Chapter 22 - 8: "Coaxing

Chapter 22: Chapter 8: "Coaxing

Lin Zhao scooped out a small dollop of snowflake cream and spread it evenly over Er Zai’s face, not forgetting his little hands.

"Thanks, Mom. It smells so good," Er Zai said, sniffing the fragrance on his hands. He squeezed past the twins and sat down beside his mother.

The twins thought their Er Guo was playing with them. They flanked him, bumping him with their little bottoms and giggling happily.

Next, it was Da Zai’s turn.

Da Zai was both happy and excited, the tips of his ears turning red with shyness. His eyes were incredibly bright as he looked at Lin Zhao, as if they held pearls.

"Thanks, Mom," Da Zai said shyly.

After speaking, he quickly stepped aside.

In a corner where Lin Zhao couldn’t see, he too raised his hand and took a gentle sniff.

It was fragrant.

Tie Chui’s face was even redder than Da Zai’s. After Lin Zhao finished applying the cream for him, the little boy walked away stiffly and awkwardly.

「At the same time.」

[...Congratulations on completing the mission. You have received 5 points.]

’Twelve points in total now.’

Lin Zhao wasn’t in a hurry to use them for the lottery. ’A lottery needs a bit of ceremony,’ she thought. ’I’ll do it before bed.’

Just then, Gu Xing’er came over, carrying two bundles of firewood on her shoulder. Smelling the fragrance that filled the courtyard, her heart soured with jealousy. Her gaze toward Lin Zhao was filled with loathing and resentment.

She hadn’t eaten since yesterday, and her stomach was so empty her limbs felt weak. With a dark expression, she dropped the firewood and ran off.

Er Zai pouted. "Little Aunt is so sloppy. She didn’t even stack them neatly."

As he spoke, he walked over and started dragging the firewood to the corner of the wall.

Da Zai and Tie Chui went to help.

The twins wanted to join the fun, but Lin Zhao quickly scooped them into her arms, laughing. "You two will just be in the way."

Er Zai had a bit of a compulsive streak. He stacked the firewood stick by stick, arranging them perfectly. If he saw one that was too long, he would have to snap it in half before placing it.

In 1966, there wasn’t much entertainment during the day, and even less at night.

Like the other villagers, Lin Zhao’s family went back to their rooms to sleep early.

Just before going inside, she suddenly announced, "The Third and Fourth Child will sleep with me."

The Third and Fourth Child were clinging to Lin Zhao’s legs. Hearing their mother call their names, the two little ones raised their fair, tender faces, their expressions puzzled.

Lin Zhao’s heart fluttered at their cuteness. She stroked her daughter’s little face and said in a gentle voice, "Fourth Child, would you and your brother like to sleep with Mom tonight?"

"Want. Sleep." Fourth Child lisped out the two words in her baby voice.

The Third Child nodded.

Seeing this, Er Zai was filled with envy.

"Mom, did I ever sleep with you when I was little?" Er Zai asked expectantly.

Lin Zhao’s heart clenched. Because... in her memory, it seemed he hadn’t.

’Back then, my heart felt as heavy as a stone, and I had no energy for anything. Of course I didn’t want to take care of a noisy, fussy baby who needed constant attention.’

Seeing his mother’s silence, Er Zai smiled and said, "We must have. Grandma said newborn babies can’t be away from their mothers. When my brother and I were little, we must have been in the same room as you. You must have lulled us to sleep. It must have been like that."

Da Zai imagined the scene of his mother lulling them to sleep, and his eyes shone as brightly as brilliant stars.

’Was it really like that?’

Lin Zhao felt both guilty and ashamed. She avoided their gaze and said, "You’re big boys now. Mom can lull you to sleep too..."

Before she could finish, Er Zai, who always knew how to press his advantage, looked at Lin Zhao and said, "Mom, I want to sleep with you tonight."

Da Zai wanted to as well, but he didn’t say it. He just looked at his mother, nervous and hopeful.

"Alright," Lin Zhao agreed. "On account of you two being clean little boys who’ve had your baths."

Hearing this, Da Zai’s eyes lit up, as if stars had fallen into them.

He was so happy.

Er Zai giggled, pulling his brother back to their room. "Mom, we’re going to get our pillows!" he said as they went.

Once they were back in their room, the smile still hadn’t left Er Zai’s face. He said to Da Zai, "Brother, Mom was so nice today. I like Mom. What about you?"

Da Zai’s dark, fan-like eyelashes fluttered. His eyes were full of shyness. He pressed his lips together and only spoke after a long moment. "I like her too."

"Hehe, I knew you liked her too."

Hearing his younger brother’s laughter, Da Zai’s already warm ears turned an even deeper shade of red.

Fengshou Team had no electricity, so every household used kerosene lamps. Candles were expensive, and no one was willing to buy them. The hazy light from the lamp inside the house cast a particularly warm glow on everyone.

Lin Zhao was making the bed.

’The mattress on the bed is stiff and hard. The cover needs to be washed and sun-dried, and the cotton inside needs to be re-stuffed, or winter will be unbearable,’ she thought. ’Thankfully, it’s still high summer, so there’s time to prepare. By then, the new house should be built. I can build two kangs, tidy up a room for the kids, get them some new clothes... and life will start looking up, won’t it?’