Chapter 121: “the Adopted One”
“I can’t guess, what is it?” Gu Chenghuai took the cloth bag from her hand and hung it on the bike handlebar.
Lin Zhao tugged at his white shirt, her eyes sparkling with amusement, “I bought a job.”
Gu Chenghuai’s expression paused slightly, surprise in his eyes, “A job?”
“Mm!” Lin Zhao emphasized the word, looking proud.
Today was really thanks to Comrade Wang Ju, and also thanks to her quick decision to buy it, otherwise the job would have gone to someone else.
“What job?” Gu Chenghuai asked curiously.
Lin Zhao didn’t rush to hop on the bike’s back seat, but walked side by side with him, her lips curving up, visibly delighted, “Motor factory warehouse administrator, doesn’t require high education, how about it?”
“Not bad.” Gu Chenghuai praised first, tone casual, “Planning to give it to whom?”
Lin Zhao already had an answer in mind, but when he asked, she hesitated a bit, “What do you think?”
Gu Chenghuai chuckled lowly, “A job you bought, I have no opinion whoever you give it to.”
But his wife asking him showed she cared about his opinion, and he was very happy.
Lin Zhao looked troubled, “Originally thought of giving it to Eldest Sister, but then I thought, I’ve already given her the gluing matchboxes work, if I give her a job too, Eldest Sister-in-law and Second Sister-in-law will definitely feel uncomfortable, and home won’t be peaceful!”
Gluing matchboxes is small work, earns just a few bucks a month, the two sisters-in-law can talk themselves out of it, but this is a formal worker job, no need to go to work later, can directly rural to urban transfer, and the job can be for her own child, who wouldn’t envy it?!
Gu Chenghuai saw his wife had it figured out, and relaxed.
He said: “Give it to Eldest Brother-in-law.”
“I know your intention toward Eldest Sister, but it’s not suitable for her, easy to cause conflict, giving it to Eldest Brother-in-law is different. On my side… no one can say anything.”
Even if Eldest Sister-in-law and Second Sister-in-law grumble, they can talk themselves out of it.
Moreover.
Zhaozhao getting a job for her maternal family, her sister-in-law will treat her even closer.
Giving it to her own brother, Lin Zhao said it was fine too, “Then to my Elder Brother or Second Brother, let them decide?”
Wanting to give it to Elder Sister-in-law was also to change the Wei Family’s ending, she was thinking, if Elder Sister-in-law had a job, would Brother-in-law not do speculation and profiteering, not get caught and sentenced, and Wei Family not break up.
But thinking it over.
Wei Family has already separated households, very different from the original story, with Gu Chan watching, home should be fine.
To put it bluntly, even if Wei Xiangdong gets taken away, with Gu Chenghuai there, he can be gotten out.
She had that much confidence in the cubs’ dad.
Gu Chenghuai agreed, “Fine.”
Afraid Zhaozhao overthought, he added: “Brother-in-law knows many people, if he finds a suitable job, he’ll plan for Eldest Sister.”
“He said that?” This “he” referred to Wei Xiangdong.
Gu Chenghuai smiled, “He said it before, he doesn’t want Eldest Sister working the fields, but previously Wei Family hadn’t separated, jobs were like bombs, didn’t dare get one, now can go all out.”
Hearing this, Lin Zhao smiled, “Alright, this opportunity to show off still has to be left to Brother-in-law.”
“That’s the right way to think.” Gu Chenghuai saw his wife got it, dark eyes flashing with amusement, he pedaled harder, bike gliding a few meters.
Lin Zhao gripped his shirt, asked: “Has my Elder Brother asked Meng Jiusi yet?”
“Not when I left.” Gu Chenghuai’s voice low and pleasant, “Brigade Leader today assigning production tasks to several at the foot of the mountain, they’re busy, Elder Brother hasn’t found the chance yet, maybe by the time we get home, he’s already asked.”
“Then ride faster, I’m eager to know.” Lin Zhao urged.
Gu Chenghuai laughed helplessly, “Not afraid of butt hurting?”
“There’s a soft cushion, doesn’t hurt.” Lin Zhao said indifferently, “If Meng Jiusi really is my Fourth Brother, a little pain is nothing, I don’t mind.”
Hearing her say that, Gu Chenghuai sped up, though accelerating, still rode steadily, no bumps if avoidable.
At village entrance, villagers gossiping about good things.
“You see Gu Family’s Third Branch’s new yard? It’s coming up fast, several blue brick rooms, so pretty, I heard Chenghuai ordered new windows, says to buy big glass to install later, Da Zai’s home is getting more and more different!”
“Not calling Da Zai anymore, Old Gu named the little cub at home, now called Gu Zhiyu, Yu Bao! Call Da Zai again and Yu Bao will get mad at you.”
The one who called Da Zai patted his mouth, “Right, Yu Bao, it’s Yu Bao, look at me, forgot again!”
