Chapter 31: “something’s Off”
Lin Xibao didn’t think much of it, raised her arm, showing off nonexistent muscles, and said: “Grandma said a strong physique is more important than anything, I’m not that good-looking anyway, black spots or white spots don’t affect much. But Grandpa said not to belittle myself, every girl is a precious treasure.”
She grinned and leaned close to her aunt, emphasizing again, “Aunt, Grandpa said I’m a treasure.”
Her voice couldn’t hide the joy and pride.
In the Lin Family, no one didn’t like the gentle and courteous Lin Family elder; he never used his life experiences as talking points, humble and mild, supporting the children to walk the paths they wanted.
Lin Zhao pinched Xibao’s cheek and showed off to her too, “What’s there to show off about? Your grandpa used to hold me in his bosom and coax me, calling me Zhaobao, good girl, little sun nonstop—did I get proud?”
Lin Xibao looked up at her aunt and nodded like pounding garlic, “…You did.”
Hmph hmph, the smile at the corner of her aunt’s mouth couldn’t be suppressed at all; she even wanted to grab a mirror for her to see.
Lin Zhao looked at Lin Xuan and Lin Zheng; the two little girls curved their eyes in smiles and nodded too.
Da Dan and Er Dan looked expectant, waiting for their aunt to ask them.
Lin Zhao didn’t notice her big nephews’ eagerness to join the group chat, shrugged, a smile playing at her lips.
“Proud is proud, I’m proud to have such a good dad—is that too much?”
Lin Father’s eyes filled with amusement.
This was why he preferred girls—they were so considerate; even after marrying out, they always kept him and Xiwei in mind. He subconsciously forgot how infuriating Lin Zhao had been in the past few years, how much worry she’d caused them.
Er Dan seized the chance to get a word in, “Not too much!”
Da Dan, robbed of the first move, glared daggers at his younger brother’s back of the head and hurriedly chimed in: “Not too much! Not too much at all!”
Lin Zhao finally noticed them, “Da Dan and Er Dan are back too, huh.”
Er Dan feigned grievance, “I’ve been back for a good while.”
“Here, eat candy.” As the aunt, feeling guilty, she changed the subject.
Er Dan took the candy, his grievance vanishing from his face as he beamed, “Hee hee hee, thanks Aunt.”
“You’re welcome.” Lin Zhao gave candy to Da Dan too.
“Thanks Aunt.” Da Dan thanked her generously, then ran off with his younger brother Er Dan to discuss how to eat the candy to make it last longer.
Lin Zhao found a chance to talk to Lin Xuan and Lin Zheng; Xibao quietly followed over.
“How have you two been these past couple days?” she asked.
Lin Zheng, precocious, heard the concern in her aunt’s words, her heart warming, “Great! No one watching us to work all day, Grandma even let us go out to play; the little friends in the village were willing to take us along—my sister and I were both really happy.”
Lin Xuan was quiet and spoke little, just nodding.
What she didn’t tell others was that with Mom not home, she didn’t wake up in the middle of the night anymore when sleeping; she’d slept well for two rare nights—truly comfortable.
“Little kids should be innocent and carefree to be good; there’ll be plenty of time to work when grown up. Right now, with all adults at home, slack off when you can.” Lin Zhao stated her life motto.
Lin Mother heard this, her expression unchanged; she had her own skills, the type with extremely vigorous vitality—able to work the fields, hunt, mend clothes… She didn’t feel tired, even enjoyed the busyness, but she didn’t demand Zhaozhao be like her.
Whatever life Zhaozhao liked, she chose herself.
Like studying? Study.
Marry? Marry.
…
Song Xiwei was confident she could back up Zhaozhao no matter how she lived her days.
That was why Lin Zhao lived like a sunflower, vibrant and passionate.
Hearing her aunt’s words, Lin Xuan suddenly looked up.
“What’s wrong, did I say something off?” Lin Zhao asked with a smile.
Lin Xuan shook her head quickly, gave a shy smile, hesitated a moment, and said: “It’s just, what Aunt says is different from what the villagers say.”
Lin Zhao knew what the villagers said—nothing more than calling the Lin Family Members strange, all outliers, different from others.
“We don’t need to live like others.”
She bent down, her gaze gentle as she met hers, saying softly: “You’re you, a one-of-a-kind existence in this world; don’t take others’ words to heart. At your age, you should grow up happily.”
Lin Zhao felt Xuanxuan had too heavy thoughts and hoped she could open her heart, have the happiness a child should.
In the book, Lin Xuan’s matter was glossed over too—
It was said that the girl named Lin Xuan from the neighboring village died by lying on the tracks.
A simple sentence made Lin Zhao’s heart stutter, tightening in waves.
Xuanxuan feared pain the most.
“If there’s ever something you can’t get past, come find Aunt. My home has an extra room, specially prepared for you all. I’ll make a new bed, new wardrobe, new table, and bright windows—so when you open the window, sunlight floods the room; lying in bed will be very comfortable. You always have a way out; I’m your way out, no matter what you encounter.” Lin Zhao’s eyes were gentle, her tone soft.
