Chapter 122: “work Assignment”
Song Xiwei brought Lin Heling to Fengshou Brigade, and for the first time, the brigade members saw Lin Zhao’s parents, all stunned.
No reason, purely because these two’s spirits were completely different from their peers.
They looked young and full of vitality.
Learning that these were Yu Bao and Heng Bao’s biological grandfather and grandmother, someone said: “They look so young. Yu Bao’s grandmother can even ride a bicycle, and she rides it so steadily.”
“Yeah, they look really young. They don’t look like countryside folk at all.”
Someone wondered why the woman was leading the man: “Why is Yu Bao’s grandmother bringing Yu Bao’s grandfather? This looks too strange!”
“I heard Yu Bao’s grandfather isn’t in good health.”
The person sighed: “Even with poor health, he came to see his daughter. The Lin Family really dotes on their daughter.”
“The couple comes and even brings an old hen. I’ve never seen anyone dote on their married-out daughter like this.”
“Who says otherwise!”
Some busybodies, curious about what the Lin couple was doing at the Gu Family, quietly followed.
Their movements weren’t subtle, and Song Xiwei noticed immediately, but she didn’t mind and went with Lin Heling to Zhaozhao’s new house.
Since they were here, they might as well take a look.
“Looks good. It’ll definitely be comfortable to live in.” Song Xiwei spoke.
New yard, sensible cubs, no parents-in-law bossing around, no troublesome elder sister-in-law or younger sister-in-law, Zhaozhao the biggest in the family—it was impossible not to be comfortable.
In her biological father’s heart, his own daughter deserved the best.
Lin Heling’s voice was calm: “It’s pretty good.”
Qian Bao was sliding his small wooden cart in the village when he saw Grandmother and Grandfather. His little short legs quickened their paddling as he rushed toward the Lin couple, his pleasant little milky voice ringing out: “Grandma, Grandpa.”
Lin Heling looked toward the voice and saw a tiny figure.
He unhurriedly strode over with his long legs toward San Zai, bending down to pick him up.
“Why is San Zai here?” he asked warmly. “Where are your older brother and younger sister?”
Qian Bao, caught off guard and picked up by Grandpa, showed a shallow smile. His lotus-root-segment-like arms hugged Lin Heling’s arm: “Brother is writing at home. Sister is playing with Sister Yu Yu.”
After answering Grandpa, he corrected his form of address: “I am Gu Zhiqian, Qian Bao.”
Lin Heling understood his little grandson’s words, his eyes lighting up with laughter: “Gu Zhiqian is your formal name?”
“Mm!” The child nodded vigorously. “Daddy gave it.”
His short little finger pointed at his own face: “Qian Bao~”
This was asking Grandpa to call him Qian Bao.
Lin Heling chuckled, calling out mildly and indulgently: “Qian Bao.”
The little dumpling was very satisfied.
Knowing Grandpa wasn’t in good health, he furrowed his little brows and said in his soft milky voice: “Qian Bao can walk himself. Grandpa will get tired.”
Lin Heling’s dark eyes softened.
“Grandma isn’t tired. Grandma will hold you.” Song Xiwei took over the little grandson, her arms steady.
Qian Bao, like his biological father, was calm and composed with extraordinary courage. He wasn’t afraid of Grandma at all, nestling his little head on her shoulder, looking well-behaved and soft.
“Cart.” He reminded.
Lin Heling picked up the cart: “I’ll carry it.”
Seeing the little cart was nice, he casually asked: “Did your mom find someone to make it?”
Qian Bao said: “Daddy made it.”
“Your dad can do woodworking too.” Song Xiwei was slightly surprised.
“Yes, and small dining chairs and slingshots.” Qian Bao wasn’t talkative, but he was clear-minded and observant about everything.
Song Xiwei smiled: “Are you happy when your dad comes back?”
“Happy!” The child’s crisp voice rang out.
Complexity flashed in Song Xiwei’s eyes. The family still needed a man, but unfortunately, her son-in-law was a soldier with too many unavoidable duties.
Fortunately, the Gu Family was good, and she and Heling weren’t too far away, so they could watch over their daughter and grandchildren.
Song Xiwei and Lin Heling arrived at the Gu Family and saw Lin Zhao lounging in the yard. The twins were peeling a pomegranate, and she occasionally sipped something, more relaxed than when she was a mother herself.
“…”
“Zhaozhao.” Lin Heling’s gentle voice sounded.
Lin Zhao turned her head: “Dad? Mom?”
She really hadn’t expected her parents to come specifically.
“How did you get here? Tired?”
“Grandma, Grandpa!” The twins saw Grandma and Grandpa and were happy too, calling out affectionately, fetching stools for them, pouring water, their little faces beaming with joy.
Lin Heling pulled his wife to sit down.
“Your mom rode your bicycle and brought me over.”
The Gu Family boy was pushing the bicycle from behind.
“Where’s my eldest brother?” Lin Zhao asked.
Where was the messenger?
“Who knows, maybe running behind.” Song Xiwei guessed.
Lin Heling gave her a helpless look and said: “Shichang isn’t that silly. He probably borrowed the Brigade Leader’s bicycle and will be here soon.”
