Chapter 295: “failed To Stir Things Up”
“Oh dear, Comrade Lin is back.” Wang Saozi glanced at the sack Gu Chenghuai was carrying with her eyes, “Our place here isn’t bad, right? Buying anything is convenient, much more comfortable than the countryside small places.”
Yu Bao felt uncomfortable in his heart and immediately countered, “We can buy things conveniently at home too, my mom is a salesperson!”
Hearing this, Wang Saozi suddenly looked at Lin Zhao, “Aren’t you from the countryside?”
Heng Bao put his hands on his hips, his small person’s momentum reaching eight feet high, “So what if from the countryside, my grandma says people from the countryside are the most glorious! You look down on people from the countryside?”
He suspiciously glanced over with slanted eyes.
Wang Saozi didn’t dare admit it, noticing the gaze falling on her, she almost jumped up.
“Who looks down on people from the countryside?! I’m from the countryside too.”
Everyone thought about it, and it seemed true, Wang Saozi was indeed from the countryside, clueless about everything when she first arrived, not even knowing how to take a bus, later staying longer, she picked up the habit of fawning on the high and stepping on the low.
Heng Bao pursed his lips, “What you just meant was looking down on people from the countryside, you even said small places, ours isn’t small at all!!”
“You misunderstood! I really didn’t mean that!” Wang Saozi was truly afraid of this kid’s mouth.
“Okay, pretend it’s a misunderstanding.” Heng Bao said reluctantly.
Wang Saozi’s face stiffened, what do you mean pretend? It absolutely was!!
“You kid, you talk so interestingly.” She laughed it off.
Heng Bao took it as praise, wearing an expression of being the cleverest.
The people present saw that the Gu Family’s pair of twins weren’t easy to fool, exchanged glances, understanding without words.
Lin Zhao watched her two sons charging into battle, her eyes full of satisfaction.
“Head home?” she said.
Heng Bao had just eaten but was greedy again, “Sure, head home for pastries.”
Yu Bao corrected, “It’s date cake, sweet date cake.”
“I don’t just want date cake, I also want the peanut candy Juan Juan gave us, the peanut candy Uncle Han made is really delicious.” Heng Bao licked his lips, full of greed.
The two had vigorous energy, growing bodies, being a bit greedy was normal.
Lin Zhao didn’t think much of it, didn’t say a word.
The kids from the staff dormitory were very interested in Yu Bao and Heng Bao who looked exactly the same, surrounding them to look.
Hearing them talk about pastries and candy, they unconsciously swallowed saliva.
“…The date cake you mentioned, is it the sweet one with jujube flavor, with jujube paste inside?” A dark-skinned little boy sniffed his nose, coming closer to ask.
“Yes, you’ve eaten it too.” Yu Bao answered.
“Eaten it once. My mom is too stingy, later when I asked her to buy it for me again, she wasn’t happy and even scolded me.” The little boy said annoyed.
Heng Bao’s eyes darted around, wanting to hug the little boy to build rapport, but seeing his snot flowing to his upper lip, he retracted his raised arm.
He stood in place and said: “How about this, I’ll give you a bite, you take us to play, deal?”
The little boy’s eyes lit up, “Really? You really will?! What if you go back on it after I take you to play?!”
“Who goes back on it!” Heng Bao stuck out his neck, “My dad says, a real man, one spit one nail, a gentleman’s word, four horses can’t chase, I keep my word!”
“Alright then, I’ll take you to play.” This one was sly too, knew how to haggle, “One bite isn’t enough, you have to give me half.”
Hearing this, Heng Bao withdrew his enthusiasm, turned to leave.
Forget it.
Not worth it.
He’d go find an easy-to-fool kid!
Heng Bao’s pitch-black bright eyes looked at Mao Dan’er, Jing Mo, and Guang Bai, sighing lightly.
All their fault, been here several months, still haven’t figured out the staff dormitory and family courtyard situation, still had to be him and brother thinking of ways.
Mao Dan’er: “……”
Jing Mo: “……”
Xiao Bai: “???”
The little boy left behind got anxious, hurriedly chased up, “One bite is fine! I agree!!”
Heng Bao stopped, “Deal, come to my house later to find me. Do you know where my home is?”
“I do! Your home isn’t far from mine, I heard my mom mention it.” The little dark kid wiped his nose with his sleeve, thinking of the sweet date cake, grinned cheaply.
Heng Bao didn’t ask how he knew his home, his family was prominent figures, topic center, other little friends knowing where his home was, very normal.
“What’s your name?” Yu Bao asked.
