03 "Mother Has Changed"
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In the past, Lin Zhao truly only focused on giving birth, not on raising the children. She had washed their diapers a few times, but once the eldest and second sons could walk, she wouldn’t even cook for them anymore, sending them off to eat at the old family home. The twins were raised on rice porridge by their grandmother.
“Second son,” Lin Zhao called out.
When their mother’s voice grew louder, the second son immediately lost his anger, becoming weak and shyly glanced at Lin Zhao. “W-why are you calling me?”
His confidence was clearly lacking.
“I will take care of you all from now on, but you have to listen to me. Can you do that?” Lin Zhao was not skilled at raising children, but she believed her sons were obedient and would listen if she spoke to them kindly. She glanced at the eldest and second sons as she asked.
The twins of the Gu family were mature for their age. They knew their mother was different from others. Other children’s mothers would hold them, but theirs never did. Others’ mothers would make delicious food for them, but theirs never cared…
Thinking of this, the eldest son’s eyes showed sadness. The villagers often said their mother didn’t like them.
Hearing their mother say she would take care of them in the future, the eldest son’s heart filled with hope. He asked, “Will you make delicious food for us, mother?”
“Yes!” Lin Zhao answered.
“Will you make new clothes for us?” The eldest son asked again, afraid his mother would think it was too expensive to raise them and try to lower the standards. He cautiously said, “It doesn’t have to be every year, maybe one every few years, alright?”
“That won’t do.” Lin Zhao thought one outfit a year was already too little; a few years for one was definitely unacceptable.
The light in the eldest son’s eyes dimmed, feelings of unspoken grievance and sadness welling up inside him.
Lin Zhao said seriously, “How can it be one outfit every few years? You’re still growing. About four outfits a year is appropriate.”
The eldest son was stunned.
Four outfits a year, not one, but four—and that meant eight pieces total for one person. That was so expensive.
“So expensive. Mother, can my brothers and I take turns wearing them?” The eldest son felt brave enough to speak since his mother seemed willing to listen now.
The second son came over, pouting, nudging the eldest, and looking up at Lin Zhao. “Mother, will you buy us candy?”
Thinking of sweet candy, the little glutton child licked his lips.
The last time he had candy was when their father had come back!
Lin Zhao pretended to ponder and deliberately said, “What if I don’t buy any?”
The second son was stunned. Their mother had agreed to everything his brother asked, but not to him. The little fellow was quick-tempered and proudly said, “If you don’t buy, then don’t. When my father comes back, I’ll tell him to punish you!”
Lin Zhao choked on the words, her face turning green as she pinched the second son’s ear. “Who taught you to say ‘let your man punish you’?”
The second son tiptoed, adjusting to the ear pinch to ease the pain, and his boldness instantly deflated by half.
“No one taught me. I heard the village aunties say it.”
Lin Zhao feigned sternness. “Don’t learn to talk like adults anymore!”
The eldest son nudged his brother with his hip and quickly said, “Mother, I don’t learn to talk like adults. I never do.”
“You’re the best.” Lin Zhao gently stroked the eldest son’s cheek, her voice soft.
The second son raised his small hand, looking up pleadingly. “I’m good too, I’m good too. If mother buys me candy, I’ll be even better and do whatever mother says.” See, he was already bargaining.
“Alright, your first task now is to take a bath.” Lin Zhao couldn’t stand the dirty, grimy, smelly kids anymore. The only reason she had tolerated it so far was because they were her own.
As for the two sleeping in bed, when they woke up, they wouldn’t escape either.
The second son disliked bathing, his face scrunched up like a steamed bun. “Can I not wash?”
“Sure.” Before the second son could widen his smile, Lin Zhao abruptly changed tone, “Then there won’t be any meat buns for you tomorrow!”
The second son’s eyes brightened, grabbing their mother’s arm excitedly. “Mother, you’re going to buy meat buns? Really?”
Lin Zhao deliberately contradicted him, “Nope.”
Mother smiled, so it must be true. “I’m going to wash now. Brother, hurry up, let’s go bathe!” The second son hurriedly urged the eldest.
Lin Zhao held the two little ones back. “Eat your sweet potatoes first. I’ll go heat some water.”
The second son imitated his grandfather’s style, waving his hand with an air of maturity. “No need, just wash with cold water. It’s a countryside thing, no need to fuss.”
Lin Zhao was speechless.
She took a deep breath, looked at the eldest son, and pointed at the second son, telling him to manage his brother, then went to the kitchen.
Once she left, the eldest son whispered to the second, “I think mother has changed.”
The second son was carefree, unlike his careful brother. He scratched his face and chuckled, “Mother cared about us today, hehe!”
