Chapter 245: “original Verified Correct”
Xi Bao disapprovingly said, “No. Dad told us to watch you.”
“Mom, you have to listen.” She acted like a little adult, helping Chen Yu sit down. “You’re carrying twins, so be careful. Grandma said to stay put and take good care of yourself. Otherwise, I’ll tell Dad.”
Chen Yu: “…”
She helplessly looked toward Lin Zhao.
“It’s just a pregnancy, but they’re watching me like a prisoner.”
Lin Zhao saw that Eldest Sister-in-law’s belly was quite big. She vaguely pointed at Eldest Sister-in-law’s belly and asked, “There are two in there?”
“Yes.” Chen Yu nodded. “The doctor checked my pulse and said it’s twins.”
The doctor she went to had also checked Little Sister-in-law before. Her pulse diagnosis was very accurate—twins meant twins, and she could even tell the genders.
The ones in Chen Yu’s belly were both boys.
Lin Zhao’s eyes lit up slightly. She said caringly, “Carrying two is very hard. Eldest Sister-in-law, listen to Xi Bao and rest well. Let the children handle the things at home.”
She had given birth to two sets of twins and knew how tough it was to carry two. Back then, after her belly got big, her mom took care of her and slept in the same bed, massaging her legs every day.
Da Dan patted his chest. “That’s right. I can do anything.”
Er Dan poked his own elder brother. “…Big Brother can’t cook!”
As soon as the words were out, the embarrassed, face-flushed Da Dan grabbed his neck and threatened in tone, “Do you want to die?”
Er Dan: “Little Aunt, save me.”
Da Dan imitated the traitor from the movie, showing a ferocious grin. “Even calling on the King of Heaven won’t help! Lin Siyan, you’re, done, for!”
This kid dragged him down every single day.
He had to beat him!!
Qian Bao took it seriously and went to pull Da Dan’s hand, saying in that cute voice, “No fighting.”
He said it completely earnestly.
Er Dan’s mouth corners kept pulling back. He grabbed Qian Bao’s little hand like it was a treasured sword. “Qian Bao, protect me!”
Da Dan’s fist hardened even more.
But looking at Qian Bao’s serious little face, he could only hold back, glaring at his troublesome younger brother before turning to Qian Bao with a face full of smiles again. “Okay, no beating him today.”
He’d beat him at night.
Er Dan heard the implication in his brother’s words and subconsciously covered his buttocks, his face turning pale.
Born from the same mom and raised by the same dad, yet he couldn’t beat Big Brother, boo hoo.
“Little Aunt.” Er Dan tried to find a backer.
Lin Zhao took the hot water Xuanxuan handed her, drank a sip, and felt her whole body warm up. The water temperature was just right. She gave each of the dragon-phoenix twins a sip. The two kids didn’t like drinking water and only took a shallow sip before running off.
She gave Er Dan a helpless look.
“I can’t help you.” Lin Zhao’s voice was regretful, her tone gentle as she explained, “You’re my own nephew, and Da Dan is too. Helping either one would make me seem biased, so I’ll help neither.”
Er Dan looked hurt, his dramatic flair on par with Er Zai.
Heng Bao’s laughter was light and cheerful, smugly saying, “My brother never disciplines me. If I make a mistake, he just talks to me, never hits me.”
That tone was like saying “My brother hasn’t hit me in three days,” full of smugness and relief.
Lin Zhao was used to Er Zai’s shocking speech style and showed no change in expression.
Da Dan’s mouth corners twitched a few times.
“That’s because Yu Bao has a good temper,” he said.
Besides, Heng Bao was still young, not yet at the age of talking back to heaven and earth. Wait until his mouth got foul-mouthed, and see if Yu Bao didn’t slap him.
Heng Bao hadn’t thought of that. His eyes curved into crescents. “My brother has the best temper in the world, number one.”
Yu Bao’s little face turned bright red.
He tugged his younger brother’s hand. “Heng Bao, be modest a bit.”
