Chapter 159: “the Sister Who Knows How To Create Surprises”
Lin Zhao said frankly, “I like him, but I care more about my second brother’s safety.”
Lin Shisheng felt an indescribable warmth in his heart. He ruffled his sister’s hair with his large hand. “Don’t worry, your second brother isn’t stupid, and he cherishes his life.”
Lin Zhao had just woken up and was still a bit groggy, lacking energy. When her second brother ruffled her hair, she didn’t slap his hand away, only saying, “As long as you know what you’re doing, that’s good. You have two biological daughters to send to university, to watch them take the college entrance exam, get married, and have children. As for me… second sister-in-law is unreliable. For Xuanxuan and Zheng Zheng, you’re their only support. Can you rest assured if you don’t look after them?”
She said “second sister-in-law” with great difficulty. She wanted to call her by her name directly, but Qiu Lian was still her second brother’s nominal wife. Calling her by name would be like slapping her second brother in the face.
Lin Shisheng: Of course, I wouldn’t be at ease.
He said solemnly, “Zhaozhao, don’t worry, I won’t take any risks.”
He chuckled, “I cherish my life very much, and I won’t do anything suicidal.”
He learned the term “suicidal” from Lin Zhao and found it quite amusing, so he used it from time to time.
Lin Zhao saw that her second brother had taken her words to heart and felt slightly relieved.
Her thoughts drifted away.
Speaking of which, she hadn’t heard any news from Qiu Lian for some time. It seemed she was still staying at her maternal home?
Strange.
Wasn’t the Qiu family the most concerned with money and the most stingy? How could they not mind Qiu Lian eating their food for free at home?
Lin Shisheng saw his sister lost in thought in front of him and guessed what Zhaozhao was thinking with a little deduction.
Soon.
His eyes flickered, and he flicked Lin Zhao’s forehead with his finger.
*Tap.*
Lin Zhao snapped back to attention, covered her forehead, and looked at him with feigned annoyance.
“I’m going to send a telegram to Mom and Dad to tell them that you’ve already forgotten their teachings after they’ve only been gone a few days.”
Lin Shisheng cried out in exaggerated injustice, “You little girl, you say whatever comes to mind!”
“Pfft…” Lin Zhao couldn’t help but laugh at her second brother’s expression.
Putting aside the jest, she asked, “Big brother, second brother, have you eaten?”
“Yes, we have,” replied Lin Shichang.
Lin Zhao asked with concern, “Is the little nephew in Big Sister-in-law’s belly doing well?”
“Very well,” Lin Shichang smiled. With his sister and wife getting along so well, he, as an elder brother and husband, had a very smooth life, much better than those colleagues caught between their mothers and wives, or their sisters and wives.
“Xiangxiang is here, and she’s been a great help. When she gets married, I’ll get her a washbasin.”
Buying a washbasin also requires coupons. Which girl’s dowry would be more impressive than having a washbasin? If it were before, Lin Shichang wouldn’t have had the confidence to say this, but now, he had a job and got along well with his colleagues because he could cook. Finding a coupon wouldn’t be difficult.
Lin Zhao knew Yuan Xiang was still at her maternal home. If she weren’t here, her parents wouldn’t have felt at ease going to see their third brother.
She remembered Sister Xiangxiang’s kindness.
“I’ll give her a red skirt then.”
Lin Zhao had many good things. Not to mention the passbook Gu Chenghuai gave her, worth tens of thousands of yuan… Lin Father also gave her, his only daughter, many good things, plus the lucky draw turntable where points increased rapidly. All the people in the entire commune combined didn’t have as many good things as she did.
She was not stingy at all.
Lin Shisheng gave her a thumbs-up, “Very generous.”
Big brother and sister confirmed their respective gifts. He thought about it but couldn’t think of anything.
So, he threw an arm around Lin Zhao’s shoulder.
“Zhaozhao, help your second brother think, what should I give?”
Fearing his sister wouldn’t help, he played the victim, “I’m not like you and Big Brother; you both have jobs and can buy whatever you want. I don’t have a job, nor coupons. I need to plan ahead.”
