Chapter 319: Feigning composure, yet panicked in a mess

With the meddlesome Second Uncle gone, Gu Hangbao is focused on coaxing his younger sister.

"Seeing Yaobao, I am your brother! Your own brother, born from the same mother's womb. Do you really not remember me? How long has it even been? If I had known... if I had known, I still would have gone to visit relatives with Mom!"

Xiang Yubao: "..."

Xiang Yubao is speechless.

Gu Hangbao gently pinches his sister's chubby baby cheeks, "Hey, make a sound. Do you really not remember us, or are you deliberately ignoring us?"

Seeing Yaobao looks up at him, her face pink and chubby, her skin as white as a sticky rice ball, her lips red, wearing a little dress. Her whole body is soft, her arms and legs segmented like a lotus root; she is cute to death.

She keeps a straight face and says in a milky voice, "Ignoring you!"

A month or so is neither short nor long. Although she is small, she wouldn't forget her mother and brothers; it's not like they haven't seen each other for years.

"So you do remember us?" Gu Hangbao pats his chest, "You scared me to death. I thought you didn't remember us!"

He hooks his finger to scrape Seeing Yaobao's nose, mimicking an adult in an old-fashioned way, "Little rascal, you scared me."

Xiang Yubao: "..."

Can't bear to look!

Seeing Yaobao swats away her second brother's hand, expressing her dissatisfaction in a soft, sticky voice, "Ignoring you."

Meaning she doesn't want to pay attention to him.

Gu Hangbao feigns ignorance, "Why? That's not polite. I'm your brother; you can't ignore me."

Seeing Yaobao is still young and easily led astray; a little question mark appears in her head.

She sweeps a glance at Xiang Yubao.

It is evident that in her heart, the eldest brother is still very trustworthy.

Xiang Yubao squeezes Gu Hangbao aside, squats down to straighten his sister's shoes, and says seriously, "Don't listen to your second brother. If you're angry and don't want to talk to us... you can ignore us for a short time, but you can't ignore people for too long. Throwing a tantrum all the time will affect our relationship."

Gu Fu, who is weaving a basket nearby, shakes his head with a smile.

Seeing Yaobao is only a few years old; what could she possibly understand?

Noticing his grandfather's expression, Xiang Yubao says to him, "My mother said it doesn't matter if she doesn't understand now; what should be taught must still be taught. She will understand sooner or later."

He uses the attitude his mother used to educate him to teach his younger brother and sister.

Gu Fu says, "... Listen to your mother."

"Okay." Xiang Yubao responds loudly. After responding, he coaxes his sister, "Seeing Yaobao, brother brought you a gift. Don't be angry anymore, okay?"

Seeing Yaobao's long eyelashes flutter a few times. She looks at him and extends her fair, tender little hand, palm upward.

"The gift is at home." Xiang Yubao takes the opportunity to hold his sister's hand.

These words coax Seeing Yaobao into giving him a proper look. The little rice ball hangs on her brother like an accessory, accusing him in a sticky voice, "Bad, you guys are bad."

She points her tiny, short finger at her brother's shoulder, looking angry and very indignant.

Xiang Yubao felt guilty and let his sister get angry, explaining, "You and Song Qian Bao are too young. If I take you both along, Mom won't be able to look after everyone, so..."

Regardless of whether his sister understands or not, he coaxes her in a soft voice, promising, "Next time I'll take you. From now on, we'll take you wherever we go, I promise."

Seeing Yaobao looks at her eldest brother seriously. After a good while, her brows finally unfurl, and she wraps her arms around Xiang Yubao's neck, hugging him tightly.

"Want to go home," she says softly.

At this moment, Gu Gu Yucheng comes out of the kitchen, "Xiang Yubao, what is your grandmother boiling water for?"

"We want to take a bath." Xiang Yubao lifts his little face.

"It's time to wash. You're almost pickled with the smell on you. It's thanks to Seeing Yaobao that she doesn't mind you. You and Gu Hangbao get ready. You know where the towels are, go get them yourselves. I'll go get you two some clean clothes to change into." Gu Gu Yucheng walks out.

"Second Uncle, I want to go home!" Song Qian Bao's gentle and slow temperament becomes urgent.

