Chapter 43: You

“Mom～～” Erzai suddenly threw his arms around Lin Zhao, nearly making her drop what she held.

“Slow down, or if it falls, you pick it up yourself.” Lin Zhao scolded with a smile.

Hearing the amusement in her voice, Erzai knew she wasn’t angry; his tension melted away, and he leaned in to help her carry, “Mom, let me take it.”

His small eyes lit up at the familiar bamboo basket, curling into crescents.

Dazai reached for the sack of rice in Lin Zhao’s hands, but she refused, “This is heavy—don’t touch it, you might crush your foot.”

“Then Mom, go slow,” Dazai said, worry on his face as he steadied the bottom of the rice sack.

“I’m fine—I’m an adult, after all. A little rice is nothing.” Lin Zhao lifted the sack with one hand, pinching Dazai’s cheek with the other until his frown smoothed out.

“So much stuff!” Erzai rummaged through the basket, spotting something strange and gasping.

One cry louder than the next.

“Mom, what’s this?” He held up a small yellow fruit, no bigger than his palm, glowing golden and fragrant.

Erzai couldn’t describe the scent.

“Little honey tangerines—peel the skin and eat,” Lin Zhao said softly.

Erzai half-understood, greedily digging at it with his fingers; golden juice splattered into his eyes, and he instinctively rubbed them—Lin Zhao caught his hand.

“Your hands are covered in tangerine juice—don’t touch your eyes. Let me wash them.” She took the fruit from him, set it aside, and led him to wash his face.

Erzai’s eyes stung and teared, but he protested, “Just wash my eyes, don’t wash my face—I just put on my nice scent!”

He’d be heartbroken if he had to reapply.

“It’s fine—I’ll buy you more later. Or maybe I’ll win some in a lottery.”

Erzai’s face twisted in agony.

“It costs money,” he said. “Aren’t we also buying a bicycle? Grandpa says bicycles are super expensive—over a hundred kuai!”

“We have enough. Didn’t I say your father sent money? That’s enough for a bicycle and a watch,” Lin Zhao told her two sons, who worried about household finances despite their young age.

“We won’t go hungry?” Erzai asked with questioning eyes.

“...No.”

He glanced at his new shoes, then asked, “Will we get new shoes too?”

“Of course—not just shoes. When you start school, I’ll give each of you a green schoolbag with a red five-pointed star.” Lin Zhao remembered winning two children’s shoulder bags and made the promise.

“Like Bangbang’s bag?” Erzai, having never experienced school, his voice rising with excitement.

Lin Zhao knew Bangbang’s bag—it was stitched from scraps.

“No,” she said, seeing the time was still early. “Want to see?”

Erzai nodded vigorously.

Dazai added, “I want to see too.”

“Wait.” Lin Zhao wiped his face dry, then went inside to fetch the bags.

Soon, she returned holding two rectangular green shoulder bags, each with a red five-pointed star on the front.

Erzai sprinted over, snatched one, held it against himself, beaming like a blooming flower.

“Brother, look at me—do I look good?”

Dazai nodded politely, “Looks good.”

Lin Zhao ignored her two wildly excited sons, first feeding Dahuang and Hupo, then pulling out the newly won Swiss roll and three boxes of milk for breakfast.

“Stop playing with the bags—since you woke up so early, come eat with me.”

Erzai walked over, backpack on his back, chest puffed out, looking proud.

“Mom, do I look good?”

Lin Zhao gave in to this show-off kid, a hint of exasperation in her eyes. “You look good.”

Seeing Dazai’s quiet hope, she added, “Dazai looks good too.”

The two boys sat down, happily kicking their feet.

“Mom, can you not take the little bag back? I want to wear it today,” Erzai declared openly.

Lin Zhao hoped Dazai would speak up too, encouraging him with her gaze.

Dazai gripped the bag’s strap tighter and boldly asked, “Mom, I want to wear mine today too—I’ll put candy and the little tangerines you gave us inside.”

