Chapter 76 - 26: In the Spotlight

Chapter 76: Chapter 26: In the Spotlight

Human nature is a very complex thing—

When a bad person does one good deed, it’s like a brilliant streak of light across the dark night sky. People are pleasantly surprised to find they aren’t beyond saving, and in that one moment of kindness, all their past wrongs are washed away. But when a good person does one bad thing, it’s a stain on a pure white sheet of paper—glaring and impossible to ignore. All their good deeds are erased by that single mistake.

Lin Zhao wasn’t a bad person, but she belonged to the former category.

With Da Zai and Er Zai trumpeting her praises like that, her previously bad reputation was instantly overturned.

That’s right. A daughter-in-law willing to give her in-laws meat, eggs, and soda—you couldn’t find many like that in the entire brigade. So what if she was lazy? She was filial!

Because of the two catties of meat, and the endlessly chattering mouths of Da Zai and Er Zai, the few-minute walk to the Gu Family’s old house felt exceptionally long.

When they arrived, Lin Zhao let out a long sigh of relief.

Da Zai and Er Zai, however, looked like they weren’t done yet, their faces clearly asking, ’How are we here already?’

Lin Zhao was rendered speechless.

’These two little brothers sure love to show off,’ she thought.

While their mother was complaining internally, Da Zai and Er Zai swaggered into the Gu Family’s home like little lords.

"Grandpa, Grandma, we’re here! We brought meat and soda!"

Er Zai’s voice was as loud and clear as ever.

Mother Gu and her two daughters-in-law came out from the kitchen.

They were both shocked and delighted to see the cut of meat.

Well, now, what special day is it? The third son’s wife actually came visiting with meat?!

"Third Daughter-in-law, what is all this?" Mother Gu asked.

"Isn’t the double-harvest rush exhausting? I happened to buy a few catties of meat, so I brought it over to help you all replenish your strength," Lin Zhao said nonchalantly.

Mother Gu was stunned.

Lin Zhao took the items out of her cloth bag, handing an aluminum lunch box to her eldest sister-in-law, Huang Xiulan. "Eldest Sister-in-law," she said, "doesn’t A Lan need a lunch box? This one’s barely been used. Give it to her."

Gu Lan was the eldest daughter of the first branch of the family, and she was twelve this year.

Huang Xiulan’s face lit up. After accepting it, she smiled. "Oh, my, it looks almost new! Thank you so much, Third Sister-in-law."

Lin Zhao accepted her thanks, then handed the five feet of corduroy fabric to Zhao Liuniang. "Second Sister-in-law, you’re skilled with your hands. Here are five feet of corduroy. Make a fall outfit for Mother, and with whatever is left, you can make a pair of pants for Yu Yu."

Zhao Liuniang’s face was also filled with joy. She quickly promised, "Alright, I know Mother’s measurements. I’ll start on it tonight."

Mother Gu was incredibly surprised. "A fall outfit for me?"

"Yes, it’s for Mother," Lin Zhao said. "I’m starting work in a few days, and Mother will still have to look after the four kids. Think of it as payment for your hard work."

Mother Gu was a very traditional woman. She was reluctant to spend on food or clothes for herself. If there was good food in the house, it went to her grandchildren; if there was fabric, it was also prioritized for her grandchildren.

She hadn’t had any new clothes in years, and her outfits had more patches than anyone else’s in the family.

Suddenly receiving such a blessing from her daughter-in-law, the old woman’s nose tingled, and she nearly burst into tears.

She stroked the corduroy fabric, saying, "This is such nice material. You should have it made for yourself. Why make it for me? What’s the point of an old woman like me wearing new clothes?"

"What’s wrong with being older? That’s all the more reason to wear new clothes," Lin Zhao said disapprovingly.

Mother Gu felt incredibly warm inside. ’The third son’s wife is actually a very good person,’ she thought. ’Her past behavior must have been because she was still young.’

Lin Zhao then added, "Eldest Sister-in-law, Second Sister-in-law, we go through water quickly at home. Fetching it once every two days isn’t quite enough."

Only then did Huang Xiulan and Zhao Liuniang understand why the third son’s wife had given them such gifts. So this was what she was waiting for.

However, neither of them minded in the slightest.

Fetching water just took a little time, that’s all.

The benefits they had received were tangible and real.

"Alright, I’ll talk to Eldest Brother about it later," Huang Xiulan readily agreed.

Now that the third son’s wife had made a request, she felt much more at ease accepting the aluminum lunch box.

It was the same for Zhao Liuniang. Thinking about how the leftover fabric could be used to make pants for her Yu Yu, the smile in her eyes practically threatened to fly away.

"Fetching water is simple. I’ll remind Yu Yu’s father as well."

Now that both sisters-in-law had received benefits, everything about Lin Zhao suddenly seemed pleasing to the eye.

This feeling of pleasantness reached its peak after they ate the meat and drank the soda.

Without Gu Xing’er present, the Gu Family’s meal was exceptionally harmonious. The children, in particular, were ecstatic.

There was meat, scrambled eggs, and soda—not even a god would trade this life.

-

「After the afternoon nap.」

Lin Zhao found a moment to deep-fry the cicada nymphs the kids had caught, and a fragrant aroma wafted from the kitchen.

When Er Zai woke up and smelled the aroma, he woke up his brother. The two of them shuffled in their cloth shoes toward the kitchen, rubbing their eyes as they went.

The sight of Lin Zhao’s figure instantly woke them up completely.

"Mama, it smells so good! What are you making?" Er Zai asked.

Lin Zhao, holding a large porcelain bowl, waved it in front of the two little ones through the window, letting the fragrance scatter. "Deep-fried cicada nymphs."

Da Zai looked shocked. "Mama, I’ve had cicada nymphs before, but they never smelled this good. Did you add meat to them?"

"I deep-fried them in oil and added other seasonings. Of course they smell good," Lin Zhao said proudly.

She had already tasted them herself. They were crispy, crunchy, and smelled heavenly, but they were piping hot.

"Hurry and go wash up. These are best eaten while they’re hot," Lin Zhao urged the two boys, also worried that the twins would wake up and start clamoring for some.

Da Zai and Er Zai obediently washed up, went back to their room to put on their baby cream, and only then returned to the kitchen.

"Mama, we’re all washed up," said Er Zai.

Da Zai added, "And we put on baby cream."

Lin Zhao praised them casually, "So good."

She casually handed the fried cicada nymphs to the two boys.

"You two go eat outside. Don’t let your younger brother and sister see."