Chapter 95

Seeing everyone return safely, Gu Fu and Gu Mu secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Hearing that the county was chaotic and that students were causing trouble, they were very worried that the Third Son and his wife had taken so many children there, fearing something might happen.

Gu Mu scanned everyone one by one, and seeing that they were all holding books, she asked curiously: "Why did you bring back so many books?"

Lin Zhao spoke up: "I picked them up at the recycling station; the children have use for them."

Since they were useful for the children, Gu Mu had nothing to say, "Looks like quite a lot, they must be expensive, right?"

She thought that if they were expensive, she and her old man should chip in some; they couldn't let the Third Branch pay for everything.

"Not expensive, just five yuan." Lin Zhao said in a light and airy tone.

"!"

How much?

Gu Mu felt her ears were broken, five yuan?! And not expensive?!!

No wonder people in the past couldn't afford to go to school; books are so expensive, who could afford it?

She gets full work points every day, and even after working for a month, she can't earn five yuan.

Even if this amount of money was unexpected, Gu Mu still said: "Your father and I have to pay some of this money."

"No need." Lin Zhao waved her hand and refused directly.

With such a big family, her parents-in-law don't have much money saved up.

Her situation is good, so she won't quibble over this little bit.

Gu Chenghuai poured face-washing water for his wife and said to his mother, who still wanted to say something: "Mother, listen to Zhaozhao, it's nothing."

Since their Third Son had spoken, and seeing that her daughter-in-law was truly not quibbling, Gu Mu didn't say anything more.

Ever since they took the deworming medicine, the Gu family children have been quite attentive to hygiene, and washing hands before meals is a must.

The twins took their younger brothers and sisters to wash their hands, and Seeing Seeing Dazai suddenly looked at Lin Zhao and said: "Mother, Brother Stone and Brother Little Stone haven't taken the deworming medicine yet. Do you still have medicine there?"

"Yes, I'll give it to them after dinner." Lin Zhao said.

She looked at her eldest son with gentle eyes and praised: "Seeing Seeing Dazai is truly a thoughtful little kid. Thanks to your reminder, otherwise I would have almost forgotten."

Seeing Seeing Dazai was secretly happy, his little face flushed with joy.

Little Stone wrinkled his face and whispered: "Brother Seeing Seeing Dazai, I don't want to take medicine."

Medicine is bitter.

"The deworming medicine isn't bitter, it's sweet. If you don't believe me, ask Tie Chui, don't be afraid." Seeing Seeing Dazai put his hand on Brother Stone's shoulder and said earnestly: "After you take it, if you think it doesn't taste good, I'll give you a White Rabbit creamy candy."

Tie Chui nodded, "It's not bitter, it's sweet."

It's not as good as White Rabbit creamy candy, but it's not hard to swallow either.

With the friendship of watching the movie together as a foundation, Little Stone and his cousin from his mother's side established trust, and the little kid became happy, "Okay."

After washing their hands, Lin Zhao and the others started to eat.

Gu Chenghuai mixed milk powder for his twins, and after the milk powder was at a suitable temperature, he poured it into blue and pink bottles and gave them to the Third Cub and Fourth Cub.

He bought the bottles at the Friendship Store in Shanghai.

The two little kids took the bottles with both hands and sat on stools to drink milk. The Third Cub was quiet and well-behaved, while the Fourth Cub dangled his two lotus-root-like legs, grinning from time to time, looking very cute and soft.

At the dining table.

"Delicious, Auntie's meat is delicious." Hearing Hearing Erzai ate the meat, pushed the bone out with his little tongue, and didn't forget to praise the cook.

Tie Chui also thought it was delicious, his eyes curved, and he ate without lifting his head, learning from Hearing Hearing Erzai, and said absentmindedly: "Mm-hmm, Auntie's meat is really delicious!"

"..."

Silence.

Silence was the Harvest Brigade tonight.

"Pfft—!" Zhao Liuniang finally couldn't hold it in and laughed out loud, laughing so hard that the needle almost pricked her finger. She stopped making shoes and said while laughing: "Sister-in-law, I haven't seen you for half a day, and your Tie Chui has become part of the Third Branch!"

Tie Chui realized what happened, and his little face flushed red.

"... Mother." The little guy called out embarrassedly.

