Chapter 93: “seeing The World”
Li Fen saw Lin Zhao’s two sons for the first time, and seeing the cute faces of the two little brothers, her heart was suddenly struck.
“Zhaozhao, are these your eldest son and second son?” she asked knowingly, her eyes shining as she looked at the two sons, her voice unconsciously softening by eight degrees.
Eldest son and second son…?
The twins heard this fresh term, their eyes suddenly widening, and they burst into laughter, puffing out their little chests high, even the whorls on their heads exuding pride.
“Yes.” Lin Zhao touched the twins’ little heads one by one, saying softly: “Da Zai Er Zai, greet her.”
“Hello, aunt.” Two clear childlike voices rang out.
Li Fen gave candy to the twins, smiling broadly, “Eat candy.”
The twins remembered what their mom taught them and didn’t rush to take it, instead looking toward Lin Zhao.
After waiting for mom to nod, they reached out their little hands to take the candy, their faces blooming with brilliant smiles, “Thank you, aunt.”
“Such good boys.” And so generous too, not at all like countryside kids who haven’t seen the world, Li Fen thought.
She worked at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative and had seen plenty of countryside kids; most of them were timid, shoulders hunched, expressions evasive, not daring to make eye contact; or their eyes would be fixed dead on the candy in the glass case, swallowing saliva.
Lin Zhao’s two sons were more like city kids than city kids.
The next instant.
Another person entered the Supply and Marketing Cooperative.
His legs were unusually long, his posture tall and straight, high nose bridge, a pair of deep, cold, stern eyes, thick black eyebrows, very spirited; meeting his gaze gave a sense of pressure.
Li Fen glanced once and instinctively turned her head away.
This young man put even adults under pressure, his eyes like they could shoot out blades; she wondered if Comrade Lin was afraid of him usually.
Gu Chenghuai walked toward the counter where Lin Zhao was, his gaze warming, “Shall we go?”
As soon as the words fell.
The off-work bell rang.
“Let’s go!” Lin Zhao bent down, taking out the materials for gluing matchboxes, and those ten or so bottles of soda.
“Give them to me.” Gu Chenghuai reached out to take the things.
The twins saw the soda, their pitch-black eyes lighting up in a flash, synchronously turning to look at their mom.
Er Zai spoke up for them: “Mom, is the soda bought for us?”
“Yes, afraid you’d get thirsty while watching the movie.” Lin Zhao’s gaze was full of affection.
Da Zai Er Zai hugged her.
“Mom is so good.”
Lin Zhao touched the foreheads of the two sons, nodded to her colleague, took the hands of her two sons, and walked out of the Supply and Marketing Cooperative with Gu Chenghuai.
Outside, Song Yunjin was watching the Gu family children.
“Sis.” He called.
Then he said: “My brother went to Dongfeng Brigade at noon to deliver things to Sister Xiangxiang. When he arrived, big aunt was there too. Big aunt asked my brother to relay a message, saying she and Sister Xiangxiang both agree to what you mentioned yesterday, and asked you to help arrange it.”
What a coincidence!
The kind of perfect match, destined coincidence.
Lin Zhao was lost in wild thoughts and said: “Got it. Wait for me, I’ll go in and say something.”
Before the words finished, she turned back into the Supply and Marketing Cooperative and found Li Fen who was packing up.
She told her Yuan Xiang and her daughter’s response.
Li Fen was instantly delighted.
“Good, when I get back later, I’ll find my younger brother and tell him about this. We’ll set the specific meeting time then, okay?”
Lin Zhao had no objection, “Good.”
She knew Yuan Xiang would be at Dongfeng Brigade for at least half a month next, so they could meet anytime.
After relaying the message, Lin Zhao came out of the Supply and Marketing Cooperative again.
Song Yunjin came up to her and asked: “Sis, Sister Xiangxiang is going on a blind date? With…”
He pointed his index finger toward the direction of the Supply and Marketing Cooperative.
“Your colleague’s younger brother? What do you think, any chance?!”
“You already know.” Lin Zhao’s eye corner lightly lifted, smiling sideways at him.
The youth chuckled, instantly behaving, standing straight, but the curiosity in his eyes didn’t diminish a bit.