Seeing Yaobao leaves her eldest brother, quickly runs to Song Qian Bao's side, and grabs his hand tightly, afraid of being left behind.

Xiang Yubao: "..."

He looks at his sister helplessly, "Seeing Yaobao, wait for brother. After your second brother and I finish our bath, we'll take you back. Mom just got back too and needs to wash up; she doesn't have time to pay attention to you right now."

Seeing Yaobao turns her head away, deliberately pretending not to hear, but in reality, her gaze keeps sweeping over Xiang Yubao.

Feigning composure, yet panicked in a mess.

Gu Gu Yucheng is holding back laughter like crazy. After Seeing Yaobao pulls his hand and shakes it gently a few times, he finally speaks up for the pitiful twins.

"Alright, I'll take them back. You two get ready first. Isn't your eldest uncle here? There's someone to look after Song Qian Bao and Seeing Yaobao. You two should wash the sour smell off your bodies first; it stinks."

He bends down to pick up Seeing Yaobao, letting her sit on his shoulders. Just as he is about to pick up Song Qian Bao, he is dodged.

Song Qian Bao anticipates his move, slipping back into the room before Gu Gu Yucheng. He pats Xiao Jin's head and points to his own shoulder. The little golden monkey, growing more clever and cute, climbs along his arm and sits on his shoulder.

"We're going home." Song Qian Bao says in a small voice, his milky tone full of joy.

Afterward, he goes to harass the little black cat that is sleeping soundly with a purr.

"Coal Ball, stop sleeping, we're going home."

Coal Ball, who has eaten until round, opens its cat eyes to look at him, turns its head, and continues to sleep, its pitch-black tail flicking powerfully.

Seeing it doesn't want to get up, Song Qian Bao picks up Coal Ball.

A kitten less than half a year old isn't heavy, but to Song Qian Bao, it has some weight.

"Coal Ball, you've gotten fat again."

"Meow..." Coal Ball meows unhappily, extends a little fleshy paw, and pats Song Qian Bao's arm. It looks heavy, but its claws aren't extended.

Song Qian Bao curves his eyes, lowers his head, and kisses the kitten's head several times, "Coal Ball is cute."

Coal Ball: "..."

A wise little look flashes with human-like disdain. It nestles in Song Qian Bao's arms and closes its eyes.

Song Qian Bao doesn't mind, bringing the little companion they have spent day and night with for over a month out of the room.

Gu Gu Yucheng raises his voice, "You're taking Xiao Jin and Coal Ball back just like that? You're not even going to tell your grandmother? You're really not afraid she'll be sad?"

Song Qian Bao isn't PUA'd in the slightest, his black eyes calm, his tone the same, "Won't be."

He doesn't say why he won't be. He just spits out two words, calls for Da Huang and Amber, and walks toward the wooden gate with his short legs.

Seeing Yaobao is anxious, urging in her milky voice, "Second Uncle, fast, fast..."

In her haste, she doesn't know her own strength, slapping her own second uncle with a *slap-slap* sound. Gu Gu Yucheng is a bit stunned.

"Going, going, going! Don't use your hands. You little girl, why is your hand so heavy? It's even darker than your father's."

Gu Gu Chenghuai has been a man of few words since he was a child, loving to act cold and aloof. Strangely, he is popular, with many following him wanting to play, but he doesn't like to pay attention to them. The only few times they played, some trouble arose. Gu Gu Yucheng was tricked by him once, and he still remembers it vividly today.

Seeing Yaobao hurriedly tidies up, her little face looking so innocent, her eyes as pure as crystal.

Gu Gu Yucheng: Nothing to say.

He resignedly carries his niece to the Third House.

Gu Mu walks hurriedly to the Third House.

Lin Zhao is just about to enter the bathroom. Seeing her mother-in-law, she stops immediately, her eyes surprised, "Why is Mother here?"

"I heard from Xiang Yubao and Gu Hangbao that you ran into human traffickers on the way, and your arm was slashed by a knife? What's the situation? Why didn't I hear you mention it? Is the wound healed? How is your arm now?!" Gu Mu looks at her daughter-in-law's arm, her eyes full of concern and worry.

