Chapter 91: “bringing Glory To The Nation”
“Got it,” Da Shitou called out.
As if possessed by a little bee, he was busy one moment fetching a stool for his uncle, the next pouring water.
He feigned composure, but his eyes kept darting towards his third uncle, his admiration impossible to hide.
He wanted to ask what movie they were going to watch, but the words wouldn’t come out.
Even though Gu Chenghuai deliberately suppressed his imposing presence and smiled, he still indulged Xiao Shitou’s request and picked up the dirty child.
The youth, mentally prepared, asked, “Uncle, what movie are we going to watch?”
Gu Chenghuai took in all of his hesitation.
“Female Pilots.”
Concise.
Not a word more.
Da Shitou, half-understanding, looked forward to the trip to the county town.
His younger brother, Xiao Shitou, sat calmly in his uncle’s arms, staring at Gu Chenghuai’s face.
Xiao Shitou was younger than the twins, usually quiet and timid, always appearing shy and not daring to speak much to strangers. No one expected him to proactively ask Gu Chenghuai for a hug.
Gu Chenghuai also didn’t understand.
In the troops, no children dared to approach him.
The children who were smiling brightly would instantly lose their smiles upon seeing him from afar, fleeing like mice encountering a tabby cat, their feet flying. Those who ran slower would cry loudly, tilting their necks back.
The cold-faced officer was surprised by the unexpected affection from a child.
Zhaozhao said Xiao Shitou was timid and hid from everyone, but now it seemed alright.
Gu Chan found the most presentable clothes for her two sons.
Black short-sleeved shirts and shorts, the most ordinary style, with a small pocket on the chest and pockets on the pants. There were inconspicuous patches on them, but they were much better than what they were wearing!
She walked out of the room holding the clothes.
Seeing her younger son still in Chenghuai’s arms, she smiled helplessly.
“Xiao Shitou, come down quickly. Go back to the room with your brother to change. After changing, go to your grandmother’s house with your third uncle. Your grandfather and grandmother miss you.”
Gu Chenghuai put his nephew down and casually patted his head, “Go ahead.”
The two stones went back to the room to change.
“Chenghuai, I’m cooking. Stay for a meal before you leave.” Gu Chan walked towards the kitchen, which was actually just a temporary shed and needed repair before it could be used.
“No, thank you,” Gu Chenghuai replied. “We’re building a house at home, and Elder Brother and Second Brother are there, so I need to be present.”
His serious demeanor made Gu Chan realize he was referring to the Lin family brothers.
She didn’t urge him further, saying, “Alright, go back and treat them well. Don’t give them a bad impression of you.”
This was the tacit understanding between siblings; they knew what the other meant without needing to say much.
“Okay,” Gu Chenghuai said briefly, not finding his sister’s words nagging, indicating he understood.
After the two stones finished changing, he didn’t delay further and left with his two nephews.
Seeing the stone brothers get on the soldier’s bicycle, the village children gathered around.
“Wei Chuan, Wei Yan, where are you going?” the leading dark-skinned boy asked, one foot on a large stone by the roadside, hands on his hips.
Wei Yan, who was Xiao Shitou, sat on the front bar of the bicycle, a smirk on his lips, and boldly said, “My uncle is taking us to the county town to watch a movie!”
“Watch a movie…?!” another child exclaimed, shocked.
The sparrows in the trees flew away with a chirping sound.
“Wei Chuan, is it true? Are you really going to the movie theater in the county town to watch a movie? Is it true? My mom said a ticket isn’t cheap. Are you really going to watch it?!” The dark-skinned boy took a few steps forward, looking at Gu Chenghuai repeatedly.
He heard this was the stone brothers’ uncle; he was so tall, and he carried a gun, truly remarkable.
Wei Chuan had a narrow and short waist, long legs and arms, and a delicate face tanned to a deep wheat color, which made his eyes shine even more brilliantly, as if his dark pupils were quenched with starlight, gleaming.
Standing there, his back was straight, like a small poplar tree in the desert that refused to bend, slender yet resilient.
