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

Chapter 373 "Peach Blossom Spirit"

Gu Chan didn't mention it again; mentioning it once was enough to fulfill their sisterly bond.

She gave Lin Zhao an apologetic smile.

This has affected everyone's mood.

Gu Chan is the daughter of the Gu family and a sister of Gu Xing'er, sharing the same parents. It was necessary for her to ask this question; otherwise, not mentioning it at all would make her parents think she was heartless.

She cares about what her parents think.

Lin Zhao understood Gu Chan's feelings and didn't think much of it, responding with a reassuring smile.

The three daughters-in-law of the Gu family did not respond or comment, treating Gu Xing'er as a complete stranger.

"Zhaozhao, what kind of tea is this? It smells strange." Gu Chan changed the subject, sniffing the aroma wafting from the enamel mug, and squinted her eyes.

Lin Zhao raised her eyes and replied with a smile, "Black tea. I still have some. If you like it, I'll bring you some back."

Gu Chan smiled shyly, "Then I won't be polite."

"Don't mention it, we haven't even finished the meat you sent before the New Year," Lin Zhao said.

I didn't spend any money on meat this year; the meat delivered was enough to eat!
She suspected that Gu Chan and Wei Xiangdong were up to something big, and while she didn't press them for details, she secretly gave the couple a "good luck charm" to protect them in a moment of danger.

This is all to repay my sister-in-law for saving my life over the years.

Afraid that Zhaozhao would press for details about the pork's origin, Gu Chan changed the subject again, "Chenghuai, when are you going back to the army?"

Gu Chenghuai was slightly taken aback. He glanced at Yu Bao and Heng Bao looking over, and remembered what his wife and children had said: to let the Gu family children know that they were leaving in a few days so that they could have a good New Year. So he sent the children away.

"We adults need to talk about some serious matters. Bangbang, you take your younger brother and sister out to play."

He is the leader of the new generation of the Gu family. Every young man in the Gu family admires their third uncle. When Gu Chenghuai speaks, no one can disobey him.

"Yes!" Bangbang responded.

She packed some candy and tricked her younger siblings into leaving the house.

After the children left—

Gu Chenghuai then answered his elder sister's question, "I'll leave after the New Year. I'll bring Zhaozhao and the children with me then."

These words surprised and shocked everyone present.

"Is the third son's wife going to join the army with the children?" Gu's mother blurted out.

Gu Chenghuai held Lin Zhao's hand and answered on her behalf, "Yes, Yu Bao and the others are growing up fast, and I don't want to miss their growth."

He made no mention of his desire to be close to his wife, to wake up every day to see his lover's face, and to have a light on in the house for him when he came home from get off work.

After hearing Gu Chenghuai's words, Gu's mother suppressed her reluctance to part with her grandson and agreed, saying, "That's right. It's not a good idea for you and your wife to live apart. You should bring your wife and child with you to the army. A family should always be together."

Her own third son is tall, handsome, and capable. If he were to be schemed against by such a shameless person, it would be her precious grandchildren who would suffer.

"Let me know before you leave, and I'll prepare food for you to take on the journey."

Gu Chenghuai did not refuse, "Thank you for your hard work, Mother."

"My child, I'm your mother, why are you saying such formal things? It's only right for a mother to do anything for her son." Gu's mother felt a little lost and depressed.

The third son isn't home often, and his wife and Yu Bao and the others are also leaving. After they leave, she and her husband don't know how many more times they'll see them.

Lin Zhao said, "This is where Gu Chenghuai and I are rooted. We will come back. If Mom and Dad miss us, I will book tickets for you. My elder brother and sister-in-law will see you off at the train station, and I will pick you up at the train station at our destination. It won't be difficult for you to see us."

If you have the will, you can meet again no matter how far apart you are.

Mother Gu forced a smile. "That's true. Third daughter-in-law, write to me often once you get there."

"That's for sure. I'll write one every two weeks. I hope Mother won't find me annoying." Lin Zhao smiled mischievously.