Nowhere lacks sour people, right here one, “Gu Family’s kid lives more comfortably than city folk? Snacks never missing from his hands, Chenghuai’s family really spoils the child, not afraid of spoiling him bad.”
Wang Chunhua said: “The couple can earn, if my family could earn like that, I’d spoil my boy the same.”
Yu Bao and Heng Bao are good kids, play with her Da Zhuang, share good eats with him, she can’t be an ungrateful wolf.
“Right right.” Yuan Bao’s Mother said, her kids also benefited a lot.
The sour one pursed lips.
Change topic.
“I see Chenghuai’s two elder brothers-in-law helping for days straight, does Old Lin Family have nothing proper to do?”
Wang Chunhua knew, “Who doesn’t have proper things? Old Lin Family busy too, isn’t it… at Lin brothers’ place, their sister’s matter is the top priority. Build good house for sister, see Yu Bao’s Mom move in with several kids, then Lin Family can rest easy.”
That person with no good maternal family, unhappy inside, said again: “Heard Lin brothers all went to school, read a lot, how come like my no-good boy, digging food in the fields.”
Wang Chunhua remembered Lin Zhao sending deworming medicine for her grandson, mostly protected her, “Look at you saying, county jobs aren’t that easy to get, even city folk can’t grab them, how could it be our countryside people’s turn. Even if Lin brothers have no jobs, they know more characters than us!”
“Knowing more characters what use!” That person like winning a round, smug, “As if knowing a few more words gets ten more work points a day.”
Wang Chunhua and others couldn’t retort.
Why not go argue!
All felt this person spoke too harshly.
Didn’t want to bother with her anymore, gossip group dispersed.
So, when Lin Zhao and Gu Commander returned to village, unusually no one gathering to chat.
Lin Zhao didn’t mind, she was thinking of asking Elder Brother about Meng Jiusi, pinched Gu Chenghuai’s solid narrow waist, “Go to new house, I’ll find Elder Brother.”
“Okay.” Gu Chenghuai biked toward new house.
Countryside folk can endure hardship, sun high now, house builders still busy hotly.
On-site people greeted the host couple, continued their work.
They were conscientious folk, Gu Family serving mung bean soup, where find such generous people, must work well.
Previously helping others build houses in village, provided water just cool boiled water, at most a bit sweet.
Gu Family?
Gave mung bean soup with lily bulb, ice cool not to mention, also sweet.
One sip, super heat-relieving.
Their cub came over, Chenghuai not stingy, shares with kids too, lets kids taste sweetness.
Not a bit arrogant looking down on people.
Unlike that Lu Yizhou…
Never mind, not saying!
Lin Zhao looked at new house, yard already basically built, workers laying tiles on roof, looks quite grand at a glance.
“Few days no see, almost done!”
Gu Chenghuai smiled: “Half the credit to mung bean soup.”
Village builds houses fast, whichever family building, idle ones come help.
Seeing Gu Family providing mung bean soup to everyone, all want to repay a bit, speed even faster.
Hearing this, Lin Zhao waved hand, “Tomorrow provide sour plum soup.”
Nearby ones heard, mouths grinning to back of head, “I heard it, tomorrow sour plum soup, gotta tell my cub, let him come taste too.”
Lin Zhao very generous to kids, said: “All come, bring bowls, one bowl sour plum soup per person still affordable.”
That man grinning thumbs up, “Yu Bao’s Mom generous.”
Others thanked her too.
“Yu Bao’s Mom, rest assured, we guarantee to build your house solid!”
“Right right, at most another week, your house done, air out a few days, you can move in!”
……
Lin Zhao patiently listened to everyone, smiling thanks: “Thanks for your hard work, when our house done, Chenghuai and I invite everyone to eat meat.”
Eat meat?！！！
Fengshou Brigade folk all know Gu Family’s Third Branch couple keep their word, immediately expectant.
“Good!”
“Yu Bao’s Mom generous!!”
“I haven’t tasted meat in three months, starving for it!!”
“You that’s nothing, my home four months no taste.”
Storage ring stored lots of meat, Lin Zhao wouldn’t begrudge, these people worked hard half month, one no pay, two no meals, pure neighbor feeling, inviting them meat not wasteful at all.
Lin Shichang shook head helplessly, he knew sister came to find him, came down from roof, walked to Lin Zhao.
Brother and sister found a quiet spot.
“Elder Brother, is that Fourth Brother?”
Lin Shichang chatted with Meng Jiusi, preliminarily confirmed it’s fourth brother, “Should be.”
Thinking of what the suspected fourth brother said, he felt a bit sad inside, “Meng Jiusi indeed not Meng Family’s biological, he was adopted.”
Meng Jiusi adopted by Meng Family at age of knowing things.
Before that, passed through multiple families, suffered a lot, hungry stomach, beaten scolded common.
He at seven beaten unbearable, escaped from adopting family, near starvation met Old Master Meng, adopted by old master, taught medical skill, few good years, Meng Family collapsed, he and Old Master Meng became bad elements, fallen to this.
