Chapter 69: “not Only Do I Look, I Kiss Too”
Er Zai stood still in place, letting his younger sister fuss at him, arms circled protectively around Si Zai.
“Bite you! Bad brother!!” The little milk dumpling wrinkled her nose, her little face scrunched up too, suddenly opening her mouth wide, her chubby baby fat trembling as she planted a wet sloppy mark on her brother’s face.
“Ew!” Er Zai tilted his neck sideways, rubbing his face against his shoulder to wipe off his sister’s saliva. The usually carefree brother poked Si Zai’s nose tip and said disdainfully, “Little dirty kid.”
“Hmph!”
Si Zai heard the disdain, stomped her foot hard, her body nearly toppling over, swaying a few times before barely steadying herself, then huffed heavily and turned her back, giving Second Brother an angry little back view.
Short and stout, little head round and plump, arms white and tender, pressing one left a deep dimple.
“!”
Er Zai experienced what his mother meant by cute for the first time, poking the little tuft on his sister’s head with his index finger.
The little milk dumpling felt her tuft being touched, lifted her chubby little hand to touch it, bumped into something, turned her head blankly, and met a grinning face. She almost remembered she should be angry, huffed heavily again, and slowly went to find her youngest brother.
Just like her mother’s temper.
Da Zai glanced over then withdrew his gaze, looking worriedly into the distance at the circling figure.
“Da Zai Er Zai, still waiting for your mother? Don’t wait anymore, come home with Grandpa first. Your mother must be delayed by something.” Gu Fu had led the brigade to Gu Family’s Third Branch to complete the demolition task, heard from villagers that the four cubs were still at the village entrance, didn’t go straight home, and came to the village entrance to find his grandsons.
“Grandpa, Mom won’t have something happen to her, right?” Da Zai’s gaze was full of worry.
Gu Fu saw gray on his little granddaughter’s shorts, bent down to pat it off for her, wiped the sweat from Da Zai’s forehead, and said, “It’ll be fine. In another two hours, if your mother still hasn’t returned, Grandpa will take your Uncle and Second Uncle to the county to find her.”
Third Son’s Wife’s uncle was in the county; being delayed by something was normal.
Hearing this, Da Zai broke into a smile, “Grandpa is so nice.”
“What’s this about.” Gu Fu picked up Si Zai, called his grandsons to head home.
Da Zai Er Zai looked back again, still not seeing the familiar figure, the two little brothers left reluctantly.
In the movie theater, the film hadn’t started yet, and Lin Zhao sneezed first.
Gu Chenghuai frowned, reached out to feel her forehead, voice lowered with worry, “Why the sudden sneeze? Caught a cold?”
“Such hot weather, how could I catch a cold.” Lin Zhao rubbed her nose, “Definitely Da Zai and the others missing me.”
“We’ll go back after the movie.” Gu Chenghuai said softly.
“Cough! Cough!!” A few patrolling people coughed heavily, reminding everyone to mind the influence, then left.
Lin Zhao frowned.
“The county is getting more and more…” She stopped short of saying it.
Bang, the lights suddenly dimmed.
The theater went dark, after a few rhythmic noisy sounds, light lit up on the stage ahead.
In the darkness, Gu Chenghuai took Lin Zhao’s hand, placed it on his knee, pinched her fingertips, responding to her earlier confusion.
More and more chaotic.
He knew what Zhaozhao wanted to say.
His mind flashed to what he saw in Haicheng, chaotic and disorderly, filled with tension, Gu Chenghuai’s brows clouded with gravity.
Clearly a storm was brewing.
And.
It seemed everything had only just begun.
The movie started playing, sound came through, he cast aside the messy emotions, focusing all his thoughts on the screen straight ahead.
Looking up, the big words of some film studio drifted by.
Then, the four big words “Female Pilot” appeared.
Lin Zhao immediately perked up, leaned her body sideways toward Gu Chenghuai, and waved for him to lean in to listen.
