Chapter 44: “all The Blown Brags Came True”
County.
Song Yuncheng arrived at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative right on time to deliver the meal.
He was wearing dark gray pants with a fitted cuff design, paired with a blue short-sleeved shirt, his features proper and looking full of youthful vigor.
“Sis, your meal, it’s still hot.” He came to the counter where Lin Zhao was stationed and set down the lunchbox.
Lin Zhao took the meal, opened it, and saw it was packed full of multigrain rice, topped with appetizing stir-fried pork with chili and stir-fried cabbage with glass noodles.
“Have you eaten?” she asked with concern.
“I have. Eat quickly. If customers come, I’ll help you out.” Song Yuncheng figured he could also get a thrill out of playing salesperson.
Lin Zhao smiled and began eating.
The siblings ate quietly and peacefully, but someone just had to stir up trouble.
Liu Chunhong couldn’t stand Lin Zhao and seemed to finally catch her in something, excitedly saying: “The Supply and Marketing Cooperative is a public place. As a salesperson, it’s best not to bring any shady riffraff here. If a needle goes missing, no one can take responsibility for it.”
Though no name was mentioned, everyone’s gazes instinctively turned toward Lin Zhao and her brother.
“Pa!”
Lin Zhao slammed down her chopsticks heavily and slowly raised her eyes, looking over expressionlessly.
This had the rhythm of starting a fight.
Song Yuncheng’s heart jumped to his throat, afraid his sister couldn’t control her temper and would fight, losing her job; his hair was practically standing on end.
He turned his head and slapped the counter with a smack.
The ceramic jars and enamel bottles on the table clinked and clattered against each other.
Now, all attention was on him.
“You in the blue cloth shirt, auntie…” Song Yuncheng said coldly, his gaze unfriendly, his tall stature full of pressure, “Are you talking about me?”
Auntie?
She was only in her early forties—how was she an auntie!
Liu Chunhong cared a lot about that and trembled all over in anger.
“Can’t you speak properly? If you can’t, shut your stinking mouth.”
Song Yuncheng didn’t back down, rolled his eyes, and shot back.
“No matter how stinky my mouth is, it can’t compare to yours pickled in a cesspit! Tell me, did I steal your family’s rice or dig up your family’s grave?”
His originally smiling eyes turned icy cold: “Slapping a thief label on someone without evidence—that’s your Supply and Marketing Cooperative salesperson professionalism?”
As he spoke, he suddenly leaned in closer, startling Liu Chunhong into knocking over her abacus, which hit the floor with a clack, like it smashed into everyone’s hearts.
“I’m going to ask your director if keeping a mad old woman like you who bites at anyone at the counter means you’re dissatisfied with the masses.”
Liu Chunhong’s face changed abruptly.
She hadn’t expected this to be such a tough nut.
It was just a few teasing remarks.
“Don’t talk nonsense!” Liu Chunhong snapped sharply.
Lin Zhao understood Yun Cheng’s intentions, reined in her temper, and while eating, calmly retorted: “Where did my brother talk nonsense?”
“Didn’t you put a label on him, or didn’t you deliberately provoke us?”
She didn’t yield an inch, saying flatly: “For today’s matter, if you don’t apologize, it won’t end.”
Liu Chunhong, relying on being an old employee whom the Supply and Marketing Cooperative couldn’t fire, sneered provocatively, “I’m not apologizing. What can you do to me?”
She was still a bit afraid Lin Zhao would make a fuss to Director Jiang, affecting her future advanced evaluations, and added: “This little squabble is nothing; the director has no time for it. Go tell him and let the director see how disrespectful you new employees are to your seniors.”
“Did you respect me?” Lin Zhao mocked back with a question.
“A promising youth building the motherland being labeled a thief—is that a little squabble? Then what counts as a big deal?”
Liu Chunhong wanted to say more but was pulled by the sleeve by an old employee who was close to her.
The person was afraid things would blow up and shook her head at her, whispering: “Forget it, forget it. If it reaches Director Jiang, it won’t be good.”
She’d heard these two new little girls both had connections; if it blew up, who knew who would be the unlucky one.
Seeing Liu Chunhong unconcerned and still foolishly provoking, she continued persuading: “Look at that young man’s pants—that’s the work uniform of a motor factory technician. Your youngest son isn’t a temporary worker at the motor factory? Are you sure you want to offend a valuable technician?”
