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

Chapter 166 "He's become exceptionally good at balancing things"

Lin Shifan was helped into the new courtyard by his sister. As soon as he sat down, an enamel mug was shoved into his hand.

Before he could speak, he heard Lin Zhao's voice filled with concern and worry.

"Third Brother, have some water. Is it alright for you to sit like this? Won't it hurt your wound? By the way, are you hungry? Just tell me what you want to eat, and I'll make it quickly."

My sister cares about him so much.

Lin Shifan grinned.

Look over there.

My younger sister has fair, rosy cheeks and bright, sparkling eyes. She's prettier than all the other women in the performing arts troupe, and she doesn't look like she's been wronged.

The older brother was very satisfied.

"It's okay! I'm not hungry, I just ate."

He had just finished speaking.

Gu Chenghuai carried a small pot out of the backyard.

"Yubao, Hengbao, get the bowls." He instructed his sons, and then said to his father-in-law, mother-in-law and third brother-in-law, "The mung bean and lily soup that's been chilling in the well was cooked by Zhaozhao. It's very good for cooling off. Father, mother and third brother, please try it."

Lin Shifan was young and strong, full of energy, and every summer was hard for him to endure, as he was always covered in sweat and his shirt was always soaked.

Without being polite, he picked up the bowl and poured the contents into his mouth.

soon.

A cool sensation spread through my mouth, gradually swallowing up the dryness in my body.

"Not bad." Lin Shifan thanked his brother-in-law and praised him. Seeing Hengbao beside him, he smiled and asked, "Would you like some?"

Hengbao glanced at Lin Zhao, met her mother's smiling eyes, and waved her little hands several times, "No, I don't want to."

He explained, "My mom said that kids shouldn't drink too much cold food, or it will cause a stomachache."

Lin Heling held her grandson in her arms, her voice gentle and clear, "Your mother is right, children shouldn't drink too much cold food."

Hengbao rested her face on her grandfather's shoulder, refusing to look at the cool, sweet mung bean soup, as if not looking at it would prevent her from craving it. Her little face was mischievous and clever.

Lin Shifan felt sorry for his nephew and asked, "Will it be alright if you drink a couple of sips?"

"Drink yours." Song Xi glanced at him slightly. "Would Zhao Zhao mistreat her own son?"

He then looked at Lin Zhao and said, "Zhao Zhao, come to your room."

Lin Zhao wanted to talk to her third brother, but when she heard her mother calling her, she was slightly puzzled. Without hesitation, she got up and told Gu Chenghuai to take good care of her father and third brother, and to bring her mother into the house.

The twins wanted to go with them, but Gu Chenghuai stopped them.

The two brothers looked at each other with pleading eyes.

"No." Gu Chenghuai still refused.

Hengbao puffed out his cheeks, "Dad is biased."

Gu Chenghuai raised an eyebrow. "How am I being biased?"

"If Yao Bao asked you, you would definitely agree." Heng Bao looked at him with disdain. In a short time, he had seen through his own father.

"No." Gu Chenghuai shook his head.

Looking into Hengbao's skeptical eyes, he said, "I will take her out to pick flowers. We will listen to your mother in everything we do in our family."

Little Yaobao has been enjoying picking flowers lately. When she picks a pretty flower for her mother, the little girl smiles broadly and kicks people with great force when she receives a compliment.

Hengbao put her hands on her hips and exclaimed, "That's not fair!"

He first expressed his dissatisfaction, then made a demand: "I also need you to coax me."

Gu Chenghuai didn't rush to refuse, but asked, "How do you want me to coax you?"

Hengbao's eyes darted around, and she said, "Take me and my brother to the county to buy soda."

Knowing that his father loved them, he was very bold and was always the one bargaining with Gu Chenghuai.

Lin Shifan hadn't seen many of his nephews in years, and seeing Hengbao like this for the first time, he watched with great interest without saying a word.

What a clever little thing! His negotiating style is just like his sister's.

Gu Chenghuai said, "How old is Yaobao? How old are you? Didn't you say you're the older brother? What are you comparing yourself to your sister for?"

Hengbao has his own logic chain, and he can talk a lot, saying things like, "Dad, what you're doing is wrong."

