Chapter 145: “diary”
Gu Chenghuai didn’t express an opinion, just acting as a patient listener.
After Meng Jiusi finished speaking, he looked at his fourth brother-in-law and asked, “If the two children aren’t doing well, what does Fourth Brother plan to do?”
Meng Jiusi paused slightly, beginning to search his mind for close people.
After going through them all, he realized that surprisingly, only his biological parents’ side had people he trusted enough to hand Jing Mo and Guang Bai over to, and only then would he have peace of mind.
He showed a bitter smile.
But the children were his responsibility—why should family help him raise them?
Moments later.
His expression became resolute.
“I will find a way to bring them to my side.” Meng Jiusi’s eyes shone with indestructible light.
“My situation is a bit difficult, and the future is uncertain, but right now it’s not bad. I can take good care of the two children.”
If in the future he and Grandpa were sent to a harsher place for labor education, he would find another way to send the two children away.
Not to mention others—the Lin family was his backing.
He deeply believed this without a doubt.
It was strange, they had only recognized each other not long ago.
The power of blood ties and family affection was so great!
Gu Chenghuai nodded.
“Good, I’ll think of a way.”
Meng Jiusi raised his arm to pat his brother-in-law’s shoulder a few times, saying solemnly, “Thank you.”
“We’re family, Fourth Brother doesn’t need to be polite.” Gu Chenghuai didn’t think it was trouble—Aunt Zhao’s matters were his matters.
“Fourth Brother, get some early rest. I’ll head back first.”
With that, the upright young man left, his pace not fast, yet he soon disappeared at the foot of the mountain.
Meng Jiusi smiled, turned to enter the yard, and bolted the door.
In the yard, he ran into Mr. Qiao coming out of the outhouse.
“Mr. Qiao.” He greeted him politely.
Mr. Qiao smiled. “Your brother-in-law came to deliver things to you again.”
They all lived in the same yard—there were no secrets.
Just as the Meng grandfather and grandson knew that Mr. Qiao and Gu Fu were old acquaintances, Mr. Qiao also knew about their connections with the Lin family.
“My parents sent them.” Meng Jiusi was full of smiles; he hadn’t even noticed the proud expression on his face, like a child showing off.
Things from his parents—how warm and heartwarming, making his heart feel like it had been filled with hot water in the dead of winter, his limbs starting to warm up.
Mr. Qiao was seasoned and could tell the young man’s emotions at a glance.
He said, “Your family members are all good people. Cherish them well.”
Willing to recognize their long-lost son of over twenty years in such dangerous times—the Lin family was good.
Being praised for his family made Meng Jiusi very happy and proud. “I know.”
After bidding Mr. Qiao farewell, they each returned to their rooms.
Old Master Meng was already lying in bed.
This was one good thing about the countryside: going to bed early and rising early. With help from the Lin and Gu families, the grandfather and grandson ate well—not much different from being in the city.
Much better than those in similar misfortunes!
Seeing his grandson come in with things, Old Master Meng casually said, “From your younger sister again?”
Meng Jiusi calmly replied, “Aunt Zhao specially scavenged medical books from the recycling station and found a few, had Chenghuai bring them over. The rest are from my parents.”
Trying to restrain himself in front of Grandpa.
Old Master Meng pointed at his grandson with his hand. “If you’re happy, be happy. No need to hold back and tire yourself.”
Calling them parents so naturally showed he truly liked his family—what was there to pretend?
Meng Jiusi grinned. “I am happy.”
Old Master Meng was gratified. “Grandpa is happy for you too.”
Though he had decided for his son to recognize Jiusi, a son recognized halfway naturally couldn’t compare to a biological one. The son and daughter-in-law weren’t attentive to Jiusi. Even with his own bias, in places he couldn’t see, Jiusi must have suffered grievances.
Now that his grandson had recognized his biological parents, he was only happy for Jiusi.
Meng Jiusi opened the bundle his parents had entrusted to his younger sister and brother-in-law. Inside were several sets of clothes, plus grain and pork. The eggs were in a square bamboo box, with crisscrossing bamboo strips inside holding each egg securely—none were broken.
“Your parents really have ways.” Old Master Meng sighed.
