Chapter 408

Lin Zhao organized the things sent by her hometown and her third brother and sister-in-law, and only then began to read the letters.

Several wild boars ran down the mountain in the Dongfeng Brigade; Song Xiwei had to lead the team to hunt the boars and had no time, so she couldn't come over; she would come to the military region to visit relatives after the New Year.

There was also a letter from Xie Baiwei—

The letter said that she was going on blind dates every day, and she was going to vomit from blind dating; she hated those gossiping women to death; she wasn't married and hadn't dug up anyone's ancestral grave, so why were they gossiping about her, causing her to go on blind dates endlessly...

Between the lines, she was very broken down.

【My requirements really aren't high; the other party just needs to not be short, look upright, be steady and enterprising, care for the family, and have a harmonious family... are these requirements very outrageous? That matchmaker said I was aiming too high; did I aim high? Did I aim far? I'm so angry!!】

Finally, she said that Su Jingqiu was pregnant and was coming to the military region to follow the army soon; she asked her to help look after her then.

Lin Zhao saw that Xie Baiwei was truly anxious and sad, and her eyebrows frowned slightly.

A girl in her twenties who wasn't married was indeed easily discriminated against; she didn't expect that with Baiwei's family background, she still couldn't escape being talked about.

She wrote a reply earnestly, expressing her attitude—marriage matters cannot be impulsive or done in a fit of pique; it is best to consider clearly before stepping into it; a failed marriage is very draining for a person.

Furthermore, she said she would help Jingqiu integrate into the life of following the army, so Baiwei could rest assured.

After finishing the reply, she put it into an envelope, pasted the stamp, opened the window, and shouted for Xiang Yubao; the youth responded and soon ran over.

"What's wrong?"

Lin Zhao passed the letter through the window: "Mail the letter, and by the way, mail the New Year gifts I prepared for my hometown; if it's too heavy, call Gu Hangbao to help, I'm busy."

It was almost New Year's; she had to design the propaganda report, had to draw it first, and had to let the director review it in a few days.

"Got it." Xiang Yubao took the letter, returned to the room to call Gu Hangbao, and the brothers went to mail the letter and things together.

The two youths were very reliable in doing things; Lin Zhao was at ease with them doing things. Watching her two sons leave, she withdrew her gaze, took out drawing paper and brushes from the drawer, and conceived the draft under the bright sunlight.

Qiao Hui took out clothes, intending to wash them, but seeing Lin Zhao's figure at the desk, she worried that the sound of the washing machine would disturb her, so she put down the laundry basket and went to the reserved plot to tend to the vegetable garden.

End of the month.

Lin Zhao returned to her hometown to attend Yuncheng's wedding.

Gu Chenghuai had a mission and couldn't go; she thought about it and didn't take the children, but stepped on the return journey alone with a woven bag.

It was night when she arrived; Lin Zhao didn't return to the village, but to the home in the county.

The Lin Shichang family was all asleep.

Hearing the knocking on the door, the couple in the room was very surprised.

Lin Shichang put on his slippers, left the room, and went to the courtyard to open the door.

"Eldest Brother." Lin Zhao pulled down her black scarf, revealing her fair and beautiful face.

"Zhao Zhao?!" Lin Shichang was stunned when he saw his sister, subconsciously took the woven bag from her hand, put his arm around Lin Zhao's shoulders, and brought her into the house.

"Why did you come back? Just arrived, right? Why didn't you send a telegram before coming back so I could pick you up? If you encountered something on the way back alone, what would we do..."

He said one sentence after another, and Lin Zhao was made dizzy by his chanting.

"Is Eldest Sister-in-law asleep?" she had a flash of inspiration and changed the subject.

Chen Yu heard sounds in the courtyard and also put on a jacket and walked out.

Seeing her sister-in-law, she was also obviously stunned.

"Zhao Zhao? When did you come back?"

She walked over, pulled Lin Zhao into the room: "Did you just get off the car? Are you hungry? I'll go cook you some noodles..."

After speaking, she let Lin Shichang make the bed for her sister-in-law and hurriedly went to the kitchen to light the fire.

The main room of this courtyard had always been kept, and no one had moved in.

The brother and sister entered the main room one after the other.

Chen Yu would tidy it up every once in a while, sweep the dust, wipe everywhere, and then sun the bedding...

The room was very clean.

