Chapter 218: “extremely Insulting”
Father Gu happened to be looking for Lin Zhao. Seeing her come over, his old face broke into a smile.
“Third Son’s Wife, you’ve come at the perfect time. The mushroom mycelium has emerged!” he said happily.
Thinking that in a short while, they could harvest a full load of edible mushrooms, he was thrilled.
Lin Zhao didn’t expect Father Gu to have figured it out so quickly. She smiled and said, “Can I take a look?”
“Of course, why not.” Father Gu said.
He walked ahead to lead the way, but suddenly thought of the unpleasant smell in the mushroom room. He stopped, looked at Lin Zhao, and hesitated, “The smell isn’t very good. Do you still want to go?”
The third son’s family all loved cleanliness. Previously, the twins would play in the mud and step in mud pits, but after Third Son’s Wife disciplined them, the two cubs became very clean. The first thing they did when coming back from outside was to wash their hands—they wouldn’t bathe, change clothes, or get on the bed without doing so. They even carried handkerchiefs with them…
Very particular.
The mushroom room needed to maintain temperature, and it used cow dung and straw for compost. The smell was really strong. Father Gu was afraid Third Son’s Wife and the two grandsons would feel nauseous.
“It’s fine.” Lin Zhao felt she could handle it.
She had never seen artificially grown edible mushrooms and was very curious.
“Alright then.” Father Gu walked ahead to lead the way.
Mother Gu, seeing this, smiled and said to Lin Zhao, “…Your dad now treats that mushroom room as more important than anything.”
A while ago, Father Gu finished reading the “Mushroom Cultivation Guide” Lin Zhao gave him, digested it for two days, then started pondering building the mushroom room. It took him three days to get it done.
After preparing everything properly, he carefully scattered the spawn that Third Son’s Wife had someone bring back.
After a period of time, now lifting the thin soil layer, one could glimpse the mushroom fungi silently growing dark in the culture medium, and see white mycelium spreading along the bed edges.
Several people entered the mushroom room.
Heng Bao covered his little nose: “Grandpa, it stinks so bad.”
Father Gu told his grandson to cover his mouth and nose with a handkerchief and smiled affectionately, “It’s composted, of course it stinks.”
Heng Bao was full of question marks: “Why compost in the room, not in the field?”
Yu Bao also had puzzled eyes.
“Because mushrooms have temperature requirements for growth. It’s too cold outside; they won’t grow. They must be grown inside the room.” Father Gu answered patiently.
For mushroom growth, the temperature needed to be maintained at 12-13 degrees Celsius. To sustain this temperature, he had made many efforts. It was also thanks to Third Son’s Wife giving him a thermometer; otherwise, there would be no progress now.
“Oh!” The twins seemed to understand but not fully.
Yu Bao looked around but didn’t see any mushrooms. His eyes were blank, “Where are the mushrooms?”
Father Gu looked at his grandson, “They haven’t grown yet. It will take some more time.”
While the grandfather and grandsons were talking, Lin Zhao walked over and observed the mushroom soil. She found that Father Gu had done it quite properly.
“Dad did a great job. As expected of a seasoned expert.” She said, “I think in a while, Yu Bao and Heng Bao will be able to eat fresh mushrooms!”
Heng Bao’s eyes widened slightly.
The little friends were used to it—after it got cold, the vegetables at home were only radish, bok choy, potato, sweet potato, the four mainstays. If they were better off, there was cured meat, pickled mustard greens…
No mushrooms as an option.
“We’ll have mushrooms to eat?” he asked in surprise.
Heng Bao didn’t eat poorly. He occasionally got to eat the pickled vegetables Lin Zhao had stored, but he couldn’t eat them every day. He felt his mouth was a bit bland and wanted to eat something else.
“…If I can grow them.” Father Gu had a steady temperament and wouldn’t make promises about things he wasn’t sure of. He cautiously said “if.”
Heng Bao ignored it, grabbed his brother’s hand, and raised his loud voice high, full of joyful excitement.
“Brother, we’re going to have mushrooms to eat!”
Father Gu: He said “if,” they haven’t grown yet…
Only half the words were listened to.
He helplessly looked at his grandson’s round little head, not knowing what to say.
Fortunately, Yu Bao was still rational.
Who knew…
“Yeah.” Yu Bao’s eyes sparkled, looking at his grandpa with somewhat inexplicable admiration.
“Grandpa is the best at farming. He can definitely grow the biggest and tastiest mushrooms.”
His little face was full of confidence.
Father Gu unconsciously straightened his shoulders.
Yu Bao and Heng Bao had so much confidence in him; he definitely had to grow them!
“Grandpa will grow them! Grandpa will grow the biggest and tastiest mushrooms for Yu Bao and Heng Bao!!” Father Gu was full of energy, wishing he could build another mushroom room and make a few more piles of culture medium.
Culture medium, in technical terms, was also called compost.
It was made by mixing dry cow dung and dry straw with potassium dihydrogen phosphate fertilizer and water, then fermenting it in an open outdoor environment.
The piled cow dung and straw mixture needed to undergo 6 “turnings” to ferment properly.
