Chapter 59: “love Me, Love My Dog”
“I found a gluing matchboxes job and want to give it to Eldest Sister.” Lin Zhao said.
Gu Mu had heard the news that the city match factory occasionally sent out work.
But.
Isn’t this job pretty rare?
Many city people want it but can’t get it.
“Is this real?” Gu Mu excitedly stepped forward two steps, staring at Lin Zhao with fiery eyes.
“Of course it’s real. Sister Fen, who works as a salesperson with me, helped find it. I’ve brought back the materials for gluing matchboxes and will send them to Eldest Sister this afternoon.” Lin Zhao said slowly.
Huang Xiulan and Zhao Liuniang came out from inside the room, with gray on their heads.
“There’s such a good thing.” Zhao Liuniang’s eyes lit up, feeling glad in her heart that she hadn’t been petty and had a good relationship with Third Son’s Wife.
Look, hasn’t the opportunity come.
“Good luck.” Lin Zhao smiled faintly.
“Zhaozhao, if there’s more of this good thing, don’t forget us.” Zhao Liuniang spoke straightforwardly.
While speaking, she nervously watched Lin Zhao.
She knew that A Chan cared a lot about the third branch, helping continuously for more than four years without interruption. It was right for Third Son’s Wife to give the gluing matchboxes job to her.
She wasn’t greedy.
She just thought that if there was gluing matchboxes work, maybe there would be others, hoping they would have opportunities.
“Okay.” Lin Zhao nodded.
Her husband’s two sisters-in-law had clear heads and knew to repay kindness. If there were good opportunities, she was of course willing to help; it didn’t take much effort.
“Thank you, thank you.” Zhao Liuniang was delighted and thanked her repeatedly. “Having one income counts as one; money is needed everywhere. I still want to save a nice dowry for Yu Yu.”
Lin Zhao looked at her with an absurd expression, “Second Sister-in-law, aren’t you… thinking too far ahead?”
“Not far, not far at all.” Zhao Liuniang waved her hand. “Kids grow fast with the wind; in the blink of an eye, they’re grown.”
“There are still ten years or so.” Lin Zhao emphasized the time.
“Oh, just ten years or so, it goes by fast.” Zhao Liuniang still felt they should prepare in advance.
Huang Xiulan also felt it was fast. In her impression, Tie Dan and Tie Chui were still little monkeys crawling all over the ground, but in the blink of an eye, they could already run around the village!
Lin Zhao neither confirmed nor denied it.
Si Zai wasn’t in a hurry to get married; she hoped Si Zai would see the vast world before considering marriage.
Girls can’t be shortsighted, or it would be tragic.
Lin Zhao respected her sisters-in-law’s thoughts and said no more, instead taking out a few sheets of paper. “Mom, this is the drawing I made. What do you think?”
Gu Mu sat down and took it to look.
The paper showed a small courtyard drawn by Lin Zhao.
It was drawn very well; even she, an outsider, could understand it.
Several grand rooms, with two-panel sliding windows that opened wide, so one could imagine the good daylight inside the room.
The kitchen was still planned to be built in the original place, with the stove and large cutting board built of bricks inside, smoothed on top, and a large cabinet against the wall, looking bright and clean.
What caught the eye was the outhouse, divided into two areas. The left area for bathing, the right area an improved dry toilet, different from the village’s pits.
The pit was very deep, with anti-seepage treatment at the bottom, and ventilation pipes installed to reduce odors and fly breeding.
“Is this the outhouse?” Gu Mu held up the paper with the outhouse drawing, her face full of doubt.
“Yes, this way it’s clean.” Lin Zhao said.
She told her mother-in-law the benefits of the improved dry toilet.
Gu Mu convincedly said: “You still need culture; even you know this. When you’re done, I’ll see. If it’s good, we’ll change ours at home too.”
“Gu Chenghuai ordered extra bricks; we’ll pull them over then.” Lin Zhao said.
Knowing she never spoke empty words, the three women of the old house were all very happy.