“I’m called Hei Dan.” The little dark kid raised his head proudly, “Easy to remember name, right? My grandpa gave it to me.”
“Easy to remember.” Yu Bao didn’t mock the little friend, seriously introducing himself.
Just like that, the twins made their first friend after coming to the military region, and in a very short time learned… many things even Lin Zhao didn’t know.
Lin Zhao’s family steadily left the spot, no waves stirred.
Wang Saozi was very disappointed.
She came to the side of the heavily made-up female comrade, deliberately saying: “Didn’t expect Battalion Commander Gu’s family to be like this… This is different from what we thought. Just arrived and running to the city, look at that sack bulging, who knows how many good things they bought, heard Battalion Commander Gu gives all his salary to his wife to manage, no wonder her fingers are so generous…”
Every sentence scratched at Bai Taohua’s heart.
Her man died for the country, she alone with two daughters, no place for her and daughters back home, she used her husband’s pension to exchange for a job here.
She kept widowhood for a year and a half, wanted to remarry, but… hadn’t seen anyone to her liking until… meeting Battalion Commander Gu.
His face moved her heart.
Bai Taohua secretly inquired, learned his news, had a wife back home, and children.
Heard people say, he rarely mentioned wife and kids.
She guessed, Gu Chenghuai was a victim of arranged marriage.
He didn’t mention it, definitely not happy.
She had to save him.
She tried every method to create chance encounters, actively getting close to him, but no use, that man like a stone in the latrine, his gaze at her cold making people not dare approach… Later, seeing her from afar, the man even detoured.
Bai Taohua felt humiliated thinking of these things.
In the year of widowhood, stepping on her dead man, she got help from many kind-hearted men, self-taught dog-training skills.
Gu Chenghuai was the first man she couldn’t grasp.
She had basically given up on this unromantic person, who knew today she had improper thoughts again.
No one knew Bai Taohua’s inner thoughts.
She tugged at her mouth, “I don’t have that fortune, if only my man was still here…”
Saying this she wiped tears.
People nearby seeing this, hurriedly comforted her.
“Why cry, your two daughters can do housework, you have a stable job, days getting better and better, what’s to cry about, so pretentious!”
“Exactly, my old Tao earns alone, still has to send elder care money home every month, family not enough to eat, I should be the one crying!”
Bai Taohua didn’t have a good reputation in the family courtyard, everyone spoke without politeness.
It was like cold water poured on her head, she couldn’t cry anymore.
“Hey, Comrade Bai, why does your face have streaks, did you put white powder on your face?” An sharp-eyed sister-in-law spotted the flaw, pointing at Bai Taohua’s face, voice loud.
Bai Taohua inwardly cursed bad luck, hurriedly covered her face with both hands.
“…You saw wrong, I’m going home to wash my face.”
Words done, hurriedly left.
Wang Saozi wasn’t sure if she had stirred up the fire, eyes showing regret.
…
After leaving the crowd, Gu Chenghuai said to Lin Zhao: “Wife, not all good people in the family courtyard, be more careful when interacting.”
He didn’t need Zhaozhao running around for him, doing any wife diplomacy, he got to where he is all by himself, will rely on himself in the future too. So he didn’t tell Lin Zhao who she could get close to, who not, Zhaozhao’s friendships all by her feelings, whatever she wants.
“What do you mean?” Lin Zhao looked over leisurely.
She felt there was some gossip she didn’t know.
Gu Chenghuai never hid from his wife, he believed for good husband-wife relations, effective communication indispensable.
“There’s a Sister-in-law surnamed Bai… not too good.” Not used to talking behind backs, he only vaguely mentioned it.
As long as Zhaozhao had an idea in her heart.
Lin Zhao understood her man, for him to say this much already difficult enough, she didn’t pursue, just nodded.
“Got it. If I meet her, I’ll handle it accordingly.”
Looking like she was ready to tangle with someone.
Gu Chenghuai was charmed by his wife’s cuteness, the heart full of Zhaozhao like soaked in warm water, bubbling.
Most importantly, his wife was understanding.
“No need to be so on guard, that person… still has some sense facing female comrades…”
Lin Zhao thoughtful.
Meaning that Comrade surnamed Bai doesn’t have that sense facing male comrades?
Understood.
Man too handsome, too excellent, outside flowers and grasses came over.
“My fault.” Lin Zhao rarely reflected on herself, no matter what she thought inside, face showed self-criticism, “I should have come visit relatives earlier, then no one would think you’re single.”
“What’s it got to do with you?” Gu Chenghuai’s expression serious.
He looked seriously at his wife, words apologetic, “This has nothing to do with you. If blame, blame me! You know my temperament, I don’t like talking about family matters outside, people in family courtyard not clear about me being married and having kids, so there were… messy things.”
