Chapter 223: “so Many People To Notify”
“Sweet, right?” Yu Bao spoke up.
“Sweet!” Li Bao nodded while speaking, looking up at Lin Zhao with sparkling eyes, “Third Aunt is so amazing, there’s sweet medicine.”
Lin Zhao: “…”
“Some medicine is sweet, so if you get sick, go to the hospital, not necessarily get shots.”
Li Bao lowered his little head, staying silent.
Lin Zhao touched his forehead and said no more.
“Li Bao’s hair has grown too.” She said, “Tomorrow I’ll take you to get haircuts.”
Heng Bao felt his hair’s length, “Mom, have the barber uncle give me a crew cut, really short.”
“Why suddenly have this thought?” Lin Zhao asked curiously.
“Convenient.” Heng Bao grinned.
Yu Bao added: “My father said real men get crew cuts.”
Lin Zhao’s silence was deafening.
Her man had been away so long, but his influence hadn’t weakened at all.
“When did your dad say that?”
Yu Bao poked his cheek with his right index finger, making a thinking face, “He said it when taking us to exercise.”
“You have a good memory, remembering from so far away.” Lin Zhao pinched her son’s cheek.
“Good memory means reciting books fast.” Yu Bao smiled like a sunflower, “I take after Mom.”
“Your dad has a good memory too.” Lin Zhao reminded.
Yu Bao immediately changed his words, “I take after Dad and Mom.”
Lin Zhao’s eyes and brows were full of smiles, “Someday I’ll take you two to call your dad. Since he can’t be here for the birthday, the gift has to arrive.”
Yu Bao’s eyes lit up, “Airplane?”
“Big car?” Heng Bao followed.
Two pairs of eyes stared at Lin Zhao.
Li Bao sucked on the sweet taste in his mouth, looking at one, then the other.
“Don’t know. Might be clothes, toys, and food.” Lin Zhao worried the children’s expectations were too high, and they’d be disappointed later, so she didn’t say for sure.
The things those two wanted were hard to get, needed connections and time.
Yu Bao wasn’t disappointed at all, light still shining in his eyes, “It’s fine, whatever it is, Heng Bao and I will like it.”
Heng Bao hummed twice, “Right, having it is good enough, we’re not picky.”
Their emotions were so stable, Lin Zhao was very relieved.
…
The day before the twins’ birthday, Lin Zhao took the two kids to the post office to call.
The two little brothers said on their lips that Dad was busy, no problem not celebrating their birthday, but actually they missed it a lot in their hearts.
Lin Zhao picked up the receiver, two little hands clenched together, breaths held light.
Seeing this, Lin Zhao wrapped her other arm around them.
The call connected.
A pleasant male voice from the other end.
“This is…” He reported the address and then asked: “Which comrade are you looking for?”
Lin Zhao said: “Looking for…” She gave a string of numbers, Gu Chenghuai’s regiment, then continued: “…Gu Chenghuai.”
“Please hold.” The pleasant voice said.
“Mom?” Heng Bao called out to Lin Zhao, wanting to say something, but before he could, his brother covered his mouth.
“Shh, let Mom focus on the call, don’t talk yet.” Yu Bao looked serious.
Heng Bao shut his mouth.
Lin Zhao was about to say it was fine when the voice from the phone came, “…Gu Commander is not here.”
“Got it, thanks.” Lin Zhao knew the rules, what to ask and not ask, thanked and hung up.
Seeing her hang up, the twins immediately realized they couldn’t reach Dad.
The similar two pairs of eyes dimmed instantly, little shoulders drooping, looking dejected.
Lin Zhao said nothing, held the two little brothers’ hands, making way for the people queuing behind.
“This can’t be helped.” After leaving the calling area, Lin Zhao comforted the two kids, coaxing: “When your dad finishes the task and returns to the troops, he’ll call us. Then you two can chat with him more, okay?”
Yu Bao: “When?”
Lin Zhao didn’t say unfounded words, only: “Who knows for sure, anyway he’ll call us back.”
Yu Bao’s expression was indescribably complex for a moment.
“…Okay.”
Heng Bao sighed, “Fine, can’t reach him, nothing to do.” He sounded so mature.
Lin Zhao covered her face.
Heng Bao’s eyes turned, a thought popped up, “Mom, is Mao Dan’er in the same place as my dad?”
“Yeah.” Lin Zhao thought, same military region, counts as same place, at least much closer than them.
“Can I call him, have him ask when Dad’s coming back?” Heng Bao’s tone excited.
“No, way!” Lin Zhao refused seriously, no room for discussion.
“Soldiers’ whereabouts are confidential, can’t casually inquire, against rules and discipline, drop this dangerous thought, hear me?” She lightly tapped Gu Zhiheng’s little head.
This brain was too active! Even thought of Mao Dan’er as a connection.
