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

Chapter 338 "The Hope for a Grand Slam"

Yu Bao hugged Xiao Shitou, raised her right hand and gently patted his back, comforting him earnestly, "We miss you too. Look, we've come to see you. Your aunt misses you too, and she asked us to bring you some things. Take good care of yourself. Your aunt and uncle will come to see you when they have time."

Little Stone sniffed, nodded emphatically, and smiled.

Seeing his strong little face, Lin Zhao felt a pang of sadness.

"Little Stone, how are you? Has anyone bullied you?" Hengbao asked. Before Little Stone could answer, she waved her right arm and said proudly, "Who bullied you? Tell us, and I'll knock their head off for you!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Shitou hurriedly waved his hand, "No, no one bullied me. The coach is good to me, and the older brothers are good to me too."

"Are you happy?" Hengbao glanced in the direction he came from and saw several suspicious teenagers. His eyes turned wary.

"Happy." Little Stone smiled brightly.

Lin Zhao could tell that he was adapting well. "As long as you're happy, that's good. If you're unhappy, ask the coach to send a telegram home, and we'll come see you right away."

As she spoke, she followed Erzai's gaze and saw those people as well.

"Little Stone, do you know those people over there?"

The little stone turned around.

After noticing the group of people over there, he called out a string of names and waved to them happily, "...Come here."

The group of teenagers exchanged glances and slowly walked over.

He put his hands in his pockets, revealing a hint of deliberate arrogance, walked to a spot two meters away from Lin Zhao, stopped tacitly, glanced at her without making a sound, and then his gaze fell on Xiao Shitou.

"What do you want us for?" the leader of the boys asked gruffly, feigning impatience.

Little Stone was like this when he first came. He was strange and would say things that were meant to be caring, but he would twist and turn them and then say them in a dissatisfied tone.

"My third aunt and uncle have come to see me!" Little Stone didn't care about his impatience at all and cheerfully introduced his relatives to the older boys he had only known for a short time.

"Oh." The boy pretended not to care, but his eyes swept over Lin Zhao, the only adult, as if trying to tell whether she was sincere or not.

The other boys weren't so awkward; they politely called Lin Zhao "older sister," a term that made everyone's hearts flutter.

Lin Zhao handed each of them a handful of candy.

"You have such a sweet tongue, have some candy. My little Stone is still so young, and we're so grateful for your care. Thank you so much," she said sincerely.

The boys couldn't bear to refuse the candy, and their words became even sweeter as they praised Lin Zhao for her beauty and kindness, and patted their chests to promise that they would definitely take good care of Wei Yan.

"Don't worry, sister! We'll take good care of Little Stone!"

"Yeah, yeah, Little Stone is the youngest, so we definitely have to take good care of him," said a bright-eyed boy. "The coach likes Little Stone the most, no one can bully him, anyone who bullies Little Stone will get yelled at!"

Lin Zhao's lips curled slightly. "So, according to you, someone is bullying him?"

The boys all looked at the boy who spoke in a firm, stern voice.

The figure froze, then glared. "Who bullied him? Don't accuse someone unjustly!"

Little Stone quickly spoke up to explain and clear the boy's name, "Brother Long didn't bully me, I cried because I miss home."

Brother Long, like a wolf cub whose fur has been stroked, snorted coldly, leaned against a tree by the wall, and looked into the distance, his expression as deep and unfathomable as could be.

Lin Zhao: "..."

After hesitating for a moment, Little Stone said, "Brother Long, there are ants on the tree. They'll all crawl into your clothes later."

Brother Long from "Society" lost all his strength and means in an instant.

"...Eat your candy." The boy, embarrassed and angry, straightened up and turned his back awkwardly.

Kids are so annoying.

A smile flashed in Lin Zhao's eyes. She could tell that even the most stubborn boy had a soft heart. Little Stone couldn't stand being wronged here.

"Little Stone, have you eaten? We brought you sweet and sour pork, bought with our prize money. We won first place and got a lot of prize money. Tell me what you want and I'll buy it for you," Yu Bao said to Little Stone.

"What is sweet and sour pork? I've never had it." Little Stone licked his lips. He was practically half a citizen of the country now, able to eat his fill, but it was impossible for him to eat exceptionally well, with meat at every meal, so he was also craving it.

"The meat is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, and it smells delicious. This is my first time eating it today. It will taste even better if you heat it up later. Can you heat up the food here?" Yu Bao asked.

Little Stone didn't know either; he looked at Brother Long, whom he trusted most.

The boy was looking up at the sky with his back to him, so he couldn't answer him.

