Chapter 150: “seeing The World”
Compared to Yuan Qin, Little Friend Guang Bai was closer to Father. Hearing Older Brother’s words, the little guy shook his head like a rattle-drum in fear.
“No!”
“I don’t want Father to be beaten!”
“Being beaten hurts a lot, no! I don’t want Mother to be with us!”
The child’s tone was urgent and panicked.
Older Brother quickly comforted Xiao Bai, “Okay, don’t mention them in front of Father anymore, got it?”
Jing Mo was a bit older and knew the situation of those taken away. The slightly better ones were sweeping the toilet; his father being sent away would definitely be even harder.
One could only say that children without Father to protect grew up at an astonishing speed.
“Mm, I won’t say.” Xiao Bai nodded seriously.
Yun Jian lazily watched the Meng Brothers without urging them. Once they left, who knew when they’d return; better to look a few more times.
Jing Mo looked at Yun Jian.
“Uncle Yun, let’s go.”
Yun Jian tsked and walked ahead to lead the way, his gaze occasionally falling on them.
“You two really aren’t afraid I’m a bad guy?”
“Not afraid.” Jing Mo said without thinking.
He had observed this Uncle Yun: the watch on his wrist was worth over a hundred yuan, his clothes looked low-key and ordinary but the fabric was very good, and he was even wearing leather shoes.
Selling him and his younger brother off couldn’t buy this outfit.
This man wasn’t short of money.
Yun Jian raised his brow and smirked, “Good eye, your Brother Yun isn’t short of that bit of loose change.”
“I’ll take you two to the provincial capital of Province X, meet up with my old comrade there, and he’ll take you to your father.”
Jing Mo blinked, looking at him suspiciously, “…You were a soldier before?”
“So what?” Yun Jian eyed the little kid, “Don’t look like it?”
“…Not really.” Jing Mo denied.
Just… he looked a bit like a reformed thug.
Yun Jian’s work was special; he often had to travel all over the country, riding the train more times than some people rode bicycles.
He familiarly led the Meng Brothers onto the train.
The well-off young master Yun never sat in hard seat; he booked sleepers, three of them!
As soon as he got on, he lay down first.
“Those two bunks are yours; lie down if you want, or sit if not. Best not to leave the carriage; watch out for being drugged and abducted.”
“I’ll watch Xiao Bai.” Jing Mo didn’t want to trouble Yun Jian more.
Xiao Bai’s voice was soft and glutinous, “I’ll stick with Brother; I’m not going anywhere.”
Yun Jian: What if he needs to poop?
“If you need the toilet, tell me; I’ll take you.”
Jing Mo politely thanked him, “Thank you, Uncle Yun.”
Feeling no threat, the spikes on his body softened, tucking back into his skin, revealing his well-brought-up side.
Yun Jian didn’t dislike Meng Jingmo; he even secretly regarded him differently. This little kid had plans; he was smart.
“Beep beep beep!” The whistle sounded.
The train started moving.
The Meng Brothers leaned close to the window, looking outside, watching the train leave the platform, clearly feeling… they were leaving.
“Brother, the train’s moving.” Xiao Bai hugged Older Brother’s arm, feeling uneasy belatedly.
“Don’t be scared; we’re going to find Father. Father’s waiting for us.” Jing Mo comforted his younger brother.
Hearing Older Brother mention Father, Xiao Bai clenched his hands, his face full of expectation.
Jing Mo watched the platform recede, gradually turning into a small dot, before slowly withdrawing his gaze.
He would come back.
When he returned, the Yuan Family…
The youth’s still childish face had dark eyes flash with gloom.
–
Lin Zhao’s family finished eating and also boarded the train.
The sleeper wasn’t too crowded; there were four bunks inside, and someone was already there.
It was a young woman with clear eyes and a gentle temperament; she was with a delicately carved little girl, about three years old, strangely adorable.
“Mom, I want to sleep up top.” Heng Bao said as soon as they entered.
Gu Chenghuai put down the luggage casually, “You and your brother share a bunk; you two decide.”
The dragon-phoenix twins were still small; he was taking them.
Zhaozhao wasn’t feeling well, so she slept alone on one bunk.
Heng Bao looked at Yu Bao expectantly.
Yu Bao looked at the upper bunk, then the lower, and nodded, “Okay, sleep up top.”
He’d never slept that high before.
One lower bunk was bought by Gu Chenghuai. Lin Zhao sat down unceremoniously and said to the twins: “Go up when you want to lie down; sit down here first.”
The two kids took off their shoes, climbed onto the bunk, and touched the window.
Heng Bao touched the window and pushed it up; the window went up.
A gust of warm wind hit their faces.
“There’s wind!” Heng Bao said loudly, wanting to stick his body out.
Lin Zhao reached out and pulled back the over-lively boy, then smacked his buttocks twice.
“Be naughty again!” She kept a stern face, pretending to be angry, “What if you fall? If you’re naughty like this again, I won’t take you out next time.”
Heng Bao covered his buttocks, his expression both embarrassed and mortified.
