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

Chapter 145 "Diary"

Gu Chenghuai did not offer any opinion, but simply listened patiently.

After Meng Jiusi finished speaking, he looked at his fourth brother-in-law and asked, "If the two children are not doing well, what do you plan to do, fourth brother?"

Meng Jiusi paused slightly and began to search his mind for people close to him.

After going around in circles, he realized that he could only trust his biological parents' side of the family. Only then could he feel at ease entrusting Jing Mo Guangbai to them.

He gave a wry smile.

But it's his responsibility to raise the child, so why should his family help him?

A moment later.

His expression hardened.

"I will find a way to bring them to my side." Meng Jiusi's eyes shone with an unbreakable light.

“My situation is a bit difficult, and the future is uncertain, but things are not bad for now. I can take good care of my two children.”

If he and his grandfather are sent to more difficult places for labor education in the future, he will find a way to send his two children there as well.

Putting aside others, the Lin family is his backing.

That's what convinced him of it.

It's strange, considering they only recognized each other not long ago.

The power of blood ties is so great!
Gu Chenghuai nodded.

"Okay, I'll figure it out."

Meng Jiusi raised his arm and placed it on his brother-in-law's shoulder, patting him gently a few times, and said solemnly, "Thank you."

"We're family, Fourth Brother, no need to be so polite." Gu Chenghuai didn't find it troublesome; Zhaozhao's affairs were his affairs as well.

"Fourth Brother, go to sleep early. I'm heading back now."

After saying that, the tall and upright young man left, his speed not fast, but he quickly disappeared at the foot of the mountain.

Meng Jiusi smiled, turned around, went into the courtyard, and locked the door.

I ran into Mr. Qiao coming out of the outhouse in the courtyard.

"Old Qiao," he greeted politely.

Mr. Qiao laughed, "Your brother-in-law is bringing you something again."

They all lived in the same courtyard, so there were no secrets.

Just as the Meng family grandfather and grandson knew that Mr. Qiao and Mr. Gu were old acquaintances, Mr. Qiao also knew about their relationship with the Lin family.

"My parents gave it to me." Meng Jiusi smiled broadly, unaware that he had a proud expression on his face, like a child showing off.

The things his parents gave him were so warm and comforting, like a mouthful of hot water poured into his heart in the dead of winter, making his limbs feel warm.

Mr. Qiao was a wise old man, and he could easily see through the emotions of the young man.

He said, "Your family members are all good people, cherish them."

The Lin family is commendable for being willing to reunite with their son, who had been missing for over twenty years, during such a dangerous time.

Meng Jiusi was very happy and proud that her family was being praised. "I know," she said.

After saying goodbye to Mr. Qiao, they each went back to their rooms.

Grandpa Meng was already lying in bed.

That's the good thing about living in the countryside: people go to bed early and get up early. With the help of the Lin and Gu families, the grandparents and grandchildren eat quite well, not much different from living in the city.

It's much better than those who are in the same unfortunate situation!

Seeing his grandson come in with the gifts, Grandpa Meng casually remarked, "Did your sister send these again?"

Meng Jiusi calmly said, "Zhaozhao specializes in searching for books at recycling stations. She happened to find a few medical books and had Chenghuai deliver them. The rest were given to me by my parents."

She tried her best to be reserved in front of her grandfather.

Grandpa Meng gestured with his hand towards his grandson, saying, "If you're happy, then you're happy. You don't even mind carrying that heavy load."

The way they call their parents "father" and "mother" so naturally shows they genuinely love their family; there's no need to pretend.

Meng Jiusi grinned, "I am indeed happy."

Grandpa Meng was pleased, saying, "Grandpa is happy for you too."

Although he made the decision to have his son acknowledge Jiu Si as his son, a son adopted halfway through life is naturally not as good as a biological son. His son and daughter-in-law did not care much about Jiu Si. Even if he showed favoritism, Jiu Si must have suffered a lot of grievances in places he could not see.

Now that his grandson has been reunited with his biological parents, he is only happy for Jiu Si.

Meng Jiusi opened the bundle that his parents had asked his sister and brother-in-law to send. Inside were several sets of clothes, as well as grain and meat. The eggs were in a square bamboo box with crisscrossing bamboo strips inside, securing each egg individually. None of them were broken.

"Your parents really know how to handle things," Grandpa Meng remarked.

