Chapter 5: “king Of Bragging”
“Blanket requires industrial coupons, do you have them?” the salesperson asked.
“Yes.” Lin Zhao took out a few industrial coupons from her shoulder bag.
After procuring the needed things, she left under the envious gazes of several salespeople.
Older people might think she was wasting money, but which young girl wouldn’t envy her for having plenty of money to spend?
After leaving the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, Lin Zhao went to the state-run restaurant to buy meat buns. She was lucky; there were still twelve left when she arrived, and she bought them all at once.
She came lightly loaded, but returning with bags and packages, looking at the road that seemed endless, Lin Zhao felt frustrated. Fortunately, she was naturally strong, so carrying so many things wasn’t a big deal.
Halfway there, she heard someone calling her name from behind.
Lin Zhao turned around and saw a girl in her early twenties pedaling a bicycle toward her, shouting, “Lin Zhao.”
This was the first time Lin Zhao had seen the stepmother of the book’s female lead since awakening.
Su Yuxian.
She was this person’s control group.
Although she knew it wasn’t Su Yuxian’s fault, Lin Zhao always felt a bit strange seeing her. The book’s contents flashed through her mind, and she couldn’t pretend nothing had happened.
She was the control group, the one who died and was still dragged out to be ‘whipped corpse’!
So wrongfully dead!
Lin Zhao shouted in her heart: Don’t come over!
Unfortunately, she couldn’t stop Su Yuxian from approaching.
“Lin Zhao, you’re in the county town too? Hop on, I’ll give you a ride.” Su Yuxian jumped off the bicycle, the net bag on the handlebar swaying back and forth.
Lin Zhao just wanted to stay far away from the original book’s protagonist, as far as possible. “No need, I have a lot of things, I’ll walk slowly.”
Hearing this, Su Yuxian seemed to casually glance at the bags and packages in Lin Zhao’s hands, the smile in her eyes fading a bit.
No one in the entire brigade didn’t envy Lin Zhao’s life, and she was no exception. Seeing Lin Zhao carrying bags and packages home was indescribably sour.
However, this person was stupid, not even caring for her own sons. She definitely wouldn’t have a good old age; she might end up homeless on the streets.
“Alright then, I’ll go ahead. You walk slowly.”
Lin Zhao replied, “Okay.”
Su Yuxian smiled at her, placed her left foot on the pedal, pushed with her right foot for a few steps, got on the bike, and soon disappeared from Lin Zhao’s sight.
Lin Zhao felt that when Su Yuxian looked at her just now, there was a flash of pity in her eyes.
Pity?
Given their current situations, that didn’t make sense.
She must have seen wrong.
Lin Zhao didn’t think much about it and didn’t care about the original book’s plot. She just wanted to raise her kids well and for their family to be safe and sound.
Fengshou Brigade, village entrance.
Er Zai craned his neck expectantly toward the direction the path extended, saying to Da Zai, “Bro, why hasn’t Mom come back yet? She’s so slow.”
“Mom has things in her hands, so she’s definitely walking slowly.” Da Zai’s eyes were also fixed on the road to the county town. He had never been to the county town in his life, and he wondered if Mom would take him next time she went.
Er Zai thought his brother made sense, sighed, and squatted on the ground playing with a wooden stick.
He hadn’t played long when he heard his brother shout “Mom.” By the time Er Zai looked up, his brother had already vanished from the spot and was running toward the distant figure.
“Bro, wait for me.” Er Zai jumped up, his feet like they had wind-fire wheels, running super fast.
Lin Zhao saw two little friends running toward her from afar, recognized them as her own kids, and shouted loudly, “Run slower, don’t fall.”
Da Zai listened to his mom and slowed down, but Er Zai couldn’t be stopped by anyone in his determination to reach the meat buns; in the blink of an eye, he overtook his brother.
Da Zai saw his younger brother pass him and accelerated again.
Lin Zhao, who watched the whole thing: “…”
Er Zai rushed up to Lin Zhao, looked up expectantly at her. “Mom, do we have meat buns?” Speaking of meat, saliva was about to drool down.
Stinky kid with eyes only for meat.
“Yes.” Lin Zhao gave Er Zai an annoyed glance.
She was almost dying of heat and exhaustion, and this kid didn’t care about his biological mother at all, just thinking about his meat buns.
Da Zai proactively took the things from Lin Zhao’s hands. “Mom, I’ll carry them for you.”
A smile welled up in Lin Zhao’s eyes, her heart sweet like it had eaten honey.
“No need, they’re heavy. Mom will carry them.”
Da Zai didn’t let go, his little face stubborn. “I can help Mom.”
“I can help Mom too.” Er Zai didn’t miss any chance to show off, wanting to help just like his brother.
Seeing the brothers insist, Lin Zhao could only give them the lighter ones, saying, “Fine, you two have heart. It’s worth it that I bought you two new shoes.”
Er Zai’s eyes lit up instantly. “New shoes? For us?”
Da Zai also looked at his mom expectantly.
