Chapter 147: “about To Vomit”
“The telegram only had a few words, it just said… leg injury, come quickly.” Lin Shisheng, afraid his sister would worry, explained at an extremely fast pace.
“Leg injury.” Lin Zhao murmured.
Third Brother must be so panicked, with no family by his side.
Lin Shifan was a crybaby when he was young; this impression was deeply ingrained in Lin Zhao’s mind.
Just thinking of Third Brother crying under the covers made her feel a pang of sadness.
“Parents have gone to see him, don’t worry too much, it’s no use worrying.” Lin Shisheng said frankly.
Actually, he was also worried. He had been restless all morning, unsure of how Third Brother’s leg was.
“Whether that soldier can continue his service is another matter. I’m afraid his leg injury is too severe, making daily life inconvenient.”
“Third Brother isn’t married yet.”
Her tone was full of melancholy.
Lin Zhao suddenly remembered something she had drawn previously.
Iron Bone Reishi.
The use of this item was related to bones.
「It can treat broken bones, fractured bones… In short, any bone problem can be treated.」
It seemed like it was time to take it out and try it.
Better safe than sorry.
Thinking this, her expression relaxed.
“Third Brother will be fine,” Lin Zhao said.
Seeing his sister was thinking optimistically, Lin Shisheng smiled, “Yes, he’ll be fine. Go back and rest. I’ll pass on a message when Dad and Mom return.”
“Okay.”
Lin Zhao and Gu Chenghuai returned home again.
The twins were about to go to the fields to work. Even children could earn work points by working, and the brigade would give them one or two work points as a token gesture.
Yu Bao and Heng Bao, at over four years old, had followed the Gu family to the fields and were quite adept.
The two children were diligent. Even though Lin Zhao no longer mistreated them, they were still accustomed to going to the fields to work with the other children.
Weeding, digging holes, planting seeds, picking peanuts, sweet potatoes, and other low-lying crops.
Seeing the straw hats on the two children’s heads and the small bamboo baskets they carried, Lin Zhao knew they were going to the fields.
“Going to the fields again? Take water with you, and put some food in your bag. If you get hungry, have a bite to eat, then come home to find me, alright? Don’t be foolish and tough it out. Children shouldn’t go hungry; you won’t grow if you’re hungry.”
Hearing this.
Heng Bao’s eyes widened in horror.
What?
Won’t grow?!
“Then I used to often not eat enough, won’t I not grow tall?!” the child’s voice tightened.
He gestured to his and his brother’s heights, his young voice tinged with a hint of crying, and hugged his brother, “Brother, we’re not going to grow anymore, boohoo. If I’m this short when I grow up, can I still drive a big car? Boohoo, Brother, we won’t be able to beat anyone anymore, boohoohoo.”
He would sob with every sentence, his expression as if the sky was falling.
Yu Bao’s eyes also showed panic. He wasn’t worried at first, but his brother’s cries made him anxious.
Could it be?!
Lin Zhao felt a mix of heartache and amusement, her stomach aching from holding back laughter.
Noticing she was smiling, the twins were stunned. They slightly lifted their straw hats and looked at her accusingly.
“Mom!!”
This call, which should have been angry and full of fury, sounded soft and cute because of the children’s voices, like they were pouting.
Lin Zhao adjusted the straw hats of her two sons, hugged the twins. The two children blushed instantly. In their eyes, they were already big kids, and being hugged by their mother in front of Mao Dan’er and Yuan Bao would be embarrassing.
However.
Mom’s embrace was fragrant and soft, and so gentle, they were reluctant to push away.
“Don’t worry, as long as you eat well, you’ll still grow,” Lin Zhao comforted.
Yu Bao and Heng Bao’s eyes suddenly lit up. They looked at their father and happily asked, “As tall as Dad?”
“Yes,” Lin Zhao decided to keep the milk powder coming, to supplement the nutrition for all four of her children, ensuring they would grow tall.
Heng Bao grinned broadly.
Lin Zhao patted her son’s head, “Wash your faces and put on some baby cream before you go.”
The twins obediently went to wash their faces.
After washing their faces and applying cream, they were very serious.
Lin Zhao mixed the milk powder, chilled it with well water, and poured it into a military water kettle.
“Yu Bao, Heng Bao, the kettle has milk powder. Drink it if you’re thirsty, and come back after you finish. Be careful of heatstroke.”
Yu Bao said, “We won’t. Heatstroke is very uncomfortable. Everyone, don’t get heatstroke.”
“Alright, alright, no one will get heatstroke.” This was just a child’s sweet wish. In reality, people could still get heatstroke. Every summer, many people would faint, and some work had to be done under the sun.
Lin Zhao then packed some small biscuits, rice flower balls, and dried meat into the twins’ small shoulder bags for them to eat if they got hungry.
“It’s not all for you, share it with Mao Dan’er,” she said.
Mao Dan’er was always quiet, very much like the elder son from before. Looking at him, she always wanted to be a little better to that child.
Of course, his status as the descendant of a martyr was the key.
What a cute little person.
Joy spread in Mao Dan’er’s heart, not from greed for the twins’ food, but from enjoying Aunt Lin’s care for him.
