Chapter 409: The world is about to change

Su Yuxian patted the back of Lin Zhao's hand and said softly, "Don't worry, I have it all figured out. Besides, aren't you still here? I'll always consult you on important matters, so please don't find me annoying."

"I won't," Lin Zhao said with a smile.

Thinking of something, she feigned distress, "Xie Baiwei wrote a letter specifically to urge me, telling me I must, must take good care of her best friend. I promised her, so I definitely have to get things done right."

It wasn't as if it were any trouble.

Su Yuxian touched her visibly pregnant belly, her smile warm.

Her baby had received so much love even before being born; she hoped her child would have a smooth life, healthy and worry-free.

"Zhaozhao, thank you."

Lin Zhao waved her hand, "What a small matter, worth you thanking me so solemnly."

"Alright, I won't say it anymore. You know, when pregnant, people become strange, not quite like they were before." Su Yuxian also felt that sometimes she was being overly sensitive in a way that wasn't like her.

Zhang Da was the only victim.

That silly, honest fellow had a temper so good there was nothing to say.

Her mother always said she hadn't chosen the wrong partner; he was someone who could shoulder responsibilities.

Lin Zhao offered a soothing look, "It's normal. Just wait until the cargo is unloaded; hang in there, this hurdle will pass sooner or later."

"Mm, I can do it. I love children. Just thinking that in a few months I'll give birth to a person, I feel like I'm incredibly amazing." Su Yuxian's eyes were bright, full of anticipation.

"If I could give birth to one like Qian Bao and Yaobao, I'd be able to laugh even in my dreams."

Lin Zhao could only say, "Children, you know, each has their own cuteness."

"That's true."

Lin Zhao asked again about Xie Baiwei, "What's going on with Baiwei? She looked so pitiful in the letter she wrote me."

Baiwei?

Su Yuxian first sighed, then said, "Baiwei's romantic fate hasn't been very smooth. I even suspect it was that person from before who jinxed her..."

Lin Zhao's expression was puzzled.

Wait, the man from before?!

"No, explain clearly, the man from before?! There was one?"

Su Yuxian was stunned, only then remembering that Zhaozhao didn't know about this.

"There was, sister."

"Baiwei had a partner..." Once the words were out, Su Yuxian's expression became a bit strange again, "I suppose you could say she had one? Although they only talked for less than half a month, should that count as a partner?"

"Baiwei felt it was embarrassing, which is why she never mentioned it to you."

Lin Zhao was even more curious, "Why did they break up?"

"I'm not clear on that; she said it was for personal reasons." Su Yuxian hadn't pressed for details either. Baiwei had only been a tiny bit disappointed, dragged her to the state-run store to buy some things, and then she was fine.

Seeing her good friend was okay, she hadn't asked.

"Since breaking up with that person, she hasn't dated again?!" Lin Zhao continued to ask.

"Yeah, she didn't even go on blind dates for the next few years." Su Yuxian was also full of question marks, "She only started going on blind dates last month."

She always felt something was strange somewhere.

Lin Zhao pondered, "Has anything strange happened around her?"

Su Yuxian thought for a while and shook her head.

"I haven't heard of anything."

Lin Zhao didn't get to "eat the melon" (get the gossip) and her expression dimmed for a moment, "Alright, I just feel there's a reason for everything."

"Is that so?" Su Yuxian revealed a look of shame on her face, "I've been vomiting all day during this period, my energy is limited, and I haven't been as attentive to Baiwei's affairs as before. Perhaps there are things Baiwei hasn't told me; that's also possible."

Now, thinking back, Baiwei really did seem to have something on her mind.

But it shouldn't be a bad thing—she kept muttering that blind dates were so annoying, yet her face would reveal a smile from time to time. That smile was strange, like... spring heart budding?

"I hope everything goes smoothly for her," Lin Zhao said.

Baiwei's brain was a bit silly; without Yuxian by her side to guide her, she hoped she would keep her head clear.

