Chapter 411: Not even pretending, but clingy as hell at home

Lin Zhao: So it was for the sake of face? No wonder he was restless.

"There's nothing embarrassing about it," Lin Zhao's tone was flat.

"If you've tried your best at something and didn't succeed, the reasons are multifaceted. Don't attribute it all to yourself."

People who are externally exhausted never look for reasons within themselves.

"Ah!?" Gu Hangbao was confused.

"What? Do you have different views or opinions?" Lin Zhao glanced over.

"No, no opinions."

Lin Zhao waved her hand, "Go play, don't keep staying at home, it's annoying to look at."

Gu Hangbao's face stiffened.

"Mom, why are you always disgusted with me?!" he muttered, dissatisfied and aggrieved.

"Not disgusted, just find you annoying," Lin Zhao wouldn't admit she was a little disgusted; who told him to keep pestering her.

—Usually careless in exams, occasionally scoring one or two points less than his brother, knowing that in the college entrance exam, one point would separate many people, Gu Zhihang just felt he was done for, about to be left behind by his brother and Mao Dan, and started to get anxious.

He clung to Lin Zhao's side seeking comfort.

"Annoying is just being disgusted," Gu Hangbao's expression was even more resentful, "Mom, you've changed. You weren't like this before."

"How was I before?" Lin Zhao knitted a scarf without raising her head. She and Gu Chenghuai had been wearing their scarves for several years; it was time to change to new ones.

After knitting her own and her husband's, she still had to knit for the four children.

Otherwise, they would make a fuss.

Look, just like now.

"You used to hold me and coax me, coaxing me with special patience," Gu Hangbao said.

Lin Zhao raised her eyes, "How old are you this year? You're taller than me now, I can't hold you."

How old was he to still be acting like a spoiled child, only knowing how to torture her as a mother.

"No matter how big I am, I'm still your son," the tall guy leaned closer, watching Lin Zhao knit the sweater.

Lin Zhao: "..."

Rare, he could actually sit still today.

"Can you go out and play your own things?" She just wanted to knit the scarf quietly; could he return the time to her?

"Can't."

Lin Zhao sighed helplessly, a flash of inspiration in her brain, and said, "Go make a phone call, chat with Li Bao, see how he and your cousins are doing, what their plans are for the next steps, and come back and tell me."

Gu Hangbao's eyes lit up, and he stood up abruptly.

"I'll go right now."

He left the house happily.

Lin Zhao let out a long sigh and complained to Qiao Hui, "Finally sent him away, I've been annoyed to death these past few days."

Qiao Hui smiled, "The child is close to you; only when they encounter something will they come to find you, their mother."

"That's true," Lin Zhao agreed. She was happy to be relied on by her children, but it would be better if Gu Zhihang wasn't so pestering.

Pretending to be cool outside, looking like a tough guy, but actually a chatterbox and clingy.

He wasn't like this when he was little.

"Sister, if I really get into a school in the capital and go there to study, are you willing to go with me?" Lin Zhao let Qiao Hui sit down to rest for a while and chatted about daily life.

Qiao Hui had been diligent and responsible in the Gu family for these years. Lin Zhao didn't have to worry about anything in the house. She was tight-lipped and diligent, fearing that the work she did wouldn't match the salary Lin Zhao paid her. Everyone liked such honest people. Anyway, Lin Zhao was used to having her help at home and didn't think about dismissing her.

"Ca... Capital?" Qiao Hui was stunned, nervously rubbing her hands, "I don't know how to do anything, what help can I be if I go?"

"How can you say you don't know how to do anything? If I go to university, someone has to pick up and drop off Qian Bao and Yaobao. The house can't do without you," Lin Zhao said sincerely.

Qiao Hui's heart was warm, and she said, "As long as you need me, I will always follow you. My family says it's my blessing to be able to follow you."

Without Zhaozhao, she would definitely still be struggling in the sewage.

"Alright, when there's news, we'll go together. Before we go, we have to send a letter to our hometown to let them know. There are many things to do, and time is still quite ample; we'll arrange it then," Lin Zhao planned.

Qiao Hui had no opinion. She had a soft personality and no strong opinions, but she was obedient. Whatever Lin Zhao said, she did.

If such a person encountered a villain, she would definitely suffer, but fortunately, she followed Lin Zhao. Lin Zhao was kind-hearted and wouldn't bully people, let alone let her suffer.

"You study so seriously, you will definitely pass," Qiao Hui said affirmatively, "Zhaozhao, tell me when to pack, I'll pack."

"No rush, pack after the New Year, the time will be just right," Lin Zhao remembered that the results would be announced in March.

Gu Hangbao ran to the post office and dialed the brigade's phone.

The Harvest Brigade took the lead in planting mushrooms and medicinal herbs. Several years ago, it was already a well-known wealthy brigade. Girls fought to marry into it, and the girls in the brigade didn't worry about getting married at all... The brigade installed a phone the year before last.

Soon, the Harvest Brigade's loudspeaker sounded.

