Chapter 79: “closeness And Distance”
San Zai lifted his head, obediently closing the dictionary, and walked unhurriedly toward Lin Zhao.
It was hard to believe that such steadiness could be seen on such a small milk bun.
emmm.
“Mom?” The little friend, short and chubby, called out in a milky voice, his black-and-white eyes carrying a faint confusion.
Lin Zhao opened the cloth bag, handing him the tin car and tin frog, and smiled, “Gifts from Mom and your dad for you, take a look.”
Da Zai took the initiative to take the dictionary from his younger brother’s hand, freeing up San Zai’s hands.
“Um, thank you Mom~”
San Zai took the little car, his dark eyes sparkling, grabbing the little car with his chubby hands and looking at it curiously.
“Do you like it?” Lin Zhao picked up her son.
The twins’ eyes were full of envy.
“Bro, I don’t want to be a big friend anymore, I also want Mom to hug me.” Er Zai whispered to his brother.
The words had just fallen.
His legs suddenly dangled in the air.
The little friend stared wide-eyed in surprise, and upon discovering it was his dad holding him up, he broke into a big smile.
“Hey!”
Gu Chenghuai put Er Zai on his shoulders; he was tall and imposing, standing out like a crane among chickens.
One could imagine how high it would be sitting on his shoulders.
“Hahaha…” Er Zai laughed out loud, followed by an excited voice, “Dad, I’m so tall! I must be the tallest in the whole brigade now, right?”
“…Right.” Gu Chenghuai didn’t understand his strange competitiveness.
After responding to Er Zai, he picked up his brother too, placing him on the bicycle’s rear seat, and ruffled his head.
His waist strength and arm strength were astonishing, and his center of gravity was very steady.
With a cub hanging on his neck, it didn’t affect him at all from holding the bicycle handle with one hand and Da Zai with the other.
“Dad, you’re so awesome.” Er Zai’s little voice was full of admiration; the grudge about the words in the booklet was completely forgotten now.
He twisted his head vigorously and said to his brother, “Bro, Dad’s carrying me first, next time he’ll carry you.”
Gu Chenghuai: “…”
The world turned upside down.
Da Zai pursed his lips in a smile, not forgetting to seek his dad’s opinion, “Dad, is that okay?”
What more could Gu Chenghuai say? He had just been warned by his wife to be as fair as possible.
“Um.” He nodded.
Lin Zhao finished kissing her youngest son sweetly, set down San Zai, lightly lifted her skirt, squatted halfway, and showed him how to play with the little toy, “This is the tin car, it can slide on the ground.”
San Zai, tiny, squatted beside his mom, wearing a black round-neck short sleeve, black shorts below, cloth shoes on his feet from Grandmother, his white and tender chubby arms and legs so obedient.
Meeting Lin Zhao’s gaze, he nodded, indicating he understood.
Lin Zhao continued demonstrating the tin frog, “This is the tin frog, there’s a spring here, turn it, then release…”
The frog suddenly jumped up, making “click-clack” sounds, just like a real frog.
San Zai’s eyes lit up astonishingly.
Like a penguin chick, he chased the tin frog, caught it in his hand, and examined it three hundred sixty degrees.
The ping pong game paused; the moment Yuan Bao turned his head, he saw the frog jumping on the ground, his eyes lit up, and he ran over.
“San Zai, what do you have there?” His eyes were full of novelty.
“Tin car, tin frog.” San Zai held them up one by one, saying in his milky voice.
Tie Niu and other little friends crowded over, looking eagerly.
“I saw your frog can jump, can you make it jump again?” Yuan Bao asked politely.
“Um.” San Zai agreed, squatted down, wound the spring, and placed the frog on the ground.
The tin frog jumped again.
“Wow, so cool!!” Tie Niu cupped his face, exclaiming in surprise.
Yuan Bao said, “It can jump by itself!”
Da Zhuang cheered along, “Do all the kids in the city play this? City people are so lucky.”
Tie Chui shook his head like a pendulum, correcting their mistaken cognition, “No way!”
