Chapter 76: “little Face Turns Yellow”
Upon hearing this.
Everyone in the yard looked toward the little guy who was always quiet, so quiet he almost had no presence.
“San Zai, you memorized it all at once?” Lin Zhao lifted her skirt hem, half-squatting, cupping San Zai’s little face, her eyes sparkling brightly.
San Zai looked calm and composed, nodded steadily, his bun-like cheeks puffed out, his little milky voice very serious, “Mm.”
“How is this little brain so smart? No wonder you want to learn to look up the dictionary. A clever little brain like yours is perfect for studying!!” Lin Zhao’s tone rose lightly.
“With such a good memory, what wouldn’t you learn quickly? Ahh, I gave birth to a little genius. How are you so amazing, cub?”
San Zai’s fair little face flushed red with blood, his crow-feather-like eyelashes trembling lightly, his little hands almost unable to hold the dictionary steady.
Being looked at so wholeheartedly by his mother, little friend felt happy little bubbles rising in his heart.
“Mom is amazing too.” He touched Lin Zhao’s face with his hand.
Hearing this, Lin Zhao’s heart melted, her expression gentle as water.
Er Zai let out a sound, surprised, “Mom doesn’t know?”
Lin Zhao had a puzzled face.
“?”
What was she supposed to know?!
“San Zai is awesome!” Er Zai’s tone was proud, his little face full of shared glory, “Mom taught me and brother the ancient poem, I recited it once to San Zai, and he memorized it!”
Words fell.
His round little head drooped, shoulders slumping powerlessly, the whole person like all strength had been drained.
Sighing.
“I’m no good, I have to recite it three times to remember, sigh!”
Bang Bang, who couldn’t recite it even after ten or twenty times, lost control of his expression.
“…”
So annoying.
Want to die.
But.
Somehow it felt like the one who should be damned was someone else.
Lin Zhao lightly patted Er Zai’s head, “You’re amazing too.”
“Really?” Er Zai had lost confidence from his younger brother’s blow.
He originally thought that in the whole world, only older brother was better than him. Suddenly discovering his younger brother was also better, while little friend felt proud for his brother, he also felt a bit inferior.
“Of course it’s true.” Lin Zhao said softly, “The world is big, there are many amazing people like stars. No one can be smarter or better than everyone.”
“In Mom’s heart, you’re all amazing.”
Er Zai cared most about Mom’s thoughts, instantly coaxed happy.
He grinned, “Hey! I know!”
Lin Zhao asked again: “When did you two teach younger brother and sister to recite poetry? How come I didn’t know?”
“It’s all Si Zai’s fault!” Er Zai frowned thinking of something, feeling his sister was getting more disobedient, said: “That day brother and I were coaxing younger brother and sister to nap, Si Zai wouldn’t sleep, kept pulling San Zai to play hand-hand!”
“Brother and I were so mad, we made them recite poetry.” His eyes brightened, “Mom, reciting poetry is useful! Brother and I each said one line, recited one poem, the 《Sympathy for Farmers》 you taught us, and Si Zai fell asleep.”
Another pause.
The loud voice suddenly grew small.
“San Zai didn’t sleep, San Zai recited it back to me and brother, and put us two to sleep…”
At this point, being the older brother, he felt a bit embarrassed, awkwardly scratched his head.
Gu family members couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
Lai Mei laughed the loudest, “Hahaha…!!”
Tie Dan pointed at Er Zai, “Er Zai was lulled to sleep by San Zai hahaha!!”
Laughter echoed in the yard.
Good brother mocked by his own brother, Little Tie Chui’s eyes shot out sparks of anger.
()
He strode to Tie Dan’s back, pushed him hard, voice full of indignant dissatisfaction, “Bro! Don’t laugh at Da Zai Er Zai!!”
Tie Chui frowned, huffed angrily: “Don’t you see my good brother’s face is red like about to steam a little train!”
