Chapter 71: “can’t You Just Coax Me?”
Behind.
Er Zai covered his mouth, but couldn’t hold back the laughter.
“Hee hee hee…”
The couple turned to look at him.
“What are you laughing at?” Gu Chenghuai looked down at his son.
Er Zai tilted his head back hard, meeting his dad’s gaze, with a brilliant smile, “Dad listens to Mom too, Mom is the eldest in our family.”
Gu Chenghuai neither confirmed nor denied what Er Zai said.
“So you have to listen to your mom.”
He really wouldn’t miss any opportunity to teach his son to listen to their mom.
“Of course, my brother and I both listen to Mom really well.” Er Zai said loudly.
He didn’t forget to step on Si Zai, “Sister doesn’t listen.”
Si Zai looked at Second Brother in bewilderment, hmm, what about her?!
The little clever one wasn’t one to be bullied, she da-da-da ran over and pushed Second Brother hard, but couldn’t budge him, her little face turning bright red with anger.
She puffed out her cheeks, stewing in silence.
A moment later.
She lifted her chubby arm, patted the spot on her head where it had been tugged, comforting herself.
Seeing this, Old Father’s heart melted.
A daughter like Zhaozhao, how could she be so adorable!
The usually steady and calm iron-blooded officer was now bubbling inside with one compliment after another for his daughter.
#Little Sweet Bean#
#Angry is Cute Too#
#No Wonder She’s Zhaozhao’s Daughter#
#She’s My Pearl in the Palm#
#Must Protect Her Well#
…
“What are you thinking?” Lin Zhao guessed that Zai’s dad was imagining something weird and poked his arm.
Her hand was gripped in return.
“Our daughter is so cute, just like you.” The man leaned in, his low, teasing voice in her ear.
Lin Zhao pulled her hand back, “Don’t just casually unleash your charm, okay!”
Gu Chenghuai’s brows were full of amusement, his tone softening unconsciously, “So, did I attract you?”
His looks were exceptionally outstanding, his demeanor upright and solemn, this flirtatious look only his wife could see.
Fresh.
Lin Zhao’s expression was indescribably complex, “Comrade Gu, I feel like I barely recognize you anymore.”
She smiled warmly, reached up to tug at the man’s handsome face, wanting to see just how thick-skinned he had become.
Gu Chenghuai leaned down slightly, making it easier for his wife.
“How don’t you recognize me!” His lips pressed tight, his face stern and cold, he said seriously and domineeringly: “I’m your man, we’re the closest, most intimate people in the world, you might not recognize anyone else, but you can’t not recognize me.”
Lin Zhao smiled without speaking.
Gu Chenghuai was very dissatisfied with her reaction, pinched her chin gently, tilting it up, his deep black eyes almost peering into her heart.
“What does the smile mean?” he asked.
Lin Zhao kept smiling.
Still smiling!
What did that mean?
Did she have other plans in mind, not wanting to be the closest, most intimate with him anymore?
Gu Chenghuai’s expression changed slightly.
“Zhaozhao!”
Lin Zhao blinked, looking innocent, but still not speaking.
She was just being naughty, wanting to see Gu Chenghuai anxious because of her.
The man’s expression shifted unpredictably, suddenly he took off his military cap, took a deep breath, looked away, and raked his five fingers fiercely through the prickly short hair at his forehead, combing back from front to back.
The motion casual, yet carrying a dash of handsome elegance.
Admiration nearly overflowed in Lin Zhao’s eyes.
Zai’s dad was getting more captivating.
Gu Chenghuai keenly caught it, his gaze pausing, black eyes showing helplessness, “Fun?”
“Can’t you coax me a little? Won’t kill you?” He ground his teeth darkly in frustration.
Back when they were just dating, every sentence was sweet nothings, after marriage she barely paid him attention, didn’t even write letters, and now this, no wonder he felt… if it was too easy, it wouldn’t be cherished.
Lin Zhao beamed, hooked his hand, shook it gently, “Chenghuai, it’s really great that you’re back. I love this surprise so, so much.”
Suddenly.
The cold hardness in Gu Chenghuai’s brows eased, his dark eyes rippling with laughter.
Just as he was about to say something, Er Zai walked up to him, pulled a long face, interrupting the young couple’s private talk.
Er Zai crossed his arms, unhappily saying: “Dad, can you not stick to my mom the moment you get back.”
“You made Mom come back two hours late, made Mom haven’t eaten yet, and now you’re still holding Mom talking, you really are…”
Couldn’t find the adjective, he got stuck.
Before his biological father could react, he continued the accusations, “Dad, you’re not without a mom, go find your mom.”
“I haven’t talked to my mom all day, can you go do something proper first?” By the last sentence, he was quite polite, giving his dad a suggestion.
One sentence after another, his little mouth going non-stop.
Gu Chenghuai’s mouth twitched.
Such a lively, clever kid, why did he have to have such a mouth.
Lin Zhao couldn’t hold back: “Pfft—!”
