Chapter 104: “you’re In For It”
“Yes, it’s me!” Er Zai repeated twice. The little friend thought he had done a good deed, worthy of pride.
That little neck was raised like a proud swan.
“Wow, you’re so awesome, Er Zai.” Tie Chui was so regretful he didn’t see it with his own eyes.
He also wanted to be that awesome, and asked curiously: “Er Zai, is it Third Uncle who takes you and Da Zai to practice huffing and puffing every morning?”
“Mm-hmm.” Er Zai won by surprise, but he didn’t know it himself, still thinking it was his dad who taught him well, and he enthusiastically recruited students for his biological father. “Tie Chui, my dad is super awesome, he’s really good at fighting, one person can take on ten or so. I learned from my dad, that’s why I’m this awesome.”
“If you want to get awesome, get up a bit earlier in the morning and practice with me. Anyway, Milk says, herding one sheep is a hassle, herding a flock is also a hassle.”
Lin Zhao’s expression was subtle.
Gu Chenghuai was definitely really good at fighting, one against ten or so? Not scientific.
She didn’t call him out. Which little friend doesn’t brag about their parents? Some little friends even tell people their dad dares to eat shit. Er Zai at least didn’t compare that.
Tie Chui let out another wow, nodding repeatedly. “I’ll learn, I’ll learn.”
After saying “I’ll learn” twice, the skinny yellow little face scrunched up, and he said hesitantly: “But I can’t get up.”
Da Zai and Er Zai got up really early. He didn’t want to get up that early; he wanted to sleep more.
“What’s so hard about getting up? You’ll get used to it slowly.” Er Zai the big swindler came online. “If you get up half an hour earlier in the morning, you’ll have half an hour more playtime than others. You’re making a profit.”
Tie Chui scratched his head. “How long is half an hour?”
Er Zai was stumped by the question.
He didn’t know how long half an hour was either.
He was about to ask his mom, but saw Lin Zhao had gone to the kitchen.
“You ask your parents. Such a simple question, adults definitely know.”
Tie Dan then asked: “You say it’s simple, then why don’t you know?”
Er Zai’s mouth was super quick. “I’m not an adult.” The answer was perfectly righteous.
He thought he was a little friend; not knowing the answer was no big deal. Once he grew up, he’d definitely know.
Tie Dan was speechless. No matter how he asked, Er Zai could always rebut him.
He often lost to his younger brother in talk because of his mouth, and would repeatedly regret it late at night—
I could have replied like that at the time, why didn’t I think of it aaaah! Next time, next time, I must react faster!
And the like.
Tie Chui thought his brother talked too much and quickly replied to his good brother. “Er Zai, I’ll get up early. I want to learn too.”
He even thought ahead. “When we grow up, I want to drive the big truck with you. If we run into bandits, we need real skills or we’re done.”
Lin Zhao carried a basin out of the kitchen and heard Tie Chui’s words. Her impression of him as honest and simple seemed like a piece of glass, cracking right down the middle.
“Tie Chui, who taught you that?”
Tie Chui showed a silly grin. “My dad.”
Lin Zhao: Oh, then it’s not strange.
Da Zai smelled the fragrance and walked over proudly, pretending to be nonchalant but actually showing off. “Mom, you made vegetable boxes?”
As his voice sounded, the Gu family’s kids’ eyes lit up instantly.
Mao Dan’er also smelled the fragrance. He wanted to leave but was afraid the Wang family would come looking and he wouldn’t be there.
The twins protected him; he couldn’t be disloyal.
“Mao Dan’er, eat some too.” Lin Zhao greeted with a smile.
Looking at the little friend’s skinny yellow face, her heart ached.
The brigade’s children weren’t plump; they were all skinny and yellow, but none as skinny as Mao Dan’er. His tattered clothes hung on him, no meat on his face, making his eyes look even bigger, just like a little beggar.
Mao Dan’er hurriedly waved his hands. “No, no, I don’t eat.”
He knew how precious grain was.
“It’s fine. How much can one child eat? You’re Da Zai and Er Zai’s good brother. It’s only right we treat you on your first visit. Don’t feel awkward.” Lin Zhao said gently.
Then she gave the twins a look. “Da Zai, Er Zai, take your good brother to wash hands.”
Da Zai was thrilled to host a little friend for the first time and pulled Mao Dan’er to wash hands.
