Chapter 101: “holding A Grudge”
Lin Zhao said: “Grind this thing into powder and mix it with honey; it’s good for Dad’s body.”
Lin Shichang was an honest man; whatever his sister said, he did, and he wouldn’t ask what he shouldn’t.
He agreed, “Okay, I’ll tell Dad.”
Lin Shisheng was half believing and half doubting. It wasn’t that he didn’t want his biological father’s body to get better, but from as far back as he could remember, his dad had always been like that. They’d tried good medicines, even something like lingzhi, but it seemed to have no effect.
“Zhaozhao, where did you get this thing? Is it reliable?” He was afraid his sister had been fooled by someone.
Lin Zhao certainly wouldn’t tell the whole truth; she only answered half the question. “It’s reliable, Second Brother, don’t worry. That’s my biological father; I won’t harm Dad.”
Lin Shisheng helplessly curled his lip. “Am I afraid you’ll harm Dad? I’m afraid you’ll be deceived by someone!”
“Don’t worry, no one can deceive me!” Lin Zhao said, then looked at Lin Shichang again and instructed once more: “Big Brother, there’s only this one portion; don’t lose it. The honey is in the bag. The other things, divide them among Da Dan and the others.”
Lin Shichang didn’t stand on ceremony. “Okay.”
Lin Zhao saw her two brothers off to the entrance gate. Remembering the matter she’d arranged with Sister Fen, she took a few steps forward and said to Lin Shichang: “Big Brother, and about Sister Xiangxiang’s matter…”
Upon hearing this, the two Lin brothers stopped and turned around, their eyes unable to hide their curiosity as they looked at her.
“What did you say?” Lin Shisheng couldn’t help but ask.
Lin Zhao curled her lip, her clear pupils revealing a joyful smile. “The meeting time is set, for the day after tomorrow.”
“Big Brother, Second Brother, don’t forget to tell Sister Xiangxiang when you get back.”
Lin Shichang thought it was a good thing; the smile deepened on his wheat-colored, manly face. “I won’t forget.”
He looked even more like Lin Mu, with sharp and heroic brows and eyes, tall stature, and a capable appearance. Back in his youth, he’d been very popular, not just with unmarried girls but also eyed by the brigade’s aunts as their top choice for a good son-in-law.
Unexpectedly, he’d quietly started a relationship and married as soon as he reached age, breaking quite a few hearts.
Lin Shisheng rode his bicycle carrying Big Brother back to Dongfeng Brigade.
As soon as they reached the village entrance, they saw the Lin family’s several children.
Lin Xibao spotted the bicycle; her eyes suddenly widened round, her pupils lighting up like they could ignite a lamp. She dashed forward at full speed, her two braids bouncing, full of vitality.
“Dad, Second Uncle, you’re back!”
Lin Shichang looked at the smile on his daughter’s face, and all his fatigue vanished instantly.
In a moment, Da Dan and the others also ran over.
The cheeky boys stared at the cloth bag in Lin Shisheng’s hand, their gazes burning.
Little Aunt had given them good stuff again!?
Their eyes were hot like puppies spotting a bone; Lin Shisheng’s mouth twitched.
He first took out the things his sister had given for their biological father, then handed the rest to Da Dan.
“This is what your little aunt gave you. Da Dan, you divide it.”
Da Dan grinned and took it.
With a grand wave of his hand, he led his younger siblings back to the village.
Back in the village, the two brothers deliberately circled through the crowd, their steps slow and leisurely, like they were just strolling.
On the first pass, those women chatting gossip didn’t even lift their eyes.
Da Dan and Er Dan exchanged a glance; neither said a word, then they backed up, backed up further…
Then Da Dan took out a piece of egg cake from the cloth bag and split it in two, one half each for himself and Er Dan.
The brothers sauntered back to the crowd again.
Er Dan suddenly raised his voice: “Bro, this egg cake is so delicious!”
“Of course!” Da Dan took a bite, mumbling indistinctly in agreement. “Sweet and soft, very fragrant! It’s made with eggs and sugar, all good stuff, of course it’s delicious!” Actually, he didn’t know how it was made, but eggs and sugar couldn’t be wrong anyway; it smelled sweet, so it had to be right.
