Chapter 126: “hard-controlled”
Uncle Song led the dragon-phoenix twins upstairs. Song Yuncheng had long been thrown to the back of his mind, but fortunately he had anticipated it and didn’t pay much attention. He locked the bicycle, took a long stride with his legs, and followed.
“Old Song, whose kids are these two little dolls? They’re really handsome, chubby and plump, so fair, looking white and tender, even better looking than the factory director’s little grandson.” The middle-aged man who had been chatting with Uncle Song earlier saw Qian Bao and Yao Bao, staring at them, unable to take his eyes off.
Uncle Song looked proud, “Mine!”
“Yours?” The speaker’s tone rose high in disbelief, looking toward Song Yuncheng behind him, astonished, “Yun Cheng, are these your kids?”
Song Yuncheng had just stepped onto the last step of the second floor when he heard this and nearly tumbled straight down.
“No, I don’t have a partner, I’m not married, no kids!” He sped up his words, afraid that if he was a second slower, the news of him being unmarried with kids would spread throughout the staff dormitory.
Damn it, bad news travels fast.
Can’t let one’s guard down.
Uncle Song was also stunned in place by his old friend’s words, dazed for a full two seconds, then said, “These are Zhaozhao’s kids from my family, dragon-phoenix twins.”
“Dragon-phoenix twins? No wonder they look so alike. Your Zhaozhao really knows how to give birth.” The middle-aged man’s tone was envious and complicated.
Uncle Song reluctantly took it as a compliment to Zhaozhao.
“Where’s Zhaozhao? How come we haven’t seen her?” Most workers in the textile factory staff dormitory knew Lin Zhao, and they had watched her grow up.
“My sister is behind.” Song Yuncheng wouldn’t let anyone spread gossip about his sister, not even half a sentence; he had to nip it all in the bud.
“Oh, like that. Haven’t seen her in years.”
Uncle Song said, “You just didn’t catch her; my Zhaozhao was just here before…”
His old friend didn’t want to listen anymore and turned to leave.
It wasn’t that he wasn’t giving Old Song face; actually, he had heard it too many times. He kept talking about how his Zhaozhao came to see him, brought him this and that, how filial she was, that she had him this uncle in her heart, and hadn’t come the past few years because she had just gotten married and had a lot going on… blah blah blah.
Didn’t want to hear it.
Really enough!
Uncle Song reluctantly shut his mouth, muttering, “So picky!”
Then he raised his voice again, “Qian Bao, Yao Bao, one more floor and we’re there. Come, great uncle will lead you.”
The dragon-phoenix twins wouldn’t let him lead them. The brother and sister were seeing stairs for the first time and were super curious, wanting to climb themselves.
Yao Bao held the cloth tiger in her left hand and grabbed the handrail with her right to climb the stairs. Her short white right leg lifted high, landed steadily, and with one push, she wobbled up.
Qian Bao also clutched the leather ball and went up.
The little brother and sister felt a great sense of accomplishment, their eyes sparkling as they looked at Uncle Song.
Uncle Song got it instantly, “So awesome!”
The little dumpling grinned and continued climbing.
Song Yunjin saw his brother return from the third floor. He had waited ages for the dragon-phoenix twins and they hadn’t come up, so he couldn’t wait any longer and ran downstairs.
At the stair landing, he saw the two cubs.
“San Zai, Si Zai, why are you climbing by yourselves? Come, little uncle will carry you.” Song Yunjin bent down to pick up Yao Bao, but she pushed him away, “Myself, myself.”
The little milk dumpling said “myself” twice.
Song Yunjin regretfully withdrew his hand, “Alright then, you do it yourself. Want me to hold the cloth tiger for you?”
“No, no.” Again two soft refusals.
Song Yunjin didn’t laugh, but he couldn’t force the two cubs either, so he could only watch dryly.
Thus, the number of people watching the two little ones climb the stairs increased by one more: him.
Finally.
The dragon-phoenix twins climbed up.
Having reached the third floor, they weren’t done climbing and da-da-da ran toward the stairs to the fourth floor.
Song Yunjin hurriedly pulled them back, “San Zai Si Zai, our home is on the third floor!”
The dragon-phoenix twins stopped and turned back to look at him.
Two cute milky-cute faces looking at him made colorful happy bubbles squeeze out in Song Yunjin’s heart; he wished he could give them his most favorite things.
He pointed to the left, “Our home is this way.”
Qian Bao and Yao Bao weren’t stubborn; they listened to advice and didn’t fuss about going to the fourth floor, obediently coming over.
