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

Chapter 243 "Gone"

Lin Zhao gave Gu Lan a bag of peach shortbread she had brought back.

"Thank you for your hard work, please treat our Alan to peach shortbread."

Gu Lan didn't take it, her face flushed, and said, "...I don't want it, give it to Yu Bao and the others."

“Yu Bao and the others have some, this is for you.” Lin Zhao knew the little girl was shy, so she directly stuffed it into her hand with a smile. “It’s not just for you, there’s also some for Bang Bang and the others, you can share it with them. I heard you’ve all been working very hard lately, this is to sweeten your mouths.”

The kids are busy helping out with the mushroom growing at home.

When Gu Lan heard that there were younger siblings involved, she hesitated for a moment, then stopped refusing and whispered her thanks, "Thank you, Third Aunt."

Lin Zhao smiled.

She told the children to stay in the kitchen to warm themselves by the fire, while she went back inside to pack her things.

After she finished her work, the kitchen was still bustling with activity.

Yuanbao and the others told the twins about the exciting things happening in the village.

Who's fighting?

So-and-so got beaten up by his mother.

Who's so hungry they're eating dirt again?

Hengbao's loud cries provided ample emotional support for the children, further fueling Yuanbao and the others' desire to talk.

Lin Zhao tried to hold back her laughter.

She took out some peach shortbread for the children, told them to be careful with fire, and then she planned to go to the old house.

The twins wanted to go too, but they also wanted to hear Yuanbao gossip. After hesitating for a few seconds, they decided to go to the old house later.

Tie Niu patted his chest and said, "Don't worry, Aunt Lin, I'll keep an eye on the fire."

"Then I'll have to trouble Comrade Ye Tieniu." After praising the child, Lin Zhao left unhurriedly.

After she left, bursts of laughter erupted from the kitchen.

Ye Tieniu...that's hilarious!
"Ye Tieniu, hahaha..." Hengbao laughed the loudest.

Tie Niu awkwardly bit into the peach shortbread, his ears turning red. "What's so funny?"

Yu Bao is a warm-hearted child. He comforted his friend, "My mom doesn't know your real name, so she calls you Ye Tie Niu." He explained.

Tie Niu was a magnanimous child and didn't care about being laughed at. "It's okay, Aunt Lin can call whatever she wants."

A name is just a label.

It's quite funny to have a nickname plus a surname.

He couldn't help but laugh along.

The children were laughing and joking in the kitchen, while Da Huang stood guard outside the door, glancing back every now and then, and spending the rest of the time staring at Amber, who was jumping around the yard.

Amber was brought to the Gu family when she was still a puppy. She never went hungry again and was always cheerful. She had a lively personality and sometimes caused a little trouble, which would be stopped by Big Yellow.

The old home of the Gu family.

When Gu's mother saw Lin Zhao, a smile appeared on her lips.

"The third son's wife is back. Qingzhou said that the supply and marketing cooperative has been working overtime every day lately. She must be exhausted. Nothing is easy." She sighed.

"When will the holiday start? You can have a good rest when the holiday comes." Fearing that Lin Zhao might act impulsively and refuse, Gu's mother racked her brains to appease her.

Lin Zhao's voice tinged with laughter, "Soon."

She pointed to the things she had brought and said, "These are the defective items I brought back. Mother, you can decide what to do with them."

Mother Gu's face lit up with joy. "Another defective product? Okay, I'll handle it. Don't worry, I won't let you suffer any losses."

Zhao Liuniang asked cheerfully, "Mother, shall my sister-in-law and I choose first?"

"That's for sure. When something good happens, we should prioritize our own family first." Gu's mother wasn't unreasonable. She knew the difference between close and distant relatives. She was happy to help her fellow villagers, but she wouldn't harm her own family's interests.

"I underestimated you, Mother." Zhao Liuniang smiled and poured water for her mother-in-law as an apology.

Gu's mother glanced at her helplessly and took the enamel mug.

