Chapter 385: Say He's Flattering

After Xiang Yubao finished speaking, the phone fell into Gu Hangbao's hands.

He was more talkative; once he started, he couldn't stop, saying whatever came to mind, his mouth never resting.

Gu Chan listened carefully, occasionally replying, recording what Gu Hangbao said, planning to tell her parents when she returned to the brigade later.

Her parents were both missing the grandchildren who had left home.

"Auntie, are you good? I miss you so much." Gu Hangbao licked his dry lips and used this as a closing statement.

It held Gu Chan firmly in his grasp.

She was so moved she couldn't speak.

"Auntie misses you too, and your grandpa and grandma miss you too."

"You guys be good there, don't go into the mountains, stay far from the river, play in the army, don't run outside, pay attention to strangers, don't make your parents worry..." Gu Chan gave a pile of instructions; her nephew and niece were far away, and she was worried.

"I know." Gu Hangbao chattered, finding some supporting details to tell Gu Chan.

Lin Zhao was truly afraid.

These kids were endless when they started making phone calls.

Another minute passed, and Lin Zhao couldn't help but pat Gu Hangbao on the shoulder, "That's enough, phone bills aren't cheap."

She didn't care about having money, but receiving calls also cost money; her sister-in-law would feel the pinch for a long time.

Gu Hangbao stopped talking, still wanting more.

"Auntie, phone bills are expensive, let's stop here. Call us back quickly after you ask, I'll be waiting."

The person on the other end of the phone agreed.

Gu Hangbao let his younger brother and sister talk to their aunt for a few words, and only then did the family leave the communications room.

The call duration wasn't short, costing several yuan.

Gu Hangbao, who had occupied the receiver the longest, felt embarrassed. He looked at Lin Zhao, "Mom, I'll pay for the phone call, using my New Year's money."

Lin Zhao looked back at her son, amused, "Okay."

This cub really knew how to act; how did this brain grow? Now even Xiang Yubao couldn't complain about him hogging the receiver—he paid for the phone bill himself, so what if he talked more...

"Mm-mm, I'll pay you back when I get home," Gu Hangbao said seriously.

Lin Zhao never took the New Year's money of the four cubs, nor the money their grandpa, grandma, maternal grandpa, maternal grandma, and several uncles secretly stuffed into their hands.

The cubs hid it in their respective piggy banks. They didn't seem to spend much usually. During the hottest time in summer, they would take out a few cents to buy ice cream, and every time they bought it, they would bring one for every member of the family, never eating alone.

Even Qiao Hui, who took care of their daily life, had some. Qiao Hui was moved to tears. She remitted one-third of her salary to her mother, saved one-third, and spent the remaining one-third on the four cubs.

Lin Zhao had told her several times after discovering it, saying she was spending money to take care of the four cubs, but Qiao Hui just smiled every time.

She was willing.

What good children; looking at their happy appearance, she felt she had grown several years younger.

That noon, Gu Chan pedaled her bicycle back to her parents' home, with a catty of meat and a bag of chicken cakes tied with a rope hanging from the handlebars.

This bicycle was a second-hand one Wei Xiangdong had found connections to buy. He had painted it with new paint, and it looked just like new.

Gu Chan rode very fast, returning to the village in half an hour.

She went straight into the house.

"Mom..." she called as soon as she entered.

Gu Mu heard the voice and came out.

"Why are you here at this time? Not working today?"

Gu Chan parked her bicycle, "I found someone to cover my shift."

As she spoke, she handed over the things she brought.

"You came, why bring meat again? You haven't finished eating the last batch you sent."

"What, it's been a month and you haven't finished it?" Gu Chan's expression was disapproving, "Mom, I sent the meat to nourish you and Dad's bodies. How can you not eat it? Don't be reluctant. I have a salary now, buying meat isn't hard."

Her man had expanded his scale, raising several more pigs this year, so the family wasn't lacking pork.

