Chapter 141: “a Single Scale”
Lin Zhao wanted to know the neighboring brigade’s attitude and asked directly: “The educated youth reported to the educated youth office, and your brigade didn’t stop them?”
“Stop what.” Fat Fat’s mom laughed, pointing her finger virtually at Lao Zhuangtou’s back.
“The cadres in our brigade can’t tolerate sand in their eyes; whatever it is, it is what it is. The educated youth wanted to report to the educated youth office, so how could they disagree? Not only did they not stop them, they even sent an ox cart to take them to the county.”
The reason they weren’t on the ox cart right now was because the educated youth insisted on staying at the guesthouse to wait for the results.
When they heard it would cost money, the brigade leader’s face changed abruptly, saying no eight times in a row, then started crying poor, saying the brigade had no spare money and still needed to buy seeds and fertilizer; they really couldn’t afford to stay at the guesthouse.
The male educated youth said he had money himself and only asked the brigade leader for a two-day letter of introduction.
The young man’s innocence was gone, and he almost ended up with a countryside daughter-in-law; the brigade leader felt he hadn’t done his job well and was full of guilt, so with a wave of his hand, he issued a three-day one.
As a notoriously stingy brigade leader, he nearly cried from his own generosity!
Lin Zhao gave a thumbs up. “Your brigade is beyond reproach.”
Lao Zhuangtou was hard-pressed not to feel smug.
Their brigade used to be famously known as the hero village.
Apart from Song Meihua from Dongfeng Brigade with her ridiculously high combat power, their village had killed the most Japanese devils.
The others were also very happy to be praised by Lin Zhao.
“That’s right, we’re all people who help reason, not relatives; whoever is in the right, we stand with them. Educated youth are also born of parents too; their parents sent them to the countryside from thousands of miles away, so we have a responsibility to protect them.”
“Yeah, marriage has to be consensual; playing schemes like that… if muddleheads learn it, both countryside and city will be in chaos!”
…
Listening to these high-sounding words, Lao Zhuangtou closed his eyes briefly, his mouth twitching.
Hey, had they forgotten how loudly they had cursed the educated youth for being stupid?!
People are so hypocritical!
Lin Zhao ate the full melon and was fully satisfied, especially thinking that next, the educated youth’s situation would improve; she felt a bit happy.
There were troublemakers among the educated youth, but the vast majority were excellent.
They were all compatriots.
She hoped they would all be well.
Hold on.
Until ten years later.
Take the college entrance exam, learn skills, become pillars, become the sky-supporting white jade pillars of the nation’s rise, shining brightly.
—I turn into a scale on your body, you fulfill the glory of the rest of my life.
Depending on each other, never abandoning.
Imagining countless sparks… converging into a Milky Way across the sky, Lin Zhao’s heart stirred, unable to calm for a long time.
“Mommy!”
A child’s voice rang out from afar, accompanied by two joyful barks.
Yu Bao figured the time was right, pulled Heng Bao to the village entrance to pick up mommy; the dragon-phoenix twins threw a fit to come along, so the two little brothers had to bring their younger brother and sister; Da Huang and Amber followed on their own.
“Mommy’s riding the ox cart.” Yu Bao’s voice was full of joy.
He liked mommy the most; wherever mommy was, he could always spot her at a glance.
Even if mommy was sitting in the middle of a crowd.
Lin Zhao waved to the little ones. “…Come help me carry things!”
Hearing mommy’s call, Heng Bao quickened his steps to run over; Yu Bao took care of the dragon-phoenix twins who couldn’t walk fast, approaching at the fastest speed.
“Mommy, did you buy things?” The second son’s loud voice rang out.
Lin Zhao gave him the things Yun Jian had sent. “Heng Bao, you and your brother carry this.”
She jumped off the ox cart, picked up the stack of books, put a handful of fruit hard candy next to Lao Zhuangtou, said thanks, waved to the people on the cart, and called the four cubs home.
The cart rode very steadily, more comfortable than any she’d ridden before, and she ate big melon too; the experience was maxed out!
On the ox cart, several women chattered away.
“Twins! They’re twins!! We finally saw this pair of twins!! So that salesperson is their mom, the one in the legends who’s super lucky and super fertile; lots of people want to ask her family’s kids to roll the bed.”
“The two boys look alike; who knows how the salesperson comrade tells her eldest son from second son.”
“Saw the little pair too, right? They look very similar too; heard they’re dragon-phoenix twins! How can someone’s luck be this good—two litters, four kids, and you can’t even tell she’s had children; her face is as white as an unmarried little girl’s.”
Lao Zhuangtou looked at the handful of fruit hard candy on the front cart beam, a flash of emotion in his eyes, and carefully put the candy away.
He lightly flicked the whip in his hand; the whip didn’t hit the ox.
“Pa~!!!”
A whoosh through the air.
The old ox started walking, hooves moving.
When they reached the middle of the road, Lao Zhuangtou flicked the whip again; the old ox sped up, and the cart started bumping.
