Chapter 20: “two-second Attention Span”
Lin Zhao unobtrusively stepped back half a step and said, “…Go wash up!”
The two little friends noticed their biological mother’s disdain, chuckled, and quickly went to wash their hands and faces.
Da Zai fetched water, Er Zai got the face soap, and the two little brothers cooperated seamlessly.
Lin Zhao busied herself bathing the dragon-phoenix twins.
The one-year-old little milk babies loved playing with water, slapping it with their arms, laughing with eyes crinkled in delight.
The well-behaved San Zai imitated his younger sister by slapping the water, also laughing.
Lin Zhao had a massive headache.
“No slapping water!” She pretended to be stern and scolded.
The dragon-phoenix twins were good at reading faces and knew their mom was angry, so they stopped splashing around. Si Zai’s chubby little head leaned close to Lin Zhao, his little voice milky and sweet, “Mom~~”
Lin Zhao couldn’t keep a straight face and flicked her daughter’s nose with her finger. “Little schemer.”
She was cleverly mischievous beyond words.
Er Zai finished washing his hands and face, applied baby cream, and held himself out for his brother to smell. “Bro, do I smell nice?”
“Nice. Do I smell nice?” Da Zai also extended his hand toward his younger brother’s nose.
“Nice.” Er Zai nodded his little head.
After confirming he smelled nice, he dashed toward Lin Zhao, eyes bright and watery, confirming, “Mom, you’re taking me and Bro to see a movie tomorrow?”
“Yeah.” Lin Zhao wrapped San Zai and Si Zai in cloth towels, carried them back to the room, and changed them into clean short-sleeved shorts.
Seeing her eldest and second sons still following, she added, “Your dad is calling tomorrow. It should be that the brick and tile matter has been settled…”
Er Zai knew what brick and tile were for and was thrilled. “Mom, when are we building the house?”
“Once the brick and tile arrive, the double harvest rush should be nearly done, then we’ll build.” Lin Zhao gave her son a firm answer.
Er Zai was over the moon, his desire to show off plain as day. Lin Zhao’s smile faded, and she said somewhat seriously, “Er Zai, in the future, say less about family matters outside.”
“Why?” Er Zai was unhappy.
Other little friends in the village showed off eating meat and candy to him, and some even deliberately teased him and his brother. Why couldn’t he show off?
Lin Zhao saw his little temper and slowly countered, “If others eat meat, will you envy them?”
“Yeah.” Er Zai didn’t understand why his mom asked such a weird question.
“Once or twice it’s envy, but too many times it turns sour. What if someone gets malicious ideas? Your dad’s not home—what if our family gets targeted?” The little friends couldn’t understand big reasons, so Lin Zhao had to change her approach.
Who knew Er Zai had more to say: “Dad’s not here, but I have Grandpa and Grandma.”
His eyes turned fierce, with a hint of future villain shadow.
But he was still just a chubby four-headed little friend now.
“I run fast. Whoever targets our family, I’ll go shout for Grandpa and Grandma. If they’re tough to deal with, I’ll shout for my grandmother.” His grandmother was super tough!
Lin Zhao’s laughter rippled in circles at the bottom of her eyes.
Er Zai’s expression was so fierce; she thought he’d say he’d fight them himself. Who knew it was about calling for help.
What a flexible kid.
However.
“Our house is five minutes’ walk from the old house, even farther from your grandmother. If something really happens, by the time you get help, it’ll be too late.”
The fake-fierce Er Zai looked bewildered, his round eyes full of confusion. “What’s five minutes?”
Da Zai wanted to know too, watching Lin Zhao obediently.
Lin Zhao didn’t know how to explain if her two sons would understand. After a moment’s thought, she said, “A minute is a unit of time. Once our house is built, I’ll buy a wall clock for home and teach you two to tell time.”
“Mom, what’s a wall clock?” Da Zai asked.
Lin Zhao said, “You’ll know once I buy it.”
Da Zai obeyed his mom most, nodding like a little adult and promising, “Mom, I’ll watch Er Zai and make him show off less.”
“Mom says we can show off, then we’ll go show off.”
“…” Lin Zhao was amused but helpless. Still thinking about showing off, huh.
“Fine.”
Er Zai took a few steps forward, clutching Lin Zhao’s clothes with his little hand, full of eager anticipation. “Can we say it at the movie?”
Seeing even the steady Da Zai’s little face light up, Lin Zhao’s lips curved into a smile. “Yes.”
The two little friends were overjoyed.
But they didn’t rush to say it, planning to wait until after the movie.
–
The next day, early morning.
Lin Zhao took the dragon-phoenix twins to the old house again.
Gu Mu knew she was taking Da Zai and Er Zai to the county to answer the phone, so she just told the two boys to stick close to their mom and didn’t stop them.
Of course, she couldn’t stop them anyway.
