Chapter 27: “the Sky Is Falling”
Da Zai quietly looked toward the door. It was quiet there. San Zai and Si Zai hadn’t woken up yet. He breathed a sigh of relief lightly. “Er Zai and I go outside to eat?” His speaking voice was kept very low.
It wasn’t him exaggerating. The dragon-phoenix twins had indeed been making a fuss these past few days. It wasn’t their fault either. Everyone had meat to eat, but they didn’t. They could only drink malt extract. The grievance in the little doll’s heart was that big.
“Go ahead.” Lin Zhao waved her hand. “Don’t forget to share with the little friends who helped you dig them up.”
“Got it.” Er Zai’s voice sounded very happy as soon as one heard it.
He had just been happy when he was glared at by his brother. “Keep your voice down. San Zai and Si Zai are still sleeping.”
Er Zai reached out to cover his mouth.
Da Zai and Er Zai carried a full bowl of fried cicadas out and generously shared them with the little friends. Tie Niu and Yuan Bao and the others were all thrilled out of their minds.
“Da Zai, Er Zai, from now on you two are my brothers, real brothers!” Yuan Bao’s mouth was all oily, and he said loudly.
Tie Niu stuck close to Er Zai’s side and said even louder: “Er Zai, I’m the best with you!”
The other little friends also swarmed over, spouting all sorts of sappy words.
“Da Zai, I want to be your number one best friend in the whole brigade.”
“Er Zai, I’m the absolute best with you!”
……
Da Zai and Er Zai instantly became the kings of the children, the kind who could rally a hundred with one call.
The two little brothers laughed until their eyes curved.
That evening.
The people in the Gu Family Old House were savoring today’s meat and soda.
Huang Xiulan wiped the straw mat with a wet towel, not forgetting to remind Gu Yuanshan, “Don’t forget to fetch water for the third branch tomorrow morning.”
Thinking of her daughter’s happy look when she received the lunchbox, she felt that this gift from her third sister-in-law had gone straight to her heart.
Gu Yuanshan said: “Got it.”
Tie Dan touched his full belly and sighed: “It’d be great if we could eat meat every day.”
Huang Xiulan smacked the stinky boy to the other side with one slap and continued wiping the straw mat. “You think you’re a city person? Eating meat every day. Dream on.”
Gu Yuanshan: “Even city people don’t eat meat every day. Once a month is already pretty good.”
Tie Dan sighed in dismay. “That’s still way better than us. At least they get to eat it once. The last time I ate meat was three months ago.”
Tie Chui grinned dopily. “Not me. Third Aunt invited me to eat dumplings.”
Huang Xiulan touched her second son’s face and said to her eldest son: “Other families in the village get to eat meat once every half year. We’re doing pretty well. Don’t be ungrateful, kid.”
Tie Dan had nothing to say.
Gu Mu and Gu Fu were also talking quietly.
“Third son’s wife brought some fabric today and had second son’s wife make me an autumn clothing piece. She said it was a thank-you gift for me looking after the four cubs. They’re my own grandchildren. What thanks do I need…”
Gu Fu was a laid-back person. He thought that if the younger generation gave, he’d accept it. If not, he wouldn’t resent it. “If she gives it to you, just accept it.”
“I know. I’m just telling you. You know, after hearing what she said today, I felt so touched.” Gu Mu felt an indescribable warmth in her heart.
Gu Fu shook his head and smiled.
Second branch.
Zhao Liuniang lit the lamp to make autumn clothing for her mother-in-law.
Gu Yucheng was afraid his wife would ruin her eyes by staying up. “Do it in the daytime. Go to sleep first. The autumn clothing isn’t urgent to wear.”
“I’m not sleepy.” Zhao Liuniang didn’t lift her head, her mouth corners carrying a smile. “Once I finish mother’s, the remaining fabric can make a pair of pants for our Yu Yu. I’m full of energy.”
Gu Yucheng helplessly adjusted the light brighter and sat with her.
“What are you doing? You go sleep first. You have to get up early tomorrow. I’ll sleep in a bit.” Zhao Liuniang looked at him disapprovingly.
“I’m not sleepy either.” Gu Yucheng smiled.
Zhao Liuniang rolled her eyes at the man, but a surge of sweetness welled up in her heart. She sped up her sewing.
In living life, one just hopes for a considerate man. Her man wasn’t as good at earning money as old third, but he respected her, treated her well, and cared for the family. She was very satisfied.
Meanwhile, at a certain house at the village entrance.
Gu Er Shen felt like the sky had fallen. She couldn’t be happy anymore.