“Yes!”
“My third uncle and third aunt are taking us to see ‘Female Pilots’.”
After answering his friends, he did a somersault and landed on the back seat of the bicycle.
Before he finished speaking, Gu Chenghuai pushed off with his long legs, and the wheels, crunching on the gravel, sped away.
The children from the village stood frozen in place, unable to take their eyes away for a long time.
As the bicycle left the village entrance, Da Huang darted out from a nearby haystack, joyfully running ahead, its tail wagging like a whip, occasionally barking twice as if clearing the way for them.
Seeing children in the village, it didn’t enter but waited at the entrance for its master.
“Dog! Da Huang dog!” Xiao Shitou grabbed the handlebars with his left hand, pointed at Da Huang with his right, and looked at his third uncle, shouting excitedly.
Da Shitou also saw Da Huang. Seeing its fur was glossy and its tail wagged merrily, its eyes were as gentle as a wheat field warmed by the autumn sun.
“Uncle, is this your dog?” he couldn’t help but ask.
A youth grown from the countryside soil couldn’t help but like Da Huang!
“Yes,” Gu Chenghuai said.
“Is its name Da Huang?” Da Shitou leaned forward to look at Da Huang and asked again.
“Yes.”
“It’s grown so well!” The youth waved at Da Huang. The arrogance in his eyes had faded, leaving only clarity.
Da Huang was intelligent and knew the two boys on the bicycle were his people. It slowed down respectfully, trotting alongside Da Shitou.
“Third Uncle, Da Huang is so smart!” the youth said clearly.
“This is a hero dog, didn’t your mother tell you?” Gu Chenghuai’s voice was deep, carrying a steady confidence that seemed to control everything.
“This is the Da Huang from Fengshou Brigade?” Da Shitou’s tone rose with shock. He couldn’t believe the Da Huang in front of him was the same pitiable creature his mother talked about.
“Your aunt took good care of him.” Gu Chenghuai’s wife was perfect in his mind, so it wasn’t strange that the dog was spirited.
Returned to Fengshou Brigade.
The two stones were doted on by Gu Fu and Gu Mu.
“You’ve grown taller.” Gu Fu patted his eldest grandson’s shoulder and said with a smile.
Gu Mu looked at her younger grandson with great affection, giving him candy and pouring him sugar water.
“Have you eaten?” she asked.
Gu Chenghuai calmly replied, “No.”
“Then let’s eat together.” Gu Mu immediately said, facing the kitchen, and called out loudly, “Eldest Daughter-in-law, make more, so the two stones can eat together.”
“Got it!” Huang Xiulan called back.
“Thank you, Grandmother.” Da Shitou said.
Gu Mu patted her grandson’s head, a smile on her face, “You’re so polite when you speak. This is your maternal family, it’s also your home. I’m your real grandmother, don’t be a stranger, just treat it like your own room.”
As they were speaking, the twins, having finished urinating, rushed back in a flurry.
The waistbands of their pants were still hanging loosely on their hips, their little hands tugging at them haphazardly, looking like they were in a desperate hurry.
Spotting the two stone brothers, the twins abruptly stopped, like two little calves crashing into an invisible fence.
“Brother Shitou! Brother Shi Tou Di?!” Er Zai’s eyes widened, and his voice rose to a shout, “Why are you here?!” He jumped up and down with excitement.
Da Zai was calm and his mind worked quickly. He asked, “Are you guys going to watch the movie too?”
“Yes.” Da Shitou nodded.
Er Zai grabbed his hand. His warm little hand was like a freshly made rice cake, sticking to it.
He jumped up and down with excitement, dragging Da Shitou in circles, like a playful puppy chasing its tail.
“That’s great! Brother Shitou and Brother Shi Tou Di can go too!” he exclaimed, his voice loud.
The Gu family members looked over, their mouths unable to stop smiling.
This Er Zai, he’s truly like a little sun, where does all that boundless energy come from!
“Brother Shitou, I’ll take you to play ping pong!” Er Zai pulled the stone brothers outside, saying repeatedly, “My dad brought us gifts, they’re super fun.”
