Chapter 96: “done For”
Gu Chenghuai couldn’t stand it any longer. He picked up the water-filled wooden bucket and poured the water into the large wooden basin.
“Thank you, Dad,” Er Zai said politely, then asked, “Dad, can you pour some more water into my small basin?”
“…” You’re quite polite.
Gu Chenghuai grumbled internally, pouring water into his small wooden basin.
Er Zai squatted there, grunting as he washed his and his older brother’s sandals.
After walking on dirt roads all day, the little friends’ sandals were too dirty to look at. The cleanliness-obsessed twins couldn’t stand even a little bit of dirt.
Glancing at Gu Chenghuai still there, Er Zai looked up at him, “Dad, you go do your own thing. Why are you watching us?”
He thought his dad was worried they wouldn’t wash them clean, and the little friend knitted his brows, “My brother and I can wash clothes, and we can wash them clean!”
“…”
Gu Chenghuai glanced at his face. It didn’t look thick-skinned, so why would he think his dad was watching them?
“You’re overthinking it. I wasn’t watching you; I was waiting for my wife,” he said calmly.
No matter how cold his words were, it didn’t stop him from burning mugwort next to his two sons.
The mosquitoes in the summer night were still fierce. Children’s skin was tender, and bites could be severe.
His wife would worry.
Da Zai smelled the familiar scent of mugwort. His hand paused slightly as he washed clothes. He looked at his dad and said, “Thank you, Dad.”
“Thank you, Dad.” Er Zai, as usual, followed his brother’s lead, his expression changing quickly.
Gu Chenghuai didn’t intend to help his two sons wash clothes. He felt he would return to the troops sooner or later, and interfering too much with the children’s habits was not good.
Besides, they were boys and couldn’t be too spoiled.
Compared to other children in the village, their lives were much better.
If their biological father didn’t help, the rest of the Gu family certainly wouldn’t either.
Tie Chui came out with his small clothes, smiling, “Da Zai, Er Zai, I’ll wash with you.”
In the First Branch’s house, Huang Xiulan lifted a corner of the bamboo curtain and peeked out furtively. She said to Gu Yuanshan beside her, “Look at your son, he’s grown up so fast.”
“Da Zai and Er Zai are such good role models. When they come back to stay, Tie Chui learns everything from them, and I don’t have to worry about him at all.”
Gu Yuanshan, in a typical straightforward manner, reminded her, “When the Third Branch’s new house is built, they’ll have to go back.”
“Oh, you’re so annoying.” Huang Xiulan’s smile vanished instantly. “Can’t you let me be happy for a little longer?”
“Alright, alright. You be happy for as long as you want.” Gu Yuanshan fanned himself and left, his straw sandals making a faint rustling sound against the ground.
…
Main house.
Gu Fu was flipping through that worn-out dictionary again. San Zai nestled beside his grandpa, his clear, transparent dark eyes fixed on the dictionary. Si Zai was sleeping like a little piglet.
“A Chan has the good fortune of gluing matchboxes, and they’ve separated households. I finally don’t have to worry about her,” Gu Mu fanned her granddaughter, her hand movements quite large, the breeze reaching Gu Fu and San Zai.
Her eldest daughter was living a good life, and she couldn’t help but think of her younger daughter. She wondered how Xing’er was doing. Seeing San Zai and Si Zai there, she didn’t say much more.
“Mm,” Gu Fu grunted, not looking up.
Gu Mu didn’t feel bored either and started talking about other things.
…
Lin Zhao was taking a bath.
As usual, she summoned the mysterious Lucky Draw Turntable.
The Task Bar settled and updated.