Sure enough, a person with a will will always find a way.

Meng Jiusi smiled and said, "Let's boil eggs for breakfast tomorrow."

“Okay.” Grandpa Meng gladly accepted his grandson’s filial piety. “There are plenty of medicinal herbs on the mountain. Let’s pick some, process them, and give them to your sister. Let’s see if we can sell them for money.”

We can't always be taking.

It hurts feelings.

Meng Jiusi hid his things well. "My sister said the county hospital is buying medicinal herbs, and she asked me to dry them as much as possible so she could exchange them."

"This is great news!" Grandpa Meng decided. "Starting tomorrow, after we finish our work, we'll go back and pick medicinal herbs."

Lin Zhao is a truly thoughtful girl. You know, what truly defeats a person is never material things, but rather a mental breakdown. For Jiu Si, the medical book is a pillar of support.

It's still early.

Meng Jiusi didn't rush to sleep. He leaned against the headboard and, by the dim light of the kerosene lamp, flipped through the medical books his sister had given him.

The third branch of the Gu family.

The four babies were all asleep, with a mosquito repellent sachet next to each of their little pillows. The warm yellow light shone on them, giving them a unique warmth.

The moonlight was so bright that it slanted through the window and onto the table.

Lin Zhao felt hot and let go of Gu Chenghuai's arm that was around her.

Lying on the bamboo mat.

"Ugh, when will the electricity be turned on? I want an electric fan, I want a refrigerator."

Gu Chenghuai wasn't angry at being disliked, and he patiently fanned his wife. "Bear with it. Once the house in the county is renovated, you can live in the city. There will be electricity in the city, and then you'll have a fan."

Lin Zhao cheered up again, leaned over, hugged the man's strong arm, and smiled, "That's true."

Gu Chenghuai was happy when his wife was happy. His usually cold and aloof phoenix eyes softened with a gentle smile. "What do you want to eat tomorrow morning?"

Lin Zhao got tired of eating steamed egg custard and noodles for several days in a row.

If the villagers knew about this, they would definitely scold her for being pretentious. Who in the whole village eats breakfast? There are eggs and white noodles, and she still complains. What else is that but being pretentious?
Lin Zhao rested her head against Gu Chenghuai's chest, snuggled closer, and settled into a comfortable position.

"I want to eat pork wontons, but I didn't buy any meat."

It's a real shame.

"I'll go buy it tomorrow morning, how should I do it?" Gu Chenghuai spends little time at home and feels guilty towards Zhaozhao. He wants to offer her everything she can think of.

Lin Zhao stood up slightly and gave her husband a sweet kiss on the lips.

Her voice is sweet.

"I'll cook it myself, you just need to buy the meat."

Gu Chenghuai smiled and said, "I'll lend a hand."

"Okay." Lin Zhao yawned.

"Tired? Go to sleep." Gu Chenghuai lowered his voice.

Lin Zhao reminded him, "Remember to wake me up tomorrow morning."

"If we can't buy meat, then forget it."

Gu Chenghuai smiled, "Okay."
-
Early the next day.

Whether it was from eating too many noodles or from the allure of delicious wontons, Lin Zhao woke up before Gu Chenghuai even got home.

Having already woken up, she didn't linger and got dressed and out of bed.

The twins have finished exercising with their father and are now writing in the yard.

As Gu's father wove bamboo baskets, he listened to the radio, which was playing the morning news.

Yu Bao heard the sound of the curtain being lifted and then falling. He turned his head and saw Lin Zhao come out of the room. He put down his pencil and ran over, his voice full of worry.

"Mom, why are you up so early?"

As he spoke, he stood on tiptoe to touch Lin Zhao's forehead.

I'm afraid my mother will get sick.

There's no way around it; in the child's memory, Mom only gets up this early when she's not feeling well.

"..."

Lin Zhao was helpless.

Just how deeply ingrained is the fact that she loves to stay in bed?

Fortunately, the awkwardness didn't last long. Gu Chenghuai entered the courtyard with a piece of pork in his hand.

"We got the meat!!" Lin Zhao's happy voice rang out.

She gently rubbed Yu Bao's cheek and said with a smile, "We had wontons for breakfast this morning, weren't you happy, son?"

Yu Bao remembers the taste of the wontons; the wrappers were very thin, and the filling was all meat—they were delicious.

