Chapter 72: “not Letting Me Touch?”
Gu Fu had previously gone to the county to see Gu Xing’er.
She was indeed frightened, but she still refused to admit her mistake, cursing and resenting him, this father, without any respect.
He held no expectation that Gu Xing’er could change for the better.
On the contrary, Gu Mu thought that after such a fright and receiving education, perhaps Xing’er would be scared out of her wits and wouldn’t act so recklessly anymore.
“Hopefully Xing’er learns her lesson and becomes more sensible.”
Being timid and shrinking is still better than her current state.
Lin Zhao and the two sisters-in-law exchanged a glance, both shaking their heads inwardly, thinking it was probably impossible.
A dog can’t change its habit of eating shit.
You have to heed the lessons of the ancestors.
Gu Xing’er is sixteen, not six; her temperament is already set, and it’s strange if she could change.
Fortunately, the households have separated.
Lin Zhao was immensely grateful.
Before awakening, she still did proper things, like stirring up the separation of households.
Laughter appeared in her eyes, giving herself a thumbs up, arrogantly glancing at the cubs’ father.
Shaking off a piece of dog-skin plaster.
Gu Chenghuai raised his eyebrows and smiled.
“It’s getting late; save the talk for tomorrow. Everyone, wash up and sleep.” Gu Fu felt sorry for his third son for the hardships on the road. Even though there were many things he wanted to say, he held back and let the family sleep first.
“Yes, yes, listen to your dad. Old Three, you sleep well first tonight; we’ll talk tomorrow.” Gu Mu chimed in.
Thinking that she still didn’t know how many days her son would stay this time, she asked, “Old Three, how many days are you staying this time?”
Gu Chenghuai glanced at his wife and said, “More than a month.”
Zhaozhao would leave after her birthday.
Lin Zhao’s birthday is in August.
“More than a month.” Gu Mu was full of smiles. “Good, good. Tell Mom what you want to eat, and Mom will make it for you.”
Mentioning cooking reminded Gu Chenghuai.
“Mom, where are you injured?” As an excellent soldier, his sense of smell was quite keen; he detected the scent of healing medicine on Gu Mu and could even name a few ingredients.
Gu Mu was very pleased with her son’s concern and smiled, saying, “I got a little injured, but it’s mostly healed. Don’t worry, it’s nothing serious.”
It was indeed much better.
The medicine from Old Three’s wife was better than the barefoot doctor’s.
If she hadn’t heard suddenly that her son was back and run too fast, the most serious wound, which had already scabbed over, wouldn’t have cracked open.
No method; as a mother, she hadn’t seen her son for nearly two years and was too excited.
Gu Chenghuai saw that Gu Mu’s complexion was indeed not bad and felt relieved, saying caringly, “Take good care of your body before the injury heals; we’ll handle the family matters.”
“Okay.” Gu Mu responded, urging the family back to their rooms to sleep and not waste lamp oil, then returning to the room with the old man.
The boys from the first branch and second branch were urged by their parents to wash their feet.
Bang Bang took his younger brother and sister to wash; Gu Lan took Yu Yu and Si Zai.
Here, Gu Chenghuai carried the luggage into the room, with Lin Zhao following behind the man.
Her sharp eyes scanned the furnishings in the room and found them exactly the same as when they had just gotten married. Gu Chenghuai set down the things, extended his long arm, and pulled Lin Zhao into his embrace.
“Wife.” He called in a low voice, lowering his head to kiss Lin Zhao.
He didn’t dare to be too indulgent, just a restrained and patient kiss on the corner of her mouth.
The handsome young officer, who trained year-round, had brute strength; with one hand, he could lift his slender wife. He exerted a little force, and Lin Zhao was lifted off the ground.
“…”
She annoyedly hit him.
“Can’t you warn me first? You’re so annoying.” Lin Zhao complained softly, reaching out to wrap her arms around Gu Chenghuai’s neck, her soft red lips lightly brushing his chin.
Gu Chenghuai felt secretly delighted inside.
