Chapter 210: “spilling Their Own Tea”
“You feel comfortable is fine, if there’s a problem just say it, I’m your younger sister, happy to serve you.” Lin Zhao smiled.
Meng Jiusi rubbed his sister’s hair top, heart warm, feeling unprecedented peace.
He very much enjoyed being with family, which made him feel… he wasn’t alone.
“Zhaozhao, I went to see Leader Ning.”
“He said whatever difficulties I have, the military region will handle. I just need to report on time, and once Aunt Ning recovers, I’ll leave with them.” Meng Jiusi was very reluctant.
He didn’t have much time with relatives, of course he couldn’t bear to part.
Lin Zhao curved her eyes in a smile, “Good thing.”
Seeing her fourth brother’s reluctance, she said: “Don’t be like this, there’s still plenty of time together. Fourth brother you go first, once the military region assigns you a big house, I’ll come accompany the army, maybe we can persuade parents to come live.”
If she couldn’t see parents for months, Lin Zhao couldn’t bear it.
Meng Jiusi looked expectant, “Possible?”
He was a person lacking love, from childhood envied children with parents, only in his twenties did he have parents, of course he wanted to spend more time with them.
“Yes, very possible.” Lin Zhao blinked, “Parents aren’t rigid at all, what elder care with eldest son, you haven’t been back long, parents also want to spend more time with you.”
She smiled smugly, “Most importantly, I’m parents’ only daughter, then I’ll coax them, they definitely won’t refuse.”
“If really not, let Yu Baoheng Bao act cute, those two are pros at pretending grievance.”
The twins were with Jing Mo and Xiao Bai, grooming the little golden monkey, hearing mom mention their names, the two little brothers looked up, eyes blank.
“What’s wrong mom?” Heng Bao rubbed his nose, soft little yellow fur drilled into his nostril, the little friend couldn’t hold back and sneezed.
Lin Zhao couldn’t help laughing, “Nothing for now, your fourth uncle and I are talking, in a bit might need your help.”
Yu Bao loved helping mom, stood up, black and white eyes looking over, “What help? Heng Bao and I can help.”
Jing Mo hesitated a moment, little face serious as he declared, “Aunt, I can too.”
Xiao Bai silently raised his right hand, fingers full of golden fur.
So cute.
Lin Zhao’s heart fluttered, beckoned to Xiao Bai.
The little friend patted his hands, patted the fur off his body, obediently came over, lifted his little face.
“Aunt?” he said in a milky voice.
Lin Zhao pulled her little nephew into her arms, voice gentle, “Want to eat egg cake?”
“Egg cake?” Xiao Bai’s eyes widened round, his eyes like the Lin family’s, black and shiny as pearls, watery, very pretty.
The child nestled in aunt’s bosom, nodded, soft voice: “Want to eat.”
The child was young, but knew good from bad, could tell who was sincere and who fake, very close to this real aunt Lin Zhao, dared to say what he wanted slowly.
“Aunt get it for you.” Lin Zhao wiped her nephew’s hands, carried him to the kitchen for egg cake, “Your dad said you and your brother love it, I bought a lot, after you finish I’ll buy more.”
Xiao Bai’s soft arms hugged aunt’s neck, smile obedient, “Thank you aunt.”
Meng Jiusi faced the kitchen, helplessly called: “Zhaozhao, let Xiao Bai walk himself, he’s big, a bit heavy.”
“No, Xiao Bai is light.” Lin Zhao bounced her egg cake eating little nephew, didn’t feel heavy, “Too skinny, need to eat more, tomorrow aunt make meat for our Xiao Bai, what do you want, order, anything.”
Xiao Bai blinked, eyes expectant, “Sour sweet meat.”
“Sweet and sour pork loin? Sweet and sour pork ribs?” Lin Zhao thought of these two sour-sweet meat dishes, considering Xiao Bai’s age, had an idea, “Make sweet and sour pork loin, okay?”
“Mm!” Xiao Bai nodded, eyes curved like crescents.
Meng Jiusi felt sorry for his sister’s hard work, “Finally a day off, better rest, so much trouble.”
“No trouble, even if you’re not here, me and four kids need to eat, Heng Bao’s order is the trouble, Xiao Bai’s nothing.” Lin Zhao rubbed her face on the little friend’s face, making the little guy giggle.
Meng Jiusi looked at his youngest son’s smiling face, eyelids twitched a few times.
His Guang Bai.
Didn’t know besides what Momo told him, what other unbearable things they went through?
Two lively optimistic children, the older one became covered in thorns, though carefully hidden, the vicious flash in Jing Mo’s eyes was still caught by him; the younger one became timid and silent, had to stay where he could see him every moment, otherwise uneasy, breathing rapid, couldn’t catch breath.
