Chapter 253: “is There A Reward?”
Lin Zhao noticed, her gaze thoughtful.
This gaze was so focused, a seedling for research work?!
She suppressed this thought and turned her attention back to the cubs’ father on the other end of the telephone.
The husband and wife didn’t chat for long before static came through the telephone.
Less than a minute later, Gu Chenghuai’s voice filled with apology rang out.
“Zhaozhao, I…”
He didn’t need to say more; Lin Zhao already guessed the situation. “I know, you go ahead. Be safe. I’m home with the four cubs waiting for you.”
As she spoke, she picked up Yao Bao, who hadn’t had a chance to talk to her father, and said, “Quick, say something to Daddy.”
Yao Bao blinked, calling out in a milky voice, “Daddy,” then said, “Wait for you.”
Hearing this, Gu Chenghuai’s brows and eyes melted.
After hanging up, he straightened his hat, his whole demeanor resolute like a steel blade, and quickly ran out to join the team.
On the other side.
Yu Baoheng Bao weren’t too disappointed. After a few times, they were used to it.
“Daddy is so busy.” Yu Bao propped up his little face, his tone slightly serious.
Lin Zhao nodded. “Yeah, very busy. Training, going out on tasks, and it’s hard work.”
“I know.” Yu Bao said.
Heng Bao lifted Xiao Jin down from Da Huang, gently grabbing Goldy’s front paws and waving them like teasing a cat.
“Daddy works so hard to earn money. Da Huang, you guys eat a little less, or else my daddy can’t afford to feed you.”
Hearing this, the dragon-phoenix twins took it seriously.
Qian Bao’s dark eyes swished toward Second Brother, staring intently. Seeing Heng Bao wasn’t serious, he lowered his eyes, reached for Lin Zhao’s hand, and monopolized Mommy.
Yao Bao bounced up like a little firecracker, charging toward Heng Bao. She tried to put her hands on her hips, but being so round made her arms awkward, nearly causing her to face-plant. Luckily, she steadied her little body.
Her tone was indignant. “No, Second Brother is bad!”
Heng Bao teased her on purpose. “How am I bad? You rude little stinky Yao Bao.”
As he spoke, he cheekily scraped Yao Bao’s nose.
Yao Bao swung her little fists in anger but didn’t hit, just held them up high.
She had been taught by Lin Zhao not to hit or bite people casually.
“You want to hit me again?” Heng Bao loved teasing. Looking at his sister’s flushed little face, he thought she was super cute.
Yao Bao clenched her teeth in anger, truly grinding them, her little expression fiercely milky. Lin Zhao wanted to laugh.
Afraid her little daughter would get upset, she patted Heng Bao’s back, not too lightly or heavily.
“Don’t tease your sister, or she’ll start howling later.”
Speaking of which, compared to the three sons, Yao Bao was a bit more spoiled. Not surprising—her daddy doted on her, she was pampered, and there were people from the Gu Family and Lin Family spoiling her too. Spoiled was fine, no big deal.
Heng Bao pretended to be in pain. “Mommy is biased. I knew you were one who favors girls over boys, wuu wuu wuu.”
Such a drama queen.
Lin Zhao looked at him. “Still want the football?”
Heng Bao immediately returned to normal, saying repeatedly, “Yes yes yes!”
He clutched Lin Zhao’s sleeve, not forgetting to emphasize, “Mommy, you’re a mom who keeps her word, does what she says, never deceives kids. You said you’d reward me, so you definitely will, right?”
As he spoke, the little friend blinked his eyes, earnestly acting cute.
At this age, he was indeed still cute.
Acting cute worked.
Lin Zhao said, “Yes.”
Heng Bao bounced forward happily.
That joyful energy made anyone who wasn’t faking want to give him a few test papers.
Leaving the post office, Qian Bao looked back every step, not sure what he was looking at.
Lin Zhao was a bit curious. “What are you looking at, so seriously?”
“The telephone.” Qian Bao’s voice was cute, his tone serious.
Lin Zhao was slightly stunned, then laughed. “You like the telephone that much?”
Seeing a puddle ahead, she bent down to pick up the dragon-phoenix twins. With this little interlude, she didn’t notice the fleeting hesitation on Qian Bao’s baby-fat little face.
“Heng Bao, walk properly, don’t play around. Later I’ll take you back to the village.”
Heng Bao stopped, turning to look at Lin Zhao. “Back to the village for what? New Year?”
Yu Bao said, “New Year hasn’t come yet.”
“Then why back to the village?” Heng Bao’s eyes were puzzled.
“Next, I’ll be very busy. We’ll go live in the village, and you all go to the old house.” Lin Zhao said.
Yu Bao immediately asked the question he cared about most. “Will Mommy come live in the village too?”
His little face was serious. “What if it rains again? If the roads are all mud, can’t ride the bike. How will Mommy come back?”
“If the weather is bad, I won’t go to the village. I’ll stay at our house in the county town, and come back when the weather improves. But then, you four will have to sleep at the old house.” At this point, Lin Zhao was quite worried the children wouldn’t like it.
