Chapter 207: “remarriage”
After Ning Mingde and the others left, the crowded yard suddenly became spacious.
Old Master Qiao walked out of the room.
He looked at Old Master Meng and asked knowingly, “Leaving?”
The two old masters were about the same age, and after spending so many days together, they had developed some affection. Suddenly, one was leaving, and the other felt reluctant.
Especially Old Master Qiao.
He would have no companion left.
However.
An open-minded person couldn’t harbor gloom; he was calm like a clear pool without the slightest ripple.
He was just happy for his old friend.
Old Master Qiao sat down, took a sip of the cooling tea that Meng Jiusi had sun-dried, and said with emotion, “You plan to return to the capital?”
Old Master Meng shook his head. “No. That’s a place of sorrow; in the short term… I don’t want to go back. From now on, I’ll follow Jiusi for elder care.”
After saying that, he looked at Meng Jiusi and smiled. “As long as Jiusi doesn’t mind me.”
How could Meng Jiusi mind? He was very happy.
Having an elder in the family is like having a treasure; with Grandfather there, his medical skills improved quickly.
Knowing Grandfather was joking, Meng Jiusi packed things while smiling. “How could I mind Grandfather? I wish I could scrape every trick from Grandfather’s belly clean.”
Old Master Meng laughed heartily, his laughter very hearty.
“Good, Grandfather will teach you.”
Seeing Jing Mo looking at him eagerly, he added, “And teach our Jing Mo too.”
Little friend Jing Mo was satisfied and ran back into the room with thudding steps to pack his and his younger brother’s things.
Heng Bao chased after without reservation. “Momo, I’ll help you pack. From now on, we’re going to live together. Do you want to sleep in the same bed as me? I’m willing to share half with you.”
Little White looked nervous, glancing at his older brother, afraid of being left behind.
Yu Bao noticed and patted Little White’s little head, his smile bright as the sunrise. “You can sleep with me. If you don’t want to sleep with me, you and Heng Bao brother can sleep in one bed, and you and your brother in another, okay?”
Little White’s tension eased, a smile appearing on his face, looking very cute. “Okay~~”
Yu Bao thought Little White was so obedient and took a fruit candy from his pocket to give him. “Here, have some candy.”
“Thank you, brother.” Little White politely thanked him, took the candy, and held it in his palm.
Yu Bao smiled and helped Jing Mo pack things together with Heng Bao.
When the Meng family arrived, they only brought a few changes of clothes; these days, with help from the Lin and Gu families, they had accumulated quite a few things.
Lin Zhao stood at the door. “Fourth Brother, just pack your personal belongings; we have everything at home. For the rest, you can buy more after resuming work.”
“Okay.” Many things here were secretly sent by his younger sister, so Meng Jiusi sought her opinion. “Zhaozhao, I plan to leave some things behind; is that okay?”
They were leaving, with a smooth path ahead, but those staying behind still needed to live, and these things were important to them.
“Sure, why not.” Lin Zhao said.
Her brother was still too polite!
“Fourth Brother, come back to the Lin family tomorrow. Momo and Little White have grown this big without even knowing the way.”
Meng Jiusi’s movements paused slightly, but he didn’t refuse. He wasn’t ungrateful; he could feel how much the Lin family cared about him. His parents felt guilty toward him, but even more, it was love.
“Okay.”
Lin Zhao smiled, her eyes curving.
Their parents probably didn’t know yet about Fourth Brother regaining his reputation; they would be very happy when they found out.
“Parents might want you to stay at home.”
Meng Jiusi didn’t mind. “Mm, I also want to spend more time with the family.”
He was an adult and knew that family affection needed to be nurtured.
“As long as Fourth Brother doesn’t mind.” Lin Zhao was very happy.
She loved her parents and didn’t want them disappointed.
“Parents are great. Dad prefers quiet and is very gentle, knows a lot, and kids like him. Mom is… well, energetic and restless, very efficient, straightforward in speech and action. Big Brother you’ve met; after starting work, he’s not often home, leaving in the morning and returning after sunset. Eldest Sister-in-law has a good temper, doesn’t hold grudges; you have two nephews, Da Dan and Er Dan, both clever chatterboxes. Three nieces: Xuanxuan, Zheng Zheng, and Xi Bao…”
Lin Zhao introduced the family members to Fourth Brother.
Meng Jiusi listened attentively.
Jing Mo and Little White also quietly perked up their ears.
Listening obediently to their aunt.
Lin Zhao rubbed Little White’s face.
Living here, not eating well, the little friend’s face was a bit thin, but his skin was tender and soft.
Little White had a good personality and smiled softly at his aunt, even cooperatively offering his little head.
So cute.
“Bring Little White back together then.”
Lin Zhao smiled and hugged Little White. “Little White, what do you want to eat? Then have your grandfather make it for you. Secretly telling you, the best cook in our family is your grandfather.”