"No, no, not at all," Gu's mother replied, looking at Gu Qingzhou. "Qingzhou, go and visit her every now and then."

Gu Qingzhou readily agreed.

Zhao Liuniang spoke up, "What about Third Sister-in-law's job?"

Lin Zhao raised her eyes, smiling, her true thoughts hidden from view. Instead of answering, she asked, "Second sister-in-law, do you have any thoughts?"

This was Zhao Zhao's job; Gu Chenghuai didn't interfere, leaving it to her to handle.

Zhao Liuniang shook her head, "No, no, no, I have a lot of things to do at home, I can't leave."

Want a job with a stable income regardless of drought or flood? Everyone wants one.

However… there are three children to take care of, and the man's career is just starting out. His father-in-law said the commune plans to further expand the planting area, so Gu Yuanshan and Gu Yucheng, who are learning mushroom cultivation from Gu's father, have a bright future. With so many brigades cultivating mushrooms, one technician isn't enough. They've learned the most, so it's only natural that they get on the truck.

The salary is quite high, and it's a skill, so Zhao Liuniang is very supportive of Gu Yucheng.

The man is busy with important matters, so someone has to take care of things at home; she has to stay.

Most importantly, Zhao Liuniang had worked as a substitute at the supply and marketing cooperative and felt that going to work was like being in prison, and that growing mushrooms was much more comfortable.

"I thought my second sister-in-law wanted it," Lin Zhao said directly.

Zhao Liuniang said, "That's a secure job, who wouldn't want one? But there are so many things to do at home, I can't be left without it."

She came from a difficult family, and she values ​​her own family above all else. This was a result of her careful consideration.

Moreover, buying a job would cost at least four or five hundred, which she couldn't bear to spend the money on.

"And what about your sister-in-law?" Lin Zhao asked Huang Xiulan again.

She doesn't care who she sells her job to.

Anyway, good jobs are always in demand.

Huang Xiulan hesitated for a moment, "Let me discuss it with your older brother, and we'll give you an answer in a few days, okay?"

"Okay, try to tell me as soon as possible." If not, ask someone else.

Lin Zhao hasn't considered her sister-in-law yet. Chen Yu gave birth to twin sons not long ago and is unable to go to work, but she could still ask her.

Huang Xiulan understood her sister-in-law's unspoken meaning and gave her a definite answer: "I'll give you an answer first thing tomorrow morning."

Let's discuss it tonight.

"Okay." Lin Zhaoming had already taken her husband and children back to her parents' home. Having received confirmation, it didn't stop her from asking her sister-in-law.

……

Huang Xiulan and Gu Yuanshan discussed it all night. The couple sat cross-legged on the bed, did some calculations, and concluded that growing mushrooms was more cost-effective.

Although my third brother and sister-in-law didn't say how much the job would cost, they estimated it would be at least five hundred yuan, and that was a friendly price. It would take at least two years to recoup that much money. Going to work would inevitably interfere with mushroom cultivation and affect their earning of work points. All things considered, it was better to focus solely on mushroom cultivation.

Anyway, with Lin Zhao's connections, they can always get their hands on defective products, so they don't care about the tickets.

"Then we don't want it?" Gu Yuanshan confirmed again. "Once you make a move, there's no going back. Once you refuse, there's no going back. We all know that jobs are hard to come by, especially good jobs at the supply and marketing cooperative."

"If I refuse this time, it will be difficult to find another job."

Huang Xiulan was already somewhat conflicted, but after hearing these words, she became even more conflicted.

Staring at the head of the household, she demanded, "So, in the end, do you want it or not?!"

Gu Yuanshan said helplessly, "It's simple, it depends on whether you're willing to owe famine debts..."

Before he could finish speaking, Huang Xiulan interrupted him, "Who wants to be in debt for a famine! Of course I don't want to be in debt for a famine!"

The eldest son had finally managed to save up a huge sum of over a hundred dollars.