Lin Zhao suddenly realized that among her maternal family, it seemed only her second brother didn’t have a job.
Even though her fourth brother was in a difficult situation now, he had medical skills, which were more useful than any job.
Poor second brother.
She said, “I’ll prepare it for you. A bar of soap, how about that?”
Lin Shisheng thought it was great and saved him the trouble. He didn’t stand on ceremony with his sister and said directly, “Okay, I’ll give you money.”
“Sure.” It was for Yuan Xiang’s dowry, so of course, he should pay for it.
Realizing they were talking about something that hadn’t happened yet, Lin Shichang’s mouth twitched, “These things are still far off, aren’t we talking about them too early?”
Lin Zhao pouted, stuck out her finger, and wiggled it a few times, “Not early. The Li family is quite anxious. I think it’ll happen within these two months.”
Sister Xiangxiang and Li Song were both not young. Among those their age, the youngest children were already toddling.
Li Fen wanted the Li family to have an heir soon, and Aunt wanted Sister Xiangxiang to get married quickly. The two hit it off.
In those days, many people got married after meeting just once.
It was rare for Yuan Xiang and Li Song to have some time to get to know each other.
Lin Shisheng thought of his aunt’s personality and chuckled, shaking his head.
“It’s not surprising; Aunt is eager to hold her grandson,” he said. “When Xiangxiang was jilted, the villagers said so many nasty things. That Huang family was shameless and put all the blame on Sister Xiangxiang, causing Aunt to lose face. When Xiangxiang marries into the city, Aunt will be able to hold her head high!”
He hadn’t met Li Song yet but felt he was a good young man based on what Zhaozhao had said.
Xiangxiang had gone out with Li Song a few times, and each time she returned, her face was beaming. They seemed to be getting along very well; it was likely their destined match.
Lin Shichang narrowed his eyes, a sharp glint quickly flashing in their depths.
He said indifferently, “Families with crooked foundations always face bad luck. Don’t worry about it; the Huang family will regret it sooner or later.”
Yuan Xiang was his aunt’s child, his cousin. They didn’t have much connection before, but during this period when she came to the Lin family… some family affection had been cultivated. Now that Lin Shichang had moved to the city, he would naturally find a way to get justice for his cousin. He had stirred up some trouble, and it would be enough for Huang Kang to suffer for a while!
Lin Zhao knew her elder brother and caught the fleeting emotion in Lin Shichang’s eyes, staring at him, “Big Brother, did you interfere?”
Lin Shichang extended his index finger, placed it on her forehead, and gently pushed her away, “Don’t be curious about everything.”
If he corrupted his sister, he would have no good fruit to eat.
Lin Zhao pouted.
If he wouldn’t say it, he wouldn’t say it.
She would find out sooner or later.
Recalling the gifts she brought for her maternal family from the provincial capital, Lin Zhao went back into the house and soon came out with a package.
“Big brother, second brother, these are gifts I brought for you two from the provincial capital. You can take them back with you; I won’t have to carry them when I go back to my maternal home.”
She was lazy and disliked trouble. If she could rely on her brothers, she would never inconvenience herself.
Lin Shichang frowned.
“We don’t lack anything at home…”
Before he could finish his sentence, Lin Zhao silently covered her ears, picked up Xiao Jin from the stone table, lay down on the wooden rocking chair, closed her eyes, and swayed slowly.
The little golden snub-nosed monkey was incredibly well-behaved, wrapping its long, soft tail around her arm, not moving at all, its eyes darting around, lively and beautiful.
The Lin brothers: “…”
Gu Chenghuai’s low chuckle escaped his thin lips.
He looked indulgently at Zhaozhao, who was acting shamelessly, then turned to his elder and second brothers-in-law and said, “They aren’t very expensive items. Big Brother, Second Brother, please accept them. They are all Zhaozhao’s wishes, and she was very happy when she picked them out.”
This was indeed true. When Lin Zhao was shopping in the state-run stores in the provincial capital, after buying something, she would mutter about who it was for, then who it was for, with a particularly infectious smile on her face.
