Chapter 401: Can that kid keep his mouth shut?

The villagers' thoughts were unknown to the Gu Chan couple, and they didn't care.

Gu Chan worked in the city most of the time. At the end of last year, she was allocated a room, and Big Stone moved to the city to live. He attended high school in the county, and it was a hassle to go back and forth living in the village.

Wei Xiangdong had a pig farm in the mountains and couldn't leave, so he had to be separated from his wife and children.

He went to the city every few days to deliver vegetables and meat to his wife and children, and then stayed for one night. Gu Chan and Wei Chuan would return to the village to live during their time off, alternating between the two sides; the family of three had already gotten used to it.

Watching the ox cart leave, Wei Chuan walked into the house and took a bamboo basket, "... I'm going into the mountains to take a look."

Gu Chan said, "Pay attention to safety."

Wei Chuan turned his back to her, waved his hand, his steps light.

It was when he was twelve years old that he found out his father was raising pigs in the mountains. He also found out about the existence of that wolf cub.

Since then.

That wolf became Wei Chuan's closest friend.

If someone went up the mountain during the busy farming season and walked a little deeper, they could often see a youth wearing dark clothes lying on the grass, with a large wolf with dense gray-brown-black fur lying beside him. The person and the wolf were sunbathing, extremely content.

Wei Chuan would occasionally bring wild game home, which was caught by the big wolf.

Gu Chan knew all of this.

Wei Chuan avoided the villagers and came to the secret base. He sat on a stone under a large tree and blew a whistle. Before long, a wolf crawled out of the grass nearby.

This wolf bumped against Wei Chuan's leg like a large dog, and its bark was also like a dog's.

Wei Chuan touched the wolf's neck, "Why are you learning to bark like a dog again? How can you be a wolf king like this?"

The wolf rested its large head on his knee and closed its eyes.

"You really know how to enjoy yourself." Wei Chuan rubbed the wolf's ears, a faint smile appearing in his cold eyes.

The wolf let out a soft howl, the sound not majestic, but having a cute, coquettish feel.

"Do you think that little fool can keep his mouth shut?" Wei Chuan muttered in a low voice, "I guess that idiot will tell Xiang Yubao and the others about your existence..."

The ox cart drove halfway, picked up Qiao Hui, and continued toward the train station.

After arriving at the station, Gu Chenghuai left an oil-paper package as usual, said thanks to Little Zhuang who saw them off, and chased after his wife and children carrying the luggage.

Little Zhuang was stunned for a moment, opened the oil-paper package, and inside were more than a dozen chicken cakes, the sweet fragrance hitting his nose. He swallowed his saliva a few times, restrainedly tied up the bag, gave a flick of the whip, and went home.

His old father at home had almost all his teeth fallen out and couldn't eat anything. These chicken cakes were soft and just right to give to his father to nourish him.

There were many more people at the train station than in previous years. It was only after a hard time that they squeezed onto the train, and they were covered in sweat by the time they got on.

Gu Chenghuai opened the window first, the wind blew in, and the stuffy heat dissipated.

The children took off their shoes and socks and sat on the lower berth in a heroic manner, chatting about everything.

Seeing Da Huang and Xiao Hu Po guarded the door like loyal guards. Every time someone passed by, they would stare at them. Bold people would show a kind smile and touch the dog's head, leaving satisfied. Timid people would be scared to jump when they saw the two dogs, exclaiming "Ah!" Qiao Hui would always take the initiative to say they were tied with ropes, and the dogs couldn't reach the aisle...

Lin Zhao looked at Qiao Hui, her eyes blooming with smiles.

Sister Hui had changed so much.

It really made people happy.

Qiao Hui was pretty, diligent, and capable. It wasn't that no one had taken a fancy to her in the military region all these years, wanting to take her as a wife, but she had rejected them all.

She said a classic line to Lin Zhao, "I would rather eat the bitterness of life than eat the bitterness of marriage again, and I don't want to be anyone's old maidservant again."

Qiao Hui saw things very clearly. Those people who wanted to build a family with her... were just missing an old maidservant, wanting to marry her back to wash clothes, cook, and take care of the elderly and children.

It was the same housework, but doing it for Zhaozhao's family came with wages, and after marrying, not only were there no wages, but she would also be scolded by people.