Upon hearing this, Lin Lin Shichang suddenly looks at Lin Zhao, his pupils shrinking, his expression surprised and terrified.

He didn't know anything about this matter at all.

Zhao Zhao didn't mention it, and Xiang Yubao and Gu Hangbao's mouths were even tighter.

The boulder in Lin Zhao's heart sinks.

Well, she should have known.

Children's mouths are as loose as springs, not reliable at all. They promised not to blab, but less than half an hour after returning, they said everything!

"It just broke the skin, bled a little, it's long healed, nothing to worry about." She shakes the injured arm.

Meng Meng Jiusi gave her own sister the best wound medicine. The wound closed in just three days, and it healed so well that not even a scar was left.

Lin Lin Shichang is half-believing, walking over to look at Lin Zhao's arm, trying to find evidence that she is lying.

"You're not honest. You have no credibility with me for the time being. I'll see for myself." He says in a deep voice, very seriously.

Lin Zhao cries injustice, "How am I not honest?! How long has this been? Why would I bring it up for no reason? Isn't that just adding bad luck? Eldest Brother, I really didn't deliberately hide it."

She looks serious, "If I had done it on purpose, why wouldn't I have reminded Xiang Yubao and Gu Hangbao to keep their mouths shut?"

*Cough*, she said it so sincerely that she almost fooled herself!

Lin Lin Shichang doesn't speak. After checking Lin Zhao's arm, there is no scar left, but clues can still be seen.

"See if I believe you. I won't lecture you, but I'll have your second brother lecture you later."

Lin Zhao is silent, her gaze gradually becoming resentful, sighing: "Eldest Brother, killing someone is just a matter of a head falling to the ground."

Lin Lin Shichang is in a fit of anger, his face cold, and he doesn't speak.

He feels sorry for Zhao Zhao. When has she ever been injured? When she wasn't married, she had them brothers; she didn't even have a scratch on her.

That was a knife, a life-threatening thing. Just thinking about it makes him feel cold.

"Has the person who hurt you been caught?" Lin Lin Shichang even wants to ask what the other party looks like.

"Of course they were caught!" Lin Zhao looks at her eldest brother's face, and in the end, she has no confidence to deliberately hide it anymore, saying in a low voice: "Didn't I buy a few newspapers? I saw in the corner of the newspaper... the person who hurt me was executed. The human trafficking ring was also wiped out!"

*Heh*, didn't deliberately hide it? Why didn't you say anything when you bought the newspaper?!

It was deliberate from the start!!

Lin Lin Shichang feels refreshed on one hand, and on the other, he feels his sister is really bold. What does being executed mean? It means that person was vicious and a ruthless character. Zhao Zhao dared to provoke such a person; her courage is too great!

"How dare you provoke such a person!" His tone is serious.

Lin Zhao purses her lips, her gaze firm, "If it happened again, I would still rush up. That person wanted to kidnap Song Qian Bao; she is an enemy. I can't watch her remain at large!"

Lin Lin Shichang's expression pauses slightly, "How did you know?"

"Diao Diao Tuozi said so. Since she escaped before, I naturally couldn't let her go when I ran into her, otherwise, who knows how many women and children would be unlucky!" Lin Zhao's words are firm.

She is familiar with the process of admitting mistakes; she said the same thing to her younger brother before.

She doesn't feel annoyed; it's a blessing to have someone care.

Lin Lin Shichang can't say his sister did wrong, nor can he encourage her, so he can only keep a straight face, "Wait for Xiao Er to come back, I'll have him lecture you."

Lin Zhao isn't afraid at all. Her second brother protects her the most; he will only feel sorry for her injury. Even if he lectures her, he will at most say a few words.

"Where is the newspaper? Let me see." Lin Lin Shichang asks.

His heart is full of fire. Only by reading that report a few more times and whipping those evil people in his heart once, twice, seven or eight times can he barely extinguish the fire.

"It's on the table." Lin Zhao knows this hurdle is barely passed, and her heart returns to its place.

When Lin Lin Shichang was lecturing Lin Zhao, Gu Mu didn't interrupt.

She was scared to death and also felt her daughter-in-law was a bit impulsive.

Hearing Lin Zhao say the trafficker who hurt her was executed, the anger stuck in her chest finally smoothed out.