“Of course,” Lin Zhao smiled warmly. “Since you both asked so nicely, I can give them to you early—wear them!”

“Mom’s the best～～”

“Thank you, Mom.”

They patted their little bags, radiating pure joy.

Only then did they turn their attention to the table.

“Mom, what’s this?” Quick-tongued Erzai pointed at the long, rolled item on the table.

Lin Zhao had never seen it before, but the packaging had words: “Swiss roll and milk.”

“I’ve never heard of it,” Erzai said frankly.

“Me neither. Let’s try it—smells sweet and delicious.” Lin Zhao gave each boy a Swiss roll and a box of milk.

She took the first bite—soft as cloud, melting instantly, rich and sweet.

“Delicious! Eat up—you’ll love it!”

Soft and fragrant—the two boys adored it, their faces dusted with crumbs.

Why does something this delicious even exist?!

The two boys cried out silently in their hearts.

Another sip of milk—oh my, life is beautiful.

After breakfast.

Lin Zhao was heading to work; Dazai and Erzai called for Dahuang and volunteered to walk their mother to the village entrance.

Villagers who saw this scene smiled warmly.

“Dazai, Erzai, are you going to work with your mom?”

“Bringing Dahuang and Hupo too—your little group’s quite the spectacle.”

They teased the Gu twins.

Erzai hugged Hupo to his chest, walking forward with his back straight.

That stiff, haughty walk—Lin Zhao knew it well. He was showing off.

Sure enough.

Erzai turned slightly, one arm holding Hupo, the other patting his little backpack, grinning at the villager, “Uncle, look at my bag—me and my brother both have them. Mom bought them for us.”

The villager, hoe on shoulder, nodded. “Looks nice. Really nice.”

His voice carried admiration. “Double-income families have real confidence. Your mom works at the supply and marketing cooperative—she can buy things easily.”

Seeing Dahuang and Hupo no longer looked like stray dogs but plump and healthy, his tone turned envious.

“Even Dahuang and her pups are getting the benefits.”

Dahuang seemed to understand, barked once.

Hupo barked along.

The man’s feelings grew more complex.

Erzai, thrilled by the praise, stuck his foot out further.

“Uncle, Mom bought us sandals too—these are the trendiest in the county. What do you think?”

He looked up at the man, eyes bright with expectation, eager for approval.

“Nice,” the man said, good-natured and gentle with everyone.

Knowing exactly what Erzai wanted to hear, he played along: “Your mom spent her whole month’s salary on you two—she really loves you.”

Hearing what he wanted, Erzai burst into laughter, swelling with pride like a hundred suns.

He pulled out a candy he’d saved, handed it to the man, generously saying, “Uncle, here, have some candy.”

Dazai instinctively glanced at his mother.

Lin Zhao had no objection—just as she’d said before, everything she gave her boys, they could do with as they pleased: eat it, save it, share it with friends—whatever they liked.

The villager hadn’t expected a child to give him candy—he froze.

Only when he came to his senses did he realize Erzai, his mother, and brother had already left for the village entrance.

“Heh…” He smiled, hurried home, and gave the candy to his son.

The little boy’s eyes lit up. He didn’t dare eat it, clutching it tightly. “Dad, where did this candy come from?”

“Erzai gave it to me,” the man said.

“The twins,” the boy said cheerfully.

Dazai and Erzai were inseparable—every child in the village called them the twins.

“Ever since the twins’ mom took care of them, they’ve had endless candy. Two days ago, they gave us one candy—we melted it into water and each took a sip—it was so sweet! And today I’ve got a whole candy all to myself—I’m the luckiest!”

One candy could make a child happy for days.

The man’s heart ached. “I’ll work harder for my work points—then I’ll go to the supply and marketing cooperative and buy you a pound of candy.”

“Yes! Dad’s the best!”

In the child’s eyes, his father was towering and mighty.

