Chapter 57: “wait For Me”
Lin Zhao was amused by Si Zai’s little expression.
Er Zai stretched out his arm, pretending to grab the little friend, deliberately teasing his sister, “How dare you dislike me, you’re done for, take my claw!”
He bared his teeth and lunged at his sister.
Si Zai panicked and bolted into Lin Zhao’s bosom, calling out repeatedly, “Mom, Mom, save me, save me.”
Shouting for rescue on his lips, but the smile on his face was excessively bright, a pair of crystal-like eyes curved into crescents, having a great time playing.
Er Zai dared to tease his sister, but didn’t dare to tease his mom, didn’t get too close, and sensibly went to wash his face and hands.
“Mom, you got up really late, my brother and I have already played a round and come back.”
Before Lin Zhao could speak, Da Zai looked at his younger brother with a serious expression, his tone full of disapproval, “Er Zai, Mom works hard to earn money, and it’s rare for her to rest for a day.”
Knowing that Er Zai had accumulated several pieces of dirty clothes without washing them, he put on the air of an older brother and said irrefusably, “Er Zai, this afternoon we’ll go wash clothes together.”
His words were full of confidence.
His gestures had become confident!
Lin Zhao gave a thumbs up.
Da Zai quietly blushed, the little person in his heart jumping up and down, unable to settle down for a long time.
“Okay.” Er Zai agreed immediately.
Then he looked at Lin Zhao again: “Mom, do you have clothes to wash? I’ll wash them for you.”
He raised his arm, showing off nonexistent muscles, smiling like a little sun, “I can eat my fill every meal now, I have so much strength, I can help Mom with any work.”
He couldn’t let Er Zai take all the spotlight, Da Zai hurriedly tried to show off, “Mom, I can too, I wash them clean.”
“I wash them clean too!” Er Zai shouted super loudly.
Da Zai furrowed his brows into a little bump, puffed up his chubby cheeks, and said righteously: “I’m the older brother, I wash them even cleaner.”
Lin Zhao covered her face.
Kids, this issue doesn’t seem related to being the older brother or not.
She thought Er Zai would vehemently refute his brother.
But.
Er Zai’s face visibly darkened.
Yet he looked at Lin Zhao resentfully.
“Mom, why didn’t you give birth to me first? I also want to be the older brother.”
Realizing the ambiguity, he quickly added: “I want to be the older brother’s older brother.”
Lin Zhao was amused and helpless, “Are you saying a tongue twister? Even older brother’s older brother. You want to be the older brother, don’t San Zai and Si Zai both call you brother? Aren’t two younger brother and sister enough, little friend, you can’t be greedy.”
Er Zai looked all aggrieved.
He held up three fingers, “But my brother has three younger brother and sister, I only have two.”
He looked at Lin Zhao expectantly.
Hm?
Why is he staring at her like that?!
Question marks popped up over Lin Zhao’s head.
“？！”
Seeing his mom not responding, Er Zai sighed resignedly and asked politely: “Mom, can you give me another younger brother?”
“……”
Ha?
What an unreasonable request!!
Lin Zhao’s gaze was calm and unruffled, she lightly pinched Er Zai’s little mouth, manually closing it for him, “How do you manage to say such cold words with such a warm mouth?”
“Can’t I?” Er Zai pulled down his mom’s hand, persistently asking, his eyes emitting a strange light, as if they would instantly dim if refused.
Lin Zhao smiled, before the little friend could rejoice, she uttered three gentle yet firm words: “No way!”
“But why?” Er Zai drooped his head, like an eggplant hit by frost.
“Is having children that easy to give birth to? Your dad and I have you four, that’s enough.” Lin Zhao felt the little friend’s ideas came one after another, sometimes giving her a headache.
She continued: “Besides, even if I give birth to another one, your brother would still have one more younger brother or sister than you.”
“……Alright. Then I don’t want it.” Er Zai felt it made sense too, and changed his mind just like that.
Lin Zhao shook her head, really not understanding what the little guy was thinking about all day long.