"Gu Zhili, there's a phone call for you! Gu Zhili! If you hear the broadcast, please hurry to the brigade headquarters to answer the phone! Notifying again, Gu Zhili, there's a phone call for you. If you hear the broadcast, please hurry to the brigade headquarters to answer the phone!" The brigade leader's Mandarin with a local accent sounded.

Li Bao was at home picking medicinal herbs. Hearing the sound, he wiped his hand on his pants and rushed out of the house.

"Mom, I'm going to answer the phone. It must be Yu Yu and Gu Hangbao calling."

He was also a big lad now, tall and long-legged. Before the tail of his voice fell, he had already disappeared without a trace.

Gu Lan put down the medicinal herbs and said to Huang Xiulan, "Mom, I want to go see."

"Go," Huang Xiulan waved her hand, "It doesn't take that much effort."

Gu Lan ran out of the house happily.

Tie Dan had brought back a large bundle of firewood. Before he reached home, he heard the broadcast and couldn't stay still. He gave the firewood to his good brother, asked him to help send it home, and ran straight to the brigade headquarters.

Bang Bang and Mei from the old house also rushed out of the house. They also had a lot to say to the twins.

For example, asking how they did on the exam, where they were going to university...

Li Bao ran to the brigade headquarters and dialed the phone back.

"Li Bao? Is that Li Bao?" Gu Hangbao's voice sounded.

"Yeah, it's me, Gu Hangbao," Li Bao responded happily.

"Gu Hangbao, how did you do on the exam?" he asked.

Gu Hangbao played with the phone cord, "I don't know. I answered all the questions I knew how to answer. My brother and the others aren't willing to compare answers with me, and I don't know how I did. I'm afraid I didn't do well, I've been annoyed to death these past few days."

"Won't happen, you won't do poorly," Li Bao's tone was certain, "You and Yu Yu have been number one since you were little. Even if you didn't do well, you can still get into university. Stop being annoyed, I believe in you."

Gu Hangbao's mouth curled up.

"Really?"

Li Bao's affirmative voice sounded again, "Of course. Why did you suddenly become unconfident? You've always been very amazing. If you can't get in, then I definitely can't get in."

He hadn't even thought about that possibility.

"Gu Hangbao, how did you and Yu Yu fill out your preferences?"

Gu Hangbao said, "Same as my mom, all applied for schools in the capital. How about you?"

"Same as you," Li Bao laughed.

He scratched his head, "Gu Hangbao, we really have a tacit understanding. I just want to go to the capital to see."

"Me too," Gu Hangbao echoed.

Changing the subject, he asked, "How about Sister A Lan and the others?"

"All are in the capital. Grandpa and Grandma said it's good for us to go to the same place, so we can help each other, because once we go, we have to go for at least four years," Li Bao said.

Thinking of Wei Chuan, who was the only one who didn't apply for a school in the capital, he added, "Big Stone didn't apply for a school in the capital. He applied for a school in our provincial capital. He's worried that Little Stone will cry if he's alone."

Gu Hangbao immediately said, "How does Brother Chuan know Little Stone won't go to the capital for training in the future?"

Li Bao was speechless.

"I don't know."

Gu Hangbao let out a mocking laugh, "Just watch, Brother Chuan will definitely regret it when he finds out. In this way, he's the only one left in the provincial capital."

Hearing his good brother laugh so loudly, Li Bao felt he was a bit unkind.

"You're laughing too meanly. If Brother Chuan finds out, he'll be heartbroken."

Gu Hangbao cleared his throat, "I won't laugh anymore."

Gu Lan and the others came to the brigade headquarters and talked to him for a while. Learning that everyone was waiting anxiously, sometimes dreaming that they had failed the exam... Gu Hangbao's heart suddenly calmed down.

He was a person who got full marks all year round; what was there to be anxious about?

Relax, the admission notice would come, and he would definitely be able to go to university with his brother.

After a phone call, Gu Zhihang changed back to that confident-to-the-point-of-bloating appearance.

"Uncle, wait for my notice to come down, I'll treat you to candy."

He saluted the young soldier at the communications office and left happily.

The handsome soldier in military uniform was stunned for a moment, then smiled and returned the salute.

The son of the Gu Tuan is truly confident.

The confident Gu Hangbao walked toward the family courtyard.

Passing by the family building, he heard several people talking ahead. He keenly heard his mother's name, slowed his pace, and pricked up his ears to eavesdrop openly.

"The Gu Tuan's family hasn't come out these past few days. I wonder how she did on the exam?"

"Tsk tsk, she definitely didn't do well. If she had done well, she would have come out to show off long ago. Being able to be so quiet like now, that woman is pretentious and loves to highlight her difference. Not coming out must be because she lost face!"

Another person's eyes flickered, pulling the silent Su Yuxian into the topic.

"You came from the same place as the Gu Tuan's wife. Do you think she can get into university?"

Su Yuxian didn't want to answer this question.

Gu Chenghuai had been promoted repeatedly, and it was said he was about to be promoted again. Lin Zhao also had a job and had been recognized by the organization several times...

