Chapter 17: “seriously Ill”
Lin Erdan didn’t explain the reason, saying vaguely, “My older brother talks a lot anyway.”
Actually, after Lin Mu and Lin Shisheng took things to see Lin Zhao yesterday, people in the village started gossiping, saying Lin Mu favored a married-out daughter, having meat and eggs but not giving them to her own sons and biological grandsons, blah blah blah.
They said it quite unpleasantly.
The Lin family children overheard a bit, and they felt furious inside.
Seeing their aunt bring things back, they naturally had to show off from one end of the village to the other.
The eldest nephew talked too much, so Lin Zhao couldn’t wait and went back first with Erdan.
As for Da Zai and Er Zai, they were distributing candy to their older brother and sister.
Lin Heling sat in the yard waiting for his daughter to come home.
Spotting Lin Zhao’s figure, he turned his face toward the main house and said, “Zhaozhao’s mom, the daughter is back.”
Lin Zhao entered the door and just heard this, so she ran over lightly and quickly, sitting on the small wooden stool next to her dad.
“Dad, how is your health?”
Lin Heling smiled, his gaze gentle as he examined Lin Zhao’s complexion, finding it okay, nodding in his heart, and answering his daughter’s question: “I’m doing fine.”
Lin Mu came out, smiling as she said, “Your dad sees you, and all his ailments are gone.”
Hearing the sounds in the yard, the Lin family eldest brother and second brother came out with their respective wives.
“Zhaozhao is back.” Lin Dagao was full of smiles.
He walked toward Lin Zhao, staring at her forehead, “Can’t see the bump anymore, does your head still hurt?”
“It stopped hurting long ago.” Lin Zhao replied, looking at the others and greeting them one by one: “Eldest brother, eldest sister-in-law, second brother, second sister-in-law.”
Eldest sister-in-law Chen Yu was a diligent and kind-hearted woman with a gentle temperament.
She smiled and said, “Hey, have you eaten?”
“I have.”
Lin second sister-in-law Qiu Lian glanced at her sister-in-law’s empty hands, pursed her lips, fearing her parents-in-law and husband would get angry, so she quickly lowered her head as if to cover up her unwelcoming thoughts.
The sister-in-law came back to freeload again, it really never ends!
Lin Zhao had long known what kind of temperament second sister-in-law had, so she matched her attitude with the same attitude, ignoring that stepmother face.
Lin Shisheng frowned, giving his wife’s hair top a cool glance before quickly withdrawing his gaze, looking at Lin Zhao with warmth in his eyes: “Zhaozhao, I caught a rabbit. Don’t you love spicy rabbit meat? This afternoon, Mom will make it for you.”
“Great, I haven’t eaten rabbit meat in a long time, thanks second brother.”
Hearing the siblings’ conversation, Qiu Lian quietly rolled her eyes. The children’s dad really doesn’t get it; he treats his sister better than his wife, is he silly or what.
Though full of complaints, with the hot-tempered Lin Mu in charge, she didn’t even dare make a sound, only grumbling in her heart.
Lin Mu said, “I know you’re craving it, I’ve already prepared it. Whenever you’re hungry, just say so, and Mom will make it.”
“Okay.” Lin Zhao said without politeness.
Lin Heling didn’t see his own maternal grandsons and asked her, “Where are Da Zai and Er Zai? You didn’t bring them?”
“I did, they’re playing with Da Dan and them.”
As soon as Lin Zhao finished speaking, a group of children entered the house, and as soon as they arrived, the yard instantly became lively.
“Mom, Da Zai gave me two candies, super sweet, I saved one for you.” Lin Xibao said to her mom.
Chen Yu’s eyes flashed with surprise, she looked at Lin Zhao, seeing no unusual expression on her sister-in-law’s face, knowing she was aware of Da Zai sharing candy with her daughter, so she relaxed and turned back to her daughter, saying softly, “Keep it for yourself, Mom doesn’t want any.”
Lin Xibao curved her eyes in a smile, “One is enough for me, Mom has a baby in her belly, you eat one too.”
Hearing this, Lin Zhao showed surprise on her face, “Eldest sister-in-law is pregnant again?”
Chen Yu gave her daughter a reproachful look, then looked at her sister-in-law embarrassedly, “A little over two months.”
Lin Zhao said, “Congratulations eldest brother and eldest sister-in-law. When eldest sister-in-law gives birth, I’ll bring you a pig trotter.”
“Big talk, as if pig trotters are that easy to get.” Lin Mu lightly tapped her daughter’s forehead, fearing the eldest son’s wife would expect too much, and supplemented for Lin Zhao: “Do your best, if you can’t get it, it’s fine, your eldest brother will also find connections.”
Lin Zhao didn’t explain much; whether it worked out would be known in a few months. She went to school in the county, and it wasn’t for nothing; she had plenty of connections.
“I know.”
After the elders finished talking, Da Dan put the net bag full of things on the table and said to Lin Father and Lin Mu, “Grandpa, Grandma, these are the things my aunt brought.”
As he placed it down, the things in the net bag were clear at a glance.
Lin Mu frowned tightly, “Zhaozhao, why did you bring so many things?”
