Chapter 31

Lin Xibao was unimpressed, raised her arm, showed off her non-existent muscles, and said, "Grandma says a strong physique is more important than anything, and I'm not good-looking anyway, so being a little darker or lighter doesn't affect anything. However, Grandpa said I shouldn't belittle myself, every girl is a precious treasure."

She giggled and leaned in front of her aunt, emphasizing again, "Aunt, Grandpa said I'm a treasure."

Her voice could not hide her joy and pride.

In the Lin family, no one disliked the gentle and polite Lin family head. He never used his life experience as a topic of conversation, was humble and gentle, and supported the children in walking the paths they wanted to take.

Lin Zhao pinched Xibao's face and also showed off to her, "What's there to show off about? Your grandpa used to hold me in his arms and coax me, calling me 'Zhao Bao', 'Guai Guai', and 'Little Sun' every other word. Did I get proud?"

Lin Xibao looked up at her aunt and nodded like a garlic masher, "... You did get proud."

Hmph, the smile at the corner of her aunt's mouth couldn't be suppressed at all; she even wanted to take a mirror and let her look at herself.

Lin Zhao looked at Lin Xuan and Lin Zheng; the two little girls smiled with curved eyes and also nodded.

Da Dan and Er Dan had expectant eyes, waiting for their aunt to ask them.

Lin Zhao didn't notice her eldest nephews' desire to participate in the group chat, shrugged her shoulders, and kept a smile at the corner of her mouth.

"If I'm proud, then I'm proud. I have such a good father, so I'm proud. Is that excessive?"

A smile spread in Lin Fu's eyes.

This is why he liked girls more; how thoughtful they are, even after getting married, they still think of him and Xiwei at any time. He subconsciously forgot how annoying Lin Zhao was a few years ago and how much she made them worry.

Er Dan seized the opportunity to find a chance to speak for himself, "It's not excessive!"

Da Dan had been beaten to the punch, stared at the back of his younger brother's head with eye knives, and hurriedly followed up, "It's not excessive! Not excessive at all!"

Lin Zhao just saw them, "Da Dan and Er Dan are back too."

Er Dan pretended to be aggrieved, "I've been back for a long time."

"Come, have some candy." As an aunt, whenever she felt guilty, she would change the subject.

Er Dan took the candy, the grievance on his face disappeared, and he beamed, "Hehehe, thank you, Aunt."

"You're welcome." Lin Zhao also gave candy to Da Dan.

"Thank you, Aunt." Da Dan thanked her generously, ran to the side with his younger brother Er Dan, and went to discuss how to eat the candy so it would last longer.

Lin Zhao found a gap to talk to Lin Xuan and Lin Zheng, and Xibao followed quietly.

"How have you been these past two days?" she asked.

Lin Zheng was precocious, heard the concern in her aunt's words, and felt warm in her heart, "Very good, no one is staring at us and making me and my sister work all day, Grandma even lets us go out to play, and the little friends in the village are willing to take us along, my sister and I are both very happy."

Lin Xuan was quiet and spoke little, only nodding.

What she didn't tell others was that with Mother not at home, she wouldn't wake up in the middle of the night when she slept, and it was rare to have two good nights of sleep; it was really comfortable.

"Children should be innocent and lively; when you grow up, there will be plenty of time to work. For now, there are adults in the family, so if you can be lazy, be lazy." Lin Zhao said her life motto.

When Lin Mu heard this, her expression didn't change. She was capable herself, belonging to the type of person with extremely vigorous vitality; she could work in the fields, hunt, sew clothes... She didn't feel tired, and even enjoyed the feeling of being busy, but she didn't force Zhaozhao to be like her.

Whatever kind of life Zhaozhao likes, she chooses it herself.

Likes to read? Read.

Get married? Marry.

Song Xiwei was confident that no matter what kind of life Zhaozhao lived, she could cover for her.

