Chapter 10: The Former Female Lead Bows Out

When Lei Jun returned home, his father and wife had not yet come back from work. At home were only Zhao Cuilan, his youngest son, Si Yueyue, and the two newborn nephews.

“Dad, you’re back?” Lei Qingyun ran toward the tall figure stepping into the courtyard.

“Mm, Dad’s back.” Lei Jun squatted down, rubbed his youngest son’s head, and held his hand as they walked into the house.

Just as they reached the doorway, his mother appeared in response to the noise. Lei Jun set down his back basket and handed the supplies inside to Zhao Cuilan.

“Mom, I’ve brought back everything. The malted milk was bought with the help of Aunt Lin from a coworker’s family.”

“Ah, good, good. Now there’s food for the two little ones. You gave the money to your in-laws, right?”

Lei Jun nodded. “Yes, I did. Aunt didn’t want to take it, so I stuffed it under her teacup.”

“That’s good. We can’t just take things from people for nothing. Even if they’re relatives, it’s not right. Otherwise your sister will have a hard time at home.”

“I know.”

Zhao Cuilan knew her eldest son was reliable, and she asked about the matter with the Publication Office.

“Did you take care of the thing your sister-in-law asked about?”

“Mm, here, this is the address for the Publication Office.” As Lei Jun spoke, he pulled a slip of paper with the address from his pocket and handed it to Zhao Cuilan.

Zhao Cuilan took the note. “Alright, I’ll go tell Yueyue. You put the grain in the kitchen.”

Lei Jun nodded in understanding, then reached into the basket and pulled out two pieces of candy, handing them to his youngest son.

“Wow~ Candy! Thank you, Dad. You’re the best!” Lei Qingyun happily accepted the candy, unwrapped one, and popped it into his mouth.

The next second, his eyes squinted from the sweetness. He really loved candy.

Lei Jun looked at his son’s expression and chuckled, patting his little bottom. “Go play now.”

“Dad, is there more candy?”

“What’s wrong? You want more?” Lei Jun asked curiously.

The little guy shook his head. “No, I want to save some for my brothers and sisters. If Dad doesn’t have any more, I’ll keep this one.”

As he spoke, Lei Qingyun opened his palm to show the candy.

The old father was touched by how thoughtful and willing to share his little son was.

“Don’t worry, Dad saved candy for your brothers and sisters. Your baby brothers can’t eat candy yet, so you don’t need to save it for them. When they grow up, Dad will buy them new ones.”

“They’re so pitiful…” Candy was so delicious, and they couldn’t even eat it.

“Then you take good care of your brothers when they grow up, and they won’t be pitiful anymore.”

“Okay! Xiao Yun is a big brother, I’ll definitely take good care of them!”

Lei Jun gave his son’s head a firm rub. “Xiao Yun is such a good big brother.”

“Hehe… Dad, I’m going to play now!”

“Alright, go on.”

Watching his son run out the door, Lei Jun carried the grain he bought and stored it on the kitchen shelf.

Meanwhile, Zhao Cuilan, holding the malted milk and the slip of paper with the address, went to Si Yueyue’s room.

Si Yueyue was leaning back on the heated brick bed. When she saw her mother-in-law come in, she smiled and called out: “Mom.”

“Hey, the eldest is back. Here’s the malted milk for the two babies. If An An and Lele don’t have enough to eat, just make some for them. And this is the address your eldest got for the Publication Office.”

Zhao Cuilan placed the malted milk on the table and gave her the address note.

“Mom, you don’t need to give me the address. It’s enough that I know it’s taken care of. In a couple of days, once I finish my article, I’ll have to trouble someone at home to mail it out for me.”

“That’s true. You’re still in postpartum confinement and can’t go out. Then I’ll just hold onto the address for now.”

“Alright.”

“Ah-woo… Ah…” Lele on the bed let out some babbling noises.

Zhao Cuilan looked at her little grandson on the bed with eyes full of affection.

“An An and Lele are so well-behaved, not fussy at all.”

“Yes, they only cry a little when they’re hungry or need a diaper change. Otherwise, they’re quiet and easy to care for.”

“These two really feel for their mom, don’t they? An An and Lele love their mommy.”

The first half of Zhao Cuilan’s words were said to her daughter-in-law with a smile, and the second half she directed toward the two babies.

“Ah…”

An An let out a soft “Ah.” as if responding to Grandma’s words.

“Oh my, he even knows how to answer Grandma now? Such a clever child.”

“Ah-woo… ah…”

“Alright, alright, Lele is a clever child too.”

An An gently touched his little brother beside him with his tiny hand, as though trying to comfort him.