“Yes, you can do it in the cafeteria.” Another boy, savoring the sweet taste of milk in his mouth, answered Yu Bao’s question.

"That's perfect." Yu Bao clapped her hands. "You can heat up the food your aunt asked us to bring you."

Little Stone smiled innocently and brightly, "What food did my mom bring me?"

"There are so many, you'll see when you see them." Yu Bao gave a mysterious smile, keeping everyone in suspense.

Little Stone was a patient child and didn't press the matter further, instead asking Lin Zhao and the others about his family.

Yu Bao and Heng Bao chatted back and forth, and Gu Lan also talked about the recent situation of the Wei family. The children who had left home listened with their eyes crinkling into crescent moons.

"Little Stone, can you go out for an afternoon?" Lin Zhao asked Little Stone, but he was actually inquiring about the boys' training schedule and base management.

"Hmm?" Little Stone asked, puzzled.

Lin Zhao smiled and said, "We're going to the zoo this afternoon. If you can come out, we can go together."

Little Stone's eyes lit up. "Is there a place with big tigers?"

“Yes.” Lin Zhao nodded.

"I want to go!" Little Stone said in a clear voice. In his excitement, he left with the words, "I'll go ask the coach," and ran off.

"Hey—" The boys couldn't even call him back with their hands.

Brother Long frowned. "If family members come, the base usually gives half a day off. Just tell the coach. Foolish, you don't know to ask before you run off."

Hengbao, with her hands on her hips, exudes an aura of 2.3 meters despite her small size.

He argued vehemently, "Little Stone isn't stupid at all. Brother Stone said he's honest, not stupid at all. You're not allowed to call Little Stone stupid!"

Brother Long: "..."

With Little Stone gone, they realized there was no need to stay any longer, so they told Lin Zhao and prepared to head back.

But she called out to me.

Lin Zhao handed the things he had brought for Xiao Shitou to the boys without any ceremony. "These things were prepared by my family. Please take them to Xiao Shitou's dormitory. They are a bit heavy and he can't carry them. You'll need to help him."

Brother Long took it with one hand, but almost embarrassed himself. Luckily, he managed to take his other hand out of his pocket in time and hug it with both hands so that he could fall to the ground.

So heavy!!!

What is all this?

How incredibly embarrassing!!!

The arrogant young man blushed with embarrassment.

Lin Zhao pretended not to see it and smiled, "There's a bag of rice inside. It's quite heavy, and it takes some strength to pick it up with one hand."

Brother Long wasn't comforted.

Then how come you can lift it with one hand? Iron Lady?!

He was stunned.

"Rice?!" The other boys were shocked to see someone deliver rice for the first time.

"Eat it," Lin Zhao explained with a smile. "Little Stone is growing, and I was worried that he wasn't eating enough. I didn't know if you had any dietary requirements, so I decided to give him a bag of rice."

There's a canteen here, which means they can cook, so the rice will cook no matter what.

Whether it's rice porridge or rice, as long as it's edible, that's fine!
The boys had nothing to say.

They loaded their belongings, said goodbye to Lin Zhao and the others, and then left.

After they left, Gu Lan said, "That Brother Long has an awkward personality, but he doesn't seem like the type to bully others. The other kids are all quite nice too. Little Stone shouldn't be bullied here. Go back and tell Auntie, and she can rest assured!"

“My aunt’s husband brought the little stone, so my aunt must know about it,” Yu Bao said.

“You don’t understand.” Gu Lan’s delicate face was full of seriousness. “In my aunt’s heart, my third aunt is more attentive than my uncle. She feels more at ease when my third aunt comes to visit. Besides, we came on short notice. The reactions of Xiao Shitou and the others are most likely genuine. Only in this way can we see if Xiao Shitou is doing well.”

Yu Bao nodded, "I understand."

Hengbao sighed, resting his chin on his hand, "Adults have such complicated thoughts."

Lin Zhao: "..."

No, it's you little adults who are truly unfathomable.

There's no need for so much explanation. They just happened to be in the provincial capital and stopped by to check things out!
Before long, Little Stone came running over, followed by a spirited middle-aged man.

This is Little Stone's coach.

He briefly introduced himself to Lin Zhao and confirmed with her the time to send the child back to the base, then released the child without saying a word.

"Have fun." The coach patted Little Stone on the head, left with these words, nodded to Lin Zhao and the others, and then turned back to work.

At this moment, Lin Zhao realized why Wei Xiangdong and Gu Chan were willing to send their youngest son away.

This coach is clearly a capable person with profound knowledge and insight. He speaks and acts with a refined yet decisive manner. He is clear-headed and organized. With someone like him, you only need to complete the task and don't have to worry about anything else. Even if a child can learn just 30% of what he learned from him, it will be enough to benefit them for a lifetime.