The brothers’ voices weren’t small, and the gossiping women weren’t deaf, so they naturally heard everything clearly.
The women all turned their heads to look in unison.
They saw Da Dan holding a big cloth bag, bulging full, who knew how many good things were stuffed inside.
The two were eating something with relish, the fragrance wafting over, making people’s mouths water.
“Da Dan…” Finally, someone couldn’t hold back and called out.
Da Dan acted like he’d just noticed them, annoyedly slapping his forehead. “Oh! Look at my eyes! I didn’t even notice the aunts were here!”
Er Dan immediately chimed in: “Yeah, didn’t notice.”
The women: “…”
Such big live people right there, and these two eggs “didn’t notice.” Were their eyes bad? Maybe they should get some glasses like the educated youth wear?
Er Dan took small bites of the egg cake, squinting his eyes in enjoyment.
“What are you eating?” The woman couldn’t help but ask further.
Da Dan perked up his back straight at the question, chin slightly raised, a hint of showing off in his tone. “What? You’re asking what this is? Food! What else could it be. Where’d it come from? Hey, our brigade definitely doesn’t have it; of course it’s from my salesperson little aunt.”
“…” The women were shown up full in the face.
The speaker fake-smiled. “Da Dan, still holding a grudge? We were just chatting casually; how’d you take it to heart?”
The gossip had been about Lin Zhao drumming up favors from her maternal family without even going back.
Da Dan pretended not to understand, greeting them with a smile anyway. “No way, I forgot long ago.”
No one believed it.
If he’d forgotten early, how could he keep showing off repeatedly.
Showing off in front of them was one thing, but deliberately teasing her family’s kids, making her family’s children fuss every day—what was that if not holding a grudge.
The Lin family’s kids were slyly naughty, with hearts as complicated as a hornet’s nest.
“We were wrong; your little aunt is a good person, okay?” The woman glanced at the big cloth bag in Da Dan’s hand and finally couldn’t resist softening.
She didn’t want her kids fussing every day in the coming days.
Da Dan was satisfied inside, but his expression didn’t change. “My little aunt is good anyway.”
With that, he led his brother home.
Under a certain tree.
Xibao and Lin Xuan and Lin Zheng, the sister and brother, were also surrounded by several little girls, multiple pairs of eager eyes staring at the things in their hands.
“Xibao, what are you eating?” A dark-skinned seven-year-old little girl wiped her mouth, looking at Lin Xibao.
“Egg cake; my aunt bought it for us.” Xibao was radiant with delight.
Lin Xuan silently nodded.
Lin Zheng looked serious. “My aunt is very good to us; whenever there’s something good, she thinks of us.”
“I like my aunt the most!” Xibao added with a beaming smile. “The shuttlecock we play with was also from my aunt; the shuttlecock is fun, right?”
The little girls all nodded. “Fun.”
One girl fidgeted with her hands, glumly saying: “I have an aunt too, but my aunt isn’t good to me. She loves taking my things and always argues with my mom. They argue so fiercely; I’m scared every time.”
Xibao was quick-thinking and immediately said: “Adults’ matters should be handled by adults; kids shouldn’t interfere. Next time they argue, come out and play with us. That way, by the time you go home, they’ll be done arguing.”
This was the principle her aunt had taught her.
The girl hesitated. “That doesn’t seem right?”
“What’s not right about it.” Lin Zheng said calmly. “You can’t help much at home anyway; better to go out. My aunt says bad moods are contagious; smart people stay far away.”
Xibao’s aunt was a salesperson, the most impressive educated person in the whole brigade. In the little girls’ hearts, they envied Lin Zhao and a bit worshipped her.
The girl was fully convinced and said: “Xibao, Zhengzheng, I’ll listen to you. Your aunt is a high school student, more impressive than many educated youth; everything she says is right. From now on, I’ll run far away.”
Lin Zheng nodded in agreement and broke off a corner of the egg cake for her. “Here.”
