Chapter 124: “does The Leader Approve?”
“Just stolen by a human trafficker right after birth.” Meng Jiusi’s eyes were calm, his voice steady, “I have a twin older brother, who is my third brother, with two older brothers above him, and a younger sister below. My younger sister is married, to an officer, and has four children, the twins we met earlier…”
Old Master Meng had an impression of Da Zai and Er Zai, “The pair of clever-eyed little boys?”
“Yes, that’s them.” Meng Jiusi smiled, “They are my own nephews. I am their fourth uncle.”
Old Master Meng hadn’t seen his grandson so happy in a long time, and he grew cheerful too.
“You can tell you really like your younger sister.”
As long as his grandson wasn’t abandoned, that was good.
Meng Jiusi felt a bit embarrassed but still said, “She’s great.”
His younger sister looked at him without a trace of disdain, her eyes clear and bright, and she brought him dumplings and peach crisps, afraid he’d be bitten by mosquitoes, brought him mosquito repellent… she was really, really great.
“You’ve met your real family, Grandpa is happy for you.” Old Master Meng patted his grandson’s head, his weathered face full of relieved smiles.
That skinny little black monkey from back then had found his own family.
Meng Jiusi added, “I told them… I won’t change my surname, I’ll be your grandson for life.”
Hearing this, Old Master Meng felt both joy and sorrow.
He pointed at Meng Jiusi, his finger trembling slightly, “Silly boy, silly boy!”
Meng Jiusi didn’t think he was silly, “You raised me when I was young, I take care of you in old age, it’s only natural. Besides, the Lin Family has so many children, they won’t miss one like me.”
“Nonsense!” Old Master Meng’s eyes reddened, he turned away, ignoring this silly boy.
In the words of those who brought him down, he had saved too many people he shouldn’t have, he was a tumor of the country—
His sons and grandsons published notices disowning him.
Jiusi didn’t have to end up like this; after all, he wasn’t a real Meng family member. As long as he published a notice, he could live his own peaceful life, but this boy was silly and stubborn, refusing to do it. He got one foot in, lost his wife and children, and insisted on suffering with him—truly silly through and through!
He had never seen anyone so silly!!
Silly in the capital, now here, finally found his family, and this silly boy says he won’t change his surname—how could that work?!
Did he know how much people in the countryside cared about this? If you don’t change your surname, how will they truly accept you from the heart?
Jiusi had cut off his own path.
Meng Jiusi knew Grandpa was angry, but he had his own persistence.
“My dad said he won’t force me to change my surname, I could tell he meant it.” He said earnestly, “Grandpa, my family is different, they are open and honest, they say what they mean, not hypocritical people, I can tell.”
“Nonsense.” Old Master Meng turned back, the gentle and refined old man rarely swearing, “You can tell? Just met them once, what can you tell?”
“Hearts are separated by flesh and blood.” His voice was full of complexity.
If not for being betrayed by his own family, he wouldn’t have ended up like this.
Meng Jiusi didn’t explain more, “Wait until Grandpa meets my younger sister, she’s coming tomorrow to bring me things.”
Old Master Meng said no more.
He said all this because he was afraid his grandson would be disappointed, afraid he’d be heartbroken.
“Hope so.”
Meng Jiusi picked up a peach crisp for him, “Grandpa, eat a peach crisp, these are all for you, I ate until I’m full.”
I know, you ate the dumplings.
Old Master Meng always felt his grandson was showing off, he looked at him several times, but couldn’t tell.
…
The Lin Family slowly walked back to the village.
Lin Shisheng was walking when he felt his younger sister lagging behind, he turned to look—
Zhaozhao was holding Cheng Huai’s arm saying something, then her brother-in-law ruffled her long hair, then half-squatted down. His younger sister smiled brightly, jumped onto his back, wrapped her arms around his neck, stretched her head forward, her eyes and brows curved as if to kiss him.
Lin Shisheng quickly turned back, with a tooth-aching expression.
“What’s that expression.” Lin Shichang also turned his head, just in time to see what he shouldn’t, quickly looked away, cleared his throat to cover his embarrassment.
Lin Shisheng couldn’t stop laughing.
Behind them.
Gu Chenghuai turned his head to dodge his wife’s attack, lowered his voice to coax, “There are people ahead, we’ll play when we get home.”
Lin Zhao grinned and didn’t make more trouble, resting her head on the man’s shoulder, looking at his face, her eyes and brows full of smiles, “Gu Chenghuai, tonight’s moon is so bright, so round.”
The man looked up; it was almost Mid-Autumn, the high-hanging moon was indeed bright and round.
“Your birthday is coming up, how do you want to celebrate?” Thinking of the past two years when he had no time to celebrate Zhaozhao’s birthday with her, Gu Chenghuai felt guilty and self-blaming, “I’m here this year, I can be with you. Whatever you want, as long as I can do it, I’ll make it happen.”
Lin Zhao just remembered her birthday was coming, “With you here, our whole family together, that’s the best thing for me.”
Gu Chenghuai only felt a cluster of pink roses blooming at his heart, with a corner collapsing with a boom, his voice softening several degrees, “No other wishes? I’ll take you to the city to play, eat good food, buy you a few nice outfits, the weather’s getting cold, time to add some clothes.
