Chapter 96: Gone

Gu Chenghuai couldn't watch anymore; he picked up the wooden bucket filled with water and poured it into the large wooden basin.

"Thank you, Dad." Ercai thanked him politely and asked, "Dad, can you help me pour some more water into the small basin?"

"..." You're quite polite, aren't you.

Gu Chenghuai muttered to himself while pouring water into the small wooden basin.

Ercai squatted there, scrubbing his and his brother's sandals with great effort.

After walking on dirt roads all day, the children's sandals were so black they were an eyesore; the twins, who were clean freaks with obsessive-compulsive tendencies, couldn't stand it at all.

Glancing over and seeing Gu Chenghuai still there, Ercai looked up at him, "Dad, go do your own work. Why are you watching us?"

Thinking his dad was worried they wouldn't wash them clean, the child wrinkled his little brows, "My brother and I know how to wash clothes; we can wash them clean!"

"..."

Gu Chenghuai examined his face; it didn't look thick-skinned, so how could he think he was watching them?

"You're overthinking it. I'm not watching you; I'm waiting for my wife," he said indifferently.

No matter how cold his words were, it didn't stop him from burning mugwort beside his two sons.

The mosquitoes on summer nights were quite venomous, and children had delicate skin; it would be serious if they got bitten.

His wife would worry.

Gu Da Cai smelled the familiar scent of mugwort, paused his laundry movements, looked at his dad, and said, "Thank you, Dad."

"Thank you, Dad." Ercai, as usual, followed his brother's lead, his expression changing very quickly.

Gu Chenghuai didn't intend to help his two sons wash clothes; he felt he would eventually return to the military, and interfering too much with the children's habits wasn't good.

Besides, they were boys and couldn't be too pampered.

Compared to other children in the village, the two of them were living quite well.

Since their own father didn't offer to help, the other members of the Gu family certainly couldn't help wash them either.

Tie Chui brought out his little clothes, smiling happily, "Gu Da Cai, Ercai, I'll wash with you."

In the eldest son's room, Huang Xiulan lifted a corner of the bamboo curtain, peeking out sneakily, and said to Gu Yuanshan beside her, "Look at your sons; they've grown up all of a sudden."

"Gu Da Cai and Ercai are truly good role models. Since they came back to live here, Tie Chui learns everything from them; I don't have to worry at all."

Gu Yuanshan gave a straightforward reminder, "Once the new house for the third branch is built, they'll have to go back."

"Oh, you're so annoying." The smile vanished from Huang Xiulan's face instantly, "Can't you let me be happy for a while longer?"

"Fine, fine, fine, be happy as long as you like." Gu Yuanshan left, shaking his cattail fan, his straw sandals rubbing against the ground, making a faint rustling sound.

The main room.

Gu Fu was flipping through that tattered dictionary again, Quiet San Zai was curled up beside his grandfather, his clear, transparent black eyes staring at the dictionary, while Sizai slept like a little piglet.

"A-Chan has the good fortune of pasting matchboxes, and now that the family has split, I finally don't have to worry about her anymore." Gu Mu fanned her granddaughter, her hand moving with quite a large amplitude, the breeze reaching Gu Fu and Quiet San Zai.

Since her eldest daughter's life was going well, she couldn't help but think of her youngest daughter; she didn't know how Xing'er was doing, but seeing Quiet San Zai and Sizai there, she didn't say much more.

"Hmm." Gu Fu grunted, not even raising his head.

Gu Mu didn't feel bored and started talking about other things.

Lin Zhao was taking a bath.

As usual, she summoned the mysterious lucky draw wheel.

The task bar settled and updated.

【Prepared soda and pastries in advance, movie viewing experience +120%! Reward: 120 points.】

【Took the children to finish a movie, reward 240 points.】

【The meat sent by the niece touched the hearts of the uncle and aunt, reward 100 points.】

【Sharp eyes for treasures, found a treasure at the recycling station, reward 500 points.】

【Small worker settlement (matchboxes), reward 200 points.】

【Every dream is worth affirming and supporting; discovered the sports dream of a human cub (Wei Yan), reward 100 points.】

Daily tasks settled, total points: 1695.

"Whoa, hit the jackpot!" Lin Zhao's eyes lit up, and without hesitation, she deducted 1000 points and threw them into the lucky draw wheel.

The pointer spun rapidly, and her heartbeat accelerated along with it.

Gradually, the wheel slowed down and finally stopped on a grid emitting a faint cyan glow—

"Otherworldly Spirit Plant: Cyan-Luo Root (Primary)"

Appearance: Pale cyan, semi-transparent root, entwined with silver patterns, pulsing slightly as if alive.

Function: Gently regulates visceral functions, enhances basal metabolic rate. In short, nourishes the body and prolongs life.

