Chapter 53: Shadow Recording

Lin Zhao looked over and saw a small tooth mark on the child’s hand—crescent-shaped, not large but deep, bluish in hue with faint blood threads.

She grabbed Erzai’s hand and furrowed her brows.

“Did you apply medicine? Such a deep bite—that little girl’s cruel. Don’t let it scar.”

Especially if the scar was left by Lu Baozhen—if it stayed on Erzai’s hand forever, Lin Zhao felt as if a fishbone were stuck in her throat.

When we get back, I’ll spin the prize wheel!

I hope I draw some scar-removing ointment—even one that fades scars would do.

“I already put medicine on,” Erzai waved his hand dismissively. “It’s fine! Grandma says scars are medals, symbols of heroes. I’m a little hero—I’m not afraid of scars.”

“...” You’ve been fooled by your grandma into believing nonsense!

Dazai looked up at his mother’s nape, his hands clenched together. “Mama, Grandma says Dad has scars too—lots of them, right?”

“Yes,” Lin Zhao said. “No soldier goes without scars.”

Gu Chenghuai bore a scar on his chest, an inch long, from his first mission—deep, raised, and grotesque, like a centipede coiled over his bronze-toned skin.

“Your father works hard, so we must understand and care for him.”

Dazai fell silent for a moment, then whispered, “Mama, can you teach me how to write a letter to Dad?”

“Of course,” Lin Zhao agreed immediately. “If Comrade Gu receives your letters, he’ll be delighted.”

Erzai, usually talkative, stayed out of the conversation.

He disliked writing.

Lin Zhao asked about the box the boys had found. “Where did you find the box?”

“Under the thickest tree at the foot of the mountain,” Erzai answered.

A look of pride spread across his face. “We were playing hide-and-seek. Me and Brother hid there—no one could find us.”

Lin Zhao shook her head disapprovingly. “The foot of the mountain is dangerous. Why go there? From now on, avoid it as much as possible—even if you must go, an adult must accompany you.”

Dazai nodded obediently. “Mama, me and Erzai know. There’s a wild boar at the foot of the mountain that eats children—Lu Baozhen almost got gored. We won’t go anymore.”

“A wild boar appeared at the foot of the mountain?” Lin Zhao’s heart lurched with dread. She looked at her two boys anxiously. “Were you scared?”

“No, no,” Dazai said. “We brought the box home, then went to the old house and found out Lu Baozhen had run into the boar.”

“Good you weren’t scared,” Lin Zhao sighed in relief.

“See? The foot of the mountain is dangerous. You absolutely must not go again, understood?”

“If you want to play, play in the village—it’s big enough. There’s plenty to do here.”

Afraid of provoking rebellion, she added a sweet incentive.

“If you two behave, I’ll buy you a football someday.”

“Football?” Erzai’s voice brightened with delight and curiosity. “Mama, what’s a football?”

“Just think of it as a toy,” Lin Zhao said, unable to explain in a way they’d understand, so she settled for that.

Hearing this, Erzai assumed it was like his younger siblings’ cloth balls. He scowled. “Mama, me and Brother are big kids now—we don’t play with babies’ cloth balls.”

Before his mother could explain further, he added, “Mama, save the money and buy meat instead.”

Lin Zhao chuckled. “You said that, right? Then I’ll buy it for your brother—you can’t fight him for it when it arrives.”

Erzai suddenly raised one eyebrow, his nose wrinkling with a mischievous glint.

“No way. Me and Brother are blood brothers—we do everything together.”

Then he sighed dramatically. “Fine, Mama, buy it if you want. I won’t be the spoilsport.”

The word “spoilsport” was borrowed from Lin Zhao.

“Thank you then,” Lin Zhao said, exasperated.

Erzai scratched his nose, spotted the red string on his wrist, tugged at her sleeve, and curled his soft, chubby fingers.

“Mama, my red string is gone. Can you buy me another one?”

Lin Zhao lifted Dazai down and pushed the bicycle inside.

After parking it, she turned to Erzai. “Did you lose it?”

“I didn’t lose it. My red string is gone,” Erzai pouted, then angrily explained: “It’s all Lu Baozhen’s fault—she yanked my red string, then it turned black. I tried wiping off the black stuff, and my red string turned to dust.”

“??!”

The red string that repelled evil was gone!?

What kind of dangerous creature is Lu Baozhen?!

Lin Zhao felt a wave of dread and profound relief that she’d drawn the “Divine Blessing: Red String.” Otherwise—if her boys had been influenced by evil and forced back into the original story’s plot, what meaning would her awakening have?

She pulled the boys down to sit and pressed for details. “What’s this ‘Lili’ Lu Baozhen keeps talking about?”

“Lu Baozhen says Lili is her best friend—and she wants Lili to turn me and Brother into little mounds of dirt.”

Erzai’s dark eyes blazed with anger. “Mama, Lu Baozhen’s a bad kid. She has no mama—and she wants to keep us from being with you.”