The little girl didn’t dare take it, stammering: “For, for me?”
“Mm, you listened.” Lin Zheng’s tone was steady.
“Thank you, Zhengzheng; you’re as good as your aunt.”
This praise scratched Lin Zheng’s itch; for a moment, her eyes smiled brighter than usual.
…
Da Dan and the others didn’t linger outside much; after showing off, they went home, arriving just before or after Lin Shichang and Lin Shisheng.
Lin Shisheng told the family about his sister’s instructions.
Learning his daughter had brought him something, Lin Heling smiled warmly, took the item, and placed it nearby.
“Tell your sister I’ll use it.” His voice was clear and smooth, his tone unhurried.
“Mm.” Lin Shisheng agreed, then looked at Song Xiwei and said: “Mom, and about Xiangxiang’s matter. Zhaozhao said she’s arranged the meeting time with her colleague, for the day after tomorrow.”
Song Xiwei thought to herself that Zhaozhao took after her in this—she didn’t like dragging things out.
“Got it.”
Just then, Xiangxiang’s mom came again.
When she appeared at the door, the whole Lin family was a bit surprised.
It wasn’t that they weren’t welcome; she’d just come yesterday, said what needed saying, and now she was back today. The two families weren’t that close.
“Auntie.”
“Auntie!”
A string of Lin family juniors called out.
“Ai!” Xiangxiang’s mom smiled in response, set down what she’d brought, sat next to Song Xiwei, and said to her: “I brought some clothes for Xiangxiang, and also a jar of my pickled vegetables.”
“Eldest Sister went to trouble.” Song Xiwei smoothly poured her a bowl of cool boiled water with some white sugar added. “You came at the right time. Zhaozhao sent word that she’s set the meeting time for Xiangxiang and that young man with her colleague, for the day after tomorrow.”
Xiangxiang’s mom was overjoyed. “Zhaozhao is so efficient. It’s thoughtful of her to think of her sister; I really don’t know how to thank her.”
Song Xiwei didn’t say no need for thanks among family; her daughter had indeed put in effort. “Zhaozhao likes your pickled vegetables. When you have time, make her more; there’s not much veg in winter, and pickled veg goes well with meals.”
Zhaozhao’s aunt had a knack for pickled vegetables; with the same process, hers were more fragrant. The radish strips were crisp and juicy, bursting like fruit in the mouth. Bok choy was good too, sour and spicy, very appetite-opening.
Xiangxiang’s mom agreed readily. “No trouble; I’ll make extra and send it over then.”
Zhaozhao was her biological niece; even if the match she introduced for Xiangxiang didn’t work out, could she not make pickled veg for her?
“Mm.”
After talking with her blood sister, Xiangxiang’s mom went to find her own daughter.
As soon as she saw her, she said:
“Xiangxiang, the meeting time is set, for the day after tomorrow.”
“On the day of the meeting, get up early, take a bath, change into decent clothes, comb your hair neatly. Once you’re in the county, listen to Zhaozhao about everything. She’s familiar with the county and careful too. Any issues, just ask her directly; don’t be shy. She’s your blood cousin. If you meet that young man and think he’s okay, be proactive. If not, don’t force it. You’re Mom’s only daughter; Mom wants you to live well.”
Even though her husband’s family thought Xiangxiang had shamed them, Xiangxiang’s mom didn’t blame her daughter; she blamed herself for not standing up and letting her father-in-law arrange that wolf-hearted childhood engagement.
She’d harmed her own daughter.
Xiangxiang understood everything in her heart. “I’m not silly, Mom. Don’t worry.”
“I know good from bad.” She emphasized.
Xiangxiang’s mom stroked her daughter’s coarse hair and said again: “Mom brought you clothes; wear something better for the meeting the day after tomorrow.”
Cloth coupons were precious; country girls didn’t have many clothes. What she brought had patches too, just fewer.
“Okay.” Xiangxiang agreed to it all.
Xiangxiang’s mom wanted to head back before dark and didn’t dare delay; after talking with her daughter, she quickly said goodbye and left.
Song Xiwei looked at Lin Shisheng. “Second Son, see your aunt off.”