“My mom says that no matter how old we get, we'll always be her precious children. So even if I'm as old as a grandpa and have white hair, I'll still be your son. Why can't I compare to Yaobao? We're both your children, you can't... you can't... you know…”

Yu Bao knew what his younger brother wanted to say, and added for him: "Favoritism."

Hengbao forgot the idioms he just learned last night, so I made him write them twenty times tonight.

“Yes, yes, that’s favoritism.” Hengbao, unaware that he was going to be punished by writing, looked at his brother with admiration.

Gu Chenghuai pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'll buy them for you tomorrow."

“And…” he emphasized, “I believe I’m impartial, so don’t talk nonsense, especially you, Gu Zhiheng.”

Ever since Zhao Zhao said that to him, he's become a master of impartiality!

Hengbao dared not provoke him any further, stood up straight, and, imitating his father, gave a half-standard military salute, "Alright."

Having secured his legal rights, he then pestered Lin Heling, asking his grandfather to tell him new stories.

Lin Heling patted her grandson's head, smiled and nodded, but didn't rush to speak. Instead, she asked, "How did your mother celebrate her birthday? Did she have longevity noodles?"

Yu Bao sat obediently next to his grandfather and said fluently, "Dad took us to the provincial capital. We went to the state-run stores and bought lots and lots of things. We also went to the zoo... Dad made longevity noodles for Mom and poached eggs. Mom said they were delicious."

Hearing these words, Lin Heling was even more satisfied with Gu Chenghuai as her son-in-law.

That's nice, very thoughtful.

They also know that Zhao Zhao has a habit of eating longevity noodles on her birthday.

Hengbao added, "Grandpa, the train was really long, and you could even lie down. The provincial capital was so much fun! We also brought back Xiaojin, which is a golden monkey. Do you know what a golden monkey is?"

"Golden monkey?" Lin Heling asked in surprise.

Sensing his grandfather's curiosity, Yu Bao stood up and ran towards the house. A short while later, he came out carrying a small monkey with bright eyes and shiny fur.

"Grandpa, Third Uncle, this is Xiao Jin." He rubbed his face against Xiao Jin's head, his tone cheerful.

“It used to belong to a circus troupe, but the troupe was disbanding. Its owner wanted to send it to the zoo, but the zoo director refused. My parents saw that Hengbao and I liked it, so they took Xiao Jin. It is now a member of our family.”

Little Jin jumped onto Lin Heling's lap, squatted down, looked up at him, and looked obedient, not at all like a wild monkey.

"It looks very well-behaved." Lin Heling gently patted Xiao Jin's head.

The children in the village have no entertainment, so raising a monkey would be a good idea.

“Mmm, Xiao Jin is super well-behaved.” Heng Bao, with his long beak, spoke very quickly. “My uncle said that when they were young, they saw big monkeys in the mountains. The monkeys in the mountains were very fierce. They liked to bare their teeth to scare people and even hit people on the head with stones.”

Lin Heling spoke patiently, "It's normal for wild animals to be aggressive because they're unfamiliar with humans. If you encounter one of those, stay away."

Hengbao nodded solemnly, "We know."

After instructing her grandson, Lin Heling looked at Gu Chenghuai and said, "The provincial capital is chaotic. Next time you take the children there, bring two more people with you. It's difficult for you and Zhaozhao to take care of four children on your own."

Upon hearing this, Gu Chenghuai knew that his father-in-law, mother-in-law, and third brother-in-law had not yet returned to the Dongfeng Brigade, nor did they know that Meng Jingmo and Meng Guangbai had been picked up by them.

then.

He told the two of them about it in a few words.

He didn't mention the Yuan family much, only that Tuo's comrades in the capital had sent Jingmo and Guangbai to the provincial capital, where he and Zhaozhao picked them up.

Lin Heling, being meticulous, immediately sensed that something was amiss.

His brow furrowed slightly. "What's going on with the Yuan family?"

That was a very insightful question.

Since his father-in-law had already asked, Gu Chenghuai didn't try to hide anything and told Lin Heling and Lin Shifan everything he knew.

Lin Shifan's brows furrowed into a knot.

He blurted out a swear word.

"Oh shit!"

"That damned Yuan family! They're bullying the younger generation of our Lin family! They're asking for death!"

For once, Lin Heling didn't scold the hot-tempered San'er, because he also wanted to curse.

