Chapter 76: Little Face Turns Yellow

Upon hearing this.

Everyone in the courtyard turned to look at the little one who had always been quiet, so quiet he barely seemed to exist.

“San Zai, you remembered it all at once?” Lin Zhao lifted her skirt, crouched halfway down, and cupped San Zai’s small face, her eyes sparkling.

San Zai remained calm, nodded steadily, his chubby cheeks puffed out as he spoke in a soft, earnest baby voice, “Mm.”

“How smart is this little brain of yours? No wonder you wanted to learn how to use a dictionary—you’re so gifted, perfect for studying!!” Lin Zhao’s tone lifted lightly.

“With such an amazing memory, what could you not learn quickly? Oh my, I’ve given birth to a little genius—how wonderful you are, my little one.”

San Zai’s pale face flushed crimson, his raven-black eyelashes trembling slightly, his tiny hands struggling to hold onto the dictionary.

Being looked at with such complete devotion, little bubbles of joy rose in the child’s heart.

“You’re great too,” he said, reaching up to touch Lin Zhao’s face.

Hearing this, Lin Zhao’s heart melted, her expression soft as water.

Er Zai let out an “Eh?” in surprise, “Mom doesn’t know?”

Lin Zhao frowned in confusion.

“?”

What was she supposed to know?!

“San Zai is amazing!” Er Zai said proudly, his face glowing with pride, “Mom taught me and Big Zai ancient poems—I recited one to San Zai, and he remembered it all!”

As he finished speaking.

His round head drooped, his shoulders slumped helplessly, as if all his strength had been drained away.

He sighed heavily.

“I’m no good—I have to recite it three times just to remember. Sigh!”

Bang Bang, who couldn’t even memorize a verse after ten or twenty recitations, lost all expression.

“...”

So annoying.

I want to die.

But.

It just feels like the one who should die is someone else.

Lin Zhao gently patted Er Zai’s head, “You’re great too.”

“Really?” Er Zai, shaken by his younger brother’s brilliance, had lost his confidence.

He had always thought only his brother was better than him—suddenly discovering that his little brother was too, he felt proud of San Zai but also a little inferior.

“Of course it’s true,” Lin Zhao whispered softly, “The world is vast, and talented people are as countless as stars—no one can be smarter or better than everyone else.”

“In my heart, you’re all wonderful.”

Er Zai cared most about what his mother thought—he was instantly comforted.

He grinned, “Ah! I get it now!”

Lin Zhao asked again, “When did you two start teaching your brother and sister poems? How come I didn’t know?”

“It’s all because of Si Zai!” Er Zai frowned, thinking his sister was growing more disobedient, “That day, Big Zai and I were trying to get the little ones to nap, but Si Zai wouldn’t sleep—he kept pulling San Zai’s hand to play!”

“Big Zai and I were furious, so we recited poems to them.” His eyes lit up, “Mom, reciting poems really works—I and Big Zai took turns, just one line each, reciting your poem ‘Min Nong,’ and Si Zai fell asleep!”

Another pause.

The loud voice suddenly grew quiet.

“San Zai didn’t sleep—he recited the poem back to Big Zai and me... and ended up putting us both to sleep...”

Here, the older brother felt embarrassed, scratching his head awkwardly.

The Gu family couldn’t help bursting into laughter.

Lai Mei laughed the loudest, “Hahaha...!!”

Tie Dan pointed at Er Zai, “Er Zai got put to sleep by San Zai, hahaha!!”

Laughter echoed through the courtyard.

His best friend being mocked by his own brother, Tie Chui’s eyes flashed with fury.

(??へ??╮)

He stomped over behind Tie Dan, shoved him hard, voice thick with resentment, “Big Brother! Don’t you dare laugh at Da Zai and Er Zai!!”

Tie Chui frowned, pouting, “Don’t you see how red my best friend’s face is? It’s about to start a little steam train!”

Hearing this, the twins’ faces flushed even redder, like little steam trains puffing smoke.

Tie Dan, suddenly shoved, nearly face-planted—he grabbed Tie Chui’s cheeks and yanked them left and right in anger.

Seeing his best friend being “bullied,” Er Zai rushed forward, wrapped his arms around Tie Dan’s waist, and tried to trip him, copying what his father taught him.