Usage: Grind into powder, mix with honey water, and consume."

After reading the description of this item, starlight flashed in Lin Zhao's eyes; the surprise came so suddenly that her mind went blank for a moment.

Ahhhhh, her father's life-saving medicine!!!

Lin Zhao was incredibly excited.

Her parents had a deep relationship; they met in their youth and had lived together for over thirty years, never separated. No matter who had an accident, it would be a fatal blow to the other.

She worried most about her father because, in her memory, his health was truly poor.

And her mother? Because her mother was strong, she never mistreated herself since childhood, and her physical condition was quite good. She once heard her mother say that after giving birth to her eldest brother, her father specifically hired a powerful old Chinese physician to regulate her health, and even that physician was surprised by her good physical condition—it was rarely seen!

Her mother told her from a young age that when looking for a partner, she should use her father as a reference—find someone who was already very, very good, so life wouldn't be bad.

She had indeed used her father as a reference.

Lin Zhao was very satisfied with Gu Chenghuai. They had been married for several years, and their time together didn't even add up to a year, but she could still feel whether the man was worth it.

He was wholeheartedly devoted to her.

Thinking of this, a sweet smile bloomed on Lin Zhao's lips.

In a great mood, she simply threw another 500 points and drew again!

"Intermediate Scar Removal Cream"

Ingredients: Extracted spirit plant essence, fused with ancient refining techniques, containing repair factors.

Texture: Delicate and smooth, with a faint herbal fragrance.

Efficacy: Fades new and old scars, promotes skin regeneration.

Usage: Clean the scarred area, take an appropriate amount of cream, and gently massage in circular motions; use twice daily, morning and evening, for better results."

Whoa!

Whoa, whoa, whoa!!

Got exactly what she wanted!

Gu Chenghuai heard the humming coming from the bathroom; the sound was very faint, but his hearing was good, so he still heard it.

He moved a little closer, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly.

Lin Zhao walked out holding the dirty clothes and was stunned to see the man at the door.

"Why are you standing at the door? Trying to scare me?"

"Can't you think of something better?" Gu Chenghuai's brows revealed helplessness. He took the clothes from her hands, set them aside, signaled for Lin Zhao to sit down, took off the towel wrapping her hair, and patiently and meticulously wiped her hair, not forgetting to respond to her words, "Can't it be that it's rare to hear you hum, and I think it sounds good, so I wanted to get closer to listen?"

Before Lin Zhao could speak, Ercai's eyes lit up instantly.

"Mom is humming?" He had finished washing the sandals and was scrubbing clothes with his brother. He probably touched his face with his hands, as there was foam on his cheeks, "I didn't hear it."

The child was full of accusations, "Dad, you didn't call me!"

Gu Da Cai also looked at his father with resentment.

Lin Zhao was afraid the two cubs would make a scene, so she hurriedly said, "Your dad heard wrong; Mom wasn't humming."

The children believed everything their mother said, so they all said "Oh" in unison and continued washing clothes.

Gu Da Cai saw the clothes his mother had changed out of and said, "Mom, after my brother and I finish washing Quiet San Zai and Sizai's clothes, I'll help you wash yours."

"That's so nice of you." Lin Zhao smiled.

"Mom is nice too." Gu Da Cai felt his mother worked hard; she had to go to work, didn't rest after getting off work, and even took them to see movies and to the recycling station.

"Hmm, Mom is the best!" Ercai agreed, "Mom, I'll help you wash too."

The mothers of other children in the village couldn't bear to take them to see movies, nor could they bear to buy them soda or books. His mother was the best, so he also wanted to be good to his mother.

"You don't need to wash them; I'll wash them for your mother." Gu Chenghuai frowned slightly.

Since he was home, how could he let two cubs steal his thunder.

Lin Zhao couldn't stop laughing.

Gu Da Cai and Ercai felt it was the same if their dad washed them, as long as their mother didn't have to work hard.

"Then when Dad goes back to the military, my brother and I will help Mom wash," the filial Gu Da Cai offered voluntarily.

"Hmm." Gu Chenghuai didn't feel there was any problem with his sons washing clothes for their mother. The two boys were almost six years old, and their mother was so good to them, so they should help out.

"You two must listen to your mother. If anyone bullies you, call me."

Ercai still remembered the time his mother took them to the post office to call his dad. He was very curious about the phone, and his whole face lit up like a shining little sun.

"Dad, can you install a phone for our house?"

Lin Zhao shook her head with a smile, not saying that installing a phone was expensive, only saying, "Installing a phone requires electricity. If the brigade doesn't have electricity, it's useless to install one."

"Ah?" Ercai was disappointed, his invisible little tail drooping.

"Dad, when will the brigade have electricity?" He looked at his father with longing eyes.

