Chapter 41: “always Makes The Girls Cry”
Gu Fu looked at Lin Zhao.
“This…” In front of the third son’s wife, Gu Fu didn’t dare to make decisions on his own. He touched his grandson’s head with loving eyes. “This depends on what your parents say.”
Hearing this, Er Zai turned to look at Lin Zhao.
“Mom, do I have a big name?” he asked crisply.
The sky gradually darkened. Huang Xiulan lit the lamp, and the dim yellow light slanted over him. The child’s eyes were bright and clear.
“Not yet for now. It depends on whether Grandpa is willing to name you.” By saying this, Lin Zhao handed the naming rights to the cubs’ grandpa.
Gu Fu caught the implication in her words. He rubbed his hands happily but worried about not doing it well. Nervously, he said, “You and the third son should do it. I don’t know many characters. Naming is a big deal. It concerns Da Zai and the others for life. We can’t be careless.”
Lin Zhao didn’t answer and gave the choice to Da Zai and Er Zai. “What do you two think? Who do you want to name you?”
Er Zai said, “I want Grandpa to name me.”
Da Zai nodded too.
Compared to his not-so-familiar biological father, he preferred to have his grandpa, who had taken them up the mountains and down the fields since they were little, name him.
Lin Zhao was more than happy—neither she nor Gu Chenghuai were good at naming.
Thinking of how the man had casually come up with names like Red Star, National Day, Jianjun—names that were both red and expert—she felt her father-in-law was too good at naming compared to the names Gu Fu had given Gu Chenghuai and his brothers.
“Then I’ll trouble Dad!” She unceremoniously pushed the problem away.
Older people love the feeling of being needed. Gu Fu immediately pulled out a tattered dictionary. The leather cover was already mottled and peeling, the inner pages yellowed and damaged, with marks of rat bites, utterly worn out.
He sat under the kerosene lamp, carefully turning the pages with rough hands.
The warm yellow glow spread over his hunched back, casting a focused silhouette on the wall.
While Gu Fu was busy, the others spoke in lowered voices.
The dragon-phoenix twins nestled in Lin Zhao’s bosom, drowsy. Lin Zhao gently patted the little dumpling’s back to soothe her and asked softly, “Mom, I heard from Da Zai and Er Zai that the village is holding a happy event?”
Gu Mu didn’t even want to mention those two families, but since the third son’s wife asked, she spoke bluntly.
“Yes, a happy event tomorrow. Just pretend you don’t know and don’t get involved.”
Lin Zhao hadn’t planned to get involved anyway. “Will Mom go help?”
“I have to go. After all, it’s the same village. It wouldn’t be right for one person not to go.” Gu Mu took the sleeping San Zai from her arms and wiped the saliva drooling from the little grandson’s mouth. “The kids are asleep. I’ll walk you back.”
Huang Xiulan took Si Zai proactively.
Si Zai’s chubby short arms moved slightly, and she immediately patted the little guy’s back. The little milk dumpling fell into deeper sleep.
The third son’s wife delivering the children to the old house was them taking advantage.
Lin Zhao had prepared so many good things for Da Zai and Er Zai: eggs and half a bowl of rice yesterday, apples, white flour, canned food today, and even a piece of meat for the eldest son.
Though not for them to eat, stir-frying vegetables in the oil pan used for the two cubs’ meat made the green vegetables flavorful.
Not to mention Da Zai and Er Zai were generous kids—they gave the meat to Tie Chui and shared the canned food with him too.
Five-and-a-half-year-old little friends weren’t petty; the adults couldn’t be worse than the kids.
Lin Zhao led Da Zai and Er Zai onto the road, where many villagers were still chatting at their doorsteps. Seeing this scene, they had various thoughts.
The Cheng Huai family was truly blessed; mother-in-law and sisters-in-law all indulged her.
On the way, Lin Zhao and the others ran into Su Yuxian and Lu Baozhen who were out for a stroll.
“Big Brother Da Zai, Brother Er Zai.” Lu Baozhen called sweetly.
Er Zai always remembered his mom’s words. Seeing her, alarm bells rang in his head, and he shouted at the top of his lungs, “Da Huang, Amber—”
Rustle.
