Chapter 35: “pay Up”
“I want to help Mom with work,” Da Zai said.
“Cold noodles are simple, no need for your help, go play,” Lin Zhao said with smiling eyes.
Da Zai shook his head persistently, “I’m not going, I like working with Mom.”
“……Alright then.” Lin Zhao ruffled his hair, “Thirsty? Want milk powder? Mom will mix some for you.”
Milk powder was usually for the dragon-phoenix twins, Da Zai hadn’t tasted it yet, so he hesitated, conflicted, expectant, various emotions flashing across his face.
Got it.
“Wait, Mom will mix some for you, I’ll pour it into the water kettle, you take it out and drink with Er Zai and Tie Chui.” Lin Zhao took milk powder from inside the room, mixed cold and hot water, prepared the milk powder, poured it into the green military water kettle, and handed it to Da Zai.
“The temperature is just right, drink it soon, I’m going to lie down for a bit, half an hour later I’ll make dinner.”
Da Zai asked, “How long is half an hour?”
Lin Zhao remembered the letter from the kids’ dad, she hadn’t told the cubs yet, so she said, “Dad sent a letter, remitted money, and sent two tickets, I plan to buy a bicycle and a watch in the next couple days. Once we have the watch, Mom will teach you to tell time.”
“Bicycle?” The little friend’s eyes sparkled with excitement, “Mom’s buying a bicycle? Like the brigade leader uncle’s?!”
“Not the same, I plan to buy a ladies’ one, the kind without a bar in front, it’s easier to ride.” Lin Zhao explained warmly.
“Mom decides is fine.” Da Zai didn’t understand ladies’ bicycles or ones with bars, he thought Mom liking it was most important.
He stared at Mom’s wrist, fair and clean, in his mom’s words, whiter and tenderer than tofu.
“Mom wearing a watch will look great.”
Mom in a skirt looks good too, when he grows up he’ll buy Mom lots and lots of skirts.
Da Zai’s eyes shimmered brightly.
Lin Zhao flicked Da Zai’s nose tip with her finger, her smile warm, “Wait till I buy it and wear it for you to see.”
She was in a good mood, wanted to spend some money, asked Da Zai what he wanted, “Do you want anything?”
Da Zai couldn’t think of anything for the moment, he had food and drink, new clothes and new shoes, lacked nothing.
He was quiet for a while, Lin Zhao said, “Think slowly, anyway I go to the county every day, convenient to buy things.”
“Mm!”
Outside the Gu family home door.
Er Zai and Tie Chui sat cross-legged on a stone eating buns, passersby all looked at them, even adults were tempted.
The two little friends became the most conspicuous presence.
Bang Bang and others from the old house couldn’t hold back and ran over.
“Er Zai, Third Aunt bought you meat buns again?!!!” Lai Mei’s eyes showed undisguised craving.
“Mm mm.” Er Zai gnawed on the big meat bun, his little mouth oily, making Lai Mei next to him envious to tears. Er Zai’s family life is so good, morning egg custard, noon thick rice porridge scooped with a spoon, afternoon meat buns brought back by Third Aunt from the state-run restaurant, wuu wuu he wants to be Third Uncle and Third Aunt’s child too.
Er Zai saw his brothers were really pitiful, hesitated a moment, held up the half-eaten bun in his hand, turned his face away in pain, “Brother Bang Bang, Brother Lai Mei, you each take one bite.”
“Er Zai, you’re really bro’s good little brother.” Bang Bang didn’t stand on ceremony, took a half bite, just enough to taste the meat flavor and stopped, “Bro will bring you all the sweet fruits I find later!”
Lai Mei also took a small bite, sat next to Er Zai and put an arm around his shoulder, “Er Zai, whoever bullies you later tell bro, bro will avenge you!”
Seeing Er Zai share with Brother Bang Bang and Brother Lai Mei, Tie Chui generously shared with his own bro.
Tie Dan was moved to tears, one bite taking off half.
“So fragrant!!” He chewed quickly.