Lin Zhao smiled and said, "There's a sweater in the bag for Mom, and a vest for Dad."

Mrs. Gu was stunned. After regaining her senses, she opened the cloth bag that her third son's wife had brought and rummaged through it for her sweater. She said, "Why did you prepare sweaters for me and your father? We don't need any cotton-padded clothes. Wool is so expensive..."

As they were talking, they saw the sweater that Lin Zhao had mentioned.

It's a bright red color, feels warm and soft to the touch, and is quite loose, so you can wear an undershirt underneath.

Gu's mother stared at the sweater, her eyes unblinking. At that moment, her feelings were a mixture of warmth and bitterness, and she couldn't quite describe them.

"It's still red. I'm already so old... It's so strange to wear red. Zhao Zhao, you keep it for yourself."

That's what she said, but her eyes were uncontrollably drawn to the red sweater.

Gu's mother came from a generation that had suffered a lot. She didn't even have a red wedding dress when she got married. When she was a young girl, she had always hoped to have a red sweater. She never expected that her daughter-in-law would bring her the thing she had been longing for. Her heart, which was strong on the outside but weak on the inside, was about to burst into tears.

That old geezer never thought to give her a red sock.

None of the children expected this.

The third son's wife thought of it and even made a special trip to deliver it.

Gu's mother felt that her life had been worthwhile.

In an instant, the way he looked at Lin Zhao softened more and more.

Lin Zhao: "..."

No, don't do this.

My arms are covered in goosebumps!
“I have them, all four of my sons have them, and Chenghuai has one too.” She cleared her throat. “They were knitted according to my mother’s measurements, but I can’t wear them.”

Lin Zhao took a sip of the sweet soup and said to Zhao Liuniang, "Second Sister-in-law, this color suits Mother perfectly, don't you think?"

Zhao Liuniang had never seen a red sweater before, and her eyes were glued to it, unable to look away.

Hearing his younger siblings' voices, he suddenly came to his senses.

He nodded several times.

“Yes.” Her expression was firm. “What’s wrong with it! I think pretty clothes… can be worn by people of any age.”

Zhao Liuniang didn't hide the envy on her face. "If this were a gift from my daughter-in-law, I wouldn't even keep it overnight. I'd wear it right away and show it off to the whole village."

These words came from the bottom of her heart.

As long as a few of the Bangbang guys dare to send her clothes, she'll wear them! Even when she's seventy or eighty, she'll wear them!!

Mother Gu's face was full of smiles, "Then you'll have to wait a while, at least a few years or more."

Hearing what the second son's wife said, she hesitated for a moment, then suddenly said, "Then I'll give it a try?"

Lin Zhao nodded, "Give it a try, and I'll revise it if it doesn't suit me."

“How could it not fit? It’s definitely suitable,” Gu’s mother said immediately. “You’re so skillful; there’s no dress or shoe you make that doesn’t fit.”

After saying that, he grabbed the sweater and went inside.

She had just put on her sweater and was looking at her reflection in the basin when her father walked in, his old eyes staring resentfully at the back of her head.

A ready-made mirror was delivered to their door. Gu's mother abandoned the basin, tugged at the hem of her sweater, and looked at the old man with a smile.

"How's it going?"

Mr. Gu glanced at it and said, "...It looks good."

"My daughter-in-law is filial to me!" Mother Gu said, holding her chin high.

Finally, Gu's father couldn't hold back any longer and revealed the reason for his visit: "Why didn't you take my disguise? I wanted to try it out too." He said, somewhat aggrieved.

“I forgot!” said Gu’s mother.

She stared at Gu's father, adjusting her sweater, glaring at him angrily.

"I've followed you for most of my life, and I'm practically buried in the ground now, and you've never even brought me a red sock!" Gu's mother pointed to her chest, finding fault with Gu's father in every way.

Father Gu: "?"

Mr. Gu was bewildered.