Lin Zhao hearing fourth brother suffered so much, heart like scratched, teeth about to grind broken, hated immensely.
Human traffickers struck by lightning!
“Elder Brother, you go back tell Mom about Meng Jiusi, by the way ask if Fourth Brother has other birthmarks, or let Dad and Mom find chance to see him, they are biological parents, surely can tell, if that’s Fourth Brother, you think?”
Lin Shichang same thought, “Mm.”
“Elder Brother, Meng Jiusi married?” Lin Zhao knew these educated ones, many divorced.
Not sure yet if this person her own brother, temporarily call by name.
This question, Lin Shichang asked Meng Jiusi.
“Married, but divorced, two kids with her.”
Lin Zhao sighed.
Understood.
She thought Meng Jiusi divorced his wife, woman remarried likely, then suspected nephew’s cubs what to do?
“Elder Brother, where’s Meng Jiusi’s home?”
Lin Shichang: “In capital.”
Damn.
So far!
Even inquiring takes time.
“Forget it, first confirm if that’s Fourth Brother!”
Lin Shichang as anxious as his sister, “Zhaozhao, lend me your bicycle, I’ll go back tell Mom now.”
His mom hot-tempered, such big matter, dare hide from her, even half morning, she’ll get mad.
Lin Zhao not spoken yet, Gu Chenghuai pushed bike over, gave to Elder Brother-in-law, “Elder Brother use freely.”
Lin Shichang patted brother-in-law’s shoulder, rode back to village.
Mind on matter, rode fast, half hour back to Dongfeng Brigade.
Village entrance chatting folks saw Lin eldest back so early, all stunned.
“Da Dan’s dad, why back so early today? Something happened?”
“Xuanxuan’s dad? Why not see him back?”
Lin Shichang couldn’t say anything, could only make excuse vaguely.
“Back to get something, aunts chatting.”
Words done, pedaled bike away.
Lin Family.
Lin Heling and Song Xiwei from eldest learned, Shichang and Zhaozhao saw suspected little four, couple stunned, long time no react, hearts shocked and joyful.
Little four…
“Is it little four?” Lin Heling usually calm, now voice trembling from news Lin Shichang brought.
“Azzhao and I think very possible, but afraid mistake.” Lin Shichang said.
Song Xiwei stood up, decisive: “Grab a chicken, bring saved eggs, I’ll go see.”
Finally news of little four, Lin Heling this biological dad couldn’t sit still either, “I’ll go too.”
“Fine.”
Leave Heling, he’ll be restless too, better bring him.
Song Xiwei arranged home matters, biked with Lin Heling toward Fengshou Brigade.
Lin Shichang not idle, borrowed Brigade Leader’s bike, hurried after.
Yuan Xiang didn’t understand, looked to Chen Yu, “Cousin-in-law, Aunt they saying… who is little four?”
“You not knowing not strange,” Chen Yu explained, “Little four and old three are twins, stolen just after birth.”
Previously afraid in-laws sad, no one at home dared mention.
“Ah…?” Yuan Xiang just learned.
She clasped hands, silently recited something.
Hope that person is little four from aunt’s mouth, hope aunt and uncle-in-law get wish.
……
Lin Zhao didn’t know her parents on way to Fengshou Brigade, she just got home, surrounded by Yu Bao and Heng Bao.
“Mom, the gift you mentioned!” Heng Bao boldly asked mom for gift.
“Haven’t washed yet, so hot.”
Hearing mom, two cubs busy fetch water, get towel, actions quick and swift.
Lin Zhao as usual washed face, whole body comfortable.
“Gift in cloth bag, go see yourselves.”
Heng Bao first rushed over, untied cloth bag rope, pulled out inside things.
Several small-sized enamel mugs.
Above wrote ‘Labor Most Glorious’.
Overall white, patterns and words bright red, small and pretty.
“Mom, this our cups?” Yu Bao happily asked, he had no drinking cup.
Lin Zhao smiled gently, “Yes, you little ones one each. Xing Ye, Xingci, Alan, you bigger, few days I’ll give you big ones.”
Drinking water with bowls too inconvenient.
Tie Chui heard has his, excited asked: “Third Aunt, mine too?”
Little friend eyes wide, clear bright, looked very cute.
Lin Zhao pinched his little face, “Yes, you are Yu Baoheng Bao’s good brother, must have yours.”
Tie Chui overjoyed, politely thanked: “Thank you Third Aunt.”
Third Aunt really good.
“No need thanks.”
Xing Ye, Xingci and Alan very happy too, Third Aunt didn’t forget them.
Yu Bao really liked mom’s gift, little head rubbed on her, “Mom, I really like your gift, I’ll be careful, won’t drop.”
“Mom believes you, before use scald with boiling water, disinfect.” Lin Zhao touched son’s head.
“Mm!”
