Chapter 275: “flouting The Ban”
“Good thing you had good luck and met good people. That was too scary.” Guan Mama patted her chest, still shaken.
Guan Yu also felt her luck was pretty good.
She told her parents about Lin Zhao’s help to her.
“…So you’re saying that Comrade Lin Zhao played a huge role in you successfully returning to the city.” Guan Baba said.
He looked at his wife, “Yuyu Mom, shouldn’t we send some local specialties to Comrade Lin as a gift of gratitude.”
They lived in the city, had seen a lot, and knew how hard it was to return to the city.
Someone like Yuyu was too rare.
There were other educated youth who returned to the city, but most did so on medical retirement, which was hard to arrange. It required medical reports and layers of review; faking it would get the whole family in trouble.
“Yes, yes.” Guan Mama said.
She looked at her husband, “We’ll go buy some later.”
Guan Yu didn’t stop them.
The Lin family siblings had helped her, so sending a gift of gratitude was only right.
“Dad, Mom, I’ll go with you.” Guan Yu said, “I’m about the same age as Comrade Lin, I know what she likes.”
Guan Mama looked at her, “You’re about the same age?”
Guan Yu was a bit confused, “…Yeah, about the same age, what’s wrong?”
“You’re about the same age, but that girl already has four kids, and you don’t even have a partner.” Guan Mama said worriedly.
It was all because of being sent down to the countryside that delayed Yuyu.
Guan Yu: “…”
“Dad!” Guan Yu, who had just returned and was already facing pressure to marry, called out to her old dad, “Look at Mom. I haven’t even warmed my butt on the seat, and Mom’s already fed up with me…”
Guan Mama: “Who’s fed up with you?”
She poked her daughter’s little head, “You girl, talking nonsense.”
“I’m not getting married. I want to stay at home. Don’t talk about finding a partner; I don’t want to hear it.” Guan Yu resisted strongly.
She hadn’t been so against it before; what she saw and heard down in the countryside… left her with deep shadows.
For an educated youth returning home, having a job was much more reassuring than getting married!
“Listen to Yuyu.” Guan Baba decided firmly, “Work first; we’ll talk about the rest later.”
He felt his daughter was still young; why rush to get married?
No rush.
Though he was a man himself, he still thought most men weren’t good; a good husband and good dad like him had to be encountered by luck.
If luck was bad, one might never encounter one in a lifetime.
Guan Yu, unaware of her dad’s thoughts, gave him a grateful look.
Guan Mama: “…” Fine.
–
In the blink of an eye, half a month passed, and Lin Zhao received a letter from Educated Youth Guan.
She also learned about the unpleasant incident she encountered on the train. Fortunately, there were many kind-hearted people.
When she learned that her third brother was one of the kind-hearted soldier brothers, Lin Zhao couldn’t help but feel proud.
“Mom, what are you smiling at?” Heng Bao, back from school, gulped down a few mouthfuls of water, rushed over to ask, his little eyes glancing nonstop at the letter in Lin Zhao’s hand.
He asked curiously, “A letter from Dad?”
“No, from Educated Youth Guan.” Lin Zhao explained calmly.
“Oh.” Heng Bao responded listlessly.
Then he perked up again and asked, “What does the letter say?”
Lin Zhao glanced at him, “Why so many whys? Snooping into everything—can’t you have a sense of boundaries, son?”
“What’s a sense of boundaries? Let me see if I can have it.” Second Son answered solemnly.
Lin Zhao was choked.
“With your temperament, it’s hard to have.”
Heng Bao pouted, hugged his mom’s arm, and rubbed it hard with his chubby little face, “Mom, don’t say that about your cub…”
His voice wavy and soft.
Lin Zhao thought, in a few more years, the twins would have their voices change, and then their speech wouldn’t be so soft. If they hit puberty and got moody, they might not even talk to her.
Just thinking about it made her heart stuffy.
Annoyed by the imagined scene, she tugged at her son’s face with a bit more force.
“Little naughty cub.”
Heng Bao looked baffled, his little brows furrowed.
“…Where was I naughty?” he said unconvinced.
Qian Bao saw second brother had upset Mom and didn’t flip through the picture book Lin Zhao bought him. He walked over, raised his little hand, and gently patted Lin Zhao’s back.
“Mom, don’t be mad.”
His voice milky and sweet.
No matter how irritated you were, this voice could soothe it.
“Okay, okay, not mad.”
Yao Bao also came over, huffed at her second brother, squeezed into Lin Zhao’s bosom, tilted her neck up, and kissed her face.
Lin Zhao was coaxed into beaming.
“Really Mom’s good cubs.”
Kids were cutest when little.
Yao Bao nodded her little head, “Yeah, Bao is good.”
The content of Educated Youth Guan’s letter, the twins ended up knowing anyway.
Yu Bao said happily, “Third Uncle is awesome.”
He looked at Lin Zhao, “Mom, should you tell Aunt Guan Third Uncle’s address?”