Lin Zhao had a suspicion: the so-called Lili was likely the mysterious force in the original novel that helped Lu Baozhen rise to the top.

“Do you know anything about this Lili?”

Dazai blinked his big eyes. “Mama, do you believe Lu Baozhen has a friend named Lili?”

“Better to believe it than ignore it.”

The boys didn’t understand.

“Mama, me and Brother never saw this Lili Lu Baozhen talks about. She’s lying—don’t believe her,” Erzai said, tilting his head up, eyes wide and earnest.

Lin Zhao: “...”

That look—like she, their mother, was an idiot easily fooled.

Lin Zhao rubbed Erzai’s head and smiled. “I know. Little kids with no elementary school education shouldn’t worry about high school problems.”

Erzai caught the mockery on her face. He stuck out his neck, giving Lin Zhao a back of his head that seemed dusted with silver frost.

Such a small person—with equally small temper.

Lin Zhao reached out and took his hand. The boy, facing away, grinned, then turned around and declared generously, “Fine, I forgive you. But you can’t mock me and Brother anymore.”

“Alright, alright,” Lin Zhao agreed.

She took off her own red string and tied it onto Dazai’s wrist.

“Dazai’s a good big brother. This one’s for you.”

The evil Lili was probably already destroyed by the red string—but better safe than sorry.

Dazai stared at the red string on his wrist, feigning indifference as he kicked a stone, but his reddened earlobes betrayed his delight at the praise.

“Mama, you rest. Me and Erzai will go pick up Sanzai and Sizai.”

“Alright, thanks for helping,” Lin Zhao said, eager to spin the prize wheel, and handed the task of fetching the twins to the two boys.

“We’re not tired.”

Dazai took Erzai’s hand and stepped out the door.

Watching her sons leave, Lin Zhao returned inside and summoned the prize wheel—only to find the right column marked “Task Completed.”

【Completed the task of pasting firecracker boxes—blossomed fully, embarked on the path to prosperity. Reward: 200 points.】

Lin Zhao’s eyes widened in surprise.

“!”

So generous.

This task was worth taking!

【Didn’t miss the village’s biggest gossip. Reward: 10 points.】

Seeing this, Lin Zhao laughed.

The prize wheel really keeps up with current events—can’t even trust her to gossip without handing her a reward.

Thanks a lot!

Ignoring the task column, Lin Zhao hurried to spin the wheel.

Three spins.

【Soap ×5】

【Mosquito-repellent sachets ×3】

【Family matching outfits ×1 set】

【Grain coupons ×200 jin】

【Agricultural urea ×2 bags】

【Baby deworming candy ×10 pieces】

【Red dates ×2 jin】

【Braised pork belly cans ×2】

【Film roll ×1】

【Women’s leather shoes ×1 pair】

【Scissors ×1】

【Sweet twisted dough ×5】

That’s all—no scar-fading ointment.

Lin Zhao guessed the scar-removing ointment was rare—perhaps requiring a 500-point spin.

She’d save more points—eventually she’d erase the tooth mark on Erzai’s hand.

Of all the prizes, she felt a quiet joy at the matching outfits.

She pulled them out—six sets total, including one for Gu Chenghuai.

The color was the most fashionable military green of the era: a plain camouflage short-sleeve top, matching long pants.

Simple and elegant—perfect for photos.

“Mama, my brother and I brought back San Zai and Si Zai!” Er Zai’s lively voice rang out.

Lin Zhao’s interest stirred; she waved to them through the window.

“Come in, little ones—try on your new clothes. Mama’s going to take your pictures.”

Aha, new clothes?!

“Brother, Mama bought us new clothes again!” Er Zai’s lips curled up, his expression restrained yet satisfied. “Oh dear, if she keeps buying like this, I won’t have room to wear them all.”

Lin Zhao heard every word.

What’s with this smug little tone of yours?

Only three outfits—four total, counting the new ones.

The four little ones entered the room, saw the color of their new clothes, and grinned wide.

Inside their heads, they screamed: AAAAAAHHHH!

Little military uniforms!

“Mama, these are for us?” Er Zai hugged the clothes to his chest, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

“Yes, indeed,” Lin Zhao mimicked his tone.

He was so delighted he didn’t even hear the second half of what she said.

“Put them on quickly—Mama’s going to take your pictures.”

Da Zai snapped his head toward his mother. “Pictures?”

“Are we going to the county?” His eyes shone like summer stars, full of anticipation.

“Here at home. After the double harvest, tomorrow I’ll talk to your grandpa and grandma about building a new house. Next time off, I’ll take you to the city.”

San Zai suddenly hugged her, tilting his small head up—his face pale and soft, eyes bright. “...Take Zai.”

At his words, Si Zai also reached out tiny arms to hug their mama.

“Take Wo, take Wo!” the little girl demanded in a babyish voice.

The twins were young, but not stupid—they caught that Mama planned to take Guo Guo out to play, so they jumped in, demanding to come along, their big, wet eyes fixed on her.