Tie Chui looked down, saw the bun was more than half gone, the little friend’s eyes went blank.
Moments later, snapping back, he rushed home to complain to his mom, “Mom, bro bit off half my bun wuu wuu, I couldn’t bear to eat it.”
Tie Chui, who hardly ever cried since little, cried extremely aggrieved because his bro bit off half his bun.
Huang Xiulan was baffled, “Where’d the bun come from?”
Tie Chui wiped tears, voice choking, “Third Aunt gave it to me.”
“Your Third Aunt is really generous to you.” Huang Xiulan had long noticed her third sister-in-law favored Tie Chui.
Seeing her youngest son’s pitiful crying face, she laughed inwardly, kept a straight face, “When your bro comes back I’ll scold him, how can he snatch even his little brother’s bun, really doesn’t know manners.”
At this time, Tie Dan shuffled in sheepishly.
“Tie Chui……”
He called his little brother.
Tie Chui was still mad, turned his back, giving him an angry back view.
Still fuming and angrily gnawing the bun, finished it in two or three bites.
In that short time, the five-year-old little friend gained +1 life experience: good food must be stuffed into the belly quickly, or it’ll be snatched!
Huang Xiulan watched her two sons bicker, didn’t mediate, brothers’ conflicts they resolve themselves.
The meat bun nearly caused brothers to fall out, Lin Zhao didn’t know about this yet.
She summoned the lucky draw wheel, saw multiple tasks completed in the task bar on the right.
「Congratulations on completing work check-in, gained a valuable life experience, obtain 100 points.」
「You sent letters and packages to husband, actively deepening husband and wife feelings, so thoughtful, obtain 200 points.」
「Wow! First day at work brought gifts for the kids, meat buns they love most, super gentle act, obtain 3 points.」
……
Some minor tasks not worth mentioning.
Current total points
Suddenly rich with so many points, Lin Zhao waved her hand, directly drew five times—
【Dried Noodles×5 bags】
【Cotton×20 jin】
【Double-eared Iron Pot×1】
【Green with pentagram small shoulder bag（children’s version）×5】
【Labor cloth work pants（male style）×2】
【Malt Extract×1 can】
【Authentic Free-Range Eggs×50】
【Soap×2 bars】
【Red Medicine Water×1 bottle】
【Cotton×30 jin】
【Army green cotton cloth×10 bolts】
【Soft fluffy gloves×1 pair】
【Pagoda Sugar×10 pieces】
【Farmhouse Pork×20 jin】
【Apple×5 jin】
【Spicy cured sausage×2】
【Yellow Peach Canned Food×2 bottles】
【Honey×1 bottle】
【Braised Beef Noodles×2 bags】
These are all the prizes obtained after spending 50 points.
Some prizes duplicated, like cotton, but it didn’t matter.
From another angle, free stuff, super worth it.
Tomorrow going to uncle’s house, have things to pick up!
Lin Zhao stored most items in the storage ring, locked unobtrusive ones in the cabinet, hummed a tune to make dinner.
Morning was hot, now temperature okay but still muggy, cold noodles would be very refreshing.
She just prepared the noodles, about to cook, Da Zai ran home.
“Mom, the brigade leader is calling you! The thief who stole our family’s brick and tile is caught, go quick and see.”
Hearing this, Lin Zhao quickly walked out of the kitchen, “Who is it?”
“Chang Sheng’s Mother!” Da Zai said indignantly, repeating, “It’s Chang Sheng’s Mother! Chang Sheng’s Mother is a thief, Chang Sheng is a bad egg, their whole family aren’t good people!”
“Da Zai.” Lin Zhao’s gentle voice had a hint of sternness for the first time, brows lightly furrowed, disapprovingly, “You can’t curse people randomly, Chang Sheng’s Mother is definitely wrong, but little friends can’t curse, others will think you have no upbringing, and think Mom and Dad don’t teach the child.”
Da Zai immediately admitted fault, nervously, “I won’t curse anymore, Mom don’t be mad.”
