Chapter 224: “no Humanity At All”
Because they were so expectant about returning to Fengshou Brigade, the twins didn’t eat much at the meal, their souls were floating away, while Li Bao and the dragon-phoenix twins ate with great relish.
After the meal, Lin Zhao didn’t say they were going back right away, but first took the three treasures（Yu Bao Heng Bao Li Bao） to get haircuts.
As soon as they arrived at the barber shop, Heng Bao said to the barber without any shyness: “Comrade, I want a crew cut! Give me a crew cut!”
Yu Bao, afraid of being left out, hurriedly followed: “I want a crew cut too!”
Li Bao scratched his head, “Same as Yu Bao and Heng Bao!”
Children their age rarely made their own requests; they were usually brought over by their parents, and the adults decided how to cut it.
Coming in and making requests right away, with such clear goals, the barber had truly never seen that before.
“What you say doesn’t count; your parent has to speak up.”
He looked at Lin Zhao, unsure whose kids these three were; she looked like a sister.
Lin Zhao nodded slightly, “Listen to them.”
If the parent was willing, the barber had no objections and looked at the three little boys, “Who goes first?”
Heng Bao and Li Bao both looked at Yu Bao in unison.
Yu Bao stepped forward, “Me first.”
He was used to charging ahead in everything.
The barber patted the back of the stool, “Sit!”
Yu Bao hopped up, sitting upright, his neck covered with a large piece of oilcloth, not moving a bit.
With an obedient child, the barber’s work was easy.
Two minutes per head.
Three heads in less than ten minutes.
Lin Zhao took the children out of the barber shop, looking at the three little bald eggs, and smilingly asked: “Are your heads cold?”
“A little, hehe.” Heng Bao touched his scalp; it was prickly, and he couldn’t help touching it a few more times.
Yu Bao said: “We can wear hats.”
Li Bao had no hat, so he didn’t say anything, mimicking Heng Bao’s movements, grinning foolishly.
Lin Zhao’s heart softened, “Li Bao has a hat too, same as Yu Bao and Heng Bao’s.”
“Eh?” Yu Bao’s eyes curved up, “Mom, you bought one for Li Bao?!”
“Yes, one extra.” Lin Zhao gestured for the children to walk along the sides of the road.
Li Bao looked at Third Aunt, his eyes wet.
Yu Bao happily high-fived, “Great! Tomorrow we can wear matching hats!”
A kind of excitement that disregarded others.
“Thank you, Third Aunt.” Li Bao took Lin Zhao’s hand, thanking her softly.
“No need to thank me.” Lin Zhao was very patient, “Li Bao obediently takes his medicine, and the hat is the reward.”
After being praised, Li Bao’s heart bubbled with joy, “I’ll obediently take it from now on.”
Lin Zhao gently shook her head, “Don’t say that! Take good care of yourself from now on, add clothes when it’s cold, don’t kick off the quilt at night, drink water every day… try to get sick less, build up a strong body, that’s better than anything.”
Li Bao nodded solemnly, “Mm, I’ll remember.”
Yu Bao also said: “I’ll remember too, I’ll watch over little brother and little sister.”
“Yu Bao is the most obedient.” Lin Zhao praised casually.
As they spoke, they arrived home.
Before reaching the home door, they saw a cart parked at the door, loaded with things, and the dragon-phoenix twins sitting on top.
Song Yunjin pushed the cart from front and back, treating it like a cradle, coaxing Qian Bao and Yao Bao to play.
He looked up and saw Lin Zhao and the three treasures returning.
His voice urgent: “Sis, have you packed up? Heading back now?”
Everyone more eager than the last, just not her.
Lin Zhao said straightforwardly: “Back!”
Yu Bao and Heng Bao jumped high, their mouths overflowing with strings of happy laughter.
“Back to the brigade!!” Heng Bao shouted loudly, pulling his brother and Li Bao back to the room to get their things.
Their saved candy, thick coats, small shoulder bags, hats…
Fully equipped.
