Chapter 59: Love the house and its crow

"I found a job pasting matchboxes and want to give it to eldest sister." Lin Zhao said.

Gu Mu had heard of the news that the match factory in the city occasionally sent out work.

However.

Isn't this job very hard to come by?

Many city people want it but don't have it.

"Is this true?" Gu Mu walked forward excitedly, staring at Lin Zhao with hot eyes.

"Of course it's true; Sister Fen, who is a salesperson with me, helped find the job, and I've brought back the materials for pasting matchboxes; I'll send them to Big Sister in the afternoon," Lin Zhao said slowly.

Huang Xiulan and Zhao Liuniang walked out of the room, their heads covered in dust.

"There's such a good thing." Zhao Liuniang's eyes lit up, and she felt lucky that she hadn't been calculating and had gotten along well with her third sister-in-law.

Look, the opportunity had come.

"Good luck," Lin Zhao smiled lightly.

"Zhao Zhao, if there's such a good thing again, don't forget us," Zhao Liuniang said directly.

While speaking, she looked at Lin Zhao nervously.

She knew how much A-Chan cared about the third room, helping out continuously for more than four years; it was right for the third daughter-in-law to give the job of pasting matchboxes to her.

She wasn't greedy.

She just thought that if there was a job pasting matchboxes, maybe she would encounter other things, and hoped they would have a chance.

"Alright," Lin Zhao nodded.

The two sisters-in-law in the husband's family were clear-headed and knew how to repay kindness; if there was a good opportunity, she was of course willing to help, and it wouldn't take much effort.

"Thank you, thank you," Zhao Liuniang said happily, thanking her repeatedly. "One income counts as one; money is needed everywhere, and I still want to save a good dowry for Yu Yu."

Lin Zhao looked at her with an absurd expression. "Is Gu Gu Ersao... thinking too far ahead?"

"Not far, not far at all," Zhao Liuniang waved her hand. "Children grow with the wind; in the blink of an eye, they're big."

"There's still more than ten years," Lin Zhao emphasized the time.

"Oh my, it's only ten years, very fast." Zhao Liuniang still felt she had to prepare in advance.

Huang Xiulan also felt it was fast; in her impression, Tie Dan and Tie Chui were still little monkeys crawling on the ground, and in the blink of an eye, they could run around the village!

Lin Zhao didn't commit.

Fourth Cub wasn't in a hurry to get married; she hoped that after Fourth Cub saw the vastness of the world, she would consider the marriage issue.

Girls can't be short-sighted; it will be a tragedy.

Lin Zhao respected her sister-in-law's thoughts and didn't say anything more, instead taking out a few sheets of paper. "Mom, this is the drawing I made; what do you think?"

Gu Mu sat down, took it, and looked at it.

On the paper was the small courtyard Lin Zhao had drawn.

It was drawn very well; even she, a layman, could understand it.

Several imposing rooms, the windows were two-pane sliding windows, opened wide, and one could imagine the light in the room during the day would be good.

The kitchen was still planned to be built in the original place, with the stove and large cutting board inside built with bricks, the top smoothed out, and a large cupboard placed against the wall, looking bright and clean.

What made people's eyes light up was the latrine, divided into two areas. The left area could be used for bathing, and the right area was an improved dry latrine; this pit was different from the ones in the village.

The pit was very deep, the bottom was treated to prevent seepage, and ventilation pipes had to be installed to reduce odors and fly breeding.

"This is a latrine?" Gu Mu held the paper with the latrine drawn on it, her face full of confusion.

"Yes, doing it this way is clean," Lin Zhao said.

She told her mother-in-law the benefits of the improved dry latrine.

Gu Mu said convincingly: "You have to be educated; even this you know. When you finish it, I'll take a look; if it's easy to use, I'll change one for the family too."

"The bricks Gu Chenghuai ordered should have extras; we'll pull them over then," Lin Zhao said.

Knowing that she never spoke empty words, the three women in the old house were very happy.

"Thank you, Third Sister-in-law." Zhao Liuniang's face was full of smiles, and she casually praised Lin Zhao: "Seeing Seeing Dazai's mom, the new hair tie on your head is really beautiful."

