Chapter 40: Double Standard

Dacai smiled shyly.

“My brother and I are the strongest kids in our brigade,” Ercai said, head held high, proud as a peacock.

Lin Zhao carried half a sack of rice out of the room and saw Yun Cheng getting along well with the two kids—she thought, no wonder they were uncle and nephews; just a few words and they were already close.

“Yun Cheng, take these rations back for me.”

Song Yuncheng took the sack, secured it to the bike’s front, and felt something in his pant pocket as he tightened it.

Remembering he’d forgotten to give the two nephews their gift, he pulled out the candy from his pocket and handed it all to Dacai and Ercai.

“Dacai, Ercai, this candy is for you.”

Dacai and Ercai looked at Lin Zhao; when she nodded, they accepted it.

“Thank you, Uncle,” two childlike voices chimed.

“No need to thank me,” Song Yuncheng said, pushing his bike toward the door with a smile. “Next time you go to town with your mom, I’ll take you out to play.”

Ercai replied cheerfully, “Yesss!!”

They both walked their new uncle to the door.

Only now did Song Yuncheng truly feel the weight of being an uncle—he was satisfied, ruffled both kids’ heads, and turned to Lin Zhao. “Sis, I’m heading back. When you have time, bring Dacai and Ercai home for a visit.”

“Got it. Be careful on the road,” Lin Zhao instructed.

Song Yuncheng waved and pedaled away.

The young man was full of vigor, tackling everything with fiery energy, drenching himself in sweat without restraint.

He rode off into the last sliver of sunset, vanishing from the village entrance in a blink.

“Mom, when will you take me and Brother to Uncle’s house?” Ercai’s small hand curled in Lin Zhao’s palm, his eyes upturned, pleading.

Lin Zhao paused, then said, “When I don’t have work, I’ll take you both.”

“Yay!” Ercai’s eyes lit up. He pressed his head against his brother’s and whispered something quietly.

Lin Zhao looked down, her eyes smiling.

She led the two kids to the old Gu family home to pick up the Long Fengtai.

The bumpy dirt road stretched into the distance; though the sun had set, the sky was still bright.

Village children ran everywhere, adults sat on stools at their doorsteps chatting, each holding a palm-leaf fan, occasionally swatting at mosquitoes.

Several large tables, painted red, stood outside the Lu family’s gate; the paint was chipped and worn, clearly old.

The ground was uneven, so one table leg was propped up with a piece of wood.

Sensing Lin Zhao’s gaze, Dacai volunteered without being asked: “It’s because Uncle Lu, the soldier, is getting married. His bride is Xiao Su, the girl who came to our place to cause trouble.”

Gu Mu called Su Yuxian “Xiao Su,” and the two kids had picked up the habit.

“That’s an elder—doesn’t calling her Xiao Su seem impolite?” Lin Zhao didn’t scold, but smiled and asked.

Ercai crossed his arms and huffed, kicking a small stone aside, pouting. “She insults people—that’s impolite.”

Dacai feared his mother would be angry with his brother and quickly explained: “Mom, we only call her Xiao Su when we’re with you. When others are around, both of us call her Aunt Su.”

He didn’t like Su Yuxian either.

She said it was fine for them, but not for Mom to say she didn’t know how to raise kids!

“As long as you know better,” Lin Zhao said, not reprimanding her son—she wished the whole family would stay far from the Su and Lu households.

Her slender, soft fingers pinched Ercai’s cheek.

The child applied baby cream every morning and night; his face had become smooth and supple, soft as cotton under her touch.

Lin Zhao changed her pinch into a gentle rub.

After rubbing for a while, she smiled. “When I’m not home, stay away from this family. If you go out to play, take Da Huang with you.”

She trusted Da Huang completely.

“Don’t worry, Mom,” Ercai’s face was squished into a funny shape, but he loved being close to her and grinned without complaint. “My brother and I won’t play with Lu Baozhen.”

He added under his breath, “She’s a crybaby. We don’t like playing with crybabies.”

“What if Si Cai turns into a crybaby? Would you still not like her?” Lin Zhao asked with a smile.

“That’s different!” Ercai spoke with great responsibility. “Si Cai is my sister—I’ll love her no matter what. I’m the older brother; I have to protect my younger siblings.”

Lin Zhao recalled a word she’d learned from the novel—it fit Ercai’s attitude perfectly: “Double standard.”

Just like Gu Chenghuai.

Ercai looked puzzled. “Mom, what’s a double standard?”

“A double standard is exactly what you just did—treating other kids differently from your own sister,” Lin Zhao said, unable to suppress her smile.

“That’s normal,” Ercai beamed. “Of course I like my family more than outsiders—I like… Mom the most.” His grin melted her heart.

“I’ll remember that,” Lin Zhao said. “If one day you like outsiders more than your family, I’ll disown you.” The thought of Ercai becoming the brainless criminal from the novel made her want to vomit.

If he truly turned out that way, she would absolutely refuse to recognize him.