“What’s wrong?” The deliberately lowered voice rose with warm breath.
Lin Zhao scratched her ears, looked up, and her red lips met a cool touch like cold jade.
She had kissed Gu Chenghuai’s ear.
She instinctively pulled back.
In the environment where they couldn’t see each other, Lin Zhao didn’t know his reaction.
After a while.
Gu Chenghuai leaned back over, in the darkness his stormy eyes looked at her mouth with rare indulgent heat, licked his lips, voice low and hoarse, “…Zhaozhao?”
“Cough!” Lin Zhao cleared her throat, afraid of more mishaps, covered her mouth and leaned close to him, whispering, “I wanted to say, Da Zai would definitely like this movie, take him and the other one to see it another day.”
A pilot.
Da Zai’s dream.
Gu Chenghuai stared at her hand covering her mouth, his deep black eyes flashing with regret.
“…Okay.” He agreed.
Why did that sound so reluctant? Did this guy know what she said?
Lin Zhao was full of doubt, wanted to ask more, but the film officially started, so she watched the movie first.
After more than 100 minutes of the movie, the audience sat in their seats for several seconds before leaving reluctantly.
“Really good.”
“Comrade women can also be pilots, Lin Xuezheng and Yang Qiaomei are so amazing, they really have willpower!”
“I want to watch it again.”
“Me too, I like Xiang Fei so much, she’s confident and competitive, her skirt is nice too, I plan to find someone to make one.”
…
Under the dim lights, the dark mass of audience discussed the plot in low voices, each excited in their own way, slowly streaming out of the movie theater, the noise fading away.
Lin Zhao and Gu Chenghuai weren’t in a hurry, the husband and wife trailing at the end.
Walking out of the theater, the sun was no longer so glaring, hanging low in the western sky, dyeing half the sky red.
Blue sky, white clouds, orange-red sunset.
And.
The loved one.
Lin Zhao’s eyes were full of sparkling light, “Home.”
Gu Chenghuai nodded, eyes bright.
Home.
The two first went back to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative to get the bicycle, then to the County Government Building to get luggage from Yang Junzhi, made an appointment to have a meal together another day, and set off on the road home.
Gu Chenghuai’s luggage wasn’t light, two big packages, he didn’t let Lin Zhao carry any, hung them on the front of the bike.
“Get on.” He turned sideways, smiled at Lin Zhao.
Lin Zhao hopped on the back seat, reached out to hold his waist, “Ready.”
Feeling his daughter-in-law’s soft hands, Gu Chenghuai’s eyes flashed with thick amusement, long legs pushed, and the bike glided forward.
When no one was around, Lin Zhao wrapped her arms around the man’s lean waist, rested her face on his back, corners of her mouth upturned.
No one spoke, enjoying this moment of quiet.
The four cubs finished their meal, saw Mom still hadn’t returned, came to the village entrance to wait again, watching the sun’s position while waiting.
Their grandpa said, if the sun goes down a bit more and Mom still hasn’t come back, he’ll take them to the county.
“Mom!” Er Zai spotted their family’s bicycle from afar, shouted loudly.
Raced over madly.
Like a gust of wind brushing past their faces.
Da Huang and Amber barked a few times, following behind him.
Da Zai anxiously stomped his foot, seeing his younger brother and sister dawdling, wished he could carry them and run.
At this moment, Er Zai’s shrill angry voice pierced the air, “Bro! Bro!!” So anxious he called brother twice, voice nearly breaking.
“The bicycle! Our family’s bicycle got robbed by someone!!”
His voice was loud and clear, shouting even louder.
Gu Chenghuai heard this shout, slammed on the brakes, pedals spinning empty, emitting a harsh friction sound, a crack appeared on his usually calm handsome face.
