Chapter 180: “diao The Hunchback”
“Who’s the backer in the provincial capital, specifically?” Gu Chenghuai’s eyes flashed with cold light.
Yang Yunzhi smiled, “Although tricky, it’s not a big problem. My old master and father-in-law can handle it.”
He added: “The military region sent a telegram saying they’ll send someone. So what if those people have backers? They can’t compare to our solid backer.”
The matter was of great importance, so the military region telegram was sent directly to Old Master Jiang. He was still in office, wise and of upright background. Even the most arrogant……those people had to give him some face.
Knowing his comrade was reliable, Gu Chenghuai didn’t say more and asked again: “Who’s coming from the military region?”
Yang Yunzhi really knew, “Heard the surname is Ning. You know him?”
Commander Ning?
It was unexpected.
Gu Chenghuai narrowed his eyes slightly, “……Haven’t spoken much.”
He was about to return to the unit and probably wouldn’t wait for this one’s arrival.
“How is this person?” Yang Yunzhi inquired.
He was a retired soldier, retired due to injury, and couldn’t help but have regrets.
After that “miracle drug” appeared, he always wondered if it had existed when he was injured, would he……still be fighting side by side with his comrades?
Thus, Yang Yunzhi valued this unnamed drug more than anyone.
He hoped his comrades wouldn’t have regrets like him.
“An enduring, resolute hero.” Gu Chenghuai said.
It was rare to hear a comrade evaluate someone this way. Yang Yunzhi was a bit surprised, “Sounds extraordinary. Chenghuai, rest assured, I’ll keep watch. Before that hero arrives, no one can pick our peach. Sneaking it no, openly no.”
Yes, their peach.
A drug that benefited the people and the country—handling it could bring endless benefits.
“You watching puts me at ease.” Gu Chenghuai said.
With the Yang family and Jiang family watching here, and once the drug is sent up, the Yun family to protect it, it’s certain.
Yang Yunzhi patted his chest.
“If there’s anything you can’t handle, send me a message promptly.” Gu Chenghuai instructed again; this concerned Fourth Brother-in-law’s major matter and couldn’t be taken lightly.
“Rest assured, still under control.” Yang Yunzhi felt it wasn’t a big issue.
He shook the bag in his hand again; it was the mushroom meat sauce his comrade gave him. “Really not coming in to sit? I’ll treat you to a meal.”
Gu Chenghuai had enough of the canteen food and waved his hand, “No, my wife is waiting at home.”
As soon as he spoke, he got on the bicycle, pedaled away, and soon disappeared from Yang Yunzhi’s sight.
It was time to get off work, so Yang Yunzhi didn’t return to the unit and went straight home.
Jiang Huiqiao saw her husband holding something and asked: “What’s that?”
“Mushroom meat sauce.” Yang Yunzhi answered, “Chenghuai gave it; made by his wife herself.”
Thinking of Lin Zhao and the four kids she saw at the last meal together, Jiang Huiqiao smiled.
Before meeting, she thought it would be……a dark-faced, simple country girl, and sun-darkened kids with long runny noses. After meeting, she realized that family had nothing to do with being dark; they were more like city people than her, who grew up without hardship.
Jiang Huiqiao had no children yet, right in the peak of her motherly love, and loved the soft, cuddly dragon-phoenix twins the most.
The kids were fair and tender, obediently sitting in her bosom, utterly adorable.
“Your comrade is really fortunate. Wonder when our family can add a newcomer.”
She hadn’t been eager before, but after seeing the cute Gu family kids, she really wanted a child.
Yang Yunzhi: “Can’t rush it; when fate comes, it’ll happen naturally. We’re both healthy, our relationship intact; it’s just a matter of time.”
“Let’s eat first. After eating, you nap a bit; you have to go to work in the afternoon.”
He pulled his wife to the washbasin to wash hands, then the couple sat back at the table.
As usual, they got two dishes from the canteen for a simple meal. For worker couples like them, it was making do, yet it was what countless people dreamed of.
Jiang Huiqiao opened the jar of meat sauce, and a rich spicy aroma spread out. “Oh, this flavor, Dad will definitely like it.”
Referring to her biological father.
Old Master Jiang had always liked heavy flavors in his youth, unchanged in old age. This sauce with meat, mushrooms, and spicy kick—anyone who liked strong flavors wouldn’t dislike it.
“Chenghuai gave two jars; I’ll send one to Dad later.” Yang Yunzhi was close to the Jiang family; he and his wife were well-matched and had genuine feelings, living sweetly; the two families got along like one.
“Alright, have Dad pay more attention to that matter.” Jiang Huiqiao said.
“Dad’s already very attentive.” Yang Yunzhi chuckled, broke open a coarse grain steamed bun, scooped meat sauce into it with a spoon. The bun absorbed the oil and water; gently pressed, the oil-soaked coarse grain steamed bun was mouthwatering.
He handed it to his wife casually.
“Try it; absolutely delicious!”
Jiang Huiqiao didn’t stand on ceremony, took a bite, and the aroma of meat and mushrooms exploded in her mouth; her eyes lit up.