The child turned into a stunned expression, clutching his mother tightly. “Why would I like outsiders? I only like Mom, Brother, my siblings, Hammer, I like…”

He listed names until his voice went hoarse, desperate to prove his loyalty.

“Alright, alright,” Lin Zhao patted his head, quieting him. “Just remember it in your heart.”

“Mm.” Ercai’s cheeks puffed out as he nodded seriously.

Dacai patted his chest. “Mom, I’ll watch over Ercai.”

“Good,” Lin Zhao smiled in reply.

As they spoke, they arrived at the old Gu family home.

Seeing Lin Zhao and the three kids, Gu Mu came forward and said, “Old Third’s daughter-in-law’s back.”

Lin Zhao hugged the Long Fengtai as they rushed to her, nodding with a smile. “Mm. Did San Cai and Si Cai cause any trouble?”

“No, they’ve been well-behaved,” Gu Mu said. In her eyes, all four kids were the most obedient in the entire commune—no other child compared.

Si Cai’s soft little hands gripped Lin Zhao’s arm, her short legs straining to climb onto her, sticky like melted candy.

Lin Zhao’s germophobia flared; she subtly frowned.

At that moment, Dacai pulled out a ragged cloth from his pocket and wrapped it around Si Cai’s hands.

Si Cai looked up, confused and displeased.

“Don’t use your dirty hands to touch Mom,” Dacai lectured seriously.

Si Cai pouted, gazing at Big Brother with teary eyes, whispering two words: “Bao, guai.”

“I didn’t say you weren’t good,” Dacai soothed her, glanced at Lin Zhao, then quickly looked away. “Mom likes cleanliness. Let me wash your hands, then you can hug Mom again, okay?”

Si Cai looked from Big Brother to Mom, then nodded.

“Okay~~”

Dacai took his sister to wash her hands and face; San Cai was dragged along by Ercai.

Once the children left, Gu Mu told Bang Bang to bring Lin Zhao a stool and ordered Gu Lan to pour tea for her Third Aunt.

“Thank you, Mom,” Lin Zhao sat down and massaged her calves.

“Tired?” Gu Mu asked. “The brigade’s far from town—you walk back and forth every day. Write to Old Third and ask if he can get you a bicycle ticket. If he can, buy one. It’ll make commuting easier.”

Lin Zhao’s lips curled. She lifted her wrist to reveal her watch, voice warm with amusement. “Husband sent me the ticket—I’ve already ordered the bicycle. It’ll arrive in two days. Today I bought the watch.”

Her skin was pale; the watch looked exquisite on her wrist.

Gu Mu didn’t dampen the mood—she praised immediately: “Beautiful. A watch makes checking the time at work so convenient.”

Gu Lan poured the tea and placed it before her Third Aunt, stealing a glance at Lin Zhao’s wrist.

The girl’s eyes sparkled.

Third Aunt looks so beautiful with that watch.

Sensing Lin Zhao’s gentle, smiling gaze, she blushed and quickly lowered her head.

“Thank you for giving me the lunchbox, Third Aunt,” Gu Lan whispered.

Lin Zhao smiled. “No need to thank me. We had an extra one, and you needed one.”

Seeing the girl still embarrassed, she added, “If you really feel guilty, keep an eye on Dacai and the others when I’m away.”

Gu Lan nodded seriously. “I will!”

Lin Zhao slipped a handful of shrimp-flavored sugar candies into her hand. “Go play.”

Gu Mu was pleased—not because of the candies, but because Third Daughter-in-Law treated the Gu family as her own.

“By the way, Third Daughter-in-Law, I heard Dacai and Ercai say you gave them deworming candy? Where did you buy it? Can Bang Bang and the others eat it too? If they can, I’d like to buy some for them.”

Knowing Lin Zhao was particular, she didn’t mention seeing worms in the latrine.

“No need to buy—I have extra. I’ll give five pieces to the kids at home.”

Gu Mu immediately said, “How can you spend your own money…”

Before she could finish refusing, Lin Zhao cut her off: “One candy is five fen. I don’t lack three jiao.”

Gu Mu was speechless.

Three jiao was still money.

“Fine, then I’ll thank you on behalf of Bang Bang and the others.”

Lin Zhao waved her hand. “The Gu kids are well-raised by you, Mom—I like them very much. This is nothing to thank for.”

Remembering the candy didn’t include Yu Yu, she added, worried her Second Sister-in-Law might misunderstand: “The candy isn’t suitable for children under two, so I didn’t prepare any for Yu Yu.”

Zhao Liuniang hadn’t thought anything of it, but now she smiled. “You’re thoughtful, Sister-in-Law. If you hadn’t mentioned it, we wouldn’t have known Yu Yu couldn’t eat it.”

“That’s right,” Huang Xiulan agreed. “I didn’t even know there was deworming candy.”

She was baffled. “Who’d think candy could deworm?”

“The kids will be thrilled to have candy to eat.”

Gu Lan handed Lin Zhao a bamboo fan; Lin Zhao smiled at her and lazily fanned herself.

The third and fourth cubs washed their hands and faces, wobbling over to their mother and tumbling into Lin Zhao’s arms.

