Chapter 49: “stone Bros”
Gu Chan felt very nervous facing Lin Zhao, subconsciously tugging at her hem, “Zhaozhao is back.”
After greeting her, she wanted to leave: “Everything that needs tidying at home has been tidied, I’ll head out first…”
Lin Zhao suddenly spoke up: “Eldest Sister, have a meal before you go back.”
Gu Chan froze.
Ever since Lin Zhao gave birth to the twins, she came over every half month or month to help tidy the house.
In the blink of an eye, more than four years had passed, and she’d never been asked to stay for a meal before—this was the first time.
Gu Da Gu felt flattered and overwhelmed, quickly waving her hands: “No need, I’ll eat when I get back.”
“Stay, you’ve worked so hard these past few years, Eldest Sister.” Lin Zhao said softly.
Thinking about her conduct these years, it had been selfish beyond belief.
Such a good Eldest Sister-in-law—if she didn’t cherish her, she’d be struck by lightning.
Gu Chan felt rooted to the spot, her heart filled with mixed emotions.
Her eyes grew hot, and she quickly lowered her head to hide her discomposure, soon lifting it again with a smile: “Then I’ll thicken my skin and stay.”
Lin Zhao shook her head.
To put it bluntly, hiring a nanny would cost ten or twenty yuan a month, so what was one meal after Eldest Sister-in-law had taken care of her for over four years!
Da Zai and Er Zai learned that Gu Da Gu was staying for dinner and came running over bouncing and jumping, circling around Gu Chan.
“Gu Da Gu, my mom makes such tasty meals.” Da Zai said proudly.
Er Zai patted the bit of flesh on his little belly, grinning wide, “I eat my mom’s cooking, and my belly’s grown meaty. Gu Da Gu, feel it.”
Gu Chan obliged by feeling it, laughing: “It really has meat now. Eat well, and you’ll grow up tall and big like your dad!”
“Okay, I eat a ton in one meal.” Er Zai said enthusiastically.
Gu Chan glanced at the brand-new bicycle and asked in a lowered voice: “Did your mom buy a bicycle?”
“Yeah, and a watch too—my mom looks so good wearing the watch.”
Da Zai added: “Dad sent the money and ration coupons.”
Gu Chan’s eyes lit up, “Did your dad send a letter?”
“He did.”
It seemed the young couple was in touch again—good news.
Gu Chan had always worried that her younger brother’s temperament was too reserved and might drive away his wife. Knowing they were exchanging letters put her in a great mood, and she went lightly to the kitchen to help.
“Zhaozhao, let me help you.”
Lin Zhao had been cooking every day for the past half month or so and felt the kitchen was clean enough.
After Eldest Sister-in-law’s thorough cleaning, even the dust in the wall corners was swept spotless, the cabinets wiped like new, and the bowls and chopsticks neatly placed inside—it looked so clean and comfortable.
“Eldest Sister really knows how to tidy up.” She sincerely praised.
So Er Zai’s obsessive tendencies came from his Gu Da Gu.
Gu Chan felt a bit embarrassed—every countryside kid knew how to tidy a house.
“What’s so special about it? Everyone can do it.”
Lin Zhao didn’t think so, “Everyone can, but Eldest Sister makes it look pleasing to the eye.”
Gu Chan beamed with joy.
Seeing her sister-in-law take out a strip of meat, six eggs, one tomato, half a cabbage, and two sweet potatoes, washing some and prepping others.
She was stunned: “…You plan to cook all this?”
“We can finish it.” Lin Zhao replied.
A tender little face poked out from the wide-open window—it was Er Zai.
“I’m a half-grown boy, I can eat my old man poor!” He seemed very proud, saying it in a light, cheerful tone.
“…” Lin Zhao was amused yet helpless.
“Gu Er Zai, stop mimicking adult talk!”
The next second, Er Zai covered his mouth, his bright eyes curving in laughter, resting his little head on his arm as he watched the kitchen. If he had a tail behind him, it would’ve been wagging eagerly by now.
“Keep an eye on your younger brother and sisters—don’t let your big brother handle everything.” Lin Zhao swiftly chopped the vegetables, glancing at him in between.