Liu Chunhong’s expression wavered, her voice suddenly tense, “You didn’t see wrong?”
“Of course not. My daughter went on a blind date with a motor factory technician last time, and he wore those exact pants—no mistake.”
They whispered back and forth here, their eyes occasionally glancing at Song Yuncheng’s lower half.
The youth’s face instantly darkened, and he turned sideways, his expression furious.
“Where are you looking!!”
As he turned, the motor factory logo unique to the pocket appeared in Liu Chunhong’s view.
Liu Chunhong remembered her youngest son had mentioned before that technicians had high salaries, and he wanted to work hard to transfer in later.
Now!
She had offended a ready-made technician!
Would her youngest son still have a chance?
Liu Chunhong’s face alternated between green and white, like a color palette.
She stayed silent for a long time, and Lin Zhao looked over in surprise, discovering the usually shrewish and domineering old employee had a strange expression, like she was struggling, weighing options, locked in an internal battle.
“…”
Lin Zhao withdrew her gaze and looked at Song Yuncheng… his pants.
Noticing this gaze, Song Yuncheng felt extremely uncomfortable, wishing he could shoulder a rail and flee at top speed.
What was his sister looking at!!!?
“Sis?” Song Yuncheng’s depressed voice rang out.
He didn’t dare snap at his sister and glared viciously at Liu Chunhong instead.
It was all this woman’s fault.
Liu Chunhong was stunned by the glare—done for, she’d been resented; if her youngest son couldn’t get into the technical department, he’d hate her to death!
Lin Zhao came back to herself and looked at Song Yuncheng, asking: “These pants—are they the motor factory technician work uniform?”
Song Yuncheng nodded, “Yeah, what’s up?”
He looked at his outfit again—no issue.
Lin Zhao’s eyes flickered, and she smiled: “Looks pretty sharp.”
A technician— no wonder people looked at him differently and didn’t dare speak up.
After her internal battle, Liu Chunhong still felt her youngest son was more important than face, so she took a deep breath, picked up a package of mung bean cake, walked over, and apologized to Song Yuncheng, “Sorry, what I said earlier was thoughtless. Don’t take it to heart.”
After saying something soft, she set down the mung bean cake, returned to her counter, pretended to chat with colleagues, and didn’t look up for a long time.
“…” Song Yuncheng felt a bit awkward.
If that auntie had kept being aggressive, he would have gone toe-to-toe with her to the end, but she suddenly went soft and apologized; the high school graduate fresh out of society didn’t know how to react.
Damn it!
“I’m done eating.” Lin Zhao said.
Song Yuncheng’s tangled thoughts were dispelled; he packed up the lunchbox, “Sis, I’ll go wash it.”
Lin Zhao sat there, saying righteously: “Of course you have to wash it.”
“Sis, you really don’t know what politeness is.” Song Yuncheng grumbled, but his face was full of smiles—he was clearly happy to indulge his sister.
“Why be polite with your own brother.” Lin Zhao rolled her eyes at him and said flatly.
Song Yuncheng was coaxed into a raised corner of his mouth, revealing white teeth.
“Sis, what about this?” He pointed to the mung bean cake on the counter.
“Take it. We can’t get scolded for nothing.” Lin Zhao grabbed the mung bean cake and stuffed it into his bosom—this was pastry sold at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, unopened, so she let Yun Cheng take it; otherwise, she was afraid Liu Chunhong would get malicious.
Song Yuncheng felt his sister made a lot of sense; his refusing hand paused, then he pushed it toward her, “Sis, give it to Da Zai and Er Zai.”
Lin Zhao got impatient, “Put it away for me!”
“Sis…” Song Yuncheng wanted to say more but was snapped at by Lin Zhao, “Take it—it’s compensation given to you by others. I don’t want it, but if you bought it, I could refuse?”
Song Yuncheng knew his sister was picky, so he had to accept, saying: “Alright, when I get paid, I’ll buy some for Da Zai and Er Zai. Then sis, you can’t stop me.”
The dragon-phoenix twins were so small, bodies soft, limbs soft, as if hugging too hard would make them cry; he didn’t dare feed them randomly.
