Chapter 252: “he Wants To Say A Few Words To His Wife”
“Please teach Qingzhou, is it really useful?” Zhao Liuniang’s eyes lit up, her mind calculating something.
Lin Zhao smiled.
Huh? Second Sister-in-law isn’t thinking of having Qingzhou tutor Bang Bang and Lai Mei, is she?!!
“Lai Mei is still injured.”
Zhao Liuniang waved her hand, “Injuries will heal eventually, and I didn’t say to start now. Wait for the results to come out—if they do well, that’s fine; if not… heh.”
This heh was full of warning.
Lin Zhao: “…”
“How many points count as good?” She was genuinely curious.
For the four cubs’ studies, Lin Zhao didn’t have high demands—they could study if they could, and if not, there would be other paths.
After opening up, everything would flourish, and people could do well in anything.
With her and Gu Chenghuai watching from behind, they wouldn’t go astray.
Zhao Liuniang, based on her two sons’ previous scores, concluded: “…at least eighty points, right?”
Lin Zhao fell silent.
She thought Second Sister-in-law had high goals.
Turns out it was just eighty points.
That’s a piece of cake?!
“Too low?” Zhao Liuniang saw Third Sister-in-law’s slightly complex expression and asked hesitantly.
“It’s fine.”
Lin Zhao didn’t want to dig a pit for the kids.
To be fair, Bang Bang and the others had been a bit slack this semester.
It wasn’t surprising—the school had resumed classes, but the learning atmosphere was really poor. They couldn’t get into university, so many felt lost about school and thought it was better to earn work points.
This was just the beginning.
It would get worse later.
Some of those still in school would drop out to work in the fields, and when they were old enough, they’d date, marry, become parents…
Zhao Liuniang nudged Lin Zhao’s arm, “Be serious—is it really possible or not?”
She didn’t hide her determination, “I want Bang Bang and the others to go to high school. I think people need education; without it, they can’t make it.”
“It’s possible.” Lin Zhao affirmed.
“Bang Bang and Lai Mei are smart kids—high school is no problem for them. Plus, there’s Qingzhou; if needed, we can ask him for help.”
Zhao Liuniang slapped her forehead, “Right!”
She happily finished the last sip of malt extract, beaming.
“You see… every time I come here, I get to mooch something good.”
Lin Zhao glanced at her, “How much can you eat? No need to be polite with me.”
Second Sister-in-law brought her the latest news every time she came—this was the main reason she didn’t miss any hot topics even when she wasn’t often in the village.
She had her own little megaphone~
Full of intel, worth a bowl of malt extract!
Zhao Liuniang mooched a bowl of malt extract, chuckled happily as she went home, and the gloom from Zhao Old Man suddenly vanished—her aura became much more peaceful.
—Why bother with that jerk? Half his body was already in the ground.
Zhao Liuniang hummed a revolutionary song as she went home.
Gu Yucheng and his two sons heard her, and the father and sons exchanged glances, quite surprised.
“…You’re in a good mood?” the man asked.
Bang Bang and Lai Mei hadn’t dared to breathe loudly these past few days, afraid of setting off their mom.
Seeing her smile now, they knew the shadow from Grandfather had lifted and finally laughed out loud.
Zhao Liuniang: “Yeah, it’s fine—just thirty jin of grain a year, no big deal. I’ll just think of it as extra food for Da Huang and Amber.”
Lai Mei touched the gauze on his head, poking holes in his mom’s words.
“You wouldn’t bear to.” Taking advantage of his head injury, he dared to say anything, “You’d hate to even rob Da Huang and Amber’s dog food! Hahaha—!”
Zhao Liuniang’s face turned green.
“Gu Xingci!”
“Are you asking for a beating!?” She glared at him.
Lai Mei clamped his mouth, “I’ll shut up, I won’t say it!”
Gu Yucheng saw his wife back to normal and looked down at his son imposingly, “If you two are that idle, go to the mushroom room and help your grandpa work.”
After saying that, he muttered softly: “Raising sons costs too much money.”
Bang Bang: “…?”
He wanted to say it wasn’t that bad, but facing his dad’s unkind gaze, he grabbed his brother and fled.
…
That day, the students got their report cards, and school officially broke for vacation, meaning winter vacation had begun.
Yu Baoheng Bao came home, the two little brothers hand in hand, strutting like turtles.
That not-fat little belly was deliberately puffed out, his expression smug and lively, cocky as could be.
Heng Bao waved the paper in his hand, “Mom, guess how many points Brother and I got?”
Yu Bao didn’t speak, but his thick eyebrows were raised high, his eyes constantly glancing at Lin Zhao.
“How many?” Lin Zhao pretended not to notice they’d done well, feigning confusion.
Heng Bao spread his index and middle fingers against his cheek dimple and announced loudly: “Mom, can’t you even tell this? I’m smiling so happily—it has to be double hundred!”
Before Lin Zhao could ask about Yu Bao, he added: “Brother got double hundred too!!”
“Then you two are awesome—what reward do you want?” Lin Zhao held her two sons’ hands as they walked home.
Yu Bao made the first request, “I want to call Dad.”