"She will. Uncle Xie and Aunt Xie are watching over her; nothing will go wrong." Su Yuxian thought to herself that as long as Baiwei's brain didn't overheat and she didn't do anything stupid, she would be smooth sailing for a lifetime.

The two talked for a while, and Zhang Da returned with a lunch box.

The man's body was tall and sturdy; his presence was astonishing the moment he appeared.

"Comrade Lin." Zhang Da first nodded to Lin Zhao, his concerned gaze falling on Su Yuxian's face, "Wife, are you not feeling uncomfortable? Has the cub in your belly been making a fuss?"

With Zhaozhao present, her husband acting like this made Su Yuxian feel embarrassed, her fair face burning.

"No discomfort, the child hasn't been making a fuss," she said hurriedly, "Thanks to the side dishes Zhaozhao made, I ate a bowl of millet porridge and didn't vomit at all."

Zhang Da's dark, shiny face was full of surprise, "You didn't vomit? It's good that you didn't vomit."

He looked at Lin Zhao, "Thank you, Comrade Lin."

"It's nothing. Yuxian and I are friends. If anything comes up, come to my house and call me. I'll head back first." Lin Zhao greeted them and walked out unhurriedly.

Zhang Da discovered his wife's complexion was much better, his heart relaxing, and a smile appeared on his cold, hard face.

"Wife, your spirit is much better."

Su Yuxian pointed to the small jar on the table, "The side dishes Zhaozhao sent. With this thing, I can eat my meal; it's impossible not to have spirit."

"As long as you like it, once you finish it, I'll go ask Comrade Lin to trade for another jar," Zhang Da said.

It didn't matter what the other party wanted; as long as his wife was comfortable, it was fine.

He opened the lunch box; inside was pork stir-fried with chili, another dish of cabbage-braised tofu, red-braised radish, and a large portion of rice.

Zhang Da carefully observed Su Yuxian's complexion; once she showed any discomfort, he would immediately take the food away.

During this period, his wife couldn't smell anything with an odor; he was truly worried.

And yet, his younger sister was still on the road.

"Does smelling the scent make you uncomfortable?"

Su Yuxian was also very nervous, tentatively smelling the food, and discovered she didn't feel nauseous.

Her face revealed joy, "It's not uncomfortable anymore!"

Zhang Da was overjoyed, "Then shall we try?"

He fetched two pairs of chopsticks to serve his wife her meal.

After confirming Su Yuxian could truly eat, the heart that had been hanging in the air sank back to its original place.

He was full of gratitude toward Lin Zhao.

On this side, Lin Zhao returned home, and Qiao Hui had already finished cooking.

She was just waiting for her.

Song Xiwei said, "Hurry and wash your hands to eat."

The weather was cold; washing hands and faces at the sink would freeze them, so everyone in the family used a basin with hot water mixed in to wash.

Yu Yu brought out a basin with water already prepared.

"Mom, the water is ready, wash your hands."

The eldest son had passed his voice-changing period; his voice was now clear and pleasant, and his face was handsome, making anyone who saw him feel very good.

"Thank you, son." Lin Zhao used the water in the basin to wash her hands, took Yu Yu's hand, and walked toward the dining table.

The Lin family's dining table didn't have many rules; it was as relaxed as possible, and casual conversation was fine.

Song Xiwei spoke first, "Has Xiao Si been that busy all along?"

It was Meng Jingmo who answered, "Yeah, busy. Sometimes he doesn't come home for over a month. Grandma, talk to my dad; he's not young anymore, he needs to pay attention to his own body, don't keep thinking he's still a young lad."

Meng Guangbai raised his head from the bowl, a grain of rice stuck to the corner of his mouth.

"Dad isn't that old, right?"

Meng Jingmo glared at him fiercely.

Silly boy, aren't you the one who keeps muttering about missing Dad?

Song Xiwei couldn't help but laugh, "Alright, I'll talk to your dad and tell him to come home often."