The “turnings” were done in 5 intervals of 8, 7, 6, 5, 4 days, once each, until the cow dung, straw, and fertilizer in the compost rotted and fermented into one, then it was complete.
It was the most tedious and most important step.
“Grandpa is super awesome!” Heng Bao shouted super loudly, giving his grandpa full emotional value.
Yu Bao also said solemnly: “In the whole commune, only my grandpa can grow mushrooms. My grandpa is the best in the whole commune.”
Father Gu felt light on his feet and hands.
“When they’re grown, I’ll send them to you first thing.” He promised.
The twins grabbed Grandpa’s rough big hands, pressed their little bodies close, and the grandfather and grandsons were all warm and affectionate.
“Grandpa is so good. I like Grandpa the most.” Heng Bao’s voice was crisp.
Father Gu smiled broadly, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes squeezed together.
Mother Gu said: “Let’s go out after looking. The smell in here is strong; don’t let it make your noses sick.”
Lin Zhao had a sensitive sense of smell and was already feeling dizzy from the fumes. She had wanted to leave early. Hearing Mother Gu’s words, she led the way out.
Mother Gu smiled and said nothing.
She had long known Third Son’s Wife was delicate. What was there to say? For her to suggest going in to look was already impressive!
The mushroom room was built in the Gu Family backyard. It wasn’t large in area, but Father Gu tended to it with all his heart. The smell was unpleasant, but it wasn’t sloppy at all.
After going out, Lin Zhao asked Father Gu: “Regarding mushroom cultivation, does Dad have any plans?”
“Plans?” Father Gu repeated, and a certain plan in his heart became clearer.
He suddenly looked up at Lin Zhao, weighing his words, and said in an uncertain tone: “…I saw in the newspaper that some brigades are doing agricultural and sideline products, which can increase income for the whole brigade. I was thinking… if I master this mushroom growing skill, could our brigade do it too? Sell the grown mushrooms, so everyone has a bit more spare money and can send their own children to school…”
Father Gu wasn’t sure if his idea was good, if it could work, or if it would make his daughter-in-law think he was daydreaming. He felt quite nervous.
“It works.” Lin Zhao thought this idea was really good.
“If we really do that, our brigade will become a famous mushroom cultivation brigade. The members can increase their income and eat meat a few more times.”
Every time her family cooked meat, the doorway would be full of little friends, sitting quietly in rows smelling the taste of meat, saliva dripping uncontrollably from the corners of their mouths, looking both pitiful and cute.
She occasionally shared some meat scraps with the children, but not often, afraid they’d develop the bad habit of begging. The children were very sensible and never freeloaded. Some brought her firewood, some wild vegetables… whatever they had, they were all very obedient.
If they could live better days, Lin Zhao would be happy.
“Dad, grow boldly. As long as you grow them, don’t worry about sales; I’ll handle it.”
Hearing this, Father Gu’s eyes sharpened.
“Third Son’s Wife, are you serious?” His tone was full of gravity.
Lin Zhao nodded, “Of course it’s serious. Why would I joke about this? The city is even shorter on vegetables than the village. With fresh mushrooms, they’ll scramble for them.”
Father Gu clenched his right hand into a fist and smacked it into his palm, spinning in place a few times, somewhat urgent. “It’ll still take some time for the mushrooms to grow. I planted too late.”
He was very annoyed.
“Not late.” Lin Zhao smiled. “When they grow, they’ll produce mushrooms successively, lasting until March or April next year. Those few months… is enough.”
“You’re right.” Father Gu was greatly encouraged.
He couldn’t stay put and said: “No, I need to go find the Brigade Leader and talk to him about this.”
With those words, he hurriedly left.
“If he thinks of something, he has to do it right away, or he’ll feel uncomfortable.” Mother Gu said casually. “Don’t mind him; let him go.”
Then, she pulled the twins aside and asked about their school adaptation…
“Yu Bao, Heng Bao, how is living in the county? Are you used to it? You’ve just started school… how does it feel? Has anyone bullied you?”
Mother Gu asked with concern in every sentence, incessantly instructing: “If someone bullies you two, go call Brother Bang Bang and have him support you. You have a brother; no one to fear.”
Heng Bao nestled in his grandma’s bosom, pouting his little mouth. “Grandma, Xu Juanjuan stole my candy, the teacher took sides, and made Brother and me call our parents.”
He said it all aggrieved.
Mother Gu immediately exploded. If she weren’t holding the two cubs, she almost jumped up.
“What?”
“What’s that teacher’s name? I’ll go find him! What kind of person dares to take sides? Bullying us because we have no one? Tell me who, and I’ll go find him!” she said angrily.
Seeing the anger on his grandma’s face, Heng Bao guiltily glanced at his mom and tugged Mother Gu’s arm.
“Grandma, it’s fine, I…”
Before he finished, Mother Gu said: “How is it fine! Yu Bao, Heng Bao, don’t be afraid. Tomorrow I’ll take your Uncle and Second Uncle to the school. We have lots of family; no one can bully you.”
She couldn’t let other kids think Yu Bao and Heng Bao were easy to bully and develop the habit of picking on her grandsons.
Absolutely not.