He was too weak—he couldn’t budge him.

“...!”

“Big Brother, help me!”

Da Zai joined in. The three five-and-a-half-year-old boys, inseparable as brothers, surrounded Tie Dan—hugging his waist, clinging to his neck, pulling his legs... all in chaotic confusion.

“Er Zai, push harder!”

“Da Zai, take him down!”

“Tie Chui, dig into your brother’s feet!”

Bang Bang and Lai Mei egged them on, laughing heartily.

The courtyard was noisy and chaotic.

Gu Fu and Gu Mu still didn’t understand what their grandson’s extraordinary memory meant—when Lin Zhao said San Zai was suited for studying, the old couple beamed.

“If San Zai wants to study, let him study—I’ll pay for his tuition,” Gu Fu slapped his thigh, fully supporting his grandson’s education.

He had once gone to the big city to make a living; unlike the village elders, he had more perspective and understood the difference between being educated and uneducated.

Gu Mu said, “We’ll support them all—A Lan, Bang Bang, Lai Mei, Tie Dan, Tie Chui, and Yu Yu—everyone the same. If they can study, we’ll support them.”

She had saved money.

Huang Xiulan and Zhao Yuan were overjoyed.

Education meant more opportunities—they were uneducated themselves, but they could see: if the third daughter-in-law did it, they’d do it too.

San Zai emerged from his shyness, his tiny hand hooking around Lin Zhao’s little finger, his voice pure and childlike, “Mom, teach?”

Gu Chenghuai picked up his son, “Dad will teach you—let your mom eat. She still has to go to work.”

He gave his wife a glance, signaling her to go eat.

Lin Zhao’s breakfast had been prepared by Gu Chenghuai: two steamed buns warmed up, a few appetizing side dishes, and a cup of powdered milk.

Everything was exactly what Lin Zhao liked.

And exactly the right portion for her to finish.

San Zai didn’t care who taught him—he sat calmly on the lap of his tall, handsome officer father, his dark eyes deep, pupils calm and pale with stillness, hands resting on his knees, listening intently.

“First, Dad will teach you how to use the dictionary. A dictionary is a reference book—you can look up any unfamiliar character to find its pronunciation and meaning.

The words in the dictionary are arranged alphabetically, by pinyin, or by radical, just like lining up—A comes first, Z comes last...”

Gu Chenghuai’s voice was deep and pleasant; normally, his tone was cool and detached, like snow on winter pine branches—but when speaking to his child, he deliberately slowed and softened his speech.

Huang Xiulan and Zhao Yuan felt strange.

The two sisters-in-law whispered behind the kitchen.

“Why do the third couple seem even more affectionate than when they first married?” Zhao Yuan whispered.

“Absence makes the heart grow fonder, and besides...” Huang Xiulan smiled and shook her head, “Has Third Brother ever had a real quarrel with Third Sister? As long as it’s not a matter of principle, even a slight good mood from Big Zai’s mother is enough to make him overlook anything.”

When she first married in, over ten years ago, Third Brother was still a boy—thin, cold, his dark eyes always expressionless, his face rarely showing emotion, almost never smiling.

He was always reading, working—reading, working...

Later, he left to join the military and didn’t return for years. When he came back, he had shed his youthfulness, become reserved and steady, his aura deep as a abyss.

Not long after returning, he suddenly announced he was getting married.

That day, Huang Xiulan saw on his face for the first time a genuine, joyful smile—she immediately thought, he must be hopelessly in love with that girl.

And indeed, she was right.

The biggest softie in the Gu family had appeared!

Outside the courtyard.

After finishing her meal, Lin Zhao was cleared away by Gu Lan.

Gu Chenghuai set San Zai down, told him to look at the dictionary himself, and said he’d resume teaching when he returned.

He went inside to fetch his wife’s wide-brimmed hat and small cloth bag, placed the hat on her head, and pushed his bicycle out the door.

“Wife, let’s go—I’ll take you to work.”

Lin Zhao slung her bag over her shoulder and hurried to keep pace.

Da Huang and Xiao Hu Po followed closely behind her.

Ever since their mistress started working, the two dogs had been walking her to the village entrance every day.

“These dogs are well-raised,” Gu Chenghuai remarked casually.