Hearing this, Meng Jingmo curled the corners of his mouth and nodded heavily, "Mm!"

Time passed quickly; he and Meng Xiaobai would grow up soon, and he hoped they would have more memories with their father.

Meng Jiusi, who was still busy in the laboratory, sneezed and nearly lost his train of thought for the experiment.

"?"

Who was muttering about him?

Lin Heling and Song Xiwei only stayed for half a month before packing their things and heading to the military region where Lin Shifan was located.

That place was more remote, so the couple purchased quite a few things and sent them all off at once.

Gu Chenghuai borrowed a car to take his father-in-law and mother-in-law to the train station, watching them leave together with Lin Zhao.

After the train left, Lin Zhao and her husband walked outward.

On the way, she couldn't help but say, "The train is too slow. No matter where you go, it takes a long time on the road, and time is wasted on the road. If every place had airplanes, how convenient that would be."

Gu Chenghuai turned his head to look at his wife and smiled, "The road ahead is beautiful; our generation should work even harder."

Lin Zhao blinked and didn't speak.

She was powerless to help; it would have to rely on the younger generation.

She couldn't push herself even a little bit.

The golden finger's effect was limited; material rewards accounted for over ninety percent, followed by some slightly advanced data and books. Wanting to reach the sky in one step... dreaming was faster.

The couple got into the car.

Gu Chenghuai asked, "Do you want to go to the supply and marketing cooperative to look around?"

"No, let's go back. I got up a bit early, I want to catch up on sleep." Lin Zhao leaned back, finding a comfortable angle to rest.

"Alright."

The car started.

Outside the window, the sky was blue, the clouds white, the grass yellow. On the boundless grassland, wild rabbits were hopping about, which was very friendly to the eyes.

Having followed the army for several years, this was the first time she had experienced such a relaxed and free feeling.

Gu Chenghuai caught a glimpse of the smile on his wife's face, his dark eyes brimming with laughter.

"If you like it, I'll take you out for a spin again in the future."

Lin Zhao didn't refuse, "Alright."

Occasionally borrowing a car and paying for the gas money—everyone did it this way, so it wasn't considered a violation of regulations.

After the New Year.

Time flew by.

Su Yuxian gave birth to a fair and clean little girl.

Zhang Da was overjoyed, holding his precious daughter and refusing to let go. The tall, sturdy man stiffly changed diapers and washed diapers for a daughter whose arms weren't even as long as his...

The contrast was huge.

Zhang Da's younger sister was dedicated to taking care of her sister-in-law during her postpartum confinement, taking care of the child when her brother wasn't there. Su Yuxian had a forty-day confinement, and the doctor said she was very well taken care of.

Lin Zhao would bring soup to visit her good friend from time to time and keep her company, making Su Yuxian feel happy in body and mind.

"Zhaozhao, after giving birth, I feel like my whole person is floating. I've finally become myself again."

Lin Zhao understood Yuxian's feelings and followed her words, "Yeah, you've smoothly passed the hurdle of giving birth. Now you can run if you want to run, jump if you want to jump; nothing can bind you anymore."

Su Yuxian loved hearing this.

After finishing her confinement, she didn't like staying in the room, so she was in the courtyard with Lin Zhao.

"Zhaozhao, did Weiwei send you books?"

Lin Zhao blinked, "She sent you some too?"

"She sent them, and also said some strange things, telling me to read more books when I have nothing to do," Su Yuxian said.

Pregnancy and giving birth hadn't affected Su Yuxian's intelligence. Her brain reacted quickly, her eyes flashing with brilliance, and she lowered her voice, "Zhaozhao, do you think... is it possible that the policy is changing?"

"!!!"

There was never a shortage of smart people at any time.

Lin Zhao was surprised.

"Regardless of whether it is or not, reading more books is never wrong. I'm already reading," she said.

Su Yuxian was thoughtful.

"If you read, I'll read too."