A hint of smile appeared in his cool brows and eyes, like melting ice and snow.
At dinner, the man had taken off his jacket; now he wore an army green shirt tucked into his long pants, with broad shoulders, narrow waist, and long legs.
The most scheming part was that the shirt collar was half-open, faintly revealing tight, solid muscles with his movements.
Lin Zhao particularly fell for this look of his.
Her red lips curved up, her eyes and brows full of pleasure; her slender white fingers reached toward Gu Chenghuai’s neck.
Her fingers were like carrying electricity.
Gu Chenghuai easily grasped her wrist and chuckled lowly.
“Not letting me touch?” Lin Zhao’s lips held a smile.
Her fingertip was kissed.
A low, husky laugh came by her ear. “Of course, tonight…”
Lin Zhao pulled her hand free, her finger lightly tapping Gu Chenghuai’s chest, her eyes calm with full insight.
She smiled. “Scheming.”
Gu Chenghuai just smiled without speaking…
Lin Zhao used her arm with force, forcing his neck forward; Battalion Commander Gu’s tone was slightly helpless. “Zhaozhao, if your strength gets any greater, I’ll have to go to the old traditional Chinese medicine doctor for acupuncture again.”
Remembering that being an old traditional Chinese medicine doctor was now a high-risk profession, and it was hard to say if one could even be found, he sighed softly.
Lin Zhao felt slightly guilty and quietly eased her strength.
“Old traditional Chinese medicine doctors now are all…” Her words trailed off.
Gu Chenghuai’s expression was gentle. “Don’t be afraid. Our family’s class background is clean. No matter how chaotic it gets outside, it won’t affect us. No matter what happens, I’ve got you; I can protect you all.”
An officer who had been on the battlefield, decisive and resolute, wasn’t someone anyone dared or could provoke.
Of course Lin Zhao trusted him.
But still.
She subconsciously clutched Gu Chenghuai’s collar, unconsciously using force, messing up his collar, faintly revealing…
Lin Zhao temporarily had no mind for that; her gaze fixed on Gu Chenghuai. “My dad, he…”
Gu Chenghuai thought his wife was about to say something alarming, but it turned out to be about Father-in-law.
He lowered his head to kiss Zhaozhao, barely satisfying his craving, and before his wife could punch him, he said, “Don’t worry, I’ve handled everything; Dad’s component won’t be a problem.”
Lin Zhao’s brows and eyes relaxed; she cupped Gu Chenghuai’s face with her hands, her eyes shining brightly, her tone light and upbeat, hiding excitement. “How did you manage it?”
In the original book, next came the classification of rural class components, and her dad was labeled a rightist element.
The man deliberately played coy, pointing to his handsome face, wanting a reward.
Lin Zhao really wanted to hit him; she pouted and kissed the cubs’ father’s lips, sucking hard with a pop.
“Tell me quickly!” she urged.
Gu Chenghuai pulled Lin Zhao to sit down; thinking of something, his gaze darkened, his thin lips pursing into a sharp line.
“You know, when I came back from Haicheng, the situation there wasn’t good.”
“As a soldier, my sense of danger is quite keen; I determined that the upcoming turmoil won’t end soon.”
“After returning, I went to Yang Junzhi; first to drop off luggage, second to find out if there was any movement in the county.”
“From him, I heard that the class component classification documents were distributed some time ago and would be collected back at most next week.”
“I asked him to keep an eye on Dad’s component.”
The Gu and Lin families: the Gu Family were poor farmers for five generations, ancestors poor as church mice, still poor now, no need to fear.
The Lin Family was different; Lin Heling’s demeanor and speech made him stand out. Not to mention many knew his background; had to guard against it.
Lin Zhao gripped Gu Chenghuai’s arm. “But I heard that the component classification has nothing to do with the county government.”
“Old Master Yang holds a high position.”
Lin Zhao understood.
She let out a long breath, hugging Gu Chenghuai’s neck and planting two loud kisses.