“Okay.” Lin Zhao agreed, then added, “I can take you, but no guarantee we’ll reach him.”
“It’s fine.” Yu Bao looked serious, his tone full of sincerity, “Dad’s a soldier, he’s busy every day—I understand. Mom taking us is enough.”
Lin Zhao looked at her sensible son and hugged Yu Bao.
“We’ll go after dinner.”
Yu Bao smiled happily, “Okay, it’s my and brother’s first double hundred—I want to tell Dad.”
“Your dad wants to hear it too.” Lin Zhao’s voice was gentle.
Hearing that, the two cubs were even happier and silently resolved in their hearts to always get double hundreds from now on.
“Does Heng Bao want a gift?!”
Heng Bao hadn’t expected a reward for double hundred, but he’d long wanted something and had planned to save lucky money to buy it himself.
He looked up at Lin Zhao, “I want a football—the kind you can kick around on the grass, okay?”
Yao Bao overheard and da-da-da ran back inside. When she came out, she held her cloth ball in her arms.
Little Dumpling walked to her second brother’s side and handed him the ball.
In her invincible cute voice, she said: “Here.”
Heng Bao froze in place, mouth slightly open, not knowing what to say.
Seeing her brother stunned, Yao Bao sighed like a little adult, stuffed the cloth ball into Heng Bao’s hands, turned away, and picked up her milk bottle to drink obediently.
Heng Bao held the cloth ball, his little brows furrowing.
He muttered, “I want a football—the kind I can play with Yuan Bao and them, not a cloth ball. Cloth balls are for kids.”
Lin Zhao chuckled softly.
Heng Bao looked at her, “Mom!” He called out unhappily.
“Can you manage your sister? She always makes trouble.”
Lin Zhao said: “Where did sister make trouble? She heard you wanted a ball and gave you hers—what a great sister, how can you say that about her.”
Heng Bao hurriedly said: “That’s not what I meant, I mean…”
The little friend didn’t know how to explain, struggled for a bit, then suddenly sighed heavily.
So hard.
Lin Zhao ruffled Second Cub’s head, “Don’t worry, I’ll buy you a football.”
Heng Bao’s eyes lit up, and he shook his brother’s hand, “Bro, when we get back to the village, we can play football with Yuan Bao and them.”
“Yeah!”
Lin Zhao smiled, “No more ping pong?”
“It’s cold.” Yu Bao explained for him, “Yuan Bao and them don’t have gloves—their hands would freeze. Football doesn’t need hands; running makes you warm. We’ll play football.”
The little friend’s thoughtfulness and warmth were touching.
Lin Zhao’s gaze softened.
“Wearing scarves and gloves, are you two still cold on the way to school?” she asked.
Heng Bao took off his glove and touched her hand.
“Feel it.”
Lin Zhao touched it—nice and warm, “Good as long as it’s not cold.”
“Yeah, not cold.” Heng Bao adjusted his cotton-padded clothes and grinned.
“Go wash hands—after dinner, I’ll take you to the post office to call.”
“Okay!” The two little brothers happily went to wash hands.
Lin Zhao went to the kitchen to serve food when a small hand gripped the door, and a little head slowly poked out.
It was Qian Bao.
“Mom.” He called.
Lin Zhao looked at the little cub and patiently asked: “What’s up?”
“I want to go too.” The little friend slowly said four words.
Go…?
Lin Zhao took a few seconds to realize Qian Bao wanted to go to the post office.
Busy with her hands, she asked: “You want to call Dad too?”
“Yeah!” Qian Bao nodded seriously.
“Qian Bao misses Dad too, huh? Okay, you and Yao Bao come too.”
Getting the response, Qian Bao showed a soft, tender smile and left contentedly.
The little back view in cotton clothes was short and plump, round and small—adorably tiny.
After dinner.
Lin Zhao took the four cubs to the post office, with Da Huang and Amber following behind; Xiao Jin wasn’t left out, carried by Heng Bao.
On the way.
Yu Bao suddenly asked: “Mom, when do you get vacation?”
Lin Zhao’s smile faded.
Vacation?
Heh.
No such thing.
She hadn’t realized earlier, thinking it’d be ten days or half a month, but no…
Officially, only one day.
Yes, you heard right—one day!!
If Li Fen hadn’t said the salespeople could swap shifts for a few consecutive days off in turns, she’d want to slack off completely.
The work was easy, sure, but… only one day off for New Year?
“It’s early yet.” Lin Zhao answered listlessly.
Huh?
Yu Bao looked over, “Why? Didn’t they say vacation’s soon?”
“Nope.” Lin Zhao didn’t want to say more.
Yu Bao saw Mom wasn’t in a great mood and didn’t dare ask further.
Little sweet cake was little sweet cake—he always knew how to comfort people. Quiet for a few seconds, he suddenly said: “Mom, I’m on vacation now—I’ll help you work.”
Lin Zhao was amused and exasperated.
Her gloomy mood lifted halfway.
She said: “You’re so young— not even as tall as the counter, and you want to help me work? You little kid… small person, big ambitions.”
