The mother of the era is reborn to support her cannon fodder children!

Chapter 108 "Little Fengzi"

Lin Zhao wiped the sweat from her eldest son's forehead and said, "Really? There's also a little girl. Is she as big as you and your brother?"

The eldest son pondered, "No, she looks younger than us, she's the younger sister."

Erzai squeezed forward and presented his sweaty head to his mother, "Mom, there's me too, there's me too, I want to wipe myself too."

"Alright, alright, Mother will wipe it for you," Lin Zhao said with a smile.

The second son was completely satisfied.

“Mom, there was this guy walking with one leg higher than the other. I asked him what happened to his leg, and he said it was broken. Then I asked him if he called the police, and he said that calling the police is sometimes helpful, and sometimes it's not. Mom, why did he say that? What kind of things are not helpful to call the police?”

The child's eyes were full of questions.

Lin Zhao stopped smiling and fell silent, carefully choosing her words.

Erzai was very talkative. Before Lin Zhao could answer, he took out the jade gourd that Grandma Ning had given him and smiled at his mother, "Mom, look at my jade gourd. Grandma Ning gave it to us. Isn't it pretty?"

Lin Zhao's gaze fell on the white jade gourd, his expression one of astonishment.

What a grand gesture!

In the original book, jade would become very valuable after a few decades.

The jade gourd that Erzai has is made of fine and oily jade, with even light transmission, smooth lines, and soft color. It is obviously a good piece of jade.

"Do you all have them?" she asked.

The eldest child also took out his own, "Yes, I have a hammer too. It's a gift from Grandma Ning, so we can take Cat Egg to play with in the future."

Lin Zhao and the twins discussed it, "Would Mother keep it for you?"

It's not that I'm greedy for children's things, but I'm worried they might take them outside and cause trouble.

The eldest son eagerly placed the jade gourd into his mother's palm, saying, "Okay, Mother, please keep it for me."

"I need Mom to help me keep mine too, I'd be willing to give it to Mom." The second son's mouth was as sweet as honey.

He looked serious.

It's not surprising; children of this age are closest to their mothers, and they are innocent and pure.

Before Lin Zhao could speak, Tie Chui gave her his jade gourd as well.

"My third aunt helped me collect them too," he grinned.

Lin Zhao was both amused and exasperated.

"Your mother should keep the hammer for you," she said with a smile.

Iron Hammer scratched his head sheepishly, "I trust Third Aunt. The jade gourds all look the same, so they should be placed together!"

Lin Zhao thought to herself, this isn't a matter of whether I can trust her or not, my sister-in-law is still here.

"Why don't you ask your mother what she thinks?" she casually suggested.

Hammer was even more bewildered, then said matter-of-factly, "Why do you need to ask my mother? Grandma Ning gave it to me!"

Huang Xiulan came out of the kitchen and overheard the entire conversation between her third sister-in-law and her youngest son. She was so angry that she laughed.

The simple-minded boy even asked why?
Why don't you ask about the eldest and second sons?

"Third sister-in-law, please keep it for her," Huang Xiulan said.

“I trust you, and I trust you too,” she emphasized.

The third family has a solid financial foundation, so they don't need to worry about that little bit.

Ultimately, it's because the jade gourd is jade, not gold, so Huang Xiulan felt it wasn't worth much, not even enough to buy a steamed bun. She figured she could keep the iron hammer however she wanted.

Since his sister-in-law had spoken, Lin Zhao didn't refuse and said, "Okay, I'll keep it for you."

To prevent the eldest son from neglecting it and breaking or losing it, which is quite possible, since it will be at least ten years before the jade gourd becomes valuable. Ten years is a long time, and too many things can change in that time.

"Tomorrow, your third aunt will give you a hardcover notebook. Write down the things you leave with me so you don't forget them."

Hammer learns everything from the twins. When the older twins started learning to read, he followed suit and now knows quite a few words.

"Okay," he said obediently.

Huang Xiulan felt that her third sister-in-law really cared about Tiechui, and that this simple-minded boy was destined for good fortune.

