Chapter 63: Too Extreme

“This is so embarrassing!” Zhao Liuniang slapped her thigh, her expression as if she herself was too ashamed to face it.

“Your little sister desperately chased after Song Zhiquing, got mocked by the female educated youth he chose, flew into a rage, and slapped the girl’s face until it swelled. The girl reported her to the Public Security, and they came to arrest her!”

Because of this, the eldest sister-in-law was so furious her face turned blue—she wanted to strangle the little troublemaker!

Zhao Liuniang pointed toward the main house, her voice low, “The eldest sister-in-law was beside herself—I saw her eyes turn red, she was practically driven mad. If the little sister hadn’t already been taken away, the eldest sister-in-law would’ve torn her face off.”

Gu Lan is twelve; in a few years she’ll be betrothed. If rumors about her little sister’s scandal spread, it’ll inevitably affect her.

Luckily, our Yuyu is still young—she won’t be betrothed for at least another ten years, or else I’d be just as furious as the eldest sister-in-law.

Lin Zhao knew what the eldest sister-in-law cared about most and spoke up: “Lan is a good girl—we all know that. She’ll find a good match someday.”

“Hard to believe,” Zhao Liuniang shook her head, unconvinced.

It wasn’t that she looked down on her own niece—just that in the countryside, a girl’s reputation couldn’t bear even the tiniest flaw; people would reject her outright.

Lin Zhao was from the countryside too—she knew how vicious some tongues could be, turning lies into truth.

After a brief pause, she said coolly, “What’s so hard about that? In a few years, I’ll definitely take my four kids with me when I join the military. There’ll be plenty of good young men there—if I find one suitable, I’ll introduce him to Lan.”

“A good girl never goes unwed.”

Of course, she wouldn’t meddle in every detail—she was only the third aunt-in-law, not the biological mother. Gu Lan’s marriage was up to her brother and his wife to decide.

Zhao Liuniang suddenly saw a whole new world open before her.

She grabbed Lin Zhao’s hand.

“Third sister-in-law, don’t play favorites—Yuyu is your niece too, the one you’ve watched grow up.” Her eyes pleaded.

Lin Zhao looked calmly at her suddenly frenzied sister-in-law and sighed, “Second sister-in-law, Yuyu is only two.”

“Who knows? Maybe she’ll get into college one day and find you a college-educated match.”

Thinking about something fifteen years from now—aren’t you rushing too much?!

More important than finding a good match is the child becoming accomplished herself.

Zhao Liuniang was greatly encouraged, her expression thrilled: “Thank you for your good words, third sister-in-law!”

She wasn’t particularly clever, but she listened.

What Lin Zhao, the high school graduate, said carried heavy weight in Zhao Liuniang’s eyes.

“Did the Public Security say when they’d release her?” Lin Zhao didn’t even want to say Gu Xing’er’s name—it felt unlucky.

Zhao Liuniang paused, then realized who she meant. “Who knows? The Public Security didn’t say.”

“I bet the little sister will be locked up for at least half a month. Don’t worry—your sister-in-law hates her so much she won’t let her set foot in this house. She won’t bother you.”

After hearing about Gu Xing’er’s mess, Huang Xiulan’s eyes burned with fury—Zhao Liuniang was certain that if the little sister returned, the eldest sister-in-law would slap her face until it swelled again.

She suddenly felt grateful for the third household’s separation: “Thank goodness the third household moved out—otherwise, who knows if she’d drag down Da Cai’s father?”

Bangbang and Laimei still rely on their third uncle.

They couldn’t let Gu Xing’er, that rotten stick stirring up filth, ruin the most accomplished member of the Gu family!

Lin Zhao sneered, “If she dares to drag my Gu comrade down, I’ll break her limbs.”

“Only you could say that,” Zhao Liuniang gave a thumbs-up.

So fierce!

Er Cai’s eyes sparkled with admiration.

Catching his little gaze, Lin Zhao stiffened her shoulders and neck—her internal alarm blared.