Twins hearing good brother say this, faces even redder, more like steaming little trains.
Tie Dan suddenly pushed, almost fell flat on his face, mad, pinched Tie Chui’s face, tugged left and right.
Seeing good brother being ‘bullied’, Er Zai rushed up hugging Tie Dan’s waist, imitating what his dad taught, trying to trip him.
His strength too small, didn’t trip him.
“……!”
“Bro, help me!”
Da Zai went to help, three five-and-a-half-year-old little friends who shared one pair of pants, surrounded their Tie Dan bro: you hug waist, I hang on neck, he pulls feet… total chaos.
“Er Zai, use strength!”
“Da Zai, throw him.”
“Tie Chui, dig your bro’s feet!”
Bang Bang and Lai Mei egged them on, laughing heartily.
The yard was noisy and lively.
Gu Fu and Gu Mu still didn’t know what super memory in little grandson meant, hearing Lin Zhao say San Zai suited for studying, the old couple full of smiles.
“If San Zai can study, let him, Grandpa will pay tuition.” Gu Fu slapped his thigh, supporting little grandson studying.
He had gone to big city to make a living when young, more worldly than village old men, knew difference between educated and uneducated.
Gu Mu said: “All supported. Alan, Bang Bang, Lai Mei, Tie Dan, Tie Chui, and Yu Yu, all the same, as long as they can study, family will support.”
She had saved money.
Huang Xiulan and Zhao Liuniang were overjoyed.
Educated have more paths out, they uneducated, but they could watch: whatever third son’s wife did, they did!
San Zai came out of shyness, little hand hooked Lin Zhao’s little finger, childish clean voice, “Mom, teach?”
Gu Chenghuai picked up son, “Dad teach you, let your mom eat, your mom still has to go to work.”
At end, gave wife a look, signaling her to go eat.
Lin Zhao’s breakfast was prepared by Gu Chenghuai: heat two flower rolls, some appetizing small dishes, even rushed her a cup of milk powder.
Something to eat and drink, all Lin Zhao’s favorites.
Also portion she could finish.
San Zai didn’t care who taught, little milk doll sat in tall handsome officer’s bosom, eyes deep black, pupils pale due to steady mood, hand on knee, sitting obediently, listening seriously.
“Dad first teach you to recognize dictionary, dictionary is reference book, encounter unrecognized word can look up dictionary, know its pronunciation and meaning.
Words in dictionary arranged by alphabetical order, that is pinyin, or radical, like lining up, A first, Z last…”
Gu Chenghuai’s voice low and pleasant, usual speaking tone clear and cold, cold as snow on winter pine branches, talking to own cub, specially slowed tone.
Huang Xiulan and Zhao Liuniang felt unfamiliar.
Sisters-in-law hid in kitchen muttering.
“How do third couple look even more clingy than when just married?” Zhao Liuniang whispered.
“Long separation better than honeymoon, besides…” Huang Xiulan smiled shaking head, “When did third bro and third bro’s wife ever fight? Da Zai’s mom gives a bit good face, as long as not principle issue, anything passes with him.”
Over ten years ago when she just married in, old third still a youth, then he thin and cold, emotions in black eyes always faint, face little expression, rarely smiled.
Always reading, working, reading, working…
Later left home to enlist, years without return, came back shed youthfulness, reserved steady, aura like abyss.
Not long after return, suddenly said he wanted to marry.
That day, Huang Xiulan first saw on his face, sincere delighted smile, she thought then, he must like that girl terribly.
Indeed as she thought.
Gu family’s biggest henpecked appeared!
Outside yard.
Lin Zhao finished eating, Gu Lan cleared bowls and chopsticks.
Gu Chenghuai put down San Zai, let him look first, teach more when back.
He went in room to get wife’s wide-brimmed hat and small cloth bag, put hat on Lin Zhao properly, pushed bicycle out.
“Wife, let’s go, I’ll take you to work.”
