Chapter 220: “pie In The Sky”
Gu Qingzhou hadn’t finished his homework yet, but he didn’t delay much longer, grabbed his things, and returned to the brigade.
He first went to the Brigade Leader’s house to return the bike.
The Brigade Leader’s Wife saw the bags and packages in Gu Qingzhou’s hands. As soon as he left, she said to the Brigade Leader, “He brought back so many things again, bulging ones, who knows what they are…”
“It’s probably Chenghuai’s Wife being filial to her parents-in-law.” the Brigade Leader guessed.
His impression of Lin Zhao was extremely good now; she was capable and filial. Half the village’s daughters-in-law combined couldn’t compare to her alone.
The Brigade Leader’s Wife had a complicated look in her eyes, feeling sour inside.
“Cheng Huai gives her over fifty yuan in allowance every month, plus her salary… The little bit she uses to honor the old couple is nothing at all.” the Brigade Leader said. “Don’t be sour. Once Dahai gets into the Epidemic Prevention Station, he’ll hand over his salary to you every month too. With money in your hands, you’ll feel even more comfortable.”
His family hadn’t separated households yet, and his wife managed the household.
Scenes flashed through the Brigade Leader’s Wife’s mind: her son handing over his salary every month, villagers envying her, buying a schoolbag for Tie Niu… The more she thought, the brighter her eyes got.
“Right, right.”
As she spoke, she picked up the Brigade Leader’s empty enamel mug and went to the kitchen, humming a tune as she refilled it with water.
The Brigade Leader was speechless.
Whenever there was good news, this wife became incredibly enthusiastic, like a completely different person.
Gu Family.
Gu Qingzhou had just entered the room.
Gu Mu saw the things he brought and hurriedly went up to him, taking one bag, saying, “What’s all this? Did your Third Sister-in-law give them?”
“Even a single scallion costs money in the city, and you can’t buy tofu without coupons. She still has to take care of four kids; it’s not easy for her. Try not to take things from your Third Sister-in-law.”
Gu Qingzhou put down the things and sat down to rest.
After drinking a few sips of cool boiled water, he said, “You know my Third Sister-in-law’s temper; I can’t argue with her.”
He also didn’t dare to.
Not afraid of his Third Sister-in-law, but afraid of Third Brother.
When Third Sister-in-law had just married over, she said something to him, and he didn’t respond right away. Then Third Brother came to him and stared at him for a full two minutes, making him sweat profusely. Third Brother asked him… if he had any opinion about his Third Sister-in-law. What opinion could he have? He was wronged to death! After that, he never dared to offend his Third Sister-in-law again, treating her with utmost care, and then there was peace!
Gu Mu couldn’t refute Gu Qingzhou’s words.
She changed the subject, “So what’s all this?”
Gu Qingzhou said, “One bag is materials for gluing matchboxes. Third Sister-in-law said to give them to Eldest Brother’s Wife and Second Sister-in-law. Eldest Sister has to take care of Brother-in-law and doesn’t have time for this work, so she has to give it up.”
“The other bag is for us. The red dates and honey are for Mom, the green brick tea is for Dad, and the leather gloves are for me.”
He took out the leather gloves and tried them on.
He didn’t know what kind of leather it was, but it was particularly light and soft, fitting the skin well without affecting work. There was a layer of fleece inside the gloves; as soon as he put them on, his hands felt warm.
“These gloves are good.” Gu Fu spoke up.
Gu Mu took them from her youngest son, felt them, and also said, “They really are good. I don’t know where your Third Sister-in-law got them from; they don’t look like defective products from the Supply and Marketing Cooperative.”
“These things…” Gu Fu glanced at the other items, having a guess in his mind. “They don’t look like things from around here. Did her Third Brother send them?!”
Gu Mu: “Possible.”
That Third Son’s Wife’s several brothers all doted on their little sister, sending her all the good stuff they had.
She was used to it, used to it.
Gu Mu returned the gloves to Gu Qingzhou and said, “With these gloves to keep you warm, I’ll ask your Third Sister-in-law for some frostbite ointment. I hope your hands won’t get frostbitten again this year.”
It was strange, really.
Eldest Son, Second Son, and Third Son were all fine, but Qingzhou got frostbite on his hands every year.