She’d forgotten the two kids were still here.

She reached out and patted Er Cai’s prickly head, her tone gentle: “Er Cai, neither adults nor children should hit others—they’ll get taken away by the Public Security uncle.”

“If a child gets taken away, they’ll never see their mother again. So we don’t fight randomly—we talk things out, okay?”

It wasn’t that she was deliberately scaring the child—she just knew from the original novel that Er Cai’s actions were always “too extreme.” She had to teach him properly while he was still young.

Er Cai sat perfectly still, like a well-behaved little angel, nodding earnestly.

“Mm, I won’t hit anyone.”

In truth, he sighed inwardly.

Mom was just tricking a child.

He was already five and a half—a big kid, not a two-year-old. He knew kids didn’t get taken away by the Public Security for fighting.

Big kid Er Cai knew exactly how things worked.

But.

He knew his mom didn’t like him fighting. He didn’t want to disappoint her—so he’d agree for now.

“Good boy~”

At that moment, Gu Yuanshan and Gu Yucheng entered the courtyard one after the other.

Gu Yucheng, walking ahead, carried a heavy fish.

“You caught a fish!” Zhao Liuniang asked, “Where’d you catch it?”

The answer didn’t matter—before Gu Yucheng could speak, she shouted toward the main house: “Mama, Bangbang’s dad and his big brother caught a fish—let’s have sour cabbage fish tonight? The kids are starving.”

Gu Mu stepped out, glanced at the fish.

It really was big.

“Fine.”

Zhao Liuniang turned to Lin Zhao again: “I don’t know how to cook—third sister-in-law, teach me.”

“Sure,” Lin Zhao said generously.

“Third son’s wife, you and the four kids eat here. Afterward, let the eldest and second daughters-in-law help you move,” Gu Mu said.

The twins looked hopefully at their mother.

Sour cabbage fish! The kids wanted it!

Lin Zhao smiled. “Alright.”

Who doesn’t love just talking and not lifting a finger?!

After teaching Zhao Liuniang how to make sour cabbage fish, Lin Zhao left the twins behind and led Da Cai and Er Cai home to pack.

The children from the old house followed willingly, offering to help.

Once they left, Zhao Liuniang turned to Huang Xiulan, whose face was still cold: “Big sister-in-law, don’t be angry anymore. Third sister-in-law just told me—if Lan really gets tainted by the little sister and can’t find a good match in the village, she’ll help find one in the military when she goes. There are plenty of good young men there, and they even get allowances. Why panic?”

Huang Xiulan’s motion of scaling the fish froze. She looked up, questioning: “Did third sister-in-law really say that?”

“Of course it’s true—would I dare promise something on her behalf?” Zhao Liuniang said, “Our Lan isn’t without options—even if worst comes to worst, she’s got third uncle. He won’t let his own niece go unwed.”

Huang Xiulan’s furrowed brow relaxed.

“Third sister-in-law is thoughtful.”

As she spoke, her knife sliced cleanly through the fish’s belly.

“I told Mama—this lifetime, Gu Xing’er will never set foot in this house again. Either she’s gone, or I am.”

Zhao Liuniang stared, dumbfounded.

After several seconds, she gasped: “You said that?”

“You really said that?” she asked again.

Huang Xiulan nodded. “I did. And I meant it.”

“Didn’t Mama get angry?” Zhao Liuniang pressed.

“Of course she got angry—but not at me. At Gu Xing’er—for shaming the family, for being shameless, for turning the whole brigade into a laughingstock…” Huang Xiulan, usually so gentle, now looked at Gu Xing’er with utter revulsion, her teeth grinding audibly.

“Who wouldn’t be furious?” Zhao Liuniang said, her tone reflective.

A daughter like that—any mother would rather die.

“What did Papa say?”

Huang Xiulan scraped the fish scales swiftly, one after another: “He said if Gu Xing’er doesn’t change, she’ll never step through this door again.”

