Chapter 64: “one Pill”
The little friends were full of energy. While the meal wasn’t ready, they made three round trips, moving some miscellaneous things back to the old house, leaving only large items such as beds, desks, and boxes full of clothes and shoes.
Before leaving home for the old house, Lin Zhao poured full dog food into the dog bowl, touched Da Huang’s dog head, and said, “Da Huang, you and Amber stay home first. I’ll take you back to the old house tonight.”
No wonder Da Huang was so intelligent. It just rubbed its head against Lin Zhao’s leg, showing off its cubs for food.
Rarely did it not follow when the owner left home.
Lin Zhao took several little friends back to the old house.
On the road, they chattered away.
Tie Dan suddenly bumped Er Zai’s shoulder, blinked, and asked in a tiny voice, “Er Zai, have you tasted the food that Da Huang and Amber eat?”
Thinking of the two dogs wolfing down their food, he gulped down saliva.
The older brother felt a bit embarrassed, glancing his eyes away, pretending nothing happened.
But Da Huang and Amber ate it so deliciously, wuwuwu, it wasn’t his fault for being tempted.
Er Zai subconsciously looked at his mom and saw she wasn’t paying attention. He raised two fingers and answered even smaller than Tie Dan’s voice, “Tasted a mouthful.”
“What flavor? Is it tasty?” Tie Dan’s eyes lit up, and he casually pressed down his middle finger.
Today he saw the dog food that Da Huang and Amber ate and thought they ate better than him.
“Not as good as meat.” Er Zai gave a fair evaluation.
Lin Zhao had sharp ears and caught the conversation between the two little friends. Her expression was a mix of amusement and exasperation.
“Er Zai, home doesn’t lack food for you. Don’t steal food from Da Huang and Amber anymore.”
Er Zai didn’t expect mom to hear the whisper and didn’t feel embarrassed. He chuckled and said, “I just tasted it.”
“I saw Da Huang and Amber eating so fragrantly. Amber was so anxious at every meal… her head could flip the bowl. Wanted to know what their food tasted like.”
He was full of energy, bouncing and jumping while walking, especially lively.
“I tasted it and thought it was just so-so, not as good as meat and eggs.”
Hey, you’re even picky about it?!
Is it food for you!
Lin Zhao shook her head and looked at Da Zai who was walking seriously, “Da Zai, did you eat any?”
Da Zai’s eyes flashed with guilt, inexplicably feeling ashamed. He put his thumb and pinky together, with red ears, voice like a mosquito: “One piece.”
Meaning he only tasted one piece.
Lin Zhao was charmed by her son’s cuteness. She gently pinched Da Zai’s soft little hand and smiled, “Tasting one piece is fine, but don’t eat it anymore. What if you get a stomachache.”
“Mm-hmm.” Da Zai nodded heavily, glanced at the hand held by mom, and the curve of his mouth grew bigger.
Er Zai loved to play but loved being with mom more. He ran over and held Lin Zhao’s other hand.
The two pairs of held hands gently swung happy arcs.
Back at the old house, the familiar sour and spicy fragrance entered several noses.
It was sour cabbage fish!
The sour cabbage fish that made mouths water!!
Bang Bang and the other boys had wheels under their feet, whooshing to the kitchen door, peeking inside with their eyes.
“Mom, is the meal ready?” Tie Dan asked loudly.
“Ready.” Huang Xiulan looked up at the kitchen door, saw several expectant faces, and smiled.
Not just the children were tempted; smelling this fragrance, she was too.
Bang Bang and Lai Mei lifted the table. Tie Chui took a rag and wiped without being told. Da Zai and Er Zai searched for all sizes of stools in the home and placed them in front of the table.
Lin Zhao poured water and called the children to wash hands.
Today was the happiest day for the children of the Gu Family old house.
They ate the long-coveted sour cabbage fish, the rice was thicker than usual, and after the meal there was sweet watermelon… This life even immortals wouldn’t trade.
“So nice! I declare, today I’m the happiest Egg!” Tie Dan squinted happily, bit into sweet juicy watermelon, his dark face stained with watermelon juice, tone emotional: “If every day is like this, I’d do anything.”
Tie Chui also bit into watermelon, grinned, laughing silly, “Then I’m the happiest Hammer!”
“If only every day was like this.” Lai Mei was full of expectation.
Da Zai and Er Zai pursed lips and snickered, like two round chubby little hamsters.
They wouldn’t say… they had this every day, hehe.
Just past six, as the sun gradually set and it wasn’t so hot, Gu Yuanshan and Gu Yucheng the husband and wife started helping with moving house.
Heavy items the men carried, medium heavy the women. In less than an hour, they moved everything to the old house.
“Third sister-in-law, should these furniture be placed as they were before you moved?” Huang Xiulan turned to look at Lin Zhao.
The room had been cleaned in advance, empty inside, spiderwebs in the four corners swept away, floor swept clean, even sprinkled with water beforehand, so the room didn’t have much earthy smell.
