Chapter 53

Lin Zhao looked over; a small tooth mark had appeared on the hand that had the unique dimples of a little child, crescent-shaped, not big but looking quite deep, not to mention turning blue, and there were even traces of blood.

She grabbed Hearing Hearing Erzai's hand, her brows slightly furrowed.

"Have you applied medicine? Such a deep tooth mark, that little girl is really vicious, don't let it leave a scar."

Especially since this scar was left by Lu Baozhen; if it were to remain on Hearing Hearing Erzai's hand forever, Lin Zhao would only feel like there was a fishbone stuck in her throat.

I'll draw a prize when I get back!

I hope I can draw an ointment for removing scars, or even one for fading them would be fine.

"I've already applied medicine," Hearing Hearing Erzai waved his hand indifferently, "It's fine! My grandma said, a scar is a medal, a sign of a hero; I am a little hero, I'm not afraid of having scars on my body."

"……" You've been fooled lame by your grandma!

Seeing Seeing Dazai raised his head, staring at the back of his mother's head, his hands curled together, "Mom, Grandma said Dad also has scars on his body, many scars, is that true?"

"Yes, how could a soldier not have scars on his body," Lin Zhao said.

Gu Chenghuai had a scar the length of an index finger on his chest, left from his first mission; the wound was very deep, and after it healed, it formed a ferocious, raised scar, like a centipede coiled on his bronze-colored skin.

"Your dad works hard, so we must be considerate of him and care about him."

Seeing Seeing Dazai was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "Mom, can you teach me how to write a letter to Dad?"

"Of course," Lin Zhao agreed on the spot, "If Comrade Gu receives your letter, he will definitely be very happy."

Hearing Hearing Erzai, who was usually talkative, didn't join the conversation.

He didn't like writing.

Lin Zhao asked about the box the brothers had picked up, "Where did you pick up the box?"

"Under the thickest tree at the foot of the mountain," Hearing Hearing Erzai replied.

A look of pride appeared on his face, "We were playing hide-and-seek, my brother and I hid there, and no one could find us."

Lin Zhao shook her head disapprovingly, "The foot of the mountain is dangerous, why go there? Try to go there less in the future; even if you do go, you must be accompanied by an adult."

Seeing Seeing Dazai answered obediently, "Mom, my brother and I know. There are wild boars at the foot of the mountain that eat children; Lu Baozhen was almost gored, we won't go there anymore."

"Wild boars appeared at the foot of the mountain?" Lin Zhao's heart skipped a beat, feeling lingering fear; looking at the two cubs, she asked hurriedly, "You two weren't scared, were you?"

"No, no," Seeing Seeing Dazai said, "My brother and I put the box at home, and only found out Lu Baozhen had encountered a wild boar when we went to the old house."

"It's good that you weren't scared," Lin Zhao breathed a sigh of relief.

"Look, the foot of the mountain is dangerous, you must, must not go there again, understand?"

"If you want to play, play in the village; the village is so big, what can't you play with?"

Fearing that if she said too much, the two cubs would have a rebellious psychology, she didn't forget to promise them a reward.

"If you two are good, I'll buy you a soccer ball another day."

"Soccer ball?" Hearing Hearing Erzai's voice was light, filled with joy and curiosity, "Mom, what is a soccer ball?"

"Just think of it as a toy," Lin Zhao didn't know how to explain it so the two cubs would understand, so she simply let them think of it as a toy.

Hearing this, Hearing Hearing Erzai thought it was the same as the cloth balls of his younger brother and sister, and his brows twisted into a ball, "Mom, my brother and I are big friends now, we don't play with the cloth balls of the younger brother and sister."

Not waiting for his mother to explain further, he continued, "Mom, save the money to buy meat."

Lin Zhao chuckled, "You said it yourself, then I'll buy it for your brother; after I buy it back, you can't fight with your brother."

Hearing Hearing Erzai thought of something, one eyebrow suddenly arched high, and the tip of his nose wrinkled in coordination, showing a cunning crease.

"That won't do, my brother and I are own brothers, we have to do everything together."

Then he said in a helpless tone, "If Mom wants to buy it, then buy it, I won't be a buzzkill little friend."

The word "buzzkill" was learned from Lin Zhao.

"Then I thank you," Lin Zhao said helplessly.