Er Zai cried injustice, furrowing his little brows and looking accusingly at his mom, “Mom, I haven’t slacked on chores—you didn’t see, at noon when San Zai and Si Zai wanted to play in water, I held on for dear life.”
He turned to shout at his brother: “Bro! Bro! Back me up! Hurry, hurry!!”
Seeing the dragon-phoenix twins about to climb the table, Er Zai instantly forgot what he wanted to say. His little short legs pumped fast, and he rushed over, scooping up Si Zai away from the dangerous spot, sternly scolding with a serious face.
Mimicking Lin Zhao’s tone from before: “Gu Si Zai!”
Si Zai looked up, her big black-and-white eyes blankly at Er Zai, flashing a toothless grin, tender and fresh like flower buds on early spring branches, reaching out her hands for a hug.
“Hug!” Her voice was soft, glutinous, and sweet.
Er Zai nearly surrendered, barely remembering the matter at hand, keeping a straight face as he reasoned with his sister.
“You can’t climb high— you’ll hurt if you fall.”
Si Zai’s soft little hand grabbed Er Zai’s hem, blinking her big eyes, “Ouchie.”
“Right, it hurts.”
In the kitchen, Lin Zhao saw this scene and nearly burst out laughing inside.
A five-and-a-half-year-old big friend earnestly reasoning with a little friend—it was unbearably cute.
Gu Chan caught the smile on her sister-in-law’s face, feeling something poke in her heart—joy followed by a sour nose, so she turned away quickly, then looked back with a lighthearted smile.
She knew that as long as their family treated Zhaozhao well, she would live peacefully.
Look, Zhaozhao had a job now, and clearly cared deeply for the four cubs—how great.
She’d definitely be even better to her sister-in-law from now on!
The entire Fengshou Brigade’s Eldest Sister-in-law went crazy inside.
“…” How much better? Feed her the rice mouth-to-mouth? Please!
Gu Chan had married into the Wei Family, where they earned work points in the fields and rarely had meat for months. As the meat fragrance spread, saliva flooded her mouth involuntarily; she swallowed several times, feeling embarrassed, her face slightly heating up.
Lin Zhao pretended not to notice, deftly plating the vegetables.
Looking at the plates, she remembered something.
“Sis, I bought a stack of plates and bowls—remind me later to take them to the old house.”
Gu Chan paused, “Don’t you have some at home?”
“Still need to return them—the Lu Family incident, those plates and bowls were borrowed from villagers.” Lin Zhao explained.
The items had been broken through Gu Mu’s hands, so they owed half compensation.
Of course, the Lu Family covered Gu Mu’s medical expenses.
Originally, Lu Pozi hadn’t wanted to pay, even wanting the Gu Family to cover all the broken plates and bowls. Lu Yizhou cared about face, so after paying medical expenses on his own, he decided the bowl and plate damages would be split half each.
It sounded perfectly reasonable on the surface.
Because of this, villagers gave him thumbs up, saying he was upright, helping reason over kin, blah blah blah.
Lin Zhao made no comment on it.
Gu Chan, knowing the whole story, immediately reached into her pocket—empty as expected. Ordinary families pinched every cent like it was two halves; unless going to the county, who carried cash daily, and it might get lost anyway.
She smiled awkwardly, “Zhaozhao, I didn’t bring money—next time I come, I’ll give it to you.”
Lin Zhao laughed: “No need. Mom watched the four cubs for me—helping is only right. Besides, these plates and bowls are defective products from the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, not expensive—no need to pay.”
They really weren’t—a rough porcelain bowl was just three fen.
A fine porcelain bowl cost at least one mao five, several times a rough one.
The broken ones were rough porcelain bowls, so the returns were too.
Gu Chan sincerely thanked her, then asked: “How’s work? Used to it?”
“Used to it—just arranging goods, selling them, and keeping records.” To Lin Zhao, it was very easy.
“Good as long as you’re used to it. If anything happens, tell the family. If we can’t handle it, call Cheng Huai.” With her brother away, Gu Chan worried more inevitably.
“Okay.” Lin Zhao knew Eldest Sister-in-law meant well and didn’t go against her on purpose.
Just then, dinner was ready.
Gu Chan had always been a quick-handed girl at her maternal home; after marriage, even more so. She set the food on the table and arranged the chopsticks neatly.