Meng Jiusi hadn’t heard his youngest son laugh out loud in a long time, and so happily.
His brows relaxed, eyes flashed with a smile.
Like this, if Guang Bai had enough sense of security, he would recover, right!
…
Next day.
Xiao Bai ate aunt’s sweet and sour pork loin, the little guy really liked it, ate half bowl more rice than usual.
Heng Bao dipped steamed bun in sour sweet sauce, ate with face full of satisfaction.
“Mom, this meat is so good, you never make it for us.”
Lin Zhao wouldn’t take the blame, “You didn’t say, you don’t say how do I know you want sour sweet meat.”
Heng Bao was stumped, his chatty mouth had nothing to say.
After a good while, muttered, “Little friends all like sour sweet meat.”
Knew he couldn’t win against mom, he leaned his head on Xiao Bai’s head, tone serious, “Baibai, have you eaten other sour sweet meat?”
Xiao Bai swallowed the meat in his mouth, shook head, “No.”
Short little finger pointed at sweet and sour pork loin in bowl, voice soft, “Sweet and sour yummy, aunt awesome.”
Yu Bao fully agreed, “My mom makes everything yummy.”
Dragon-phoenix twins also tasted sour sweet flavor, rarely eating such “heavy taste” stuff, the two little ones’ eyes lit like lamps, little mouths sucked faster, lightly swung short legs, carefree making one want to send them to school.
Lin Zhao didn’t let dragon-phoenix twins eat too much, just taste.
The little brother sister ate vegetable porridge, then some potato mash, milk powder reducing, not that home couldn’t afford, the two little ones didn’t want to drink, wanted to eat like brother.
Wiped veggie leaf off Yao Bao’s cheek, Lin Zhao helplessly said: “Eat slower, learn from brother, one bite at a time.”
Yao Bao didn’t listen, still ate happily.
Lin Zhao didn’t interfere more, she’d understand when a bit older.
Mom didn’t manage, Yu Bao couldn’t stand it, pulled out little handkerchief to wipe sister’s mouth, “Yao Bao, spoon not too much, half…”
Yao Bao didn’t want to listen, lightly hummed, turned away, clumsily held small bowl to pour into mouth.
Yu Bao: “…”
He looked at Lin Zhao helplessly, “Mom, sister won’t listen to me!!”
Heng Bao and Qian Bao both listened to him this brother, Yu Bao realized sister was a tough one, confused with a hint of panic, didn’t know what to do.
“Won’t listen then don’t, she’ll listen when older.” Lin Zhao eyed to soothe her eldest son.
“Will she?” Yu Bao asked, tone full of doubt, look at Yao Bao like looking at a wayward girl.
Lin Zhao was amused.
Yu Bao’s look, like his sister was about to be seduced by some little yellow fur outside, really funny.
“She will she will.”
Thinking all this nonsense, really worrisome.
Yu Bao visibly relieved, glanced at sister’s round back of head, looked away, hands and feet quick to clear bowls and chopsticks.
“Heng Bao, your turn to wash dishes.”
Heng Bao said: “I remember, bro, help me carry bowls and chopsticks.”
“Okay.” Yu Bao helped brother clear bowls and chopsticks, took rag to wipe table clean, put away stools, whole time didn’t let Lin Zhao lift a finger.
Old Master Meng gazed lovingly, “You raised these kids well, all sensible, you’re blessed.”
He said to Lin Zhao.
Lin Zhao didn’t deny, no modesty, “Indeed sensible, their milk taught them, obedient from small.”
Yu Bao was a momma’s boy, couldn’t hold back interjecting, “Mom taught too.”
“Look at the little guy… knows to protect you.” Old Master Meng was very moved.
Three years old sees old age, words of wisdom.
Yu Bao blushed embarrassed, ran off thud thud thud to see Da Huang and Amber eat.
…
Afternoon.
Lin Zhao led four kids, brought Meng Jiusi and others back to Dongfeng Brigade.
She was the brigade’s big star, in every household’s mouth the capable one, after marrying could find work for maternal family elder brother, not something ordinary people could do.
Saying she was the talk of the town not over.
Far off saw a pretty girl, with four kids of different heights, brigade people knew, Lin Zhao brought children back to maternal home.
When they got close—
“Zhaozhao, you brought kids back, this time no bicycle, walking all the way must be tiring, quick go back, let your dad your mom make you sugar water.” An aunt on good terms with Lin family spoke.
“Aunt Wang.” Lin Zhao smiled and greeted, had four kids call.
Four kids obediently called.
They wore clean and neat, looked fair and clean, eyes bright and spirited, showed smart look, very likable.
Even those who didn’t like Lin Zhao couldn’t hate these four kids.
Old Woman Liu’s gaze swept over Meng family few, with ill intent: “What are these people here for?”
