Chapter 30: “it’ll Come Sooner Or Later”
Lin Shisheng found it amusing. “How could I guess it?”
“But your expression…”
His tone paused for a moment as he carefully examined Lin Zhao’s face. It was beaming with joy, happier than when she got into high school back then.
Definitely big good news.
“Is your brother-in-law coming back?”
Lin Zhao shook her head. “He didn’t say he’s coming back.”
“Then what else could make you this happy?” Lin Shisheng was truly puzzled.
For a moment, he thought about saying if it was work.
But.
When Zhaozhao had just graduated, she was hurt by work. After that, no one in the family mentioned the word work again.
Also, jobs in the county were one radish one pit, very hard to find, so it probably wasn’t possible.
At that moment, Chen Yu came out of the room.
The topic was temporarily paused.
Lin Zhao smiled and greeted her. “Eldest sister-in-law.”
“Zhaozhao’s back. Why didn’t Da Zai and the others come?” Chen Yu asked with concern.
“I thought it would be troublesome to bring them, so I didn’t.” Lin Zhao replied, then turned to Lin Mu and said, “Mom, put the watermelon in the well. It’ll be ice-cold when we eat it, even better.”
Lin Mu said, “It’s already been lowered.”
“There’s watermelon?” Lin Heling suddenly felt a headache. The pain vanished in an instant, and unfamiliar yet familiar scenes flashed through his mind.
A boy in a little suit holding a watermelon, with a pretty girl in a skirt standing beside him.
Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the camphor tree, dancing on their hair.
They smiled at each other, their smiles brilliant.
In an instant.
Those two smiling faces faded away like a movie slow-motion scene.
Lin Heling looked dazed.
Song Xiwei noticed his abnormality at a glance and asked, “What’s wrong?”
“A scene suddenly appeared in my mind.” Lin Heling said. “It disappeared quickly again, just like before.”
“Don’t think about it if you can’t remember. Don’t force yourself, your head will hurt.” Song Xiwei instructed worriedly.
Lin Heling was helpless. “I know.”
Lin Zhao looked worried. “Dad, are you okay?”
“It’s an old problem, nothing serious.” Lin Heling said.
He didn’t want Zhaozhao to ask about his past. After all, from the vague memories he recalled, his original family was extraordinary, and in the current social climate, that wasn’t a good thing.
Everyone knew he was a pitiful person with no past memories. Let them think that. It was good for this family and for the children.
Lin Zhao knew how tight-lipped her dad was and didn’t ask more. She just said, “I only have one dad in this lifetime. Dad, you have to take good care of your health, or I’ll be very sad.”
Lin Father touched her head warmly. “Of course. I’m still waiting for you to take me to the capital.”
This was the big pie Lin Zhao had painted for her parents when she was in junior high.
“I remember, Dad. Get your health in order, and I’ll take you there to see the flag raising ceremony, climb the Great Wall, go to People’s Park（Summer Palace）, go to the tea house, go to the theater, go eat roast duck…” Lin Zhao listed them one by one, her eyes bright as lamps. “I also want to buy a siheyuan courtyard house in the capital and bring Mom and Dad over.”
Even Chen Yu was invigorated by her words. “What’s a siheyuan? A yard? Buying a yard under the imperial city, that must be so expensive.”
Lin Zhao couldn’t directly say that it would open up in the future, and the whole society would change, with ‘gold’ everywhere then. She could only vaguely say, “Maybe one day in the future, everyone can earn big money.”
Lin Heling didn’t think Zhaozhao was talking nonsense. He pondered for a few seconds in his heart and somewhat agreed. “Zhaozhao might be right. History is cyclical. To develop, it can’t and won’t stay like this forever.”
Time.
It needed time.
Lin Zhao thought her dad was so wise. If she in the book hadn’t died early, she definitely would have been among the first batch of rich people, having whatever she wanted, enjoying endless blessings.
“Dad, you’re awesome. I just love hearing you talk.”
Lin Heling’s light-colored gentle eyes softened with a faint smile. His daughter sure knew how to talk.
“Dad, I have a job now.” Lin Zhao remembered the main thing she came back for, her tone light and joyful.
Her eyes curved slightly, her expression carrying a hint of seeking praise, her tail practically wagging.
Lin Heling was happy for her and knowingly asked, “Cheng Huai found it for you?”
“Yes.” Lin Zhao nodded.
Song Xiwei set down the winnowing basket in her hand, dragged over a stool and sat across from Lin Zhao. Her face showed no emotion. “What job?”
“Too tiring ones, with shift work, you can’t do it, you can’t endure that hardship.”
That was her biological mother.
Seeing right through Lin Zhao.
“A salesperson at the supply and marketing cooperative. I can do it.” Lin Zhao said.
Song Xiwei knew her daughter had always envied those salespeople the most. This was fulfilling her wish.
“This job is good, easy and respectable. How much did it cost? Mom will give it to you.”
