Chapter 310: I am truly foolish

Gouzi's mind was very sharp at this moment. "If it's not enough, I'll pay it back with the money from selling medicinal herbs."

The old woman rubbed her granddaughter's hair. "Fine. When the family has money, I'll send you to school. How can you not know how to read? It's easy to be cheated, and you can even take the wrong vehicle."

Glancing at her granddaughter's hair, which was as messy as a chicken coop, she said with disdain, "Go get the comb! I'll comb your hair for you; you're too slovenly!"

The little girl smoothed down her bird's-nest hair.

She obediently went to get the comb.

She sat down in front of her grandmother.

The family was poor and couldn't afford a red hair tie, so her hair was only tied with a cloth strip. The cloth strip had no elasticity, and her hair would come loose with the slightest movement.

The old woman's hands were very thin, with skin wrapped over bone, like the roots of an old tree. They trembled, but her movements were gentle.

She combed it stroke by stroke.

Perhaps because there was something to look forward to, her mood was quite good at this moment.

She said, "When I earn money, I'll buy you a red hair tie."

Gouzi was a little girl; how could she not love beauty? Her eyes lit up, and she smiled.

"Grandma is so kind."

The old woman said coldly, "That's all it takes to be kind? You're so silly; someone could trick you away with just one piece of candy!"

Speaking of candy.

Gouzi reached into her pants pocket.

She took out two pieces of candy, kept one, and gave one to her grandmother.

"Grandma, here is candy for you."

Her grandmother guessed, "Did the people from the army give it to you?"

"Mm, they said it's orange-flavored candy," Gouzi said.

As soon as she finished speaking, she asked, "Grandma, have you ever eaten an orange?"

A look of recollection appeared on the old woman's aged face.

"I have. It's sweet and sour, very delicious."

Gouzi swallowed her saliva.

The old woman stuffed the candy back into her granddaughter's pants pocket. "You keep it yourself. I'm so old, what candy should I eat? It's a waste..."

Before she could put it back, Gouzi held onto her own pants pocket. "I have one, that's enough."

The old woman saw how stubborn she was; her heart felt warm, but her mouth remained hard. "I say you're silly, and you still won't admit it."

"Silly is silly then." Gouzi's voice was muffled, as if stuck in her throat. She changed the subject and asked, "Grandma, do I have a formal name?"

"What formal name?" her grandmother asked.

"The two children who came from the army said that everyone has two names, a formal name and a nickname. The formal name is for school, and the nickname is for family to call you. Do I have a formal name?"

"Oh, you mean that." The old woman understood.

"Not yet," she said.

"When you were just born, you were like a little mouse cub. I was afraid you wouldn't survive, so I gave you the cheap name Gouzi. This name was truly chosen correctly; look, haven't you grown up well?"

Seeing her granddaughter hanging her head, looking dejected, she said again, "When you go to school, you'll definitely need a formal name. Just wait a bit longer."

She wanted to find an educated person to give her granddaughter a name. In the village, it was all flowers and grass; how vulgar.

Gouzi smiled very happily. "In the future, when I tell people my name, I'll say my formal name!"

There were three Gouzis in the village; she never knew who people were calling.

Lin Zhao and the others returned to the military district with a full harvest.

After tidying up a bit, she went to find Meng Jiusi.

"Little Brother, look at what I brought?"

Meng Jiusi stepped forward to meet her, took the basket from his younger sister's hand, and saw the fresh astragalus inside.

"Medicinal herbs? Weren't you going to the mountains to relax? Why did you go picking medicinal herbs?" He smiled helplessly.

Lin Zhao occupied her brother's stool, pounding her sore legs.

"Little Brother, didn't you say the hospital was short of medicinal herbs? I saw that the brigade had quite a lot, and they didn't recognize them, treating them as wild grass."

"I think that place is quite suitable for growing medicinal herbs. Can the military hospital reach a cooperation with that brigade? The brigade can generate income, and the hospital can have an additional channel for acquiring herbs."

Meng Jiusi said, "Sure. I've had this plan for a long time, but I haven't had the time. When I'm free, I'll submit a report to the leadership and see how they arrange it."