That was the kind of smile that could only bloom when one was unconditionally favored by their family.
The Lin family treated her well, and she also cared about them.
Gu Chenghuai understood.
Hearing her brother-in-law’s words, the Lin brothers couldn’t refuse any further.
Zhaozhao was getting angry.
Lin Shisheng smiled and smoothed things over, “Da Dan and the others will be showing off in the village again.”
This remark reminded Lin Zhao of Da Dan and Er Dan strutting around the village, and she smiled, her eyes curving.
“Big Brother, don’t be harsh on Da Dan. I think his temperament is very good. When he’s happy, he wants the whole world to know, just like me. How free and easy is that?”
Lin Shichang had indeed spoken to Da Dan, feeling that as the eldest grandson of the Lin family, he was not very mature.
Hearing his sister’s persuasion, he thought for a moment and said, “Okay, I won’t say anything more!”
Lin Zhao nodded.
She gestured with her chin towards the package in Lin Shisheng’s hand and added, “There’s a handwritten list inside, saying who each item belongs to… it’s all written down.”
She had written on hard paper postcards, the kind with drawings, done with great care. She believed her family would be very surprised.
Yes, she was indeed such a good sister who knew how to create surprises.
Lin Shichang: “Okay.”
“We came to give you birthday gifts, but who knew we’d be taking back even more,” Lin Shisheng said self-deprecatingly, severely reflecting on himself.
For the past few years, he had been settling for mediocrity because he married someone he didn’t like, and his life had been a mess. He truly shouldn’t have.
How could he possibly support Zhaozhao like this?
Fortunately, his brother-in-law was a good man, otherwise…
Second Brother Lin fell into self-reflection, yet his mind was clearer than ever.
He had to work hard.
“Second Brother, when you earn a lot of money in the future, will you be reluctant to buy things for me?” Lin Zhao eyed Lin Shisheng.
“Of course not.” Lin Shisheng was a top-tier sister-lover. In his youth, he was willing to give all his meat to his sister, so how could he be reluctant to spend money on her?
“Then it’s settled,” Lin Zhao shrugged and said frankly, “Second Brother, you won’t be tilling land your whole life. You’ll get out there sooner or later and make big money. I’m waiting for you to buy things for me.”
Her words were calm and confident, and she was deeply convinced that her second brother would achieve success sooner or later.
Lin Shisheng was greatly encouraged, and the little person in his heart wriggled like a soft-bodied animal.
“Okay! Second Brother will buy you things!”
To buy things, one needed money, coupons, and connections. Tilling land in the brigade… was impossible in a lifetime. He had to get out there.
The job in the transportation team was very good. Traveling all over the country, he could come into contact with all sorts of new things. After a year or a half, his network would be impressive. In that case, what else would the family lack?
Yes, that’s how he would do it.
Tomorrow, he would find his good brother in the city and try to get a connection!
Little did Lin Zhao know that her casual words had accelerated her second brother’s determination to venture into the city.
After a few more words, the Lin brothers finally left.
Upon arriving home, Lin Shisheng put down the cloth bag and announced that it contained gifts from Lin Zhao from the provincial capital.
Da Dan and the others were overjoyed.
Several pairs of shining eyes looked at Lin Shichang and Lin Shisheng.
Lin Shichang remembered Zhaozhao’s words. He didn’t speak to his two sons but reached out and ruffled Da Dan and Er Dan’s heads.
As the elder brother, he had been steady and serious since childhood. He didn’t talk much as he grew up and was very strict with his two sons. Da Dan and Er Dan were close to their father in their hearts, but unlike Xi Bao, they didn’t dare to act up in front of him. Although their father-son relationship was good, there was still a gap between them.
Feeling the large, calloused hand on their heads, the two “Dans'” dark faces lit up, their mouths stretching to the back of their heads.
They even burst into laughter.
Chen Yu saw this scene and felt indescribable relief.
Her husband was a very good person. She didn’t like that he had a distant relationship with his children. Seeing him wanting to be close to his children made her happy for them.
Lin Shisheng opened the cloth bag and took out the hard paper inside. It was covered with cute stick figures and densely packed with writing.
