Chapter 233: “there Are Vegetable Leaves”
“Qiu Lian came to my house looking for trouble again?” Although his friend hadn’t said it, Lin Shisheng could guess it.
He knew exactly what kind of family the Qiu Family was, as her former son-in-law. Now that Qiu Lian had no value left, it was obvious even to a fool what the Qiu Family would do to her and what she would do when she had nowhere to go—Lin Shisheng knew perfectly well.
“……You know about it.” The young man scratched his head and grinned sheepishly. “I thought Da Dan and the others hadn’t told you. Your ex really did come, and she left not long ago. If you’d come back a bit earlier, you might have run into her.”
What a fair-weather friend, not even trying to hide his gloating expression.
Lin Shisheng: “……”
His expression was speechless.
The young man kept talking. “I don’t know what she wanted, I arrived late. By the time I got there, Lin Aunt had thrown her out. She was banging on your door, yelling that she wanted to see Xuanxuan and Zheng Zheng, cursing them for being heartless, saying their biological mother was here and they wouldn’t even come out, stuff like that.”
“Then afterward, the brigade aunts really laid into her.” Thinking of the vicious things those brigade aunts said, he couldn’t help laughing. “You know how they can talk, one after another, until she couldn’t even hold her head up. In a rage, she ran off!”
Lin Shisheng could almost picture the scene.
“Right, I came to find you because of another matter, just heard about it, and it still relates to Xuanxuan’s mother.” Excitement filled the young man’s eyes.
Seeing his childhood friend’s odd reaction, curiosity flickered in Lin Shisheng’s gaze.
“What is it?”
“That woman was married off by the Qiu Family to Shan Hu.” The young man didn’t tease, his face full of satisfaction.
He knew his brother had lived a stifled life after marriage, his spirit nearly worn away these past few years.
Lin Er’s divorce truly made him happy for him.
See, right after the divorce, good things were coming his way—even a job with the transportation team! If you asked him, that Qiu Lian was a vampire, bad luck incarnate.
“Shan Hu?” Lin Shisheng truly hadn’t expected that.
Qiu Lian valued her maternal family more than her own little family, but she was also wary of those Qiu Family people. From the way she secretly stashed away the betrothal gifts once she found out… it was clear. Not to mention, after marrying into the Lin Family for so many years, she got a few bucks every settlement from work points—quite a bit over the years.
With money in hand, would she be willing to marry a Shan Hu?
Shan Hu lived in the mountains; going to the county meant crossing mountains and ridges, with wolves on the road—no one wanted to marry in there.
Once, when Qiu Lian learned that a girl she’d grown up with had been sold by her biological father to a Shan Hu, she had a face full of schadenfreude, laughing that the girl’s life was ruined…
That vicious facial expression was repulsive to see.
What was going on now—fate’s boomerang hitting her own head?!
“After she left our brigade, she went back home, and that Shan Hu was waiting at the Qiu Family. The moment he saw her, he carried her off.”
“She did try to struggle, but it was no use.”
The young man told Lin Shisheng everything he’d heard, in full detail.
Lin Shisheng understood.
……She’d been sold.
“Which Shan Hu?” he asked.
The young man knew what Lin Er was worried about and said, “Don’t worry, she can’t come back.”
“That godforsaken place is so remote, anyone unfamiliar with the roads trying to come down is dead meat. I reckon she’ll be stuck in the mountains for life!”
Ever since Lin Shisheng divorced Qiu Lian, people familiar with him referred to her as “she” or “her,” occasionally calling her Xuanxuan’s mother.
Lin Shisheng figured Qiu Lian, being such a troublemaker, surely had a backup plan, but he didn’t care.
As long as she didn’t come bothering them, she could do whatever she wanted.
After chatting with his childhood friend, Lin Shisheng shouldered two bundles of firewood and headed home.
Once home, he packed up the things he’d brought for his younger sister and the nephews, then went straight to Fengshou Brigade.
Gu Family’s Third Branch.
In the yard.
The children were eating their meal, eating the meat themselves and giving the bones to Da Huang and Amber, who were wagging their tails around them.
When they got to the bones, the two dogs’ tails spun like propellers, just like the little friends, loving today’s day.
“Da Huang, come here, I’ve got a big bone for you.” Heng Bao called out excitedly, waving to Da Huang.
Da Huang obediently came forward and got a bone with bits of meat on it.
It immediately got excited and started devouring it.
Amber came to snatch, but Song Yunjin grabbed it by the scruff of the neck. “Little dogs can’t be too greedy.”
The puppy thought he was playing, whining and pawing with its front claws, eyes bright.
Song Yunjin: “……”
He took Amber aside to educate it.
Lin Zhao: Childish as hell!
Just then, Lin Shisheng pushed open the yard gate.
“Everyone’s eating!” he called out brightly.
Hearing the voice, Lin Zhao looked over in surprise, saw her second brother, and rushed up excitedly, grabbing his arm.
“Second Brother, you’re back!!” She happily looked Lin Shisheng over and keenly caught the stiffness that flashed across his face.