“If she could change, she wouldn’t be her!” Zhao Liuniang wasn’t hopeful.

She glanced toward the main house and whispered, “I think Papa and Mama’s hearts are broken by Gu Xing’er—they won’t let her come back.”

Huang Xiulan said nothing more.

On the other side.

Lin Zhao brought the children home. Da Huang and Hu Po recognized the folks from the old house—they didn’t bark, only circled their master, tails wagging furiously.

Being loved unconditionally truly grows flesh and blood.

The two dogs had been well cared for—their once-bony bodies had filled out, their shaggy, uneven fur slowly regrew, regaining its luster.

All the Gu children loved petting them.

“Da Huang, Hu Po.”

After greeting them happily, Bangbang asked Lin Zhao: “Third aunt, where do we start? The kitchen? Tell us—we’ll do it.”

“You, Laimei, Tie Dan, and Tie Hui, clean the kitchen,” Lin Zhao ordered. “Da Cai and Er Cai, pack your things.”

She spoke gently to Gu Lan, who’d suffered unjustly: “Lan, come with me.”

“Yes, ma’am! Mission accepted!” Er Cai snapped to attention, heels together, saluting his mother.

Tie Hui thought Er Cai was so cool—he copied him instantly: “Mission accepted!”

Lin Zhao laughed.

“Go!”

The energetic children sprang into action.

Lin Zhao led Gu Lan toward the house. Halfway there, she heard Bangbang calling from the kitchen: “Slow down, don’t break the bowls—each one costs several jiao!”

“Got it!” Tie Hui drawled back.

Lin Zhao wasn’t the type to suffer herself—she had more clothes than all four kids combined, even owned three pairs of those expensive little leather shoes, making her a real oddity in an era where everyone patched and mended for another three years.

She saw nothing wrong with it; she simply loved eating well and dressing well.

Not all suffering is necessary—if the family could afford it, why shouldn’t she treat herself?

Gu Lan stared at the closet full of clothes and those few pairs of brand-new shoes, her mouth hanging open in shock.

Lin Zhao chuckled. “What’s with that expression? My clothes are too many, scared you?”

“No.” Gu Lan pinched her earlobe, thinking her third aunt wasn’t just beautiful—her laugh was lovely, making her ears warm, unlike anyone she’d ever met.

“Not scared. Just surprised.”

She was certain that no girl her age in the entire brigade owned as many clothes as her third aunt.

“This is nothing yet.” Lin Zhao thought to herself: once the new house was built, she’d hire a carpenter to make a whole row of wardrobes, filled with clothes, hats, and scarves.

Gu Lan folded clothes while muttering, “My mom says even city folks are short on cloth coupons.”

Lin Zhao lightly tapped her invisible storage ring—she didn’t rely on the monthly cloth coupons from the supply station; she could make as many new clothes as she wanted without pressure.

She dug out clothes from the bottom of her trunk and found several pieces she hadn’t worn in years. After checking the sizes, she shoved one into Gu Lan’s hands.

“Here, take this autumn undershirt. Have your sister-in-law alter it for you.”

Gu Lan froze. “Third aunt, these are all new—no tears, no patches.”

“Too small.” They were Lin Zhao’s clothes from before pregnancy; after giving birth to the twins, they no longer fit, and the color was too pink.

Yeah, that was her third brother’s taste.

He’d been away for years, still holding a shallow impression of her—as if she were still a vibrant young girl.

“You could alter it for the fourth kid.” Gu Lan couldn’t bring herself to lie and say she didn’t like the shirt her third aunt gave her.

Lin Zhao smiled. “The fourth kid’s still too little—altering it for her won’t suit. Keep it for yourself.”

“Thank you, third aunt.” Gu Lan’s face flushed with shy delight, her eyes sparkling as she stared at the pink shirt.

“Why be embarrassed? I’ve worn clothes that were too small for others too—we all grew up like this.” Lin Zhao packed the folded clothes into a camphorwood chest.

Gu Lan stared, astonished.