The two little ones walked ahead, curiously looking left and right, their black eyes full of curiosity.
Someone went to the communal kitchen to boil water and saw two explosively cute little children upon stepping out, “Aiyo, such good-looking kids, whose are they?”
Her loud voice drew out quite a few people; doors from various households opened, men, women, young and old poking their heads out to look.
“Indeed! Whose kids are these, so handsome.” Seeing Uncle Song, surprised, “Old Song, yours?”
Song Yuncheng feared these people would associate it with himself again and hurriedly said, “My sister’s kids.”
“Zhaozhao’s.” The woman looked closely at the dragon-phoenix twins and smiled, “They look like Zhaozhao, just as pretty as she was as a kid. Where’s your sister? How come we haven’t seen her?”
“She’s behind, coming soon.” Song Yuncheng said.
The woman went back inside to get some candy and stuffed it into the dragon-phoenix twins’ hands, “Here, good little ones, eat candy.”
Qian Bao and Yao Bao didn’t take it, looking up at great uncle.
The little brother and sister were smart and knew who was the boss.
Uncle Song smiled broadly, “Take it.”
The dragon-phoenix twins took the candy and said thank you in their milky voices.
That person said again, “So young and already saying thank you, just like Zhaozhao, sweet-mouthed.”
Others laughed too, “Just like Zhaozhao; she had a sweet mouth as a kid too.”
“I still remember Zhaozhao at a little over five; I was frying meat jerky and she ran over praising how good-looking it was. That little voice was so sweet, I couldn’t help but give her two pieces. Then she said, ‘Auntie, your meat jerky is so fragrant, can you give me one more? Zhaozhao wants one for each brother.’ She was so good, what could I say? Had to give it.” This was a neighbor of the Song family; the two families were close, the kind who would share a small bowl whenever something tasty was made.
The neighbors imagined the scene she described and couldn’t help laughing.
“Hahaha, a few sweet words cost you three pieces of meat jerky. Little Zhaozhao was so clever.”
“She was clever as a kid; even the older ones couldn’t outdo her!”
Aunt Song heard the commotion and came out. Seeing the little dumpling, she was first delighted, her voice full of thick laughter, “These are San Zai and Si Zai?”
So good-looking.
Song Yuncheng said, “They’re not called San Zai and Si Zai anymore. They have big names now: Gu Zhiqian and Gu Zhiyao. Mom, you have to call them Qian Bao and Yao Bao.”
Otherwise the two little ones would frown.
Aunt Song said warmly, “Qian Bao, Yao Bao.”
Yao Bao grabbed one of Song Yunjin’s fingers, looking at her with unfamiliar eyes.
Seeing that Yao Bao trusted him, Song Yunjin smiled till it flew off his face, “Don’t be scared; this is maternal great aunt, not a bad guy. She’s a couple with the great uncle who brought you the cloth tiger.”
Aunt Song looked helpless, thinking such a young child couldn’t understand.
But unexpectedly.
Yao Bao took two steps forward, lifted her little face with a sweet smile, and called in her soft little voice, “Maternal great aunt.”
Aunt Song was stunned, her eyes inexplicably heating up. She picked up the little dumpling, her voice crisp and enthusiastic, “Yes, maternal great aunt will carry you home.”
Yao Bao’s eyes flashed with tension, but seeing her brother following, she quietly patted her chest, her mouth corners curving into a shy smile.
The cute little cub was carried away, and the staff dormitory neighbors weren’t too happy.
“Yunjin’s mom, you’re so stingy. Letting us look a bit more won’t hurt.”
“Yeah, I wanted my daughter-in-law to hold these two cubs too, so our family can have such obedient and cute grandsons too.”
…
Aunt Song chatted with the neighbors, “Look later; the kids came all the way without even a sip of water. Zhaozhao’s family is here all afternoon; plenty of time for everyone to see.”
Hearing her say that, the people in the hallway dispersed, each returning home.
The Song family was very unfamiliar to Qian Bao and Yao Bao. After the two little friends entered, they curiously looked around everywhere. They were used to big open spaces, and entering the Song home felt like being shut in a box.
But at this moment, the siblings’ exploratory desire was at its peak, so they didn’t fuss about going out.
The Song brothers each carried one cub and put them on the sofa.
Their buttocks touched the soft stool, and the dragon-phoenix twins’ eyes lit up sparklingly.
“Soft.”
They said in unison.
Yao Bao’s voice was soft; Qian Bao was very calm.