Gu Chenghuai: "..."

They really thought he was omnipotent.

Gu Da Cai put the rinsed clothes into a clean basin and also said to his father, "It would be great if we could have electricity sooner. It's convenient, so Mom wouldn't have to light a lamp in the dark and wouldn't bump her leg."

"Your mother bumped her leg?" Gu Chenghuai's lips pressed into a straight line, looking at his wife with heartache.

He was the type of wife-slave who wouldn't frown even if he took a bullet himself, but couldn't bear to see his wife get a small cut on her hand.

"No..." it's nothing.

Before the last two words could be uttered, Lin Zhao's words were cut off by Ercai.

"Yes, Sizai woke up in the middle of the night to pee, Mom woke up to light the lamp, and then bumped her leg." His face was scrunched up; he hadn't said a word of pain even when bitten so hard by Lu Baozhen, but he felt heartache for his mother.

The child wiped his wet hands, rushed over to hug his mother, and rubbed his head against her.

Gu Da Cai also wanted to hug his mother, but he felt he was the older brother, a big kid, so he was embarrassed to go, staying where he was to continue rinsing the foam off the clothes.

"It's all my fault for sleeping too soundly; otherwise, I could have helped Mom light the lamp. My eyes are very bright; I can see even in the pitch black."

Ercai refused to lose, "My eyes are very bright too."

Gu Chenghuai didn't say anything at the moment, planning to go find Yang Junzhi tomorrow to ask about the brigade's electricity.

"It's nothing." Lin Zhao said helplessly.

When sleeping groggily, anyone could bump into something.

"It is something." Gu Da Cai said with a stern little face.

Ercai nodded in agreement.

His mother's skin was fair; bumping into things was terrifying—blue and purple, it looked painful just to see, and he didn't want his mother to get hurt.

"..."

Gu Chenghuai also felt it was something, "From now on, you two watch your mother and make sure she's careful when doing anything."

The twins' little heads nodded rapidly, their hair whorls spinning like the center of a small whirlwind.

Ercai remembered his father telling them to call, and said, "Dad, calling costs money, and my brother and I don't have any."

He blinked his big eyes, and the meaning on his face couldn't be easier to understand.

Gu Chenghuai's mouth twitched, "I'll leave you two one yuan for emergencies."

"How much is one yuan? How many calls can I make?" Ercai asked, thinking that the more he could get, the better; he could give the extra to his mother.

Gu Chenghuai didn't know the twists and turns in his son's mind, "One or two times."

Depending on the call duration.

If it's long, once; if it's short, twice.

"That's not enough!" Ercai said bluntly.

Gu Da Cai glanced at his younger brother and didn't say a word.

As the older brother, he knew what Ercai meant.

Gu Chenghuai's pair of pitch-black eyes appeared thoughtful, looking at his second son with a half-smile, "It's just for emergencies, not for you to call every day."

He only had a few yuan of pocket money every month, and he still had to buy things for Zhao Zhao; he couldn't squander it casually.

Battalion Commander Gu was calculating carefully in his heart.

"Alright." Not getting more money, Ercai didn't get angry either.

There was a warm breeze outside, and hair dried quickly. Gu Chenghuai put away the towel and went to the side to wash his wife's clothes.

He washed the outer clothes; the inner clothes had to be washed when no one was around.

Once he left, Ercai wrapped his arms around Lin Zhao's neck, his pink, tender mouth leaning toward her ear.

"Mom, I didn't get it this time, but I'll ask next time. All the money I get will be for you."

Lin Zhao picked up Ercai horizontally, bounced his little body up, and smiled, "Don't bother. Your dad gives all his money to Mom, and the little bit he has in his hands is for buying you gifts. Your dad is an adult; he can't have no money in his hands, right?"

It was the first time Ercai had been held like this by his mother. His excited little face turned red, his whole person was radiant, and a string of laughter spilled from his mouth.

"Right!"

His eyes were bright, "Mom, you're so strong."

"Yes, Mom takes after your grandmother." Lin Zhao smiled.

Ercai smiled brightly and asked, "Mom, I'm your son, why didn't I take after you?"

He raised his arms and said enviously, "I want to be strong too."

Lin Zhao was curious, "What do you want to be strong for?"

"To go up the mountain and fight tigers, how about that?" Ercai said excitedly, waving his little fists, his words ringing with conviction.

It was as if a boomerang had flown back and hit Lin Zhao right between the eyes.

He truly was her son.

Her father said that when she was little, she also made a fuss about going up the mountain to fight tigers.

"..." Not good at all." Lin Zhao rejected it flatly.

"The tiger didn't provoke you; why would you fight it?" She gently pinched her son's delicate nose, "Little rascal."

Still talking about fighting tigers; wasn't he afraid of being swallowed in one gulp by the tiger!