“I… I keep every penny I earn for you. If you need anything, just give it to yourself.” He felt wronged.

Since getting married, he has handed over all the money he earned to his wife; he doesn't have a single penny in his pocket.

Mother Gu was speechless for a moment.

Not knowing what to say, I stormed out of the house.

Every penny in the household has a purpose, so she couldn't bear to buy anything for herself!
Gu's father sighed repeatedly.

That old woman is truly unreasonable.

……

As soon as Gu's mother stepped out of the door, a smile appeared on her face.

She rarely wore red, and she felt very embarrassed, unsure of what to do with her hands and feet.

"Very spirited. My skills and eye for craftsmanship are both quite good. It suits Mother perfectly," Lin Zhao praised first.

Zhao Liuniang couldn't help but laugh when she heard her praise herself in the process.

"He looks very energetic."

After praising it, she looked at Lin Zhao and said, "What kind of pattern is this? I've never seen it before. It's so beautiful. When I get some yarn, you can teach me how to knit it. I want to knit one for Yu'er." If it were before, she wouldn't have said that. Yarn is so expensive. It would be better to buy some cotton to make a cotton coat.

Things are different now. The production team has found a way to make money, and she and her husband have also set up a mushroom shed. This time alone, they earned about ten yuan.

With so much profit from a single batch of mushrooms, what's wrong with buying some yarn? It's not excessive at all!
Lin Zhao offered, "I have some extra yarn, Second Sister-in-law, would you like some?"

Zhao Liuniang's face lit up with joy, "Yes, yes, yes, how could I not want it!"

She knew that her third sister-in-law's question meant she was willing to give up the ticket for her even if it meant not having to pay.

Zhao Liuniang was filled with gratitude.

"Third sister-in-law, thank you! I don't need more, just enough for Yu'er to knit."

Lin Zhao had a lot of yarn. After knitting sweaters for the four children and making spare woolen pants, she still had a lot of yarn left.

She used items sent by her third brother and Gu Chenghuai, and she also had many storage rings that she had won in the lottery, so she couldn't possibly use them all.

It takes up too much space.

"What color does Second Sister-in-law want?"

Zhao Liuniang was astonished, "You can still choose?"

Before Lin Zhao could answer, he asked again, "What colors do they come in?"

“Light yellow, light green, rose red, dark blue…” Lin Zhao read out the colors of the yarn.

Zhao Liuniang was caught in a dilemma.

Every color suits her fish perfectly.

Her face was all scrunched up like a steamed bun.

Lin Zhao found it amusing and said, "Second sister-in-law, take your time thinking about it. No need to rush. I'll save it for you."

Zhao Liuniang's tightly furrowed brows relaxed. "Thank you, Third Sister-in-law."

Lin Zhao smiled nonchalantly.

The two daughters-in-law spoke calmly and peacefully, without any hostility, creating a pleasant atmosphere.

Gu's mother felt completely comfortable.

After Lin Zhao left, she didn't even put on a light jacket, but just wore a new sweater and went for a stroll in the village.

Everyone in the courtyard left.

Gu's father secretly took the vest back into the house, took off his thin coat, and put it on underneath.

It's so warm to wear.

My stomach, in particular, felt warm and very comfortable.

He wanted to go out for a stroll, but thinking of his wife's mocking face, he had to suppress his desire.

After giving up showing off, his emotions actually increased rather than decreased. He happily paced around the house, hoping his wife would come back soon.

Mother Gu is unaware of these things for the time being.

Gu's mother walked out of the house.

Her red outfit was so eye-catching that the villagers noticed it immediately, like cats smelling catnip, and couldn't help but come over.

When they saw the red sweater that Gu's mother was wearing, their eyes lit up.

Let's take a closer look.

"Yuanshan's mother, you're wearing a sweater, isn't that a sweater?"

"Such a vibrant red, it's quite rare to see! Did your Ah Chan knit it for you?!"

"You look so energetic, it makes your complexion look much better."

