Chapter 8: “coaxing”
Lin Zhao smiled and asked back: “Hungry?”
“Hungry!” Er Zai answered super loudly.
“Hungry? Then we’ll boil dumplings right now, wait a few minutes.” The fire in the kitchen was burning, just waiting for the water to boil, then the dumplings could go into the pot.
“Mom, how long is a few minutes?” Er Zai’s arm was clinging to the door frame, asking with a grin.
Lin Zhao had a headache; little friends who hadn’t gone to school had so many questions.
“Can you count?”
“Yes.” Er Zai was full of pride, “I can count to one hundred.”
“My brother can too.”
Speaking of his brother, Da Zai was even prouder.
“So awesome.” Lin Zhao was busy with her hands, didn’t forget to praise, and took the chance to ask: “Who taught you?”
“My little uncle.” Er Zai said.
Er Zai’s little uncle was Gu Qingzhou, who was in junior high.
Gu Qingzhou was a quiet and steady youth, respectful to elders, very good to the nephews and nieces at home, completely different temperament from Gu Xing’er.
Lin Zhao caught sight of Tie Chui washing hands for the dragon-phoenix twins with Da Zai out of the corner of her eye, and smiled: “Tie Chui, stay and eat together.”
Little friends didn’t understand politeness, seeing Third Aunt full of gentle smile, Tie Chui happily agreed.
“I’ll go tell my mom.”
With that, he rushed out.
Er Zai shouted loudly: “Tie Chui, I’ll go with you.”
Lin Zhao saw him about to run, poked her head out from the kitchen, and said: “Er Zai, tell your grandma, no need to make your meals from now on.”
“Got it.”
The two little friends ran to the old house together.
Arriving at the old house, before even entering the door, Er Zai’s loud voice carried inside first.
“Grandma, my mom says Tie Chui can eat at our house!”
The old house was just about to make dinner, Gu Mu heard Er Zai’s voice and hurried out.
“Your mom is making dinner?” Her voice was full of surprise.
“My mom made dumplings today!” Er Zai said happily, his shout alerting everyone in the room.
“…Dumplings?” Tie Dan was envious and almost drooling, “What kind of dumplings?”
“Pork and scallion.” He hadn’t even tasted the dumplings his mom made yet, but Er Zai already thought his mom’s dumplings were the best in the world.
“Right, my mom also said, no need to make our meals anymore.”
With these words from Er Zai, Gu Mu recalled that when Third Son’s Wife first married over, she did cook, and her cooking skills were pretty good. Even with simple ingredients, what she made always tasted extra fragrant.
Unfortunately, not long after she got pregnant with Da Zai and Er Zai, she never entered the kitchen again.
“Okay, I got it.” Gu Mu agreed.
But still uneasy, she added: “If you’re not full, come find me.”
Hearing this, the delighted Gu Da Sao and Gu Er Sao had their smiles freeze on their faces.
Never seen someone actively inviting trouble!
Er Zai unceremoniously agreed, “Okay.”
After he spoke, Little Tie Chui followed: “Grandma, Third Aunt told me to eat at her place.”
Gu Da Sao’s expression instantly improved.
“Grandma, me and Tie Chui are going back!” Er Zai said, pulling Tie Chui and running super fast, vanishing in the blink of an eye.
The other Gu Family kids were dying of envy.
Why weren’t they the same age as Da Zai and Er Zai?
Er Zai and Tie Chui had just returned to the doorstep when they smelled an even stronger aroma.
The two gluttonous little friends quickened their steps and rushed into the house.
“Mom, are the dumplings ready?” Er Zai asked eagerly.
Lin Zhao noticed his movement but ignored him; she was using a slotted spoon to scoop dumplings, with five bowls on the stove—eight each in the five-year-olds’ bowls, two each for the dragon-phoenix twins to taste, they were too small, still better to drink malt extract.
“Dumplings are ready, everyone come…”
As soon as she spoke, she remembered Da Zai and the others hadn’t washed hands, grabbed Er Zai’s hand reaching for the bowl, “Did you wash hands?”
Er Zai really forgot, facing his mom’s serious face, he grinned, “Forgot, I’ll go wash now.”
Lin Zhao carried the dumplings out, saw the kids obediently washing hands, and said: “Our hands all have germs, from now on anything going into the mouth must be washed first, got it?”
“What are germs?” Er Zai was full of confusion.
“Germs are very tiny microorganisms, we can’t see them with our eyes, if you eat germs into your belly, worms will grow in the stomach.” Lin Zhao explained gently.
Er Zai suddenly looked up at Lin Zhao, shocked: “Worms in the stomach! Yuan Bao pooped out worms because he had worms in his stomach?”
The image appeared in her mind, Lin Zhao wanted to block Er Zai’s mouth.
They were about to eat, and he spat out anything.
“Mm.” She answered vaguely, not wanting to continue the topic.
She’d buy some deworming medicine another day, Lin Zhao thought.
