12 "Little Leaf Birthmark"

“Zhao Zhao, my child, you need to be more attentive. Don’t expect everything from your mother-in-law. The Gu family has so many children, and Cheng Huai’s mother’s energy is limited. The children are yours; you can’t leave everything to others. Your mother didn’t raise you that way,” Lin’s mother advised earnestly.

She knew the situation her daughter had faced over the past few years and sympathized, so she refrained from saying more. Time flew by, and as her grandchildren grew, Lin’s mother worried they might drift apart from her daughter. Every time they met, she would offer a few words of counsel.

“I know, I…” Lin Zhao wanted to explain but was interrupted by the sudden entrance of her eldest and second sons.

“Grandma!” The second son called out warmly like a little sun.

Then the eldest son’s joyful voice followed, “Grandma.”

Lin’s mother smiled broadly, waving at the two grandsons. “Oh my, my eldest and second grandsons, come let Grandma see if you’ve grown taller.”

The two boys stood straight before their grandmother like little poplars.

The second son puffed up his chest proudly. “Grandma, look at me first! Yesterday I ate a big bowl—eight meat dumplings! I definitely grew taller.”

“You ate dumplings yesterday?” Lin’s mother was surprised.

“Yes, my mother made them, lots of meat, very delicious,” boasted the second son.

Lin’s mother was even more shocked. “Your mother made them?”

“My mother is even going to make clothes for us,” added the eldest son.

“Zhao Zhao, have you come to your senses?” Lin’s mother asked sharply, turning to her daughter with some excitement.

Lin Zhao nodded without much explanation. “Yes, I’ve thought it through. All four boys are mine, born through so much hardship—I can’t neglect them.”

The corners of the eldest and second sons’ mouths curved into hooks of joy.

“That’s the right attitude,” Lin’s mother said with eyes full of relief. “You’re finally sensible.”

Over the years, she and Lin Zhao’s father had often felt regretful—agreeing so easily to their daughter’s marriage seemed too hasty. Zhao Zhao was still a child, after all. Married, with children, and her husband nowhere near, life was hard, and her spirit had suffered.

Her father always encouraged her, saying she’d grow out of it—and now she really had.

Her daughter had suddenly grown up.

“I’ll tell your father. He’ll be happy too.”

Lin’s mother and father had been a young couple once, never having argued in decades, never separated, deeply caring for each other always.

Lin Zhao was used to that.

However, seeing the joy on her mother’s face, she added, “I’ll come back often from now on.”

“Good,” her mother responded firmly.

Just as she finished speaking, Lin Shisheng entered.

“Second brother,” Lin Zhao greeted lightly.

“Zhao Zhao, from now on, let the eldest and second sons go less often to the Gu family’s old residence,” Lin Shisheng said.

Lin Zhao was puzzled.

“What’s wrong?” Lin’s mother’s face darkened, her sharp eyes fixed on Lin Shisheng. “Did someone at the Gu family give our grandsons a sour look?”

“No sour looks, but the eldest and second sons were almost hurt by their little aunt,” Lin Shisheng recalled the earlier scene with a grim expression.

“What?” Lin’s mother immediately checked on the boys, fearing they might have suffered while she was unaware.

The eldest son quickly said, “Grandma, the second brother and I are fine. When their little aunt almost threw firewood at us, our second uncle appeared and kicked it away.”

The second son nodded vigorously beside him.

Lin’s mother finally relaxed but was furious and stood up to go to the Gu family’s old residence.

Lin Shisheng stopped her.

“Mother, I’ve already scolded them.”

Lin’s mother paused. “How did you scold them?”

The second son’s eyes shone brightly as he animatedly recounted how their second uncle stood up for them.

He was very gifted with language, clear in thought, and had a good memory. He reenacted the scene with theatrical flair, switching roles between their little aunt, himself, the eldest son, and their second uncle, all without missing a beat.

It was a perfect recreation, vivid as if one were there.

Lin Zhao’s expression softened.

She felt deeply that her eldest and second sons had big hearts—though they had been almost hurt, they forgot about it in less than half an hour.

“Thank you, second brother, for protecting the eldest and second sons,” Lin Zhao smiled at Lin Shisheng.

Lin Shisheng was a little surprised. “So polite to your second brother?”

He raised an eyebrow and grinned. “Is this still my little sister?”

Lin Zhao’s eyes revealed a trace of helplessness.

