Chapter 225: “he Suspects His Sister Is Messing With Him”
“Your Uncle got the favor of a big shot, is that true?” the person who spoke asked again.
Favor?
Blue eyes?!
“…Yes.” Heng Bao replied loudly.
He had seen it before—Uncle’s eyes were blue and a bit swollen.
“Your Elder Aunt’s family has really made it big too.” A villager said enviously.
Heng Bao understood this, and he proudly puffed out his chest, “Of course!”
Yu Bao missed Grandfather and Grandmother, urging his younger brother, “Heng Bao, are you done? Let’s go find Grandfather and Grandmother quickly.”
“Done, done!” Heng Bao said hurriedly.
He turned to the person who asked him, “Uncle, let’s chat tomorrow. My brother and I have our birthday tomorrow, we’ll be at the brigade all day, we can talk slowly then.”
Hands behind his back, acting all mature.
Feeling the hat blocking his eyes, he lifted his hand to push it aside.
Then he bounced off with Yu Bao and Li Bao toward the old house.
The villagers chuckled.
The rain was heavy, the road was completely wet, walking wasn’t so convenient, a bit muddy, the kind where lifting your foot brings up mud.
The three little friends arrived at the old house.
At the door, Heng Bao shouted loudly, “Grandpa, Grandma, we’re back!!!”
Inside the room.
Gu Fu vaguely heard the voice and looked at Gu Mu, “Heng Bao is here?”
Gu Mu didn’t hear, “How could that be, he and Yu Bao are staying nicely in the city, it’s raining, how could he suddenly come back!”
Gu Fu thought so too and sat back down.
Just then, another clear voice came from outside.
“Huh? Grandpa and Grandma aren’t here? Why isn’t anyone coming out!?” Heng Bao stood under the eaves, stomping his feet hard to clean the mud and water off his rain boots.
Gu Mu heard this sentence.
She hurriedly put on her shoes, lifted the door curtain, and went out.
Seeing three grandsons dressed like three “little yellow ducks,” she froze in place.
“Oh my goodness, where did these good kids come from!” Gu Mu said fondly.
Heng Bao stopped stomping and ran toward her, “From the Gu family!!”
His answer was super loud.
“Grandma, quick look at our raincoats and rain boots, my mom bought them for us, they can keep the rain out.” He said loudly, like he was showing off.
Gu Mu directly touched the three treasures, their hair was dry, and the clothes inside were dry too.
Oh my, learned something new!
“Good looking.” Gu Mu said, “Your mom can even get these things.”
Third Son’s Wife is getting more and more capable!!
“Yes, yes.” Heng Bao said.
He supported himself with his left hand on the wall, lifted his raincoat with his right hand, revealing the light yellow rain boots underneath.
“There are also rain boots, pants are inside, so when stepping in rain… feet stay dry, just the shoes got muddy!”
They had just put on new clothes, the three treasures were very careful, but on the way, inevitably splashed with some mud spots.
All heartbroken.
“My new rain boots are dirty!” Heng Bao said heartbrokenly, his face scrunched up.
Gu Mu hurriedly said, “Wait till the rain stops, Grandma will brush them for you, brush and they’ll be clean!”
Yu Bao was very sensible, always doing things himself, and immediately said, “No need for Grandma to brush for us, we can do it ourselves, I can even wash white shoes, Mom says I wash them super clean!”
“Mom praised me too!” Heng Bao wasn’t happy being left out by his brother and spoke up boldly.
“Both good boys, you’re all good!” Gu Mu laughed so hard she couldn’t close her mouth.
She didn’t forget Li Bao either.
“Li Bao has raincoat and rain boots too, looks really nice, like a city kid!”
Li Bao stood under the eaves, lifted his raincoat, stuck his foot out to let the rain rinse the mud off, occasionally changing angles.
“Third Aunt gave them to me.”
Gu Mu knew Third Son’s Wife was generous, and said, “Your Third Aunt gave them to you, so keep them well.”
“Okay!” Li Bao replied.
The three treasures had just gotten raincoats and rain boots, reluctant to take them off, kept wearing them.
Shoes had mud, they didn’t go inside, sat on the small stools under the eaves.
Gu Mu said, “Yu Bao, Heng Bao, your mom is celebrating your birthday this year, right?”
The twins nodded at the same time, eyes shining with smiles.
“Yes!” The two little brothers happily swung their feet.
Yu Bao sat properly, hands clasped together, his little voice light and cheerful, “My dad sent us birthday gifts.”
“Really, counts as your dad having heart.” Gu Mu was happy for her grandsons and asked curiously, “What did he send you?”
Yu Bao shook his head, “Don’t know yet, we’ll open them tomorrow, Grandma want to watch together?”
“Sure, I want to see what good things he sent you, if my grandsons aren’t satisfied, I’ll have your grandpa write a letter to scold him!” In front of her own grandsons, even her favorite son had to step aside.
“We like whatever Dad sends us.” Yu Bao said solemnly.
Dad works hard, he didn’t want Grandpa and Grandma to scold Dad!