Indeed, those with heart always find a way.
Meng Jiusi smiled. “Tomorrow morning, let’s boil eggs to eat.”
“Good.” Old Master Meng happily accepted his grandson’s filial piety. “There are plenty of medicinal herbs on the mountain. Let’s pick some, process them well, and give them to your younger sister to see if we can exchange them for money.”
They couldn’t always just take.
It would hurt feelings.
Meng Jiusi put the things away. “My younger sister said the county hospital collects medicinal herbs and told me to dry as much as possible. She’ll exchange them.”
“That’s great!” Old Master Meng decided. “Starting tomorrow, after work, we’ll go pick medicinal herbs.”
That Lin Zhao girl was really thoughtful. To thoroughly defeat a person, it was never material things, but breaking their spirit. Medical books were a spiritual pillar for Jiusi.
It was still early.
Meng Jiusi wasn’t in a hurry to sleep. Leaning against the bedhead under the dim yellow kerosene lamp, he flipped through the medical books his younger sister had sent.
Gu family’s third branch.
All four children were asleep, with a mosquito repellent sachet by each small pillow. The warm yellow light shone on them, giving a special warmth.
The moonlight was so bright, slanting through the window lattice onto the table.
Lin Zhao felt hot and threw off Gu Chenghuai’s arm around her.
She sprawled on the straw mat.
“So annoying. When will we have electricity? I want an electric fan, an electric fridge.”
Gu Chenghuai wasn’t upset at being pushed away and dutifully fanned his wife. “Bear with it. Once the county house is renovated, you can live in the city. The city has electricity, and then we’ll have a fan.”
Lin Zhao perked up again, leaning over to hug the man’s sturdy arm, her eyes curving. “That’s true.”
His wife happy made Gu Chenghuai happy. His phoenix eyes, usually stern when not smiling, now brimmed with gentle warmth. “What do you want to eat tomorrow morning?”
She had eaten steamed egg custard and noodles for days and was tired of it.
If the villagers knew, they’d surely scold her for being spoiled. Who in the whole village ate breakfast? With eggs and white noodles, and she still complained—what was that if not spoiled?
Lin Zhao rested her head on Gu Chenghuai’s chest, nuzzling to find a comfortable position.
“I want fresh pork small wontons, but we didn’t buy meat.”
Very regretful.
“I’ll buy some tomorrow morning. How to make them?” Gu Chenghuai spent little time at home and felt he owed her. Anything she thought of, he wanted to bring to her.
Lin Zhao sat up slightly, pecking her husband’s lips with a beaming smile.
Her voice sweet.
“I’ll make them myself. You just buy the meat.”
Gu Chenghuai smiled. “I’ll help out.”
“Sure.” Lin Zhao yawned.
“Tired? Sleep then.” Gu Chenghuai lowered his voice.
Lin Zhao didn’t forget to remind him. “Call me tomorrow morning.”
“If no meat, then forget it.”
Gu Chenghuai’s eyes and brows lit with amusement. “Good.”
–
The next morning.
Not sure if it was the noodles or the delicious small wontons calling her, but before Gu Chenghuai returned home, Lin Zhao woke up.
Since she was awake, she didn’t dawdle and got dressed to get up.
The twins had finished exercising with Dad and were now writing in the yard.
Gu Fu was weaving a bamboo basket while listening to the radio, from which a deep male voice was broadcasting the morning news.
Yu Bao heard the door curtain lift and fall, turned his head to see Lin Zhao come out, put down his pencil, and trotted over, his voice full of worry.
“Mom, why are you up so early?”
As he spoke, he tiptoed to touch Lin Zhao’s forehead.
Afraid Mom was sick.
No way around it—in the little friend’s memory, Mom only got up this early when she wasn’t feeling well.
“…”
Lin Zhao was helpless.
How deeply rooted was her love for sleeping in.
Luckily, the awkwardness didn’t last long. Gu Chenghuai entered the yard with a piece of pork in hand.
“Got the meat!!” Lin Zhao’s happy voice rang out.
She pinched Yu Bao’s cheek, smiling. “Small wontons for breakfast today. Happy, son?”