“Not settled yet, don’t tell anyone.” Lin Zhao’s tone was calm.
“Why would I say anything.” Song Yunjin muttered, walking side by side with his sis, saying softly: “Sis, my mom found Aunt Zhu, asking her to help find a match for my sis.”
Lin Zhao paused slightly underfoot, turned her head to look at him, brow slightly furrowed, “That Aunt Zhu who loves matchmaking the most?”
“Yeah. Sis, don’t you think Aunt Zhu is unreliable too? I think so too, what kind of people does she introduce.” Song Yunjin pursed his lips, expression somewhat dissatisfied.
“I still remember the one she introduced to you…”
That was when his sis had just graduated from high school.
Gu Chenghuai: “?”
Song Yunjin rattled on: “Wasn’t it the son of the grain station deputy director? She hyped him up to the skies. My brother and I secretly checked him out—he’s just 6 meters, shorter than you, shifty-eyed, extremely sleazy, and she blew him up as a promising young talent. After that, my brother and I decided to find matches ourselves; a matchmaker’s mouth can’t be trusted.”
Lin Zhao thought of it too, which was why she wasn’t optimistic.
She was a high school student, and that Aunt Zhu could introduce that kind; Sister Xiangxiang’s age… not small in worldly eyes, not much schooling, no job, and most importantly, rural household registration—indeed hard to find.
Not that she wasn’t good, but city people’s inherent biases.
“She introduces hers, whether to proceed is up to Sister Xiangxiang.”
Unreliable or not, Aunt Zhu’s connections were still commendable.
Song Yunjin felt his sis made sense, didn’t pursue it, and walked briskly to play with the twins.
Da Zai Er Zai were very curious about this youngest uncle of theirs, plus Song Yunjin was a chatterbox in front of family; soon the one big and two small ones got familiar.
Bang Bang and Lai Mei were older and took initiative to care for the younger siblings; Lin Zhao and her husband were very worry-free.
“Why didn’t I see Yu Yu?” Lin Zhao noticed no sign of Yu Yu and asked in surprise.
“Second sister-in-law, Yu Yu will cry and fuss if she doesn’t see her mom for a bit. She’s so little, can’t understand movies anyway, so we left her at home not to trouble us.” Gu Chenghuai’s voice was gentle.
Lin Zhao really didn’t know Yu Yu was so clingy to her mom; in her impression, little Yu Yu was always well-behaved, no crying or fussing, smiling, playing with Si Zai, very much like a big sister.
Gu Chenghuai’s cold eyes narrowed, his gaze sweeping over Zhaozhao’s face before shifting away instantly, saying in a light, breezy tone: “Has anyone introduced matches to you?”
“?”
Lin Zhao smiled lightly and said: “That’s ancient history from hundreds of years ago. You overheard it once and still remember it.”
“When did it happen?” Gu Chenghuai narrowed his eyes, voice steady and calm, “Why haven’t I heard you mention it?”
“What to mention? It was right after I graduated, when I didn’t even know you yet.” Lin Zhao laughed at him, “Gu Chenghuai, why so petty, huh?”
She tiptoed, holding the man’s face with one hand, making him look at the four sons’ backs.
“Look at those four. We even have four kids!”
Gu Chenghuai pulled down his wife’s hand, clasping it in his palm, not letting go for a long time, walking forward just like that.
“I want to know everything about you.”
Lin Zhao’s eyes sparkled with laughter, saying: “Aunt Zhu took the initiative to mention it to aunt. I originally didn’t know; I only found out when Yun Cheng complained about it.”
“Someone like that, I’d never look at. I have high standards, only like someone like you.”
A few words soothed the man.
Gu Chenghuai knew his looks, strong muscles… were all plus points; he said solemnly: “I’ll keep it up.”
Lin Zhao beamed, shaking their joined hands.
“Good, keep it up! When we’re old, you be a tall, spirited little old man, and I’ll be a stylish, pretty little old woman.”
Gu Chenghuai imagined the scene, his deep eyes filling with amusement, his whole aura softening, like a spring breeze.
Chatting and laughing, the group arrived at the movie theater.
Guo Meizhu had just gotten off work and saw Lin Zhao’s family from afar, waving her arm at her from a distance without coming up to disturb, hands in pockets, leaving straightforwardly.