“Cubs’ dad, you’re so capable, so reliable!!”
Gu Chenghuai was coaxed into beaming with joy.
“Solving all worries for my wife is only right; otherwise, what am I for?”
Then in a casual yet serious tone: “If anything happens, tell me; I’m still quite useful.”
He harbored resentment bigger than the entire galaxy for Zhaozhao not writing to him for so long.
Lin Zhao covered her mouth and laughed. “You’re blaming me, complaining I didn’t write diligently enough.”
“You’re my leader; how would I dare.” Gu Chenghuai lowered his eyes; clearly a big guy who could knock out an adult with two punches, yet he put on a aggrieved look, like a dejected big golden retriever.
Lin Zhao took his hand, leaning her face close to look at him, saying softly, “I didn’t mean not to write; I…”
She didn’t know what was wrong with herself either.
She was fine before marriage and right after; after giving birth to the twins, it was like she became a different person.
She felt unfamiliar even to herself.
No wonder Gu Chenghuai was so aggrieved.
Imagine: a newlywed wife who was once intimately close suddenly turns cold; who could stand it?!
“Just pretend my brain went bad. When you go back to the troops, I’ll write to you every day, okay?” The guilty young wife patiently coaxed.
Gu Chenghuai frowned, correcting her. “It’s not your issue.”
“Hm?” Lin Zhao was puzzled.
“Blame the four cubs.” When his wife had turned cold toward him, Gu Chenghuai was baffled and asked many people.
He heard there was someone who studied abroad and returned at the military region hospital; he specially went to ask, and that person happened to know a bit, saying childbirth affects women greatly, not just physically but mentally too.
“…Also blame me.” Gu Chenghuai honestly admitted his fault.
Lin Zhao couldn’t follow his train of thought and asked puzzledly, “Blame you guys for what?”
Gu Chenghuai didn’t deliberately hide it and told his wife what he had learned; his ink-black eyes were full of heartache.
Zhaozhao had given birth to twins, harder than other mothers.
He really wasn’t human.
Lin Zhao knew her own situation was fundamentally different from what the cubs’ dad said.
She didn’t explain and laughed. “Since you feel guilty, you have to be even better to me.”
Gu Chenghuai gripped her hand slightly harder, his expression firm. “I will; I’ll be good to you my whole life, only to you.”
Lin Zhao rested her forehead on his shoulder, the smile in her eyes deepening.
“Zhaozhao, tomorrow I’ll take you back to your maternal family?” Gu Chenghuai offered proactively.
“Good.” Lin Zhao agreed; mentioning going home, she recalled the component classification matter again.
She lifted her head, looking seriously at Gu Chenghuai, and asked, “Gu Chenghuai, if—I mean if—that time your sister had smashed me to death…”
Hearing this, Gu Chenghuai’s heart felt gnawed by ten thousand ants, his whole body emitting low pressure.
Lin Zhao didn’t give him a chance to speak, continuing, “And my dad gets labeled a rightist again, would you still protect my family?”
“Of course I would.” Gu Chenghuai frowned, answering without thinking, unable to understand why Zhaozhao would ask such a question.
“But…” He lowered his eyes and added, “If you… I’d lose most of my life.”
“Zhaozhao, don’t make such assumptions; you have to be fine, must be fine.” Gu Chenghuai cupped Lin Zhao’s face, his dark eyes gazing at her, like holding a delicate flower.
Anyone who harmed Zhaozhao must go to hell.
Murderous intent surged in his eyes.
“I’m fine; we’ll all be fine.” Lin Zhao shook his arm, her smile bright.
This man valued her above everything; it was her fortune.
The bamboo curtain was lifted; it was San Zai.
“San Zai’s here; come, Mom hugs you.” Lin Zhao beckoned to her young son.
San Zai’s black, clear eyes fixed on her, as if sighing, before waddling his short legs toward his mom.
He and his sister were the same age; Si Zai walked wobbly like a cute little penguin, but he didn’t; he walked steadily, didn’t talk much, but spoke more fluently than Si Zai.
