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

Chapter 326 "Isolation"

The two children, heads close together, chattered away, showing no signs of awkwardness.

Lin Zhao laughed, "Wherever Hengbao is, there's never peace and quiet! He really talks a lot."

Hengbao looked innocent. "Mom, you said before that my dad doesn't talk much."

"Go do your thing." Lin Zhao glanced over.

The sensible child immediately ran away.

Gu Chan offered Lin Zhao some sweet soup and said with a smile, "Zhao Zhao, thank you for coming all this way."

Lin Zhao waved her hand, "It's nothing, I have someone deliver it, it's no trouble. Isn't my brother-in-law here?"

Gu Chan's eyes flickered. "She went out."

She was at ease deceiving outsiders, but she always felt uncomfortable lying to her own family.

Fortunately, Lin Zhao only asked casually and did not investigate further.

"Where are the prepared things? Shall we go check them now?"

Gu Chan got up and led her to the room with the two stones.

The dented, chipped desk was piled high with items, and next to it was a bulging cloth bag.

“These are all of them,” Gu Chan said.

"You're very well prepared." Lin Zhao stepped forward to check.

Gu Chan suppressed her heartache and said, "Little Stone is so small, how can he take care of himself? I am his mother, I have to think about everything for him."

Lin Zhao could understand; if it were her own four children, she wouldn't be able to bear it either, and she would probably go with them.

"Although we're not close to the provincial capital, the transportation is convenient, so we can visit Xiao Shitou anytime we miss him," she comforted him softly.

Gu Chan cheered and said with a smile, "That's right, I should be happy that Little Stone has such a bright future. If the villagers knew, they would be so envious."

"Nobody knows yet?" Lin Zhao asked in surprise. "Big sister, you've done a great job keeping this a secret. You've managed to keep it from the village."

"...The villagers saw me busily exchanging things, and they had their suspicions." Gu Chan's expression was not good.

"Those words weren't pleasant to hear, were they?" Lin Zhao said knowingly.

Gu Chan nodded, then laughed angrily, "You said your brother-in-law and I were going to sell Xiao Shitou, but don't you think about it? I'm about to sell him, and I still need to buy things for the child. A bunch of people who don't think before they speak."

Lin Zhao rarely heard her curse, so she laughed out loud, "Yes. Don't bother with those people."

She examined the things her sister-in-law had given to Xiao Shitou and found that the cotton-padded coat wasn't warm enough.

"This cotton coat is too thin."

Gu Chan was taken aback. "It's not thin, is it? His cotton-padded coat is the thickest in the whole family!"

“Thin,” Lin Zhao said. “We have a kang (heated brick bed) here. If it’s too cold, we can just stay home. It’s different for him when he goes to the provincial capital. He has to go out no matter if it’s snowing or hailing. He can’t stand the cold if he doesn’t wear thick clothes.”

“You’re right. It’s alright, there’s still time. I’ll change the cotton and fabric before it gets cold and make him a thick cotton coat.” Gu Chan listened to the advice and immediately made a plan in her mind.

"No need to trouble yourself. Your third brother paid for me to make new cotton-padded coats for the two boys," Lin Zhao said casually. "The coats are long, past the knees, so they won't get cold this year."

Gu Chan stood there, stunned, unable to react for a moment.

a long time.

She spoke, her voice filled with emotion, "Zhaozhao..."

"Don't get sentimental, you know I don't like that," Lin Zhao quickly interrupted her spellcasting.

Gu Chan broke into a smile through her tears, her slightly choked voice carrying a hint of helplessness, "Zhaozhao."

Lin Zhao: "I know you're touched, but there's no need. Yu Bao and Heng Bao also have things. The two stones didn't fight with them for them, so please accept them without worry, big sister. Little Stone will have a bright future, and his third uncle will also be proud."

"Is it easy to get fabric and cotton for the army?" Gu Chan didn't dare to thank her again, afraid that her younger sister-in-law would leave impatiently, so she had to change the subject.

