Chapter 108: “little Fengzi”
Lin Zhao wiped the sweat from her eldest son’s forehead and said, “Really? There’s also a little girl. Is she as big as you and your younger brother?”
Da Zai pondered, “No, she looks smaller than us. She’s a younger sister.”
Er Zai squeezed forward, bringing his sweaty head in front of his mother, “Mom, me too, me too. I want to be wiped too.”
“Good, good, good. Mom will wipe you.” Lin Zhao said with a smile.
Er Zai was fully satisfied.
“Mom, there’s also a person who walks with one foot high and one foot low. I asked him what happened to his foot, and he said it was broken by someone. Then I asked him if he reported to the police, and he said some things reporting to the police is useful for, some things it’s not. Mom, why did he say that? What things is reporting to the police useless for?”
The little friend’s eyes were full of confusion.
Lin Zhao’s smile faded, and she fell somewhat silent. She was carefully considering her words.
Er Zai talked a lot and densely. Before Lin Zhao could answer, he took out the jade gourd that Grandma Ning gave him and smiled at his mother, “Mom, look at my jade gourd. Grandma Ning gave it to us. Is it pretty?”
Lin Zhao’s gaze fell on the white jade gourd, her expression astonished.
What a generous gift!?
In the original book, jade would be very valuable decades later.
Er Zai’s jade gourd had fine and moist jade quality, even translucency, smooth lines, and soft color. It was clearly high-quality jade at a glance.
“You all have one?” she asked.
Da Zai also took out his own, “Yes, Tie Chui has one too. Grandma Ning gave them to us as meeting gifts, so we can bring Mao Dan’er to play later.”
Lin Zhao discussed with the twins, “Should Mom keep them for you?”
It wasn’t about coveting the little friends’ things; she was worried they would cause trouble by taking them outside.
Da Zai proactively stuffed the jade gourd into his mother’s hand, “Good, Mom keep it for me.”
“Mine too, Mom keep it for me. Even if it’s given to Mom, I’m willing.” Er Zai’s little mouth was as sweet as if dipped in honey.
His expression was serious.
It wasn’t strange; little friends at this age were the most attached to their mother, pure and innocent.
Before Lin Zhao could speak, Tie Chui also gave her his jade gourd.
“Third Aunt keep it for me too.” He grinned.
Lin Zhao was amused and helpless.
“Tie Chui, you should have your mom keep it for you.” She laughed.
Tie Chui scratched his head naively, “I trust Third Aunt. The jade gourds look the same; they should be kept together!”
Lin Zhao thought to herself, this wasn’t a matter of trust, was it? Eldest Brother’s Wife was still there.
“How about you ask your mom’s opinion?” She found a random excuse.
Tie Chui looked even more puzzled and said righteously, “Why ask my mom? This is what Grandma Ning gave me!”
Huang Xiulan came out from the kitchen, having heard the entire conversation between her third sister-in-law and her youngest son. She was so amused she laughed in anger.
The naive boy even asked why?
Why didn’t Da Zai and Er Zai ask?
“Third sister-in-law, keep it for him.” Huang Xiulan spoke up.
“Tie Chui trusts you, and I trust you too.” She emphasized.
The third branch had a solid foundation; they didn’t lack that bit.
Actually, in the end, it was also because the jade gourd was jade, not gold. Huang Xiulan felt it wasn’t worth much money; it couldn’t even exchange for a white flour steamed bun. Tie Chui could keep it however he wanted.
Since Eldest Brother’s Wife had spoken, Lin Zhao didn’t refuse and said, “Good, I’ll keep it for you.”
To prevent the first branch from not valuing it and breaking or losing it, which was very possible. After all, when the jade gourd became valuable, it would be at least ten years later. Ten years—too many unexpected changes.
“Tomorrow Third Aunt will give you a hardcover notebook. You write down the things you put with me, so you don’t forget.”
Tie Chui learned everything from the twins. When Da Zai and Er Zai started learning characters, he followed, and now he recognized quite a few words.
“Good.” He said obediently.
