Chapter 301: “giving You A Big Pumpkin”
Gu Chenghuai’s impression in the family courtyard was that he was unsmiling, cold and distant; with him there, no one dared to speak up.
Lin Zhao showed a polite smile, nodded to the sisters-in-law, and followed her husband and son through the crowd.
“Gu Commander’s daughter-in-law is really outstanding. No wonder he remits money so actively. If I looked like that, my man would do the same, believe it or not?” This was said by people who hadn’t seen Lin Zhao.
The twins were generous and polite, greeting people with brilliant smiles, calling one “Aunt” and another “Auntie,” with very sweet mouths; no one could bear to glare at them.
“Yu Baoheng Bao are really generous. Gu Commander’s daughter-in-law really knows how to raise children.”
“This whole family is so good-looking!” A sister-in-law who was a face-connoisseur shouted in a loud voice, “I heard Gu Commander also has a pair of dragon-phoenix twins. I wonder when we can see them.”
Knowing that Lin Zhao was just visiting relatives and not accompanying the army, many military wives couldn’t understand.
Until Sister-in-law Zhang said, Comrade Lin has work back in her hometown; she’s a salesperson at the supply and marketing cooperative.
Now everyone wasn’t surprised!
Work is important; if it were them, they wouldn’t be willing either.
The troops also have work, but not much; you have to queue up for arrangements, and there are few sisters-in-law with jobs.
Lin Zhao held the twins’ son’s hands and followed Gu Chenghuai to Sister-in-law Qian’s home.
Qian Guiying was busy in the kitchen. Hearing a sound, she put down her things and came out, glaring at the stern man who had just come out of the room, “I’m busy. Why don’t you know to go check?”
The military region’s top-ranking leader looked innocent.
Wasn’t he just about to go check?
Knowing it was best to stay silent at this moment, he didn’t speak.
“Go do your thing. I’ll go check.” Qian Guiying took a towel from the clothes rack, wiped her hands dry, straightened her clothes, and quickly walked out.
Seeing the people outside, the smile on her face faded a bit.
“…Why are you here?”
Bai Taohua smiled and said, “I heard you’re hosting Gu Commander’s family today. I came to bring some vegetables.”
Qian Guiying frowned slightly, “We don’t lack vegetables at home.”
Bai Taohua set down the basket, “I know, it’s just a little intention from me. You know, there’s no man in my home, and we can’t finish the vegetables.”
This was a lie; how could vegetables not be finished? Every household only had not enough to eat.
“Your family has a hard time. Take the vegetables back to cook for the children. We have enough at home…”
When Lin Zhao and the others arrived, they saw this scene of refusal.
She didn’t notice, but Gu Chenghuai glanced at Bai Taohua’s figure, his brows tightening slightly.
He calmly withdrew his gaze and called out, “Sister-in-law.”
Qian Guiying turned at the sound and came to welcome them enthusiastically.
“…Finally, your family is here!” she said.
The twins looked up, their identical little faces showing brilliant smiles, and generously called out, “Grandma Qian.”
They were tiger-headed and lively, with fair and clean faces, wearing matching short-sleeved shirts and shorts, with feet in sparkling white warrior shoes, looking spirited and good-looking.
“Oh my, these are your family’s twins?” Qian Guiying looked at Gu Chenghuai and asked knowingly, “They look so spirited. Eyes and nose like you, mouth and skin like your wife. Really good-looking! So good!”
Her son and daughter weren’t married yet; she wanted to hold a grandson but couldn’t. Sister-in-law Qian loved children the most. Though stern, the troops’ children weren’t afraid of her; they all knew Grandma Qian was a very nice person and would give them good things to eat.
Qian Guiying didn’t ignore Lin Zhao either, “You’re Comrade Lin, right? Come in quickly, talk inside the room.”
Bai Taohua was left behind, ignored by everyone, her eyes full of gloom.
All these people looked down on her.
Did she want to be a widow?