【 Prepare soda and pastries in advance for a +120% viewing experience! Reward: 120 points. 】
【 Watched a movie with the children, rewarded with 240 points. 】
【 Nephew and niece sent meat that delighted the uncle and aunt, rewarded with 100 points. 】
【 Discerning eye, found a treasure at the recycling station, rewarded with 500 points. 】
【 Small task settlement （ gluing matchboxes ）, rewarded with 200 points. 】
【 Every dream is worth affirming and supporting. Discovered the sports dream of the young human （ Wei Yan ）, rewarded with 100 points. 】
…
After settling the daily tasks, the total points were 1695.
“Whoa, I made a big profit!” Lin Zhao’s eyes lit up. Without hesitation, she spent 1000 points and put them into the lucky draw turntable.
The pointer spun rapidly, and her heart beat faster.
Gradually, the turntable slowed down and finally stopped at a reward emitting a faint azure glow—
「 Otherworld Spiritual Plant · Azure Vine Root （ Intermediate ）
Appearance: Pale azure semi-transparent roots, entwined with silver patterns, pulsing slightly as if alive.
Effect: Gently regulates internal organ function and enhances basal metabolic rate. In simple terms, it nourishes the body and prolongs life.
Usage: Grind into powder and mix with honey water to consume. 」
After reading the description of this item, a starlight flashed in Lin Zhao’s eyes. The surprise came too suddenly; her mind went blank for a moment.
Ahhh, her dad’s life-saving medicine!!!
Lin Zhao was extremely excited.
Her parents had a deep affection for each other. They had known each other since they were young and had lived together for over thirty years without ever being separated. If anything happened to one, it would be a fatal blow to the other.
She worried most about her biological father because, in her memory, her father’s health was truly not good.
And her mother? Because her mother was strong, she had never mistreated herself since childhood and had a very good constitution. She once heard her mother say that after giving birth to her elder brother, her father had specially invited a skilled traditional Chinese medicine doctor to regulate her. That doctor was surprised by her excellent physical condition, calling it rarely seen!
Her mother always told her to choose a partner based on her father—someone who was already very, very good—so that life wouldn’t be bad.
She had chosen Gu Chenghuai based on that.
Lin Zhao was very satisfied with Gu Chenghuai. They had been married for a few years, and in total, they had spent less than a year together. But she could still sense whether a man was worth it.
He devoted himself entirely to her.
Thinking this, a sweet smile bloomed on Lin Zhao’s lips.
In a great mood, she decided to splurge another 500 points and draw again!
「 Intermediate Scar Removal Cream
Ingredients: Extracts of spiritual plant essence, combined with ancient refining techniques, containing repair factors.
Texture: Fine and smooth, with a light herbal fragrance.
Efficacy: Fades new and old scars, promotes skin regeneration.
Usage: Clean the scar area, take an appropriate amount of cream, and gently massage in a circular motion; once in the morning and evening, consistent use yields better results. 」
Whoa!
Whoa, whoa, whoa!!
She got what she wished for!
…
Gu Chenghuai heard singing coming from the bathroom. The sound was very faint, but his good hearing picked it up.
He moved a little closer, the corners of his mouth curling up.
Lin Zhao walked out carrying the dirty clothes and was stunned when she saw the man at the door.
“What are you standing at the door for? You scared me!”
“Can’t you think of something nice?” Gu Chenghuai’s brows showed a hint of helplessness. He took the clothes from her hands, placed them aside, and motioned for Lin Zhao to sit down. He took the towel wrapping her hair from her head and patiently and meticulously began to dry her hair, replying to her words, “Can’t it be that I rarely hear you humming? I think it sounds nice, so I wanted to listen closer?”
Before Lin Zhao could speak, Er Zai’s eyes suddenly lit up.
“Mom was humming?” He had finished washing his sandals and was scrubbing clothes with his brother. He probably touched his face, as there was foam on his cheek. “I didn’t even hear it.”
The little friend looked accusingly, “Dad, you didn’t call me!”
Da Zai also looked at his biological father with a hint of grievance.
Lin Zhao, afraid of being teased by her two sons, quickly said, “Your dad heard wrong. Mom wasn’t humming.”
