Chapter 296: “get To The Point!”
Lin Zhao brought out the universal phrase, “Adults’ matters, children shouldn’t pry.”
Heng Bao grinned, “Mom, next time you ask me a question, I can say: Children’s matters, adults shouldn’t pry.”
Gu Chenghuai supported his daughter-in-law, “Gu Zhiheng! How do you talk to your mom!!”
Heng Bao pouted, his little face full of defiance.
His temperament was quite like his biological father’s, innately stubborn.
Lin Zhao pinched her second son’s little mouth, “Are you mad?”
The child instantly burst into a smile, waved his hand, and said loudly, “Generous little friends don’t get mad at adults.”
“Wow, what a generous little friend.” Lin Zhao coaxed him.
Yu Bao pulled the topic back, “Mom, what’s a fox spirit?”
“……??” Lin Zhao was full of confusion, “Why are you asking that?”
“Grandma Lu Baozhen said Lu Baozhen’s stepmother is a fox spirit. What’s a fox spirit?” Yu Bao asked again.
Unlike the carefree Heng Bao who was easy to brush off, Lin Zhao took his questions more seriously.
“This…… Fox spirit isn’t a good term. You and Heng Bao shouldn’t learn it.”
Heng Bao said cleverly, “Same as son of a bitch, right?”
Lin Zhao’s mind went blank for a few seconds, her smile disappeared, and she called his dad, “Gu Chenghuai! Can you control your son!!”
Gu Chenghuai hurried out, holding an enamel mug in his hand, “What’s wrong? Drink some water first. Tell me which one, Yu Bao or Heng Bao, is being naughty, and I’ll hang him from a tree and beat him.”
Before he finished speaking, Heng Bao hugged his leg.
“Dad, Dad, I’m your biological son!” He knew his dad was serious and quickly begged for mercy.
Lin Zhao said, “Your son is swearing. Control him.”
“I knew it was you, you naughty boy.” Gu Chenghuai scooped Heng Bao up by the waist and walked into the room.
Soon, the child’s wail echoed.
“Ouch, it hurts! My buttocks!! Waaah, I’m telling Grandma! Grandma, your son is beating your precious grandson…”
Each cry louder than the last.
The wailing was so fake.
Even Yu Bao wasn’t fooled.
As the older brother, he wanted to explain one two three four for his younger brother to Mom, but didn’t know how to say it, his little face flushed with embarrassment.
“Why is your face red?” Lin Zhao asked amusedly.
Yu Bao shyly buried his little face in her chest and whispered, “Heng Bao’s cries are so exaggerated.”
“Let’s give our younger brother some face and pretend we didn’t notice.”
Yu Bao looked up, his eyes curving, with a little thrill of sharing a secret with Mom, “Okay.”
Not long after, Gu Chenghuai came out, properly pulling down his shirt sleeves as if he had really given their son a serious lesson.
“I’ve disciplined the second son. He’ll never dare do it again.” He said to Lin Zhao.
Then he turned to Yu Bao, “Same for you. Be filial to the mom who worked hard to raise you, be polite. Why talk in a way that chokes people.”
Yu Bao stood obediently, “I know.”
After the dad stated his position, he turned and went into the kitchen; he was boiling water and didn’t know if the fire under the stove had gone out.
Lin Zhao thought: Having him discipline the kids is really worry-free.
At that moment, Heng Bao came out clutching his buttocks, limping.
Just looking at him, it really seemed like he’d been spanked hard.
For a moment, Lin Zhao even suspected if Gu Chenghuai had really gone hard.
“Does it hurt?” Lin Zhao pulled Heng Bao over.
The little guy grimaced and hissed a few times, “It hurts.”
“Let me see…” Lin Zhao went to pull his pants, but Heng Bao jumped away quickly, his movements agile—not like someone who’d been beaten at all.
Realizing his reaction was too big, Heng Bao quickly toned down his movements, sneaked a glance at his mom, and whispered, “It’s numb, hehe.”
His dad made a big show, but didn’t use much strength; it didn’t hurt at all. He just stared at him, staring until his heart pounded, and he quickly admitted his mistake.
“Will you swear again?” Lin Zhao pretended not to notice the father-son act; her goal was just to teach the child.
Kids this young learned swear words much faster than studying. If not careful, they’d develop a habit of a mouth full of profanity!
She’d seen it.
Kids spewing profanity lost their childlike innocence and cuteness, making them hard to like.
“No more.” Heng Bao thought of Dad’s staring eyes and shook his head like a rattle.
He lowered his head and said sullenly, “I know little friends can’t swear, but sometimes I can’t control it; it just bubbles out of my mouth.”
Lin Zhao was silent for a moment, “That’s because you watch too much excitement usually. Watch less excitement in the future, learn from your brother… read more books, and you won’t blurt out swears.”
