Chapter 366: Carrying a little sun

"Ah ah ah, it's really Dad!"

Gu Hangbao shouted excitedly and hugged Gu Chenghuai, enthusiastic like a human sunflower.

Gu Chenghuai's eyes softened. He picked him up and tossed him up.

"Ah ah ah ah ah ah, so high, fun." Gu Hangbao, who didn't know what fear was, screamed, his voice full of joy.

Gu Chenghuai played with Gu Hangbao for a while, then picked up Xiang Yubao and tossed him up too.

Xiang Yubao didn't express his emotions as outwardly as his brother. He screamed wildly, and a string of happy laughter overflowed from his mouth.

Like an assembly line, after holding Xiang Yubao, Gu Chenghuai put him down, squatted, and opened his arms toward the twins, his eyes infinitely gentle.

"Don't recognize me anymore?" He laughed.

Qian Bao walked forward, his small hand clutching his father's sweater, "Dad."

Gu Chenghuai hugged his youngest son and bounced him, "So heavy! Qian Bao has grown up too."

Qian Bao's white, tender little face leaned on his father's shoulder, his long eyelashes blinking, obedient and cute.

"Dad, I, I..." Seeing Yaobao saw her father ignoring her and hugged Gu Chenghuai's leg, her small voice milky and cute, tinged with a little grievance.

"Dad, I want to go down, you hold Sister." Qian Bao said to Gu Chenghuai.

Gu Chenghuai rubbed his youngest son's fine, soft hair, his voice doting, "Qian Bao is really a good brother."

Qian Bao had a stern face, that face was clearly a miniature version of his father.

Lin Zhao glimpsed this scene through the kitchen window, the corners of her mouth holding a smile.

It still takes Dad being home; even little adult Qian Bao has a trace of childishness.

Cute.

Gu Chenghuai liked his wife's miniature daughter the most. Once he picked up Seeing Yaobao, he couldn't put her down for a while.

"Dad, look at my new clothes." Seeing Yaobao pulled her wine-red cotton jacket, opening her big, cute eyes.

This cotton jacket had a Chinese-style disc button design on the front, with two red rope bow-style disc buttons. The waist was pleated and cinched, and the hem naturally spread into a slightly fluffy skirt shape. The collar and cuffs were inlaid with a circle of fluffy, off-white plush. The fur was light and soft, and the little girl wore it looking both cute and pretty, like a New Year picture doll in a pictorial.

Gu Chenghuai pinched the fur on the collar of Seeing Yaobao's cotton jacket, his voice low and soft, "Pretty, your mother made it?"

Lin Zhao: Sure enough, anyone facing the cute faces of the twins would become a 'dead clip' (a slang for someone who speaks in a cutesy, high-pitched voice).

Xiang Yubao missed his dad, but didn't forget his mom. He trotted into the kitchen, snatched the firewood from her hand, and frowned, "Mom, I'll light the fire, you rest. When I'm done, I'll pound your shoulders. My hands are rough, I'm not afraid of rough firewood."

"Who said our Xiang Yubao's hands are rough? They are clearly also fine and tender." Lin Zhao pinched her son's small hand.

His hand shape followed his parents, his fingers long and straight. Lin Zhao would bring several cubs along every time she applied hand cream, raising them very well.

Xiang Yubao curled his lips and said sweetly: "Mom raised me well."

That's right.

She did raise them well.

Lin Zhao was proud.

She raised the timid Big Cub to be cheerful, lively, loving, and filial. Who wouldn't say she knows how to raise children?

Circling Xiang Yubao's small body, Lin Zhao's smile was warm, "Xiang Yubao is really Mom's thoughtful eldest son, Mom likes you so much."

Even though he often heard his mother say she liked him, Xiang Yubao would still be shy. He pretended to be calm and scratched his face, using a small, trembling voice that he pretended was calm: "I also like Mom so much."

He tilted his body and rubbed against Lin Zhao's face.

