Chapter 11 – The Clever Little Milk Dumplings

“Mm, scoop out some of the meat from the stew for everyone, and take a bowl of the potato stew to Big Brother’s house.

Because of what happened with the Second Sister-in-law, Big Brother was out dealing with it all night and just got back to the brigade. We should at least show some consideration.”

“Alright. Eldest Sister-in-law, go get a bowl and let Xiaoyu take it over.”

Zhang Guihua nodded and was about to get up to fetch a bowl from the kitchen when Lei Yu said: “Sister-in-law, I’ll get it.”

After saying that, Lei Yu quickly headed to the kitchen to get a bowl and fill it with food.

Zhao Cuilan turned to the old man and asked: “Did Eldest Uncle say anything about Lin Mengling? Has she been sentenced?”

“Mm, Big Brother said Lin Mengling has been sentenced—three years. She’s being sent to Da Xibei to work on land reclamation.”

“Good, good, good. Now I can finally rest easy.” Zhao Cuilan wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes.

“My heart just couldn’t settle. I kept thinking about the scene of Second Sister-in-law lying on the ground—I couldn’t sleep. If anything had happened to her or the children, I wouldn’t have the face to meet the Second in the afterlife…”

“Mom, Second Sister-in-law and the nephews are all fine. Don’t worry, we’ll take good care of them and raise those two nephews to be just as strong as their father.”

“That’s right, Mom. Let’s work even harder and earn more work points. We can surely afford to raise two nephews.”

“Mm, Mom knows you’re all good kids. But with two more mouths to feed… Even though there’s a pension for the second, the children are still small and will need a lot in the future. Just don’t think your father and I are playing favorites…”

“Mom, how could we think that way? Those two children are our nephews—Second Brother’s only children. Don’t ever say something like that again.” Zhang Guihua said angrily.

“Alright, alright, I won’t say it anymore…”

Just then, Lei Yu, who had rushed out to deliver the meat, came back. Zhao Cuilan quickly called everyone to the table.

“Come eat, everyone. Eat more to nourish yourselves. In a few days, it’ll be time for the autumn harvest. If we don’t eat well now, we’ll be exhausted by then.”

Hearing Zhao Cuilan say that, everyone subconsciously looked at Lei Dashu. When he nodded, they finally started picking up their chopsticks.

Zhang Guihua picked up a piece of meat and placed it into her mother-in-law’s bowl. “Mom, you eat too…”

Not long after the family finished eating, the brigade leader and his wife, Zhou Guifen, came to visit.

When the family saw the couple, they all stood up to greet them.

“Big Brother, Sister-in-law.”

“Uncle, Auntie.”

“Great-Uncle, Great-Grandma…”

“Ah, we meant to come visit as soon as Zhenzi’s wife gave birth, but the delivery happened so suddenly. Then that whole issue with the Educated Youth Lin happened, and we didn’t have time.”

“Good thing Zhenzi’s wife and the children are alright. Also, you should have asked Guihua to call me—why did you go to the Educated Youth Site yourself?” Zhou Guifen lightly patted Zhao Cuilan’s arm as she spoke.

This sister-in-law of hers was usually the type who didn’t fight or argue. Even after something happened, she didn’t tell anyone. Once everyone found out, they were all terribly worried, afraid the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law might’ve been bullied.

“Sigh~ but we had everyone with us. We’re not alone in this. The children’s father made his arrangements.”

Lei Dahai gave Lei Dashu a sideways glance. “Hmph~ It’s only because nothing happened to the nephew’s wife and the kids. If anything had, I’d have really taught him a lesson. At his age, he still can’t see things clearly.”

Zhou Guifen nudged Lei Dahai, hinting that the kids were still around and to leave the man some dignity.

Lei Dashu didn’t say anything—he knew it had been his own lack of vigilance.

“You men go talk outside. I’ll go in and check on the nephew’s wife and the children.”

“Sister-in-law, we’ll go with you. Dajun, pour some water for your Great-Uncle.”

Lei Dashu had his eldest son make tea for their guests and told his younger son to take the grandchildren back to the room to study.

Creak…

Si Yueyue looked toward the door that was being pushed open and saw her mother-in-law and Eldest Sister-in-law coming in. Hmm? That was… She searched her memory.

Oh, it was the brigade leader’s wife—also a relative of the Lei Family.

“Mom, Sister-in-law, Auntie.”

“Hey, are the children awake? Your Great-Uncle and Auntie came to see them.”

“They’re awake. They just woke up and are quite energetic.”

As they spoke, the group moved to the kang bed. Zhou Guifen looked at the two babies lying there and felt a pang of sorrow—these children were just too small.

“They’re twins, and they were born prematurely. That’s why they look so tiny.” Zhao Cuilan said from the side.