Huang Xiulan felt that her third sister-in-law truly cared about Tie Chui. Her naive boy had good fortune ahead.
Old Three was a battalion commander and would surely rise further sooner or later. Old Three’s wife was educated and worked at the supply and marketing cooperative. Both spouses had bright futures. The four sons were each more clever than the last. The third branch would take off sooner or later. Her family’s Tie Chui could squeeze in, valued by the twins, and liked by her third sister-in-law. This luck… being carried along was inevitable.
Er Zai hugged his mother and said, “Mom, my brother and I want hardcover notebooks too.”
“Good, good, good. Everyone gets one.” Lin Zhao’s eyes were indulgent.
The lucky draw wheel still had plenty of points left; she could try drawing a few times later.
Last night she had only casually drawn once and got pork, grains and oils, red beans, etc.—all food.
Da Zai’s little face was solemnly serious as he said to Er Zai and Tie Chui, “We need to practice calligraphy well, or else we won’t even recognize the characters we write ourselves.”
“I practice, brother. I listen to you and practice with the calligraphy copybook every day.” Er Zai said.
The calligraphy copybook was found at the recycling station.
Tie Chui: “I listen too. I practice too.”
At night the light was dim and it wasted lamp oil, so the little friends put their learning time during the day. They only went out to play after recognizing characters and practicing calligraphy.
Da Zai had a steady and self-disciplined temperament, especially able to endure loneliness. With him, he never forgot the daily learning tasks no matter what. Under his influence, Er Zai and Tie Chui gradually developed good learning habits.
Having such a sensible good eldest son, Lin Zhao was truly worry-free.
“Dinner’s ready. Everyone wash up.” Huang Xiulan remembered the main thing and called out.
The bamboo curtain on the main house door frame was lifted from inside, making a da sound.
Gu Fu patted his pocket, a smile appearing on his face. He was in an extremely good mood.
He called to his grandsons and granddaughter, “Wash hands and eat.”
The children moved with a clatter, obediently washing their hands with soap, rubbing each finger several times, finally rinsing off the foam with clean water. Then, as they walked to the dining table, they smelled their hands, bending their eyes in smiles at the fragrant scent.
The food on the dining table was no different from usual: coarse grain wowo, half a basin of stir-fried bok choy, a plate of cold carrot shreds, and a bowl of thin porridge with few rice grains per person.
The only difference was that golden vegetable box.
“Vegetable box!!” Lai Mei had spent the afternoon in the mountains waiting at the base of a tree with her little friends and only now saw the vegetable box.
“Your Third Aunt started making it as soon as she got back from work.” Zhao Liuniang said, “You ran off without a trace.”
The Lin family didn’t have the habit of scolding at the dinner table; this was also Lin Zhao’s habit.
She smiled and changed the topic, “Second Sister-in-law and Lai Mei, both try some and see how it tastes. If you like it, I’ll make it again later.”
“Anything Third Aunt makes is delicious.” Lai Mei flattered first, then, seeing her grandparents and elders start eating, unceremoniously picked up a vegetable box.
Taking a bite, she immediately had the thought that Tie Dan often had—it’s really great that Third Uncle’s family moved back.
Not just tasting meat every ten days or half a month, but also occasional other treats. So happy.
…
After dinner, Gu Fu couldn’t wait and shouted for his own old third to accompany him to the foot of the mountain.
As soon as he spoke, Gu Mu glared fiercely.
“Go where? Don’t you see what time it is? It’s not even dark yet. I think you want to get the whole family killed!”
The few naughty monkeys had been sent out to play, but she was afraid the left and right neighbors would hear and still kept her voice low.
Gu Fu hurriedly explained, “I didn’t plan to go to that old house now. I plan to pick up some firewood at the foot of the mountain first and go over after dark.”
Of course, he had other calculations in his heart. Those people would also need to pick up firewood to cook. If he ran into them, it wouldn’t hurt to say a few words.
Gu Mu’s anger subsided, and she instructed, “Alright then, keep it in mind. Don’t let anyone see you.”