Speaking of which, it was only right that Wei Xiangdong made money. He was lucky. Last winter, he found a wolf cub. The cub hadn't even opened its eyes, lying in a snow nest. If no one had saved it, it would have surely died. After all, it was a life, so Wei Xiangdong felt compassion and brought the wolf cub home, secretly raising it at home...

Now, the wolf, raised alongside wolfdogs, could help watch the "pig farm."

Someone from the brigade almost discovered the pig farm, but the wolf cub let out an "awoo," scaring the person into running away crawling. The news that there were wolves in the west end of the mountain gully spread, and no one went there again.

It saved Wei Xiangdong a lot of trouble.

Gu Chan could sleep soundly at night. She had her man build a den for the wolf they raised next to the pig farm, and then spread a thick layer of rice straw.

The wolf cub had been held in the arms of the Wei family and fed since it opened its eyes, had undergone socialization training, and was very human-like. Occasionally, it would even catch some wild game for Wei Xiangdong, letting him take it down the mountain.

Wei Xiangdong also treated the wolf like a son, being very attentive to it—bathing it, feeding it the meat chunks it loved most, teaching it to hunt...

Gu Mu said, "We weren't reluctant to eat it, we cook it every few days. Rest assured, we haven't mistreated our mouths."

"As long as you haven't mistreated them." Gu Chan didn't press the point.

She changed the subject.

"Mom, before I came, I received a call from Zhao Zhao and Xiang Yubao and the others..."

Before the tail of the sentence faded, Gu Mu raised her eyes and stared at her, "Why did they suddenly call? Nothing happened, right?"

"No, Chenghuai can't come back for the New Year this year, so he intends to take Zhao Zhao and the children to spend the New Year in the army. Xiang Yubao and Gu Hangbao miss Li Bao, and the two children made a fuss to Zhao Zhao and Chenghuai, begging them to pick Li Bao up too. Zhao Zhao called back to ask for Big Brother and Sister-in-law and Li Bao's opinions," Gu Chan said.

Hearing that the grandchildren couldn't come back, Gu Mu couldn't help but feel lost in her heart, "Is that so."

She quickly cheered up, "Li Bao will definitely be willing. Your Big Brother and Sister-in-law... I'm not sure what they think. Let's go, I'll go ask with you."

Gu Chan supported her mother's arm, and the mother and daughter went to the eldest brother's house affectionately.

In order to learn how to plant medicinal herbs, Huang Xiulan started to learn to read. Gu Lan taught her, and she had achieved quite good results after half a year of learning.

She had flipped through the books Lin Zhao left her many times, planning to try planting them next spring.

People's energy was limited; currently, she had to plant mushrooms, which was real money.

At this moment, Huang Xiulan was mending clothes for her two sons. Hearing footsteps, she looked up and was stunned to see her mother-in-law and sister-in-law.

"Mom, A-Chan, why are you here?"

After greeting them, she called Gu Lan, who was in the room, "A-Lan, come out first, pour water for your grandma and aunt."

"Okay." Gu Lan responded, came out of the room, and poured two bowls of water, adding sugar to both.

After finishing everything, she didn't enter the room, but took a small stool and sat in the corner, silently pricking up her ears.

Gu Chan didn't keep them in suspense and explained the reason for her visit.

Huang Xiulan didn't hesitate and expressed her stance on the spot, "I have no opinion, but how will Li Bao go?"

She wished her son's relationship with the twins could be even deeper. Her own cub was simple-minded; having two clever cubs leading him, she and the child's father wouldn't have to worry in the future.

Moreover, thinking of Li Bao's depressed appearance since the twins left, a look of heartache flashed across Huang Xiulan's face.

Gu Chan: "Chenghuai said he would think of a way to entrust a comrade to bring Li Bao over."

A comrade, isn't that also a soldier.

Having a soldier help bring a child, that was very reassuring.

"Okay." Huang Xiulan didn't even think about discussing it with her man, agreeing directly.

"Don't need to discuss it with the eldest?" Gu Mu asked.