“Mom’s not mad, just correct it.” Lin Zhao held Da Zai’s hand walking out, asked while walking, “Where’s the commotion you mentioned?”
“At the big banyan tree.” Da Zai answered.
Mother and son hurried to the destination.
At this time, the brigade leader scolded Chang Sheng’s Mother in a hating iron for not becoming steel tone, voice loud, startling birds from the tree fluttering away.
“What can you do stealing those few bricks? Huh? What?! Can’t even use them, and make your son Chang Sheng unable to hold his head up in the village, you really……you really are too idle.”
Chang Sheng’s Mother didn’t expect exposure, full of regret.
“I didn’t mean to, I was just angry, Lin Zhao and her kids made me dig manure and copy books, my hand swelled from copying, I just wanted to teach her a lesson, show I’m not to be trifled with, didn’t intend to steal.”
Chang Sheng was boycotted by little friends, couldn’t lift his head, hated his mom extremely, wouldn’t let her touch, hung his head sulking.
Chang Sheng’s Mother was heartbroken, regretted deeply.
Lin Zhao walked over, onlookers made way.
“You stole my family’s brick and tile?” She stopped in front of Chang Sheng’s Mother, red lips parting slightly.
No expression on the nemesis’s face, yet made Chang Sheng’s Mother unable to lift her head, her face ugly, turned head away not looking.
“Pretty bold.” Lin Zhao’s tone flat.
Chang Sheng’s Mother’s eyes blazed with anger, loudly, “……What exactly do you want?”
Hey, thief so arrogant!?
“What’s with yelling so loud.” Lin Zhao frowned, took Da Zai back half step, to prevent her saliva spraying their faces, “What else, compensate money, stealing and so arrogant, believe it or not I’ll report to public security.”
Brigade leader afraid she really reports to public security, hurriedly, “Da Zai’s mom, absolutely don’t report to public security. Making a big fuss will affect our brigade’s advanced evaluation, can’t do that.”
“Then what?” Lin Zhao unmoved, arrogantly unrelenting, “To put it bluntly, brigade advanced evaluation has nothing to do with me, let me suffer loss……impossible.”
“……” Aren’t you always the one who never suffers loss!
Brigade leader knew Lin Zhao had bad temper, very politely soothed her, “Naturally.”
“Chang Sheng’s Mother, say less!” Brigade leader was exasperated.
“Stealing is your fault, be nicer, apologize where needed, compensate where needed, don’t harm the brigade. If because of you we lose the brigade’s advanced title, you’re the sinner of the whole brigade.”
Concerning their interests, surrounding onlookers’ expressions changed, all advised Chang Sheng’s Mother.
“Chang Sheng’s Mother, this is indeed your fault, just listen to Da Zai’s mom, whatever she says, hurry settle it, can’t drag like this, we all have things to do.”
“Yeah yeah, the brick and tile you stole, you compensate.”
“That……evidence, Gu family’s bricks, all taken out by your son Chang Sheng, can’t deny, if Da Zai’s mom really reports to public security, you’ll suffer.”
……
Hearing these words more, Chang Sheng’s Mother panicked more, glared at Lin Zhao indignantly, “I compensate you fifty cents, no, twenty cents……”
Lin Zhao lifted eyelids to look at her, that glance full of mockery.
“Twenty cents? I give you twenty cents go buy a few try.”
Her expression turned cold, “If not sincere apology and compensation, I won’t waste time, still report to public security.”
Seeing Lin Zhao serious, Chang Sheng’s dad hurriedly jumped out, glared fiercely at his wife, smiled obsequiously at Lin Zhao, “Da Zai’s mom, we compensate, compensate two yuan, enough? Don’t report to public security, for the sake of same brigade, don’t report.”
Two yuan?
More than enough.
“Fine.” Lin Zhao agreed.
She didn’t care about tearing face, but still had to live in the village, spare where possible.
Chang Sheng’s Mother scratched at the man’s face, voice suddenly shrill, “You mad? That’s two yuan!!!”
“Then what do you say? Who told you to have itchy hands.” The man flung her arm away, went home got two yuan gave to Lin Zhao.
