Chapter 3: “mom’s Changed”
Lin Zhao in the past really only cared about giving birth and not raising them. She hadn’t even washed the children’s diapers a few times. Once Da Zai and the others could walk, she didn’t even cook meals for them, sending them to the old house to eat. The dragon-phoenix twins were also raised by their grandma feeding them rice cereal.
“Gu Er Zai.” Lin Zhao called.
As soon as his mom’s voice rose, Er Zai couldn’t keep up his anger anymore. He instantly lost his nerve and glanced at Lin Zhao awkwardly. “Calling, calling me for what?”
He clearly lacked confidence.
“From now on, I’ll take care of you all, but you have to listen to me. Can you do that?” Lin Zhao didn’t know how to raise children, but she felt her cubs were all obedient. If she talked nicely to them, Da Zai and Er Zai would definitely listen.
As she asked, her gaze swept over Da Zai and Er Zai.
The Gu family’s twins had been sensible from an early age. They knew their mom was different from others. Other little friends’ moms would hug them, but their mom never hugged them. Other moms would make tasty food for them, but their mom never cared for them…
Thinking of this, sadness welled up in Da Zai’s eyes. The villagers all said mom didn’t like them.
Now hearing mom say she’d take care of them from now on, a spark of expectation lit up in Da Zai’s heart. He asked, “Will mom make tasty food for us?”
“Yes!” Lin Zhao said.
“Will mom make new clothes for us?” Da Zai asked again. Afraid mom would think raising them was too expensive, he lowered his expectations and said cautiously, “It doesn’t have to be every year. One set every few years, okay?”
“No way.” Lin Zhao thought to herself that even one set a year was too few. One set every few years was definitely not okay.
The light in Da Zai’s eyes dimmed, an indescribable grievance and sadness filling his heart.
Lin Zhao said seriously, “How could one set every few years work? You’ll still grow taller. Four sets a year is about right.”
Da Zai was stunned.
Four sets a year—not pieces, but sets. That was eight pieces total for one person. So expensive.
“So expensive. Mom, I can share with my younger brothers and wear them in turns.” Da Zai felt mom was willing to listen to him now, so he mustered his courage to suggest.
Er Zai scooted over, sticking out his buttocks to squeeze Da Zai aside, and looked up at Lin Zhao. “Will mom buy us candy?”
Thinking of the sweet candy, the drooling little friend swallowed his saliva.
The last time he ate candy was when dad came back!
Lin Zhao pretended to think and deliberately said, “What if I don’t buy any?”
Er Zai was dumbfounded. Brother’s requests had all been agreed to, but not his. The little guy had a big temper and said proudly, “If you don’t buy, then don’t. When dad comes back, I’ll tell dad to have your man teach you a lesson!”
Lin Zhao choked, her face turning green. She pinched Er Zai’s ear. “Who taught you ‘have your man teach you a lesson’?”
Er Zai stood on tiptoe, following her pull to ease the pain in his ear. His arrogant momentum deflated in an instant.
“No one taught me. I heard it from the aunts in the village.”
Lin Zhao pretended to be serious. “Don’t learn adult talk from now on!”
Da Zai also bumped his brother with his butt and hurriedly said, “Mom, I won’t learn it. I never learn adult talk.”
“You’re the most obedient.” Lin Zhao touched Da Zai’s cheek, her voice gentle.
Er Zai raised his little hand, looking at her eagerly. “I’m obedient too, I’m obedient. If mom buys me candy, I’ll be even more obedient and do whatever mom says.” Look at that, already bargaining.
“Alright, now your first task: take a bath.” Lin Zhao couldn’t stand the dirty, grubby, stinky kids anymore. She’d endured it until now purely because they were her own flesh and blood.
As for the two sleeping on the bed, they wouldn’t escape once they woke up either.
Er Zai didn’t like baths, his face scrunching up like bun folds. “Can we not wash?”
“Sure.” Before Er Zai’s smile could widen, Lin Zhao changed her tone. “Then tomorrow’s meat buns won’t have your share!”
Er Zai’s brows lit up with joy. He hugged his mom’s arm and asked excitedly, “Mom’s buying meat buns? Real or fake?”
Lin Zhao deliberately went against her cub. “Fake.”
“Mom’s smiling, it must be real! I’ll go wash, right now. Bro, hurry, let’s go take a bath.” Er Zai hurriedly urged Da Zai.
Lin Zhao held down the two little friends. “Eat your sweet potatoes first. I’ll go boil hot water.”
Er Zai mimicked his grandpa’s manner, acting all mature as he waved his hand. “No need. Just use cold water and rinse roughly. Countryside folks aren’t picky.”
Lin Zhao: “…”
She took a deep breath, looked at Da Zai, pointed at Er Zai to tell him to manage his brother, then went to the kitchen.
As soon as she left, Da Zai leaned to Er Zai’s ear and whispered, “Er Zai, I think mom has changed.”
Er Zai was carefree, not as careful as his brother. He scratched his face and grinned. “Mom paid attention to us today, hee hee!”