Yu Bao remembered the taste of small wontons—thin skin, all meat inside, very tasty.
He nodded vigorously. “Happy~!”
Heng Bao licked his lips, his voice honey-sweet. “Mom, I want a big bowl!”
“Eat as much as you want.” Lin Zhao said.
After washing up, she went to the backyard to pull a few green onions, then bustled in the kitchen.
Gu Chenghuai chopped the meat himself.
Anything requiring strength, he did himself, not letting Lin Zhao handle it.
The man was strong and efficient at everything. After mincing the filling, he started kneading dough.
Lin Zhao seasoned the filling casually, but her cooking was always delicious.
“Our house is almost ready, right?”
Living in the old house wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t as comfortable as being back home.
“Almost done. Should we whitewash the inside?” Gu Chenghuai asked.
Lin Zhao nodded repeatedly. “Yes!”
“I don’t like gray. White is clean.”
Gu Chenghuai kneaded the dough, his profile strikingly handsome in the morning light. “Good, I’ll arrange it. We can move into the new house when we get back from the provincial capital.”
Too bad he had to return to the troops soon and wouldn’t live there long.
Lin Zhao knew this too and didn’t dwell on it. Worry tomorrow when tomorrow comes—be happy today first.
“This afternoon I’ll draw some blueprints. You find the carpenter to make furniture: beds for the four kids, wardrobes, desks… all needed.”
Gu Chenghuai agreed one by one. “Good.”
The young couple were both efficient; working together was even faster.
When starting to wrap the small wontons, Huang Xiulan, Zhao Liuniang, and Gu Lan all came to help.
Once nearly done wrapping, Lin Zhao gave the order, and Yu Bao started the fire.
Countryside kids could do it all. He tossed some flammable dry grass into the stove pit, struck a match with a tear, threw it in, then added dry kindling. The fire roared up instantly.
“Thanks for the hard work, Yu Bao. I’ll give you extra small wontons later!” Lin Zhao praised.
Yu Bao’s eyes curved happily.
The little friend looked up.
At his tall, capable Dad, then at his gentle-spoken Mom—his heart bubbled with joy.
He felt he was happy, the happiest little friend.
Heng Bao poked his little body through the window. “Mom, what about me? After eating, I’ll wash bowls—can I have extra too?”
He negotiated.
Thinking of the small wontons’ taste, he was almost drooling.
Lin Zhao laughed. “Sure.”
As she spoke, the water in the iron pot bubbled.
She started adding the small wontons.
The small wontons had very thin filling wrappers and cooked quickly.
Soon.
A rich, enticing fragrance filled every corner of the kitchen.
The dragon-phoenix twins couldn’t hold back and ran in.
“Mom, want to eat.” Slow but clear words—it was Qian Bao.
“Bao wants~~” A soft, coquettish voice—Yao Bao.
Lin Zhao glanced at the little siblings and asked Gu Chenghuai, “Didn’t they have milk this morning?”
“They did.” Gu Chenghuai answered.
He had prepared it.
Yu Bao added, “Little brother and sister ate small biscuits too!”
Heng Bao hugged the twins, rubbing his face against theirs. “Qian Bao and Yao Bao are little piggies, bellies all full, and still want more.”
Qian Bao was calm and steady, looking quietly at Second Brother without a sound.
His sister had a fiery temper, pushing hard at Second Brother but failing, puffing her cheeks in anger and stretching little arms to Dad.
Her mouth kept calling Daddy.
Gu Chenghuai carried his daughter out of the kitchen and, seeing Gu Mu, asked, “Can Yao Bao eat small wontons?”
“Cook them soft, and the two little ones can eat some wrappers.” Gu Mu said.
After these days of watching, she thought Old Three spoiled Yao Bao too much and feared he’d ruin her little granddaughter. She wanted to say something but thought Yao Bao was the third branch’s only girl, with three close brothers above and a string of cousins—being a bit spoiled was fine.
His wife was spoiled too and lived well.
With that thought, she swallowed her words.
Gu Chenghuai stroked his little daughter’s head gently. “Wait, Mommy will give you two small wontons.”
Yao Bao understood, leaning to plant a wet saliva kiss on Daddy’s face.