She reached out to wipe the water from her son’s face, “Not steady at all, don’t know who you take after, worrisome child. If you swear again, I’ll have your dad get real.”
“Got it!” Heng Bao replied.
After replying, he suddenly sighed, very distressed, “Why does Dad listen to you so much…”
“…” Yu Bao gave his brother a speechless look, “Because our family’s mom is the eldest.”
“When can I be the eldest? After marrying a wife?!” Heng Bao was dissatisfied with his current family status and wanted to stir things up again.
Lin Zhao nearly laughed to death, “Didn’t you say marrying a wife costs a lot of money and you didn’t want to? Why do you want to now?”
“I want to be the eldest!” The little friend’s crisp voice rang out.
“Once you marry a wife, in your little family, your wife is the eldest, not you.” Lin Zhao casually shattered the second son’s expectation.
This possibility was quite high, after all, his grandpa, his dad, his uncles were all like that.
Heng Bao’s expression cracked, “???”
“…Then forget it.”
He left dejectedly.
Lin Zhao was full of question marks, “What’s wrong with your brother? Did he get hit hard?!”
Was that necessary?!
“Can’t be the eldest, feels bad inside. I’ll coax him later and it’ll be fine.” Yu Bao looked at his brother’s back and answered seriously and calmly.
Lin Zhao beamed, “Then… thanks to my eldest son.”
Yu Bao looked shy, “Not hard.”
…
On the other side.
Lin Shichang and his comrades in the military region received a letter of thanks.
The letter was written so sincerely that the leader read it aloud, making the two unprepared young officers blush.
“Lin Shichang, Xu Jian, you two are great. You didn’t disgrace our military region out there! People’s Liberation Army soldiers should be like this, proactive, solving the people’s difficulties!”
Hearing Old Fan’s words, the two praised youths exchanged a glance, neither smiling.
For them, helping on the train was just a casual act, nothing worth mentioning.
And their comrades all did the same.
Old Fan praised them a few times before letting Lin Shichang and Xu Jian leave.
After leaving the leader’s office, Xu Jian looked at Lin Shichang, “We didn’t even tell her our address. How did that female comrade know… we’re from this military region?”
Lin Shichang had received his sister’s letter in advance and said, “That female comrade wrote to my sister, and my sister told her.”
“Oh.” Xu Jian suddenly understood.
Mentioning his sister, a flicker in his eyes, he lightly bumped Lin Shichang’s arm with his shoulder, his tone flattering, “Does our sister send anything else?”
Lin Shichang looked at him, “Craving it?”
“Would I ask if I wasn’t craving?” Xu Jian thought this guy was something, but no way around it; the one with the goods is grandpa. He plastered a smile on his face, “I’ll buy a few big white steamed buns, you bring out the meat sauce our sister sent, and we’ll have some meat together?”
“Let’s go.”
Xu Jian was thrilled, “Bro, Lin Bro, you’re the generous one!”
Lin Shisheng: “Some ambition.”
After scorning him, he added, “If you want to eat, just say so. Why be so coy? Not straightforward at all.”
Hearing this, Xu Jian unceremoniously said, “You said it. If you have extra, give me a bottle!”
Lin Shichang looked over, “You brat, really pushing your luck.”
“You said it!” Xu Jian stared at him.
Lin Shichang said, “Fine, I’ll share one. Keep it secret, or the few bottles I have left won’t stay.”
Xu Jian’s eyes lit up slightly upon hearing there were a few bottles.
Seeing his eye change, Lin Shichang said, “Only one for you. Don’t think about more. I still need those few bottles of meat sauce to reminisce about hometown.”
Xu Jian’s expression turned sour, “Enough already. Who in our regiment doesn’t know our sister sends you some every few days.”
Lin Shichang puffed out his chest, “No way around it. My little sister is just that good.”
After saying that, he punched Xu Jian, “That’s my sister. Don’t keep saying ‘our sister’ all the time. Annoying.”
Xu Jian quickly dodged his punch, “What’s the use telling me? Everyone says that. Can you shut my mouth and everyone’s mouths?”
Lin Shichang looked over.
Xu Jian, having taken the food, made a zipping motion over his mouth, “I’ll go to the canteen for steamed buns! Wait for me!”
Lin Shichang returned to the dormitory and began writing to Lin Zhao.
The letter said he received the letter of thanks, got praised by the leader, asked if she was well, if Yu Bao and Heng Bao were well, if the visit to relatives went smoothly, if anyone blind bullied them, told her… if unhappy, go to Gu Chenghuai and the fourth son; if those two don’t handle it, tell him, he had a few days of leave and could rush over…
Knowing Lin Zhao was visiting relatives, he sent the letter express.
Not long after, Lin Zhao received the letter.
When picking up the letter, there happened to be a call from hometown.