Lin Zhao let go. “Your arm is injured?!”
She frowned, tone certain.
When Lin Shisheng arrived, he’d told himself not to let it show again.
He hadn’t expected to be spotted by Zhaozhao the moment he appeared.
His face was slightly embarrassed.
“Just a little injury, mostly healed.”
Lin Zhao glared at him. “Whether it’s little or not, I’ll let Yun Jin check. Second Brother never tells the truth, I don’t believe you.”
Song Yunjin held his rice bowl and grinned, grinning obnoxiously.
Lin Shisheng gave him a dark look. “You’ve got a bit of veggie stuck in your teeth.”
Hearing that, Song Yunjin shut his mouth, shot his cousin a glare, and stomped off.
A smug look appeared on Lin Shisheng’s face.
“……” Lin Zhao was utterly speechless.
Two childish ghosts.
Thinking that, her mouth still curved up.
Second Brother was much more lively than before the divorce; as his sister, she could only be happy.
Seeing their second uncle, the four kids dropped their rice bowls and ran over pattering.
Heng Bao eyed the baggage Lin Shisheng brought, acting very familiar, and asked directly: “Second Uncle, is what’s inside birthday gifts for me and Brother?”
Lin Shisheng said: “Yes, and gifts for my sister and Qian Bao and Yao Bao.”
Hearing everyone in the family had one, Yu Bao’s smile grew even brighter.
“Thanks, Second Uncle.”
Lin Shisheng patted his little head. “No need to be polite.”
Song Yunjin went to rinse his mouth, didn’t spit out any veggie, puzzled. He went over and checked in his sister’s mirror, instantly puffing up like a pufferfish.
No veggie at all, liar.
He stormed back over indignantly.
He heard the conversation between Lin Shisheng and the twins.
Rubbing his hands excitedly, “Is there one for me?”
Knowing there’s no such thing as a free lunch, Yun Jin volunteered: “I’ve still got half a cake my sister made.”
Lin Zhao: “……”
Lin Shisheng: “Yes.”
He’d make sure there was one even if there wasn’t!
He had to eat the cake his sister made.
“Second Brother, have you eaten?” Lin Zhao asked.
“Yes.” Lin Shisheng’s tone was smiling. “Xuanxuan made me noodles, even put an egg on top.”
Lin Zhao wasn’t surprised. Don’t let Xuanxuan’s young age fool you—her cooking skills were really good. She’d learned by following behind her grandpa.
“Xuanxuan feels sorry for you,” she said.
“Second Brother, you’ve lost a lot of weight, your face is all sunken. The truck must be tough, huh.”
Lin Shisheng laughed. “Tougher than going down to the fields to work? Don’t worry, Brother’s fine. It’s just the first time, and the place was remote. Normally it’s not like that, you’ll get used to it.”
This was true.
But then again, if it weren’t dangerous, they wouldn’t need an extra person on the truck.
He’d lucked out!
“Just know what you’re doing.” Lin Zhao said.
Just after saying it, she couldn’t help adding, “Whatever you do, don’t forget… you’ve got two young daughters, and we’re all home waiting for you.”
Second Brother hadn’t come back for so long, she was worried too.
Lin Shisheng flashed a row of big white teeth. “Brother knows.”
After answering, he opened the baggage and took out the things.
Milk powder and animal crackers for the dragon-phoenix twins, scarf and hat for his sister, two little military caps for the twins…
“Here, your gifts, one each. Perfect time to wear them now. Nice, huh?”
More than nice.
Yu Bao and Heng Bao stared at the little military caps, unable to look away.
“Second Uncle, how’d you get these? I’ve always wanted a little military cap, and you gave them to us for our birthday!!” Heng Bao bounced in place excitedly, showering him with flattery. “Second Uncle, you’re so awesome, you must be the most awesome uncle in the whole world.”
Lin Shisheng’s mouth curved up to an unbelievable degree from his nephew’s praise.
Song Yunjin found the scene familiar.
Thinking about it, this was how he usually got sweet-talked too.
He lowered his eyes, gaze complex as he looked at the twins’ crown whorls, feeling an indescribable mix inside.
Tsk.
Lin Shisheng didn’t stay long; he rarely came back and had things to do.
After seeing his sister’s family, he said goodbye and left.
Lin Zhao saw he was in a hurry and didn’t stop him.
After he left, she realized she’d forgotten to check his arm.
Whatever, he looked spirited enough, probably not a big deal.
The little friends in the yard saw the twins get another birthday gift—a military cap even their dad didn’t have—and were full of envy.
Even so, their eating speed didn’t slow at all.
Still chowing down steadily.
Gu Fu couldn’t help laughing.
Yes, the old Mr. and Mrs. Gu were there too.
They knew their place; with the daughter-in-law’s second brother there, they didn’t pry or annoy, just greeted and then kept a low profile.
“Twins, your military caps are so nice, your uncle’s great to you,” Yuan Bao said.