“Ah…” Lele tilted his head to look at his brother and gave a toothless smile.

“Hahaha… These two little brothers get along so well. Look at An An, even comforting his brother.”

Si Yueyue shook her head helplessly. “Mom, the babies just got born, how could they possibly know all this? It’s just coincidence.”

“Heh~ Don’t you underestimate it. Some kids are born smart. Our An An and Lele are definitely clever ones.”

“Alright then, you stay here and watch the babies. I’ll go cook. Your father and the others will be back from work soon.”

“Okay. Thank you for your hard work, Mom.”

Zhao Cuilan waved her hand and walked out the door. Before leaving, she carefully shut it tight behind her.

Just as she came out, she saw her eldest son with a basket on his back, looking like he was about to head out.

“It’s already this late—where are you going?”

“Mom, I’m going to the mountain to see if I can spot any wild pheasants.”

Zhao Cuilan called after his retreating figure: “Be careful and don’t go too deep into the forest.”

“Got it, Mom.”

——

Evening.

Squad Leader Lei Dahai finally returned to the Shanhe Brigade, just in time to run into the team members getting off work.

“Squad Leader is back.”

“Squad Leader…”

“Squad Leader, so? Educated Youth Lin’s not coming back, right?”

Lei Dahai nodded and looked at Lei Dashu. “The police have finished their investigation. Lin Mengling has confessed. She received her due punishment—three years in prison. She’s being sent to the Great Northwest for land reclamation.”

“She deserves it. Harmful people like that should be punished…”

The educated youth finishing their work also heard about Lin Mengling’s punishment. Each had a hard-to-read look in their eyes.

What Lin Mengling did disrupted the friendly relationship they had with the locals in the brigade. Life in the brigade would only get harder for them going forward.

After everyone dispersed, Lei Dashu looked at the squad leader and said: “Thanks for making the trip.”

Lei Dahai waved it off. “Is your niece-in-law and the babies all okay?”

“They’re fine. The old lady got back just in time.” If she had been even a little later, he didn’t even dare think about what might’ve happened.

“That’s good. The babies have been born for a while and we still haven’t paid a visit. My wife and I will come by a little later.”

“Big Brother, you’ve had a long day. It should be us visiting you.”

“We’re all family. No need for those formalities. My wife and I will just stop by to see the babies. I’ll go home and clean up first.” Lei Dahai said, then turned and walked home.

Lei Dashu looked at his back and shook his head with a helpless smile before turning to go home himself.

Big Brother was still the same. Ever since returning from the battlefield, he did everything swiftly and decisively—say it and it’s done, plan it and it’s executed.

The Shanhe Brigade used to be called Lei Family Village. After the Liberation, the government relocated refugees there. Later, it became part of the People’s Commune and was renamed Shanhe Brigade.

Lei Dahai and Lei Dashu were from the same clan. Their fathers were blood brothers. Even after splitting households, the two families remained close, with no resentment between them.

Lei Dashu’s father had two sons in total. The elder son died in the war, so his branch of the family only had him left.

Lei Dahai’s side had a younger brother, Lei Dahe, three years younger than Lei Dashu, who also worked in the brigade.

Normally, Lei Dahai handled affairs in the brigade impartially and didn’t allow people to call him by name directly. Everyone referred to him as “Squad Leader.” Only in private did close family call him “brother.”

Even other people surnamed Lei dared not call Lei Dahai by his name. The man had been disciplining them since they were young, and everyone had been beaten enough to know better.

Of course, that sort of strictness was only among the men in the family. Their wives were much more affectionate and informal with each other.

…

“Grandpa, you’re back! Grandma said we can eat once you get home.” Lei Qingyao, with a piece of candy in his mouth, spoke to Lei Dashu as he walked in.

Slurp—The sweet taste made Lei Qingyao swallow two extra times unconsciously.

“Alright, Grandpa will wash up and come eat.”

After washing up, just as Lei Dashu stepped through the doorway, he heard Lei Qingyun shout loudly: “Grandpa! Grandpa, come eat meat! Dad caught a big wild pheasant!”

“Oh? You went up the mountain today?” Lei Dashu looked at his eldest son.

“Yeah. When I got back, it was still early, so I figured I’d try my luck. Turns out I really was lucky. I hadn’t even reached the foot of the mountain when I spotted this pheasant. I didn’t go deep into the forest.”

Lei Dashu nodded. “As long as you didn’t go deep. Did you bring it to your second brother’s wife?”

Zhao Cuilan picked up the conversation. “Yes, we did. This pheasant’s pretty plump. I used half to make soup and stewed the other half with potatoes, so everyone can have some nourishment.”