Then browse the bookstore, buy a few books you’re interested in.
I heard there’s a zoo in the city when I came back, I’ll take you to see it. There’s also a theater, we can go there too. If one day isn’t enough, no problem, bring the letter of introduction, stay at the guesthouse one night, come back the next day…”
Gu Chenghuai talked for a while without a response, turned his head to look, and as he turned, his thin lips brushed soft warmth. He froze for a moment, a bit guilty looked toward the people not far ahead, saw no one noticed them, and relaxed.
“Pfft…” Lin Zhao curved her eyes, “Don’t be scared, Dad and Mom aren’t paying attention to us.”
Gu Chenghuai’s deep eyes were helpless yet indulgent, “You did it on purpose?”
“Yeah.” Lin Zhao answered righteously.
Gu Chenghuai smiled indulgently, bounced the person on his back up a bit, “What do you think of my proposal? Does the leader approve?”
Lin Zhao beamed, “Approved.”
“Good, you take a day off then, I’ll go to the brigade leader for the letter of introduction.” Gu Chenghuai started arranging directly.
Taking leave was no problem, worst case deduct one day’s salary. Lin Zhao asked, “Bring the cubs?”
“Do you want to?” Gu Chenghuai thought bringing or not was fine, he could handle the four cubs anyway.
Lin Zhao thought about it, “Bring them, rare chance to go out, bring them all, let them gain some experience.”
If not bringing them, Yu Bao and Heng Bao would definitely be disappointed.
“Then we’ll bring them.” Gu Chenghuai said.
“Also deepen parent-child feelings, so when you go back to the troops, the four cubs won’t have a shallow impression of you.” Lin Zhao smiled.
Gu Chenghuai was silent for a moment, “Thank you.”
“No need to thank!” Lin Zhao patted his shoulder lightly, her expression joyful.
Thinking of her fourth brother, her tone light and cheerful, “My fourth brother is really great, he’s a traditional Chinese medicine doctor, cured his own foot with silver needles, his medical skill must be very high.
Fourth brother is also a good person, very calm, no resentment toward us, he accepts us in his heart, that’s great, Dad and Mom are very happy and relieved, I can tell.”
Gu Chenghuai walked steadily, smiled and nodded, “Give him some time, he’ll call them Dad and Mom.”
“No rush.” Lin Zhao said earnestly, “As long as we know fourth brother’s whereabouts and can help him, that’s great, the whole family thinks that way.”
She muttered, “Much better than before when we had no idea where he was.”
“I didn’t expect fourth brother to come back, suddenly appeared when I had no idea.”
“Thanks to the sons, if not for their amazing observation, I wouldn’t have realized so early that it was fourth brother. I think the two cubs need rewarding, what do you think?”
Gu Chenghuai had no opinion, but said, “Aren’t you spoiling them too much?”
Lin Zhao was slightly stunned, straightened her upper body, stared at him, “What? Can’t spoil them?”
“Didn’t say can’t spoil, I mean don’t spoil them rotten.” Gu Chenghuai wasn’t the kind of father who couldn’t stand his children doing well, just felt his wife spoiled the twins a bit too much. The two cubs were five, already living better than other kids in the village, and with Zhaozhao spoiling them like this, he feared the boys’ temperaments would go astray.
“No way!” Lin Zhao poked his face angrily, “The twins are sensible, you only see me spoiling them, how come you don’t see how worry-free they are.”
Gu Chenghuai wanted to say more when Da Huang’s bark came from afar, followed by little friends who looked identical running toward them.
“Mom!”
The people hadn’t arrived, but the crisp call came first.
Seeing Mom carried on Dad’s back, thinking Mom’s foot was hurt, worry appeared on their identical faces.
They quickly ran up to Gu Chenghuai.
“Mom, did you hurt your foot?” Yu Bao looked up at Lin Zhao, his little brows furrowed.
Heng Bao’s childish voice full of anxiety, “Mom, I’ll go call the doctor!”
As soon as he spoke, he rushed forward.
Lin Zhao hurriedly said, “I’m fine.”
Heng Bao stopped, turned back, half-believing, “Really?”
“Yes, really.” Lin Zhao shook her leg, “Mom walked too much and got tired, so Dad is carrying me.”
Yu Bao looked at Gu Chenghuai, “Is that so, Dad?”
Gu Chenghuai nodded, “Yes.”
Yu Bao relaxed, his childish voice said, “Dad, carry steady, don’t drop Mom.”
Gu Chenghuai: “…”
Before he could speak, Heng Bao grinned cutely at Lin Zhao, “Mom, when I grow up, I’ll buy you a four-wheeled car, you won’t have to walk anywhere, so you won’t get tired from walking.”
Lin Zhao gave Gu Chenghuai a look, see, can such cubs be spoiled rotten?
She looked tenderly at her son, “What if I don’t know how to drive?”
Heng Bao’s brain turned fast, immediately thought of a method, “That’s easy, I’ll hire you a driver.”
Thinking about it, he added, “Also hire an aunt who can cook and wash clothes, so Mom won’t have to do anything.”