Hearing Hearing Erzai scratched the tip of his nose, saw the little red string on his wrist, grabbed her hem, and his soft, fleshy fingers curled.

"Mom, my little red string is gone, can you buy me another one?"

Lin Zhao took Seeing Seeing Dazai down and pushed the bicycle into the house.

After parking the bike, she turned to look at Hearing Hearing Erzai, "Did you lose it?"

"I didn't lose it, my little red string is just gone," Hearing Hearing Erzai looked aggrieved, and explained angrily, "It's all Lu Baozhen's fault; she pulled my little red string, then the little red string turned black, and when I wanted to wipe off the blackness, my little red string turned into dregs."

"？？！"

The red string that could resist evil things is gone!?

Just what kind of dangerous existence is Lu Baozhen!!

Lin Zhao felt a lingering fear in her heart, feeling incredibly lucky that she had drawn the "Blessing of the Gods · Little Red String"; otherwise... if the two cubs were influenced by evil things and forced to follow the original book's plot, what would be the point of her awakening.

She pulled the two cubs to sit down and asked carefully, "What's going on with the Li Li that Lu Baozhen was shouting?"

"Lu Baozhen said Li Li is her best friend, and she even wanted Li Li to turn my brother and me into little piles of dirt."

Hearing Hearing Erzai's dark eyes flashed with anger, and he said fiercely, "Mom, Lu Baozhen is a bad little friend; she doesn't have a mom, and she also wants to make it so we can't be with Mom."

Lin Zhao had a guess in her heart; it seems that the one called Li Li should be the mysterious existence in the original book that helped Lu Baozhen reach the pinnacle of her life.

"Do you two know what that Li Li is like?"

Seeing Seeing Dazai blinked his big eyes, "Mom believes Lu Baozhen has a good friend named Li Li?"

"Better to believe it exists than to believe it doesn't."

The two cubs didn't understand.

"Mom, my brother and I didn't see the Li Li that Lu Baozhen talked about; she is lying, don't believe her," Hearing Hearing Erzai tilted his little head, opening his dark, bright eyes wide, appearing exceptionally sincere.

Lin Zhao: "……"

This little look, as if she, the mother, is a fool, easily fooled.

Lin Zhao rubbed the top of Hearing Hearing Erzai's head and said with a smile, "Mom knows. Little friends who don't even have an elementary school education, don't worry about the affairs of high school students."

Hearing Hearing Erzai saw the mockery on his mother's face, and in anger, he stiffened his neck, leaving Lin Zhao with the back of his head that seemed to be covered with a layer of silver frost.

A tiny person, with an equally tiny capacity for anger.

Lin Zhao reached out to pull Hearing Hearing Erzai's hand; the little friend, with his back to his mother, curled his lips, turned around, and said generously, "Alright, I forgive Mom, but Mom can't mock my brother and me in the future."

"Fine, fine, fine," Lin Zhao agreed.

She took off her own little red string and put it on Seeing Seeing Dazai's hand.

"Seeing Seeing Dazai is a good brother, Mom's is yours."

That evil thing called Li Li should have been finished off by the little red string, but it's better to be safe than sorry.

Seeing Seeing Dazai looked at the little red string on his hand, pretending to kick stones indifferently, but his reddened earlobes exposed his joyful mood at being praised.

"Mom, you rest, my brother and I will go pick up Third Cub and Fourth Cub," he said.

"Alright, then that will be hard work for you two," Lin Zhao was thinking about the lucky draw and handed the task of picking up the twins to the brothers.

"It's not hard work for us."

Seeing Seeing Dazai held Hearing Hearing Erzai's hand and walked out of the house.

Watching her two sons leave, Lin Zhao returned to the room, summoned the lucky draw wheel, and found that the right column indicated the task was completed.

【Accepted the task of pasting matchboxes, blossoming in all areas, walking on the broad road to prosperity, rewarded with 200 points.】

Lin Zhao's eyes were surprised.

"!"

So generous.

This task was worth taking!

【Didn't miss the big gossip in the village, rewarded with 10 points.】

Glancing at this, Lin Zhao laughed.

The lucky draw wheel really follows current events closely; it's not even at ease with this, wishing it could feed food into her mouth, right?

Really, thank you!

No longer looking at the task bar, Lin Zhao seized the time to draw prizes.

Three consecutive draws.