Da Zai suddenly said: “I don’t want Mom to give birth to more younger brother and sister.”
Noticing Mom’s gaze on him, he lightly pursed his lips, speaking clearly word by word: “Lu Baozhen’s biological mother gave birth to Lu Baozhen and turned into a little dirt mound. Grandma said giving birth to little friends is a very dangerous thing. I don’t want Mom to be in danger.”
The over-five-year-old little friend was full of thoughts about his own mom, considering Mom’s body more important than anything.
Lin Zhao’s whole heart softened.
She touched Da Zai’s little head, her brows and eyes gentle.
Er Zai quickly shook his head, frightened by his brother’s words, he hugged Lin Zhao tightly, his eyes panicked.
“I don’t want Mom to be in danger either! No more, I don’t want younger brother and sister.”
The dragon-phoenix twins looked at Er Zai blankly, their little faces innocent.
Not knowing what they did wrong?
Lin Zhao turned her head and saw the expressions on San Zai and Si Zai’s faces, not-yet-two-year-old milk babies, holding a small cloth ball tied with several short red threads, mouths slightly open, blinking their long and upturned eyelashes, their little eyes full of confusion.
The little clever ones understood what the second brother said, pondering something.
A few breaths later.
Si Zai held the cloth ball with her right hand, the soft flesh on her elbow folding into cute little pleats, lifted her left arm, and touched her own little head.
Seeing this, San Zai solemnly touched his sister’s head, then his own head.
“What is this about?” Lin Zhao asked with a laugh, was it some strange ritual between the little friends.
Si Zai retracted her hand, changed to holding the cloth ball with both hands, tilted up her little head, and said in a milky voice: “Brother dislikes, coax Zai.”
Lin Zhao understood, “Coaxing yourself?”
“Uh-huh.” Si Zai responded heavily.
San Zai also nodded along, the steady-tempered little guy nodding with tiny amplitude.
Lin Zhao’s heart nearly melted from the cuteness, she also touched the little brother and sister’s heads, softly saying: “Mom will coax too.”
The dragon-phoenix twins smiled with curved brows and eyes, their eyes full of starlight.
Er Zai squeezed over, put his head into his mom’s hands, nuzzled hard, acting coquettish hard, “Big friend also wants Mom to coax.”
Da Zai also moved a few steps closer to Lin Zhao’s side, didn’t speak, just looked at her with those shiny black eyes.
“Okay, okay, coax.” Lin Zhao was amused and helpless, and touched Da Zai and Er Zai’s heads again.
What was there to compete over, kids’ strange desire to win.
However, the joy of raising kids reached its peak at this moment.
The twins grinned widely.
After coaxing the four kids, Lin Zhao removed the black hair tie, sat there combing her hair, her hair was neither long nor short, draped over her shoulders, braided into a plait placed in front, reaching just to her chest.
Da Zai sat on the small stool, propping his chin watching Mom braid her hair.
The restless Er Zai snatched his sister’s small cloth ball, causing the dragon-phoenix twins to chase after him, seeing the little master running, Amber bounced and chased, the kids giggled, their voices like silver bells, accompanied by a few little milk dog’s woofs, even the small grass on top of the courtyard wall was dyed with happiness.
Da Huang lay under the eaves, his eyes following the dragon-phoenix twins, as if he could rush over the moment any accident happened.
Lin Zhao finished braiding her hair, used a new hair tie.
The hair tie was dotted with bits of red, on dark skin it would look rustic, but her skin was fair, the red made her look even fairer, beautiful like a seventeen or eighteen-year-old high school student.
“Mom looks good.” Da Zai’s eyes sparkled, “Mom, I like you dressed all pretty.”
Lin Zhao pretended to be troubled, “Being pretty comes at a cost, there are always people saying I waste money.”
Da Zai frowned, anger appearing on his face, “Mom doesn’t waste money, Mom works so hard every day going to work.”