“Okay, teach me.” Da Shitou was exceptionally kind to the twins.
Who doesn’t like a generous, cute, enthusiastic younger brother who’s like a little sun?
Xiao Shitou: (；一_一)
The ping pong paddles belonged to the twins; they had absolute control over who played.
The children gathered around the table moved aside, letting them in.
The stone brothers then saw that a rectangular table had been set up, with a flat surface and a vertical net in the middle.
“Brother Bang Bang, Brother Tie Dan, my Brother Shitou and Brother Shi Tou Di just arrived, can they try it first?” Da Zai asked for the opinion of Bang Bang and Tie Dan, who were holding the ping pong paddles.
The two boys didn’t linger on playing and handed over the paddles.
“Sure,” Bang Bang said, “Da Shitou, Xiao Shitou, if you have any questions, ask me.”
Da Zai stood in the middle of the table, his face serious, like a fair little referee.
“Brother Shitou, Brother Shi Tou Di, hit the ball with the paddles.” Seeing Da Shitou pick up the small yellow ball, Da Zai said, “Yes, that’s a ping pong ball!”
Remembering something, he calmly added, “Don’t squeeze the ball too hard, it will deflate.”
Tie Chui loudly exposed Er Zai’s embarrassing mistake, “Er Zai squeezed it hard and broke one. My mom said it’s a good thing Third Uncle earns money, he spoils the kids, otherwise he would have gotten a beating!”
Hearing this, Er Zai puffed up like Amber when her tail is stepped on, his little appearance looking fierce.
He jumped up and covered Tie Chui’s mouth with his hand, “Tie Chui!”
Tie Chui’s innocent eyes were full of innocence.
Sensing the shame and anger in his good brother’s words, he stood there, not daring to move.
Da Shitou quickly lowered his head, hiding the smile in his eyes.
“Do you get it?” Da Zai, unsure if he had explained clearly, scratched his cheek, “If you still don’t understand, Er Zai and I will demonstrate.”
Xiao Shitou spoke first, “I get it.”
If Wei Xiangdong and Gu Chan were present, they would have noticed that their younger son’s eyes at this moment were brighter than if he had eaten candy and meat.
“I get it too,” Da Shitou said, looking at his brother, “Come on, let’s have a game. Da Zai, you be the referee.”
Da Zai loved being a referee and happily said, “Okay, I’ll be the referee!”
Da Shitou used a little force with his left hand to hit the ball onto the table. The ping pong ball bounced up. Feeling its bounce, he slightly raised his head. Sunlight fell on his stubborn profile, his eyes defiant.
Youthful spirit is naturally elegant.
“I’m going to serve!”
“Xiao Shitou, be ready.”
He deftly tossed the ping pong ball high in the air with his left hand.
The small ball ascended, pausing slightly at its highest point.
The hand holding the paddle paused slightly and, at a tricky angle, sliced towards the falling ping pong ball. The instant the rubber met the ball, a crisp ‘tap’ sounded.
The ball flew out.
Xiao Shitou was playing for the first time, yet he moved like a veteran, as if he could predict the ball’s trajectory. With a flick of his wrist, he calmly received it and sent it back.
“Wow!” Er Zai cried out clearly, “Xiao Shitou is amazing! To play so well on his first try, he must be one of those talented individuals my mom talks about.”
His little mouth was very eloquent; when he sincerely praised someone, it could make their heart bloom.
Xiao Shitou, at five years old, had never heard such direct praise. His sun-tanned face flushed red instantly, his ears felt like they were steaming.
Even so, he could steadily receive the ball his brother hit.
“Xiao Shitou is amazing!” Tie Dan shouted in praise.
Gu Family’s children and the twins study, praise them when they deserve it, don’t be stingy.
“Da Shitou, keep going, don’t let your younger brother surpass you.” Lai Mei cheered along, pumping her fist.
122 Feeling that his younger brother was difficult to deal with, Da Shitou became even more serious.
Even so, after a few rounds, I still couldn’t catch the ball.