Mao Dan’er had endless chores every day. When little friends called him to play, he always had things to do. Gradually, the little friends stopped asking him to play. After that, he was on his own. Wang Yaozu found he could always catch fish, pick up bird eggs… several times bringing his little lackeys to rob his stuff.
Mao Dan’er had no dad or mom, didn’t want his seriously ill grandma to worry, so he didn’t tell anyone, swallowed the hidden losses. Today Wang Yaozu came again, stopped by the Gu family’s twins.
Mao Dan’er was very grateful for Da Zai and Er Zai’s help.
He dazedly let them take him to wash hands, then felt warmth in his hand.
A hot pancake was stuffed into it.
The pancake smelled amazing. Mao Dan’er had never seen anything so fragrant and instinctively swallowed saliva.
Da Zai took a bite of the vegetable box, so fragrant he wanted to shout. Seeing Mao Dan’er dazed, he urged: “Eat quick. It has leeks and eggs inside, crispy outside, soft inside, so delicious.”
He ate with his mouth full of oil, looked at Lin Zhao, and said: “Mom, you made it even tastier.”
This was compared to yesterday’s.
Lin Zhao smiled without speaking.
She was willing to use oil, of course it was tastier.
Mao Dan’er took a small bite; it really was as Da Zai said, truly delicious.
He thought he’d never forget in his life… the taste of this vegetable box.
Da Zai remembered his uncles. “Mom, is there some for my big uncle and second uncle?”
Lin Zhao was pleased and smiled. “Yes, they’ll eat when they finish work and come back.”
“Has my dad tasted it?” Da Zai asked again.
“Not yet. Your dad’s at the new house too. They’ll eat when they finish. Don’t worry, Mom made a lot.” Lin Zhao patted her son’s head. Busy all afternoon, hot as hell, she went back to the room to get clothes to wipe sweat.
“Mom, your vegetable boxes are so delicious. Can I have another?” Er Zai called to his mom, coquettishly asking.
He hadn’t finished the one in his hand, but that didn’t stop a greedy little friend from asking for more.
“Sure, eat as much as you can. Don’t worry about running out; there’s more in the kitchen.” Lin Zhao smiled.
The Wang family was troublesome. Er Zai had beaten their precious grandson and made his nose bleed; that family would definitely come looking.
She added: “Don’t go out, just play in the yard. If Wang family people come, call me.”
“Got it!” The little friends agreed.
…
Gu Mu’s wounds had fully healed. She took the dragon-phoenix twins for a stroll, with Da Huang and Amber following.
Third Branch moved back to the old house, handed over quite a bit of grain, meat was frequent too, plus wild chickens and wild rabbits from Gu Chan and Wei Xiangdong. The Gu family’s food was really good lately; Gu family members, from old to young, had rosy faces, no longer the previous sallow yellow.
“Cheng Huai’s mom, why do I think you’ve gotten fat, and fairer?” Li Laotai eyed Gu Mu, scrutinizing closely.
Gu Mu touched her face, then quickly put her hand down, sat with the dragon-phoenix twins, and happily said: “Really? So nourishing, hard not to get fat.”
Before anyone asked, she eagerly shared: “Third Son’s Wife gave me a can of malt extract, said to nourish my body. Later she gave me a box of cold cream. You know cold cream, right? For the face.”
Gu Mu’s face was full of smiles, but she said: “I’m old already, why need cold cream? Isn’t that wasting money? But Third Son’s Wife said use it freely, she’ll buy more when it’s gone. Anyway, she works at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative; buying anything is convenient.”
The old ladies pursed their lips.
Third Son’s Wife, Third Son’s Wife… their ears were about to grow calluses.
Not afraid the daughter-in-law would climb over their heads!
“Really?” Li Laotai said coolly.
If not for Gu Laotai’s injury just healed, she wouldn’t bother responding.
“Yes.” Gu Mu thought her old friend didn’t believe her and emphasized: “Actions speak in key moments. Third Son’s Wife is filial.”
After praising Third Branch, she balanced it. “Eldest Son’s Wife and Second Son’s Wife are filial too. During the time I was recovering, all the housework was done by them, not a word of resentment.”
Hearing these boastful words one by one, the old ladies felt complicated.
The Gu family’s daughters-in-law were indeed filial. Setting aside Cheng Huai’s aside, Yuan Shan’s and Yu Cheng’s never slipped in filial piety.
Unlike their own; forget filial, not coveting their stuff was good enough.