Sure enough, before they could say much, Lin Shichang arrived.
Lin Zhao looked at the cubs: “Yu Bao, Heng Bao, the adults have things to discuss. You all go play in the backyard for a bit.”
The twins had no objections, holding their younger brother and sister, calling Tie Chui and Yu Yu, and heading to the backyard.
“Mom, after you’re done talking, don’t forget to call us. I have things to say to Grandma and Grandpa.” Heng Bao was at the end of the little group, turning back to look at Lin Zhao, his little voice light and cheerful.
Lin Zhao knew what the little friend wanted to say—showing off their new names. “Okay, we’ll call you.”
Heng Bao grinned brightly and bounced off to the backyard.
Once the children left, Song Xiwei immediately asked about Meng Jiusi’s situation, and Lin Zhao told her what she knew.
In the Lin Family, the couple had been greatly shocked, their minds in chaos with no time to ask more, just wanting to come see. The wind on the road had cleared their heads, allowing them to process other information.
The young man named Meng Jiusi had drifted through multiple families from childhood, becoming a wild child everyone despised.
He was beaten and scolded.
No schooling.
No food.
With no way out, he could only flee.
Fortunately, he met good people and was adopted, living a few stable years.
Then he married and had children.
Who knew the world changed again. The Meng Family had bad luck, and in a dispute with those people, his leg was broken, foot crippled. His wife divorced him, and he was sent to Fengshou Brigade…
Song Xiwei was silent for ten seconds, her voice hoarse: “…He had it tough.”
Lin Heling sensed her self-blame, put his arm around her shoulder, and said calmly: “If he really is Little Four, we’ll make it up to him. What’s done is done; don’t overthink it.”
Back then, it was indeed their carelessness as a couple.
But who knew a proper hospital would have human traffickers.
To find the child, Song Xiwei mobilized her connections, even alarming the Armed Forces Department, searching the entire county.
Front and back, two months of turmoil, but no child found.
As if… he had vanished into thin air.
Song Xiwei wasn’t fragile by nature; she knew regretting wouldn’t help. “Mm, I hope he is Little Four.”
If that young man surnamed Meng wasn’t Little Four, she didn’t know where else to look for Little Four.
“Dad, Mom, should we go find him?” Lin Shichang asked.
“Didn’t you say the people at the foot of the mountain are busy? Better to go later; it wouldn’t be good to be noticed.” Song Xiwei was anxious but hadn’t lost her reason.
After finishing the main topic, Lin Shichang headed to the backyard.
Seeing his figure, Heng Bao, who was weeding in the vegetable garden, wiped his sweat. His childlike voice was clear: “Great Uncle, are you done talking?”
“Yes!”
The little cubs gathered the pulled weeds and walked out of the vegetable garden to the front yard.
Before weeding, they had watered the field, so their shoes had mud spots.
Yu Bao and Heng Bao wore sandals, easy to wash. Tie Chui wore patched cloth shoes that needed drying after washing.
“Li Bao, your shoes are dirty. Wash them quick, or Eldest Uncle’s Wife will scold you again.” Yu Bao reminded his good brother.
Little Li Bao was obedient: “I’ll wash now.”
Heng Bao used the gourd ladle to pour water into the basin, fetched straw sandals—one pair for his brother, one for himself: “Bro, change into straw sandals. The sandals have mud; I’ll wash them for you.”
Yu Bao wasn’t the type to avoid work: “I’ll wash with you.”
Glancing at the dragon-phoenix twins, seeing their shoes weren’t clean either, he said: “Qian Bao and Yao Bao’s cloth shoes need washing too.”
“Sure.” Heng Bao acted very much like an older brother, not minding washing his younger siblings’ shoes.
The little cubs were surprisingly thrifty.
“Da Zai and Er Zai are way more thrifty than you siblings.” Song Xiwei said approvingly.
This reminded Heng Bao. The little friend squatted there, lifting his chubby little face: “Grandma, I have a formal name now. I’m Gu Zhiheng. Don’t call me Er Zai anymore; call me Heng Bao.”
Yu Bao followed: “I’m Gu Zhiyu. Grandma, call me Yu Bao.”
The dragon-phoenix twins’ sister remembered her name too, saying in her milky voice: “Yao Bao.”
Lin Zhao told Lin Heling and Song Xiwei which characters were the cubs’ formal names.
“Good, I’ve got it. Yu Bao, Heng Bao, Qian Bao, Yao Bao.” Lin Heling called out each little grandson and granddaughter in his even voice.
The four little friends were delighted.
These past two days, they had been immersed in it, unable to extricate themselves.
Every time someone called their formal name, they were happy for half a day.
It was clear they all really liked their formal names.
What Lin Zhao didn’t know was that the cubs didn’t like the formal names themselves, but the “Bao” after them. Each time someone called them that, they felt like they were Mommy and Daddy’s most beloved treasures.
Of course, the cubs liked it most when Mom called them.
Lin Zhao’s tender gaze fell on the four cubs, her expression soft.
Remembering it was mealtime, she looked at her parents: “Dad, Mom, and Eldest Brother, Second Brother, eat at home!”