Most people in the brigade were good-hearted without so many schemes, but… there were also those who couldn’t stand the Gu family.
“Got it, got it.” Gu Fu gave Gu Chenghuai a look.
The old woman was getting fiercer!
Gu Chenghuai sighed inwardly, glanced at his wife, and left with his biological father.
The father and son arrived at the foot of the mountain and looked from afar at those several thatched houses. The surrounding weeds had been cleared clean. The old dilapidated house without a courtyard wall stood there, appearing exceptionally desolate.
Gu Fu was worried, “…Not even a courtyard wall. If a wild boar comes down the mountain, where could these people run?”
Even experienced hunters were helpless against fierce wild beasts.
Gu Chenghuai said, “They will build a courtyard wall.”
“They have old and young, none looking like they can do work.” Gu Fu was still uneasy. He was a kind-hearted person; even if Mr. Qiao wasn’t inside, he would worry.
“I’ll go find the brigade leader tomorrow and talk about it.” Gu Chenghuai said again.
Gu Fu patted his son’s shoulder, his face wrinkling with laughter.
He hadn’t achieved much in his life but had given birth to a promising son.
As they spoke, Gu Chenghuai didn’t idle; he bent down to pick up firewood, his movements quick.
A rustling sound of footsteps came.
The newcomer limped closer. It was a face unfamiliar to both Gu family father and son.
He carried a bundle of firewood, had fair skin tone, eyes black as ink, features with soft outlines, and a slender, refined build.
Meng Jiusi saw the two, nodded slightly, and walked past them toward the thatched houses.
“Wait.” Gu Fu called lightly.
Meng Jiusi stopped and turned back to look at him, his gaze puzzled.
“Among your group, is that white-haired old man surnamed Qiao?” Gu Fu looked around, saw no one, and asked cautiously.
At these words, Meng Jiusi’s expression didn’t change, and he said flatly, “Not sure. We don’t know each other well.”
Gu Fu believed this.
But Gu Chenghuai didn’t believe a single word. It was normal not to know each other well before settling down, but now that they had settled, saying they didn’t know each other seemed deliberate!
The young man with one foot high and one foot low disappeared. Gu Fu said wistfully, “So young, yet his foot is bad. Sigh.”
Who knew what mistake he had made.
The Gu family father and son were afraid of running into brigade people and didn’t dare stay long, tacitly walking farther to pick up firewood. During the firewood picking, Gu Fu muttered about many things from before in Haicheng, and Gu Chenghuai listened attentively.
At the foot of the mountain, the thatched houses.
“Someone asked about me?” Mr. Qiao’s expression was surprised.
Meng Jiusi nodded, “Yes, the ones who stopped me were father and son, probably brigade people. That old man looked honest and straightforward. His son… has a strong presence, judging by his stance, very much like a soldier.”
Just didn’t know if he had been discharged.
Mr. Qiao was puzzled inwardly but didn’t show it on his face, smiling faintly.
“Maybe someone I casually helped when I was young. Who knows? If they are meant to come, they will. Wait and see.”
Seeing that Mr. Qiao had it handled, Meng Jiusi said no more, went to the corner, made a simple three-stone stove, lit a fire, and boiled soup to drink.
This pottery jar was one of the things he had managed to keep with difficulty; it had a chipped corner, but fortunately it could still be used.
The others were also trying to figure out food.
Just then.
The brigade leader came, with two young men behind him—one carrying a sack, the other holding a large bamboo basket.
Seeing the weeds by the house cleared completely clean, the brigade leader nodded in satisfaction and called out loudly, “Everyone come out.”
The people inside all came out.
Everyone had suffered unspeakable torment before arriving at Fengshou Brigade.
Even someone as calm as Mr. Qiao didn’t want any more unexpected changes.
The brigade leader waved to the young men who came with him.
“Put the things down.”
They did so.
The brigade leader looked at Meng Jiusi and the others, saying, “You have no grain, right? I’ll take it upon myself to send you fifty jin of coarse grains first, plus some vegetables and such, on credit. Pay back later with work points.”
