Chapter 239: “career’s So Much Better”
Raising the dog didn’t take Lin Zhao much time, nor did it consume grain. Da Huang could do quite a bit of work, which was very convenient, making Gu Fu and Gu Mu sigh with emotion every time that hero dogs were indeed extraordinary.
“Woof…” Da Huang responded at the door, as if agreeing with Lin Zhao’s words.
“Hey!” Yu Bao remembered Mommy’s words one by one, burrowed into the warm quilt, and watched Mommy leave.
There were no adults at home, so the little friend was inevitably afraid of being alone, especially since this wasn’t Fengshou Brigade, where the neighbors on both sides were people they’d known for a long time. Here… even a little noise from next door could turn the child into a startled bird.
Fortunately, Da Huang was there. When the little master inside the room felt a bit uneasy, it would reach out and pat the door twice, as if saying I’m here, followed by Amber’s woof woof sounds—tender voices, but they made people feel very much at peace.
Because of the dog, Yu Bao wasn’t so afraid.
Half a month passed, and now after Lin Zhao went to work, he could sleep very soundly too.
In the yard.
“Da Huang, come close the door.” Lin Zhao wrapped her scarf tightly and instructed Da Huang.
“Woof…”
Da Huang woofed once, and after the female master went out, it stood up on its body and fiddled with the door bolt.
Lin Zhao pushed from outside, but it didn’t budge—it was indeed closed. She praised, “Da Huang is so good. I’ll reward you with a meat bone this afternoon.”
“Woof!”
Hearing the crisp response, Lin Zhao hurried away.
The whooshing wind blew.
The familiar footsteps faded away, and Da Huang turned around, lying guard at the little master’s room door.
“Da Huang?” Yu Bao poked his little head out from the quilt, facing the door and calling out.
“Pat… pat!”
Da Huang sat up, stretched out its front paw, and patted the door.
Yu Bao curved his eyes into a smile, “Da Huang, come in quickly.”
Hearing the little master’s call, Da Huang used some strength with its front paws, and the door creaked open.
It stepped inside, half its body appearing in the room, looking toward Yu Bao who was awake on the bed.
“It’s cold outside. You and Amber stay in the room.”
Amber was already lying in the room. Hearing its own name, it jumped up with a whoosh, rushed to the bedside, circled back and forth, trying to see Yu Bao.
Unfortunately, the bed was taller than it.
Little Amber was smart. It backed up a few steps, raised its front paws, stood up on its hind legs, and finally met Yu Bao’s eyes.
It woofed twice.
“Woof… woof…”
The sound wasn’t loud, like humming.
If it was too loud, its mommy would hit it.
The door was open, and wind poured in from outside.
Yu Bao urged, “Da Huang, close the door, quickly close the door, there’s wind.”
Da Huang could understand human speech, immediately closed the door, and after closing it properly, lay at the door guarding like a loyal soldier.
Yu Bao chuckled, rubbed his head against the pillow, closed his eyes peacefully, and soon fell asleep.
Until a little past ten, someone pinched his nose.
He felt he couldn’t breathe and only then opened his eyes.
He took down his mischievous little sister’s hand and said helplessly, “Bad Yao Bao.”
Yu Bao sat up, pulled over the wool sweater and put it over his head, rubbed his eyes, and asked Yao Bao, “What do you want to do? Hungry, or want to pee?”
“Drink milk.” Yao Bao made her request.
“Wait, I’ll go make it.” Yu Bao quickly put on his clothes properly, slid off the bed, and when his feet touched the ground, habitually straightened the quilt.
Before going out, he instructed Heng Bao, “Heng Bao, you help Qian Bao and Yao Bao get dressed. They can only go out after putting on hats—there’s wind outside, be careful not to catch a cold.”
“Mm, I know.” Heng Bao said.
He was helping Qian Bao get dressed right now.
Qian Bao could dress himself, but he was too young, with short arms and not much strength. Dressing for summer was okay, but winter cotton-padded clothes were too much for the child!