He wanted to be angry but knew he was in the wrong; his mouth moved, and finally he turned away, facing the carriage wall, giving Lin Zhao a puffed-up back of the head.
Mother had spanked his butt in front of Older Brother and younger brother and sister; he had no face left!
Lin Zhao ignored it, took out the enamel mug, added some white sugar, and gave it to Gu Chenghuai, “Get some hot water.”
Gu Chenghuai glanced at Heng Bao, took the enamel mug, and left.
Yu Bao poked Heng Bao’s sulking shoulder.
“Are you throwing a tantrum at Mom?”
Heng Bao secretly glanced at Mom; his dark bright eyes were full of resentment.
Lin Zhao chuckled.
So young, yet so concerned with face.
Yu Bao pulled his brother to sit properly, legs crossed, looking at him with a childish yet earnestly serious voice, “You were wrong.”
Heng Bao’s eyes widened, full of grievance.
“Before we left, didn’t we promise Father and Mother to listen to them all the way? You didn’t even ask and wanted to climb out the window. If you climbed up and the train started moving and you didn’t hold on and fell, what then?” Yu Bao lectured his brother on reason, “You climbing the window earlier, I wanted to hit you too.”
Heng Bao instinctively covered his buttocks.
He looked at his brother incredulously.
Facing Older Brother’s serious face.
The little friend fiddled with his fingers, somewhat at a loss.
A moment later.
Heng Bao couldn’t withstand his brother’s death stare and stretched out his hand, “Brother, hit my palm.”
Yu Bao didn’t hit him, just asked: “Do you know you were wrong?”
Heng Bao nodded vigorously like pounding garlic, “Got it, got it.”
“This time it’s fine; if there’s a next time, I’ll hit your butt.” Yu Bao threatened.
Heng Bao blushed with shame, uncomfortably saying: “…I won’t do it again.”
“You were mad at Mom just now; you have to admit your mistake.”
Heng Bao listened to his brother most; he fidgeted his knees bashfully, scooted to Mom’s side, glanced at Lin Zhao’s face, pulled her clothes with his hand, his loud voice turning soft, “Mom, I wasn’t mad at you, I just…”
His face red, he said softly: “I’m a big friend now, and Mom… spanked my butt; it feels really embarrassing.”
Lin Zhao chuckled and hugged Heng Bao, “It was my fault; I won’t do it again. Heng Bao not being mad is so magnanimous; truly a big-hearted little friend.”
Heng Bao was easy to coax; he buried his head in Mom’s bosom, nuzzled, his mouth sweet like honeyed, “Mom is also a magnanimous mom.”
Thinking of the mom of the little girl who puked on the big car, Little Friend Gu Zhiheng felt his own mom was even better.
Even if, even if Mom spanked his butt, it was because he was wrong first.
He got it.
The train beeped a few times and started moving.
All in the same carriage, they inevitably chatted a bit.
Lin Zhao learned that the woman in the same carriage was taking her daughter to accompany the army; the little girl had grown this big without seeing her biological father. That soldier man still had a conscience; as soon as he got a house, he sent a telegram to his wife back home, asking her to bring the child, and he’d pick them up at the train station.
Learning Lin Zhao had four children—twins and dragon-phoenix twins—the woman looked surprised, faintly envious.
“Two pregnancies, four treasures; that’s great.”
Lin Zhao smiled.
She wasn’t surprised the other would say that.
In Fengshou Brigade, even the neighboring brigade, no one didn’t envy her.
No way around it; these days people valued many sons for many blessings; everyone wished to have seven or eight.
“Children are about quality, not quantity.” Lin Zhao said.
Gu Chenghuai agreed.
But his and Zhaozhao’s kids were all top quality.
The provincial capital wasn’t far; after a short lie-down, they arrived in the afternoon.
The family of six got off the train and headed straight to the guesthouse.
They booked one room.
Opened the door and entered the room.
There were two beds inside, plus a bathroom.
The room was slightly dim; Gu Chenghuai pulled the lamp cord, and the room’s light came on.
“Dad, is this an electric light? Can I pull it?” Heng Bao was extremely curious but sought Dad’s permission instead of pulling rashly.
“Pull.”
Heng Bao’s eyes curved in a smile; he tiptoed and pulled the lamp cord.
Click, the light went out.
He pulled again, and it lit up.
“Electric lights are great.” Heng Bao’s tone was full of envy.
Yu Bao looked up at the ceiling light bulb, eyes shining, “Having electricity is great.”
Lin Zhao hugged her son’s little shoulders, led them into the room, and smiled: “Wait till our house in the city is renovated; every room will have electric lights, even the toilet.”
Yu Bao happily clapped, “The toilet needs a bright electric light; I used to go to the toilet in the dark before and stepped into the pit with my foot.”
Lin Zhao: …Today was all about the stinky big kid.
“Our brigade will have electricity soon too; before New Year.”
The twins were even happier.
The guesthouse faced the street; their room was on the third floor. Lin Zhao pulled open the curtain, opened the window; sunlight streamed in, pedestrians passed on the road, very lively.
