Chapter 279: “too Loud”
Xiao Bai let out an “oh.”
Jing Mo looked at him, “Aren’t you missing her?”
If that’s really the case, he’s going to hit someone!
Xiao Bai quickly shook his head, his voice soft and small, “No, I hope she stays home a few more days, best if she doesn’t come back.”
Older Brother’s fierce look was scary, he was afraid.
Jing Mo’s expression relaxed, he sighed: “Impossible, Mao Dan’er said she’ll come again in a bit.”
Xiao Bai also sighed.
“What are you sighing for?” Jing Mo’s eyes were speechless.
“I’m afraid you’ll fight with her. You’re too fierce.” Xiao Bai said honestly.
“…” Jing Mo was speechless for a moment, raising his voice, “What are you afraid of, I’m not fierce to you.”
Xiao Bai looked aggrieved, “But, I’m just afraid.”
The older brother was frustrated, “Your courage is too small, this won’t do.”
“I can’t control myself.” Xiao Bai said.
Jing Mo pinched his little mouth, “When retorting me, you babble on, doesn’t look like no courage.”
Xiao Bai blinked his eyes, looking very easy to bully.
While talking, the brothers arrived at Ning Family.
“Grandma Ning, we’re here to find Mao Dan’er.”
Ning Lao Tai pointed upstairs, “Upstairs, you two go find him yourselves. Take it slow going up, don’t fall.”
“We know.” Jing Mo held his younger brother’s hand and went upstairs.
They familiarly stopped at Mao Dan’er’s door.
Knock knock knock.
A voice came from inside: “Come in!”
Jing Mo pushed the door open and went in, inside Mao Dan’er was doing homework.
“Mao Dan’er.”
Mao Dan’er didn’t expect it was the Meng Brothers, very surprised, “How come you’re here?”
He took out two oranges, gave them to Jing Mo and Guang Bai.
“Eat oranges, my dad bought them for me, sour and sweet, pretty good, I specially saved these for you two.”
Jing Mo thanked him, “Thanks.”
Xiao Bai also thanked him softly, looking as obedient as can be, “Thank you, Brother Mao Dan’er.”
“No need to thank.” Mao Dan’er waved his hand casually.
“What are you here for?” he asked.
Jing Mo’s tone was light and cheerful, “My little aunt is bringing Yu Baoheng Bao to visit relatives.”
The pencil in Mao Dan’er’s hand slipped, he turned back sharply, “Really?”
“Why would I lie, my little aunt’s husband said it, he even specially added an electric fan at home.” Jing Mo said.
Mao Dan’er clapped his hands, showing a big smile, “Great, it’s been so long since I saw Yu Baoheng Bao, and Aunt Lin.”
“When are they arriving, shall we go pick them up?” he asked Jing Mo’s opinion.
Jing Mo: “No need, my uncle will pick up my little aunt and Yu Baoheng Bao.”
No need to ask, he knew uncle definitely wouldn’t bring them, thinks they take up space.
Gu Chenghuai: You do have self-awareness.
“Okay then, we’ll wait for them at the military region.” Mao Dan’er said disappointedly.
Thinking that Yu Baoheng Bao would come soon, he got happy again.
He pulled open the drawer, inside were all the good things he saved for the twins.
“How long will they stay?”
Jing Mo was stunned, “I don’t know that.”
After eating the orange, Xiao Bai who was sniffing the orange peel spoke: “One summer vacation?”
The two little youths looked at him in unison.
“Makes sense.” Jing Mo said.
“Staying the whole summer vacation would be great!” Mao Dan’er was very excited.
Then he asked: “Where will they stay?”
Too excited, he even forgot about Gu Chenghuai applying for the yard.
“Staying in the yard my uncle applied for.” Jing Mo shrugged his shoulders, bumping his arm, “You forgot?”
Mao Dan’er did forget.
That evening, Meng Jiusi also learned the news that his younger sister was coming.
He was overjoyed.
“Just in time, I’ll be off the next two days, can help brother-in-law, add some things.”
Old Master Meng said: “Gu kid has pretty much added everything, right?”
“Pretty much, still short some small items.” Meng Jiusi understood his own younger sister, Zhaozhao was particular about life, liked pretty things, like cushions, blankets, or hanging curtains and such, Chenghuai might not think of everything, he had to go check.
“Then you help add some.” Old Master Meng was generous, went back to the room and took out a few Da Tuan Jie notes for him, “Take this money, buy things for Zhaozhao as you see fit, I don’t know what she likes, you young people have to handle it.”
“…I have money.” Meng Jiusi didn’t take it.
Old Master Meng pulled a long face, “Don’t talk nonsense! This is for Zhaozhao, you’re just running errands, no right to refuse on her behalf. This money has to be spent on that yard, I’ll check the accounts.”
Meng Jiusi: “…”
He looked over helplessly.
“What are you looking at, I mean what I say.” Old Master Meng snorted, turned and went back to the room.
