Chapter 74: Your Mother Has the Final Say

Seeing the different reactions of the third cub, Lin Zhao pulled her youngest son in front of her, her eyes smiling as she looked at him. "Does the third cub like the dictionary?"

The third cub held the thick, heavy dictionary in his small hands and nodded gently.

A soft, cute, milky voice rang out, saying word by word: "Like, the third cub likes it."

Lin Zhao hugged the third cub's shoulders; the little child was so small, as if he were being held in her arms.

"The dictionary is for everyone to use. If you like it, keep it. When you're a little older, Mother will teach you how to use it."

The third cub was always quiet and rarely made requests. Even though he was at an age where he couldn't hold his bladder, he rarely wet the bed. When he needed to pee, he would consciously get up, use his little pot, and after finishing, he wouldn't go anywhere else but would obediently climb back into bed, saving even more worry than the already well-behaved twins.

At this moment, hearing his mother's words, the little child who had just learned to walk steadily made a rare request.

"Mother, I want to learn." His little face was serious, his chubby cheeks slightly puffed out, his little appearance solemn and earnest.

"You want to learn right now?" Lin Zhao touched her youngest son's cheek and asked in surprise.

"Mm!" The third cub nodded heavily.

He was rarely so attentive to something, so Lin Zhao naturally satisfied him, saying softly, "Alright, it's too late today. I'll teach you tomorrow, okay, baby?"

Facing such an obedient son, even a slightly heavier tone of voice would be a sin.

The third cub's black-and-white eyes suddenly curved, and a smile bloomed on his bun-like face. The smile had a healing power, looking clean and milky.

He took a step forward with his little feet, stretched out his arms like tender lotus roots, and hugged Lin Zhao. "Mother."

The tone was calm; only because he was young did it have that softness unique to a child.

Lin Zhao could foresee that she would only be able to see this milky third cub for a few more years. When he grew older, he would definitely be more steady than his father, the kind who wouldn't laugh even if teased, only looking at you helplessly.

Just thinking about this, a sense of melancholy suddenly welled up in her heart.

Taking advantage of the fact that her son was still small and couldn't run well yet, she kissed his little face.

The third cub looked at his mother quietly.

Lin Zhao kissed him again, her gaze brimming with emotion. "What are you looking at Mother for? Don't want Mother to kiss you?"

At this moment, the second cub, who had suffered a huge blow, walked over quickly.

He lifted his little face slightly, offered his cheek proactively, and acted like a spoiled child. "Mother, kiss me too."

Turning his head, he glanced at Gu Chenghuai with resentment, then withdrew his gaze, buried himself in Lin Zhao's arms, pursed his lips, and said with unspeakable grievance, "I don't like the gift Father gave at all. I want Mother's kiss for comfort."

The smile in Gu Chenghuai's eyes vanished instantly. His palm grabbed the back of the second cub's neck, pulling him over.

"And, what are you in such a rush for?" he said.

"You're already five and a half years old, not a two-year-old child. Don't pester your mother all day long."

Especially for kisses.

The second cub was interrupted and looked at his father with suspicion. "There's another gift?!"

Gu Chenghuai forcibly carried him away, dug out several comic books from the luggage, and stuffed them into his hands.

"Picture books. A five-year-old big kid needs to read more, or you'll be tricked." His expression was cold and stern.

When the second cub saw the books, his head buzzed; it was all the aftereffects of that dictionary.

He didn't want to take them.

His whole body was written with resistance.

But there was no way.

His father was watching him. *Ying ying. *

The second cub's face was filled with a fake smile. He took them reluctantly, flipped through them casually and full of resentment, and inadvertently saw that there were pictures in the books.

The little child's eyes lit up instantly, the smile on his face slowly widened, and the corners of his mouth almost reached the back of his head.

"Brother, there are pictures in the books!"

"It's the storybook Mother talked about!"

The first cub rushed to his brother's side in two or three steps, leaned over to look, and became excited when he saw the pictures too.

It really was a storybook!

"Thank you, Father!" After politely thanking Gu Chenghuai, he said to the second cub, "Second cub, let's read them with Tie Chui and the others tomorrow, okay?"

The second cub replied crisply, "Okay!"

Gu Chenghuai let the two brothers decide and took out several more comic books.

"Sparkling Red Star," "Song of the Mountain Eagle," "Crossing the Chishui River Four Times," "Mine Warfare," "Railway Guerrillas"...

They were all there!

The twins were overjoyed, holding the picture books and carefully placing them on the desk.

Lin Zhao tied her hair loosely behind her head, walked over to help them tidy up, and smiled. "When the room is finished, you'll have your own room. By then, Mother will hire someone to build you a bookshelf specifically for your books."

The second cub happily hugged his mother's waist, his voice sounding as if it were dipped in honey. "Mother is so good."

A few steps away.

Gu Chenghuai began to distribute gifts to the apple of his eye, a pink dress on the left, a little hat on the right, then little hair clips, red hair ties, and even more absurdly, a cloth doll the size of her arm.

The fourth cub liked the cloth doll the most, holding it and refusing to let go, smiling sweeter than cotton candy.