“Mom, that ticket-selling aunt!”
Er Zai still remembered her.
Lin Zhao pinched her son’s soft little face, smiling: “Yes, mom’s middle school classmate.”
“Mom, after I finish junior and senior high, will I have such awesome middle school classmates too?” Er Zai picked up a yellowed leaf from the ground, fiddling with it in his hand, looking up at his mom, eyes bright.
Tie Chui followed suit, squatting to pick pretty leaves, then generously sharing with the dragon-phoenix twins.
Little friends had boundless energy; the whole world was novel to them, easily distracted by all sorts of things due to curiosity.
Lin Zhao was stumped by her second son’s question.
Who could guarantee that.
Where middle school classmates work wasn’t up to her.
Of so many classmates, after marriage, she only knew this one’s updates.
“Probably.”
Lin Zhao added: “But if you can get into university, you’ll have even more awesome classmates.”
Er Zai didn’t seem surprised, looking confident, “I knew it! Still need to take the college entrance exam.” He sighed.
The little friend was full of confidence, “I’m so smart, I definitely can get in.”
Gu Chenghuai watched his wife pump up the twins with chicken blood, but just smiled without speaking.
Didn’t expect the topic to jump to him.
“Dad, are you a university student?” Er Zai looked at his dad, big eyes like black grapes full of curiosity.
Lin Zhao looked helpless.
She remembered telling the two sons that she and their dad were both high school students; why ask again? What little pit was Er Zai digging for his dad this time?!
“…No.” Gu Chenghuai said calmly.
The little friend was so scatterbrained, jumping from one question to another.
Dealing with their ‘whys’ was already exhausting.
Zhaozhao was really hardworking.
So, his gaze toward his wife overflowed with heartache.
Lin Zhao saw at a glance what the man was thinking and lowered her eyes with a smile.
“Ah? Dad, you’re so awesome and not a university student!” Er Zai’s eyes flashed cunning, instantly putting on a surprised little expression, little mouth forming a big O.
He cupped his face with both hands, eyelashes fluttering, like discovering some great secret, “Then university students must be super awesome.”
The little guy got more excited, suddenly dashing to Lin Zhao, grabbing her clothes corner with his little hand, “Mom.”
He tilted up his little face, light gathering in his eyes, “When I grow up, I’ll definitely be more awesome than dad!”
With that, he sneaked a glance at Gu Chenghuai, rubbing his head against Lin Zhao, that smug little appearance as if saying: Then dad won’t need to protect mom anymore!
Gu Chenghuai: “…” So dramatic.
“I can get into university too!” Da Zai chimed in.
The bid for praise was too obvious; he blushed and changed the topic, saying to his brother: “Er Zai, to go to university, you gotta practice calligraphy well. University students need to write, and write nicely.”
He turned to Lin Zhao, “Right? Mom.”
Lin Zhao rubbed her eldest son’s little face, gently: “Yes.”
Er Zai’s face fell, but not wanting to disappoint mom, reluctantly said: “Fine, I’ll practice calligraphy well.”
Gu Chenghuai touched his head, steadily: “I’ll get you more calligraphy copybooks. Practicing with copybooks isn’t hard.”
Back then he didn’t even have paper; he was reluctant to throw away pencils he couldn’t hold anymore and practiced with a stick on the ground. Luckily, day after day of hard work paid off; his writing was decent, at least pleasing to Zhaozhao’s eyes.
Gu Chenghuai had no conditions to practice calligraphy and didn’t want his sons to suffer what he did, providing them the best conditions possible.
The previous generation strives so the next can be happy.
“What’s a calligraphy copybook?” Er Zai dangled the leaf in his hand.
Gu Chenghuai unhurriedly: “For practicing calligraphy, helps you write pretty characters.”
“I want it, thanks dad.” Er Zai pulled his dad’s hand, feeling his dad’s hand terribly big, putting both hands together to compare, little expression lively and cute.
As they spoke, they reached the theater entrance.
Lin Zhao clapped her hands, drawing the little friends’ attention; at this moment she felt a bit like a kindergarten class teacher.
“Okay, time to go in. It’s a bit dark inside; big friends hold little friends’ hands, we’ll line up to enter.”