“Delicious!”
“I could eat it for a year straight!”
She said.
Yang Yunzhi watched her laughingly, “That exaggerated……?”
As soon as he spoke, meat sauce-stuffed bun was shoved into his mouth.
He bit instinctively.
Then his body shook.
“Not bad!” He chewed quickly and swallowed.
His stomach growled even more.
Unexpectedly, Chenghuai’s seemingly pampered wife had such skills. His tone held surprise and admiration, “Didn’t expect it; your wife has such great culinary talent.”
Jiang Huiqiao: “Yeah.”
Seeing Yang Yunzhi stuff a thick layer into the bun, distress showed on her elegant face.
“Less sauce; run out if you stuff too much.”
Yang Yunzhi ignored her, “Thick layer is what makes it tasty.”
“……”
Meeting Jiang Huiqiao’s dissatisfied gaze, the man held back a laugh, “Rest assured, after eating, I’ll get more from your wife.”
“Can swap?”
“Yes.” Yang Yunzhi nodded; he’d heard his comrade mention it.
“Great!”
–
Gu Chenghuai returned to the village, delivered thank-you gifts to each family, and secretly probed Zhang Man Yue’s whereabouts over the past month.
This person had low presence and no close friends in the village, so the investigation progressed slowly.
The findings weren’t very useful.
No point rushing; he walked home unhurriedly.
While walking.
Suddenly a kid mentioned the Li Ergou family matter.
He paused slightly, greatly inspired.
He beckoned the speaking kid.
The kid looked around, confirmed the twins’ dad was calling him, and walked over nervously.
“Uncle, you want me?”
The twins’ dad was the brigade’s most successful man; every family used him as an example in educating kids. He was also an honored soldier with high prestige in the village; all the little friends admired and liked him……
Suddenly called, the naughtiest boys instantly behaved, clutching their patched coarse clothes at the chin, approaching slowly.
Gu Chenghuai handed over a few candies; his stern brows softened a bit, and he said: “What were you just talking about? Say it again.”
Staring at the candies in hand, the lead mischievous boy with lively eyes swallowed saliva several times, instinctively wanting to pocket them all, but restrained himself, reluctantly and laboriously sharing with the other kids.
No longer looking.
He stood straight.
Answered Gu Chenghuai’s question.
“……We said later no one hide in the stone hollow; there’s a new ghost there, it’s Ergou Uncle’s wife……”
Gu Chenghuai guided patiently: “Why say that?”
The soldier uncle was so approachable; the naughty boy dropped his guard unconsciously, back to being a spirited lad.
“Because I saw her go there. My grandma said, after death, the ghost soul takes at least seven days to leave. Ergou Uncle’s wife died less than seven days ago; she’s a new ghost, definitely there. Anyone going will be haunted!”
The kid spoke convincingly, firmly believing it.
Gu Chenghuai: “……” Where’d this little superstition come from.
“Did she go there with anyone?”
The naughty boy said: “She was with Diao Tuozi, talking about some child, someone waiting or something……”
He scratched his head, very embarrassed, “I was sleepy then, brain foggy, only heard a few sentences.”
“Diao Tuozi……” Gu Chenghuai frowned and murmured.
The Diao family moved to the village before the famine, low presence, worked honestly, lived earnestly, never conflicting with villagers—a transparent family.
Diao Tuozi was the head of the Diao family, not talkative, hunchbacked; villagers called him Diao Tuozi.
Hard to imagine such a person having any connection with Zhang Man Yue.
Instructing the naughty boy not to spread it around, Gu Chenghuai turned to leave.
The boy stood with legs together, chest out, head high, voice resounding: “Guaranteed to complete the task!”
Gu Chenghuai, a few steps away, stopped, face easing slightly, returned the salute.
This time truly left.
On site, the little boy mimicked Gu Chenghuai, standing at attention, saluting, feeling his hand not straight enough, carefully adjusting the motion.
After a good while, he bounced home.
Gu Chenghuai had doubts in mind, so he investigated closely.
This check revealed the Diao family was odd.
Diao Tuozi’s past identity proof materials seemed tampered with.
Very suspicious.
Gu Chenghuai’s eyes darkened; he concluded inwardly the Diao family was off, and contacted the place that stamped the materials.
The news was jaw-dropping.
It turned out.
They did issue a relocation proof, but the Diao family turned back halfway. The staff remembered clearly: Diao Tuozi was hit by a donkey cart, injured; the superstitious old man stubbornly thought it was heaven’s warning, so they didn’t leave, stayed, now a family of three workers, living comfortably.
So, Fengshou Brigade’s Diao Tuozi……wasn’t the one on the relocation proof.
Then who were they?
Infiltrators from across the border, or Japanese puppets?
Gu Chenghuai’s expression shifted; the smooth lines of his jaw muscles tensed bit by bit.
After hanging up, he reported it upward.
Special matters to special people; he was on leave, a soldier, not good to meddle in local affairs.
For the “Diao family” matter, local public security attached great importance, sent several people to monitor day and night, and really spotted some clues.