Being praised and complimented always makes people happy, so Lin Zhao was in a great mood. She took out two red hair ties from her pocket—actually from the storage ring—and gave one to Gu Lan in front of everyone, and the other to Zhao Liuniang. "Gu Gu Ersao, this is..."

Before she could finish, Zhao Liuniang took the hair tie and took over the conversation with a smile: "For Yu Yu, I know. I thank you on behalf of Yu Yu; our Yu Yu has a red hair tie now too."

A red hair tie at the supply and marketing cooperative costs two cents; she had originally planned to buy one for the child during the New Year.

The one her third sister-in-law gave was better looking and looked more expensive.

"You're welcome, I'll have to trouble Eldest Sister-in-law and Gu Gu Ersao next," Lin Zhao said politely.

Gu Mu carefully put away the drawing the third daughter-in-law had made. "Third daughter-in-law, when your father comes back, I'll give it to him and let him find a craftsman to build the house, guaranteeing it will be built bright and beautiful for you."

She didn't know where the old man had gone wandering; he couldn't be found whenever there was serious business.

Gu Father, who was taking care of the children: "..." The play says, if you want to add a crime, why worry about not having words.

"Father and Mother are both capable and careful people; I'm very relieved to leave it to you," Lin Zhao said with a soft smile.

Country people speak implicitly, unlike her, who praises people so directly, but...

Gu Mu was praised so much that the smile on her face couldn't stop.

Lin Zhao didn't stay long in the old house and left after chatting for a while.

Not having walked a few steps, she saw from afar the Hearing Hearing Erzai and his little friends lying on the ground, sticking their little butts up, seemingly digging for something, while little Amber followed suit, digging with its paws, sending dirt flying everywhere, landing all over the cubs.

"Hearing Hearing Erzai?"

Hearing the familiar voice, the Hearing Hearing Erzai turned his head and saw his mother.

Oh no!

His body stiffened, he got up from the ground in a panic, his expression innocent, his standing posture obedient, completely unlike the little dirty baby who was playing in the mud a second ago.

Lin Zhao didn't speak, staring at his hands.

The Hearing Hearing Erzai immediately put his hands behind his back and explained with reason: "I played after the medicine dried; if you don't believe me, ask my brother."

Although the Seeing Seeing Dazai didn't play, he hadn't managed his younger brother well, so he also felt a bit guilty, lowered his head, and picked at his hands, not making a sound.

"Play if you want to play," Lin Zhao's mentality was super good. "Anyway, you wash your own clothes."

"Where are Third Cub and Fourth Cub?"

The Seeing Seeing Dazai replied: "Grandpa took them for a walk."

The Hearing Hearing Erzai wiped the dirt off his cheeks with the back of his hand and directly exposed his grandpa's thoughts: "I know, Grandpa thinks Fourth Cub with the bow is beautiful, so he took Fourth Cub to show off to his old buddies."

"You know again," Lin Zhao said slowly.

The Hearing Hearing Erzai shook his legs, his chin held high. "That's right, what don't I know."

The surrounding little friends looked at the little guy who was acting cool with admiration.

"Who did you learn this leg shaking from?" Lin Zhao narrowed her eyes and sized him up.

"If your father saw this, he wouldn't have to wait until tomorrow morning to train you."

Gu Chenghuai wasn't as easy to talk to as she was; that man was both old-fashioned and serious, and hated the hooligan style of shaking legs and whistling the most. If he saw the Hearing Hearing Erzai like this, he would at least call him over and make him stand in the corner for half an hour to reflect.

The Hearing Hearing Erzai blinked. "What is training?"

Lin Zhao curled her lips and smiled. "You'll know when your father comes back."

"Brave cub, not afraid of difficulties." The Hearing Hearing Erzai raised his arms and waved them, head held high, chest out, instantly getting into the spirit. "Any test given by the organization, I can complete perfectly!"

His fair little face had mud spots, his smile was brighter than the sun, and he was spirited.

Lin Zhao couldn't talk him down and lifted her foot to leave.

Suddenly remembering she had to go to her sister-in-law's house, she stopped again and turned to look at the two cubs.

"You two stay home well; I'm going to your Big Aunt's house and will be back before dinner."

The Seeing Seeing Dazai stepped forward two steps. "Mom, can I go with you?"

The Hearing Hearing Erzai couldn't sit still even more, sliding to Lin Zhao, and because he ran too fast and stopped too suddenly, his little body leaned forward and he knelt directly on the ground with a thud.