“I’ll go!” Tie Dan felt that Xiao Shitou fought well and was a good opponent. He voluntarily entered the ring, wanting to compete with him.
Little Stone gave a small nod.
“You serve.” Tie Dan said, stretching his right arm forward in a very deferential manner.
Xiao Shitou didn’t care, he served like his older brother.
Tie Dan didn’t catch it when it was hit.
Tie Dan: That’s not realistic!!
130 The ball fell on the ground, and Bang Bang picked it up.
“Can you do it? If not, I will,” he said.
Tie Dan snatched the ball, his expression serious. “Why not? It must be my skills being rusty. I practiced for two days, so how could I be worse than a kid who just picked up a ping pong paddle? That’s impossible!”
Not at all, in the eyes of adults, he himself was also a child.
Bang Bang lazily lifted his eyelids, a half-smile pulling at the corner of his mouth. The flickering light in his eyes clearly said, ‘Not giving up, are you? Give it a try.’
Tie Dan adjusted his mindset, and this was his serve.
Xiao Shitou caught it steadily.
It floated over again, and Tie Dan caught it with some difficulty.
To here, he felt the other party was difficult to deal with, and his expression became serious.
He didn’t want to lose to his younger Cousin, so he had to go all out.
Xiao Shitou was very calm. It was clear it was his first time holding a ping pong paddle, yet the paddle seemed to be an extension of his hand, becoming one with him. The disobedient ball was the same; no matter how difficult it was to hit, he could always catch it, and he did so with ease.
Tie Dan’s pressure increased, sweat seeping from his back, and sweat also trickled from the corners of his forehead.
Before long, he was defeated.
“Did you really play for the first time?” Tie Dan’s voice was hoarse, his mind blown, and he could hardly believe himself.
“Mm,” Xiao Shitou said softly.
Da Shitou testified for his younger brother, “The first time we knew of such… toys.”
146 “It’s not a toy.” Da Zai’s eyebrows furrowed earnestly.
“My father said that ping pong is a globally popular ball sport, and there’s even a World Ping Pong Championships. If you play ping pong well, you can also bring glory to the country.”
He has a good memory; he can remember most of what the adults teach him after hearing it once.
“You can still bring honor to the country?” Da Shitou was astonished.
“That’s right, my mother also says that out of all 360 professions, each one can produce a champion.” Da Zai spoke generously and confidently, his words reasoned and well-founded, “No matter what you do, if you strive to reach the extreme, your hard work won’t be in vain; it will pay off.”
Da Shitou pushed Xiao Shitou forward and asked on behalf of his younger brother, “Can Xiao Shitou learn?”
Xiao Shitou’s eyes shone like lamps, his gaze locked onto Da Zai.
Da Zai froze, thought for a moment, and said, “I think so. I’ll ask when Mother gets back.”
“I don’t know if playing ping pong counts as an iron rice bowl, but it would be great if it did,” Da Shitou said hopefully.
Glancing at his biological younger brother, who was tugging at the corner of his clothes, he sighed inwardly.
Xiao Shitou’s courage is too small; no matter how much he’s taught, it’s useless. Father says you can tell what a child will be like at three years old, and he’s already five. As his older brother, he is very worried about his younger brother’s future.
Just now, he saw Little Stone looking different for the first time, his eyes were shining, and he exuded a strange calmness.
Just one look, and he knew his younger brother really liked ping pong.
I don’t know if that pair of paddles is expensive. Relying on catching cicada nymphs, scorpions, and snakes, when will I be able to buy a pair?
“I don’t know if it counts,” Da Zai didn’t dare to guarantee, only stating the information he knew, “My mother said there are professional ball players, who treat playing ping pong as their job, that should count as an iron rice bowl, right?”
“If we’re talking about an iron rice bowl, it’s definitely not something anyone can get; there must be all sorts of requirements.” Da Shitou knew how important connections were, but he wasn’t the type to be easily defeated. Whether it was possible or not, he had to try to find out.
