Chapter 286: “i Think You’ve Eaten Too Much”
“……” Gu Chenghuai placed his large hands left and right on the twins’ heads, introducing them to the sisters-in-law in the family courtyard, “These are my sons, the older one is called Gu Zhiyu, the younger one is called Gu Zhiheng.”
The sisters-in-law shifted their gazes from Lin Zhao’s face. Gu Commander’s family members were really pretty, even better looking than Battalion Commander Fu’s. They had proper noses and eyes; they must be city folk, right?
They seemed quite approachable, not at all snobbish like city people. Not sure yet, we’ll see later.
Following Gu Chenghuai’s introduction, they turned their gazes to the Gu family’s two cubs.
“Oh wow, they really look exactly the same, so good-looking!” Zhang Saozi said straightforwardly, pulling out a handful of peanuts for Yu Bao and Heng Bao, “Eat peanuts, eat peanuts, they look so clever.”
With Lin Zhao’s permission, the twins took the peanuts and politely thanked her: “Thank you, Aunt Zhang.”
Aunt Zhang was stunned, “Goodness, you two know my surname is Zhang?”
Yu Bao stood straight, looking at her seriously, “My dad just introduced you, we remembered.”
“You two remembered?” Zhang Saozi thought such clever kids were pretty rare.
Heng Bao nodded, “We remembered, there aren’t many people, easy to remember.”
Easy to remember? Her own kids couldn’t do that, and they weren’t so generous either.
“How old are you two?” Wang Saozi spoke up.
It had to be said, the twins were so generous and polite, very likable, winning the affection of aunts wherever they went.
“Six years old, birthday not yet.” Yu Bao said.
“Only six?” Wang Saozi was a bit disbelieving. How were six-year-olds taller than her own seven-and-a-half-year-old? But she figured the kids had no reason to lie; maybe Gu Commander’s cubs ate well.
“Six and already this tall? This height… just like your dad!” Zhang Saozi said.
The twins felt delighted inside.
The brothers were pampered at home, with lively and outgoing temperaments, generous in speech and conduct, not at all afraid to interact with people.
Lin Zhao looked at her two sons like they were her greatest masterpieces, a faint pride flowing in her brows and eyes.
Her cubs!!
“Say goodbye to the aunts again, time for meal.” Lin Zhao patted her sons’ little shoulders.
Hearing this, Zhang Saozi said warmly: “No food in the canteen, where are you eating? Going out? If you go now… it’ll be dark when you return.”
“Thank you, sister-in-law, we’re going to my brother’s.” Lin Zhao didn’t say more, nodded to them, and left with her husband and sons.
Mao Dan’er and the Meng family’s two boys were also there. The little boys bounced and jumped around. Xiao Bai was the smallest, with a mild temperament, always lagging behind. The older ones had good personalities, stopping now and then to wait for him.
“Xiao Bai, you walk so slow.” Heng Bao, the impatient one, couldn’t hold back.
Xiao Bai wasn’t upset, smiling at him. His good temper was like dough, making it hard for others to say more.
“Alright, I’ll hold your hand and walk.” Heng Bao compromised.
Xiao Guangbai obediently reached out.
“Good boy.” Heng Bao patted Xiao Bai’s little head, just like his mom did.
“Almost forgot to ask, what’s the name of that kitten you two brought?”
Xiao Bai didn’t rush to answer, asking back, “What about yours?”
Heng Bao didn’t mind, saying: “Mei Qiu. My mom named it, how’s that? Sounds good, right!”
Xiao Bai nodded appreciatively, “Sounds good!!”
“What’s your kitten called?” Heng Bao asked again.
Yu Bao looked over too, perking up his little ears.
“Rice Ball.” Xiao Bai said in his milky voice.
Rice Ball?!!
“Rice Ball, Rice Ball…” Heng Bao repeated it several times, finding it easy to remember, “Not bad. Sounds as good as our Mei Qiu.”
Lin Zhao watched him boast, laughing until her stomach hurt.
“Look at your son so confident!” she whispered to Gu Chenghuai.
“Very good, just like his parents, so generous is great.” Gu Chenghuai’s eyes were full of pride.
Knowing his sons were taught well by his wife, he pinched Lin Zhao’s finger, moved, saying: “You’ve worked hard.”
Lin Zhao clasped his fingers back, interlocking their ten fingers, laughing: “You should be glad your family is reliable, otherwise… hmph.”
Gu Chenghuai’s amused voice rose, “Yes, I’m very glad.”
Having seen too many parents who dragged their kids down, he knew how lucky it was to have fair and clear-headed parents.
Thinking of the Lu family’s messy affairs, he shook his head inwardly.
“Are your parents’ bodies still good?”