"Me! Me! And me!! I want to go too."

"..." Lin Zhao raised her hand to pinch her brow. "I have serious business."

She didn't want to bring the children; bringing two at once was too much trouble.

"I can help Mom with serious business; I'm very useful!" The Seeing Seeing Dazai tried hard to sell himself, his speaking speed twice as fast as usual.

The Hearing Hearing Erzai slid up, wanting to hug his mother, but was dodged by Lin Zhao. "Stand there and talk."

"... Alright." The Hearing Hearing Erzai looked down at his dirty clothes and sighed; other children in the village would have had their butts slapped long ago, but Mom just disliked him, which was already very good.

"Mom, how boring it is for you to go alone; take me and brother, we can keep you company and talk, and if you encounter something, you can order us around, right?"

Not mentioning going at all, but every sentence was wanting to go.

"... Doesn't seem very necessary," Lin Zhao refused again.

"It's necessary! Definitely necessary!" The Hearing Hearing Erzai twisted like a dough twist, acting like a nuisance. "Mom~ please, I miss my aunt..."

Someone passing by didn't know the situation and interjected: "Hearing Hearing Erzai, isn't your aunt at your Second Grandpa's house? If you miss her, go to your Second Grandpa's house; your aunt doesn't do anything, eats and sleeps, eats and sleeps, oh right, and goes to the educated youth point to find male educated youths. If you go to these two places to find her, you'll find her for sure, no need to walk much."

After finishing speaking, he carried his hoe and left.

Hearing Hearing Erzai: "..."

The Hearing Hearing Erzai's expression was simply indescribable.

The child's face revealed a disdain that anyone could see.

Feeling stifled in his heart, he wrapped his hands around his mouth and said to the person who spoke: "I'm talking about my Big Aunt!"

The Hearing Hearing Erzai was so angry he emphasized it again. "My Big Aunt!!"

The uncle paused, waved his hand behind him to show he knew, and just said so.

But wasn't his Big Aunt here just a few days ago?

Lin Zhao watched the Hearing Hearing Erzai angrily emphasize it again and again, laughing secretly in her heart.

He really had a grudge against his little aunt.

The Seeing Seeing Dazai stood in front of Lin Zhao and pulled on the hem of her earthy yellow floral shirt. "Mom, I miss Stone Brother and Stone Brother."

After saying this, he didn't say anything more, just looked at his mother with his dark, bright eyes.

"Alright." Lin Zhao saw the little brothers really wanted to go, pondered for a moment, simply agreed, and added: "Go tell your grandma, we're going now, we have to move after eating in the afternoon."

"Move what house?" the Hearing Hearing Erzai asked quickly, his expression blank.

"Building a house next week, we'll move back to the old house first," Lin Zhao explained.

The twins' eyes lit up instantly.

The Hearing Hearing Erzai clapped his hands and said excitedly: "Great! I can see Tie Chui as soon as I open my eyes without walking much!!"

His hands were full of mud, and mud spots flew everywhere when he clapped, so Lin Zhao backed away. "If you want to go, hurry up and tidy yourself up, otherwise I'll take your brother."

The Hearing Hearing Erzai was afraid Mom really wouldn't take him, so he ran home as if his feet were on wind-fire wheels, hurriedly washing his face and changing his clothes.

Lin Zhao didn't bother with him, hung the materials for pasting matchboxes and a cloth bag on the handlebars, and pushed the bicycle out of the door.

The Hearing Hearing Erzai was about to return to the room to apply baby cream, so he clung to the door in a hurry and said loudly: "Mom, wait for me, I'll be right there."

After speaking, he hurriedly entered the room, opened the baby cream, dug out a small lump with his finger, and rushed out while smearing it on his face messily.

The Seeing Seeing Dazai ran all the way back from the old house, holding something in his hand.

Seeing the bicycle at the door, he ran even faster.

"Mom."

Lin Zhao looked at him. "What are you holding?"

"The straw mat Grandma made, she said to put it on the bicycle back seat so it won't bump the butt," the Seeing Seeing Dazai raised a smiling face.

"Your grandma really cares about you two," Lin Zhao sighed, even thinking of this, she must have prepared it in advance, worthy of being her grandma's favorite grandson.

