[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-reborn-as-a-1960s-mother-i-ll-shield-my-forgotte":3,"chapter-reborn-as-a-1960s-mother-i-ll-shield-my-forgotte-reborn-as-a-1960s-mother-i-ll-shield-my-forgotte-chapter-55":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Reborn as a 1960s Mother: I’ll Shield My Forgotten Children!",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2327750,4552,"Chapter 55: What Name Needs Clearing?","reborn-as-a-1960s-mother-i-ll-shield-my-forgotte-chapter-55",55,"\u003Cp>“Tsk tsk!” Sun Yeli grinned mischievously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Young people really fall hard, don’t they?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Chenghuai glanced at the slip taped to the brown paper parcel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was mailed on the same day as the previous letter, but the parcel arrived late because postal delivery was slower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He unwrapped the brown paper to find a jar of meat paste and a can of meat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nationwide supplies were tight; even the troops’ rations weren’t great—they ate meat more often than villagers, but never freely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Yeli caught sight of what Gu Chenghuai held, leapt off the bed, and leaned over. “What’s this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Canned meat!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your wife actually sent you canned meat!” Tears of envy dripped from his lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Yeli’s face twisted with jealousy. “My mom won’t even send me anything—just sweet potatoes, sweet potatoes, and more sweet potatoes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She says it’s to toughen my willpower—hey, our daily training’s brutal enough already! She’s just stingy, biased, and doesn’t care about her own son.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Chenghuai thought that was unfair. “Didn’t your mom send you a thick wool sweater last winter? Wool thread was hard to get—she must’ve traded with half the town just to gather enough to knit it for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A man should know contentment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Take him—he’d gladly accept two sweet potatoes if Lin Zhao sent them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heh.” Sun Yeli’s mood lifted again under his comrade’s words. “You’re right—the sweater’s warm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d heard that last line all winter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pulled open a drawer, took out industrial coupons and cloth vouchers, and asked Sun Yeli: “Check these—enough for five pounds of wool thread?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Yeli flipped through them, staring at his comrade. “So much! More than enough. You traded for these?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was insane.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this time, urban residents were allotted only two taels of wool thread per year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His comrade had a whole stack—he must’ve been trading for ages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Five pounds? Definitely enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Chenghuai gave a quiet reply, offering no further explanation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d long planned to have someone knit his wife a sweater.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhaozhao loved beauty—cotton coats made her look bulky, and she hated them. If she had a wool sweater, she’d be delighted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Yeli felt Gu Chenghuai was suddenly unfamiliar—nothing like the decisive, ruthless young officer he remembered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He winked. “Saving this for your wife?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Chenghuai disliked discussing his wife with others—not out of disdain or disrespect, but because he cherished her too deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He ignored his comrade’s curious gaze and began packing his bags.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...” Sun Yeli’s teeth ached.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone in the camp should see him like this—eager to rush home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re going back soon—so this canned meat...” He grinned and edged closer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Share half with me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Chenghuai glanced at him, expressionless—but Sun Yeli read clearly: “You’re dreaming.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How to handle the meat paste and canned meat? Sun Yeli found out at dinner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That secretive man brought them to the mess hall, got his daily ration of sweet potato flour dumplings and radish-and-kelp soup, and sat in the corner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With his unfairly handsome hands, he slowly opened the meat paste and canned meat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A powerful aroma of meat filled the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So fragrant—who’s cooking private food? I want meat!” A new recruit, barely inside, licked his lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who doesn’t? When’s the last time we got extra rations? My mouth’s dry as dust.” A broad-featured young man yanked off his cap and sniffed hard, as if the cap blocked his nose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several officers familiar with Gu Chenghuai spotted him from afar and walked over with their trays.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One item on the table they recognized—the canned meat, available at the supply station. The other? They had no idea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Yeli plopped down, glaring at Gu Chenghuai like a traitor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why didn’t you call me for dinner?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Chenghuai ignored his look. “You want someone to call you for every meal? Why don’t you fly up to heaven?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...” Sun Yeli choked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He grabbed meat from the can, ate it with the dumplings, eyes closing in bliss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nothing beats meat,” he sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The deputy commander of the Second Battalion stared at Gu Chenghuai. “This came from your family?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Chenghuai gave a faint smile, voice low and pleasant. “My wife sent it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One sentence—mission accomplished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The officer sighed. “Your wife truly cares for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d been married five years—never received so much as a thread from his wife.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man sipped kelp soup, frowning, as if drinking to drown sorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The officers around him twitched their lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Generally, anything brought to the mess hall was assumed to be shared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So everyone at that table had tasted Lin Zhao’s meat paste and canned meat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After tasting it, they were awestruck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This meat paste is amazing—is your sister-in-law’s cooking?