Chapter 347: There Are Never Shortages of Short-Sighted People

"Maybe Qingzhou will catch Uncle's eye," Lin Zhao said casually.

"That possibility exists, but it's not big," Song Yuncheng said directly. "My father is really picky and has tons of requirements. If it weren't for that, he would have at least seventeen or eighteen apprentices by now."

"Let's try. Surrendering before going to the battlefield isn't my style." Lin Zhao believed that everything must be tried. Do one's best and leave the rest to fate. No matter how much one imagines, it's better to give it a try.

"Alright." Yuncheng still didn't think much of it.

He had seen his father's strictness too many times. If his father wasn't willing, even if the eldest son came to beg, he would only return in disappointment.

His sister, his sister just hadn't seen what his father looked like at work. He was worthy of being called Engineer Song; he was extremely serious, and saying he was meticulous was no exaggeration.

"As long as you agree." Lin Zhao didn't care what Yuncheng thought; as long as he agreed, it was fine.

She made an appointment with him again, "When is it more convenient for Qingzhou to come find you?"

Yuncheng pondered for a moment, his eyes brightened slightly as he thought of something, and he looked at Lin Zhao expectantly, "Tomorrow noon, is this time okay?"

Lin Zhao smiled but didn't smile, her face full of understanding, "Still want me to bring you food?"

Yuncheng chuckled, "Sister's cooking is delicious."

Opportunities shouldn't be missed.

"Fine, I'll bring Qingzhou tomorrow noon." Lin Zhao withdrew her gaze and agreed to her eldest cousin.

"Sister, can I order dishes?" Yuncheng said in a slightly coquettish tone, his cheeks stuffed with food.

"... Yes."

Yuncheng didn't dare to go too far and blurted out the two dishes he wanted to eat most: one was candied sweet potato, and the other was scallion-crusted pork.

"I'll bring you radish stewed with bone soup as well," Lin Zhao said.

"That's great, hehe." Yuncheng laughed, his hand reaching into his pocket to take out his wallet.

Without counting, he stuffed all the money and coupons he carried with him into Lin Zhao's hand.

"Sister, you take this money and these coupons..."

Before he could finish, Lin Zhao slapped his palm.

"Smack!"

Yuncheng was stunned, "Sister?"

"Don't call me sister. You're being so distant and calculating so clearly with me; I thought you didn't want to acknowledge me as your sister." Lin Zhao was sarcastic.

"How could that be!" Yuncheng denied it flatly, "I was afraid you didn't bring enough money and were short on coupons. You're my sister; why would I be distant with you? I'm wronged. If I were distant, would I have the nerve to order dishes?"

He said it with a face full of grievance.

"Brother-in-law went for further studies, and the military allowance is still being sent, but the coupons for daily life must be slowed down. Didn't you say that yourself, Sister? I was afraid you were tight on cash."

Lin Zhao expressed her appreciation, "Not tight, I'm quite well-off."

She looked at Yuncheng, her smiling mouth saying chilling words, "I'm not like you, a little mute. Whatever I lack or want, I will say it. Put your money away. The day I lack money, I'll be the first to come find you."

Yuncheng was handled by his sister's last sentence. He felt happy inside, thinking he had suppressed Yun Jin. As for his sister's sarcasm in the first half, it went in one ear and out the other; he didn't take it to heart at all.

The fact that he was a "mute" was something his family and his aunt's family could talk about until the New Year. It was fine; he was mentally prepared.

"I have to go to the textile factory. You eat slowly. When you're done, leave it at the guard station; I'll come pick it up later." Lin Zhao left a sentence for Yuncheng and rode her bicycle away.

Yuncheng saw her riding so fast, his brow furrowed slightly, but seeing his sister riding quite steadily, he swallowed the words that reached his lips.

Lin Zhao hurried to the textile factory and went straight to the cafeteria. When she arrived, Gu Chan was busy, standing in front of the window serving food, maintaining order from time to time to let the workers line up.

When the food in the basin became empty, Gu Chan took a break, wiped the sweat, and planned to eat a few bites herself. When she looked up, she saw her sister-in-law.

A smile bloomed on her face. She wiped her hands with the apron she made, served the food, and walked out quickly.

"Zhao Zhao, you're back. When did you come back? Why didn't you send a message so I could pick you up? Have you eaten? If not, this food is for you; it was just served, no one has touched it..."

Lin Zhao pulled her sister-in-law to find a seat and said, "I came back yesterday. I've eaten. You hurry up and eat. I know you're anxious, so I'll tell you about Little Shi Tou's situation slowly."

Gu Chan had been busy all morning and was dizzy with hunger. She didn't stand on ceremony with her sister-in-law and began to eat.

Her expectant gaze unconsciously aimed at Lin Zhao.

Clearly.

She wanted to hear her talk about Little Shi Tou.

"Little Shi Tou has adapted quite well to the environment of the base. The coach and the children older than him at the base are all quite good to him." Lin Zhao told her sister-in-law every detail after seeing Little Shi Tou.

After finishing.

