Chapter 134: “very Vain”
Meng Jiusi was still hesitating.
He was used to giving, and suddenly receiving something so precious left him feeling all mixed up, not knowing what to do.
“It’s settled then!” Lin Zhao saw her fourth brother’s character flaw and felt a bit heartbroken. He had never been unconditionally loved.
Poor fourth brother.
Damn human traffickers!
“Fourth brother, when are you treating your foot?” She changed the subject.
Meng Jiusi said: “Tonight.”
“The kerosene lamp is too dim. I’ll get you a few candles tonight.”
“Okay.”
Seeing his sister frowning and swatting mosquitoes, Meng Jiusi said: “…I dried some mosquito repellent herbs. Take some back later? Put them in a piece of cloth and carry it on you to ward off mosquitoes.”
“Really useful?” Lin Zhao’s eyes lit up.
She needed them.
The four kids needed them too.
Ever since the mosquito repellent bags lost their effect, she and the four kids had been having bad luck.
Gu Chenghuai didn’t attract mosquitoes, though she didn’t know if it was because his muscles were too hard for them to bite.
“Useful.” Meng Jiusi said firmly.
When it came to his expertise, his expression was confident.
“Then I want some. Your three nephews and one niece need them too.” Lin Zhao didn’t stand on ceremony with her own brother.
Thinking of her fourth brother’s two kids, she hesitated for a moment and asked: “Fourth brother, my two nephews are with their biological mother. No problems there, right?”
Meng Jiusi fell silent, a trace of worry flashing in his eyes.
His ex-wife was gentle at best, cowardly at worst, and her maternal family was full of crooked thoughts. Once he left, who knew what would happen.
Lin Zhao noticed something and said: “Fourth brother, don’t worry too much. I’ll find a way to inquire about the two nephews’ news. If they’re not doing well, I’ll bring them here.”
It was very dangerous for a girl to take a long-distance bus. Afraid his sister might have an accident, Meng Jiusi shook his head. “They’re with their biological mother, so they should be fine.”
At least they wouldn’t lack food or drink.
He had left plenty of money.
Lin Zhao was half-believing, half-doubting.
He didn’t seem very reliable.
She frowned slightly. No way, surely her fourth sister-in-law wasn’t that clueless!? Don’t let that happen.
Whatever, she’d find a way to inquire anyway.
“Fourth brother, where does your family live?”
Meng Jiusi dodged the question. “You should go. If someone sees you, it won’t be good for you.”
No one in Fengshou Brigade knew they were siblings. If seen, who knew what nonsense they’d spread.
“No, tell me first.” Lin Zhao used the same wheedling way she did with big brother, second brother, and third brother on fourth brother.
The three Lin brothers had been weak to their sister’s coquetry since childhood, let alone Lin Little Four, who was seeing his sister coquettishly wheedle him for the first time.
Meng Jiusi’s brows softened.
Before his brain could catch up, he blurted out an address.
After saying it, he dazedly covered his face.
Then he put on a serious expression.
“Zhaozhao, it’s very dangerous for a little girl to take the bus, especially if she’s pretty. Don’t rely on your strength and fearlessness. It’s really dangerous.”
Meng Jiusi had heard in the capital about young girls being abducted, more than one case. Train stations were full of all sorts of people. Who knew which smiling, honest-looking person might be in the human trafficking business.
“I’m not silly. If I go, I’ll definitely call for people.” Lin Zhao pretended to be unhappy.
Meng Jiusi was nervous and at a loss. “I… I…”
He wanted to comfort his sister but was clumsy with words, unable to say anything nice. In his anxiety, he bit the flesh in his mouth, wincing and sucking in a hot breath from the pain.
“Fourth brother?” Lin Zhao asked worriedly. “Did you bite your mouth? Are you okay?”
Of course it hurt since he just bit it, but… facing his sister’s concerned eyes, Meng Jiusi felt it wasn’t so bad anymore.
He waved his hand. “I’m fine.”
He licked it with his tongue tip, tasting a faint salty, bloody flavor in his mouth.
It was bitten open.
Seeing that his sister was deliberately teasing him, Meng Jiusi’s calm black eyes filled with helplessness.
Once the pain in his mouth eased, his tone grew solemn.
“It’s not safe for a young girl to travel by bus. Those thugs who traffic women and children always come in groups with many tricks. You absolutely must not travel far alone.”
Lin Zhao felt a slight warmth in her heart, but her face showed helplessness.
“I know. Didn’t I already say? I’ll call for people if I travel far.”
Meng Jiusi thought of the Lin brothers and finally relaxed his tense face.
“As long as you know. I don’t want you to have an accident.”
He had only recognized his sister a few days ago, but he was already aligning with the three Lin brothers.
Lin Zhao smiled.
“Fourth brother, I told big uncle about finding you. He was very happy and asked me to bring you some things. When it’s dark, I’ll have Chenghuai bring them to you.”
Meng Jiusi really lacked everything. After thinking, he didn’t stand on ceremony with his sister and said embarrassedly: “Sorry to trouble you all.”