She glared fiercely at the man snoring away in deep sleep, grinding her teeth in anger. She wished she could kick this dead man flying and, while at it, put him to good use by smashing the Gu Xing’er in the next door room to death.
What kind of rotten people were they, only tormenting her!
Gu Er Shen’s resentment was deep enough to nurture ten thousand evil sword immortals. Gu Er Shu felt chilled all over. He slowly opened his eyes and met her gaze full of anger.
Gu Er Shu quickly sat up, his face full of straw mat imprints, eyes puzzled. “What’s wrong? Did I offend you?”
Offend?
Far more than offend!
Gu Er Shen pinched him hard, cursing in anger. “You’re still asking me what’s wrong?”
“Why did you agree to let Gu Xing’er stay?”
Gu Er Shu didn’t think there was any problem. He said: “If she stays, she stays. Yuanshan, Yucheng, and their wives all came over with bedding. Could I chase people out? Besides, mother agreed too.”
Gu Er Sao only felt rage surging to the top of her head, her scalp tingling with anger. She gritted her teeth: “She’s taken one of our rooms!!”
“She won’t occupy it for years. In a few years, she’ll get married.” Gu Er Shu said.
“She’s a homewrecker. You let her come because you think our family life is too good, right!” Gu Er Sao suppressed her voice to a roar. “Even her own parents despise her. Only you with your rotten good heart pick up anyone and bring them home. Is your brain full of shit?”
Gu Er Shu frowned. “Talk normally. Don’t curse.”
“Not only will I curse you, I’ll hit you too.” As she spoke, she pinched him several more times.
Gu Er Shu dodged to the side and said: “The person’s already moved in. Even if you pinch me to death, she’s still moved in. Just try accepting it. She used to live with us before too. Besides, big brother and big sister-in-law aren’t refusing to give rations.”
It was precisely because Gu Xing’er had lived in their home before that Gu Er Shen was unwilling to let her come.
That girl was shameless, taking every cheap advantage. Yet her mother-in-law protected her. She couldn’t scold or hit. Thinking back made her feel stifled.
“I don’t care about those rations.” She did care, but they fundamentally weren’t worth it.
Seeing his wife couldn’t accept it, Gu Er Shu yawned and blurted: “Let her stay a few days first. If you really can’t accept it, I’ll think of a way to send her back.”
“That’s what you said!” Gu Er Shen took it seriously.
“I said it. Now go to sleep quick. I’m dead tired.” Gu Er Shu lay down and slept.
Gu Er Shen spat toward the room where Gu Xing’er was staying next door and then lay down too.
–
Around the circle of light from the kerosene lamp, moths danced in endless loops.
Under the dim yellow light, Lin Zhao looked at the extra points in the lucky draw system and curved up the corners of her mouth.
Today there were two beautifully rewarding tasks. One was that exam, the other was breaking the ice with the old house.
The former gave 50 points, the latter exceeded expectations in completing the task, for 100 points.
Plus various miscellaneous little tasks, a total of 220 points.
280 short of
The revolution is not yet successful; we must keep striving.
The next day, early morning.
Fengshou Brigade had a four-wheeled vehicle drive in.
Rumbling like a big monster, it arrived in grand style, shocking all the country bumpkins of Fengshou Brigade.
The driver parked the car by the road and stuck his head out the car window, asking loudly: “Which way to Comrade Gu Chenghuai’s home?”
“Keep going straight ahead.” The people at the village entrance said.
Then they ran into the village. Seeing Gu family’s Bang Bang, they said loudly: “Bang Bang, a big car came to the village. The driver is looking for your third uncle’s family.”
Hearing this, Bang Bang ran off, ran home, and told his grandparents about it.
Gu Fu and Gu Mu hurried to the village entrance.
The village roads were narrow; the car couldn’t drive in. The driver parked and waited there. The big car was surrounded by children. A bunch of naughty children fearless of heaven and earth were climbing all over the car. The brigade leader was scolding the troublesome rascals.
Seeing Gu Fu and Gu Mu come over, the brigade leader said: “Delivering bricks and tiles to Chenghuai’s family.”
Lin Zhao had mentioned this. Gu Fu knew comrades from the transportation team were helping transport bricks and tiles.
He stepped forward and greeted the driver warmly. “Thanks for the hard work, comrade. Come home for some water. I’ll get people to unload the bricks and tiles right away.”
“No need to trouble. Unload first. I have things to do later.” The driver had other matters and politely refused.
Hearing this, Gu Fu didn’t press. He called his two sons to unload the bricks and tiles. The brigade leader called over several sturdy young lads to help.
The unloaded bricks and tiles were all piled in front of the third branch’s door.
