Chapter 117: “redwood Coffin”
“Wang Yaozu is not a good child, and you can’t bully other little friends who don’t have older brothers just because you have many older brothers, got it?” Lin Zhao led the twins back.
Beside her, Gu Chenghuai easily carried the dragon-phoenix twins, letting the two little friends wreak havoc on him, pinching his face, touching his chin.
Da Zai said seriously: “I’m a good child, I won’t bully others.”
“I won’t bully either!” Er Zai tried hard to show off, bouncing once and stepping on the dry fallen leaves on the ground, hearing the leaves crack, he curved his eyes and smiled, “I not only won’t bully, but I’ll also protect them, I’m a soldier’s child, punishing evil and promoting good is my duty and mission.”
Lin Zhao: “……”
These words had the flavor of his dad.
He must have learned it from Gu Chenghuai.
“Okay, okay, it’s your duty and mission, little comrade Gu Er Zai also needs to pay attention to his own safety.” She instructed.
Er Zai grinned, “Got it.”
“Your grandparents asked me to bring pomegranates back for you, share them after dinner.” Lin Zhao told the greedy kids there were pomegranates at home.
Tie Chui turned his head and asked bluntly: “Third Aunt, is there mine?”
“Yes, your brothers have them too.” Lin Zhao smiled.
She liked straightforward children, if they wanted to eat, they said so, she would definitely give, after all, they were family kids.
The Gu Family children all got happy and thanked Lin Zhao one after another.
Si Zai patted his dad’s shoulder, moving his pink little mouth, “I want! I want!”
His voice was soft, but carried a domineering tone that brooked no refusal. All spoiled by his dad.
Lin Zhao shot a glare at the man, see, she knew men couldn’t be relied on for raising kids, just a few days and they were already so spoiled!
Thinking this, her gaze toward her daughter was full of tenderness.
San Zai obediently buried in his dad’s neck, blinking his long eyelashes, little eyebrows furrowed, seeming not to know what his sister was fussing about.
Gu Chenghuai pressed his daughter’s occiput, directly suppressing her, “Be good.”
His good daughter really stopped fussing, rubbing her head against his neck, letting out a faint hum from her nose.
Lin Zhao: Truly sensible.
Er Zai was talkative, especially loving to show off how good his mom was to them brothers, remembering something, he shouted to Gu Mu: “Grandma, I want to raise a cat, Mom agreed!”
“Raise a cat? Why suddenly think of raising a cat?” Gu Mu had no objection, just curious where this idea came from.
“I want to hold it while sleeping.” Er Zai said.
“Then raise one.”
Er Zai climbed up the pole, “Grandma, do you know where there are good-looking cats? I can’t find any cats.”
Gu Mu immediately said: “Grandma will find one for you.”
Er Zai had a sweet mouth, blowing rainbow farts, “Grandma is the best, better than all little friends’ grandmas, I like Grandma the most! Grandma, when I grow up, I’ll be really filial to you, give you endless meat to eat, endless new clothes to wear.”
Gu Mu smiled so much her mouth couldn’t close for a long time.
She had many grandsons, but few with sweet mouths, who doesn’t love good words, she loved hearing them too.
“Good good good, Grandma waits for our Er Zai’s filial piety. Grandma will find you the most obedient and best-looking tabby cat.”
Er Zai: “Also the most powerful!”
Gu Mu laughed: “No tabby cat is not powerful.”
“Then okay, Grandma pick one.” Er Zai couldn’t stay still, out of leaves to step on, he started kicking pebbles, one kick didn’t send it flying, the pebble got into his sandals, he lifted his toes to shake it out, then kicked again.
“Don’t kick pebbles.” Lin Zhao pinched her son’s hand, “If the stone is sharp, your foot will get cut and bleed, bleeding means going to the hospital, serious cases need suturing, know what suturing is?”
Er Zai had seen Mom sewing clothes, one stitch after another sewing fabric together, imagining a doctor suturing his own flesh, he immediately behaved.
