Chapter 71

Behind them.

Second Cub covered his mouth, but he couldn't hold back his laughter.

"Hehehe..."

The couple turned around to look at him.

"What are you laughing at?" Gu Chenghuai looked down at his son.

Second Cub tilted his head back hard to meet his father's gaze, his smile bright, "Dad also listens to Mom; Mom is the boss of our family."

Regarding what Second Cub said, Gu Chenghuai was noncommittal.

"So you all must listen to your mother."

He really didn't miss any opportunity to teach his sons to listen to their mother.

"Of course, both my brother and I listen to Mom very well," Second Cub said loudly.

He didn't forget to step on Fourth Cub's foot, "Little sister doesn't listen."

Fourth Cub looked at her second brother blankly, *un-huh*, what about her?!

The little clever-clogs wasn't one to take things lying down; she ran over with a *da-da-da* sound and pushed her second brother hard, but she couldn't budge him, which made her little face turn red with annoyance.

She puffed out her cheeks, sulking.

A moment later.

She raised her chubby arms to touch the tufts of hair on her head, comforting herself.

Seeing this scene, the old father's heart melted.

She's like Zhaozhao's daughter; how is she so cute!

The iron-blooded military officer, usually calm and steady on the surface, now had one compliment after another for his daughter rippling through his heart.

#LittleSweetBean#

#CuteEvenWhenAngry#

#AsExpectedOfADaughterBornToZhaozhao#

#ThisIsMyAppleOfMyEye#

#MustProtectHerWell#

"What are you thinking about?" Lin Zhao guessed that the cubs' father was daydreaming about something strange, so she poked his arm.

Her hand was held back.

"Our daughter is really cute, just like you." The man turned sideways, his low, seductive voice ringing in her ear.

Lin Zhao pulled her hand back, "Stop releasing your charm whenever you feel like it, okay!"

Gu Chenghuai's brows were full of smiles, his tone softening unconsciously, "So, did it attract you?"

His appearance was overly outstanding, and his temperament was upright and solemn; this flirtatious side of him was something only his wife could see.

Fresh.

Lin Zhao's expression at this moment was indescribably complex, "Comrade Gu, I find that I'm almost starting to not recognize you."

She smiled warmly and reached out to pull the man's handsome face, wanting to see how thick his skin had become.

Gu Chenghuai lowered himself slightly to make it easier for his wife.

"How could you not recognize me!" He pressed his lips together, his face cold and stern, and said earnestly and domineeringly: "I am your man; we are the closest and most intimate people in this world. You can fail to recognize anyone else, but you cannot fail to recognize me."

Lin Zhao smiled without a word.

Gu Chenghuai was very dissatisfied with her reaction; he pinched her chin, lifted it gently, and his deep black eyes almost looked into the bottom of her heart.

"What does that smile mean?" he asked.

Lin Zhao was still smiling.

Still smiling!

What does it mean?

Does she have other plans in mind, and doesn't want to be the closest and most intimate person with him anymore?

Gu Chenghuai's expression changed slightly.

"Zhaozhao!"

Lin Zhao blinked, her expression innocent, but she just wouldn't speak.

She was just being naughty; she just wanted to see Gu Chenghuai get anxious because of her.

The man's expression was unpredictable; suddenly, he took off his military cap, took a deep breath, looked elsewhere, and raised his hand to thrust his five fingers into the prickly short hair on his forehead, smoothing it back from front to back.

The movement was casual, yet it carried a natural air of handsome elegance.

The appreciation in Lin Zhao's eyes was about to overflow.

The cubs' father is becoming more and more charming.

Gu Chenghuai captured this keenly, his gaze pausing slightly, his black eyes revealing helplessness, "Is it fun?"

"Would it kill you to coax me?" She secretly ground her teeth in anger.

When they first started dating, every sentence was full of sweet words; after they got married, she treated him with indifference and didn't even write letters, and now it's still like this—no wonder he feels... that things easily obtained aren't cherished.

