Chapter 5 - 3: Mother Has Changed

Chapter 5: Chapter 3: Mother Has Changed

The previous Lin Zhao had indeed only given birth to the children but never raised them. She had hardly ever washed their diapers, and once Da Zai and his brothers started walking, she stopped cooking altogether, sending them to the Gu Family’s house to eat. The younger twins had also been raised by their grandmother on rice porridge.

"Gu Erzai," Lin Zhao called out.

The moment his mother’s voice grew loud, Er Zai’s anger deflated. He immediately lost his nerve and shot Lin Zhao an awkward glance. "Wh-what do you want?"

He was clearly lacking confidence.

"I’m going to take care of you from now on, but you have to listen to me. Can you do that?" Lin Zhao didn’t know how to raise children, but she believed her boys were obedient. She felt that if she just spoke to them properly, Da Zai and Er Zai would definitely listen.

As she spoke, her gaze swept over Da Zai and Er Zai.

The Gu Family’s twins had matured early. They knew their mother wasn’t like the others. Other children’s mothers would hug them, but theirs never did. Other mothers would make them delicious food, but theirs never paid them any mind...

Thinking of all this, a flicker of sadness crossed Da Zai’s eyes. Everyone in the village said their mother didn’t like them.

Now, hearing his mother say she would take care of them, a flicker of hope bloomed in Da Zai’s heart. He asked, "Will you make us delicious food, Mom?"

"I will!" Lin Zhao said.

"Will you make us new clothes, Mom?" Da Zai asked again. Afraid she might think they were too expensive to raise, he quickly lowered his expectations and added cautiously, "You don’t have to make them every year. Just one new piece every few years... would that be okay?"

"No." ’One outfit a year is already not enough,’ Lin Zhao thought. ’One piece every few years? Of course that’s not okay.’

The light in Da Zai’s eyes dimmed, his heart filled with an indescribable hurt and sadness.

Lin Zhao said sternly, "How could one piece every few years possibly be enough? You’re still growing. Four outfits a year sounds about right."

Da Zai froze.

’Four outfits a year. Not just single items, but whole *outfits*. That’s so much... And just for one person! It must be so expensive.’

"That’s so expensive. Mom, I can share with my younger brothers," Da Zai suggested, feeling emboldened now that his mother was actually listening to him.

Er Zai came closer, nudging his brother aside with his hip. He looked up at Lin Zhao. "Will you buy us candy, Mom?"

The thought of sweet candy made the little glutton’s mouth water.

’The last time I had candy was when Dad came home!’

Lin Zhao pretended to think for a moment, then deliberately asked, "And what if I don’t?"

Er Zai was dumbfounded. ’Mom agreed to all of my brother’s requests, but not mine?’ The little guy had a temper. He declared smugly, "Fine, don’t buy it! When my dad gets back, I’ll tell him to get your husband to teach you a lesson!"

Lin Zhao was speechless, and her face darkened. She twisted Er Zai’s ear. "Who taught you to say ’get your husband to teach you a lesson’?"

Er Zai rose onto his tiptoes, following the direction of his mother’s pull to ease the pain in his ear. His brazen attitude instantly deflated.

"Nobody taught me. I heard one of the aunties in the village say it."

Lin Zhao put on a stern expression. "Don’t you go mimicking adults anymore!"

Da Zai nudged his brother with his hip, too, and quickly said, "Mom, I don’t do that. I never mimic what adults say."

"You’re such a good boy." Lin Zhao stroked Da Zai’s cheek, her voice softening.

Er Zai raised his little hand, his eyes wide with hope. "I’m good too, I’m good too! If you buy me candy, Mom, I’ll be even better! I’ll do whatever you say." Look at him, already learning how to negotiate.

"Deal. Now, for your first mission: take a bath." Lin Zhao couldn’t stand grimy, stinky children. The only reason she had put up with it for this long was because these two were her own flesh and blood.

As for the other two sleeping on the bed, they wouldn’t be escaping their turn when they woke up.

Er Zai didn’t like baths. His face scrunched up like the pleats on a steamed bun. "Do I have to?"

"Sure." But before Er Zai’s grin could widen, Lin Zhao added, "Then you won’t be getting any of the meat buns I’m buying tomorrow!"

Er Zai’s face lit up. He hugged his mother’s arm and asked excitedly, "You’re buying meat buns, Mom? For real?"

Lin Zhao deliberately contradicted her little boy. "I’m kidding."

"You’re smiling, Mom, so it must be true! I’ll go wash, I’m going right now! Big Bro, hurry up, let’s go take our bath!" Er Zai frantically urged Da Zai along.

Lin Zhao stopped the two little boys. "Eat your sweet potatoes first. I’m going to heat up the water."

Er Zai mimicked his grandfather, waving his hand with the air of a world-weary old man. "No need for all that. We can just make do with cold water. People in the countryside aren’t so particular."

Lin Zhao was speechless.

She took a deep breath, looked at Da Zai, and pointed at Er Zai, gesturing for him to get his little brother under control. Then, she headed to the kitchen.

As soon as she was gone, Da Zai leaned over to Er Zai’s ear and whispered, "Er Zai, I think Mom has changed."

Er Zai, who was more carefree and less observant than his brother, just scratched his cheek and grinned. "Mom paid attention to us today! Hee hee!"

After Lin Zhao heated the water, she brought out the washbasin for her two boys and had them scrub each other’s backs. With the promise of meat buns dangling over their heads, Da Zai and Er Zai diligently followed her command. They huffed and puffed as they took turns scrubbing each other.