Chapter 37: “even Picked Out The Burial Spot”
Da Zai also had a face full of despair.
He silently leaned into Lin Zhao’s bosom, his eyes dropping golden beans, sniffling his nose.
“I still want to earn money to buy a pretty skirt for Mom, no opportunity now, I won’t grow as tall as the counter anymore.”
The little friend pleadingly looked at his mom, uncomfortably saying: “Mom, after I die, can you bury me in our home yard? I want to watch Mom forever…”
In a short time, he had even thought about where to bury himself.
Hearing his brother say that, Er Zai’s eyes completely dimmed, his nostrils blowing out a sad snot bubble.
Afraid of waking the dragon-phoenix twins sleeping with their little bellies rising and falling, the two big brother little guys lowered their voices, crying softly and miserably.
Lin Zhao was stunned by the little friend’s jumping thoughts, and when she came back to her senses, she saw her two sons with drooping heads, silently shedding tears, like wilted eggplants.
She reached out to pinch Da Zai’s little mouth, spitting several times, “Who said you two are going to die, spit spit spit quickly.”
Da Zai blinked his watery bright eyes, moved his mouth, but his mouth was pinched, so he couldn’t spit.
“Spit spit spit!” Er Zai imitated his mom spitting three times, his crying red eyes brightened a bit, and he brought his face close to Lin Zhao, excitedly asking: “Mom, my brother and I won’t die?”
The over five-year-old little friends had no idea what death was; their understanding was that once dead, they couldn’t run or jump, couldn’t eat things, and had to be buried in a little dirt mound, unable to go anywhere… this was already so scary so scary for little friends.
Da Zai held his breath staring at Mom, full face tense.
“Just deworming, pull them out and it’ll be fine, nothing about dying.” Lin Zhao wiped the tears from her two cubs’ faces, and uneasily reminded: “If uncomfortable at night, tell Mom in time.”
Er Zai was delighted, grabbed his brother’s hand, happily saying: “Brother, we won’t die, we can live to a hundred years old.”
Hearing the good news, Da Zai was also excited, and spotted the water on Lin Zhao’s skirt, which was his and Er Zai’s tears.
The little guy belatedly felt shy, his gaze dodging, and when Lin Zhao wasn’t looking, he used his little hand to wipe the water stain on her shoulder, discovering the mark was still there, his expression dazed.
Noticing Lin Zhao’s gaze, he nervously said: “Mom, your skirt is dirty, I’ll wash it for you tomorrow.”
“It’s fine, wash it and it’ll be clean, Mom will wash it herself when back tomorrow.” Lin Zhao good-temperedly said.
She patted the two cubs’ heads, “Go wash up, time to sleep.”
“Okay.” The two little friends hand in hand left the room.
Lin Zhao sat at the desk, took out a hardcover notebook, unscrewed the fountain pen cap, and buried her head in writing.
｛June 27th, sunny turning cloudy
Today got a few pagoda sugars, gave to eldest son and second son to eat, the two cubs heard it was deworming medicine, got scared, wailed and cried, saying the cutest childish words:
Er Zai: I don’t want to die… which family’s little friend at just over five has to lose their life…
Da Zai: …no opportunity now, I won’t grow as tall as the counter.
Five-year-old little friends are so cute, especially Comrade Gu and Comrade Lin’s cubs!｝
After writing, she sparsely sketched the earlier scene.
Er Zai blowing a snot bubble, distraught Da Zai, soundly sleeping dragon-phoenix twins, even the kerosene lamp on the desk all had a place.
Da Zai and Er Zai finished washing their faces, came in and saw Mom sitting at the desk with head lowered writing something—
Her left arm propping her chin, right hand casually writing and drawing, lips tinged with a smile, side face under the dim yellow light, gentle and moving.
The two little boys walked over, stood on Lin Zhao’s left and right sides, tiptoed, tried hard to rest their arms on the desktop, craning heads to look.
“Mom, writing a letter to Dad again?” Er Zai opened his pretty big eyes, curiously asked.
His eye corners still somewhat red, long curly eyelashes with wateriness, when focusing on someone, pure and clean.
“No, I’m writing your growth records, for Dad to see when he returns, so Comrade Gu knows how you two grew up.” Lin Zhao smiled lightly.
Da Zai made a request, “Mom, can I see?”
“Sure.” Lin Zhao gave him the notebook, went out to wash up.
Er Zai thump thump thump ran to his brother’s side, heads together with Da Zai to look.
They knew few words, but could understand the drawings.
“Brother, this is me.” Er Zai pointed at a little doll in the drawing, excitedly saying, “I blew a snot bubble hahaha, Mom drew it so nicely.”
Da Zai nodded in agreement, “Mom is amazing.”
As if encouraged, he straightened his face, seriously said: “I want to be as amazing as Mom too.”
“Uh huh.”
Da Zai looked again, carefully closed the notebook, placed it on the desk.
