Chapter 74: “your Mom Calls The Shots”
Lin Zhao saw San Zai’s different reaction, pulled the younger son in front of her, eyes tinged with laughter as she looked at him, “San Zai likes the dictionary?”
San Zai’s small hands hugged the thick heavy dictionary, nodding lightly.
The soft cute little milky voice rang out, enunciating each word: “Like, San Zai likes it.”
Lin Zhao hugged San Zai’s shoulders, the little friend so small, like being held in her bosom.
“The dictionary is for each of you to use, if you like it, take it, when you’re a bit bigger, Mom will teach you how to use the dictionary.”
San Zai was always quiet, rarely making requests, clearly at the age where he couldn’t hold his urine, yet he rarely wet the bed, when he needed to pee he’d get up on his own, use the little potty, finish peeing and go nowhere else, obediently climb back into bed, even more worry-free than the already well-behaved twins.
At this moment, hearing Mom’s words, the little friend who had just started walking steadily rarely made a request.
“Mom, I want to learn.” His small face serious, chubby cheeks slightly puffed, little appearance serious and earnest.
“You want to learn right now?” Lin Zhao touched the younger son’s cheek, asking in surprise.
“Um!” San Zai nodded heavily.
He rarely cared so much about something, Lin Zhao of course indulged him, softly saying: “Okay, it’s too late today, tomorrow Mom teaches you, okay baby?”
Facing such an obedient son, even raising her voice a little would be a sin.
San Zai’s black-and-white clear eyes suddenly curved, bun face blooming into a smile, the smile having a healing power, looking clean and milky.
His little feet stepped forward, stretching out two tender lotus-root-like arms to hug Lin Zhao, “Mom.”
The tone calm, only because of his young age did it have the softness unique to little children.
Lin Zhao could foresee that such a milky San Zai could only be seen for these few years, when he got a bit bigger, he’d definitely be steadier than his dad, no matter how teased he wouldn’t laugh, just look at you helplessly.
Just thinking that, a sense of reluctance suddenly surged in her heart.
While the son was still small, still tiny and not running steadily, she smacked a kiss on his little face.
San Zai quietly looked at Mom.
Lin Zhao kissed again, eyes brimming, “What are you looking at Mom for, not letting Mom kiss?”
At this time, the greatly shocked Er Zai came quickly.
He slightly raised his small face, proactively offering his cheek, coquettishly saying: “Mom kiss me.”
Turning back, resentfully glancing at Gu Chenghuai, then withdrawing his gaze, burrowing into Lin Zhao’s bosom, pouting, words full of grievance, “The gift Dad gave I don’t like at all, need Mom’s kisses to comfort.”
Gu Chenghuai’s eyes’ laughter suddenly vanished, his palm grabbing Er Zai’s nape, pulling the person over.
“There’s more, what are you rushing for.” He said.
“You’re already five and a half, not a two-year-old little friend, don’t keep bothering your mom.”
Especially for kisses.
Er Zai interrupted, half-believingly looking at his dad, “There’s more gifts?!”
Gu Chenghuai forcibly dragged the person away, rummaged from the luggage several picture books, stuffing them into his hands.
“Comic books. Five-year-old big friend needs to read more books, or you’ll get tricked.” His face a picture of stern composure.
Er Zai saw the books and his head buzzed, all aftereffects of that dictionary.
He didn’t want to take them.
His whole body screaming rejection.
But no method.
His dad was watching him nyinyin.
Er Zai piled fake smiles on his face, reluctantly took them, perfunctorily and full of resentment flipping through, inadvertently seeing there were pictures in the book.
The little friend’s eyes lit up, the smile on his face slowly widening, corners of his mouth almost splitting to the back of his head.
“Bro, there are pictures in the book!”
“It’s the story books Mom talked about!”
Da Zai rushed to his younger brother’s side in three steps, peering over, seeing the pictures also got excited.
Really storybooks!
“Thanks Dad!” He politely thanked Gu Chenghuai, then said to Er Zai: “Er Zai, tomorrow we look together with Tie Chui and them, okay?”
Er Zai crisply agreed: “Okay!”
Gu Chenghuai let the two brothers decide, took out several more picture books.
《Shiny Red Star》《Song of the Mountain Eagle》《Crossing the Chishui River Four Times》《Landmine Warfare》《Railway Guerrilla Team》……
All of them!
The twins were overjoyed, hugging the picture books, carefully placing them on the desk.
Lin Zhao loosely tied her hair behind her, came over to help them tidy, smiling: “Wait until the house is built, you’ll have your own rooms, then Mom will get someone to make you a bookshelf, specially for books.”
Er Zai happily hugged Mom’s waist, voice like dyed with honey, “Mom is so good.”
Several steps away.
Gu Chenghuai started giving gifts to his pearl in the palm, left a pink skirt, right a little hat, then little hairpins, red hair tie, even more outrageous, there was a cloth doll the size of her arm.