It was also because of this that Lin Zhao lived as warmly as a sunflower.

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

"What's wrong, did I say something wrong?" Lin Zhao asked with a smile.

Lin Xuan hurriedly shook her head, smiled shyly, struggled for a few breaths, and said, "It's just that what Aunt said is different from what the people in the village say."

Lin Zhao knew what the people in the village said; it was nothing more than saying the Lin family was strange, all aliens, and different from others.

"We don't need to live like other people."

She bent down, looked at her gently, and said softly, "You are you, a unique existence in this world, don't take other people's words to heart, at your age, you should grow up happily."

Lin Zhao felt that Xuanxuan had too much on her mind and hoped she could open her heart and possess the happiness a child should have.

In the book, Lin Xuan's matter was also glossed over—

I heard that the girl named Lin Xuan in the next village died by lying on the tracks.

A simple sentence made Lin Zhao's heart stagnate slightly, tightening in bursts.

Xuanxuan was most afraid of pain.

"If there is anything you can't get past in the future, come find Aunt. My house has an extra room, which is specially prepared for you. I will make a new bed, a new wardrobe, a new table, and there will be bright windows. Once you open the window, the sunlight can shine into the room, and it will be very comfortable lying on the bed. You will always have a way out; I am your way out, no matter what you encounter." Lin Zhao's eyes were gentle, her tone light and slow.

She spoke seriously; Xibao and Lin Zheng didn't speak, and both of them also looked at Lin Xuan.

Lin Xuan bumped into her aunt's eyes, and the dark clouds covering her body were dispersed by the gentle sunlight.

She nodded and responded solemnly, "I remember."

Lin Zhao hugged her niece and said in her ear, "I'll take it as our agreement; keep it in your heart, and don't forget it."

"Mm-hmm."

Lin Mu was not a soft-hearted person; she was decisive, had a strong character, and couldn't say mushy words. Lin Shisheng was a straight man and even less able to say them, and as for Qiu Lian, she was someone who even disliked her own gender, and the words she said were ugly and harsh, so this was the first time Lin Xuan heard from someone, "I am your way out," such words.

"Thank you, Aunt." The little girl's voice was very small.

A smile spread in Lin Zhao's eyes, "What are you thanking me for? I am your aunt; your father is my own brother, in my heart you are no different from Seeing Dazai and the others."

Lin Xuan didn't dare to be close to her aunt before, but after these few days, she felt closer and closer to Lin Zhao in her heart.

Xibao hugged Lin Zhao's arm, a warm smile on her face, but she deliberately said sourly, "Aunt doesn't let me live at her house, Aunt is biased towards Xuanxuan."

Lin Xuan suddenly felt that she was a bad child; Sister Xibao said that Aunt was biased towards her, and she actually couldn't suppress her secret joy. If this isn't a bad child, what is?

Thinking of this, the little girl was full of shame, lowered her head sheepishly, and didn't dare to look at Xibao.

Lin Zhao didn't say anything, reached out to hold her shoulder, pulled her closer to herself, and smiled to refute Xibao's words, "If I don't say it, you won't go?"

"I will go!" Xibao raised her smiling face, "If Aunt doesn't invite me, I'll go on my own!"

"I welcome whoever goes."

Her second brother was concerned about Qiu Lian's matter, Xuanxuan kept her words in her heart, and the stone Lin Zhao had been pressing in her heart was moved away, and she could barely set her mind at ease.

Without waiting for mealtime, she left her maiden home.

It was still Lin Shisheng who sent her off.

Regarding this, Lin Zhao was used to it.

When she was in school, she never went to school alone; it was always her father who picked her up and dropped her off, and when her brothers grew up, it became them sending her.

The Dongfeng Brigade was not close to the Fengshou Brigade, it was overgrown with weeds, there were few pedestrians, and Lin Zhao had grown up to look like that, so it was hard for people to feel at ease.

At this time.

