Chapter 10: “jealous That Mom Has Money To Spend?”
“Right away, go call Er Zai and the others to get up,” Lin Zhao instructed.
Da Zai wiped the sweat from his forehead and was about to rush out of the kitchen to call his younger brother and sisters when Er Zai came rushing into the kitchen.
Seeing his brother, he complained unhappily: “Bro, you got up and didn’t call me! We used to always get up together!”
Da Zai felt extremely guilty.
He was so happy that he only focused on talking to Mom and helping Mom, forgetting about Er Zai.
Lin Zhao saw her eldest son looking flustered and bailed him out: “Er Zai, your brother saw you sleeping like a little pig and couldn’t get up for a long time, so he deliberately let you sleep more. Why are you being so fierce?”
With one sentence, Er Zai’s anger deflated, and he smiled ingratiatingly at his brother: “Bro, I wasn’t fierce to you.”
Da Zai was a generous little friend and didn’t get mad at his younger brother. “Where are San Zai and Si Zai?”
Er Zai answered: “Still sleeping, should I call them?”
“Call them. Mom steamed egg custard for us,” Da Zai said.
Er Zai’s eyes widened in shock, his tone rising: “Egg custard?”
“Yeah.” Da Zai leaned his mouth close to his younger brother’s ear and whispered: “Mom used four eggs.”
“Wow!” Er Zai let out a wow, rushed into the room to call the dragon-phoenix twins. He couldn’t wait to eat the egg custard.
San Zai and Si Zai were also forcibly woken up. The two little babies were on the verge of crying, mumbling “bad” in their mouths, but they obediently followed Er Zai’s arrangements.
Seeing this, Lin Zhao felt that the kids she gave birth to were really worry-free.
Si Zai hugged her leg, pointing at Er Zai with her little finger, and whined in her baby voice: “Bad, Er Zai.”
Lin Zhao kissed her daughter’s fair little face and deliberately said: “Then let’s punish your Er Zai and not let him eat egg custard, okay?”
Da Zai and Er Zai saw Mom kissing their little sister, envy showing on their faces.
Si Zai got anxious and quickly said: “Er Zai, meal.”
Meaning she wanted to give her brother food.
Lin Zhao lightly tapped her daughter’s nose tip, smiling at the corners of her mouth. “Okay, okay, okay, give your second brother food.”
Si Zai grinned, revealing four little millet teeth.
Her second brother looked moved, wanting to take a bite of his little sister out of adoration. How was his little sister so good!
“Da Zai, take your younger brother and sisters to eat the egg custard. I’m going next door.” Lin Zhao took the thank-you gift she had prepared this morning and went next door.
Da Zai and Er Zai, entrusted with an important task, solemnly agreed and first took their younger brother and sisters to wash their faces.
“Er Zai, San Zai, Si Zai, you wash your faces and brush your teeth first. I’ll teach you.”
He squeezed toothpaste for his younger brother and sisters.
Er Zai stuck out his tongue and licked it lightly. “Bro, it’s sweet.”
Seeing his action, the dragon-phoenix twins imitated him.
Da Zai hurriedly stopped them and said anxiously: “Toothpaste can’t be eaten.”
He turned his head, looking angrily at Er Zai: “Er Zai, don’t put everything in your mouth. You’ll teach bad habits to San Zai and Si Zai.”
Er Zai listened most to his brother. As soon as his brother got stern, he became obedient, brushing his teeth properly. He didn’t even dare to smell the face soap as he had wanted to.
Watching his younger brother and sisters wash their faces clean, Da Zai took children’s face cream from the room and applied it to Er Zai and the dragon-phoenix twins.
“Fragrant.” Si Zai spat out one word.
San Zai hadn’t cried or fussed during infancy. After learning to speak, he didn’t talk much either, just nodding.
“Bro, I’m hungry. Can we eat now? It’ll get cold if we wait longer,” Er Zai didn’t care about applying face cream. He just wanted to eat egg custard.
“It won’t get cold.” Da Zai said, putting the face cream back in place before announcing it was time to eat.