The third son is a battalion commander and will continue to rise in rank sooner or later. His wife is an educated woman who works at the supply and marketing cooperative. Both of them have bright futures. Their four sons are all incredibly clever. The third son's family will take off sooner or later. But her son, Tiechui, managed to squeeze in. He is favored by the twins and liked by the third brother's wife. With this kind of luck... it's only a matter of time before he is carried along.

The second son hugged his mother and said, "Mom, my brother and I want hardcover notebooks too."

"Alright, alright, I'll have them all." Lin Zhao's eyes were indulgent.

There are still quite a few points left on the lucky draw wheel; I can try a few spins later.

Last night I just randomly drew one item and got pork, cooking oil, red beans, etc., all of which are food.

The eldest son, with a solemn expression, said to the second son and the hammer, "We need to practice our handwriting properly, otherwise we won't even recognize the characters we write."

“I have been practicing, brother. I’m listening to you and practicing calligraphy with a copybook every day,” Erzai said.

I found the calligraphy copybook in the recycle bin.

Iron Hammer: "I listen to it too, and I practice it too."

The light was dim at night, and it used up a lot of lamp oil, so the children spent their study time during the day, learning and practicing characters before going out to play.

The eldest son is steady and self-disciplined, and he is particularly good at suppressing loneliness. He never forgets his daily study tasks no matter what he does. Under his influence, the second son and the hammer also gradually develop good study habits.

With such a sensible and good son, Lin Zhao is truly worry-free.

"Dinner's ready, everyone go wash up," Huang Xiulan called out, remembering the important matter at hand.

The bamboo curtain on the main house door frame was lifted from the inside, making a clicking sound.

Mr. Gu patted his pockets, a smile spreading across his face; he was in a very good mood.

He called to his grandchildren, "Wash your hands and eat."

The children busied themselves, obediently washing their hands with soap, scrubbing each finger several times, and finally rinsing off the foam with clean water. As they walked to the dining table, they smelled their hands, their eyes crinkling with smiles at the pleasant aroma.

The food on the table was no different from usual: coarse grain steamed buns, half a bowl of stir-fried cabbage, a cold carrot salad, and a bowl of porridge with only a few grains of rice for each person.

The only difference was the golden vegetable pancakes.

"Vegetable boxes!!" Lai Mei and her friends spent the whole afternoon waiting in the mountains for a rabbit to run into a tree stump, and only now did they see vegetable boxes.

“Your third aunt starts making it as soon as she gets home from get off work,” Zhao Liuniang said. “You’ve been running off like a ghost.”

The Lin family does not have the habit of scolding people at the dinner table, and this is also Lin Zhao's habit.

She smiled and changed the subject, "Second sister-in-law and Lai Mei should try it and see how it tastes. If they like it, we'll make it again in the future."

"Auntie's cooking is always delicious," Lai Mei said first, and seeing that her grandparents and other elders had started eating, she unceremoniously picked up a vegetable pancake.

Taking a bite, the thought that Tie Dan often had arose in his mind—it's so good that Uncle San's family moved back.

Not only do we get to taste meat every ten days or half a month, but we also get other things to eat from time to time. It's so wonderful!

……

After finishing his meal, Gu's father couldn't wait to call his third son to accompany him to the foot of the mountain.

Before he could finish speaking, Gu's mother glared at him.

"Where are you going? Don't you know what time it is? It's not even dark yet. I think you're trying to get your whole family killed!"

The mischievous boys were sent out, and she kept her voice down, afraid that the neighbors would hear.

Mr. Gu hurriedly explained, "I didn't plan to go to that old house now. I was going to gather some firewood at the foot of the mountain and go there after dark."

Of course, he also had other plans in mind. He thought that those people would need to gather firewood to cook, and if he could run into them, it wouldn't hurt to exchange a few words.

Mother Gu suppressed her anger and instructed, "Alright, but be mindful of your words and don't let anyone see you."

Most of the people in the group are good people and don't hold grudges, but... there are also those who can't stand Gu Jia.

"I know, I know." Father Gu winked at Gu Chenghuai.