Si Zai liked the cloth doll most, hugging it without letting go, smiling sweeter than cotton candy.
She waved at her dad, like wanting to say a secret.
Gu Chenghuai lightly tugged the trouser leg, half-squatted, upper body still straight, posture upright, voice low and gentle, “What’s wrong?”
The little milk bun’s brows and eyes curved, arms around his dad’s neck, fluffy little head gently rubbing Gu Chenghuai’s neck and shoulder, the old father’s heart melted.
Gu Chenghuai’s deep black eyes, little by little, tinged with brilliant light.
The twins saw and pouted their mouths.
While, San Zai sat on the little stool, expression serious as he flipped through the dictionary, who knows what was good about those square characters.
People fear comparison most.
Da Zai and Er Zai were originally quite satisfied and happy, seeing Dad bring sister so many gifts, even good big brothers couldn’t help feeling sour, like eating a sour fruit.
Er Zai knew only Mom at home could control Dad, pulled Lin Zhao’s hand, shook it a few times, eyes dimming, losing their usual sparkle.
Grievously complaining to his mom.
“Mom, control your man, he’s biased.”
Not only complaining, he had evidence.
Righteously saying: “Dad gave sister six gifts, fully six, and everything, look how thoughtful! For us boys just dictionary and picture books, not even a candy crumb, Mom, are we Dad’s real sons?”
“Boys so worthless in our home! I’m not convinced, Dad favors girls over boys!” Er Zai got more and more angry, neck stiff, face turned aside, mouth pouting enough to hang a little oil bottle.
Seemed like a bit biased.
Lin Zhao frowned at Gu Chenghuai, giving the man a look of you really are biased.
Gu Chenghuai didn’t explain much, turned to take from the luggage bag a pair of red double happiness ping pong paddles, three small yellow balls.
“Biased? Then this pair of ping pong paddles, give to Bang Bang.”
Da Zai and Er Zai hadn’t seen this thing, vaguely feeling it was fun.
Clever Er Zai whooshed over, treating his dad like a tree, climbing with hands and feet, trying to hang on Gu Chenghuai.
Mouth sweetly calling Dad repeatedly.
“Dad! Dad! Best dad in the whole brigade, what’s this? Also a gift you brought us? What for? Er Zai’s never seen…”
“Dad, me and Bro are your sons, know nothing, it’s losing face for you… and Mom, give us ba.”
Da Zai saw there were two of the thing, guessed it was for two people to play, probably each little friend holding one paddle, smack smack hitting the ball.
Brain turning fast, imagining ping pong play, he said: “Dad, when Mom’s bored, wait till me and Er Zai learn, we can play ping pong to entertain Mom.”
After a straight ball, he politely asked: “So can you give the ping pong paddles to us? Me and Er Zai will cherish them well.”
Er Zai hanging on Gu Chenghuai, still swaying left and right hard, “Dad, please, Dad, Dad…”
This appearance, nicely said flexible, harshly said a bit thick-skinned.
Gu Chenghuai unmoving as a mountain, no matter how the son fussed, body straight as a tall cliff pine, steadfast.
He calmly made the request, “For the next month, listen to me, get up early to exercise with me, then this pair of ping pong paddles is yours two.”
Lin Zhao thought the kids’ dad would at least take a week before ‘exercising’ the two cubs, didn’t expect so soon, not even one evening passed!
The exercise he said wasn’t standing military posture, but run run run, jump jump jump, a day down tired like a dog, sleep at night like a dead pig.
However.
She didn’t interrupt, Da Zai and Er Zai were biological, Gu Chenghuai would definitely find training methods suitable for the two cubs.
“What’s that!” Er Zai puffed chest and raised head, like a little poplar standing in the woods, face rippling confident smile, “Me and Bro can do it, isn’t it just exercise, Dad whatever you say we do.”
He raised his non-existent arm muscles, eyes’ light sincere and straightforward, “I want to get strong to protect Mom, this little hardship what, simply that, easy what what…”
Though stuck, but the small body under the kerosene lamp’s glow, especially reliable, trustworthy.
Da Zai supplemented from behind, “Easy, means very simple.”
“Yes yes yes, easy.” Er Zai didn’t mind brother being better than him.
In his heart, brother was brother, brother came to this world several minutes earlier than him, smarter is normal.
“I’ll learn well too.” Da Zai said solemnly.
Gu Chenghuai nodded satisfied, “First task for you two.”
The two little friends snapped straight, like endowed with sacred mission, tender small faces looking at their dad, eyes expectant and suppressing excitement.
“Take younger brother and sister to sleep.”
The two little brothers’ straight shoulders slumped small, “……Oh.”
Er Zai opened the drawer, Da Zai put the ping pong paddles and balls inside.
After tidying, the two little friends went to lead younger brother and sister.
Si Zai still hugging the cloth doll, watched Mom put away her own little skirt and hairpins etc., then obediently followed brother to sleep.