The little friends believed whatever their mother said, and with a collective “Oh,” they continued washing clothes.
Da Zai saw the clothes his mother had changed out of and said, “Mom, after Er Zai and I finish washing San Zai and Si Zai’s clothes, I’ll wash yours for you.”
“That’s so kind of you,” Lin Zhao said with a smile.
“Mom is great too!” Da Zai felt his mother worked hard, had to go to work, and even after work, she didn’t rest. She also took them to watch movies and to the recycling station.
“Mhm, Mom is the best!” Er Zai agreed enthusiastically. “Mom, I’ll wash your clothes too.”
The mothers of other children in the village were reluctant to take them to movies or buy them soda and books. His mom was the best, so he wanted to be good to his mom too.
“You don’t have to wash them; I’ll wash them for your mother,” Gu Chenghuai said, his brows furrowing slightly.
Since he was home, he couldn’t let his two sons steal the spotlight from him.
Lin Zhao couldn’t stop laughing.
Da Zai and Er Zai felt it was fine if Dad washed them too, as long as Mom didn’t have to work hard.
“Then, when Dad goes back to the troops, Er Zai and I will help Mom wash them,” the filial Da Zai offered proactively.
“Okay,” Gu Chenghuai didn’t think there was anything wrong with his sons washing clothes for his wife. The two boys were almost six years old, and his wife was so good to them; they should help with chores.
“You two must listen to your mother. If anyone bullies you, call me.”
Er Zai still remembered his mother taking them to the post office to call their dad. He was very curious about the telephone, and his whole face lit up, like a shining little sun.
“Dad, can you get our family a telephone?”
Lin Zhao shook her head, amused, not mentioning how expensive it was to install a telephone, only saying, “Installing a telephone requires electricity. If the brigade doesn’t have electricity, a telephone won’t be useful.”
“Ah?” Er Zai was disappointed, his invisible tail drooping behind him.
“Dad, when will the brigade get electricity?” he looked at his biological father expectantly.
Gu Chenghuai: “…”
He really thought he was omnipotent.
Da Zai placed the rinsed clothes into a clean basin and also said to his dad, “It would be great if we could get electricity sooner. It would be convenient, and then Mom wouldn’t have to find her way in the dark to light a lamp, and she wouldn’t bump her leg.”
“Your mother bumped her leg?” Gu Chenghuai’s lips tightened into a straight line, and he looked at his wife with concern.
He was the type of person who wouldn’t even frown if he took a bullet himself, but he couldn’t bear to see his wife get a scratch on her hand.
“No…” It’s fine.
He hadn’t even finished the last two words when Er Zai interrupted Lin Zhao.
“Yes, Si Zai woke up in the middle of the night needing to pee. Mom woke up to turn on the light and then bumped her leg.” His face was all scrunched up. He hadn’t said a word of pain even when Lu Baozhen bit him so hard, yet he was worried about his mother.
The little friend wiped his wet hands, rushed over, and hugged his mother, rubbing his head against her.
Da Zai also wanted to hug his mother, but he felt that as an older brother, a big friend now, he was too embarrassed to do so. He stayed put, continuing to scrub the foam off the clothes.
“It’s all my fault for sleeping too soundly. Otherwise, I could have helped Mom turn on the light. My eyes are very bright; I can see even in the dark.”
Er Zai refused to be outdone, “My eyes are very bright too.”
Gu Chenghuai didn’t say anything at the moment. He planned to find Yang Junzhi tomorrow and ask about the brigade getting electricity.
“It’s fine,” Lin Zhao said helplessly.
When one is groggy from sleep, anyone can bump into something.
“It’s not fine,” Da Zai said with a serious little face.
Er Zai nodded in agreement.
His mother’s skin was fair. Collisions were terrible, leaving bruises that looked painful. He didn’t want his mother to get hurt.