It was Zhaozhao’s masterpiece!!
He was delighted and said, “Big Brother, I want this one!”
Lin Shichang naturally disagreed, “No, you can’t take the gift Zhaozhao gave me. This one is mine!”
He was reluctant to give away the gift his sister had personally chosen, but obviously, the postcard that Zhaozhao had personally written and drawn was more worth cherishing.
Lin Shisheng, who played dirty, rolled his eyes, sprang up from where he stood, grabbed the postcard, ran back into the house, and hid it.
“…”
Lin Shichang gritted his teeth and made a mental note.
He didn’t believe Lin Shisheng wouldn’t beg him for it!
Xuanxuan and Zheng Zheng, the sisters, felt awkward. Their father was so childish.
The two young girls’ faces lit up with smiles; they loved the atmosphere at home.
Lin Shisheng hid the item and quickly came out. The gift list was in his mind; he couldn’t distribute them if he didn’t come out.
Next, relying on his memory, he began to distribute the gifts. The Lin siblings all had excellent memories; they had always achieved top grades in school.
“Milk powder?!?” Chen Yu received the milk powder, her face full of surprise. She said emotionally, “To think of Zhaozhao spending money on this! This one in my belly will have good fortune!”
When she gave birth to Da Dan and the others, her milk supply was insufficient, and they grew up eating rice cereal. This one in her belly would drink milk powder from birth; wasn’t that good fortune?
Her sister-in-law was so kind.
Chen Yu felt truly lucky and was filled with gratitude.
She touched her belly and said in a gentle voice, “Little one, your aunt sent you milk powder before you were even born. You must be filial to your aunt in the future, understand?”
The round belly bulged slightly.
Chen Yu was taken aback and exclaimed excitedly, “Oh, the baby moved!”
This pregnancy was only four months along, and this was the first fetal movement.
Lin Shichang was also very happy.
The baby moved, indicating that （he） was healthy.
“He’s a clever one.”
Chen Yu chided playfully, “How old is she? How can you tell if she’s clever?”
Lin Shichang said proudly, “Children of our Lin family are never stupid.”
Chen Yu looked at the children in the house and agreed wholeheartedly.
Yes, they were all intelligent.
Da Dan and the others also received gifts; each child got a bag of candy.
Da Dan and Er Dan were the oldest. In two years, they would start middle school. Lin Zhao gave them each a fountain pen. For her nieces, she gave each a hair clip and a box of colored pencils.
Holding their gifts, they grinned from ear to ear.
Da Dan said, “Dad, I miss my aunt.”
His aunt was so good to them.
Only one child in their class had a fountain pen, and it was an old one. His aunt gave him and Er Dan a new one each. He would definitely study hard and not disappoint his aunt.
Xuanxuan liked the box of colored pencils, and her usually quiet eyes sparkled with light.
Auntie is so good.
While gifts were being shared joyfully here, Lin Zhao also took the gifts for the Gu family back to the old house.
Gu Lan received her first skirt. The little girl’s face was flushed with joy, and she smiled shyly, thanking her third aunt, “Thank you, Third Aunt.”
Lin Zhao quite liked Alan. She was a quiet and well-behaved girl who always did things silently and was easily overlooked. Such children were prone to suffering. She gave Alan a skirt to tell her that her care for her younger siblings was noticed and would not be unrewarded.
“You don’t need to thank me. You deserve it. I see how you take care of Qian Bao and Yao Bao.”
Gu Lan hadn’t expected a reward. She felt she was the eldest and it was her duty to take care of her younger siblings.
She couldn’t deny that Third Aunt hadn’t forgotten her, and she was very, very happy.
Lin Zhao bought pipe tobacco for Gu Father, a delicacy for rural men.
Upon receiving the pipe tobacco from his daughter-in-law, the silent Gu Father was stunned, his old face etched with emotion.
He never expected to receive a gift from his daughter-in-law!
For Gu Mother, she got cold cream. The old lady was overjoyed, saying that at her age, what was the use of cold cream, but she happily put it away, planning to find some old friends to chat with later.