Lin Zhao and Gu Chenghuai exchanged a glance, seeing gravity in each other’s eyes.
At their age, they feared most receiving news from hometown without warning.
This inevitably tightened their hearts.
“Go see.” Gu Chenghuai said steadily.
He led Lin Zhao to take the call.
During the transfer, the couple’s hearts were suspended.
“Nothing bad happened, right?” Lin Zhao frowned.
“Stay calm. We’ll know soon.” Gu Chenghuai gripped his daughter-in-law’s hand and comforted her warmly.
His posture was ramrod straight, in military uniform, his eyes with the calm of Mount Tai not collapsing even under pressure, like a tall mountain; no matter what happened, he could hold it.
Lin Zhao was influenced, her heart gradually calming.
The two minutes passed unusually slowly.
As if hours later, a familiar voice came from the other end.
“Hello? Anyone there?”
Gu Chenghuai said, “Eldest Sister, it’s me.”
“Chenghuai? Is it Chenghuai?” Gu Chan’s excited loud voice rang out, somewhat distorted through the phone; she wasn’t entirely sure if it was her third brother.
“It’s me.”
Gu Chan spoke quickly, “Where’s Zhaozhao? Is she and the two kids okay?! Your wife is visiting relatives for the first time; pay more attention, protect her, don’t let Zhaozhao be bullied!”
“Home is fine. Qian Bao and Yao Bao are good too, eating and sleeping well. Don’t worry.”
Hearing this, the couple’s tense hearts relaxed.
Good that nothing happened; scared them to death!
Lin Zhao’s voice was soft and cheerful, “Eldest Sister, we’re good too, just a bit missing you all.”
Gu Chan’s mouth unconsciously curved up.
She was embarrassed to say such mushy words and just said, “I miss you too. You taking Yu Baoheng Bao to accompany the army, I’m not used to it…”
Wei Xiangdong poked her shoulder and whispered, “Get to the point. Phone bill is killing us.”
“Oh oh, get to the point… yes, the point.” Gu Chan reacted; she called for a reason, “Chenghuai, Zhaozhao, Xiao Shitou’s dad and I called specially to ask you something.”
Lin Zhao was puzzled, “What is it? Tell us.”
Gu Chan said, “A while ago, the factory held a sports meet. Our canteen had to send someone. I’m a newcomer, got this task… You know, I’m only good at work, nothing else, worried me to death. Luckily I saw ping pong competition; I know a bit about that. Xiao Shitou is good at it. Guess what happened later…”
Wei Xiangdong listened to his wife beating around the bush forever, helplessness flashing in his eyes, staring dazedly at A Chan’s smiling face, his mouth curving up slightly.
On the phone, Lin Zhao played along, “What happened later? Eldest Sister, you’ve learned to tease, keeping us in suspense.”
Gu Chan’s face reddened.
Immediately after, her excited voice rang out, “Later Xiao Shitou got first place!”
“The best part isn’t even that. Someone who specializes in ping pong events, some coach, took a liking to our Xiao Shitou and wants to take him to the provincial capital for training!”
Hearing this, Lin Zhao was first delighted, “Really? That’s great! Our Xiao Shitou finally gets his wish, with a dedicated coach!”
But fearing it might be a scam, she said, “Eldest Sister, what’s that person’s name? Have you seen the letter of introduction? I’ll have Chenghuai check if such a person exists.”
Though people now were simple and sincere, without much scheming, when it comes to a child’s lifetime, caution was never too much.
Gu Chan’s heart warmed, unspeakably comforted.
“Zhaozhao, you care. That’s exactly why I called. This really needs to trouble Chenghuai. Your brother-in-law and I have never left our area; we really don’t know what to do with things like this.”
“Eldest Sister, you’re Gu Chenghuai’s biological sister. If you have something, he’ll definitely care.” Lin Zhao said.
Gu Chan thought it’s different; her brother was married now, not like when they were kids. She couldn’t be too demanding, or it’d hurt feelings.
Which village girl wasn’t water splashed out?
Her situation was pretty good; she was content.
Lin Zhao handed the phone to Gu Chenghuai, “You talk to Eldest Sister.”
The upright young man took the phone.
Not knowing what was said on the other end, he smiled and said firmly, “That person is fine. I’ve looked into him before.”
How could he not care about his own nephew?
He knew all the ping pong coaches in the country.
The name Eldest Sister mentioned was one of the top ones, an upright person who hated flattery and loved talent.
It was possible he took a liking to Xiao Shitou.
“Chenghuai, you mean… Xiao Shitou can go?” Gu Chan felt mixed emotions, happy for her son, but reluctance spreading in her heart.
Her Xiao Shitou was still so young…
“If it’s really him.” Gu Chenghuai said.
“What did the other side say?”