Tie Niu chimed in: “Yeah, your great uncle’s good, second uncle’s good. My uncle’s not bad either, but he’s poor, no money to buy me gloves or a hat, sigh.”
He even wanted to disdain his own uncle.
But thinking of how his uncle beat off the bullies, he figured, yeah, uncle’s poor but steps up when it counts—not bad, right?!
Da Zhuang’s eyes were envious too, urging: “Yu Bao, Heng Bao, put them on quick, they must look super super cool.”
The village kids liked copying the twins and also said “super” all the time, making their speech extra cute.
The twins stopped studying Little Red Star, stood straight, and put on the hats.
They saluted Lin Zhao.
“……Mommy, how’s it look?” Yu Bao asked.
Lin Zhao nodded. “Super spirited, just like your daddy.”
Yu Bao straightened his hat, grinning happily.
Heng Bao didn’t even take it off, ate with the hat on, and even showed off to Da Huang, Amber, and Xiao Jin.
……
Lin Zhao had to go to work tomorrow, and the twins had school, so they didn’t stay that night. After dinner, they headed back to the city.
Gu Fu and Gu Mu saw it was getting late and were uneasy, so they told Gu Yuanshan to see them off.
Back at the city home, it was just past seven in the evening.
Lin Zhao finally felt like she could rest.
The twins’ first birthday, a bit of trouble was nothing; it wouldn’t be like this next time—too exhausting!
“Thump thump thump!” The door was suddenly knocked on.
Song Yunjin was baffled. “So late, who is it?”
He went to open the door.
Outside was a short, stocky little boy.
“You knocking?” Song Yunjin asked knowingly.
The little boy stepped back, trying hard to look up at him, and said softly: “My grandma told me to pass a message, there’s a telephone for your family, but no one was home.”
Telephone?!
Song Yunjin’s mind raced, thinking it might be his brother-in-law calling. Forgetting to thank the kid, he rushed inside and said to Lin Zhao: “Sis, phone call, not sure if it’s brother-in-law.”
His voice was loud, startling the four kids.
The twins’ eyes lit up.
Yu Bao: “Mommy, is it Daddy?”
Heng Bao’s face fell. “We missed it. If only the brigade had a phone.”
Soon, he thought of a method, grabbed Lin Zhao’s hand and shook it. “Mommy, can we go call Daddy back now?”
Lin Zhao looked at Song Yunjin. “Can we?”
She’d never called this late, unsure if it was possible.
“Can’t.” Song Yunjin shook his head.
No choice, Lin Zhao had to refuse the twins. “The place to call is closed, we’ll do it tomorrow.”
Yu Bao was a bit disappointed but knew it couldn’t be helped, pleading with his eyes at Mommy. “We’ll go early tomorrow?”
He couldn’t wait to hear Daddy’s voice.
“Okay.” Lin Zhao said softly.
The twins wished it would be dawn right away.
Qian Bao and Yao Bao didn’t fuss; the former had that temperament, never fussed, the latter had already forgotten her dad…
The next day.
Lin Zhao had just opened her eyes when she heard tentative knocking at the door.
She quickly changed out of her pajamas, went to open it, and saw two identical faces.
“Why up so early?”
Yu Bao fiddled with his fingers, embarrassed, no beating around the bush. “Want to call Daddy early.”
Heng Bao held his younger brother and sister, nodding vigorously.
Lin Zhao stepped out. “Wait for me a bit.”
She freshened up quickly and took the four kids to the post office to call.
No waiting, she heard Gu Chenghuai’s voice.
“Zhaozhao?” The steady, low male voice sounded.
“It’s me, how’d it connect so fast?” Lin Zhao was quite curious.
Usually it took waiting.
“Knew you’d call back, came early to wait.” Gu Chenghuai’s eyes and brows were all smiles. “We’re so in sync.”
Meng Jiusi beside him: “……”
Hearing the man say that, Lin Zhao couldn’t help her mouth curving up. “What if I hadn’t come?”
“I’d call back.” Gu Chenghuai said.
“Mommy, is it Daddy? I want to talk, say something to me.” Heng Bao raised his big voice, tone urgent.
Lin Zhao spoke into the receiver: “Your son wants to talk to you.”
She handed the receiver to her son.
In an instant, the voice on the phone changed.
“Daddy!!”
Clearly the lively, active Er Zai.
Gu Chenghuai regretted not talking more with his wife, but hearing his son’s words made him pretty happy too.
“Heng Bao, it was your birthday yesterday, Dad wasn’t there, you and your brother aren’t mad, right?”
Heng Bao had been a little mad, but after seeing Daddy’s birthday gift, he wasn’t anymore.
He said: “Not mad.”
“Daddy, Brother and I saw the birthday gift you prepared for us, we love it!!”
Heng Bao stood on a stool to talk; Lin Zhao picked up Yu Bao so he could listen too.
After the younger brother finished, Yu Bao said: “Daddy, we’re not mad.”
Pausing, he added: “Daddy, we miss you. When are you coming back?”
