Chapter 130: “focus On Yourself”
“Definitely.” Aunt Song laughed heartily, “His ironclad chance to become permanent is gone!”
For that kind of hypocrite who bullies little girls, stepping on him ten thousand times wouldn’t be too much.
Lin Zhao’s eyes lit up like lamps, her tone light and cheerful, “How did Uncle do it?”
“Your uncle is a senior technician, he knows people at all the factories. When he heard Xiangxiang was jilted, he immediately asked around to find out which factory that rotten kid was from. Once he found out… he got someone to dig a pit for him and gave that chance to become permanent to another young man with no connections but who was reliable.”
Lin Zhao felt the nausea stuck in her chest finally dissipate, and she clapped her hands happily, “Nice!”
“Refreshing!”
“I knew these past few days my heart felt stuffy; turns out it was that scumbag disgusting me. Uncle did great!”
Aunt Song looked at Zhaozhao and smiled amusedly, “Scumbag?”
That description was interesting.
“It means a trashy man.” Lin Zhao said vaguely; it was a term she learned from the original book, and it fit Sister Xiangxiang’s ex-fiancé perfectly.
Aunt Song took it well, “Very fitting. That Huang guy is definitely a scumbag.”
“Auntie, without his chance to become permanent, he can’t climb high branches anymore, right?” Lin Zhao asked again.
“Depends on his ability.” Aunt Song said.
That family’s daughter’s belly was almost impossible to hide anymore; they were anxious to find a scapegoat. If they couldn’t find someone better, Huang Kang still had a chance to rise.
The matters here were too dirty; afraid of dirtying Zhaozhao’s ears, she didn’t say specifics.
Lin Zhao pursed her lips, “If he really lives a good life, how disgusting that would be.”
Such a selfish person who disregards others’ lives should suffer hardships his whole life, watching the person he abandoned rise step by step.
Seeing Zhaozhao frowning, Aunt Song smiled, “Don’t worry, even if he ends up with that girl, they won’t have a good life. That family isn’t easy to fool.”
The Huang guy might have a squeezed brain; he thought he was scheming against that family, not knowing they were the hunters.
“As long as they won’t have a good life, that’s fine.” Lin Zhao felt comfortable.
Aunt Song smiled, not surprised.
Zhaozhao had this temperament since she was little; she always got angry at injustices, so much that for a while her uncle told the left and right neighbors not to gossip in front of Zhaozhao.
Lin Zhao didn’t know about these things.
After the meal was ready.
The Song brothers very tacitly came to the kitchen to serve the dishes.
To host Lin Zhao’s family, Aunt Song made several dishes: just the meat alone was one chicken, one braised pork ribs, plus a plate of stir-fried eggs, and other vegetables.
Song Yunjin was drooling, his voice full of joy, “Finally we can eat a proper meal.”
It was pitiful too.
When he learned his sister was bringing her brother-in-law and four cubs home, these past few days no matter what good ingredients his mom grabbed, she always grumbled to save them for the day to host his sister…
Song Yuncheng looked sympathetically at Yunjin; at least he could grab a bite at the factory.
“Tsk, no salary means this kind of treatment.”
Yunjin was annoyed and said with a fake smile, “Bro, don’t worry, I’ll definitely earn more than you in the future!”
After saying that, he strode back to the room.
Song Yuncheng followed behind. Song family neighbors smelled the meat and came out, seeing the chicken he was carrying, they said in astonishment, “Your mom cooked a whole chicken?”
That was a whole chicken, at least enough to eat for three days, right?
Women all felt the meat pain.
“To host my sister’s family, my mom is generous.” Song Yuncheng smiled, not wanting to draw attention, he nodded to the neighbors and hurried back to the room in two steps instead of three.
Gu Chenghuai brought the four cubs to wash their hands and was also going to the kitchen to help.
Song Yuncheng quickly stopped him, “Brother-in-law, Yunjin and I are here, no need for you. You’re the guest; guests should act like guests and just eat. If you go help, my mom will definitely glare at us with knife eyes.”
“Chenghuai, sit down. Make yourself at home.” Uncle Song also spoke up.
Gu Chenghuai sat down and smiled, “Then I won’t stand on ceremony.”
“If you stand on ceremony, you’re giving me trouble.” Uncle Song said, “Zhaozhao is like my own daughter to me; no need to be polite.”
Aunt Song came in just in time to hear this conversation and also said, “Chenghuai, just take care of yourself and the four cubs. Yuncheng and Yunjin can handle things; if help is needed… I’ll call them.”
Heng Bao took off his shoes and climbed on the sofa to play, as comfortable as at home. Listening to the adults, he grinned, very carefree.
“Great Uncle, Great Aunt, I won’t stand on ceremony.”
A little friend’s smiling face always makes people feel relaxed. Aunt Song picked up a chopstick of sweet and juicy tomato for him, “Right, our Heng Bao won’t stand on ceremony. Heng Bao, have a bite and see if it’s sweet.”
“Definitely sweet.” Heng Bao praised before tasting, his mouth like dipped in honey.