Ercai chuckled, "Alright, I won't fight it."

However, he still wanted to be strong, to be able to fight three people at once.

Seeing his brother about to start hanging clothes, he urged, "Mom, put me down first; I want to help my brother."

Lin Zhao felt emotional; they were truly brothers born into this world at the same time, their bond was so good.

She put Ercai down, stood up, and walked over to help the cubs.

The clothesline was a bit high for the children.

"Thank you, Mom."

"Thank you, Third Aunt."

"You're welcome." Lin Zhao curled her lips and smiled. Seeing the soap foam on the clothes had been rinsed off very cleanly, she praised, "Washed very cleanly, you've worked hard."

Gu Da Cai was very happy to be praised, his face full of smiles, "It's not hard work."

He liked doing things; the more he did, the less his mother had to do.

The children had little strength in their hands, and water was still dripping from the clothes. Lin Zhao wrung them out, spread her fingers to grab the collar, shook her wrist a few times, and hung the clothes up.

"You've played all day; it's time for you to sleep."

Ercai tilted his head, "Mom, don't we need to apply medicine today?"

He was talking about his hand.

"We do."

Hearing this, Gu Da Cai said, "Mom, my brother and I will brush our teeth first, and then apply medicine to him later, is that okay?"

"That's okay." Lin Zhao had to admit that her eldest cub was truly attentive and thoughtful, a pure little warm man. Having such a good son really saved her a lot of trouble.

While she went back to the room to get the ointment, the twins and little Tie Chui squatted at the courtyard's drainage outlet, brushing their teeth very seriously.

Lin Zhao didn't urge the children, letting them brush slowly, her eyes filled with pride as she looked at her sons.

Her sons were truly great.

Gu Chenghuai saw this scene, his eyes incomparably soft.

Sensing the man's gaze, Lin Zhao looked back, her lips curling up.

With the cubs' father there, she couldn't take out the scar removal cream she had drawn; she still applied the one he bought at the county hospital to Ercai.

"Alright, go to sleep; you have to get up early tomorrow morning."

Having been dragged to exercise for several days in a row, Gu Da Cai and Ercai knew how devilish their father was. Afraid of not getting enough sleep, they hurried off to bed.

They returned to the main room.

Gu Chenghuai expressed great satisfaction.

The next day.

Gu Chenghuai dropped Lin Zhao off at the entrance of the supply and marketing cooperative and turned to go to the post office to make a call.

After dialing the number, there were a few beeps.

A distorted male voice came through the receiver.

"Who is this?"

Gu Chenghuai spoke: "Gu Chenghuai."

After stating his name, he called out with some uncertainty in his tone: "Yunjian?"

The person on the other end of the phone was stunned for a moment, then laughed, his voice hearty, distorted to the point of being ear-piercing by the current.

"Chenghuai?"

"You actually remembered me? Rare! What's up?" Yunjian asked straight to the point.

This comrade-in-arms of his was taciturn; he absolutely wouldn't call unless there was serious business.

It couldn't be that he was calling to chat!

Gu Chenghuai didn't beat around the bush either, saying directly: "I have a nephew who is very interested in playing table tennis. Right now... what's the situation?"

Table tennis?

Yunjian actually knew some news and thought to himself that it was really bad timing.

His comrade-in-arms was probably going to be disappointed.

Some things were hard to say over the phone; how to make the other party understand was the key. He didn't know if the tacit understanding they had on the battlefield was still there?

He said: "The eagle had its wings shot through and fell into the river."

Gone!

Hearing this, Gu Chenghuai understood in a second.

This meant that even the sports committee system was in chaos.

"Understood."

Yunjian was happy and wasn't in a hurry to hang up; it was a home phone anyway.

"How old is your nephew?"

Gu Chenghuai said: "Over five years old."

"If he really likes it, let him study at the Youth Palace first. This situation will always come to an end, and then we can... push hard." Yunjian had people in his family in the sports committee system and knew that a certain leader above was very concerned about this area.

He felt that in a few months or a year, normal training could be restored.

"Thanks." Gu Chenghuai said thanks.

"Hey, we're brothers, don't be so polite and distant." Yunjian said unhappily.

Back on the battlefield, if it weren't for Chenghuai pulling him, it wouldn't have been just an arm injury; his life would definitely have been left behind. The debt of a life meant that in his heart, Gu Chenghuai was his brother, and he would definitely be unhappy if his brother was distant.

Gu Chenghuai's eyes flashed with helplessness, and he said: "If my nephew can really reach that step, I'll still come to you."

Yunjian was immediately satisfied.

"Rest assured, leave it to me. I can still handle such a small matter for our nephew!"

Gu Chenghuai: "..." ===== CHAPTER 97 =====