After Erzai’s grand display, news of Lin Zhao buying the twins schoolbags and sandals spread through the entire brigade.

Several mothers-in-law went straight to Gu Mu to gossip.

“Chenghuai’s mother, I heard your third son’s wife spent a lot on Dazai and Erzai—schoolbags, sandals—come on, we’re villagers. A schoolbag can be stitched from scraps, handmade cloth shoes are so comfortable—why buy them? Pure waste of money.”

“That’s right, Chenghuai’s wife, you’re the grandmother—you’ve got to take charge. If you don’t, all the allowance Chenghuai worked so hard for will get squandered.”

“What’s a child need with sandals? You can’t spoil these little rascals like this!”

Gu Mu prepared formula for the twins, cooing lovingly as she urged her grandson and granddaughter to drink, already planning to return in two hours to steam them an egg custard.

Just then, several uninvited guests arrived.

Before she could ask what they wanted, the women began berating Third Son’s wife in unison.

Gu Mu brushed nonexistent dust off her clothes with a scrap of cloth, nearly laughing in anger, yet her expression remained calm.

“Third son’s household has already split off. Third daughter-in-law manages the home—she can spend Chenghuai’s allowance however she likes.”

“Besides, Dacai’s mother has a high education and earns her own money. If she wants to buy things for the two boys, I’ve got nothing to say.”

“I haven’t seen them myself, but I know the supply and marketing cooperative’s backpacks and shoes are different from what we make at home. I still say: let the third daughter-in-law be happy.”

In front of outsiders, Gu Mu always knew where her loyalties lay—she always defended her own family.

Even if she harbored doubts inside.

The visitors who came specifically to stir up trouble found no amusement, their faces darkening.

“You keep spouting one reason after another—we mean no harm,” the eldest old woman complained to Gu Mu.

After knowing each other for decades, Gu Mu gave her a face-saving out.

“Yes, yes, I know you mean no harm. Our family has split, so I can’t interfere in Third son’s affairs. Let the children find their own fortune—let her have her way.”

With Chenghuai to back them, Third son’s household won’t go short.

One old woman skillfully stitched a shoe sole, saying, “So Third daughter-in-law just dumps all four kids on you? Doesn’t give you anything in return?”

Gu Mu smiled. “Of course she does. Third daughter-in-law gave me fabric—said she’d make me an autumn jacket. It’s top-quality corduroy, so soft to the touch.”

She’d planned to wait until the weather cooled to wear it and show it off.

But since they’d come asking, there was no harm in mentioning it early.

The woman stitching the sole felt a pang of envy—she had several daughters-in-law, none of whom had ever given her so much as a needle.

“Just one autumn jacket?” she feigned indifference.

“Four kids to feed alone could drive anyone mad. I heard the salesgirl job pays twenty-four yuan a month—didn’t she give you five or ten?”

Five? Ten?

Gu Mu sucked in a sharp breath.

Just making things up.

Thank goodness your daughter-in-law doesn’t have that job—if she did, she’d work herself to death just to serve you.

“Caring for your own grandchildren—why bring up money?” Gu Mu said. “Chenghuai works hard outside. I just want to hold down the home front for him, so he can focus on his duties in the army. I ask for nothing else.”

Her daughter-in-law becoming a salesgirl? That’s a matter of pride—how could she possibly drag her down?

One old woman nodded. “You’re right to think that way. I’ve noticed Third daughter-in-law’s improved—she’s paying more attention to Dacai and the others. Things will get better.”

Gu Mu laughed, her wrinkles folding into layers.

Oh my, she loved hearing that.

Outside the gate, children’s cheerful chatter rang out.

Moments later, Dacai and Ercai ran into the house.

“Nai, look what I brought you!” Ercai’s voice rang out before he even reached her, still five meters away.

“What is it?” Gu Mu asked with a smile.

As her grandson drew near, she saw his new sandals and backpack—so beautiful, so spirited. Worth every penny!