The usually good-tempered Mr. Lin lost his smile; his anger was rising, and a vein bulged on his forehead, as if he were extremely furious.

Fortunately, his years of cultivating inner strength are still intact.

He composed himself and asked, "Are the two children alright?"

"It's alright." Gu Chenghuai then told his father-in-law about the current situation of his two grandsons. Upon learning that his grandsons were doing well, Lin Heling's expression relaxed.

Lin Shih-fan had a lot of questions to ask.

"My two nephews... will they receive their education from their father from now on?"

His words were full of disapproval: "They're not even ten years old yet, and they're not in school? They're focused on farm work?"

He felt that sending the child to Meng Jiusi's side was too impulsive.

Gu Chenghuai said calmly, "Fourth Brother insists that Jingmo and Guangbai feel insecure and also insist on following Fourth Brother."

A look of understanding flashed in Lin Heling's eyes.

With their mother in such a terrible state, none of the Yuan family members are good. It's no wonder that Jingmo and Guangbai want to follow Jiusi.

"Let them be," he said.

Gu Chenghuai had expected his father-in-law's words. He was such a kind and generous elder who never forced anyone to do anything against their will.

"Fourth Brother and the two children are quite used to it, Dad, don't worry."

Lin Heling chuckled, "With your family here, I feel very at ease. Thank you for your hard work."

"Father, you're being too polite."

Lin Shifan didn't say anything more, imagining what his twin brother would look like. He was looking forward to their meeting that evening.

Does that person named Meng Jiusi feel the same way?
inside the house.

Lin Zhao's eyes were momentarily dazzled when he saw those gold bars.

what's the situation?
This is more than the last time her parents secretly gave her!
"Mother?" she asked, puzzled.

Song Xiwei said crisply, "Your father remembered that he buried a box of things near the train station. We tried to dig it up and found these things. There are twelve gold bars in total. You and your siblings will each have two bars. Your mother and father will keep two bars. There are also some jewelry and ornaments for you. You like old things. If you like this box, you can take it too."

Her parents had given her a lot of things before, including five gold bars, an emerald necklace, bracelets, jade bangles and earrings, which were worth a lot of money.

Lin Zhao had no intention of taking any of these things.

She said, "Give me the box, and your parents can keep the rest."

“Take it if I give it to you,” Song Xiwei said in an unyielding tone.

“Your mother and father have retirement savings. You and your son-in-law have four children. Schooling, buying a house, finding a job, getting married... all of these require money. Even if you don’t think about yourself, you have to think about your four children.”

Mingming, it's her responsibility to raise four children, and she's causing her parents worry again.

Lin Zhao felt incredibly warm inside. She moved closer, hugged her mother, and rested her head on Song Xiwei's shoulder.

"Your son-in-law and I can make money."

Song Xiwei laughed without any politeness.

He tapped his daughter's nose with his index finger, "I believe Cheng Huai can make money, but you? You spend money several times faster than you earn it."

Lin Zhao was unconvinced, "Mother..."

The tone was plaintive, carrying a subtle wave of accusation.

Song Xiwei put her arm around Zhaozhao and spoke intimately with her daughter, "Your four brothers are my and your father's own sons. We won't abandon them. You can take care of them."

Since things have come to this point—

"Then I'll take it." Lin Zhao, like a little miser, took the beautiful wooden box, examined it carefully, and her eyes lit up slightly. "Is this box made of huanghuali wood?"

"You have good taste," Song Xiwei said.

Lin Zhaoyang raised his chin and said smugly, "I learned from my dad since I was a child, so I only know a little bit about it."

"Yeah, you're curious about everything, unlike those other kids who are always thinking about sneaking out to play," Song Xiwei complained.

Lin Zhao felt that her brothers were being wronged; they were clearly looking for food everywhere.

I couldn't help but say nice things.

"My older brother and the others found me some sweet fruits."

Song Xiwei said no more. The children in the family had a deep bond, and she and the children's father were both happy.

"Mother came all this way today to see her grandson, right?" Lin Zhao changed the subject.

Only after asking did I learn that my parents and third brother were still unaware of... the fact that Jingmo Guangbai had been brought here by her.

"What grandson?" Song Xiwei didn't react.

Lin Zhao blinked. "Jingmo and Guangbai? Didn't Mother go back to the brigade?"