Heng Bao listened to his brother most. He instantly dropped the smugness from his face. “Okay, I won’t say it.”
Da Dan & Er Dan: “…”
Xi Bao covered her mouth laughing. “Yu Bao and Heng Bao are so fun.”
The yard was cold; no one could stay out there. Da Dan and the others took the four Gu Family kids to play inside the room. Lin Zhao went to her parents’ room.
“Dad, Mom, my uncle said you’re going to Haicheng?” she asked as soon as she entered the room.
Song Xiwei didn’t rush to answer and tossed her a blanket to cover her legs.
Lin Zhao nestled in the lounge chair, sitting cross-legged on it, spreading the blanket out and curling her body up.
After that, she looked over inquiringly.
“Yes, next spring, your dad and I plan to go to Haicheng to take a look,” Song Xiwei said.
“Why suddenly think of going to Haicheng?” Lin Zhao asked persistently, her red lips unconsciously pouting slightly.
She was clingy and unwilling to marry far away. Just thinking of not seeing her parents for months made her heart feel stuffy.
“That’s the place where your dad grew up,” Song Xiwei explained.
Lin Heling’s dark eyes brimmed with warm laughter, treating Lin Zhao like a child as he cooed, “Your mom and I will be back soon; we won’t stay long. We’ll send you a telegram when we arrive.”
Lin Zhao heard that her parents were set on going and didn’t say anything discouraging. She said, “…Okay then, send me a telegram when you arrive, and don’t forget to buy me a gift.”
“We won’t,” Lin Heling said.
Lin Zhao carefully glanced at him, weighing her words before asking, “Dad, have you remembered your own family?”
Lin Heling had been in poor health before. He and Song Xiwei’s room had a kang. At that moment, he sat on the edge of the kang. Because the room was warm, he was only wearing a black wool sweater on his upper body, his temperament warm and clean.
His eyes held a smile as he looked at his only daughter.
“I’ve remembered.”
Speaking of his childhood, Lin Heling’s eyes took on a touch of depth. “I’m from Haicheng. Home was always bustling with people coming and going. We lived in a small Western-style house and went out in a car…”
He talked about some of his daily life as a child, looking at Zhaozhao with eyes full of heartache.
“If I’d remembered earlier, maybe I’d have brought you all back to Haicheng sooner. As for you now… you’d be a city girl, living comfortably, with a respectable job.”
Lin Heling had grown up in luxury. In his heart, his daughter’s current life wasn’t good.
Lin Zhao curved her eyes. “I think it’s great right now.”
“Where’s the good in it? Even visiting your maternal family, you have to ride a bike yourself, exposed to wind and sun,” Lin Heling said, feeling more and more uncomfortable, thinking he’d shortchanged his children.
“You could have lived much better.”
Thinking of something, he continued, “Your mom and I are going back to Haicheng to check. If the Lin Family is still there, giving you a Western-style house is no problem.”
Lin Zhao: “?”
Had Dad forgotten what the situation was like outside?
Lin Heling seemed to see Zhaozhao’s mood and said, “Don’t overthink it. Our family doesn’t do illegal things. Giving it to you would be perfectly above board.”
Though their family had money, they hadn’t done anything harmful to the country; they’d even done quite a few good deeds.
The head of the Lin Family—Lin Heling’s biological father—had wide connections, knowing capable people far and wide. Lin Heling was certain that as long as his father was around, the Lin Family wouldn’t fall.
His only worry was some unexpected change in between.
Hearing her biological father’s words, Lin Zhao seemed to see a dashing, noble youth appear before her.
Her expression was shocked, full of novelty.
“What are you staring at me like that for?” Lin Heling asked with a laugh.
“Um… I feel like Dad has changed a lot.” Lin Zhao’s brows and eyes curved.
A low chuckle rumbled from Lin Heling’s throat. “This is the real me.”
The memory-lost version of him had always been flawed.