Ercai noticed the other women in the room, paused, greeted them all, then opened his satchel to give his nai her gifts.

“Nai, open your hands.”

Gu Mu obediently opened her palms.

Ercai placed a large White Rabbit milk candy, then a small mandarin orange, then two Swiss rolls into her hands.

“Nai, all for you,” he beamed.

Gu Mu knew these were all Lin Zhao’s gifts for the brothers—her grandson had chosen to give them to her. The old woman’s eyes welled with tears.

“Why give these to me? You eat them yourselves.”

She moved to put them back in his bag.

Ercai sidestepped. “Me and Brother talked it over. You’ve been working hard taking care of us these days—we’re giving this to you as filial piety. Take it.”

He spoke like a little adult.

Dacai added, “We already ate the round rolls this morning. These two are for you—they’re sweet, soft, fragrant. You’ll love them.”

“Round rolls” meant Swiss rolls.

In front of the elders, he made sure to speak well of his mother: “My mom knows too.”

The old women visiting Gu’s home could find no fault.

Those Swiss rolls looked expensive—even from afar, their sweet scent drifted.

Gu Mu accepted them, smiling broadly. “Alright then, Nai will take them. Later, I’ll give one to your grandpa each.”

“Eat Dacai and Ercai’s snacks, and they’ll give you the best names ever.”

The two boys beamed.

One old woman asked curiously, “What does that mean? Chenghuai’s father is naming Dacai and Ercai?”

“More than that,” Gu Mu laughed. “He’s naming all four kids—and even Tie Dan’s names too… they’re all his to choose.”

“Does Chenghuai’s wife agree?”

Gu Mu lifted her chin proudly. “Of course she does. It was Third daughter-in-law who suggested it first.”

This…

Third daughter-in-law had truly become a different person.

The women murmured.

Seeing Gu Mu’s smile, their hearts turned sour.

Who would’ve thought a lazy daughter-in-law would become a supply and marketing cooperative salesgirl? Chenghuai’s mother now walks with her head held high.

Unable to bear her smugness, the most competitive old woman changed the subject. “When are you going to Lu’s wedding?”

“At noon,” Gu Mu said.

“Why not go in the morning? You need to help with the bride’s escort.”

Gu Mu had already prepared her excuse. “I can’t. There are too many children at home—I have to watch them.”

As she spoke, she wiped the milk from around the twins’ mouths.

The youngest child smiled sweetly, babbling, “Look, Bao.”

Gu Mu untied the child’s bib and smiled. “Yes, watching you.”

Time slipped by, and noon arrived.

Gu Mu went to Lu’s house to help, leaving the four children behind.

Her foot had barely crossed Lu’s threshold.

A little girl with two braids, wearing a red jacket, dashed over, glanced behind Gu Mu, saw Dacai and Ercai weren’t there, and immediately pouted.

“Where are Big Brother Dacai and Big Brother Ercai?” Lu Baozhen asked, looking up.

Gu Mu gave a vague excuse. “They’re busy.”

“Can I go find Big Brother Dacai and Big Brother Ercai?” Lu Baozhen tilted her head, eyes hopeful.

Gu Mu was puzzled.

She’d never met a child who asked such a thing—was this even a question?

Though confused, she didn’t press further, and declined on Dacai and Ercai’s behalf.

“Dacai and Ercai are taking care of their younger siblings. They don’t have time to play with you. Maybe another day.”

She finished speaking and stepped inside to help.

Lu Baozhen stood frozen, her eyes suddenly dark and deep, not blinking.

She stared at Gu Mu’s back, then smiled—a smile full of malice far beyond her years.

“Refusing me? You’ll be unlucky,” she cooed sweetly.

The next instant.

“Clang! Clang!”

A stool tipped over; bowls, basins, and dishes crashed to the floor, shattering with a deafening crash.

Water pooled on the ground—then another loud bang.

Someone shouted: “Auntie Gu…!!”