Lin Zhao boiled the water, took out the basin for the two children, and told them to scrub each other’s backs. With the promise of meat buns tomorrow, the eldest and second sons followed her orders strictly, helping each other with earnest effort.
“Brother, you’re really dirty.” The long-mouthed second son exclaimed bluntly, his words sharp but honest.
The eldest son blushed deeply.
He instinctively glanced toward Lin Zhao’s door, which was silent, and thought their mother probably hadn’t heard the second son, so he relaxed.
“You’re dirty too. Just wash clean,” the eldest son carefully defended his dignity as the older brother.
The second son nodded obediently, “Right.”
Happily, he said, “After washing, we’ll be clean kids!”
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The eldest son responded with a hum.
Inside the house, Lin Zhao hadn’t sat long before the second son’s loud voice rang out, “Mother!”
Lin Zhao really wanted to tell him not to call her “mother,” but “father” instead. However, there was no way; their father was away defending the country.
She walked toward the door, but the mysterious spinning prize wheel kept following her. Lin Zhao stopped and poked at it, finally finding the ‘hide when not in use’ setting in the corner.
After enabling the setting, she opened the door.
The two little ones stood naked in the basin.
Only five years old, the children were at the shameless age, unaware of modesty, even exposing themselves with wide grins.
“Mother, we’re done washing. Do you want to check?” the second son shouted.
He disliked bathing but felt quite comfortable afterward.
“No need to check. You two wait here while I get your clothes.” Lin Zhao said, walking toward the children’s room. It was hot, so being bare-armed was no problem.
She opened the small wardrobe, and the clothes inside were pitifully few and tossed about without folding. No one had taught them to fold clothes, and the children didn’t know how. The clothes were patched heavily but still clean—likely washed by their eldest son’s grandmother.
Lin Zhao took out two undershirts and two pairs of shorts but couldn’t find any underwear. She planned to sew some for the kids tomorrow; clothes must be made—they weren’t short on ration tickets at home.
She carried the clothes out to the yard.
The two three-year-olds could dress themselves without help.
The eldest son put on his clothes, smoothing the hems, then looked up at Lin Zhao with a shy, hopeful smile.
“Mother, we’re clean now.”
Lin Zhao praised casually, “The eldest son is a clean and handsome boy now.”
The Gu family children, especially those from the third branch, were all indeed good-looking. Their parents were both outstanding, making them stand out in the crowd.
The second son stood by his brother, tiptoeing to make himself taller, blinking big eyes. “What about me, mother?”
Lin Zhao didn’t understand the second son’s strange competitiveness and smiled. “You’re a clean and handsome boy too.”
The second son proudly puffed out his chest. “I look just like my brother. If he’s clean and handsome, so am I.”
After saying this, he grinned. “We’re both clean and handsome boys.”
Lin Zhao said offhandedly, “Being clean and handsome for just one day isn’t enough. You have to be clean and handsome every day from now on, understand?”
The eldest son wanted to ask if their mother would like them if they stayed clean and handsome, but he didn’t dare.
The second son came closer and pressed against Lin Zhao, cleverly making a request. “If mother buys us meat buns every day, we’ll wash white every day.”
Lin Zhao thought, you’re not the one washing for me. Before she could speak, the eldest son seriously lectured his brother, “Second son, eating meat buns every day is too expensive. Once a month is enough.”
After saying this, he looked at Lin Zhao worriedly. “Mother, will father’s money be enough to buy meat buns?”
The second son also looked at their mother worriedly.
Lin Zhao thought her two sons were very thoughtful. “It’s enough.”
She was careful not to let them know the money was enough for the household to eat well.
The two children relaxed, their eyes shining brightly with happiness.
The call to work sounded from the brigade.
“Whistle—whistle!” The sound grew louder as it approached.
The eldest and second sons were diligent children. Although young, they were not lazy like their mother. They spent their days collecting firewood, digging wild vegetables, and looking for wild fruits—always busy.
Before Lin Zhao took care of the twins, the two boys carried their younger siblings around, and the other children from the old Gu family home helped watch the youngest siblings.
“Brother, I’ll go get the third and fourth children. You get the basket,” the second son told the eldest, then rushed into the room.
Soon, two small voices with a hint of crying came out.
“Bad!”
“Bad... Gugu.”
The second son laughed proudly. “Serves you right for not getting up. Hurry up or I’m leaving.”
As he spoke, he made as if to turn around.
The phoenix and dragon twins were just learning to walk, their baby words popping out one by one. They didn’t understand the scolding but saw their brother about to leave. Anxious, they slid off the bed and bumped their little heads together, seemingly dazed. The two looked at each other, rubbed their hurt spots, and babbled something the second son couldn’t understand.
