Chapter 97

“Second Aunt, the Gu family is defenseless now. Should we make a move?”

“It’s not the right time yet. The blade hurts the most when it strikes at the heart. Keep an eye on the other families and those old and weak in the Gu family. You’ll have your chance to kill soon enough.”

“We’ll do as Second Aunt says.”

At the mention of killing, a flash of excitement appeared in the eyes of the man in charge of surveillance, and then he silently disappeared into the dusk.

In the crowded courtyard, Lin Yao took Gu Doudou to the post office. Besides sending a large package to Lin Yi and a few chubby baby photos of Gu Doudou, she also wrote a long letter. In the letter, she repeatedly pleaded with her older brother not to send any more money. In the past few months, Lin Yi sent a remittance slip every month, and the total amount was more than two thousand yuan.

This guy was afraid that his sister would not accept it, so he argued that it was nutrition money for Gu Doudou.

Lin Yao was both amused and exasperated.

Which uncle would be so generous as to give so much money as a nutrition fee for his nephew?

To put it mildly, the 2,000-plus yuan could easily cover the little chubby boy’s expenses until he grew up and got married.

After all, in the early 1960s, an average person’s monthly salary was only around 20 yuan. Lin Yi must have sent over all his savings from his years in the military.

Before Deputy Director Gu left, the couple looked at the monthly remittance slips and stared at their fat son for a long while.

Gu Shi’an smiled helplessly, put on his clothes, and went to the county bank to open an account, depositing the money that his brother-in-law had sent. The couple planned to return the money to Lin Yi, untouched, on the day he eventually got married.

The weather was nice during the day. Lin Yao pulled out an unused quilt from the cabinet, adjusted it to fit the crib, and washed it clean. She replaced the back with a sky-blue fabric and let it dry in the courtyard for the afternoon. While Gu Doudou was eating apple puree, she laid the quilt on the crib. After Gu Doudou had eaten his fill and was sound asleep in the big bed, Lin Yao moved the little guy to the crib and then enjoyed a well-deserved nap herself.

That night, deep in the mountains where you couldn’t see your hand in front of your face, all the daytime bird and animal calls had vanished, leaving only the silent, eerie mountainside, like a giant beast ready to swallow everything.

Gu Shi’an was hidden behind a dense bush. The clean camouflage uniform he had worn when they set out in the morning was now covered in grass and mud. Xu Xiangqian, equally disheveled, was crawling in the grass with a few other young men.

One of the young men had injured his left arm. He had just been treated and was now leaning against a tree, enduring the pain in silence.

Gu Shi’an’s sharp black eyes scanned the surroundings like a hawk. Xu Xiangqian pulled out a few vegetable buns from his bag, gave one to each person, and whispered, “Old Gu, we haven’t had a drop of water all day. Even an iron man needs to eat, right?”

“These vegetable buns were made by Chunmei. They’re edible, but they’re not as good as the ones Yao Yao makes.”

“Old Gu, did you tell your family the truth this time?”

Gu Shi’an wrapped the cloth around the scrape on his hand and said calmly, “Did you?”

“Of course not. Only my dad and I know about this. Everyone else thinks we’re just out for some field training. My mom isn’t in good health, and Tangyuan is only a year old. If I told them the truth, wouldn’t that just make Chunmei and my mom worry for nothing? Besides, we’ve been gone for more than ten days. If word gets out in the county, those drug dealers will be all over it. Why am I even saying this?”

Gu Shi’an made a sound of agreement, clearly indicating his understanding. “You didn’t say anything, how could I?”

Xu Xiangqian nodded. True, Old Gu wasn’t stupid. Would he really tell his family the truth?

He then prayed to the heavens.

“Sigh, heaven help us. When we get back from this mission, I hope Chunmei doesn’t find out the truth and give me a beating.”

Gu Shi’an’s lips curved into a smile.

“Old Gu, what’s so funny? Your position with your wife isn’t that great either. We’re both in the same boat!”

Xu Xiangqian continued to ramble on until Deputy Director Gu stuffed a vegetable bun into his mouth.

“…”

Xu Xiangqian took a bite of the hard vegetable bun and suddenly missed the meat pie he had eaten at noon. The taste was mouthwatering, and Yao Yao’s cooking skills were truly top-notch.

As for his own Chunmei, Da Tou Brother had to admit that as long as the food she cooked was edible, he was satisfied.

“No, Old Gu, when we get back, I’m going to your house for a good meal. Yao Yao has to make that…braised pork!”

At the mention of Lin Yao, Gu Shi’an’s stern expression softened. He checked on the injured young man. “How’s your wound? Still hurt?”

The young man grinned.

“I’m fine. Thanks to the medicine you gave me, the bleeding has stopped.”

Another young man turned around and said, “You’re lucky. That drug dealer’s bullet almost hit your chest.”

“What’s the big deal? When our anti-drug team takes action, don’t those drug dealers get beaten up anyway?”

Gu Shi’an patted both young men on the shoulders. “The drug dealers haven’t been completely eliminated. Don’t let your guard down. Always prioritize your safety and your teammates’ safety, no matter what.”

If you lose your life, you lose everything.

The two young men nodded solemnly.

*

At the end of April, though it wasn’t quite summer yet, the weather in Yunshui County was already becoming stifling.