Lin Zhao was happy for her handsome dad.
She could imagine that Dad’s childhood must have been wonderful, probably the center of attention—not an exaggeration. It was impressive that Dad, coming from the old world, was so open-minded.
Song Xiwei handed Lin Zhao red date water and casually asked, “…Have you visited your uncle yet?”
“Yes, I went to deliver mushrooms.” Lin Zhao held the enamel mug with both hands, pouting to blow on it before taking a shallow sip, her mouth filled with the fresh scent of red dates.
She grinned. “Mom, did you hear? Our brigade grew mushrooms.”
“I heard. All the brigades know about it.”
Lin Zhao slightly raised her chin. “The mushroom cultivation guide was given out by me!”
Song Xiwei praised her and said, “You dug it up from the recycling station? You’re lucky; the book you found is really useful.”
Her sons all had jobs. Lin Heling had recovered his memory. Song Xiwei’s hunting brought in income too. The Lin Family no longer lacked money and didn’t covet the bit of earnings from mushroom cultivation, but they hoped the village would have this income stream.
When the villagers all had money, they wouldn’t fixate on others and harbor malice.
Lin Zhao thought the same; that was why she’d handed the mushroom cultivation technique to her father-in-law initially.
Human jealousy was terrifying. Having something to do and an extra income would balance the villagers’ hearts a lot.
“Zhaozhao has always had a clever little head. Her eyes are sharp too; no good thing escapes her. It’s no surprise she found a treasure,” Lin Heling said. He always had confidence in his daughter.
Lin Zhao beamed with pride.
Speaking of Qiu Lian, her expression sobered slightly.
“My Second Brother said my former Second Sister-in-law had an accident. I didn’t ask much. Dad, Mom, do you know what happened?”
The Lin Family couple did know.
Song Xiwei said concisely, “Didn’t she marry that Shan Hu? Life in the mountains is tough; she couldn’t stand it and proposed amicably splitting with him. Shan Hu had a hard time getting a wife, so of course he wasn’t as agreeable as our family and flatly refused. That Qiu Family girl isn’t the type to live quietly; she kept making a fuss. That man isn’t easygoing either; he treated her… very badly.”
“After half a month like that, Qiu Lian couldn’t take it anymore. She told Shan Hu she’d return the betrothal gifts he’d given her, plus twenty more, as long as he took her down the mountain…”
Outsiders brought into the mountains needed someone to lead them down; leaving rashly on their own would mean certain death.
Negotiating with Shan Hu was the smart move for Qiu Lian.
“And then?” Lin Zhao’s tone was urgent.
Before Song Xiwei could speak again, she guessed, “Shan Hu took her down the mountain, but she reneged and refused to give him the money. In the end, he pushed her off a cliff?”
Song Xiwei glanced at her. “Pretty much.”
Lin Zhao: “…”
She didn’t even know what expression to make.
Money wasn’t as important as life.
But.
It fit Qiu Lian’s money-obsessed personality perfectly.
She’d known early on that this woman had no real loyalty to the Lin Family and was wary of the Qiu Family too, keeping a backup plan. She hadn’t expected her to die because of her own backup plan.
It was hard to know what to say.
Lin Zhao glanced outside. “Do Xuanxuan and Zheng Zheng know? They didn’t cry, right?”
“They know,” Song Xiwei said, her eyes a bit complex. “No crying. What’s there to cry about?”
Lin Heling said, “Xuanxuan cried; Zheng Zheng didn’t.”
He’d heard it during his nighttime rising.
“I guessed.” Complex emotions appeared in Lin Zhao’s eyes. “Xuanxuan is soft-hearted like cotton. Even when a village elderly person passes, she cries. That woman wasn’t good to her, but she did give birth to her, so Xuanxuan must feel bad inside.”
“Even if it hurts, it’ll only hurt this once. It won’t happen again,” Lin Heling said openly. He knew well that having such a mother was only a hidden danger for Lin Xuan and Lin Zheng, with no benefit.