Lin Zhao knew if she showed even a hint of refusing, they’d burst into tears and run out the door, their pitiful little backs turned to her.

“Fine, all of you are coming.”

She picked up the twins and helped them change into their new clothes.

At the same time, she turned to Da Zai and Er Zai. “You two change yourselves.”

“Mm-hmm.” Da Zai and his brother went to change.

Lin Zhao stripped the twins bare and quickly dressed them in the new outfits.

The tiny military-green camouflage short-sleeve tops and shorts looked adorable and cool on their small frames.

Especially San Zai—he looked most like Gu Chenghuai, sitting stiffly with a serious little face, calm and composed. Lin Zhao felt as if she were staring at a miniature version of his father.

“How adorable.” She kissed San Zai and Si Zai’s cheeks, her eyes brimming with laughter.

Seeing this, Er Zai panicked, fumbling to pull up his pants and rushing toward Lin Zhao.

“Mama, how do I look?” he asked.

“Handsome—just like your father!” Lin Zhao praised.

Er Zai had his own little plan: he turned his right cheek toward her, silently begging for a kiss. Lin Zhao, busy retrieving the camera, didn’t notice.

The child pouted, feigned calmness, and led his siblings outside.

As soon as they stepped out, he instantly revived, his eyes fixed on the black lump in Lin Zhao’s hand.

“Mama, where are we taking the pictures?”

Lin Zhao adjusted the camera. “First, right here.”

The house they currently lived in would soon be torn down—she wanted a few keepsake photos.

“Okay,” Er Zai said.

The four little ones stood side by side under the eaves, smiling broadly.

*Click.*

“Done,” Lin Zhao said.

Er Zai scampered over to her. “Mama, can we see it?”

“No. It only looks like a photo after it’s developed,” Lin Zhao explained to the two.

“Is it washed with water?” Da Zai asked, puzzled.

Er Zai also perked up his ears, keeping his siblings from grabbing the black lump in their mother’s hand.

Lin Zhao was charmed—her smile reached her eyes, sparkling with tiny lights.

“Nope. I don’t fully understand it either. How about you learn when you start school, then tell me?”

Da Zai suddenly felt entrusted with a great mission; his expression turned serious. “Okay.”

“Come on, let’s go take pictures at the gate,” Lin Zhao said.

Er Zai stopped her. “Mama, can we take one here by the firewood? My brother and I and Tie Dan worked hard to gather it.”

“...Okay.”

The firewood was neatly stacked against the wall, covered with an old burlap sack for rain protection.

The light was perfect.

Lin Zhao found the right angle—*click.*

“Done.”

Then the whole family of five went to the gate.

The four little ones lined up. Just as Lin Zhao pressed the shutter, Er Zai raised his hand. “Mama, can I hold something?”

Lin Zhao lowered the camera. “Sure. What do you want?”

Er Zai grinned, ran back inside, and returned quickly with a basket and a small shovel for digging wild vegetables.

“Our eating tools,” he said.

He didn’t just grab one for himself—he also got one for his brother.

Da Zai clearly thought Er Zai’s idea was brilliant; his dark eyes curved like summer stars. “Thank you, Er Zai.”

Si Zai, seeing he had nothing in his hands, tugged at the basket and shovel. “Er Guoguo, Zai!”

Lin Zhao noticed Yuan Bao sneaking over, holding a bunch of wildflowers.

She waved to the child.

Yuan Bao trotted over. “Aunt Lin, you called me?”

“Auntie would like to borrow your flowers for a photo of the four little ones. I’ll return them right after,” Lin Zhao asked.

“Of course!” Yuan Bao handed them over immediately.

“Thank you, little Yuan Bao.” Lin Zhao thanked the generous child, distributed the wildflowers to the twins, and gently smoothed the fluffy tufts on Si Zai’s head.

She stepped back to the right distance and clapped her hands.

“Alright, everyone has something in hand—look at the lens.”

The four little ones stared, grinning wide—Er Zai’s grin the broadest of all.

Leaving aside everything else, this photo would definitely become a black history moment when they grew up—hahaha.

Just before Lin Zhao pressed the shutter, Da Huang and Hu Po appeared, coiling themselves in front of the four little ones.

The image captured the four children and the two dogs together.

Lin Zhao tucked away the camera and patted Da Huang’s head. “Perfect timing!”

Da Huang sat up and licked her hand.

The twins wanted to hug Da Huang and tried to drop their flowers—but Lin Zhao snatched them first. “Naughty little things.”

She pinched their tiny noses, took back the flowers, and returned them to Yuan Bao.

Yuan Bao took the flowers, his eyes fixed on the object in Lin Zhao’s hand. “Aunt Lin, what are you doing?”

Er Zai walked over, excitedly explaining: “Taking photos! Mama’s taking pictures of us—we’ve already taken several!”

“Wow!” Yuan Bao gasped, clutching his cheeks. “My mama says when I turn ten, she’ll take me to the county to get photos!”

Lin Zhao stroked his head. “I’ll take one for you. Where would you like it taken?”