She finally passed on a message for Little Shi Tou, "He asked me to tell you that he eats well and dresses warmly there, and no one bullies him."

"He also said... he misses you and Brother-in-law."

Hearing this, Gu Chan's tears fell immediately, eating them into her mouth with the food, which was extremely bitter.

She missed Little Shi Tou.

How could she not? She only had two sons in total, and Little Shi Tou was the younger one, and with that kind of temperament, how could she be at ease?!

Lin Zhao knew her eldest sister was strong-willed, so she pretended not to see it, took out the photos taken for Little Shi Tou, placed them on the dining table, and pushed them over silently.

The top photo was taken at the entrance of the training base. The large iron gate, the clean and spacious road surface, and the dormitory building in the distance... were all clear at a glance.

A little boy with a shy smile stood at the entrance.

Gu Chan could paint the environment where her son lived in her mind. The sourness in her heart seemed to be smoothed out by Little Shi Tou's smile, and the corners of her mouth curled up.

"Little ungrateful one, smiling so happily."

Lin Zhao disagreed, "Eldest Sister, these words are biased. Little Shi Tou misses home quite a bit. He asked about the recent situation of you, Brother-in-law, and Da Shi Tou, and even asked about Father and Mother. He also said he would train hard, win a gold medal, bring glory to the country, and become your pride."

"Is a gold medal that easy to win? Little fool," Gu Chan said dotingly, feeling very proud of her son in her heart.

She was very honest, "His father and I haven't not dreamed of Little Shi Tou winning a gold medal, but we don't force it. Sending him out is just because he wants to and he likes it. Xiang Dong and I don't have much education, and we don't understand what's the use of practicing that stuff. We only know that country children have few ways out, and it's rare to have a path that is relatively flat, so let's try. It's better if it goes smoothly, and it's fine if it doesn't work out. Your brother-in-law and I will cover for him."

Thinking this way was quite good.

Lin Zhao's heart moved slightly.

She would always be moved by such selfless maternal love.

Gu Chan felt Zhao Zhao's expression was strange, and the hand holding the chopsticks tightened.

"Wha, what's wrong?"

Lin Zhao smiled and said, "Parental love, planning far ahead for their children, I felt it. Eldest Sister said you and Brother-in-law have no education, but I don't think so. In Little Shi Tou's matter... you showed the simple wisdom of the working people, and I admire it very much."

Gu Chan was stunned on the spot.

This...

Zhao Zhao is praising her, right?

She was somewhat at a loss.

"This, what's there to admire? It's all small thoughts, not presentable, just talking to you."

In their brigade, no one understood.

Instead.

Rumors that she and Xiang Dong sold Little Shi Tou for money were rampant. Her mother-in-law's explanation was useless, which was also frustrating.

"What's not presentable?" Lin Zhao's eyes were disapproving.

"I can't stand the methods of those who keep their children by their side because of selfishness," she said powerfully. "How is this different from breaking the wings of a little eagle and not letting them fly?"

Lin Heling was good to Lin Zhao, but he didn't treat her like a flower in a greenhouse, not letting her know about any wind or rain. When she was very young, she knew that there were hundreds, thousands, and ten thousand kinds of people, and human nature could least withstand the test.

Her father told her a true story he knew—

That was when Lin Heling was young.

A country youth was admitted to university. His father and mother were afraid he would fly away and never come back, so they tore up his admission notice and locked him at home, forcibly destroying his only chance to change his fate.

Years later, Lin Heling saw that youth again. His face was as old as anyone else's, and the shadow of that high-spirited, bright-eyed young man could no longer be seen at all.

No one knew that he once said his wish in this life was to make powerful weapons to protect the health of the country's people and make the great powers no longer look down on our China.

What a pity.

The person who blocked his dream was the closest relative who brought him into this world.

Lin Zhao believed this was not an isolated case. There was never a shortage of short-sighted people in the world.

Therefore, the choice of Gu Chan and Wei Xiangdong was rare and precious.

Gu Chan looked at her sister-in-law's angry face, guessed she thought of something unpleasant, and changed the subject.

"This photo... how did Little Shi Tou dare to be so close to the big bug?"

Seeing a photo of her son less than a meter away from a tiger, her face was full of panic.

Lin Zhao explained a few words to her.

"So it was raised by people." Gu Chan accepted it well. She always felt that pets raised by people would get a human scent, and their animal nature wouldn't be that great and could be effectively controlled.

"Even tigers can be seen in the provincial capital; it's worthy of being the provincial capital."

She savored her son's photo carefully, looking at the smile on Little Shi Tou's face, the arc of the corners of her mouth curling higher and higher.

"Can you give me these photos?" Gu Chan said embarrassedly.

"Look at what you're saying, they were originally for you. I kept four, gave two to Father and Mother, and stuffed two into my family's photo album," Lin Zhao said.

Gu Chan knew that taking photos cost film, and developing photos also cost money. She didn't want to take advantage of her sister-in-law and planned to give it to her later. She had less than two yuan on her, which certainly wasn't enough.

"Da Shi Tou will definitely be happy to see his brother's photo. Although he doesn't say it, I know he misses Little Shi Tou too."