Looking at Little White’s soft cute face, she added, “But probably no need for you to ask; your grandfather will bring out his signature dishes. Then I’ll have to ride on our Baibai’s coattails.”
“Mm!” Little White earnestly agreed.
He lifted his little head to look at his aunt.
“Bring brother too.” The little friend’s black-and-white eyes held timid pleading.
“Of course.” Lin Zhao’s gaze was affectionate. “Your brother is also your grandparents’ own grandson; they all like him.”
Little White showed his clean white teeth, very expectant about returning to the Lin family.
Jing Mo too.
The prickly little boy’s aura fully relaxed; he didn’t smile much, but one could feel his good mood.
Yu Bao was helping pack things, occasionally asking Jing Mo if this or that was needed, putting the wanted ones into the nylon bag and neatly setting the unwanted aside.
Lin Zhao glanced over, then withdrew her gaze and asked, “Fourth Brother, do you not want to return to the capital?”
Hearing this, Meng Jiusi paused, nodded after a few seconds.
“I feel… it’s too chaotic.”
The overall environment was chaotic.
This time, he relied on his younger sister and brother-in-law to escape disaster; what about after?
He didn’t know.
“Fourth Brother, joining the military region hospital is great. You were assigned there after graduation, so transferring in shouldn’t be hard.” Lin Zhao spoke heart-to-heart with Meng Jiusi. “Besides, the military region has strict discipline; there will be much less of that messy stuff from outside.”
“Your medical skills are excellent, and the military region needs talents like you. You’re also the researcher for that medicine; I think joining the military region hospital… you’ll have better development.”
Meng Jiusi knew everything his younger sister said.
He was somewhat worried.
“Can I? The Meng family…”
The political review for the military region hospital was strict; after what the Meng family went through, they had just recovered, and he feared something might be dug up again.
“What’s not possible.” Lin Zhao saw Fourth Brother’s concern; her casual expression turned serious. “That Leader Ning is a high-ranking leader in the military region. If he invites you, it means he can handle the worries Fourth Brother has. What is there to fear? You just made a great contribution; even excessive requests wouldn’t be an issue, let alone you haven’t made any.”
“Fourth Brother, you just overthink everything, worrying about this and that… Dad always taught us that people should first be loyal to their own needs, satisfy their own happiness, and then think of others.”
Fourth Brother was dependent on others, without confidence, so he considered too much.
Lin Zhao felt a bit sour.
Meng Jiusi smiled good-naturedly.
“I’ll go find Leader Ning tomorrow and tell him… I’m willing to work at the military region hospital and ask him to help transfer my status.”
The Meng family had regained their reputation, and his work status was restored along with it.
To change jobs, he needed to submit applications and such; the military region side also needed to prepare accordingly.
Lin Zhao clapped her hands.
“Great.” She smiled.
“I inquired; that Leader Ning and your brother-in-law are in the same military region. Fourth Brother, you go first; once you stand firm, when I go to accompany the army, there’ll be someone to help.”
Her beautifully painted brows lowered, her long curled lashes trembling a few times.
Playing pitiful on her lips:
“I heard in the military region’s staff dormitory, all kinds of people are there. Some are gossips who love spreading idle talk. If your family background isn’t good, they’ll bully you in every way. I’ll be bringing four children, and with the man not often home, I’m surely an easy target…”
Meng Jiusi’s brows furrowed; a grave expression appeared on his gentle patient face.
Was that so.
No wonder Zhaozhao hadn’t gone to accompany the army.
His heart as a brother sank continuously.
He still had to find a way to squeeze into the military region hospital; what if his younger sister was bullied?
Just thinking about it made Meng Jiusi’s breathing almost stop.
He had encountered much malice from childhood to now; this world had many good people, but also plenty of bad ones.
Meng Jiusi looked at Zhaozhao—her slim small face, arms like matchsticks, looking so easy to bully. How could one feel at ease?
“I’ll join the military region hospital.” He said solemnly.
“You gave me quite a few prescriptions; if I hand them all over… that should be enough leverage, right? It’s just… relying on you again.” Meng Jiusi looked embarrassed.
The Meng family also had many precious prescriptions; he couldn’t covet them.
“We’re blood siblings; relying on each other is only right.” Lin Zhao didn’t mind. “When I bring the four cubs, I’ll rely on you too, so no need to feel bad.”
Those prescriptions could benefit humanity, and she was happy about that.
Meng Jiusi’s gaze softened.
In the meantime, the things in the room were almost packed; he picked up the nylon bags and walked out of the room.
The bed, cabinet, and other inconvenient items were left in the room for others to use.
Yu Bao looked up at Lin Zhao. “Mom, accompanying the army means finding Dad?”
“Yes.”
Yu Bao looked expectant. “Then when are we going to find Dad?”