He thought it over and still felt he had to give these people grain—not just grain, but also count work points for them. The superiors only said to educate, not to take lives.
The people standing at the thatched house door didn’t expect the brigade leader to send them grain and were stunned.
After several breaths.
The coldness in Meng Jiusi’s eyes dissipated somewhat, and he thanked solemnly, “Thank you.”
The brigade leader waved indifferently, “It should be done. As for you, whatever the superiors say, you do. If they ask for self-criticisms, write them. Don’t be stubborn; it won’t benefit you. As the old saying goes, a good man doesn’t suffer immediate losses.”
“Think it over seriously.”
Without waiting for them to answer, he took the two young men and left.
In front of the thatched house, no one spoke, and the sudden waves in their hearts were known to no one.
In the blink of an eye, the sky darkened.
Gu Fu and Gu Chenghuai arrived in front of the old house at the foot of the mountain.
“Thump thump thump.”
A dull knocking sound rang out.
The door, barely functional as a decoration, was opened.
Mr. Qiao looked at the two outside the door, his gaze finally settling on Gu Fu’s face. He tried hard to recall, to remember him, but it was in vain.
His mind was empty.
“You’re Mr. Qiao?” Gu Fu suppressed his excitement and asked in a trembling voice.
Qiao?
Someone who could accurately call his surname.
Should be an acquaintance.
An old acquaintance he had forgotten.
Mr. Qiao thought with emotion.
His aged wise eyes showed a trace of apology.
“I’m surnamed Qiao.”
Gu Fu’s expression was delighted, and he pursued, “Are you Mr. Qiao of the Qiao Mansion in Haicheng?”
“Qiao Mansion?” Mr. Qiao smiled, “A long time ago. The Qiao Mansion is long gone.”
“It’s really you, Mr. Qiao!” Gu Fu’s eyes shone remarkably.
He rarely got excited as he introduced himself, helping his benefactor recall memories.
“It’s me. I’m Gu Feng, the skinny boy bullied for selling cigarettes at the dance hall entrance. You helped me, took me to the Qiao Mansion, and taught me to read…”
Halfway through his words, Mr. Qiao remembered.
“It’s you.” The wariness in his eyes instantly vanished. He smiled and sized up Gu Feng, saying, “I didn’t expect to see you again. Little Fengzi, you’re old too. I wasn’t wrong when I sent you away back then. I said if it’s fate, we’d meet again. And here we are.”
As he spoke, he opened the door and let the Gu family father and son in.
There wasn’t even a stool inside the room; the bed was casually laid with straw.
Gu Fu glanced and felt an indescribable taste in his heart.
“Mr. Qiao, how did you…” Afraid of touching Mr. Qiao’s sore spot, he started but swallowed the question, only saying, “My family has an old bed and old bedding. If you don’t mind, wait until it’s later tonight, and I’ll send them over.”
Mr. Qiao didn’t stand on ceremony and accepted his kindness, “No problem. What would I mind? I should thank you. Here at my place… everything is lacking.”
“Alright then, my boy and I will send them over later.” Gu Fu said.
Then he introduced his son to him, “This is my old third, Gu Chenghuai.”
“He’s a good young man. Been a soldier, right?” Mr. Qiao’s eyes showed appreciation.
Gu Fu said proudly, “He’s still a soldier now.”
He didn’t say his son was already a battalion commander; it sounded like showing off.
Gu Chenghuai saw his dad’s oft-mentioned benefactor: white hair, sharp and spirited eyes, giving a feeling of elegant poise.
“Mr. Qiao.” He nodded in greeting, calm and steady.
“Don’t learn from your dad. Your dad and I are old acquaintances. If you don’t mind my current situation, call me Uncle Qiao in private.” When Mr. Qiao was young, he secretly sent supplies and medicine, dealing much with troops, so he had a natural fondness for soldiers.
Gu Chenghuai readily changed the address, “Uncle Qiao.”
Mr. Qiao patted Gu Fu’s shoulder, his tone emotional, “This son of yours is no ordinary one. I told you back then, kid—you have good fortune ahead.”