Lin Zhao boiled the water, took out the bath basin for the two cubs to use, and let the two little friends scrub each other’s backs. With tomorrow’s meat buns dangling as incentive, Da Zai and Er Zai strictly followed her orders, scrubbing each other back and forth, huffing and puffing.
“Bro, you’re so dirty.” The long-tongued Er Zai let out a surprised sound, his words blunt and piercing.
Da Zai’s face turned bright red.
He subconsciously glanced toward Lin Zhao’s room door. No movement. Thinking mom probably didn’t hear Er Zai, he relaxed.
“You’re dirty too. Wash clean and it’ll be fine.” Da Zai carefully maintained his dignity as the big brother.
Er Zai listened to his brother and nodded. “Right.”
He said happily, “Once we’re done washing, we’ll be clean kids!”
Da Zai hummed in agreement.
Inside the room, Lin Zhao hadn’t sat for long when Er Zai’s loud voice rang out. “Mom!”
“…” Lin Zhao really wanted to say don’t call for mom, call your dad, but there was no way. The children’s dad was defending the home and country.
She walked toward the door. That mysterious lucky draw turntable always followed her. Lin Zhao stopped, poked and prodded to study it, and finally found the “hide when not in use” setting in the corner.
After setting it successfully, she opened the door.
The two cubs stood naked in the basin.
At just five years old, the cubs were at the age of not knowing shame, not embarrassed at all, still grinning.
“Mom, we’re done washing. Want to check?” Er Zai said loudly.
He didn’t like baths, but after washing, he felt pretty comfortable.
“No need to check. You two wait. I’ll get clothes for you.” Lin Zhao headed to the cubs’ room. It was hot now, so being shirtless was fine.
She opened the little wardrobe. The clothes inside were pitifully few, piled messily. No one taught them to fold, and the little friends didn’t know how. The clothes had big patches, but they were fairly clean—probably washed by Da Zai’s grandma.
Lin Zhao took out two sweatshirts and two little shorts. No underwear found. She planned to get some fabric tomorrow to make some for the cubs, and make clothes too. The family wasn’t short on money and ration coupons.
She brought the clothes to the yard.
The two cubs could dress themselves since they were three, no need for Lin Zhao’s help.
Da Zai put on his clothes, straightened the hem neatly, looked up at Lin Zhao, and showed a shy, expectant smile.
“Mom, we’re clean now.”
Lin Zhao praised smoothly. “Da Zai is a clean and pretty little friend now.”
The Gu family’s cubs, especially those from the third branch, were all indeed pretty. No way around it—the parents were both outstanding-looking, eye-catching in a crowd.
Er Zai stood beside his brother, standing on tiptoe to make himself taller, blinking his big eyes. “Mom, what about me?”
Lin Zhao didn’t understand Er Zai’s strange desire to win. She smiled. “You’re a clean and pretty little friend too.”
Er Zai was so proud he could wag his tail, saying boldly, “I look the same as bro. If bro is clean and pretty, then of course I am too.”
Then he grinned. “We’re all clean and pretty little friends.”
Lin Zhao said smoothly, “Being clean and pretty for one day isn’t enough. You have to be clean and pretty every day, got it?”
Da Zai moved his mouth, wanting to ask if we stay clean and pretty, will mom like us? But he didn’t dare.
Er Zai scooted over instead, rubbing against Lin Zhao, and cleverly made a request. “If mom buys us meat buns every day, we’ll wash until we’re white every day.”
Lin Zhao thought to herself you’re not washing for me, but before she could speak, Da Zai seriously lectured his brother. “Er Zai, meat buns every day would cost too much. Once a month.”
After speaking, he looked at Lin Zhao worriedly. “Mom, can dad’s remitted money buy meat buns?” He worried the money dad sent wasn’t enough.
Er Zai also looked at his mom worriedly.
Lin Zhao felt these two cubs thought too much. “Enough.”
Afraid the little friends would blab outside, she didn’t say the family’s money was enough for luxurious eating and drinking.
The two cubs relaxed, their eyes sparkling brightly, happy.
The brigade’s work whistle sounded.
“————!” From far to near, each louder than the last.
Da Zai and Er Zai were diligent little friends. Though still young, unlike their mom who loved to slack, they gathered firewood, dug wild veggies, picked wild fruit… busy every day.
Before, when Lin Zhao ignored the twins, the two little brothers carried their younger siblings everywhere. The kids at the Gu family old house also helped watch the two youngest siblings.
“Bro, I’ll call San Zai and Si Zai. You get the basket.” Er Zai said to Da Zai, dashing into the room with quick steps.
Moments later, two milky voices with a crying tone came out.
“Bad!”
“Bad… pot pot.”
Er Zai laughed proudly. “Who told you two not to get up? Hurry, or I’m leaving.”
As he spoke, he pretended to turn away.