She’d assumed her third aunt had never worn secondhand clothes.

The girl didn’t press further, carefully placing the pink undershirt aside and continuing to help fold clothes. “I just think it’s so new.”

If they’d all been patched, she wouldn’t have thought twice—but too new made her feel awkward.

“Isn’t new better?” Lin Zhao’s lips curled.

“No one gives away their new clothes,” Gu Lan whispered.

Lin Zhao said, “You’re my niece. You call me third aunt—you’re not ‘someone else.’”

She had several pieces she no longer wore. She’d give one to Lan, and planned to give others to her three nieces back home—equal shares for all.

She’d have to alter the ones for Xuanxuan and Zhengzheng herself.

Rely on Qiulian to help? Don’t even think about it—she’d only send the two sisters’ clothes back to their natal home.

I wonder how my second brother and Qiulian are doing now?

Lin Zhao had the children pack their belongings. Once done, realizing she had time, she decided to move a few loads right away.

Hearing her third aunt casually mention it, Bangbang ran off to borrow a cart from Second Grandpa’s house.

It was family—borrowing a cart couldn’t be refused, especially when it was for the most accomplished nephew’s family.

Gu Ershu pushed the cart out the door and swept off the dust with a broom.

“Go ahead. Return it when you’re done—no rush.”

Bangbang glanced at Second Grandpa twice, a flicker of confusion in his eyes.

Wheels were rare—Gu family’s second branch had struggled terribly to get theirs. Second Grandpa was always meticulous: anyone who borrowed it got repeated warnings not to damage it, and had to return it immediately. For him to say “no rush”? This was the first time ever!

Bangbang’s mind flashed the words his second brother had said: double standard.

What else could better describe this behavior?

The boy pushed the cart back to the third branch’s house.

The doorway was piled high with goods, all covered by large oilcloth.

Spotting Laimei and the others standing guard nearby, along with Dahuang and Hupo, he immediately guessed these were all valuable items.

Otherwise, why cover them at all!

“Bangbang, hurry and load it up! Mom says we’ll get watermelon after we finish!” Erzai waved excitedly.

Bangbang craved sweet watermelon too. He turned the cart sideways at the door.

“Load it!”

Dazai, Erzai, and Laimei sprang into action.

With watermelon as incentive, the children worked with even more enthusiasm.

They passed items back and forth, loading them onto the cart, covering everything tightly with oilcloth. Bangbang pulled the cart while the other kids guarded both sides, hurrying to deliver the goods to the old homestead.

“Bangbang, watch out for rocks—we’ve got eggs! Don’t break them!” Careful Dazai reminded.

“I know.”

The wardrobes and beds in the third branch’s house hadn’t been moved yet—everything else had to stay in the yard for now.

Gu Mu stepped out of the house and saw all those fine goods—her eyes nearly popped out.

No wonder Erzai said he and his brother were born in a nest of fortune—wasn’t this a nest of fortune?

So many good things!

No wonder they’d gained weight on their faces and bodies!!

What she didn’t know was that these items meant nothing—most of the good things were stored in Lin Zhao’s ring.

“Nai, third aunt says after we move, she’ll cut watermelon for us.” Tie Dan wiped drool, excited.

Gu Mu didn’t dampen their spirits. She simply said, “Then you’d better work hard—otherwise, how could you dare eat watermelon?”

“Of course! We’re not freeloaders!” Tie Dan replied, urging Bangbang: “Bangbang, let’s go again!”

Bangbang agreed.

They’d just stepped out.

Suddenly, Erzai scrambled onto the cart and waved to Dazai and Tiejian. “Get on! Let Bangbang push us!”

As soon as he spoke,

he remembered he hadn’t asked Bangbang’s permission.

He sat cross-legged on the cart, his pale, plump face upturned, eyes curled into crescents, sparkling like stars, his expression glowing like honey. “Can we, Bangbang?”

Bangbang gripped the two long wooden poles at the front of the cart and raised an eyebrow at his brothers. “Climb on!”