Da Zai had said this to his brother before, he would listen at the moment then forget, seeing Er Zai remember it, he curled his lips, thought of something, asked: “Mom, does Mao Dan’er need suturing?”
“No need, only if the wound is big and deep. Mao Dan’er has no wounds so no suturing needed, not sure if blood draw is needed.” Lin Zhao wasn’t a doctor, couldn’t be sure.
“Hiss! Blood draw?” Da Zai was shocked.
Er Zai was scared into an emoji face, eyes wide, “Ah?”
“Blood draw is a necessary method, sometimes used.” Lin Zhao explained.
“Must hurt a lot.” Da Zai frowned, eyes full of worry for his good brother Mao Dan’er.
It definitely hurt.
“Mom, I’ll raise myself strong, eat well, never go to hospital no matter what.” Er Zai said fearfully.
The lawless Gu Er Zai finally had something he feared.
“If not sick, no need to go to hospital, but if body uncomfortable, still have to go, can’t tough it out.” Lin Zhao feared the kids would conceal illness and avoid treatment, seriously added.
“……Okay.” Er Zai reluctantly agreed.
“Not okay, remember it in your heart, small illness can drag into big illness, can’t delay.” Lin Zhao thought, must instill the principle of going to hospital when sick into her son’s brain.
“Mm mm.” Da Zai said solemnly, “Mom, I’ll supervise Er Zai.”
Er Zai thought his brother dumb, “Bro, Mom’s here, if we get sick, Mom will take us to hospital, no need to watch me, whatever Mom says goes, if Mom takes me, I’m not scared wherever.”
Momma’s boy was like that.
Lin Zhao’s heart warmed, little kids had natural closeness and trust toward Mom.
She pinched her son’s soft little hand, eyes tenderly looking at Er Zai’s little hair whorl.
Da Zai said to Er Zai: “I’ll supervise you, if you get sick, I’ll tell Mom first thing.”
Er Zai suddenly realized, “Okay then.”
The eloquent little friend facing his own brother could only be convinced.
“Mom, is there more cat ear cookies at home? I didn’t eat enough.” Er Zai shook Lin Zhao’s arm, dragging his tone coquettishly.
Gu Chenghuai saw his wife being pestered by their son all the way, heartachingly looked at Lin Zhao, raising kids was really tiring, more tiring than his missions, Zhaozhao was truly hardworking.
“What do you eat enough of?” Lin Zhao asked amusedly, but she didn’t think it a problem, little kids being greedy was normal, especially these days food was scarce, also thanks to her super useful lucky draw system, otherwise hard to get good stuff.
Er Zai: “Mom～!”
“There are more at home.” Lin Zhao said.
Zhao Liuniang curiously asked: “Where’d you buy that in the county? Looks like pasta, crispy to eat, a bit sweet, deep-fried right?”
“Yeah, bought in the county.” Lin Zhao wasn’t panicked at all.
She did see someone quietly selling various snacks, not cat ears but similar, carrying a small basket walking streets for luck, she had been stopped too.
No way, Lin Zhao didn’t look short of money, looked like she’d buy.
This was why she dared bring out this snack, risky to stand out, she wouldn’t do it.
Zhao Liuniang wasn’t surprised, “County folks really know how to eat.”
“Mom, after dinner, can we eat?” Er Zai chased.
“Yes, max three pieces each, too many before bed not good.” Lin Zhao said.
“Good.” Er Zai wasn’t greedy.
Having some was good, Yuan Bao and them didn’t have any yet.
Back home, the Gu Family kids spotted at first glance the wild chicken hanging on the bicycle head.
“Bike head has chicken!” Tie Dan and Lai Mei rushed over, took down the wild chicken from the bike head.
The chicken shaken bumpy all the way, fainted, just woke now, flapping wings, startling the two big friends.
“It’s alive!” Tie Dan exclaimed.
Of course alive, her mom wouldn’t give her dead chicken, Lin Zhao thought proudly.
“Kids’ dad, go kill the chicken.”