San Zai flipping the dictionary, didn’t move for a long time.
Er Zai urged him, the little guy closed the dictionary, held the thick book with both hands, brows and eyes calm as he looked at second brother, calm little milky voice rang out, “Legs, grew a bit.”
Gu Chenghuai raised brow, black eyes flowing confusion.
Lin Zhao guessed: “His legs are numb.”
“…”
Looking at the man made cute-faced by the son, she couldn’t help laughing.
Gu Chenghuai felt raising kids really tiring, not only manage eating and clothing, but also guess kids’ meanings.
He affectionately and guiltily rubbed Lin Zhao’s hair top, palm broad and warm.
The man stepped toward San Zai, considering the younger son’s numb legs, slowed actions to pick him up, controlled strength massaging legs, always watching cub’s reaction.
San Zai hugged his dad’s neck, appearance obedient, softly thanked: “Thanks Dad.”
“I’m your dad, biological, taking care of you is what I should, no need thanks.” Gu Chenghuai tone flat.
The little friend smiled, used his short stubby hands to touch Dad’s face.
Here, the twins and their sister climbed onto the bed, the three little ones lying in their positions, waving at Lin Zhao, “Mom, come ya.”
All wanting Mom to lie next to themselves.
Every night at this time, Lin Zhao felt so hard, this water really not easy to carry.
What to do.
Could only pretend not seeing three pairs of eager eyes, lay down at bedside, changed topic, “Tonight let your dad tell you bedtime stories, worked a day, a bit tired.”
Hearing this, Da Zai scooted butt closer, massaging Mom’s shoulders, “Mom, I’ll massage you, Grandma said I massage especially well, in a bit shoulders and back all light!”
Er Zai originally lying on his own small pillow, legs crossed swinging, corners of mouth up, who knows what he was smug about, seeing brother’s actions, sat up rubbing, also scooted over, massaging Lin Zhao’s legs.
“Mom, I’ll massage your legs, I massage super well, guaranteed you’ll not be tired in a bit.”
Si Zai stunned, the not-yet-two little milk bun first tasted being overlooked.
The little guy rubbed eyes, burrowed into Lin Zhao’s bosom, soft and small hand grabbing her nightgown collar, smearing saliva on her face, smear one, laugh one, smile soft and clean beautiful.
“Mom~”
Those with daughters can all feel this moment.
Lin Zhao hugged Si Zai into bosom, hand patting her shoulder back, murmuring: “This lifetime, with Mom here, with your dad and big brothers here, our Si Zai will definitely be happy.”
Si Zai not lacking love and warmth, she didn’t believe she’d still because of a little favor… fall for that scumbag, become that pitiful, pathetic, lamentable appearance.
Lin Zhao patted rhythmically one by one, Si Zai nestled in Mom’s bosom, little head nodding one by one, slowly closed eyes, effortfully opened, closed again, opened… closed again.
Gentle words continued, very soft.
“The movie theater is showing a new movie called ‘Female Pilot’, pretty good. Day after tomorrow your dad and I take you all to see.”
“……Pilot? Fly airplane?!” Da Zai’s eyes shone, whole small face lit up.
“Yeah. Knew you want to be pilot, heard movie theater showing female pilot, your dad and I didn’t even eat and went to check for you, pretty good, little friends can watch.” Lin Zhao said smiling.
Da Zai excitedly gestured wildly, if not late, would’ve wanted to run laps outside.
“Thanks Mom!”
Er Zai also happy, asked: “Mom, why not take us tomorrow?”
Less than two minutes, Si Zai soundly asleep, even favorite cloth doll tossed aside, small hand in fist, body curled in a ball, little belly rising falling, sleeping sweetly.
“Your dad just back, need to first go see your grandfather and grandmother.” Lin Zhao softly explained.
The Lin family full of respect for Gu Chenghuai’s job, but if this man was their son-in-law（brother-in-law）, there’d inevitably be dissatisfaction.
Soldier one or two years can’t return home, family big small matters all on the daughter-in-law, Zhaozhao suffering.
Gu Chenghuai walked to bedside.
San Zai in his arms also fell asleep.
“Today too late, tired out.” Lin Zhao and twins made way.
Gu Chenghuai bent, lean waist outlining powerful contour.
He placed San Zai and Si Zai side by side, voice lowered, to the twins: “You two also sleep quick, tomorrow morning I call you.”
The two little brothers whooshed lay down.
Da Zai very cared about seeing pilot movie, clear eyes looking at dad, “Dad, Mom said day after tomorrow take us to movie, you really will take us, right?”
“In our home Mom calls the shots.” Gu Chenghuai said.
Implying, as long as your mom agrees, I’m fine.
Da Zai beamed, pulled thin blanket, covering bellies for himself and brother.
“Dad, tomorrow you take Mom back to maternal home, can you take us? I miss grandfather grandmother.” Er Zai suddenly said.