What could Huang Xiulan say, "... Eat your meal."

Little Tie Chui chuckled.

Hearing Hearing Erzai was stung by the spice, his little mouth red, hissing non-stop, and said protectively: "Second Aunt, children also have their pride."

As soon as these words came out, Zhao Liuniang couldn't hold it in even more, her shoulders shrugging, and tears even came out. She raised her hand to wipe the tears from laughing, "... Then I won't say anything."

Only then did Hearing Hearing Erzai stop quibbling.

Zhao Liuniang lowered her voice, looked at her sister-in-law, and said: "Hearing Hearing Erzai is still protective, the two little guys have a relationship as good as real brothers."

Huang Xiulan smiled, "After all, they are good brothers who are going to drive big cars together."

The others laughed.

Hearing the laughter, Hearing Hearing Erzai looked over, not knowing why, and joined in the fun, his laughter crisp.

"Hearing Hearing Erzai, be careful not to choke." Lin Zhao reminded him gently.

"Got it."

While Lin Zhao and the others were eating, Gu Fu organized the books they brought back and placed them on the table.

After dinner, the children consciously tidied up the bowls and chopsticks, and after washing the pots and bowls, they started to distribute the books.

The few half-grown boys discussed it and agreed that they could exchange them with each other, quickly distributing them.

Seeing this scene, Lin Zhao looked at Gu Chenghuai beside her and said: "I think I might have to go to the recycling station to pick up books from time to time in the future; the children seem to like them very much."

The recycling station is very formal, so Gu Chenghuai wasn't worried that his wife would be in danger going to pick up books, only that she would find too many and tire herself out, after all, the distance from the county to the brigade is not short.

"It's fine if you want to go, but don't pick too many each time; books are very heavy."

Lin Zhao smiled: "I have great strength."

"Even if you have great strength, you'll still get tired." Gu Chenghuai said gently, "And I'm not there, so I'll worry about you."

"I'll pick 5 books each time, okay?" The man's work is dangerous, and Lin Zhao couldn't bear to have him worry about the family, so her voice softened.

Glancing at the little red rope on his wrist, she smiled.

Having the little red rope can really give her peace of mind.

Gu Chenghuai's expression relaxed.

Big Stone chose his books, and Gu Yucheng helped tie them up with hemp rope. Just as he said he would send them back, he saw Wei Xiangdong coming.

Da Huang barked, and little Hu Po also bared its teeth in a milky, fierce way.

Everyone immediately looked at the door.

"Father!" Little Stone rushed over.

Wei Xiangdong rubbed his youngest son's head as if he were rubbing a puppy's head, and then called out to his in-laws.

"Father, Mother, Brother... I'm here to pick up the two Stones."

After saying this, he returned the flashlight he had borrowed last time to his father-in-law.

Gu Fu didn't say anything and accepted it directly.

Big Stone walked over carrying the books.

"Where did these books come from?" After a brief glance, there must be at least that many. Wei Xiangdong reached out and took the books, as easily as if he were picking up a few pieces of paper.

Big Stone said: "Third Uncle and Third Aunt took us to the recycling station, we picked them out ourselves."

"Did you thank them?" Wei Xiangdong wasn't polite; anyway, A-Chan agreed to let him go up the mountain, and he would send some over once he caught some game.

"We did."

Wei Xiangdong patted his son's head, "Let's go home, your mother is waiting at home."

Not having seen the two cubs for most of the day, A-Chan was very concerned.

"Okay!"

Little Stone waved to his twin cousins, "Brother Seeing Seeing Dazai, Brother Hearing Hearing Erzai, I'm heading back first, come play with you again when I have time."

"Okay." Hearing Hearing Erzai said reluctantly, and thinking that Little Stone was particularly good at table tennis, he turned to look at Lin Zhao and said: "Mother, Little Stone is really, really good at table tennis. He is the kind of person you talked about who has a natural talent. Can he go to play in the World Table Tennis Championships and win glory for the country?"

Lin Zhao was a little confused.

"Little Stone is very good at table tennis?"

Hearing Hearing Erzai nodded affirmatively, "Yes."

"If you don't believe me, Mother, ask my brother, my brother never lies." He pulled his brother's hand, "Brother, you say."

