Chapter 266: “you Can Be My Brother, Or You Can Be The Defendant”
Lin Zhao spent her time at her maternal family just eating, drinking, sleeping, and playing, and three days passed in a flash.
Lin Shichang had already returned from his mother-in-law’s house.
“Did Aunt Chen agree?”
Hearing his younger sister’s question, Lin Shichang nodded. “Of course. My mother-in-law knows your eldest brother’s wife is pregnant with twins again, and she’s very happy about it.”
There was some worry too.
He felt relieved knowing his daughter-in-law would give birth at the county hospital.
He looked at Chen Yu. “Mom also said she wants to save up some eggs to bring over when the time comes. I refused and said we have everything at home. I told her to keep the eggs for herself to nourish her body.”
The Lin family son-in-law never visited empty-handed, and with a house full of capable people in the Lin family, Chen family’s several daughters-in-law all quite admired them.
Even the children liked Lin Shichang, this uncle.
Chen Yu hadn’t seen her parents for several months, and she missed them, her eyes turning slightly red. “Are Mom and Dad doing well health-wise?”
As children, what they worried about most was their parents’ health.
“They’re doing great.” Lin Shichang put his arm around his daughter-in-law’s shoulders and helped her sit down. “After you give birth, I’ll take you back to your maternal family.”
The homesick feeling in Chen Yu’s heart came quickly and left just as fast.
She felt embarrassed afterward, her ears burning, and she secretly glanced at Lin Zhao and the others. Seeing that no one was looking at her, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Lin Shichang saw through his daughter-in-law’s thoughts, a smile flashing in his eyes, and he slightly tightened his grip on her hand.
“Are you hungry?”
Chen Yu shook her head. “Not hungry.”
“If you’re hungry, just say so. I’ll get you something to eat.” Lin Shichang knew his daughter-in-law was carrying two babies and got hungry quickly.
“Got it.” The woman said.
Their affection here was all seen by Lin Zhao.
She lowered her gaze, her hand holding the pencil scribbling and drawing, and two little figures appeared on the paper.
They were clearly stick figures, yet anyone could tell at a glance that she was drawing Lin Shichang and Chen Yu, who were talking.
Not only did they resemble them, but they also conveyed that warmth, making people’s hearts feel slightly warm.
“Zhaozhao can draw too?” Meng Jiusi said in surprise.
Was there anything his younger sister could do that he didn’t know about?
“Dad taught me.” Lin Zhao curved her eyes. “Youngest brother, do you want to learn? Dad can teach you.”
“Would Dad be willing?” Her gaze skipped over Meng Jiusi, looking toward Lin Heling.
Lin Heling nodded, his gaze turning to his youngest son. “I’ve said that no matter which of you wants to learn my skills, I’ll teach you.”
Meng Jiusi had been home for so long that he had grown accustomed to the family’s way of doing things, from initial discomfort to now even daring to joke around.
“What all does Dad know? Let me hear first, then I’ll decide what to learn.” He said half-jokingly.
Lin Zhao couldn’t stay “idle” at home—this kind of “idle” meant she loved chatting with her brothers and sisters-in-law. So, Meng Jiusi had heard a bit about Lin Heling’s extraordinary family background.
Lin Heling leaned back in the lounge chair, gently rocking, his tone unhurried. “I know many things, but they’re not suitable to talk about outside.”
Meng Jiusi immediately understood what kinds of things his father knew.
He didn’t press further, was silent for a moment, then said, “They must be useful sometime.”
Lin Heling glanced at his youngest son and smiled faintly.
Yes, he thought so too.
Lin Zhao muttered, “Drawing is pretty useful, doesn’t propaganda posters need people to draw them too?”
“Even if it’s not needed for work, it can pass the time.”
Lin Heling was helpless. “That’s child’s play for you. Your brother now… why waste time on that? Doing your own job well is better than anything.”
It was the honest truth.
None of his sons had any artistic talent; Jiusi had a medical brain too, so learning to draw would be a pure waste of time.
“I see youngest brother seems very interested.” Lin Zhao looked at Meng Jiusi.
The interested Meng Jiusi: “…”
He gave an awkward smile. “Watching you draw is good enough.”
He’d pass!
“…Oh.” Lin Zhao responded, casually drawing this scene as well.
For some reason, Meng Jiusi tasted a faint resentment from the little figure his younger sister drew of him.
He tried to comfort his younger sister. “I’m older now, and I have work. Learning new skills isn’t that easy anymore.”
“Youngest brother doesn’t need to explain so much. I learn because I like it; if you don’t like it, don’t learn. It’s nothing.” Lin Zhao said understandingly.
“I’m not someone unreasonable.” She gave herself a pat on the back.
A smile appeared in Meng Jiusi’s eyes. “My younger sister is the most understanding.”
Lin Zhao slightly raised her chin. Yes, she was just that understanding girl!
At this moment, Lin Shisheng came out from inside the room.
“Done chatting? Time to head out.”
Today, the Lin family brothers planned to visit relatives.