He was an outstanding talent and was highly valued by the military hospital leadership. As long as he spoke up, the possibility of success was still very high.

"Great, then you handle the arrangements." Lin Zhao still had great confidence in her own brother's ability.

"Little Brother, do you have any basic herb guidebooks here? If you have an extra one, give me one. I promised a little girl I'd give her a book."

She added a requirement, "It's best if it has pictures."

Meng Jiusi happened to have one. He opened the cabinet and took it out. "What a coincidence, I just happen to have one. You take it and use it."

Lin Zhao flipped through it; the illustrations were very detailed, just right for a beginner. Her face showed joy, and her tone rose slightly. "Thank you, Little Brother. This one is suitable for beginners; Gouzi will definitely like it."

"Gou... zi?" Meng Jiusi's expression paused slightly, his expression subtle.

What kind of messy name was that.

"Isn't she a little girl? Why did she get such a name as Gouzi?" He asked, puzzled.

Lin Zhao pursed her lips and smiled. "I guess it's because a cheap name is easier to raise."

She would rather think so.

... At the very least, that family's original intention was good; they hoped the little girl would survive.

Meng Jiusi rubbed his sister's hair, his smile as clear as the bright moon.

His sister was just this kind, and it seemed she couldn't see any gloom in her eyes.

Lin Zhao: "Did Gu Hangbao cause you any trouble today?"

Meng Jiusi shook his head. "No, he was very well-behaved. With Mao Dan'er and Jingmo accompanying him, I didn't really have to do much."

"How could you not have to do much? With you here, Gu Chenghuai and I could go out with peace of mind." Lin Zhao affirmed her brother's value.

"Little Brother, I'm going back first. Come to the house for dinner later. Xiang Yubao and Xu Juan dug up quite a few tender bamboo shoots; we'll stir-fry them with meat slices. We haven't eaten the pig's trotters we bought yesterday, and your brother-in-law also caught a rabbit. We'll cook them all later!"

Meng Jiusi didn't stand on ceremony with his own sister. "Fine, I'll leave a bit earlier today and come over to help you."

"No need, your brother-in-law is at home. I'm off." Lin Zhao waved at her little brother and then left.

Meng Jiusi smiled from the bottom of his heart. It was so good that his sister had come to follow the army.

Outside the door, Li Can saw his smile and froze in place.

Sensing her gaze, Meng Jiusi retracted his smile, assuming a steady and indifferent professional demeanor.

"Comrade Li, do you have something?"

Li Can suddenly came back to her senses, hurriedly lowered her head, and walked into the office. "I'm here to deliver the materials."

"Thank you for your hard work." Meng Jiusi nodded politely, took the materials, and started looking at them without saying another word.

Li Can wanted to say a few more words, but when she truly stood in front of him, she couldn't say a single word.

"Anything else?" Meng Jiusi looked up.

This sound.

Recalled Li Can's sanity.

She smiled awkwardly. "Nothing, nothing."

And then she left.

After walking out of the office door, her delicate face was full of annoyance. She hadn't managed to say a word again.

A young girl's thoughts are a poem.

Although she hadn't said a few words, Li Can felt that even if she only saw him once, it was enough for her to savor for a long time.

The face, expression, and tone of the person she liked... repeatedly surfaced in her mind, making flowers bloom in her heart.

Li Can's arrival left no trace in Meng Jiusi's heart. He put away the materials, took out paper and pen, and began to write a report on the cooperation between the military hospital and the surrounding brigades for medicinal herbs.

He spent the afternoon writing it and locked it in the drawer.

He planned to go to the surrounding brigades another day to verify it, and only after confirming there were no errors would he submit it.

It wasn't that he didn't believe his own sister, but rather that his nature was cautious, taking one step and seeing ten. Only after seeing it himself could he answer any questions the leadership might ask without thinking.

Lin Zhao returned home and first went to take a look at Gu Hangbao. After confirming that the naughty boy hadn't caused any trouble, she planned to cook.

