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

Chapter 113 "That Annoying Brat"

“Brother is home, sister is sleeping,” Sanzai answered clearly.

He tilted his head, revealing a cute smile. His cloth shoes were dusty, unlike their usual clean ones, but they had the look one would expect from someone his age.

Of course, Lin Zhao would love her son no matter what he was like, but she would prefer to see him free to express his true nature and be happy.

In the original book, Sanzai was abducted and spent his short life searching for his way home. Before he froze to death, he kept calling out for his mother, saying that he missed home, missed the small mountain village where he had a home, and longed for a sip of hot water...

It was just a few lines of text.

Every time Lin Zhao thought about it, it felt like a thousand ants were gnawing at her heart.

"Why did the third son come out alone?" She looked at her youngest son with gentle eyes.

The third child grinned, looking incredibly cute, and said, "Welcome, Mother."

Lin Zhao had a guess in her mind, but she didn't expect to hear these words from his little mouth.

Her eyes and brows were full of smiles. "Wow, my little one is already so caring about his mother at such a young age? I'm so touched. Thank you, my little one."

The child was delighted by the praise and kicked his legs even harder, repeatedly saying, "I'll pick up my mom tomorrow too!"

"Okay, but you can't leave the village. You have to stay where the adults can see you. Call Dahuang, understand?" Lin Zhao said worriedly.

The third child could understand what was being said and nodded with his cheeks puffed out.

Her sweet, childlike voice rippled out like waves.

"I know~"

Lin Zhao gently stroked her son's soft hair, her voice soft, "Third son is so smart."

Beside him, Yuan Xiang nodded vigorously.

That's clever.

She was incredibly intelligent, a level of intelligence I'd never even heard of before.

The group returned to the Gu family home.

Seeing Lin Zhao's cheerful expression, Gu's mother guessed that the matchmaking went well today and asked directly, "How did the matchmaking go?"

Lin Zhao looked at Yuan Xiang and saw that she was blushing as she held the cloth bag, and said shyly, "...Not bad."

“My sister and that young man are officially dating,” Lin Zhao added.

When Gu's mother heard Lin Zhao mention the young man in the county, she thought he was a really good catch. If Xing'er weren't so useless, she would have thought that if her daughter-in-law's cousin and the young man didn't get along, she could let Xing'er give it a try. But then she thought about her little girl's personality... so she decided against it and decided not to mess with such a fine young man.

"Congratulations!" Gu's mother congratulated Yuan Xiang. "Our family will be celebrating a happy occasion soon."

People nowadays value efficiency. There are plenty of people who meet someone they like this month and get married next month. She's not exaggerating at all.

Yuan Xiang lowered her head, her face flushed.

Seeing that she was embarrassed, Gu's mother stopped teasing her and said to Lin Zhao, "Third son's wife, the eldest and second sons are in the backyard. They have something for you."

"Really? I'll go take a look." Lin Zhao was very curious and went straight to the backyard.

As soon as I appeared in the backyard, two children with black hands and faces ran over.

"Mother!" Erzai called out in a clear voice, running towards Lin Zhao, grabbing her hand and pulling her towards the fire. "Mother, hurry up, come and see what surprise my brother and I have prepared for you."

Lin Zhao looked at Gu Chenghuai not far away, her eyes crinkling as she teased her son, "What will I do if I can't walk anymore? My legs are so tired after riding my bike all the way."

Erzai held Lin Zhao's hand with one hand and wiped his face with the other, revealing another dark spot on his fair cheek. His eyes, however, were very bright, and he spoke earnestly, "Mother, I'll give you a massage later. I'm getting stronger and stronger now, and you'll feel better after I rub you."

After saying that, he didn't let his father off the hook either. Looking at the man who was busy lighting the earthenware pot, he said, "Dad, are you busy tomorrow? If you're not, can you take Mom to work?"

He even gave me a look that said, "It's because my brother and I are still young. When we're older, we'll take turns driving Mom to and from get off work, one day for you and one day for me. By then, what will be left for you, Dad?"

Lin Zhao laughed heartily.