"Third daughter-in-law, if you encounter dangerous things in the future... run far away. It's not shameful. You have Xiang Yubao and the others. If something happens to you, what will the children do?"

Afraid her daughter-in-law would think she was nagging, she didn't dare say too much, stopping after just these few sentences.

Lin Zhao nods as if being taught, "I have a sense of it. I won't rush forward in the future."

Gu Mu smiles, "Xiang Yubao and Gu Hangbao said they wanted to take a bath and are boiling water. I have to get them some clean clothes to change into."

"They're in the cabinet in their room. Mother, just take them." Lin Zhao says casually.

This attitude makes Gu Mu feel that she is not an outsider, and she feels quite comfortable in her heart.

"I'll go get them. You go wash up quickly. You suffered on the car ride. Don't cook this afternoon; take the children to the old house to eat."

Lin Zhao agrees, "Okay."

Gu Mu goes to get the twins' change of clothes in a good mood. Just as she is about to leave, she runs into Song Qian Bao, who is surrounded by four pets. Behind him are Gu Gu Yucheng and Seeing Yaobao.

"Why are you here?"

Gu Gu Yucheng answers, "These two were making a fuss about coming back, so I came to send them."

Gu Mu inevitably feels a sense of loss in her heart.

She manages her grandchildren's food and lodging, washes their clothes, and takes them wherever she goes... As soon as their daughter-in-law returns, they throw her to the back of their minds. It's really heartbreaking.

"You're moving back already?" Gu Mu re-braids her granddaughter's hair, showing a little reluctance on her face, "You little ungrateful ones, you left without even telling me."

Song Qian Bao holds his grandmother's hand, his young brows and eyes full of seriousness, "Didn't leave. At the end of the month, we'll go back to sleep with Grandpa and Grandma."

This is a method he thought of a long time ago.

Seeing Yaobao's whole heart is with her mother. After Gu Mu finishes braiding her little pigtails, she walks toward the bathroom and knocks on the door with her little fists.

"Dong dong dong—"

Soon, a gentle voice comes from inside, "Is that Seeing Yaobao? Mom is taking a bath. Can you sit at the door and wait for me for a while?"

Finally hearing her mother's voice, Seeing Yaobao can't wait to see her, kiss her, and hug her. Hearing her mother's words, her anxious temperament is instantly soothed. She says "Mm" and sits at the door with a small stool.

A few steps away, Gu Mu is coaxed by Song Qian Bao.

Her face is full of smiles, her cold heart warmed up, but she says, "Alright, what going back? The family is already divided. Your parents have things to do. It's fine for your grandfather and me to take care of you, but now that your mother is back, it wouldn't be appropriate for you two to sleep with us anymore."

"Why isn't it appropriate?" Song Qian Bao tilts his head and asks. He is smart, but he hasn't reached the age to understand human relationships.

Gu Mu doesn't answer, rubs her grandson's forehead, and smiles, "Your brother is still waiting. I have to send them their clothes. I'll go back first. After your mother finishes her bath, don't make a fuss with Seeing Yaobao. Let her rest. Sitting in a car isn't that easy, especially you, Seeing Yaobao. Don't throw little tantrums."

After giving some instructions, she calls Gu Gu Yucheng and leaves.

Song Qian Bao sees his eldest uncle reading a newspaper, walks over, rests his arms on the stone table, his body slightly suspended, and sits on the stool.

"Eldest Uncle, what are you reading? I want to read too." He extends two fingers, pinches Lin Lin Shichang's sleeve, and shakes it gently.

"... Reading the news. Children don't like to listen to this." Lin Lin Shichang closes the newspaper, stuffs it into his trouser pocket, and changes the subject, "Are you hungry?"

Song Qian Bao shakes his head, "Not hungry. Da Huang and Amber are hungry."

He has a good memory and knows this is the time for Da Huang and Amber to eat.

Lin Lin Shichang knows where the dog food is kept, gets up to get it, glances at the two little ones, Xiao Jin and Coal Ball, and asks: "What about these two? Should I feed them?"

"Not time yet." Song Qian Bao answers very seriously.

Lin Lin Shichang can't help but laugh, "Alright, listen to you." ===== CHAPTER 320 =====