“…”
Gu Chenghuai also felt it was not fine. “From now on, you two watch your mother and let her be careful when she does anything.”
The twins nodded their little heads rapidly, their hair swirls spinning like the center of a small whirlwind.
Er Zai remembered his father telling them to call him. He said, “Dad, making phone calls costs money, and my brother and I don’t have any.”
He blinked his big eyes, and the meaning on his face was all too clear.
Gu Chenghuai’s mouth twitched. “I’ll leave you guys one yuan for emergencies.”
“How much is one yuan? How many calls can that make?” Er Zai pressed, thinking he could ask for a little more. He could give the extra to Mom.
Gu Chenghuai had no idea what his son was thinking. “One or two times.”
Depending on the call duration.
If it was long, one call; if it was short, two calls.
“Not enough!” Er Zai said unceremoniously.
Da Zai glanced at his younger brother but didn’t say anything.
As the older brother, he understood what Er Zai meant.
Gu Chenghuai’s pair of dark eyes seemed thoughtful. He looked at his second son with a half-smile, “It’s just in case of emergencies, not so you can call every day.”
He only had a few yuan in pocket money each month and still had to buy things for Zhao Zhao; he couldn’t just waste it.
Gu Commander inwardly calculated.
“Okay,” Er Zai wasn’t angry about not getting more money.
The outside air was warm, and his hair dried quickly. Gu Chenghuai put away the towel and went to the side to wash clothes for his wife.
He was washing her outer clothes; the inner garments had to be washed when no one was around.
As soon as he left, Er Zai hugged Lin Zhao’s neck, his rosy lips approaching her ear.
“Mom, I didn’t get any this time. Next time, I’ll ask again, and all the money I get, I’ll give to you.”
Lin Zhao hugged Er Zai horizontally, lifted his small body up, and said with a smile, “Don’t bother. Your dad’s money is all for Mom. The little bit he has on hand is for buying you gifts. Your dad is an adult; he needs to have money on him, right?”
This was the first time Er Zai had been held by his mother like this. His excited little face turned red, his whole body was radiant, and a string of laughter came out of his mouth.
“Yes!”
His eyes sparkled. “Mom, you’re so strong.”
“Yes, Mom takes after your grandmother,” Lin Zhao said with a smile.
Er Zai beamed and asked, “Mom, I’m your son, why don’t I take after you?”
He lifted his arm, saying enviously, “I want to be strong too.”
Lin Zhao found it curious. “What do you want to be strong for?”
“To go up the mountain and fight tigers, how about that?” Er Zai said excitedly, waving his small fists with a resounding force.
It was like a boomerang flying back and hitting Lin Zhao between the eyebrows.
As expected of her son.
Her father had said that she also pestered them to go up the mountain and fight tigers when she was little.
“…It’s not great,” Lin Zhao flatly refused.
“Tigers didn’t provoke you, so why would you hit them?” She gently pinched her son’s delicate nose. “Little rascal.”
Fighting tigers, indeed. Wasn’t he afraid of being swallowed whole by a tiger!
Er Zai chuckled, “Okay, I won’t fight them anymore.”
However, he still wanted to be strong, to be able to fight three opponents by himself.
Seeing his brother about to start hanging clothes, he urged, “Mom, put me down first. I want to help my brother.”
Lin Zhao felt touched. As expected of twin brothers born into this world at the same time, their bond was truly strong.
She put Er Zai down, stood up, and went to help the children with their chores.
The clothesline was a bit high for the little friends.
“Thank you, Mom.”
“Thank you, Third Aunt.”
“You’re welcome.” Lin Zhao smiled slightly. Seeing that the soap suds on the clothes had been rinsed off cleanly, she said, “You washed them really clean. You worked hard.”
Da Zai was very happy to be praised, his face full of smiles. “It wasn’t hard.”
He liked to do things. The more he did, the less his mother had to do.