The people on the cart: “…”
The woman in the front row raised her voice. “The little girl just got off, and now you’re not caring about our lives; slow down, slow down—we’re people too, we want to go back comfortably.”
“Yeah, yeah, go a bit slower, don’t bump too much; every time I ride the ox cart home, my lower body is numb.”
Would Lao Zhuangtou listen?
Of course not.
His ox brother had been waiting all afternoon, barely drank any water, and his food was gone; he was anxious to get back and reward his ox brother.
“Slow what slow; the brigade is full of things—if we’re any slower, the brigade leader will think I sold ox brother!”
Right after, another whoosh through the air.
The ox cart sped up again.
–
Fengshou Brigade.
The identical twins carried the cloth bag toward the village.
The cloth bag wasn’t too heavy, but carrying it for a while was tiring.
Plus the weather was really hot; the two little brothers huffed and puffed, breathing heavily.
Lin Zhao found it funny. “Tired? If tired, give it to me.”
She reached out to the two cubs.
Yu Bao saw lots and lots of books in mommy’s hands; he’d carried books before and knew books were very heavy, so he shook his head to refuse mommy.
“We can do it, right, Heng Bao?”
The second son loved acting like a little adult, never admitting defeat; hearing his brother’s words, he shook off the tiredness on his face and flashed a super bright smile.
“Yes, we can.”
He shook his arms, regained energy, his tone upbeat. “Mommy, what’s inside this?”
Little friends recharge like this, huh—so cute.
Lin Zhao smiled slightly. “Things your daddy’s comrade sent you.”
Heng Bao’s eyes widened, mouth slightly open.
“Daddy’s comrade?” His clear voice was full of doubt. “Why would daddy’s comrade send us things?”
Ever since Lin Zhao started taking care of the two cubs, the four cubs drank malt extract and milk powder every day, one egg daily, and occasionally fried dough twists, canned food, apples, etc.; their mouths were never shortchanged, and they had books and toys too.
The twins were loved by daddy and mommy; they were no longer poorly fed, scantily clad little friends without a sense of security.
Compared to knowing what was inside, they were more curious why the other side sent them things.
Lin Zhao looked down and saw the identical doubt on the two little brothers’ faces.
“What do you think?”
Yu Bao’s mouth curved up.
He guessed mommy would say this.
Mommy liked testing them, making them think for themselves.
The little eldest seriously thought for two seconds. “Daddy’s comrade has a good relationship with daddy, so the things sent to us are meeting gifts, right, mommy?”
The eldest cub cared most about mommy; after answering, he looked at Lin Zhao, a hint of tension in his eyes.
Lin Zhao freed a hand, ruffled her eldest son’s soft hair, her eyes smiling, voice slightly upbeat. “So smart!”
“There is indeed that reason.” She affirmed Yu Bao’s answer.
The little boy’s face lit up like sunlight.
The twins were at the energetic age, liked running around with village little friends; their little faces were delicate but not exactly fair.
Their features picked the best from daddy and mommy; even if not fair-skinned, it didn’t affect their handsome cuteness at all.
Lin Zhao’s gaze shifted to Heng Bao’s face.
The little guy looked at his brother with sparkling eyes, seal-clapping, face full of ‘my brother is smart, my brother is the best, my brother is top-notch, this is my brother…’
She couldn’t help but smile.
The second cub was quick-witted, but unfortunately a brother-obsessed one; full brain of brother is the best—no one else like that.
“What does Heng Bao think?”
Heng Bao snapped back, turning on his little brain.
“Because daddy gave his comrade gifts, and he didn’t know what to give back to daddy, so he sent to me and brother!”
…
Reciprocity, huh.
Yes, Huaxia country’s traditional virtue, mastered to the essence by five-and-a-half-year-old Heng Bao!
Heng Bao tilted his head. “Am I right?”
Lin Zhao didn’t discourage the child, smiling. “Also right!”
Gu family’s Heng Bao raised his little head high, whistled. “Of course! I’m the second smartest little friend in the whole brigade.”
The first smartest was his brother.
Lin Zhao narrowed her eyes, gaze dangerous.
Her tone flat.
“Gu Zhiheng, who did you learn whistling from?”
Experiments prove that since ancient times, no little friend can smile when daddy or mommy calls their full name.
Heng Bao, who was smug a second ago, instantly stood straight, as obedient as could be, like standing in military posture.
“…From, from Chang Sheng brother.”
He sneakily glanced at Lin Zhao with his eyes, very guilty.
Heng Bao looked to his brother for help.
Yu Bao’s little face was stern, brows furrowed. “Heng Bao, you need to apologize to mommy, say you’ll never learn bad habits again!”
Worried mommy would really punish his brother, he quickly added. “Mommy is the best mommy; you obediently apologize, and mommy will forgive you.”
Lin Zhao wasn’t angry; little boys are naughty, learning bad habits is normal; getting angry is useless—teaching the cubs well and they’ll listen.
The second cub wasn’t even as tall as adult legs yet; pouting and whistling was hilariously cute.
Heng Bao was sensible; seeing Lin Zhao not speaking, he knew mommy wasn’t mad, freed an arm to hug mommy and act cute.