"No need, his father wishes he could send Li Bao away. He's unhappy at home every day, talking about missing Xiang Yubao and Gu Hangbao at every turn, complaining that his father and third uncle are different, that he's not a soldier, and then whining a few times. His father can't hit him or scold him, so he hides when he sees him," Huang Xiulan felt very sympathetic toward her own man.

It was just that the simple-minded kid's complaints were very reasonable, and his father couldn't even refute them.

Don't know who taught him.

Xiang Yubao: Hehe.

Gu Hangbao: Heeheehee, that's right, no internal friction, all external friction.

Gu Chan stifled a laugh, "Li Bao is getting smarter. Okay, then I'll reply to the call like this."

"Done." Huang Xiulan nodded.

When Gu Yuanshan learned that his third brother and third sister-in-law were going to pick up his youngest son to spend the winter break in the army, and spend the New Year on the way, the corners of his mouth lifted uncontrollably, his whole body feeling indescribably relaxed.

"Good, when?" His tone was mixed with an indescribable urgency.

Huang Xiulan's mouth twitched, "Don't know."

Gu Yuanshan: "It's fine, I can wait, it won't be many days anyway."

After speaking, he whistled and went to the mushroom room.

Being eaten to death by Li Bao.

Huang Xiulan chuckled.

Li Bao returned home carrying a small basket. She couldn't wait to tell her son about his third uncle and third aunt's plan to pick him up to spend the winter break and New Year in the military district.

Upon hearing this, the dark, thin little boy seemed to be frozen in place, turning around in slow motion to look at his mother.

"Mom?" he called out uncertainly.

Huang Xiulan looked at the longing on her son's face, her heart suddenly turning sour. She took the small basket and patted the dust off his body for him.

"It's true, you didn't hear wrong. Before long, you'll be able to see Xiang Yubao and Gu Hangbao."

"Wawu!!!" Li Bao burst into tears suddenly, his crying sound loud.

"Mom, is it true? You can't lie to me, I miss Xiang Yubao and Gu Hangbao, wuwu. They aren't here, I'm not happy at all."

Her son wasn't happy; how could she, as a mother, not know?

Li Bao had been holding back his emotions, holding them back for half a year. Now, finally venting them, he cried until Huang Xiulan's heart felt a wave of sourness.

"It's true, it's true, I didn't lie to you. Your third aunt and Xiang Yubao and Gu Hangbao called your aunt, saying they wanted to ask someone to pick you up," Huang Xiulan wiped the tear stains on Li Bao's face with her rough fingers, her face full of heartache.

Tie Dan self-reliantly put down the basket on his own back, leaned over, and looked at his younger brother, "Simple-minded people have simple-minded blessings. I'm so sour. You can go to the military district to gain experience, eat your third aunt's cooking, and see Xiang Yubao and Gu Hangbao. We're all born to the same parents, how can your life be so good..."

This round of singing and acting shattered Li Bao's crying sound into pieces.

The child's red eyes widened, and he said with some pride, "I am Xiang Yubao and Gu Hangbao's good brother, the best, best good brother. I am the best in the world with them, it's useless for you to be sour."

Tie Dan had originally seen his stupid brother crying until his eyes were spicy and wanted to divert his attention, but he didn't expect him to be so annoying, getting so angry his eyes widened.

"You ungrateful stinky brother." Tie Dan "angrily" pinched Li Bao's cheeks, pulling his hands to both sides.

"I shouldn't have bothered to comfort you, just let you be stupid to death."

Li Bao wouldn't suffer a loss, "You're the stupid one."

Before Xiang Yubao left, he told him that whoever bullied him should be countered, not to be a punching bag. The current Li Bao was different from before.

"Mom, Brother said I'm stupid. I was born to Mom and Dad, if he says I'm stupid, he's saying Mom and Dad are stupid, saying Grandpa and Grandma are stupid..." Li Bao reported his brother in front of him.

Tie Dan: "..."

Lin Zhao received the reply from her hometown and entrusted someone to pass a message to Gu Chenghuai, who was at work, asking him to arrange for someone to pick up Li Bao.