Taking the chance, Lin Zhao went to feed Da Huang and Amber.
The two dogs looked up at her, circling her, tails wagging like propellers.
Lin Zhao poured dog food into the basin—just a bit, and Amber buried her whole dog face in, kicking back with hind legs, tipping the basin over.
Da Huang couldn’t stand it, steadily stepping forward, biting its nape, dragging the cub away. Once released, it bounced forward again. Dog Mother lowered her slightly meatier body, front paws pinning it, trapping the cub in front.
Amber wasn’t happy, butting Da Huang with her round head—no use. Pushing with short, weak paws—no escape, and she even toppled over, unable to flee her mom’s “five-finger mountain.”
The little dog panted from exhaustion, flopping there in defeat, dog face full of despair.
Lin Zhao couldn’t hold back: “Pfft…”
Gu Chan involuntarily smiled too.
“Da Huang, bring your cub over to eat.” Lin Zhao’s voice rang out.
Da Huang stood, the little milk dog sprang up, wagging her tiny body over, chomping loudly.
“Such a tiny thing, but fierce when eating.” Gu Chan said laughing.
Da Zai and Er Zai were taking their younger siblings to wash hands.
Hearing this.
Da Zai said: “Mom says Amber starved so much she got scared, that’s why she’s like this— she’ll be fine once bigger.”
“My first time eating Mom’s dumplings, I was like that too—wishing I could eat the bowl too.” Er Zai grinned, recalling the dumpling taste, licking his lips and looking at Lin Zhao: “Mom, when will we have dumplings again? I wanna eat them.”
“Whenever you want, I’ll make them another day.”
…
Gu Chan finished dinner at her sister-in-law’s, went back to the old house to urge Gu Mu to rest well, then took the small cloth bag Lin Zhao insisted on giving her and headed home.
This time she didn’t walk—Gu Yuanshan biked her back, on Lin Zhao’s bicycle of course.
Lin Zhao willingly lent the new bicycle; the Gu Family inwardly sighed—family was family, so straightforward. Borrowing from the Brigade Leader’s house meant listening to ten minutes of nagging.
Gu Yuanshan washed his hands, happily mounting the bicycle, grinning so wide his mouth nearly split, making the other family members envious.
So what if he was the eldest.
Gu Fu regretfully pinched his thigh—had he known bicycles would come, he should’ve learned too. Old Father really wanted to shove his son aside and take over.
Gu Yuanshan strutted like he’d reached life’s peak, pushing the bicycle and lording over the crowd.
Before he could gloat long, his dad smacked his head.
“Be careful—if you scratch the paint, it’ll come out of your hide.”
Gu Yuanshan looked at his dad—he was his own flesh and blood.
Gu Fu’s gaze was firm in response.
Yes, you heard right!
“…”
Under such a threat, Gu Yuanshan rode even more carefully, slow as molasses on the road.
Gu Chan rarely rode a bicycle, feeling happy yet stiff. At first she didn’t dare move, body nearly rigid, later cautiously adjusting her seat.
Once relaxed, she spotted a problem.
“Big Brother, can you go faster?”
This speed couldn’t match her walking.
Gu Yuanshan kept riding slowly, “Dad said if I scratch it, he takes my hide—how dare I speed up.”
Gu Chan: “…”
“Big Brother, you just wanna ride the bicycle longer, right?” Gu Chan exposed his little scheme.
Gu Yuanshan chuckled, not denying, “Rare chance—once back, with Old Second, Big Sis-in-law, and Second Sis-in-law watching, when else?”
“And Dad too.” Gu Chan laughed.
“Right! And Dad! He nearly yanked me off the bike earlier.” Gu Yuanshan dodged road pebbles carefully; a man over thirty, happy as a youth.
The siblings chatted and laughed, arriving at their destination.
A bicycle, especially a brand-new one, was a standout anywhere in the brigade.
The Gu siblings’ appearance drew all eyes to them.
A sharp-eyed little boy spotted the rear seat passenger from afar and yelled to his playmates.
“Da Shitou, your mom’s back!”
Da Shitou heard, calmly said oh, didn’t get up, kept hunting cicada monkeys.
Back was back—his mom went to Three Uncle’s every so often; he was used to it, nothing special.