“Da Zai Er Zai said, kids in the city don’t eat meat every day, not every family has a bicycle, they don’t have endless sugar, they just live better than in the village, eat more meat than in the village, nothing special.”
Yuan Bao’s dark and thin little face was stunned, “That’s nothing? But city eats more meat than village, I still want to be a city person.”
Er Zai, sitting on his dad’s shoulders, joined the chat.
“Then work hard, study well, take the high school exam, college entrance exam, become workers, we can all become city people.”
Chang Sheng was older and knew more than the kids who hadn’t started school.
He said, “Schools are all suspended, no one’s going to school, the teachers at school got their heads smashed. We can’t become workers.”
“!!”
Er Zai froze, hurriedly looking at Lin Zhao, full of tension, “Mom, we can’t go to school anymore?”
“We can, classes will resume, just wait patiently.” Lin Zhao gave him a firm answer.
The group of kids half-understood.
Er Zai beamed, happily clapping, “As long as we can go, I want to go to school with Bro, learn real skills, become awesome people, support Mom, make Mom always happy.”
Oh woo, what a little sweet bean.
“You are already Mom’s little prides.” Lin Zhao was healed every day by her obedient sons.
“Can I ask the two little prides to go back to the house with Mom to get things? Your dad is going to borrow a bicycle, we have many family members, one isn’t enough.”
Gu Chenghuai set down Er Zai with one hand.
At the same time, Da Zai slipped down from the bicycle.
“Sure, I like helping Mom!” Da Zai said.
“Zhaozhao, take out the things and put them aside first, we’ll talk when I get back.” Gu Chenghuai parked the bike against the wall, instructed, and strode off with his long legs to borrow a bicycle.
Lin Zhao led the twins home, asking the two cubs, “Where’s Si Zai, why haven’t I seen her?”
“The little clingy one is in the backyard!” Er Zai blurted out.
“Nicknaming your sister again, you naughty brother.” Lin Zhao pinched the little friend’s cheek, criticizing him.
Er Zai’s face instantly flushed red, and he quickly said, “…Mom, I was wrong, I won’t say it anymore.”
He didn’t want to be a bad brother.
“Not just sister, don’t nickname other little friends either, only bad kids do that, got it?” Lin Zhao took the opportunity to teach the two cubs.
Little friends are blank paper, shaped by adults’ drawings; she wasn’t great at teaching kids, but making sure her own children… didn’t rely on good family background to bully other little friends, that she could do.
“Um um um.” Er Zai nodded solemnly, “Mom, I got it, I won’t nickname randomly anymore.”
He even extended it, “Mom, I’ll tell Yuan Bao and them too!”
“Good cub.” Lin Zhao praised smoothly.
The two cubs grinned, turning into little bees, diligently moving things.
Right, moving.
Rarely home for a family visit, Gu Chenghuai prepared quite a few good things for the maternal family.
Large pieces of animal hide, twenty-year wild ginseng, fabric, tobacco and alcohol, plus meat and sugar.
“All these are prepared by your dad?” Lin Zhao flipped through the things.
“Yes!” Da Zai’s clear and soft child voice echoed, “Dad said, as a son-in-law, can’t be stingy with the wife’s family.”
“Marrying a wife costs so much!” Er Zai frowned his little brows, full of worry.
He looked up at Lin Zhao, seriously, “Mom, can I not marry a wife later?”
The money he earned would all go to Mom, raising another wife would tire him out!
Lin Zhao still remembered, when talking about building a house, Er Zai asked where his wife would live.
Not long after, he didn’t want one anymore!
Kids change so fast.
“Up to you, your dad and I won’t force it.” Lin Zhao didn’t insist the cubs must marry.
Compared to the original book, where the four cubs’ endings were tragic, this life, as long as they grow up happily, that’s fine.
Er Zai hadn’t realized yet what his mom’s words meant, but he felt loved by Mom; the little friend hugged Mom’s waist, twisting his body, sticky and sweet.
“Mom is the best!”
“Alright, time to move things.” Lin Zhao patted her son’s little head.
The mother and two sons had just moved the things out of the house.