“What’s that? We’re family.” Lin Zhao emphasized softly.
“Fourth brother, don’t feel burdened. Dad says us siblings are the closest people in the world, the ones we can trust and rely on no matter what happens.
I’m your sister. You really don’t need to thank me every time. I’m happy to have the chance to take care of fourth brother.”
She gazed at Meng Jiusi, her eyes earnest. “I’m so happy that fourth brother found his way home, back to us.”
Because of his bumpy experiences since childhood, compared to others’ malice, Meng Jiusi was even less used to accepting kindness.
Even as he repeated to himself in his heart that he was no longer that ‘pitiful wretch’ anyone could step on—he had dad, mom, brothers, sister, and many nephews and nieces… it still felt uncomfortable, even to the point of wanting to escape.
He stayed silent, eyes downcast. Lin Zhao couldn’t read his emotions.
She picked up the sharp stone Meng Jiusi used for gathering pig feed and bent down to cut pig feed herself. Of course, someone receiving education had no right to labor tools.
Lin Zhao’s movements were a bit clumsy at first. After all, since marrying Gu Chenghuai, she hadn’t gone to work. Luckily, she had muscle memory and soon got the hang of it.
Hurry and help cut enough so fourth brother could go back and treat his foot.
“Fourth brother, get used to us slowly. No rush. Dad told me not to push you.”
Lin Heling was perceptive and had seen many people. Just from meeting Little Four once, he knew his temperament.
He had specifically instructed Zhaozhao and the siblings to take it slow.
“…Dad said that?” Meng Jiusi came back to himself and saw his sister helping gather pig feed. He hurriedly tried to take back the ‘little tool’ from her hand.
“Yes.” Lin Zhao dodged with a sidestep and stuffed the cut pig feed into the basket. “Dad specifically told us.”
Seeing fourth brother didn’t resist hearing about the Lin family, she continued: “For the past twenty-plus years, whatever my brothers and I had, dad and mom always prepared an extra share. Our home still has a room for you. Your room has everything. Dad makes new clothes for you every year. Your wardrobe is… full of clothes, thick ones, thin ones, from small sizes to adult sizes…”
“Dad says it was his biggest regret not having the chance to let you wear the clothes he made.” The smile deepened in her eyes as she said: “He’ll sort out the ones made in the past two years and send them all over. Wait and receive them.”
Lin Heling had made them comparing to eldest and second brother, just a bit smaller. They fit Meng Jiusi perfectly.
“Right, dad also said he’ll make you a new cotton-padded jacket. Winters here snow and are very cold. Oh right, he also needs to make one for Grandpa Meng. He raised you, so he’s our Lin family’s benefactor. We’ll repay him as much as we can.”
Meng Jiusi was deeply moved.
He buried his head in cutting pig feed, his hand gripping it unsteadily.
His throat bobbed, his voice turning a bit hoarse. “Zhaozhao, have dad make it for you. My status is special; I can’t wear anything too good. Just give me an old cotton-padded jacket.”
“Old cotton-padded jackets aren’t warm.” Lin Zhao frowned.
She soothed fourth brother in a gentle tone. “Don’t worry. Dad knows. He’ll use new cotton, and sew a few big patches on the outside. No one will notice.”
Meng Jiusi knew his sister didn’t like hearing thanks, so he didn’t say more.
Lin Zhao was very satisfied.
She was strong and, once familiar, cut quickly, filling the basket. She clapped her hands. “Full. Let’s go back!”
“Mm.”
Meng Jiusi was afraid of running into villagers and looked at his sister. “You go first?”
“No.” Lin Zhao refused. “I still need to get mosquito repellent herbs from you. Your three big nephews and one niece are about to be bitten swollen by mosquitoes!”
She had a mosquito-attracting constitution, and so did the four kids.
Without mosquito repellent bags, they couldn’t even sleep well at night.
“Have your brother-in-law bring them tonight.” Meng Jiusi thought it too dangerous.
Lin Zhao laughed. “It’s this late. No one from the village comes to the foot of the mountain. Fourth brother, relax. I’ll be fine. Even if I run into someone, I have an excuse.”
She was a soldier’s wife with a job. Villagers who needed her help would give her face. Asking for some mosquito repellent herbs, no one would say anything.
In the end, that crazy momentum from the big city hadn’t reached the countryside yet.
Fengshou Brigade wasn’t close to the county. Trips there weren’t easy. Brigade members didn’t know much about outside matters, only vaguely that the city had caught some bad elements to be sent to the countryside to receive education.
Seeing skinny little kids among those receiving education, many villagers outright called it nonsense.
It took the brigade leader scolding them for them to stop complaining.
That was how it was.
People in Fengshou Brigade didn’t harass Meng Jiusi and the others. The unfriendly ignored them directly; the friendly ones gave a few extra glances.
Meng Jiusi looked at his sister and sighed softly. “You’re really lawless.”
“If someone sees us, you must stay far away from me and act like strangers. Got it?” He instructed worriedly.