Gu Chenghuai looked at his son whose mind and eyes were full of their mom, pursed his lips.
These two boys had Zhaozhao filling their brains, probably wouldn’t be spoiled rotten?
“Wife, you’re right.” He said.
Yu Bao shifted his gaze from Mom to Dad, his dark bright eyes full of surprise, “What did Dad say is right?”
“Nothing.” Gu Chenghuai denied.
Yu Bao was unhappy.
Lin Zhao smiled and changed the topic, “Why did you two come out? It’s dark, not scared?”
Yu Bao was spirited, “Not scared, little brother and I have Da Huang.”
“Right.” Heng Bao took over, proactively held Mom’s hand, tone light, “Da Huang is very mighty, it can beat adults, it will protect us, we’re not scared.”
“Right, Da Huang?”
He rubbed Da Huang’s head with his other hand.
Da Huang: “Woof—”
“See, Da Huang says it will protect us!” Heng Bao happily curved his eyes in a smile.
Lin Zhao patted Gu Chenghuai’s shoulder, signaling him to put her down.
After her feet touched the ground, she held the two cubs one on each side, saying, “Da Huang is part of our family, we have to take good care of it and its children.”
“Yes!” The twins nodded solemnly.
As they spoke, the family returned to the Gu house. The Lin Family pushed out their bicycle, about to leave.
Seeing this, Lin Zhao hurriedly said, “Dad, Mom, wait, I’ll get the flashlight.”
As soon as she spoke, she rushed into the house, back to the room, fetched the flashlight.
Lin Heling took it, his voice warm, “We’re heading back first, send word if there’s anything, go back soon, let Yu Bao and Heng Bao sleep early.”
“Got it.” Lin Zhao agreed obediently.
The four of them, plus Da Huang, watched the four from the Lin Family leave, then turned back to the house.
Yu Bao thought of something, asked curiously, “Mom, what did you all go to the mountain for just now?”
Lin Zhao led her son through the gate, didn’t tell the truth, vaguely said, “Didn’t I say, we ate too much, went out to digest.”
Yu Bao and his little brother exchanged a look, the two little brothers chuckled.
“Mom, we’re not dumb!” Yu Bao pinched his brows like a little adult, looking at their mom, “The reason you made up, little friends wouldn’t believe it.”
Heng Bao also said, “Yeah yeah, for digesting, the yard at home is enough, why go up the mountain, and not let us follow, you adults have secrets, little brother and I guessed long ago.”
Lin Zhao pinched the soft little face of the little friend, amused, “Then guess, what’s the secret?”
Heng Bao had guessed with his brother long ago, didn’t guess it, he cupped his little face, squishing the chubby cheeks together, like making a funny face.
“Mom, tell me.” He wheedled softly.
Lin Zhao shook her head, “Not now, when there’s opportunity, I’ll tell you.”
Hearing the yard sounds, Gu Mu came out in cloth shoes, softly calling the twins, “Yu Bao, Heng Bao, you two not sleeping yet.”
Without their mom back, the two boys wouldn’t sleep at all, so clingy.
“Coming.” Yu Bao replied.
Pulled his little brother toward the main house.
Heng Bao remembered Mom had the day off tomorrow, turned and said, “Mom, are you taking us to great uncle’s tomorrow?”
“Yes, sleep early, take you after breakfast tomorrow.” Lin Zhao’s voice carried a smile.
The twins looked expectant, agreed, and obediently went back to sleep.
…
The next day.
Lin Zhao woke naturally, felt a soft little thing beside her, opened her eyes, saw adorable Yao Bao.
“Yao Bao? How are you here?” She hugged the little dumpling, kissed the good baby’s little face.
Yao Bao grinned showing her little teeth, sweetness off the charts, “Wait for Mom.” She said in baby talk, rubbing her little head on Mom’s face.
Lin Zhao held her daughter up, saw Qian Bao sitting cross-legged at the bed’s end flipping the dictionary, that focused energy made adults sweat.
“Qian Bao.” She called softly.
The little cub didn’t hear the first call, only looked up at the second.
Qian Bao calmly put down the dictionary, moved his fair little short legs with two little red mosquito bumps over, softly called, “Mom~”
Lin Zhao saw the mosquito bites, frowned, “How did you get bitten by mosquitoes?”
Did the mosquito repellent bag fail?
Yao Bao huffed angrily, “Mosquitoes bad.”
“Yes, mosquitoes bad, Yao Bao move over a bit, Mom get the ointment, put some on your brother.” Lin Zhao said gently.
Yao Bao rolled over, hugged the thin blanket and flopped onto the bed. She was so small, mostly covered by the blanket, struggled to pull it off, couldn’t get out, anxiously called brother.
“Brother, blanket, blanket…”
Qian Bao calmly moved over, pulled the blanket for his sister, sorted it in a few moves.
In a moment, Yao Bao’s little face was flushed from struggling, she wiped her forehead, said, “Whew, tired baby out.”
Lin Zhao couldn’t help laughing.
After applying ointment to Qian Bao, she checked Yao Bao, her foot also had a little red bump, looks like the mosquito repellent really failed.