The children were super eager; under Song Yunjin’s command, two per group, with the oldest Bang Bang and Lai Mei holding the dragon-phoenix twins, walking in orderly.
The lights now had low wattage, very dim, barely seeing the path underfoot; entering the unfamiliar dark environment, except the twins who’d been before, the other Gu family kids were a bit nervous.
Gu Chenghuai worried about the youngest dragon-phoenix twins, stepped forward, picked up San Zai Si Zai.
Lin Zhao touched the brother-sister pair’s little chubby hands, eyes gentle, smiling: “Scared?”
“Not scared.” Steady San Zai said crisply.
Si Zai buried her fluffy little head into dad’s neck, lotus-root-like arms hugging dad’s neck, in baby voice: “No.”
Lin Zhao pinched her daughter’s hand, smiling without speaking.
Little person, big attitude.
Song Yunjin walked at the front; he’d seen many movies, very familiar here, easily found seats, gesturing to those behind.
Seats all together, everyone in one row.
Song Yunjin took initiative to distribute soda, distribute candy; twins too young, none for them, just let them taste, afraid the two little ones would feel unfair, gave each half a peach crisp.
“Thanks~” The dragon-phoenix twins thanked softly.
Song Yunjin’s smile nearly split to the back of his head.
Tonight, his parents and brother would envy him again.
He was the first in the family to watch a movie with four sons.
“Sis, I’m useful, right? If there’s more good stuff like this, don’t forget to call me.” Song Yunjin’s seat was next to Lin Zhao; after sitting, he leaned over to say.
“Good.” Lin Zhao’s voice carried laughter.
Said he’d come for fun, but once here couldn’t stay still, took over, did everything possible; such a good helper must be called.
Beside them.
Bang Bang and the others sat down, butts like sitting on needles, fidgeting a good while before settling.
“Bro, the stool is so soft! Softer than our bed at home!” Tie Chui said in a tiny voice.
Tie Dan lightly gripped the handrail, pretending to know, “Stool’s padded with cotton underneath, of course it’s soft.”
Beside, Lai Mei looked around; under the dim lights, her eyes very bright like two beams, “So big inside, so many many seats!”
Bang Bang was also here for the first time, didn’t expect it to be like this.
But as the Gu family eldest grandson, he felt he should act like a big brother, so deliberately stayed very calm.
Really looking forward to school starting; the show-off-loving Gu family Bang Bang couldn’t wait to brag to classmates.
Xiao Shitou took a light sip of soda, looking around too, wishing to memorize everything in the theater; dad and mom probably never been inside, he wanted to remember to tell them when back.
“Bro, city is so great!” He looked at Da Shitou beside, eyes bright.
Da Shitou nodded, “We’re still little, lots of days ahead. Work hard, we can become city people too.”
He was very confident about this.
Gu Chan was different from other village moms, never resentful of life, always saying it would get better, it would get better, not a big deal.
Da Shitou grew up under such education; material life poor, but spiritually rich, never self-deprecating, full of confidence in the future.
Deeply believed persistence in learning would change his and his family’s fate.
Hearing the youth’s words, Lin Zhao leaned toward Gu Chenghuai; the man leaned over proactively.
Lin Zhao’s eyes flashed amusement, red lips to his ear, voice light and soft: “Youth, scales and claws soaring, chest holding mountains and seas. Big Sister taught the children very well.”
Gu Chenghuai held her hand, thumb circling her knuckles, familiar and natural.
“You taught very well too.” He said.
The four sons’ temperaments were good too.
Lin Zhao leaned toward her sons’ dad, slender shoulder bumping his, smile radiant, “Mom gets most credit.”
She never denied her mother-in-law’s credit.
While the couple spoke.
Xiao Shitou half-understood, looking blankly at his bro, “Bro, how to work hard?”
“…” Da Shitou was defeated.
How to work hard, should he say? Little friends besides learning, how else?
About to say something.
Bang!
Lights all went out.
The Gu family children had been prepped, hearts startled, instinctively seeking each other’s hands, gripping tight or hugging together, mutually emboldening.
Even the youngest dragon-phoenix twins didn’t fuss.
From some row behind, a little friend wailed loudly.