“Mom can’t sleep in, always so sleepy every day, Mom makes us good food, makes clothes for me and Er Zai, makes bibs for San Zai and Si Zai, still has to worry about building the house, Mom is the best mom.”
He grabbed Lin Zhao’s clothes hem, brows and eyes serious, “Mom don’t listen to their nonsense, Grandma says people who love to gossip are just jealous.”
“I’m still little, can’t earn money, let Dad earn money first for Mom to spend.” At this, Da Zai secretly pouted, with an expression of being upset that his dad got the bargain.
Gu Chenghuai who had just boarded the train sneezed, his distinctively jointed fingers rubbed his nose, thinking of his wife at home, his cold-as-winter-moon black eyes flashed with bits of smile.
He looked out the car window, trees, low houses, vast stretches of desolate weeds… quickly receding.
The train started moving.
—Wait for me.
That said.
After Da Zai finished disdaining his biological father who couldn’t protect Mom, he continued seamlessly: “When I grow up, I can earn lots of money, all give to Mom, Mom can spend however she wants.”
Er Zai also said loudly: “I also want to earn lots of money.”
The little friend even thought of how to earn money, “When I grow up I want to drive a big car, go to the city to buy water bottles, brown sugar, big red dates, cloth…” he counted on his fingers the goods to buy.
Then continued: “Also find Tie Chui, Tie Niu and Yuan Bao to drive with me, buy more, can earn even more.”
Lin Zhao looked at him in surprise.
Should she say not bad for the future transport boss!
Already thinking that far at five and a half!
“How did you think of that?”
Er Zai gave his mom a proud look, the whole person quite smug, hands behind back, aura three point five meters.
“No need to think.”
“Grandpa says the city is full of good things, the brigade lacks everything, whoever has a car, buys a car full of good stuff, sells in each brigade, definitely can earn a sack of money.”
“At that time…” he skillfully paused, excitedly added: “Mom, you just follow your good second son and enjoy great fortune!”
And also—
When grandparents lie in little dirt mounds, he wants to give them mahogany coffins.
Mahogany coffin this thing, Er Zai heard from an old man in the village, that grandfather said all elderly people want it.
His grandparents definitely want it too!
Gu Fu & Gu Mu: “……”
No, they don’t want it.
“Where does the car come from?” Lin Zhao saw Er Zai too smug, gave him a little problem, also because of this the little friend didn’t get to mention the mahogany coffin.
Hearing Mom’s question, Er Zai not panicked at all, right foot tip rhythmically tapping the ground, full of confidence: “I’m so smart, definitely can get a car, small problem.”
“…Then I wish you success.” Lin Zhao had nothing to say, with this momentum what can’t he achieve.
Seeing Da Zai also had something to say, turned to ask the eldest son: “Da Zai what do you want to do in the future?”
Da Zai’s eyelashes trembled lightly, seeming nervous, still bravely met her eyes, “I want to fly a big airplane.”
“Can I?” His expression expectant, wanting Mom’s affirmation.
“Of course you can.” Lin Zhao responded immediately, eyes encouraging, “Da Zai’s ideal is great, Mom supports you. Maybe in the future our whole family can sit on the airplane you fly. If that day really comes, how awesome.”
Da Zai’s tense little face bloomed with a happy smile, “I’ll work hard. Strive to let Mom sit on the airplane I fly soon.”
“Good.”
Er Zai hugged his brother’s arm, shook hard, “Bro, and me, and me.”
“Dumb, you are also in Mom’s whole family.” Da Zai said.
“Dumb!” A crisp little child’s voice rang from the side.
It was surprisingly the usually quiet San Zai.
“You little, dare to call your bro dumb without respect, see how I tickle you.” Er Zai wiped at his nonexistent sleeve, pretending to tickle the little friend.
San Zai unlike Si Zai, seeing second bro pose… didn’t pounce into Mom’s arms for a hug, he calmly looked at second bro with brows and eyes.
Instantly dousing Er Zai’s playfulness.
After retracting his hand, his face full of self-doubt.
“…！?”