She was already prepared to coax them.
Unexpectedly, Yu Bao was only silent for a few seconds before agreeing directly.
“Okay.” he said. “Mommy, work hard at your job. I’ll take care of little brother and sister, and watch over our home.”
Heng Bao: “I’ll do it with big brother.”
He counted on his fingers. “By then Li Bao will be there too. He can join us.”
Thinking of Li Bao, he couldn’t wait to go back to the village.
Lin Zhao’s eyes softened.
“Okay, then it’s settled.”
Heng Bao reminded: “Mommy, don’t forget my football.”
“Couldn’t forget.”
Packing some things at home, Lin Zhao took the four cubs back to the village.
She carried one in front and one behind, the older two following, occasionally racing with the dog, full of energy.
“Mommy, if you’re tired, let Qian Bao and Yao Bao walk. They’re almost two, can’t keep sticking to Mommy.” Yu Bao said.
Yao Bao understood, stretching her arms around Lin Zhao’s neck, saying no on her lips.
“No, no, not getting down.”
Her little tone urgent, saying three nos in a row.
“Mommy will get tired.” Yu Bao thought his sister wasn’t sensible enough and needed more teaching, his tone somewhat disapproving.
Yao Bao nestled in Lin Zhao’s shoulder hollow, closing her eyes and pretending to sleep, acting like she heard nothing.
Lin Zhao chuckled.
What a clever little thing, so cute.
Pretending led to really falling asleep.
Yu Bao inwardly called his sister a little pig. Not far along, he looked at Lin Zhao with worried eyes. “Mommy, are you tired?”
“Not tired.” Lin Zhao’s lips curved in a smile. “If I had enough arms, carrying you and Heng Bao on my back wouldn’t be a problem.”
Her strength came from her biological mother; she’d been strong since young.
Heng Bao’s eyes full of envy. “I just envy you strong ones, sigh.”
Lin Zhao couldn’t help laughing. “Your strength isn’t small either.”
Not compared to the big kids, but bigger than same-age little friends.
How did they discover? When the twins were little, Gu Mu discovered it. She’d never seen such a strong child and ran over in a panic to say so.
Heng Bao asked righteously: “Then why can’t I beat Wang Yaozu?”
Lin Zhao was stunned. “Why hit Wang Yaozu? Did he provoke you?1”
She had an impression of that kid Wang Yaozu, the one who bullied Mao Dan’er, the spoiled boy his whole family doted on—you could tell from the name.
But.
Weren’t those previous disputes all settled? Why still want to fight?
“I didn’t say now, I meant before.” Heng Bao puffed his little cheeks in frustration, head drooping, a bit glum. “Before, I couldn’t beat him.”
Lin Zhao had black lines all over her head.
“It’s been so long, and you still remember.”
As expected of the original book’s most vengeful, most ruthless anti-villain. That pettiness…
Heng Bao raised his head. “I won’t forget. Sooner or later, I’ll get revenge.”
“I think you want to get beaten.” Lin Zhao said.
“People don’t bully you, you can’t bully others first. Got it?”
She threatened him with what he cared about most. “If I find out you bully other little friends for no reason, I’ll drag you to Yuan Bao, Tie Niu, and them, and spank your buttocks in front of them.”
Hearing this, Heng Bao panicked.
“Mommy!!!” He covered his face and yelled.
“How can I be the big boss like this!!” The not-yet-six little friend broke down.
“Big boss?” Lin Zhao heard it for the first time.
She looked at her “accomplished” cub with a half-smile. “You’re forming gangs?! You little kid, who would’ve thought.”
The little animal’s instincts made Heng Bao instantly obedient.
He put on an innocent smile. “Not forming gangs, Yuan Bao and Tie Niu are just playing around, right, big bro?”
Second cub was smart, knowing big brother’s credibility was max, didn’t forget to pull in Yu Bao to back his words.
Yu Bao hesitated but gave Heng Bao face.
He nodded and hummed.
But didn’t lift his head.
Didn’t dare look at Lin Zhao either.
They were indeed playing around, but little brother did make Yuan Bao and them call him big boss. That was… forming gangs?
Putting himself in other little friends’ shoes, Yu Bao thought it wasn’t good.
Lin Zhao knew the situation without asking.
“Gu Zhiheng, in the village, at school, no forming gangs, and absolutely no isolating other little friends. If you do that, I’ll be angry. If I’m angry… you won’t have good days. Hear me?”
Heng Bao subconsciously felt “isolating” wasn’t a good word.
He denied immediately. “I wouldn’t isolate little friends!”
“I won’t make Mommy angry either!”
After stating his position, he asked bluntly: “Mommy, what does isolating mean?”
“Isolating means you all play together but deliberately leave out a certain little friend. Only bad kids do that.” Lin Zhao said.
She’d been a student too, knew contempt chains were everywhere.
Especially with only one school in the whole commune, kids from city and rural area all together, plenty who, relying on eating commodity grain, scorned and looked down on countryside kids.
