Chapter 23 - 9: "Miss Imagination

Chapter 23: Chapter 9: "Miss Imagination

Da Zai and Er Zai brought over their small pillows. Mother Gu had made these pillows as well. The fabric was old and heavily patched, but this was already quite nice.

After all, country folk had no source of income, and fabric tickets were so scarce. Whose clothes weren’t covered in patches on top of patches? Many people didn’t even have pillows, so the fact that these two did was a sign of their grandmother’s favoritism.

"Third Child, Fourth Child, lie down quietly. Don’t bother Mother," Da Zai instructed his younger brother and sister with a serious air.

The twins gave a sweet, obedient smile and lay down.

Afraid their mother would send them to the next room, Da Zai and Er Zai also lay down obediently. Four pairs of eyes stared in unison at Lin Zhao.

"Why are you looking at me? Can’t you sleep?" Lin Zhao asked, amused.

"I’m so full today, and my tummy doesn’t hurt at all." Er Zai rubbed his full belly, his short legs crossed like a little old man.

Lin Zhao glanced up. "You usually don’t eat your fill?"

Er Zai hugged her waist and started putting on a pitiful act. "Never full! Not full at all! It’s all watery soup, it doesn’t fill you up at all!"

Lin Zhao didn’t suspect Mother Gu of mistreating the two kids, because that’s just how the food was at the old family home. Lunch was passable, but dinner was so watery you could see your face in it.

"From now on, Mother will cook. I’ll make sure you eat your fill and grow up big and tall," Lin Zhao coaxed softly.

Er Zai’s head shot up, and he broke into a wide grin. "I’ll believe you, then! Mother has to keep her word."

Da Zai watched his younger brother nestled in their mother’s arms, his eyes filled with envy.

The Third Child and Fourth Child sat up too, wanting their mother to hold them.

Lin Zhao told them to sit tight, patted Er Zai on the shoulder, and said, "Get up, quickly. Mother is going to take your measurements."

She fetched a soft measuring tape and gestured with her hand.

"Mother is making me clothes?!" Er Zai held back his little brother and sister, who were still trying to get a hug, his eyes shining with disbelief.

Da Zai was getting excited, too.

"That’s right. I’m making a few new things for you two boys," Lin Zhao said with a smile. "I managed to buy some fabric."

Er Zai stood up and spread his arms wide. In the dim yellow light, his smile was as radiant as the midday sun.

Lin Zhao deftly finished taking his measurements, jotted them down in a nearby notebook, and then beckoned to Da Zai. "Da Zai, you’re next. Er Zai, watch the Third Child and Fourth Child."

Er Zai’s voice was full of energy as he replied, "Okay!"

Da Zai walked to the side of the bed and looked at his mother, his gaze filled with adoration. "Thank you, Mother."

Lin Zhao went through the same routine to get his measurements and smiled. "You’re welcome. Now hurry and lie down. It’s getting late, and children shouldn’t stay up late."

With that said, she took the fabric out of the cabinet and began to cut it.

There wasn’t a girl in the countryside who didn’t know how to make clothes. Lin Zhao had always been a quick study, and it had only taken her half a month to learn.

"Mother, you know how to make clothes?" Er Zai, lying on the very edge of the bed, asked with a grin.

Lin Zhao rolled her eyes at him. "I’ve always known how."

"Did you ever make clothes for me and my big brother before?" Er Zai asked again.

"I haven’t." Lin Zhao paused. "I couldn’t bear to part with the cash and tickets."

Er Zai’s little face froze.

A moment later, he asked hopefully, "Are you willing to now, Mother?"

Lin Zhao continued cutting the fabric by candlelight. Even after a few years of not making clothes, her skills hadn’t gotten rusty.

"Of course I am," she said with a little laugh. "I suddenly remembered that you four are my precious treasures, the ones I worked so hard to bring into this world. You’re all so unbelievably good, it makes me want to be a good mother."

When Er Zai heard his mother call them her precious treasures, an immense, tingling wave of joy washed over him from the bottom of his heart.

"Mother is our precious treasure, too."

"..."

Resigned, Lin Zhao changed the subject. "Go to sleep. Don’t you have to get up early tomorrow morning?"

Er Zai closed his eyes, but opened them again a moment later. He asked with an expectant look, "Will you still be cooking breakfast tomorrow, Mother?"

"I will," Lin Zhao chuckled. In the dim yellow glow of the lamp, her fair, jade-like face looked beautiful and gentle. It left a profound impression on Da Zai, one he would never forget, even long after he had children of his own.

"I already told you, I’ll be doing all the cooking from now on."

Da Zai, worried his mother would be overworked, offered, "I can learn to cook. Once I learn, I can cook for you, Mother."

A warm, tingling sensation spread through Lin Zhao’s motherly heart, making it melt into a puddle. She smiled and agreed, "Okay. You really are Mother’s good Da Zai."

Er Zai was a little boy with big ambitions. He immediately declared, "When I grow up, I’ll earn a lot of money, buy Mother a big restaurant, and hire the best chefs to cook for you! You’ll live like a pampered young madam!"

"!"

’The first parts were fine, but that last sentence... are you trying to get your mother sent to prison?!’

Lin Zhao’s brow furrowed.

"And who did you learn that from?"

Er Zai was good at reading people’s expressions. He knew at once that he’d said the wrong thing and answered obediently, "I heard the aunties in the village say it."

’Just as I thought.’

Lin Zhao looked at him, her expression serious. "From now on, you are not to repeat things the villagers say. If I hear you spouting that kind of nonsense again, you won’t get any of the candy in this house."

’According to the plot of the book, things are about to get chaotic. Saying words like ’pampered young madam’ will only lead to trouble.’