The dragon-phoenix twins were still toddling milk babies, words popping out one by one. They didn’t understand good or bad. Seeing brother about to leave, they got anxious, hurriedly sliding off the bed. Their two little heads bumped together, seemingly dazed. The two little ones looked at each other, touching the sore spots, babbling something—which Er Zai couldn’t understand anyway.
He carried the dragon-phoenix twins down, put little shoes on San Zai and Si Zai, and led his younger siblings out of the room.
Da Zai found his and his brother’s basket.
Just then, Gu Mu came over. Seeing Lin Zhao in the yard, she asked with concern, “Does your head still hurt?”
“A bit.” Lin Zhao didn’t lie—there was a big bump on her head after all.
Gu Mu said, “If it hurts, lie down more. Don’t stand too much.”
“Mm.” Lin Zhao agreed.
Gu Mu had nothing much to say to her. After a brief chat, she took the dragon-phoenix twins and left the house.
The third son’s wife had bumped her head—it was time for rest. She didn’t dare let her watch the kids.
Of course, Lin Zhao wouldn’t care for the kids anyway. Sigh.
Gu Mu regretted once more falling for Lin Zhao’s face and agreeing for the third son to marry her. So what if they looked good standing together? Bad temperament meant no happy days.
Er Zai saw his grandma leave and urged Da Zai. “Bro, let’s go too.”
Da Zai was worried about Lin Zhao. After a few steps toward the door, he stopped uneasily and looked at his mom. “Mom, if your head hurts bad, have someone call me and Er Zai. We’ll get the doctor for you.”
Er Zai, thinking of meat buns, didn’t forget to fawn. “Yeah, yeah. Call us if anything.”
Lin Zhao’s heart was gripped by the two cubs’ pure, precious love, a hot emotion surging inside.
She took a few steps forward and suddenly said, “Close your eyes!”
Da Zai and Er Zai didn’t understand but today’s mom had a good temper, and they were willing to listen, so the two little friends closed their eyes.
Er Zai grinned. “Mom, I’ve closed mine.”
Da Zai said too, “Mom, mine too.”
“Good.” Lin Zhao magically produced two pieces of rock sugar and stuffed them into the two cubs’ mouths.
Da Zai and Er Zai felt something slip into their mouths. They sucked, and it was sweet—candy.
Er Zai snapped his eyes open, brighter than summer night stars. “Mom, it’s candy!!”
The little friend didn’t care where the candy came from. As long as there was some to eat, that was fine.
Da Zai also opened his eyes in shock. Remembering mom hadn’t said they could yet, he hurriedly covered them with his two little paws. “Mom, I didn’t open them.” Playing ostrich.
Lin Zhao laughed. “You can open them now.”
Da Zai lowered his hands, eyes shining as he looked at her. “Mom, the candy’s so sweet.”
Mom’s so good.
What the village aunts said wasn’t true. His mom liked them. Adults wouldn’t give candy to kids they didn’t like.
His mom gave him and his brother candy, so she definitely liked them.
Thinking this, Da Zai felt his heart sweeten more than eating a bag of candy.
“Does mom have candy?” Da Zai worried his mom had none to eat.
“Yes.” Lin Zhao ate one too, sweet and tasty.
Er Zai’s eyes turned, and he grinned as he scooted over. “Mom, can I have one more?”
Seeing his sweet smile, Lin Zhao gave each brother one more.
“Brush your teeth tonight.”
Er Zai put the candy in his little bib, pressing it a few times to make sure it wouldn’t fall out, then said at his mom’s words, “Brother and I don’t have toothbrushes.”
“Mom said little friends don’t need to brush teeth.” Da Zai chimed in.
Pfft…
Her two little cotton-padded jackets suddenly turned into leaky leather jackets.
“I’ll buy you two tomorrow!” Lin Zhao was helpless. What on earth was wrong with her before?
Da Zai remembered the twins and reminded his mom. “San Zai and Si Zai need them too.”
“…I remember.” She was only twenty-three this year—her memory wasn’t that bad.
Lin Zhao had married Gu Chenghuai the year before she turned twenty. She’d just graduated high school then, no connections, no money, couldn’t even find hard labor work, let alone with that year’s poor field harvest and the family always on the verge of running out of food.
She’d been scheming since young, calculating to marry and change her fate.
Later, Lin Zhao had run into Gu Chenghuai home on a family visit by chance. She took the initiative, and Gu Chenghuai seemed unable to resist, surrendering. Then they married in front of the great leader statue.
Outside the gate, light footsteps passed now and then, along with voices—it was the people going to work.
Da Zai was eager to leave but said before going, “Mom, rest well. I’ll bring you food when I come back.”
From where, of course the old house.
Lin Zhao sweated bullets.
“…Okay.” Not that she didn’t want to cook—one, her head hurt; two, the family kitchen hadn’t been used in ages and needed prep time.
“Don’t go to the riverbank. Stay by adults. Call for help if anything.” Lin Zhao instructed worriedly.
Before Da Zai could speak, Er Zai’s loud voice rang out. “Mom, we know. Grandma taught us.”
Then he grabbed Da Zai’s hand and ran out the home door.
