Chapter 119: “little Leafy”
A thousand miles away at a certain troops base.
Commander Ning opened his eyes and saw the guard sitting on a stool dozing off. He didn’t disturb him and sat up to pour himself some water to drink.
The guard wasn’t sleeping soundly. As soon as the leader moved, he woke up startled and hurried over to help.
“The leader is awake, why didn’t you call me?”
A helpless expression appeared on Commander Ning’s stern face. He didn’t argue with the guard, took a sip of water, and asked, “What happened to me?”
The guard scratched his head. “This afternoon, you suddenly clutched your chest and shouted something about Mao, then passed out. The doctor checked you over and didn’t find any issues. He guessed it was related to the memories you’re recovering and said you’d be fine after resting for a couple of days.”
Commander Ning leaned back and nodded lightly.
Outside the window was an old tree that seemed to have a filter over it, with the afterglow of the setting sun slanting through the window, casting mottled light and shadows.
“What did Doctor Sun say?”
The guard knew the leader was anxious and said, “Doctor Sun said after three more acupuncture sessions, the blood stasis in your brain will dissipate, and once the blood stasis clears, you should be able to recover your memories.”
“Can the next acupuncture session be arranged as soon as possible?” Commander Ning was very urgent. He vaguely felt that there was a very important person waiting for him at home. That bout of heart-wrenching pain this afternoon had made his head ache in waves, as if some images were desperately trying to push their way out. He was really afraid that by the time he remembered, it would be too late.
“No.” The guard refused outright. “Doctor Sun said injuries to the brain can’t be rushed; it has to follow some gradual process. Your blood stasis has been there for years without clearing, so you need to be even more careful.”
“I can’t not rush it. Where’s that guy? Call him here for me.” Commander Ning’s voice sharpened slightly.
When the leader got angry, the guard couldn’t handle it and didn’t even dare look at him, but he held his ground stubbornly.
“You can call him, but you can’t be willful!” The honest guard said, “Nothing is more important than your health!”
“Stop nagging.”
The guard didn’t dare say more and hurried off to fetch Doctor Sun.
Doctor Sun was a master of traditional Chinese medicine, skilled in acupuncture. Last month, he had almost had some bad luck, but Commander Ning protected him and brought him to the troops.
Doctor Sun regarded Commander Ning as his savior and was particularly concerned about his health. He wasn’t willing to do anything that might harm his health, and the treatments he used were the most prudent and conservative.
Entering the hospital room and hearing the leader’s words, he decisively refused. “No, your body needs more recuperation!”
The old doctor’s brows furrowed tight enough to crush a fly.
No doctor likes a disobedient patient. If this weren’t his benefactor, he would have given him a good scolding.
Commander Ning couldn’t wait any longer. “Stop wasting words and arrange it as soon as possible!”
The old man Sun wasn’t afraid of him. He stuck out his neck stubbornly. “Can’t rush it!”
Commander Ning glared, his decisive and resolute aura emanating, making people’s hearts skip beats involuntarily.
But Doctor Sun in front of him had seen all kinds of high-ranking people and wasn’t afraid at all.
“Stop glaring. As long as I’m still your attending physician, you have to listen to me.”
Commander Ning lightly pinched the space between his brows to ease the headache. He sighed softly. “I’ve been away from home for many years and don’t know who else is still at home. I’m afraid it might be too late…”
The leader, who always held his backbone straight outside, rarely showed vulnerability. Doctor Sun was stunned.
Recalling what he knew about Commander Ning—deep undercover in enemy territory for years, forgetting everything but never his duty and mission, successfully completing the task.
Admiration welled up in Doctor Sun’s heart. He couldn’t bear to disappoint him and involuntarily started thinking of a method.
“…Let me think of a method.”
Commander Ning’s expression relaxed. He said solemnly, “Thank you for the trouble. As soon as possible!”
Doctor Sun glanced at him, feeling like he’d been schemed into it.
Looking closely at his expression, he couldn’t see anything.
It must be an illusion.
It didn’t matter anymore; the words were already spoken.
“I’ll go study it.”
With that, Doctor Sun left the hospital room.
Commander Ning temporarily set his mind at ease. He had to remember as soon as possible, bring his family to accompany the army. Things were getting more chaotic outside, and he wasn’t at ease.
Thinking this, the tall and stern middle-aged man got down from the hospital bed.
“Leader, are you really okay? Shouldn’t we observe a bit more?” the guard said worriedly.
Just thinking about the leader suddenly collapsing that afternoon made it hard for him to relax.
“What’s there to observe? Back to the office.” Commander Ning took his military jacket from the wooden coat rack and strode out.
The guard had no way to deal with his willful leader and could only hurry to keep up, his eyes fixed firmly on the leader.
…
Da Zai and Er Zai, now Yu Bao and Heng Bao, after showing off their new names in the village, saw that it was getting late. The sensible little friends didn’t linger outside and played in their own yard.
Lin Zhao was tired today. She had just finished bathing and was lying on the straw mat with her eyes closed, resting.