Lin Zhao shouldered cloth bag, quick steps to follow.
Da Huang with little Amber closely behind her.
Since female master went to work, two furry kids sent her to village entrance every day.
“This dog raised well.” Gu Chenghuai casually praised.
Amber as if heard male master praising her, short tail spun like propeller, joyfully circled him.
In short few days, eating well, skinny skeletal Da Huang and its child, fur regained luster, bodies rounder and rounder, like reborn.
“That’s right, Da Huang can guard home, also watch San Zai Si Zai, most reliable.” Lin Zhao stroked Da Huang’s big head, Da Huang rubbed her palm, eyes wet, full of trust.
“And smart, knows you’re family without looking.”
She praised Da Huang like praising own child.
Da Huang’s tail wagged fast, big tongue licked shit-shoveler’s hand.
Lin Zhao petted Da Huang’s head again, made go-back gesture, “Alright, go back.”
Da Huang squatted there, Amber circled beside her, like before, watched master go far.
Bicycle at corner, Lin Zhao could still see two doggies’ figures, she hugged Gu Chenghuai’s waist, sighed: “Da Huang really became spirit, seems to understand everything I say.”
“Like dogs?” Gu Chenghuai turned head glanced her.
“Not like dogs, like Da Huang, crazy biting dogs I don’t like at all.” Lin Zhao corrected him.
Gu Chenghuai low chuckle, “Troops have retired military dogs, all trained well, understand human speech. When you go accompany army, I’ll take you to see, if like any, we adopt one.”
In era when people not full, this talk outrageous, spoiling wife to no limit!
Lin Zhao’s hand on his waist tightened slightly, summer fabric thin, felt muscle curve under clothes, tight, perfect, couldn’t help touch.
“Already have military dogs now?! Good, then you take me! One not enough, raise three!” Anyway she could exchange points for dog food.
That advanced dog food not used yet, try tonight.
Gu Chenghuai one-hand biked, other hand caught wife’s restless hand, held in palm, voice with laugh, “Good, raise as many as you want.”
Lin Zhao’s face against his back, laughed: “You like this, comrades will laugh at you.”
“Laugh at what?” Gu Chenghuai raised brow.
“Laugh you henpecked!”
To this, Gu Chenghuai didn’t care at all, just talked about, how compare to living comfortably.
He said warmly: “I only know, one who loves wife, all goes well. You are family leader, your happiness most important.”
“Gu Chenghuai, you’re so good.” Lin Zhao hugged his waist tight.
Back felt soft and crispy, Gu Chenghuai’s prominent Adam’s apple rolled hard, whole body muscles tensed, restless palms sweating.
Restrained, hoarse voice rose.
“Tonight let four cubs sleep in dad mom room?” He asked Lin Zhao’s opinion.
Lin Zhao bristled, pinched man’s waist, “Gu Chenghuai!”
“Be proper!”
“Broad daylight say this kind of thing, no shame!!”
“Eat meat need what shame!” Gu Chenghuai decided to be shameless to end, else when achieve great harmony with wife.
Lin Zhao: “…”
Thinking wife unwilling, Gu Chenghuai played pitiful, “I already one year without…”
“You still say! You still say!!” Lin Zhao little face yellowed, almost jumped up beat man.
Gu Chenghuai sly, knew wife craved his abs, pulled her hand to his abdomen.
With biking motion, that place muscles moved one by one, even without looking, mouthwatering.
“Ok? Tonight let you touch.”
Lin Zhao hand-covered face.
()
Topic how ran here, wasn’t talking doggies?!
“Mm?” Gu Chenghuai tightened hand over Lin Zhao’s hand, made this sound from nose.
Voice low and teasing.
“I don’t want more kids.” Lin Zhao said.
Gu Chenghuai not surprised, after Zhaozhao birthed twins, he didn’t plan more.
Just.
Then newlyweds, young bodies restless, rare meetings stuck together, contraceptives uncomfortable, in excitement didn’t know how thrown aside, went straight in.