Lin Shichang said: "The weather was good a few days ago, your Eldest Sister-in-law just sunned the bedding, you can sleep after putting on new sheets; you sit and rest for a while, I'll make the bed."

Lin Zhao put down the woven bag casually.

"Sorry to trouble Eldest Sister-in-law."

Lin Shichang looked at her and laughed: "Haven't seen you for a while, have you become distant from us?"

"How could that be."

"If not, why are you saying these polite words," Lin Shichang didn't look at her while making the bed.

"Fine, I won't say it," Lin Zhao was truly convinced; it was just a casual polite remark, yet her Eldest Brother took it seriously.

"The bathhouse closed long ago; you can make do with washing at home for now; if you mind, go to the bathhouse early tomorrow morning," Lin Shichang said.

"Okay." Lin Zhao placed her hands on her knees and responded with an 'okay'.

Lin Shichang's heart felt soft; after so many years, Zhao Zhao hadn't changed at all.

"Did you come back alone? Where's Chenghuai? Where are the children?"

Lin Zhao propped her chin and watched her Eldest Brother nimbly making the bed for her: "Your brother-in-law went on a mission; Xiang Yubao and the others were left behind by me; I can't always bring them back, it's too much trouble."

She discovered that traveling alone was truly convenient and worry-free.

Lin Shichang didn't make demands on his sister.

"Do whatever makes you comfortable."

In the hearts of the Lin brothers, their sister was always ahead of their nephews and nieces; they least wanted to see Zhao Zhao wronging or making things difficult for herself for the sake of her husband or children.

Lin Zhao smiled.

"I know."

Lin Shichang took out the fluffy and soft quilt that had been sunned from the wardrobe and spread it on the bed.

"Do you want a hot water bottle?" he asked.

Lin Zhao shook her head: "No need."

Lin Shichang didn't speak; while Lin Zhao was eating noodles, he still filled a hot water bottle and stuffed it into the quilt; he always remembered that when his sister was young, her hands and feet were cold every time it got to this time.

"Haven't eaten noodles made by Eldest Sister-in-law for a long time; delicious, exactly the same as in my memory," Lin Zhao was eating noodles and praised as soon as she opened her mouth.

Chen Yu was overjoyed by the coaxing: "If you like eating it, I'll make it for you again tomorrow. Didn't eat longevity noodles this year, did you feel uncomfortable?"

These years she had been a salesclerk at the supply and marketing cooperative, hadn't been exposed to the sun, and the snow cream she used hadn't been interrupted; her skin was nourished to be delicate, and she didn't look her age.

Her parents looked at her and said she was getting younger and younger.

Every time her mother came to see her, she said, Xiaoyu married into a lucky nest, Mom is at ease...

Lin Zhao chewed the noodles in her mouth and gave her Eldest Sister-in-law a resentful look.

"A little bit," she put her thumb and little finger together, and then changed the subject: "But I received many birthday gifts, so it was okay."

Thinking of the birthday gift her Eldest Sister-in-law sent her, Lin Zhao thanked her with a smile: "Thank you, Eldest Sister-in-law, for the hairband you sent me; I like it very much."

Chen Yu waved her hand: "As long as you like it; I felt it suited you the first time I saw that hairband."

She asked a colleague to bring it from Haicheng; it was ginger-yellow, with exquisite lace edges; one hairband cost twelve yuan.

Truly a sky-high price.

However, her sister-in-law was worthy of such an expensive hairband.

Chen Yu was even afraid that sending an ordinary thing would insult Zhao Zhao.

"Do Mom and Dad know you're back?" Chen Yu asked.

"I didn't say, they probably don't know," Lin Zhao drank a mouthful of noodle soup and felt she had come back to life: "It's okay, I'll go home tomorrow, then Mom and Dad will know."

Chen Yu shook her head, fearing that her father-in-law and mother-in-law would also be startled.

"Dad didn't make me longevity noodles this year; when I go back, he will definitely make up for it," Lin Zhao said with a smile.

Lin Shichang was full of agreement: "That's for sure, you are Dad's treasure; on your birthday... when has your longevity noodles ever been missing."

Even during the famine, it was never missing.

Lin Zhao felt happy in her heart.

The Song family's conditions were good, and Song Yuncheng's wedding was very lively.

Lin Zhao stayed in her hometown for a month before returning to the military region.

When she went back, Lin Heling and Song Xiwei were with her.