Lin Zhao beamed, hooked his hand, and gave it a gentle shake, "Chenghuai, it's really good that you're back. I especially, especially like this surprise."

Suddenly.

The coldness between Gu Chenghuai's brows faded, and his pitch-black eyes rippled with smiles.

Just as he was about to say something, Second Cub walked in front of him, pulled a long face, and interrupted the couple's private conversation.

Second Cub crossed his arms and said unhappily: "Dad, can you stop clinging to my mom as soon as you get back."

"You made my mom come back two hours late, you made my mom not eat yet, and you're still holding my mom and talking—you really are..."

He couldn't find an adjective, so he got stuck.

Without waiting for his father to react, he continued his accusation, "Dad, it's not like you don't have a mother; go find your mother."

"I haven't talked to my mom all day; can you go do something proper first?" By the last sentence, he was quite polite in offering his father advice.

One sentence after another, his little mouth wouldn't stop flapping.

Gu Chenghuai's mouth twitched.

Such a lively and clever child, why did he have to grow a mouth like that.

Lin Zhao couldn't help it: "Pfft—!"

As soon as she laughed, laughter erupted one after another.

"Pfft!"

"Hahahaha, Second Cub, Second Cub is really a riot!" Gu Yucheng laughed out loud, laughing until his stomach hurt.

The taciturn Gu Fu was also full of smiles.

Second Cub felt embarrassed after the fact, his earlobes quietly heating up, and he stuttered a bit, "Laugh, what are you laughing at?"

"It's true, Mom hasn't eaten yet, right Mom?" He looked at Lin Zhao and asked earnestly.

"Right, it's all your dad's fault," Lin Zhao said with a smile.

The shy little brat instantly became smug, putting on an expression that said, "See, I knew it."

"..."

Gu Mu's wound split open, and feeling guilty, she went back to her room to apply medicine.

She instructed the eldest daughter-in-law and the second daughter-in-law to cook for the third son and his wife.

Smoke rose from the chimney, slowly ascending into the sky. At this moment, the sun had completely set, but the sky was still bright; Da Huang and Hu Po were lying in the doghouse.

Quiet and warm.

After eating, Gu Chenghuai opened one of the pieces of luggage, took out a bag of White Rabbit Creamy Candies, a tin of malted milk extract, a bottle of medicinal wine, and a flashlight, and handed them to Gu Mu.

"Mom, distribute the candies to the children. The malted milk extract is for you and Dad to nourish your bodies; this medicinal wine is for soothing muscles and can be used for rubbing, and the flashlight is for Dad to use for lighting."

Seeing that the Third Uncle had brought them candy, and it was the precious White Rabbit Creamy Candy, the Gu family children went crazy with happiness.

With such a big bag of White Rabbit Creamy Candies, how many could each of them get?

Bang Bang and Gu Lan thanked him properly, "Thank you, Third Uncle."

"Third Uncle is really good~" Tie Chui always said just that; he was simple-minded, but sincere, and just looked like an honest child.

Lai Mei looked at the military uniform on his Third Uncle, full of envy, and the thought of becoming a soldier popped into his heart, "Third Uncle, I want to be a soldier in the future too! Do you think I can do it?"

Gu Chenghuai was slightly stunned; he didn't discourage his nephew, but raised his hand to pat his shoulder and offered encouragement: "You can. Eat well, study cultural knowledge well, and when you reach the age, we'll see; you can try."

Lai Mei's thin body stood straight, his face solemn, and he nodded fiercely, "Mm."

Zhao Liuniang was overjoyed; she patted her son's shoulder to pump him up, "Lai Mei, you must work hard; being a soldier is a promising career—look at your Third Uncle and you'll know."

"When you put on his uniform, you can eat as much meat as you want and as much candy as you want."

"..." Not necessarily.

The army also lacks meat.

Gu Chenghuai retorted in his heart, but his face remained very calm, not interfering with the second sister-in-law's education of her son.

