Chapter 139: “growing A Backbone”
Meng Jingmo did not want to go back.
He was not a child who forgot to eat but remembered to be beaten.
“I’m not going back. That’s not our home anymore!” The child didn’t know how he managed to say these words, only that his throat felt torn when they left his mouth.
“Xiao Bai, Mother values Grandma and Uncle more than us. She can’t protect us. If we stay in that home, we’ll be beaten to death sooner or later. We can’t go back.”
He could endure hardship himself and was not afraid of being beaten, but he was afraid of Uncle and Yuan Jinbao beating his younger brother. He was afraid he couldn’t protect Xiao Bai.
Meng Xiaobai didn’t want his older brother to be beaten, and said in a childish voice, “Then we won’t go back. I’ll be with my brother, and I won’t be afraid of anything.”
The little friend, who was a little over four years old, loved to rely on his older brother the most.
Meng Jingmo hugged his brother. The prickly little man turned soft, “Brother isn’t afraid either.”
He had promised his father that he would definitely protect his younger brother well.
…
Yuan Qin returned to the staff dormitory, and no one paid her any attention. Everyone knew that the two children from the Meng family had been driven away by the Yuan family, and the looks they gave her were filled with contempt.
— It was the look one gave to someone with an intellectual disability.
Yuan Qin was not a block of wood and naturally felt it. She didn’t know where to put her hands and feet, lowered her head awkwardly, and quickly went upstairs to go home.
“What a pity for the two children of Doctor Meng’s family.”
“Who says not? I saw Jingmo’s face full of bruises this morning. Yuan Qin, how can she be a mother? She lets her own son be belittled by her maternal family, yet she cooks and washes clothes for that family. Her brain must be waterlogged!”
“If you ask me, it’s good that Jingmo and Xiao Bai aren’t coming back. They would probably be bullied to death if they went back to that home.”
Another person held the opposite view, “How can they not come back? The two of them together are not even twenty years old. They have no jobs, no money, and no grain. What will they eat and drink outside? It’s fine in hot weather, but what about when it gets cold? Will they just freeze to death? Besides, that’s the Meng family’s home. Why should it benefit outsiders?”
She was someone who hated evil as one hated vice and wanted to send a report letter. She didn’t know if it would be useful.
Yuan Qin was unaware of the neighbors’ gossip. When she returned home and opened the door, the sinister voice of Old Mrs. Yuan rang out, “Where are those two little beasts?”
Not seeing the Meng brothers behind Yuan Qin, she curled her lips unpleasantly, like the wicked witch in a fairy tale, “Knowing you caused trouble, you don’t dare to come back?”
“I’m telling you, Yuan Qin, this matter won’t be over unless they kneel down and apologize!”
To dare to flip the table at such a young age, their courage was really something. Did they really think it was the same as before!
Yuan Qin frowned and explained for her son, “Mom, Jin Bao was too much this morning. How could he throw the steamed corn buns on the ground and then order Jingmo and Guang Bai to pick them up and eat them…”
“Enough!” Old Mrs. Yuan was too lazy to listen and angrily rebuked, “Jin Bao is your nephew! He was beaten by your brats last night, and you didn’t even show concern. Are you even a Yuan family member?! If you don’t want to be my daughter anymore, we can go to the newspaper office and break off our mother-daughter relationship with a statement of severance!”
She always knew how to control her daughter.
Old Mr. Yuan remained silent. The disappointment in his eyes when he looked at Yuan Qin was as if she had said something rebellious.
Yuan Qin’s face turned pale, “Mom, I don’t want to! Dad, please persuade Mom, I don’t want to break off relations with you.”
Her maternal family was her home; she couldn’t break off relations.
A hint of triumph flashed in Old Mrs. Yuan’s eyes, and her expression softened slightly.
“You are my daughter, and I can’t bear to part with you. If you are obedient, we will always be a loving family.” She paused, and while Yuan Qin was deeply moved, she continued, “Jin Bao is the only male heir of the Yuan family. You are his paternal aunt, and you must pay attention to him. If your nephew is well-raised, he can support you and provide for your elder care.”
