Chapter 360 - 238: The First Big Ship

Chapter 360: Chapter 238: The First Big Ship

"Zhao Shitou, if you’re so tough, then don’t come back!"

After yelling at her son, Song Xiaoyu gave her husband, Zhao Wenjun, an annoyed swat.

"You don’t discipline him enough. He’s getting more mischievous every day. I wonder who he takes after."

The moment she finished speaking, the entire family turned to look at Zhao Wendong. He immediately protested.

"Hey, what are you all looking at me for!"

"Hahaha!"

The family burst out laughing again. On the bed-platform, Yadan suddenly reached for Zhao Wendong, wanting to be held and babbling.

"Up, up."

Zhao Wendong took Yadan and bounced her in his arms. "Oof, this little girl’s gotten heavier again."

Yadan leaned against his shoulder, drooling all over his clothes. Zhao Wendong didn’t mind at all. He patted her little bottom and spun around twice, making Yadan giggle nonstop.

Song Xiaoyu looked a little apologetic. "Oh dear, she got you all covered in drool again."

"It’s nothing, Sister-in-law. Kids will be kids."

For some reason, Little Tuanzi seemed to get a little agitated. She put down the Zhuangzhuang doll in her hands and ran over to tug on Zhao Wendong’s pant leg.

"Third Brother! Little Tuanzi wants to be held too!"

Zhao Wendong nodded and picked her up as well. With one girl in each arm—Yadan on his left and Little Tuanzi on his right—the two little ones beamed, each happily occupying a side. The rest of the family watched with equally joyful smiles.

Watching her son-in-law bustle about with the two little ones in his arms, Wang Lulu suddenly felt a surge of anticipation. She and her daughter had been back for nearly twenty days. Her daughter had been eating and sleeping well, recovering quickly, and now Wang Lulu was getting restless.

"Wendong, when are you two going to have a child of your own? I can’t wait to hold my grandchild."

"Oh, Mom!"

Lin Zhiyin’s face instantly flushed beet red at her mother’s words. Embarrassed, she whined playfully at her.

"That’s right, that’s right. You all need to get a move on. You too, Second Brother, you and your wife need to hurry it up," Chen Yanmei added from the side, nodding in enthusiastic agreement.

"Mom, what do you mean?"

Zhao Wenwu scratched his head in confusion. Just then, Zhao Shitou, who had slipped back in unnoticed, shouted from the doorway.

"Second Uncle, Grandma wants you and Second Auntie to fight more!"

"Zhao Shitou!"

This time, Song Xiaoyu was truly furious. ’That boy! He’s not old, but his mind is always on couples fighting.’ Zhao Shitou was feeling quite proud of his clever comment, but his delight quickly turned to despair. He was too slow making his escape this time, and in a moment, Song Xiaoyu had caught him by the ear and dragged him back. He was a living example of how extreme joy begets sorrow. The family watched him get his punishment, and instead of helping, they all just laughed even harder.

After dinner, Zhao Wendong and Lin Zhiyin headed back to their seaside cabin. The moon was bright, making the snow-covered ground gleam. In the distance, the ice on the sea’s surface glittered under the moonlight like shattered silver.

Lin Zhiyin, who had her arm linked through Zhao Wendong’s, suddenly stopped walking.

"Wendong."

"Hm?"

"The world I’ve experienced is just one facet of life. The family you protect here, nestled between the mountains and the sea, is another entirely. No one is born nobler than another. Looking up reveals only splendor, but looking down reveals what it truly means to be human. In our respective worlds, I am not your equal."

Zhao Wendong looked down at her. The moonlight settled on her face, so clear and pure it gave her an almost unreal beauty. A wave of emotion washed over him.

"What’s all this? Getting so philosophical all of a sudden."

"I’m serious. I’ve been watching you with your family these past few days. Taking good care of them... that’s what’s truly remarkable."

Zhao Wendong fell silent for a few seconds, then pulled her into an embrace, resting his chin on the top of her head.

"Honey, you’re right. In this lifetime, it doesn’t matter how skilled a hunter I am, how capable or famous I become. Nothing is more real or important than having my family together."

"Mhm."

"But—"

"But what?"

"We still have to live well. I have to work hard to make sure every single one of you can live the best life possible."

Lin Zhiyin slowly wrapped her arms around Zhao Wendong, her voice a soft whisper. "I know you will."

The sea breeze tugged at the hems of their clothes as they stood under the moonlight for a long while. Their moment was broken by Zhao Wenwu’s impatient shout: "Hey, Third Brother! Hurry up, you two! Mom said we have to get back and start the ’fight’!"

The rest of the night passed in silence.

Early the next morning, on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the Zhao family set off their last remaining string of firecrackers.

Little Tuanzi was wearing a red, cotton-padded jacket. Even though it was patched together from less-than-ideal fabric, its brilliant red color looked incredibly festive on her.

"Third Brother! It’s the festival today!"

"That’s right, it’s the fifteenth. Does Little Tuanzi know what we do on the fifteenth?"

"Get-togethers!"

"What else?"

"Light the lamps! Grandma said we get to light lots and lots of lamps tonight!"

Zhao Wendong picked her up, and Little Tuanzi leaned on his shoulder, continuing in her sweet, childish voice.

The tradition of "scattering lamps" on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month in the Northeast is also known as "scattering dragon lamps." It originates from the fire worship and blessing rituals of ancient peoples. In Manchu tradition, it is called "scattering road lamps" and is one of the four main customs of the Lantern Festival. Following the great migration into the Northeast, this custom merged with the culture of the Central Plains and took root, where it has been practiced for several hundred years. Today, its main purpose is to light the way for the souls of ancestors returning home, expressing remembrance for departed loved ones.

"Dad, we still have some diesel fuel. Let’s just mix it with some corncobs for tonight."

"Alright. You decide how we do the lamps this year."

Zhao Dashan nodded, readily agreeing to Zhao Wendong’s suggestion. He was quite satisfied with his new role as the family’s "emperor emeritus." Not that he had much choice—he couldn’t get off the heated bed-platform even if he wanted to.

A short while after breakfast, the distinctive roar of a large truck’s engine sounded from outside. Zhao Wendong had just gotten to his feet to see who had arrived when he heard a boisterous voice as someone rushed inside.

"Dongzi! Dongzi!"

A grin spread across Zhao Wendong’s face as he recognized the voice. "Liangzi?"