Chapter 290: “this Is Already Special Treatment”
Gu Mu clearly breathed a sigh of relief. It’s not easy. Today she surprisingly didn’t cry.
…She didn’t think her granddaughter was spoiled and loved to cry. For such a young milk doll, it’s very normal to want her mother after waking up and before sleeping.
As a grandmother, she only worried about whether her granddaughter’s eyes were uncomfortable, afraid she’d cry until her throat went hoarse…
“Yao Bao, do you want to pee?” Gu Chan asked softly.
“Yes!” The little girl answered crisply.
Gu Chan took her niece to the outhouse.
The two had just gone to the backyard when Bang Bang and the others returned.
Qian Bao immediately looked for his sister.
“Where’s my sister?” He looked at Gu Mu, his bright black eyes full of doubt.
“Your aunt took her to the outhouse!” Gu Mu saw sweat all over her little grandson’s head and casually found a towel to wipe Qian Bao.
This towel was Qian Bao’s. Lin Zhao was particular; the washbasin towels and such at home were separate for each of the kids.
Although Gu Mu didn’t understand and thought it wasteful, she followed whatever her daughter-in-law said.
Qian Bao nodded his little head.
“Your mother sent a telegram.” Gu Mu said to him.
The serious little milk bun’s eyes lit up instantly.
“Mommy?” His tone rose, his emotions higher than usual.
“Shh!” Gu Mu quickly glanced toward the outhouse. A Chan and Yao Bao hadn’t returned yet. She relaxed inwardly and pressed her index finger to her lips, shushing.
“Keep your voice down. If your sister hears, she’ll wail again.”
Qian Bao covered his mouth with his little hand, blinking his pretty eyes, long eyelashes fluttering, his soft cute voice not so clear.
“Not saying, not telling sister.”
Gu Mu saw how smart her little grandson was and hugged him, calling out to her heart and liver, “Oh my little darling grandson.”
Hearing this syrupy voice, Bang Bang and the others felt their cheeks ache.
Tie Dan grinned, “Grandma, is your throat uncomfortable?”
“What?” Gu Mu didn’t understand what he meant.
Tie Dan sensed danger and shut his mouth.
Nothing, he didn’t dare say anything.
“Grandma, telegram.” Qian Bao asked his grandma for the telegram.
Gu Mu gave it to him without a word, “Here n w, be careful, don’t tear it…”
One character cost several cents.
“Mm.” Qian Bao agreed obediently and slowly opened the telegram paper, his brows and eyes serious as he read it.
Seeing the little guy’s serious look, Gu Mu couldn’t help laughing, “Can you understand it? You’re reading so seriously…”
Who knew Qian Bao nodded, his tender finger like a bamboo shoot tip pointing to the second character, saying: “Arrived!”
Gu Mu’s eyes widened, her tone rising, “You recognize it?”
Her good grandson was only a few years old and already knew characters!
Qian Bao was startled by his grandma’s loud voice but quickly regained his calm and said seriously: “I know. Mommy taught, little uncle taught.”
Gu Qingzhou was stunned hearing this. He was afraid Qian Bao and Yao Bao would cry, so he told them stories. Seeing Qian Bao interested in books, he taught him characters playfully, not expecting him to remember them!
He was very surprised and a bit excited.
He took out the little notebook for teaching characters and tested Qian Bao.
“Qian Bao, what’s this character?”
Qian Bao looked, “Sky.”
“This one?”
“Hand.”
“What about this?”
“Head.”
…
As Gu Qingzhou’s finger slid, without him asking much, Qian Bao read out the character he pointed to.
“!!!”
He snapped out of his daze, cupped his little nephew’s face and rubbed it, “Qian Bao, you’re truly a good seedling for studying!”
Qian Bao curved his eyes and said in his milky voice: “Study hard, take college entrance exam, earn money, buy meat for the family.”
Gu Mu’s heart nearly melted. She hugged her grandson, “Oh our Qian Bao is so filial.”
Gu Qingzhou said: “Mom, do Third Brother and Third Sister-in-law know Qian Bao learns characters fast?”
“…They should know.” Gu Mu guessed, “Your Third Sister-in-law is careful, and she’s the one tutoring the four kids’ homework. How could she not know.”
She just doesn’t say.
Not strange either.
Qian Bao was so young; showing smarts too early wasn’t good.
Gu Qingzhou understood, “Then we won’t say it outside either.”
“Can’t say.” Gu Mu also knew their family lived well, many people watching. Sticking out more wasn’t good.
Third Son’s Wife was smart; look, she didn’t reveal a bit.
“Qian Bao, be low-key outside, okay?” Gu Qingzhou rubbed his little nephew’s head.
Qian Bao looked up, showing a puzzled look.
“You’re still small. Showing smarts too early isn’t good. Little uncle means… don’t show outside that you know characters yet. Wait until you’re one or two years older.”
The short and stout little friend nodded his little head, “I know. Mommy said.”