Having not seen their youngest son and their two grandsons, Jingmo and Guangbai, for several years, the couple wanted to go see them.

The couple planned to see Jiusi and then go see the third family on the way.

Take advantage of being able to walk to see them more.

The journey accompanied by her parents made Lin Zhao happy like a little girl.

When the next snow fell, Su Jingqiu arrived at the military region and began her life of following the army.

Her man had found someone in advance to tidy up the house cleanly, and everything that needed to be added had been added, so Su Jingqiu, who was pregnant, didn't need to worry much.

Su Jingqiu rested a little and brought things to the Gu family.

Her man, the big black guy who had taken a fancy to her at first sight, Duan Yu, was not at ease and insisted on sending her.

"After sending you, I'll go cancel my leave," Duan Yu said, not allowing refusal. "If you can't smell the oily smoke, don't enter the kitchen; after work, I'll go to the canteen to get it, and bring it back then."

A rough man like him, having finally found an educated wife, no matter how much he cared, it wouldn't be too much.

Su Jingqiu felt this person was very long-winded, but rationally knew the man was doing it for her own good, so she endured her temper and responded: "Got it."

Duan Yu sent Su Jingqiu to the Gu family, didn't stay long, and left to get busy.

Lin Zhao sized up Su Jingqiu's belly; she was showing, but her waist was still so slender.

"Why so thin? Not eating well?"

Su Jingqiu stroked her belly and smiled bitterly: "Vomiting, vomiting severely, vomiting whatever I eat; I'm now afraid of eating..."

"Vomiting so severely." Lin Zhao's eyes were worried.

She had been quite good during both her pregnancies, and her mother-in-law and sisters-in-law all said the children in her belly were here to repay her.

"Is eating pickled cabbage or pickled radish useful?"

Su Jingqiu raised the corners of her mouth and smiled: "Tried it, useless, still vomiting."

"Always feel there's a strange smell." She felt very uncomfortable in her heart.

She only had a child at twenty; she had high expectations for the child in her belly, but it was a pity her own body was not up to the task.

A look of embarrassment appeared on Su Jingqiu's face: "Zhao Zhao, I want to ask to exchange for some of the pickled radish you made; I don't know if you have any?"

"I do!" Lin Zhao said immediately.

She smiled: "I was just about to mention it; there's no shortage of small dishes at home, as much as you want."

"That's good, I'll exchange for a small jar first, is that okay?" Su Jingqiu asked in a consultative tone.

"Sure." Lin Zhao knew Jingqiu was someone who didn't like to take advantage of others, so she didn't refuse her request to exchange.

Su Jingqiu's eyebrows relaxed, and she quietly swallowed her saliva several times.

Strange to say, as soon as she thought of the pickled radish Zhao Zhao made, she felt very greedy, even though she hadn't felt hungry for a long time...

Seeing something, Lin Zhao called Seeing Yaobao to accompany Jingqiu to talk, and she entered the kitchen.

Using the fire in the stove, she made some millet porridge.

After it was done, she served a small bowl, and took a small dish of pickled radish and pickled cabbage from the jar, and brought it out.

She placed it in front of Su Jingqiu.

"Jingqiu, you taste it, see if you can eat it? If you can't eat it, don't force yourself, think of other ways," Lin Zhao said.

Morning sickness is very uncomfortable, but there is always a way to solve it.

Try more, it will always get better.

A mother-to-be is the most important, after all.

Su Jingqiu didn't expect Zhao Zhao to have gone to prepare food for her; her nose felt sour, and her eyes were stained with heat.

"Zhao Zhao..."

Lin Zhao stuffed the chopsticks into her hand: "Alright, hurry and taste it, eat a piece of pickled radish first, see if you feel better."

Su Jingqiu sniffed, listened to Zhao Zhao's words, and used a piece of radish; the sour and crisp radish fragrance exploded in her mouth, and the bitter taste in her mouth was like a defeated soldier constantly retreating; the problem of feeling nauseous no matter what she ate these past few days finally didn't recur.

Her eyes burst with surprise.

"Zhao Zhao, I don't feel uncomfortable anymore!!"

Lin Zhao was happy for Jingqiu: "As long as you don't feel uncomfortable, hurry and eat; you've lost so much weight, if the adult doesn't eat, how can the child in your belly grow well?"