To put it coldly, her death was good for his granddaughters.
Lin Zhao nodded. “Yes, from now on, a bright future awaits them.”
She picked up the bag she’d brought back and said, “I knitted sweaters, hats, and scarves for Xuanxuan and the others. I’ll go give them to them.”
Song Xiwei saw how bulging the bag was. “They all have them?”
“Of course. I can’t let Da Dan and the others think… I’m a biased aunt,” Lin Zhao said righteously.
They were all knitted by her during idle times at work before.
Back then, she’d been so bored she’d passed time knitting sweaters.
She’d even learned several new patterns.
“They wouldn’t dare,” Song Xiwei said domineeringly.
The children Heling taught were all reasonable.
Lin Zhao smiled with pursed lips.
Carrying the bag of sweaters, she went next door.
Da Dan and the others received their three-piece sets, their eyes bright as the sun.
Xi Bao tightly hugged her own three-piece set and grinned at her aunt. “Little Aunt, how did you get so much wool yarn?! Mom said long ago she’d knit me a sweater, but we could never get yarn. How do you have so much?”
Lin Zhao pinched her cheek and countered, “Where does Aunt work?”
“…Supply and Marketing Cooperative.” Xi Bao answered immediately, her smile radiant like a little sun. “I know! Little Aunt bought defective products, right?”
In Xi Bao’s mind, only defective products could get that much.
Lin Zhao smiled without speaking.
Zheng Zheng also hugged her three-piece set, a smile appearing on her usually calm face.
“Thank you, Little Aunt.”
Lin Zhao worried Xuanxuan and Zheng Zheng might overthink it and smiled. “Your dad gave money for it.”
Xuanxuan and Zheng Zheng knew.
Dad had come back last night and told them. They also knew Little Aunt had prepared lots of things for Dad, including precious medicine. With that medicine, they weren’t so worried anymore and had slept well last night.
“We know Little Aunt is good to us,” Xuanxuan said softly, her body leaning against Lin Zhao.
The two sisters had gained weight; their yellowish hair was gradually turning black. With the hair ties gifted by their own aunt on their heads, the Lin Family’s distinctive good looks were showing.
Lin Zhao reached out to hug Xuanxuan. “Gaining weight makes you look even prettier.”
Xuanxuan looked up at her aunt. “I’m not pretty; Aunt is the pretty one.”
The little girl had been suppressed by Qiu Lian since childhood. Even though she was good-looking and good at studies, she wasn’t confident.
“Who said that?” Lin Zhao cupped Xuanxuan’s face, her brows and eyes serious. “Everyone says nieces resemble aunts. You, Zheng Zheng, and Xi Bao were all made from the same mold as me. Where’s the not pretty?”
The original is correct, so the copies won’t be wrong.
“Be confident; you’re very pretty. Look at these brows and eyes—how beautiful.”
Xuanxuan’s cheeks flushed, her eyes shining.
Xi Bao propped her face in her hands, her tone excited. “I look like Little Aunt?”
“…Yes.”
Getting her aunt’s affirmative answer, Xi Bao bounced in place a few times in excitement, laughing out loud. “That’s great~~”
Lin Zhao ruffled her hair, making the little girl cry out, “Little Aunt, my hair.”
Xi Bao’s eyes turned, and she looked up at Lin Zhao, acting spoiled. “Little Aunt, I’ll go change into the sweater. Can you braid my hair for me?”
“Sure.” Lin Zhao agreed immediately.
Xi Bao was thrilled and pulled Lin Xuan and Lin Zheng, the two sisters, to their room to change into the sweaters.
…
Afternoon.
Gu Qingzhou arrived at Dongfeng Brigade on time to pick up Yu Bao and Heng Bao.
Lin Zhao brought the children back to the brigade.
The two bicycles were still some distance from the village entrance when noisy sounds came from afar.
Chaotic and clamorous.
“Stop squeezing! Someone’s going to die—”