“Mom~~” The little friend called in a milky voice.
Lin Zhao picked up her son and kissed his little face. “Whose cub is this, so adorable!”
San Zai’s eyes curved, smiling reservedly without making a sound.
Gu Chenghuai saw his feet were wet, came back to his senses, fetched a foot-wiping cloth, half-squatted, and wiped his son’s feet.
Little Dumpling’s feet were very small, smaller than his hand, white and tender, softening the heart.
San Zai buried his face in Lin Zhao’s bosom, secretly peeking at his biological father wiping his feet.
“San Zai, how did you come into the room? Where are your older brother and sister?” Lin Zhao stroked her young son’s hair; his hair was very soft, like hers.
“Get…” San Zai pointed at the foot-wiping cloth in Gu Chenghuai’s hand.
“Get the foot-wiping cloth.” Lin Zhao said softly.
The cubs took turns with chores; it wasn’t strange for San Zai to come get it.
“Mm.” San Zai responded, reaching for the foot-wiping cloth from Gu Chenghuai, not forgetting to thank his dad. “Thank you, Dad.”
His voice had the unique softness and sweetness of a young child.
Gu Chenghuai looked at his young son, whose brows and eyes were extremely similar to his own; his love for San Zai was no less.
He bent down and reached out to San Zai. “Come, Dad will carry you out.”
San Zai opened his arms.
Father and son looked alike; up close, even more like from the same mold, obviously blood-related at a glance.
“Cubs’ dad, I find you look even more handsome carrying the child.” Lin Zhao reached out to straighten his collar.
Gu Chenghuai’s eyes were gentle.
Suddenly, he pressed his son’s head to his shoulder, lowered his head to kiss his wife, smiling roguishly and handsomely, then carried San Zai out.
Lin Zhao was slightly stunned, her lips curving up.
…
Gu Chenghuai carried his son to the yard; Si Zai saw his brother being carried and reached out wanting a hug too.
“Dad, hug~~!”
Lin Zhao laughed. “Si Zai’s speech is smoother now; good job.”
Little Si Zai sat on a small wooden stool, his two feet soaking in the wooden basin, beaming at Mom’s praise, reaching to touch his own head.
“Cub good.” His little milky voice was sweet.
Gu Chenghuai didn’t put down San Zai, letting the child hang on him, then wiped the feet of the three cubs one by one; finally, he extended his arm and picked up his little daughter at the same time.
The dragon-phoenix twins both raised their arms high, slowly grinning to show matching smiles, one after another: “Dad’s the best~~”
Da Zai and Er Zai, growing up this big, had their dad wipe their feet for the first time; they felt dazed.
“Dad wiped my feet?” Er Zai’s tone was full of disbelief.
Uncle and Second Uncle never wiped for Tie Chui and them; at most impatiently tossed the foot-wiping cloth onto them.
“Dad wiped mine too!” Da Zai emphasized.
“I think…” Er Zai pondered his words, grinning. “Dad’s actually pretty good.”
Lin Zhao was smug. “See, I told you your dad is great; wasn’t I right?”
“Yeah, Dad’s really good.” Er Zai’s hostility toward his dad lessened a lot, but he still jabbed at Gu Chenghuai: “If only Dad didn’t cling to Mom all the time, it’d be even better.”
“…Your mom is whose?” Gu Chenghuai asked him coldly.
“My mom? My mom is your wife.” Er Zai had a look like how do you not even know that.
“Good that you know; your mom is my wife first, then your mom. Got it?” Gu Chenghuai’s expression was serious.
His temperament was cold and hard; without a smile on his face, that chill was like frost and cold rain hitting the face.
The twins didn’t dare make a sound.
At this moment, Si Zai poked her head over and left a wet saliva print on Gu Chenghuai’s face.
Locked in a little black room again, I’ll change, I’ll change, change change change.
Did the car start? Has it started yet！！！！
Fixed a typo and got locked again, so wronged.