【Soap × 5 pieces】

【Mosquito-repellent sachets × 3 pieces】

【Parent-child outfits × 1 set】

【Grain coupons × 200 jin】

【Agricultural urea × 2 bags】

【Pagoda sugar (deworming candy) × 10 pieces】

【Red dates × 2 jin】

【Canned braised pork belly × 2 cans】

【Film × 1 roll】

【Women's small leather shoes × 1 pair】

【Scissors × 1 pair】

【Sweet twisted dough sticks × 5 pieces】

That's all, nothing for fading scars.

Lin Zhao guessed that the scar-fading ones were very precious, perhaps needing a draw that costs five hundred points.

I'll save up more points, and I'll definitely be able to remove the tooth mark on Hearing Hearing Erzai's hand.

Among these prizes, she felt quite happy about the parent-child outfits.

Extracting them to take a look, there were six sets in total, even including one for Gu Chenghuai.

The color was the most fashionable military green of this era; the upper body was a camouflage short-sleeved shirt of a common style, and the bottom was long trousers of the same color.

Simple and generous, it would definitely look first-class in photos.

"Mom, my brother and I have brought Third Cub and Fourth Cub back," Hearing Hearing Erzai's lively voice rang out.

Lin Zhao became interested and beckoned to them through the window.

"Cubs, come in quickly, try on your new clothes, Mom will take photos for you."

Aha, new clothes?!

"Brother, Mom bought us new clothes again," Hearing Hearing Erzai's lips curled, his expression revealing satisfaction amidst restraint, "Oh my, if we keep adding them like this, I won't be able to wear all my clothes."

These words were heard by Lin Zhao.

What's with that smug little tone of yours?

It's only three sets, counting the new ones, it's only four sets in total.

The four cubs entered the room, and seeing the color of the new clothes, they grinned happily.

Inside, they were screaming "Ahhhhhh".

Little military uniforms.

"Mom, are these for us?" Hearing Hearing Erzai held the clothes in his arms, his excited eyes becoming even more brilliant.

"Yes, they are," Lin Zhao imitated his tone.

Look how happy they are, they didn't even hear the second half of what she said.

"Put them on quickly, Mom will take photos for you in a moment."

Seeing Seeing Dazai looked at his mother suddenly, "Take photos?"

"Are we going to the county town?" He liked the county town very much, his expectant eyes as bright as the stars in a summer night.

"We'll take them at home. The double-harvest is over; tomorrow I'm going to discuss building a house with your grandpa and grandma, and next time I'm off, I'll take you to the city to play."

Third Cub suddenly hugged her, tilting his little head, his little face white and tender, his eyes clear, "……Take cub."

As soon as he spoke, Fourth Cub also stretched out her little short arms to hug her mother.

"Take me, take me!" The little girl made her request in a milky voice.

The twins weren't very old, but they were actually quite sharp; hearing that Mom was going to take the older brothers to play, they jumped out in a hurry, not only making requests but also staring at their mother with two pairs of wet, big eyes.

Lin Zhao felt that if she showed even the slightest sign of not taking them, the two little ones would howl, and then run out of the house, with their pitiful backs facing her.

"I'll take you, I'll take all of you."

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

At the same time, she turned her head and said to Seeing Seeing Dazai and Hearing Hearing Erzai, "You two change yourselves."

"Mm-hmm," Seeing Seeing Dazai and his brother went to change their clothes.

Lin Zhao stripped the twins clean and quickly changed them into their new clothes.

The tiny military green camouflage short-sleeved shirts and shorts, worn on the tiny people, were both cute and cool.

Especially Third Cub, who looked most like Gu Chenghuai; sitting there with a small, straight face, looking calm and quiet, Lin Zhao felt as if she were seeing a miniature version of the cubs' father.

"Why are you so cute?" She kissed Third Cub and Fourth Cub's cheeks affectionately, her brows and eyes overflowing with smiles.

Catching this scene, Hearing Hearing Erzai became anxious, hurriedly pulling up his pants and rushing in front of Lin Zhao.

"Mom, how do I look?" he asked.

"Handsome, as handsome as your dad!" Lin Zhao praised.

Hearing Hearing Erzai had his own little thoughts, turning his right cheek toward his mother, asking for a kiss; Lin Zhao was getting the camera and didn't notice.