She wouldn’t yield; she had to live better than everyone else!
The others present didn’t know that in this short time, this person had thought so far ahead.
Qian Guiying welcomed Lin Zhao’s family inside, noticed Bai Taohua was still there, casually picked up the vegetable basket she brought, shoved it into her hands, and sent her to the door.
“There’s something at home; I won’t entertain you now. Go back. Take the vegetables for the children to eat.”
With that, she patted Bai Taohua’s shoulder and turned to go home.
Bai Taohua’s face was like a color palette, indescribably ugly.
Seeing this, people who didn’t get along with her laughed out loud.
“Hahaha… Flattery doesn’t work anymore, huh! Sister-in-law Qian has sharp eyes and knows the vegetables from a certain person have a fox stench. She doesn’t want them!”
Bai Taohua’s eyes turned to knives at the person speaking, “Zhang Ping!”
The tall and sturdy woman who was called Zhang Ping dug at her ear with her finger, her action casual, her words harsh, “Don’t call my name! My proper name coming out of your mouth… smells so foxy it makes people want to vomit.”
Zhang Ping and Bai Taohua’s grudge went way back, rooted in Zhang Ping’s man—
This man had a brain that couldn’t think straight; between his own wife and Bai Taohua, he always chose Bai Taohua.
When Zhang Ping was pregnant with her youngest son, her hands and feet were so swollen she could barely move, and it was still the dead of winter with lots of clothes, making movement inconvenient. When she needed her man, Bai Taohua had her daughter ask Zhang Ping’s man for help every few days.
Light bulb broken, no water at home, child had a fever… countless things to help with.
Originally, knowing Bai Taohua had lost her man young, Zhang Ping sympathized a lot and helped her quite a bit. Who knew this person had no conscience at all, using her man without any politeness. Even the day before she gave birth, this person called her man over to help, nearly causing her to lose her life and the baby. She survived thanks to her big fate, but the child in her belly was pitiful, sickly and weak, not knowing if it could grow up. Because of this, Zhang Ping and Bai Taohua fell out.
Zhang Ping was straightforward, and with a brain-dead man who protected another woman, even though she made a big fuss, Bai Taohua wasn’t driven out of the military region.
This was her obsession.
Seeing Bai Taohua suffer a setback, Zhang Ping’s face nearly split from grinning.
Every word from Zhang Ping was a thorn, painfully sharp to the ears. Bai Taohua couldn’t take it, didn’t argue with her, and quickly left the scene.
Zhang Ping won for the first time, her face full of satisfaction, spat viciously in the direction of her dead enemy leaving, and also left the scene.
Today was all thanks to Gu Commander’s daughter-in-law.
Zhang Ping planned to send Lin Zhao a big pumpkin later.
…
Qian Guiying was married to one of the military region’s big leaders, and their house was quite large, about the same as the Ning family’s.
The male head of this house had graying hair, neither fat nor thin, with eagle-like eyes, sitting there full of authority.
His attitude was mild, especially toward Gu family’s twins.
“Chenghuai is really fortunate.”
When talking about work, this leader was very strict, but privately he was the mildest person.
Gu Chenghuai smiled, his gaze sweeping over his own wife, “Yes, I really am fortunate.”
Lin Zhao signaled him with her eyes to tone it down and said to Qian Guiying, “Sister-in-law, let me help you.”
“No need. How can I let a guest help? The meal is almost ready; you sit.” Qian Guiying took out candy and called the well-behaved twins sitting to eat.
“Thank you, Grandma Qian.” A tender, clear voice rang out.
Grandma Qian was nearly mesmerized.
“Good child, call me if you need anything.”
There was still soup stewing on the stove. She smiled at Lin Zhao and hurried to the kitchen.
Lin Zhao followed to help, “Let me help. There’s nothing to do outside.”
Qian Guiying’s impression of her improved even more.
Chenghuai has good taste; the wife he married is a good one. With a virtuous wife at home, a man can go further.