“Thank you, Third Sister-in-law.” Zhao Liuniang’s face was full of smiles, casually praising Lin Zhao, “Da Zai’s mom, your new hair tie looks really nice.”
Being praised always makes one happy. Lin Zhao was in a great mood and took out two red hair ties from her pocket—actually from the storage ring—and gave one to Gu Lan on the spot and the other to Zhao Liuniang. “Second Sister-in-law, this is…”
Before she finished, Zhao Liuniang took the hair tie and smilingly took over the words: “For Yu Yu, I know. I’ll thank you on behalf of Yu Yu. Our Yu Yu has a red hair tie too.”
A red hair tie at the supply and marketing cooperative cost two fen coins; she had originally planned to buy one for the child at New Year.
The one from her Third Aunt was even nicer looking, seeming more expensive.
“No need to thank me; I’ll still have to trouble Eldest Sister-in-law and Second Sister-in-law next.” Lin Zhao said politely.
Gu Mu carefully put away the drawing made by Third Son’s Wife. “Third Son’s Wife, when your dad comes back, I’ll give it to him, and he’ll find craftsmen to build the house, making sure it’s spacious and nice-looking for you.”
She didn’t know where the old man had wandered off to; whenever there was serious business, he couldn’t be found.
Gu Fu, who was watching the children: “…” As the play said, if you want to convict someone, what words would be lacking.
“Parents are both capable and careful people; I feel very reassured leaving it to you.” Lin Zhao smiled and said some soft words.
Countryside people speak implicitly, not like her so direct in praising, but…
Gu Mu’s face couldn’t stop smiling from the praise.
Lin Zhao didn’t stay long at the old house and left after chatting a bit.
After walking a few steps, she saw from afar Er Zai and the little friends crouching on the ground, sticking up their little buttocks, seeming to be digging something. Beside them, little Amber imitated, digging with claws flying, soil flung everywhere, covering the cubs.
“Er Zai?”
Er Zai heard the familiar voice, turned his head, and saw his mom.
Oh no!
His body stiffened, he hurriedly stood up from the ground in panic, looking innocent, standing obediently, completely unlike the little dirty kid playing in mud a second ago.
Lin Zhao didn’t speak, staring at his hands.
Er Zai immediately hid his hands behind his back and explained plausibly: “I waited until the medicine dried before playing. Don’t believe me, ask my brother.”
Da Zai hadn’t played, but he hadn’t stopped his brother, so he felt a bit guilty, lowering his head to pick at his hands, not speaking.
“Play if you’re playing.” Lin Zhao had a super good mindset. “Anyway, you’ll wash the clothes yourselves.”
“Where are San Zai and Si Zai?”
Da Zai replied: “Grandpa took them for a walk.”
Er Zai wiped the dirt from his cheek with the back of his hand, directly exposing his grandpa’s thoughts. “I know. Grandpa thinks Si Zai with the bow looks good and took Si Zai to show off to his old buddies.”
“You know again.” Lin Zhao said slowly.
Er Zai shook his legs, chin held high. “Of course, what don’t I know.”
The surrounding little friends looked at the showing-off little guy with admiration.
“Who did you learn leg-shaking from?” Lin Zhao narrowed her eyes at him.
“If your dad sees this, he won’t wait till tomorrow morning; he’ll drill you first thing.”
Gu Chenghuai wasn’t as easygoing as her; that man was rigid and serious, most intolerant of delinquent behaviors like leg-shaking or whistling. If he saw Er Zai like this, he’d at least call him over to stand in the corner for half an hour to reflect.
Er Zai blinked his eyes. “What’s drilling?”
Lin Zhao hooked her lips in a smile. “When your dad comes back, you’ll know.”
“Brave cub, not afraid of difficulties.” Er Zai raised his arms, puffed out his chest, instantly full of style. “Any test from the organization, I can complete perfectly!”
His white tender little face dotted with mud, smile brighter than the sun, radiant.