She waved at her father, as if wanting to whisper something.

Gu Chenghuai pulled his pant leg slightly and squatted down halfway, his upper body still straight, his posture upright, his voice low and gentle. "What's wrong?"

The little milky group's eyebrows curved, her arms wrapped around her father's neck, and her furry little head rubbed gently against Gu Chenghuai's neck and shoulder. The old father's heart melted.

In the depths of Gu Chenghuai's dark, sunken eyes, a brilliant light began to bloom, bit by bit.

When the twins saw this, their mouths pouted and pouted.

Meanwhile, the third cub sat on a small stool, earnestly flipping through the dictionary, not knowing what was so good about those square characters.

People fear comparison the most.

The first and second cubs were originally quite satisfied and happy, but seeing their father bring so many gifts for their sister, the good brothers couldn't help but feel sour, as if they had eaten a sour fruit.

The second cub knew that only his mother could control his father in the family. He pulled Lin Zhao's hand, shook it a few times, and his eyes dimmed, losing their usual spirit.

He complained to his mother with grievance.

"Mother, control your man; he's biased."

He didn't just complain; he had evidence.

He said with justification, "Father gave sister six gifts, a full six gifts! And they have everything! For us boys, it's just a dictionary and comic books, not even a sugar crumb. Mother, are we Father's biological children?"

"Are boys so worthless in our family! I'm not convinced; Father favors girls over boys!" The second cub became angrier as he spoke, stiffening his neck, turning his face to the side, his mouth pouting enough to hang a small oil bottle.

It seemed there was a billion points of bias.

Lin Zhao frowned and looked at Gu Chenghuai, giving the man a look that said he was indeed biased.

Gu Chenghuai didn't explain much; he turned his head and took out a pair of red double-happiness ping-pong paddles and three small yellow balls from the luggage bag.

"Biased? Then these ping-pong paddles, give them to Bang Bang."

The first and second cubs had never seen this thing, but vaguely felt it was something fun.

The clever second cub swooshed over, treated his father like a tree, climbed up using his hands and feet, and tried to hang on Gu Chenghuai.

He called out "Father" affectionately and repeatedly.

"Father! Father! The best father in the whole brigade, what is this? Is this also a gift you brought for us? What is it for? Second cub has never seen it..."

"Father, Brother and I are your sons; if we don't know anything, it's your... and Mother's face that's lost. Give them to us."

The first cub saw there were two, guessed it was something for two people to play with, and thought it should be two children each holding a paddle, *pa-pa* hitting the ball.

His brain worked fast, imagining how to play ping-pong, and he said, "Father, Mother is usually bored. When Second cub and I learn, we can play ping-pong to relieve Mother's boredom."

After throwing a straight ball, he politely asked, "So can you give us the ping-pong paddles? Second cub and I will cherish them."

The second cub hanging on Gu Chenghuai was still struggling to sway left and right. "Father, please, Father, Father..."

This appearance, to put it nicely, was being able to bend and stretch; to put it bluntly, it was a bit thick-skinned.

Gu Chenghuai remained as steady as a mountain, letting his sons make a scene, his body as straight as a high cliff's cold pine, unmoved.

He calmly made a request: "For the next month, listen to me, get up early to exercise with me, and these ping-pong paddles will be yours."

Lin Zhao thought the cubs' father would at least wait a week before 'exercising' the two cubs, but didn't expect it to be so early, not even a night had passed!

The exercise he spoke of wasn't standing in military posture, but running, running, jumping, jumping; after a day, they would be tired like dogs, and at night they would sleep like dead pigs.

However.

She didn't interrupt; the first and second cubs were biological, and Gu Chenghuai would definitely find a training method suitable for them.

"What's this!" The second cub puffed out his chest and lifted his head, standing like a small white poplar in the forest, a confident smile blooming on his face. "Brother and I can both do it. It's just exercise; Father, whatever you say, we'll do."

He lifted his non-existent arm muscles, the light in his eyes sincere and straightforward. "I want to become strong to protect my mother; this bit of hardship is nothing, it's simply, that light something something..."

Although he stumbled, his small body under the kerosene lamp was particularly reliable and trustworthy.

The first cub added from behind, "Easy, it means very simple."

"Right, right, right, easy." The second cub didn't mind at all that his brother was better than him.

In his heart, a brother is a brother; his brother came to this world a few minutes earlier than him, so it was normal for him to be smarter.

"I will also learn well," the first cub said solemnly.

Gu Chenghuai nodded with satisfaction. "First task for you two."

The two children stood straight with a *da*, as if they had been entrusted with some sacred mission, their tender little faces looking at their father, their eyes expectant and suppressing excitement.

"Take your brother and sister to sleep."

The little brothers' straight shoulders slumped slightly. "... Oh."

The second cub opened the drawer, and the first cub put the ping-pong paddles and several balls inside.

After tidying up, the two children went to hold their brother and sister.

The fourth cub was still holding the cloth doll, watching with her own eyes as Mother put away her little skirt and hair clips, before obediently going to sleep with her brothers.

The third cub had been flipping through the dictionary for a long time without moving.