Her eyes flickered, and a sharp glint appeared in her cloudy eyes. She said persuasively, “Your two brats have been spoiled by their father. Haven’t you noticed they don’t take you seriously? They aren’t close to you! What can you expect from them?
Don’t think Mom is harsh on them. Mom is doing it for you. If it weren’t for you, why would I bear this bad reputation?”
Yuan Qin was soft-hearted. When she heard her mother speaking softly, her mind went blank. “I know, Mom, I’ve made you worry.”
“But Jingmo and Guang Bai are my children. My heart aches when I see them suffering. Teach them, but can you not hit them? The children are still young.”
Old Mrs. Yuan was displeased and replied perfunctorily, “Why would I hit them if they weren’t disrespectful to me?”
After speaking, she became angry and glared at her fiercely, “It’s all because you and Meng Jiusi, that smelly old eighth-grader, spoiled them!”
Yuan Qin was still trembling with fear due to her husband’s incident, which had only happened not long ago. She lowered her head and dared not make a sound.
She was a person without judgment, unable to distinguish right from wrong. If others insulted her husband, she wouldn’t even have the awareness to refute, only feeling that she couldn’t hold her head up.
Old Mrs. Yuan ignored Yuan Qin and gritted her teeth, thinking of Meng Jingmo, who had flipped the table.
Those brats needed to go hungry for a few meals. Once they were too weak from hunger, she would teach them another lesson!
Having made up her mind to discipline the Meng brothers, the old woman didn’t intend to let Yuan Qin find them. She thought it would be good for them to wander for a few more days and suffer a bit.
Then they would be obedient!
Yuan Qin didn’t know yet that when it was time for dinner that evening, she proposed to look for the two children, but Old Mrs. Yuan’s face darkened, and she dissatisfiedly stopped her from going out.
She couldn’t withstand the pressure from her old mother, the cold violence from her father, and the sarcastic remarks from her brother and sister-in-law. She finally gave up looking for her children, causing Meng Jingmo to be completely disheartened with her, which led to her losing the last chance to win back her sons. She never saw her two sons again for many years after that.
She tossed and turned sleeplessly, shedding tears, but ultimately did not dare to defy the will of her maternal family.
That night.
Meng Jingmo looked at the starry night sky, expressionlessly killed a mosquito that had had its fill of blood, and his expression was grim.
That person didn’t come looking for him and Xiao Bai.
They didn’t even ask about them.
He had guessed it, but a sliver of hope still lingered in his heart.
He didn’t expect…
She had still disappointed him.
Meng Guangbai felt uneasy, “Brother?”
His brother snapped back to reality, dispelled the coldness in his eyes, patted his brother’s head, and said with determination, “Brother, I will definitely take you to find Dad!”
As soon as the words left his mouth, Yun Jian’s words popped into his mind, and he began to think of a plan.
If he didn’t go home, he would have to support his brother.
He had a lot of money, enough for himself and his brother to eat.
But.
Dad said that money attracts attention.
A child carrying gold is a dangerous thing.
He couldn’t openly spend money.
After Grandpa had an accident, someone tried to lure him with candy, wanting to trick him out of the Meng family’s ancestral silver needles and prescriptions. That person thought he was young and easy to fool, but unfortunately, he was not easy to fool. That person failed several times.
Meng Jingmo didn’t think that person would let him off easily, and he had to be careful.
Also, he didn’t have ration coupons, so he would need to find someone to exchange them with, and it had to be someone he trusted.
He remembered saving a child before. That child’s brother was involved in the black market, so he could ask him for an exchange…
In a short time, he thought of many things.
Meng Guangbai said, “Brother, can we really find Dad?”
“Yes, Brother will inquire. Don’t worry.” Meng Jingmo held his brother in his arms, holding a prickly piece of wood in his hand to swat away the buzzing mosquitoes, his tone solemn and serious, “Don’t be afraid, I will definitely think of a way.”