Lin Zhao also went back to the room to get her and the dragon-phoenix twins’ things.
Packed up, it made quite a big bag.
She came out carrying the bag and saw Li Bao, putting the hat she held onto his head.
She looked him over.
“Good-looking.”
Heng Bao lifted his chin slightly, looking smug, leaning his head toward Li Bao, asking: “Do we look like triplets?”
“…”
Lin Zhao was silent for a moment, then said: “Yes.”
The hats matched, but their faces didn’t resemble at all.
Heng Bao got cocky, sticking out his belly, pulling Yu Bao and Li Bao’s hands as he bounced out the door.
Lin Zhao turned to lock the room door, called Da Huang and Amber, and off to the brigade they went.
Song Yunjin pushed the cart, the dragon-phoenix twins sat on top, sprawled out on the old quilt Uncle had laid, eyes gazing at the sky, watching the ever-changing clouds. Xiao Jin nestled between the two little ones, in exactly the same pose.
“Yu Bao, Heng Bao, Li Bao, do you three want to sit? There’s space up front.” Song Yunjin asked the three treasures.
Yu Bao holding his mom’s hand, shook his head, “I’ll walk back with Mom.”
Heng Bao hesitated, but the desire to ride the toy car won out, “I want to sit.”
Song Yunjin stopped, giving him a look, “Hop on!”
Whoosh.
Heng Bao scrambled up like a little monkey.
“What about Li Bao?” Song Yunjin asked him specifically, afraid he’d be shy.
Li Bao had no interest, “No!”
He’d sat on one before; without a cushion, his buttocks hurt.
Song Yunjin said no more and continued pushing.
“If you’re tired, hand it over to me.” Lin Zhao spoke up.
“No way I’ll get tired.” Song Yunjin said confidently, “This isn’t heavy.”
As he spoke, he even sped up.
Heng Bao shouted happily, “Fun! Uncle, faster!”
Song Yunjin simply jogged.
Creak creak.
The cart slid over the dirt road, making noise.
“Push slower!” Lin Zhao called out.
Pulling Yu Bao and Li Bao, with the two dogs beside them, she quickened her pace to catch up.
Da Huang and Amber were well-fed, their bodies plump with meat, fur sleek, limbs sturdy; walking on the road, they looked intimidating, drawing passersby’s eyes involuntarily.
“Such fat big dogs!” A passing kid blurted out, full of shock.
Da Huang looked at him.
The kid shrank back, not daring to make a sound.
Men looked at the two dogs appreciatively, “They’re fat, never seen such majestic dogs, don’t know how they’re raised!”
Older folks had different views, saying in a lecturing tone: “People can’t even afford meals, yet raising dogs, feeding them so fat, how much grain that takes, that big one would make good meat if killed.”
He clicked his tongue as he spoke.
Yu Bao happened to hear, fear appearing in his eyes, his grip on Lin Zhao’s hand tightening slightly.
His voice tense, “Mom.”
“Don’t be scared, Da Huang can beat wolves, no one can hurt it.” Lin Zhao squeezed the child’s hand.
She wasn’t surprised by the passersby’s words; people with empty stomachs lacking oil and water had no reason left?
This was also why she wanted to return to the brigade when there weren’t many people.
Yu Bao recalled Da Huang’s heroic exploits in the mountains, letting out a long breath.
He picked up the chubby Amber, hurrying forward, whispering in Da Huang’s ear, “Da Huang, you have to protect yourself and your cubs, keep it away from bad guys! They’re bad, want to kill you and eat your meat!”
Da Huang seemed to understand, barking once.
Yu Bao barely freed a hand to pat Da Huang’s head as praise.
“Da Huang is the best.”
Lin Zhao saw Yu Bao couldn’t hold the now bigger and fatter Amber, and said: “Let Amber walk itself, I’m here, no one dares to hurt it.”
Yu Bao really couldn’t hold her and set Amber down.