“We know your daughters-in-law are all filial. Stop showing off. You’re really getting more annoying.” Li Laotai grumbled irritably.
Gu Mu smiled and finally stopped appropriately.
“Third Son’s Wife said she’d bring some defective products today…”
As her words fell, the old ladies stopped their work, looked up at her, eyes fiery.
The old lady in gray patched short jacket said: “Really?”
“No wonder I saw Cheng Huai’s family come back with bags and packages. What are we waiting for? Hurry and go buy.” Li Laotai stood up, giving Gu Mu a look.
“What’s the rush? Third Son’s Wife needs to wash up. So hot, riding back all sweaty, and she loves cleanliness. Going early won’t help.” Gu Mu said unhurriedly.
“None of your business!” Li Laotai retorted skillfully, then urged: “Hurry, we’ll wait at your house.”
These were people she’d known since childhood; even if their mouths were loose, they were her own. Gu Mu helplessly stood up, muttering: “Butt hasn’t even warmed up.”
“So hot, what’s to warm? Hurry, or others will snatch them.” Li Laotai thought of the Supply and Marketing Cooperative’s defective products, urging nonstop.
Gu Mu was even more helpless. “Can’t be snatched; no one knows yet.”
The dragon-phoenix twins didn’t want to be led, broke free from Milk’s hand, and waddled home with their chubby little short legs, sometimes fast, sometimes slow.
Da Huang and Amber always followed behind.
Li Laotai looked at the two doll-like children and said: “Not seen for a while, Cheng Huai’s pair of dragon-phoenix twins have gained a circle. I’ve lived this long, never seen such plump little dolls.”
She’d never traveled far in her life, just around the small place, seen plenty of little babies, but they were all from poor families, of course not fat.
“Yes, fatter, that’s good.” Gu Mu saw it in her eyes, very gratified. “Little dolls chubby like that… are cute.”
“Cute” was learned from Lin Zhao.
If she said it, it’d definitely be “has fortune.”
But…
Can’t say “has fortune” anymore, easy to get capped. Could only say cute.
Li Laotai glanced sideways at Gu Mu. Why was Yuan Shan’s Mother talking so strangely?
As they walked, from far away they saw Wang Laotai dragging her precious grandson, storming over.
The hard-to-mess-with old lady stopped in front of Gu Mu, face cold, unkindly saying: “Yuan Shan’s Mother, your Er Zai beat my Yaozu’s nose to bleed. Say, how to compensate!”
Gu Mu’s first reaction was disbelief. “You say Er Zai?”
“Er Zai’s only a few years old, he’s so little, how could he beat your Yaozu till bleeding?”
Wang Laotai raised her voice: “What do you mean?!”
“You don’t believe? Fine, let’s go to your house, ask Er Zai yourself.”
She was a woman who raised her sickly son alone with her hands, even got him a wife. Not one to be trifled with; could stir up three points from nothing. If not for Gu family harder to mess with, she’d have hit someone this morning!
Gu Mu shifted her gaze to the Wang family’s treasure grandson.
Sensing her half-believing gaze, Wang Yaozu bristled, face flushed red, voice shrill and piercing.
“I didn’t lie! It was Gu Er Zai who hit me. He jumped up and hit me, hit my nose, not once, twice! He hit me twice, made my nose bleed!”
Even so, he didn’t hate Er Zai much, but put all the grudge on Mao Dan’er—
He thought it was all Mao Dan’er’s fault for not knowing his place! He should’ve obediently given the fish; it would’ve been fine.
Gu Mu wouldn’t believe one side. If Wang family said Er Zai hit someone, she’d believe? Impossible.
If she believed anyone, it’d be her own grandson.
Even if Er Zai hit someone, there’d be a reason. She knew her grandson; not the type to bully casually.
“Fine, let’s go ask together.”
The group headed to Gu family old house.
Just at the door, they ran into Gu Chenghuai back from the new house.
“Mom, this is?” Gu Chenghuai’s dark eyes swept over the figures, casually asking.
Seeing him, Wang Yaozu was like a cat sensing danger, fur all bristled, panicked and urgently hiding behind his grandma.
Wang Laotai ached with distress. “Precious grandson, don’t be afraid. The hitter isn’t us; we’re not scared. Worst case, there’s still the Brigade Leader.”
This was deliberately said for Gu Chenghuai to hear.
Gu Mu glanced at her and explained the kids’ fight.