Seeing Seeing Dazai testified: "Yes, Little Stone is very good at table tennis, even better than Brother Bangbang."

Bangbang: (_)→

He didn't provoke anyone!

Lin Zhao pinched Hearing Hearing Erzai's little face, her movements gentle, "Mother believes your brother, and I believe you too. Our Hearing Hearing Erzai is also an honest little kid."

Hearing Hearing Erzai's heart thumped, his mouth grinning, laughing very happily.

"Then Mother, can Little Stone play table tennis to win glory for the country?"

Lin Zhao wasn't quite sure.

She carefully recalled the content of the original book, it seems it won't be until '71, the 31st World Table Tennis Championships, that domestic table tennis will re-emerge.

Looking at it this way, there should be table tennis training in these years.

She looked at Gu Chenghuai, her eyes full of inquiry: "Cub's father, what do you think?"

Gu Chenghuai's lips curled up slightly.

He turned to look at Little Stone, his gaze earnest: "Do you really like playing table tennis?"

The timid Little Stone wanted to hide, but he held back. Meeting the encouraging eyes of Seeing Seeing Dazai and Hearing Hearing Erzai, he summoned his courage and nodded to his Third Uncle: "Li-like." His voice was as thin as a mosquito's, but it was full of firmness.

Playing table tennis.

He likes it.

The timid little nephew's eyes were sparkling, and it was clear he really liked it. Gu Chenghuai would naturally find a way for him, "I'll call my comrade-in-arms tomorrow morning to inquire about the situation first."

As soon as his words fell, the twins rushed to Little Stone like two little cannonballs.

Hearing Hearing Erzai held his face, jumping excitedly: "Playing table tennis, winning glory for the country, Brother Stone, when you go to the competition, I'll have my mother take me to watch!"

Seeing Seeing Dazai was also very happy, patting Little Stone's shoulder like a little adult, "Little Stone, you can definitely do it."

Gu Chenghuai: "..."

Lin Zhao glanced at the helplessness on the cub's father's face and laughed, "Seeing Seeing Dazai, Hearing Hearing Erzai, your father said he would inquire about it; nothing is decided yet. Aren't you two happy a bit too early?"

If she didn't warn them, these two little trumpets would surely spread the news to the entire production brigade.

Seeing Seeing Dazai was stunned, "Ah? But Father said he would inquire, doesn't that mean it's a sure thing?" In the little guy's heart, his father is simply omnipotent.

Hearing Hearing Erzai blinked his dark, bright eyes, his little mouth chattering: "That's right! My grandmother said Father is smart and amazing, the pride of the Gu family! There's nothing Father wants to do that he can't accomplish!"

Gu Chenghuai narrowed his eyes.

Is this praising him, or digging a hole for him?

Gu Yucheng, who was on the side, watched the fun and didn't think it was a big deal, deliberately teasing his nephew: "What if it can't be done?"

"Can't be done?" Hearing Hearing Erzai tilted his head and thought for a moment, then suddenly had a flash of inspiration, "Then it must be that Father didn't put his heart into it! I'll tell Mother and have Mother criticize Father!"

"Pfft—" Gu Yucheng laughed out loud and deliberately asked: "Why not tell your grandparents?"

Hearing Hearing Erzai had an expression of 'Second Uncle, you're really stupid', "Because Father is the pride of grandparents, grandparents can't bear to scold Father!"

Zhao Liuniang found it funny and looked at Hearing Hearing Erzai teasingly, "How do you know your mother can bear to scold your father?"

Hearing Hearing Erzai was stumped by this question, ran to Lin Zhao, and stared at her with his dark, bright eyes, "Mother, would you?"

The pressure was on Lin Zhao.

"I help the reasonable, not the family."

Afraid the cubs wouldn't understand, she switched to plain language, "Whoever is reasonable, I help."

The twins felt that what Mother said was no problem.

Hearing Hearing Erzai smiled, and the super confident little kid said: "Mother will definitely stand on my side."

Lin Zhao: "?"

Did she say that!?

"Because I'm definitely the most reasonable." Hearing Hearing Erzai added.

Tie Dan was confused, "Is it up to oneself to decide whether one is reasonable or not?"

Hearing Hearing Erzai was even more confused than him.

"If it's not up to oneself, then who is it up to?"