“Amber, stay close to us, don’t let bad guys catch you!” He instructed the little dog solemnly.
Amber circled her little master, barking a few times, tail wagging fast.
Yu Bao’s face lit with joy, grabbing her right paw and shaking it a few times, “We have a deal, okay.”
Amber rubbed her head against Yu Bao’s leg, “Woof…”
“Mom, Amber agreed, right?” Yu Bao looked up at Lin Zhao, face full of surprise.
“Yes.” Lin Zhao said.
The four cubs treated the two dogs and Xiao Jin as companions; losing any would be unbearable!
“Don’t dawdle, hurry on the road, once back in the village… they can run however they want safely.”
Yu Bao thought yes, made a starting motion, and ran ahead.
Song Yunjin glared at the man who said to kill Da Huang, cursing under his breath.
Even dogs on their minds, no humanity left!
Lin Zhao just wanted to get home fast, urging: “Yun Jin, hurry back.”
The sky suddenly darkened, probably going to rain.
Yun Jin snapped back, didn’t go fight the old man, continued huffing and puffing to push the cart.
Ten minutes later, few people on the road, sky fully overcast.
“Not going to rain, is it?” Song Yunjin’s face changed slightly.
Lin Zhao stayed calm, “Walk faster, best to get home before the rain.”
She pulled Yu Bao and Li Bao to speed up; Heng Bao hadn’t sat long, complained his buttocks hurt, got off the cart, now trotting, chasing and racing with Da Huang, in the lead.
Song Yunjin sped up again.
The group hurried along, getting home just before the raindrops fell.
They’d just moved the things from the cart to the bamboo table under the eaves, put away the cart, when bean-sized rain poured down, smashing on the roof, going patter patter.
“It’s raining!!” Yu Bao shouted.
Song Yunjin: “Our luck’s pretty good, almost got soaked.”
After saying that, he smugly looked at Lin Zhao, “Sis, see, bringing me was useful, right? You didn’t want to bring me earlier, but I’m useful!”
“I’m just afraid of trouble.” Lin Zhao gave him a look.
“Trouble what, not troublesome at all, your matters are never trouble, Sis you’re just being polite!” Song Yunjin said.
Lin Zhao ignored him.
Who knew what Uncle told Yun Jin; in his mind, she seemed crippled, him having to butt in on everything.
Yu Bao Heng Bao Li Bao stood under the eaves, reaching out to catch rain, feeling drops hit their palms, giggling.
Soon, Heng Bao turned his head, “Mom, I miss Grandparents, can I go to the old house?”
Anticipation appeared on Yu Bao’s face too.
Song Yunjin suggested: “It’s raining, wait till it stops, okay.”
Weather cool, he feared the twins catching cold.
The two cubs’ eyes dimmed.
Lin Zhao then said: “If you want to go, go ahead, put on raincoats and rain boots.”
Good thing she was prepared.
“What?” Heng Bao puzzled.
“Wait.”
Dropping that, Lin Zhao turned back to the room, opened the wardrobe, took out two raincoats and two pairs of rain boots from inside, thought of Li Bao and took an extra set from the storage ring.
Yun Jin needed one too, so she took a large one.
The children’s raincoats were bright yellow, rain boots matching.
Seeing such vivid colors, the three treasures’ eyes sparkled.
Lin Zhao spread out a raincoat, put it on Yu Bao, took off his hat, put on the raincoat’s hood.
“This way you’re not afraid of rain, sit and change shoes.” She let Yu Bao change his own shoes, quickly put raincoats on Heng Bao and Li Bao.
The little friends so small, in bright yellow raincoats, looked adorably cute.
“Good-looking.” Lin Zhao commented, muttering softly, “Little kids still need bright colors, so cute.”
The three treasures put on rain boots, tucked pants into boots, perfect fit, walking not cumbersome.
They went into the rain, found no rain got on them, the three little ones held hands, happily spinning in the rain.
Yao Bao wanted to rush into the rain too; Song Yunjin hurriedly scooped her up, tucking her under his arm.
