Chapter 305: “new Brain’s A Bit Laggy”
Heng Bao looked toward his little uncle for help.
He was clever and knew that even his older brother couldn’t protect him.
“Aren’t you going to apologize quickly!” Meng Jiusi patted his nephew’s head and said disapprovingly, “If your mother knows you’re injured and came to the hospital, she’ll be so worried. How can a child climb trees? You’re lucky. What if there were stones or branches under the tree that poked your head or eyes?”
Heng Bao had long regretted it and hung his head dispiritedly. “I know I was wrong, Mom. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have disobeyed you or my older brother. I’ll accept the punishment. Don’t be mad at me.”
Yu Bao was also afraid his mother would be angry and shuffled with small steps to Lin Zhao’s side.
“I was wrong too. I didn’t hold onto my younger brother, Mom. I’ll accept the punishment too.”
Lin Zhao rubbed the top of Da Zai’s head. “It’s not your fault. You must have tried to advise your brother, but he didn’t listen.”
Yu Bao’s eyes widened round.
“Why so surprised? I gave birth to you two. How could I not know your temperaments?” Lin Zhao chuckled.
Yu Bao glanced at his younger brother but said nothing, which was his admission.
“Mom, I didn’t hold onto Heng Bao.” He said guiltily.
“I know.” Lin Zhao pulled Da Zai into her arms. “Don’t overthink it. Your brother is naughty. It’s not your fault. Your dad and I aren’t unreasonable parents. We won’t get angry for no reason.”
That wasn’t what Yu Bao was worried about. He looked anxiously at Heng Bao’s hugely wrapped foot. “Heng Bao won’t be able to walk anymore.”
“It’s good to let him calm down. I saw him playing too wildly before.” Lin Zhao said indifferently.
She had felt that way before. If he kept being so wild, something would happen sooner or later.
See?
Now it had.
Heng Bao cried out aggrievedly, “Mom～！！”
Lin Zhao glanced at him indifferently and hardened her heart, ignoring him.
Xiao Bai, sitting in the corner, swung his little short legs and said in a milky voice, “Little aunt is mad at Heng Bao brother.”
He looked at Heng Bao with a serious little face. “Heng Bao brother, you didn’t listen to the adults.”
That one sentence made Heng Bao want to bury his head under the quilt.
He muttered softly, “I know I was wrong…”
Looking at his foot wrapped tightly by his little uncle, Heng Bao reached out to Lin Zhao, his eyes pleading. “Mom, I really know I was wrong! I won’t climb trees again. Talk to me. If you ignore me… I want to cry.”
Lin Zhao ignored Heng Bao, which inevitably reminded him of the days when Dad wasn’t around and Mom didn’t care. The child was scared.
Hearing her son’s pitiful words, Lin Zhao’s heart softened. She walked toward the hospital bed.
Just as she reached the bedside, a certain opportunistic little friend wrapped his arms around her waist.
“Mom, I didn’t cry today.” Heng Bao looked up from Lin Zhao’s bosom, his eyes bright, saying in a tone begging for praise.
“…” Lin Zhao was silent for a few seconds. “Should I praise you?”
“Can you?” Heng Bao’s tone was excited. “I was super manly today.”
This child really didn’t know his limits.
But not crying was indeed worth praising.
“Heng Bao was very brave today.” Lin Zhao went along with her son’s words and praised him, then changed tone. “But climbing the tree was wrong. Like your little uncle said, if there was a sharp stone or sharp branch on the ground that poked your head or eyes, what would we do?”
Heng Bao truly knew he was wrong from the heart. On the way to the hospital, though he didn’t cry, he was quite frightened.
Hearing Lin Zhao’s words, he nodded his little head. “I won’t climb trees again. I swear.”
As he spoke, he raised three fingers in a swearing gesture.
Lin Zhao took his hand and put it down. “Rest well at home from now on. Tomorrow I’ll stew pig trotters for you.”
Jing Mo burst out laughing. “Eat what you hurt to heal it. Heng Bao, you have to eat it all obediently.”
Heng Bao grinned. “Of course! I’ll definitely finish it, a big bowl!”
Lin Zhao felt sticky on her body, her brows furrowing unconsciously. Looking down, she saw a little handprint on her light-colored top.
“Gu Zhiheng, did you not wipe your hands?” She said forbearingly, a bit wanting to hit the child.
The child with his foot hanging up quickly withdrew his hand, eyes flickering, not daring to look at the “victim,” saying innocently, “I don’t know…”
Lin Zhao couldn’t stand the sticky feeling and lifted her hem to go to the toilet to clean up.
As soon as she left, Gu Chenghuai, who had heard the news, rushed over.
The man’s expression was serious and stern, exuding an unapproachable aloofness. He strode quickly straight to his son’s hospital room.