The little boy stomped anxiously, “Da Shitou, your mom came back on a bicycle!!”
He emphasized “bicycle” heavily.
Da Shitou’s eyes lit up, jumping to his feet, “…Bicycle?”
“Yeah, a bicycle.”
Da Shitou capped the jar of cicada monkeys in a flash, grabbed his brother, and ran toward the crowd. His forehead-touching hair swept back, revealing a smooth forehead.
He resembled Gu Chan a bit—clear-featured type; a bit paler, he could pass as class heartthrob.
“Big Uncle!” Da Shitou spotted Gu Yuanshan and called warmly.
Xiao Shitou wasn’t as outgoing, clutching Da Shitou’s hem, hiding behind without peeking out.
“This is Big Uncle—say hi.” Da Shitou patted his brother’s head.
“…Big Uncle.” Xiao Shitou called.
Da Shitou neared the bicycle, not daring to touch, flashing big white teeth in a grin, “Big Uncle, this isn’t your bicycle, is it?”
“Where’d I get money and ration coupons for that? Your Three Aunt bought it.” Gu Yuanshan explained smiling, patting his pocket— not even a sweet potato chip, grinning sheepishly.
Oops.
The smile faded from Da Shitou’s face; he had some resentment toward Three Aunt, feeling she bullied his mom.
Gu Chan was willing to help her brother’s family, but villagers gossiped harshly. Even with Wei Family parents-in-law kind, resentment inevitably brewed.
Da Shitou defended his mom, fighting gossiping kids several times; gradually, kids stopped.
But.
He could control kids with his fists, not spectacle-loving adults.
Because of this, Da Shitou harbored grudges against Three Uncle and Three Aunt.
Gu Chan knew her son’s thoughts, opened the cloth bag, took out two White Rabbit Toffees, and gave them to her two sons.
“Your Three Aunt gave these—White Rabbit Toffees worth several mao each. Da Zai and Er Zai said they’re super tasty, for big brother and little brother.”
Now Xiao Shitou forgot shyness, taking the candy from Mom, clutching it, exclaiming: “Da Zai Brother and Er Zai Brother are so nice!”
Da Shitou glared fiercely at his brother.
Little traitor!
Watching Gu Yuanshan leave, Gu Chan took her two sons home.
Wei Mother had just fed the chickens and saw her daughter-in-law return, saying: “Left rice in the pot for you.”
“I ate.” Gu Chan smiled.
Wei Mother was stunned.
That sister-in-law of her daughter-in-law never kept her for meals; unwilling to beg from her maternal home, she always returned hungry.
Gu Chan’s eyes crinkled with layers of smiles, “Ate at Zhaozhao’s.”
She pulled out the things Lin Zhao stuffed her with.
“These are what Zhaozhao forced on me.” Gu Chan took them out one by one.
Canned meat, half a can of malt extract, one cured sausage, plus fruit candies, White Rabbit Toffees, Shrimp Crisp Candies, several pieces.
Wei Mother’s eyes widened more and more.
Was Three Aunt okay?
Couldn’t say it outright; after agonizing, she worded carefully: “Did Two Stones’ Three Aunt hit some windfall? Why so generous all of a sudden?”
Da Shitou and Xiao Shitou looked at their mom too.
“Zhaozhao became a salesperson at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative.” Gu Chan said proudly.
Clang! Wei Mother’s gourd ladle dropped to the ground, face full of shock, “Salesperson?”
Gu Chan nodded.
Wei Mother slapped her thigh happily, “Two Stones’ Three Aunt became a city person! Great news.”
Chatting, she felt regretful, “Sigh, too bad it’s past afternoon meal—otherwise, we’d fry eggs to celebrate for sure.”
They were acquaintances after all—selling mountain goods later wouldn’t mean enduring white eyes!
Da Shitou chimed in, “Milk, we can fry eggs tomorrow to celebrate.”
Wei Mother was in high spirits, face wrinkling in smiles, “Sure.”
Black Carp’s issue will be resolved soon—won’t let it rampage; solved next chapter, rest easy.
Promised update for Treasured Ones delivered as scheduled—drafts cleared, panicking aaaaah.
End of month, can everyone vote your tickets for me?