The birds resting sneakily on the big banyan tree were startled into a flutter, spreading wings and flying into the sky.
Grandpa under the tree felt a heat on his forehead. He reached up to touch it—wet and hot, very smelly.
It was a big one.
He stood up and cursed, “Ouch, damn birds! Couldn’t poop anywhere else! Always aiming for people’s heads…”
Grandpa picked up a leaf to wipe his head, muttering curses.
After cursing the birds, he shouted at Er Zai, “Er Zai, your grandma has a big voice, and so do you. You’re truly her own grandson.”
“That’s right!” Er Zai responded proudly.
Seeing Da Huang running over with Amber, the little friend hugged Da Huang’s neck, draping his whole body over Da Huang, and whined, “Da Huang, you came just in time. The big crybaby wants to scam us.”
Lu Baozhen knew he meant her as the crybaby. Her little face turned annoyed, her voice full of grievance. “Gu Er Zai, you’re bullying me. I won’t talk to you ever again.”
Er Zai pursed his lips, indifferent.
Last time at home, before Da Huang and Amber arrived, Lu Baozhen had stared darkly at his mom, and Er Zai had sensed danger too.
How to put it?
It was like he was squatting fine under the willow tree at the foot of the mountain playing, when heavy stinky panting came from beside his ears. Turning around, a massive wild boar with hard bristles all over was crouching close to his face.
Scary enough to make one’s hair stand on end.
“Ignore me then! It’d be great if you ignore me!” Er Zai showed a happy expression.
He knew Lu Baozhen feared dogs. Hugging Amber, he stood in front of his mom and brother in a protector pose.
Lu Baozhen sobbed aggrievedly.
In the villagers’ eyes, it looked like Er Zai had made the little girl cry.
“Er Zai, you made Bao Zhen cry.”
Some elderly villagers recalled past events and laughed heartily. “Er Zai is like his dad. Cheng Huai didn’t like paying attention to girls either and always made them cry.”
It was Lin Zhao’s first time hearing the village elderly talk about the cubs’ dad in his youth. Her ears perked up high.
Er Zai grinned, puffing out his chest proudly. “I’m my dad’s son, of course I’m like him.”
Unhappy at being wronged, he explained, “I was eight zhang away from Lu Baozhen. How could I make her cry? Adults can’t just wrong little friends like that. My mom, my grandma, and Eldest Uncle’s Wife are all here.”
The person who spoke casually looked embarrassed, cleared his throat, and said uncomfortably, “I was joking. How’d you take it seriously?”
Er Zai widened his eyes disapprovingly. “Mom says rumors spread with one mouth, debunking them runs your legs off. I don’t want to run my legs off. Uncle, don’t joke with me anymore. I don’t like it.”
What more could the joking young man say?
“Okay, no joking with you, never again.”
This Er Zai was really not to be trifled with—all the brigade’s kids had mouths as sharp as his!
Always “my mom says, my mom says” on their lips. Sooner or later, he’d turn into a mama’s boy.
Gu Mu said, “Er Zai, let’s go back. Your mom has to go to work early tomorrow morning.”
“Okay!” Er Zai’s tone was light and cheerful. Hugging Amber, he escorted the family home like a little guard.
Su Yuxian suddenly called, “Lin Zhao.”
Lin Zhao ignored her, quickening her pace without looking back.
“So sleepy, walk faster.” She urged Da Zai and Er Zai.
Su Yuxian: “…”
She wanted to badmouth Lin Zhao, lips moving to speak, but saw the onlookers disperse, each heading home.
The villagers thought she was clueless—whoever heard of a good girl not married yet getting involved unclearly with a man and raising his kids for him? So eager, who knows what she was thinking. No dignity?
Lu Baozhen tugged at Su Yuxian’s clothes. “Stepmother, I want to play with Da Zai and Er Zai!”
Su Yuxian didn’t want to keep throwing hot faces at the cold buttocks of Lin Zhao’s family anymore—it was embarrassing. She didn’t agree right away, just asked, “Why? There are so many kids in the village. Can’t you play with them?”