“Wahhh! So dark, I’m scared wuwuwu—” Voice super loud.
The projectionist backstage heard the cry.
The middle-aged man had seen it all, eyes didn’t blink, played at his own pace.
Screen lit up.
Crying stopped abruptly.
In the gaps as lines of text slid across above.
Er Zai, across Uncle Yun Jin, cupped his mouth, whispering to his mom: “Mom, me and bro are so brave, right? First time watching and we didn’t get scared to cry.”
“Yes, very brave.” Lin Zhao praised.
The twins smiled till their eyes squinted.
Main feature began.
Light and shadow on the screen danced in the children’s clear pupils.
They all sat straight, little hands properly on knees, soda beside ignored, candy wrappers crumpled in palms; no one thought to eat or drink a bite, all attention captivated by the new world on the screen.
Theater not quiet, occasional rustling talks or someone couldn’t help exclaiming.
No way, always someone couldn’t hold back, challenging the unwritten ‘watch quietly’ rule.
But even so, the children’s enthusiasm for watching movies undiminished, eyes full of stars.
106 minutes passed in a flash.
End credits played, the whole screening hall filled with reluctance.
Instantly lively again, noisy discussions rising and falling.
Lin Zhao and Gu Chenghuai had many kids, not rushing out, waiting till most gone, then slowly stood.
“Okay, let’s go out, watch your step.” Lin Zhao reminded the children.
Just after movie, standing up, heads still dizzy, like stepping on clouds or drinking fake booze.
“Hey!” The twins said in unison, voices crisp like silver bells.
“Got it, Third Aunt.”
“Third Aunt, you be careful too.”
…
Bang Bang knew Da Zai little brother’s grand ambition, watching steps while asking: “Da Zai, after the movie, still wanna fly airplanes?”
He thought flying airplanes really super hard, need learn lots of knowledge, overcome tons of problems.
Da Zai paused, little face serious, expression firm, “Yes!”
Bang Bang didn’t discourage, patted his shoulder, tone solemn: “Work hard! I believe you can do it.”
Paused, added: “Third Uncle is the smartest in our family, you’re Third Uncle’s son, you can achieve anything you want.”
Da Zai wrinkled his nose, unhesitatingly retorting: “My mom is the smartest.”
Lin Zhao tried suppressing her smile’s curve, but couldn’t hold it down.
Such a good eldest son, always thinking his mom was the most awesome!
Er Zai immediately stood up to support his bro, emphatically: “Right! Bro’s right, my mom is the smartest, even dad listens to mom!”
Bang Bang felt scalp tingle under the two brothers’ stares, decisively changed tune: “Yes yes yes, Third Aunt smartest, Third Aunt’s a high school student, of course awesome.”
The twins satisfied, tense little faces smiling again.
Er Zai tilted head to his mom, “Mom, going home now?”
Movie started just after three, length under 2 hours. Now just past five, sun still high, far from dark.
Lin Zhao looked at the children, voice mild, “Not yet, you rarely come to county town, any places you wanna go?”
Bang Bang and others not familiar with county, couldn’t say where to go or could go.
Looked at each other, waiting for someone to speak.
Seeing no one speak, Da Shitou suddenly stepped forward, volunteering: “Third aunt, wanna go to scrap recycling station, okay?”
“Sure.” Lin Zhao agreed without thinking, eyes curious, “Why the recycling station?”
“Wanna see if there are books.” Da Shitou said.
His dad got him a few books from there before; he liked them a lot, wanted to try his luck.
“Usually there are. Let’s go, take you to see.” Lin Zhao bent to pick up Si Zai, signaling Gu Chenghuai with eyes to hold San Zai.
Gu Chenghuai bent down, hands under little son’s armpits, easily lifted him up, put on his shoulder.
Not wanting wife to tire, took daughter from her hands too.
“Let’s go.”
No need to wait for slow-walking dragon-phoenix twins, speed doubled.
Under ten minutes, arrived at scrap recycling station.
So many of them startled the middle-aged woman dozing at the door.
“Comrade, we wanna go in and see if there are usable books?” Lin Zhao said while slipping her a few milk candies.
The woman took the candy, pocketed it skillfully, waved hand, “Go in, don’t touch stuff you shouldn’t.”
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