Lin Zhao looked at him like he was silly: “You’re the uncle of four kids. If you want to be good to them, I’d be silly to stop you.”
“Then can I bring Da Zai and Er Zai to the county next time?” Song Yuncheng asked tentatively.
“Next weekend, I’ll bring all four kids to see uncle.” Lin Zhao stated her plan.
“Why not this weekend?” Song Yuncheng asked.
“Home is building a house; I have to be there.” Lin Zhao huffed, “Didn’t you complain my house was rundown? Wait till it’s built, then come see—don’t be too envious!”
“When did I ever complain your home was rundown!” Song Yuncheng cried injustice loudly.
But.
Hearing the Gu Family was building a house, he was happy from the bottom of his heart, “Building a house is great. Need help?”
“No need.”
“Alright.” Song Yuncheng was quite disappointed.
In an instant, he perked up again and said happily: “Sis, next weekend I’ll ride my bike to the brigade to pick you up?”
“Sure!”
Song Yuncheng started looking forward to next weekend and, remembering Yun Jin asking eagerly about his sister and the four kids, added: “Yun Jin will definitely be thrilled.”
Lin Zhao wanted to ask what cousin Yun Jin planned next, but there were too many people around, so she didn’t.
Song Yuncheng packed up the lunchbox and prepared to head home.
“Wait.” Lin Zhao called him back.
Song Yuncheng stopped and looked over inquiringly.
Lin Zhao beckoned him.
The youth obediently walked over.
“Open the cloth bag.” Lin Zhao said.
Song Yuncheng, puzzled, opened the mouth of the cloth bag holding the lunchbox.
Lin Zhao slightly turned sideways, took out three braised chicken legs from her shoulder bag one by one, and put them in.
“Only three—you all divide them up.” Lin Zhao said.
The braised chicken legs were wrapped in oiled paper, so Song Yuncheng couldn’t see what they were, “What’s this?”
“Braised chicken legs.” Lin Zhao said softly.
Song Yuncheng: “!!!”
Braised, chicken, legs?!
“Sis…”
He opened his mouth, and Lin Zhao guessed what he wanted to say, “Shut up.”
After silencing Song Yuncheng, she took out the box of white tip silver needle tea she’d drawn and said: “This is white tea—give it to uncle for me.”
“Sis, you still remember my dad loves tea?” Song Yuncheng blurted out.
Lin Zhao choked, utterly speechless, “I’m twenty-three, not eighty-three; my memory’s fine.”
Song Yuncheng hurriedly explained, “I didn’t mean that—I just didn’t expect you’d prepare tea for my dad.”
He suddenly sighed, “Sis, all the boasts you made in school have come true.”
Like marrying a great soldier, or becoming an honorable salesperson, or buying the best tea for his dad…
Lin Zhao: “…”
She glared at Song Yuncheng unkindly, “What do you mean ‘boasts’? Do you understand ideals?”
Lin Zhao snorted coldly, waved her hand, and said impatiently: “Hurry up and go—I’m busy.”
She bent down to get a rag and started wiping the counter, organizing goods.
Song Yuncheng moved his lips but could only leave first.
Back home.
“You’re back. How’s your sister? Adapting okay?” Aunt Song, who should have been napping, hadn’t slept and hurriedly asked when she saw her son return.
“My sister’s temperament is so fierce; wielding soft knives is effortless for her—what wouldn’t she adapt to.” Song Yuncheng set down the braised chicken legs and tea.
Thinking of the chicken meat flavor, he swallowed saliva.
He lived in the city, sure, but in this special era where buying meat required both money and coupons, meat was hard to come by; of course he craved it.
Aunt Song smacked him, “Speak properly—what’s with the sarcastic tone!”
His own aunt thought Zhaozhao’s temperament was great—bold in speech and action, straightforward, wouldn’t suffer losses.
Song Yuncheng felt aggrieved.
Heaven and earth as witness—he really wasn’t being sarcastic.
Before he could protest for himself, Aunt Song asked: “What’s all this?”
“Three braised chicken legs! From my sister!” Speaking of chicken legs, Song Yuncheng couldn’t help swallowing again; he wiped his mouth corner, picked up the tea box, and added: “This is the white tea my sister sent for my dad!”
He drew out his tone, clucking his tongue, “Old Song will be making flatbread tonight.” This time it was moved.