Gu Chenghuai went to sharpen the knife without a word.
Knife sharpened, left hand grabbed chicken, right hand swung knife, slit the wild chicken’s throat, giving it a quick end.
Gu Mu brought over a porcelain bowl with salt, “Don’t waste the chicken blood, make chicken blood tofu.”
“What’s chicken blood tofu, I haven’t eaten it.” Er Zai came over, watching adults kill chicken, he wasn’t scared at all. Instead little Tie Chui ran fast, facing the wall corner, hands covering eyes.
“Grandma will make it for you.” Gu Mu said laughingly.
“Good.”
Meanwhile Lin Zhao went to the kitchen to prepare first, today’s chicken she would make herself.
The ginseng sent back to maternal family, she plucked a few rootlets, planning to put in the soup later.
Gu Chenghuai soldiered for years, many injuries, body needed supplementing.
Huang Xiulan and Zhao Liuniang weren’t idle, also making meal. Lucky the Gu Family kitchen wasn’t small, otherwise inconvenient.
Third branch’s pot brought back to old house, no lack of pots, two stoves burning at once, Gu Lan adding firewood, glancing at Lin Zhao now and then.
Seeing the little girl eager to learn, Lin Zhao didn’t hold back, taught her.
“Today one chicken two ways, stew chicken soup, make red-braised chicken chunks…” Lin Zhao spoke, everyone in kitchen subconsciously swallowed saliva.
Don’t look at Gu Family eating meat frequently, family still lacked oil, after all many people, dishes just had meat taste, no one could eat their fill, so every meat meal they anticipated.
Gu Chenghuai brought processed meat into kitchen, didn’t hurry out, walked to Lin Zhao’s side, asked his wife’s opinion: “Chop into chunks?”
Lin Zhao saw him proactively helping, didn’t refuse, “Yes.”
Man picked up knife to chop chicken, his strength big, bang bang bang few chops, meat chopped.
“Anything else need help?” Gu Chenghuai looked to his wife.
“No need, you go out, I’ll do it, quick, if hungry go room find something to pad stomach first.” Lin Zhao sent him out, got busy.
She habit meat blanched once, wash off gamey smell.
Kitchen burning fire, definitely stuffy hot. Gu Chenghuai conveniently opened all windows, let wind in, then went out.
Zhao Liuniang envied, “All blood brothers, how’s third brother so insightful, sees all the work.”
Thinking of her own man’s ways, angrily: “If my man, eldest sister-in-law believe or not he’d toss chicken to me, turn and go out, still mutter kitchen too hot inside?”
Huang Xiulan said: “Why not believe? These men rarely have eyes for work.”
Her man was okay, though not careful, but what you said, he’d do.
Lin Zhao couldn’t help laughing.
“Whatever need just say.” She said, “Make them habituated, later no need say, he’ll do proactively.” This called boiling frog in warm water.
Did Gu Chenghuai have eyes for work innate? No, wasn’t it taught by her.
Back when just dating, Gu Chenghuai very pure very dumb, he said whatever she needed just say, she said once he’d remember, don’t make him guess, he hadn’t dated, didn’t understand girls’ thoughts, feared guessing wrong and angering her.
Rarely, what she said, he remembered all.
Zhao Liuniang looked at Lin Zhao interestedly, “Works?”
“Whether works, try first.” Lin Zhao didn’t guarantee.
“Makes sense. If works, treat you to candy.” Zhao Liuniang planned to try.
“Good.” Lin Zhao agreed unceremoniously.
Gu Lan stole smiled.
Time flew.
Gu Family kitchen emitted intoxicating fragrance, at door and windows strung little heads, several pairs bright eyes staring at fragrance source, mouths tightly clenched, fearing saliva drip.
Amber trained by Gu Chenghuai, no longer barged into kitchen, just kept scratching door panel with front paws, making grating kaka kaka sounds.
Steady Da Huang also couldn’t hold back, squatting at door, eyes on stove, tongue lolling.