When the driver was about to leave, Lin Zhao appeared and tossed a cloth bag in through the car window.
“Thanks for the trouble, comrade. A thank-you gift.” She said.
The driver was stunned, said thanks, and drove away.
With bricks and tiles here, building the house could immediately be put on the agenda. The key was to see when the double harvest rush would end, to free up labor.
Before Lin Zhao could ask, Gu Mu volunteered: “The double harvest rush will end in about a week. Once it ends, we can start work.”
Lin Zhao was very expectant of the new home. “By then I probably won’t have time. I’ll have to trouble father and mother.”
Gu Mu waved her hand, smiling: “No trouble, no trouble.”
Building a house was a big deal. A bit of tiredness was nothing.
Gu Fu thought the same. No matter how tiring, how long could it be? At most two months.
With bricks and tiles delivered, house-building was on the schedule. Just needed to wait another week. Lin Zhao was very expectant and began planning to draw up blueprints.
She wasn’t trained in architecture and couldn’t draw professional blueprints, but she could draw simple ones. Who let her have a multi-talented biological father? As the Lin family’s only daughter, she’d been kept by his side from childhood and taught, so she learned a bit.
According to Lin Zhao’s idea, the front yard needed an improved toilet, one that could flush. She’d had enough of pit toilets. The toilet also needed to allow bathing.
She had a preliminary idea and would need to discuss it with the builders then.
On the other side, build a kitchen with a smokeless stove that didn’t need a bellows. The stove bench also needed to be bricked; mud ones shed dirt.
Finally, the living rooms, same as now: build four. Not enough for one per person, but when the children grew up, they definitely wouldn’t live in the village anymore.
As for the backyard, no big changes needed. Just pave a pebble path.
When Da Zai and Er Zai finished playing and came home, Lin Zhao told her two sons her ideas and asked for their opinions.
Da Zai had no objections. “Good. I’ll listen to mother.”
But Er Zai furrowed his little brows, looking tangled and stumped.
Lin Zhao raised her brows in surprise. “Speak your mind. We don’t muzzle mouths at home.”
Er Zai said: “Four rooms aren’t enough.”
“How aren’t they enough?” Lin Zhao asked.
She explained with a smile. “You, your brother, and your little brothers: you three in one room. Your sister in one. The last one for other uses. Perfect.”
Er Zai furrowed his little brows and asked shamelessly: “Where does my wife live?”
His words were shocking.
Lin Zhao nearly laughed to death. “Your hair hasn’t even grown full, and you’re already thinking of a wife.”
Er Zai grinned. “Grandma said every boy has to marry a wife when he grows up.”
Da Zai looked deadly serious. “Mother, I don’t want a wife. I just want mother. When I grow up and earn money, I’ll give it all to mother.”
Lin Zhao touched Da Zai’s head and said to Er Zai: “Your father and I raising you all grown is achievement enough. Still expecting us to prepare wedding rooms for you? Marry wives? In your dreams! When you’re adults, earn it yourselves. Don’t think of freeloading!”
Later she’d buy a siheyuan courtyard house, that would be for Si Zai. Whatever Da Zai, Er Zai, and San Zai wanted, they’d earn themselves. By the time they grew up, it’d be a golden era everywhere. She’d give them startup capital, and even a little earning would be enough for them to live worry-free.
Of course…
The premise was she had to lay a solid foundation first.
“Da Zai, Er Zai, starting tomorrow, you two have to learn to recognize characters with me, learn mathematics…”
Da Zai and Er Zai had no objections to what mother said.
Just…
Er Zai pouted at Lin Zhao. “But other people’s parents all marry wives for their sons.”
He was only five, couldn’t recognize a single character, didn’t even know what marrying a wife was for. Everyone in the village said so, so he felt he had to marry one too.
“Other people’s parents don’t give the little friends at home meat and soda either.” Lin Zhao countered lightly.
Thinking of something, she smiled slyly, like the wolf disguised as little red riding hood’s grandma tricking her to open the door.
“If you judge me by other people’s parents, don’t blame me for judging you by other little friends’ treatment.”
“Want me to save money for you to marry a wife? It’s not impossible. Starting today: meat once every half year. Meat buns, sour cabbage fish, shredded pork noodles… soda, forget it all. Just eat wild veggie nests, drink sweet potato porridge. Live like that for ten-odd years, and I’ll get you a wife.”
Hearing this, Er Zai stared in horrified wide-eyed shock, feeling the sky had fallen.
He hurriedly hugged Lin Zhao.
His mouth emitted a soft sound of extreme fear: “Mother, mother, no, I don’t want a wife anymore. I want to eat meat. I want sour cabbage fish. I want shredded pork noodles. I want to drink soda…”
Really, with such a threat, the five-year-old little friend had no more schemes left.