“Lin family daughter, your man is soldier, we can’t do anything to wrong soldier comrade.”
Malice came head-on.
Meng Jiusi narrowed eyes, smile slightly cool.
“Heart dirty sees all dirty.”
Light comment after, he looked to Lin Zhao, warm voice: “Zhaozhao, I can’t wait to see our home, quick lead the way, I’ve waited this day many years!”
Lin Zhao coolly glanced Old Woman Liu, ignored her, led the way ahead.
“Fourth brother follow me, our home is brick and tile house, easy to spot.”
Their group soon entered village.
“…Fourth brother? Didn’t hear wrong?” Old woman patching shoes pricked finger, felt pain to snap back, “That young man is Lin family child?!”
Those knowing some past covered mouth, “Lin family that stolen at birth child… back?”
“Impossible, lost over twenty years, how find back, won’t be Lin family daughter recognized brother outside?”
Old Woman Liu asserted: “Definitely, that young man not like Lin family at all, can’t be Lin family lost child!”
Before she failed to harm Lin family, instead harmed her own grown son-in-law, home without wronged daughter’s support, days plummeted, already hated Song Xiwei to the bone, wished she never find birth son.
“I see that young man looks like Zhaozhao’s dad.” Same handsome good looks.
“Those two boy kids also like. And that old man, what’s with him? Zhaozhao brings anyone home.”
…
Village things can’t hide, soon spreads everywhere.
Spread not good words.
Some say Lin Zhao recognized a brother outside, brought home, some say she recognized powerful godfather, want him get work for whole family… as absurd as can be.
Lin Zhao didn’t know yet.
She brought Meng Jiusi and others to Lin home.
“Da Dan, Er Dan… your aunt and fourth uncle back, quick come out, what doing…”
People inside came out.
“Aunt, aunt!”
Seeing Lin Zhao various rare.
But faced Meng Jiusi that face, full of stranger.
Who…?
What aunt just called, fourth uncle?
They have?
Da Dan few very confused, blankly looked at aunt.
“Huh? Your dad didn’t tell you?” Lin Zhao puzzled.
“…What should dad tell us?” Da Dan asked for them.
Er Dan etc. nodded fiercely.
Right, what’s being said.
Lin Zhao pulled Da Dan few aside, concisely told them cause and effect. Lin Heling and Song Xiwei greeted Old Master Meng, talked to Meng Jiusi.
Hearing aunt’s words, Da Dan shocked into emoji, “Aunt, you mean, we originally had three uncles? He…”
He stealthily pointed at Meng Jiusi, “He’s my fourth uncle?!!”
“That’s the idea?”
Lin Zhao nodded, “Yes, perfect understanding.”
“Aunt you’re awesome.” Da Dan eyes adoring, “You found him by birthmark on his ear, better than detectives in books.”
Odd focus.
Lin Zhao: This praise for her.
“I from small heard grandpa say, ears callused, see definitely recognize, you you also recognize.”
Er Dan said: “Still aunt careful, my bro rough, exams forget write name, he wouldn’t recognize.”
Da Dan: “…”
He almost a week no hit his bro!
Lin Zhao laughed hard.
“Brought egg cake for you, go get.”
Xi Bao hugged Lin Zhao’s waist, little body swaying, voice wavy, “Aunt best.”
Words fell, pulled Lin Xuan Lin Zheng to get egg cake.
Each took a piece, went out as little megaphones, talking about own fourth uncle.
Better burst own melon than rumors, grandpa taught them.
Then.
Before village rumors spread wide, newer melon came, spread by involved family, guaranteed real.
Dongfeng Brigade people very excited.
Soon knew… Lin family let them know.
Turns out Meng Jiusi was Lin family stolen youngest son, found back by Lin Zhao, from small adopted by Meng family, learned medical skill, went to university, married, has two sons…
Lin home.
Meng Jiusi led by Lin Zhao, came to his room, also saw… clothes Lin Heling made him, one set every year, from childhood to adult, filled the cabinet.
His throat dry, lips tight.
Silent good half day.
“Dad makes clothes for me every year, never thought.” Meng Jiusi sat on his bed, looked around whole room, eyes glistened, “These years always wondered where my home, why parents abandon me, faced injustice, couldn’t help resent… not raise why birth me. Didn’t expect…”
Turns out in place he couldn’t see, his parents missed him, loved him wholeheartedly.
Lin Zhao sat beside fourth brother, looked out window, talked childhood matters, “This room of yours, besides parents, even I can’t enter. Second brother once sneaked to your room, slept your bed, third brother fought him, said this your room, no one occupy, who occupy he beat…”
Meng Jiusi mind flashed scenes Zhaozhao described, corners of mouth kept rising.
That beggar little boy drowned in regret gradually disappeared.