He opened his mouth wide and swallowed the piece of tomato with white sugar.
The sour-sweet taste, the little guy loved it especially.
“Sweet, delicious, I like this. Thank you, Great Aunt.”
Aunt Song fed Yu Bao a bite too, letting Qian Bao and Yao Bao suck the juice, her face full of smiles.
“If you like it, come often; Great Aunt will make it for you. Your mom loved eating this before too.” she said.
To make this dish, she traded sugar tickets with the neighbor.
Yu Bao licked the sweetness from his lips and said, “We are Mom’s children, so we’re like Mom everywhere.”
He smiled very happily, clearly thrilled about being like Mom.
Aunt Song thought to herself, Zhaozhao’s these children all stick to her; they’re good kids. When she gets older, she definitely won’t lack support.
Lin Zhao had no idea Auntie was thinking about her old age; if she knew, she would definitely refute it. She had too many choices; relying on the cubs was the worst option.
Because.
When the cubs grow up, they’ll have their own lives. As their mom, she would let go at the right time, let them soar, and best not meddle too much, just be their backing, tell them no matter how far you fly, Mom is here; when you turn back… you’ll see me.
Of course, she wouldn’t live like her whole world is just the cubs; she also needed her own life, to live like a cloud, a flower, a free breeze.
The Song family and Lin Zhao’s family gathered around the dining table.
Looking at the circle of little dolls, Uncle Song was happy inside and said loudly, “No more words, let’s eat.”
“Yu Bao, Heng Bao, quickly taste the dishes your Great Aunt made, see if you like them?” Seeing the twins’ arms were short, he picked meat for the two cubs, “If you like it, have your mom bring you often in the future.”
“Great Aunt’s dishes smell so good, just as fragrant as Mom’s, very delicious. Thank you Great Aunt for making so many dishes; you worked hard, Great Aunt.” Yu Bao swallowed the chicken meat, his eyes sparkling as he looked at Great Aunt, giving full emotional value.
Aunt Song smiled with gentle ripples at the corners of her eyes, “Great Aunt didn’t work hard; if you like it, eat more.”
What a sweet talker.
Yuncheng and Yunjin brothers saw their mom had no eyes for them at all, sighed faintly, fended for themselves, and buried their heads to eat fiercely.
Fragrant!
This meal, not a grain of rice left in the pot, not a bite of dish left. The four cubs held their round bellies, stuffed full.
“Ouch, stuffed to the max, get up and walk around, walk slowly.” Aunt Song looked at the twins holding their bellies and laughed hard.
“Great Aunt, I’ll help you clear the bowls and chopsticks.” Yu Bao volunteered to work.
Song Yuncheng stopped him, “Go aside; washing bowls and pots is my job, Don’t grab it with me. After I’m done, we’ll go see your family’s yard.”
He couldn’t wait for his sister to live in the city.
Although his sister was also a boss in the village and no one dared bully her, he felt living in the city was more convenient.
“Yunjin, help me carry the bowls.”
Song Yunjin picked up the stack of high bowls from the dining table and went to the kitchen.
As soon as he left, Yu Bao wiped the table with a rag.
Aunt Song liked him more and more, sighing, “If Yuncheng’s kids in the future are this obedient, it would be worry-free.”
“Kids are taught out; with our family’s home atmosphere, no domineering or lazy kids will come out. Auntie, you’ll definitely get what you wish for.” Lin Zhao said seriously.
Aunt Song patted her hand, “Hope so.”
The Song brothers finished washing the pots and bowls, and the group went out to aid digestion, also to check out the yard on East Street.
Seeing Yunjin locking the door, with all the Song family in the hallway seeming about to go out, the neighbor asked curiously, “Is Zhaozhao taking the kids back?”
Aunt Song answered for her, “The brigade is far, they have many people and didn’t ride a bicycle, so they need to leave early. Zhaozhao and them are accompanying me and Old Song for a stroll; they’ll head back directly later.”
The neighbor’s gaze went to Gu Chenghuai, looking again and again, expression appreciative.
What an outstanding young man; hard to believe he’s from the countryside.
But even if from the countryside, this young man had nothing to pick at; able to stand firm in the troops by ability, he’s capable.
Zhaozhao is really lucky.
Hope her daughter can also marry such a good young man.
“It’s far.” the neighbor said, “Zhaozhao, come visit your uncle and aunt often; they miss you.”
Lin Zhao smiled brightly, holding Aunt Song’s arm; the two were as close as mother and daughter, “Yes, yes; I miss Uncle and Auntie too.”
Aunt Song’s eyes flashed with tenderness.
The family went downstairs, chatting along the way, saying the Song family’s meal today smelled great, must have been very sumptuous, praising Lin Zhao’s four cubs as obedient, sensible, and polite, or saying Gu Chenghuai was handsome and tall… By the time they reached downstairs, twenty minutes had passed.
Song Yunjin let out a long breath, “Sis, your influence is really huge; as expected the flower of our textile factory staff dormitory. Even after years away, you’re still so popular.”
Lin Zhao knew exactly what was up; everyone was curious about something.