“Are your two little ones used to it yet?” Qian Guiying busied her hands, casually assigning Lin Zhao the task of peeling green onions without making her feel awkward, finding topics to talk about.
“They’re used to it!” Lin Zhao’s mouth curved up slightly, “With Mao Dan’er, Jing Mo, and Xiao Bai there, they’ve been looking forward to coming for a long time. They play so much they disappear every day.”
Qian Guiying’s impression of the twins was extremely good. Putting herself in a grandmother’s role, she protectively said, “It’s good for little kids to be lively. Active minds, good bodies too. Keeping kids cooped up at home every day is actually bad for them.”
Afraid Lin Zhao would think she was talking too much, she showed a shy expression, “I’m just saying casually. Don’t mind if it’s not right.”
“No, Sister-in-law Qian makes a lot of sense. I think the same.” Lin Zhao agreed very much.
Qian Guiying’s eyes became even softer.
The two women busied in the kitchen and soon finished the meal. Before Qian Guiying could call anyone, Gu Chenghuai came proactively to carry the dishes.
Qian Guiying teased, “Chenghuai has eyes for work, unlike my man, who hasn’t even washed a single sock.”
Gu Chenghuai smiled, “The leader has heavy duties and is busy with work. He always says you’re his wise helpmate. Because you take good care of the home, he can better complete his work.”
With that, he carried two plates of dishes out of the kitchen.
“Since you came, Chenghuai has become more cheerful.” Qian Guiying said to Lin Zhao, “He wasn’t this talkative before.”
Gu Chenghuai was a soldier under her man, one she thought highly of, and along with a few others, she often called them to eat. Privately, they were very close.
Just like her own children.
Lin Zhao pretended to be surprised, “Really?”
“Yes.” Qian Guiying said, “Before you came, he was very quiet, only knowing training every day, going out on tasks, eating at the canteen, living in the dormitory. The whole person looked lifeless. Once you came… everything’s different.”
She also carried dishes out of the kitchen.
Lin Zhao was slightly stunned.
She thought Gu Chenghuai was like Third Brother, training and living freely with a group of like-minded comrades, but she didn’t know he was like this in the troops.
Not surprising; Gu Commander didn’t like meaningless socializing anyway, and such a dull life fit his personality.
It seemed that such focused people succeeded better?
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have become a commander at such a young age.
Look at Lu Yizhou exerting so much effort but still not catching up to him.
Originally, he was supposed to be promoted at the end of last year, but the leaders considered it again and again, saying to wait a bit, mainly worried he was too young to hold down his subordinates.
After this training course, promotion to regiment commander was a done deal.
Gu Chenghuai had given Lin Zhao a hint, so she knew in her heart but pretended not to know anything on the surface.
She carried out the last two plates from the stove, and at the door, Gu Chenghuai took the plates.
“I’ll do it.”
Lin Zhao followed with light steps.
At the dinner table, watching the twins eat heartily, their identical little faces full of satisfaction, yet they knew how to praise, and their praising words were so sweet.
“Grandma Qian’s dishes are so delicious. I can eat two bowls of rice.”
“Um um, delicious, just as fragrant as Mama’s.”
Qian Guiying beamed with joy.
“If it’s good, eat more.” she said, “Heng Bao, eat as many bowls as you want. There’s plenty of rice. If not enough, Grandma will steam you some egg custard.”
“No need to trouble yourself; there’s enough rice for them.” Lin Zhao hurriedly said.
“No trouble, what’s the trouble?” Qian Guiying smiled indifferently. She looked at the twins, “If you’re not full, tell Grandma Qian.”
Yu Bao sensibly said, “Thank you, Grandma Qian. There’s enough rice; no need to trouble yourself.”
Qian Guiying’s heart nearly melted, her face full of affection.
Her desire to be a grandmother reached its peak at this moment.
After the meal.
Lin Zhao helped wash the pots and bowls, sat and chatted a bit more, then the family left.
