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

Chapter 142 "Settlement"

"Mommy, are there any fierce animals at the zoo?" Hengbao spread his arms wide, making an exceptionally large circle, his eyes brighter than the stars in the summer night sky.

"Yes, tigers, lions, and gorillas are all very powerful," Lin Zhao replied.

As she spoke, the Gu family children all looked at their third aunt, their ears perked up, their eyes shining.

They've heard of tigers, which the villagers call "big cats." The older generation says they live deep in the mountains, and they're terrifying creatures that eat people, capable of swallowing a child whole in one bite.

Noticing the children's gazes, Lin Zhao said regretfully, "It's a pity the road is too far. If it were convenient, I would like to take you all to see it."

It's never a bad thing for children to go out and see the world.

Gu Lan could see her aunt's seriousness, and her heart warmed. She said, "It's alright, Yu Bao and the others can go see it and tell us when they get back."

With so many children in the family, my third uncle and aunt couldn't possibly take them all in.

Yu Bao had a sudden inspiration: "My family has a camera. I'll have my dad take pictures of you. Then you can see the photos too."

Not forgetting to ask Lin Zhao's opinion, she asked, "Mom, is it okay?"

"Sure," Lin Zhaoying said gently, looking at Gu Lan and the others with affection. "We'll bring you gifts when we get back from the provincial capital."

Hammer's eyes sparkled.

The simple-minded little brat doesn't know how to be polite. When his aunt said she wanted to give him a gift, he dared to accept it.

"Third Aunt is so kind."

Tie Dan, for some unknown reason, burst out laughing.

Lin Zhao was drawn to his laughter and looked down at him. "Zhixing, is there anything you want?"

The seven-year-old boy's eyes lit up at the light, and he asked nervously yet expectantly, "Can I have a schoolbag?"

"Sure." Lin Zhao immediately agreed, remembering the military green schoolbag that the child liked in the storage ring, her eyes filled with a hint of appreciation. "I didn't expect Zhixing to be such a book-loving child. Not bad."

Tie Dan felt a little guilty.

He wanted a schoolbag, and it had nothing to do with studying. He just felt that Yu Bao and Heng Bao looked very cool with their schoolbags on, and as the older brother, he wanted to look cool too.

"I will study hard."

Lin Zhao knew, of course, that Tie Dan was mischievous. Being playful was better than being dull; he was quick-witted.

"Yes, you're the older brother, and you have so many younger brothers and sisters. You need to set a good example for them."

Tie Dan puffed out his chest and raised his head, "Yes, yes, I will."

As they spoke, Lin Zhao led a string of children of all ages back home.

When Gu's mother saw her third daughter-in-law holding the twins, she was stunned for a moment. She quickly stepped forward and took Yao Bao from her, and said with a smile, "Why are you still letting your mother hold you? Your mother must be very tired after working all day and walking all the way back. You can't do this again, you know? If you want to hold her, you have to wait for your mother to rest."

Yao Bao looked at her grandma, then turned her dark eyes to her mother, revealing an incredibly sweet and gentle smile.

"My darling."

The voice is so cute.

Looking at her little grandson's well-behaved and adorable face, Gu's mother couldn't bear to say anything more and let him play by himself, noticing that Gu Lan and the others each had a small stack of books in their hands.

"Zhaozhao, you went to the recycling center to look for books again. These books are so heavy, you must be tired."

The book is for all the children in the Gu family to read. Gu's mother is not short-sighted and appreciates her daughter-in-law's kindness.

Lin Zhao chuckled, "I'm not tired. I came back by oxcart."

"The oxcart from the next brigade?" Everyone from the neighboring brigades knew about the oxcart, having ridden in it before. Gu's mother laughed, "I didn't expect the old man to be willing to bring out his precious ox, not even afraid that his ox brother would get heatstroke."

She and the old man from the village were not much different in age, so they naturally knew each other.

Lin Zhao told her mother-in-law about the story of Erhua Gouzi, a male educated youth.

Mother Gu's brows were so furrowed they could trap a mosquito.