“Yeah, why not tell such a good thing.”
Yu Bao was careful, “Doesn’t it need to be secret?”
“Yu Bao is really careful; no need for this.” As family, Lin Zhao knew what could be said and what couldn’t.
Heng Bao clapped vigorously, “When the letter of thanks arrives, Third Uncle will get praised, right?”
“I don’t know; wait for Third Uncle to come back and ask him yourself.” Lin Zhao said, “You can write a letter too; I’ll mail it for you.”
Heng Bao got excited, “Great, I want to write a letter.”
He was also afraid of forgetting.
Every day was eventful and novel, easy to forget.
Yu Bao noticed his little brother’s mood and reminded, “Mom bought us diaries; you can keep a diary.”
Hearing this, Heng Bao shook his head like a rattle.
“…I don’t want to.” He said loudly.
Lin Zhao said it wasn’t forced, so second cub dared to say it so loudly; otherwise, he’d only express unwillingness quietly and sneakily.
Yu Bao’s eyes flickered a few times, tricking his brother, “I keep one. I write down what happens every day. When we go accompany the army, I’ll tell Dad one by one, and Mao Dan’er and them too. Not only tell them, when I grow up, I can read it too.”
Hearing big brother say that, Heng Bao started wavering.
Thinking of the growth record Mom made for them, he said, “Mom made that growth picture book with drawings; looking at that is the same.”
Yu Bao shook his head seriously, “Not the same. Mom has to go to work and take care of us; she doesn’t know a lot of things. We have to record ourselves.”
After saying that, his eyes swept to Lin Zhao, smiling cleverly and slyly.
Lin Zhao, while Heng Bao wasn’t paying attention, gave big cub a thumbs up.
Mother and son went to extremes to get Heng Bao to practice a few more characters.
Characters were a person’s face; best to practice.
Heng Bao hesitated a moment, then willingly jumped into the trap.
“Mom, if I write… I’m still your good cub, right?” He tilted his head and glanced at Lin Zhao.
Lin Zhao nodded, “Yes, the most obedient second cub.”
Yao Bao mimicked Mom’s words, “The most obedient second brother.”
“I’ll write!” Heng Bao agreed happily, rubbed his little sister’s face, and laughed, “Are you a parrot? Always copying Mom.”
Yao Bao gave second brother the back of her dark little head.
Yu Bao remembered the lively event about to happen in the village and said, “Mom, can we go back to the village the day after tomorrow?”
Lin Zhao was puzzled, “Why suddenly want to go back to the village?”
“I know, I know.” Heng Bao shouted excitedly, “Brother Bang Bang said our brigade is showing a movie again. Brother and I want to watch.”
He opened his big watery eyes, full of expectation.
Lin Zhao said casually, “If you want to go back, go back. Not a big deal.”
Just a bit troublesome.
For Yu Bao and Heng Bao, watching a movie in the movie theater and in the village were completely different.
The village had lots of little friends; they brought small stools to sit in the very front, eating fried pumpkin seeds Mom made, chatting and laughing—so lively.
They saw one before New Year and never forgot. Last time at the movie theater, they even asked Lin Zhao… when the village would show another movie; they wanted to watch with Yuan Bao, Tie Niu, and them.
Now, the cubs got their wish!
“Yay!” Heng Bao jumped in place.
Time flew, and it was movie day.
The same old man from last time came to show the movie. After arriving, he started preparations before dark.
Enthusiastic kids poured water for the old man, brought stools…
Coaxing Grandpa into beaming.
“I’ve gone to so many brigades to show movies; only your village’s little dolls are the most polite and generous.”
The little friends grinned ear to ear.
They crowded around the old man asking this and that.
The movie guy was generous too, happily answering whatever the kids asked, his old face with a kind smile.
The twins ate dinner and were then brought back to the village by Lin Zhao.
By now, the threshing ground was full of people.
Tie Chui had saved seats and came early to wait in the village, afraid Yu Bao and Heng Bao couldn’t find him.
Spotting his good brothers from afar, he waved his arms vigorously.
“Yu Bao, Heng Bao.”
The twins ran to him, asking eagerly, “Li Bao, did you save seats?”
“Saved them, right in the front. Let’s go quick.” Li Bao said excitedly.
Lin Zhao had no interest in the excitement and wanted to stay home to rest.
She pulled out a fairly large leather bag from her shoulder bag.
Called out to the cub about to dash off.
“…Don’t want snacks?”
Yu Bao braked hard, ran back pattering, took the leather bag, “We do, thanks Mom.”
With that, he turned and dashed off.
“Share with Brother Bang Bang and them; don’t just eat. Finish the water in the water kettle.” Lin Zhao called out.
“Got it!” The little friends’ cheerful voices rang out.
Lin Zhao shook her head helplessly, led the dragon-phoenix twins into the yard.
“Tired?” She asked her pair of children.
