Chapter 267: “everyone’s So Skilled”
Lin Zhao saw that Heng Bao’s mouth hadn’t stopped and couldn’t help but speak up: “Heng Bao, are you thirsty?”
Heng Bao paused his instructions, puffed up his cheeks, and coquettishly said in a wavy tone, “Mama.”
“Don’t think I don’t know you think I talk too much.”
Lin Zhao: You know that, huh.
“How could I.” She denied it outright, “I’m just worried your throat is dry, don’t be ungrateful.”
Heng Bao was half believing, half doubting, and that hint of suspicion showed in his eyes.
Really?
“You don’t believe me?” Lin Zhao narrowed her eyes.
The cub instantly became obedient.
But his eyes were bright and lively, looking not easy to fool.
“Of course I believe you, I believe everything Mama says.” Heng Bao walked over and snuggled with his mama, resting his head on Lin Zhao’s shoulder, and smiled at Yun Jin: “Uncle Yun Jin, take a photo of me and my mama.”
Yun Jin obliged him.
Click.
Yu Bao’s eyes widened round, Heng Bao this scheming cub!!
He rushed over, “I want a photo with Mama too.”
Lin Zhao hugged her eldest’s little shoulders, “Okay, we’ll take a photo.”
Heng Bao obediently stepped aside.
“Since we’re taking photos, Qian Bao and Yao Bao can’t miss out, or later they’ll say I’m biased as their uncle.” Yun Jin said, “Sis, let me take one of you with Qian Bao and Yao Bao each.”
Lin Zhao had no objection.
Yun Jin was born with a photographer’s talent; with a flick of his little hand, he produced great shots.
Every photo he took, his sister was satisfied with.
Qian Bao in her arms had a serious little face, the contrast cuteness was earnest; Lin Zhao kissed her youngest son, and the little guy smiled with bright eyes.
That smile was perfectly cute.
Yun Jin quickly pressed the shutter.
“Qian Bao is so cute.” He praised.
Qian Bao looked over blankly.
Yao Bao tiptoed, hugged Lin Zhao’s knee, turned to look at Yun Jin, and showed a smile.
Yun Jin exclaimed, “Sis, how do you teach them? They’re all so good at it.”
Without waiting for Lin Zhao to answer, he looked at Da Dan and the others, “You all learn from them, be natural to look good, don’t be stiff and awkward.”
Actually, Da Dan and the others weren’t bad either, but compared to them, the four cubs were still more natural.
Da Dan chuckled: “……Okay, take more photos of us, and we’ll be natural.”
Yun Jin thought so too, “Deal, when I’m free visiting little aunt, I’ll take photos for you.”
“It’s settled.” Da Dan clenched his right fist and smashed it into his left palm, full of expectation.
Parents said they’d make a growth album for them too, needing lots of photos.
To welcome his nieces and nephews, Uncle Song was fully prepared, with candy and plenty of meat.
A table of dishes, by this era’s standards, was quite abundant.
Some cold, some hot.
The living room wasn’t big; the Song family cleared some space, moving unused things to the rooms; now the hall had two round tables, one for adults, one for kids.
Since Yun Jin hadn’t graduated yet, he was sent to the kids’ table to watch the children.
Before the meal, Uncle Song couldn’t help but say a few words.
“Today without Third Son, our family is complete; the house feels a bit crowded, but it’s lively, with kids here, all the family’s hope; in the future, the Lin and Song families won’t fall behind. On this reunion day, let’s raise our glasses.” He picked up his small glass for drinking, raising his arm high.
Aunt Song raised her glass too.
On such a big New Year’s, Yun Cheng was allowed a little wine; his eyes excited, he happily raised his glass.
Lin Zhao drank soda, but clinked glasses with the others too; catching Yun Cheng’s slightly eager motion, she smiled: “Yun Cheng, you like this stuff too?”
“Not bad.” Yun Cheng said, “No addiction, but on cold days I drink a bit to warm up.”
Aunt Song looked at him, “I don’t care what you do usually with your dad, but no drinking at work, don’t mess up.”
“I know.” Yun Cheng said solemnly.
“Why talk about this on New Year’s.” Uncle Song grumbled, “Yun Cheng’s working now, what doesn’t he understand?”
In front of all these juniors, Aunt Song didn’t argue with him, “Fine fine, I won’t talk about your son, let’s eat.”
“Zhaozhao, try this minced meat tofu, you love it.” She ladled a spoonful of tofu for Lin Zhao.
Afraid Meng Jiusi would feel awkward, she said to him: “Jiusi, take what you like, I don’t know what you like, so I won’t serve you.”
Meng Jiusi swallowed his food and answered seriously: “Your cooking is great, I love it all.”