“Brother Shi Tou, don’t worry. When we see my mother, I’ll ask her for you. My mother is a high school student, she knows everything.” Er Zai said proudly. His eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled, and his eyes were pure and clean, looking very cute.
“Alright, thank you, Er Zai,” Da Shitou said gratefully.
“You’re welcome, Mom said that family members should love each other.” Niang Baozai always kept his mom on his lips.
“……”
…
167 Gu Chenghuai arrived at the new house, and the people who built the house were having a meal.
Seeing his figure, he simultaneously extended his right arm and gave a thumbs-up.
“Da Zai’s father, you’re something else!” Elder Uncle Chang Sheng spoke first.
Yes, he also came to help.
Another person said, “We’re all from the same village, so just having some miscellaneous grain wowo to fill our stomachs is enough. You’re making stir-fried dishes, and stir-fried dishes with shredded meat too, you’re too kind.”
“Yes, yes, I saw the meat in the vegetables and rubbed my eyes hard, thinking I had gone crazy from thinking about meat. I’ve built houses for so many people, and this is the first time I’ve seen shredded meat in vegetables,” Yuan Bao’s Father said.
He couldn’t bear to eat the meat, so he picked out the shredded meat from the vegetables, thinking of taking it back for his Yuan Bao to eat.
“We’re just starting to build, so we’re giving everyone a little boost. There won’t be any more after this,” Gu Chenghuai said with a smile.
He changed out of his military uniform and into old clothes with patches, then suppressed his imposing presence. He looked no different from the men in the village, blending in seamlessly.
“There’s no meat, but there’s plenty of mung bean lily soup.”
Originally, the people present were all a little uneasy. After all, Gu Laosan was already an officer, a genuinely successful person, and no longer the country boy who used to go up the mountains and down the rivers with them. They were always afraid of saying something inappropriate and making a fool of themselves.
When Gu Chenghuai said this, the people present felt that the sense of distance and unfamiliarity dissipated considerably, and the awkward atmosphere was broken.
“Do you have any candy? If you do, I’ll bring Da Wan over,” Uncle Chang Sheng said jokingly.
“Yes,” Gu Chenghuai’s expression did not change. “Any size of rice bowl is fine.”
Uncle Chang Sheng laughed heartily, “I was serious. If there wasn’t, I would have caused trouble.”
Gu Chenghuai smiled and said, “I’ll arrange it tomorrow.”
“Okay, we’ll be waiting!” another person said happily.
The foreman said, “Cheng Huai, don’t worry. We will build this house as quickly as possible and according to your and your wife’s requests. Rest assured.”
This person was invited by Gu Fu; everyone else listened to him.
Gu Chenghuai’s purpose for this trip was achieved, and he nodded with a clear and gentle smile, “Thank you for your hard work.”
Regarding this.
Yuan Bao’s Father sighed in his heart.
Lu Yizhou was also a capable person who came from the brigade, but in terms of character, he truly couldn’t compare to Gu Chenghuai.
You can tell just by looking at the wedding banquet for his remarriage.
Stingy affection.
Even though the family wasn’t short on money, they treated guests to wilted bok choy and not-fresh radishes for the wedding banquet, they wouldn’t even spare an egg.
…
194 Dongfeng Brigade.
Yuan Xiangniang arrived at the Lin Family’s home and saw her daughter was fine, with no sadness on her face. She breathed a huge sigh of relief.
After drinking a few sips of water to quench her thirst, she suddenly heard Song Xiwei mention that Zhaozhao’s colleague from the Supply and Marketing Cooperative asked Zhaozhao to help her younger brother find a partner.
Hearing this, Yuan Xiangniang put down the bowl, its rim bumping against the corner of the table with a *duang* sound.
She didn’t have the energy to pay attention, held her breath, and stared intently at Song Xiwei.
“Xiwei?”
“Is that what I think it is?” the woman’s voice was dry, her lips and teeth trembling.
Added 1.3k, will continue tomorrow~~
I’ll send it first and fix it later before I have a chance to check.