She said it earnestly; Xibao and Lin Zheng didn’t speak, both looking at Lin Xuan too.
Lin Xuan met her aunt’s eyes, the dark clouds enveloping her dispersed by gentle sunlight.
She nodded, solemnly agreeing, “I remember.”
Lin Zhao hugged her niece and whispered in her ear: “Consider it our promise; keep it in your heart, don’t ever forget.”
“Mm-hm.”
Lin Mother wasn’t soft-tempered, straightforward and decisive, with a strong mindset; she couldn’t say mushy words. Lin Shisheng was a straight man who couldn’t say them more, and as for Qiu Lian, she was someone who even despised her own gender, her words harsh and piercing—so this was the first time Lin Xuan heard from someone, “I’m your way out,” such words.
“Thanks Aunt.” The little girl’s voice was very small.
Lin Zhao’s eyes filled with laughter, “Thanks for what? I’m your aunt; your dad is my own brother—in my heart, you’re no different from Da Zai and them.”
Lin Xuan hadn’t dared get close to her aunt before, but these past few days, she grew fonder of Lin Zhao in her heart.
Xibao hugged Lin Zhao’s arm, a warm smile on her face, but her mouth deliberately whined sourly: “Aunt won’t let me stay at her home; Aunt favors Xuanxuan.”
Lin Xuan suddenly felt like a bad child; Xibao sister said Aunt favored her, and she actually couldn’t suppress secret delight—what was that if not a bad child.
Thinking that way, the little girl was full of guilt, sheepishly lowering her head, not daring to look at Xibao.
Lin Zhao said nothing, casually pulled her shoulders over, drawing her close, and smilingly refuted Xibao’s words, “If I don’t say it, you won’t go?”
“I will!” Xibao beamed, “If Aunt doesn’t invite me, I’ll go on my own!”
“I welcome whoever goes.”
Second Brother had taken Qiu Lian’s matter to heart; with Xuanxuan keeping her words in mind, the stone weighing on Lin Zhao’s heart was lifted, and she could barely set her mind at ease.
Before mealtime, she left her maternal family.
Lin Shisheng still saw her off.
Lin Zhao was used to this.
Back when she went to school, she’d never gone to or from alone; it was always her dad picking her up, then later her older brothers when they grew up.
Dongfeng Brigade was not close to Fengshou Brigade—overgrown with weeds, few pedestrians; with Lin Zhao looking like that, it was hard to feel at ease letting her go alone.
At this time.
There was no human voices on the road, but there was wind, birdsong, insect chirps…
Quiet yet full of life.
“Second Brother, after Double Harvest Rush, my family is building a brick and tile house; you and Big Brother are both assigned, to help me out—stay at my place then.” Lin Zhao remembered Second Brother didn’t know yet and gave him a heads-up.
“You’re finally building a house!” Lin Shisheng laughed, his eyes crinkling slightly upward, looking steady and reliable.
Lin Father and Lin Mother were good-looking; none of the Lin Family children were ugly. He was nearly 8 meters tall, thick-browed and big-eyed tough guy image; though never a soldier, trained from childhood by Lin Heling to sit properly, stand properly, steps unhurried—in the countryside, that counted as outstanding.
If not outstanding… he wouldn’t have been entangled by the Qiu Family with shady methods.
Lin Shisheng threw out question after question, “If Big Brother and I stay at yours, where do you and Da Zai and them stay? Go to your husband’s family? Didn’t you say you don’t like them?!”
Lin Zhao was stunned, “I never said I don’t like my husband’s family; if I didn’t like them, I wouldn’t have married Gu Chenghuai.”
Before marriage, she’d looked into the Gu Family Members’ temperaments—all honest and hardworking. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have married.
“Then why’d you stir up separate households…” Lin Shisheng didn’t get it.
“Those are two different things.” Lin Zhao revealed her thought process for the first time, “I don’t want to work, or listen to people nagging big reasons, so separate households it had to be.”
“Just that?” Lin Shisheng looked dazed.
Lin Zhao turned her head to look at him, counter-asking: “What else?”
“…Nothing.” Remembering something, he added: “Without separate households, hand over some money—your husband’s family wouldn’t have complaints, right?”
Lin Zhao was silent a moment, “Wasn’t I thinking of saving money before?”
“You’re not the frugal type, yet thinking of saving money—like a different person.” Lin Shisheng found it unbelievable.
Lin Zhao’s eyes turned world-weary.
She, she couldn’t figure it out either.
“It’s settled then—after Double Harvest Rush, you and Big Brother stay at mine; I’ll take Da Zai and the others back to the old house.”
Lin Shisheng thought of his sister’s vicious little sister-in-law, frowning tightly, “Better not; your little sister-in-law…”
Before he finished, Lin Zhao slapped her forehead, “Forgot to say—Gu Xing’er was kicked out by her parents, now she’s targeting Gu Er Shu’s family.”
“?”
Lin Shisheng’s expression was indescribable; after a long moment, he asked: “Their family—did they get caught with some leverage?”