Si Zai slowly strolled out from the backyard with her grandma.
Seeing Lin Zhao, she smiled happily and toddled over unsteadily.
“Mom~”
The little milk bun wore the pink skirt her dad bought, new cloth shoes on her feet, fine soft hair tied into little pigtails with a hairpin, skin pink and white, round and plump, cute enough to melt hearts.
“Si Zai got a new hairstyle, who tied it, it’s surprisingly cute.” Lin Zhao picked up her daughter, kissing the cub’s little face.
“Dad tied it.” Er Zai’s voice was loud.
Lin Zhao couldn’t help laughing, “Your dad is really all-capable.”
Hands that can hold guns can also braid daughter’s hair.
The twins worshipped their dad a lot; hearing Mom’s words, they nodded vigorously in agreement.
Gu Chenghuai borrowed the bicycle and rode back to the doorstep.
In front of the ping pong table, big friends and little friends hadn’t dispersed yet.
“San Zai, time to head out.” He looked at the flushed little face of San Zai, his deep voice gentle.
“Okay.” The milky voice sounded; San Zai put away the toys, pattered home, went into the house, put the little car and little frog… back into the exclusive lidded bamboo basket, and walked out unhurriedly again.
Gu Chenghuai installed a cub seat on the rear seat of their family bicycle, with a little blanket inside.
Not only strong hands-on skills, but also fast efficiency, no need for extra instructions.
Lin Zhao felt super relieved.
Just like that—
On the borrowed crossbar bicycle, Er Zai sat on the front bar, Da Zai on the rear seat, ridden by Gu Chenghuai, with things hung all over the handlebars.
Lin Zhao rode the ladies’ bicycle, cute pink little Si Zai on the rear seat, San Zai tied to her chest with a cloth carrier, the kind where she could kiss the little face by looking down.
Si Zai’s first time on a bicycle, happily swinging her little feet, smile super soft and cute.
“Let’s go!” Lin Zhao said.
Er Zai clenched his little fist, raised his arm, excitedly, “Off we go!”
At that moment, Tie Chui stepped forward a few steps, looking eagerly at his good brother, his honest little face full of urgency: “Da Zai Er Zai, when are you coming back? Can we play together today?”
“Of course, wait at home, we’ll be back soon.” Er Zai said loudly.
“Um!”
The bicycles moved forward, speed quite fast.
Gu Chenghuai looked down at his son’s round head, “You and Tie Chui are the closest?”
“Of course!” Er Zai turned to look at his dad, tone light and cheerful, “We’re gonna be good brothers for life, super close.”
Da Zai behind him also said, “The kind that share pants.”
Little friends love imitating adults; ever since hearing Lin Zhao say the three of them were so close they could share pants, the twins started using that phrase.
Gu Chenghuai smiled at the corners of his mouth, unhurriedly saying, “I see you temporarily gave the ping pong table ownership to Tie Chui, why not Bang Bang, Lai Mei, and Tie Dan, aren’t they also your brothers?”
“It’s different.” Don’t underestimate Er Zai; he had his own scale in his heart.
He gave his biological dad a puzzled look.
He said, “Adults talk about closeness and distance, little friends have their own closeness and distance too. In my heart, Tie Chui is closer than Brother Bang Bang and them.”
“Closeness and distance?” Gu Chenghuai murmured lowly, his deep black eyes glancing at his son, “Who taught you that?”
“My mom! What’s wrong?” Er Zai raised his handsome little eyebrows.
“…Your mom is right.”
Er Zai’s expression was smug.
He knew Dad would say that.
Mom is the boss!
Da Zai covered his mouth, sneaking a laugh.
Lin Zhao didn’t hear the father and sons’ conversation; her legs pedaled super fast, wanting to reach her maternal home at top speed.
Seeing that, Er Zai yelled, “Dad, go faster, catch up to Mom, hurry hurry!”
Gu Chenghuai looked helpless.
Such a temperament, who did he get it from.
Noisy headache.
“Da Zai, careful with your legs, gonna speed up.” He said to Da Zai on the rear seat.