This made Aunt Song beam, unable to close her mouth, “If you like it, eat more; next time you want some, come back anytime.”
“That mapo tofu uses homemade chili sauce; if you like it, I’ll give you a jar.”
Meng Jiusi hadn’t forgotten to send local specialties to Uncle Song and Aunt Song from the troops, giving them such face. True heart for true heart, Aunt Song was willing to treat him well too.
“……Then trouble for Aunt.” Meng Jiusi didn’t stand on ceremony.
Lin Zhao chimed in, “Aunt, I want your chili sauce too!”
She spoke freely with uncle and aunt, just like with Lin Heling and Song Xiwei.
“Okay, I’ll pack some for you, won’t forget.” Aunt Song’s eyes softened.
“Can’t eat too much, or you’ll get an upset stomach.” She reminded, glancing at Meng Jiusi.
Meng Jiusi nodded, “Won’t eat much.”
After the lively meal, Lin Zhao and her brothers called the kids and left.
The Song family saw them off downstairs.
“Take it slow on the road.” Uncle Song said worriedly.
“Shichang, Shisheng, if Qian Bao and Yao Bao get tired, you two carry them.”
The Lin brothers nodded.
They’d brought so many things coming; they could carry Qian Bao and Yao Bao then; going back light, no need to say more.
Aunt Song said: “Alright then, you go first, it’s getting late.”
Lin Zhao and the others left.
The Song family didn’t rush home, sitting downstairs chatting idly with staff dormitory neighbors.
“Old Song, we saw your nieces and nephews come with bags and packages; what did they bring you? Can you tell us?”
Uncle Song smiled without speaking.
Wealth not shown; if he said, wouldn’t everyone be envious.
Aunt Song said: “Just some mountain goods, look bulky, but nothing much.”
“How nothing much, wasn’t there a chicken? That’s meat.” The speaker was a woman, the chattiest in the dormitory, loved gossip and mooching; whenever someone made something good, she’d practically climb their chimney.
“So what if we say, we won’t ask for any; you two are so stingy.”
Yun Cheng looked over, smiling lightly: “I heard your son-in-law brought quite a lot too; tell us about it.”
The woman immediately pulled a long face.
Tone accusatory, “If you don’t want to say, don’t; why be so serious.”
“This isn’t being serious.” Aunt Song rolled her eyes, “You pry into our family, Yun Cheng asks yours; what’s serious about that, at most it’s returning the courtesy.”
Woman: Like hell it’s courtesy; why tell others our family matters.
She huffed discontentedly, turned, and talked to her acquaintances.
“Ignore her, she’s jealous of you.” A friend of Aunt Song’s pulled her aside, whispering comfort.
“What do I have to be jealous of; plenty live better than us, would she be jealous of them?” Aunt Song said helplessly.
“She doesn’t know them.”
Aunt Song: So our family are the suckers?
Her emotions showed too plainly, easy to see.
“That’s why you’re more enviable.”
Aunt Song frowned, “Enviable how? Living steadily?! Who doesn’t live steadily?”
Female neighbor: “……”
“Your life isn’t good?” She wanted to roll her eyes, “No evil mother-in-law grinding you, sisters-in-law easy to get along with, nieces and nephews close to you, two promising sons; what do you have to worry about?”
“How not?” Aunt Song said, “Everyone has worries. When I can’t buy meat or veggies, I worry.”
City life better than countryside, but had hardships; even buying a few veggies was a scramble, meat worse; half a jin could cause a stampede.
If not for Yun Cheng’s dad’s skills, no way those dishes today.
Truth be told, after hosting this bunch, meat at home was gone.
At this point Aunt Song didn’t know Lin Zhao brought cured meat, smoked chicken and other storable meats. She knew the chicken she took, aunt… would definitely cook for them.
The female neighbor thought of her son’s grumble, something like why not eat meat.
Yun Cheng’s mom was just like that.
So annoying.
“You stop talking.”
She was afraid she’d get jealous too.
Aunt Song hadn’t suffered big hardships in life, knew being a daughter-in-law was hard, but that understanding was surface-level, like lack of money or nosy mother-in-law, not grasping how daily trivia grinds one down.
“Okay, no more; bring the kids upstairs to sit?”
Aunt Song was generous, loved kids; on New Year’s, visiting kids got treats from her; all the dormitory kids liked her.
At her words, the little ones who heard had sparkling eyes, looking expectantly at their grandma.
Female neighbor said: “Let’s go, as long as you don’t mind us being bothersome.”
Aunt Song gave her a look like she was being too polite, “Neighbors for years, such distant words hurt feelings.”
“I’m just being polite; when have I not come when you call?” Female neighbor retorted.