Lin Zhao smiled, "Da Shi Tou is at the age of being tough-mouthed but soft-hearted and acting cool. Of course, he won't admit it."

"That's right."

That afternoon, Gu Chan took her youngest son's photo back. With a shout, her husband and Da Shi Tou both gathered around.

"Let me see if our son has gotten fat or thin?!" Wei Xiangdong took the initiative to say.

Da Shi Tou's face was calm, his hand in his trouser pocket curled slightly, and expectation flashed in his eyes.

Gu Chan didn't tease her face-conscious eldest son, took out the photo carefully, and looked at it with her husband and eldest son.

Under the dim light, the three gathered together, and the atmosphere in the room was warm.

After looking at the photos, Wei Xiangdong suddenly spoke, "A-Chan, let's buy a bicycle for our family?"

Gu Chan looked at him, "Bicycles are very expensive."

"Expensive or not, we have to buy one. The weather is getting colder, and it's getting dark earlier. We can't keep borrowing the bicycle from Third Brother's family. If you think it's expensive, let's buy a second-hand one. Whether it looks good or not doesn't matter, as long as it can be ridden. How about it?" Wei Xiangdong consulted his wife's opinion.

"How much is a second-hand one?" She worked in the county and definitely needed a bicycle to be convenient if she wanted to go home to live.

"That depends on how old it is. If you agree, I'll go find someone to ask?" Wei Xiangdong heard the hesitation in his wife's words, his heart moved, and expectation appeared in his eyes.

There was no man who didn't love cars.

Gu Chan thought for a moment, calculated the family's savings, and finally nodded.

"You go find someone to ask."

Wei Xiangdong said excitedly, "I'll go tomorrow. Don't worry, I definitely won't suffer a loss."

"I trust you with things," Gu Chan said.

Da Shi Tou was very happy, "Our family is going to have a bicycle?!"

"Yes, when we buy the bicycle, I'll ride it to take you to school." Wei Xiangdong ruffled his son's short hair, his eyes shining amazingly, wishing it were tomorrow immediately.

"Okay," Da Shi Tou agreed, without any vanity, purely to satisfy his father.

Harvest Brigade.

Lin Zhao came to Little Calf's house and set the work of making clothes with Yu Zhen.

She was the God of Wealth, and Yu Zhen agreed immediately, but regarding the remuneration, she put forward some of her own ideas.

"I don't want money; I want to exchange it for milk powder. Is that okay?" Yu Zhen asked nervously.

"No problem. Sister Yu Zhen, do you want it for Little Calf to drink?" Lin Zhao asked.

"You guessed it." Yu Zhen didn't deny it, speaking politely, "Little Calf is two years older than Xiang Yubao and Gu Hangbao, but his height is about the same as theirs, which is really worrying. I heard that drinking milk powder can help them grow taller. His father and I wanted to get milk powder for him a long time ago, but unfortunately, we couldn't get milk powder coupons. We wanted to find you to exchange coupons before, but didn't find a suitable opportunity."

Lin Zhao smiled, "Drinking milk powder is indeed useful. Xiang Yubao and Gu Hangbao grew taller by drinking milk powder. If you can't buy milk powder, drinking goat milk is also fine."

Yu Zhen cried and laughed, "I know, but the little calf is picky and thinks goat milk is gamey."

"Boiling it with ginger can remove the gaminess," Lin Zhao said.

"Really? I'll try it another day," Yu Zhen said pleasantly, "If it's really useful, his father and I won't have to worry about the milk powder."

"Okay, you try it. Our deal is still valid. I'll let Xiang Yubao send the milk powder later."

Yu Zhen hurriedly said, "No need for him to send it. I'll let Little Calf take it. Little Calf's body is weak, and the doctor said he needs to walk more. But his temperament... I let him go to your house, and he is quite willing. It's just right to let him move his body."

Lin Zhao smiled and agreed, "Xiang Yubao and Gu Hangbao are at home. If Little Calf is willing, let him come to my house to play."

Yu Zhen looked grateful, "I'll tell him later. Thank you."

She knew that most families in the village were unwilling to entertain children, feeling that children were oblivious and greedy. Her Little Calf had been disliked before, and after that, he was even less willing to go out.

"What's this, Little Calf is obedient and likable," Lin Zhao said indifferently.

What does it matter if he is shy and doesn't like to talk? It doesn't affect the fact that he is a likable child.

Yu Zhen glanced at the swaying curtains in her son's room, feeling excited.

Persuasion from her own family was useless, and she hoped Little Calf would change after hearing Lin Zhao's words.

After finishing the styles of the four cubs' clothes with Yu Zhen and leaving the fabric, Lin Zhao left the Zhang family.

When she was almost home, Xiang Yubao came running over, followed by the family's two dogs.

"Mom, Cousin Xiang is looking for you. She's waiting at our house!" The child's clear voice rang out.

Sister Xiang Xiang is here?

"Coming, coming." Lin Zhao accelerated her speed and walked toward the house. ===== CHAPTER 348 =====