Heng Bao tugged Lin Zhao’s clothes, acting spoiled: “Mom, hug me; I want to see.”
Lin Zhao fulfilled her son’s little wish and picked him up.
Gu Chenghuai saw his eldest son’s expectant expression and picked him up with one arm. Yu Bao smiled happily.
“So many people.” Heng Bao exclaimed.
“If it weren’t the provincial capital, there’d definitely be more people.” Lin Zhao ruffled her son’s hair, didn’t dawdle, put Heng Bao down, and said: “Your body’s all sticky; take a bath first. After bathing, we’ll go stroll the state-run store.”
“Is it like the supply and marketing cooperative?” Yu Bao asked.
Gu Chenghuai answered: “Bigger than the supply and marketing cooperative.”
The twins got expectant, opened the luggage, took out their clothes, hugged them, and looked up at Dad and Mom.
“Where to bathe?” Yu Bao asked for them.
Gu Chenghuai didn’t speak, just took the two sons to the bathroom to bathe.
Not long after.
“Wow, hot water! So convenient! Dad, can we make a toilet like this at home?” Heng Bao’s bright and joyful voice came out.
“Don’t move around.”
Immediately followed by Dad’s steady voice.
Lin Zhao smiled and said to the dragon-phoenix twins: “We’ll bathe after your brothers finish.”
Qian Bao nodded.
Yao Bao lay on the bed, her black pearl-like eyes staring at the ceiling, then turning to the wall, obedient and lovable.
The family finished washing up and went to the state-run store.
The provincial capital’s state-run store was quite grand, three stories tall, with many counters and many salespeople.
The four kids’ eyes couldn’t take it all in.
Lin Zhao spotted ready-made clothes hanging behind the counter at a glance, led the twins over, with Gu Chenghuai carrying the dragon-phoenix twins following.
“Comrade, do you have a size larger for the yellow sundress with small flowers?” Lin Zhao asked the young salesperson at the counter.
The salesperson had seen many; she could tell at a glance who could afford it and who couldn’t.
This family in front… should be a family; the male comrade aside, the female comrade looked excessively young; she’d already had four children?
This family dressed cleanly, skin fair, temperament confident and composed; they didn’t look short of money.
“Yes. But one size larger, and you still won’t fit.” The salesperson reminded politely.
This style was for little girls, not cheap, not many buyers.
Lin Zhao smiled, “Thanks, comrade; planning to bring for the juniors at home.”
The salesperson said no more and found a size larger one.
Lin Zhao looked it over briefly; the clothes were fine, size about right, “I’ll take it.”
Seeing red-and-white gingham and blue-background white floral fabric, she bought quite a bit; good for making kids’ clothes or bed sheets.
Rare chance to come.
Gu Chenghuai paid with money and ration coupons at the back, not a word of nonsense.
The children weren’t interested in fabric; at the candy counter, they all perked up excitedly.
“Mom, so much candy!” Heng Bao laughed.
“Pick what you want; you and your brother can each choose two kinds.” Lin Zhao said generously.
Since she’d brought the kids to shop, she wouldn’t be stingy; couldn’t let them go home disappointed.
Heng Bao happily discussed with his brother.
While they muttered, Lin Zhao saw tea leaves and bought two tins.
“Yu Bao, Heng Bao, there’s an abacus here; do you two want it?”
The two kids ran over pattering; seeing the abacus, they remembered the little golden abacus they picked up, and the two little brothers lit up.
“Yes!”
Lin Zhao said: “Then buy it; buy four.”
As expected of the provincial capital; the abacuses were much more exquisite and compact than the supply and marketing cooperative’s, perfect for little friends.
Yu Bao looked up, “Thank you, Mom.”
He clenched his little fist, “I’ll learn abacus well and get first place in the competition then.”
“You mean the abacus competition? Who told you?” Lin Zhao was a bit curious.
“Brother Xingci said; he participated.” Yu Bao explained.
He hadn’t told the adults, so probably didn’t make it midway.
Lin Zhao encouraged her son, “I believe in you; study hard at school, aim to compete in the provincial capital.”
No need to mention national for now; set a small provincial goal first.
Yu Bao nodded solemnly.
Bought four abacuses; each of the four kids took one, thrilled.
Bought some other things too; the family of six left still not fully satisfied.
Gu Chenghuai’s voice was light and slow, “If not shopped enough… come again tomorrow.”
Lin Zhao thought the same.
The family put things back at the guesthouse, ate at a restaurant, then went to see a movie.
The provincial capital’s movie theater was bigger than in small places; they sold sunflower seeds and soda at the entrance, very convenient.
But…
The current social environment wasn’t good; Lin Zhao’s family saw a brutally inhumane struggle scene.
She and Gu Chenghuai immediately covered the dragon-phoenix twins’ eyes, quickly taking Yu Bao and Heng Bao into the movie theater.
But the twins had truly clearly seen that scene; the two kids paled in fright.
“Dad…” Yu Bao tightly grabbed Gu Chenghuai’s clothes, voice panicked, “What are those people doing?”