Chang Sheng’s Mother eyes bulging, wanted to snatch money back, was pulled back hard.
The couple fought fiercely, made a racket till evening.
Continuously over half a month became village gossip main characters.
After this, the gossipy Chang Sheng’s Mother didn’t like going out anymore.
Lin Zhao brought two sons home, Er Zai huffily, “I’ll never play with Brother Chang Sheng again!”
“We weren’t playing with him anyway.” Da Zai corrected his brother, previously Chang Sheng always mocked their dad doesn’t care, mom doesn’t love, so they didn’t play with him.
“Never for life!” Er Zai was serious and grudge-holding.
“Mm mm.”
Lin Zhao was amused by the two cubs’ dialogue, five-and-a-half-year-old little friends saying “for life” was too funny.
Remembering not seeing the dragon-phoenix twins all day, she instructed Da Zai and Er Zai, “You two go to old house pick up San Zai and Si Zai, I go home make dinner, when you back rice will be ready.”
“Got it!”
Before the two little brothers arrived, Gu Mu led the short and chubby, waddling human cubs over, handed off the kids, and left deep in merit and fame.
Dragon-phoenix twins hadn’t seen Mom all day, upon seeing Lin Zhao started wailing, bean-sized tears rolling from eyes.
“Bad! Mom bad!” Si Zai tightly hugged Mom’s neck, crying super loud, soft tender face against Lin Zhao’s neck, watery trail sliding down her neck, babyish crying voice, “Mom……not……bring……treasure.”
She accused word by word.
San Zai hugged Mom’s leg wailing.
Lin Zhao’s head ached from the wailing, hurriedly coaxed, “Okay okay okay, Mom bad, Mom bad, stop crying quick, Mom steam fragrant egg custard for you, add two drops sesame oil, okay?”
Coaxing no use, the over-one-year-old cubs still cried.
These days always with Mom, formed habit, today woke up no Mom, two little milk buns full of grievance.
“Mom give you candy to eat, sweet sweet, want?” Own cubs, must coax.
Er Zai came close, eagerly asked, “Mom, what candy for San Zai and Si Zai? Share for me and bro?”
“You two help me coax little brother and sister first then yes.” Lin Zhao said.
Hearing, Er Zai’s eyes turned cleverly, got dragon-phoenix twins’ towel, wiped their faces one by one, blew noses.
Dragon-phoenix twins dazed, forgot to cry.
To cry again needed to brew emotions, indeed stopped crying.
Lin Zhao: “……” Really like acting.
San Zai lifted washed eyes, crisply reminded her, “Mom, candy.”
“Won’t forget yours.” Lin Zhao tapped San Zai’s nose tip, went back to room get candy.
Four cubs trailed behind her.
Lin Zhao opened cabinet, shelf full of food, milk powder, malt extract, shrimp crisp candy, rock sugar, apple, watermelon, yellow peach canned food……
So much food!!
Seeing these foods, Da Zai and Er Zai who never had enough since little were especially satisfied, eyes bright as stars.
“Mom, what’s that?” Er Zai tiptoed, pointed at yellow peach canned food, saliva nearly drooling to ground.
“Yellow Peach Canned Food, want to eat?” Lin Zhao smiled.
“Mm mm mm.” Er Zai nodded little head rapidly.
“About to eat soon, tomorrow. Tomorrow morning on table, you get up eat.”
“Good.” Da Zai said, “Can little brother and sister eat?”
Lin Zhao gave candy to four cubs, for dragon-phoenix twins processed into bits, guaranteed not to choke.
“No, wait till they bigger.”
Er Zai sympathetically looked at little brother and sister, happily ate shrimp crisp candy.
Good thing he wasn’t over-one-year-old little friend, he felt lucky inwardly.
If everyone sees chapter updated, that’s author fixing typos or minor edits, doesn’t affect overall content ha.
Seeing so many new readers, so happy, hope treasured ones enjoy reading, thanks everyone’s support, love you~~