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Chenghuai, if your sister-in-law made this, I want to buy some! It’s perfect with food—I could eat three more dumplings just with this paste.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your sister-in-law truly cares for you—you married a great wife!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Yeli stuffed meat paste into a dumpling, bit into it, and said: “I want to buy some too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the crackdown on speculation and profiteering in full force, Gu Chenghuai would never give his wife trouble—he refused without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s talk about this when I get back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Trading wasn’t allowed, but exchanging was fine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His comrades came from all over—maybe their hometowns had something Zhaozhao wanted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Chenghuai planned to consult his wife before replying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, we should ask your sister-in-law’s opinion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Second Battalion commander grabbed his arm urgently. “Chenghuai, you must tell your wife properly—money or trade, no problem.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This man’s parents were both workers; his wife had a city job, they had only one child, and money wasn’t an issue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was sick of the mess hall food—he just wanted to change flavors. This meat paste suited his taste perfectly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Chenghuai pulled his arm free. “Understood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon enough, everyone who needed to know knew—First Battalion Commander Gu Chenghuai had a wife who made incredible meat paste.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The earlier rumors about her were completely washed away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back in the dorm, Sun Yeli rubbed his chin, staring at Gu Chenghuai, thinking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You did this on purpose, didn’t you?” he asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Chenghuai was packing, not looking at his talkative comrade. “What do you mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You brought the meat paste and canned meat to the mess hall to clear your wife’s name.” Sun Yeli said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Gu Chenghuai spoke with the Women’s Director, Qian Guiying held a meeting in the Jiashuyuan  and scolded a few gossips—but Lin Zhao’s reputation still hadn’t improved. Many still whispered that she must’ve done something wrong, otherwise why would everyone talk about her?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After what the battalion commander just did, the Jiashuyuan ’s opinion of Lin Zhao... would surely turn completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My wife’s always been good—why does she need her name cleared?” Gu Chenghuai scoffed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This uniform made it hard to say outright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He thought some people were just too idle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Yeli sensed his comrade’s displeasure and felt Lin Zhao had suffered unjustly—he dropped his teasing tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He patted Gu Chenghuai’s shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bring your wife over soon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then I could come over for meals too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sun Yeli daydreamed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Chenghuai stayed silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether Zhaozhao came to join him depended entirely on her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Coming here wasn’t necessarily good—he’d likely be sent to the battlefield after his leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhaozhao had family to help her back home. If she came with him, he’d be gone often, leaving her alone to raise four children—too exhausting. He couldn’t bear it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He remembered visiting the Jiashuyuan  once, seeing a woman with only two children, worn out from the strain—he had four kids; it’d be worse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Joining the military camp? Better wait until the third and fourth kids are older—then Zhaozhao can have it easier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Gu family’s third branch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Long Fengtai sat in the corner playing with a cloth ball, while Gu Dacai and Gu Ercai Tuozhaoliangxie ， Taizhucongzhangshuxiawachudemuheziguolai 。\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like presenting a treasure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mama, this is the wooden box we dug up—it won’t open.” Gu Ercai said, frustrated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking his mama was strong, he looked at Lin Zhao with bright eyes, “Mama can definitely open it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let me see.” Lin Zhao took the wooden box.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s heavier than it looks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wonder how the two of them carried it back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Dacai and Gu Ercai were clean-minded; after returning home, they brushed off the dirt from the box’s surface and washed it with water. Though not completely clean, it was like two different boxes compared to when they first dug it up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A delicate little lock hung on the box—no wonder the two couldn’t open it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Zhao didn’t bother finding tools; she simply pulled, and the lock came off in her hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two children gathered around their mama, stunned, admiration written plainly on their small faces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mama, you’re so strong!” Gu Ercai sighed in awe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Zhao smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These days, you can’t get by without strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not bad,” she said modestly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Dacai propped his chin, gazing curiously at the box.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even talkative Gu Ercai fell silent, staring eagerly, excited and thrilled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Zhao opened the box, revealing its contents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she expected, they were all old objects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On top lay a palm-sized golden abacus, a pure gold-handled willow-leaf knife, a set of dragon-tiger mortar and pestle, a purple sandalwood medicinal scale, and nine spiritual needles. At the bottom was a book—old, its title reading *Qing Nang Shu*.