This was Lin Zhao’s own son, also her smartest son. How good his memory was, how fast he learned characters—would Lin Zhao not know?
She had reminded Qian Bao long ago.
“Third Sister-in-law really knows.” Gu Qingzhou smiled at his mom.
Gu Chan brought Yao Bao to the front yard and upon arriving heard this, curiously asking: “What are you talking about?”
The Gu Family Members had been tormented by Yao Bao these days; who dared mention her mother in front of her? They gave Gu Chan a look to drop it.
“I’ll go make milk powder for Yao Bao!” Gu Mu found an excuse and went to the kitchen.
Gu Qingzhou held Qian Bao’s hand into the house, “Your clothes are wet. Little uncle will change them for you.”
Uncle and nephew went into the house.
Yao Bao looked left and right, puffing her cheeks.
Gu Chan was amused.
Her niece was so cute.
If not for work, she’d want to take care of Yao Bao herself. What a pity… work held her back.
*
Gu Chenghuai took his wife and kids onto the car to the city.
Also coming along were Jing Mo, Guang Bai, and Mao Dan’er. Meng Jiusi came too; he originally didn’t want to but was afraid his sister and brother-in-law couldn’t manage the kids, so he followed.
They rode in the military region’s procurement vehicle, sitting in the open carriage. It was free but also messy.
The wind blew through their hair. Spreading hands gave a feeling of flying.
“Ah!!” Heng Bao shouted excitedly, wind filling his mouth.
Gu Chenghuai pressed his shoulder, “Sit properly. If you cough, I’ll absolutely have your little uncle prescribe you the bitterest medicine!”
Heng Bao looked aggrieved, “Bad daddy.”
The man didn’t care and put a hat on his head.
Yu Bao gazed at the vast distance, eyes shining, “The sky here looks so low!”
Mao Dan’er nodded, saying loudly: “I thought so too when I first came. You get used to it after looking!”
Jing Mo was used to it too and said to Yu Bao: “Hometown is nice too. I like everywhere.”
He liked here because daddy had work, no more hard farm work. He liked hometown because… hometown had the person he liked.
Yu Bao ummed, “Me too.”
The wilderness wind blew to every corner. Sky blue, water clear, vegetation lush. Occasionally small animals running could be seen. Everything was so natural and pure.
This place easily made people’s hearts open.
If only the road were smoother.
Lin Zhao was jolted pale.
“You okay?” Gu Chenghuai somehow pulled out a green orange, peeled it in a few moves, and stuffed a piece into her mouth.
“Hold it in your mouth; it should help.”
Lin Zhao bit it open; it was so sour she nearly lost her expression control.
“So sour.”
Never eaten such a sour one in her life!
“Sour is what works.” Gu Chenghuai hugged her shoulders.
“…Do these people all drive so fiercely?” Lin Zhao was jolted until her buttocks left the stool, helplessly saying.
Meng Jiusi looked complicated, “This is good already!”
He guessed his brother-in-law had told the driver to go slow in advance; otherwise, the kids would all be puking.
Lin Zhao: “…”
This was preferential treatment?
“Endure a bit more.” Meng Jiusi shrugged.
No method; people complained, but the drivers didn’t listen. They thought driving fast saved fuel, lightening the country’s burden.
Lin Zhao closed her eyes.
Suffering.
Gu Chenghuai stroked his wife’s hair gently, “How about next time we take the car instead? Not many people on this one, but it’s still bumpy. If you’re not used to it, we’ll take the car.”
Lin Zhao opened her eyes to look at him, chewed the sour orange, swallowed it, and said: “It’s okay. The car is too stuffy, smells bad too. Not as good as this.”
Jolting was jolting, but at least it was ventilated.
“Can we take this back?”
Gu Chenghuai shook his head, “Can, but it’s very cold at night. Not good to take this. Better take the car.”
Afraid Lin Zhao wouldn’t agree, he added: “We’ll go early next time, grab good seats.”
“Okay.” Lin Zhao nodded.
Yu Bao patted his chest, “I’ll help mommy grab seats. I’m the best at grabbing seats.”
“Then I’ll trouble my eldest son.” Lin Zhao’s eyes held smiles.
Yu Bao laughed happily.
Heng Bao hesitated a bit, reluctantly saying: “Then I’ll grab for daddy.”
Gu Chenghuai: “…Thank you.”
So reluctant; might as well not.
Heng Bao looked serious, dissatisfied: “Daddy, have a proper attitude!”
Gu Chenghuai glanced at him, counterasking: “How am I not proper?”
Heng Bao was stumped.
He didn’t know how to say it, but he felt daddy was brushing him off.
Hmph.
Lin Zhao smiled and closed her eyes to rest.
The twins saw her close her eyes and didn’t speak again.
Wind whooshed, sun strong. What should have been hot felt suitable for travel because of the wind.
After shaky half hour plus, the car finally stopped.