"It's alright," Lin Zhao said.

That's actually impossible, but... she's cheating.

Gu Chan guessed that it wasn't simple, and planned to give her younger brother and sister-in-law half a pig as a thank-you gift during the New Year.

"We also need to prepare a hot water bottle. If we have any extras at home, we can give them to Xiao Shitou as well." Lin Zhao was very concerned about Xiao Shitou and checked everything carefully. She even thought of things that Gu Chan hadn't considered!
"You even prepared bowls? Bowls are hard to carry and easy to break, so let's use lunchboxes instead, they're lighter. Gu Chenghuai has one that he doesn't use often, if you don't mind, I'll pack it up too."

Gu Chan quickly replied, "How could I possibly dislike it? Most people want the old ones too."

Even if it sells for two yuan, people will fight over it.

“It’s not good for you to send them all. Your brother-in-law and I will buy them ourselves!” she said.

Fearing that her younger sister-in-law might misunderstand, she quickly explained, "Zhaozhao, I'm not being polite with you. The family isn't short of money right now, what we lack is coupons. Getting good things from you without using coupons is already a bargain. If you don't even want the money, how can I face Chenghuai in the future!"

Her words were urgent, and her expression was serious and solemn, like a taut net.

"I'll listen to you," Lin Zhao said understandingly.

Then, changing the subject, he added, "How much I give is up to me."

Gu Chan said, "Okay."

She knew that Lin Zhao's quoted price was definitely very low, but it didn't matter. She could pay back the money by giving her four sons a big red envelope during the New Year.

Saying things now would be too formal and would damage our relationship!

"Little Stone is growing, so he needs snacks. I'll also pack him some jerky, and we need to prepare some nutritional supplements, like milk powder or malted milk powder..."

Gu Chan nodded, "Yes, I plan to bring a can of malted milk powder for Xiao Shitou. It's a nutritional supplement that the family gave to Xiang Dong. He couldn't bear to drink it, so he left two cans, saying that each of his two sons should have one can to help the children grow up."

"My brother-in-law is a thoughtful person," Lin Zhao said with emotion.

Gu Chan's eyes were full of smiles. "Yes, I always complain about my two sons, but I really care about them."

Her words were overheard by Wei Xiangdong, who had just returned from the mountain. The burly man frowned, unwilling to admit it.

Who took those two hard rocks to heart?!
It was only because Ah Chan felt sorry for those two boys that she gave them some nourishing food.

"A-Chan, I'm back." Knowing that Lin Zhao was there, Wei Xiangdong rarely knocked on the door.

Gu Chan greeted him at the door and, seeing the pheasant in the man's hand, exclaimed with delight, "You caught a pheasant! You're lucky today! We'll stew it later!"

Hengbao has sharp ears and could hear those words from far away. He abandoned his friends and rushed over, shouting, "Chicken dinner?"

Gu Chan's face was full of smiles, "Yes, chicken, how do you want to eat it?"

"I want to drink chicken soup," Hengbao said bluntly.

"Okay, Auntie will stew it for you." Gu Chan's eyes were full of affection.

Hengbao noticed that the pheasant's feathers were really bright and beautiful, and quite big, so he asked, "Auntie, after we kill the chicken, can I have the feathers?"

"Sure," Gu Chan readily agreed, but with a hint of doubt, "What do you need chicken feathers for?"

"Let's make shuttlecocks for Yaobao to play with!" Hengbao said.

"Yaobao is only a few years old, can she even handle this?" Lin Zhao said helplessly. "Is it you who wants to play this game?"

"Shuttlecocks are for girls, I'm not playing with them," Hengbao said crisply. "If Yaobao has a shuttlecock, Lu Baozhen won't be able to isolate her sister anymore!"

Lin Zhao frowned. "When did Lu Baozhen isolate Yao Bao?"