“No! No! No!” Lu Baozhen shook her head, lips pouting. Her short little legs kicked hard on the ground, hands flailing in the air, shouting, “I don’t want to play with others. I want to play with Big Brother Da Zai and Brother Er Zai!”
Su Yuxian had a headache, fearing she’d affect tomorrow’s wedding. She half-squatted to hug and coax her but got kicked twice first.
“Hiss!”
She held Lu Baozhen tightly, coaxing, “Mom will figure out a way for you. Mom will definitely make them play with you. Stop crying now.”
Lu Baozhen wiped the tears from her face and looked toward where Da Zai and Er Zai left, lips curving into a smile.
Her eyes were dark and deep, coldly piercing—not like human eyes at all.
Su Yuxian glimpsed it accidentally. A chill shot from her soles through her whole body, her heart sinking, panic surging.
At that moment, Lu Baozhen smiled at her and opened her arms. “Stepmother, carry me home.”
Su Yuxian backed away, as if the one before her wasn’t a little girl but some terrifying monster.
“Stepmother?” Lu Baozhen’s smile was innocent and clean.
Su Yuxian couldn’t forget that glimpse; the curve of her lips was unnatural.
Nails digging into her palm, she squatted down, picked up Lu Baozhen, body stiff.
Lu Baozhen hugged her neck, not forgetting to remind, “Stepmother, you said tomorrow you’d figure out a way to make Big Brother Da Zai and Brother Er Zai play with me.”
She buried her head in Su Yuxian’s shoulder, issuing a soft threat. “You have to do what you promised, or I’ll tell my dad and have him divorce you.”
“…Okay.”
Lin Zhao got home and took out five pagoda sugars for Gu Mu.
Gu Mu happily accepted them. “I’ll have Bang Bang and the others eat them when we get back. Lock the door, go to sleep early. You have to get up early tomorrow.”
“Okay.” Lin Zhao saw her and Eldest Brother’s Wife to the door, watched them leave, locked the door, and started washing up.
Not seeing Mom all day, Da Zai had so much to say.
The little friend dragged over a small stool to sit, fanning mosquitoes with a palm-leaf fan while saying, “Mom, this morning I went next door to borrow the toilet. The aunt next door asked about the deworming candy.”
Lin Zhao washed off the foam from her face, wiped with a towel, and casually said, “She wants to give one to Da Zhuang, right?”
Da Zai said, “Yeah, Da Zhuang heard me and Er Zai pooped out worms. He has worms in his belly too and got so scared he cried.”
“Then I’ll give you one later to take next door.” Lin Zhao was generous. A pagoda sugar cost only a few cents outside, hers from lucky draw, free, so no heartache.
“Okay.” Da Zai agreed first, then asked, “How much?”
“No money.” Lin Zhao laughed that her eldest son was a little money-grubber and explained softly, “Distant relatives are not as good as close neighbors. The family next door is nice. Mom’s happy to give it for free.”
“Besides, good relations with neighbors mean someone to help if you have troubles.”
Da Zai was precocious and understood his mom’s implication—she was thinking of them.
He beamed. “Thanks, Mom.”
“What for? It’s only natural for a mom to plan for her own son.” Lin Zhao dumped the basin water, went back to get the pagoda sugar, instructed Da Zai a bit, and had him deliver it next door.
Da Huang followed.
Amber was lazy, sprawled in the dog kennel, limbs stretched, but didn’t move a step forward. She just opened her round big eyes for a glance, then nestled back, closed them. Her little belly rose and fell with soft purring.
“Er Zai, Mom’s going to bathe. If you’re sleepy, sleep first. If not, play with Amber.”
It was just dark, the yard lit by kerosene lamp.
Er Zai sat in front of the lamp.
“Mom, go bathe. I’ll guard at the door.”
Lin Zhao didn’t think much and said, “Okay, no playing with fire.”
Then she went to bathe. The tool was of course a basin; the new house wasn’t built yet, so make do.
Da Zai brought Da Huang next door and stated his purpose.
Wang Chunhua was delighted. “I was going to ask your mom tomorrow morning. I’ll take it. Thank your mom for me. If there’s anything in the future, come find me directly.”