Heng Bao dressed his little brother in a few quick moves.
“…Thank you, Second Brother.” Qian Bao thanked politely.
“No need to thank, I’m your brother.” Heng Bao said, then turned to help his little sister dress.
Yao Bao was young and had many demands; she had to choose what to wear herself. Her brother opened the wardrobe, and the little girl pointed at the red cotton-padded jacket, saying crisply, “This one!”
“…Okay.” Heng Bao didn’t offer an opinion; listening to her was right.
Like a tool person, he helped his little sister put on the clothes, then the cotton shoes.
He found the comb, smoothed his little sister’s hair, and clumsily braided a messy braid.
“All done. Go to the kitchen to brush teeth and wash face, apply the cream and then drink milk.”
Because he had to take care of his younger brother and sister, the carefree Heng Bao had become much more patient.
Qian Bao fetched the woolen hat, put it on his little sister, then his own, and reminded Heng Bao, “No hat on.”
Heng Bao slapped his forehead, “Forgot.”
He casually grabbed his own hat and put it on.
“Let’s go.”
The four kids were self-sufficient at home, while Lin Zhao was busy as a dog at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative.
As New Year approached, more people came to the county town for procurement. The Supply and Marketing Cooperative delayed closing by more than half an hour every day.
Many things were snatched up before they even hit the shelves.
They weren’t worried about selling at all.
There were defective products too, all divided up internally by the Supply and Marketing Cooperative.
Even if they didn’t need them themselves, family members did, so no one minded having more.
At the end of this day, Lin Zhao got another net bag of supplies.
She stretched, and her shoulders cracked.
“Settling in okay?” Li Fen asked with a smile.
“Pretty good.” Lin Zhao replied; this intensity was nothing to her.
“Good that you’re used to it. It’s only busy around New Year; it’ll ease up soon.” Li Fen comforted, afraid Lin Zhao wasn’t adapting.
“Mm.”
Li Fen said, “It’s about time. You go back first; I’ll handle the rest. Qian Bao and Yao Bao are still little; watch out for them making a fuss.”
Lin Zhao thanked her, tidied up a bit, and left carrying the defective products.
Not long after getting home, Gu Qingzhou arrived.
“Third Sister-in-law, Mom asked me to bring food and check on you all.”
Lin Zhao welcomed Gu Qingzhou inside, smiling, “You came at just the right time; we’re indeed running low on veggies at home.”
This was, of course, polite talk.
The storage ring was full of fresh vegetables; it was just hard to take them out.
The twins were sharp and not easily fooled; Lin Zhao had to consider what could be taken out and what couldn’t.
The basket of mushrooms Gu Qingzhou brought was very eye-catching. Lin Zhao touched them and said in surprise, “So many, all mushrooms?”
“Yeah, saved up a bunch. Dad said to send them all to you. Dad also said our family’s mushrooms don’t need to be sold first; prioritize feeding Yu Bao and Heng Bao.”
These were his dad’s exact words.
He hadn’t added a single one.
Yu Bao came over holding brown sugar water, gave it to his little uncle, squatted down to look at the mushrooms, “Grandpa’s mushrooms are so big! Mommy, I want to eat them. Can we make them this afternoon?”
Lin Zhao: “Okay.”
After answering Yu Bao, she looked at Gu Qingzhou, “How’s the brigade’s mushroom cultivation going?”
After school vacation, Gu Qingzhou had been helping Gu Fu with mushroom cultivation and knew the brigade’s mushroom planting situation.
He said, “Very good.”
“The ones we planted before have been harvesting steadily; the new ones these past few days… can harvest the first batch too.”
Lin Zhao was surprised, “So fast. Did Dad say anything about the Brigade Leader’s plans?”
Gu Qingzhou said straightforwardly, “Asking for your help.”
“I know.” Gu Fu had given her advance notice, so Lin Zhao was prepared. What she asked was, “Any plans? For example, who will collect them uniformly and deliver?”