The Seeing Seeing Dazai's smile grew wider.

He put the soft straw mat on the bicycle back seat. "Grandma said she loves the house and its crow, and it's also affection for the next generation."

"Mom, what is loving the house and its crow?" The Seeing Seeing Dazai looked over with confused eyes. "I ran in a hurry and forgot to ask!"

"Loving the house and its crow means liking a person and also liking the dog they raise," Lin Zhao helped him tie the straw mat, her bright gaze sweeping over her eldest son's round head.

The Seeing Seeing Dazai caught the point, widened his eyes, and said incredibly: "Grandma likes Dad more?!"

The child suffered a second ten-thousand-point critical hit, almost breaking his defense.

"!!!"

Before Lin Zhao could speak, the Seeing Seeing Dazai drooped his head and picked at the grass whiskers of the straw mat, like a little grass that had encountered wind and rain and couldn't straighten its waist.

"Mom likes Dad second, Grandma likes Dad first, why? What's so good about Dad."

Grandma always pinched her throat and called, Grandma's heart, Grandma's obedient Seeing Seeing Dazai, so it turns out she also likes Dad more.

His younger siblings were all incidental, the "crow" of loving the house and its crow.

Gu Chenghuai hadn't arrived home yet, but was first recorded two points by his eldest son.

Lin Zhao bent down slightly and looked at him amusedly. "Mom will write a letter to your dad and ask him to come back; you can see for yourself what's so good about him?"

As soon as these words came out, the Seeing Seeing Dazai shook his head violently.

His long, curled eyelashes blinked rapidly a few times.

"Dad has to protect the country, let's not add trouble," he turned his head away and said proudly.

Lin Zhao gently flicked her son's eyelashes and praised him sincerely: "What a considerate child, if your dad comes back, he will definitely bring you gifts."

The Seeing Seeing Dazai looked over violently, his clear eyes carrying a small expectation that he deliberately concealed but couldn't hide. "What gift?"

"I don't know, maybe it's some surprise," Lin Zhao said casually.

Surprise, it must be something he had never seen before.

The Seeing Seeing Dazai was even more expectant, his pink little mouth curled up, and he even hummed a tune in a small voice.

Listening carefully, it was the song played by the big loudspeaker in a certain place when she took the two cubs to the county to watch a movie.

The Hearing Hearing Erzai ran out in a hurry and locked the door on tiptoe.

After a click, he pulled the lock body with his little hand, and after confirming it was locked, he rushed to the bicycle and climbed onto the back seat.

He raised his short right leg hard, almost there.

Trying harder, still almost there.

Lin Zhao half-hugged his waist to help, and the child sat up at once.

"Thank you, Mom, when I grow another finger tall, I can get up by myself." While speaking, the Hearing Hearing Erzai moved his butt forward until his soft little belly touched the front seat.

He turned his head and said to the Seeing Seeing Dazai: "Brother, you come up too, is there enough space? If it's crowded, tell me, I can hold my breath and pull my belly in; I can hold it for a long time, I won't crowd you."

While speaking, the child, who seemed to have endless energy, said in a tone of secret pleasure and satisfaction: "Sigh, who let me have a super super good-at-cooking mom, my belly has grown meat, hehe."

The Hearing Hearing Erzai raised his hand to pinch his own soft little face, his smile so bright it could break through the clouds. "Grandpa said I look more and more blessed."

The Seeing Seeing Dazai quietly pinched his own belly.

Mm, it was also soft, finally grown meat.

Give them a little more time, they would definitely become the most blessed children in the whole village, oh no, the whole brigade.

With a head full of wild thoughts, the Seeing Seeing Dazai didn't forget to climb onto the bicycle back seat with hands and feet.

Lin Zhao helped without bias.

"Adjust your sitting posture, we're about to set off."

The Seeing Seeing Dazai grabbed the seat cushion, circled the Hearing Hearing Erzai in his arms, and raised his two feet, not forgetting to remind his younger brother: "Hearing Hearing Erzai, your feet have to be raised, like me, otherwise your feet will be rolled into the wheel."

The Hearing Hearing Erzai listened to advice and raised his feet along.

The brothers looked alike, sitting on the bicycle one after the other, the big one protecting the small one in his arms.

Two brothers who love each other.