“You don’t have a raincoat, can’t rush in, getting sick means shots, shots hurt.” He tried to reason with the little dumpling.
Yao Bao never had a shot, no concept, saw brothers playing in rain wanted to play too, flailing limbs, shouting nonstop.
Song Yunjin had no choice, held Yao Bao in one arm, reached for the remaining raincoat with the other, but saw it was very large, the rain boots wrapped in it also big, far from dragon-phoenix twins size.
Expectation rose in him, he looked up sharply, “Sis?”
“For you.” Lin Zhao softly.
Hearing that, Song Yunjin’s mouth nearly split to the back of his head.
“Sis, where’d you get so many raincoats and rain boots? Weren’t they hard to buy?” He touched the raincoat and boots, face full of smiles.
Rainy season, he went to school in a straw raincoat, blocked rain but trouser legs got wet. If heavy rain, shoes soaked not to mention, trouser legs wet to knees.
“I’m a Supply and Marketing Cooperative salesperson, what can’t I get.” Lin Zhao’s expression proud.
Song Yunjin thought yes, “Impressive.”
Watching the dragon-phoenix twins running in the rain, he sighed, said: “Sis, you didn’t have raincoat or boots when you went to school. If you had, you definitely wouldn’t have gotten sick every year.”
“…”
Lin Zhao: “You’re getting all sentimental… just colds, nothing.”
Song Yunjin saw differently, “Colds are so miserable, every time you had one for days you couldn’t eat or sleep well, voice hoarse like a pig squealing, not even strength to scold me and my brother… Mom and Dad feared you getting sick most back then.”
Once he opened his mouth, everything spilled out.
Lin Zhao: “?”
“My voice hoarse like a pig squealing?”
“How come I don’t remember?!” She narrowed her eyes at the loose-tongued Song Yunjin, eyes threatening.
Song Yunjin instantly behaved, stammering explanation, “…Sis you get it, not what I meant, I just… feel bad thinking how hard school was for you before.”
Lin Zhao: “No school isn’t hard.”
“I think it’s okay.” Song Yunjin smiled brightly.
“You’ve got endless energy.”
“Can’t compare to my aunt.” Song Yunjin fought wits with Yao Bao, blocking her from the raincoat, while talking to Lin Zhao, “Sis, how’d you think to buy me raincoat and boots, even Mom and Dad didn’t.”
“Uncle and Aunt did think of it, just temporarily no tickets.” Lin Zhao explained.
Raincoats and boots rubber goods, tickets rarer than oil or sugar tickets, daily items, could buy if scrimped, of course not sent out.
“I know.” Song Yunjin knew his parents cared, “From now on I’m the second in my family with raincoat and boots!”
When he got back he’d show his brother, sure to make him envious to tears.
Hehe.
At this time, Heng Bao, done playing in the rain, asked Lin Zhao through the rain curtain: “Mom, can we go see Grandparents now?”
Wants to show off, huh!
“Go ahead, walk slowly, no running.” Lin Zhao didn’t stop these few; can’t stop people, can’t stop hearts.
Yu Bao thinking of tomorrow’s birthday, said: “We’ll stop by to find Tie Niu and Yuan Bao them, tell them tomorrow is me and Heng Bao’s birthday?”
“…Okay.”
Lin Zhao agreed once, the three treasures were thrilled.
Out the home door, saw quite a few members in straw raincoats or grass hats.
Heng Bao sociably greeted every familiar person.
Villagers saw them and stopped.
“Yu Bao, Heng Bao, you two back huh, dressed real nice, city stuff?”
“This yellow’s so bright, can spot from far away.”
“Li Bao’s wearing one too, your Third Aunt’s real good to you.”
“Yu Bao, heard your elder aunt’s becoming city folk, true?”
…
Villagers gossiped busily under the eaves, asking the Gu Family’s twins.
Heng Bao told all he knew, “Yes, my elder aunt’s about to become city folk!”
