned, “Mama, what’s this?”

“Watermelon. A summer essential—it cools you down. Take it outside and eat first; I’ll make you watermelon lemon juice and be right out.” Lin Zhao never made casual promises, but once she gave her word to the children, she always kept it.

Dacai carried the basin out.

He came back soon after.

“Mama, let me help you,” he said.

Lin Zhao’s heart softened; she looked at her short, small eldest son. “No need—you go eat your watermelon. I’ll be done soon.”

Dacai refused. “I’ll wait to eat with you.”

Lin Zhao stopped arguing and hurried to crush the watermelon into juice, sliced the lemon, and a strong citrus tang flooded her nostrils.

“Mama, what’s this? It smells good.” Dacai liked the scent.

“Lemon,” Lin Zhao explained, handing him a fresh one to look at.

Dacai lowered his head, stared at it again and again, then held it up to his nose and sniffed.

Lemon.

He whispered the word silently in his mind.

This was his first time encountering a fruit other than mountain berries—one was watermelon, the other was lemon.

Erzai, carefree, ate watermelon with his second uncle. He turned his head and realized his brother was gone.

He rushed into the kitchen.

Seeing Dacai close to Lin Zhao, Erzai hurried over and stood on her other side, tilting his head up, his small face smeared with watermelon juice. “Mama, what are you telling Brother?”

“Ask your brother. I’m making you sweet-and-sour watermelon lemon juice.” Lin Zhao had learned from a book that watermelon and lemon could be made into juice.

Su Yuxian had tried making it after hearing about it, and it became wildly popular in the military compound. At the same time, years after her death, she was dragged out again and repeatedly defamed.

Just thinking of it made her feel unlucky.

She stopped thinking about it.

Soon, Lin Zhao finished making the cooling, thirst-quenching juice.

The color alone made the children adore it.

“Wow!”

Enthusiastic exclamations rose one after another.

Even Lin Shisheng, who had just entered the kitchen, exclaimed, “Wow!”

“Wow!”

That exclamation made Dacai and Erzai burst into laughter. Their voices carried outside, and Dahuang and Hupo barked in response.

Lin Shisheng rubbed the two nephews’ prickly bald heads and asked Lin Zhao, “What is this?”

“Watermelon lemon juice made from watermelon, lemon, and sugar,” Lin Zhao casually listed the ingredients.

Lin Shisheng’s lips twitched.

Nothing was cheap!

“I get the watermelon—but where did the legendary lemon come from?”

Lin Zhao remained calm, brushing it off. “I got lucky.”

“Don’t go to the black market—that place is tightly monitored,” Lin Shisheng warned. He himself no longer went there.

“I know,” Lin Zhao said impatiently, snapping at her second brother. “Do you want to drink it or not? Fine, don’t.”

Lin Shisheng took a big gulp. “Why not? Free drinks are free.”

After drinking, he savored it and commented, “Actually, it’s pretty good!”

But there was sugar in it—how could it not taste good?

Dacai and Erzai loved it so much they sipped slowly, unwilling to gulp it down.

Lin Shisheng looked at his two nephews and said, “Your lives are better than those of the children in both production teams.”

The two children grinned, pressed close to Lin Zhao, and poured out sweet words.

“Mama’s the best～～ Mama’s the best mom in the whole production team～～” Erzai’s voice floated, his leaky cotton coat turning into a sweet pepper.

Dacai couldn’t say anything too cloying—he just said, “I’ll help Mama with chores.”

Lin Zhao hugged both sons, her eyes and brows full of smiles.

After finishing the juice, Lin Shisheng watered the vegetables in the backyard, filled the water jars, and re-tied and secured the broken clothesline… After finishing everything he could do, he left.

No sooner had he gone than someone knocked on the Gu family gate.

Outside, a soft, delicate voice Lin Zhao did not want to hear.

“Big Brother Dacai, Big Brother Erzai.”

Coming closer.

That voice…

Was Su Yuxian’s stepdaughter.

A sinister presence.