“Sofa, do you like it?” Song Yuncheng sat next to Qian Bao.
Qian Bao didn’t have much like or dislike, quietly looking at him without speaking.
“Like.” Yao Bao smiled all soft and cute, pressing the sofa with her chubby little hands, saying softly, “Mommy likes.”
Mommy disliked hard stools; the little friend still remembered.
Aunt Song smiled and hugged her, “Yes, your mommy likes sofas.”
Thinking of Zhaozhao as a child, her eyes were full of laughter, “Your mommy loved the sofa at home the most as a kid; after school, she’d laze on it.”
Song Yuncheng remembered too, “I remember my sister being fierce and domineering. If Yunjin and I got into trouble, she wouldn’t let us sit on the sofa and made us sit on hard stools for a whole week.”
His buttocks had nearly grown calluses.
Uncle Song prepared milk powder for the dragon-phoenix twins, glanced at him sideways, and said, “You two were too naughty and didn’t deserve the sofa. I gave the authority to your sister; blame me if you must.”
“How could we.” Song Yuncheng said, “Nothing to blame; my sister wasn’t wrong, and Yunjin and I admit it.”
He had used the slingshot to hit someone, nearly hitting their eye; his sister punishing him was right, and he accepted it.
Uncle Song put the enamel mug on the table and said to Qian Bao and Yao Bao, “Great uncle made milk powder for you; you can drink it soon.”
Milk powder?
The dragon-phoenix twins were indeed thirsty. Yao Bao looked at her brother, eyes puzzled, “Brother, milk bottle?”
“Milk bottle is with mommy; wait for mommy.” Qian Bao calmly coaxed his sister.
Yao Bao turned her little head, stared at the door, and called out, “Mommy, mommy.”
Qian Bao imitated mommy’s manner, patted his sister’s head, and continued coaxing, “Mommy will be here soon.”
The two little ones were too cute; Uncle Song and Aunt Song both wanted to hug their grandsons.
Uncle Song took out mung bean cakes made through connections and gave one corner to each dragon-phoenix twin, laughing, “Eat mung bean cake.”
Considering his niece’s young dragon-phoenix twins, he had asked for them to be made small and dainty: crispy outer skin, sandy mung bean filling inside, so Qian Bao and Yao Bao could taste it.
Another thing the dragon-phoenix twins hadn’t eaten before; Qian Bao and Yao Bao happily took it and ate quietly. Tasting the sweet flavor, their eyes lit up.
“Yun Cheng, go pick up Yu Bao and Heng Bao. Yunjin, watch Qian Bao and Yao Bao carefully, don’t let them choke. I’ll go brew tea.” Uncle Song said.
Song Yuncheng thought it unnecessary but didn’t refute his excited dad, grabbed the car keys, opened the door, and went out.
He had just gone downstairs and hadn’t unlocked the bicycle yet when he heard Lin Zhao’s voice.
“Yun Cheng, where are you going again?”
Song Yuncheng immediately gave up unlocking and stood straight, “Dad asked me to pick up Yu Bao and Heng Bao.”
“?”
Heng Bao ran toward Uncle Yun Cheng, tiptoed wanting to pat his shoulder, but understandably even jumping wouldn’t reach, so he settled for patting uncle’s arm.
“Uncle, my brother and I are here; no need to pick us up!”
Song Yuncheng took the things from his brother-in-law’s hand, smiling helplessly, “Thanks.”
Heng Bao imitated his grandpa’s manner and waved his hand, acting all old-mannered, “No need to thank.”
Song Yuncheng pinched his cheek, “Home to eat mung bean cake; Qian Bao and Yao Bao are eating it now.”
The twins hadn’t eaten mung bean cake before and immediately looked expectant. They were hungry along the way.
The group went upstairs.
Lin Zhao asked, “Where did the mung bean cakes come from?”
“What else, Old Song asked someone to make them, specially prepared for the four cubs. Not only mung bean cakes, he also mixed milk powder. When I just came out, he went to brew tea again. I guess it’s for you and brother-in-law; Yunjin and I don’t have that fortune.” Song Yuncheng watched Yu Bao and Heng Bao’s feet, answering on his mouth.
The tea his sister gave, he and Yunjin hadn’t even seen the tea leaves dregs.
Lin Zhao curved her mouth, “How did I not know you like drinking tea? If you do, I’ll give you a can.”
With Gu Chenghuai around, with the cubs’ dad home, she had no mind for lucky draws; after all, men were perceptive, and without a good excuse, it wasn’t good to take out good stuff drawn.