“Got it.” Lin Zhao picked up the basket full of pig feed and walked ahead first. After a few steps, she slowed down naturally and turned her head. “Fourth brother, tonight I’ll have your brother-in-law bring you food too. Sleep later, okay?”
The mountain path was hard to walk, and Meng Jiusi with his limp walked slowly.
Noticing his sister deliberately slowing her steps, his eyes filled with gentleness.
“Okay.”
The sun had fully set, the daytime heat long gone. A mountain breeze brought waves of coolness.
The siblings chatted as they walked toward the foot of the mountain.
“Fourth brother, what do you do at night?”
Meng Jiusi was slightly stunned, recalling the past few days’ routine. His voice was calm. “Lie in bed, stare at the ceiling, or recite medical skills.”
Feeling it sounded boring, he smiled awkwardly. “Pretty dull, huh.”
“No.” Lin Zhao’s eyes were full of surprise at ‘how could you think that’, saying word by word: “I think it’s cool.”
Reciting medical skills.
She thought fourth brother shone brightly.
“Fourth brother, how about I bring you some medical books to pass the time?”
People needed goals, things they loved. Enduring like this, Lin Zhao worried about her fourth brother’s mental state.
Traditional Chinese medicine was so awesome. Every traditional Chinese medicine doctor deserved protection!!
Meng Jiusi was tempted, but afraid of getting his sister in trouble, he opened his mouth to refuse.
Lin Zhao guessed what he would say and cut him off domineeringly. “It’s settled. When there’s a chance, I’ll go get them.”
She had a storage ring. Hiding books was easy!
“Fourth brother, you promised to make big money for me to spend. If your medical skill doesn’t improve, when things open up, how will rich people come to you? You have to study, and study deeply.”
“I’m a worldly person, very vain. Just thinking of my fourth brother as a renowned divine doctor makes my face hurt from smiling!”
Meng Jiusi shook his head. “You’re not vain.”
Straightforward and fervent, bright like a little sun.
Lin Zhao wanted to cover her mouth and laugh, but lifting her hand, she disliked her dirty hands. “In fourth brother’s eyes, I’m good everywhere, right?”
Meng Jiusi’s sun-tanned ears heated up, his words unusually firm. “Yes.”
“Hahaha, fourth brother, keep it up.” Lin Zhao was in a great mood and laughed out loud.
Her laughter had an infectious charm.
Meng Jiusi unconsciously curved his lips, the last bit of gloom in his heart vanishing completely at that moment.
He looked up at the sky and suddenly felt he was favored.
As they talked, the siblings reached the foot of the mountain.
A beautiful woman was boiling soup in a pottery jar. The little girl called Xiao Xiao crowded around, smiling softly.
Nearby, a scholarly middle-aged couple: the man clumsily chopping wood, the woman washing clothes.
Noticing Lin Zhao, little friend Xiao Xiao hurriedly hid behind her mom, peeking out with just a pair of eyes.
Tian Ruo hugged her daughter and gave Lin Zhao an apologetic smile. “The child is timid. Don’t mind, Comrade Lin.”
Lin Zhao shook her head. “It’s fine.”
For them to have fallen this far, it would be strange if the little friend were outgoing.
She took out two candies and put them on the table. “For the child.”
Without looking at them again, she turned to Meng Jiusi. “Fourth brother, where’s Grandpa Meng?”
Meng Jiusi’s face looked bad. “Went to clean the pigsty.”
The village had no cows. They receiving education had to raise pigs—three of them.
It was all because his foot was bad; otherwise, Grandpa wouldn’t have to work so hard at his age.
Meng Jiusi gave the herbs to his sister.
“These are mosquito repellent herbs. They last six or seven days. If they stop working, come ask me for more.”
Lin Zhao took the leaves.
Yes, Meng Jiusi had no other containers and could only wrap them in large leaves he had picked earlier.
“Thanks, fourth brother. I’ll head back first.”
Meng Jiusi said: “Be careful on the road.”
Lin Zhao waved to him and left with light steps.
“Mom, candy?” Xiao Xiao looked at the two candies Lin Zhao left, eyes full of longing.
“Keep them.” Meng Jiusi said warmly.
Without waiting for Tian Ruo to thank him, he limped toward the pigsty. Grandpa was old; shoveling pig manure wasn’t work for him. Don’t strain his back.
Xiao Xiao took the candy but didn’t eat it, giving mom one and carefully putting away the other.
“Why not eat?” Tian Ruo asked.
Xiao Xiao smiled shyly and whispered: “Eating it all at once is too wasteful. If I lick it every few days, the days won’t be so bitter.”
Tian Ruo’s heart ached, tears surging.
Her Xiao Xiao.
Lin Zhao didn’t know about these things.
Not long after she left, she saw a tall figure ahead.
“Gu Chenghuai?”
The upright figure quickly approached. “Did you give the things to fourth brother?”
“Yes, fourth brother said he’d start treating his foot tonight.” Lin Zhao’s voice was light and happy, her mood great.
“When you deliver things tonight, bring a few more candles. I’m worried the kerosene lamp is too dim and he’ll miss the spot.”
Gu Chenghuai said warmly: “Okay.”