First up was Uncle Song’s house.
Lin Zhao and her brothers brought generous New Year’s gifts to their uncle, and as soon as they appeared, they became a striking sight in the textile factory staff dormitory.
“Zhaozhao, here to see your uncle?” The people chatting downstairs said enthusiastically, looking up and shouting upstairs: “Old Song, your Zhaozhao and her brothers are here to see you!”
His voice was loud.
There were many people coming today: the Lin family children, Jing Mo and Guang Bai brothers, Yu Bao and Heng Bao, and Qian Bao and Yao Bao.
Heng Bao was a little social butterfly, imitating the person calling great uncle, cupping his hands around his mouth and shouting loudly: “Great uncle, great aunt, we’re here to give you New Year’s greetings!!”
His voice was loud, echoing back.
These two consecutive shouts thoroughly alerted the Song family.
Song Yunjin rushed out first, leaning on the concrete guardrail and looking down.
“Sis!!” He shouted affectionately at Lin Zhao, then bolted downstairs.
Soon he appeared in front of Lin Zhao.
“Sis, you’re finally here. My mom and dad are waiting at home.” Yun Jin said happily.
Lin Shisheng stared sinisterly at the back of his head, finally unable to bear it, stretching his arm to hook around his neck.
“Can’t see us?” He gritted his teeth.
“I can, I can. I was just about to greet you all.” Yun Jin said tactfully.
Seeing uncle and aunt coming downstairs, Lin Shisheng finally let go of his cousin.
“Uncle, Aunt, happy New Year.”
Lin Zhao and the others took turns saying New Year’s blessings.
Uncle Song’s lips were always curved upward.
“Happy New Year to you all too.”
Aunt Song: “What are you doing downstairs? Come up.”
She beckoned to Lin Zhao and her siblings.
“Yun Cheng, Yun Jin, help your cousins carry things.” Aunt Song instructed her two sons, then looked at her nephew and niece. “I didn’t see bicycles. How did you get here?”
“You didn’t walk, did you? The road is far.”
Lin Zhao linked arms with her aunt, gently shaking. “We did walk. There are so many people at home, not enough bicycles.”
Aunt Song patted the back of her hand. “No need to bring so much next time. Just coming is enough. Bring fewer things, ride bicycles or walk—it’s cold on the road and tiring. Your uncle and I know your intentions.”
“That won’t do.” Lin Zhao said sweetly. “We can handle a little cold and tiredness. We can’t skimp on filial piety to uncle and aunt; this is our intention too. When I was in school, I said I’d treat uncle and aunt like my own parents and be filial.”
Aunt Song was so moved she couldn’t speak.
What a good child.
Song Yuncheng looked numb.
“Sis, if you keep going, Mom won’t have eyes for me and Yun Jin anymore.” He said helplessly, though his eyes were full of laughter.
Lin Zhao went upstairs, her tone flat. “If aunt doesn’t have eyes for you two, it’s because you haven’t done enough. You two need to step it up!”
Song Yuncheng looked stunned.
His sis always had a belly full of absurd reasoning.
Couldn’t argue with her, just couldn’t.
Uncle Song and Meng Jiusi brought up the rear.
“Back for New Year, used to it?” Uncle Song asked caringly.
Meng Jiusi was slightly taken aback, his voice gentle. “Yes, it’s lively, even livelier than in the city.”
“The countryside conditions are average, but full of human touch, and the New Year atmosphere is thicker.” Uncle Song said.
This was relative.
The New Year atmosphere in the city was strong too at this time.
No more fights in the staff dormitory; everyone’s faces wore smiles. Even in their usual old cotton-padded jackets, you could see the joy on their faces.
The group went upstairs, and the crowd gathered downstairs shifted their topic to them.
“Did you see? Zhaozhao and her brothers brought a lot of New Year’s gifts for Old Song and his wife.”
“Saw it, how could I not? So much! Old Song’s nephews and niece are generous to their uncle.”
“There are chickens in those things, probably a whole chicken.”
“Chickens?” Meat was the rarest these days, hard not to be shocked and envious. “Really chickens?!”
“Yes! I saw the chicken head!” The speaker was certain.
“Goodness, really generous.”
…
The Song house seemed pretty big usually, but every festival, Uncle Song would complain it was too small.
“Yun Jin, bring out all the stools. Yun Cheng, pour tea.”
Song Yuncheng and Song Yunjin bustled like tops, the brothers happy to do it, corners of their mouths raised.
Aunt Song brought out all the good stuff from home, urging the children to eat candy.
The kids weren’t refusing sweets; each took one and ate contentedly.
Uncle Song prepared red envelopes as usual, handing them out one by one.
Even the three Lin Shichang brothers got them.
Lin Shichang refused, shaking his head like a rattle. “We don’t want them.”
His face flushed red, very embarrassed. “My kids are so big already, how can I accept? If uncle really wants to give, give to Zhaozhao; she’s the youngest.”
“Take it.” Uncle Song stuffed it into his hand without question.
“Zhaozhao will of course get one.” He said.