Gu Hangbao called out to her, "Mom, my brother said we're eating stir-fried bamboo shoots with meat today, is that right?"

"Right, and the pig's trotters we bought yesterday, we'll cook those too, to nourish you." Lin Zhao said.

Hearing this, Gu Hangbao held his chest and said exaggeratedly, "I'm injured in the foot and get to eat pig's trotters; I'm truly happy."

Lin Zhao: "... Stop acting, and don't try to flatter me. If there's a next time, see if you still have pig's trotters to eat."

Little Han Shuang covered her mouth and laughed, "Next time there won't be pig's trotters, there will be stir-fried meat with rattan strips."

Gu Hangbao subconsciously covered his butt.

He looked resentfully at the new friend he had just met.

Xiang Yubao saw the book in Lin Zhao's hand, took it over, and saw the characters on the cover; his eyes shone like stars.

He revealed a clean smile.

"Mom, is this for Gouzi?"

Little Han Shuang walked to Xiang Yubao's side, flipped through the book, and saw that there were pictures on the inner pages. Her exquisite bun-like face was full of joyful smiles.

"There are pictures inside, it's better than books that are all text. This way Gouzi can recognize medicinal herbs by looking at the pictures!"

Gu Hangbao's cheeks puffed up.

Seeing this, Lin Zhao asked deliberately, "What's wrong with Gu Hangbao? Your mouth is pouting enough to hang an oil bottle."

Gu Hangbao said aggrievedly, "Brother and Xu Juan met new friends, and I wasn't there."

Lin Zhao shrugged, her tone regretful. "Nothing to be done, who told you to injure your foot."

"Mom!" Gu Hangbao felt his mother was adding fuel to the fire and turned around aggrievedly.

"Is the sulking little friend still eating rabbit?" Lin Zhao spoke up.

As soon as she finished speaking.

Gu Hangbao, who was as angry as a pufferfish, turned back. "Eat!"

What face? Nothing was as good as that bite of rabbit meat.

Lin Zhao's smile didn't stop.

"Mom, when are you going to deliver the book to Gouzi? I'll go with you." Xiang Yubao said to her.

Gu Hangbao sat up straight and said loudly, "I want to go too! Mom, go later, I want to go too. You didn't take me when you went today; if you don't take me next time, I... I'll cry and cry until my eyes are swollen."

He had learned this way of threatening adults from the children in the family compound.

Gu Chenghuai entered the room and said coldly, "Suit yourself, cry all you want."

Gu Hangbao was dumbfounded.

The man's cold voice continued, "You've learned some tricks, and you dare to threaten adults? Cry if you want, see if anyone pays attention to you."

Gu Hangbao covered his face and pretended to cry, "It's not like this, it's not like this, crying and making a scene is very useful for Yin Dou Dou, why is it useless when I cry and make a scene..."

Lin Zhao: "..." No wonder.

"You don't learn the good, but you learn the bad fast."

She felt the second cub's loud voice was noisy, so she covered her ears and left.

Gu Chenghuai told Xiang Yubao and the others to leave, letting Gu Hangbao pretend to cry, and said he would only pay attention to him when he was quiet.

Gu Hangbao immediately stopped making a sound.

"Don't go, I'm not howling anymore. Brother, don't go, I'm so bored when you're not here." He said in a soft voice.

Xiang Yubao shook his head helplessly, "Who told you to learn to make a scene? Dad and Mom won't spoil you."

"I just want to go out with you guys." Gu Hangbao looked at his brother ingratiatingly, his hands clasped and swaying, like a cute little cat.

"I know, but you have to pay attention to the way and method. Now you've been counterproductive, and Dad and Mom are angry." Xiang Yubao said to his younger brother.

It was also his problem. Before, when Gu Hangbao asked him if crying and making a scene was useful for Dad and Mom, he didn't answer directly, but told him "you try"...

Who knew Gu Hangbao would really try.

Gu Hangbao looked at his brother, "Brother, help me, I want to go out with you guys, we do everything together, I beg you."

Xiang Yubao hesitated, "I'll think of a way, but you have to really know you're wrong. In our family, that crying, making a scene, and hanging yourself routine doesn't work."