Hu Po, sensing her master’s praise, wagged her stubby tail like a propeller, circling him happily.

In just a few days, with good food, Da Huang and her pup had regained their lustrous coats, grown rounder and healthier, as if reborn.

“Of course—they guard the house and watch over San Zai and Si Zai. They’re the most reliable,” Lin Zhao said, stroking Da Huang’s large head; Da Huang rubbed against her palm, eyes glistening with trust.

“And they’re smart—they know you’re family even without looking.”

She praised Da Huang as if he were her own child.

Da Huang’s tail whipped back and forth, licking his handler’s hand with his big tongue.

Lin Zhao stroked Da Huang’s head again, making a gesture to send him away. “Alright, go back.”

Da Huang sat quietly there, Hu Po circling beside her, just as before, watching their master depart.

As the bicycle turned the corner, Lin Zhao could still see the two dogs’ silhouettes; she hugged Gu Chenghuai’s waist and sighed, “Da Huang’s truly become a spirit—I swear he understands everything I say.”

“You like dogs?” Gu Chenghuai glanced at her sideways.

“I don’t like dogs—I like Da Huang. Dogs that bite wildly? I hate them,” Lin Zhao corrected him.

Gu Chenghuai chuckled softly. “The military has retired guard dogs—all well-trained, able to understand human speech. When you join me on base, I’ll take you to see them. If you like one, we’ll adopt it.”

In an era when even people struggled to eat, this was absurd—spoiling his wife beyond reason!

Lin Zhao tightened her grip on his waist; summer fabric was thin, and she felt the sculpted curve of muscle beneath his shirt—tight, perfect—and couldn’t resist touching it.

“There are already military dogs?! Great! Take me then! One isn’t enough—we’ll keep three!” After all, she could trade points for dog food.

She hadn’t tried the upgraded dog food yet—tonight she’d test it.

Gu Chenghuai rode with one hand, the other capturing his wife’s restless hand in his palm, voice warm with amusement. “Alright. Keep as many as you want.”

Lin Zhao rested her face against his back and laughed. “You’ll get teased by your comrades.”

“Teased about what?” Gu Chenghuai raised an eyebrow.

“That you’re a henpecked husband!”

Gu Chenghuai paid it no mind—being teased a little was nothing compared to living happily.

He said gently, “I only know that a man who loves his wife thrives. You’re the head of this household—your happiness matters most.”

“Gu Chenghuai, you’re so good,” Lin Zhao hugged him tighter.

He felt the softness against his back, his Adam’s apple bobbed hard, every muscle tensed, sweat beading in his palms.

A restrained, hoarse voice spoke.

“Should we send the four kids to sleep in your parents’ room tonight?” He asked for her opinion.

Lin Zhao bristled, pinching his waist. “Gu Chenghuai!”

“Be serious!”

“Talking like this in broad daylight—do you have any shame?!”

“Who needs shame when you’re eating meat?” Gu Chenghuai decided to embrace shamelessness entirely—otherwise, when would he ever achieve harmony with his wife?

Lin Zhao: “….”

Thinking she was unwilling, Gu Chenghuai played the victim. “I haven’t had it in a year…”

“You’re still talking! You’re still talking!!” Lin Zhao’s face flushed, nearly leaping up to hit him.

Gu Chenghuai was cunning—he knew his wife craved his abs, and pulled her hand to his abdomen.

With each pedal stroke, the muscles rippled subtly; even without looking, they were irresistible.

“How about it? Tonight, you can touch them.”

Lin Zhao covered her face with her hands.

(???)?

How did the conversation even get here? Weren’t we talking about dogs?!

“Hmm?” Gu Chenghuai tightened his hand over hers, letting out a low hum from his nose.

His voice was low, seductive.

“I don’t want to have any more,” Lin Zhao said.

Gu Chenghuai wasn’t surprised—after she gave birth to the twins, he had no intention of having more.

But back then, newlyweds, young bodies restless, rarely apart, desperate to cling to each other—the contraceptive supplies felt uncomfortable, and in passion, they’d somehow been tossed aside, leaving him inside.

The young couple had hoped for the best, thinking nothing would happen—until the dragon-and-phoenix twins arrived.