“Study well. Once you learn to earn money, with high salaries, what can’t you buy?” Lin Zhao was a worldly person with no grand ambitions. She just wanted her cubs to have food and clothing without worries, free from life’s hardships.
“I’ll study well.” Er Zai puffed his cheeks, promising seriously. He was really scared by his mother.
“Me too!” Da Zai followed.
That evening, Lin Da Zai and Lin Er Zai began their path to literacy.
The two little brothers had one calm temperament and one lively. Da Zai could settle down, recognizing characters earnestly. Er Zai was fidgety, his butt like it was pricked by needles when sitting still, fidgeting this way and that. He learned, but kept moving.
Luckily he was an obedient cub who listened to mother. He endured without doing other things before finishing recognizing the characters. Very worry-free.
Tonight first teach five simplest Chinese characters, recite a poem.
Lin Zhao was delighted to discover the two cubs had good memories, recognized characters quickly. A simple five-character regulated verse, after teaching a few times, they could recite it.
Without comparison nearby, as a mother she didn’t notice anything off and taught at this pace.
“Recited it? Go to sleep.” Lin Zhao worried about waking the dragon-phoenix twins and kept her voice very low.
“Given your good performance, reward tomorrow morning. What do you want to eat?”
Da Zai took the initiative to request: “I want something sweet.”
“Okay.”
Er Zai said: “I want meat!”
Lin Zhao scraped his little nose. “Alright. Make meatball soup. San Zai and Si Zai can eat it too.”
His belly was clearly full, but the gluttonous little friend was still expectant. Even in sleep, his face wore a sweet smile.
No mosquito net in the room. Burned mugwort. The mosquitoes in the room weren’t so rampant, but it was somewhat stuffy hot.
Lin Zhao couldn’t sleep for a bit. She used the palm-leaf fan to fan the four cubs.
One stroke after another.
Da Zai opened his eyes once. When his mother didn’t notice, he panicked and closed them again. His long eyelashes trembled lightly. His little hand clenched into a fist.
When the fanning stopped, he opened his eyes, pulled up his little blanket, covered mother’s belly. His body curled toward Lin Zhao a bit, eyes curving in a smile. Then he closed his eyes, and soon steady breathing sounded.
The next day was Lin Zhao’s last day to sleep in, aside from Sundays.
She got up late.
As soon as she opened her eyes, it was already nine o’clock.
Just as she was about to get up, chaotic urgent footsteps sounded, accompanied by Er Zai’s angry voice.
“Mother, someone stole our family’s bricks and tiles!!!”
Hearing this, Lin Zhao hurriedly put on clothes and slipped into cloth shoes to go out.
“What’s going on?”
“Mother, the bricks and tiles outside the door are fewer.” Da Zai was also angry. The child’s face was red with anger.
Lin Zhao went out. “Let’s go see.”
She arrived at the door and saw it was indeed fewer, but not as many as the two cubs said. Just a corner, about ten pieces.
However.
No matter how many, such sneaky behavior was contemptible.
Gu Mu learned the third branch’s bricks and tiles were stolen and hurried over. Discovering they really had been stolen, she was furious too.
She comforted Lin Zhao and the two cubs a few words, skipped work even, cursing from village head to tail.
“Which immoral smoking thing dares steal old mother’s family’s bricks and tiles?! A body full of thief bones. Gone mad poor, or claws itchy? You thousand-knife-wielding thing. Steal those few bricks and tiles. Want to build a dog kennel or pile yourself a grave mound?”
“Shameless thing. If you’re smart, hurry and return the bricks and tiles. Otherwise old mother will dig three feet to drag you out! Then don’t blame old mother for not holding back…”
With her cursing, the whole village knew the Gu family third branch’s bricks and tiles had been taken.
Everyone started discussing.
“Stealing bricks and tiles? Which family can’t think straight. Bricks and tiles need money and connections to get. You steal them and can’t even use them openly. Why take that advantage.” The brigade leader’s wife ran over to join the fun, commenting loudly.
“Who knows. Some people just can’t stop taking cheap advantages.” Yuan Bao’s Mother said disdainfully.
Da Zai and Er Zai had shared fried cicadas with her family’s Yuan Bao yesterday. The child was overjoyed, even giggling in sleep at night. Her good impression of Lin Zhao peaked, of course she defended her.
In the corner, Chang Sheng’s Mother looked somewhat uneasy. Hearing the surrounding people’s scorn, her eyes flickered.
After the brigade leader learned of the Gu family bricks and tiles being stolen, he was furious too.