Forget it.
Behave for half a month first.
“What tea?” Song Yuncheng asked unceremoniously.
“What do you like, chrysanthemum tea or green tea?” Lin Zhao asked.
Song Yuncheng had drunk chrysanthemum tea and didn’t like it much, so he said, “I want green tea.”
“Alright, wait till I get some and give it to you.” Lin Zhao noted it.
Lucky draw wheel took thousands of points, enough draws; surely could get green tea.
Song Yuncheng laughed out loud, “Thanks sis.”
After the adults finished talking, Heng Bao asked, “Mom, is mung bean cake tasty?”
Lin Zhao hadn’t eaten mung bean cake, only mung bean cake; she thought they should be the same, “It’s pastry made of mung beans, sweet, mung bean flavor.”
“Is it tasty?” Yu Bao asked.
“Very tasty.”
The twins sped up climbing the stairs.
Soon they reached the third floor.
“Yu Bao Heng Bao, turn left!” Song Yuncheng directed.
The two cubs turned left.
Not a few steps.
Song Yuncheng said again, “Stop, knock.”
Heng Bao knocked without a word. His hand touched the door and found it open, so he didn’t barge in rashly and tentatively called, “Qian Bao, Yao Bao?”
“Second brother!” Yao Bao slid off the sofa and da-da-da ran to the door.
Pulling open the door, the instant she saw second brother, she happily curved her eyes.
She raised her right hand to show Heng Bao the bit of mung bean cake on her finger.
“Look, sweet.”
Aunt Song saw the twins outside the door and thought this pair of brothers really looked alike, greeting them, “Yu Bao and Heng Bao? Come in quick, maternal great aunt will get mung bean cakes for you.”
The twins entered the room, curiously looking around everywhere.
Pulled by Song Yunjin to sit down.
Feeling the softness under their buttocks, Yu Bao whispered in his brother’s ear, “Heng Bao, this stool is soft!!”
Heng Bao nodded, “I noticed too.”
The two little brothers muttered softly; Song Yuncheng put the things his sister and brother-in-law brought on the cabinet, holding that live chicken with a troubled face, “Mom, where to put this chicken?”
Aunt Song gave each twin a piece of mung bean cake, glanced at the things Lin Zhao and Gu Chenghuai brought, and chided affectionately, “Zhaozhao, Chenghuai, you came and that’s enough; why bring so much, even a chicken!”
Gu Chenghuai said steadily, “After marrying Zhaozhao, for various reasons, we haven’t come much. Rare to come once; can’t come empty-handed.”
“No need to bring so much though; did you two empty your home?” Aunt Song didn’t know what to do.
She knew Zhaozhao’s family had moved back to the Gu family old house, and she herself didn’t raise chickens, so this chicken must be from the Gu family; hoped it didn’t bring her trouble.
“Yu Bao Heng Bao, you two say, is our home empty?” Lin Zhao asked the twins eating mung bean cake.
“Not empty!” The brothers said in unison.
Lin Zhao pulled Aunt Song’s arm and sat down, “Aunt don’t worry; I know what I’m doing.”
At this moment, Uncle Song walked in.
Upon entering, his gaze first fell on his family’s Zhaozhao, then slowly shifted to Gu Chenghuai.
“You’re here.” He said.
Lin Zhao’s voice was light and cheerful, “Uncle!”
Gu Chenghuai stood up and called, “Uncle.”
“Family doesn’t need to be polite, sit.” Uncle Song said as he found cups to pour tea for them.
Gu Chenghuai silently helped.
Seeing he had initiative in his eyes, not the type to sit like a grandpa, Uncle Song felt a bit satisfied with this nephew-in-law.
He only had one requirement for his nephew-in-law: good to Zhaozhao, unconditionally good.
Aunt Song saw the atmosphere a bit stiff and smiled, “Old Song, Zhaozhao and Chenghuai brought a chicken; see how to handle it?”
“Kill and stew it later; everyone eat together.” Uncle Song said.
Song Yunjin was thrilled, “Chicken to eat? Great!”
Even if no chicken leg for him, gnawing chicken butt would be happy.
The living room fan whirred; with so many people, the room was still hot. Uncle Song sent his two sons, “Yun Cheng, Yunjin, you two take the four cubs downstairs to buy ice cream.”
“Got it.” The Song brothers agreed and took Yu Bao and the others downstairs.
The ice cream place wasn’t far from the staff dormitory; Lin Zhao wasn’t worried.
Just right, she needed to talk about fourth brother; the cubs had to leave.