Without waiting for them to speak, she continued seamlessly: “How about dumplings?”
As her words fell, Qian Bao toddled over on his little short legs, bringing his little face close to her, showing off his new teeth.
“Mom, Qian Bao has teeth now.”
Lin Zhao looked carefully, touching her son’s little face. The child’s cheeks were soft and smooth like tender tofu—addictively touchable.
“So great, Mom sees.”
Qian Bao blinked his bright watery eyes, his thick lashes fluttering, his little milky voice sweet and soft: “Can Qian Bao eat dumplings?”
Grandma was charmed by her little grandson and immediately said: “Yes, if we mash them a bit, he can eat. Then let’s have dumplings.”
She had brought rations, not taking advantage of the Gu Family. Besides, one meal from the son-in-law was nothing.
The flour for the dumplings was naturally provided by Lin Zhao, the meat from before was still good, and leeks were plentiful at home—they harvested one crop and had another.
Learning they were having dumplings, the children at home went wild with joy.
Tie Dan’s expectant eyes shone: “What good day is it today? Why dumplings?”
Tie Chui, or Gu Zhili, grinned foolishly: “Because Yu Bao and Heng Bao’s grandma and grandpa came. We have to entertain guests at home.”
With his grandma and grandpa here, they would even fry eggs at home.
Tie Dan glanced at the unfamiliar pair in the yard, quickly looking away, muttering: “Then I hope guests come to our house every day.”
Yu Bao overheard this and covered his mouth giggling, whispering: “It has to be heavyweight guests, like my grandma and grandpa.”
Tie Dan’s mind raced through the list, trying to think of other heavyweights. Regrettably, none.
“Yu Bao, how about asking your grandma and grandpa to come more often?”
Little kids turned their brains fast for food.
Yu Bao shook his head, serious little face: “No way. My grandma and grandpa have their own things. They have their own home; people should take care of their own family first.”
“…Okay.”
The dumplings were wrapped by Huang Xiulan and Zhao Liuniang. The sisters-in-law were happy too, all thanks to Old Three’s family.
Summer days were long; after the meal, the sun hadn’t set.
Gu Fu and Gu Mu didn’t know what the in-laws were doing in the brigade. They asked Gu Chenghuai, who only said it was something.
Guessing it might be something unspeakable, the old couple didn’t pry.
Gu Fu borrowed a chessboard from an old buddy and pulled Lin Heling to play chess.
The two faced each other, with the Gu Family children circling around, watching curiously.
Heng Bao wanted to ask something, but Yu Bao covered his mouth: “Shh, a true gentleman watches chess without speaking.” He said it very softly.
Lin Zhao stood by the cubs and heard this, her expression full of pride.
Her cubs knew so much!
Lin Heling reached out to ruffle Yu Bao’s hair top. His broad warm palm made one’s heart feel warm.
The little friend curved his eyes in a smile, eyes like fallen stars.
After watching the chess for a bit, Lin Zhao gave her two older brothers eye signals, indicating to step aside and talk.
The three siblings went to the Gu Family backyard.
Feeling their sister’s gaze sweep over them, the two brothers tensed instinctively.
“Zhaozhao, why are you looking at me and Eldest Brother like that?” Lin Shisheng’s manly face tightened.
“No bad news. Why so tense, Second Brother.” Lin Zhao rolled her eyes at him.
Lin Shisheng relaxed half, smiling: “You’re so serious; I was afraid of bad news.”
“I bought a job, warehouse administrator at the motor factory, formal worker. Eldest Brother, Second Brother, discuss who goes. Next Monday, transfer the grains and oils relationship.” Lin Zhao dropped a bombshell.
The news was too sudden, too shocking!
It made Lin Shichang and Lin Shisheng’s heads buzz.
A full minute later.
Lin Shisheng moved his lips, finally finding his voice, almost changed: “You bought a job? A formal one?!”
“When did jobs become bok choy!” His tone full of disbelief.
Were jobs that easy to find now?!
“It was a coincidence. My colleague happened to know someone selling a job. Right after work, I went and bought it!” Lin Zhao said.
Almost bought by someone else, but Wang Ju’s face was big enough, and she paid quickly, snatching it.
Lin Zhao paid first, had the other write a receipt. Next week, deliver the grain, and the grains and oils relationship could transfer.
“You two discuss who goes to work.” She tossed the bomb and sauntered away.
Not far yet, she heard—
“Eldest Brother, you go!”
“Second Son, you go!”
Two voices sounded simultaneously.
Lin Zhao’s lips curved up. Eldest Brother and Second Brother’s reactions were as she expected.
To the Lin Family, what was a job? Nothing was more important than family affection.
A few minutes later, the Lin brothers returned to the front yard.
Lin Shisheng walked to Lin Zhao’s side, arms crossed watching the chessboard, announcing the decision: “Eldest Brother goes.”
He didn’t mind giving up a job.
Lin Zhao looked over.
“Family matters aren’t settled. If I go, it’ll be troublesome.” Lin Shisheng explained.
Eldest Brother had many children, and Eldest Brother’s Wife had one in her belly. He was more suitable.