Yu Bao clenched her little fists, looking like she wanted to hit someone, "She's been isolating Yao Bao ever since she came back from the army!"

"She used a broken shuttlecock as bait to keep the village children from playing with Yaobao!"

Lin Zhao had just returned and was unaware that her daughter had suffered such a great injustice. Upon hearing the news, she felt extremely distressed, picked up Yao Bao, and kissed her soft little face.

"Yaobao, you've been wronged. That girl only isolated you, she didn't hit you, did she?"

Yao Bao smiled, her eyes crinkling to reveal her pearly white teeth, as sweet as glutinous rice balls. She kissed her mother's cheek and called out softly, completely oblivious to the meaning of Lin Zhao's question. Yes.

She's still young; she probably doesn't even realize she's being isolated.

“Mom, Lu Baozhen didn’t have a chance to bully my sister. She isolated my sister, which was seen by Sister Alan. After that, Sister Alan took my sister and Xiaoyuer to play and didn’t let the bad girl get close to Yaobao.” Yu Bao’s thoughts were clear and her words were reasonable.

“Your sister Alan has the demeanor of an elder sister,” Lin Zhao said.

The villagers laughed at her for being foolish, sending the good things to other houses, not knowing that this was all she wanted.

It's worth it to trade those few things for four kids living in a wonderful family environment.

The Gu family members are upright people; they don't just know how to take.

They did their best to respond to her kindness.

Zhao Liuniang was like that, and so was Alan.

As if responding to Lin Zhao, Qianbao nodded her little head, her neatly trimmed hair making her little face look even more delicate and cute.

"Hello, Sister Alan."

He remembered the scene when Sister Alan saved him. Blood was flowing down her face. She clung to the bad guy's leg and wouldn't let go, shouting, "Put down my brother, kidnap me instead!" Her voice was cracked and unpleasant, but little Qianbao still remembers it to this day.

"Yes, your sister Lan is great, she even saved you." Lin Zhao gently tapped her youngest son's nose.

Qianbao's nose itched, and he scratched it twice with his little hands, looking serious. "I remember."

He pointed to his forehead and said, "Sister Alan is bleeding here."

"Qianbao still remembers!" Gu Chan exclaimed in surprise.

My little Stone has forgotten everything from when he was three years old!
Before Qianbao could reply, she looked at Yubao and asked, "The Lu Baozhen you mentioned, is she the girl from the brigade who was sent back after only a few months with the army?"

"Ah."

Gu Chan gritted her teeth, "How can such a little child be so mean? When I get back to the brigade, I'll go to her house. This is such a bad way to raise a child!"

After saying that, he gently patted Yao Bao's head and said, "Sweetie, don't play with those bad girls anymore."

Yao Bao nodded her little head a few times, her voice soft and sweet, "Play with Sister Fish!"

“That’s fine!” Gu Chan said.

He then reminded the twins, "Yu Bao, Heng Bao, you two are the older brothers, so you need to keep an eye on your sister and make sure she's not bullied, okay?"

"We know," the twins said in unison.

Hengbao struck a boxing stance, his innocent little face hardening. "I'm a little boy who knows how to box. Anyone who bullies my sister will have to see if my fists will allow it."

The corner of Dashitou's mouth twitched.

Little Stone's eyes lit up, "Wow!!"

Yu Bao: Tell your younger brother to get ahead first, next time we must get our revenge.

Lin Zhao: "..."

With such rudimentary skills, what's there to brag about?

……

night.

Wei Xiangdong and Gu Chan packed the things they wanted to bring for Xiao Shitou by candlelight.

"Are you relieved now? We even have lunchboxes, isn't that complete?" Wei Xiangdong smiled at his wife.