Why bother?

Not marrying.

Not marrying for the rest of her life.

Qiao Hui had planned it out. If Lin Zhao needed her, she would keep working. When she didn't need her, she would return to her hometown to earn work points and save more money for her old age.

Lin Zhao knew all of this.

At the time, she smiled and said, "Sister Hui saves me a lot of trouble, I can't bear to let you go. I still have to go to university, and the family can't do without your help. Don't worry, I'll take you wherever I go."

Qiao Hui's smile was rarely bright.

"Okay, as long as you need me, I'll stay."

Speaking of which.

The few youths on the lower berth didn't know how the topic of raising pets came up.

Wei Yan said mysteriously that his brother raised a wolf.

Xiang Yubao looked at Little Stone in shock and reached out to touch his forehead.

"Are you feverish and confused?"

Gu Hangbao also said, "What nonsense are you talking about, raising a wolf? Wolves are fierce beasts that eat children."

Wei Yan pulled down Brother Zhiyu's hand, his face full of seriousness, "Really! I'm not lying, I saw it, my brother really raised a wolf."

Wei Xiangdong: That's my wolf!

The twins still didn't believe it.

Lin Zhao looked over, her eyes full of interest.

She believed it.

Wei Xiangdong raised pigs in the mountains, so the possibility of picking up a wolf cub wasn't non-existent, and it wasn't strange for Big Stone to recognize the wolf his own father raised.

Xiang Yubao was half-believing, "Then tell me what the wolf you saw looks like?"

Wei Yan gestured with his hands.

"The fur is very long, the head is big, the limbs are thick, the eyes are small..."

The twins laughed loudly.

"This is no wolf, wolves are very fierce, what you describe is like our Seeing Da Huang." Gu Hangbao laughed very loudly.

Seeing Da Huang, lying at the door, raised its head and barked.

Xiang Yubao suddenly lifted his right shoulder and bumped his brother's arm, "Seeing Da Huang's eyes aren't small."

Seeing Da Huang could understand words; it should be sad to hear his hurtful words.

Gu Hangbao said, "Oh oh, our Seeing Da Huang's eyes are big, and it looks very majestic."

Seeing Da Huang understood this sentence and let out a howl filled with joy.

Wei Yan was so anxious that sweat was almost coming down.

"It really is a wolf!"

He tried hard to prove he wasn't lying, "If you don't believe me, wait until next time we go back, I'll take you to see it. My brother raises the wolf in the mountains, and the wolf even brings him wild rabbits."

"I've seen it!"

When it came to bringing wild rabbits, Wei Yan's voice became very small.

On the train, he was afraid of being overheard and reported for digging the corner of socialism.

"Okay okay, I believe you." Xiang Yubao saw Little Stone brother so anxious and echoed.

Wei Yan was a young man who represented the whole province in competitions, not as easy to fool as before. Knowing Brother Zhiyu was brushing him off, he felt stuffy in his heart, fell straight backward, spread out in a "big" shape, his expression collapsing.

"No need to brush me off..."

"You'll know when you see it with your own eyes."

He really wasn't lying.

He really, really had seen a wolf! A wolf that didn't eat people!!

Lin Zhao smiled and interjected, "Little Stone isn't a person who talks nonsense. Since he said he's seen it, he must have seen it. I haven't seen a wolf yet; next time we go back, if there's a chance, you take me to see it."

Wei Yan sat up abruptly, his movements as swift as a little leopard.

"Third Aunt believes me?"

"I believe you." Lin Zhao smiled, "You are an honest child, you haven't lied since you were small, why shouldn't I believe what you say?"

Wei Yan was spirited, his eyes shining brightly, "Okay, next time we go back I'll take Third Aunt to see it. Aunt, don't be afraid, that wolf knows me, it won't bite you."

"I'm not afraid." Lin Zhao said.

Seeing Qian Bao pulled Wei Yan's hand, his eyes serious, "I want to see it too."

"I'll take you too." Wei Yan said happily.

After finishing, he looked at Seeing Yaobao, "Does Seeing Yaobao want to see it?"

Seeing Yaobao waved her hands quickly, "I don't want to anymore, I'm scared."

"... Alright then." Wei Yan was very disappointed.