“This violates discipline too?” Heng Bao’s face fell.
“Yes!” Lin Zhao answered firmly, no leeway, determined to squash Gu Zhiheng’s little friend’s thoughts.
“Then I won’t ask.” Heng Bao said reluctantly.
His right foot restlessly kicked the cabinet, mouth pouted high.
Lin Zhao: “?”
Suddenly so manly?
“Gu Zhiheng, are you throwing a tantrum?”
Hearing Mom call his name, Heng Bao’s back chilled, posture instantly proper, tilting his clean face up at her, as obedient as could be.
“No, I was just stretching my legs, accidentally kicked the cabinet, Mom don’t be mad, I can apologize to the cabinet.”
Saying that, he squatted with butt out, touching the spot he kicked.
Softly: “Cabinet cabinet, I shouldn’t have kicked you, I apologize…”
People around seeing this smiled kindly.
What a cute kid.
Lin Zhao: …High.
Anger like a punctured leather ball, deflated with a pop.
Yu Bao watched silently, turned away pretending not to know his silly brother, little ears red.
“Alright, get up quick, still need to mail stuff to your dad, don’t delay.” Lin Zhao yanked Heng Bao up, pulling his arm toward the mailing area.
Arrived at the dedicated mailing counter.
Liang Yi stood inside the counter, busy, looked up and saw Lin Zhao, eyes lighting with surprise, “Comrade Lin, here to mail something?”
Lin Zhao nodded, put the brought things on the counter, “Yeah, mailing stuff.”
“Good, I’ll handle it for you.” Liang Yi smiled.
She worked nimbly.
Thinking of stuff from troops she’d seen before, Liang Yi flipped open her handy notebook.
Sure enough, familiar name.
“Comrade Lin, just in time, there’s stuff from the troops for you, I’ll get it.”
She packed the outgoing stuff, then fetched the incoming by number.
“From Dad?!!” Heng Bao’s tone expectant.
“Might be from your third uncle or fourth uncle.” Lin Zhao said.
The twins’ hands clenched together.
Indescribable feelings.
Lin Zhao glanced, said nothing.
Soon, Liang Yi dragged out a big box.
She looked up, eyes apologetic, awkwardly: “…Didn’t notice it was so big, can you take it back?”
Lin Zhao calmly looked at Liang Yi, shook head, “Probably not. Keep it, I’ll have my brother come get it.”
“Alright.”
Lin Zhao took the two kids home, just at the home door, the twins exchanged a look, da-da-da ran inside.
They found Song Yunjin, one on each side grabbing his arms.
“Uncle, there’s a package at the post office, go get it.” Yu Bao’s eyes expectant, making the request.
Heng Bao shook one of uncle’s arms, coquettishly: “Uncle, might be from my dad, can you go get it now, please~~”
He twisted his body, persistently nagging.
Song Yunjin indulged the two kids, agreed without a word.
“Done, I’ll go get it now!”
Saying that, headed out.
Yu Bao’s temperament careful, reminded: “Uncle, the box is big, need a cart.”
“I’ll borrow one, small matter.”
Saw Lin Zhao, confirmed with her the box was indeed big, nimbly borrowed a cart, soon pushed it home.
Lin Zhao was inside the room doing skincare, Yu Baoheng Bao rushed in, staring at her.
Heng Bao kept urging, “Mom, can you hurry, I want to see what’s in the box!”
“Want to see… if it’s stuff for you two, right?” Lin Zhao glanced, exposing his little thoughts.
Heng Bao hehe smiled, didn’t deny.
“Mom!!” He shook Lin Zhao’s arm.
Lin Zhao brushed his hand away, “Don’t fuss, wait till I’m done then we’ll open it.”
The twins had no heart for play, eyes fixed on Mom, urging with looks.
“…”
Subconsciously speeding up, Lin Zhao put away the face cream, took scissors and went out.
Yu Baoheng Bao cheered, then trotted after.
Laughter reached Lin Zhao’s ears, her mouth corners slightly lifted.
The box was indeed big, too big for one person to hold, wrapped very securely, tied with hemp rope, circle after circle, couldn’t untie no matter how tugged.
This tying method, very familiar.
The two boys were about to get their wish!
She looked at her twin sons, only saw two dark little heads.
At this moment, they both looked up.
Meeting Lin Zhao’s smiling face, blinking eyes.
“Mom?” Yu Bao’s tone puzzled.
Heng Bao directly asked, “…Why are you smiling?”
“Smiling that you two are getting your wish.”
Hearing this, the two kids’ eyes lit up like summer stars.
Yu Bao shifted closer to Mom, tone rising, “This is from Dad? Birthday gift he sent us?!”
“I guess so.” Very likely.
Looking at the box so big, probably… the airplane and big car models the two treasures wanted were hard to mail, Gu Chenghuai temporarily found a box to secure it.