Tie Chui felt that his good brother made sense, like a chestnut that had just fallen from a tree, full of thorns, "Whatever Hearing Hearing Erzai says is what it is, Brother, you're not as smart as Hearing Hearing Erzai. Little kids with dull brains... should listen to little kids with smart brains!"

Tie Dan didn't think Hearing Hearing Erzai was smarter than him. He was so angry he pinched his brother's face and said: "Where am I not as smart as Hearing Hearing Erzai! I'm older than Hearing Hearing Erzai, I know more than him, I'm very smart..."

Is this guy his brother, or Hearing Hearing Erzai's brother? He's so angry!

Tie Chui was pinched and wailed, but his mouth didn't spare his brother either.

"You're just not as smart as Hearing Hearing Erzai, Hearing Hearing Erzai knows more characters than you!"

A bolt from the blue.

"..." Tie Dan was speechless.

Seeing Tie Chui being pinched, the twins went to rescue their good brother, and Tie Chui was successfully rescued.

"Brother Tie Dan, you're shameful, you're bullying a little kid!" Hearing Hearing Erzai wrinkled his little face and wiped his face with his fingers, shaming Tie Dan.

Little Stone was about the same age as the twins and Tie Chui. The original trio of good brothers quietly became a quartet in a corner that no one noticed.

"Shame, shame, shame!" Little Stone, who rarely spoke loudly, suddenly raised his volume.

Tie Dan was hit by his own brother's words. Hearing Hearing Erzai knows more characters than him? This won't do, he's the older brother!

"Brother Bangbang, let me use your Chinese textbook, I want to study!"

After saying this, he rushed into the room.

Huang Xiulan was shocked. Her troublesome eldest son knows how to study now?!

A good thing.

She knows how to handle the playful Tie Dan now!

Wei Xiangdong learned from Big Stone what table tennis was. As a countryman born and bred, he thought and thought with his barren brain and couldn't imagine what it was, or what was the use of hitting it back and forth.

Seeing that Little Stone liked it, he didn't say anything to dampen his spirits.

"Chenghuai, I'll trouble you to inquire about that table tennis thing." Wei Xiangdong planned to find out when he went back, but his brothers were also from the countryside, so he was afraid they wouldn't know either.

Gu Chenghuai nodded, "Rest assured."

At this time, Lin Zhao remembered something, took the cloth bag containing the matchbox materials from the bamboo basket on the side, walked toward Big Stone, and gave him the cloth bag and the money for the 500 qualified products from before.

"This is the newly received material, and the money for the settlement, take it back to your mother."

Big Stone took it solemnly and said: "Mm, thank you Third Aunt."

"Tell your mother, paste them slowly, don't be too anxious, health is important." Lin Zhao was worried that her eldest sister-in-law would disregard her health to paste matchboxes, so she said worriedly.

"Mm, we will all supervise Mother!" Big Stone's heart felt warm.

Lin Zhao smiled, "You are sensible, I'm relieved with you watching."

The thoughtful Seeing Seeing Dazai reminded: "Mother, deworming medicine! You forgot to give Brother Stone and Brother Little Stone the deworming medicine."

She really forgot.

"Forgot again, I'll go get it." Lin Zhao went back to the room, took two deworming pills from the storage ring, and walked out of the room.

She handed them to Big Stone and told him the precautions.

"Thank you Third Aunt." Big Stone thanked her.

After finishing the business.

Wei Xiangdong didn't delay and left the Harvest Brigade with his two sons.

After they left.

Gu Mu looked at Lin Zhao, her face full of excitement that she wanted to suppress but couldn't, "Third Son's wife, that matchbox pasting job isn't a one-time deal?!"

Lin Zhao knew her mother-in-law was happy, so she smiled: "Yes, as long as there are no accidents, it will always be there."

At the very least, it can be done for the next five or six years.

"A good thing." Gu Mu slapped her thigh and looked at her third daughter-in-law with gratitude, "Zhaozhao, A-Chan isn't here, I'll thank you on behalf of A-Chan."

"What are you thanking me for? Sincerity for sincerity, Eldest Sister has silently helped me for a few years, if I didn't do anything, I would be embarrassed to see her." Lin Zhao really didn't think it was a big deal, it was purely a coincidence, and as for what she gave her eldest sister-in-law, that was also the good fortune her eldest sister-in-law had accumulated.