She was almost dying of laughter at her second son.

Gu Chenghuai narrowed his eyes, coldly glancing at his rebellious son, and said lightly, "Gu Erzai, shut your mouth. What business is it of yours? When I'm home, you don't have a chance to curry favor with your mother."

The second son crossed his arms and grumbled, "Dad isn't home every day, we'll have plenty of opportunities."

Gu Chenghuai choked.

"..." You annoying brat!

The eldest son brought a stool to Lin Zhao, saying, "Mother, please sit down."

She brought over another half bowl of water. "Mom, drink this water. It's cooled boiled water with sugar added. It's sweet."

Lin Zhao was indeed a little thirsty, so she took a sip of water. It did contain sugar, but it wasn't too sweet, which suited her taste.

"Thank you, son," she said with a smile.

Seeing what Gu Chenghuai was grilling, she glanced at him curiously and asked, "What's he grilling? It smells delicious."

"Roasted bird meat, and bird eggs!" Erzai shouted, looking particularly smug. "Mom, Cat Egg led us to collect the bird eggs. We collected about ten, and he shared half with us."

“Dad shot the bird…” His eyes shone brightly, like stars illuminating the night sky, and his tone was proud and admiring. “Dad is so amazing. He shoots birds with a slingshot and hits every single one. My dad is the best dad in the whole brigade, no, the whole commune.”

Gu Chenghuai's lips curled slightly.

Isn't it!

The eldest son also said, "Mom, we asked Dad to help us roast meat and eggs. Dad roasts them really well, you should have one."

Once Mom eats one, she'll realize that he and her brother were right; roasted bird eggs really are delicious.

Lin Zhao walked towards Gu Chenghuai, extending both hands.

The young couple exchanged a glance and immediately understood what the other meant.

Gu Chenghuai took a ladle, scooped water, and slowly poured it into the vegetable garden. Lin Zhao washed her hands with the water.

"Thank you, Comrade Gu." Lin Zhao smiled, her eyes crinkling.

Gu Chenghuai shook his head helplessly, his voice tinged with laughter, "Try it, it's a sparrow egg. I used to eat it a lot when I was a child. I don't know if you can get used to it."

Lin Zhao rolled her eyes at him and said boastfully, "I'm a country bumpkin too, okay? If you've eaten it, of course I've eaten it too. When I was little, my older brother and his friends would catch sparrows, look for bird eggs, and wild fruits. I've eaten everything you've eaten."

Gu Chenghuai smiled but remained silent.

not necessarily.

He used to eat raw meat when he was starving while on missions, so his wife is so delicate and can't stand even the slightest bit of fish; it's impossible that she's ever eaten that.

"I underestimated you, I really shouldn't have," Gu Chenghuai said with a smile. He put down the water ladle, dried Lin Zhao's hands, and handed her some bird meat and eggs that had just been roasted. "Try it and see if the taste is any different from when you were a child."

Lin Zhao thought there must be a difference, at least the seasonings were very different. When she was a child, there was only salt, but now, the Gu family uses the seasonings she won in a lottery. Not only are they complete, but they also taste great. They make stir-fried cabbage delicious, and grilled meat and eggs are even more extraordinary.

She first tasted a bird egg; it was tiny, less than a bite.

It smells delicious, the outer layer is slightly crispy, and the inside is very soft.

"It's delicious, even better than when I was a kid." Lin Zhao was very accommodating.

The twins found the bird eggs, and when they heard that their mother liked them, the two boys smiled happily.

"If Mother likes it, we'll go find more later and bake it for her again," said the eldest son.

Lin Zhao knew that before she awakened, finding and roasting bird eggs was something the twins looked forward to, as it was a rare delicacy for them.

How many children would think of sharing their favorite delicious memories with their mother? It's good enough if they don't stuff all the good food into their own mouths.

Lin Zhao felt incredibly warm inside and opened her arms to the twins, saying, "Come here, let Mommy give you a hug."

Swish.

The two children's faces instantly turned as red as apples.

This is completely different from what Gu Chenghuai did before he returned.