Lin Zhao couldn’t outtalk him and lifted her foot to leave.
Suddenly remembering she had to go to Elder Sister-in-law’s house, she stopped and turned back to look at the two cubs.
“You two stay home properly. I’m going to your eldest aunt’s house and will be back before meal.”
Da Zai stepped forward two steps. “Mom, can I go with you?”
Er Zai couldn’t sit still, sliding to Lin Zhao’s front. Running too fast and stopping too abruptly, his little body leaned forward and he knelt down with a thud.
“Me! Me! And me!! I want to go too.”
“…” Lin Zhao raised her hand to pinch her brow. “I have serious business.”
Not that she didn’t want to take kids; taking one meant taking two, so troublesome.
“I can help Mom with serious business; I’m very useful!” Da Zai tried hard to sell himself, speaking twice as fast as usual.
Er Zai slipped up, wanted to hug his mom but was dodged by Lin Zhao in disgust. “Stand there and talk.”
“…Okay.” Er Zai looked down at his dirty clothes and sighed. Other kids in the village would have been spanked for this; Mom just disliked him, which was pretty good.
“Mom, going alone is so boring. Take me and brother; we can chat with you, and you can order us around if something comes up, right?”
Not mentioning going at all, every sentence showed he wanted to go.
“…Seems not really needed.” Lin Zhao refused again.
“Needed! Definitely needed!” Er Zai twisted like a fried dough twist to nag. “Mom~ please, I miss my aunt…”
A passerby who didn’t know the situation interjected, “Er Zai, your aunt isn’t at your second grandpa’s? If you miss her, go to your second grandpa’s. Your aunt does nothing, eats and sleeps, sleeps and eats. Oh right, and goes to the educated youth point to find male educated youths. Go to those two places, sure to find her, no need to walk far.”
After speaking, he shouldered the hoe and left.
Er Zai: “…”
Er Zai’s expression was indescribable.
Disgust clear on the little friend’s face.
Feeling stifled inside, he cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted to the speaker: “I mean my eldest aunt!”
Er Zai angrily emphasized again, “My eldest aunt!!”
The uncle paused, waved back to show he got it. Just as he thought.
But hadn’t his eldest aunt just been here a few days ago?
Lin Zhao watched Er Zai puff up and emphasize repeatedly, chuckling inwardly.
He really had a grudge with his little aunt.
Da Zai stood in front of Lin Zhao, tugged at the hem of her khaki floral shirt. “Mom, I miss Shi Tou Ge and Shi Tou Di.”
After saying that, he said no more, just gazing at his mom with his dark bright eyes.
“Okay.” Lin Zhao saw the two little brothers really wanted to go, thought for a moment, and simply agreed. She added: “Go tell your milk, we’ll go now. After meal this afternoon, we still have to move house.”
“Move what house?” Er Zai asked quickly, looking confused.
“Building house next week, we’ll move back to the old house first.” Lin Zhao explained.
The twins’ eyes lit up instantly.
Er Zai clapped his hands excitedly. “Great! When I open my eyes, I don’t have to walk far to see Tie Chui!!”
His hands were full of mud; mud spots flew when clapping. Lin Zhao stepped back. “If you’re going, hurry and clean yourself up, or I’ll just take your brother.”
Er Zai, afraid Mom really wouldn’t take him, ran home like windfire wheels underfoot, hurriedly washing his face and changing clothes.
Lin Zhao ignored him, hung the materials for gluing matchboxes and a cloth bag on the bicycle head, and pushed the bicycle out.
Er Zai was about to go back inside to apply baby cream, anxiously clinging to the door, shouting loudly: “Mom wait for me, I’ll be right there.”
He quickly went inside, opened the baby cream, dug a small lump with his finger, smearing it messily on his face while rushing out.
Da Zai ran back from the old house, holding something in his hand.
Seeing the bicycle at the door, he ran even faster.
“Mom.”
Lin Zhao looked at him. “What’s that?”