Gu Chenghuai helped Lin Zhao stand.
“Legs numb.” Lin Zhao looked uncomfortable.
“Don’t move first. I’ll rub them.” Gu Chenghuai had his wife hold the railing, half-squatted, and gently massaged her legs.
“Lighter, numb!” Lin Zhao frowned.
“Endure.” Gu Chenghuai slowly increased pressure. No way around it; the numbness had to pass.
After a while, Lin Zhao recovered. She stomped her feet, “I’m good.”
Gu Chenghuai’s brows relaxed.
As he was about to stand, a short leg extended. Heng Bao blinked, “Daddy, my legs are numb too.”
Gu Chenghuai looked at him expressionlessly.
Seeing this, Heng Bao silently withdrew his leg, “…Seems not numb anymore hehe.”
…”You say he’s sensible; he is. You say he has thick skin; he does.”
No embarrassment at all.
Meng Jiusi, afraid his nephew would get hit, picked him up off the car.
Heng Bao yelped, then up close saw little uncle’s handsome face and softly said: “Thank you, little uncle.”
Meng Jiusi smiled in his eyes, “Don’t provoke your daddy. If he wants to discipline you, I can’t stop him.”
“It’s fine. Mommy can stop him.” Heng Bao was sly, “With mommy here, daddy won’t hit me.”
At most stern face.
Only when mommy wasn’t around would daddy hit him.
Meng Jiusi flicked Heng Bao’s nose tip, “You’re clever.”
Heng Bao giggled, “I take after mommy!”
Meng Jiusi disagreed with this.
His sister wasn’t so beatable. In making trouble, Heng Bao definitely took after his dad.
Meng Jiusi helped Mao Dan’er and the other kids off the car.
Thanked the driver who brought them to the city. Three adults, five little friends headed to the department store.
Lin Zhao saw the three-story tall big store, eyes surprised, “Such a big store?!”
This should be Director Jiang’s struggle goal.
Their supply and marketing cooperative, expanded once more, would be like this.
Perfect, go in to learn experience.
She smoothed her braids and walked lightly into the department store.
The four little friends followed closely.
Heng Bao propped his face, “So big here, so many things.”
Lin Zhao said: “In another year or so, my work place will become this big too.”
Heng Bao cooperatively wowed, “Awesome.”
Lin Zhao pressed the cowlick on his head, took money from her bag, gave one piece each, generously saying: “One piece each for you kids. Big shopping today. Spend as you like, as long as within budget unit, buy anything.”
Heng Bao’s eyes turned money-shaped, took the little money, distributed to his little partners one by one.
“Hold them well.”
He smiled like a kitten who stole dried fish, “I’ll use this money to buy gifts for Qian Bao and Yao Bao.”
Yu Bao added: “And Li Bao them.”
Heng Bao justified, “Definitely prioritize little brother and sister first. They’re so pitiful left in hometown. I bet Yao Bao is crying her eyes out. Qian Bao… Qian Bao won’t be happy either. I want to find the best gift for them.”
Yu Bao hesitated, said: “Then you buy gifts for little brother and sister. I’ll pick gifts for Li Bao and grandparents them.”
Heng Bao had no objection, “Okay.”
Hearing this, Lin Zhao’s eyes and brows were all smiles.
“I’ll prepare the gifts to bring. Use the money in your hands for yourselves first, buy what you like.”
Heng Bao’s eyes shone, “Can I?”
He was a child too, had things he wanted.
“Of course.” Lin Zhao said patiently.
“Great.” Heng Bao cheered, hugged mommy and twisted.
Lin Zhao patted his head, “No more coquetry. Go quick to the counter and see differences from our supply and marketing cooperative.”
Heng Bao let go of her, and with Yu Bao and others thump thump thumped to the counter.
The kids were well-dressed, good-looking, cheeks chubby, also bold and not shy. Clearly worker family kids.
The salesperson noticed Lin Zhao and Gu Chenghuai, didn’t dare slight the kids, service attitude good, patiently asked what they wanted.
Xiao Bai pointed at the maltose in front of the counter, “Want this.”
He looked left and right, silently counted heads, held up five, softly: “Five pieces, thank you.”
Not tall as the counter, but said thank you.
Such likable kid, no adult could cold-face him.
“Want five pieces of this candy? Auntie will cut for you.” The salesperson smiled.
Her voice was syrupy, but not small volume, drawing several people to look.
“Doctor Meng?”
A few interns from the military region hospital rarely had leave out, didn’t expect to meet Doctor Meng, came over to greet.
Li Can was among them.
Her eyes lit up slightly, corners of mouth smiling, “How does Doctor Meng have time out.”
This girl’s voice clear and bright, tone with obvious delight.
Lin Zhao saw at a glance this female comrade had good feelings for their little brother.
She didn’t speak, gave the kids a look to not talk first, especially talkative Heng Bao. Pretended to look at counter things, actually attention all there.