Her laugh set off a chain of laughter.
“Pfft!”
“Hahaha, Er Zai, Er Zai is such a treasure!” Gu Yucheng laughed heartily, clutching his belly.
The usually taciturn Gu Fu was also full-faced smiling.
Er Zai belatedly felt embarrassed, his ears heating up, a bit stammering, “W-what are you laughing at?”
“Yeah, Mom hasn’t eaten yet, right Mom?” He looked at Lin Zhao, asking seriously.
“Right, all Dad’s fault.” Lin Zhao smiled.
The shy little imp instantly became smug, putting on a “see, I knew it” face.
“…”
Gu Mu’s wound split open, her heart uneasy, she went back to the room to apply medicine.
She instructed Eldest Daughter-in-law and Second Sister-in-law to make dinner for the Third Son’s couple.
Smoke rose from the chimney, drifting upward. The sun had fully set, but the sky was still bright, Da Huang and Amber lay in the dog kennel.
Serene and warm.
…
After dinner, Gu Chenghuai opened one of the luggages, took out a pack of White Rabbit Toffee, a can of malt extract, a bottle of medicinal wine, a flashlight, and handed them to Gu Mu.
“Mom, the candy for the kids. Malt extract for you and Dad to nourish your bodies, this medicinal wine is for soothing muscles, can rub on normally too, flashlight for Dad, for lighting.”
Seeing Third Uncle brought them candy, precious White Rabbit Toffee at that, the Gu Family kids went wild with joy.
Such a big pack of White Rabbit Toffee, how many pieces each could get.
Bang Bang and Gu Lan properly thanked, “Thank you, Third Uncle.”
“Third Uncle is so nice~” Tie Chui always said this, silly but sincere, looking like an honest kid.
Lai Mei eyed the military uniform on Third Uncle, full of envy, the thought of enlisting bubbled up, “Third Uncle, I want to enlist too in the future! Do you think I can?”
Gu Chenghuai was slightly taken aback, didn’t discourage his nephew, patted his shoulder, encouraged: “Sure, eat well, study culture knowledge well, when you reach age, see then, you can try.”
Lai Mei’s skinny frame stood straight, face serious, nodded firmly, “Mm.”
Zhao Liuniang lit up, slapped her son’s shoulder, pumping him up with chicken blood, “Lai Mei, you gotta work hard, enlisting is promising, look at your Third Uncle.”
“When you wear clothes like his, eat as much meat as you want, as much candy as you want.”
“…” Not quite.
Troops were short on meat too.
Gu Chenghuai rebutted inwardly, face calm, not interfering with Second Sister-in-law teaching her son.
Zhao Liuniang leaned to Lai Mei’s ear, whispered: “Lai Mei, your brother is a rascal, our second branch has to rely on you, you make it, second branch makes it, you honorable, second branch honorable. Mom’s counting on you this lifetime!”
Lai Mei shook head and waved hands, “No no no no, I can’t take that.”
“You rely on my brother! This burden I can’t bear!”
Bang Bang behind him, tone gloomy, “Mom, didn’t you just say last night, second branch relies on me, you count on me this lifetime, and you forgot in one night!”
He couldn’t help the sarcastic tone, “Is your memory bad, or is your memory bad!?”
Zhao Liuniang hadn’t seen Bang Bang so close, who could’ve guessed it’d backfire on the spot.
She gave an awkward smile.
After a brief embarrassment, she straightened up righteously again.
“You’re both my sons, what’s wrong with relying on you!”
Bang Bang pursed his lips.
Lai Mei: “…”
Rare for his mom to need something from him, Lai Mei’s eyes lit up, instantly composed.
“Mom, if you wanna rely on me it’s not impossible, you and Dad gotta agree to me changing name.”
“Gu Domineering?” Zhao Liuniang’s expression unreadable.
“Mm mm mm.” Lai Mei moved his little stool closer to his mom, expectant look.
“Domineering your head!” Zhao Liuniang flicked his forehead with her finger, pain making Lai Mei jump.
“Change what name, your grandpa’s naming you, go go go, over there, you bad luck kid.”
Tie Chui thought Second Aunt was calling him, looked over curiously.
“Hm?”
Zhao Liuniang changed faces fast, in a blink from sharp-tongued to soft-spoken, “Nothing, not calling you, play, keep playing.”
“Oh.” Tie Chui responded, continued playing cloth ball with the dragon-phoenix twins.
Da Zai Er Zai were there too.
“Tie Chui, what do you wanna do in the future?” The question from Er Zai.
Hearing his younger brother’s question, Da Zai looked at Tie Chui.
Tie Chui scratched his head, grinned silly: “Haven’t thought. My dad says think about future when grown, just grow strong and sturdy.”
His brain not the sharpest, listened most to good buddy Da Zai Er Zai, so said: “Da Zai Er Zai, what do you wanna do in the future?”
Da Zai serious little face, said: “I wanna fly airplanes!”