Zhao Liuniang leaned into Lai Mei's ear and whispered: "Lai Mei, your brother is a rascal; our second branch still has to rely on you. If you succeed, our second branch succeeds; if you are glorious, our second branch is glorious. Mom is relying on you for the rest of her life!"

Lai Mei shook his head and waved his hands, "No, no, no, no, I can't bear that burden."

"You should rely on my brother! I can't bear this burden!"

Bang Bang stood behind them, his tone gloomy, "Mom, didn't you just say last night that our second branch has to rely on me, and that you have to rely on me for the rest of your life? You forgot after just one night!"

He couldn't help but be sarcastic, "Is your memory bad, or is your memory bad!?"

Zhao Liuniang hadn't noticed Bang Bang was so close; who could have expected to be caught on the spot.

She gave a sheepish smile.

After a brief moment of embarrassment, she became righteous again.

"You are both my sons; what's wrong with me relying on you!"

Bang Bang curled his lips.

Lai Mei: "..."

It was rare for his mother to ask something of him, so Lai Mei's eyes suddenly lit up, and he instantly put on airs.

"Mom, if you want to rely on me, it's not impossible, but you and Dad have to agree to let me change my name."

"Gu Ba Wang?" Zhao Liuniang couldn't tell what expression he had.

"Mm-mm-mm." Lai Mei moved his little wooden stool and leaned toward his mother, his expression expectant.

"Ba your head!" Zhao Liuniang flicked his forehead with her finger, and the pain made Lai Mei jump up.

"Change your name to Hammer; your grandfather is currently helping you pick one. Go, go, go, go, get out of the way, you unlucky child."

Tie Chui thought his Second Aunt was calling him, so he looked over curiously.

"Hm?"

Zhao Liuniang changed her face very quickly, from stern to gentle in the blink of an eye, "It's nothing, I wasn't calling you; you go play, keep playing."

"Oh." Tie Chui responded and continued to play with the cloth ball with the twins.

Dazai and Erzai were also there.

"Tie Chui, what do you want to do in the future?" The one asking was Erzai.

Hearing his younger brother's question, Dazai looked at Tie Chui.

Tie Chui scratched his head and smiled honestly: "I haven't thought about it. My dad said to think about the future when I grow up, and that it's enough for me to grow up strong."

His brain wasn't very flexible, and he listened most to his good brothers Dazai and Erzai, so he said: "Dazai, Erzai, what do you want to do in the future?"

Dazai kept his little face solemn and said: "I want to fly a plane!"

Tie Chui opened his mouth wide, not knowing why but feeling it was impressive.

"I want to earn big money!" Erzai said loudly, "I want to buy a big truck and be a big truck driver."

Tie Chui exclaimed: "Wow!!"

"Tie Chui, if you don't know what to do in the future, come work with me." Erzai looked at Tie Chui and earnestly invited him to join.

Tie Chui's brain wasn't very flexible, but he was open to persuasion, especially from Dazai and Erzai.

He nodded his little head, "Okay."

"Then it's a deal!" Erzai's tone was light and upbeat, as if his money-making career was about to start and he would be profitable by tomorrow.

Tie Chui reached out his hand, making a gesture to hook pinkies.

Two immature hands hooked together.

The children's crisp voices rang out, "Hook pinkies, hang yourself, a hundred years no changing."

Tie Chui said: "Erzai, ask again."

Erzai was stunned for a moment, but quickly reacted, keeping his little face straight, and asked seriously: "Tie Chui, what do you want to do in the future?"

Little Tie Chui sat up straight and said forcefully and loudly, "Drive a big truck with Erzai and earn big money."

"Right!" Erzai was full of excitement.

Gu Chenghuai frowned slightly and spoke up: "Erzai, don't say this outside."

"Say what?" Erzai turned to look at him.

"About earning big money and things like that."

"Why?" Erzai stood up with a *whoosh*, his little brows knitted, his body having much of his father's shadow.

Lin Zhao recalled the plot of the original book and knew that the whole country would fall into chaos next; they had to be cautious in their words and actions, otherwise, at best they would be unlucky, and at worst, they would implicate the whole family.