Gu Qingzhou took a sip of brown sugar water, and his whole body warmed up.
“Big Brother Dahai is in charge of collecting; Big Brother and Second Brother will deliver.”
Lin Zhao nodded, “I’ve talked to the director. When the time comes, go straight to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative to find the purchasing agent; the purchasing agent will buy directly.”
She was a Supply and Marketing Cooperative employee and needed to avoid suspicion.
Liu Chunhong’s lesson was right there; better not touch what shouldn’t be touched. Not afraid of ten thousand, but just in case—being reported would be a butt full of dirty water.
Gu Qingzhou agreed, “Okay, I’ll go back and tell Dad.”
Lin Zhao had already divided the bought defective products into two portions. She gave him one, “These are Supply and Marketing Cooperative defective products; take them back for Mom to handle.”
“Mm.” Gu Qingzhou didn’t waste words and took them directly.
After all, his mom wouldn’t let Third Sister-in-law suffer a loss.
Once he left, Lin Zhao divided half the mushrooms and took the four kids to Uncle’s house for a meal.
Upon arrival.
The Song Family were all home; there were voices inside the room, Aunt Song’s voice loud, as if scolding someone.
Lin Zhao looked puzzled.
New Year was near; with Uncle and Aunt’s temperaments, they wouldn’t scold people.
Yu Bao went forward and knocked on the door.
“Great Uncle, Great Aunt.” He called obediently.
Aunt Song inside heard the voice, paused, stopped scolding, took a deep breath, glared fiercely at her worrysome eldest son, and came to open the door.
Seeing Lin Zhao and the four kids, her angry face broke into a smile.
“Zhaozhao’s here, bringing the four kids too. Come in quickly, such a cold day.”
She pulled Lin Zhao inside to sit, ordered Song Yunjin, “Pour brown sugar water for your sister and the four kids to warm them up.”
As she spoke, she stuffed Lin Zhao a hot water bottle for warming hands.
“Zhaozhao, just filled with hot water. Don’t let the four kids touch it; careful not to scald the children.” She reminded.
Lin Zhao nodded.
Glancing at the dejected Yun Cheng, ignoring his pleading pitiful look, she held Aunt Song’s arm, “Aunt, did Yun Cheng make you angry?”
Aunt Song’s anger had passed; she was too lazy to bother with Song Yun Cheng’s matters.
“Ignore him. He can let people splash dirty water on him however he wants; he doesn’t even care himself, so why should we worry so much about him.”
She really regretted it, regretted not giving her son a few more brains.
A big man letting a girl spread rumors about him, and spreading them far and wide!
Fortunately, they found out early; handling it this morning could still salvage it, or else she’d call her little sister-in-law and go beat up the Qiao family.
Why should they! That family was simply rotten to the core!!
Song Yun Cheng couldn’t hold back and retorted, “Mom, I told you, I didn’t know before. If I knew… I definitely wouldn’t let Qiao Lu splash dirty water on me. I’m not stupid. Wait, tomorrow I’ll make her know what happens for offending someone she shouldn’t.”
This was a bit chuunibyou, and Lin Zhao couldn’t help twitching her mouth.
“What did Comrade Qiao do? Didn’t you two break up? How are you involved again?!” She asked.
Song Yun Cheng complained, “Sis, we did break up, right when you came that time. I didn’t do one thing on the surface and another behind the scenes.”
First clearing his own grievances, grievance showed on his face.
“But I didn’t expect Qiao Lu to pit me. She secretly badmouthed me, making Mom scold me.”
Lin Zhao was curious, “How did she badmouth? If she badmouthed you, wouldn’t it affect her too?”
Any romantic scandal had minimal impact on men, but greater on female comrades.
“She said I’m irresponsible, listen to Dad and Mom on everything, a coward. She also said I don’t respect female comrades, whoever marries me will suffer…” Song Yun Cheng felt he was dying of injustice.
He really regretted dating!
Focusing on career would be so much better.