“You sleep quickly, we have things to do tomorrow.”
Starting tomorrow, he would have to figure out how to support himself and his brother.
The little boy’s expression was solemn.
Meng Guangbai nodded. His eyes were exceptionally bright in the dark night. “Brother and I will think of a way together.”
His brother smiled, “Okay, we’ll think of it together. Sleep quickly, do you want me to tell you a story?”
Meng Guangbai’s face was full of joy, “Can I?”
It was dark all around, and there were desolate cat cries. He was a little scared.
“Yes,” Meng Jingmo began to tell his brother a story, one that his father used to tell him.
With his brother’s voice accompanying him, Xiao Bai was no longer so scared and soon fell asleep.
His brother’s embrace was Xiao Bai’s safest and warmest harbor.
The next morning, the two brothers saw each other’s faces covered in mosquito bites, and they burst into laughter. Their laughter was crisp and carried far, filled with happiness, as if returning to the past.
Meng Jingmo looked at his brother’s smiling face and realized that his brother hadn’t smiled for a long time since their father left.
His brother, who was once like a little sun, had become timid like this.
The Yuan family really deserved to die!
…
Meanwhile.
Time returned to the previous day.
At 3 PM, Song Yunjin arrived at the ox cart on time to see Lin Zhao off.
“Grandpa, what time are we leaving?”
The old grandpa, with white hair, a white beard, and a few missing teeth, looked at him and said, “Four o’clock.”
“So late!” Song Yunjin blurted out.
In that case, his sister would have to wait for nearly an hour.
The old grandpa said, “It’s not late. My precious ox rarely comes out, so I definitely have to earn my keep. Otherwise, it’s too much of a loss.”
Seeing that Song Yunjin, this well-dressed city dweller, was quite polite, he added a few more words, “People from the brigade haven’t come to the city for a long time. They need to buy enough supplies for their homes in one go and have to go to several places. It’s reasonable to wait a bit longer.”
Song Yunjin expressed understanding, “Is that so? Then I suppose we have to wait a bit longer.”
Seeing that there was someone selling ice cream nearby, he ran over and bought three.
He first gave one to Lin Zhao.
“Sister, have an ice cream to cool down.”
Lin Zhao took it and started eating. It was creamy, slightly sweet, and very cold.
Song Yunjin gave the old grandpa one too, with a smile on his face, “Grandpa, you can cool down too. My sister and I are going to the recycling station. We’ll try to be back on time. If we’re late, can you wait a little longer?”
“Okay!” The old grandpa readily agreed.
Even if he didn’t give him ice cream, he would wait as long as he said he would. Moreover, this young man was so polite.
“Thank you.”
He didn’t expect that he would be eating ice cream at such an age! It’s a shame he couldn’t keep it. If he could, he would be so happy to give it to his little grandson when he got home.
The old grandpa felt reluctant in his heart, and a trace of it appeared on his face.
He tentatively licked it and hissed from the cold, laughing awkwardly, “It’s really cold!”
“That’s why it’s so good for cooling down,” Song Yunjin said with a smile.
“Grandpa, we’re leaving now. Please wait for my sister!” he emphasized again.
The old grandpa waved the ice cream in his hand, “Don’t forget. If I forget, you’ll have to compensate me for the ice cream!”
Song Yunjin was amused, “How could that be?”
Just as he was about to leave, the old grandpa saw that they had many things in their hands and offered, “If you trust me, you can put your things on the ox cart. I’ll watch them for you.”
Song Yunjin looked at Lin Zhao.
Lin Zhao, eating the ice cream, gave Yun Jin a look, “Grandpa is offering to help. Put them there and take up a spot while you’re at it.”
The old grandpa’s expression was appreciative.
This girl didn’t look like she was from the countryside, but she had experience and knew how to claim a spot.
Song Yunjin glanced at his sister. Without further ado, he obediently put the things on the cart.
The old grandpa said, “Don’t worry, with me here, I guarantee not even a piece of hemp rope from your belongings will be missing.”