Lin Zhao kissed Xiang Yubao's cheek, "Good cub."

Xiang Yubao's face turned red.

"Baby is too shy." Lin Zhao coaxed her son with sweet words.

What will happen when he talks about a partner in the future?

Baby?

Hearing this address, Xiang Yubao's face turned another degree redder. He pretended to be calm and shook off the dregs on the firewood, tightened his face, and stuffed the wood into the stove.

Her son is really fun!

"You're happy Dad is back, right?" Lin Zhao pinched Xiang Yubao's face, which was serious.

"Happy!" The child's eyes were as bright as stars, "Super happy."

The fire burning in the stove reflected on his face, his happiness had nowhere to hide.

"Dad is back, Mom is happy. Mom is happy, I'm happy too." Xiang Yubao said seriously.

"I'm too small, I can't help Mom with many things, Dad can."

Compared to Dad, several children were closer to Lin Zhao, the mother who brought them up.

"Our Xiang Yubao is really a little warm man." Lin Zhao hugged her son's thin, small shoulders, smiling happily, "It's clearly mid-winter, but with Xiang Yubao here, I feel like I'm carrying a little sun."

"Warm?" Xiang Yubao's eyes were clear, the corners of his mouth lifted.

"Warm, warmer than holding a stove." Lin Zhao nodded affirmatively.

The arc of Xiang Yubao's mouth became larger.

"I've agreed with your dad, we'll follow him to the army after the New Year. Not to visit, but to follow the army. You'll go to school over there, and we'll live in the military area for the time being. We might only be able to come back once or twice a year. If there are good friends you want to say goodbye to, say goodbye properly this New Year. Can you tell your younger brother and sister about this too?" Lin Zhao said gently.

Xiang Yubao was stunned, his smile fading.

"Un." He lowered his head, feeling both happy and lost.

"Mom, I can't bear to part with Li Bao." He sniffled.

They had known each other since they were drinking milk, learned to walk together, licked the same candy, went to school hand in hand... they did everything together, so it was naturally hard to part.

Lin Zhao hugged Xiang Yubao's small body.

"Does Xiang Yubao want to cry?"

Xiang Yubao nodded honestly, "Un."

"Cry then, Mom's shoulder is here for you to lean on." Lin Zhao comforted him in a soft tone.

Xiang Yubao: "..." Couldn't really cry anymore.

"Mom!" The child's voice was hoarse with choking.

"What's wrong?" Lin Zhao pretended to be puzzled.

Xiang Yubao said in a low voice: "Stop teasing me."

"Good, won't tease anymore." Lin Zhao suppressed her laughter, her words soothing, "When we go to the army, if you miss Li Bao, we can pick him up during the winter and summer holidays. You can still play together, right?"

"... Un." Xiang Yubao replied.

He pressed his hand to his chest, still feeling listless, "But I still feel stuffy, want to cry a little."

"Normal." Lin Zhao patted Xiang Yubao's shoulder and said softly: "The military area has Mao Dan'er, and there are Jingmo and Guangbai, you can play with them."

"I will send a letter to the old house every month, you can also write to Li Bao, I'll help you send it. Although we can't play together, we haven't broken contact, right? Can you feel a bit happier thinking like this?"

Xiang Yubao knew that following the army was already a foregone conclusion, there was no possibility of change.

"Un."

Water mist squeezed out from the gap in the pot lid.

The water was boiling.

"A-Huai, the water is boiled, you go wash first, don't be sticky." Lin Zhao shouted toward the courtyard.

The next instant, Gu Chenghuai appeared holding his daughter.

"Your daughter doesn't mind that you smell." Lin Zhao said sourly.

Gu Chenghuai laughed, "My wife doesn't mind me either!"

"Go away, wash quickly, otherwise I'll mind you immediately." Lin Zhao smiled and rolled her eyes at him.