Her long eyelashes fluttered lightly, betraying the fact that she wasn’t asleep.
“Want me to massage you?” Gu Chenghuai sat on the edge of the bed, his low voice tinged with laughter.
Lin Zhao’s eyes snapped open. The next instant, she flipped over and lay prone on the bed. “Shoulders and waist, legs hurt too.”
A pair of clearly jointed hands landed on her shoulders, kneading unhurriedly. “Riding such a long way, of course it hurts.”
“Is the pressure right?” Gu Chenghuai asked gently.
“Just right.” Lin Zhao buried her face in the pillow, her clear voice muffled, not very loud.
“My aunt was waiting. She couldn’t wait for big brother and second brother to come back early. I had to go on this trip. You don’t know how happy my aunt was.” This was in response to the man’s earlier words.
“I know. I don’t mean to blame you; I just feel you went through hardship.” Gu Chenghuai massaged from her shoulders to her waist. “Want to apply some medicated oil?”
“No!” Lin Zhao refused outright. She had just bathed and didn’t like feeling sticky when sleeping.
“Where are Da Zai—no, Yu Bao and Heng Bao? Suddenly changing how we call them feels pretty unaccustomed.”
Gu Chenghuai smiled. “Call them that for a week and it’ll be habit. They’re outside playing with Xingci and the others.”
Hearing that name, Lin Zhao couldn’t help laughing. “Lai Mei must be thrilled. She’s wanted to change her name for ages, and finally did.”
After second sister-in-law gave birth to the eldest son Xing Ye, she especially wanted a daughter. Who knew the second son she bore was another boy. Hearing from the midwife it was another boy, second sister-in-law couldn’t hold back her tears and named the loudly crying little infant Lai Mei on the spot.
“Hey, I never got around to asking—why does second sister-in-law like girls so much?”
Gu Chenghuai knew a little. “Second sister-in-law’s maternal family wasn’t good. She was mistreated from childhood, so she wants a daughter.”
“I get it. She wants to prove that daughters are just as precious, to give her daughter all the things she never got herself. Right?” Lin Zhao turned her head slightly to look at him.
Her hair was black, shiny, and thick, scattered messily and blocking her eyes.
“Yes.” Gu Chenghuai reached out to smooth his wife’s long hair and loosely tied it with a rubber band.
Lin Zhao wriggled to the edge of the bed like a little worm, grabbed his hand, and laid her head on his sturdy thigh.
“How are you just like a little child.” Gu Chenghuai chuckled lightly, stroking her chin with fingers callused from training, his deep black eyes gentle unbelievably.
Lin Zhao hummed, saying nothing.
He clearly loved her closeness, so why pretend.
“Still uncomfortable anywhere?” Gu Chenghuai asked.
“Much better.” Lin Zhao’s gaze was tender.
The couple was being affectionate when the door was pushed open, and the four little ones from the third branch came in one after another.
Lin Zhao didn’t move. Gu Chenghuai certainly wasn’t going to shift his wife’s head away. They were a legally married husband and wife. He didn’t look at the children, just raised his hand to massage his wife’s head.
“Done playing?” Lin Zhao looked at the four little friends.
Yu Bao glanced at his parents, his gaze worried. “Mom, headache?”
“A little.” Lin Zhao didn’t deny it; it was from the heat.
Seeing the worry deepen in her eldest son’s eyes, with even Qian Bao and Yao Bao coming over to thump her legs, her heart softened. She touched the dragon-phoenix twins’ little faces.
“Sleep it off and it’ll be fine by morning.”
Yu Bao relaxed. “Then Mom, go to sleep early today. I’ll take care of little brother and sister.”
“Good.” Lin Zhao’s tone was indulgent. “Thank you, Yu Bao.”
Hearing the new name, the little friend was extremely happy.
“Mom, want water?” Heng Bao brought over water.
With her son bringing it right to her mouth, Lin Zhao couldn’t deny him the face. She sat up, took a sip, and smiled. “The water Heng Bao brings is sweet.”
Heng Bao grinned happily. Remembering the main thing when they came in, he leaned his little head over, tilting it slightly. “Mom, what does the thing behind my ear look like?”
Lin Zhao looked up. Behind the little friend’s ear was a black smudge, looking like it was drawn with ink, unrecognizable shape.
“Can’t tell.” She shook her head.
“So dirty. Did you draw it with a fountain pen? Didn’t I tell you not to play with fountain pens casually?” Lin Zhao frowned, found a clean handkerchief, wet it a bit, and wiped his ear.
Guilt flashed in Yu Bao’s eyes.
Drawing on the ear was his idea.
The little friend fiddled with his fingers and admitted softly, “Mom, it was me. I drew on little brother.”
Xingye Ge wanted to borrow his mom’s fountain pen. He took it to the yard. After Xingye Ge used it, he wrote with the fountain pen. Ink got on his hand, smudging into a little cloud. He remembered the strange uncle at the foot of the mountain had a little leaf behind his ear, so he drew a little leaf behind his brother’s ear.
“Ah?” Lin Zhao’s mouth opened slightly. “Why?”