Helplessly, Meng Jiusi had to take the money.
“Momo, Xiao Bai, you two stay home obediently, I’m going to old friend’s home to get some things.”
Xiao Bai rushed over and hugged his thigh, “Daddy, I want to go.”
Meng Jiusi doted on his child, for non-principle issues, happy to satisfy his son.
“It’s a bit far, have to ride bicycle, road is bad, your buttocks might hurt sitting, can’t cry about pain on the way.” Meng Jiusi said to his son.
“Not afraid!” Xiao Bai said crisply.
“Momo going?” Meng Jiusi turned to ask his older son.
Jing Mo also wanted to go out with daddy, immediately said: “Going!”
“Let’s go!”
Meng Jiusi went to push the bicycle, the brothers hand in hand waited at the door.
This trip to old friend’s home, came back with full harvest.
Went straight to the yard Gu Chenghuai applied for.
When they arrived, the yard door was open.
Xiao Bai ran into the house, “Uncle!”
After entering the yard, the little friend looked around.
Gu Chenghuai was hanging curtains, heard the familiar voice and responded.
Xiao Bai followed the voice into the room.
As soon as he entered, seeing uncle standing so tall, the little friend tried hard to lift his little head, shouted again.
“Uncle.”
“How come you’re here?” Gu Chenghuai responded, asked him: “You came alone, or with your brother?”
“Came with daddy and brother.” Xiao Bai answered, “Bought things, delivering them.”
Gu Chenghuai hung the curtain, jumped down from the table, “Bought what?”
At this time, Meng Jiusi came carrying things.
“Bought cushions and blankets from old friend, all things Zhaozhao likes.”
Gu Chenghuai glanced, indeed things his wife would like.
“Labored Fourth Brother.” He originally planned to make a trip tomorrow morning.
Meng Jiusi put down the things, asked: “What else is needed, tell me, I’ll prepare, next few days I’m on leave, plenty of time.”
“Pretty much done, the rest I’ll handle.” Gratitude flashed in Gu Chenghuai’s eyes, he refused verbally.
This was his and Zhaozhao’s home, as the man of the house, he had to put in effort.
“Okay.” Meng Jiusi didn’t insist.
He asked again: “Anything need help with?”
Gu Chenghuai said: “Actually yes, Fourth Brother help hang curtains, I’ll go transplant flowers and plants.”
“Get some mosquito repellent ones.” Meng Jiusi suggested.
“Got it.” Gu Chenghuai responded, patted dust off himself, went out the door.
Jing Mo looked at Meng Jiusi, “Daddy, can I help with anything?”
“You and Xiao Bai sweep the yard.” Meng Jiusi casually assigned work to his two sons, “After done, go back and make braised pork for you.”
Joy showed on Jing Mo’s face, “Daddy, you bought meat?”
Xiao Bai also pursed his lips smiling.
“Bought.” Meng Jiusi said, “Rare day off, how can not buy meat. Tomorrow morning take you to the city to play, going or not?”
The two boys were thrilled, jumping in place a few times, broom waving wildly.
While they were preparing here, Lin Zhao from Fengshou Brigade set off with the twins.
Just out of village entrance, Heng Bao turned back to look, sighed: “Gonna be long time before seeing Qian Bao and Yao Bao, wonder if little brother and sister will still recognize us when we come back?”
Yu Bao’s little face serious, “Qian Bao and Yao Bao are two years old already, not newborn babies.”
Guilt flashed in Lin Zhao’s eyes, uh, two years old are still babies.
“Let’s go.”
Though reluctant to leave the two little ones, the decision made long ago, not good to change casually.
Twins turned their heads, saw the ox cart parked ahead, threw little brother and sister to the back of their minds, da da da ran over, climbed on freely.
“Grandpa Zhuang good!” The two kids shouted politely.
Old Zhuangtou gave each a crisp plum.
Twins didn’t take, looked to Lin Zhao for approval.
Lin Zhao nodded.
Elderly person specially brought for Yu Bao Heng Bao, not taking would be rude.
“Thank you Grandpa Zhuang.” Yu Bao thanked.
“Thank you Grandpa Zhuang.” Heng Bao also thanked, casually said: “Grandpa Zhuang, is this plum?”
“Yes, crisp plum.” Old Zhuangtou smiled kindly, “If afraid sour, leave for two days to eat.”
As he spoke, Heng Bao wiped the plum with his top, bit down.
The little friend with buzz cut was so sour his face scrunched up, showing a pained mask.
“So sour, so sour, my teeth are falling out.” He was sour beyond endurance, stuck out his tongue, eyes teary.
Even so, didn’t spit out the plum in his mouth, painfully and slowly chewed it into his stomach bit by bit.
“Silly kid, can’t eat sour then spit it out…” Old Zhuangtou said amused.
“Can’t waste grain.” Heng Bao nibbled the plum in his hand bit by bit, laboriously finished it.