Yu Bao had thought it through and even had a plan, “Then Mom can sit and read or sleep, and I’ll greet customers. If I can’t handle something, I’ll ask you—that works, right?”
The little friend’s eyes were dark and bright, sparkling.
“With me helping, is Mom a bit happier?”
Lin Zhao clutched her heart.
What angel babies she’d given birth to—so warm.
Her old mother’s heart was melting, sob sob.
Before she could answer, Heng Bao chimed in: “Bro gets the goods, I’ll do the accounting—I’m super fast at it and never wrong.”
The dragon-phoenix twins walked hand in hand, each holding one of the others’ hands, with Da Huang and Amber following the four cubs, ever vigilant.
Qian Bao declared, “I’ll tell Mom stories.”
Yao Bao said softly and cutely: “Doll, for Mom.”
Meaning she’d give her cloth doll to Mom to play with.
Lin Zhao’s heart grew hot, her eyes and brows full of smiles.
“You’re all Mom’s good cubs—I’ll accept the sentiment.” She said warmly.
“Yu Bao, Heng Bao, enjoy your winter vacation well. Help me take care of little brother and sister with Da Huang—that’ll lighten my load.”
Year-end would be busy; Lin Zhao planned to send the four cubs back to the village for Mother-in-law to watch. If the weather was good, she’d return the same day; if rain or snow, she’d stay in the county, with the four cubs staying with their milk.
The twins didn’t know about this yet.
They nodded their little heads.
“Yeah yeah.”
As they talked, the group arrived at the post office.
Luck was good this time—Gu Chenghuai was at the troops.
Hearing he had a call, he fastened his belt and jogged over, soon reaching the communications room.
Finally hearing his wife’s voice.
“Gu Chenghuai?”
Gu Chenghuai’s stern face melted like ice and snow, his deep voice saying: “It’s me.”
“Why the sudden call? Everything okay at home?” His tone carried a hint of worry.
“Everything’s fine.” Lin Zhao said, “Not sudden—your sons’ final exam results came out, and they want to talk to you…”
Seeing the four cubs all tiptoeing eagerly, she picked up Yu Bao with one arm and handed him the receiver.
“Say what you want.”
Yu Bao was a bit nervous, his voice slightly tight, “Dad?”
“Yeah.” Gu Chenghuai responded.
Then he asked: “Your mom said your final results are out—how’d you and Heng Bao do?”
Yu Bao’s eyelashes fluttered quickly as he pretended to be calm: “Double hundred—Heng Bao and I both got double hundred.”
A magnetic chuckle seemed to come from the other end.
“Not bad.” Gu Chenghuai’s praise followed.
“Study hard, learn knowledge—grow up to be useful to the country and society.” He voiced his expectations.
Yu Bao solemnly agreed, “We know—we studied hard, Heng Bao and I.”
He was so serious his cheeks puffed unconsciously, his gaze firm.
“Bro, Bro, my turn!” Heng Bao said anxiously.
Yu Bao tugged Lin Zhao’s coat, signaling he could be put down.
Lin Zhao ruffled Big Cub’s head, set him down, then picked up Heng Bao.
“Dad, Dad, can you hear me? It’s Heng Bao, your family’s Second Son. Dad, Brother and I got double hundred—you know what double hundred is? Full score in Chinese and math! Did you ever get double hundred when you were in school?” Heng Bao the little chatterbox spoke fast and loud, his face beaming with a brilliant smile.
“My mom says we did well and will reward us—Brother’s reward is calling you, mine is a football…”
Hearing this, Yu Bao felt annoyed.
He hadn’t thought to mention the rewards.
“Dad, do you have leave? Will you spend New Year at the troops…?” Heng Bao’s words poured out densely; Gu Chenghuai rubbed his brow listening.
He wanted to say a few words to his wife.
After picking and choosing answers to a few questions, Gu Chenghuai had Heng Bao give the phone back to Lin Zhao.
When Heng Bao handed over the receiver, he was still a bit reluctant, trying to think if he’d missed anything, but realized he’d said it all and decisively passed it over.
Lin Zhao set down Heng Bao and picked up Qian Bao to listen together.
“It’s me.”
Hearing his wife’s voice, Gu Chenghuai smiled faintly, “Yeah.”
The couple hadn’t seen each other for months; hearing each other’s voice again felt a bit unfamiliar.
“Zhaozhao, how are you and the kids?” Call time was limited; Gu Chenghuai cherished it, asking what he cared about most.
“Great—didn’t I write in the letters? Didn’t you see?” Lin Zhao said.
“I saw, but I want to hear you say it.”
Lin Zhao: “Great—I’m great, the four cubs are great too.”
She rubbed her cheek against Qian Bao’s soft, fluffy face, teasing her son with a smile: “Didn’t you want to talk to Dad? Why so quiet?”
Qian Bao’s short, chubby white hand touched the phone line, his milky voice saying: “…Dad?”
“It’s me.” Gu Chenghuai said.
Qian Bao’s eyes sparkled.
It wasn’t his first time hearing a voice from the receiver, but his little expression was still one of surprise.
His big eyes kept staring at the phone.