“How am I popular? Everyone is clearly curious about my four cubs and their dad. What does it have to do with me along the way!”
In the staff dormitory, not many had seen Gu Chenghuai and the four cubs; it wasn’t strange for them to come look.
Especially since she didn’t come back to the staff dormitory often now; to those people, it was novel. Next time would be the same; they’d want to ask about everything.
No way around it; people living in the staff dormitory were all old neighbors who knew even when everyone went to the toilet clearly; no novelty there anymore. Someone like her was more intriguing.
“Seems so too.” Song Yunjin said thoughtfully, “When Sister Xiu Xiu went back to her maternal family, everyone was also very curious about their family.”
He looked around and whispered, “But Sister Xiu Xiu doesn’t get as much attention as you.”
Lin Zhao gave him a side-eye, “Boring; what’s there to compare.”
“This shows you’re more popular.” Song Yunjin said seriously, “Sis, don’t take it lightly. I know Sister Xiu Xiu is secretly comparing with you. Back when she learned you married Brother-in-law, she spread a lot of nasty words about you in the staff dormitory.”
Like Lin Zhao was going to turn into a yellow-faced woman, not even a temporary worker, would have to go down to the fields later, maybe even raise pigs… Anyway, very unpleasant words, which pissed off his dad and mom.
Lin Zhao didn’t have a deep impression of the person Yunjin mentioned; after thinking, she said, “Next time she babbles, just say I asked who she is. Besides, comparing with me won’t make her life better; tell her to focus on herself.”
Song Yunjin was glad he wasn’t drinking water, or he would have sprayed it straight out.
“Sister Xiu Xiu would die of anger.”
Lin Zhao’s tone was indifferent, “Then her temper is really small…”
Turning her head, she saw a familiar figure walking over from not far away.
“…”
Before she could speak, the person ahead quickly approached. His droopy-lidded eyes scanned Lin Zhao and the others, finally settling on Aunt Song with a face full of enthusiastic smile.
The person was Matchmaker Aunt Zhu.
“Yuncheng’s mom, I’m here to find you again.”
Aunt Song was puzzled, “Something wrong?”
“Of course there’s something; would I come to your door for nothing?” Aunt Zhu said coquettishly, then, “I have another good young man here. He doesn’t mind your niece being older, no formal job, and from the countryside. When do you arrange for them to meet?”
Aunt Song looked helpless.
If she remembered right, she had already refused this person last time she came.
Lin Zhao looked at Song Yuncheng, asking with her eyes what was going on.
Song Yuncheng shrugged.
No idea.
Mom said she had refused.
Aunt Song said, “Sister Zhu, I wasn’t brushing you off last time. My niece really is dating someone now; no need to find matches. Sorry to make you come in vain.”
Aunt Zhu was stunned, pulled a long face, “You’re fooling me? Dating isn’t picking bok choy; less than half a month, and she has someone? Yuncheng’s mom, this isn’t how you do things.”
Aunt Song smiled bitterly.
Lin Zhao said, “My aunt has no reason to lie; my sister really has someone. I introduced them.”
Aunt Zhu smiled, “You’re… Zhaozhao, right? How come I didn’t know you became a matchmaker? Find a better excuse.”
“I didn’t say I’m a matchmaker.” Lin Zhao’s tone was casual, “Just happened that a colleague was finding a match for her younger brother, so I introduced my sister. They met and hit it off. Oh right, that young man is over twenty, from the transportation team, almost 8 meters tall, proper features, lives alone in a yard, betrothal gifts of 200 yuan, plus a watch and a sewing machine…”
Aunt Zhu’s smile froze on her face.
Lin Zhao paused slightly, smiled sincerely, “What about the person Aunt Zhu is introducing? Why don’t you tell us first?”
Hearing this, Aunt Zhu didn’t want to say another word and turned to leave.
Tell tell tell, tell what? Could she say the person she was introducing was over forty, had four kids at home, and an old mother bedridden?
Hmph, the Song family too; all entrusted to her, yet found someone else. Hateful!
Song Yunjin looked at Lin Zhao with starry eyes, gave a thumbs up, “Sis, you’re this!”
“Roasted beautifully.”
“I’ve wanted to roast her for so long; if not for Mom worrying this and that, I would have blown up long ago!”
The youth complained, “Really enough; every time she comes, she acts superior, like others are begging her.”
Lin Zhao said, “Alright, she probably won’t come again.”
Song Yuncheng held it in for a long time, then burst out laughing, “Definitely not; from now on she’ll detour around our staff dormitory.”
Aunt Song sighed emotionally, “Still, daughters are the best. When I was charging forward, at least I had a helper.”
“Mom, if I help you, you tell me to shut up.” Song Yuncheng said.
“Is that helping me? That’s offending people!” Aunt Song glared at him, telling him not to speak, her heart aching.
Couldn’t hit the point, not even as good as Yu Bao and Heng Bao.
Leaving the staff dormitory, Lin Zhao and the others strolled leisurely to East Street and saw that yard.
The twins looked at the rundown yard, gently propping their chins with their hands.
“Mom, no roof!” Heng Bao laughed.