“Gurgle…” Er Zai’s belly rumbled.
He lowered his head to look at his belly, said: “Brother, worms are fighting in my belly.”
Da Zai comforted his younger brother, “Don’t be afraid, Mom said we ate deworming sugar, once the worms are killed, we’ll pull them out tomorrow morning and it’ll be fine.”
“I’m not afraid, I even dare hit snakes, not afraid of little worms.” He said proudly.
This was exactly heard by Lin Zhao’s ears.
“Hm?” She didn’t move her mouth, uttered a particularly dangerous interjection, “You hit a snake?”
Lin Zhao’s brows tightly furrowed.
What to do with the urge to hit the kid?
Er Zai saw Mom’s expression off, stood ramrod straight, even his short hair stubble showed obedience.
“No, Mom misheard, I said…” His little brain turned fast, temporarily thought of a reason, “I said I hit tongue.”
He stuck out his tongue, pointed with hand, “This tongue.”
“Whoever gossips about our family, I’ll hit their tongue with slingshot!”
Lin Zhao: “…”
Annoyedly gave Er Zai a white look, “You’re just talking nonsense.”
She bent her finger, lightly flicked the little one’s forehead, expression serious, “Some snakes are highly venomous, one bite and your little life is gone, stay far from that thing!”
“Da Zai, keep an eye on your brother.”
Raising sons is endless worry.
“Uh huh.”
That night, Lin Zhao woke several times, each time after waking checked Da Zai and Er Zai’s foreheads one by one, no fever, no other issues, then she felt relieved.
In a blink, day broke.
Lin Zhao got up early, packed things to bring to uncle’s home.
One bag dried noodles, twenty eggs, 2 jin pork, 2 apples, one cured sausage.
Overweight gift.
But compared to what uncle did for her back then, it was nothing.
Lin Zhao packed everything into the net bag, and prepared today’s ration for the cubs, one apple, one yellow peach canned food, a handful shrimp crisp candy, some white flour, a small piece pork.
More than enough for several cubs to eat two meals, even extra.
You know some homes couldn’t even eat full, let alone breakfast.
After busying, Lin Zhao took the things and went out, Da Huang following behind her.
“Watch the home well.”
Da Huang lifted head, barked woof at her.
Lin Zhao smiled, left with light steps, heading to the county.
After arriving at the supply and marketing cooperative, ordered a ladies’ bicycle from procurement, got reply that it would arrive in two days.
She went to buy a watch, wore it on the spot.
Li Fen saw Lin Zhao pull out money and tickets so decisively, full of doubts, wasn’t this girl from the countryside, how come spending money without heartache?
She praised: “Your skin is fair, watch looks good on you.”
Wang Ju nodded, softly: “Looks good.”
“Thanks.” Lin Zhao also thought it looked good, glanced at it from time to time, inwardly delighted.
Soon, many people surged into the supply and marketing cooperative, salespeople all busied up.
Fengshou Brigade.
Da Zai and Er Zai woke, first thing rushed to the outhouse.
“Brother, I go first, I’m about to poop my pants.” Er Zai anxiously clamped his legs.
Seeing that, Da Zai hurriedly ran to the neighbor.
“Aunt, I want to use your outhouse.” Da Zai held a few grass papers, clutching his belly, face red with urgency.
Wang Chunhua quickly said: “Go go, outhouse is empty.”
Da Zai had no time to say thanks, rushed straight to the outhouse.
Wang family’s outhouse was crude, T-shaped, two boards propped, pit full of wriggling little things, stench to the sky.
Da Zai’s hairs all stood up.
He was too urgent, quickly dropped pants and squatted, plop, out it came.
Lowered head, saw worms mixed in, both disgusting and scary.
Da Zai’s inner little person screamed aaaaa nonstop.
Didn’t dare look more, continued pulling.
After belly emptied, overcame psychological shadow, used up the grass paper in hand, pulled up pants and left the outhouse.
Just then, Er Zai rushed into Wang family’s door, loudly said: “Brother, I pulled out so many worms, did you pull them out?”
Da Zai wooden-faced, “…pulled out.”
“Mom was right!” Er Zai clapped hand, tone excited, “Pulling them out means no worms in our bellies anymore, right?”
“Right!” Da Zai nodded firmly, seriously looked at Er Zai, “Er Zai, from now on we can’t drink cool water, must drink cool boiled water.”
“Uh huh.”
The two little friends’ dialogue was overheard by Wang Chunhua.
“Da Zai, Er Zai, what are you saying? What worms?”
Da Zai answered, “Mom gave me and Er Zai a sweet candy yesterday, said it kills worms in little friends’ bellies, and we both pulled out worms.”
Wang Chunhua’s grandson, Da Zhuang was stunned, holding his face, terrified: “Da Zai, Er Zai, you had worms in your bellies?”
“Why would bellies have worms?” Little friend Da Zhuang full of confusion, “Won’t people die with worms in belly? Why didn’t you turn into little dirt mounds?”