"People should just live their own lives honestly. If you keep your eyes on things that don't belong to you, you'll only end up hurting yourself."

Lin Zhao washed her face with well water, and felt refreshed.

She nodded slightly in agreement with her mother-in-law's assessment.

Who said no.

Yao Bao looked down at her little feet and said in a soft, cute voice, "No, no, it'll hurt my feet."

That slight panic could be heard from a great distance.

Yu Bao patted his sister's head and coaxed her in a serious voice, "Don't hit, don't hit, don't hit Yao Bao's feet."

The little bundle of milk seemed finally relieved, patting its chest with lingering fear, its little brows unfurrowing as it smiled.

After comforting her younger sister, Yu Bao looked at Lin Zhao and asked, "Mom, can we open the gift our comrade-in-arms gave us?"

"Open it."

As soon as Lin Zhao finished speaking, the Gu family children all crowded around. Tie Dan, holding his eyelids open with his fingers, said in a lighthearted tone, revealing the mischievousness unique to little boys, "Let me see what the cookies look like..."

The twins opened the cloth bag and saw the chocolates first.

Hengbao picked it up and said happily, "Chocolate! So much chocolate! Uncle Zhan is so generous, I wish I had a comrade!"

Lin Zhao: "..."

Tie Dan and the others had heard him mention chocolate before.

"So this is the bitter sugar you were talking about. I see." Xingci said.

After applying her skincare products, Lin Zhao came out of the room and said, "Yu Bao, Heng Bao, open the chocolate and let your older brother and sister have a taste."

“Hey!” Yu Bao’s voice rose.

Together with my younger brother, I shared chocolates with my older siblings.

Mother Gu has no possessiveness towards her daughter-in-law's things. She doesn't refuse her daughter-in-law's filial piety, and she doesn't care if her daughter-in-law is not filial.

The third son's wife was very pleased that he was willing to share good things with his nephews and nieces.

As I get older, I just enjoy seeing my family living in harmony.

"Third son's wife, I'm sorry to have troubled you again."

Lin Zhao took a sip of the sugar water, looked at the children and smiled, "It's no expense, those things were given to me by my comrades Cheng Huai."

Fearing that her son would owe them a favor, Gu's mother said, "Why would they send things to Chenghuai? We've been drying a lot of mountain produce at home. Why don't we send some to Lao San's comrades-in-arms?"

Lin Zhao didn't refuse her elders' sincere wishes, "Okay, I'll send it tomorrow."

Mrs. Gu became happy and said, "I'll get ready right away."

We dried a lot of shiitake mushrooms and wood ear fungus at home, and we've cleaned them all out. If we still don't have enough, we'll go to the village to exchange them for some.

Every household has one.

After several difficult years of hunger, everyone got used to storing food.

courtyard.

The children happily tasted the chocolate, reluctant to finish it right away, and reached out to break off a piece to savor.

Some people like it, while others find it bitter.

Yu Bao and Heng Bao are both generous children. They are not possessive of their food and are willing to share their treats with their older siblings.

After distributing the chocolates, they started distributing rice balls.

Hengbao took a bite first, and the round 'millet grains' fell down. He quickly caught them with his little hands and put them in his mouth.

"Brother, this is delicious. It's a bit crunchy and sweet, like rice."

After sharing with his brother, he grabbed another one and ran towards Lin Zhao.

"Mom, eat this. It's delicious, and I'm sure you'll like it too."

Lin Zhao did not refuse her son's filial piety and took the food, saying, "Mmm, it's delicious."

When the twins reached out to ask Yu Bao for some, she said, "Yu Bao, don't give them to your younger brother and sister. You can give them those animal-shaped biscuits so they can chew on them with their front teeth."

"I know." Yu Bao squeezed her younger siblings' hands and reasoned with the twins with a serious expression, "Qian Bao, Yao Bao, you can't eat this, it will choke you, be good."

The two little ones are very good at reading faces; they can tell from their older brother's expression that they can't eat it.

Qianbao obediently withdrew his hand.

Yao Bao pouted, looking aggrieved. She subconsciously looked around for her father, but couldn't find him. Her lips were so pouty that they could hang an oil bottle on them.