“Thank you, Aunt Lin,” he said shyly in a low voice.
Lin Zhao’s lips curved into a smile, her eyes gentle, “You’re welcome. Come over this afternoon, I’ll teach you how to cook.”
Mao Dan’er’s eyes lit up, “Okay.”
“Mom, I want to learn too,” Yu Bao clung to his mother’s arm, tilting his small face up, “When I learn, I can cook for Mom.”
Lin Zhao rubbed her son’s face, “Okay, I’ll teach you.”
Heng Bao remembered his mother saying she was going to their grandmother’s house, “Mom, why did you come back? Did you forget to bring something?”
“I’m not going anymore. Your grandfather and grandmother have gone to the military region to see your Third Uncle. They won’t be back for at least a month.” Lin Zhao didn’t mention her Third Brother’s injury.
Yu Bao’s eyes widened, “Military region? The same military region Dad is in? Can we go?”
“We’re not in the same place,” Lin Zhao explained with a smile, her voice soft. “In our country, there are military regions in many places. They are all filled with Uncle and Aunt soldiers like your father and your Third Uncle. They defend our country and protect us from all dangers, allowing adults to work and live peacefully, and also allowing children to grow up happily.”
Yu Bao and Heng Bao’s eyes sparkled, and their gaze towards Gu Chenghuai was filled with admiration.
Their small chests couldn’t help but puff out.
“I want to be a soldier when I grow up too,” Mao Dan’er suddenly said.
Lin Zhao and the others looked at him. The child’s shy face was full of determination. “My father is a great soldier, and I want to follow his path.”
He didn’t have many memories of his father. The brigade leader and the villagers all said his father was a great man, a hero, and a good example to the people. He never resented his father, but he always missed him.
What kind of person was Dad? How tall was he? Did he like a son like him? Would he like him as much as the twins’ father liked them?
So many questions to ask.
Winter turned to spring.
Years passed.
His questions remained unanswered.
Lin Zhao encouraged Mao Dan’er, “You have aspirations. If your father knew, he would be very proud.”
“Would he?” Mao Dan’er’s eyes were full of anticipation.
“Of course, he would.”
Mao Dan’er smiled.
After the children left, Lin Zhao went back inside, lay on the bed, propped up her legs, and read the newspaper.
Yes, she had subscribed to the newspaper, many newspapers. In this era, newspapers were a very significant way to obtain information.
She first read the provincial newspaper.
The article on the front page made Lin Zhao sit up abruptly.
《Advocacy｜Break Ignorance! Eliminate Ignorance! Principles for the Safety and Security of Educated Youth Groups, One, Two, Three》
This article, with its blunt title, had soft content. It began with the personal experiences of individual educated youth, then discussed the difficulties faced by the educated youth group, and advocated for all levels of government to pay attention to the reasonable demands of the educated youth.
The writing was very sharp.
It gave a sense of awakening.
Gu Chenghuai entered the room, “What are you reading? So attentively.”
Lin Zhao looked up, raising the newspaper in her hand, “I’m reading an article about the safety and security of the educated youth point group.”
“Don’t you dislike dealing with educated youth? Why are you paying attention to this?” Gu Chenghuai walked over, sat on the edge of the bed, took the newspaper, and quickly skimmed through it.
“It’s not that I dislike them. It depends on the person. I don’t dislike those who do their work earnestly,” Lin Zhao said indifferently. “As for those who treat me like a fool, why would I give them a good look?”
Gu Chenghuai liked her spirit of not letting anyone bully her. He lowered his head, his forehead touching Lin Zhao’s, his deep voice tinged with a smile, “That’s how it should be. No one should upset my wife.”
Lin Zhao’s nose tickled, and she curved her eyes, pushing him away.
“Did you hear about what happened in the neighboring brigade?”
Gu Chenghuai looked confused.
“About Er Hua, Gouzi, and the male educated youth!” Lin Zhao reminded him.
Gu Chenghuai thought for a moment and guessed where she got the news.
The corners of his mouth turned up.
“I heard.”
Lin Zhao’s slender fingers lightly tapped the headline on the newspaper, “The root of this article lies in the neighboring brigade.”
“More than that,” Gu Chenghuai’s gaze deepened, knowing more.
“Oh?”
Gu Chenghuai patiently explained, “Someone is fanning the flames, a certain educated youth from our brigade.”
“Educated Youth Song?” Lin Zhao guessed.
“You know?” Now it was Gu Chenghuai’s turn to be surprised.
“I guessed,” Lin Zhao smiled.
No wonder she felt it was going too smoothly.
“How fortunate is the Song surnamed one to receive such high praise from Zhao Zhao,” Gu Chenghuai’s tone was indifferent.
Although his tone was even, Lin Zhao could detect a hint of sourness.
“Are you jealous?” She sat up straight, cupped Gu Chenghuai’s face, and smiled brightly.
Gu Chenghuai didn’t speak, but his deep, affectionate phoenix eyes gazed at her, completely focused.
Lin Zhao’s heart trembled slightly, as if brushed by an incredibly gentle feather.