She wasn’t one to mooch; if she took from Song family, she’d return, like sending a bowl of stewed pork ribs.
Aunt Song led the way; the two women went up one after another, the two little boys beaming as they followed.
Yun Cheng and Yun Jin glanced from afar, then went their separate ways.
Friends to friends, camera players to cameras.
Yun Jin’s camera around his neck was valuable, easy to attract bad guys; Uncle Song followed him intentionally or not.
Didn’t say why, just digesting food.
The youth clueless, called his dad to join; father and son strolled the street, leaving many memorable photos.
……
Lin Zhao followed her brothers to visit relatives before taking the four cubs home.
With Gu Lan there, the third branch’s yard was never worrisome.
Yard clean, bed sheets clean, no dust on cabinet, even more firewood, covered with oiled paper.
“Seems we weren’t needed.” Lin Shisheng checked and concluded.
Lin Zhao casually put things on the cabinet, expression soft, “Probably Alan cleaned.”
“Gu Family Eldest Branch’s girl?” Lin Shichang spoke; he wanted to sweep the yard’s leaves and dust, but it was all clean, no spots.
“Yes.”
Lin Shichang: “A careful and diligent girl.”
Lin Zhao agreed.
Alan was indeed sensible.
Meng Jiusi lit the fire in the kitchen to boil water; he’d stayed at his sister’s before, knew where everything was.
Black smoke rose from the chimney, drifting upward.
Li Bao saw this, dropped his playmates, and ran to the third branch.
Person not there yet, voice first.
“Yu Bao, Heng Bao!!”
This call full of longing and joy, with a hint of fear of disappointment.
“Woof woof…” Amber saw Li Bao after days and barked excitedly.
The twins rushed out of the yard.
“Li Bao!!”
The three little friends hugged, chattering warmly.
Asking about recent situations.
Hearing Yu Bao and Heng Bao ate lots of meat, Li Bao envied, “You eat meat every day, so happy.”
“Didn’t you?” Yu Bao asked seriously.
“I did.” Li Bao said, “Ate meat dumplings, and potato stir-fried pork, meat so fragrant.”
“No chicken meat?” Heng Bao asked.
Li Bao shook his head, “No, chickens lay eggs, can’t kill.”
“Chicken meat is so good.” Heng Bao looked regretful, “Should’ve saved you some. My grandfather and maternal great aunt’s chicken meat tie for number one best.”
Lin Zhao, just coming out, heard this exactly.
Yo yo yo, schooled cubs were different, even knew ties.
“Third Aunt.” Li Bao called obediently.
Lin Zhao gave him a red paper package, “Lucky money, a bit late, but close enough, keep it safe.”
Li Bao had gotten plenty of red paper packages for New Year, familiar with it; took Third Aunt’s lucky money with both hands, said seriously: “Thank you Third Aunt, wish Third Aunt Happy New Year, smooth work, good health, all the best.”
“Li Bao learned so many words, impressive.” Lin Zhao praised.
Little Li Bao’s cheeks flushed red.
No help needed at sister’s, the Lin brothers left first.
Watching them go, Lin Zhao stuffed a stack of red paper packages in her pocket and headed to Gu Family Old House.
At Gu house, she gave one to each child, even Gu Qingzhou didn’t miss out.
“Third Sister-in-law, I don’t need one, right.” Gu Qingzhou said embarrassed, the red paper package in his hand oddly hot.
“You not married yet, of course you do! Keep it, consider it from your third brother; you’re a young man now, buy what you need.” Lin Zhao said mildly.
“Third Aunt, can I open and see?” Tie Dan couldn’t hold back.
“Sure.”
Then came an excited gasp.
“So much!!” Tie Dan covered his mouth, eyes’ surprise unhideable.
Bang Bang and Lai Mei opened theirs too; seeing the money, the siblings synchronously rewrapped, stuffed in pockets, and patted securely.
“Thanks Third Aunt, you’re the most generous Third Aunt in the whole brigade!” Lai Mei said sweetly, patted her chest, “Third Aunt, next year your firewood is on me.”
Bang Bang quickly: “Next year I’ll still escort Yu Bao and Heng Bao to school!”
Tie Dan followed: “All my wheat and peanuts I pick go to Third Aunt.”
Alan pursed his lips, said: “Third Aunt busy, I can watch Qian Bao and Yao Bao; I’m a year older, can take good care of them.”
Lin Zhao was amused.
These little ones, unaware, might think she gave fifty cents or a dollar.
Actually, big kids got fifty cents, little ones twenty.
Gu Qingzhou different, got five yuan. Still in high school, needed money.
Gu Yuanshan and Gu Yucheng also gave the four cubs lucky money, patted their heads, wishing them lots of meat and new clothes in the new year…