Who wants to go from being rich to being destitute?
"That's settled then." Gu Yuanshan lay down. "Go to sleep."

"Give me some blankets." Huang Xiulan pulled the blankets up and lay down.

With a click, Gu Yuanshan pulled the light cord to turn off the light.

In the darkness, Huang Xiulan's eyes were wide open, unable to fall asleep. She was still struggling with her thoughts.

Men are generally easygoing, and before long, the sound of snoring began, shattering Huang Xiulan's complex emotions with each "whoosh~ plop~".

Frustrated, she kicked the man in anger. The kick didn't wake him; Gu Yuanshan rolled over and started snoring again a second later.

Huang Xiulan couldn't sleep and felt very annoyed. She pulled out two wads of cotton from under her pillow and stuffed them into her ears. It took her a long time to fall asleep.

……

The next day.

Lin Zhao received a reply from Huang Xiulan.

As she expected.

“Okay. Growing mushrooms is a good way out. If you focus on planting, it’s no worse than working a regular job,” Lin Zhao said.

“I heard that the county hospital is buying medicinal herbs. Sister-in-law, you can learn to grow medicinal herbs. If you grow them well, you can make money.”

Huang Xiulan was very interested in making money, and her eyes lit up. "Really? What kind of money do you accept?"

He frowned again. "I don't recognize medicinal herbs, and I don't know how to grow them."

“Nobody’s born knowing how to grow things. Dad didn’t know how to grow mushrooms at first either, but he learned eventually, didn’t he?” Lin Zhao’s eyes were encouraging. “If you want to learn, sister-in-law, I’ll give you a book…”

The words have not yet fallen.

Huang Xiulan hurriedly said, "I want it, I want it, I want books, I want to learn."

Having tasted the benefits of growing mushrooms, she became very interested in making money through farming.

Rural areas have no shortage of land, so she wanted to try planting something.

Lin Zhao turned around and went back into the house. She found a few books on the bookshelf, took them out, and handed them to Huang Xiulan.

"Learn slowly. Medicinal herbs are in short supply everywhere. As long as you grow them, you won't have to worry about selling them."

Huang Xiulan hugged the book, her face beaming with joy, "Thank you, Third Sister-in-law."

If her father-in-law, who's quite old, can do it, so can she!
Huang Xiulan is full of energy.

Knowing that her third sister-in-law was going back to her parents' home, and that she was also going back to her parents' home today, Huang Xiulan didn't linger any longer and left happily with her books in her arms.

The reluctance to turn down the job has lessened considerably.

As Gu Chenghuai watched his wife plan for the Gu family, a piece of his heart sank. He hugged Lin Zhao from behind, bent down slightly, rested his chin on her shoulder, and smelled the fragrance of his wife's hair. His voice was deep and warm. "Zhao Zhao, thank you."

"Huh?" Lin Zhao asked, puzzled. "Why are you thanking me?"

Gu Chenghuai met her puzzled eyes and kissed the tip of her nose without thinking. "It's nothing, I just feel...it's so good to have you."

Lin Zhao hummed in response.

Gu Chenghuai was a generous and thoughtful son-in-law. He brought a lot of New Year's gifts with him, so many that the bicycle couldn't carry them all.

"There's nowhere to sit, we'll have to walk. Qianbao and Yaobao, you two go first. If you can't walk anymore, tell me and I'll carry you." Lin Zhao put the woolen hats on the twins and gave them some instructions.

Yao Bao isn't worried; she'll definitely say something if she's tired. Qian Bao is strong-willed but also feels sorry for his mother, always afraid that she'll be tired, so he'd rather walk by himself than have her carry him.

“Especially your Qianbao, if you’re tired, just say so.” Lin Zhao touched her youngest son’s hand; it was warm, so he shouldn’t be cold.

"You're still young, you can't get tired, or you won't grow tall, you know?"