“…”
Before he could speak, he saw Er Zai casually pick up a long wooden stick taller than himself, weighed it in his hand, felt it wasn’t enough, picked up a sharp stone too, charging over like a little cannon.
Legs spread wide, arms flailing, swinging the stone, twirling the stick, full of momentum.
Waving his “weapons” at the man on the bike.
“Where’s my mom! Speak, where did you hide my mom!?”
The two big luggage on the front completely blocked, Lin Zhao too slender, not even a foot visible.
Hearing Er Zai’s words, her heart burned hot, yet she found it both funny and exasperating.
The photo was viewed for nothing.
She held Gu Chenghuai’s firm waist, jumped off the bike, appeared in Er Zai’s sight, waved to him, “Er Zai, Mom’s here.”
Er Zai blanked for a moment, then ran over stomp stomp stomp, pulled Mom far from the stinky man, little body blocking in front of Lin Zhao, pointed the stick at Gu Chenghuai, aggressively said, “You, put down our family’s bicycle!”
Gu Chenghuai: “…”
Helplessness flowed in his eyes.
He looked at his wife covering her mouth and snickering beside him, asking with his eyes, is this the result of often looking at his photos?
Er Zai frowned, banged the stick on the ground bang bang bang, making rhythmic sounds.
“What are you looking at! What are you looking at!! Don’t look at my mom!” He said fiercely, “Believe it or not, I’ll make Da Huang bite you!!”
As soon as the words fell.
Da Huang cooperatively barked.
“Woof—!”
Gu Chenghuai teased his son, “I’m just looking.”
“Not only looking, I’m touching too.” In front of his son, he stepped forward, took Lin Zhao’s hand, and even… boldly kissed her fingertip.
Provocatively, looking down at Er Zai.
His wife, he would look.
Lin Zhao’s dark eyes widened, cheeks instantly flushed pink, radiant as peach and plum.
“The child’s here!” She angrily hit him, little fist smashing into him, it really hurt.
Gu Chenghuai instantly behaved.
Er Zai ground his teeth in anger, waved the wooden stick to fight him desperately.
Aaaah, so infuriating!
Raised the stick, ready to slay the family traitor.
“Take this, I’ll fight you!”
In one move, Gu Chenghuai grabbed the stick, used skill to yank, the stick left Er Zai’s hand and appeared in his, tossed casually into the roadside grass up to ankles.
Said without emotion:
“Gu Er Zai, you’re too weak.”
He had a plan in mind, thinking during this time at home, take the two cubs to exercise well, otherwise how could they protect their mother?
But.
Very brave.
Worth praising.
Satisfaction flashed in Gu Chenghuai’s eyes.
Er Zai glanced at his confiscated weapon, lowered his eyes to stare at his own hand, dazed, questioning life.
How was his stick taken away?
Da Zai led his younger brother and sister over, looked up at the tall large man, quickly withdrew his gaze, pretended calm on his face, saw the smile on Lin Zhao’s face, fingers curled lightly, called out, “Dad.”
“Mm.” Gu Chenghuai lowered his head to look at his eldest son.
Just like the impression he had, sensible and quiet, very obedient.
This meeting, all four cubs had changed a lot, gained meat on their bodies, no longer in ragged clothes, even shoes bought from Supply and Marketing Cooperative, fancier than the kids he saw in the Military Region Family Courtyard.
“Taller, and fatter, big kids now.” He said.
Hearing this, clusters of little flowers bloomed in Da Zai’s heart, he subconsciously puffed chest and raised head, invisible tail behind him perked up, wagging happily, full of joy.
“Dad is exactly like Mom said.”
Gu Chenghuai’s smiling black eyes swept over Lin Zhao’s face, a subtle curiosity in his eye corners and brows.
“Oh?”
“How did your mother describe me?”
Er Zai saw no one paying attention to him, got anxious, jumped out hurriedly, said super fast, “I know I know.”
Meeting his biological father’s meaningful gaze, the little friend’s bright black eyes flickered a few times.