But Er Zai talked a lot, “Mom, there are worms on heads too? Are those germs too?”
“!!”
“You have worms on your heads?” Lin Zhao’s steps shifted lightly, her always unhurried tone instantly rose a few degrees.
That one step she took broke Da Zai and Er Zai’s hearts.
The identical faces showed the same hurt expression.
Er Zai complained: “Mom dislikes us.”
She didn’t dislike them, just got goosebumps all over.
Lin Zhao changed the topic: “Eat dumplings, or they’ll get cold.”
In her heart, she had already decided, next time the barber came, shave the two cubs bald.
Da Zai and Er Zai felt a chill on their foreheads, hurriedly eating dumplings, didn’t notice their mom had successfully diverted their attention.
“Time to eat dumplings.” Er Zai happily sat down.
The dragon-phoenix twins were hungry too, saw food and reached to grab, Tie Chui used his arm to circle the two younger brother and sister, the two little ones strained toward the dumplings, making forceful grunting sounds from their mouths, “Hmph…”
“Tie Chui, no need to mind San Zai and Si Zai, let them eat by themselves.” Lin Zhao mashed the dumplings in the two small wooden bowls with chopsticks, beckoned to the dragon-phoenix twins.
Tie Chui let go at the same time.
The dragon-phoenix twins wobbled toward Lin Zhao, their clean little hands reached into the small wooden bowl, grabbed and stuffed into mouths.
In this short time, Er Zai had already eaten half a dumpling, his eyes bright as the sun.
“So good, so much meat, Mom, Brother, Tie Chui, eat quick.”
Lin Zhao saw him eating fast, reminded uneasily: “Don’t rush, eat slower, careful not to choke, if you like, Mom will make more in a few days.”
Er Zai had a dumpling in his mouth not swallowed yet, mumbled: “Great! Mom, I love dumplings!”
Lin Zhao glanced at the dragon-phoenix twins with faces full of food, felt it very necessary to make a couple cloth bibs for the two little ones, or washing clothes would drive her crazy.
“Little Comrade Er Zai, I want to ask, is there anything you don’t like to eat?”
Little friends all liked pretending to be adults, Er Zai heard this address, grinned big, excitedly: “No, I like everything!”
Da Zai followed: “Mom, I don’t picky eat either.”
The two older brothers spoke, San Zai and Si Zai couldn’t hold back, waved the small wooden spoons in their hands, pink tender little mouths spat out words: “Wo, pu…”
Wanting to say they didn’t picky eat either, in a hurry they sprayed rice, instantly turning into little dirty dolls.
Lin Zhao didn’t mind, little kids were all like that.
In this era, even eating enough was hard, no little friends needing coaxing to eat, plus Lin Zhao’s good cooking skills, the kids ate with great relish, finished the meal in no time.
“Full? Not full there’s more.” Lin Zhao said.
Da Zai helped his mom clear bowls, face full of smiles.
“Full, Mom, we’ll wash bowls, you rest.”
Tie Chui and Er Zai also held their bulging bellies, helped collect bowls.
“Be careful.” Lin Zhao didn’t refuse, just instructed.
Er Zai grinned: “Mom don’t worry, me and my brother know how to wash bowls.”
Ever since they turned five, they washed all the bowls at home, Mom was so lazy.
But…
If Mom cooked, he’d gladly wash bowls every day, do all the housework at home.
Er Zai looked at his mom tidying up his younger brother and sister, the curve of his mouth kept growing.
“Er Zai, what are you laughing at?” Tie Chui asked curiously.
Er Zai smiled contentedly, acted mysterious, “You wouldn’t get it.”
Tie Chui scratched his head, Er Zai said nothing, of course he didn’t get it.
Lin Zhao washed the dragon-phoenix twins’ hands and faces clean, applied some moisturizing cold cream, saw the lucky draw turntable’s right side task bar flashing light again.
Prompted task completed.
「Little friends ate delicious dumplings, body and mind doubly satisfied. Congratulations on smoothly completing the task, get 5 points.」
5 points?
Wasn’t it a 4-point task.
Her gaze caught the parenthesis behind the task list, now with Tie Chui’s name added.
So it’s per person, should have said earlier, she could’ve invited more little friends.
Lin Zhao was full of regret.
Just finished applying cold cream to the dragon-phoenix twins, Er Zai’s little black face poked in front of her.
“Mom~~” Gu Er Zai’s call to mom was full of twists and turns, tone with little waves.
“What’s up?”
“I’ve never had cold cream applied.” Er Zai didn’t say he wanted Mom to apply cold cream for him, but beat around the bush acting pitiful.
Da Zai also looked at Lin Zhao, said nothing, those black-and-white clear eyes full of expectation.
Lin Zhao helpless yet heartbroken, said: “Go wash up.”
Words just fell, glanced at the lucky draw turntable’s right side task bar updated again.
「Summer is so dry, skin always parched, quick apply some moisturizer to the cubs, complete task for 5 points.」
It automatically included Tie Chui in the task huh.