My wife is getting fiercer and fiercer!

Gu Chenghuai sighed inwardly, glanced at his wife, and left with his father.

The father and son arrived at the foot of the mountain and looked at the few thatched houses in the distance. The weeds around them had been cleared away, and the old, dilapidated houses without courtyard walls stood there, looking particularly desolate.

Father Gu said with concern, "...There isn't even a courtyard wall. If a wild boar runs down the mountain, where will these people escape to?"

Even experienced hunters can't handle powerful wild beasts.

Gu Chenghuai said, "They will build a wall around the courtyard."

“They’re all old and young, none of them seem capable of working,” Gu’s father said, still worried. He was a kind-hearted man, and even without Mr. Qiao, he would still be concerned. “I’ll go talk to the brigade leader tomorrow,” Gu Chenghuai added.

Mr. Gu patted his son on the shoulder, his face crinkling with laughter.

He was a nobody in his life, but he did have a very successful son.

While they were talking, Gu Chenghuai was busy picking up firewood, his movements swift and efficient.

A rustling sound of footsteps came from behind.

The newcomer approached with a limp, a face that was unfamiliar to both the Gu family father and son.

He carried a bundle of firewood on his back, had fair skin, dark eyes, soft facial features, a slender and tall build, and a refined and gentle demeanor.

Meng Jiusi saw the two men, nodded, and walked past them toward the thatched hut.

"Wait a minute," Mr. Gu called softly.

Meng Jiusi stopped, looked at him with a puzzled expression.

"Among your group, is that elderly gentleman with gray hair surnamed Qiao?" Gu's father looked around cautiously and, seeing that there was no one else around, asked cautiously.

Upon hearing this, Meng Jiusi's expression remained unchanged, and he said calmly, "I don't know, we're not familiar with each other."

Gu's father believed him.

Gu Chenghuai didn't believe a word of it. It was normal not to be familiar with each other before things settled down. Now that things were settled, it would be a bit deliberate to say that they weren't familiar with each other!

The young man disappeared with one foot higher than the other. Gu's father sighed, "He's so young, why is his foot so bad? Sigh."

I don't even know what mistake I made.

Fearing they might run into the main group, the Gu father and son didn't linger and tacitly went a little further away to gather firewood. While gathering firewood, the father mumbled a lot about his past in Haicheng, which Gu Chenghuai listened to intently.

At the foot of the mountain, a thatched hut.

"Someone is asking about me?" Mr. Qiao asked in surprise.

Meng Jiusi nodded, "Yes, the ones who stopped me were a father and son, probably from the brigade. The old man looked honest and unassuming, but his son... had a very imposing presence; judging from his posture, he looked like a soldier."

I just don't know if he's been discharged from the military or not.

Mr. Qiao was puzzled, but he didn't show it on his face, just smiled faintly.

"Maybe it's someone I helped casually when I was young, who knows? What's meant to happen will happen, just wait and see."

Seeing that the old man understood, Meng Jiusi didn't say anything more. He went to a corner, made a simple three-stone stove, and started a fire to cook soup.

This earthenware jar was something he managed to keep with great difficulty, and it even had a corner broken off, but fortunately it was still usable.

Others are also trying to find food.

At this time.

The brigade leader came over, followed by two young men, one carrying a burlap sack and the other holding a large bamboo basket.

Seeing that the weeds beside the house had been cleared clean, the brigade leader nodded in satisfaction and called out, "Everyone come out here for a bit."

Everyone inside the house went outside.

Before arriving at the Harvest Brigade, everyone suffered unspeakable torment.

Even someone as composed as Mr. Qiao didn't want any more changes.

The captain waved to the young man who had come with him.

"Put your things down."

The two did so.

The brigade leader looked at Meng Jiusi and the others and said, "You don't have any food, do you? I'll take the liberty of sending you fifty catties of coarse grains and some vegetables. Consider it credit, and you can pay me back with work points later."

After much thought, he still felt that the grain should be distributed to these people. Not only should the grain be distributed, but work points should also be calculated. The higher-ups only mentioned education, not taking people's lives.