The little friends had little strength in their hands, and water was still dripping from the clothes. Lin Zhao wrung them out, opened her fingers to grab the collars, and with a flick of her wrist, hung the clothes up.
“You played all day today, you should go to sleep.”
Er Zai tilted his head. “Mom, don’t I need to apply medicine today?”
He was referring to his hand.
“You do.”
Hearing this, Da Zai said, “Mom, Er Zai and I will brush our teeth first, and then we’ll put medicine on him, okay?”
“Okay.” Lin Zhao had to admit that her elder son was truly thoughtful and considerate, a pure little warm boy. Having such a good son truly saved her a lot of trouble.
While she went back inside to get the ointment, the twins and Little Tie Chui squatted by the water outlet in the yard, diligently brushing their teeth.
Lin Zhao didn’t rush the children, letting them brush slowly. Her gaze towards her son was filled with pride.
Her sons were truly amazing.
Gu Chenghuai saw this scene, his eyes incredibly soft.
Sensing his gaze, Lin Zhao looked back, the corners of her lips lifting.
With her husband present, she couldn’t possibly use the scar removal cream she had drawn. The one she applied to Er Zai was bought at the county hospital.
“Alright, go to sleep. You have to get up early tomorrow morning.”
After being dragged to exercise for several days in a row, Da Zai and Er Zai knew how formidable their biological father was and, fearing they wouldn’t get enough sleep, quickly went to bed.
They returned to the main house.
Gu Chenghuai expressed his satisfaction.
…
The next day.
Gu Chenghuai escorted Lin Zhao to the entrance of the supply and marketing cooperative and then turned to go to the post office to make a phone call.
He dialed the number, and after a few beeps.
A distorted male voice came through the receiver.
“Who is this?”
Gu Chenghuai replied, “Gu Chenghuai.”
After stating his name, he hesitantly called out, “Yun Jian?”
The person on the other end of the line paused, then burst into laughter, his voice hearty and distorted by static to an almost piercing degree.
“Cheng Huai?”
“You actually remembered to call me, how rare! What’s up?” Yun Jian asked directly.
His comrade was taciturn and would never call without a serious reason.
He couldn’t be calling just to chat!
Gu Chenghuai didn’t beat around the bush and stated directly, “I have a nephew who is very interested in playing table tennis. Right now… what’s the situation?”
Table tennis?
Yun Jian actually had some information. He thought, what bad timing.
His comrade was likely to be disappointed.
Some things were not easy to say over the phone. The key was how to make the other person understand. He wondered if their tacit understanding on the battlefield was still there?
He said, “The eagle’s wings were shot through, and it fell into the river.”
It’s dead!
Hearing this, Gu Chenghuai understood instantly.
This meant that even the sports committee system was in chaos.
“Understood.”
Yun Jian chuckled and didn’t rush to hang up. It was a home phone, after all.
“How old is your nephew?”
Gu Chenghuai replied, “A little over five years old.”
“If he truly likes it, have him join the children’s palace to learn first. This situation will eventually end. When that time comes, he can then strive for…” Yun Jian had someone in the sports system at home and knew that a certain leader was paying close attention to this area.
He felt that within a few months or a year, normal training would resume.
“Thanks,” Gu Chenghuai said.
“Hey, we’re like brothers, why be so polite and distant?” Yun Jian said unhappily.
Back on the battlefield, if Cheng Huai hadn’t pulled him out, he wouldn’t have just injured his arm; he would have lost his life. He owed him his life. To him, Gu Chenghuai was his brother, and he would naturally be unhappy if his brother was distant.
A hint of helplessness flickered in Gu Chenghuai’s eyes. He said, “If my nephew can truly reach that stage, I’ll find you then.”
Yun Jian was immediately satisfied.
“Don’t worry, leave it to me. I can handle such a small matter for our nephew!”
Gu Chenghuai: “…”
Bonus chapter 1k~
It’s a bit stuck, let me sort it out first.