Little children knew best who doted on them; she was always more uninhibited with Dad than with her brothers.
Small wontons cooked fast; after a few boils, they were done.
Patterned porcelain bowls were set on the stove, each with stir-fried green onion oil.
The fragrance of the onion oil alone made mouths water.
“So fragrant!!”
“Mom, can we eat yet?”
The twins urged.
“Ready, ready.” Lin Zhao was hungry too, having thought about it since last night.
She ladled small wontons into the bowls on the stove.
The twins wanted to carry them, but Gu Lan, fearing they’d burn themselves, carried them out herself, with Xing Ye helping.
Yu Bao wasn’t idle, counting chopsticks and taking them to the yard.
Countryside pots were big, holding plenty at once—enough for the family.
Early morning, most village households weren’t cooking. The Gu family’s aroma carried far, drawing many children to the door, sniffing and swallowing saliva.
Yu Bao noticed Mao Dan’er was there too and trotted out to pull him inside.
“Mao Dan’er, you’re here. Wait for me and Heng Bao. After we eat, we’ll go to the mountain together.”
Mao Dan’er smelled the aroma from the Gu house and knew they were eating. He hadn’t planned to go in, just wait at the door for the twins, but Amber exposed him.
“Grandpa Gu, Great-aunt… Aunt Lin.”
The little friend greeted politely.
Lin Zhao smiled and asked, “Good morning, Mao Dan’er. Eaten yet?”
“Ate an egg.” Mao Dan’er answered shyly.
Seeing the twins’ mom always reminded him of his own mom; he felt close to her.
“An egg can’t fill you up. Eat with us. I’ll get you some…” Lin Zhao started to rise for the kitchen, but Gu Chenghuai pressed her shoulder. “You sit. I’ll go.”
With long legs, he reached the kitchen in a few strides.
Mao Dan’er didn’t get to refuse; the little friend was at a loss, embarrassed. “No need.”
“It’s fine, just some left.” Lin Zhao smiled. “Besides, aren’t you learning cooking from me? Taste it today, and next time I’ll have Yu Bao and Heng Bao call you.”
Yu Bao ate with a spoon, scooped one, blew it cool, and held it to Mao Dan’er’s mouth. “Try it. So good. Once you eat it, you’ll want it again.”
Knowing his good brother’s awkward temperament, he deliberately touched Mao Dan’er’s lips.
Smugly: “Touched your mouth. Has your saliva now. You have to eat.”
Heng Bao ate nonstop. “No need to be shy. You’re taking us to find good stuff too.”
Yesterday’s mountain haws were thanks to Mao Dan’er.
Lin Zhao and others, not wanting to make Mao Dan’er uneasy, didn’t pay them much attention.
Mao Dan’er glanced secretly at the adults, face and ears red, and ate the small wonton Yu Bao fed him.
His eyes lit up.
So good! So good! So good!!
Wuwu, way better than plain boiled meat!!!
The kid’s mind popped with bold, capitalized short phrases.
Gu Chenghuai brought out a new bowl of small wontons and called to Mao Dan’er, “Eat.”
Every time he saw the little guy’s eyes, he thought of the new Commander Ning.
The eyes were so similar.
Mao Dan’er thanked him politely. “Thank you, Uncle.”
Gu Chenghuai waved it off.
That evening, Mao Dan’er wrote in his diary:
「Today at the Gu house I ate small wontons. First time eating them, as good as Mom’s dumplings. While eating small wontons, my eyes wanted to pee, I missed Mom. Uncle Gu doesn’t talk much or smile, looks like he could punch a kid to tears, but I know he’s a good person, a great soldier. Grandma says Dad is also an outstanding brave soldier. I miss Dad so much. I’ve grown this big without seeing Dad. If Dad suddenly appeared before me, how great that would be…」
The little boy didn’t know all characters, so his diary was half words, half pinyin, written earnestly stroke by stroke.
After breakfast.
Gu Chenghuai took Lin Zhao to the post office and called the Yun family.
Quite a few people at the post office making calls that morning.
Five people ahead in line.
Lin Zhao wasn’t impatient, waiting quietly for those ahead to finish.