Even someone like Lin Zhao had met idiots.
Heng Bao’s eyes widened, saying loudly: “I didn’t! I’m a good kid, not a bad kid. I didn’t leave out little friends. We all go to the toilet together!”
“Right, big bro?” He nudged Yu Bao again.
This time Yu Bao confidently told Lin Zhao: “Yes, we all go to the toilet together.”
Lin Zhao: “Pfft—!”
Together to the toilet…
A long-buried memory surfaced in her mind.
Whoever you’re close with, you go to the toilet with them. How telling.
“Mommy!” Heng Bao was dissatisfied. “What are you laughing at? I’m telling the truth, big brother can vouch.”
He shook Yu Bao’s hand, drawing out his tone. “Bro, say something. Tell Mommy, I didn’t lie. I’m not a bad kid, I’m a good kid.”
Yu Bao was shaken too much and nodded quickly. “Mm, Heng Bao is a good kid.”
Lin Zhao said: “I believe you. I didn’t say I don’t. Just reminding you.”
Heng Bao looked at her suspiciously.
Really?
“Next semester, keep it up, get along well with little friends. If someone bullies you, don’t be afraid, come home and find me.” Lin Zhao gave a thumbs up, praising each twin on the forehead.
The two little brothers covered their forehead thumbs-ups, grinning with big white teeth.
They dazedly agreed to whatever she said.
“Mm mm mm.”
Looking at the twins moving in sync, Lin Zhao regretted not bringing the camera.
Should record it, play at the two cubs’ weddings—would be fun.
Chatting and laughing, they returned to the brigade.
Heng Bao spotted Lai Mei and Tie Dan from afar, his little short legs pumping fast, charging like a little cannonball.
Excitedly asking: “Lai Mei bro, Tie Dan bro, how many points did you get?”
This light remark wiped the smiles off Lai Mei and Tie Dan’s faces.
Little Tie Chui was there too. Seeing the twins back in the village, he bounced excitedly a few times.
Hearing Heng Bao’s question, he laughed heartily: “Lai Mei bro got over seventy in both subjects. Second Aunt said she wanted to beat him.”
In front of Third Aunt, Lai Mei felt embarrassed, not knowing where to put his hands and feet.
“…That was a mistake. Next semester I definitely won’t.” He said, face red.
Lin Zhao gave the youth an encouraging look.
Instantly, Lai Mei felt capable again.
—Next semester he’d definitely score high!
Little Tie Chui’s voice continued.
“My brother just barely passed both.”
Tie Dan wanted to cover his brother’s mouth but was too late. He closed his eyes and inhaled.
Mouth so fast!!
“Mom says our family still relies on me.” Tie Chui scratched his head, laughing: “My sister still needs me to support her.”
Yu Bao quickly said: “I support Lan Lan sis too.”
“Me too, me too!” Heng Bao said loudly.
Qian Bao on Lin Zhao’s back silently raised his hand, his dark brows and eyes calm.
“How much did Li Bao score?” Lin Zhao asked.
From the sound, little Li Bao did well too.
Li Bao proudly told Lin Zhao, “Close to full marks in both!”
“Not bad.” Lin Zhao smiled. “Keep it up next semester.”
Li Bao nodded heavily.
Heng Bao and Li Bao snuggled, asking excitedly: “Li Bao, you scored so well, did Eldest Uncle’s Wife reward you?”
Li Bao nodded, looking happy. “Mom said she’d boil eggs for me.”
“Wow!” Heng Bao wow-ed obligingly.
“Tomorrow we’ll share them!” Li Bao said.
“Mm mm.” Heng Bao nodded his little head without politeness. “My mommy has a reward too, it’s a football. We’ll kick it together then.”
Li Bao wow-ed back.
“Wow——!! So good!!”
Tie Dan got excited. “Third Aunt is buying you a football?”
His eyes bulged huge, full of disbelief.
A football was so expensive, and Third Aunt was willing to buy one for Yu Baoheng Bao—so rich, so generous.
“Yeah, my mommy promised us.” Yu Bao answered him.
Heng Bao didn’t brag, but somehow Yu Bao’s words were more believable.
Tie Dan looked at the twins. “Wait till school starts to get it?”
“Sure.” Yu Bao agreed.
Tie Dan thumbs-upped. “Worthy of city treasures, so generous. Truly my good little brothers.”
Yu Bao said: “If we don’t play, we can lend it to you.”
Lai Mei lightly punched his shoulder. “Truly my good little brother, thanks.”
Kids loved this way of getting along; Yu Bao’s eyes sparkled.
“Hee hee, no need to thank.”
Heng Bao saw Lai Mei still running around with gauze on his head and said grown-up-like: “Lai Mei bro, if you’re fine, go home and lie down. Your head’s still injured, don’t make it worse, or you’ll score zero next semester.”
Lai Mei hey-ed. “Kid, don’t jinx me.”
“Then rest properly, don’t wander around.” Heng Bao crossed his arms.
Walking far, Lin Zhao heard this and nodded inwardly. Right, wandering around.