“This year you and Shisheng are riding Jiusi’s coattails. Next year, you won’t get any even if you want.”
As he spoke, Uncle Song’s red envelope reached Meng Jiusi.
“You weren’t here the past few years, so I couldn’t give it to you even if I wanted. This is your first year back; take it for good luck. If you recognize me as your uncle, accept it.”
He’d put it that way; what could Meng Jiusi say?
He had no choice but to accept honestly.
“I’ll take it.”
Only then did a smile appear on Uncle Song’s serious face. He patted his youngest nephew’s shoulder, softening his tone. “That’s right. If you run into any difficulties in the future, don’t forget this uncle. Even if I can’t help much, I have some connections that can make a difference.”
A warm current surged in Meng Jiusi’s heart. “I know, thank you, uncle.”
Uncle Song waved it off.
His younger sister and brother-in-law had searched for their lost child for so many years, chasing every rumor of a child no matter the hardship. Back then, he always worried: if the child who returned was no good, what would Xiwei and her husband do?
He hadn’t expected the returned child to be so outstanding.
He was the only one in the Song and Lin families to enter the medical field, and reportedly quite accomplished. Honestly, even if Jiusi had grown up in the Lin family from the start, he wouldn’t dare say he’d definitely have a better future than now.
But he couldn’t say that.
Jiusi shouldn’t have suffered those years of hardship.
As elders, they hoped more than anything for their children to live happily, with fewer hardships.
Thinking this way, Uncle Song’s gaze toward Meng Jiusi softened even more.
Lin Zhao glanced over, her lips curving up.
Great, youngest brother had thoroughly integrated into this family.
She pulled out her little notebook and sketched a few strokes, recording this moment.
Then she took out a new camera.
“Sis, you bought another camera?” Song Yunjin spotted it at once, sliding over, eyes shining.
Lin Zhao smiled at him.
“My camera is fine; why buy another? Guess what I bought this camera for?”
Yun Jin didn’t dare guess.
His throat bobbed a few times, his voice inexplicably dry.
His voice was a bit hoarse.
With expectation and some nervousness, he said: “…I don’t know.”
“Oh?” Lin Zhao gave him a sidelong glance full of emotion. “You don’t know…”
Yu Bao couldn’t hold back, laughing lightly at Yun Jin. “Uncle Yun Jin, that’s a New Year’s gift from Mom for you. She said you take great photos, born for this line of work. She bought you a camera so you don’t waste your talent!”
Yun Jin suddenly looked at Lin Zhao, his lips trembling with excitement. “Sis?!!”
His voice nearly cracked, sounding awful.
Lin Zhao’s expression was indescribable.
“Really giving me a headache.” She said.
Yun Jin’s face exploded red, hurriedly explaining: “Sis, I’m not usually like this; I was just too excited. Sis, you’re really giving me this camera? It’s expensive, several hundred yuan.”
No need for that much?
Point-gold-hand Lin Zhao thought: No need at all, really!
Bok Choy price.
“No way around it; who let you be my brother.” Lin Zhao said with full sincerity. “Can’t waste your talent. Sis earns salary just to spend it. Take it honestly, don’t be polite.”
Wuwuwu.
Yun Jin was nearly moved to tears.
“Sis—” He wailed.
Lin Zhao’s mouth twitched.
No need to be like that, as if crying or something.
“Sis, you’re so good to me, unlike my brother who just bullies me!” The youth sniffled. “Sis, is there a possibility I’m your real brother?”
It wasn’t just Lin Zhao whose mouth twitched now; Lin Shichang and Lin Shisheng twitched too.
Meng Jiusi held his forehead.
What a lively little cousin.
Yun Cheng nearly died of anger. “Song Yunjin!!”
He shouted through gritted teeth, nearly biting his teeth to pieces.
Little white-eyed wolf; he wasn’t good to him?!
“I was even thinking of buying you a camera after graduation, and this is how you badmouth me?”
“You can be my brother, or you can be the defendant.” Yun Cheng smiled without smiling.
Eh?
Did he lose a camera?
Yun Jin only heard the first part; as for that defendant bit later, it didn’t register at all.
“Bro…” The youth could bend and stretch, decisively softening.
“Tch.” Yun Cheng crossed his arms sitting on the wooden stool, looking like he wouldn’t pay attention.
Done for.
Couldn’t coax him.
Yun Jin’s face fell.
“Sis…” He sought help from Lin Zhao.
“Calling sis won’t help.” Lin Zhao gave her cousin a helpless look. “You caused it; you fix it.”
“…Oh.”
In no time, Yun Jin’s attention was completely hooked by the camera in his hands.
He kept raising the camera, taking photos of family members.
The accustomed Yu Bao and Heng Bao knew to pose, not only posing themselves but teaching others.
“Xiao Bai, imagine you’re a flower, cup your face with both hands.”
“Xi Bao sis, tone down your smile, or your teeth will show in the photo; it won’t look good.”
“Yao Bao, don’t swing your legs; any more and your skirt will blur…”