Er Zai hadn’t eaten egg custard many times growing up, especially not so much egg custard. His face was full of smiles.
“Waking up to egg custard, this is too happy.”
Da Zai agreed.
As for the dragon-phoenix twins, their faces were already buried in their small bowls, eating while shaking their little short legs, with sweet smiles.
Lin Zhao brought half a pack of brown sugar and a handful of hard candy out the door and arrived at the neighbor’s entrance, knocking bang bang bang.
“Who is it? Come right in. No need to knock,” a hearty female voice came from inside.
Lin Zhao pushed the door and entered. Wang Chunhua saw her and froze hard. “Da Zai’s mom?”
They had been neighbors for so long, and she had never seen Da Zai’s mom come to visit.
A visitor at the door was a guest. She only froze for a moment before telling the granddaughter at home to fetch a stool and pouring water for the neighbor.
Wang Chunhua looked at Lin Zhao’s forehead and saw the bump was much smaller. She smiled and said: “The bump on your head looks much better. Does it still hurt? If it hurts, go to the county hospital to check. A head injury isn’t a small matter.”
“Much better, thanks to Aunt’s help.” Lin Zhao smiled.
She said to the Wang family child who was about to pour water: “No need to pour water. It’s just a short walk. I came to drop off something and have to go back soon. The kids are all at home.”
As she spoke, she casually put the things she brought on the table.
Her temperament didn’t like back-and-forth refusals.
“Yesterday we really troubled Aunt. These candies are for the kids to sweeten their mouths.”
The Wang family kids’ faces bloomed with joy, their gazes hotly fixed on the candies on the table, swallowing saliva nonstop, but not fussing to eat them. They were well-taught by the family.
“No need to be so polite.” Wang Chunhua hurriedly tried to give the things back to Lin Zhao, but Lin Zhao pressed her hand down.
“This is a thank-you gift. Aunt, just accept it. Da Zai and the others have been under your care plenty. This is nothing,” Lin Zhao didn’t like the back-and-forth. Her beautiful face was solemnly serious.
When she smiled, her whole person was very sweet. Once she cooled her face, she was like white plum blossoms hanging on branches in winter, aloof and unapproachable.
Wang Chunhua’s expression froze, about to say something, but only saw Lin Zhao’s back as she quickly left.
“Da Zai’s mom…”
Hearing her voice, that figure walked even faster.
Wang Chunhua laughed and cried helplessly.
What kind of style was Cheng Huai’s family? No one else in the whole brigade was like that.
“Grandma, I want candy.” The Wang family’s little grandson tugged at his grandma’s clothes.
Wang Chunhua swatted his hand away. “Gently, gently. You’ll tear the clothes. You little jinx, tear the clothes and watch me beat you.”
The naughty child quickly let go. His grandma said she’d beat and she really would.
“Grandma, candy.” The little boy pitifully wanted candy.
Wang Chunhua couldn’t bear to give it. Candy was so rare. Save it for New Year.
“Go go go. Why eat candy for no reason? Go play on the side.”
The little boy, relying on being young, hung on her leg and wailed: “Grandma, I want candy.”
The other kids didn’t move either, staring straight at the candy, their eyes full of expectation and heat.
Wang Chunhua had no choice but to be pestered. She dug out one candy for the eldest grandson. “Dissolve it in water and drink.”
After dropping the words, afraid of more pestering, she quickly went into the room and hid the candy.
News of Lin Zhao bringing things to the Wang family door quickly spread throughout the whole village.
A group of aunts who gossiped about this family and that quickly gathered together, spittle flying as they chattered one after another.
“I heard Cheng Huai’s family brought things to the Wang family. Do you know what she brought?” The most gossipy woman in the whole brigade who loved talking about others lowered her voice.
“Who knows? Chunhua didn’t come out to show off, and no one dares to ask Da Zai’s mom directly,” the second-most gossipy aunt said.
At this time, Chang Sheng’s mother snorted coldly, full of disdain, and gave her opinion: “Who doesn’t know she’s stingy? She can’t bear to make clothes for her own kids. What good things could she give the Wang family? Probably just a few rotten sweet potatoes.”