……

The older women chatted amongst themselves.

Some people couldn't resist reaching out, but Gu's mother, who was quick-witted and agile, slapped their hands away.

"Stop pulling it, you're making a ball!" she said unhappily.

Looking at the person who mentioned Achan, she smiled like a flower, "It wasn't Achan who knitted it. Achan has only been working for a few days, where would she get the money to buy yarn? It was Chenghuai's wife who knitted it."

"She not only knitted one for me, but also made a warm vest for Yuanshan's dad."

The expressions on everyone's faces were contorted.

"!!!"

Even if it was knitted by their own daughter, it wouldn't cause them such a big shock.

Look at other people's daughters-in-law, who are they trying to make jealous of?

This guy's getting cocky again!
The villagers said sourly, "You're really enjoying the good life thanks to your daughter-in-law!"

Gu's mother didn't deny it, but she didn't hold back either.

“Growing and selling mushrooms is all related to Cheng Huai’s wife. You didn’t benefit from her at all. And what about those defective products? What, have you forgotten all of that?!”

The man with the sour taste gently patted his mouth, "How could I forget? I remember it clearly. Cheng Huai's wife is a good woman, everyone knows that..."

"Yeah yeah."

Another person said, "You're the one who lives the most comfortable life in our village. How did you raise your daughter-in-law? What's your secret? Teach us!"

Gu's mother thought to herself, there's no secret to it, it's just about exchanging sincerity for sincerity.

“If you treat your daughter-in-law sincerely, she will think of you too,” she said.

The women present scoffed at these words and didn't take them to heart at all.

They've endured years of hardship to become mothers-in-law, so they mostly treat their daughters-in-law with suspicion and restraint. They have no genuine feelings for their daughters-in-law, nor do they bother to give them their hearts...

Gu's mother sensed something but didn't say anything more.

Saying more is pointless.

She can't control others, she should just mind her own business.

"Yuanshan's mother, has your Achan gone to work yet?" someone asked with concern.

Mother Gu smiled and said, "She's doing well. She's being looked after by someone."

I learned all of this from Lin Zhao.

"Your daughter Achan will never have to worry again." The villagers looked on with envy. If their child had such a great stroke of luck, they would go up the mountain to kowtow to the mountain god, no matter how dilapidated the house was.

It's all fate.

After wandering around for about ten minutes, Gu's mother couldn't withstand the wind and quickened her pace to go home.

After entering the house, I closed the door behind me.

"Why did it take you so long to get back..." Father Gu asked anxiously.

Mrs. Gu was in a good mood at the moment. When she saw the old man wearing a new vest, she praised him, "This vest looks good, very impressive, even more impressive than the commune secretary."

Upon hearing this, Gu's father's mouth stretched almost to the back of his head. "What qualifications do I, an old man who farms, have to compare myself to the commune secretary?"

Mother Gu: You're quite self-aware.

"...I was referring to a pseudonym."

Mr. Gu's smile faded.

I took off my new vest, carefully folded it, put it in the cupboard, and stormed out of the house to go to the mushroom room.

Humph.

……

Not long after Lin Zhao returned home, Lin Shisheng arrived.

His complexion was not good. Although he was still smiling, the smile was not natural, and even the twins could tell.

The two brothers looked at their second uncle, not very lively.

"Why is Second Brother here?" Lin Zhao asked, pretending not to notice anything.

After sending the four children away, Lin Shisheng said, "Zhaozhao, Qiulian is gone."

Lin Zhao's mind went blank for a moment.

"...?"

Gone.

Is that what she meant?

As she thought this, a hint of emotion appeared on her face.

Lin Shisheng nodded slightly. "That's exactly what you're thinking."

"How did it disappear?" Lin Zhao asked.

She disliked Qiulian and had no familial affection for her; upon hearing the devastating news, she reacted indifferently.

I just felt that life is unpredictable, and I didn't feel any regret or sadness.

(End of this chapter)