Yao Bao rubbed her eyes; a long eyelash fell off, sticking to her chubby white little face.
“Sleepy~!”
“Hold on a bit longer; wash up then sleep.” Lin Zhao said softly.
Yao Bao was sleepy and dazed; her pink little mouth pouted unconsciously but she didn’t throw a tantrum, obediently following behind Lin Zhao, clutching her clothes hem like a little tail.
Qian Bao went back to the room to get his and sister’s towels, came out again after, and handed them to Lin Zhao.
“Towel.”
Lin Zhao took the towel, her gentle gaze falling on her son, “Good boy, Qian Bao is really Mom’s little helper.”
The little friend’s eyes curved into crescents.
Lin Zhao quickly washed the dragon-phoenix twins, carried the little brother and sister into the room. Before she even started coaxing, Yao Bao turned over and fell asleep.
“Looks like she was really worn out.” She said softly.
Lowering her head, she met Qian Bao’s clear eyes.
“Qian Bao, not sleepy yet? Want a story to coax you?” Lin Zhao pulled her son into her bosom, gently patted Qian Bao’s back, speaking softly.
“No.” Qian Bao refused.
“I’ll sleep myself.” His little face serious, “Mom sleep too.”
“Okay, Mom will sleep too.” Lin Zhao’s gaze gentle.
Here it was quiet and peaceful.
The movie was nearing the end when an ugly incident broke out at the threshing ground.
The brigade rarely had entertainment; basically everyone turned out for movie nights.
But one person was the exception. Unlike Lin Zhao’s disinterest and desire to rest, he couldn’t contain his inner restlessness and broke the rules against the wind.
When a childish, loud voice rang in his ears: “Lu Baozhen’s grandpa is hitting someone’s buttocks! Quick, someone come—!”
Lu Yizhou’s biological father was both shocked and scared, covered his face, and bolted.
He ran super fast; that speed didn’t match someone who complained of back and leg pain all day.
Villagers heard the shout and ran over, but saw nothing.
“Zhuang Zhuang, what did you just shout?” Someone’s eyes gleamed with gossip as they asked.
The little boy called Zhuang Zhuang pointed, “Just now Lu Baozhen’s grandpa was behind the tree hitting an aunt’s buttocks!!”
The person who finally squeezed in, Zhuang Zhuang’s grandma, her old face turned every color, “…”
Little kids didn’t understand anything, but at her age she understood everything—that was clearly… clearly… pah, old and shameless; she couldn’t even say it.
Furious, she patted her grandson’s back, “…Why didn’t you go home after the movie? Who let you run around?”
Not afraid of getting sore eyes.
Zhuang Zhuang looked aggrieved, “I came to pee; I didn’t run around. Grandma, you’re wronging me.”
The onlookers said, “Zhuang Zhuang’s grandma, why hit the kid? The child had a full bladder and needed to pee; you can’t make him hold it, that’s too domineering.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
A trouble-stirring onlooker asked, “Who was that aunt you mentioned? Do you know her?”
Zhuang Zhuang was quick-tongued, “Too dark, I didn’t see. I only saw Grandpa Lu; he was hitting someone, really hard.”
Harder than his dad hitting him.
“Did you see what color clothes that person was wearing?”
This was offending people; Zhuang Zhuang’s grandma didn’t want her grandson involved, pretended to be angry, “What are you asking? My grandson needs to sleep. Talk tomorrow if there’s something.”
With that, she pulled her grandson and squeezed out of the crowd to leave.
Gossipy people told the brigade leader about it.
Brigade Leader Ye’s face turned ashen.
His mouth twitching.
Full belly of curses ready to spew.
He went back to brigade headquarters with a cold face, opened the letter of introduction for the Lu family to accompany the army, and personally delivered it to Lu Old Lady.
Seeing this, Su Yuxian was overjoyed.
She had wanted to go back early; doing fieldwork plus housework had roughened her hands and face.
Lu Old Lady asked puzzled, “Why open it again? Wasn’t it after double harvest rush?”
The brigade leader didn’t want to say a word, just waved his hand for them to pack up soon, then turned and left.
If not for Lu Yizhou specially writing him a letter, complaining how hard it was for him and begging to delay the letter of introduction for his family, this scene today wouldn’t have happened.
Hatefully, he pitied Lu Yizhou’s hardship and gave Old Man Lu the convenience.
Disgusting.
Brigade Leader Ye bumped into Old Man Lu at the door, who had circled back with a calm expression as if nothing happened, greeting the brigade leader naturally.
“Brigade Leader? Why come to my house? Didn’t watch the movie? Today’s movie was really great; too bad you missed it. Oh, what’s up at my house? Come in and talk slowly?”
Brigade Leader: “…” Face really fucking thick.
Not surprising; without thick skin, how could he do such a shameless thing.
He ignored him and left straight away.
Old Man Lu spat.
What was he so cocky about? His son had a bright future; had he shown off?