“Um, I’m lifting them!”
…
Facing the wind, the two bicycles sped by.
Dongfeng Brigade rarely had bicycles.
This time two appeared, drawing everyone over.
Sharp-eyed little friends spotted Lin Zhao’s face and shouted loudly to the Lin family kids: “Da Dan, Er Dan, your aunt is back to her maternal home!!”
Da Dan and Er Dan vaguely heard “aunt,” dropped what they were holding, and rushed over like the wind.
Hey, really Aunt!
And riding a bicycle!!
“Aunt, you’re back!” Lin Dadan said excitedly.
Lin Erdan touched the wheel, full of excitement, “Aunt, is this bicycle yours?”
Lin Zhao hadn’t answered yet when Er Zai, sitting on the front bar of the other bicycle, dangled his feet, voice crisp.
“Yes, the bicycle my mom rides is ours, bought with tickets my dad sent back.”
“Right, Mom also bought a new watch, with tickets from my dad.”
The surrounding little friends let out a “wow,” all looking at him enviously.
Er Zai was so proud, little head held high.
As he spoke, Da Dan and Er Dan noticed the handsome man in military uniform.
“Ah, Uncle’s back for family visit, Grandpa just mentioned you the other day.”
Da Dan called out uncle, said polite words, patted his brother’s back, urging: “Er Dan, what are you standing there for, go report back, tell Grandpa and Grandma, our aunt brought uncle and four cubs back to maternal home.”
Er Dan seemed to snap out of it, slapped his forehead, and whooshed away running, shouting while running: “Grandpa, Grandma, my aunt brought my uncle and four cubs back!!”
Full of energy.
Lin family wasn’t far from village entrance; his shout didn’t call out Lin Father and Lin Mu, but it called out Xi Bao.
Lin Xibao urgently set down her basket, ran out the door.
Saw the two bicycles at a glance.
“Aunt.” She smiled like a little sun, making people feel good just looking.
“Hey!” Lin Zhao responded.
She held down Si Zai with one hand, untied the cloth carrier, set down San Zai.
“Da Dan, come here.” Lin Zhao beckoned to Da Dan.
Da Dan obediently came over, eyes scanning the bicycle nonstop, very curious, “What’s up?”
Lin Zhao handed him the bicycle, “Nothing, learn how to ride when idle, no harm in learning. Ladies’ bicycle has no front bar, low, fairly easy to ride, go play around.”
“!!”
Learn, learn bicycle?
Da Dan was dazed.
Like being hit by a pie from the sky.
His eyes brighter than the sun, excitedly rubbing hands, “Aunt, you really okay giving this?”
New bike!
“What’s not to give, go learn.” A soon-to-be-ten big friend, who doesn’t want to learn bicycle?
She had such a simple wish as a kid too, but no conditions then.
Sure enough.
As Lin Zhao’s words fell, Dongfeng Brigade’s big friends and little friends all looked at Da Dan with utmost envy.
Aaaah, why don’t they have such an aunt?!
So envious wuwuwu.
Da Dan solemnly took the bicycle, seriously promising: “Aunt, I’ll get Dad to hold it steady, absolutely won’t damage the bicycle.”
“Silly!” Lin Zhao’s affectionate teasing slipped out.
“Ah?” Da Dan was dumbfounded.
Aunt calling him silly?
“Bicycle isn’t as important as you, so what if it falls. Learn boldly without worry, don’t hold back.” Material things will never be more important than people.
Now, the kids around started sniffling.
Da Dan and Er Dan’s aunt is so great!
With that.
Lin Zhao led the four cubs into the home door, Gu Chenghuai pushing the bicycle right behind.
Lin Heling saw the soft cute little grandson and granddaughter, a gentle refined smile spreading on his face, beckoning to the two little ones.
“Come, let Grandfather see.”
The dragon-phoenix twins weren’t familiar with Grandfather, didn’t go over.
Especially Si Zai, hugging Lin Zhao’s leg tightly, only peeking with those big bright black eyes.
Lin Zhao’s smile warm, “Don’t be scared, that’s Mom’s dad.”