After entering, seeing Heng Bao in good condition, his brows relaxed. He asked Meng Jiusi, “What happened?”
Meng Jiusi replied, “Sprained his ankle. Nothing serious.”
The father relaxed, then noticed his wife wasn’t there and asked again, “Where’s Zhaozhao?”
Yu Bao said, “My mom went to the toilet.”
Gu Chenghuai nodded and asked, “Your mom didn’t cry, right?”
“Dad, do you mean to ask if I cried?” Heng Bao thought his dad misspoke and piped up.
Gu Chenghuai gave him a faint glance, his dark eyes deep and unreadable, making one inexplicably afraid.
Heng Bao shrank his head, stammering nervously, “D-Dad, I’m the patient. You can’t hit me…”
Gu Chenghuai’s lips curved slightly, squeezing out words through his teeth, “When you’re healed.”
The meaning was clear: he couldn’t escape a beating.
Heng Bao was so clever; how could he not hear the threat from his biological father? His little shoulders slumped like a dogtail grass battered by wind and rain, wilted and spiritless.
Lin Zhao cleaned her clothes and returned to the hospital room, sensing the strange atmosphere. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” Gu Chenghuai answered.
“Scolding your son?” Lin Zhao guessed.
Heng Bao nodded like pounding garlic, humming twice. “Dad said to beat me after my foot heals.”
Lin Zhao shrugged, saying helplessly, “Your dad is educating you. I won’t interfere, so… telling me is useless.”
“Mom～～” Heng Bao knew only Mom could save him from a beating now. He clasped his hands, looking at her pitifully, his tone wavy.
He was still a little friend and felt no shame in coquetry to avoid punishment.
“Coquetry won’t work either.” Lin Zhao smiled gently.
Knowing pleading with anyone was useless, Heng Bao nearly shed regretful tears. Why did he climb the tree?
Speaking of climbing trees, he remembered the excitement in the family courtyard and hurriedly urged Yu Bao, “Bro, the excitement isn’t over yet. Go watch it quickly and tell me when you come back.”
The last sentence was as pitiful as could be.
Hearing this, Lin Zhao pinched her brows, saying helplessly, “Heng Bao, you’re like this and still thinking about watching the excitement? Believe it or not, I’ll have your dad hang you on the tree to watch as much as you want.”
Heng Bao thought it wasn’t impossible, but as a child already in trouble, he didn’t dare test his parents’ patience.
“No need, no need.” He waved his hands.
“Why do you love watching excitement so much… I didn’t notice that back home.” Lin Zhao muttered.
“You can skip other people’s excitement, but you can’t skip family members’!” Heng Bao raised his voice, tone indignant.
Yu Bao agreed with his brother and immediately said, “Heng Bao, I’ll go inquire later and tell you when I find out.”
“Mm!” Heng Bao nodded vigorously.
Thinking his plan had no chance to be carried out, he felt annoyed and regretful. “Sigh, my ankle sprain came at such a bad time. I still wanted to throw dung balls at them. So frustrating!”
Lin Zhao: “？？”
Hm?
What did she hear?!
“Heng Bao, what did you say you wanted to do?”
Lice many don’t itch. Heng Bao felt he was getting beaten anyway, so his courage was sky-high, and he said again, “I wanted to throw dung balls at that family of bad guys!”
He raised his head proudly. “Who let them bully my mom? Anyone who bullies my mom will have bad luck!”
A child’s heart to protect his mom was understandable and heartwarming, but…
“Heng Bao.” Lin Zhao sat on the edge of the hospital bed, cupping Heng Bao’s face. The little boy’s eyes had a trace of easily overlooked ferocity, like a disturbed little wolf, fiercely cute.
“Adults’ matters will be handled by adults. Little friends should just grow up happily. Did you forget all my words?”
No wonder the little guy did something out of line like climbing a tree today. She thought watching excitement alone wouldn’t lead to that. So that’s how it was.
Heng Bao thumped the bed, letting out a frustrated roar. “I didn’t forget! I won’t allow anyone to bully Mom!”
“Gu Zhiheng, why so loud? Listen to your mom…” Gu Chenghuai spoke up.
Lin Zhao looked over and shook her head slightly at the man. She looked at Heng Bao gently, her voice soft. “Heng Bao knowing to protect Mom warms my heart. There’s an indescribable pride. But baby, you’re still small, not even ten yet. Adults’ matters we’ll handle. Wait until you grow into a young man to think about protecting Mom, okay?”
Heng Bao wanted to say no, but Mom called him baby in such a gentle voice.
The little friend’s new brain stalled a bit.
“…Okay.” Facing Lin Zhao’s expectant eyes, Heng Bao’s emotions stabilized, and he finally nodded.
Lin Zhao extended her right hand, hooking her pinky in a way little friends liked, making a promise with him. “Okay means pinky promise.”