“Tie Chui too.” Lin Zhao said.
Tie Chui flattered and surprised, said thanks, got pulled by Er Zai to wash hands and face.
Quickly washed hands and faces, the little friends lined up in front of Lin Zhao.
“Mom, ready, apply to me first.” Er Zai grinned, eyes always glancing at the cold cream on the table.
Lin Zhao scooped a small blob of cold cream, evenly applied to Er Zai’s face, didn’t miss his little hands either.
“Thanks Mom, smells so good.” Er Zai sniffed his hands, squeezed past the dragon-phoenix twins, sat next to his mom.
The dragon-phoenix twins thought Er Zai was playing with them, one left one right squeezed him with little buttocks, laughing gigglingly, very happy.
Da Zai’s turn.
Da Zai both happy and excited, shyly blushed his ear roots, eyes looking at Lin Zhao very bright, like containing pearls.
“Thanks Mom.” Da Zai said embarrassedly.
Words done, quickly walked aside.
In the corner Lin Zhao didn’t see, he also lifted his hand, gently sniffed.
It smelled good.
Tie Chui’s face redder than Da Zai’s, after Lin Zhao applied to him, the little friends left same hand same foot.
At the same time.
「…Congratulations on completing the task, get 5 points.」
Total 12 points now.
Lin Zhao didn’t rush to draw, lucky draws needed some ceremony, draw before bed.
Just then, Gu Xing’er carried two bundles of firewood over, smelled the aroma filling the yard, heart like soaked in pickled mustard greens jar, looked at Lin Zhao with disgust and jealousy and hatred.
She hadn’t eaten from yesterday till now, stomach empty limbs weak, sullenly dropped the firewood, ran out.
Er Zai pursed his lips, “Little aunt has no manners at all, didn’t even stack neatly.”
With that, walked over, dragged the firewood to the corner.
Da Zai and Tie Chui helped together.
The dragon-phoenix twins wanted to join the fun too, Lin Zhao hurriedly hugged the two little ones into her bosom, smiled: “You two don’t go help make trouble.”
Er Zai had a bit of obsessive-compulsive disorder, stacked the firewood piece by piece, neat and tidy, saw ones too long, had to break with force then place.
Sixty-six, not much entertainment during the day, none at night either.
Lin Zhao’s family like other villagers, went back to rooms early to sleep.
Before entering the room, she suddenly said: “San Zai and Si Zai sleep with me.”
San Zai and Si Zai were hanging on Lin Zhao’s legs, heard Mom calling them, the two little ones lifted white tender little faces, showed puzzled little expressions.
Lin Zhao’s heart and liver trembled from the cuteness, touched her daughter’s little face, voice gentle: “Si Zai and brother sleep with Mom tonight, want to?”
“Want, sleep.” Si Zai milkily spat two words.
San Zai nodded.
At this, Er Zai was super envious.
“Mom, did I sleep with you when I was little?” Er Zai asked expectantly.
Lin Zhao’s heart tugged, because… in her memory, probably not.
Back then her heart was like weighed with a stone, no energy for anything, noisy fussing infants needing constant care, of course she didn’t want to.
Er Zai saw his mom not speaking, smiled: “Must have, Grandma said, newborn babies can’t leave Mom, me and my brother when little definitely same room as Mom, Mom must have coaxed us to sleep too, must be like that.”
Da Zai imagined his mom coaxing them to sleep, eyes bright as stars.
Was it like that?
Lin Zhao felt guilty and uneasy, eyes dodging, said: “You’re big friends now, Mom can coax you to sleep too…”
Before she finished, the ever opportunistic Er Zai looked at Lin Zhao, said: “Mom, I want to sleep with you tonight.”
Da Zai wanted to too, but didn’t say, nervously and expectantly watched his mom.
“Sure.” Lin Zhao agreed, “Since you bathed, clean little friends.”
Hearing this, Da Zai’s eyes lit up, like stars fallen into his eyes.
He was so happy.
Er Zai grinned, pulled his brother back to the room, while walking said: “Mom, we’ll get pillows.”
Back in the room, Er Zai’s smile didn’t fade, said to Da Zai: “Brother, Mom is really good today, I like Mom, you?”
Da Zai’s black fluffy lashes like little fans trembled lightly, eyes full of shyness, he pursed his lips, a good while before speaking: “I like too.”
“Hehe, I knew you liked too.”
Hearing his younger brother’s laugh, Da Zai’s already warm ears got even redder.
Fengshou Brigade had no electricity, every household used kerosene lamps, candles expensive, no one bore to buy, the light in the room hazy, shining on people, especially warm.
Lin Zhao was laying the bed.
The quilt on the bed hard as board, outer needs washing and sunning, inner cotton needs refilling, or winter would be hard to endure. Luckily still peak summer, time to prepare, by then new house should be built, make two kangs, tidy up rooms for the cubs, add some new clothes, then life would be on track.