The second cub urged him. The little guy closed the dictionary, held the thick book with both hands, looked at his second brother with calm eyebrows and eyes, and his calm milky voice rang out: "Legs, grew a little bit."

Gu Chenghuai raised his eyebrows, his black eyes overflowing with confusion.

Lin Zhao guessed: "His legs are numb."

"..."

Looking at the man who was made cute by his son, she couldn't help but laugh.

Gu Chenghuai felt that raising children was really tiring; not only did he have to manage eating and wearing, but he also had to guess the children's meaning.

He rubbed Lin Zhao's hair top with heartache and guilt; his palm was broad, thick, and warm.

The man walked toward the third cub, mindful of his youngest son's numb legs, slowed his movements to pick him up, controlled his strength to massage his legs, and kept an eye on the cub's reaction at all times.

The third cub hugged his father's neck, looking obedient, and thanked him softly: "Thank you, Father."

"I am your father, biological, taking care of you is what I should do, no need to thank me." Gu Chenghuai's tone was light.

The little child smiled and touched his father's face with his short, chubby hands.

On this side, the twins and their sister climbed onto the bed, the three little ones lying in their respective positions, shaking their hands at Lin Zhao. "Mother, come here."

They all wanted their mother to lie next to them.

Every night at this time, Lin Zhao felt it was very difficult; this water was really hard to balance.

What could she do?

She could only pretend not to see the three pairs of expectant eyes, lie down by the bed, and change the subject. "Tonight, let your father tell you a bedtime story; he worked all day, he's a bit tired."

Hearing this, the first cub moved his butt closer and pressed his mother's shoulders. "Mother, I'll press for you; my grandma said I press especially well, and in a little while, your shoulders and back will feel light!"

The second cub was originally lying on his own little pillow, swinging his legs, the corners of his mouth raised, not knowing what he was happy about. Seeing his brother's movements, he sat up with a *ceng*, moved over, and pressed Lin Zhao's legs.

"Mother, I'll press your legs; I press really well, I guarantee you won't be tired in a little while."

The fourth cub was stunned; the little milky group under two years old tasted the feeling of being "rolled" for the first time.

The little guy rubbed her eyes, burrowed into Lin Zhao's arms, grabbed her nightgown collar with her soft, small hands, smeared saliva on her face, smeared a mouthful, laughed once; the smile was soft, clean, and beautiful.

"Mother~"

Anyone with a daughter could understand the feeling of this moment.

Lin Zhao hugged the fourth cub into her arms, patted her shoulders and back, and murmured: "In this life, with Mother here, with your father and your brothers here, our fourth cub will definitely be happy."

The fourth cub didn't lack love and warmth; she didn't believe she would still fall in love with that rotten person because of a little bit of small favor... and become that pitiful, sad, and lamentable appearance.

Lin Zhao patted rhythmically, one by one. The fourth cub nestled in Mother's arms, her little head nodding, slowly closing her eyes, then trying hard to open them, then closing them, opening them again... then closing them.

The soft words continued, very lightly.

"The cinema is showing a new movie, called 'Female Pilot,' it's very good. The day after tomorrow, your father and I will take you to see it."

"... Pilot? Flying a plane?!" The first cub's eyes shone brightly, his whole little face lighting up.

"Yes. Knowing you want to be a pilot, as soon as we heard the cinema was showing 'Female Pilot,' your father and I went to see it for you without even eating, and it's not bad, children can watch it," Lin Zhao said with a smile.

The first cub danced with excitement; if it weren't late, he would have wanted to go out and run a few laps.

"Thank you, Mother!"

The second cub was also happy and asked, "Mother, why not take us tomorrow?"

In less than two minutes, the fourth cub was fast asleep, even the cloth doll she liked was thrown to the side, her little hands clenched into fists, her body curled into a ball, her little belly rising and falling, sleeping sweetly.

"Your father just came back, he needs to go see your grandfather and grandmother first," Lin Zhao explained in a low voice.

The Lin family was full of respect for Gu Chenghuai's profession, but if this person was their son-in-law (brother-in-law), there would inevitably be dissatisfaction.

Soldiers couldn't return home for a year or two, and all the big and small things in the family had to be done by the wife; Zhao Zhao was suffering.

Gu Chenghuai walked to the bedside.

The third cub in his arms had also fallen into a deep sleep.

"It's too late today, they're tired." Lin Zhao and the twins made way.

Gu Chenghuai bent down, his lean waist outlining a silhouette full of strength.

He put the third and fourth cubs side by side, lowered his voice, and said to the twins, "You go to sleep too, I'll call you tomorrow morning."

The little brothers slid into bed.

The first cub was very concerned about watching the pilot movie, his clear eyes looking at his father. "Father, Mother said she'd take us to see the movie the day after tomorrow, you really will take us, right?"

"In our family, your mother has the final say," Gu Chenghuai said.

The implication was, as long as your mother agrees, I'm fine with anything.

The first cub bloomed with a smile, pulled open the thin blanket, and covered his and his brother's bellies.

"Father, tomorrow when you take Mother back to her maiden home, can you take us? I miss Grandfather and Grandmother," the second cub suddenly said. ===== CHAPTER 75 =====