Lin Zhao told the man in detail about hometown matters, “They’re fine. Dad is now a mushroom technician, running around brigades with big brother and second brother, full of energy. After your sister got married, mom’s wrinkles lessened, but I heard Gu Xing’er didn’t stop nagging about you.”
Gu Chenghuai: “Nagging?”
“Oh, just talking behind your back.” Lin Zhao said casually, “Said some pretty harsh things, Yun Cheng told me.”
“Whatever.” Gu Chenghuai didn’t care. He had been good to his sister Gu Xing’er before, but she didn’t appreciate it, so he withdrew his kindness. What happened to Gu Xing’er next was up to her.
“You sure take it easy.” Lin Zhao glanced at the man.
Laughter instantly filled Gu Chenghuai’s eyes, and he chuckled lowly, “If I interfere, you won’t get mad?”
“What do you think?” Lin Zhao asked back.
Her brows grew serious, “I’m telling you, my conflict with Gu Xing’er is irreconcilable; she’ll never get a good face from me.”
Gu Xing’er was like that Sister Xia, her enemy. Call it displaced anger or holding grudges, she would never forgive that person.
Never!
Not retaliating against Gu Xing’er was only for the sake of Gu Chenghuai and the rest of the Gu family being good to her and the four cubs.
Gu Chenghuai didn’t think his wife was excessive. Last time home visiting relatives, he asked his childhood friend about what happened between Zhaozhao and Xing’er. From the friend, he learned that during his absence, Gu Xing’er disrespected his wife many times—spreading bad rumors about Zhaozhao, coming to snatch the food he sent for Zhaozhao and the kids, not good to the four cubs either, bullying his children by being their little aunt…
The more he knew, the colder his heart grew.
That was also why, when Gu Xing’er married, he didn’t even send a pillowcase.
He wanted to tell her, without blood ties, no one would yield to her!
“Don’t worry, I won’t force you to do things you don’t like.” Gu Chenghuai solemnly promised Lin Zhao.
Lin Zhao’s expression relaxed, linking arms with the man and shaking happily, “You promised, from now on if anyone asks you to mediate, you can’t make things hard for me!”
“Of course.” Gu Chenghuai seemed puzzled how his wife could think that, “You’re my wife, the most important person. How could I make things hard for you over others’ words? What are you thinking, silly or not? Did the train ride confuse you?”
He reached to rub the top of Lin Zhao’s hair, looking down at her with eyes full of tenderness.
“You’re the confused one! Hateful!” Lin Zhao tried to pull her arm back but was held tight, unable to move.
The group’s backs disappeared from the gossipy military wives’ view.
“…Kids are that big and still so clingy, rare sight.” Zhang Saozi chuckled.
Before seeing Lin Zhao and the twins, due to certain reasons, she didn’t have a good impression of Gu Commander’s family. After meeting, she thought some rumors were pure nonsense.
Wang Saozi looked disdainfully, “Not dignified at all, in public like that, sticking so close, not afraid of teaching bad habits to the kids!”
The others smiled without speaking.
Each family has its own way of living; no need to meddle.
They absolutely wouldn’t admit that they stopped joining in purely because they saw Gu Commander’s family background wasn’t ordinary, afraid of kicking an iron plate.
Moreover, seeing Gu Commander’s patient and gentle demeanor, it was clear he had a good relationship with his wife. If they said something unpleasant and it got back to him, their own men would be the ones in trouble.
They weren’t fools.
The few who didn’t chime in chatted a bit more about other things, then went home.
Wang Saozi had a bellyful of words unsaid, frustrated, spitting at the women’s backs, “Cowards!”
After cursing, she went to find another long-tongued one in the compound.
…
Lin Zhao arrived at the Meng house, smelling a meat fragrance.
“Youngest brother, I’m here.”
Seeing Old Master Meng sitting in the sun, she greeted softly, “Grandpa Meng, I’m here to mooch a meal.”
Old Master Meng was a national treasure-level medical expert, also working at the military region hospital, rarely seeing patients, mainly teaching apprentices.
Not busy, living comfortably, looking years younger. Dressed cleanly and neatly, gray-white hair combed meticulously, at a glance a respectable person.
“Welcome.” The old man said with full vigor, “Come every day no problem, Zhaozhao had a hard journey.”
Lin Zhao sat, tone with a smile, “Not bad, how’s Grandpa Meng here, used to it?”
“Used to it, pretty good here, quiet!” A complex glint flashed in Old Master Meng’s eyes, gone in a moment, then he smiled again.
If those Meng family people didn’t know he was here, without letters every few days playing pitiful, trying to manipulate Jiusi, it’d be fine.
The old man snorted inwardly.
Before, they looked down on Jiusi, now sticking for good things; what kind of logic was that?
Wishful thinking!