Gu Chenghuai put down Seeing Yaobao, coaxed his daughter gently that he would play with her later, took the boiling water to the bathroom, and took a quick 'battle bath'.

By the time he came out, Lin Zhao had already cooked the meal.

The man had a hard time on the train. Since it was his first day back, he would cook from tomorrow on.

"Didn't you say I would cook?" Gu Chenghuai's hair was short, and it dried after a few strokes with a towel. Seeing the meal ready on the table, his gaze on Lin Zhao's face was lingering and gentle.

"Heartache for you being tired, I'll cook today, you cook starting tomorrow." Lin Zhao set the chopsticks.

"Good." Gu Chenghuai agreed without a second word, hung up the towel, and sat beside his wife.

Zhaozhao felt heartache for him, his hands and feet, which had been frozen by the cold wind, were all burning hot!

"Sit down and eat." Lin Zhao gave the order, and the man and children started eating.

She boiled pork and scallion dumplings, stir-fried a plate of mushrooms, a stir-fried lotus root with meat slices, a stir-fried wood ear with meat, and stewed the half chicken left over from before.

Lin Zhao wasn't worried about not finishing it. With Gu Chenghuai there, she wasn't afraid of having too much.

"Really fragrant, I've been thinking about this bite for a long time, Wife, you've worked hard." Gu Chenghuai ate one dumpling after another, feeling that this was the life people should live.

Wife, children, and a warm bed, it's nothing but the peak of life.

Lin Zhao was very happy to be praised and gave him a look, "Weren't you in the capital? No good food?"

"Closed-off study, no time to go out, ate in the cafeteria. You also know the food in the cafeteria, it's not bad to be able to fill your stomach." Gu Chenghuai sold his misery to his wife.

He just wanted Zhaozhao to feel heartache for him.

Lin Zhao's eyes softened as expected, and she picked a piece of meat for the man, "No wonder I feel you've lost some weight, so it was hunger. It's okay, you should be able to make up for it in these few days of the New Year."

"Wife is really good." Gu Chenghuai was happy again.

Several children saw Lin Zhao's attention being snatched away by Dad. Gu Hangbao shouted loudly: "My mom is the best!"

He counted with his fingers, "Looks the best, good job, is a high school student, can make good-looking clothes, cooks well... is the best, best mom, no one can compare!"

After speaking, he looked at his dad triumphantly.

His word count was more than Dad's, Mom must be able to feel his sincerity.

Gu Chenghuai: "..."

This kid changes his face really fast. He was just circling around him shouting that it's good Dad is back, and now he's starting to go against him!

Sure enough, the Second Cub is the big stumbling block between him and his wife.

Gu Hangbao learned from his dad, eating one dumpling after another, his eating style heroic. His skin was tender, and he accidentally bit into one that had water inside. Hot soup burst out, scalding him into a 'hiss', and tears even came out.

"Scalded?" Gu Chenghuai put down his chopsticks and pinched his cheek, "Stick out your tongue and let me see?"

"Blehh~~" Gu Hangbao obediently stuck out his tongue.

"It's okay, just a bit red." Gu Chenghuai said.

Lin Zhao handed over her water cup, "Take a sip of ice water and hold it."

Gu Hangbao did as told.

"Silly boy, Old Gu has thick skin and flesh, what are you comparing with him? Hurts, right?" Lin Zhao said helplessly.

This kid is like a fighting cock in front of his own dad, always wanting to suppress Old Gu.

Gu Chenghuai almost dropped his chopsticks, Old Gu?!

He still has a few years before he's thirty!!

"Woo." Gu Hangbao nodded, hissing in pain.

Once scalded, he learned to be obedient. Gu Hangbao would always carefully bite open the skin when eating dumplings in the future, for fear of scalding his tongue again.

After eating, Gu Chenghuai washed the pots and bowls.

After cleaning up the kitchen, he washed his hands with soap.

Lin Zhao nodded with satisfaction.