“Mom, open it quick, quick, I can’t wait!!” Heng Bao urged, if not remembering Lin Zhao’s words that little friends can’t play with scissors, he’d have done it himself.
Lin Zhao shook head, “Not opening yet.”
Yu Baoheng Bao’s smiles vanished, eyes wide, faces like the sky fell.
“Why?” Yu Bao showed grievance, “Are Heng Bao and I naughty?”
Vulnerability in his eyes, “First time getting birthday gift from Dad, so looking forward to it…”
Lin Zhao wrapped her arm around Yu Bao’s little shoulder, voice soft, “Not not giving it to you, I want to save it to open on your birthday. You said it’s a birthday gift, isn’t it better to open on that day?”
She understood the two kids, opening now, no surprise on birthday, they’d feel regret.
Yu Bao cheered up again, “Good. Then Mom hide it for us, I’m afraid I can’t resist opening it.”
“Good.” Lin Zhao’s gaze indulgent.
Heng Bao a bit disappointed, “Really not opening?”
He looked at Yu Bao, “Brother don’t you want to know if there’s a little airplane inside?”
Yu Bao of course wanted to know, but he wanted more… birthday gift on birthday.
“…Same to open on birthday.” Yu Bao said reluctantly, still persuading brother: “If you open now, no birthday gift on birthday, you still want to open?”
Heng Bao shook head like a rattle.
“No, no opening!” He said.
It was Dad’s birthday gift, Heng Bao wanted to take it out, show all the village boys and girls, men and women.
Who says Dad and Mom don’t like them? Not true!!
“Mom, hide the box quick!” Heng Bao feared he couldn’t resist, kept urging.
Song Yunjin held back laughter.
“Don’t just grin silly, help me carry it to my room.” Lin Zhao said to him.
The box wasn’t heavy, just hard for one person.
“Got it!”
Siblings carried the box in.
The twins felt disappointed and lost, kept glancing at Lin Zhao’s room, eyes shining.
Lin Zhao helpless, “Stop looking, after tomorrow, the day after you’ll know what it is!”
Yes.
The day after tomorrow was the twins’ birthday.
Yu Baoheng Bao perked up.
“Mom, can I wear the new clothes you made me that day?” Yu Bao asked.
“Yes.”
“Mom, you said you’d make sweet soft cake, you remember, you can make it, right?” Heng Bao looked at Lin Zhao.
He hadn’t eaten Mom’s said cake, but heard the description, full of fantasy for it.
Fragrant, sweet, soft… how delicious!
Imagining little friends surrounding him and brother, wishing happy birthday, him and brother sharing cake, the little guy’s mouth corners nearly to the back of his head.
Lin Zhao didn’t know the second son thought so far, nodded: “Remember. Don’t worry, won’t miss yours.”
She pinched the scheming second son’s cheek.
Materials all prepared, just waiting.
“Hehe.” Heng Bao laughed, went to Li Bao, said: “…On brother and my birthday, I’ll share cake with you.”
Li Bao smiled, looking like a very good-tempered little friend, “Good. On my birthday, I’ll share red eggs with you.”
“Mm mm.” Heng Bao didn’t mind, happily agreed.
Kids’ hearts are so pure.
Lin Zhao sighed.
The next day, for Yu Bao and Heng Bao, was extremely tormenting, slower than the past week.
Finally endured the morning, didn’t expect afternoon even harder than morning.
Time really passed second by second.
The two little brothers kept looking at the door.
Not Mom…
Mom not back yet.
Li Bao called them to play, they had no spirit.
Wanting to return to Fengshou Brigade reached peak.
Song Yunjin laughed till nearly punching a hole in the wall.
Ignored Yu Baoheng Bao, let them fret, hugged Qian Bao and Yao Bao telling them stories.
3:15 afternoon.
Lin Zhao’s footsteps stopped at the door, just reaching to push, the door opened from inside.
She looked down, two smiling little faces.
“Mom, can we go back to the brigade now?” Yu Bao asked.
Lin Zhao: “…”
“Wait till I rest, after dinner go back.”
Heng Bao downcast, “Ah?! Brother and I still need to find Yuan Bao and Tie Niu them, they definitely don’t remember… tomorrow is brother and my birthday.”
Lin Zhao pulled the brothers into the yard, “Don’t worry, in time! Morning tomorrow too, for the anxious ones.”
Not strange, when little during New Year, to wear new clothes, she was this urgent too.
All the same haha.
“We have many people to notify.” Heng Bao argued reasonably.
Lin Zhao helpless, “I’ll try to take you back early, stop urging.”
Head nearly exploding.
From yesterday to now, these two boys too excited!
Out for activities overtime till 11pm, just finished now, sleepy sleepy sleepy…()