Heng Bao also hooked his finger with Mom’s, chanting “Pinky promise, one lie and you’re hanged…”, finally pressing his thumb against Lin Zhao’s.
“Then let Dad protect you first. When I grow up… I can protect Mom well.” Heng Bao said stubbornly.
Yu Bao saw his brother forgot him and hurriedly said, “I can protect Mom too!”
Heng Bao quickly said, “Right, and older brother. Older brother and I can both protect Mom.”
“You’re both my good sons.” Lin Zhao hugged her two filial good sons, beaming.
Gu Chenghuai, who hadn’t spoken much, had his lips curve up.
His wife was still the best at educating children.
The hospital was busy. After Gu Chenghuai arrived, Meng Jiusi went to work and came back after finishing.
Seeing his figure, Lin Zhao smiled. “Youngest brother, Heng Bao has us. Go be busy. No need to come all the time.”
Meng Jiusi put down the ointment, shaking his head with a smile. “It’s nothing. On the way.”
He didn’t say he was afraid his brother-in-law would hit Heng Bao.
“This is the ointment.” Meng Jiusi pointed to the brought ointment and said to Gu Chenghuai, “You can take Heng Bao home. It’s not good for a child to stay long in the hospital. I’ll come tomorrow morning to change his dressing.”
Lin Zhao knew her brother had been extremely busy lately and immediately said, “How to change it? Youngest brother, tell me. I’ll do it.”
“I’ll do it. How?” Gu Chenghuai said.
He could apply medicine to himself roughly, but his son was fragile like a chick. He feared using too much strength and crushing him, so he couldn’t be too careful.
Meng Jiusi didn’t say more. “Anyway, I have to exercise early in the morning. It’s on the way.”
Since he said so, the couple didn’t say more polite words.
“Heng Bao, be careful with your foot tonight. Don’t bump it, and don’t use force.” Meng Jiusi instructed Heng Bao. “If there’s any discomfort, have your dad carry you to find me.”
Heng Bao said crisply, “Got it.”
His foot was treated by Meng Jiusi. When his little uncle touched it lightly, it didn’t hurt as much. His little uncle really was a divine doctor.
Thinking this, the child praised admiringly, “Little uncle, are you a divine doctor? You’re so amazing. My foot hurt so much, like… the bone inside was broken. When you moved it lightly, it stopped hurting right away. You’re so amazing! My little uncle is a divine doctor! I’m so lucky, Heng Bao, to have a divine doctor little uncle!”
His words were eloquent and sincere, bluntly amusing.
Meng Jiusi’s tone carried laughter, his clear voice warm. “Not quite a divine doctor yet. I’m working hard to become one soon.”
Heng Bao’s eyes widened, his face complex like “you’re Versailles-ing.” “Little uncle, you’re too modest!”
That complex tone made Lin Zhao laugh.
“Heng Bao, what you said is too funny.”
Heng Bao looked confused. How was what he said funny?
Whatever, making Mom happy was worth it.
Gu Chenghuai picked up Heng Bao, Yu Bao took the ointment, and the family left the hospital.
Back at the family courtyard, many people asked concernedly.
“Is Heng Bao okay? Lin Meizi, talk nicely to the child. Don’t get angry. After this mishap, he’ll know not to climb trees. You and Gu Commander mustn’t hit the child. He’s still injured…” This was from someone won over by the twins’ sweet talk.
“See, this is what happens from climbing trees. Will you climb again? If you get hurt, we don’t have money to send you to the hospital.” This was using Heng Bao as a negative example.
“How is the foot wrapped like this! Lin Meizi, stay vigilant tonight. Don’t let the child bump the injury.”
“Aiyo, what a big ordeal. Poor little guy.”
…
The family courtyard had some people not so good-natured, but most were ordinary kind-hearted folks.
Seeing Heng Bao’s pitiful state, they didn’t stint on concern.
Lin Zhao thanked the sisters-in-law and briefly explained Heng Bao’s condition. Hearing the child was fine, the kind military wives relaxed, happy for the child and the Gu family.
“Good that it’s nothing. Good.”
“Go back quickly, Lin Meizi. Come visit home another day.”
“Yes, yes. That’s my family’s vegetable patch. If you’re short on veggies at home, pick some yourself.” A generous military wife pointed to her own plot, her face full of enthusiastic smile.
Another joked smilingly, “Yo, so generous? My home is short two eggplants. Can I pick?”
The speaking sister-in-law waved her off three times. “Go go go. Why join the fun? Lin Meizi’s plot isn’t tended yet. Yours isn’t either? You’re everywhere.”
The teased sister-in-law pretended to cry. “See, only hearing new people laugh, not old people cry.”
Lin Zhao was amused and also felt the liveliness of the family courtyard.