"My job has been transferred out. Besides singing and dancing, I don't know any technical skills. I don't know what I can do, so I might as well study while the child is still small. Perhaps there will be other opportunities in the future."

Lin Zhao clapped her hands, "That's exactly how it should be. Isn't there a saying, opportunities are reserved for those who are prepared? Let's prepare ourselves first, and in the future, we can also control our own lives."

"Right," Su Yuxian was full of drive, "Zhaozhao, let's study together. If we have questions we don't understand, we can discuss them with each other, okay?"

"Alright, let's discuss them together."

After finishing her conversation with Su Yuxian, Lin Zhao returned home.

Just as she arrived home, Gu Hangbao came in holding a letter and a package.

"Mom, there's a letter and a package for you."

Lin Zhao took the letter and saw it was sent by Nan Qiao.

The letter said she had sent a set of books, that reading more would be beneficial, and she looked forward to the day she would meet her in the capital. She also said she had sent a set to the Harvest Brigade...

"Mom, what's written in the letter?" Gu Hangbao leaned over to inquire.

"It says I should read more books, and that she wants to invite me to go shopping at the Friendship Store. Why do you ask?" Lin Zhao pinched her son's cheek.

This kid had grown taller again. If he kept growing like this, she wouldn't be able to pinch his face anymore.

Gu Hangbao looked helpless, "I'm concerned about you."

"Concerned about what?" Gu Chenghuai heard this sentence as soon as he entered the courtyard.

"Nothing, I'm going in to read." Gu Hangbao left sensibly.

His dad found it most annoying when they crowded around Mom, especially when he was at home.

An old married couple, he didn't know why they were so clingy.

Lin Zhao directed Gu Chenghuai to take the package and go back to the room with her.

"Books sent by Nannan. She also sent a set to our hometown," Lin Zhao said, "I feel like the world is about to change."

Gu Chenghuai asked with his eyes, "You mean... the college entrance examination?"

"Right. I've already received two sets of books. It seems everyone who should know about this news already knows." Lin Zhao truly admired the supernatural abilities of those people.

As far as she knew, there wasn't even a sign of it yet, right?

Or perhaps, this news was analyzed by them?! How amazing would that be.

"If it's true, I want to take the exam," Lin Zhao said with a firm tone.

"Then take it," Gu Chenghuai expressed his support, "You've never given up on studying; it would be a pity not to take it. The children are all grown up and won't become stumbling blocks to your progress. Go ahead and take it boldly; I am your solid and reliable backing."

He thought for a moment and added, "Yu Yu and Gu Hangbao are high school students, they should be able to take it too. Take them with you; if you go to university with the two of them accompanying you, I can feel more at ease."

Gu Chenghuai still trusted the abilities of the two boys.

"You really are a good dad," Lin Zhao said, looking at the man treating his sons as tools.

"I'd rather be a good husband," Gu Chenghuai said righteously.

Arranging for the twins was also to have them help their mother chase away the flies. His wife was talented and beautiful; it was too easy for people to fall for her, and who knew if there would be anyone with no eyes wanting to dig into his wall...

Being on guard was never wrong.

Lin Zhao said, "Then I'm going to start systematic review, taking Yu Yu and Gu Hangbao along. I also have to send a letter to our hometown; I'm afraid they won't take it seriously..."

She said softly, arranging the next steps.

Gu Chenghuai's brows were dyed with smiles, listening carefully.

A month later, Gu Lan of the Harvest Brigade received a letter from the military region.

After reading the letter, her eyes shone brightly.

After returning home, Gu Lan went to the old house and held a small meeting with her younger brothers.

Even the adults in the Gu family didn't know what was said.

They only knew that the children in the family suddenly started reading high school textbooks.

They gathered together every day to study for three hours.

Tie Dan, who was the most behind in his studies, always carried a small notebook in his pocket, taking it out to look at it from time to time... ===== CHAPTER 410 =====