"Chenghuai isn't here, it's only right for A-Chan to help you." Gu Mu said.

This was her sincere words.

She also taught her sons, daughters-in-law, grandsons, and granddaughters this way: even if they have separated, they are still one family, and they must help if they can.

Being a military wife is not easy.

Gu Mu didn't think it was a given that Lin Zhao would give the matchbox pasting job to A-Chan; it was because her third daughter-in-law was willing to give it that she had the heart. She would remember this favor and was also happy for A-Chan.

Her daughter and son-in-law had just separated and were in need of money, so earning a little more was better than nothing.

And.

A-Chan quietly told her that she could earn quite a bit.

She also said that when the money was in hand, she would buy her third sister-in-law a silk scarf that city girls wear as a thank-you gift.

The three Wei father and sons were worried about Gu Chan being alone at home, so they walked very fast.

Big Stone walked with his head down, not saying a word, and Little Stone wouldn't talk even more.

Finally.

Before dark, the three Wei father and sons returned home.

Big Stone walked in the front, and after arriving home, he raised his hand and knocked on the door.

"Mother!"

Gu Chan hadn't slept yet, and hearing her eldest son's voice, she walked out of the room and opened the courtyard door, which could only serve as a decoration.

"You're back, nothing happened on the way, right?" She asked a rhetorical question.

Wei Xiangdong didn't think it was a rhetorical question; this was a sign of his wife's concern for him.

"Nothing, the journey was smooth."

Gu Chan wasn't asking him, she was clearly concerned about her two sons, "Big Stone, Little Stone, how were you today, was the movie good?"

Big Stone nodded, "Good."

Little Stone hadn't seen his mother for half a day and was very clingy to her. He leaned close to his mother and whispered: "The movie was good, it was about a female pilot. Mother, do you know what an airplane is? It's an iron bird. Brother Seeing Seeing Dazai said... he wants to fly an iron bird into the blue sky in the future."

"Third Aunt bought us soda. Mother, soda is really delicious, but it's hard to carry." Otherwise, he would have brought it back for Mother!

"Third Aunt asked us where we wanted to go, Brother said he wanted to go to the recycling station, so Third Aunt took us to the recycling station to find books. We found a lot of books and spent five yuan. We told Brother Seeing Seeing Dazai and Brother Hearing Hearing Erzai that we would exchange them."

"Mother, I also played table tennis with Brother Seeing Seeing Dazai and Brother Hearing Hearing Erzai, I like table tennis."

"Before coming home, we also ate spicy rabbit meat, it was made by Eldest Aunt, it was very delicious."

The power of example is very powerful.

The timid and shy Little Stone had only spent an afternoon with the chatterbox Hearing Hearing Erzai, and his words had increased by more than two times.

Gu Chan was dumbfounded.

Is this still... her Little Stone?

Even Big Stone was astonished.

He looked at his brother with a strange expression, "Is Hearing Hearing Erzai's charm that great? Just one afternoon, how did you become so talkative?!"

"I used to beat you and scold you to get you to say a few more words, why didn't I see you listen to a single word?"

Little Stone lowered his head, his eyes dodging, and became that silent and quiet little turtle again.

After a long while, he mumbled: "No, there's nothing to say."

"..." Big Stone clicked his tongue, "Just send you to the Harvest Brigade."

Little Stone raised his head, his expression expectant.

He blushed and played with his hands, shyly saying: "Can I? Send me over during the day and pick me up at night, is that okay?"

Gu Chan couldn't help but laugh; children are all like this, one idea after another. If she really sent him over, he might cry to come home.

Wei Xiangdong bent down, his large hands grabbing his youngest son's armpits, and with a forceful swing of his arms, the not-so-heavy little guy was thrown out and caught steadily.

Little Stone instantly forgot what he was saying, his laughter crisp, "Father, again!"

Wei Xiangdong, whose original intention was to punish him: "..."

Instantly deflated.

He wouldn't satisfy him and put him down.

Big Stone felt his father was as childish as his brother and gave the hard-earned money from pasting matchboxes that Third Aunt gave him to Gu Chan.

"Mother, the money Third Aunt asked me to bring to you." He also handed over the cloth bag containing the materials and said: "This is the new material."