Just as she was about to cry, her brother stuffed a tiny cookie, no bigger than a fingernail, into her hand.

“Yaobao, cookies are delicious too. Be good, don’t cry, or you won’t be pretty.” Yubao bent down and made a face at her sister.

The little dumpling chuckled, revealing its tiny, tender teeth. Just then, Hengbao, partially concealing his face with a brightly colored mask, said in a gruff voice, "Guess who I am?"

Yao Bao even forgot to cry and reached out for the mask, saying, "I want it, for Bao's pee!"

In my haste, I misspoke and said "urine" instead of "want".

Hengbao almost burst out laughing, but thinking about how her younger sister's temper was getting worse, she didn't dare to tease her. She cleared her throat and handed the mask to Yaobao.

Several children were playing when Lin Shisheng entered the yard, carrying a bulging snakeskin bag.

"Oh, is this a face-changing transformation?"

Hengbao laughed heartily, "No, we're playing with the gifts our comrade-in-arms gave us."

Yu Bao greeted his second uncle and diligently stuffed chocolates, biscuits, rice balls, and dried meat into his uncle's hands, filling one hand completely.

"Second Uncle, have some candy."

Lin Shisheng looked bewildered, but when he came to his senses, he smiled with relief, "Thank you, Yubao. You can eat it yourself; your second uncle won't eat it."

Yu Bao took a half step back. "Second Uncle worked hard building this house for my family. Eat up, eat up, we still have plenty left."

Lin Shisheng had no choice but to accept it, his lips curling into a wide smile that seemed to reach the sky.

Chao Linzhao gave Linzhao a smile that was both touching and helpless.

Look, his nephew is too enthusiastic, there's nothing he can do about it.

"..."

Ignoring her second brother's smugness, Lin Zhao asked, "Did eldest brother go to the motor factory?"

“I’ve gone,” Lin Shisheng replied.

He came to tell Zhaozhao about this, and also to deliver some things; the things in the snakeskin bag were all for Xiao Si.

"Should we bring some food?" Lin Zhao asked again.

She originally planned to go with her older brother, but Lin Shichang didn't want to delay her work, so he said he would go by himself. He returned to the Dongfeng Brigade around noon, took the grain, and went to the county.

"Don't worry, I have the receipt that person gave you, the grain owed, and the brigade's letter of introduction. I'm not a child, I know everything. It should all be taken care of by now," Lin Shisheng said with a smile.

These days, having a worker in the family is a source of great pride and honor. Even if it's not him who becomes the worker, he's still happy.

In the past, the villagers would laugh at his parents, saying that they had too much money to burn, sending their children to school, only to end up working in the fields earning work points just like their own children.

When the eldest brother finished transferring the grain and oil rations, the villagers were so shocked their jaws dropped.

Lin Shisheng couldn't wait to see it.

Lin Zhao noticed that her second brother's expression was strange, as if he was plotting against someone again.

"Second brother, who offended you?"

Lin Shisheng softened his expression, a gentle smile appearing in his dark eyes. "No, not at all."

He changed the subject, "Zhaozhao, your parents asked me to bring some food and eggs. You can take them to Xiao Si later."

"Okay," Lin Zhao said. "Fourth Brother has me, so Father and Mother don't need to worry. By the way, I sent the acupuncture needles to Fourth Brother, and he has already started treating his foot. When Father and Mother come again, they should see Fourth Brother looking healthy and well."

She knew that her parents were heartbroken that her fourth brother was limping.

Lin Shisheng smiled slightly. "That's good. I'll tell them when I get back."

It was getting late, so he didn't stay any longer and took his leave.

Just then, the twins who had been whispering to each other walked over.

Yu Bao stuffed a cloth bag into his second uncle's hand.

He stepped back.

He looked up at Lin Shisheng.

"Second Uncle, this is for Brother Da Dan and the others. Please take it back to them for us."

After saying that, Yu Bao looked at Lin Zhao again, "Mom, you said that we can do whatever we want with our things, right?"