“Borrow a bicycle? The trip to the county is long; Da Zai and Er Zai might not handle it.” As a grandma, she ached for her grandsons.
Before Lin Zhao could speak, Er Zai loudly declared, “I can! I run the fastest.”
Da Zai was unconvinced. “I’m faster than you.”
Er Zai wasn’t mad, even agreeing. “Yeah, Bro runs faster than me.”
Gu Mu looked at her two grandsons with a loving smile.
“Fast, all fast. You two little brothers both run fast.”
She balanced the bowl of water evenly.
Er Zai chuckled.
Lin Zhao then said, “It’s still early; walking slower will get us there. No need for the bicycle.” With her laid-back temperament, she didn’t like chatting idly with people.
Besides, seeing the two little friends full of energy, they didn’t seem like they’d plop down on the road and refuse to walk.
Gu Mu saw her third son’s wife was set on it and didn’t persuade further. “Alright then, be safe on the road.”
Worried the dragon-phoenix twins would fuss, Lin Zhao avoided them, gave Da Zai and Er Zai a look, and the mother-son trio quietly slipped out of the old house.
It was Da Zai and Er Zai’s first time doing something like this with their mom. Though they felt a bit guilty toward their little brother and sister deep down, why did it feel so exciting and fun?
Lin Zhao held one boy in each hand as they walked toward the county.
“No complaining about being tired on the road. Whoever does won’t go to the county again until we buy a bicycle.”
Er Zai latched onto the key point. “Mom, are we buying a bicycle?”
Was that the point?
Lin Zhao chuckled lightly. “No tickets for now. Later.”
“Get Dad to!” Da Zai’s mind turned quick, thinking of the call with Dad today and immediately suggesting.
“You’re really your dad’s good eldest son.” Lin Zhao rubbed her eldest son’s prickly little bald head and laughed out loud.
Da Zai thought his mom was praising him, his mouth curving up.
Er Zai tiptoed, tone urgent. “Me! Me! I’m Dad’s good second son!”
“Yes, yes, you’re your dad’s good second son!” Lin Zhao agreed. “Your dad’s good second son, walk properly. We need to reach the county before “
Er Zai settled down and walked hand-in-hand with his brother, big steps.
People from Fengshou Brigade saw Lin Zhao heading to the county with her two sons and exchanged glances.
“What’s Lin Zhao taking Da Zai and Er Zai to the county for? Not selling the two boys, is she?” Zhao Po Po imagined the boys being sold and paled.
Wang Chunhua thought Zhao Aunt was really imaginative and explained for Lin Zhao. “Da Zai’s dad sent a telegram asking Da Zai’s mom to go to the county town to answer the phone.”
Zhao Po Po hadn’t expected that, her smile awkward, wrinkles stark on her face.
“Oh, like that.”
“I was too suspicious.”
“Chunhua, don’t tell that one.”
That one meant Lin Zhao.
Wang Chunhua smiled. “I’m not the gossipy type.”
“Yeah, yeah, you’re not gossipy.” Zhao Po Po hurried to agree. No choice—Chang Sheng’s mother was still picking manure, reportedly crying from copying quotations. She didn’t dare offend the neighbor’s young wife.
Who gave the brigade leader that idea to make an illiterate copy quotations? Way too malicious.
Soon, the whole village knew Gu Family’s Third Son had sent a telegram back, all curious about what it was about.
Su Family.
Liao Hongjuan was instructing Su Yuxian.
“Lu Yizhou is coming back today. You must grab him tight. Whether you live well depends on these few days he’s back. Lots of people in our brigade are eyeing him—don’t let someone snatch him. No engagement banquet means it’s not secure. Put your mind to it.”
Su Yuxian took the words to heart, eyes fierce.
Lu Yizhou was the man she wanted—no one could take him!
“I know. I’ll go pick him up first, then talk marriage once I get him.”
Liao Hongjuan’s expression eased a bit.
“Go early, don’t be late.”
She took out a small packet of hardened brown sugar and handed it to Su Yuxian. “Long way—borrow a bicycle.”
Seeing her mom bring out her treasured brown sugar, Su Yuxian was moved. “Thanks, Mom.”
Liao Hongjuan always knew how to handle her daughter Su Yuxian. Her downcast eyes flickered, then lifted with a mother’s gentle warmth.
“Go on.”
Su Yuxian went confidently to the station to pick up Lu Yizhou.
–
Da Zai and Er Zai thought of the phone call and felt no fatigue, walking super fast.
Lin Zhao had worried the two little friends would tire out and throw tantrums on the ground wanting hugs. Who knew these two ran and walked without knowing fatigue.
She simply quickened her pace too.
Chatting and laughing along the way, they smoothly reached the county.
Few high-rises here, tallest building just five stories, more brick and tile houses than in the village.
To worldly-naive little friends, everything in the county was novel.
The lively, outgoing two boys entered an unfamiliar place and belatedly felt scared, uneasy and awkward.