His brother handed the water kettle to his mouth.
“Drink water, rinse mouth.”
Heng Bao gulped down several mouthfuls, only then suppressing the sour taste in his mouth, but his teeth still ached sour.
“Bro, my teeth…”
Yu Bao glared at him, “Serves you right, told you not to rush.”
Fierce as he was, he felt sorry for his brother, “Drink more water, it’ll ease up.”
Heng Bao drank water, “Older brother so fierce.”
Yu Bao continued glaring.
The kid looked away, didn’t dare complain more.
Old Zhuangtou couldn’t help laughing out loud, said to Lin Zhao: “Your two sons are really sensible.”
Hearing the praise, Heng Bao’s mouth nearly split to the back of his head, chin lifted high, eyes glancing at Lin Zhao, face full of expectant look for praise.
“They are sensible.” Lin Zhao said.
Twins sneaked a smile.
Mommy said they were sensible!
Old Zhuangtou smiled, lightly cracked the whip, old ox stepped forward.
Knowing Lin Zhao going to train station, Old Zhuangtou without a word sent them to the destination.
Mother and sons just got off ox cart, not far away came a slightly dissatisfied male voice, “Lin Zhao.”
Lin Zhao’s body stiffened in place, inexplicably guilty, didn’t dare turn to look.
“Great Uncle!!” The two kids shouted at the approaching man.
Lin Shichang walked near, rubbed the two older nephews’ heads, eyes full of anger staring at Lin Zhao.
“You’re leaving and didn’t tell me, still consider me your brother?”
“Parents not here, you just act willful!”
Lin Zhao felt in the wrong, didn’t dare raise voice.
She explained: “Didn’t you say you have no leave? Telling you what for, delay things. Besides, I can go myself, not first time on train, big brother you’re too nervous…”
“Lin Zhao!” Anger rose in Lin Shichang’s eyes, took a deep breath in fury.
Is he angry about that?
Pissed him off.
Big Brother Lin, long time since feeling younger sister’s rebellion, brain buzzing.
Lin Zhao met big brother’s fiery eyes, shrank her neck.
“…I was wrong.”
Younger sister admitted wrong, Lin Shichang’s anger whooshed out.
He deliberately kept a straight face, handed the things he brought to Lin Zhao.
“Prepared food for you, eat on the way.”
Said, picked up luggage from ox cart, thanked Old Zhuangtou, called Yu Bao Heng Bao to enter station.
Lin Zhao stuffed a handful of candy to Old Zhuangtou, trotted to follow.
Ahead.
Yu Bao occasionally turned to look at Lin Zhao, pulled Lin Shichang’s clothes corner with little hand, “Great Uncle, don’t be mad at my mommy. Great Aunt just gave birth to little brother, you have to go to work, also take care of little brother, mommy afraid you’re tired, so didn’t want you to see us off.”
Lin Shichang’s last bit of anger gone, heart sour and soft, felt he was too fierce to Zhaozhao just now.
“I know, but… still have time to see you off.”
He slowed to wait for the younger sister behind.
“What I’m mad about is mommy sneaking off with you, I at least need to know when you board, when you arrive, otherwise I… will worry a lot.”
These words reached Lin Zhao’s ears.
“Big brother, I know I was wrong.” She didn’t argue, obediently admitted.
Lin Shichang felt a bit awkward.
Zhaozhao always tough, even when wrong still tough, most common was giving them the dark back of her head, waiting for them to coax.
Suddenly admitting wrong…
Grown up.
But.
Made his heart feel weirdly uncomfortable.
“I was too loud just now.” Lin Shichang said.
Lin Zhao: “???”
…
Lin Shichang sent younger sister and nephews into the carriage, put luggage away, instructed a bunch of precautions, until train attendant urged, then got off.
He clung to the car window, still worried: “Zhaozhao, telegram me when arrived, no need worry about Qian Bao and Yao Bao, I’ll check on them every few days…”
Heng Bao said loudly: “Great Uncle, also Da Huang Xiao Jin and others, check on them too!”
“Will! Check all!! Listen to mommy on the way, no running around, be smart if something happens!” Lin Shichang said again.
“Got it.”
Train slowly started, from big to small, gradually out of sight.
Lin Shichang left worriedly.
On the train, Heng Bao and his brother heads together lying down, feeling the bed shake, smiles very bright.
“Mommy, when do we arrive?”
Lin Zhao tidied the food big brother stuffed her, “Takes a while, next few days all on train. You two anything tell me, no acting rashly, whoever doesn’t listen… I won’t take him out again.”
Brothers nodded seriously.
“Um um.”
Mother and sons on the clanging train, meanwhile Lu Family smoothly arrived at military region.
Lu Yizhou’s eyes went dark, bottom of heart surged with despair.
These days… can still live?
He thought he was utterly unlucky, didn’t expect even more infuriating.
“Deputy Battalion Commander Lu, leader wants you.”