His hands would get red and swollen, cracking open. Even picking up a rice bowl could make blood ooze, which broke his parents’ hearts.
“Mm.” Gu Qingzhou nodded.
Gu Mu looked at the red dates and honey her daughter-in-law had given her out of filial piety, her face full of smiles.
“Such big dates! And honey too! Ever since Third Son harvested that beehive back then, I haven’t seen honey again. Even without opening the bottle, it smells sweet.”
“Your Third Sister-in-law is really thoughtful.”
To be honest, ever since separating households, the old couple lived better than when they hadn’t separated.
The second household couple lived at home; heavy work like fetching water and watering the vegetable patch was handled by Gu Yucheng. Second Sister-in-law was diligent and would casually wash clothes for her parents-in-law.
When Eldest Son caught fish, Eldest Brother’s Wife would cook it and send some to the old couple.
Third Son’s Wife was also filial… She came back from time to time, never empty-handed. The old couple ate meat much more often, and there was malt extract, egg cake on the cabinet in the room… all to supplement their bodies.
They didn’t work as hard as before, forcing themselves to earn ten or eight work points a day. Now they each earned five or six work points a day, and as long as there was enough grain to eat, it was fine.
Not yet sixty, and living such a good life—Gu Mu never would have dared to imagine it before.
No parents or parents-in-law in the whole village lived as well as they did.
Gu Qingzhou listened to his mom’s words, a smile spreading in his eyes.
Back when Third Sister-in-law didn’t care about anything, his mom would sigh three to five times a day.
Just like Xianglin’s Wife.
Her mouth kept saying: She shouldn’t have chosen based on looks, shouldn’t have thought the Lin Family daughter was educated and agreed for Third Son to marry her. She had let down her son, let down the four kids… blah blah blah.
Every time, everyone wanted to run away when they saw her.
Now, the situation had completely reversed—
She’d say at every turn: Your Third Sister-in-law is great, your Third Sister-in-law is filial, your Third Sister-in-law is an impeccable daughter-in-law, your Third Sister-in-law really knows how to raise kids… always praising.
Gu Qingzhou cleared his throat, suppressing a laugh, and asked, “Mom, the materials for gluing matchboxes—should you deliver them, or should I?”
“No need to deliver. I’ll call your Eldest Brother’s Wife over to split them with your Second Sister-in-law.” Gu Mu said.
She wanted to check on Li Bao while she was at it.
…
Li Bao had slept and was feeling a bit better.
It was windy outside, so Huang Xiulan was afraid her son would catch another chill and kept him in the room.
At this moment, the child was huddled on the bed eating an apple.
He ate it so carefully and meticulously, chewing each bite slowly. Only when it had no flavor left did he swallow it down his throat.
Tie Dan was afraid he’d get hungry watching, so he didn’t stay in the room and sat at the door.
Seeing Gu Mu arrive, he shouted toward the kitchen, “Mom, Grandma’s here!!”
Hearing this, Huang Xiulan quickly came out.
“Mom, why’d you come? Is there something?” she asked directly.
Gu Mu asked, “How’s Li Bao?”
“He just woke up, much more spirited. He’s eating an apple right now.” Huang Xiulan was very happy; her furrowed brows relaxed. “Third Sister-in-law said eating more apples can improve some kind of resistance…”
She forgot.
Tie Dan reminded her, “Resistance. My Third Aunt said resistance.”
“Right, that’s the one.” Huang Xiulan didn’t quite understand but trusted Lin Zhao completely. Whatever Third Sister-in-law said, that’s what she did.
“Mom, the vegetable thin porridge Third Sister-in-law mentioned is really good. Li Bao ate it and didn’t vomit again. I reckon he’ll be better tomorrow.”
“No vomiting is good. Don’t get careless; keep an eye on him tonight. If anything happens, come find me and your dad.” Gu Mu instructed worriedly.
You can’t be careless with a child getting sick, especially at night; if the fever lasts too long, it can make them dumb.
“Got it.” Huang Xiulan agreed.
Gu Mu explained her purpose, “Third Son’s Wife brought some materials for gluing matchboxes. She plans to split this work between you and Second Sister-in-law. If you’re willing, go to the old house and discuss the division of labor with her.”