Lin Zhao looked down at her two sons’ cloth shoes; their dirty big toes were sticking out. Gu Mu must have been too busy lately to patch them.
“Would I lie to you?”
Er Zai bluntly exposed his mom. “Mom used to lie to me and Bro all the time.”
Lin Zhao denied it. “No way.”
Er Zai said, “Mom secretly ate biscuits before and lied to me and Bro saying she didn’t eat them.”
“…” Remembering it was so embarrassing. Lin Zhao cleared her throat and said gently, “I was doing it for your own good. Biscuits aren’t for kids. Mom was afraid you’d crave them, so I ate them secretly.”
Er Zai laughed loudly. “Mom’s lying. Me and Bro aren’t little friends anymore. We don’t believe it.”
Lin Zhao had nowhere to hide her face and smiled lightly. “Oh? If you’re not little friends, then you can’t wear the new shoes I bought. We’ll save your new shoes for San Zai and Si Zai.”
Hearing this, Er Zai instantly stopped being cocky and said hurriedly, “Mom, Mom, I am a little friend, I am a little friend.”
Da Zai thought his brother was so dumb. The shoes Mom bought for them, San Zai and Si Zai couldn’t wear them at all. Mom was teasing him.
Lin Zhao wiped the sweat from her face and led the way forward. “Come on, let’s go home. It’s so hot.”
The two kids followed behind, full of energy thinking about the new shoes.
Back home, the mom and two kids set down the things. Da Zai rushed into the kitchen and soon brought out a bowl of cool boiled water. “Mom, drink water.”
Walking all the way, Lin Zhao did feel thirsty, her throat smoking. She gulped down several mouthfuls before feeling better.
Then she touched Da Zai’s flushed little face, her gaze soft. “Thank you, Da Zai.”
At this time, Er Zai brought over a basin and said to Lin Zhao, “Mom, wash your face.”
The twins knew their mom well; the first thing Lin Zhao did when she got home was wash up. The two little friends served Lin Zhao like a landlord’s wife to get to the meat buns sooner.
Lin Zhao accepted the kids’ care with peace of mind.
Only after washing her face did she feel comfortable.
“Finally comfortable. So far away.” She had to buy a bicycle.
Next time, write a letter and have Gu Chenghuai figure out a way to get tickets!
Da Zai hesitated and asked, “Mom, is the county town fun?”
“It’s okay once you’re used to it. It should be fun for you little friends.” Lin Zhao let out a long breath and smiled as she answered.
Da Zai wanted to ask if Mom could take him to the county town next time, but the words reached his mouth and he didn’t say them.
“Mom, can you take me and Bro to the county town?” Er Zai asked Lin Zhao with a grin.
“If you’re good, it’s not impossible.” Lin Zhao pinched Er Zai’s cheek. The little guy was skinny, not much meat on his face, but it was quite soft—really nice to pinch.
Er Zai was a generous little friend, letting his mom pinch, grinning to show a mouthful of white teeth.
“I’m good, me and Bro are both good, right Bro?” He looked at his brother to bolster his side.
Da Zai nodded, looking at Lin Zhao with eyes full of attachment.
Er Zai quickly added, “It’s a deal then. Liars are little dogs.”
The clever little guy didn’t forget to formally agree with his mom and set conditions.
“Okay.” Lin Zhao smilingly agreed.
Da Zai also pursed his lips in a smile.
Lin Zhao said with a squinting smile, “In the future, if you help me with housework, I’ll reward you two little men with good stuff.”
The two kids were used to doing housework and were very willing to exchange labor for rewards.
However…
“What reward will Mom give us?” Er Zai asked eagerly.
“Food or supplies, whatever. You can choose then.” Lin Zhao knew she wasn’t one to endure hardship, so better to train the kids.
Er Zai thought it was fine, but he didn’t forget his brother. “Bro, what do you think?”
Da Zai nodded. “I think it’s okay.”
He and Er Zai already did housework. Mom saying they could exchange for things was for their own good; he knew it.
The kindergarten-less little friends thus completed their self-persuasion.
Er Zai stared at the bag Lin Zhao brought back and said righteously, “Mom, where are the meat buns? I’m hungry.”
Lin Zhao reached for the bag, rummaged inside, took out two buns, and handed them to her two sons.
“Meat buns!” Er Zai said loudly.
Da Zai was happy too, but he was a reserved little friend who didn’t show excitement, except his eyes, which were eighty percent like Lin Zhao’s, curved in a smile.
Er Zai had never eaten meat buns before, and this one was bought by his mom, making it even more special. Thinking of how villagers said Mom didn’t like them, his eyes turned, and he shouted to Da Zai, “Bro, let’s go play outside.”
Da Zai was his twin; as soon as Er Zai twitched his buttocks, he knew what fart his brother was about to let out.
He also wanted to prove to everyone that Mom did like them.
So he told Lin Zhao and ran out with Er Zai.
They ran straight to the big banyan tree in the village. This big banyan tree was two hundred years old, with sprawling roots and branches, standing there majestic and vigorous.