“Gu Chenghuai’s grandma favors Gu Xing’er, special favoritism.” Lin Zhao said.
“…”
As they spoke, the siblings reached Fengshou Brigade.
Da Zai and Er Zai were waiting for Mom at the village entrance; spotting Lin Zhao from afar, they charged like two little firecrackers.
Now able to eat their fill, their legs had strength, running even faster.
“Mom!”
Two crisp voices rang out.
Seeing Lin Shisheng, the two little brothers were even happier, “Second Uncle!”
Lin Shisheng bent down, picking up his two big nephews; he’d worked young, all sinewy muscle—lifting two little friends was effortless.
“Ah— so high!” Their view suddenly changed; Er Zai yelled excitedly.
Da Zai’s eyes shone too.
Back home.
Lin Zhao went to her room, got a watermelon, cut it in the kitchen, and called Da Zai in to carry it out to his Second Uncle.
Da Zai pattered into the kitchen, looking puzzled at the thing on the cutting board, “Mom, what’s this?”
“Watermelon, summer essential, great for beating the heat—take it out for you all to eat first; I’ll make you watermelon lemon juice next.” Lin Zhao never made casual promises; what she promised the kids, she delivered.
Da Zai carried the basin out.
Soon back.
“Mom, I’ll help you.” he said.
Lin Zhao’s heart softened, looking at her short little big son, “No need; go eat watermelon outside—ready soon.”
Da Zai wouldn’t, “I’ll wait to eat with Mom.”
Lin Zhao didn’t persuade more, sped up smashing the watermelon into juice, sliced open the lemon—a strong lemon tang assaulted the nose.
“Mom, what’s this? Smells good.” Da Zai liked the scent.
“Lemon.” Lin Zhao explained, handing him a fresh one to look at.
Da Zai lowered his head, looked again and again, even held it to his nose to sniff.
Lemon.
He silently repeated in his heart.
This was his first time knowing fruits besides wild ones—one watermelon, one lemon.
Er Zai was obliviously eating watermelon with Second Uncle when he turned and saw his brother gone.
He hurried into the kitchen.
Seeing Da Zai close to Lin Zhao, Er Zai came over in three steps, stood on his mom’s other side, tilted his head up, revealing his little face smeared with watermelon juice, “Mom, what’re you telling Brother?”
“Your brother will tell you; Mom’s making you sour-sweet watermelon lemon juice.” Making juice from watermelon and lemon was something Lin Zhao learned from the book.
Su Yuxian heard about it, tried making it, and it was a hit in the troops compound. At the same time, she who’d died years ago got dragged out again for repeated lashing.
Thinking of it felt unlucky.
No more.
Soon, Lin Zhao finished the refreshing, thirst-quenching juice.
Seeing that color, the little friends loved it instantly.
“Wow!”
Polite gasps of admiration rose one after another.
Even Lin Shisheng, just entering the kitchen, went “Wow!”
“Wow!”
This one made Da Zai and Er Zai burst out laughing; the sound carried outside, Da Huang and Amber barking along cooperatively.
Lin Shisheng rubbed his two nephews’ stubbly bald heads, asked Lin Zhao: “What’s this?”
“Watermelon lemon juice made with watermelon, lemon, and sugar.” Lin Zhao casually listed the materials.
Lin Shisheng’s mouth twitched.
Not one cheap!
“Watermelon makes sense; where’d the legendary lemon come from?”
Lin Zhao was nonchalant, laughed it off, “Good luck.”
“Don’t go black market; that place is cracked down hard.” Lin Shisheng warned; he didn’t go himself anymore.
“Got it.” Lin Zhao found Second Brother nagging, snapped fiercely: “You gonna drink or not? No? Fine.”
Lin Shisheng gulped a big mouthful straight, “Won’t drink if it’s free?”
After, savoring it, he commented, “Pretty good!”
But it had sugar—how could it not be good.
Da Zai and Er Zai loved it, sipping tiny mouthfuls, reluctant to gulp.
Lin Shisheng looked at his two big nephews and said: “You two live better than kids from both brigades.”
The two little friends grinned wide, snuggled up to Lin Zhao, mouths full of sweet talk.
“Mom’s the best~~ Mom’s the best mom in all brigades~~” Er Zai’s voice lilted; his leaky cotton-padded jacket turned little sweet pepper.
Da Zai couldn’t say overly mushy things, just: “I’ll help Mom work.”
Lin Zhao hugged her two sons, eyes and brows all smiles.
After the juice, Lin Shisheng watered the backyard vegetable garden, filled the water jar, retied and fixed the broken clothesline… Did everything he could, then left.
He’d just gone when the Gu Family home door was knocked.
Outside, a soft thin voice Lin Zhao didn’t want to hear.
“Da Zai brother, Er Zai brother.”
From far to near.
This voice…
Was Su Yuxian’s stepdaughter.
A weird existence.
Saw several corrections, all fixed, thanks Treasured Ones~~ Muah~~
Clearly checked several times before posting, still errors—huge question marks popping in my head!!