She liked clean and fresh men.

"Are you going to sleep for a while or go to the old house?"

Gu Chenghuai didn't even think and said: "Go to the old house, see Dad and Big Brother and Second Brother."

He was still young, his physical strength was at its peak, it was fine to stay up for a few days.

"Fine, you go, I won't go with you." Lin Zhao worked for a day and wanted to lie down.

"You rest at home, I'll be back after sitting for a while." Gu Chenghuai pulled his wife back to the room, followed by four little tails.

The man opened the big bag he brought back. There weren't many clothes in it, all were gifts for his wife and children.

A red camellia knitted shawl for his wife.

A bullet casing transport plane model for Xiang Yubao.

A bullet casing car model for Gu Hangbao.

Nutritional supplements and candy biscuits bought for the twins.

"Wow!!"

Two 'wows' sounded in unison.

It was Xiang Yubao and Gu Hangbao who received the gifts.

"Dad, I like this gift very much!" Xiang Yubao raised his head, his eyes black and bright.

"I like it too." Gu Hangbao was afraid of breaking it and didn't dare to reach out to touch it. He asked without raising his head: "Dad, did you make this?"

"Yes." Gu Chenghuai nodded.

Lin Zhao was very satisfied with his thoughtfulness.

She put on the shawl her husband gave her over her sweater.

She spun around.

"Pretty?"

Gu Chenghuai's eyes were burning, "Extremely pretty..."

What kind of luck did he have to be able to marry Zhaozhao!

Seeing Yaobao hugged Lin Zhao's leg and said milkily: "Mom is a flower fairy."

The little girl liked bright things and used her chubby little hands to pick at the small camellias on the shawl.

"Pretty." She said heavily.

Lin Zhao circled her daughter with the shawl, her tone light, "Wow, our Seeing Yaobao is also a flower fairy."

Seeing Yaobao laughed and covered her little face.

Gu Chenghuai looked at his wife and daughter, his eyes full of tenderness.

Carrying the gifts prepared for the old house, he went to the old house. Xiang Yubao and Gu Hangbao requested Lin Zhao to keep their bullet casing gifts for them and hurriedly chased after him.

"Qian Bao and Seeing Yaobao aren't going?" Lin Zhao asked with a smile to the twins who were sticking to her side.

Qian Bao's eyebrows were calm, and he said seriously: "Accompany Mom."

Seeing Yaobao rubbed her eyes, her small body burrowing into Lin Zhao's arms, "Sleepy."

She was really confused, even using reduplicated words.

"Then let's sleep for a while." Lin Zhao held Seeing Yaobao in one hand and Qian Bao in the other, and took them to bed.

Qian Bao didn't need her to worry much. With a stern face, he seriously took off his shoes, coat, and pants. After taking them off, he folded his clothes neatly and placed them on the stool beside the bed, then lay flat.

"Qian Bao is really great." Lin Zhao praised and kissed her son's forehead.

She lay down, with the twins on her left and right.

Warm, like two little stoves.

"Really warm." Lin Zhao sighed.

Qian Bao leaned a bit toward her, the meaning very clear, wanting to pass his body temperature to his mother.

As for Seeing Yaobao, she fell fast asleep as soon as she touched the pillow.

Gu Qingzhou was overjoyed to see his Third Brother.

He carried a stool and sat beside Gu Chenghuai, listening carefully no matter what he said, just like a little fanboy.

Gu Chenghuai was unaccustomed to it, "Are you okay?"

"... I'm okay." Gu Qingzhou was confused, not knowing that his excessive enthusiasm had scared his own brother, "I'm happy Third Brother is back."

"You've become strange." Gu Chenghuai said bluntly.

"Where is it strange?" Qingzhou looked at the others in the family.

"More lively?" Gu Chenghuai found such an adjective.

"Hehehe." Gu Qingzhou laughed foolishly.

"..." ===== CHAPTER 367 =====