Gu Chenghuai nodded, emotionless. “Go in and talk.”
“Third, don’t hit the child.” Gu Mu feared her Er Zai would be beaten by his biological father, nervously grabbing her son’s arm.
Gu Chenghuai: “…”
Gu Chenghuai was helpless and speechless. “Why would I hit him? Besides, his mom’s there.”
He dare hit the child for no reason? Zhaozhao would ignore him for half a year. Wasn’t that asking for his life?!
“Good, no hitting, good.” Gu Mu breathed relief, pushed the door, didn’t open. Pushed again, still didn’t.
“Why’s the door closed? Da Zai, Er Zai…” She called several names.
Several light footsteps came.
“Click!” Sound.
The door bolt was lifted by a little black hand.
“Tie Chui, why’s the door closed?” Gu Mu pushed open the door, saw Tie Chui, and asked.
Tie Chui was about to answer when he saw Wang Yaozu’s face right there.
He was shocked, pupils quaking, nearly screaming.
Da Zai and Er Zai’s limelight avoidance failed?! His poor good brother!
“What are you dazed for? I’m asking you.” Gu Mu patted her grandson’s back.
Tie Chui snapped back, ran inside like a monkey, tone full of urgency.
“Da Zai, Er Zai, Wang Yaozu brought his grandma to the door!”
Da Zai curved his eyes, not panicked at all. “It’s fine, adults are all here.”
After comforting Tie Chui, he didn’t forget to comfort Mao Dan’er. “Mao Dan’er, don’t be afraid. Wang Yaozu bullying you is his wrong. My mom and dad will protect you.”
“…Protect me?” Mao Dan’er’s eyes were full of confusion. “Why?”
“Because you’re a hero’s child.” Da Zai said solemnly.
He was still young, didn’t understand the weight of those words, but every word his mom said, he firmly remembered.
“Hero’s… child.” Mao Dan’er lowered his eyes, water light flashed, gone in an instant. He looked up and smiled at Da Zai. “Thanks, Gu Da Zai.”
His grandma always said dad was a hero who defended the home and country, but he felt no one remembered his dad, sometimes unfair for him, feeling his dad’s sacrifice meaningless.
But now.
Someone remembered his dad’s sacrifice.
And said they’d protect him, just because… he was a hero’s child.
Mao Dan’er’s chest was warm, pride climbing into his eyes.
Dad, did you see? Someone remembers you. You protected home and country, protected others’ children, and now someone protects me for you.
Da Zai bumped fists lightly on Mao Dan’er’s shoulder, very gently. “No thanks, we’re good brothers.”
Mao Dan’er nodded heavily, eyes bright. “Mm, good brothers.”
…
Er Zai saw Gu Chenghuai and rushed over swiftly, telling his dad what happened at the foot of the mountain.
His face full of “I’m right, Wang Yaozu’s wrong,” little expression very stubborn. “Dad, Wang Yaozu robbed Mao Dan’er’s stuff, he even pushed my brother. I didn’t hit him wrong.”
Gu Chenghuai rubbed his second son’s head. “Didn’t say you were wrong.”
Er Zai grinned wide.
Seeing so many people barge into the house, Lin Zhao guessed why they came, turned to the room, took out the big bags from the Supply and Marketing Cooperative.
Put them on the table.
Untied the rope.
Iron thermos, towel, cotton cloth, matches, rubber shoes…
So comprehensive.
Only the quantities were a bit few.
Everyone’s eyes were nearly blinded.
Wang Laotai stepped forward first, grabbed a pair of peony flower pillow towels, face piled with smiles, politely saying: “Cheng Huai’s Wife, how much for this pair of pillow towels? I’ll take them.”
Wang Yaozu saw, angrily ran off wailing.
The old lady glanced, didn’t take it to heart.
Lin Zhao looked and said: “8 mao.”
Wang Laotai’s eyes lit up amazingly. So cheap; a pair at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative cost over one yuan.
“I’ll take them, I’ll take them.”
“Cheng Huai’s family, save them for me. I’ll go get money now.”
Lin Zhao lightly tapped the nearby bamboo basket. “Put what you definitely want in the basket; I’ll save them.”
As her words fell, Li Laotai put the thermos in, Guo Laotai put the towel in…
After picking what they wanted, the old ladies feared trouble and hurried to get money.
In a few breaths, the yard was empty.
Er Zai was dumbfounded. “Mom, aren’t they here to settle accounts with us?”
