Chapter 2: “it’s Like He’s Possessed”
“Mom, does your head hurt?” Da Zai thought Mom’s expression was so strange, thinking Mom’s brain was damaged from the fall, his face full of worry.
He was just a little over five years old, his face thin and small, not an ounce of fat on his body, with big patches on his sleeves and knees. This appearance was very common in these times, nothing wrong with it, but in the eyes of Lin Zhao after awakening, it was evidence that she had mistreated her son.
Lin Zhao felt that her pre-awakening self must have had water in her brain. Holding Gu Chenghuai’s passbook in hand, still receiving a “large sum” of allowance every month, yet unwilling to spend money, raising the little ones like this—she really deserved to die.
And this room, dropping dust every day, nothing valuable at all, not even windproof enough that thieves wouldn’t bother entering. Before marriage, she wasn’t someone who was stingy with money—how did she become so miserly after having kids?!
Lin Zhao was almost disgusted to death with herself!!
At this moment, her mother’s love was overflowing, feeling that her little ones were good everywhere, touching Da Zai’s meatless face.
“It doesn’t hurt, Mom is fine.”
What a good little one! In this lifetime, she must make the little ones happy and joyful, give them a wonderful childhood, and make them the most dazzling little ones in the whole commune!
Da Zai widened his eyes. Mom touched his face—did Mom like him now…?
The little guy happily blushed, glanced at Lin Zhao, and the corners of his mouth secretly curved up, like a kitten that had stolen dried fish.
Da Zai endured his shyness and asked, “Mom, are you hungry?”
Lin Zhao’s head hurt, no appetite, shook her head: “I’m okay, where’s Er Zai?”
“Er Zai is coaxing the younger brother and sister.” The one-year-old-plus twins were taken care of by Da Zai and Er Zai; Da Zai didn’t feel anything wrong with it.
Lin Zhao felt ashamed.
She really wasn’t a qualified mom; her pre-awakening self must have been possessed by some strange thing!
“Come on, let’s go see them.”
Da Zai was full of confusion, but Mom caring about the younger brother and sister still made him very happy.
Meanwhile, the Gu Family Old House was in chaos—
Gu Mu returned home and told the whole family about Lin Zhao’s demands.
Gu Xing’er instantly exploded, excitedly and angrily saying: “What right does that woman have? That’s my third brother’s money—why can’t she let me spend it! I want to tell my third brother that his wife is bullying his own sister!”
Three conditions, she could tolerate the other two, but not giving her money—she couldn’t tolerate that.
Gu Mu had wiped Gu Xing’er’s butt quite a few times these years, truly heart-tired, and chimed in: “Go ahead, go right now, call, send a telegram, tell your third brother that you pushed his wife, the children’s mom, to the ground, knocked a big bump on her head—go tell him.”
Gu Xing’er didn’t dare go. Third brother had changed after marrying that vixen Lin Zhao; he was no longer the third brother who doted on her in everything.
“Mom, I’m the one you gave birth to.” Gu Xing’er was full of grievance, unconvinced and loudly retorting: “Lin Zhao is my third sister-in-law— what’s wrong with me eating a bowl of egg custard from her? That fox spirit wouldn’t give it to me, serves her right for hitting the wall.”
Before she finished yelling, there was a slap, and Gu Mu gave her a big slap on the face, making her face tilt to one side, a red palm print appearing on that fairly fair face.
Gu Mu was so angry she spat out whatever words came to mind.
Could you say “fox spirit” out loud? Want to get dragged away?!
At this time, the usually silent Gu Fu had a stern face and coldly said: “All that schooling went to the dog’s stomach! No more school from now on, come back to work!” He made the final decision.
“Mom you hit me, Dad you won’t let me go to school, I hate you!” Gu Xing’er shouted, ran back to her own room, crying loudly, cursing dirty words from her mouth.
Gu Fu was furious: “Let her go hungry for two days, no one is allowed to send her food.”
He looked at Gu Mu: “Especially you.”
“The school can’t teach her how to be a person—we’ll teach her!” Gu Fu was both disappointed and heartbroken.
Gu Da Sao Huang Xiulan and Gu Er Sao Zhao Liuniang were cleaning the kitchen, hands busy nonstop. Gu Er Sao couldn’t hold back: “Eldest sister-in-law, do you think the little sister-in-law can still go to school?”
Huang Xiulan glanced outside and said softly: “I’m afraid it’s difficult.”
Mother-in-law had hit a junior for the first time—looked like she was really angry. An honest person getting mad is quite scary.
Zhao Liuniang laughed gloatingly, feeling from the bottom of her heart that the little sister-in-law was stupid: “Not going to school is right too—with that brain of hers, another hundred years wouldn’t make any difference.”
“Tone it down.” Huang Xiulan reminded. After all, she was the parents-in-law’s own daughter; the old couple could say whatever, but they couldn’t.
Zhao Liuniang stopped talking, washed the bowls with wood ash, humming a little tune, in a great mood.
Gu Family’s Third Branch earthen house.
Lin Zhao entered the little ones’ room, her right foot just stepping in when dust fell rustling from the ceiling, landing right on her head.
“…”
Speechless.
Lin Zhao brushed the dust off her hair with her hand, once again confirming that her pre-awakening self must have been possessed by a ghost.
Even before marriage, when her maternal family was poor as dirt, she would demand her dad find a way to tidy up the room to look decent—she absolutely wouldn’t let it be this sloppy.
These years really felt like a dream.
Er Zai saw Mom actually come to their room, looked puzzled, and glanced at big brother.
Da Zai’s attention was all on his mom and didn’t see his younger brother’s pleading look.
Er Zai quickly slipped off the bed, walked to Da Zai’s side, not looking at Lin Zhao, just talking to his brother: “Bro, why’d she come to our room?”
These years, the twins were raised by Gu Mu; Lin Zhao hadn’t paid much attention, so the children weren’t close to her. But little friends are born to stick to mom—in the moment Lin Zhao was injured, they protected her first. As mom, if she just gave them a bit of kind look, they couldn’t help wanting to get close to her.
Lin Zhao heard Er Zai’s question, reached out and forcefully pinched his cheek, pinching until Er Zai yelped.
“Mom!” Mindful of the sleeping younger brother and sister, Er Zai wanted to shout loud but held it in; the little friend was so angry his face turned red, though his dark skin made it hard to see.
“What little words are you saying, whispering behind my back.” Lin Zhao half-bent down, smiling as she asked.
The instant she let go, Er Zai angrily pushed her. Remembering Mom was injured today, he didn’t use force, huffed angrily, and ran out the door.
Da Zai had a good relationship with his younger brother and, afraid Lin Zhao would get mad, hurriedly explained for Er Zai: “Mom, don’t be mad at Er Zai—he didn’t mean it.”
Lin Zhao waved her hand, still smiling: “The annoyed and embarrassed Er Zai is really cute.”
Da Zai froze in place, realizing Mom was praising Er Zai as cute, his little heart feeling a bit stuffy—Mom hadn’t praised him yet…
Lin Zhao didn’t notice Da Zai’s mood, walked to the wooden board bed. The bedding on the bed was blackened, the thin blanket covering the twins was patchwork of different colored fabrics, with yellowish stains on it.
“San Zai and Si Zai are about to stink.” she said.
Er Zai, who had gotten two sweet potatoes from the kitchen, heard this, angrily glared at Lin Zhao, vulnerability flashing in his eyes, and loudly said: “Grandma is at work, no time to wash for us—you don’t care about us, so you can’t complain about us either!”
After yelling, he felt regretful, stuck out his neck, eyes reddening as he confronted her.