A thief in his jurisdiction was really slapping his face.
Lin Zhao said: “Brigade leader, this matter can be big or small. Have the neighborhood committee comrades investigate.”
The neighborhood committee was a mass security organization maintaining public order, theft prevention and mutual aid, patrols and sentry, an important part of grassroots management in this era.
The brigade leader thought Lin Zhao’s suggestion reasonable and said: “Alright. I’ll discuss with the neighborhood committee comrades in a bit.”
Lin Zhao smiled. “Thanks, brigade leader.”
The brigade leader thought Chenghuai’s wife was really polite. Wasn’t this just what should be done?
Soon, the neighborhood committee comrades began the investigation.
The person who stole the bricks and tiles was scared to death, furtively hid the taken bricks and tiles in the cellar, covered with things. Still not reassured, covered the cellar mouth tightly with oilcloth. Only then did she breathe a sigh of relief.
The neighborhood committee wouldn’t check house by house. Hidden away, it should be fine.
After finishing, she was sweating all over, heart panicked, angry, regretful. Resented Lin Zhao for making a fuss, resented the brigade for meddling, also regretted taking those bricks last night. Couldn’t even use them. Why did she do it?
Gu Fu brought his two sons over and moved the bricks and tiles into the yard.
Originally thought they’d use them in a few days, so smash them all up at home. Bricks and tiles in the village, shouldn’t be anyone touching them. Who knew some conscienceless person would steal anything.
After moving the bricks and tiles, Gu Yuanshan fetched full water for the third branch’s water jar and left with the family.
Lin Zhao stayed home with the four cubs. No man at home. Gu Da Ge and Gu Er Ge came to help, always bringing wife or own kids, never alone with sister-in-law. Villagers’ mouths were vicious; fake could be said as real. Had to guard against it.
After Gu family members left, the two cubs were still huffing mad.
Seeing brothers with puffed cheeks, the dragon-phoenix twins also puffed their cheeks, like two cute little pufferfish.
Lin Zhao couldn’t help laughing.
“Still mad? Aren’t the bricks and tiles all moved in? Don’t be mad. Losing those few won’t affect building the house.”
Da Zai said angrily: “Grandma said bricks and tiles are hard to get. Those stolen bricks and tiles could let us eat a meal of meat.”
Er Zai nodded in agreement. “Exactly, exactly.”
He ground his teeth, expression fierce. “Better not let me find out who stole our family’s bricks and tiles. Otherwise… otherwise I’ll call grandma to settle accounts with them.”
He was still small, couldn’t even beat Chang Sheng, could only call for outside help.
Father said calling outside help wasn’t shameful.
Si Zai had a circle of pale yellow around his little mouth, clenched his fist, tender white little face stern. He said: “Settle, settle accounts!”
San Zai also drank malt extract, blinked his dark bright eyes, looking quiet and well-behaved.
Seeing the cubs so mad, Lin Zhao thought of a way. “How about raising a dog?”
Er Zai’s eyes lit up instantly. “Can it be one of Da Huang’s little yellows?”
“Da Huang gave birth to little yellows?” Lin Zhao rarely paid attention to village matters and really didn’t know.
Da Zai nodded quickly, expression expectantly matching Er Zai’s. “Yeah, Da Huang gave birth to a little yellow. Mother, really raising a dog?”
“Sure.” Lin Zhao smiled.
“Mother, I’ll go find the little yellow!” Er Zai said excitedly, pulling Da Zai out the door.
Si Zai wanted to run after but was hugged by Lin Zhao.
“You don’t go adding to the commotion.” She picked up Si Zai, gently rubbed her nose tip against daughter’s nose tip, eyes full of laughter.
The cute little milk bun opened her mouth wide, revealing a few snow-white teeth, smile sweetest.
As she opened her mouth, Lin Zhao saw Si Zai had another half tooth emerging and said delightedly: “Baby, you grew a new tooth. In a few more months, you can eat meat.”
Si Zai clapped happily. “Meat, meat…”
Lin Zhao held Si Zai and sat by San Zai, said to her little son: “Good cub, open mouth. Let mother see if you’ve grown any?”
San Zai obediently opened his mouth for mother to check his teeth.
He had grown one too.
Lin Zhao touched her little son’s cheek. “Both grown. Later’s meatballs, you two can each have one.”
Si Zai understood, eyes curving happily. “Meat, meat.”
San Zai smiled too, stuck by mother’s side. Even when Lin Zhao went to the kitchen, he followed.
Seeing the dragon-phoenix twins so good, Lin Zhao didn’t shoo them out and deftly made the meal.