“Mm.” Lin Zhao said.
Hearing this, Huang Xiulan and Zhao Liuniang placed the wardrobe against the wall.
Next to the solid wood wardrobe was a rectangular five-drawer cabinet. The camphor wood chest on the cabinet top, table placed horizontally in front of the window, and at the door a wooden washbasin stand with basin and toiletries on it.
The two sisters-in-law were efficient, doing work year-round with great strength, quickly arranging the furniture.
“The quilt? I’ll help you make the bed.” Huang Xiulan had no intention of stopping.
The matter of her third aunt giving Alan a new autumn clothing, Gu Da Sao heard from her daughter. She knew third sister-in-law was comforting Alan’s emotions in her way, feeling indescribable gratitude, wishing to handle everything for her.
Lin Zhao didn’t refuse and took out the quilt, bed sheet, and straw mat. “Thanks for the hard work, eldest sister-in-law.”
“No hardship, just convenient.” Huang Xiulan waved hand, working energetically.
Zhao Liuniang knew what eldest sister-in-law was happy about. She saw the pink autumn clothing Alan got; it was indeed pretty, without a single patch.
She was tempted seeing it.
Thinking of how Alan was harmed by her biological little aunt, making it hard to even mention relatives later, she felt heartbroken for her, and no other thoughts remained.
Having such a biological aunt was pitiful.
Children still need biological mother to raise. What a good person eldest sister-in-law was, sensible and diligent. Little sister-in-law… sigh, no more said!
Under the bustle of the two sisters-in-law, the room was tidied, things all placed where they belonged, as if the third branch never moved.
Lin Zhao sighed again; she had a keen eye, really good at choosing in-laws.
She opened the cabinet, took out a cloth bag, smiled at Huang Xiulan and Zhao Liuniang, “Eldest sister-in-law, second sister-in-law, hold out your hands.”
Huang Xiulan and Zhao Liuniang didn’t understand but obediently held out hands.
Hands full of old calluses, thick joints, cracked with small cuts, not pretty.
The two women inexplicably felt uneasy, fingers lightly curling unconsciously.
Lin Zhao pretended not to notice the sisters-in-law’s reluctance, thinking of giving them clam oil to moisturize hands when opportunity came.
“Put both hands together.”
They did.
Lin Zhao took out candies from the cloth bag, filling the two sisters-in-law’s hands full.
“Thanks for today, eldest and second sister-in-law. Candy for you.”
The candies included familiar shrimp crisp candy, White Rabbit Toffee, and others Huang Xiulan and Zhao Liuniang hadn’t seen.
“Too many.” Huang Xiulan said.
Such non-greedy character was rare.
Lin Zhao liked such people. “Not too many. I’ll give to children separately, not just this.”
Hearing this, they no longer hesitated, thanked third sister-in-law, and left one after another.
Just stepping out the door.
Sharp-eyed naughty children saw the candy in their hands and tacitly rushed over.
Smiling fawningly.
“Mom, can I have one candy?” Tie Dan tugged his mom’s clothes, tempted but didn’t grab.
Huang Xiulan reluctantly gave them one White Rabbit each and said, “For helping today, you and Tie Chui share it.”
Knowing her eldest son was a glutton, she stopped after two steps and threatened.
“If you divide unevenly, one big one small, taking advantage of little brother, no more candy for you.”
Tie Dan resentfully looked at his mom, huffed: “I’m not stupid. I know the reason that one full meal or every meal full.”
Huang Xiulan ignored, went back to the room, and secretly gave Gu Lan one.
“Divide these candies evenly among you all, everyone gets share. Mom doesn’t favor.” she said.
Gu Lan thought being born in Gu Family, as a daughter of such a mom was really good.
She unwrapped the candy paper, bit half, and without question stuffed the other half into mom’s mouth.
“One half for me and mom each.” Before Huang Xiulan could scold, her mouth tasted sweet milk fragrance.
No wonder it sold for several cents; indeed tasty.
Huang Xiulan looked at her daughter with mock reproach, “Don’t give mom anymore. Eat by yourself later.”
Gu Lan leaned her head on mom’s shoulder, smiled, didn’t agree.
No one dislikes candy. Mom treated her and brothers equally; she wanted to treat mom well too.
Outside the yard.
Zhao Liuniang was surrounded by her two sons, also dividing candy for them.
Lai Mei pointed at the unfamiliar small round ball candy and curiously asked, “Mom, what’s this?”
“How would I know.” Zhao Liuniang said irritably, anyway it’s edible. “Don’t talk much, make way quick.” She still needed to go back and hide the candies.
Lai Mei pouted, made way, found Er Zai. “Er Zai, do you know what that round one is?”
“Of course I know. Mom gave me and brother some. It’s chocolate. Mom said it’s especially expensive, more than White Rabbit Toffee!” Er Zai didn’t like it; he thought it bitter.