Children's self-confidence is built up with the help of their parents.

It already has a sense of ownership.

Lin Zhao gently patted her son's head. "That's right."

Yu Bao smiled broadly and patted her uncle's arm. "See? My mom said we're the little masters of the house, and we keep our word. Heng Bao and I are willing to share with Brother Da Dan and the others. Second Uncle, you can't refuse for the little ones, or you won't be a good adult."

Lin Shisheng realized he couldn't win the argument.

He bent down, put his arms around Yu Bao's neck, and prickled him with his stubble.

"Smack your little mouth, I'll prick you."

Yu Bao dodged left and right, letting out a series of clear laughs, "Second Uncle, I won't say anymore, it hurts so much."

Hengbao hugged his uncle's waist and used the trick his father taught him to throw him. He was so weak, how could he possibly throw an adult down? Lin Shisheng laughed heartily.

After playing with his two nephews for a while, Lin Shisheng let the two boys go and waved the cloth bag in his hand at them, "I'm taking it. Go back and tell Da Dan and the others that you two gave it to them."

"Yes!" the twins said in unison.

When Lin Shisheng left the Gu family, Lin Shichang had just come out of the motor factory.

He looked at the imposing iron gate of the motor factory, holding his newly issued work permit, and was in an extremely good mood.

The old gatekeeper knew he was a new worker as soon as he saw him. He waved his palm-leaf fan and struck up a conversation with him, "New here?"

Although it was a question, the tone was one of absolute certainty.

Before Lin Shichang could answer, the old man continued, "Our factory is doing well, and the benefits are the same!" He gave a thumbs up.

"Work hard once you're in, and you'll do great things in the future!"

Lin Shichang nodded, "Thank you, sir."

He said goodbye to the gatekeeper and left with light steps.

I jogged all the way back to the Dongfeng Brigade.

By this time, everyone in the brigade knew that the eldest son of the Lin family had obtained a letter of introduction from the brigade leader to transfer his grain and oil rations and become a worker.

When he suddenly appeared at the village entrance, the villagers enthusiastically rushed to him.

"Xi Bao's dad, I heard you've become a factory worker?"

"Xi Bao's dad, Zhao Zhao found this job for you, right? Your sister is really capable. She's only been a worker for a short time, but she's already gotten a job for her older brother. Your family is really doing well."

Lin Shichang smiled but remained silent.

Just as he was about to say something, Lin Shisheng appeared at the village entrance, spotted his elder brother with sharp eyes, and jogged over.

"Big brother!"

Lin Shichang turned around and said, "Why are you back so early today?"

“Chenghuai went to see his uncle, and his bicycle isn’t here. Zhaozhao told me to come back early,” Lin Shisheng said.

The tone shifted abruptly, and she asked, "Big brother, have you finished your business? Zhao Zhao is asking."

Lin Shichang said, "Alright, you'll start work tomorrow. You'll have to take better care of things at home from now on."

"Why are you being so polite? Just go to work."

"What are you carrying?" Lin Shichang glanced at the cloth bag in his second brother's hand and asked.

"Comrade Chenghuai sent some food to the four kids. Yubao and Hengbao packed half of it, insisting on giving some to Dadan." In front of the villagers, Lin Shisheng grinned from ear to ear, showing off as much as he could.

People will be treated the same way.

Outsiders only see how good they are to their sister's family, but they are blind to the fact that Zhao Zhao's heart is also full of them.

The onlookers, upon hearing this, felt both envious and sour.

The Lin brothers didn't stay long. They made an excuse that they needed to go back and tell their families the good news, and walked through the crowd towards their home.

Chen Yu was restless all afternoon, her mind filled with thoughts of her husband being made difficult and the failure to transfer the grain and oil ration. She was now cooking absentmindedly.

Hearing familiar footsteps, she put down her things, supported her pregnant belly, and walked out of the kitchen.

"Dad, did you get it done?"

Lin Shichang handed her the work ID. "Okay, here's your work ID. Go to work tomorrow morning."

Chen Yu burst into tears of joy.

"That's great, that's great."

(End of this chapter)