It was like pie falling from the sky!!!
Huang Xiulan was stunned for a moment, then quickly came to her senses, excitedly saying, “I’ll do it, I want to do it!”
Who wouldn’t want to do something that earns money?
Gu Mu: “Second Sister-in-law will be back soon too. Discuss it with her; I won’t interfere.”
After discovering that not meddling too much made everything better for everyone, she rarely interfered in anything anymore.
“I’ll go right now.” Huang Xiulan couldn’t wait to confirm it.
Gu Mu understood her feelings; in the countryside, opportunities to make money were scarce. It was hard to come by one, so no one wouldn’t be anxious.
“Let’s go.”
Huang Xiulan remembered the pot was still on the stove and said to Gu Lan, “Alan, watch the pot; I’ll be back soon.”
“Okay.”
So, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law pair returned to the old house.
Tie Dan overheard his grandma and mom’s conversation, his eyes rolling as he looked at Gu Lan, “Sis, our family is getting matchbox gluing work?”
His tone was light and upbeat, very cheerful, as if plotting something.
Gu Lan corrected his wording, “It’s not our family’s; the matchbox gluing work will be done in collaboration with Second Aunt.”
“Same thing.” Tie Dan waved it off casually and said again, “Sis, does gluing matchboxes earn a lot of money?!”
“I don’t know.” Gu Lan shook her head.
“But it’ll be extra income for sure.” she said.
As long as you’re careful, anyone can do matchbox gluing work. She could do it too, Gu Lan thought expectantly.
“Hope Mom earns more; I want to eat my fill.” Tie Dan’s eyes shone.
Every day he went out looking for food, stuffing anything that could fill his belly inside, yet he always felt hungry.
Gu Lan looked at her younger brother with heartache, “Mom added grain; you’re still not full?”
“It’s enough, I guess. I’m just greedy.” Tie Dan mumbled vaguely, not saying anymore that he wasn’t full. He knew the family didn’t have much grain or money.
She had raised both younger brothers, so Gu Lan could see through Tie Dan’s thoughts at a glance.
She sighed softly and went to the kitchen, digging out a sweet potato from under the stove, handing it to her brother.
“Eat this sweet potato to tide you over if you’re hungry.”
Tie Dan padded the sweet potato with a leaf, blowing on it while peeling, “Sis, why do you still have buried sweet potatoes?!”
Gu Lan: “Mom buried them.”
Tie Dan’s face stiffened.
“?”
“Mom knows you’re not full and buried them especially for you.” Gu Lan explained.
Tie Dan turned around, awkward, “How does Mom know I’m not full?”
He muttered, “I didn’t show it.”
Gu Lan’s expression was calm, “She gave birth to you.”
“…Oh!”
Gu Family Old House.
Zhao Liuniang learned that Lin Zhao had given the matchbox gluing work to her and Eldest Brother’s Wife, grinning from ear to ear.
“Really? That’s great.”
She looked at Huang Xiulan, “Eldest Sister-in-law, shall we split it now?”
Fine.
She was even more eager.
“Okay.”
So, the two split a bag of materials evenly.
Just thinking about getting a few yuan at the end of the month, they were too excited to speak.
Oh my, Third Son’s Wife was just too good!
Gu Mu was afraid they’d go out bragging, so she sternly reminded them, “Don’t blab outside. Make a fortune in silence; our family is conspicuous enough already.”
Zhao Liuniang spoke first, “We won’t say, we won’t.”
She and Eldest Sister-in-law weren’t fools; did Mother-in-law think too little of them?
Huang Xiulan also said, “Nothing to say; we’ve got matchbox gluing to do, right, Sister-in-law?”
“Right.”
Gu Mu: “…”
Gluing matchboxes felt like they were doing something amazing.
…
Lin Zhao was unaware of these matters for now.
After picking up Da Huang, Amber, and the dragon-phoenix twins, her family had officially moved to the city.
Upon hearing the news, Uncle Song and Aunt Song brought two meat dishes over.
“You should have brought our Qian Bao and Yao Bao here sooner!” Uncle Song picked up the two kids, his gaze gentle yet somewhat heartbroken, feeling the twins had been wronged.
Lin Zhao said softly, “It’s not too late bringing them now.”