Gu Chenghuai could not say, but felt he should, simply followed his heart and said.
“Not your fault either.” Lin Zhao soothed, “Not liking to talk about family matters isn’t a crime, besides that time I didn’t send many letters, you didn’t know family situation, even if you wanted to say, nowhere to start.”
She clasped the man’s hand, said: “I’m here to visit relatives now, everyone should know you’re already taken, right?”
Already taken? The meaning he thought?
Zhaozhao thought highly of him.
Seems very satisfied with him!
“Got it, even if not known impossible, just… Yu Bao and Heng Bao stole your spotlight.” Gu Chenghuai’s brows and eyes softened.
Lin Zhao burst out laughing, “It’s fine, I’m used to it. Your sons have strong presence, focal point wherever they go.”
Gu Chenghuai leaned down, voice low and gentle, “In my heart, you’re the focal point.”
“So corny.”
“Where’s it corny, truth.” Gu Chenghuai’s ears heated, “Comrade Lin Zhao, be serious.”
Lin Zhao held back laugh, “Okay, I’m serious, I believe what you said, alright?”
Gu Chenghuai: “Perfunctory.”
“Alright already.” Lin Zhao looked over.
Gu Chenghuai smiled warmly, eyes full of her.
…
Back home.
Family finished washing up.
Heng Bao came before Lin Zhao, “Mom, can you give me a piece of date cake?”
Lin Zhao knew what son wanted to do, socialize, she and Gu Chenghuai both supported it.
“Get it yourself, get one for your brother too.”
Heng Bao bounced in place, happily went to get the candy.
One piece of date cake each, two pieces of peanut candy each.
The two little brothers came back an hour later.
Full head of sweat, lightly panting.
Lin Zhao was drawing and writing in the yard, seeing the disheveled two sons, closed the notebook, leisurely watching the twins.
“What did you play? How’d you get all sweaty.”
“Didn’t play much, just ran around getting familiar with the place.” Yu Bao answered, pulling brother to wash hands and face.
Heng Bao turned head, “Mom, I’ve thoroughly familiarized with this place, wherever you want to go tell me, I’ll lead the way!”
Lin Zhao said softly: “So awesome!”
Little friend raised head high.
“Yeah, I’m super awesome, big brother super awesome too!” The second son unabashedly praised himself.
“What else did you do? How’d it go with the little friends?” Lin Zhao asked again, though knowing her kids wouldn’t be bullied, still worried about everything.
The two little brothers hand in hand came over, sat on little stools, hands placed on knees.
“Went to see excitement too!” Yu Bao obediently answered.
Lin Zhao curious, “Whose excitement? How come I didn’t hear.”
“Not here, over by staff dormitory, Lu Baozhen’s stepmother and her grandma fought, fought really fiercely, then her grandpa took sides, Director of the Women’s Committee even came.” Yu Bao briefly summarized the scene seen.
“Mom, what’s the Director of the Women’s Committee do? That auntie wearing same clothes as dad, looked so imposing!” Heng Bao’s little mouth rattled on, “Mom, how come you don’t have such clothes, you’re pretty, wearing that would look even better.”
These words reached Gu Chenghuai’s ears, “Exactly, wife, if you want, I’ll get you a set, want or not?”
Lin Zhao shook head, “No, I’ll pass, our family has one glorious person enough.”
Wearing that, even her waist felt uncomfortable stooping.
Yu Bao’s little face flushed red, “…I want to be a glorious person too in the future.”
Lin Zhao pinched big son’s finger, “This I believe, my son most capable, will definitely succeed when grown!”
Heng Bao also shoved his hand into mom’s, tone urgent, “I can succeed too!”
“Good good good, you too!” Lin Zhao hurriedly cooed.
These two brothers very smart, if she tired or annoyed, they wouldn’t bother, if mood good, they’d stick close.
“Mom, you haven’t answered me yet… what’s the Director of the Women’s Committee?” Heng Bao asked again.
“Your class has class monitor, responsible for helping teacher, uniting classmates right? The Director of the Women’s Committee is the ‘big class monitor’ in the troops’ this ‘big family’, specially helping grandmas, aunts, ladies and sisters, if any family has difficulties, like someone sick, or an aunt bullied, she’ll go help solve…” Lin Zhao used words kids could understand, answering the kids’ questions.
“Got it.” Heng Bao nodded.
Yu Bao hand propping cheek, asked: “Then for Lu Baozhen’s grandma and stepmother fighting, which side did the Director of the Women’s Committee help?”