“If Mom doesn’t accept them, I can only bring them back myself.” Lin Zhao said casually.
She untied the knot of the net bag and took out the things inside one by one.
As she took them out, she said:
“This is canned meat.”
“This is two jin of meat.”
“This is dried noodles. Mom, you cook some for Dad and yourself every few days; it’s white flour, very soft, unlike coarse grains that scratch the throat. The clear soup ones are delicious too.”
“A small jar of oil, this oil is fragrant, great for stir-frying vegetables.”
“And these salted duck eggs, poke them and they ooze oil, perfect with porridge.”
“Finally, soda, I bought quite a bit, for you all to try too.”
The Lin family looked at the things on the table, stunned there.
These things, any one taken out would be hard to get. Where did Zhaozhao get them from?
Lin Mu grabbed Lin Zhao’s wrist, took her into the house, away from everyone, her expression grave, eyes locked on her, seriously saying, “Did you go to the black market?”
Lin Zhao shook her head, seriously saying, “Of course not! I don’t even know which way the black market door faces!”
“Then where did these things come from?” Lin Mu still wasn’t reassured; she feared her daughter risking breaking the law.
“I told you, from my classmates.” Lin Zhao deliberately made a cocky expression, proudly saying, “Mom won’t think high school was a waste for me, right?”
“Those classmates of mine, some are at the grains and oils station, some at the meat processing plant, others work at the supply and marketing cooperative. Isn’t it the easiest thing for me to buy things from them?”
“Mom, don’t worry, I’m not silly, I definitely won’t go to the black market.”
She really hadn’t gone, of course acting perfectly righteous.
“Good as long as you didn’t go.” Lin Mu said, “Don’t go in the future either. The black market catches speculation and profiteering strictly; if caught, it’s no joke.”
Lin Zhao’s expression was as firm as swearing an oath to join the Party: “I’m not silly, only those without connections go to the black market. I have connections, why would I go to the black market? I won’t go, won’t go.”
She hadn’t gone to the black market, yet Lin Mu nagged her for about ten minutes.
“Why bring so many things back? Didn’t I tell you not to bring anything when you come back? So many good things, better to save them for my maternal grandsons and granddaughters. You’ve married into the Gu family, don’t think about your maternal family anymore. Your dad and I have several sons, would we go hungry? You worrisome girl.”
Lin Zhao wasn’t convinced and said righteously, “You won’t starve, but there’s nothing good to nourish the body either.”
Lin Mu couldn’t refute this.
Everything needed coupons; even if she had the ability, she couldn’t get dried noodles or canned meat…
“This world, it’s really getting harder and harder to understand.” Lin Mu sighed deeply.
Lin Zhao held her mom’s arm, resting her head on Lin Mu’s shoulder, saying, “It will slowly get better. Before that, you and Dad have to accept the good things I’m filial with, or I won’t come back again.”
Lin Mu turned her head to look at her, meeting Lin Zhao’s pretty eyes, which were full of seriousness.
“I’m serious!” Lin Zhao emphasized, her voice soft but her attitude firm.
Her dad had ruined his health fleeing famine back then; her mom looked robust, but actually overworked.
In the original book, after she died, her dad was gone the next year. Not long after her dad went, her mom was gone too, with less than half a year between.
Thinking of this, Lin Zhao’s heart felt gripped by a giant hand, unable to breathe.
She would never forgive Gu Xing’er!
Lin Mu was helpless and could only say, “We’ll take it! Your dad and I will take it!”
Only then did Lin Zhao smile.
Good.
This lifetime, her dad and mom would definitely live to a hundred.
Outside the yard.
Lin Heling called his two maternal grandsons over and asked them some things, all about their recent situation.
Da Zai and Er Zai were very familiar with this routine, sitting properly there and starting to blah blah blah.
They talked about how many good things they ate, then stood up to show off their new clothes and new shoes, their smiles brighter than the sunrise.
“How are San Zai and Si Zai?” Lin Heling asked about the dragon-phoenix twins.
“They’re doing great too. Mom mixes malt extract for them and steams egg custard for them.” Er Zai said.
Da Zai added, “Mom also made new clothes for San Zai and Si Zai. Mom said she’d take me and Er Zai to see a movie!” Speaking of seeing a movie, the childish voice was full of joy.
“Why is the hair gone?” Lin Father touched the bald heads of his two maternal grandsons one by one, smiling as he asked.
“Yesterday a barber came to the village, and Mom made me and my younger brother shave our heads.” Da Zai said.
“Mom said bald is cooler!” Er Zai touched his prickly forehead, chuckling, and in front of his good-tempered grandfather, his loud voice, just like his grandma’s, was much restrained.
Lin Heling didn’t believe his daughter’s talk of it being cooler; probably Zhaozhao feared the two boys had something serious on their heads and shaved them bald to prevent trouble in advance.
“Bald is good, it makes your heads look even rounder.” Feeling his daughter had grown up, Lin Father felt gratified, his eyes full of laughter.
His temperament was mild, never speaking loudly, out of place in the whole village, yet the children all liked him and were willing to listen to him.
Da Zai and Er Zai were very close to their grandfather, sticking to Lin Heling and pestering him to tell stories.