He wrote back scolding them, didn’t even mention to Jiusi.
Those guys could share joy but not hardship; why bother with them!!
“As long as Grandpa Meng is comfortable.” Lin Zhao noticed something but didn’t ask.
She could guess, if Yuan Qin could find her, how could the Meng family not know Grandpa Meng and her youngest brother were here? Probably caused plenty of trouble.
Not hearing from Jing Mo, Grandpa Meng must have blocked it.
Seeing how good Old Master Meng was to her youngest brother, Lin Zhao’s smile grew more sincere.
At this time, Meng Jiusi poked his head from the kitchen, “How come so late, I was just about to call you.”
“Tired from the train, napped a bit.” Lin Zhao’s tone was soft and calm.
The handsome clean young man nodded understandingly.
“Sleep early tonight, one night and you’ll be refreshed.” he said warmly.
“Mhm.” Lin Zhao’s eyes glanced to the kitchen, “What did youngest brother make, smells so good! I’m hungry, when do we eat?”
Heng Bao chimed in: “Little uncle, I’m hungry too! I didn’t eat well on the train!!”
“Wait till your dad brings out the table.” Meng Jiusi saw the kids petting the cat, his doctor’s germophobia acting up, called them to the washbasin to wash hands, even applied soap, washing very carefully.
“Didn’t your mom buy you food?!”
Yu Bao quickly said: “She did, Heng Bao and I weren’t hungry.”
Heng Bao seriously scrubbed his little hands, tone tinged with grievance, “Train food doesn’t taste good.”
Lin Zhao glanced over, “Picky. You didn’t complain eating steamed corn buns before; if you’re this hard to please, someday I’ll take you for a bitterness meal.”
Heng Bao turned to look at her, eyes curious, “What’s a bitterness meal?”
Mao Dan’er’s face showed hesitation, couldn’t hold back: “Wild vegetable steamed buns, bitter pickled vegetables, rough grain porridge that scratches the throat… these are bitterness meals.”
Heng Bao looked like the sky fell.
“Mom!!” he shouted in horror.
Before Lin Zhao could speak, Gu Chenghuai’s brows grew stern, saying deeply: “There are many people who can’t even eat these that you refuse! Stop being fussy!”
His voice was somewhat stern.
He had suffered hardship, knew how tough an empty stomach was. Heng Bao complaining about food tasted bad was a big problem in his eyes!
Heng Bao was good at reading faces, saw dad was really angry, shrank his neck.
Yu Bao looked at his brother, whispering: “Heng Bao, forgot how we used to not have enough to eat?”
The memory of hunger was too deep; Heng Bao hadn’t forgotten, shaking his head like a rattle, “No, I didn’t forget.”
“Dad’s right, so many little friends don’t even have wild vegetable steamed buns, train food has meat and veggies, and you complain… I think you’re too full!” Yu Bao seriously roasted his brother.
Lin Zhao nearly broke character.
She elbowed Gu Chenghuai’s belly, lowering her voice: “Your eldest son is quite the roaster.”
Gu Chenghuai approvingly glanced at his eldest, whispering to his wife, “With Yu Bao, Heng Bao won’t go astray; saves us a lot of worry.”
“Of course, my good eldest is smart and studious, loves thinking, teaches brother and sisters well too, the best little friend.” Lin Zhao said proudly, her pretty face full of pride.
“You teach well.” Gu Chenghuai credited his wife, holding her high, saying sweet words, “They say kids are blank slates, shaped by adults’ guidance. They spend most time with you, influenced most by you. Because you’re good, they grow toward better.”
Lin Zhao: “??”
This wife-praising was real; she’d cry.
No matter what good, it all stuck to her. In his eyes, she was always the best.
Building a family with such a person was truly wonderful.
“The two cubs have good roots too!” Lin Zhao returned the compliment to Gu Chenghuai, “People say dragons beget dragons, phoenixes beget phoenixes; with a dad this good beyond saving, how could the cubs go wrong.”
As for the original book where they went wrong, way off track, that was no one’s teaching; what did it have to do with them as parents()
Gu Chenghuai’s eyes were tender and lingering, lips curving up.
Hearing it all, Meng Jiusi: “…”
You two are true love, kids total accidents? At least consider the two sons!
Thinking his sister and brother-in-law hadn’t been seen in nearly a year, not disturbing the couple’s sweet moment, he called the little friends to the kitchen to serve dishes.
Meng Jiusi had a hard childhood, no family, learned to cook to fill his stomach, after marriage his cooking skills refined further, meals colorful, fragrant, flavorful.
“Didn’t expect youngest brother so good at cooking.” Lin Zhao praised.
Meng Jiusi smiled, “Small stuff, not as good as dad’s.”
Zhaozhao saying this, he felt all past suffering was worth it.