She wasn’t blaming the little one, just purely curious. “Why did you draw… something behind your brother’s ear?”
Every action of a child has a reason.
Seeing Mom wasn’t blaming him, Yu Bao hugged Lin Zhao’s waist with a smile. “I saw an uncle in a thatched hut at the foot of the mountain with a little leaf behind his ear. Playing around with little brother.”
Heng Bao hugged too, backing up his brother. “Mom, brother told me, and I agreed. We were just playing. Don’t be mad. We won’t play with fountain pens again.”
Seeing their big brothers hug over, the dragon-phoenix twins surged forward too, surrounding her with the four little friends.
Gu Chenghuai smiled helplessly.
In the troops, he hadn’t seen children so clingy to their mom. Those kids had wild temperaments; before mealtime, adults couldn’t find them.
Hearing Yu Bao’s words, Lin Zhao suddenly froze, her mind stalling, brain blank.
After a long while, she came back to herself, cupped Yu Bao’s face, her urgent voice almost changing tone.
“Yu Bao, you really saw someone with a little leaf behind his ear?”
Yu Bao said firmly, “Yes, I did. That uncle who limps has a little leaf behind his ear.”
Lin Zhao naturally believed him, but still felt dazed.
Could it be fourth brother?
“Mom, what’s wrong?” Yu Bao touched her face, little brows furrowed, eyes worried.
“Nothing, just thought of something.” Lin Zhao brushed it off vaguely.
She wouldn’t speak of uncertain things. Moreover, those people at the foot of the mountain had dangerous identities; she feared the little ones might accidentally say something and bring trouble to the family.
“It’s not early. Go to sleep soon. Wash the ink off your ears before bed.” Lin Zhao patted the little ones’ heads, her voice gentle.
“Got it.” Yu Bao didn’t dwell, took Qian Bao and Yao Bao by the hand, called Heng Bao, and the three little ones left the room.
Before going out, Heng Bao stopped and turned. “Mom, you said you’d give us gifts tomorrow. Don’t forget.”
Lin Zhao waved at him. “I remember, won’t forget.”
Heng Bao grinned, casually closing the door on his way out.
After the little ones left, only the young couple remained in the room.
Gu Chenghuai asked directly, “What’s the problem with the person who has a birthmark behind the ear?”
“I suspect that person might be my fourth brother.” Lin Zhao said, holding back her excitement.
The man’s brain couldn’t process it for a moment.
“Fourth brother?”
Didn’t Zhaozhao only have three biological brothers? Where did a fourth come from?
The Lin family didn’t mention the stolen old fourth much, and Lin Zhao hadn’t told her husband. It was normal Gu Chenghuai didn’t know.
“My fourth brother and third brother are twins. They were stolen right after birth.” Lin Zhao explained slowly. “Mom said he has a little leaf birthmark behind his ear.”
Gu Chenghuai raised a brow. “Such a coincidence. I’ll check tomorrow.”
“What do you think if I just ask directly?” Lin Zhao couldn’t contain her excitement.
Her parents didn’t mention fourth brother often, but she knew they missed him. Her dad always made an extra set of clothes when making for the siblings. Her mom too—always prepared four portions of things.
“Not impossible.” Gu Chenghuai thought his wife’s method worked too, faster than investigating.
“We have to tell my eldest brother about this.” Lin Zhao said.
Her brother was steady, reliable in handling things, meticulous in thought. Entrusting it to him would be fine.
“Don’t rush to check first. Wait for big brother to ask. If I need your help, I’ll definitely ask.”
Gu Chenghuai had no objection. “Good.”
That night, Lin Zhao tossed and turned without sleeping well, dreaming all night—one moment dreaming she found fourth brother, the next dreaming the family never found him in a lifetime.
The next morning when she woke, there were dark circles under her eyes.
Gu Chenghuai: “…”
Lin Zhao noticed his gaze, realized something, slapped his firm honey-colored chest, and said annoyed, “Disgusted now?”
“I’d never be disgusted with you no matter what.” As Gu Chenghuai spoke, he kissed her.
Lin Zhao broke into a flower-like smile, wanting to laze in bed longer, and flopped back down.
The man rubbed the top of her head, then got out of bed. His robust chest and abs, straight and powerful long legs gave an extraordinary sense of security.
Gu Chenghuai opened the wardrobe, took out the new undershirt his wife made for him, and slipped it on with a lift of his arm.
“Sleep a bit more. When you wake, I’ll fetch well water, wet a towel, and give your eyes a cold compress.”
Lin Zhao smiled. “Good.”
Gu Chenghuai left the room and went to the main house to call the twins.
Yu Bao and Heng Bao had been trained to be very disciplined. Right on time, they woke up, obediently put on clothes, and went out lightly on tiptoe to exercise with their dad.
By the time Lin Zhao got up, the children’s dad had already brought them back.
Gu Chenghuai fetched well water, ice-cold. The towel wet with it was cold too. Lin Zhao slowly applied it to her eyes.
“Yu Bao, go to the new house and call your big uncle for Mom. Say Mom needs him for something.”