"..." Gu Hangbao was silent for a few moments and muttered in a low voice, "It works very well for Mom."

Xiang Yubao looked at him strangely, "Who is bad to compare with, but you compare with Mom. Mom has Dad protecting her, can you compare? Silly brother."

He sighed and touched his brother's head comfortingly.

Gu Hangbao fell onto the pillow and said gloomily, "I am truly foolish."

Little Han Shuang couldn't help but laugh out loud, "You two are like singing a play, it's really fun."

Xiang Yubao: "..."

Gu Hangbao: "... Annoying."

When Meng Jiusi came, Gu Hangbao, who wouldn't give up, found an opportunity to hug his uncle's arm and acted like a spoiled child in a soft voice, "Little Uncle, the best Little Uncle in the world, help your dear nephew, I beg you."

Meng Jiusi was puzzled, "What's the situation?"

"I want to get better sooner." Gu Hangbao patted his injured leg and looked at his uncle expectantly.

For a lively and active child, being sealed on the bed for just one day made him feel as uncomfortable as if he had lice all over his body.

"My mom is going to take my brother to deliver a book to Gouzi, and I want to go too. Little Uncle, you are such a brilliant doctor, can you make me better sooner?"

"Is that it." Meng Jiusi could certainly do it.

The medicine he used for his dear nephew was top-notch, and his injury wasn't considered heavy; he could get out of bed in three days, but... Zhao Zhao asked him to say the time was longer, to avoid Gu Hangbao not knowing the weight of things, and he agreed.

"I can't do it. It takes a hundred days to recover from a bone or tendon injury. Your foot can't move for a while. At least three more days."

In the end, not wanting his dear nephew to be disappointed, Meng Jiusi had already been merciful with his words.

Gu Hangbao looked at his uncle, "Really? Why do I feel like my foot doesn't hurt at all?"

Meng Jiusi was very frank, "I used good medicine for you; if you still feel pain, wouldn't that be smashing my reputation? You are my dear nephew after all."

Gu Hangbao believed it this time, his hands supporting his chin, his whole person listless.

At the dinner table, he took the initiative to admit his mistake to Lin Zhao.

"Mom, I will never do dangerous things again! It's so uncomfortable to injure my foot; I can't run, I can't jump, I can only stay on the bed, I'm so stifled."

Lin Zhao could see that he truly knew he was wrong. If yesterday he still had a bit of indifference, feeling that adults were making a mountain out of a molehill, this moment he truly knew he was wrong.

"You're lucky; if it were serious, you'd have to lie on the bed for several months."

Frightened by this, Gu Hangbao would respect and keep his distance from projects like climbing high in the future, staying as far away as possible.

Lin Zhao pulled Gu Chenghuai's sleeve.

The man said to his son who didn't even find the meal fragrant, "In view of the fact that you really know you're wrong, we plan to postpone the second time we go to the mountain to play, and we'll go after your injury is healed."

A glow appeared on Gu Hangbao's face.

"Really?"

After receiving a definite reply, his expression paused, "But, but didn't you promise that person named Gouzi that you would give her a medical book? She must be waiting; if she can't wait, she will definitely be very uncomfortable."

Gu Hangbao seemed to have gone through a series of psychological struggles and said with difficulty, "Forget it, don't wait for me. Things promised to others must be done; it doesn't matter if I don't go."

Lin Zhao and Gu Chenghuai looked at each other, a look of gratification flashing in their eyes.

Their son has grown up.

And he has grown up very well, knowing how to consider others.

Meng Jiusi put a piece of rabbit meat that he liked most into Gu Hangbao's bowl and smiled, "I will deliver the book, it won't delay the serious business."

Gu Hangbao smiled like a flower, looking at his Dad, Mom, and Brother, "Then I want to go! I like going out with Dad and Mom the most!"

"Good." Lin Zhao said with a smile.

She wouldn't leave a handle in the second cub's young heart. When they grew up, his memory would be biased, saying things like Mom took Brother to the mountain and didn't take me...

How unjust that would be. ===== CHAPTER 311 =====