Tie Chui’s mouth agape, awed.
“I wanna earn big money!” Er Zai said loudly, “I wanna buy big car, drive big cars.”
Tie Chui exclaimed: “Wow!!”
“Tie Chui if you don’t know what to do later, do it with me.” Er Zai looked at Tie Chui, seriously inviting him to join.
Tie Chui’s brain not sharp, but he listened, especially to Da Zai Er Zai.
He nodded his little head, “Okay.”
“Then it’s settled!” Er Zai’s tone upbeat, like his money-making career was starting tomorrow, profiting already.
Tie Chui reached out, hook-pulling pose.
Two tender hands hooked together.
Little friends’ crisp voice rang out, “Pull hook hang, a hundred years no change.”
Tie Chui said: “Er Zai ask again.”
Er Zai blanked, quickly got it, serious little face, formally asked: “Tie Chui, what do you wanna do in the future?”
Little Tie Chui sat straight, said forcefully and loud, “Drive big cars with Er Zai, earn big money.”
“Right!” Er Zai full of excitement.
Gu Chenghuai’s brow furrowed slightly, spoke: “Er Zai, don’t say that outside.”
“What words?” Er Zai turned to look at him.
“Earn big money those.”
“Why?” Er Zai shot up, little brows knotted, bearing his dad’s shadow.
Lin Zhao recalled original plot, knew the whole country would soon fall into chaos, must watch words carefully, or light then self bad luck, heavy then implicate whole family.
“Er Zai, listen to your dad.” She said softly.
“But why?” Er Zai full of doubts.
Da Zai was Mom’s most loyal fan, said: “Er Zai, whatever Mom says, you do.”
“…Okay.” Er Zai agreed, then to Tie Chui: “Tie Chui, us two endure for now, wait till we can say, then we say outside, sigh.”
“…”
Tie Chui followed Er Zai, “Good!”
Er Zai regretted not showing off to little pal yet, thought of something, to Lin Zhao: “Mom, when we can say, tell me, I gotta recruit soldiers buy horses.”
“?” Lin Zhao shocked daily by son’s learning ability, “Recruit soldiers buy horses, when’d you learn that?”
“Hee hee hee.” Er Zai grinned, “From Educated Youth Song, he tells us stories.”
Gu Chenghuai’s eyes paused, light tone, “Educated Youth Song?”
“Yeah, male educated youth at the educated youth point.” Er Zai didn’t think much.
Male, educated, youth…
Male!
“From big city, right?” Asked casually.
Er Zai didn’t know.
Lin Zhao didn’t think much, answered: “Heard from Haicheng.”
“Real big city.” Gu Chenghuai said indifferently.
Didn’t know what he looked like.
He hadn’t forgotten Zhaozhao once wanted to marry into a big city.
Chatty Er Zai had no end to words, scribbling on ground practicing writing, mouth babbling: “Yeah, super big big city. Dad, super means way bigger than big.”
Gu Chenghuai: “…” Didn’t need to explain so thoughtfully.
He graduated high school, barely counts as cultured.
Knew what super meant.
Er Zai’s words continued, inadvertently poking his grandparents’ hearts.
“My little aunt fought female educated youth for Educated Youth Song, to win his favor, got taken by Public Security!!”
Gu Fu and Gu Mu’s faces weren’t great, but not at grandson, disappointed in Gu Xing’er.
Lin Zhao reminded: “Er Zai, tone it down, don’t gloat so obviously.”
Er Zai contrary to the bone, but listened to mom and brother, obediently: “Okay.”
But he was happy.
Bad little aunt got taken away!
Da Zai saw brother’s expression failing, raised right hand, thumb and index to Er Zai’s mouth corners, pulled hard to straighten, trying to flatten that upturned mouth.
“Keep mouth straight.” He taught his brother.
Er Zai pursed lips.
“Good.” Da Zai nodded solemnly.
Gu Fu and Gu Mu exchanged a hesitant glance.
They meant well, but unnecessary!
Gu Chenghuai looked at his two zai, twins smarter than peers, spoke clearly without nonsense, brains lively.
Hard on Zhaozhao, teaching kids so well.
He turned to Lin Zhao, brows softening with affection, eyes glowing warmly.
Love brain always self-convinces.
“What did Gu Xing’er do to get taken?” Third Brother politely asked, tone flat like commenting on bright moon tonight.
Gu Family heard it, the indifference and distance in his words, yet no one found it strange.
Old Third rational, detached, no sand in eyes, such reaction normal.
Da Zai word by word: “My little aunt hit female educated youth, that educated youth aunt reported Public Security, then Public Security came, little aunt got taken!”
Gu Chenghuai unmoved.
Xing’er’s willful temperament, he expected this day.
“This is good.”
“Saves her messing around, making Dad and Mom clean up her messes.”
“In jail someone’ll teach Xing’er rules, a lesson’s good, let her know what can do, what can’t.”
Hopefully after this, she’d learn something.