The stern man saw his old wife’s face full of smiles and said, “You have a very good impression of Chenghuai’s wife?”
“Of course.” Qian Guiying waved the oiled paper in her hand, “This is what she brought. Chenghuai said his wife made the mung bean cake herself. I’ve invited so many people over, and she’s the only one who thought to bring something. How could my impression not be good?”
She didn’t lack mung bean cake, but the thoughtfulness made a big difference.
Anyway, Chenghuai’s family was proper and decent; that was beyond doubt.
“With a mother like that, no wonder the two children are so sensible.” Qian Guiying eyed them enviously, “If only they were my grandsons! Not saying two, even just one would be great.”
The man sitting on the sofa reading the newspaper: “…”
Didn’t even know where the daughter-in-law was, and already thinking of grandsons?!
Thinking too much, too far ahead.
“No, I have to send a telegram to urge…” Qian Guiying muttered.
“No no no.” Her man hurriedly said, “Have you forgotten you’re a new-era woman? How can a new-era woman do something like urging marriage? Let the children decide their own matters.”
Qian Guiying looked at him, “I don’t believe you don’t want to hold a grandson.”
Man: What’s the use of wanting? The son isn’t up to it.
As an open-minded father, he didn’t want to force his son into unwanted decisions, so he casually said, “What’s the rush? The revolution will triumph eventually.”
“…You’re just stubborn.” Qian Guiying ignored him.
“You like Chenghuai’s twins; just have them come often. Raising kids is tiring. I’m busy with work, and yours isn’t easy either. If you really got a child dumped on you, could you drop your work?” the man asked calmly.
“That won’t do; others can’t hold them down.” Qian Guiying said.
She wasn’t greedy for power; she really had no suitable person to take over. Even she couldn’t manage those people without her own man.
The man shrugged.
Qian Guiying’s peak desire to hold a grandson subsided, instantly calm.
Lin Zhao got home, had just bathed and wanted to go back to the room to lie down, when someone came to the house.
“Gu Commander’s daughter-in-law?” It was a straightforward female voice.
Zhang Ping entered the yard.
She set down the big pumpkin she brought.
“My homegrown big pumpkin. Please eat it, younger sister.”
Lin Zhao had question marks over her head, “Which family are you from, sister-in-law? I don’t think I’ve seen you before.”
“I’m Zhang Ping. It doesn’t matter if you haven’t heard; now you know.” Zhang Ping didn’t mention her man.
If not for the children, relying on the man to support the family, she’d have kicked him flying with one foot.
Lin Zhao thought of having befriended a Sister-in-law Zhang before and said, “I’ll call you Ping Jie, to distinguish from Hei Dan’s mom. I’m Lin Zhao.”
“Lin Zhao… I’m illiterate, don’t know how to write those characters. Your name sounds really nice.” Zhang Ping said without showing weakness.
There was no disdain in Lin Zhao’s eyes; she smiled and thanked her.
Zhang Ping saw she didn’t look down on her, relaxed her tense body, and smiled more genuinely.
“This pumpkin is very sweet. Good for porridge or making pancakes. When you finish, tell me and I’ll pick more for you. I planted a lot.”
Lin Zhao was a decent person; if others respect me a foot, I respect them a yard. This sister-in-law was so polite and even brought a pumpkin for her family; she wasn’t stingy either. She went into the kitchen and took out an oiled paper package.
“Thanks for the pumpkin, sister-in-law. This is mung bean cake I made myself. Take it back for the children.”
Zhang Ping took it neatly and smiled, “The kids at home will go crazy with joy.”
She didn’t stay long, didn’t even say why she came, whirlwind in, whirlwind out.
Leaving Lin Zhao baffled, but she had a good impression of Zhang Ping; a straightforward and efficient sister-in-law.
When Gu Chenghuai got home, Lin Zhao asked him, “Do you know Sister-in-law Zhang Ping?”
Gu Chenghuai’s expression was subtle.