Er Zai almost blurted you just turned into little dirt mound, but was pulled by his brother.
Da Zai steadily explained: “Mom said if often drink cool water, worms grow in belly, roundworms, people won’t die, but belly hurts, also diarrhea, eat candy to expel the worms, and me and Er Zai all pulled them out, our bellies have no worms now.”
Da Zhuang remembered he always drank cool water, eyes terrified, like sky fell expression.
“Grandma, my belly has worms too!?” He fearfully said.
Wang Chunhua hurriedly asked Da Zai, “Da Zai, the candy can deworm too? Where did your mom get the candy?”
“Don’t know. Probably bought in county.” Da Zai guessed.
After speaking, he held Er Zai’s hand and went back home.
Wang Chunhua rushed to the outhouse, at that fresh pile, indeed saw some worms.
Really could pull them out!!
She was shocked.
Seeing grandson dejected, Wang Chunhua said: “Don’t be afraid, when Da Zai’s mom returns, Grandma will ask about it.”
Gu Mu saw the two cubs return from neighbor, eyes puzzled, “What did you two go to neighbor for?”
“I went to borrow outhouse.”
Hearing Da Zai’s words, Gu Mu even more puzzled.
What, home outhouse couldn’t hold his little buttocks?
Er Zai talkative, mouth nonstop, told his grandma about him and his brother pulling out worms.
Gu Mu startled, “Pulled out worms?”
“Yeah, if Grandma doesn’t believe, I’ll take you to see.” Er Zai completely unaware of embarrassment or shyness, pulled his grandma to see what he pulled out, the five grains cycle thing.
Gu Mu didn’t mind, really went to see.
“You say your mom gave you two candy, and you pulled out worms?”
Er Zai nodded, “Yeah.”
He licked his lips, “That candy was pretty tasty.”
Then lightly sighed, “But only one per little friend.”
Gu Mu: “…” You want to eat daily, pull worms daily?
“Does your mom have more of that candy?”
Da Zai answered: “Don’t know.”
“Alright, wait for your mom off work, I’ll ask her.” Gu Mu said.
Worried about the dragon-phoenix twins, she quickly walked to the room, Third Son and Fourth Son already awake, two small heads together, staring at ceiling, quiet and well-behaved.
“Awake huh.”
Hearing familiar voice, the little milk dumplings on bed rolled over to sit up, milk-voiced shouted: “Grandma!”
These two sounds melted Gu Mu’s heart.
“Ai!”
Dressed the little grandson and granddaughter, took them out to wash faces.
Er Zai held a yellow peach canned food out, said to Gu Mu: “Grandma, help me twist the lid, I want to eat canned food.”
“Eating canned food first thing in morning?” Thinking the two cubs just pulled worms, Gu Mu feared canned food too cold, negotiated with them, “Eat canned food at noon, morning eat something hot, just after pulling worms.”
Da Zai very agreeable, said: “Okay.”
“Cook some white porridge?” Gu Mu asked.
“Fine.” Da Zai said.
Er Zai asked: “Grandma, after drinking white porridge can eat apple?”
“Your mom bought apples for you too?” Gu Mu thought Third Son’s wife really spoiled kids, but better than before ignoring everything, she had no opinion.
“Yeah, really red apples. Can eat?” Er Zai pursued.
“Sure.” Gu Mu said.
“Grandma wait and cut for us, me and brother one half each.” Er Zai unceremoniously requested.
Da Zai holding milk powder came out from room, planned to mix milk for dragon-phoenix twins, heard Er Zai’s words, looked at Gu Mu: “Grandma, I’ll share half my apple with you.”
Gu Mu of course wouldn’t compete with grandson for food, but didn’t stop her heart warming, touched Da Zai’s big round head, full face kindly, “Grandma doesn’t eat, Da Zai eat.”
Time passed quickly when busy at work, after finishing lunch, whoosh to off work time.
Facing Wang Chunhua’s red and white looks, Lin Zhao calmly clocked out on time, not staying one extra minute.
As for colleagues’ back gossip, she completely didn’t care.
Still that sentence, as long as not dancing in front of her, she could pretend not to know.
Same as yesterday, first went to post office to mail letter.
“Comrade Lin, you bought a watch, looks really nice.” Liang Yi praised.
Looking at the ordinary watch, on Lin Zhao’s hand it looked good, making her want to buy one of this brand too.
Lin Zhao lightly smiled, “Thanks.”
After two sentences, she left post office, went to textile factory staff dormitory.
Uncle Song entered factory at around twenty, worked over thirty years, long assigned housing, that house assigned early, compared to others, really not small, over fifty square meters two-bedroom.
At this time, Aunt Song at home, she was night shift, just woken up now.
Hearing knock, thought Old Song returned.
“Yun Cheng, go open door.”
Song Yuncheng resignedly got up, opened door.
Immediately stunned.