With the Dragon Boat Festival approaching, Lin Yao encountered an elderly farmer selling homegrown fruits on her way home from work. When she looked over, she was surprised to see that the old man had small watermelons for sale. Upon inquiry, she learned that the spring had arrived early this year, so the old man had quickly planted a plot of land and sowed watermelon seeds. He had just harvested a few small watermelons and decided to bring them to the city to sell.

Lin Yao’s delighted expression made the old man very happy.

Seeing someone appreciate his homegrown watermelons was naturally gratifying.

The old man selected a small, green-skinned watermelon and cut off a slice with a small knife. “Here, girl, have a taste. If it’s not sweet, you don’t have to pay.”

Lin Yao took a bite. It was sweet and juicy, just as good as the watermelons in summer. When she asked the price, she found it was 2.5 cents per jin. Two elderly ladies also came over, wanting to buy watermelons.

The three of them negotiated the price together, managing to bring it down to 2.3 cents per jin. Lin Yao bought five watermelons, while the other two elderly women each took two. They advised Lin Yao, “Just tasting it is enough, save your money. Life isn’t lived in one day.”

“As a daughter-in-law, you shouldn’t be so wasteful.”

Lin Yao, smiling cheerfully, explained that her family had many members, so buying a few more would allow everyone to have a taste.

The two elderly women understood, noting that their own families were large too, which was why they had bought a couple to take home.

Lin Yao carried a net bag full of small watermelons back home, while Zhang Cuilan was next door chatting at Aunt Dafu’s house.

Aunt Dafu’s eldest daughter had come back home with her two children for a visit. Her husband was also a soldier, and the children were well-mannered, greeting elders as “Uncle” and “Aunt.”

Aunt Dafu’s eldest grandson, upon seeing Lin Yao’s fair skin and beautiful appearance, grinned foolishly at her, “Hello, pretty sister!”

Lin Yao was delighted by the greeting. After all, no woman dislikes being called “pretty sister,” so she immediately took out a few milk candies to reward the little guy.

“Silly boy, that’s not your sister, that’s your brother Doudou’s mother.”

“Ah, is there really such a young and pretty mother?”

“Why not? Daddy said that mommy is the most beautiful and youngest in the whole world.”

“When did Daddy say that? How come I didn’t know?”

“Hee hee, I overheard them talking softly at night.”

The two little ones chattered back and forth, spilling all the sweet nothings between Aunt Dafu’s eldest daughter and her husband.

Everyone listening had a good laugh, showing their gossiping faces, all wearing expressions of “Oh my, this young couple really has a good relationship.”

Aunt Dafu’s eldest daughter blushed red like a cooked shrimp, dropped the vegetables in her hand, and gritting her teeth, dragged the two little ones back to the house for some “loving education.”

Aunt Dafu slapped her thigh, “Daughter, talk to them nicely, don’t hit the children.”

But not hitting them was impossible.

The two naughty kids got spanked by their mother, crying loudly.

The courtyard was in chaos, and the noise woke up Gu Doudou, who had been napping inside. The little chubby boy, now nimble on his feet, wiggled his chubby butt and crawled off the small bed.

“Mommy, Mommy, cry, cry outside!”

The little guy clung to Lin Yao’s leg, pulling her as if ready to rush outside.

Seeing her son’s eagerness to join any commotion, Lin Yao couldn’t help but sigh and rub her forehead.

When her chubby son was first born, he always had a serious look, frowning like a little old man. Lin Yao was worried that he might take after his father, maintaining a stern face without a smile at such a young age.

But now she realizes how silly her concerns were. Looking at the way her chubby son’s little mouth constantly babbled, there wasn’t a trace of the mature and steady demeanor of Deputy Director Gu.

Sigh, it would have been better to have a little Gu Shi’an, at least he would’ve been truly quiet.

Lin Yao felt a mix of emotions, while Gu Doudou blinked his big eyes, tilting his little head in confusion as he looked at her.

“Mommy?”

“Hmm?”

“Cry, cry, cry.”

Lin Yao: “…”

In the end, little Gu Doudou didn’t get to go out to the courtyard. His untrustworthy mother made up a story, saying there was a big rat outside that would bite his chubby cheeks.

It’s well known that Gu Doudou is fearless, just like Lin Yao, except when it comes to dark-eyed mice and slippery cauliflower snakes.

The moment he heard there was a big rat outside, the little chubby boy immediately quieted down. Wherever Lin Yao went, he followed, even ignoring the freshly cut watermelon.

Lin Yao began to feel she had gone too far and regretted scaring her son so much.

Feeling a pang of conscience, the usually strict mother didn’t move her son to his small bed when he fell asleep that night but instead held him close on the big bed.

*

Time passed, and soon it was May. The daytime temperatures had started to rise, and at night, mosquitoes began to appear in the courtyard.

The mosquitoes in Yunshui County were especially fierce, particularly those with flower-patterned wings, whose bites cause intense itching.

With Deputy Director Gu away from home, Lin Yao quickly set up a mosquito net over the big bed, cut some green gauze to cover the windows, and replaced the door curtain. During this time, the county was showing a new movie, and Gu Shidong had been clamoring to go see it.

Little Doudou didn’t know what a movie was, but since his uncle was asking, he started shouting about it too.

Lin Yao decided to buy tickets for the whole family, and together they went to the cinema, enjoying the lively atmosphere.

By the time the movie ended, the moon was already high in the sky, and the family hurried home. As soon as they entered the house, Lin Yao immediately sensed something was wrong.