…
Gu Family.
Lin Zhao sat in the room altering clothes.
Gu Chenghuai adjusted the lamp wick, making the light brighter, and said: “The commune will have electricity in the second half of the year.”
“Electricity? Hiss!” Lin Zhao got excited and pricked her finger with the needle, hissing in pain.
“Are you okay?” Gu Chenghuai tensely grasped her hand and looked at her finger; there was a shallow poke on her left index finger, fortunately no blood.
He said apologetically and regretfully: “I shouldn’t have said this while you were doing needlework.”
“It’s fine; I was just too excited.” Lin Zhao smiled at him. “Doesn’t hurt anymore.”
“It’s really happening? You asked Comrade Yang?”
Gu Chenghuai rubbed his wife’s finger, his movements varying in lightness. “Mm, the whole commune will have electricity in the second half of the year; it’s all in the plan.”
Lin Zhao’s dark eyes lit up. “That’s great; electricity will make things so much more convenient.”
She leaned forward from the waist, her clear pretty eyes fixed on the man, corners of her mouth smiling, the smile full of sweetness, pleasure, delight.
“Did you go ask specially because Er Zai said I bumped my leg?”
Gu Chenghuai didn’t deny it. “Mm, with so many kids at home, they make a lot of noise; you’re bound to get anxious. Electricity will be very convenient.”
Lin Zhao leaned in and kissed the corner of his lips.
A smacking kiss.
Gu Chenghuai’s lips curved up, his gaze soft like March spring water, his voice slightly husky with laughter. “Careful of the needle.”
“I’m being careful.” Her light voice rang out.
The topic paused for now.
Gu Chenghuai stared at his wife for a good while, then suddenly said: “How about buying a sewing machine?”
Lin Zhao thought about it. “Sure, with four cubs at home, making clothes takes a lot of time; a sewing machine would save me plenty.”
“I’ll get the coupon.” Gu Chenghuai’s voice was gentle.
Lin Zhao’s eyes curved, her smile bright. “Okay, then trouble for the capable cubs’ dad.”
“No trouble.” He was part of this family too.
Gu Chenghuai saw his wife altering one piece of clothing after another; the first few were for Lin Xuan and Lin Zheng, and the one she was working on now, she was just taking in the waist.
“Who’s this one for?”
Lin Zhao said: “For Sister Xiangxiang. I don’t wear this much anyway; since I’m doing needlework, I altered it for her on the way. She can wear it decently for the meeting; first impressions are still pretty important.”
Comrade Gu’s first impression on her had been very very good: military uniform, military cap over his brows, eyes deep and black, figure upright, handsome like someone from a black-and-white movie.
Gu Chenghuai thought his wife was truly wonderful—beautiful and kind. How was there such a perfect girl; he really liked her so much.
“Knock, knock, knock—”
Three steady knocks on the door sounded.
“The door’s not closed; come in.” Lin Zhao faced the door and called out.
Da Zai and Er Zai led the dragon-phoenix twins in.
“Mom.”
“Mom~”
Four childish voices in different tones rang out.
“Why are you here?” Lin Zhao stopped her hands and looked at the four cubs.
Er Zai brought over a stool and sat next to her. “Haven’t seen Mom all day; I came to chat with Mom.”
Lin Zhao couldn’t help laughing.
Da Zai opened the drawer, took out grid paper, sat under the lamp, practiced calligraphy with a pencil, glancing at his mom now and then, corners of his mouth curved up.
As for the dragon-phoenix twins, Si Zai nestled in his dad’s arm bend wanting a swing; Gu Chenghuai indulged his little cotton-padded jacket, swinging his arms left and right, the little milk ball giggling.
San Zai obediently sat next to his dad, quietly watching Lin Zhao.
Lin Zhao touched her youngest son’s cheek and wrinkled her nose at him; the little friend smiled milkily.
After teasing the overly quiet San Zai, she found a moment to ask Er Zai, “What do you want to chat about? Tell me; I’m listening.”
Er Zai said: “Mom, Bro and I suffered a big loss today; I’m a bit mad.”