He Er Zai fearless of heaven and earth, still the older brother, why didn’t dare to tickle San Zai, unreasonable.
Lin Zhao chuckled helplessly.
When Zai’s dad comes back, Er Zai should know where this uncomfortable feeling comes from.
San Zai growing more and more like Gu Chenghuai, innately has an aura that deters people.
Especially those eyes, deep black and calm, almost exactly like Gu Chenghuai’s.
Even Gu Fu said, sometimes seeing San Zai, he feels like seeing his own old third as a boy.
His family’s old third also mature beyond years, just over five like a little adult, wouldn’t let anyone hold him, anything he could do himself he wouldn’t let others interfere.
Among the four kids, San Zai most like biological dad.
Looks alike, temperament alike.
“Hungry or not, from getting up till now have you two eaten anything?” Lin Zhao asked Da Zai and Er Zai.
“Me and Er Zai split an apple, also split a fried dough twist with Tie Chui, not hungry.” Da Zai replied.
“Not hungry good.” Lin Zhao said, “I see you two whenever have food share with Tie Chui, didn’t share with Lai Mei them?”
“Shared.” Er Zai gestured with his finger, face full of heartache, “Gave them this long.”
Sighed disconsolately, “Sigh, our old Gu family has so many people, that half fried dough twist not even enough for me, still have to share, sigh, hard, too hard!”
Lin Zhao held back laughter till her cheeks hurt, “Tell me, where are you hard done by?”
“Heehee, I’m not hard. I’m learning Brigade Leader Grandfather.” Er Zai said smiling, “When field harvest bad Brigade Leader Grandfather talks like this, hard, too hard! Worked hard a whole year, only this much grain, so hard.”
“How come I haven’t heard?”
Er Zai smiled even bigger, “Mom doesn’t go to the field, of course doesn’t know.”
He half-covered his mouth, mysteriously: “Brigade Leader Grandfather didn’t say in front of everyone, said when alone.”
“Then overheard by you?” Lin Zhao chuckled.
“Yeah.” Er Zai didn’t say he suddenly spoke scaring Brigade Leader Grandfather into jumping.
“It is hard, but it will get better.” Lin Zhao said.
“…Will get better?” Er Zai looked at her seriously.
“Yeah, you always love listening to your grandparents talk about old times, how were your grandparents’ childhood days you’ve all heard, compared to now, isn’t it much better?” Lin Zhao intentionally guided her son to think for himself.
Er Zai pondered, moments later, nodded fiercely.
Then got confused again.
“Grandpa says…”
He imitated Gu Fu’s tone, “These days are getting better and better.”
Then speech tone returned to normal.
“Brigade Leader Grandfather also says, hard, too hard. Whose words are right?” Er Zai scratched his hair grown short stubble.
“What do you think?” Lin Zhao asked back.
Da Zai interjected, “Both right. Grandpa feels not being bullied, not being oxen and horses for landlords, is getting better and better. Brigade Leader Grandfather feels sorry for the grain in the field, sorry for farmers uncle worked hard a year, grain not enough to fill bellies, so says hard.”
He looked at Lin Zhao, “Right Mom?”
“Right, answered really well. You two are thinking little friends now, great.” Lin Zhao praised.
The two little friends felt sweet inside.
“Mom, you say it will get better, when will it get better? Tell me quick, I want to tell Tie Chui them, let them be happy too.” Er Zai excitedly rubbed hands.
“…” Treating your mom like a prophet?
However.
The book says, at most twenty or thirty years, this land, this country will undergo earth-shaking changes.
“Ten years, when you all are almost university age.” Lin Zhao afraid saying twenty or thirty years would make kids feel no hope, simply said ten years.
Didn’t say wrong either, another ten years college entrance exam resumes, many people’s days will get better.
“Ten years, I…” Er Zai counted on fingers, soon figured it out, eyes bright, “I’ll be same age as little uncle, then I’ll definitely be a university student.”
“University student eh, definitely can earn super lots of money.”