Zhou Guifen patted Si Yueyue’s hand gently. “Sigh… Yueyue and the babies really suffered this time. With the premature birth, they’ll need to be raised very carefully…”

“I brought some brown sugar—it’s in the basket outside. Yueyue needs to nourish herself more these days. You’ve got to take good care of your postpartum recovery.” said Zhou Guifen.

Si Yueyue looked at Zhou Guifen. “Thank you, Auntie.”

“Oh, what’s there to thank me for? If things get too busy at home, come find me. Don’t end up leaving Yueyue and the babies alone again, and have something else go wrong…” Zhou Guifen said to Si Yueyue, then turned to Zhao Cuilan.

“I understand, Sister-in-law. Don’t worry, if something comes up, I’ll definitely come to you for help.”

“Mm, just remember that.”

“Ah…”

“Ah-ah… ah-woo…”

“Oh, these two children really are lovely.”

She muttered in her heart: Thankfully they don’t look like their father—so dark and dull.

“Ah…”

“Hahaha… Look at that, he knows we’re praising him. So clever! Come on, let’s take them to show the old man.”

“Alright.” The two sisters-in-law each carried one baby and went out to let Lei Dahai have a look.

Inside the room, Zhang Guihua stayed with Si Yueyue.

“Sister-in-law, since we’re here, why don’t I teach you how to read some characters?”

“Sure.” Zhang Guihua nodded.

Si Yueyue took some paper and a brush from the side and wrote down a few characters to teach Zhang Guihua.

Zhang Guihua studied diligently with Si Yueyue. Her family had been poor, and they’d always kept her at home to do chores. They never had the money to send her to school.

Now that she had the chance to learn how to read, she was determined to study hard. Even being able to recognize a few more characters would be good.

In the main room—

Zhou Guifen carried An’an over to Lei Dahai and said: “Look at this child, he’s really grown well.”

“Ah…”

“Ah-woo…”

“Hahaha… Lele looks good too.”

“Ah…”

“Oh, these two babies can already understand what adults are saying! They’re going to be something special when they grow up.”

“Hahaha… Of course! Their parents were both high school students. The kids won’t be any less.”

Lei Dahai nodded. What he liked most about his brothers was this—whether they had money or not, the children had to go to school.

In their family, only Lei Zhenzhen and Lei Zhen were high school graduates. The others didn’t make it that far, but they all graduated from junior high.

For the couple of children who didn’t want to go to school, Lei Dahai had personally gone to the school and made sure they finished their education and got a diploma.

“These two babies need to be raised well. If you run into any difficulties, come let us know. We’ll figure it out together.”

“Got it, Big Brother.”

“You all heard what your Big Brother said? Don’t mess around and hold back the kids. These two smart little ones might even go to a Workers’ and Peasants’ University someday.”

Lei Dashu nodded. “Don’t worry, Sister-in-law. Zhenzi only has these two kids. We’ll raise them well.”

Zhao Cuilan felt a little embarrassed and said: “Big Brother, Sister-in-law, the babies are still tiny. What could they possibly understand? It’s probably just coincidence. Let’s wait until they grow up.”

Even though she’d told Yueyue the kids were clever, when it came to outsiders, she knew it was better to be modest. You couldn’t let others have overly high expectations for the children.

Otherwise, if the children grew up to be nothing special, people would start spreading strange rumors.

“Cuilan’s right. Let’s wait until they’re older to see. But the children should still have what they need. Don’t let Yueyue or the babies suffer.”

“Don’t worry, Sister-in-law. I’m not one of those mothers-in-law who grind people down.”

Lei Dahai looked at the baby yawning and said to his wife: “Alright, the child’s getting sleepy. Take them back inside.”

After the two sisters-in-law carried the children back to the room, Lei Dahai still gave Lei Dashu a few words of advice.

Seeing that his younger brother took it to heart, he didn’t say more. Despite this recent scare with Si Yueyue, the second brother was normally reliable.

Once Zhou Guifen came out of the room, the couple said their goodbyes and returned home.

—

Time passed quickly.

At the Shanhe Brigade, the autumn harvest was just around the corner.

During that time, Lei Zhenzhen brought her husband and child home for a visit on her rest day. She also brought back some fabric to make clothes for the twins.

When she saw her two thin and frail nephews, she cried with heartache for both her sister-in-law and the babies, while cursing Lin Mengling non-stop.

Fortunately, although the twins looked small and weak, they were healthy. Otherwise, she might’ve actually gone to Da Xibei herself to give that vile woman a good beating.

The Lin brothers, Lin Xuguang and Lin Xuhui, were also happy to see their two little brothers. Lin Xuhui even said he wanted to stay at his maternal grandfather’s home and not go back.