"My Third Aunt said, let us supervise you, you can't disregard your health to earn money."

Gu Chan first took the material bag, put it away carefully, and then said: "I know."

Subsequently, she started counting the money, not because she didn't trust her third sister-in-law; her third sister-in-law was open and aboveboard and wouldn't bother taking other people's money.

Moreover, it was a job introduced by Zhaozhao in the first place, even if she took half, Gu Chan wouldn't say anything.

She counted the money because she liked counting it.

Gu Chan counted it, a total of nine yuan and ninety-eight cents.

Except for the one Wei Xiangdong ruined, not a cent was missing.

"Xiangdong, the two of us earned nearly ten yuan in two days!" She said happily, sharing the joy with her man.

Seeing that there was money at home, Little Stone's eyes lit up, and he whispered: "Mother, I want a pair of table tennis rackets."

He was only five years old, protected well by his parents and brother, and didn't know that earning money was hard. Seeing that there was money at home, he brought it up.

Gu Chan turned her head to look at him, didn't scold the child, but asked: "Is it the toy your Third Uncle brought for Seeing Seeing Dazai and Hearing Hearing Erzai?"

"That's not a toy." Little Stone corrected his mother.

He didn't remember what competition Hearing Hearing Erzai mentioned, only that it wasn't a toy.

"Okay, it's not a toy." Gu Chan went along with her youngest son, "I don't know if the supply and marketing cooperative has the table tennis rackets you want. If they do, Mother will buy them for you."

If it were before, she definitely wouldn't buy it, because money has to be spent on the cutting edge. Now that there is a matchbox pasting job and a monthly income, and it's rare for Little Stone to want something, she wants to satisfy the child. At worst, she and the child's father will work a little harder.

"The supply and marketing cooperative doesn't have them." Big Stone said, "The table tennis rackets were bought by Third Uncle in Shanghai."

Gu Chan's expression was difficult, "That's hard to handle."

She didn't know if Chenghuai would pass through Shanghai when returning to the military unit, if he didn't pass through...

"Mother, Seeing Seeing Dazai and Hearing Hearing Erzai taught us how to play table tennis this afternoon, Little Stone is very good at it, Hearing Hearing Erzai said that if you play table tennis well, you can participate in competitions in the future and win glory for the country." Big Stone said.

This afternoon, it was the first time he saw his brother like something so much, his whole person changed, and his eyes were incredibly bright.

He didn't want to let his brother down, so he wanted to strive for Little Stone.

Even if his brother doesn't make a name for himself in the future, he thinks it's worth it if it can make Little Stone more confident and cheerful.

Little Stone didn't understand his brother's painstaking efforts and smiled foolishly, "Brother Hearing Hearing Erzai said, there will be prize money for winning the competition, which is about the same as being a worker."

"Mother, if I win the competition, I'll give all the prize money to you."

Big Stone's mouth twitched.

Hey, thinking really far ahead.

Gu Chan combined what the two sons said and finally understood, saying: "Buy, Mother and Father will find a way to buy it for you."

As for the rest, wait until Chenghuai inquires about it.

She is his mother, how could she not see Little Stone's... love for table tennis.

The child likes it, so as a mother, she must create the conditions no matter what.

Gu Fu and Gu Mu never mistreated Gu Chan, and Gu Chan didn't want to let her son down either.

Gu family.

Seeing Seeing Dazai and Hearing Hearing Erzai finished their baths slowly, and Gu Chenghuai thought they had been tired all day, so they should go back to their room to sleep.

However, the two cubs didn't.

The brothers changed into vests and shorts, stepping on cloth.

Seeing Seeing Dazai was holding the clothes he, Hearing Hearing Erzai, and the twins wore to the county, and Hearing Hearing Erzai was carrying his and his brother's plastic sandals...

The two little kids were going to wash clothes in the courtyard.

Gu Chenghuai's gaze turned around the two sons, "Now, washing clothes?"

"Right, Mother said do today's work today." Hearing Hearing Erzai glanced at his father, that look seemed to be saying Gu Chenghuai was making a fuss over nothing.

He replied to his father perfunctorily.

He put the sandals aside, lifted the large wooden basin with his brother, and poured water into it ladle by ladle with a gourd ladle.

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