"Erzai, listen to your dad," she said softly.

"But why?" Erzai was full of questions.

Dazai was his mother's most loyal supporter and said: "Erzai, do what Mom says."

"... Alright." Erzai agreed, and then said to Tie Chui: "Tie Chui, let's just suffer for now; when we can talk about it in the future, we'll talk about it, sigh."

"..."

Tie Chui listened to Erzai, "Okay!"

Erzai regretted that he couldn't show off to his little friend for the time being, and thinking of something, he said to Lin Zhao: "Mom, tell me when I can talk about it; I still have to recruit soldiers and buy horses."

"?" Lin Zhao was shocked every day by her son's learning ability, "When did you learn 'recruit soldiers and buy horses'?"

"Hehehe." Erzai laughed, "From educated youth Song; educated youth Song tells us stories."

Gu Chenghuai's gaze paused slightly, his tone light, "Educated youth Song?"

"Yeah, the male educated youth at the educated youth point." Erzai didn't think much of it.

Male... educated... youth...

A man!

"From a big city, right?" he asked nonchalantly.

Erzai didn't know.

Lin Zhao didn't think much of it and answered: "I heard he's from Haicheng."

"A real big city then," Gu Chenghuai said blandly.

I wonder what he looks like.

He hadn't forgotten that Zhaozhao used to want to marry into a big city.

The mouthy Erzai had more than the usual amount of words; as he practiced writing on the ground, he babbled: "Yeah, a super big city. Dad, 'super' means much bigger than just big."

Gu Chenghuai: "..." There was no need to be so thoughtful.

He graduated from high school, so he barely counted as a cultured person.

He still knew what "super" meant.

Erzai's words continued, inadvertently poking at his grandparents' hearts.

"My little aunt fought with a female educated youth to win his favor, and she was taken away by the Gongan!!"

Gu Fu and Gu Mu's complexions weren't very good, but it wasn't aimed at their grandson; it was disappointment toward Gu Chan.

Lin Zhao reminded him: "Erzai, restrain your tone; don't be so obviously gloating."

Erzai was full of rebellion, but he listened to his mother and brother, and responded obediently, "Okay."

But he was just happy.

The bad little aunt was taken away, eh!

Dazai saw that his younger brother's expression wasn't up to standard, so he raised his right hand, placed his thumb and index finger on both sides of Erzai's mouth, and pulled the corners of his mouth straight with force, trying to make that upturned mouth flat.

"Keep your mouth tight," he taught his younger brother.

Erzai tightened his mouth.

"Good." Dazai nodded solemnly.

Gu Fu and Gu Mu exchanged a look of wanting to say something but stopping.

It was thoughtful, but unnecessary!

Gu Chenghuai looked at his two cubs; the twins were much smarter than children of the same age—not only could they speak clearly, but their brains were also active.

It's been hard on Zhaozhao, teaching the children so well.

He turned his head to look at Lin Zhao, his brows adding a touch of tenderness, glowing brightly.

A love-struck brain will always self-rationalize.

"What did Gu Chan do to get arrested?" the third brother asked politely, his tone as flat as if he were talking about how bright the moon was tonight.

The Gu family heard the indifference and detachment in his words, and surprisingly, none of them felt it was strange.

The third son was rational and indifferent, and couldn't tolerate sand in his eyes; it wasn't strange for him to have such a reaction.

Dazai said word by word: "My little aunt hit a female educated youth, that educated youth auntie reported it to the Gongan, and then the Gongan came, and my little aunt was taken inside!"

Gu Chenghuai was calm.

With Chan's arrogant temperament, having this happen today was within his expectations.

"This is a good thing."

"It saves her from messing around and making Mom and Dad clean up her messes."

"There will be people inside the iron bars to teach Chan the rules; it's good for her to learn a lesson, so she knows what can be done and what cannot be done."

After this experience, he hoped she would understand a little bit.