"That's great." Lin Zhao looked at Xiao Shitou's chubby little face with a smile on his lips, as if he could already see him one day dominating the field!
"Hmm...? What did Auntie say that's good?" Little Stone looked up at Lin Zhao, looking blank.

"If you're doing well here, you'll continue to do well in the future," Lin Zhao said with a smile, taking the child's soft hand and leading him out of the base.

Little Stone raised his eyebrows, his eyes curved, revealing his white teeth.

"Auntie, I love playing ball. I will train hard here so that when I grow up I can compete, win first place, win a gold medal, and bring glory to our family."

He knew exactly why he was there and had a clear plan in mind. He never slacked off in his training, and even when he missed his parents and brother terribly, he would wipe away his tears and continue training.

Otherwise, why would the coach like him so much? Who wouldn't like a talented and hardworking kid?

The coach saw hope for a Grand Slam in him.

This would be the pinnacle of his career and a moment of unparalleled national glory. Just thinking about it filled the coach with excitement.

If that day ever comes, then his perseverance will have been worthwhile!

·······
Lin Zhao gently patted Xiao Shitou's head and encouraged him, "Then practice hard, and we'll come cheer you on during your competition."

Little Stone's eyes grew brighter, and he nodded happily, becoming even more energetic.

When she arrived, Lin Zhao had already inquired about the route to the zoo—walk a short distance, take a bus, and it would be five stops away.

They got into the car with their four children.

A few minutes later, the car started moving.

Little Stone was overjoyed, pressing his face against the car window and excitedly looking out.

The sunlight shone on the child, tinging his hair, skin, and eyelashes with a soft golden hue, making him look like a fairytale.

Lin Zhao took out her camera and captured the moment.

Hearing the click, the little stone turned its head.

"...Would you like me to take a picture?" he asked shyly.

“Yes, we’ll develop it and show it to your mother. She misses you, and having your picture with her will make her happy,” Lin Zhao said softly.

Little Stone blinked and looked at her pleadingly, "Auntie, could you take a picture of my parents and brother? I'd like to have a picture of them too."

Lin Zhao looked at him with concern and agreed, "Okay, I'll take the pictures when I get back and send them to you then."

"Thank you, Auntie," Little Stone said softly, his eyes filled with anticipation.

“In three months, it will be Chinese New Year, and then you can go home!” Lin Zhao said. “When Chinese New Year comes, I will take a family photo for you and print out several copies, so you can take them with you wherever you go.”

"A family photo?" Little Stone looked blank; the term seemed unfamiliar to him.

"The photo has your dad, your mom, a big rock, and a small rock. This is a family photo," Lin Zhao said softly.

Upon hearing this, Little Stone's eyes shone even brighter.

"Mom, will we get a family photo for Chinese New Year?" Hengbao asked.

"You mean to ask if your dad is coming back for the New Year, right?" Lin Zhao's gaze swept over, cutting to the heart of Erzai's question.

"Yes," Hengbao said candidly, "Dad rarely celebrates Chinese New Year with us."

Yu Bao said, "Dad wants to protect our country."

"I know, I don't blame Dad, but I want to spend the New Year with him." Hengbao lowered his head.

Lin Zhao took the two children's hands and gently squeezed them.

"How about this, when we get back we'll write to him and ask if he can come back for the New Year?"

The twins nodded in agreement.

Sometimes, when they make a request, the outcome isn't that important. What matters is that their needs are heard and taken seriously.

Seeing this, Gu Lan fell into deep thought. She finally understood why Yu Bao and Heng Bao were different from other children. They never cried or made a fuss, and they never panicked when faced with anything. They always calmly tried to find a solution...

It was all thanks to my third aunt.

She never ignores any of Yu Bao's or their needs.

Like what just happened.

For example, when her third aunt promised to bring books for Qianbao, she didn't just brush him off because he was young. Instead, she went to the bookstore and picked out books for him one by one. Her thoughtfulness gave her younger cousins ​​the courage to face everything.

Gu Lan hopes to become someone who doesn't complain, is content, and isn't swayed by emotions. She knows she's far from her goal, but she will try her best.

Lin Zhao was unaware that her words and actions were subtly influencing a young girl who was about to enter puberty, causing Gu Lan to gradually emulate her.

The bus conductor announced... "We've arrived at the zoo!" Lin Zhao got off the bus with four children.

"We're here!" Hengbao spread her legs slightly, raised her hands above her head, and exclaimed excitedly, "Mommy, I want to take a picture at the door! I've grown taller!"

(End of this chapter)