Chapter 23: Peacock Display

Those six short words made Qin Keke cry even harder.  He had thought countless times, if only Lin Su were his real mother.

Grandma Lin, witnessing this heartwarming scene, smiled with relief.

Qin Keke seems to have accepted Su Su now?

In the evening, Qin Sui returned with Qin Yao and Qin Ni.

Lin Su hurriedly asked, “How did it go?”

“The school accepted them. They can start studying tomorrow.”

Oh, that’s good. They’ll need decent schoolbags.

Remembering that Lei Feng bags were popular, after dinner, Lin Su and Grandma sewed Lei Feng bags for them.  Of course, they also made one for the jealous Qin Keke, though his was much smaller.

Lin Su embroidered many cute patterns on the Lei Feng bags, which gave Qin Ni, who was resistant to going to school, a little comfort.

Qin Sui, seeing their cute little schoolbags, was envious again.

He had also attended school, but he didn’t have a schoolbag, while his older brother did.  Every time he asked his mother for one, she would put him off.

Qin Sui’s emotions deepened further.

Lin Su got up early to make breakfast for them and even wanted to send them to school.

Because Lin Su’s health wasn’t good, Qin Sui wanted her to stay home.

Lin Su felt her health wasn’t a major problem, and walking more would boost her immunity.

Seeing that Qin Ni’s braids were still crooked, Lin Su wanted to help her redo them, but she refused.

Lin Su didn’t insist.

Qin Keke saw Lin Su was going, so he also wanted to go.  So the whole family went together.

After Qin Sui took them to school, he went to work. Lin Su took the three children to find the teacher.

The teacher was a young man named Li Changjiang, wearing glasses and looking gentle.

He was slightly startled when he saw Lin Su, but then calmly took them to the classroom.

The classrooms in the 1980s were simple, with just a few desks and chairs and a blackboard.  Children of Qin Yao’s age were already seated inside.

Since Qin Ni couldn’t be easily assigned to a class, Li Changjiang simply had her and her brother start from first grade.

Lin Su, holding Qin Keke, and Grandma Lin stood outside and watched. Qin Yao was fine; under the teacher’s arrangement, he sat with a boy of the same age.

Qin Ni wasn’t.  Although Li Changjiang arranged for her to sit with girls of the same age, her posture was stiff, and she didn’t look forward, only staring at the desk, lost in thought.

She didn’t even respond when her classmate greeted her.

Fortunately, her classmate was a generous little girl who didn’t mind and chatted away happily.

Lin Su felt relieved.

With such a good classmate, Qin Ni should change, right?

Without delaying their schooling, Lin Su took Qin Keke and Grandma home.

It hadn’t been light when they arrived; when they left, a warm light appeared on the horizon, and the sun was about to rise.

Halfway there, Qin Keke insisted on being carried, so Lin Su held him in her arms.  Because he woke up so early, he fell asleep after a while.

When they arrived at the gate, a neighbor came out, surprised to see them so early, “Where are you coming back from?”

“Sending the children to school.”

“They’re going to school? That’s great.”

“Yes.”

Because they were busy, they didn’t chat long before going home.

But after the neighbor went home, she told her husband, “Deputy Commander Qin’s wife seems quite good. She actually sent his two children to school.  Her body is so weak, yet she personally sent them.”

Her husband paused while putting on his clothes, “She seems kind. It’s just that you gossips believe the rumors.”

“Hey, what do you mean ‘gossips’?”

The couple argued about Lin Su, but Lin Su didn’t know.

At this time, she was looking at the empty yard.

The vegetable seedlings would take some time to grow. If the hen laid many eggs, she could let it hatch chicks.

Chickens laying eggs, and there would be more and more chicks here.  Then there would be endless eggs and chicken.

The imagination was beautiful, but reality was harsh. The hen didn’t lay eggs regularly; there were none today.

But whether it laid eggs or not, Lin Su had to find something to feed it.

“Busy?”

A familiar voice sounded. The yard gate wasn’t closed, and Gu Lin walked in casually, “Why do I feel like you and your body are two separate entities?”

Lin Su looked up at her, “What do you mean?”

“Your body is so weak, but you’re busy every day, as if you can’t stay idle.”

Lin Su chuckled, “I can’t lie down all the time.  Lying down for too long will make me useless. Besides, more activity is good for immunity.”

She spoke fluently, like a knowledgeable teacher. Gu Lin couldn’t help but feel respect, “Except for your poor health, you’re perfect.”

Lin Su couldn’t help but laugh.

“Right, I almost forgot why I came. Good sister-in-law, will you accompany me somewhere?” Gu Lin said coquettishly.

Hearing her call her sister-in-law, Lin Su got goosebumps.

“Where?”

“To watch Brother Qin and the others run.”

Lin Su was surprised, “Can we watch their training?”

“Some of it is okay to watch.”