The little kid pouted, pretending to be calm as he took his younger brother and sister out.

Once out of the room, he was instantly revived, his little eyes fixed on the black lump in Lin Zhao's hand.

"Mom, where are we taking them?"

Lin Zhao adjusted the camera, "Let's take one here first."

The house they are living in now is about to be demolished, so she wants to leave a few commemorative photos.

"Okay," Hearing Hearing Erzai said.

The four cubs stood side-by-side under the eaves, smiling.

A "click" sound.

"Done," Lin Zhao said.

Hearing Hearing Erzai trotted to her side, "Mom, can I see it?"

"No, it only looks like a photo after it's developed," Lin Zhao explained to the two cubs.

"Is it washed with water?" Seeing Seeing Dazai's expression was puzzled.

Hearing Hearing Erzai also pricked up his ears, controlling his younger brother and sister so they wouldn't grab the black lump in Mom's hand.

Lin Zhao was charmed by their cuteness, a smile climbing to the corners of her eyes, her eyes filled with fine, fragmented light.

"No, I only know a little bit about this too. How about you tell me after you start school?"

Seeing Seeing Dazai looked as if he had suddenly been entrusted with some important mission, his expression serious, "Okay."

"Let's go, let's take some at the front gate," Lin Zhao said.

Hearing Hearing Erzai called her to stop and suggested, "Mom, can we take one here by the firewood? My brother and I, and Tie Dan, had such a hard time picking up this firewood."

"……Okay."

The firewood was neatly stacked against the wall, covered with old rainproof gunny sacks.

The light was just right.

Lin Zhao found the right angle, and another click.

"Done."

Next, the family of five went to the front gate to take photos.

The four cubs stood ready; just as Lin Zhao pressed the shutter, Hearing Hearing Erzai raised his hand, "Mom, can I hold something?"

Lin Zhao put down the camera and asked, "Sure, what do you want to hold?"

Hearing Hearing Erzai gave a hehe laugh, turned and went home, and soon came out again, holding a basket for digging wild vegetables and a small shovel.

"Tools for eating," he said.

He didn't just get them for himself, he didn't forget his brother either.

Seeing Seeing Dazai clearly thought Hearing Hearing Erzai's idea was great, his eyes, dark as summer stars, curving, "Thank you, Hearing Hearing Erzai."

Fourth Cub saw she didn't have anything in her hands and fought with Hearing Hearing Erzai for the basket and shovel, "Second Brother, cub."

Lin Zhao caught a glimpse of Yuanbao coming to join the fun; he was holding a bunch of wild flowers.

She beckoned to the little kid.

Yuanbao ran over, "Auntie Lin, are you looking for me?"

"Auntie wants to borrow your flowers to take a photo of the four cubs, I'll return them to you in a moment," Lin Zhao borrowed the flowers from him.

"Okay," Yuanbao agreed immediately and gave her the flowers.

"Thank you, little Yuanbao," Lin Zhao thanked the generous little kid, divided the wild flowers among the twins, and took the opportunity to tidy up the soft hair sticking up on Fourth Cub's head.

She stepped back to a suitable distance and clapped her hands.

"Alright, everyone has something in their hands, look at the lens."

The four cubs looked over and grinned, with Hearing Hearing Erzai grinning the widest.

Not to mention anything else, this photo will definitely become a dark history when they grow up, hahaha.

Just as Lin Zhao was about to press the shutter, Da Huang and Hu Po appeared, curling up in front of the four cubs.

The scene froze the figures of the four cubs and the two dogs.

Lin Zhao put away the camera and patted Da Huang's head, "Just in time!"

Da Huang sat up and licked her hand.

The twins wanted to hug Da Huang and tried to throw away the flowers in their hands, but Lin Zhao caught them first, "Little rascals."

She flicked the twins' little noses, took back the flowers from their hands, and returned them to Yuanbao.

Yuanbao took the flowers and looked at the thing in Lin Zhao's hand, "Auntie Lin, what are you doing?"

Hearing Hearing Erzai walked over and said excitedly, "Taking photos, my mom is taking photos for us, we've already taken quite a few."

"Wow!" Yuanbao exclaimed, cupping his face, and said longingly, "My mom said when I'm ten, she'll take me to the county town to take photos."

Lin Zhao patted his head and said, "I'll take one for you, where do you want to take it?"