Lin Zhao smiled faintly at the kids, “Wait a bit more, almost done.”
Kitchen hot, her cheeks red, that slight smile like pear blossom kissed by morning mist, extremely beautiful.
Er Zai proudly: “Mom is really pretty.”
Then in negotiating tone: Mom, when I grow up, can you be my wife?”
Lin Zhao nearly twisted her ankle.
Five-ish year old little friend indeed one idea per moment, not strange, stay calm!
Bang Bang patted Er Zai brother’s head, “No! Blood related can’t marry.”
Er Zai half understood, little friend where knew what blood relation was, he just wanted to stick to Mom.
“Okay, then I won’t have a wife. All money I earn give to Mom!”
Seeing Gu Fu Gu Mu, added: “Also buy mahogany coffin for grandparents.”
“……”
“!”
Silence.
Dead silence.
Only wind sounds and water boiling on stove.
“Gu Er Zai!” Lin Zhao’s iron spoon nearly dropped, head ached badly, “Who taught you that?!”
Er Zai saw Mom’s serious face, somewhat scared, smile gone, weakly to his little hands: “I, I heard villagers say.”
Little friend showed grievance, “Village old grandpa said, if can prepare mahogany coffin for one’s journey, that’s most face-giving thing, I also want grandparents to have face. Mom why so fierce, where did I say wrong?”
Lin Zhao hadn’t spoken, Gu Mu heartached first, “Third son’s wife, don’t scare Er Zai, Er Zai pure filial heart, which family grandson thinks of grandparents first in good things, little kid knows what, don’t mind.”
She didn’t feel inauspicious, instead heart warmed unusually, hugging Er Zai calling him heart and liver treasure, “Aiyo my baby Er Zai, our Er Zai so filial, Grandma only hopes you have prospects, live well, ask nothing else.”
Elders’ love always simple and selfless.
Er Zai instantly coaxed good by Gu Mu, no longer aggrieved, smiled.
Da Zai looked to Gu Chenghuai, “Dad, where was Er Zai wrong just now, why was everyone weird earlier?”
Buying mahogany coffin what’s wrong? Village old grandpas all wanted.
Gu Chenghuai pondering how to reply.
Bang Bang said: “Because that talk, easy to be misunderstood as cursing grandparents.”
“Er Zai wouldn’t curse grandparents, we all like grandparents, we want to be filial to grandparents.” Da Zai hurriedly said.
Little friend full serious face, even Gu Fu’s heart warmed.
“Grandpa knows our Da Zai Er Zai filial kids.” He like old woman didn’t mind grandson’s childish words, everyone dies, what’s taboo, with such good grandsons, he felt death not scary.
“Third son’s wife, children’s words are innocent, don’t blame Er Zai.” Usually silent, rarely speaks to daughter-in-law yearly Gu Fu spoke up for precious grandsons.
Lin Zhao what more to say, “Okay, I won’t say. Er Zai, can’t say such words later oh.” She reminded Er Zai.
“Mom you just scared me.” Little friend aggrievedly accused.
Before Lin Zhao spoke, he clung to door, little finger scratching wood, seriously: “Mom, I’ll listen to whatever you say, can you not scare me, my heart will shatter.”
Lin Zhao stunned, “I didn’t scare you, I was just a bit excited, was Mom’s voice too loud, scared you?”
Seeing Er Zai nodding little head, she softened voice: “Mom apologizes to you, shouldn’t have been so loud.”
Er Zai immediately coaxed good, curved eyes smiling, “I don’t blame Mom.”
He fearless of heaven and earth, most feared Mom not liking him.
Lin Zhao smiled, “Thanks generous Er Zai, today’s chicken leg one for you.”
Little friend smiled happier, “Good!”
Mahogany coffin matter passed just like that, children’s words are innocent, family spat spat spat, no one minded.
After meal ready, Lin Zhao ladled a bowl chicken soup with several chicken chunks, had Gu Chenghuai send to Ning Family, twins missed Mao Dan’er, bouncing jumping followed.