This couple wasn't someone she could afford to offend.

"I don't know. She's a daughter-in-law who married into our village. How would I know about school?" Su Yuxian said vaguely.

"Didn't you live very close? How could you not know? If she were good at studying, could you not have heard of it?" The person who started the trouble was very dissatisfied with Su Yuxian's answer and continued to pursue it.

Su Yuxian had heard of it. She didn't want to admit that Lin Zhao was good at studying and had a big reputation in the ten miles and eight villages.

"Never heard of it."

The person speaking had a flash of light in her eyes, "So that means her studying is average?"

Her tone was tinged with imperceptible excitement, "Studying is average, and she's been away from school for so many years. Now competing with those students who are currently in junior high and high school, how can she compete? According to you, the Gu Tuan's wife won't get in!"

Hearing this, Su Yuxian hurriedly shook her head, denying, "I didn't say that."

Lu Yizhou attributed his failure to be promoted to her, saying she was a jinx who had jinxed away his career luck, and even more, he also attributed Lu Baozhen's loss of fortune to her... That man would hit her when he was anxious, so she didn't dare to cause trouble again.

So even if she hoped in her heart that Lin Zhao's reputation would stink, Su Yuxian couldn't let the source of the rumors spread from her.

"I didn't say anything."

She left a sentence and left in a hurry.

"Coward," the woman who dug a hole for Su Yuxian sneered.

This was a person who lived frugally, treating other people's money as her own, eating chaff and vegetables herself, but also unable to see others eating meat. After she followed the army, she would occasionally smell the meat fragrance coming from the Gu family, which made her anxious. That day, she went to the door to instruct Lin Zhao, saying that women should be virtuous and manage the family, couldn't be lazy... with an expression of 'I'm an experienced person, you have to listen to me.' Lin Zhao didn't eat this set and rudely pushed her back.

From then on, this person embarked on the road of adding blockage to Lin Zhao.

Staring at Lin Zhao, she even neglected her own family affairs, and her days were a mess.

Her husband didn't understand her, her children resented her for being meddlesome, and no one in the family courtyard played with them...

Over the years, Lin Zhao hadn't suffered, but she had been angered enough by herself.

She had been disciplined by her man before and hadn't shown her head for over a month, but now she couldn't bear the loneliness again.

Most of those who gathered with her were the same as her.

"The Lu Battalion Commander's family is getting more and more timid. I still like the way she was when she first followed the army. How arrogant, not putting anyone in her eyes."

Su Yuxian: Who isn't arrogant when they are young? When you grow up, you know that knowing when to be timid is also a kind of wisdom.

"You say the Gu Tuan's wife is so high-profile, how embarrassing it will be if she doesn't pass."

"Yeah, she's not young anymore, why doesn't she know how to be content? Learning from young people to take the college entrance exam, is university so easy to get into? Truly idle. The Gu Tuan really spoiled her..."

Gu Hangbao couldn't listen anymore and walked out slowly from behind the tree.

"Such a big sour smell. Are all the aunts brewing vinegar at home? The sour smell is brought out..." He scanned the elders and said with a smile.

The person who was talking stood up, a flash of guilt in her eyes, and unhappily reversed the blame.

"How are you talking? You're a big person, and you're still a high school student. Don't you know the principle of respecting the old and loving the young? Also, what is it to eavesdrop sneakily when adults are talking? Is that how your parents taught you? No rules at all!"

"Exactly, exactly. We were talking our own talk, what do you mean by eavesdropping?!"

Gu Hangbao was angered into laughter.

"Who was eavesdropping? I was passing by openly. Your voices were so loud, anyone who isn't deaf could hear!"

"Aunt, why are you so loud? Is it because you have a guilty conscience? Do you know that talking behind people's backs is an immoral behavior? I thought you didn't know."

"I definitely understand the principle of respecting the old and loving the young, but I respect virtue, not age!"

"My parents taught me very well. Everyone praises me when they see me. If you think I have no rules, that's your own problem."

"Finally, my mother taking the college entrance exam is my family's business, it's her own business, and it has nothing to do with you. Whether she passes or not has nothing to do with you. In my family, my mother has absolute freedom; she does whatever she wants."

"If you have a lot of time, you might as well look at your own family more. If you haven't wiped your own ass clean, you want to manage other people's business. If you're not idle, you're sick."

After speaking, Gu Hangbao patted his sleeves and left without looking back.

Leaving behind several people of advanced age who were angered until their faces were red and their necks were thick. They couldn't bear it, and in a fit of anger, they went to report to the Women's Director.

Director Qian learned the ins and outs and laughed like crazy.

These meddlesome people should be retorted like this.

She perfunctorily sent away the few women who were looking for trouble and didn't take this matter to heart.

What was wrong with that child Gu Zhihang protecting his mother?

Gu Chenghuai soon learned about this. When he returned home, he stared at Gu Hangbao as if he were a rare animal.

"Dad, why are you staring at me?" ===== CHAPTER 412 =====