“Missing your dad?” Lin Zhao held the twins’ hands to wash them.
“Yes.” Yu Bao’s ears reddened, but his words were honest.
“Mom, I miss Dad too.” Heng Bao chimed in. “After my brother and I have our birthday, can Dad come back?”
“Probably not.” Lin Zhao shook her head regretfully. “Haven’t received a letter in a while; your dad must be out on a task.”
Yu Bao lowered his head, feeling upset.
Dad was never there for their birthdays.
“Angry?” Seeing the twins both silent, Lin Zhao ruffled their soft fine hair, her voice gentle.
“No.” Yu Bao responded to Mom sentence by sentence. “Heng Bao and I hope Dad celebrates our birthday, but we know Dad has to defend the home and country. We don’t blame Dad; it’s just… our hearts feel stuffy.”
He rubbed his not-so-comfortable chest, explaining to Mom.
Heng Bao nodded. “Yes.”
He poked the wall with his hand, his just-washed fingers getting dirty.
“Dad has never celebrated my or brother’s birthday.” The little friend said glumly.
“I’m here.” Lin Zhao’s tone was soothing. “How about this: for your birthday, I’ll make it lively and fun, bake you a cake, invite Yuan Bao and them over to celebrate with you. Or go to the county to call your dad; even if we can’t see him… hearing his voice, having him say happy birthday, wouldn’t that be nice?”
The twins were cubs with strong emotional needs.
Seeing Mom’s care for them, they cheered up again.
Yu Bao nodded with a smile. “Mm. What’s a cake?”
“Cake… something only big cities have, sweet and soft, even better than egg cake.” Lin Zhao spoke confidently, though she herself had never eaten it.
In the original book, Su Yuxian learned to make it to please Lu Baozhen and shared with other family members; they praised her generosity to her face but called her stupid and wasteful daughter-in-law behind her back…
Lin Zhao knew how to do it and hadn’t tried yet, but it shouldn’t be a problem.
She was skilled at making food.
Yu Bao was very expectant, his tone rising. “Then we’ll make it with Mom.”
Heng Bao said, “Mom, make red eggs?”
“Yes.”
With the promise, the two little brothers were even happier.
Heng Bao confirmed again, “You make them?”
Before, it was always their grandma who boiled them for them; people in the village mocked them… saying Mom didn’t like them.
This year, he had to regain his face.
Lin Zhao didn’t know Heng Bao’s little thoughts and said seriously, “Yes, I’ll make them.”
The two little boys laughed happily.
Jing Mo saw this scene and thought of Yuan Qin.
His mom used to be like the aunt with the twins, speaking gently, buying them clothes and candy. For his and Little White’s birthdays, Dad would buy meat and egg cake; Mom would give little gifts…
The little boy lowered his eyes, hiding the flash of vulnerability.
Adults change so fast.
Then he thought of the days after Dad was taken away, and his rippling heart cooled again.
Hmph, no mom is fine; he had Dad, that was enough!
…
Capital.
A certain staff dormitory.
A group of people had no appetite for dinner, chatting in twos and threes about the Meng family matter.
“Hey, did you see the propaganda blackboard? The Meng family… that Doctor Meng, our neighbor… he’s regained his reputation!”
“Heard about it, heard! The broadcast announced it all day; even those with ear problems heard!”
“They say Doctor Meng is resuming work; he’ll be back soon, right?” The woman speaking was excited. “Doctor Meng is coming back; wonder if the Yuan family is scared shitless! And Yuan Qin, she remarried; must be regretting her guts out.”
Some had been working overtime at the factory, living there without even going home, unaware of Yuan Qin’s remarriage.
Hearing the fresh gossip, their tired bodies suddenly perked up. “Yuan Qin remarried? When?! Didn’t hear about it.”
“…A while back.” The speaker hurriedly said. “She had no job; how could the Yuan family tolerate her eating free rice? So… they married her off and took a bride price.”
“Yuan Qin agreed?”
A scornful snort sounded.
“How could she not? Yuan Qin’s brain… it’s seriously ill. The Yuan family doesn’t treat her as human, and she can’t see it at all; if they said shit is sweet, she’d believe it.
After Doctor Meng was taken away, so many things happened to her family—that great house… taken by the Yuan family; Jing Mo and Guang Bai ran away from home; even her job for livelihood was snatched…
Everyone sees her maternal family is a viper’s nest, specifically messing with her; no matter how we point it out… she won’t listen, still thinks we’re jealous of her good fortune. Stupid to death!”
Everyone present nodded repeatedly.
Yes, stupid.
Never seen such stupidity.
The Yuan family is something else, really good at brainwashing.
“Do the Yuan family know Doctor Meng is coming back?” A nosy person asked with gleaming eyes.
“…Probably not yet; not in the same factory.”
A few exchanged glances and tacitly went upstairs toward the Meng house… now the Yuan house.