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aside from the golden abacus, everything else was related to traditional Chinese medicine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In today’s climate, these were “Four Olds”—taking them out would bring disaster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Ercai picked up the glittering abacus and began counting with his fingers, untaught. “Mama, I like this one—can I have it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...” Lin Zhao stared at him silently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who in their right mind would ask such an unreasonable thing at five years old?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Playing with a golden abacus—how fancy you are.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ll talk about it when you’re older,” Lin Zhao said, not wanting trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She planned to put the entire set into her Storage Ring, to retrieve it only when the time was right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Ercai was deeply disappointed but didn’t throw a fit. “Alright.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stared at the golden abacus, reluctant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...” He’s got good taste.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since the treasure was found by the two boys, she couldn’t just confiscate it entirely. Lin Zhao stood up, washed her hands, then walked to the cabinet and pulled out a twisted doughnut and two boxes of milk, handing them to the boys.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing something new in their mama’s hands, Gu Ercai dropped the abacus and pointed at the doughnut. “Mama, what’s this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go wash your hands. This is twisted doughnut—you and your brother each get half.” Lin Zhao said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without a word, the two boys went to wash their hands, then ate the doughnut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scent of oil and wheat swirled in their mouths; biting into it, crisp crumbs fell away—delicious!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Twisted doughnut with milk—this was a life even immortals wouldn’t trade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Zhao pulled up a stool and sat before her two sons, her expression slightly serious. “Gu Dacai, Gu Ercai, Mama has something to tell you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?” Gu Ercai asked, chewing on the doughnut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Dacai stopped eating, his clear eyes fixed on his mama.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t tell anyone about what you found today,” Lin Zhao said seriously. “Especially not what was inside the box. Keep this our little secret—can you two do that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing it was a secret with Mama, the two little ones’ eyes lit up instantly, nodding vigorously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I can!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Gu Dacai answered, he remembered Lu Baozhen had seen them find the box. He frowned slightly. “But Lu Baozhen saw us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was a child prone to self-blame, and now he felt guilty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He lowered his head, blaming himself. “It’s my fault for being careless—if I’d been more careful, I’d have noticed Lu Baozhen sooner...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re overthinking again,” Lin Zhao interrupted gently, pulling him into a warm embrace. “No one can plan perfectly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve done fine—why blame yourself?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked down at him, kissed his cheek, eyes smiling. “My big boy is the best, most well-behaved child in the entire brigade. I think everything about you is wonderful. But you always blame yourself—that makes you unhappy, and when you’re unhappy, I’m unhappy too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Dacai turned into a dazed goose, nestled in Lin Zhao’s arms, his face flushed, ears tinged red.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice was shy. “...Okay.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Ercai wasn’t happy—he squeezed into Mama’s arms too, eyes crinkling into crescents. “It’s not your fault, Brother—it’s all Lu Baozhen’s. We’re just playing, what’s it got to do with her?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She wants to tell the brigade? Let her!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes darted cleverly, a sly grin spreading. “Kids can be sneaky—we just deny it. Adults can’t do anything to us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Zhao gave him a thumbs-up. “That’s a good plan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If all else fails, hand over the box—no one says it has to contain anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if someone suspects, it doesn’t matter—they have no proof.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Ercai beamed at the praise. “Brother, let’s pretend we’re dumb!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm.” Gu Dacai nodded solemnly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The county town had sunk into twilight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fu Fei, a worker from the cotton mill, dragged his exhausted body along the alley he’d walked countless times over the past two years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two years ago, that incident had burned a hole into Fu Fei’s spine like a branding iron.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d accidentally lost factory property, been charged with dereliction of duty, and punished administratively—demoted from office accountant to boiler operator.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fu Fei knew this was lenient treatment; at least they hadn’t sent him to prison. He should be grateful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could he possibly accept it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d carried that money all the way, arms aching but never letting go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How had the money disappeared?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He probably never would.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t stolen it—he truly hadn’t stolen it!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was factory money—how could he commit such a fundamental betrayal? He was a loyal worker, raised red and true—how could he ruin his life with embezzlement?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Afterward, his family blamed him; coworkers stared at him with strange eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d wanted to throw himself into the river and die.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But... he couldn’t accept it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A man barely thirty, visibly aged—hair turned white, face etched with unremovable sorrow, deep creases on his forehead, expression numb and worn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The streetlamp stretched his hunched shadow across the weathered alley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He saw a familiar cloth bag ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>",2390,"2026-06-20T18:59:15.907Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","017a7dddc21d824aa80db2bbe3958d979eba27ce2b4000732ef52ad5240d63ea","reborn-as-a-1960s-mother-i-ll-shield-my-forgotte-chapter-56","reborn-as-a-1960s-mother-i-ll-shield-my-forgotte-chapter-54",480,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Freborn-as-a-1960s-mother-i-ll-shield-my-forgotte-cover.jpg"]