She wrapped her arms around her lover’s neck, her voice soft and tender, “In my heart, no one can compare to you.”
As the words fell.
Gu Chenghuai’s brow relaxed, his eyes burning with passion. He pulled Lin Zhao into his arms forcefully, his voice full of delighted laughter, “Me neither.”
Lin Zhao felt this man was very easy to please.
How lucky she was.
To meet someone who believed everything she said and was willing to fulfill her every request.
–
Song Xiwei and Lin Heling boarded the train. She had connections and bought sleeper tickets.
“Do you feel uncomfortable?” Song Xiwei always worried about the man’s health.
She couldn’t help it; the fact that Lin Heling was frail was deeply ingrained in her mind.
Even though his health had improved significantly recently, it was still the same.
Lin Heling withdrew his gaze from the window and smiled, “I’m not uncomfortable. The things Zhao Zhao sent were very effective. I’ve gotten much better. I don’t feel weak all over or have difficulty breathing. I’m very well.”
“It’s the first time I’m traveling with you, and I’m very happy,” he emphasized.
After boarding the train, he felt a strange sense of familiarity, as if he had taken trains very often before.
“I’m happy too,” Song Xiwei handed Lin Heling an enamel mug, urging him to drink more water, “The children are grown now, we can travel more often.”
She was literate, strong, and not afraid of long journeys. She felt more comfortable seeing the beautiful landscapes than staying in her hometown.
Lin Heling nodded with a smile.
The moment he saw the train, a scene flashed in his mind. He seemed to be burying something next to the train station, something golden. It must have been gold bars.
He would dig it up when he got back.
It was likely real.
With that box of gold bars, he and Xiwei could live comfortably in their old age!
He couldn’t let Xiwei hear the word “old age.” She hated being called old the most. If he dared to mention old age, she would immediately carry herself away.
Lost in thought, a hint of helplessness flashed in Lin Heling’s eyes.
The train rumbled forward.
It took several days and nights to reach Lin Shifan’s location.
After disembarking, the couple headed directly to the military region and, with the help of a guard, successfully arrived at the military region hospital.
At this moment, in a certain hospital room, the following scene unfolded.
Lin Shifan leaned against the pillow, looking at the man and woman before him with a blank expression.
His face was filled with absurdity.
?
Zheng Yue was with the female comrade who was almost his girlfriend?!
…and they had already submitted their application for a relationship!
What obscure words.
“…Oh.” Not wanting to deal with these two people, Lin Shifan uttered an “Oh” and then calmly looked at them, “Are you done talking?”
“If you’re done, then leave. I need to rest.”
The female comrade, for reasons unknown, felt a surge of anger seeing that Lin Shifan showed no sign of sadness.
He was about to go home and farm, so why was he still so arrogant?
Shouldn’t he be weeping and begging her to stay? Without her, he definitely wouldn’t find anyone better in the future.
Did he still think he was that imposing young officer highly regarded by his superiors!
Lin Shifan’s expression was indescribable.
It was a shame his leg was injured. If it were his arm, he could leave immediately without having to look at these two actors for another second.
If his girlfriend left, wouldn’t he be sad?
No, no, no.
Not at all.
This Comrade Sun had pestered him for a whole year. He was at his wit’s end with her pestering, and coupled with the leader’s suggestion of trying, he had the idea of giving it a shot.
Now that it was over, he felt… he felt like he could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Dating would only affect his training progress and his ability to be a better People’s Liberation Army soldier. He didn’t want to date!
Lin Shifan was smiling inwardly but showed nothing on his face.
“Shifan, are you angry?” Zheng Yue wore a hypocritical smile. “I know Comrade Sun’s previous actions caused misunderstandings, but she is my girlfriend now. We’ve already submitted our relationship application. Whatever your intentions…”
He paused, his eyes apologetic yet provocative, “I’m sorry, I won’t back down.”
Lin Shifan was numb.
When one is extremely speechless, one can truly laugh.
“I’m not asking you to back down. I wish you and Comrade Sun a long and happy life together, forever,” Lin Shifan just wanted to get rid of these two.
His expression was calm, “Are we done here?”
“If not, shall I bless you a few more times?”
Zheng Yue felt like he had punched cotton, both angry and powerless.
As for the entanglement between him and Lin Shifan, it was too long ago.
Perhaps it was an innate incompatibility of their energies, or perhaps he couldn’t stand that Lin Shifan had better social skills and was promoted before him.
Starting from the same point, why should Lin Shifan have it all!
Comrade Sun said sadly, “Don’t speak so sarcastically. It’s tiring for me to chase you unilaterally all the time. Comrade Zheng responds to me. What’s wrong with me choosing him? We’ve known each other for so long, and we’ve genuinely come to see you…”
Lin Shifan’s face was full of question marks.
Was he speaking sarcastically?
Just as he was about to say something, the hospital room door opened, and a couple with an extraordinary aura walked in.
Lin Shifan froze.
Song Xiwei’s gaze swept over the man and woman by the bedside, her expression one of condescending pickiness and disdain.
What is this!
It disgusted her so much she almost vomited!!