Humph in his heart.
He recognized at first sight, this was Dad.
But… thinking his biological father had just returned and occupied Mom, making her return two hours late, he planned to give Dad a lesson, let him know adults can’t do whatever they want!
Though the lesson didn’t last two minutes and failed, but… defeat with honor, humph.
“You say.” Gu Chenghuai gave his second son a way out.
“Mom said Dad is very tall, very handsome, the most handsome and tallest young man in the whole commune, and also an amazing officer.” Seeing Dad’s appearance, Er Zai felt his dad was different from other kids’ dads in the brigade, looked like he could punch a kid to tears with one fist, very powerful.
The little friend unilaterally reconciled with his dad.
He unceremoniously made a request, “Dad, can I see your military cap?”
“Er Zai, don’t bother your dad, I’ll make one for you two in a while.” Lin Zhao came to the rescue.
She couldn’t let the child think he could touch anything, especially their dad’s things.
Temporarily satisfying curiosity versus owning it, Er Zai still knew which was better.
“Okay!” He gave up looking at his dad’s military cap, agreed crisply.
Lin Zhao pinched the meat on Er Zai’s face, not kindly said, “You recognized your dad early, right? Still pretending there, pretended so well I believed it, acting skills pretty good, should send you to make movies.”
“Really?” Er Zai climbed the pole, eyes shining bright, “Money money?!”
“…” Lin Zhao rubbed her brow with fingertip, helplessly said, “Weren’t you going to buy a car later, buy rare things from the city, deliver to each brigade to sell?”
“What, ideal changed again?!”
Er Zai shook his head like a rattle, “No no no.”
He explained quickly, “Didn’t change. Buying a car is for later, making movies… I can do now!”
After saying, looked at Lin Zhao with super expectation.
Brows and eyes flying.
“Mom, when are you taking me to make movies?” Imagining seeing himself in the movie, Er Zai already thought how to show off to Tie Chui and the others.
Lin Zhao teased the child but got countered, suddenly speechless.
Gu Chenghuai looked down at the small but ambitious Er Zai, unhurriedly said, “If you want to go, I can find someone to take you.”
Er Zai’s mouth corners hadn’t fully lifted when he heard Dad flatly add, “Heard acting starts with half a year or a year, have to leave home, think it over…”
He paused slightly, giving the cub a chance to back out.
Sure enough.
Er Zai heard leaving home, immediately backed out, “I don’t want! I don’t want to leave my mom!!”
Felt his dad had ulterior motives, the little friend looked vigilant, noted down one two three four five six on his little grudge book.
Gu Chenghuai didn’t mind.
The old father’s heart was all on his little daughter.
He saw Si Zai with pigtails behind Da Zai.
The little dumpling in short sleeves and shorts, feet in little cloth shoes made by Grandmother, white and tender, tilting her little head up at him, shocked at being towered over, dark almond eyes wide round, just like Zhaozhao.
Tiny one standing there, stirred endless tenderness in the old father’s heart.
Gu Chenghuai half-squatted down, sheathed all his sharpness, opened arms to Si Zai, brows relaxed, voice gentle.
“Come here Si Zai, Dad hug.”
Lin Zhao pursed lips holding back laughter.
She guaranteed, except calling her name, this was absolutely Gu Chenghuai’s first time saying reduplicated words, and such a sappy one like hug.
Live long enough to see this!
Er Zai’s expression was even weirder, opened mouth to complain, “Dad, I ran here first, the first cub you saw was me, why didn’t you say hug me!”
Gu Chenghuai gave him an utterly ridiculous look.
Who just wanted to yell hit and kill him at first sight, still hug? Not beating him was already good temper!
“?”
Er Zai understood something, without thinking complained to Mom, “Mom, Dad is blatantly biased!”
Thanks to Treasured Ones for the ticket support, extra update tomorrow, mwah(`)