Xiang Yubao and Gu Hangbao saw Wei Yan's expression didn't look like he was lying, and the two brothers looked at each other, their firm disbelief wavering.

"Little Stone, are you for real?" Gu Hangbao wrapped his arm around Little Stone's shoulder and looked into his eyes to ask.

Wei Yan: "..."

"When have I ever told a lie?" He asked back, "Which sentence of mine made you think I was joking?!"

He was wronged to death.

From beginning to end, every sentence he said was serious.

Gu Hangbao was stumped by the question, his brain crashed for a few seconds, and he said righteously, "Wolves are wild beasts that eat people, they love to snatch children to eat the most, who would raise a wolf for nothing? It's normal for us not to believe it, okay."

Lin Zhao took the enamel mug Gu Chenghuai handed to her side, took a sip of tea, and interjected, "Narrow-minded."

"The world is big, and there are all kinds of wonders." She looked at her son, "You've only met a few people, how do you know no one raises wolves?"

"There are all kinds of people in this world. Our family raises dogs, cats, and little monkeys; there are also people who raise tigers, wolves, and venomous snakes..."

"Raising venomous snakes?" Gu Hangbao shook his body exaggeratedly, "Aren't people who raise venomous snakes afraid of being bitten?"

Last year he saw a child in the military region bitten by a venomous snake; in a very short time, his lips turned cyan. If it weren't for his little uncle arriving quickly, that child's life would have been gone.

"Some people know how to train snakes." Lin Zhao said faintly, "For this kind of person, raising snakes is no different from raising dogs or bees."

Gu Hangbao didn't understand but felt it was powerful.

"Amazing."

Xiang Yubao said, "I don't like reptiles."

Seeing Qian Bao followed up, "I don't like sharp-mouthed ones."

Seeing Yaobao puffed out her cheeks, "I like cute ones that don't bite people."

Gu Hangbao rubbed his sister's cheeks, his laughter clear, "Then you're done for, because even rabbits bite when they're anxious."

The little girl was speechless, hugged her chest, and hummed, "Then I... I like Seeing Da Huang, Xiao Hu Po, Coal Ball, and Little Gold!"

Gu Hangbao: "I like everyone in our family!"

Gu Chenghuai looked at the rowdy cubs, looked at Lin Zhao, his eyes soft, "Are you sleepy? Do you want to sleep for a while?"

He took two cotton balls out of his pocket, "To stuff in your ears, it can reduce some noise."

"You actually remembered to take cotton balls, so thoughtful, what would I do without you by my side." Lin Zhao's voice was sweet, "Not sleeping for now, if I sleep now I won't be able to sleep at night."

"Then read a book for a while?" Gu Chenghuai was afraid his wife would be bored, so he tried to find things for her to do to pass the time.

"Dizzy." Lin Zhao leaned against the quilt, not wanting to move.

"Shall I read to you?" Gu Chenghuai asked.

"No need." Lin Zhao said, "I'll lie down for a while, and get up to draw later."

She liked to use drawing to record life, and had asked Uncle Song to buy a lot of drawing paper and pens before.

"Okay."

Along the way, writing and drawing, the time on the train wasn't too hard to endure.

Time flew by, Lin Zhao and the others returned to the military region, looked at the familiar courtyard, and let out a long sigh of relief in unison.

The children put down their luggage.

Gu Hangbao sighed, "It would be great if it only took one day to get from the hometown to the military region."

He had been on the train for several days and nights and was also wilted.

Lin Zhao said, "There will be such a day."

The original book said that later generations had airplanes, and also a means of transportation called high-speed rail, which was fast and clean, and sitting on it was as flat as walking on level ground.

"Take a bath first, don't sit on the bed without taking a bath." Lin Zhao reminded, took her change of clothes, took Seeing Yaobao's little hand, called Qiao Hui, and the three went to the public bathhouse together.

Gu Chenghuai knew his wife loved cleanliness, so he also called the three sons to the bathhouse.

Just out of the bathhouse, the police officer ran over and told him the Chief called him to the office.

Gu Chenghuai had no choice but to let Xiang Yubao and the others go back by themselves, then trotted toward the Chief's office.

Xiang Yubao and the three returned home one step ahead of Lin Zhao, boiled three pots of hot water, and wiped the house inside and out.