Qianbao was dressed warmly, wearing a cotton-padded coat with embroidery and a woolen hat, revealing only her delicate, chubby little face. She looked like a New Year's picture doll, and everyone who saw her would love her.

"Yes." He nodded seriously.

"My good child," Lin Zhao praised, then led her children out the door.

Yu Bao tiptoed and locked the courtyard gate.

The family exchanged pleasantries with the villagers they met, and it took them quite a while to leave the village.

That's how human relationships work.

They chatted and laughed along the way, not in a hurry. They drank water when they were thirsty and rested when they were hungry, and arrived at the Dongfeng Brigade at a leisurely pace.

Big Egg and the others had been waiting at the village entrance for a long time.

When I saw my aunt's family coming, I ran over to them.

"Aunt, Uncle."

The two eggs busily took Qianbao and Yaobao from Lin Zhao.

Xi Bao rushed into her aunt's arms, her voice light and cheerful, "Auntie, you're so late! We've been waiting for you for so long! Auntie missed you!"

"I miss you all too." Lin Zhao picked up Xibao, bounced her up a bit, and laughed, "You've gotten too heavy. In a few years, I won't be able to carry you anymore."

Xi Bao clung to her aunt, her smile brighter than the sun. "It's okay, I'll hug Auntie then. Auntie smells so good, I love hugging Auntie."

Lin Zhao loved to look good. Even during the Chinese New Year, she wore a red sweater underneath a double-breasted wool coat, black straight-leg pants, and heeled leather shoes. She also had a scarf of the same color as her coat around her neck. Standing there, she looked more fashionable than any girl in the city.

She wore her hair in a lazy and elegant braid, and her lips were painted with lipstick that matched her natural lip color, making her so radiant that it made one's heart flutter.

"Auntie is so beautiful." happy Bao and Lin Zhao snuggled together, cupping their faces, looking utterly bewildered by her beauty.

Lin Zhao tapped happy Bao's forehead and shook her head helplessly, "You have such a lecherous look. If you're so obsessed with looks, what will you do if you get scammed in the future? It's really worrying."

happy Bao raised her chin and said, "I'm just as smart as my aunt. Who can fool me?"

Afraid of tiring her aunt, she struggled to get down, but still held Lin Zhao's hand, looking at Lin Zhao's fingers and secretly gesturing.

My aunt's hands are so long, soft and smooth, it feels so good to hold them.

“Aunt, my father brought someone back,” Lin Zheng suddenly said.

Lin Zhao: “?”

Lin Xuan added, "She's a lesbian."

"...What's going on?" Lin Zhao was a little confused.

"Is that Comrade Chu?"

The Lin sisters, Lin Xuan and Lin Zheng, shook their heads, their expressions were truly complex, yet they seemed to have no aversion to it.

"You'll know when you see it."

Lin Zhao was filled with curiosity.

He greeted the villagers and returned home.

Da Dan and Er Dan carried Qian Bao and Yao Bao and ran fast, arriving home first.

When Lin Zhao and the others arrived, Lin Shisheng was playing a game of flying high with Yaobao in his arms.

A few steps away stood this girl, as beautiful as a peach blossom spirit.

She had jet-black hair, fair skin, and captivating eyes. Her petite frame gave her a graceful figure. She gazed intently at Lin Shisheng, her face full of affection and dependence on him.

Lin Zhao: "!!"

"Second Brother," she called out, her eyes constantly scanning the girl.

Lin Shisheng said he wasn't interested in women and only wanted to focus on his career, right? What's going on here?!
"Zhaozhao is back," Lin Shisheng said with a smile, noticing a hint of helplessness in his eyes as he looked at his sister.

Just as Lin Zhao was about to say something, the unfamiliar girl handed her a cup of sugar water and gestured for her to drink it.

Then they kindly brought her a stool and offered it to her.

The girl's eyes curved into a smile, her pupils glistening with moisture, and her cheeks flushed a rosy hue, making one's heart soften.

(End of this chapter)