Gu Mu found a rag-like cloth strip, rinsed it with rainwater, squatted down to wipe the mud spots off the three treasures’ rain boots.
While busy, she asked, “Yu Bao, how does your mom plan to celebrate for you?”
She was a bit worried.
“Mom says she’ll make us cake.” Heng Bao said super loudly.
Gu Mu looked up, eyes blank, “…Egg cake?!”
Celebrating birthday with egg cake? Seems… not impossible.
“No.” Yu Bao waved his hands, “Not egg cake. Cake is made with flour, cream, eggs… and fruit, very troublesome, different from egg cake!”
He didn’t have much concept, just repeating Lin Zhao’s words.
Every time Yu Bao said one thing, Gu Mu’s heart trembled.
By the time he finished, she was numb.
“My Uncle Yun Jin says cake is super sweet and fragrant, even better than egg cake!” Heng Bao propped his chin, slurping saliva.
Gu Mu’s expression was complicated.
Using so many good things, how could it not be sweet and fragrant?!
Definitely fragrant enough to make people faint!
Bang Bang and others swallowed saliva, must be so fragrant.
Yu Bao looked at them and said, “My mom says, for my and Heng Bao’s birthday, we can invite close people to come home for a meal. Brother Bang Bang, Brother Lai Mei, Sister Lan Lan… don’t forget to come.”
Lai Mei’s mouth opened wide enough to fit an egg, her tone involuntarily rising, “All of us are going?”
“Yes.” Yu Bao affirmed.
Heng Bao also said, “My mom said it, said it several times.”
He grinned, “My mom said she didn’t celebrate for us before, this time she’ll make up for it all.”
After saying that, Heng Bao added, “Really want to have birthday every day, so happy.”
“…”
Lai Mei: Who doesn’t want that?!
Whoever has birthday, Grandma makes red eggs.
Gu Mu spat lightly, laughed, “No so many eggs at home for you to make, still want birthday every day, dreaming nicely.”
Heng Bao touched his nose tip, changed the topic, “Grandma, will you and Grandpa come tomorrow?”
Before Gu Mu spoke, Yu Bao looked at Grandpa and Grandma, eyes serious, “I want Grandpa and Grandma to go.”
“…We’ll go.” Gu Fu didn’t stay silent.
Gu Mu looked at him.
“Birthday only once a year, have to let the birthday stars have their wish.” Gu Fu smiled.
Gu Mu didn’t say discouraging words, planned to go early tomorrow, help Third Son’s Wife, and by the way ask about A Chan and Xiang Dong’s situation.
The twins didn’t stay long, after finishing their business, they left the old house and went to Little Yellow, Yuan Bao and other little friends’ homes.
Informed their little pals that they had birthday tomorrow, invited them to come play at home.
For the village’s little friends, this was all novel.
They happily agreed.
Once the twins left, each family gave their opinions.
“How did Yu Bao’s mom think of celebrating birthday for the two kids, getting weirder.” Tie Niu’s Mother muttered.
Tie Niu’s Father said, “Mind your own business, they want to.”
“Gu family’s dishes tomorrow must be good, right?” she asked again.
“Definitely not bad.” Cheng Huai’s Wife is decent, does things beautifully, if she lets her son invite, definitely won’t shortchange the kids’ mouths.
Tie Niu’s Mother worried, “Can’t let Tie Niu eat for free, what to have him bring tomorrow?”
She consulted her child’s dad’s opinion.
Tie Niu’s Father: “Nothing valuable at home, have him bring some veggies.”
“Good.” Tie Niu agreed directly, “Yu Bao’s home lacks veggies.”
He looked at his mom, “Mom, pick more, don’t be stingy, Heng Bao said his mom is making meat and sweet cake tomorrow, I want to eat a lot, if you bring too little I’m embarrassed to eat.”
Tie Niu’s Mother: “…”
She glared at her son with her eyes, said grumpily, “Go find your grandma.”
Not separated households yet, she didn’t dare decide on her own.
Tie Niu gave his mom a “knew you couldn’t be relied on” look, sighed lightly, imitating his grandpa, hands behind back, went out to find his grandma.
…
Yuan Bao’s Mother was also worrying what to have her son bring tomorrow.
“Mom, thought of it?” Yuan Bao urged.
“Don’t rush, let me think what’s suitable.” Yuan Bao’s Mother said.
“Make some rice cake?” Yuan Bao’s Father suggested.
Only a little white sugar left at home, Yuan Bao’s Mother reluctant to use it.
She said, “Not much white sugar left, need for New Year guests.”
“…We’ll see then.” Yuan Bao’s Father thought, the kids invited by the twins would all bring things, if their Yuan Bao went empty-handed, other kids would laugh.
Not okay.
“Fine.”
Yuan Bao thought of having something to bring, corners of mouth upturned, said, “Heng Bao said his mom is making meat tomorrow, I’ll save two pieces for Dad and Mom.”
Yuan Bao’s Mother felt warm inside, but mouth unrelenting, “Okay okay, eat yours, I don’t crave that! No need for you to save!”