There were no human voices on the road, but there was wind, bird calls, insect chirps...

Quiet and full of vitality.

"Second Brother, after the double harvest, my family is going to build a brick and tile house. You and Big Brother have both been arranged; you have to help me, and you will live at my place then." Lin Zhao remembered that her second brother didn't know about this yet, so she gave him a reminder.

"You're finally going to build a house!" Lin Shisheng laughed, the corners of his eyes slightly raised, looking steady and reliable.

Lin Fu and Lin Mu were good-looking, and none of the Lin family children were ugly. He was nearly 1.8 meters tall, a tough guy image with thick eyebrows and big eyes. Although he hadn't been a soldier, he had been taught by Lin Heling since he was a child to sit and stand properly, and his pace was neither fast nor slow, which could be considered outstanding in this rural place.

If he weren't outstanding... he wouldn't have been entangled by the Qiu family using dishonorable methods.

Lin Shisheng threw out one question after another, "If Big Brother and I live at your place, where will you and Seeing Dazai and the others live? Go live at your in-laws'? Don't you dislike them?!"

Lin Zhao was stunned, "I don't dislike my in-laws; if I disliked them, I wouldn't have married Gu Chenghuai."

Before getting married, she had inquired clearly about the Gu family's temperament; they were all honest and diligent people. If it weren't for this, she wouldn't have wanted to get married.

"Then you made a scene about splitting up the family..." Lin Shisheng didn't understand.

"That's two different things." Lin Zhao revealed her inner journey for the first time, "I don't want to work, and I don't want to listen to people lecturing me with big principles, so I had to split up the family."

"Just this?" Lin Shisheng's expression was sluggish.

Lin Zhao turned her head to look at him and asked back, "Otherwise?"

"..."Nothing." Remembering something, he added, "If you didn't split up the family, you could just pay some money, and your in-laws wouldn't have anything to say, right?"

Lin Zhao was silent for a moment, "That's not because I was thinking about saving money before."

"You're not someone who lives frugally, yet you actually thought about saving money; it's like you've become a different person." Lin Shisheng felt it was incredible.

Lin Zhao's eyes were world-weary.

She, she couldn't figure it out either.

"It's settled then, after the double harvest, you and Big Brother will live at my place, and I'll take Seeing Dazai and the others back to the old house to live."

Lin Shisheng remembered his sister's vicious sister-in-law, his brows locked tightly, "Forget it, that sister-in-law of yours..."

Before he finished speaking, Lin Zhao patted her head, "I forgot to say, Gu Xing'er was kicked out by her parents, and now she's wreaking havoc on Gu Ershu's family."

"?"

Lin Shisheng's expression was indescribable, and after a long while, he asked, "Did their family get caught with some handle?"

"Gu Chenghuai's grandma likes Gu Xing'er, a unique partiality." Lin Zhao said.

"..."

While talking, the brother and sister walked to the Fengshou Brigade.

Seeing Dazai and Hearing Erzai were waiting for their mother at the village entrance, and after seeing Lin Zhao from afar, they rushed over like two little firecrackers.

After being able to eat their fill, their legs were strong, and they ran even faster.

"Mother!"

Two crisp voices rang out.

Seeing Lin Shisheng, the little brothers were even happier, "Second Uncle!"

Lin Shisheng bent down and picked up the two eldest nephews; he had been working since he was a child and had a body full of muscles, so picking up the two little ones didn't take any effort.

"Ah—so high." The field of vision suddenly changed, and Hearing Erzai shouted excitedly.

Seeing Dazai's eyes were also bright.

Back home.

Lin Zhao returned to the room, took out a watermelon, cut it in the kitchen, and called Seeing Dazai in to take it to his Second Uncle.

Seeing Dazai ran into the kitchen, looked at the things on the cutting board, and was full of confusion, "Mother, what is this?"

"Watermelon, a summer essential, very cooling. Take it out and eat it first, I'll make you some watermelon lemon juice and then come out." Lin Zhao never made promises lightly; what she promised the children, she would definitely do.