Shown by clutching their mom’s hand, palms sweaty.
A smile flashed in Lin Zhao’s eyes. Her first time coming to the county for school was the same—always scared of messing up and making a fool of herself.
She said softly, “Turns out I’m not the only one who gets scared…”
Er Zai’s attention shifted, asking in surprise, “Mom’s scared? Scared of what?”
Before Lin Zhao answered, Da Zai squeezed his mom’s hand tighter. Though uneasy himself, he comforted her. “Mom, I’ll protect you.”
Lin Zhao was slightly stunned, her whole heart softening.
“Good, but with you two with me, I’m not scared at all.”
Hearing that, the two little friends filled with power, straightened their shoulders and backs, a sense of responsibility on them.
The timidity in their eyes vanished, confidence restored.
“Wait at the post office or eat first?” Lin Zhao asked.
Foodie Er Zai immediately said, “Is there meat?”
“Don’t know. Whatever there is, no pickiness.” Lin Zhao was honest. “Sometimes meat, sometimes not. You’ve eaten meat for days—still not enough?”
Er Zai gave his mom a you-don’t-get-it look. “How can meat ever be enough? I love meat; even eating it every day doesn’t get old.”
Lin Zhao: “…” Not just meat—even delicacies every day would get old.
“Fine, let’s eat first. Might still have meat now.”
Er Zai cheered.
Lin Zhao brought the two boys to the state-run restaurant, found a server to order. The server still barely glanced at them, lazily listing today’s dishes.
Stir-fried pork with chili, pork stew with vermicelli, radish and bone soup, shredded pork noodles, and big steamed buns.
“Da Zai, Er Zai, what do you want?” Lin Zhao encouraged with her eyes, urging them to speak boldly.
Er Zai puffed his chest, boldly saying, “I want pork stew with vermicelli.”
Da Zai followed, “I want radish and bone soup.”
Lin Zhao nodded and told the server, “As my two sons said, plus one shredded pork noodles.”
Er Zai looked around, picked an empty table, sat, and waved to Lin Zhao and Da Zai.
“Mom, Bro, sit here.”
Lin Zhao led Da Zai over.
The two little friends’ first time eating at a state-run restaurant—they were thrilled, squirming in their seats, looking everywhere.
“What are you looking at?” Lin Zhao asked with a smile.
“Tie Chui’s never been to the county, doesn’t know what a state-run restaurant looks like. I’ll look more and tell him when we get back.” Er Zai explained crisply.
“Fine, look more then.” Lin Zhao said.
Er Zai nodded wildly, then suddenly sighed.
“Why sigh? Taking you to a restaurant and you sigh.” Lin Zhao rubbed Er Zai’s bald head.
Er Zai’s tone held regret. “Too bad I can’t draw, or I could draw it so Tie Chui would know what the county looks like.”
Drawing was something he’d heard Lin Xibao mention.
Lin Zhao knew Da Zai, Er Zai, and Tie Chui were close, so not surprised, but asked, “Want to learn drawing?”
“Yeah!” Er Zai’s eyes lit up.
“Think on it slowly. Takes luck—drawing teachers are hard to find. I studied in the county for years and never heard of anyone who draws.” Lin Zhao said casually.
“Why hard to find?” Er Zai asked.
“Cause learning drawing costs money.” Here, even filling bellies was hard; those learning drawing were rare.
Hearing it cost money, Er Zai immediately said, “Then I won’t learn.”
Lin Zhao: Knew you were just two seconds excited.
“Not that you need to draw to record scenes—a camera works too.”
Da Zai was super curious about his mom’s new word, eyes bright and puzzled. “Mom, what’s a camera?”
“Something that takes photos.” Lin Zhao explained patiently.
Er Zai’s eyes widened in shock. “Expensive?” That was his top concern.
“Of course expensive. Several hundred.”
Er Zai wasn’t defeated, full of confidence. “When I grow up, I’ll earn lots of money and buy a camera.”
Da Zai asked, a bit conflicted, “Why not make one ourselves?”
Er Zai thought his bro made sense, little face scrunched in difficulty. “How? I don’t know how.”
Da Zai didn’t know either and looked questioningly at Lin Zhao.
Lin Zhao smiled politely.
“…”
Don’t look at me—I can’t make one either.
Er Zai saw his bro look at Mom and thought she could, eyes shining with admiration. “Mom can?”
He recalled Gu Mu saying his mom was super smart at learning, a high school student. What’s a high school student? Unschood kids didn’t know, but Grandma’s impressed expression left a deep mark, so Er Zai… felt awed without knowing why.
“Mom’s a high school student—she must know.”
Lin Zhao was stared at by two pairs of trusting, adoring eyes, breaking into cold sweat.
High school students can’t make cameras.
“I can’t.”
Da Zai and Er Zai were dumbfounded, mouths slightly open, staring blankly at their mom.