“Mama!”

The little dumplings chirped happily, their voices soft and sweet, clingy as ever.

Lin Zhao set the dragon-phoenix twins on her lap and fanned away mosquitoes, then called out to the first and second cubs, “Come closer—I’ll fan you too, or you’ll get bitten all over.”

The first cub refused to let his mother tire, took the fan, and swung his arm to fan Lin Zhao instead.

“Mama, I’ll fan you,” he said, not feeling tired at all, even delighted.

Father said he wasn’t here, so he and the second cub had to protect Mama, help her with chores, and be filial—his father’s words were etched in his mind!

Zhao Liuniang glanced at her two sons sprawled on the cooling mat in the yard, legs crossed and swaying, and felt her eyes ache.

They’re all sons, yet why are other people’s so thoughtful?

Two-year-old Yuyu imitated the first cub, fanning her mother with serious little concentration.

The old mother’s heart melted; she pulled her little daughter close, cooing endearments.

“Daughters are the real thing—what’s the use of sons? All they’re good for is scaring off bullies; otherwise, they’re useless. Not like daughters—my little Yuyu.”

Zhao Liuniang kissed her daughter’s cheek—she was as gentle with Yuyu as she had been harsh with Bangbang and Laimei.

Laimei rolled over, lying face-down on the mat, legs swinging. “Mama, I want to change my name!”

Zhao Liuniang glanced at him half-heartedly, then turned her attention back to her daughter. “Ask your father. Change it to whatever you like.”

She already had a daughter; what did it matter if the second son’s name changed?

Laimei leapt up excitedly and ran to his father, Gu Yucheng. “Dad, I want to change my name!”

Gu Yucheng asked, “Fine. What do you want to change it to?”

“Gu Ba Wang!” Laimei declared with force.

His father choked.

He turned away, ignoring him.

What did that even mean?

Laimei, confused, chased after Gu Yucheng. “Dad, come on, answer me—will you let me change it or not?”

“Change your ass. ‘Barbarian’? I’ll beat you into a turtle.” Gu Yucheng shoved his son’s dark little face aside. “Go play. I finally get some peace.”

“Pfft.” Laimei scoffed, rolling his eyes. “Favoring girls over boys—total bias.”

Gu Yucheng raised his hand; Laimei scrambled away, flopped back onto the mat, crossed his legs, and grumbled unhappily.

He’d wanted to change his name for ages. He felt his name was no different from the village’s Zhao Diti, Laidi, Pandi, or Wangdi—others were begging for brothers, but he was begging for a sister.

But he already had a sister.

Thinking of how everyone teased him about his name, Laimei stopped swinging his legs and sank into gloom.

The second cub lay beside him on the mat, heard his sigh, and nudged him with his elbow. “Laimei, what’s wrong?”

“If you still think of me as your brother, call me by my new name,” Laimei said.

“...Ba Wang Ge?” the second cub ventured, his expression utterly beyond words.

The words “ugly” nearly turned into shredded paper and slapped Laimei’s face.

“Cool, right?” Laimei didn’t notice, beaming—he’d thought of this name for ages, the most badass one ever.

Too bad his father refused to let him change it.

The mischievous boy slumped, radiating utter despair.

“It’s awful,” the second cub shook his head like a rattle drum.

Laimei’s eyes widened.

How could that be?

He’d heard those two characters from the sent-down youth and thought they were incredibly powerful.

The second cub nodded firmly, repeating, “Really awful.”

*Ssssh!*

Laimei collapsed back, body rigid, utterly defeated.

Lin Zhao couldn’t help laughing, her tone soothing.

“Don’t give up yet—you’ll have to change your name when you start school. Laimei and Bangbang and Ercai are all nicknames; your parents are just teasing you.”

If she remembered right, Bangbang had a real name: Gu Xingye.

But he was used to his nickname, and no one called him by his real name, so most people thought he didn’t have one.

Laimei’s eyes slowly lit up. He sat up, no longer bothering his parents—he turned to Gu Fu and pleaded, “Grandpa, can you give me a real name?”

“Whoever gave birth to the child names them—I won’t meddle,” Gu Mu cut in immediately.

Unless her son and daughter-in-law spoke up, she had no intention of getting involved.

Laimei didn’t want his parents to name him.

Look at the names his parents gave: Bangbang, Laimei, Yuyu—none of them sounded good!

He gazed at Gu Fu with pleading eyes. “But Grandpa, your names always sound nice.”

The second cub’s eyes darted, then he scampered over to Gu Fu, using his tiny arms to knead his shoulders and pat his back, his face beaming.

“Grandpa, you’ve worked all day—let me rub your back.”

Gu Fu’s mouth twisted into a wide grin.

“Good, good, go ahead, rub me.”

His grandson’s filial piety pleased him deeply.

The second cub pounded for a long while, his arms aching, slowing down to tap gently with his tiny fists.

Seeing Gu Fu thoroughly satisfied, he grinned and leaned his face close, revealing his true aim.

“Grandpa, while you’re at it, can you name me, my brother, and the third and fourth cubs too?”