The two little ones used to be very clingy, always wanting to stay in Lin Zhao's arms. If he touched their little hands or kissed their little faces, the two brothers would be happy all day.

However, the two children were a little embarrassed to be so affectionate with their mother in front of their father. The older and younger brothers secretly glanced at Gu Chenghuai and realized that their father hadn't turned around at all, so they fumed.

“Dad, turn your back. It’s embarrassing for my brother and me to be staring at you like that. It’s affecting how we’re getting to know Mom. Turn around…” Erzai’s eyes were full of disapproval as he kept saying things.

Gu Chenghuai laughed in exasperation, "How about I climb over the wall and make room for you?"

Why are you making such a fuss? You haven't hit them enough!

Erzai's eyes lit up, "Great! Great!"

"Dad can actually climb over walls!?" That's amazing.

A sense of adoration emanated from those eyes.

"..." Gu Chenghuai was both amused and exasperated.

While his younger brother was babbling away, the older child wiped his hands and face clean, snuggled into Lin Zhao's arms, and felt very happy, having not been able to cuddle with his mother for several days.

When Erzai saw this, he also rushed towards Lin Zhao.

Seeing his younger brother coming over, the older brother blurted out, "Second brother, wash your hands and face. You're all dirty, don't get your mother's clothes dirty."

Erzai braked suddenly and stopped, looking down at his hands, which were indeed covered in black grime. He quickly went to the side to wash his hands and face.

After cleaning up, he hugged Lin Zhao's waist.

"Mom, I practiced calligraphy diligently today."

Lin Zhao cupped her two sons' faces in her hands and kissed each of them on the cheek. "You're so great, you make my life so easy. I'll bring you gifts tomorrow."

The second child looked up expectantly, his voice soft, "Mommy, what is it?"

"It'll be a secret for now, you'll find out tomorrow afternoon," Lin Zhao said softly.

Erzai knew his mother was going to surprise them, so he didn't ask any more questions. He smiled sweetly and said, "Mother is so good. My brother and I are the happiest kids in the whole commune."

The eldest son also said, "Mom made my second son and me the happiest children in the whole commune. When we grow up, we will also make Mom the happiest mother."

Isn't this just empty promises?
Whether it's true or not doesn't matter; the warmth in Lin Zhao's heart at this moment is real.

"Okay, Mother will wait."

The twins were full of energy.

Gu Chenghuai witnessed his wife coaxing the two boys into becoming placentas. The two boys were so excited that they couldn't wait to grow up and support their mother.

"You two should rest for a while. You're talking about things decades from now. With me here, your mother will be the happiest daughter-in-law for the rest of her life."

The second son was unconvinced, but didn't know how to refute it. He knew his father was right.

The kid's mind works fast; he's openly and honestly setting a trap for his dad.

"If Dad wants Mom to be the happiest daughter-in-law, then he can't make Mom angry, he has to listen to Mom, whatever Mom says goes, and he has to take the initiative to do things around the house, he can't let Mom nag him... Dad can do that, right?"

He was so short and stocky, yet he stood tall and fearless, facing off against his father who was much taller than him. He spoke his mind freely, showing that a spoiled child would never act like this.

Lin Zhao felt gratified looking at Erzai's appearance.

Outgoing and confident children are really endearing!
Gu Chenghuai poked at the fire in the ceramic basin with fire tongs. Hearing Erzai's words, he replied casually yet seriously, "Of course, you don't need to tell me."

"You're so young, yet you're so nosy. Who told you all this?"

Lin Zhao was also curious and stared at Erzai's dark head with surprise.

"I heard it from the villagers." Because he heard it by the river, Erzai didn't dare to say more, afraid that his mother would worry.

The older child had a strange look in his eyes.

Is that what the villagers say?
How could he possibly remember that his aunts were always talking badly about their men?

One woman said her husband was always making her angry; another said her husband only listened to his mother and never listened to her; yet another said her husband was so naive he didn't even know how to lift a finger; and finally, she said her husband had an affair with a vixen from the neighboring village…

As the eldest son was pondering this, the second son asked, "Mom, what is a fox spirit?"

