Chapter 102 - 35: Compensation

Chapter 102: Chapter 35: Compensation

"I want to help Mom with her chores," Da Zai said.

"Making cold noodles is very simple, I don’t need your help. Go on and play," Lin Zhao said, her eyes crinkling with a smile.

Da Zai shook his head and insisted, "I’m not going. I like working with you, Mom."

"...Alright, then." Lin Zhao ruffled the top of his head. "Are you thirsty? Do you want some milk powder? I can make some for you boys."

The milk powder was usually for the twins, and Da Zai had never tasted it before. Hesitation, conflict, and anticipation flickered across his face.

She understood.

"Wait here. I’ll go make it for you boys. I’ll put it in the canteen, and you can take it out to share with Er Zai and Tie Chui." Lin Zhao got the milk powder from the house, mixed it with hot and cold water, then poured the prepared milk into a green military canteen and handed it to Da Zai.

"The temperature is just right. Drink it soon. I’m going to go lie down for a bit. I’ll start making our meal in half an hour."

Da Zai asked, "How long is half an hour?"

Lin Zhao remembered that the boys’ Father had sent a letter, which she hadn’t told them about yet. She said at once, "Your father sent a letter. He wired money and sent two vouchers, so I’m planning to buy a bicycle and a watch in the next couple of days. Once I have the watch, I’ll teach you how to tell time."

"A bicycle?" The little boy’s eyes danced with excitement. "You’re going to buy a bicycle, Mom? Just like the one the brigade leader has?!"

"Not quite. I’m planning to buy a women’s model, the kind without the bar in the front. They’re easier to ride," Lin Zhao explained gently.

"Whatever you decide is fine, Mom." Da Zai didn’t understand the difference between a women’s bicycle and one with a bar, but he felt the most important thing was that his mom liked it.

He gazed at his mother’s wrist. It was fair and spotless. In his grandmother’s words, it was fairer and more delicate than tofu.

"A watch will look really good on you, Mom."

’Mom looks pretty in dresses, too. When I grow up, I’ll buy her lots and lots of them.’

Da Zai’s eyes sparkled.

Lin Zhao bent a finger and tapped the tip of Da Zai’s nose, her smile warm. "Just wait. I’ll show you once I buy it and put it on."

She was in a good mood and felt like spending a little money, so she asked Da Zai, "Is there anything you want?"

Da Zai couldn’t think of anything right away. He had food to eat, drinks, new clothes, and new shoes. He wasn’t lacking anything.

He was quiet for a while, so Lin Zhao said, "Think about it, take your time. Anyway, I go to the county town every day, so it’s easy to buy things."

"Okay!"

「Outside the Gu Family home.」

Er Zai and Tie Chui were sitting cross-legged on a rock, eating steamed buns. Passersby kept looking over at the two of them, and even the adults were clearly tempted.

The two little boys had become the center of attention.

Bangbang and the other boys from the old residence couldn’t hold back and ran over.

"Er Zai, did Third Aunt buy you guys meat buns again?!!!" Laimei couldn’t hide the craving in his eyes.

"Mhm," Er Zai mumbled while gnawing on the large meat bun, his little mouth glistening with grease. It made Laimei, standing to the side, so envious he wanted to cry. ’Er Zai and his family have it so good. Steamed eggs for breakfast, rice porridge so thick you need a spoon for lunch, and meat buns from the state-run restaurant in the afternoon, brought back by Third Aunt. WAHHH, I want to be Third Uncle and Third Aunt’s kid too.’

Seeing how pitiful his older brothers looked, Er Zai hesitated for a moment. He held up his half-eaten bun, turning his face away in anguish as he said, "Brother Bangbang, Brother Laimei, you can each take a bite."

"Er Zai, you’re a true brother." Bangbang didn’t stand on ceremony. He lowered his head and took a bite, just enough to taste the meat, before pulling back. "From now on, whenever I find sweet fruits, I’ll bring them all to you!"

Laimei also took a tiny bite, then sat next to Er Zai and put an arm around his shoulder. "Er Zai, if anyone bullies you from now on, you tell me. I’ll get revenge for you!"

Seeing Er Zai share with Brother Bangbang and Brother Laimei, Tie Chui generously offered his bun to his own big brother.

Tie Dan’s eyes welled up with emotion. He took one bite and devoured more than half of it.

"So good!!" he mumbled, chewing quickly.

Tie Chui looked down and saw that more than half of his bun was gone. The little boy’s eyes went vacant.

A moment later, he snapped out of it, ran home, and tattled to his mom, "Mom, my brother bit off half my bun in one bite! WAHHH, and I was even saving it!"

Little Tie Chui, who had rarely ever cried, was now sobbing his heart out with injustice, all because his brother had bitten off half his bun.

Huang Xiulan was dumbfounded. "Where did you get a bun?"

Tie Chui wiped his tears, his voice choked with sobs. "My Third Auntie gave it to me."

"Your Third Aunt is so generous to you." Huang Xiulan had noticed long ago that her third sister-in-law favored Tie Chui.

Looking at her younger son’s tear-streaked face, she laughed inwardly but kept a straight face and said, "When your brother gets back, I’ll scold him. How could he snatch his own little brother’s bun? He’s so thoughtless."

Just then, Tie Dan ran in, looking sheepish.

"Tie Chui..."

he called to his little brother.

Tie Chui was still angry. He turned his back on him, presenting an angry, huffy back.

He angrily gnawed on the rest of his bun, finishing it in a few quick bites.

In that short time, the five-year-old boy gained a new piece of life experience: delicious food must be stuffed into your belly as fast as possible, or else it will get snatched!