Promote and raise salary early, and he could buy cold cream and new coats for his sis…
Lin Zhao looked at him sympathetically, “You’re really unlucky.”
Ultimately, it was bad eyesight that caused it, but we don’t hold “the uninjured blame the injured” theory, so can’t blame Yun Cheng.
Song Yun Cheng sought help from his sister, “Sis, what should I do? Think of a method for me.”
Not yet twenty, he hadn’t encountered many weird things; his first girlfriend used dirty tricks against him, and Song Yun Cheng really didn’t know what to do.
Yu Bao remembered the issue discussed with Mommy before, raised his little hand, eyes shining as he suggested, “Use another’s strength against them, eye for an eye tooth for a tooth. Uncle, which do you think works? If not, try both.”
Heng Bao stroked his chubby chin, “Still eye for an eye tooth for a tooth. However she deals with you, you deal with her.”
He tugged at Song Yun Cheng’s cotton-padded jacket hem and nodded at him, “Uncle, listen to me, guaranteed right.”
Lin Zhao’s expression showed approval.
Sharp.
A bit ruthless, but whoever provokes first is cheap; to deal with bad people, that’s how.
“Reputation matters can be big or small; Yun Cheng, you need to pay attention, don’t make Uncle and Aunt worry for you.” Lin Zhao said mildly.
“If it really doesn’t work, listen to Heng Bao. Don’t think ignoring it will make it pass. That Comrade Qiao clearly comes with ill intent. If you don’t act, you’ll suffer losses.”
Not only female comrades get rumored; male comrades do too. She’d seen it—a person from Dongfeng Brigade, a good young man, just quiet. Various gossips; peers’ kids were making soy sauce, and he only just married a wife.
Song Yun Cheng’s expression turned serious, “I know, I’ll handle it.”
Seeing his sister dissatisfied with him, he explained a couple sentences for himself, “It’s year-end; I’ve been overtime all along, knew nothing. If I’d heard early she was spreading nonsense, I’d have gone to her long ago.”
Why spread badmouthing about him!
He’d finally turned his family’s impression around, and now it was ruined again.
Song Yun Cheng got angrier thinking about it, itching to rush to the Qiao house and curse like a shrew.
Lin Zhao saw her cousin really aggrieved and comforted him a few words.
“No good family dates like this; you really are quite wronged.”
Her tone shifted, “But focusing wholeheartedly on work is right. Get permanent first; becoming permanent is the top priority.”
Song Yun Cheng got praised by his sister and perked up entirely.
“Sis, I’m not interested in dating now. I just want to promote and raise salary.”
Lin Zhao encouraged with her eyes, “You can do it.”
Someone not yet twenty, why date; focus on career first, when career goes well, what should come will come!
Song Yun Cheng was full of energy, turned immediately, “I’m going to study!”
“Go on, I brought quite a few mushrooms; eat more later.” Lin Zhao smiled.
Song Yun Cheng felt his sister was truly great, unlike his mom who had no patience for him at all; he hadn’t even explained a word before getting a scolding.
Sigh.
If not for his good temperament, he wouldn’t know how to maintain this precarious mother-son bond.
Song Yun Cheng rushed into the room to study.
Song Yunjin asked, “Sis, your brigade’s mushrooms have started fruiting?”
“Mm.”
Heng Bao bragged, “The mushrooms in this basket are all grown by my grandpa!”
Yao Bao spread her arms wide, gesturing a big circle, “Big big!”
Song Yunjin was charmed, a spring breeze smile at his mouth, “Does Qian Bao and Yao Bao like eating mushrooms?”
“Mm.” Qian Bao coolly spat out one word.
Yao Bao bloomed a sweet smile, “Like~~”
Aunt Song’s eyes full of doting, “Later I’ll make you fresh mushroom dish; guaranteed you’ll like it.”
Aunt Song coaxed the dragon-phoenix twins; Uncle Song asked Lin Zhao, “Your parents plan to go to Haicheng after New Year; do you know about this?”
Lin Zhao really didn’t know, “When did they say?”