He nodded vigorously, "So happy!"

Hengbao licked her lips, her voice sweet as honey, "Mommy, I want a big bowl!"

"Eat as much as you want," Lin Zhao said.

After washing up, she went to the backyard to pick a few scallions, then went to the kitchen to get busy. Gu Chenghuai chopped the meat himself.

He does all the work that requires a little effort himself and doesn't let Lin Zhao interfere.

Men are strong and do everything efficiently. After chopping the meat, they started kneading the dough.

Lin Zhao's movements as she seasoned the meat looked casual, but the food she made was simply delicious.

"Is our house almost finished?"

Living in an old house isn't bad, but it's never as comfortable as going back to your own home.

"Almost done. Should the room be painted white?" Gu Chenghuai asked.

Lin Zhao nodded several times, "Yes!"

"I don't like gray; I prefer it clean and white."

Gu Chenghuai kneaded the dough, his profile strikingly handsome in the morning light. "Alright, I'll make the arrangements. We can move into the new house as soon as we get back from the provincial capital."

Unfortunately, he's going back to his unit soon and won't be staying for more than a few days.

Lin Zhao understood this, but didn't take it to heart. Tomorrow's worries will come tomorrow; today's happiness is what matters.

"I'll draw up some blueprints this afternoon. You go find a carpenter to make furniture for the four kids—beds, wardrobes, desks... everything is necessary."

Gu Chenghuai agreed to all of them, "Okay."

The young couple are both efficient people, and they work even faster together.

When they started making wontons, Huang Xiulan, Zhao Liuniang, and Gu Lan all came in to help.

Once the buns were almost finished, Lin Zhao gave the order, and Yu Bao started a fire.

Children in the countryside can do this. He throws some flammable dry grass into the stove, tears and strikes a match, then throws it into the grass, followed by dry firewood, and the fire ignites instantly.

"Thank you for your hard work, Yu Bao. I'll give you a few extra wontons later!" Lin Zhao praised.

Yu Bao's eyebrows and eyes were curved.

The child looked up.

Looking at my tall and powerful father, and then at my soft-spoken mother, I felt a surge of happiness welling up inside me.

He felt happy; he was the happiest child.

Hengbao's little body peeked through the window. "Mommy, what about me? What about me? After I finish eating, I'll wash the dishes. Can I have a few more?"

He tried to negotiate.

Just thinking about the taste of wontons made his mouth water.

Lin Zhao smiled and said, "Sure."

As they spoke, the water in the iron pot bubbled and gurgled.

She started cooking the wontons.

The filling of the small wontons is very thin, so they cook very quickly.

soon.

A rich and enticing aroma filled every corner of the kitchen.

Even the twins couldn't resist and ran in.

"Mommy, I want to eat." The words were slow but clear, and it was unmistakably Qianbao's.

"Baby wants~~" The voice was soft and coquettish, it was Yao Bao.

Lin Zhao glanced at the two children and asked Gu Chenghuai, "Didn't they drink milk this morning?"

"I drank it," Gu Chenghuai replied.

He charged.

Yu Bao added, "My younger siblings also ate cookies!"

Hengbao hugged the twins and rubbed his face against theirs, saying, "Qianbao and Yaobao are little pigs, their bellies are bulging from eating, but they still want to eat more."

Qianbao remained calm, quietly looking at his second brother without saying a word.

The younger sister had a bad temper. She tried to push her second brother hard, but couldn't. She got angry, puffed out her cheeks, and opened her little arms towards her father.

He kept calling out "Dad" to himself.

Gu Chenghuai carried his daughter out of the kitchen and, seeing his mother, asked, "Can Yaobao eat wontons?"

"Cook them until they're very soft, so the two little ones can eat some of the wonton wrappers," said Gu's mother.

After observing for so many days, she felt that the third son was spoiling Yao Bao too much, and she was afraid that he would spoil his little granddaughter. She wanted to say a few words, but then she thought that Yao Bao was the only daughter of the third branch of the family, with three older brothers and a string of cousins, so it was okay for her to be a little spoiled.

The third son's wife is also spoiled, but she's doing very well.

Thinking about it, I swallowed my words.

Gu Chenghuai patted his youngest daughter's head and said gently, "I'll have your mother give you two small wontons later."

Yao Bao understood what he meant and leaned over to leave a wet drool mark on her father's face.