“Milk made a straw mat, said to put it on the bicycle back seat, so it doesn’t bump the buttocks.” Da Zai showed a smiling face.
“Your milk really cares about you two.” Lin Zhao sighed. Even this she thought of; must have prepared in advance. Not surprisingly, her heart’s-tip grandsons.
Da Zai’s smile grew bigger.
He put the soft straw mat on the bicycle back seat. “Milk said it’s loving the house and its crow, also closer to grandchildren.”
“Mom, what’s loving the house and its crow?” Da Zai looked over with puzzled eyes. “I ran in a hurry and forgot to ask!”
“Loving the house and its crow means liking a person and also liking the dog they raise.” Lin Zhao helped tie the straw mat, her gaze sweeping over her eldest son’s round head.
Da Zai caught the point, eyes wide in disbelief. “Milk likes Dad more?!”
The little friend took a second ten-thousand-point critical hit, almost breaking defense.
“!!!”
Before Lin Zhao could speak, Da Zai drooped his head, fiddling with the straw mat’s straws with his hand, like a little grass battered by wind and rain, unable to straighten up.
“Mom second likes Dad, Milk first likes Dad, why? What’s good about Dad.”
Milk always pinched her throat to shout, milk’s heart and liver, milk’s good Da Zai. Turns out she liked Dad more too.
His younger siblings were incidental, the “crow” of loving the house and its crow…
Gu Chenghuai wasn’t home yet, but first noted two strikes by his eldest son.
Lin Zhao bent slightly at the waist, amusedly looking at him. “Mom wrote to your dad to come back; you can see for yourself what’s good about him?”
As soon as she said this, Da Zai shook his head fiercely.
His long curled eyelashes fluttered quickly a few times.
“Dad has to defend the home and country; let’s not add trouble.” He looked away, tsundere.
Lin Zhao gently flicked her son’s eyelashes, sincerely praising: “What a considerate little friend. If your dad comes back, he’ll surely bring gifts for you.”
Da Zai looked over sharply, his clear eyes carrying poorly hidden little expectation. “What gifts?”
“Don’t know, maybe some surprise.” Lin Zhao said casually.
Surprise, must be something he hasn’t seen.
Da Zai was even more expectant, his pink little mouth quirking up, humming a tune softly.
Listening carefully, it was the song from the big speaker somewhere when she took the two cubs to the county to see a movie.
Er Zai ran out hurriedly, tiptoeing to lock the door.
After a click, he tugged the lock with his little hand to confirm, then rushed to the bicycle and climbed the back seat.
He lifted his short right leg hard, almost.
Tried harder, still almost.
Lin Zhao half-hugged his waist to help; the little friend sat up.
“Thanks Mom. When I grow one finger taller, I can get on myself.” While talking, Er Zai scooted his butt forward until his soft little belly touched the front seat.
He turned to Da Zai: “Brother, come up too. Is there space? If squeezed, tell me; I can hold my breath, suck in my belly. I can hold a long time, won’t squeeze you.”
While talking, the little friend with seemingly endless energy said in a secretly pleased and satisfied tone: “Sigh, who let me have a super super good-cooking mom. My belly grew meat, hehe.”
Er Zai pinched his soft little face, smile bright enough to break clouds. “Grandpa said I look more and more blessed.”
Da Zai quietly pinched his own belly.
Mm, also soft; finally grew meat.
Give them more time, they could definitely become the most blessed kids in the village—oh no, the whole brigade.
Head full of wild thoughts, Da Zai didn’t forget to climb the bicycle back seat hand and foot.
Lin Zhao helped impartially.
“Adjust your sitting posture; we’re setting off.”
Da Zai grabbed the seat cushion, circling Er Zai into his arms, feet raised, not forgetting to remind his brother: “Er Zai, feet up like me, or they’ll get caught in the wheel.”
Er Zai listened and raised his feet too.
The brothers looked alike, sitting one behind the other on the bicycle, the older protecting the younger in his arms.
Loving brothers.