He picked up the twins, put shoes on them, and led his younger siblings out of the room.
The eldest son found the basket for himself and his brother.
At that moment, Gu’s mother came over and saw Lin Zhao in the yard. Concerned, she asked, “Is your head still hurting?”
“A little,” Lin Zhao didn’t lie—after all, she had a big bump on her head.
Gu’s mother said, “If it hurts, rest more. Don’t stand too much.”
“Mm,” Lin Zhao replied.
Gu’s mother had little to say and simply chatted briefly before taking the twins out of the house.
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The third daughter-in-law had bumped her head and needed rest; Gu’s mother dared not let her watch the children.
Of course, Lin Zhao wouldn’t pay attention to the children either—sigh.
Gu’s mother regretted once again agreeing to let the third son marry Lin Zhao. They looked good together, but temperament-wise, they couldn’t live well.
The second son saw his grandmother leave and urged the eldest, “Brother, let’s go too.”
The eldest son, worried about Lin Zhao, took a few steps toward the door but stopped, looking back at their mother. “Mother, if your head hurts badly, call me and second son. We’ll call the doctor for you.”
The second son, thinking of meat buns, didn’t forget to show affection. “Yes, yes, call us if you need anything.”
Lin Zhao’s heart was touched by the pure and precious love from her two sons, a warm feeling rising inside.
She took a few steps forward and suddenly said, “Close your eyes!”
The eldest and second sons were puzzled, but their mother’s mood was good today, so they obeyed and closed their eyes.
The second son grinned, “Mother, I’ve closed mine.”
The eldest also said, “Mother, I closed mine too.”
“Good.” Lin Zhao magically produced two pieces of rock sugar and popped them into the boys’ mouths.
The eldest and second sons felt something enter their mouths and sucked on it. It was sweet—it was candy.
The second son quickly opened his eyes, his eyes shining brighter than summer stars. “Mother, it’s candy!!”
Children didn’t care where the candy came from; as long as there was something to eat, it was fine.
The eldest son was also shocked and opened his eyes. Remembering that mother hadn’t said they could open their eyes, he quickly covered them with his small hands. “Mother, I didn’t open them,” pretending not to see.
Lin Zhao smiled, “You can open them now.”
The eldest son lowered his hands and looked at her brightly. “Mother, the candy is really sweet.”
Mother was so good.
The village aunties were all wrong—his mother loved them. If adults didn’t like children, they wouldn’t give them candy.
His mother gave candy to him and his brother, so she must like them.
Thinking this, the eldest son felt his heart was sweeter than eating a whole bag of candy.
“Mother, do you have more candy?”
“Yes,” Lin Zhao ate one too. It was sweet and pleasant.
The second son’s eyes sparkled. Smiling, he leaned over. “Mother, can I have one more?”
Seeing his sweet smile, Lin Zhao gave each boy another piece.
“Remember to brush your teeth tonight.”
The second son put the candy in his little pocket, pressed it a few times to make sure it wouldn’t fall out, then said, “Brother and I don’t have toothbrushes.”
“Mother says kids don’t need to brush their teeth,” the eldest son chimed in.
Pfft...
The two little sweaters suddenly turned into leaky leather jackets.
“I’ll buy you both some tomorrow!” Lin Zhao sighed helplessly. What was she thinking before?
The eldest son remembered the twins and reminded their mother, “Don’t forget third and fourth children too.”
“...Got it.” She was only twenty-three this year; her memory wasn’t that bad.
Lin Zhao married Gu Chenghuai the year before she turned eighteen. She had just graduated high school, had no connections or money, couldn’t even find manual labor work, and that year’s harvest was poor. Their family was always on the brink of running out of food.
She had always been resourceful, planning to marry to change her fate.
Later, by chance, she met Gu Chenghuai, who was home visiting. She took the initiative, and Gu Chenghuai seemed unable to resist, surrendering. They married in front of the great leader’s statue.
Outside the door, the soft footsteps and voices of workers passing by were heard.
The eldest son was eager to go out. Before leaving, he didn’t forget to say, “Mother, rest well. I’ll bring you food when I come back.”
From where? Of course, from the old family home.
Lin Zhao broke out in a cold sweat.
“...Okay.” It wasn’t that she didn’t want to cook, but the grain store was empty.
“Don’t go near the river. Stay close to the adults. Call for help if anything happens,” Lin Zhao warned anxiously.
Before the eldest son could reply, the second son shouted loudly, “Mother, we know! Grandma taught us!”
With that, he grabbed the eldest son’s hand and ran out the door.