“Okay. Mom said to watch Da Zhuang tonight. If he shows fever symptoms, cool him down promptly.” Da Zai told Wang Chunhua everything his mom instructed, point by point.
Wang Chunhua took it all to heart seriously.
“Yeah, your mom is so careful.”
Da Zai grinned. Hearing others praise his mom made him happier than praise for himself.
Done with the errand, the little friend took Da Huang home.
Wang Chunhua watched the person and dog enter their door before returning home, giving Da Zhuang the pagoda sugar. Fearing her son and daughter-in-law slept too soundly, she had her grandson sleep in their room tonight so she could watch personally.
Da Zai said there might be fever, so better be careful, lest good things turn bad.
–
Song Yuncheng panted back to the county. By the time he arrived, it was completely dark.
He returned the bicycle, climbed the stairs, and pushed open his home door.
He’d just put down his things, not even caught his breath.
Uncle Song, sitting on the sofa, spoke up. “Sent Zhaozhao back? How are Da Zai and the others?”
Song Yuncheng: “…” Biological father, you really don’t treat me like a person.
Didn’t even ask if he’d eaten.
“Can I have some water first?” He licked his dry lips.
Bang.
Uncle Song pushed over his own enamel mug.
“Drink.”
Song Yuncheng was flattered, chuckled, picked up the enamel mug, and drank.
Tsk tsk, never thought he’d get a chance to drink his dad’s tea.
He gulped it down. Uncle Song’s heart ached with twitches and he couldn’t hold back. “Just quench your thirst.”
Song Yuncheng stopped appropriately.
He returned the enamel mug.
Uncle Song saw it was over half empty, his face instantly darkening.
Song Yuncheng guiltily scratched his head, hurriedly diverting his dad’s attention.
“Da Zai and the others are all fine. My sister treated me to noodles. They looked weird, every strand bent. Don’t know how she made them, but they tasted great.”
“I ate a bowl, so full.”
“Right, that’s my ration my sister had me bring back.” He pointed at the bag he’d brought.
Uncle Song eyed him coolly. “I told you to send your sister, not mooch a meal.”
“My sister made me eat. I didn’t dare refuse, scared of a beating.” Song Yuncheng said.
Uncle Song glared. “Nonsense. Zhaozhao is gentle and soft. When has she ever beaten you? Don’t ruin your sister’s reputation.”
Song Yuncheng: “…” Fine fine, as expected of blood uncle and nephew, same tone.
“…Oh.”
Uncle Song was unhappy with his reply. “Oh what? Straighten your attitude.”
Song Yuncheng stood straight, saluted, voice bright. “Yes, my sister is gentle and soft. I remembered wrong!”
“Lower your voice, neighbors are asleep!” Uncle Song said disdainfully.
He carried the enamel mug back to his room.
Toolman Song Yuncheng yawned, rinsed his feet haphazardly, and went to his room.
About to sleep, a black head dangled from the upper bunk. Song Yunjin asked curiously, “Bro, Sis really treated you to noodles?”
Song Yuncheng was startled, nearly jumping up to hit him.
“You brat eavesdropping again.”
“Heh heh.” Song Yunjin laughed embarrassedly. “I’m curious too. Haven’t seen Sis in ages.”
“Bro, tell me more about Sis and Da Zai and them.”
Song Yuncheng rolled over. “Pull your head back.”
–
After Da Zai and Er Zai fell asleep, Lin Zhao summoned the lucky draw wheel.
The task bar on the right flashed, indicating task completion.
「Bought a watch, pleased yourself. This is the ritual sense of self-gifting. Reward: 100 points.」
「Reconnected with family you hadn’t contacted in a long time, family affection warmed. Reward: 200 points.」
「Pagoda sugar, well-deserved miracle drug for killing worms. You dewormed eight little friends, caring for the flowers of the motherland. Reward: 80 points.」
「Cooked braised beef noodles once. Reward: 5 points.」
…
Altogether, got 390 points.
Plus previous savings, total 733 points.
Could draw a big one again.
Lin Zhao looked delighted.