Seeing Lin Su hesitate, Gu Lin simply dragged her, “Come on, come on. I’ll treat you to breakfast at the canteen.”

Lin Su: “That’s not necessary. I’ve already eaten.”

“So early?”

“Before dawn, because I had to send the two older children to school.”

Gu Lin only then realized that she hadn’t seen the two siblings, “Where’s Keke?”

“He woke up too early and is still sleeping.”

“Then let’s go quickly while he’s still sleeping. Grandma can watch Keke for a while.”

Lin Su couldn’t think of anything interesting about watching Qin Sui and the others run, but Gu Lin was too enthusiastic, so she had no choice but to ask Grandma to watch the children for a while, and she and Gu Lin would go quickly and return quickly.

Gu Lin rode her bicycle again, but this time, the seat had a cushion made from old clothes.

There wasn’t one last time; this time, it was clearly for her.

Lin Su’s heart softened, and she hugged Gu Lin’s waist gratefully. But even with the cushion, she was still jolted dizzy.

This body was really weak.  The spring wasn’t producing anything, so she could only endure.

Lost in thought, they finally arrived, but Gu Lin first took Lin Su to the canteen.

The army canteen was large, but the conditions were limited, and the equipment was simple.

Before she could look closely, Gu Lin pulled her to queue for breakfast.

Gu Lin asked Lin Su, “What do you want to eat?”

Lin Su refused, “I’ve eaten. You buy yours.”

After Gu Lin bought hers, she bought an egg and a bun and stuffed them into Lin Su’s hand.

Lin Su had no choice but to take them and follow her out of the canteen.

“See?” Gu Lin winked at Lin Su.

“What?”

“Many male comrades in the canteen were sneaking glances at you.”

Lin Su hadn’t noticed and smiled helplessly, “You must be mistaken.”

Gu Lin didn’t argue with her.

Lin Su’s beauty wasn’t just external; her inner beauty was also attractive.  Of course, only Gu Lin had discovered this so far.

The place where Qin Sui and the others ran was some distance from the canteen, so Gu Lin still rode her bicycle to take Lin Su there.

Along the way, they encountered soldiers in training, all energetic.

Lin Su watched them repeat the same training movements in the sun, sweating profusely but still determined.  She felt a surge of admiration.

Suddenly thinking of Qin Sui, also a respectable soldier, Lin Su felt a lot of emotion.

Just as she was thinking about him, Gu Lin suddenly stopped, “Brother Qin is over there.”

Lin Su followed her gaze and saw Qin Sui leading the soldiers in running, far ahead, his steps steady, his back straight.

“I heard they have wrestling training later,” Gu Lin said excitedly.

Lin Su opened her mouth to respond when Gu Lin said disgustedly, “Why is Deng Lingling here again! She’s everywhere! She’s going to pester Brother Qin again.  She’s shameless!”

Lin Su slightly turned her head and saw Deng Lingling and several women standing under a tree, wearing pretty blouses and expensive-looking small leather shoes.

Lin Su compared herself:  a blue Dacron shirt, black straight-leg trousers, and faded white cloth shoes.

Others were bright and beautiful; she was dull.

There was no comparison.

Gu Lin obviously realized this too.  Seeing Lin Su staring at her clothes, she quickly comforted her, “It’s okay. I have cloth coupons. When we have time, let’s buy some cloth and make a dress. It’ll be prettier than her ugly blouse.”

Lin Su smiled, “She’s an unmarried girl. It’s understandable that she wears bright clothes. I’m already married…”

“Nonsense,” Gu Lin interrupted her, “What’s wrong with being married? Who says married women can’t wear pretty blouses? Besides, you have such a beautiful face; don’t waste it.  Wearing a beautiful blouse will definitely fascinate Brother Qin.”

“Don’t doubt it. Men love color. You have to dress more beautifully to outshine Deng Lingling, otherwise, she’ll always jump out to annoy people.”

Lin Su was speechless.

She didn’t really care about Deng Lingling harassing Qin Sui; after all, she and Qin Sui were essentially in an arranged marriage.

Who Qin Sui liked, and who wanted to attract his attention, she couldn’t stop them; she didn’t have the position to do so.

Besides, Qin Sui, this straight man, always blocked her heart’s affections. How could she have other thoughts?

But she should indeed dress up better, not for others, but for herself.

Passing a group of soldiers resting, Gu Lin and Lin Su’s beautiful appearances attracted everyone’s attention.

When Lin Su looked over, they shyly lowered their heads.

Lin Su didn’t have the shyness of this era. She treated these seventeen or eighteen-year-old boys as younger brothers, so she acted calmly and composedly.

She was calm, but the soldiers weren’t.

Were they from the art troupe or someone’s relatives?  Beautiful and bold, I wonder if she’s engaged…

Lin Su didn’t know that she and Gu Lin had caused a stir.  When they reached their destination, they got off and looked around, searching for Qin Sui.

Qin Sui saw them first.