Upon hearing this, Lin Da Sao Chen Yu felt a twinge in her heart, but didn’t show it. When mother-in-law said she’d pay, it was definitely her and father-in-law’s private savings, nothing to do with her. She couldn’t say no.
The Lin family didn’t have the idea that a married daughter was like spilled water.
“I have money.” Lin Zhao of course wouldn’t take her parents’ money. Zai’s dad could do it, and she was going to start earning money too.
“But…” Song Xiwei worried that the Gu family members would take advantage of Zhaozhao.
“Mom, I don’t lack money. If I did, I’d definitely say so. If I have something, I’d come back to Mom and Dad right away. You’re my backbone. I’m not just being polite.” Lin Zhao said seriously.
She still wanted to show filial piety to her parents.
Her mom definitely wouldn’t accept it. No problem, she’d send grain, send meat, send sugar. They’d have to accept even if they didn’t want to.
Anyway, her parents’ health was the most important.
“Ask if you need it.” Song Xiwei repeated.
She could hunt and had saved quite a bit of money in previous years. During those special years, even with money you couldn’t buy grain, which made Zhaozhao want to marry early and become the Gu family daughter-in-law. After that, everything needed tickets. Money was money, tickets were tickets. Missing one meant you couldn’t buy things.
“Mm-hm.” Lin Zhao nodded.
Lin Shisheng finally found his voice with difficulty, his mind still a bit dazed. “Zhaozhao, you really became a salesperson at the supply and marketing cooperative? But I haven’t heard they’re recruiting.”
“Salesperson jobs are popular. When a position opens, lots of people eye it, basically handled internally. Gu Chenghuai has a comrade working at the county government. His big brother-in-law happens to be the director of the supply and marketing cooperative. Lucky coincidence.”
Only here did Lin Zhao feel fortunate. Good thing her brain short-circuited that night and she wrote randomly, or she might not have gotten this job.
You know, one step late, and you miss a million chances.
“It was a lucky coincidence. So, what belongs to you will come sooner or later.” Lin Shisheng was happy for his sister.
“I heard the supply and marketing cooperative has defective products as employee welfare. This job is good, suitable for you.”
Lin Zhao’s mouth curved up. “Second brother, do you need anything?”
Lin Shisheng didn’t stand on ceremony with his sister. “Fabric and cotton. Help keep an eye out.”
“Okay.”
Lin Zhao turned her gaze to her silent eldest brother. “Big brother, what does your room need?”
A smile appeared on Lin Shichang’s dark face. “A water bottle maybe. Burning water in winter is troublesome. With a water bottle it’s convenient. By the time it gets cold, your eldest sister-in-law’s belly will be big.”
“Okay, I noted it down.” Lin Zhao agreed.
“Eldest sister-in-law, do you need anything?”
Chen Yu shook her head. “The water bottle is enough. Sorry to trouble you.”
“No trouble, it’s on the way.”
Chen Yu was almost three months pregnant. Sitting for a while made her waist ache terribly. She quietly rubbed her waist with her hand. Lin Shichang saw it, said something to the family, and helped his wife back to the room to rest.
After they left, Lin Zhao got up, dragged her stool over to sit next to Lin Shisheng, and asked in a not-too-loud voice, “Where’s second sister-in-law?”
“…Back to her maternal family.” Lin Shisheng didn’t want to say more.
An alarm bell rang in Lin Zhao’s mind.
…Back to her maternal family!?
She felt the green light on second brother’s head was even brighter.
She was conflicted inside, not knowing how to say it. She couldn’t just shout in second brother’s ear that he was cuckolded. She couldn’t say it.
Lin Zhao’s lips moved back and forth, repeatedly weighing the words she wanted to say.
“Second brother, isn’t it not great for second sister-in-law to stay alone at her maternal family?”
Lin Shisheng was surprised. “It’s not alone. That’s her maternal family, where she grew up.”
He hooked his lip, sarcasm flashing in his eyes. “She has close connections with her maternal family. Let her stay, stay as long as she wants.”
Lin Zhao had a massive headache.
“…”
Second brother didn’t understand her heart.
“Secon…”
The word “brother” was still on the tip of her tongue when Lin Shisheng smiled and interrupted her. “I know what I’m doing.”
Know what? Know what.
You know you’re green in the book.
Lin Zhao was so worried she wilted completely.
Seeing she really wasn’t reassured, Lin Shisheng could only say helplessly, “I have someone watching her. After all, she’s my wife, Xuanxuan and Zheng Zheng’s mom. I can’t ignore her.”
Sigh, Zhaozhao’s heart was too kind. He’d have to watch out for her more in the future.
“Who did you have watching her?” Lin Zhao asked nervously, her eyes like a cat sensing danger.
Lin Shisheng was amused by her eyes and roughly ruffled his sister’s fried dough twist braids, messing up Lin Zhao’s hair.
“Second brother!” Lin Zhao pretended to be angry.
Before she could hit him, Lin Shisheng quickly ran out.