Lin Heling didn’t refuse and indeed started telling them stories.
Da Dan and the others coveted the meat and candy their aunt brought, but seeing Grandpa telling stories to Da Zai and Er Zai, their attention was immediately diverted, and they sat in a row to listen to the stories.
After Lin Zhao finished talking with her mom, as soon as she went out, she saw her dad telling stories, so she quickly walked over and sat on the wooden rocking chair next to her dad. The chair rocked a few times, making Lin Father dizzy, so he reached out to hold the armrest and steady it.
But he was used to it and didn’t say anything to his daughter, continuing to tell the story in his unhurried tone, about a lawless monkey.
Lin Zhao had heard it since childhood and never got tired of it; sometimes her dad said the first line, and she could follow with the next.
This scene gave Lin Mu, Lin Shichang, and Lin Shisheng a feeling of returning to the time before Zhaozhao was married.
After listening to nearly an hour of stories, Lin Mu noticed Lin Heling’s voice was a bit hoarse and interrupted them.
“That’s it for today. Da Dan, Er Dan, take your younger brother and sisters out to play.” Lin Mu divided some of the candy her daughter brought among the grandsons and granddaughters, then shooed away the group of little ones.
So noisy at home!
The children were still not satisfied but didn’t dare make a fuss, grabbing the candy and running out the door.
Da Zai and Er Zai were like little birds just flying out of the cage, running wildly with their cousins.
The three Lin family girls, Lin Xibao, Lin Xuan, and Lin Zheng didn’t go out.
Lin Zhao said, “Why aren’t you going out to play?”
“Aunt only comes back once in a long time, we’re accompanying Aunt to chat.” Lin Xibao squeezed next to her aunt and said seriously.
The little girl, only eight years old, put on an adult-like demeanor, amusing people.
Lin Xuan and Lin Zheng, the two sisters, stood not far away, not approaching.
Lin Zhao beckoned to the two sisters, “Xuanxuan, Zhengzheng, come here, Aunt has gifts for you.”
The two little girls smiled, their eyes bright.
Lin Xibao pretended to be disappointed, wheedling, “Aunt prepared gifts for Xuanxuan and Zhengzheng, what about me? No share for me?”
Chen Yu watched her daughter acting like a little schemer and felt embarrassed, “Lin Xibao!”
“Eldest sister-in-law, it’s fine. A little girl being generous is a good thing.” Lin Zhao waved her hand nonchalantly; she really liked Xibao’s temperament, always cheerful, like a warm little sun.
“Hehe, Aunt, what gifts did you prepare for us?” Lin Xibao’s face was piled with smiles.
Lin Xuan and Lin Zheng were also a bit curious.
Lin Zhao took out three hair ties from her shoulder bag, “Hair ties, one for each.”
“I like it, thank you Aunt.” Lin Xibao took the hair tie and had her mom tie it on for her.
Chen Yu glanced at the hair tie, better than those at the county supply and marketing cooperative; one probably cost two or three mao, and she said embarrassedly, “You let your sister-in-law spend too much.”
Lin Zhao smiled, “It’s nothing.”
At that moment, Lin second sister-in-law Qiu Lian walked over quickly and took away the hair ties from Lin Xuan and Lin Zheng.
“What do you little girls need hair ties for? Give them to me, I’ll keep them for you until you grow up.”
Chen Yu looked at her domineering sister-in-law in utter absurdity, unable to comprehend.
Second sister-in-law wasn’t even pretending anymore?!
Lin Zhao also looked stunned, “?”
What was going on…?
The smiles at the corners of Lin Xuan and Lin Zheng’s mouths disappeared, extremely aggrieved.
That was what Aunt gave them!!
“I don’t want to.” Lin Zheng snatched back the hair tie, mustering courage to refuse, accusing, “Mom said she’d keep it for us, but in the end gave it all to cousin. I don’t want you to keep it!”
Qiu Lian flew into a rage from shame, poking her head hard, her long nail scratching a red mark on the little girl’s forehead.
Angrily scolding, “Nonsense, I’ve kept all your things properly, who gave them to your cousin? You’ve even learned to complain, spoiled you.”
Lin Zheng said angrily, “Mom is lying! Sister and I both saw it! You gave the fabric Grandma gave for me and sister’s clothes to cousin! I didn’t complain, you did give it!”
Qiu Lian’s anger flared up, reaching out to hit, but was stopped by Lin Zhao, who said coldly, “You can scold, but second sister-in-law still wants to hit? Are you their biological mom?”
Not wanting to argue with second sister-in-law in front of the two nieces, Lin Zhao ignored Qiu Lian and took the three nieces to her own room.
Qiu Lian felt aggrieved. She hadn’t borne a son, so had no standing at her in-laws; her maternal family was her support. Giving the fabric to her own niece was also hoping her maternal family could back her up, so why didn’t those two little girls understand her good intentions?
Chen Yu saw through second sister-in-law’s thoughts at a glance and thought she was really seriously ill.
Lin Father closed his eyes, not even giving a glance; for stupid people, even one more look was a waste.
The male lead comes out tomorrow~!