After not vomiting when eating, Su Jingqiu felt hungry in hindsight, gave Zhao Zhao a grateful smile, and began to eat, one mouthful of porridge and one mouthful of small dishes, eating truly fragrantly.

Seeing Yaobao couldn't help but swallow her saliva watching.

Seeing this, Lin Zhao pinched the fleshy cheeks of the greedy girl.

"Hungry?"

Seeing Yaobao smiled embarrassedly and pointed at her fingers: "A little, hehe."

"There's still porridge in the pot, I'll go serve you some," Lin Zhao's expression was indulgent.

It's a blessing that a child can eat.

Only by ingesting enough nutrition can they grow tall.

Lin Zhao went to the kitchen to serve porridge, and Seeing Yaobao ran behind her.

"Mom, I want small dishes too, give me more pickled cabbage, thank you Mom."

"Okay, I'll give you more pickled cabbage," Lin Zhao's voice was soft and indulgent.

"Mom is truly good," the little girl said sweetly.

Accompanied by the cute Seeing Yaobao, Su Jingqiu ate more comfortably and fragrantly.

After finishing a small bowl of millet porridge and a dish of small dishes, her belly felt full, and Su Jingqiu felt happy in body and mind.

"Truly comfortable, why didn't I discover millet porridge was so delicious before," she sighed.

"Millet porridge is fragrant by nature, I've always liked it," Lin Zhao said.

Seeing Jingqiu's appetite recover, she turned and returned to the kitchen, and came out with a small jar of small dishes.

"You're showing, it's best not to do heavy work; I'll take this small dish back for you, it just so happens I'll recognize the door."

Su Jingqiu said: "Okay, we should keep in touch often in the future; I don't know many people, I'm a bit nervous."

"Don't be afraid, the sisters-in-law are all quite easy to get along with; I'll introduce you when you've rested well; you'll know them in a few days; if you have anything, just shout, everyone will help you," Lin Zhao comforted her softly.

There are people in the family courtyard whose personalities aren't likable, but most people are very normal, very enthusiastic, and sincere.

Su Jingqiu listened earnestly, nodding from time to time.

While talking, the two left the Gu family courtyard and walked toward the little nest of Duan Yu and Su Jingqiu.

The courtyard was a ten-minute walk from the Gu family.

A square courtyard, three rooms, a kitchen, and an independent bathroom.

Tidyed up very cleanly.

Beyond Lin Zhao's expectations.

Su Jingqiu poured a glass of water; knowing Zhao Zhao didn't like it too sweet, she put in a moderate amount of sugar.

"Old Duan asked someone to tidy it up; everything that needed to be added was added," she explained.

"Quite good, male comrades should cherish their pregnant wives," Lin Zhao said as a matter of course.

"Who will serve your confinement after you give birth to the child?" she asked with concern.

Su Jingqiu's heart felt warm, and she said: "My little sister-in-law."

"Is your little sister-in-law's personality okay?" Lin Zhao hadn't broken contact with Su Jingqiu these past few years; they had similar values and had long since become friends; she didn't want Jingqiu to suffer during confinement, so she asked a few more questions.

"She's a very honest girl," Su Jingqiu said. "Loves cleanliness, is diligent, the younger brothers and nephews at home were all raised by her, and she respects me as a sister-in-law and listens to me very well; my little sister-in-law is at the age for marriage; Old Duan let her come over, also with the intention of finding her a partner in the military."

It wasn't that he wanted to use his sister to seek benefits, but purely hoped his sister would marry into a good family and not worry about food and drink.

An honest girl always makes people feel a bit more sorry for her.

Having spent some time with her little sister-in-law, Su Jingqiu also felt sorry for the little girl and helped her out, considering it as accumulating blessings for the child in her belly.

"As long as she's a good one," Lin Zhao felt relieved.

What she didn't say was that there was a military wife in the same situation as Jingqiu; this military wife was unlucky; her little sister-in-law stole the chicken meant for the mother's recovery, was lazy, and didn't look like she was here to take care of people, but rather like she was here to enjoy blessings... she was practically inviting an ancestor back, and later there were many incidents before she was sent away...

?? Babies, Happy New Year~~

? 2026, may your life be like a galloping horse, and may everything go smoothly!

? Thank you, little cuties, for your escort all the way; please give me more advice this year too.

? Love you, mwah mwah mwah mwah mwah (′e｀)?