Lin Zhao returned home and didn't see Gu Chenghuai, "Where's your father?"

"Called away by someone." Xiang Yubao said.

"Just got back, he wouldn't be going on a mission again, would he." Lin Zhao frowned.

His injuries had only just healed not long ago.

She was a bit uneasy.

"Mother, Gu Hangbao and I are at home, don't be afraid." Xiang Yubao looked worried and comforted Lin Zhao.

Lin Zhao felt warm in her heart, "I'm not afraid, are you hungry?"

Gu Hangbao came out of the kitchen with a lunch box.

"The lunch box is washed clean, scalded with boiling water. Mother, shall Brother and I go get food?"

There were no vegetables or meat at home, so they couldn't cook even if they wanted to.

"Go ahead, be slow on the road." Lin Zhao habitually exhorted.

"Brother and I are adults now, Mother, don't treat us like children." Gu Hangbao said depressedly.

Lin Zhao: "..."

On the second day back to the military region, Song Zhi came to visit and shared with Lin Zhao the big and small lively events that happened in the military region while she was away—

Su Yuxian's second child in her belly was gone, supposedly the handiwork of her stepdaughter.

The fool who gave his wife ten yuan for food expenses every month and sent all the remaining allowance back to his hometown to support his parents and his younger brother's family suddenly woke up, cut ties with his hometown, started buying things lavishly, and spent his allowance every month.

Furthermore, there was a family whose eldest son, who had been sent back to his hometown to live with his grandparents, had his right eye injured by a slingshot. His grandparents didn't treat him, threw the child back to the military region, and left in a panic. The child's eyeball was necrotic and had to be removed. After the child woke up, he became gloomy and terrifying...

"I've only been away for a month, and so many things have happened." Lin Zhao sighed that where there are many people, there is much liveliness.

Song Zhi said, "Just watch, there's still more liveliness to see."

Her words had just finished, and before the night passed, the family courtyard became lively.

The first to start was the family whose child's eye was injured.

This family's surname was Jin, and they were neighbors with the Gu family. They seemed to be arguing in the courtyard, and the sound was very loud.

"... Why go back to the hometown again? You're already like this, Mother knows she let you down, but I have no choice either. Your grandparents are throwing a tantrum, insisting on keeping you in the countryside, what can I do?" The woman's voice with a crying tone rang out.

She grabbed her collar in a breakdown, "You are the biological grandson of those two old things, I didn't know they didn't even let you eat your fill and treated you like a long-term laborer. If I had known, how could I bear to let you suffer this crime! I wanted to take you away, but your grandparents wouldn't let me, they wouldn't let me, woo woo woo!!"

"You can hate me or resent me, just don't torture yourself, can you eat first, Mother begs you..."

Lin Zhao heard it clearly in her own courtyard.

She sighed.

"Mother?" Seeing Yaobao was a bit scared and burrowed into her mother's arms.

"Don't be afraid, it's fine, we're in our own home, what's there to be afraid of." Lin Zhao reached out to cover her daughter's ears and chased Gu Hangbao, who was pricking up his ears to listen to the liveliness, back to his room.

Gu Hangbao curled his lips, returned to the room, and opened the window casually. The sound from next door could still be heard.

He gave his brother a triumphant look.

When they were young, Mother always said to ask less about adults' affairs, and now that he and his brother were so big, she still restrained them, not afraid that they would become bookworms.

"Brother, when did Aunt Jin have an extra son in the hometown? Why haven't I heard of it?" Gu Hangbao fiddled with the bullet-made car model on the desk.

Xiang Yubao sat at the desk, found a book to read, and answered his younger brother's question, "You always run around without a trace, of course you don't know anything."

"Big Brother Jin was left in the hometown when he was over a year old, he doesn't even know which way the military region gate opens." He said the intelligence he knew.

"After Aunt Jin came to the military region, she gave birth to several more children. These children took away all her attention and affection, how could she think of the child left in the hometown..."

Gu Hangbao's expression was complex.

"I didn't see that Aunt Jin was actually this kind of person." He felt very disillusioned.

"Big Brother Jin must have had eight lifetimes of bad luck to be born into her belly."

"When a mother doesn't act, it's the children who suffer." ===== CHAPTER 402 =====