At this time, under the tree, a group of little friends were pouting their buttocks catching cicada monkeys.
Er Zai strode over aggressively, holding a meat bun in one hand and the other behind his back like his grandpa, not rushing into the group of kids. He took a gentle bite of the bun and shouted loudly to his brother, “Bro, the meat bun is so delicious.”
Da Zai also said, “So delicious, one bite and your mouth is full of oil.”
Meat buns…!?
Hearing those three words, saliva flowed from the little friends’ mouths. They all turned their heads sharply and saw the white buns in Da Zai and Er Zai’s hands, their eyes widening instantly.
“Twins, where did you get meat buns from?” Tie Niu, the little grandson from the brigade leader’s house, jumped to Da Zai and Er Zai’s side, full of envy.
He had eaten meat buns during New Year; they were so good.
Da Zai’s face glowed red, his voice twice as loud as usual. “My mom bought them for us!”
Er Zai also shouted loudly, “My mom also bought us Warrior Shoes!”
The little friends hadn’t heard of Warrior Shoes; the older ones had, but they didn’t believe the twins’ mom would buy them for the twins.
The kid king Chang Sheng mocked, “Bragging! My mom said a pair of Warrior Shoes costs three or four bucks; three or four bucks can buy so much meat. Your mom doesn’t care about you; she wouldn’t buy you Warrior Shoes. Big braggart! The twins are big braggarts!”
Er Zai was furious, bit the meat bun viciously as if biting the person cursing him, and said angrily, “I’m not a big braggart. My mom said she bought them for us.”
“My mom doesn’t ignore us!” Da Zai said angrily too.
“Who believes that? My mom says your mom is a lazy wife who does nothing but eat. When she gets old, she’ll fall into a stinky ditch and drown.” The seven- or eight-year-old naughty child stuck out his tongue at Da Zai and Er Zai, deliberately provoking them, but his eyes kept glancing at the buns in their hands, swallowing saliva constantly.
He wouldn’t admit he was a bit envious of the twins.
Er Zai had a fiery temper and got very angry at Chang Sheng’s words. He shoved the bun into his brother’s hand and suddenly charged at the talking kid. The unprepared kid fell straight to the ground.
That wasn’t all; Er Zai raised his little sandbag-sized fist and punched the other fiercely.
“Making you curse my mom! Making you curse my mom!” One punch, one sentence, full of momentum.
A passing young man saw the little friends fighting and found it amusing, so he stood there watching.
Kids this young fought so cutely fierce; they used the most force on their faces, grimacing, as if they wanted to tear each other apart, but actually didn’t put much strength into it.
If you didn’t watch closely, their faces wouldn’t even turn red after fighting for half a day.
When he saw the two little friends start biting mouths, the man stepped forward, picking up one little friend in each hand, forcibly separating them.
“Alright, alright, if you bite and break the skin, be careful you won’t be able to marry a wife later.”
“Especially you.” The young man looked at Chang Sheng. “You’re not good-looking to begin with; if a piece of flesh is bitten off your face, you’ll become a real tough case.”
Chang Sheng was so angry he wanted to bite him, stomping his foot in rage. “Uncle!”
The man ignored him and was about to leave when he saw Lin Zhao coming face-to-face.
Seeing the strange atmosphere, with Da Zai’s face tense and Er Zai full of anger, Lin Zhao was surprised. “What happened?”
They were fine when they went out.
Er Zai had just finished fighting with a big friend and felt very guilty seeing his mom. He grabbed Da Zai’s arm, looking pitiful, wanting his brother not to tell Mom about the fight.
Da Zai didn’t want to say either; after all, fighting wasn’t good.
But there were other little friends around.
Tie Niu had a fast mouth and said, “Er Zai fought with Brother Chang Sheng!”
Er Zai was furious and glared at him. “Tie Niu, why are you tattling!”
Little friend Tie Niu was confused and innocent. “I didn’t. Your mom is asking.”
“Why did you fight?” Lin Zhao asked curiously. She didn’t think little friends fighting was anything special. Let kids handle things between themselves; if adults interfered, it changed the nature.
Er Zai hung his head and said nothing, clenching his little fists, his expression fierce.
Da Zai looked anxious, wanting to explain but not knowing how, his lips turning pale from anxiety.
Seeing neither kid speak, Lin Zhao didn’t press, just said, “If you don’t want to say, fine. I’m going to the old house to talk about building the house. Are you coming?”
Da Zai was stunned. “Mom’s not mad at us?”
“Why would I be mad at you.” Lin Zhao said indifferently. “Which little friend doesn’t fight? Mom knows you’re good kids; you wouldn’t hit anyone first unless provoked.”
Mom said they were good kids.
The gloom in Da Zai and Er Zai’s hearts dispersed, light appearing in their eyes, their little faces bright like the morning sun.
“We’re going.” Er Zai took the half bun from his brother’s hand, grinned and sidled up to Lin Zhao, took her hand. Seeing Mom didn’t refuse, he was instantly overjoyed.
“Let’s go! Back to the old house!” Er Zai’s voice was full of delight.