“We didn’t reply. Your dad and I didn’t celebrate your birthday with you this year. Your dad was afraid you would be sad, so he just grabbed a bite to eat after getting off the train and then we came over. He said he’d make you longevity noodles this afternoon so we could make up for it,” Song Xiwei said.

Lin Zhao's lips curled up, but she said, "I'm already so old, it's okay if I miss out on eating it once."

Song Xiwei gently brushed her long, black hair aside, her gaze softening. "No matter how old you are, you're still your parents' daughter."

She was deeply influenced by Lin Heling. Her husband favored daughters over sons and always said that daughters were good and that daughters were like cotton-padded jackets. Over the years, being good to her daughters has become her instinct.

Lin Zhao, unaware of her mother's thoughts, smiled broadly.

Seeing that Song Xiwei looked a little tired, she said, "Mother, I'll go make the bed. You two lie down and get some sleep. We'll go see Fourth Brother when it gets dark. He misses you and Father. He even asked when you're coming back."

Song Xi was slightly surprised, "Did your fourth brother ask me about you and your father?"

"Yes."

After saying that, Lin Zhao went to the next room to make the bed.

Song Xiwei followed.

The mother and daughter walked out of the house, the twins slowly stepped over the threshold, followed by Da Huang and Gu Lan.

They entered the courtyard.

Upon seeing a stranger, Yao Bao quickly snuggled into Gu Chenghuai's arms, burying her pink face in her father's chest and secretly glancing at Lin Shifan. When he noticed, she hurriedly buried her head in his chest again.

so repeatedly.

She wore a pink dress, with two little pigtails in her hair. She had double eyelids and long eyelashes. When she blinked her eyes, she looked innocent and cute. Her face was round and fair, with adorable little chubby cheeks. She was so small, it was incredibly cute.

Lin Shifan was extremely fond of her and reached out to hug his precious niece.

The little dumpling frowned and pushed his hand away, "No, no, don't..." she said in a crisp voice.

My third uncle looked dejected, his once spirited head drooping.

At this moment, Qianbao walked towards Lin Shifan, opened his arms, and said calmly, "Third Uncle."

He spoke slowly and deliberately, enunciating each word clearly.

Lin Shifan, as if injected with adrenaline, straightened his back instantly, "Hey!"

When she reached out to hug her little nephew, Song Xiwei slapped her arm away and snatched Qianbao away.

"Don't you want your legs anymore?"

Lin Shifan had indeed forgotten.

He scratched his head. "I was so excited to see my nephew!"

"Even if you're excited, you can't ignore your injury." Song Xi glanced at her son and explained to Qianbao why his third uncle couldn't hug him.

Injury = Bleeding = Pain.

My third uncle's legs hurt.

After this calculation, Qianbao suddenly understood, and his dark eyes fell on Lin Shifan's legs.

Lin Zhao tidied up the bed, and Lin Heling and the others washed up briefly before returning to their rooms to rest.

Yu Bao is sensible. Knowing that his grandparents and third uncle are tired, he took the initiative to lead his younger siblings back to their room, arranged for the twins to play with toys, and taught Heng Bao to practice calligraphy.

Yu Bao is a persistent child. After getting calligraphy practice books, he persisted in practicing calligraphy, setting tasks for himself and only playing after finishing them.

He not only sets high standards for himself, but also for Hengbao and Libao. As a result, the three little ones know quite a few characters, and not only do they know them, they write them better than other children their age.

Yu Bao, in particular, was the most serious and hardworking, and his handwriting was the most neat.

The curtains were drawn back, and on the table by the window, two identical little boys sat side by side, writing with pencils. The older one would occasionally turn his head to look at his younger siblings, but seeing that they were behaving well, he would turn back to continue writing.

Lin Zhao watched for a while, his eyes full of smiles. He went to the backyard, picked two tomatoes, took them to the kitchen, washed them, cut them into small pieces, put them in a bowl, sprinkled them with white sugar, and sent them in through the window.

Yu Bao and Heng Bao's eyes suddenly lit up.

The person outside the window put a finger to their lips, signaling them not to shout, lest the twins make a fuss.

Hengbao pinched her mouth with her hand, her dark eyes filled with laughter.

(End of this chapter)