Children know best who spoils them; she was always more unrestrained than her brothers in front of her father.

The wontons cook very quickly; after rinsing them in water a few times, they're done.

On the stove are rows of patterned porcelain bowls, each containing stir-fried scallion oil.

The aroma of scallion oil alone is enough to make one's mouth water.

“It smells so good!!”

"Mom, can we eat now?"

The twins' urging voices rang out.

"Alright, alright." Lin Zhao was also craving it, having been thinking about it since last night.

Scoop small wontons into a bowl on the stove.

The twins needed to be carried out, and Gu Lan, worried about burning her younger brothers, carried them out herself, while Xingye helped.

Yu Bao wasn't idle either; he counted the chopsticks and carried them to the yard.

The pots in the countryside are big, and they can cook a lot at once, enough for the whole family.

Early in the morning, most families in the village do not cook, but the aroma from the Gu family's house travels far and wide, attracting many children to run to the Gu family's door, where they salivate at the smell.

Yu Bao noticed that Mao Dan'er was also there, so she ran out and pulled him into the house.

"Cat Egg, you're here. Wait for Hengbao and me. After we finish eating, we'll go up the mountain together."

Cat Egg smelled the aroma coming from the Gu family's house and knew they were eating. It didn't want to go in; it just wanted to wait for the twins at the door. However, Amber exposed its whereabouts.

"Grandpa Gu, Grandma... Aunt Lin."

The child greeted people politely.

Lin Zhao asked with a smile, "Good morning, Cat Egg. Have you eaten?"

"I ate the eggs," Cat Egg replied shyly.

When he saw the twins' mother, he always thought of his own mother and felt very close to her.

“Eggs alone won’t fill you up. You should eat with us. I’ll get you some…” Lin Zhao was about to get up and head to the kitchen when Gu Chenghuai patted her shoulder. “You sit here. I’ll go.”

With a long stride, he entered the kitchen in a few steps.

Before Cat Egg could say no, the little boy was at a loss and said shyly, "No need."

"It's alright, there's still some left," Lin Zhao said with a smile. "Besides, didn't you want to learn cooking from me? Try it today first, and I'll have Yu Bao and Heng Bao call you another day."

Yu Bao ate the wontons with a spoon, scooped one up, blew on it to cool it down, and brought it to Mao Dan'er's mouth. "Try it, it's delicious. You'll want to eat it again after you've tried it once."

Knowing his good brother's awkward nature, he deliberately touched Cat Egg's lips.

He said smugly, "It's on your lips now, your saliva is on it, you have no choice but to eat it."

Hengbao couldn't stop eating and said, "Don't be shy, you still have to take us to find good things."

We were able to pick so many hawthorns yesterday, all thanks to Cat Egg.

Lin Zhao and the others were afraid that Mao Dan'er would feel uncomfortable, so they didn't pay much attention to them.

Cat Egg glanced at the adults, its face and ears flushed red, and ate the small wontons that Yu Bao fed it.

His eyes suddenly lit up.

So delicious! So delicious! So delicious!

Wow, this tastes so much better than boiled pork!!!
The child's mind was filled with short, bold, capitalized sentences.

Gu Chenghuai brought out a new bowl of wontons and called to Maodan'er, "Eat up."

Every time he looked into the little guy's eyes, he thought of the new Commander Ning.

Their eyebrows and eyes are so alike.

Cat Egg politely thanked him, "Thank you, Uncle."

Gu Chenghuai waved his hand.

That evening, Cat Egg wrote in his diary:

Today I had wontons at the Gu family's house. It was my first time eating wontons, and they tasted just as good as my mom's dumplings. While eating the wontons, I felt like I needed to pee; I missed my mom. Uncle Gu isn't very talkative or smiley. He looks like he could make a child cry with one punch, but I know he's a good person; he's a great soldier. Grandma said Dad was also an excellent and courageous soldier. I miss Dad so much. I've grown up without ever seeing him. If only he could suddenly appear in front of me...
The little boy couldn't read all the characters, so his diary entries were half characters and half pinyin, written very carefully, stroke by stroke.

After breakfast.

Gu Chenghuai drove Lin Zhao to the post office and dialed the Yun family's number.

There were quite a few people making phone calls at the post office this morning.

There were five people ahead of me in line.

Lin Zhao remained calm and waited for the person in front of him to finish.

(End of this chapter)