“I’ll go to the hospital later,” Gu Chenghuai didn’t want his wife to have more children either.

Four kids were enough.

And too many births would harm Zhao Zhao’s body.

“...Okay,” Lin Zhao replied.

Gu Chenghuai knew she disliked contraceptive supplies—he did too. He wondered if there were other ways. He lowered his eyes, thoughtful.

Gu Chenghuai knew she disliked contraceptive devices; he disliked them too, and wondered if there might be another way. He lowered his eyes, lost in thought.

As they chatted, the couple arrived at the supply store.

Watching Lin Zhao enter, Gu Chenghuai rode off.

The man was strikingly handsome, tall and lean, with long, straight legs that even in civilian clothes revealed the defined, powerful lines of his muscles—his aura strong yet restrained; a single calm glance from his dark eyes made others dare not stare.

Lin Zhao had just entered the supply store when she met two pairs of gossiping, fiery eyes.

“Big Cai’s mom, you’re eating well,” Li Fen blurted out.

As soon as she said “Big Cai’s mom,” Lin Zhao instinctively patted her bag, then slapped her forehead, her beautiful face filled with annoyance.

She’d forgotten to show the kids the photos!

“What do you mean, eating well?” She walked toward the counter, asking casually.

“Your husband, of course,” Li Fen said. She was old, spoke without filter, sometimes shockingly blunt.

“You mean my comrade Gu? Yes, he’s good,” Lin Zhao replied calmly.

Li Fen wanted to tease her further, but Lin Zhao’s composure instantly deflated her interest.

“Miss Zhao, how did you meet your husband?” Wang Ju hesitated a few seconds, cheeks burning, then couldn’t help asking.

Lin Zhao glanced at her and said simply, “We just met—I was returning from my uncle’s village, he was back from the military. He offered to carry my bags. I thought, this guy’s handsome and not arrogant—if something interesting happened between us, it’d be great. And then…”

“And then what?” Wang Ju’s eyes sparkled, her voice rising from a whisper.

Louder than when she scolded rude customers.

“Why are you so curious?” Lin Zhao laughed.

Wang Ju’s delicate face flushed crimson; she stammered, fell silent, and pretended to busy herself.

Li Fen chuckled. “Our comrade Wang is going on a blind date this weekend—she’s nervous and wants to learn from you.”

“Really?” Lin Zhao was intrigued.

Her eyes were clear and bright, moist and steady—when she looked at someone, hearts pounded.

Wang Ju’s heart hammered, her blush spreading to her ears. “I’m… not sure yet.”

Thinking of the blind date, the shy girl nervously twisted her rag.

“I know. I wish you luck,” Lin Zhao offered sincerely.

Wang Ju smiled. “Thank you.”

…

Gu Chenghuai went straight to the hospital, heading confidently toward the place where contraceptive supplies were issued.

“Comrade, I’d like to buy contraceptive supplies,” he said calmly, voice low.

The young doctor, thick-haired but greasy, looked up and asked casually, “How many?”

Gu Chenghuai raised an eyebrow. “How many can I buy?”

“At most one box per visit—six per box.”

Gu Chenghuai frowned. “Too few.”

The single doctor’s lip twitched. “Wash and reuse them.”

Gu Chenghuai’s brow tightened further. “Fine. Give me one box.”

The young doctor handed him a box. “One yuan and eighty fen.”

Gu Chenghuai paid, his gaze casually sweeping over the supplies—they were the same as those from years ago. Smaller!!

He paused, then asked calmly, “...Do you have a larger size?”

The young doctor blinked, then gave an awkward smile and shook his head. “Only standard size. Larger… we don’t have any.”

Gu Chenghuai didn’t leave immediately. “If we don’t want more children, besides this…” He pointed to the supplies with his long fingers. “Are there other methods?”

“Yes. Women can get an IUD,” the young doctor replied.

“There is—one is the intrauterine device for women,” said the young physician.

Something placed inside the body.

Sounded unreliable.

Gu Chenghuai mentally crossed it out, expression unchanged. “Any other options?”

The young doctor had never met someone like him. “Then there’s vasectomy for men.”

“Explain in detail,” Gu Chenghuai said seriously.

“Tell me the details,” Gu Chenghuai said with serious expression.