Aunt Song raised her hand and smacked his head, but the force was mostly pulled back, “You’ve been too smug these past couple days. If you don’t rein it in, when your dad disciplines you, I’ll hand him the broom!”
Song Yuncheng grinned ingratiatingly, “This is just in front of you, isn’t it.”
“Besides…” He paused, his face beaming with a bright smile, “Dad’s in a good mood these days. When I give him the tea, he’ll be in an even better mood. Even if Yun Jin and I get in trouble, he won’t get mad.”
Aunt Song: That stinky kid has Old Song wrapped around his finger.
If only he’d put that smarts into learning skills, he’d have become permanent by now.
“Your sister is thoughtful.” Aunt Song said.
Remembering little Lin Zhao once saying that when she grew up, she’d buy the very best tea for uncle, the prettiest skirts and jewelry for aunt, and meat for the brothers—and look, the little girl had made it happen; she was very gratified.
Song Yuncheng grinned wide.
His sister visiting once had changed the home atmosphere.
“Mom, my sister said next weekend she’ll bring the four kids home to see Dad and you.”
Aunt Song immediately took it seriously.
“Then this weekend, clean up the house.”
Song Yuncheng looked around, “The house is already clean—no need to tidy much.”
“Under the sofa, under the bed, under the cabinet… how long since those were cleaned? No nonsense—inside and out this weekend.” Aunt Song issued the order without refusal.
“…Oh.”
Aunt Song asked again: “Did your sister say what she wants to eat tomorrow?”
“No, my sister said your cooking is so good, she hasn’t had it in years and is craving it badly.” Song Yuncheng said.
Aunt Song was coaxed into blooming with joy.
“I got pork ribs—tomorrow I’ll make garlic pork ribs, your sister’s favorite.”
Song Yuncheng wanted some too, “Is there a share for Yun Jin and me?”
“Yes, two pieces each for you two.” Aunt Song had the expression of you and your brother lucking out.
Better than none—Song Yuncheng didn’t mind the small portion.
“Ka-da!”
The door was pushed open.
Uncle Song was back.
As soon as he entered, seeing his wife and son standing by the cabinet at the door, he was stunned, “Going out?”
“Not going out.” Aunt Song said, then picked up the tea Lin Zhao sent, “Zhaozhao sent tea for you, specially had Yun Cheng bring it back, and said next weekend she’ll bring the four kids home.”
Uncle Song took the tea, unable to suppress the curve of his mouth; when putting away the tea, he actually hummed a red song.
“The red sun shines on the border region, green mountains and waters bathed in rosy glow, rows of fruit trees under Changbai Mountain…”
Song Yuncheng stared dumbfounded, “Dad can sing? And it sounds pretty good.”
“What kind of expression is that?” Aunt Song said helplessly, “Your dad wasn’t born a dad either—he was young once, a handsome youth back then, could sing, wrote a good hand—it’s just age catching up…”
Straight green bamboo, bent by the years, turned into a dry pole.
At the same time, at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative.
Liu Chunhong, after being sharply rebuked and grudgingly apologizing, was seething inside and didn’t speak all afternoon.
With the troublemaker silent, the atmosphere for Lin Zhao and the others was great.
Li Fen, for some reason, asked Lin Zhao about Song Yuncheng.
“The young man who brought your lunch at noon—is he your brother?”
“My cousin.”
“Does he have a girlfriend?” Li Fen followed up.
Lin Zhao glanced at her—this was wanting to introduce someone to Yun Cheng.
“No, he just graduated not long ago—no rush to find one.”
“Oh, like that.” Li Fen wanted to say more, but a colleague from procurement called Lin Zhao.
“Go on, I’ll watch your counter.” Li Fen offered proactively.
“Thanks, Sister Fen.” Lin Zhao thanked her.
Just as she stepped out, she heard the procurement colleague say: “Comrade Lin, your ordered bicycle has arrived.”
This book has no little monsters—we won’t go in a fantasy direction.
As for a certain eerie little girl, it’s just a tiny bit of the original book’s protagonist halo, easy to resolve—yeah, probably addressed in the chapters after tomorrow.
Extra updates next week—thanks for the treasured ones’ support~
Also begging for some votes and five-star reviews—bowing in thanks!!