Lin Zhao subconsciously looked at Gu Chenghuai.

Huh? What's going on?!

Gu Chenghuai was even more confused than his wife.

Why are you asking that?

Erzai said, "I heard from an aunt in the village that her husband has an affair with a fox spirit from the neighboring village. Is a fox spirit a demon that has turned into a monster? How can it have an affair with a person?"

His bright black eyes were full of innocent curiosity.

“Second son, after the founding of the People’s Republic of China, animals cannot become spirits. Small animals are just small animals. No small animals can become spirits, understand?” Lin Zhao replied.

"Oh." The second son seemed to understand, then asked, "Why is the fox spirit involved in such an ambiguous relationship with a person?"

Lin Zhao: You haven't forgotten yet!?
"Ask your father. I'm going to take your aunt home." Lin Zhao left with these words, gave Gu Chenghuai a look that said "good luck to you," and hurried back to the front yard.

The twins knew she was going to take Yuan Xiang back to the Dongfeng Brigade. Although they wanted to go too, they knew their mother had important business to attend to, so they didn't make a fuss. Knowing Lin Zhao would be back soon, they didn't go with her but instead kept pestering their father.

Gu Chenghuai couldn't discuss such profound questions with his young sons. His deep black eyes swept over the twins, and he said lightly, "Do you still want to bake the eggs like this?"

"……study."

"If you're going to study, study seriously. Don't ask questions here and there."

……

Lin Zhao went to the front yard, went back into the house to get the clothes she had changed out of that morning, packed some things to take back to her parents' home, called Yuan Xiang, and drove her back to the Dongfeng Brigade.

Upon returning to her parents' home, she received a warm welcome from the entire family, just as before.

"Auntie, you're back." Erdan took the bicycle from him and pushed it to the wall to park it.

Da Dan took the large bag from Lin Zhao's hand. "Auntie, let me take the bag. Is it heavy? Don't tire yourself out. Why did you carry it back by yourself? You should have let my dad and second uncle bring it back tonight."

Auntie, are you thirsty? I'll get you some water. My grandpa made some jam, I'll make you some jam water, it'll be sweet and sour, I'm sure you'll like it.

My grandpa specially saved two bottles for you, saying he wanted to give them to you... but he hasn't had a chance yet.

Aunt, Grandpa's complexion has improved a lot these past two days. My grandma said the things you sent were very effective..."

Comrade Lin Dadan, who acts like a big boss outside, is a chatterbox in front of his family, talking in great detail.

Lin Zhao smiled and responded occasionally.

Xi Bao clung to Lin Zhao, "Auntie, can you sleep at home for one night? I want to sleep with you tonight."

"I'm afraid not, I haven't told my family yet, and I have to go to work tomorrow," Lin Zhao said.

Seeing the disappointment on Xibao's face, he stroked her soft hair and said, "When my house is finished, I'll invite you all to stay for one night, along with Xuanxuan and Zhengzheng. We can sleep in one bed, okay?"

Xi Bao nodded, "Okay, okay."

Lin Zhao noticed that Xi Bao's clothes had been altered by Chen Yu and suited her very well, making the little girl even more adorable. "The clothes are very pretty; your mother did a great job altering them."

"Thank you, Auntie, for the clothes." Xibao nuzzled her head against her aunt's palm.

Seeing her daughter so clingy, Chen Yu, supporting her protruding belly, said helplessly, "Xi Bao, let your aunt rest. Don't be so fussy."

"Okay." Xi Bao obediently sat down next to her, her eyes fixed on her aunt.

Lin Zhao sat down and looked at her father's face; it had improved somewhat.

"Dad, you look better. How are you feeling? Is the medicine working for you?"

Lin Heling smiled and said gently, "It's useful."

He was a patient, and he could feel the medicine repairing... his broken body.

"It's good that it's useful." Lin Zhao smiled brightly, her eyes curving into crescent moons.

She then looked at Song Xiwei, "Mother, I made new clothes for you and Father, and I also altered the clothes for Xuanxuan and Zhengzheng. They're all here. Take a look?"