The man looked at his wife smiling, not craving? Who said no oil in belly, in a few days buy a few ounces of meat to satisfy craving?!
“Mom doesn’t crave meat.” Yuan Bao looked surprised, turned to his dad, “Dad, I’ll save for you.”
His dad ruffled his son’s hair, “Good! Truly my filial son!”
Yuan Bao giggled.
…
After notifying everyone, the twins went home satisfied.
Lin Zhao didn’t see Li Bao return, asked, “Li Bao went home?”
“Yeah, he’ll come tomorrow.” Yu Bao answered, “Li Bao missed his mom, me and Heng Bao walked him to his door, then we came back.”
Lin Zhao felt relieved.
Heng Bao first took off his raincoat, hung it up properly, sat on the small stool to take off rain boots, busy with it, mouth saying, “Me and brother told Grandpa and Grandma… we’re having birthday tomorrow, Grandfather and Grandmother will come tomorrow too.”
Lin Zhao had no objection, “Sure.”
From her understanding of her mother-in-law, she’d definitely come very early to help.
Now even less pressure!
“I bought quite a bit of meat, just right to nourish your Grandpa and Grandma.”
The twins so sensible, all thanks to good foundation, Grandfather and Grandmother’s credit, Lin Zhao wasn’t ungrateful, all remembered in heart.
Yu Bao liked Grandpa and Grandma, wanted to share good things with them too, hearing mom’s words, heart bubbling with joy, changed out of rain boots, rushed over to hug Lin Zhao’s waist.
“Mom is so good!!” If only dad were here it would be perfect, sigh.
Lin Zhao rubbed her son’s soft hair, hugged his little shoulders, watched the rain.
Raindrops hit the roof, treetops, making drip-drop sounds, rain easing, but temperature dropped quite a bit, a little wind and one felt cold all over.
“Achoo—!” Heng Bao sneezed suddenly.
Lin Zhao pulled the two little brothers inside, “Temperature dropped, you two keep warm. If feeling hot don’t rush to take off, ask me first, only take off when I say okay, got it?”
Little kids don’t understand, sometimes sweat a bit and want to take off clothes, catch cold after, bad, get fever…
Kids getting sick is troublesome, must be careful.
“Mm-hm.” The twins nodded.
…
Next day.
Weather nice, big sunny day, ground’s rainwater all dried. Leftover muddy traces showed last night had heavy rain.
Because making cake, Lin Zhao woke very early, up bustling as sky just brightened.
Vaguely hearing movements from kitchen, Song Yunjin realized his sister was up, suddenly bounced off bed, put on jacket and went out.
Arrived at kitchen.
He just woke, still groggy, yawned, voice with just-woke hoarseness, “Why up so early, you forgot to call me again.”
Lin Zhao coaxed like a child, “Didn’t forget. Planned to call you after prep work.”
Song Yunjin face improved, leaned over, “What do you need me to do?”
“Go wash up first!” Lin Zhao eyed disdainfully.
Song Yunjin touched nose tip, “…Forgot.”
Turned to yard to wash up.
Didn’t use hot water, made do with cold.
“Hot water in pot.” Lin Zhao frowned.
“Not cold.” Song Yunjin didn’t care, “I have strong inner heat, don’t feel cold, when sky colder, definitely use hot water.”
He knew his limits, Lin Zhao didn’t mind more, instructed him to whip cream with egg whites.
“Whip eggs, keep whipping, stop only when I say.”
Song Yunjin had a row of question marks over head.
“???”
He suspected his sister messing with him.
Too bad no evidence.
Hesitated moments, Song Yunjin obediently got to work.
Scrape scrape!
Scrape scrape scrape!!
Next, kitchen full of chopsticks scraping bowl rim sounds.
Song Yunjin kept whipping, Lin Zhao didn’t say stop, he really didn’t slack.
Lin Zhao occasionally added white sugar to bowl, eyes saying continue.
Scrape scrape scrape!!
Nearly half hour, his right arm stiff and sore, almost couldn’t lift.
Tired to mouth exerting force.
“Done.”
Lin Zhao’s voice like heavenly music, Song Yunjin dropped tool, long exhale, scared expression.
He looked at milky white stuff in bowl, somewhat incredulous… this was what he whipped.
“…Too amazing!!” Song Yunjin exclaimed.
Before Lin Zhao spoke, he said dubiously, “Sis, this can make cake?”
Lin Zhao gave him a light look.
Why not?
Many uses.
Storage Ring had cream, but she couldn’t take out directly. This in bowl was whipped by Yun Jin himself, if she swapped, no flaws.
Fooling silly little brother who never ate cake, easy.
“Sis, what next?”
Lin Zhao shooed him out, “Prep done, my turn to show skills, go back to room nap.”
Song Yunjin unhappy, “No way, I gotta help you.”
Lin Zhao glanced at eggs in board corner, smiled, “Or… you continue whipping?”
“Cough… uh, I’ll go nap then.” Song Yunjin turned and left.