Lin Zhao chuckled, her expression filled with admiration and respect, “You are an old hero who fought the devils with a slingshot. Your reputation for integrity has spread to every brigade. Of course, I trust you.”
The old grandpa was surprised.
He didn’t expect that a junior would remember his youthful deeds. It was rare.
He licked off the melting ice water, his movements devout and serious.
The words “cherish grain” were etched into his bones.
“This is nothing. Back then, there were countless people like me. I don’t count for much.”
Lin Zhao thought to herself, with so many people making silent contributions to the country, how could China not be strong?
The original book said that in forty to fifty years, China would develop to an unimaginable extent.
No longer would the moon be rounder abroad.
At that time, the country would be prosperous, and the people would be well-off.
The elderly would have support, and the young would be raised.
The broken backs of the Chinese people would grow back and stand tall, with iron bones, unyielding for eternity.
She truly wished to see this scene soon.
She also hoped…
That those who contributed to the country could also see it.
Song Yunjin noticed that his sister’s lips had been turned up the whole time, and her smile held a hint of excitement, as if something had ignited her, making her entire face glow. He curiously asked, “Sister, what are you smiling about?”
“I said that when the four children start working, our country will become one of the top strongest countries in the world. Do you believe me?” Lin Zhao’s dark eyelashes trembled slightly, her eyes filled with laughter, and her lips curved into a smile.
“…” Song Yunjin’s mouth twitched. He wanted to touch his sister’s forehead.
Is she not awake yet?
How could that be possible!
He thought with a wry smile.
“Sister, I know you love this land deeply, but we can’t be blindly confident.”
Lin Zhao became serious, “Shall we make a bet?”
“Bet on what?” Song Yunjin cooperated readily. He would react even if his sister said that a banknote falling on the ground made a louder sound than a coin.
“Whatever you say we bet on,” Lin Zhao shrugged, not particularly concerned. She would accept anything.
Song Yunjin thought for a moment, “If what you say comes true, I’ll give you a ‘Three Turns and One Sound’. If it doesn’t come true, you’ll give me a ‘Three Turns and One Sound’.”
He looked at Lin Zhao and found her expression somewhat hard to describe. He added, “Of course, if the ‘Three Turns and One Sound’ becomes outdated by then, we’ll give each other things of equal value. How about that?”
Lin Zhao found it hilarious.
In the future, no one would use radios anymore. People would use mobile phones, palm-sized, very convenient, capable of doing anything, and everyone would have one.
Few people would use sewing machines.
Not many people would use watches.
Bicycles would be used by the poor, while the wealthy would drive cars for leaders.
“…Alright.”
Song Yunjin thought his sister’s smile was strange but didn’t dwell on it, as they had arrived at the recycling station.
He stepped forward, gave the staff a few candies, and brought his sister inside.
“Sister, what are you looking for? I’ll help you.”
Lin Zhao came to find medical books for her fourth brother. How could she let him find them? She casually said, “No need, I’ll just browse. You help the four children find some. I plan to make a bookshelf for them when the new house is built, and I’m still missing many books. Look around and find whatever you can, storybooks, magazines, picture books, reference books are all fine.”
Song Yunjin believed her, agreed, and happily went to look for books.
Looking for books for the four children, he felt full of energy.
Lin Zhao went to another shelf to search. Since the items had been carefully organized by someone else, she didn’t rummage through them carelessly. She searched very meticulously and set aside anything suitable.
And indeed, she managed to find a treasure.
There was a medical book, covered with a magazine cover, filled with various prescriptions, clinical case studies, and treatment experiences.
It seemed to be by a famous doctor, very old, and very precious.
Lin Zhao quietly put it into her storage ring.
This gave her great encouragement.
She was excited and continued to flip through the pages.
In her subsequent search, she found two more useful books. Lin Zhao was very satisfied.
Three books, that should be enough for her fourth brother to read for a while, right?
Thinking of her fourth brother, she inevitably thought of her two nephews, Jingmo and Guangbai. She wondered how their inquiry with Gu Chenghuai’s comrade was going?!