“Childish or not.” Lin Zhao laughed in exasperation, huffed and sat down. Remembering something, she carefully observed her dad’s face. He looked more spirited than a couple days ago. “Mom, have you been making good food for Dad these days?”
“Would I mistreat your dad?” Lin Mu said irritably. He was her handsome old man. How could she not care?!
“Not necessarily.” Lin Zhao muttered softly. “I’m just afraid you wouldn’t bear to.”
Lin Mu had sharp ears and caught her voice. “When it comes to your dad, when have I ever not borne to?”
Lin Zhao was stumped.
Full.
She took a sip of water and changed the topic. “Dad, Mom, after the double harvest rush, I plan to build a brick and tile house.”
Lin Father immediately asked, “Can you get the bricks and tiles ordered?”
“I asked Gu Chenghuai, and he got them ordered.” Lin Zhao said with a smile.
“Then build it.” Lin Father supported her building it. His light-colored eyes fell on her face, unable to hold back a smile. “It’s been hard on you living in that dusty room for several years.”
When his daughter was home, the walls in the room couldn’t have dust, or she’d make a fuss.
He didn’t know how she’d managed these years.
Lin Zhao nodded. Yeah, it had been really hard on her.
“When the time comes, have your brothers come help.” One sentence from Lin Mu controlled Lin Shichang and Lin Shisheng for a month.
“Okay, I won’t mistreat brother.” Lin Zhao said.
Lin Father chuckled lightly, looking refined. “What mistreat? An older brother helping his sister is only right.”
He didn’t care about other families. In his subconscious, girls needed more careful protection than boys.
Lin Zhao wasn’t the ignorant little girl from back then anymore. She knew in some families, girls were tools, not even as good as oxen or horses.
“It’s great to be the daughter of parents.”
Lin Dadan and the others heard their aunt was back at her maternal family and came running from all directions of the village, running fast, faces full of excited smiles.
The village kids could tell at a glance they were going to eat good things. The smart ones knew to get on good terms early.
“Da Dan, your aunt must have brought you good eats again. I saw it, she was carrying a basket. Don’t know what it is. Can you take it out and eat? I want to gain some insight.” The speaking youth was about ten, in black clothes and pants with patches, face black and shiny, making his teeth very white, full of knowing envy.
Another youth with his arm around Lin Dadan’s shoulders sighed. “Having an aunt is great.”
Da Dan was speechless. “You have an aunt too, more than one even.”
The youth felt even worse, looking at him resentfully.
Er Dan laughed heartily. “Your grandma doesn’t treat your aunt well, so of course your aunt isn’t close with her maternal family. My grandma often says even after an aunt marries, she’s still family. Whatever good things there are, she has to think of her aunt. So my aunt thinks of us. My grandpa says feelings are mutual. You can’t just take, taking means only knowing to take advantage.”
Afraid his good friend wouldn’t understand, he even explained.
The youth drooped his head, wilted. “My grandma won’t listen to me.”
Er Dan held it in for a long time and came up with a method. “…Then grow up fast. When you make something of yourself, your grandma will listen to you.”
After saying that, he pulled Da Dan and ran home.
Leaving the pensive black-faced youth behind.
When you make something of yourself, your family will listen to you. This left a deep impression in his heart.
Lin Xibao brought Lin Xuan and Lin Zheng running home. As soon as they arrived, the yard livened up.
“Aunt!”
“Aunt, you’re back!”
The three little girls shouted happily.
Lin Zhao saw second brother’s two daughters had their hair combed nicely and smiled. “Who braided your hair? So spirited.”
Much more carefully than that woman Qiu Lian.
“Eldest uncle’s wife did it.” Lin Zheng said frankly, her eyes bright and lively.
Lin Zhao beckoned her closer, wiped the sweat from her niece’s face, and asked warmly, “Where did you go?”
Aunt’s voice was so gentle. Lin Zheng felt dizzy with happiness and said, “Went out to play, with sister and them.”
Lin Zhao glanced at the restless Lin Xibao nearby and smiled. “Did Xibao take you?”
She knew Xibao was the village little tyrant, the kids’ leader, the kind who could rally hundreds.
Lin Xibao pouted and stomped hard. “I did!”
Aunt was wiping Zheng Zheng’s sweat, only looking at her now. Did she think she stank?
No choice, Xibao could only fend for herself and went to wash nearby.
Her back view was so resentful that Lin Zhao could feel it from a few steps away.
She walked over and popped a candy into the mouth of a certain little girl who looked calm on the surface but was actually keeping score inside.
“Sweet?”
A certain little girl whose anger never lasted overnight brightened up, smiling like a little sun. “Sweet! Super sweet! Candy from aunt is the sweetest!”
She greedily savored the sweetness in her mouth, wanting to snuggle with Lin Zhao, but was rejected in disgust.
“Wash clean, you stink, all sweaty.”
“Going out without a hat, careful you get sunburned into a black coal ball.”