She knew how much influence she had on Gu Chenghuai and never went to wander around his workplace.

Although she didn't go specifically, she had seen Gu Chenghuai training new recruits.

Several new recruits used various moves to pounce on him, but the man dodged them easily, swinging his fists and kicking his legs nimbly. Five new recruits were repelled, falling to the ground in various postures. They refused to admit defeat, stood up, and rushed up again, only to be thrown out again...

Repeatedly.

Seeming to notice Lin Zhao's gaze, Gu Chenghuai looked over with sharp eyes. The moment he met his wife's gentle eyes, his expression softened suddenly, a shallow smile flashing in his eyes.

He quickly withdrew his gaze and said to the few stubborn new recruits, "Again."

"You are too weak."

The few stubborn new recruits who refused to be managed howled and climbed up again, swinging their fists.

The few young men who hadn't been soldiers for long naturally couldn't beat the battle-hardened Deputy Regiment Commander Gu, and were thrown around until they yelped.

Those with a heart could see that the muscles on Deputy Regiment Commander Gu's body were even more bulging, and the whole person was like a peacock spreading its tail.

Sun Yeli and the others were familiar with him and saw the problem, laughing at him for a whole week.

Gu Chenghuai kept a cold face, then a cold face again. Damn, these animals were still laughing. Their Chinese must have been taught by a PE teacher, saying he was flattering...

A bunch of people without wives knew nothing.

He couldn't be bothered to talk nonsense with these people without wives.

At this moment, Gu Chenghuai received the message Lin Zhao entrusted someone to bring. His eyebrows and eyes relaxed. He found the comrade who was going back to his hometown to visit relatives and entrusted him to bring Li Bao.

That comrade had originally wanted to ask the Deputy Regiment Commander for a favor. Seeing him speak first, the difficulty of the words that were on the tip of his tongue finally eased.

"No problem, I guarantee to bring your nephew back to the military district safely," the young officer said.

His expression paused slightly, and he finally spoke, "Deputy Regiment Commander, I want to trouble you with something."

The "Deputy" before "Regiment Commander" sounded terrible; sooner or later, he would get rid of it.

"Speak your mind," Gu Chenghuai said.

"My sister is getting married, I want to send her a watch, but I'm short on tickets. I don't know..."

Gu Chenghuai: "I'll go ask, I'll give you an answer tomorrow."

As long as he nodded, 80% of the matter was done. A brilliant smile bloomed on the young officer's dark face, "Thank you, Deputy Regiment Commander, I'll wait for your good news."

After speaking, he saluted and ran away quickly.

Gu Chenghuai: "..."

"You" this, "you" that—making him think he was seventy or eighty.

Gu Chenghuai knew Sun Yeli had a watch ticket he wasn't using for the time being. After work, he returned to the dormitory and asked him for that watch ticket.

Sun Yeli's eyes turned, "Want a watch ticket? Sure, no money, I want to trade it for something."

"Pickled radish or pickled cabbage?" Gu Chenghuai couldn't know his thoughts any better. Ever since his wife came to join the army and gave him two jars of small pickles she made, this person had been thinking about them, asking him for them every three days. If it weren't for his tight mouth, giving them all away wouldn't be enough for him to squander.

Sun Yeli rubbed his hands, looking forward to it, "Both, is that okay?"

"Change the condition," Gu Chenghuai said.

He said, "My wife just finished making a batch, there's yours inside."

Lin Zhao knew Gu Chenghuai and Sun Yeli were true brothers. Her man had eaten plenty of things sent by the Sun family before. Knowing Sun Yeli liked the small pickles she made, she made many jars, including some for him.

Sun Yeli's eyes were incredibly bright, "Oh my, Sister-in-law is too good."

He pulled open the drawer, didn't say more, took out the watch ticket, and stuffed it to Gu Chenghuai.

"Don't want anything else, just the small pickles." ===== CHAPTER 386 =====