Seeing Dazai carried the basin out.

Soon he came back again.

"Mother, I'll come help you." He said.

Lin Zhao's heart softened, looking at her short and small eldest son, "No need, you go out and eat watermelon, it will be ready soon."

Seeing Dazai was unwilling, "I'll wait for Mother to eat together."

Lin Zhao didn't persuade him anymore, accelerated her speed to smash the watermelon into juice, cut the lemon, and a rich lemon sourness attacked her nasal cavity.

"Mother, what is this, it smells good." Seeing Dazai liked this smell.

"Lemon." Lin Zhao explained, and also gave him a new lemon to let him see.

Seeing Dazai lowered his head and looked again and again, and even raised it to his nose and smelled it.

Lemon.

He recited it silently in his heart.

This was the first time he had recognized fruits other than wild mountain fruits; one was watermelon, and one was lemon.

Hearing Erzai was heartless and ate watermelon with his Second Uncle, and when he turned his head, he found his brother was gone.

He hurriedly rushed into the kitchen.

Seeing Seeing Dazai very close to Lin Zhao, Hearing Erzai leaned over in three or two steps, stood on the other side of his mother, raised his head, and revealed his little face covered in watermelon juice, "Mother, what are you saying to Brother?"

"Let your brother tell you, Mother is making you sweet and sour watermelon lemon juice." Watermelon and lemon could make fruit juice, which Lin Zhao learned from a book.

After Su Yuxian heard people talk about it, she tried to make it, and it was well-received in the military compound. At the same time, she, who had been dead for several years, was dragged out again and whipped repeatedly.

Thinking about it made her feel unlucky.

Stop thinking about it.

Soon, Lin Zhao made the juice that was cooling and thirst-quenching.

Looking at that color, the little ones liked it very much.

"Wow!"

Exclamations of surprise that gave face appeared one after another.

Even Lin Shisheng, who had just come to the kitchen, followed with a "wow".

"Wow!"

This sound made Seeing Dazai and Hearing Erzai laugh out loud, and the sound reached outside, where Da Huang and Hu Po cooperated by barking.

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 introduced the raw materials.

Lin Shisheng's mouth twitched.

Not one of them was cheap!

"Watermelon is understandable, where did the legendary lemon come from?"

Lin Zhao was very calm, laughing it off, "I'm lucky."

"Don't go to the black market, that place is tightly guarded." Lin Shisheng warned; he didn't go there himself anymore.

"I know." Lin Zhao felt her second brother was long-winded and said fiercely, "Are you going to drink it or not? If not, forget it."

Lin Shisheng took a big gulp directly, "It would be a waste not to drink it."

After drinking it, he savored it and commented, "It's actually quite delicious!"

But it also had sugar in it, so how could it not be delicious.

Seeing Dazai and Hearing Erzai liked it so much that they sipped it in small mouthfuls, not willing to drink it in big mouthfuls at all.

Lin Shisheng looked at the two eldest nephews and said, "You two live better than the children in the two brigades."

The two little ones grinned, leaned in front of Lin Zhao to stick close, and said sweet words.

"Mother is the best~~ Mother is the best mother in all the brigades~~" Hearing Erzai's voice drifted, and the leaking cotton-padded jacket turned into a little sweet pepper.

Seeing Dazai couldn't say too mushy words, only saying, "I'll help Mother work."

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

After drinking the fruit juice, Lin Shisheng watered the vegetable garden in the backyard, filled the water jar, and tied the broken clothesline back up and fixed it... After doing everything he could, he left.

Just as he left, the Gu family door was knocked.

Outside the door was a soft, thin voice that Lin Zhao didn't want to hear.

"Brother Seeing Dazai, Brother Hearing Erzai."

From far to near.

This voice...

It was Su Yuxian's stepdaughter.

An eerie existence.