“You’re just bullying the two kids for having good tempers.” Uncle Song disapproved.
Lin Zhao was puzzled and retorted, “They’re not that good. I had to coax them for a long time after leaving them behind. If Uncle doesn’t believe me, ask Yu Bao and Heng Bao.”
The twins, named, nodded quickly.
“Yeah, Mom coaxed us for a long time.” Heng Bao said.
Uncle Song: “…”
He carried the dragon-phoenix twins to the side, feeding them things as carefully as could be.
“Aunt, look at Uncle! He doesn’t dote on me anymore; now he only protects the two little ones.” Lin Zhao complained to Aunt Song.
Aunt Song patted the back of her hand, smiling.
“Aren’t the two little ones benefiting from you too? If they weren’t your kids, your uncle would at most glance at them a few more times; he wouldn’t be this patient.”
Lin Zhao was instantly soothed, beaming.
She asked, “Aunt, where’s Yun Cheng? Why didn’t he come?”
Aunt Song glanced at her husband and said bluntly, “Your uncle made Yun Cheng stay home to reflect and didn’t let him come, saying seeing him is upsetting.”
“…”
Yun Cheng was quite pitiful; lost his girlfriend, and now his parents found him annoying too.
But he deserved it; who told him to have bad eyesight.
Lin Zhao didn’t mention it again.
The family happily ate a hot meal, formally celebrating Lin Zhao bringing the four kids to the city.
Before Uncle Song and Aunt Song left, Lin Zhao handed them a lunchbox.
“Not letting Yun Cheng join doesn’t mean he shouldn’t eat. I packed this separately for him; Uncle and Aunt, take it back to him.”
Afraid they’d stay mad, she softly comforted them.
“Yun Cheng breaking up with that female comrade shows he values you more. First time dating someone, it’s inevitable to misjudge. Forgive him this once. If he messes up again, no need for you to do anything; I’ll teach him a lesson.”
Yun Jin poked his head out from the kitchen, shaking water off his hands, “Mom, don’t forget to tell my brother what Sis said.”
His brother was scared of his sister too; he wouldn’t take her words lightly and would definitely take them to heart.
“Got it.” Aunt Song said amusedly.
It was time to properly discipline Song Yuncheng; his eyesight was too poor.
…
Song Yuncheng’s smile vanished completely when he heard what Aunt Song brought back.
He looked at his mom resentfully, “Mom, you’re deliberately not letting me eat properly. Didn’t you always say lightning doesn’t strike people eating?”
“Can’t eat it now? Leave it; tomorrow your dad can take it as lunch. Weather’s cool now anyway; it won’t spoil.” Aunt Song said.
Uncle Song looked over, indicating he had no objection.
Song Yuncheng quickly snatched the lunchbox into his bosom, “I’ll eat it; I’ve been hungry all day!”
Sigh, people really can’t make mistakes. His status in the family had plummeted to the bottom, probably not even as good as his sister’s family’s Da Huang and Amber.
…
The next day, early in the morning.
After getting up, Lin Zhao didn’t feel like cooking and planned to buy breakfast at the state-run restaurant.
Song Yunjin came out of the toilet, hair sticking up in a few tufts, and seeing his sister about to go out, asked, “Sis, where you going?”
“Buying breakfast.” Lin Zhao said.
“Call me for errands.” Song Yunjin let out an irritable roar.
“I live here… just to run errands. That’s all I’m good for. Sis, if you don’t let me do things, am I just freeloading without shame?”
Lin Zhao: “…”
“Stop nagging; go buy it!”
Song Yunjin shut his mouth, asked how much, and after hearing, happily trotted off to line up at the state-run restaurant door.
He jogged all the way; not many people when he arrived.
Lin Zhao finished washing up and had Da Huang call the twins to get up, while she packed the things to bring to work today.
She had to bring Qian Bao and Heng Bao, a whole bunch of miscellaneous stuff in a big bag.
Two barks came from the next door room.
Yu Bao’s voice rang out, “Heng Bao, time to get up. If we’re late for school, the teacher will make us call our parents again.”
Hearing “call parents,” Heng Bao immediately opened his eyes and sat up, more awake than when his brother splashed water on his face.
“I’m up…” He crawled to the wall corner and rubbed Amber’s round head.