Gu Chan nodded. "I'm relieved. Zhao Zhao is so thoughtful. You know, she even made cotton-padded coats for the two boys, the kind that go past their knees. Yu Bao and Heng Bao said they're modeled after military overcoats. Just hearing that makes you know how warm they are. Zhao Zhao even said Cheng Huai asked her to make them. I don't believe her. Cheng Huai isn't that meticulous. It must be her own idea. I'm so lucky. I was born into a good family and married a good man. Even my sisters-in-law and brothers are easy to get along with. And my youngest son has a bright future. How can my life be so good..."

Looking at his wife's smiling face, Wei Xiangdong's lips unconsciously curled up. "I don't think it's because you're lucky, it's because you have the ability to make life wonderful."

Gu Chan looked back at him and smiled, "You have a very high opinion of me."

“It’s not that I think you’re too good for me, it’s just my honest feeling,” Wei Xiangdong said. “You never complain, and you face life with a smile no matter what situation you’re in. It sounds easy, but how many people can do that? Don’t underestimate yourself, I think you’re great.”

For example, during the years when Lin Zhao was mentally unstable, his wife A Chan suffered a lot of grievances, but he never heard a word of complaint from her.

For example, when he was injured while saving someone and his family was several hundred in debt, Achan didn't say a single discouraging word. She kept comforting him, saying that it was good that he was alright, that money could be earned back, and that the debt could be paid off sooner or later...

After this incident, Wei Xiangdong vowed in his heart that he would make sure his wife had a good life.

Gu Chan felt uncomfortable being praised by the man, so she quickly packed her things and put them in the cabinet.

"I'll go to Zhaozhao's place to pick up my cotton-padded coat and lunchbox another day," she said.

Wei Xiangdong offered, "Don't feel inferior. We'll send her half a pig for the New Year."

Gu Chan looked at him and said, "You and I are thinking the same thing."

Wei Xiangdong said smugly, "Otherwise, we could become a couple."

……

Gu family.

Lin Zhao was soaking her feet in the yard with her four children.

Hengbao stepped on his brother's insteps with both feet, and would playfully tease him from time to time. He would only stop when his brother glared at him, but he would play again after a while, leaving Yubao speechless.

Yu Bao simply ignored her younger brother. "Mom, is Little Stone going to the provincial capital soon?"

“Yes, he’ll leave no later than next week. Your uncle will take him there,” Lin Zhao said softly.

She soaked her feet in a basin by herself, without any mischievous children, and the basin contained herbs to relieve fatigue.

"Mom, can we go see Little Stone off?" Hengbao asked.

Lin Zhao didn't even need to look at him to know this kid was up to no good. "Speak, what are you up to now?"

Hengbao chuckled, "I heard from Brother Tiedan that a new movie has been released, and I want to see it."

"If you want to watch a movie, just watch a movie. Don't use a small stone as a raft. You're supposed to be the older brother, this is so unfair!" Lin Zhao glared at him.

"No, I really wanted to see Xiao Shitou off. Seeing him off and going to the movies aren't mutually exclusive. I mainly wanted to see him off, and I could go to the movies on the side," Hengbao explained.

His face showed reluctance, "Now that Little Stone is gone, I don't know when I'll see him again, sigh!"

Lin Zhao felt that these words sounded familiar, and upon closer thought, it seemed that her mother-in-law had said them before.

"..."

"That's enough for you!"

Yao Bao said, "That's enough!"

After finishing her lesson, she looked at her mother with a bright and cheerful expression.

Lin Zhao: They're too difficult to discipline.

"We'll see," she said.

"Mommy~~" Hengbao used her charm to wink.

Lin Zhao slowly covered her ears, refusing to listen.

Yu Bao covered her mouth and laughed, "You're too noisy, Mommy finds you annoying."

Hengbao was not discouraged at all, tilting his head back and saying, "You may dislike me today, but I'll be Mommy's darling again tomorrow!"

Yu Bao found his younger brother's affectionate gestures disgusting, so he pulled his feet out of the foot bath and refused to soak them anymore!

(End of this chapter)