Young couple harbored luck, thought should be fine, who knew dragon-phoenix twins came.
“I’ll go hospital later.” Gu Chenghuai also didn’t want wife more.
Four cubs, enough.
And too many bad for Zhaozhao’s body.
“…Oh.” Lin Zhao agreed.
Gu Chenghuai knew she disliked contraceptives, he didn’t like either, didn’t know other methods, he lowered eyes, thoughtful.
…
All way talking, couple arrived at Supply and Marketing Cooperative entrance.
Watched Lin Zhao go in, Gu Chenghuai biked away.
Man handsome, tall and slender, pair straight long legs, even casual clothes, tight muscular lines faintly visible, aura strong yet reserved, black eyes casual glance, made people dare not look more.
Lin Zhao just entered Supply and Marketing Cooperative, met two pairs gossip, fiery eyes.
“Da Zai’s mom, you eating well ah.” Li Fen blurted.
She shouted ‘Da Zai mom’, Lin Zhao subconsciously touched shoulder bag, patted head, pretty face full of regret.
Forgot show cubs photos!
“What eating well?” She walked to counter, casually asked.
“Still pretend, your man ah.” Li Fen not young, talk no filter, sometimes explosive.
“You mean Comrade Gu at home ah, yes very good.” Lin Zhao poised and generous.
Li Fen wanted tease more, who knew Lin Zhao so frank, instantly lost interest.
“Sister Zhaozhao, how you and your love meet ah?” Wang Ju hesitated seconds, ears red, couldn’t hold back asking.
Lin Zhao glanced her, simply said few words, “Just met like that ba, I from uncle house back to brigade, he from troops back, he took the initiative to help carry my things, I thought this man handsome not arrogant, if something story happen, must very exciting, then just…”
“Then how?” Wang Ju eyes shining, mosquito-buzz voice inadvertently louder.
Even scolding unreasonable customers not this loud now.
“Why so curious ah?” Lin Zhao laughed.
Wang Ju’s clear face instantly red through, stammered not speak, lowered head pretend busy.
Li Fen laughed, “Our Comrade Wang going blind date weekend, now nervous, wants learn from you.”
“Really ya?” Lin Zhao curious.
Her eyes black white distinct, pupils watery, fixed look at person, made heart thump thump.
Wang Ju heart drummed, blush to ear roots, small voice: “Still, not sure yet.”
Thinking blind date, shy girl nervously twisted rag.
“I know, wish you success ya.” Lin Zhao sincerely blessed her.
Wang Ju smiled, “Thanks.”
…
Gu Chenghuai straight to hospital, familiarly toward place buy contraceptives.
“Comrade, buy contraceptives.” He tone calm, voice low.
Counter front, young doctor with thick but oily hair looked up sized him, casually asked: “How many?”
Gu Chenghuai brow slightly raised, countered: “How many can buy?”
“Once max one box, one box six.”
Gu Chenghuai frowned, “Too few.”
Single dog doctor mouth twitched, said: “Use up wash can reuse.”
Gu Chenghuai brows knit tighter, tone strained, “First one box.”
Young doctor took out one box gave him, “One point eight.”
Gu Chenghuai gave money, gaze casually swept contraceptives, same as few years ago, small!!
He paused, calmly asked: “…Have large size?”
Young doctor stunned, then awkward smile, shook head, “Only standard size, large size… really none.”
Gu Chenghuai didn’t leave hurry, asked: “Don’t want more kids, besides this…” His long fingers pointed at contraceptives, continued: “Other methods?”
“Yes, female comrade IUD.” Young doctor said.
IUD?
Put something in body ba.
Sound unreliable.
Gu Chenghuai mentally crossed it out, expression unchanged, continued: “Other methods?”
Young comrade first time met such person, said: “Else male comrade vasectomy.”
“Specifics.” Gu Chenghuai expression serious.