Da Zai same as brother, “Chocolate is bitter. Brother and I don’t like it. Mom likes it.”
Seemed not understanding why mom liked bitter things, the little friends frowned.
“Bitter candy?” Lai Mei was very surprised.
Eyes suddenly lit up, “Third aunt likes it, must taste good.”
Looking up, met the twins’ brothers’ absurd gazes.
He touched his nose tip and said, “Maybe doesn’t suit your taste.”
“Like coriander, some like, some don’t.”
Da Zai and Er Zai thought brother Lai Mei spoke very reasonably.
Sky darkened, moon climbed up, stars dotted the night sky.
The brothers called the dragon-phoenix twins from the main house, told grandparents, held little brother and sister’s hands back to room.
Closed the door.
Er Zai walked to bedside and sat, invisible little tail wagging behind, mouth corners couldn’t press down. “Living in old house is really great.”
Looking around the room, touching here, bumping there, everything felt fresh to him.
“Mom, why can’t we always live in old house?” he asked.
“Because separated households.” Lin Zhao was stepping on the table hanging curtains, using fabric from previous lucky draw. If other Gu Family knew, they’d heartache to death using such good fabric for curtains.
“Then, can we merge households?” Er Zai put index fingers of both hands together, eyes expectant.
He really wanted to always live in old house, close to his good brother Tie Chui.
Lin Zhao was stunned.
Heard of separating households, not merging.
She was amused by son’s childish words, shoulders shrugging, eyes and brows full of smiles.
“Can’t.”
“Our little home will separate later too.”
Hm?
Da Zai and Er Zai suddenly looked up. Their home would separate too?!
The two little friends held hands tightly, didn’t forget to pull the twins, heads up, seriously looking at Lin Zhao.
“Mom, our home won’t separate households, never in lifetime!” Da Zai with stern little face, resolute, solemn, serious expression.
Er Zai hearing mom say would separate later, like doused with cold water in winter, bright smile on face suddenly gone, heart suddenly aching badly, pursed mouth to suppress the crying urge, but useless, eyes already misty.
He secretly wiped tears, small ran forward, grabbed Lin Zhao’s trouser leg, tugged mouth corners into smile, eye rims red with fragile about-to-shatter look.
“Mom, I don’t want separate households! I want to be with mom forever. Wherever mom is, Er Zai is there. No one can separate me and mom.”
“No, no separate!” Si Zai’s expression cutely fierce.
The calm-tempered San Zai nodded solemnly with face straight, heavy “Mm!”
Little friends’ words can’t be taken seriously; who knows future.
But the little guys’ reactions warmed the heart.
Lin Zhao saw Da Zai and Er Zai’s slightly panicked expressions, like drowning people grasping driftwood.
They were very uneasy.
She quickly hung the curtain, jumped off table, hugged the four cubs, voice gentle. “You are also part of the family. You say no separate, our home never separates.”
Er Zai hugged mom tightly, red eyes glaring fiercely at little brother and sister, heart vowing ruthlessly: later if San Zai and Si Zai cause separate households, ask his fist first.
As for his brother? He and brother were kindred spirits; brother wanted to leave mom even less!
Dragon-phoenix twins met second brother’s fierce eyes, blinked blankly, “?”
“Mom, wherever you go, take me.” Er Zai finished glaring at siblings, burrowed hard into Lin Zhao’s bosom, clear voice domineering, little body all soft.
Lin Zhao pinched son’s little face, mood exceptionally good, chuckled lightly: “Okay okay okay, you are mom’s sons, mom will take you wherever she goes.”
Such clingy children who love family so much, hearts softer than cotton. How much pain in original book to become that gloomy ruthless appearance.
Thinking of it could break this mom’s heart.
Er Zai lifted head, said resounding words in childish voice, “Er Zai goes wherever also takes mom.”
“Okay.”
Da Zai thought he also wanted to take mom. Seeing brother shed golden beans, as older brother didn’t compete.
Let him.
Remembering mom had to go to work tomorrow morning, Da Zai called brother and sister to bed to sleep.
The three cubs followed eldest brother’s lead, obediently climbed bed, lay side by side.
Lin Zhao hung mosquito repellent sachet at bed head, then lay down, told story to coax children to sleep.
When their breathing slowed, she summoned the lucky draw turntable.
Right side task bar flashed nonstop, points continuously rising.
Final total points displayed:
Giving the gluing matchboxes work to eldest sister-in-law was worth it. Just completing that one task brought 350 points.
Total points first broke 1000; lucky draw wheel surprisingly added option for one draw at 1000 points.
This Lin Zhao hadn’t expected.
She didn’t draw the 1000 points one, clicked 500 points per draw.
Pointer spun quickly, finally stopped.
Ten seconds or so later.
Lin Zhao’s eyes reflected four plain big characters.
「One pill」
Saving up, must add these two days!! （San Zai version heavy nod.GIF）