Yuan Bao’s mother looked at her in surprise. “You haven’t heard?”
“Heard what?” Chang Sheng’s mother looked puzzled.
“Lin Zhao bought meat buns for Da Zai and Er Zai, and yesterday she even made dumplings for them to eat. Oh right, Tie Chui also ate at Gu Family’s Third Branch,” Yuan Bao’s mother said.
Chang Sheng’s mother rolled her eyes, her tone sour: “Who knows what she’s pretending to be. Maybe in two days she’ll go back to her old ways. A dog can’t change from eating shit. I don’t believe someone who only cares about herself will change for the better.”
Yuan Bao’s mother wanted to say more but saw Da Zai and Er Zai bringing the dragon-phoenix twins walking over.
The two big friends weren’t running and jumping like usual, like little monkeys shooting into the sky, but walking slowly, strangely refined.
Yuan Bao’s mother spotted the new shoes on Da Zai and Er Zai at a glance and stood up in shock, asking: “Da Zai, Er Zai, did your mom buy you shoes?”
Da Zai smiled shyly. Er Zai said loudly and proudly: “Yes! My mom said these are warrior shoes!”
The onlookers present subtly glanced at Chang Sheng’s mother, seeing the colorful face they wished for.
Everyone’s eyes were full of anticipation for the drama. They all stood up and walked toward Da Zai and Er Zai to look at the shoes on their feet.
“The bought shoes are different. They look impressive,” Yuan Bao’s mother praised with a smile. “Da Zai, Er Zai, these shoes must cost several bucks, right?”
Da Zai was shy and bashful, his little ears almost smoking from being surrounded.
Er Zai lifted his right leg, tilting his foot left and right, letting everyone see his shoes from all angles, and said happily: “Nice, right? Mom didn’t say how many bucks. Mom is so good to us.”
Yuan Bao’s mother looked at Er Zai’s lively manner and laughed out loud. “Yes, your mom is good to you.”
Buying two pairs of several-buck shoes at once, how wasn’t that good?
Chang Sheng’s mother muttered sourly: “Really don’t know how to live. Buying shoes for kids, money burning a hole in her pocket, wasteful woman.”
The women who scrimped and saved, hating to split a penny in half, nodded.
Wasteful indeed.
Some saw clearly.
“Gu Family’s Third Son has an allowance every month. These years, we haven’t seen Lin Zhao splurging on anything. She must have saved quite a bit. What’s wrong with buying shoes for the kids? If I had money, I’d buy for my kids too,” Yuan Bao’s mother retorted.
She was envious but not sour.
The women who got along well with Yuan Bao’s mother chimed in: “Yeah, if there’s something in the pocket, who doesn’t want to buy.”
Whether willing or not was one thing; having money or not was another.
Chang Sheng’s mother pursed her lips, full of disdain.
Who can’t talk big? Did the money come from a gale? Buy what buy.
–
Because of the two pairs of shoes, Da Zai and Er Zai ran around the whole village and became the most dazzling kids in the village.
The two little friends even specially ran to the Gu Family Old House.
Walking up to Gu Fu: “Grandpa, look at my new shoes. Mom bought them for me and Bro. Nice, right?” Er Zai strutted like a peacock spreading its tail.
Gu Fu smiled and nodded. “Nice.”
Da Zai also wandered over to his grandpa and happily received a compliment, fully satisfied.
The Gu family kids heard Er Zai’s loud voice talking about new shoes and all ran out.
Seeing the shoes on Da Zai and Er Zai’s feet, they didn’t turn into lemon spirits from envy.
“Da Zai, Er Zai, these shoes are the warrior shoes the educated youth talk about, right?” Gu family’s eldest grandson Brother Bang Bang squatted down to touch Er Zai’s shoe, his expression envious.
Er Zai nodded heavily, his eyes blooming with laughter.
“Mom bought them for me and my bro.”
Brother Bang Bang went to school and knew how rare a pair of warrior shoes was. Envy almost poured from his eyes. “Third Aunt is really generous to you.”