“Mommy, I was wrong; I shouldn’t have learned whistling; don’t be mad, mommy looks especially pretty when smiling.”
His voice was honey-sweet.
“Knowing you were wrong is good. Since it’s your first time, forget it; next time, I’ll have your daddy teach you.” Lin Zhao said.
Heng Bao didn’t want daddy to teach him, stuck out two fingers, pinched his mouth into a duck beak, shook his head vigorously.
No no, no more whistling!!
Frog jumps are no fun at all!
Lin Zhao’s eyes softened with laughter, pretending disdain. “Let go; you’re all sweaty and stinky.”
Heng Bao obediently let go, complaining aggrievedly. “Mommy, you change so fast; last night you hugged and kissed the cubs, said we were fragrant and soft; now you say I’m all sweaty and stinky.”
Lin Zhao ignored that, looking ahead.
Gu family’s children were running toward them.
She looked at Qian Bao held in Xing Ye’s arms; he went to call people?
“Third Aunt, we’re here to pick you up!” Gu Lan took the books from Lin Zhao, divided them with the brothers, one stack each.
“Qian Bao found you?” Lin Zhao asked.
Gu Lan nodded shyly. “Yes, Qian Bao told Tie Dan first; Tie Dan ran home to shout for us, and we ran over!”
Lin Zhao looked at her third cub in astonishment.
She didn’t know how many times she’d been amazed by the little dumpling’s smarts.
She thought Qian Bao disliked their slow pace and went back first.
Qian Bao noticed mommy’s gaze; his white tender exquisite little face flushed pink, calmly covered his face with little hands, ear tips red and glossy, trembling lightly like touched mimosa.
Lin Zhao’s heart melted.
She bent to pick up her son.
“Whose cub is this, so smart?”
Qian Bao let go of his face-covering hands, hugged mommy’s neck, little face against mommy’s shoulder, eyes bending into pretty crescent moons.
“…Daddy and mommy’s cub.” The little dumpling said word by word.
He was still very small, short and chubby, little hands and feet, still learning to talk; when speaking, he often mispronounced. The smart little milk bun discovered slowing down let him speak clearly, so he spoke slowly.
Especially cute.
Lin Zhao kissed her son’s little face. “Right, daddy and mommy’s cub.”
My cub is so cute!
Yao Bao had been sticking to Lin Zhao since seeing mommy; earlier, seeing mommy carrying things, she didn’t make trouble, trotting with short legs beside, meaty little hands grabbing mommy’s clothes, glancing at her now and then, eyes always curved, obedient and soft like a temperamentless dough ball.
Now seeing mommy hug brother, she anxiously tiptoed, arms open, pink tender little mouth spitting soft little milky sound.
“Mommy, hug, hug Bao~~”
Lin Zhao didn’t play favorites, picked up Yao Bao too, kissed her daughter’s cheek.
“Yao Bao is so good.” She praised.
Indeed good; at the age unable to control poop and pee, she could control her little temper, no crying or fussing—how not good?
Lin Zhao carried the dragon-phoenix twins homeward, remembered the things in Bang Bang’s hands were entrusted by educated youth. “Xing Ye, what you’re carrying is from the educated youth for me to bring; take it to the educated youth point, give it to Educated Youth Song; he knows what to do.”
“Got it!” Xing Ye replied, turned and ran to the educated youth point.
Heng Bao had Little Tie Chui take his place, lifting the package with brother; he gently pulled open the mouth, left eye closed right eye open, peeking inside.
“See anything?” Tie Chui asked quietly.
Heng Bao shook his head. “Dark, saw nothing.”
Lin Zhao wanted to pat his head, but had no free hands for now. “Look when we get home.”
“Mommy, you definitely know what’s inside; tell me ahead of time, I wanna know.” Heng Bao wheedled softly.
Lin Zhao said: “Two boxes of small animal biscuits, one jar of preserved fruit, lots of chocolate, one pack of dried meat, and four small masks.”
“Wow!” Heng Bao’s eyes shone brighter; all things he’d never heard of.
Definitely all good stuff.
“Mommy, what’s small biscuits?” He hadn’t eaten small biscuits.
Yu Bao and the others hadn’t either, all looking at Lin Zhao curiously.
“Small biscuits are sweet, crispy, milky fragrant, shaped like various little animals—little frogs, little dogs, little cats, little horses…” Lin Zhao said casually.
The little friends’ mouths gaped open.
Heng Bao asked again: “What’s a little horse animal?”
Lin Zhao was prepared. “In a few days, your daddy and I are going to the provincial capital because my birthday’s coming up; he’s taking me to play.”
The twins’ smiles vanished, expressions tense.
Daddy and mommy go to provincial capital—then what about them?!!!
“I said to bring you along; you haven’t been to provincial capital either, and your daddy agreed.” Lin Zhao said slowly. “Provincial capital has a zoo; we’ll take you to see then—you’ll know what little horses are after!”
Yu Bao and Heng Bao were dazed by this big pie.
Floating.