Lin Zhao looked at Heng Bao with a half-smile.
She wanted to see how this kid would wriggle out of it.
If he made up nonsense, his little snacks would be gone!!
Heng Bao would pick and choose what to say but wouldn’t lie. He lowered his eyes, fiddling with his fingers, and said softly: “Xu Juanjuan stole my candy, Brother and I beat him up, that’s why the teacher made us call our parents.”
Mother Gu was silent for a few seconds, moved her mouth, “…Ah, like that? Didn’t beat him badly?”
“No, no.” Yu Bao waved his hands like afterimages, looking serious. “Xu Juanjuan only got skinned, didn’t faint. Heng Bao and I stopped.”
Heng Bao also said: “Daddy taught us not to hit little friends’ heads, eyes, noses… I used my fist to hit Xu Juanjuan’s buttocks. I didn’t even use force, but he cried so miserably. He’s really fragile.”
Lin Zhao just learned how they beat that Xu Juanjuan classmate—hitting the buttocks. The damage wasn’t great, but the insult was strong.
She could imagine how the little friend cried.
In the future, other little friends would avoid the twins!
Mother Gu: “Your dad taught you two to fight?”
Stinky kid, how to teach children!
“No, not fighting. He taught us self-defense and to protect Mommy.” Yu Bao explained, also vindicating Gu Commander.
Mother Gu: “…”
Couldn’t say it was wrong.
She said no more and hesitated, looking at Lin Zhao.
“Third Son’s Wife, are you going to the school tomorrow? If you’re not willing, I’ll go.”
Mother Gu was worried it would be awkward for her, so she offered proactively.
The twins suddenly looked up, nervously watching Lin Zhao.
They wanted Mommy to go, even knowing she might scold them.
“It’s fine, I’ll go.” Lin Zhao said.
Little friends are young and can’t control their tempers well yet. Fighting is normal.
Mother Gu wasn’t reassured. “How about I go with you?”
“…” Lin Zhao was helpless. “No need.”
“If the teacher really says something, don’t get upset. If it comes to it, scold Yu Bao and Heng Bao a bit, but don’t hit them. The children are still small.” Mother Gu patted the two grandsons’ heads, full of heartache, as if Lin Zhao had already beaten them.
“…”
Lin Zhao was even more helpless. “…I won’t hit them.”
“Won’t hit?” Mother Gu’s face lit up with joy. “Good, not hitting is good. Children are small; can’t hit them.”
Heng Bao couldn’t hold back and trembled again. “Grandma, Mommy said she doesn’t hit kids. Brother and I are her favorite cubs; she can’t bear to hit us.”
Mother Gu: So corny.
Yu Bao poked his brother’s arm and completed Lin Zhao’s words. “You only said half. Mommy also said if we make mistakes, she’ll write to Daddy to discipline us.”
Heng Bao only listened to the favorable half.
With brother’s reminder, he immediately remembered.
“I won’t make mistakes!” The little guy cupped his face, eyes curved. “I’m the most obedient and smartest little friend.”
Lin Zhao questioned this.
Probably the most naughty little friend.
The most obedient little friend wouldn’t, in less than two months of school, get called to have parents come by the teacher.
Mother Gu thought her grandsons were perfect in every way and praised the twins nonstop.
Lin Zhao: “…”
After the grandfather and grandsons finished their affection, Lin Zhao said to Mother Gu: “Mom, is Qingzhou available? I want to take Qian Bao and Heng Bao back to the county and ask him to see us off.”
She couldn’t ride a bicycle with four cubs; they had to walk.
“He’s available. What’s not available? I’ll go call him. He’s cooped up in the room reading books all day; his brain’s gone stiff.” Mother Gu went toward Gu Qingzhou’s room.
She knocked on the door and stated the purpose.
The door creaked open.
Gu Qingzhou came out.
“Third Sister-in-law.” He called Lin Zhao, then said: “I’ll go borrow a bicycle.”
He left afterward.
Heng Bao pulled his brother to follow. “Uncle, we’ll go with you!!”
Gu Qingzhou stopped and waited in place.
Brigade Leader’s House.
After hearing Father Gu’s words, the Brigade Leader’s mind flashed with beautiful scenes. Suddenly, he chuckled “hehehe,” the laughter eerily scary.
Father Gu’s face changed slightly. He raised his hand and smacked the Brigade Leader’s forehead with a big slap.
“…Wake up! Are you okay?”
The Brigade Leader felt his head hurt and instantly snapped out of it. Father Gu was used to heavy labor; his hand didn’t hold back. That hit made him grimace in pain.
“You old guy, daring to hit even the Brigade Leader. I see you want to fly to the sky.” The Brigade Leader clutched the sore spot, glaring at Father Gu, not yielding in words.
Father Gu felt awkward, cleared his throat, and said righteously: “Who told you to laugh that weird ‘hehehehe.’ I thought you’d gone dumb.”
“You’re the dumb one!” The Brigade Leader shot back, too lazy to argue, and pressed on the mushroom cultivation matter. “What you just said is true? You really know how to grow mushrooms now?”
He sized up Father Gu, eyes doubtful.
“Why haven’t I heard you had this skill before?”