Lin Zhao had just bought shoes for the kids, and the kids’ impression of her completely turned around.
Er Zai grinned. “My mom is the most generous and best mom in the whole brigade!”
He leaned his face over. “Brother Bang Bang, smell my face. Fragrant or not?”
Brother Bang Bang inhaled and smelled a sticky sweet fragrance. “Fragrant. What is this, cold cream?”
“Not cold cream. It’s children’s face cream that my mom specially bought for me, my bro, San Zai, and Si Zai. Specially for little friends,” Er Zai emphasized.
Brother Bang Bang said wistfully: “Third Aunt really spends on you.”
“My mom won’t spend to buy me anything.” The eleven-year-old youth was almost envious to tears.
“Er Zai, can I touch your shoe?”
Er Zai directly took off his shoe and said: “Sure, touch it.”
Brother Bang Bang patted his trouser legs with his hands, took the shoe, and exclaimed: “Bought ones are different. Feels so comfortable. How does it feel to wear? Tell bro quickly.”
Eight-year-old Lai Mei imitated her brother and touched it. “It is different. Da Zai and Er Zai, you two actually dare to wear them. If they were mine, I wouldn’t bear to wear them.”
Da Zai thought of what Lin Zhao said, his face beaming with a smile: “I said that too, but Mom said… shoes are bought to be worn.”
“Mom also said she’ll buy us new ones when these wear out!” Er Zai added.
Brother Bang Bang and Lai Mei’s eyes turned red with envy.
Er Zai got along well with Tie Chui. Seeing him looking eagerly too, he waved at him: “Tie Chui, want to try them?”
Tie Chui was flattered and grinned foolishly, asking: “…Can I?”
“What’s not okay? We’re good brothers.”
As he spoke, Er Zai took off his shoe, his foot stepping directly on the ground.
Da Zai frowned. “Er Zai, your foot is dirty. Wash it before putting the shoe back on later.”
“Got it, bro.” Er Zai waved his hand, not minding.
His new shoes, he would definitely take good care of them.
Tie Chui put on Er Zai’s new shoes. His feet didn’t know how to land, his hands and feet feeling light and floaty.
Huang Xiulan looked at the smile on her son’s face, feeling a bit heartbroken.
She also wanted to buy new shoes for her son, but there was no way. The Gu family hadn’t separated households, and she had no money on hand.
At this moment, Huang Xiulan felt envy for Lin Zhao welling up from the bottom of her heart.
Having a fierce temperament and loving to make a fuss wasn’t necessarily all bad.
Gu Er Sao Zhao Liuniang felt the same.
When could they separate households?
Because of the warrior shoes on Da Zai and Er Zai’s feet, Gu Da Sao and Gu Er Sao’s hearts stirred with waves, hard to calm for a long time.
Gu Xing’er carried a bundle of firewood back home and saw Da Zai and Er Zai. Her gaze darkened.
Her eyes glanced at the new shoes under their feet, and she jabbed: “Splurging with my third brother’s money and coupons, and coming here to show off? Is this how your mom teaches you?”
With one sentence from her, the atmosphere turned icy.
Er Zai sat on a wooden stool, looking up at Gu Xing’er, his little face serious: “Your third brother is also my dad. My bro and I are my dad’s sons. It’s only right for Dad to raise us. Little Aunt, why are you so angry? Is it because you’re jealous that my mom has money to spend?”
Gu Xing’er choked, a stifled anger stuck in her chest.
“Bang!”
She unloaded the bundle of firewood and directly threw it toward where Da Zai and Er Zai were.
“You bastard!” Lin Er Ge, who had just stepped into the Gu family home to find his two nephews, saw the bundle of firewood flying toward Da Zai and Er Zai. He ran at full speed, leaping forward and kicking the bundle back.
Right to where Gu Xing’er was.
“Ah—” With a cry of pain, everyone looked over. Gu Xing’er was lying crooked on the ground, the bundle of firewood she brought back pressing on her waist and legs.