The “Diao family,” poor enough to drink hot pot water, actually had a yard in the county, lived in by a deaf-mute old woman.
The more they looked, the stranger; public security comrades raised the importance level again.
These were later matters.
Gu family.
From Gu Chenghuai’s mouth, learning the military region sent a leader, with a verdict in at most half a month, Lin Zhao was overjoyed.
“So the troops take it seriously?” Lin Zhao’s tone was light and cheerful, eyes expectantly looking over, “Fourth Brother-in-law’s de-categorization possibility is pretty high, right?”
Gu Chenghuai nodded, “Yes! Very possible.”
Lin Zhao rushed over, hugging his sturdy waist tightly, “Chenghuai, you’re the best, the world’s number one best.”
Even knowing his wife was sweet-talking him, Gu Chenghuai couldn’t suppress his upturned lips.
After praising the man, Lin Zhao found him too hot-tempered, quickly pulled away to check on the four kids.
Gu Chenghuai felt a bit lost but didn’t mind. In summer Zhaozhao disliked his heat and didn’t want to get too close; normal. When it cooled, she’d stick to him again.
Ever since Qian Bao got lost once, the twins watched their younger siblings closely; if not seen for a moment, they’d search everywhere.
“Qian Bao? Qian Bao? Where’d you go?”
Sure enough, Heng Bao’s loud voice rang out again.
The childish milky voice came from the toilet, “Peeing.”
“Why not call me? Don’t fall in, or you’ll turn into Stinky Bao!” Heng Bao ran to the toilet.
Yu Bao grabbed the little bucket and followed; it had water for flushing the toilet, made by their dad specially for them to flush after using.
Lin Zhao loved cleanliness, and the two little friends were taught to love it too.
“……Qian Bao peed his pants!” Heng Bao shouted loudly, “Bro, go find new pants for Qian Bao; his crotch is all wet.”
Qian Bao understood and knew it was embarrassing, face instantly red.
His fair little face like rouged, eyes misty, full of shyness.
Yu Bao scolded his brother, “Heng Bao, quieter; Qian Bao will be embarrassed. If I shouted you peed your pants, would you be happy? Qian Bao’s little, so what if he pees pants? Grandma said you wet the bed till three.”
Heng Bao defended loudly, “……I, I wet the bed ‘cause I was cold. Grandma said people pee when cold!”
Yu Bao helped Qian Bao take off the wet pants, but not the little ducky-printed little pants; Mom said kids need shame, can’t flash around.
“Qian Bao, call brother next time you need the toilet. Mom says you’re too small, can’t do many things yet. When you grow as tall as me, you can do anything.” Big Brother coaxed the youngest brother.
Qian Bao, coaxed well by brother, buried his little face in brother’s bosom, was led out.
“Heng Bao, you flush the toilet as punishment.”
Heng Bao had no objection, obediently flushed.
Second son’s voice was loud; Lin Zhao heard and went in to get pants for Third Zai, washing his butt before putting on clean pants.
Qian Bao was obedient throughout, raising hands when told, sitting when told, lifting legs when told……
Changed, back to a clean little cutie.
Lin Zhao hugged her son and couldn’t resist kissing twice, “You’re still small; always call someone for anything. So many people in our family.”
“Mm-hmm.” Qian Bao glanced at the wet pants, little appearance nodding seriously.
Yu Bao carried the basin to the washbasin, stepped on the little stool to wash brother’s pants; Heng Bao scooped water and found soap.
“Qian Bao, see how good your brothers are to you; when you grow up, be good to them too, got it?”
“Mm.”
As Qian Bao responded, Yao Bao gave her milk bottle to Second Brother, making a drinking motion.
Heng Bao grinned, “Sister wants me to drink milk powder.”
After laughing, he stroked Yao Bao’s soft fine hair, said: “Bro won’t drink; you drink, grow tall.”
Yao Bao saw brother not drinking, drank herself.
Sibling harmony, beautiful scene, calming.
Lin Zhao said: “Yu Bao and Heng Bao are both good brothers; you two helped wash brother’s pants—what reward do you want?”
Yu Bao loved Mom’s praise, face blooming with brilliant smile.
“Mom, I want to eat the meat like New Year fried kind, okay?”
Last New Year he and brother were still oily-deficient kids, craving meat badly; Gu Mu gave each a piece of fried meat jerky; Yu Bao remembered vividly, suddenly thought of it, so requested.
“Sure, tomorrow.” Lin Zhao agreed readily.
Heng Bao said: “Mom, I want to eat fish.”
“Good, tomorrow Dad takes you fishing; if catch, we’ll make it.”
“Yay!” Heng Bao jumped up, voice full of joy, without asking Dad’s opinion; he knew whatever Mom said, Dad would agree.
Gu Chenghuai, who was chopping wood: “……”
That night rain fell, raindrops hitting the window, making pat-pat-pat sounds.
Lin Zhao, fearing the kids would be scared, slept in the children’s room.
While sleeping, amid the rain sounds, a few knocks faintly came into the room.