The people standing at the door of the thatched hut were stunned, not expecting the brigade leader to deliver food to them.

Several breaths later.

The coldness in Meng Jiusi's eyes softened somewhat, and she solemnly thanked him, "Thank you."

The captain waved his hand dismissively, "It's only right. As for you guys, just do what the higher-ups say. If they tell you to write a self-criticism, then write it. Don't be stubborn; it won't do you any good. As the old saying goes, a wise man doesn't suffer a loss in front of him."

"Think about it carefully."

Before anyone could answer, he left with two young men.

No one spoke in front of the thatched hut, and no one knew the sudden turmoil that had arisen in their hearts.

In the blink of an eye, the sky darkened.

Gu's father and Gu Chenghuai arrived at the old house at the foot of the mountain.

"Dong dong dong."

There was a dull knock on the door.

The door, barely functional, was opened.

Mr. Qiao looked at the two people outside the door, his gaze finally landing on Mr. Gu's face. He tried hard to recall him, but it was in vain.

His mind was blank.

"Are you Mr. Qiao?" Mr. Gu asked, his voice trembling as he suppressed his excitement.

Joe?

They can accurately pronounce their own surname.

They must be someone they know.

An old acquaintance he had forgotten.

Mr. Qiao thought with emotion.

His aged, wise eyes were tinged with a hint of apology.

"My surname is Qiao."

Mr. Gu looked delighted and asked, "Are you Mr. Qiao from the Qiao Mansion in Haicheng?"

"The Qiao Mansion?" Old Mr. Qiao chuckled. "A long time ago, the Qiao Mansion no longer exists."

"It really is you, Mr. Qiao!" Mr. Gu's eyes lit up with an astonishing gleam.

He introduced himself with unusual excitement, trying to recall his benefactor's memories.

"It's me, I'm Gu Feng, the skinny kid who was bullied while selling cigarettes outside the dance hall. You helped me, you took me to the Qiao Mansion, and you even taught me to read..."

He was only halfway through his sentence when Mr. Qiao remembered it.

"It's you." The wariness in his eyes vanished instantly, and he smiled as he looked Gu Feng up and down, saying, "I never thought I'd see you again. Little Feng, you've gotten old. I wasn't wrong when I sent you away back then, was I? I said that if we were destined to meet again, we would meet again, and look, we really have."

As they spoke, the door was opened, allowing the Gu family father and son to enter the house.

There wasn't even a stool in the room, and the bed was just made of straw.

Mr. Gu glanced at it, and couldn't quite describe the feeling in his heart.

“Mr. Qiao, why are you…” Afraid of touching Mr. Qiao’s sore spot, he started to speak but then swallowed back the question he wanted to ask, and only said, “I have an old bed and old quilts at home. If you don’t mind, I will bring them to you when it gets a little later.”

Mr. Qiao didn't stand on ceremony and accepted his kindness, saying, "I don't mind at all. What's there to mind? I should thank you. I'm lacking everything here."

"Alright, my son and I will bring it to you later," said Mr. Gu.

Then she introduced her son to him, "This is my third son, Gu Chenghuai."

"He's a good young man. He must have served in the army, right?" Mr. Qiao's eyes revealed his appreciation.

Gu's father said proudly, "He's still a soldier now."

He didn't mention that his son was already a battalion commander, which sounded like he was showing off.

Gu Chenghuai saw the benefactor his father always talked about; his hair was gray, his eyes were sharp and bright, and he gave off a refined and elegant air.

"Mr. Qiao." He nodded in greeting, calm and composed.

"Don't follow your father's example. Your father and I are old acquaintances. If you don't mind my current situation, you can call me Uncle Qiao in private." When he was young, Mr. Qiao secretly delivered supplies and medicines and had a lot of dealings with the military, so he had a natural affinity for soldiers.

Gu Chenghuai readily changed his form of address to "Uncle Qiao".

Mr. Qiao patted Mr. Gu on the shoulder and said with emotion, "Your son is no ordinary man. I told you he was destined for good fortune."

(End of this chapter)