She had been spoiled by her family all her life, never even saying thanks before. No wonder her brother found it strange.

“Second brother, are you and mother hungry?”

Lin Shisheng saw her change the subject and didn’t call her out, joking, “Are you inviting me and mother to eat?”

“Want some dumplings?” Lin Zhao asked directly.

The Lin family never ate commercial grain, relying entirely on what they could grow. Fortunately, Lin Shisheng knew how to catch fish and hunt, so they occasionally had meat, which was better than most.

Hunting and fishing depended on luck, and the Lin family hadn’t eaten meat in over a month.

Not to mention delicate foods like dumplings.

“Sure,” Lin Shisheng didn’t hold back with his own sister.

As soon as he said this, Lin’s mother smacked him on the back, causing him to grimace in pain.

“Mother,” the young man with two children spoke plaintively.

His antics made the eldest and second sons laugh heartily. The dragon-and-phoenix twins, though not quite understanding, giggled along.

“Stop that nonsense. Does the family lack food or drink? Running to Zhao Zhao’s place to freeload,” Lin’s mother scolded with a stern face.

Then softening as she looked at her daughter, “Your brother and I ate before coming. We just came to check on you and will leave soon.”

She touched the thin face of her grandson. “Take good care of my grandsons, and I’ll be satisfied.”

Lin Zhao put an arm around the eldest son’s shoulder and said seriously, “I’ve been foolish these past years, not knowing how to care for my four boys. Now I’ve awakened and will treat them well.”

The eldest son turned to meet his mother’s gentle eyes, his own softening. “Yes, mother is good to us. Grandma, don’t worry.”

“Mother, I want to tidy up the vegetable garden in the backyard. Can you and second brother help me?” Lin Zhao said without hesitation.

Lin Shisheng had always protected his sister, doing whatever she said. He was a total sister’s boy.

Without a second thought, he answered, “Tell me how you want it done, and I’ll take care of it.”

“Let’s go to the backyard,” she said.

They walked to the messy backyard.

Lin Zhao glanced at the cluttered yard and frowned. “The backyard’s a mess. Second brother, please help me build a fence around the vegetable garden. It should be made of bamboo strips, all the same height. I don’t care about the style, but it must be neat and…”

“Make people feel refreshed and comfortable, right?” Lin Shisheng finished for her.

“I know, just like our home. Don’t worry, leave it to me.”

Lin Zhao had always been a girl with high standards for life.

She then asked her mother, “Mother, could you plant some different vegetables? There aren’t enough kinds. The eldest and others are tired of eating only cabbage.”

“Huh?”

The eldest son looked puzzled but didn’t expose his mother.

“Such a picky girl,” Lin’s mother said, but she didn’t refuse her daughter. “I’ll check at the Gu family’s old residence to see if they have any seeds.”

She smoothed her clothes, shook the dust off her feet, and headed toward the Gu family’s old residence.

The second son hurried after her.

Lin Shisheng went to get bamboo strips.

Lin Zhao looked at the dragon-and-phoenix twins digging in the yard. The two toddlers, barely able to speak, seemed to be arguing about something, which was very amusing.

“Eldest son, watch your little brother and sister. Mother’s going to cook. Grandma and your uncle came to visit us. Let’s keep them for dumplings today.”

“Okay,” the eldest son said happily. “Mother, I’ll take care of the third and fourth sons. You go ahead.”

He was happy to eat dumplings and even happier to share them with his grandmother and uncle.

“You’re such a good son; you really make me worry less,” Lin Zhao said with emotion.

She walked toward the front yard.

The eldest son almost got coaxed into a tantrum by his mother’s coaxing.

As Lin Zhao reached the front yard, she heard a familiar voice outside.

Someone was shouting, “The barber is here!”

She quickly called out loudly, “Eldest son!”

Hearing their mother’s call, the eldest son hurried over holding the dirty dragon-and-phoenix twins.

“Mother?”

Lin Zhao handed the eldest son two coins. “The barber is here. You and second brother should get your hair cut.”

“Shave it off,” she reminded them.

The eldest son froze.

Lin Zhao gently coaxed, “A shaved head is cool. Besides, yours and second brother’s hair grows fast; it’ll grow back soon.”

The eldest son thought her words made sense. “Okay.”

So he took his brother and sister and left home.

After a few steps, they met the second son eagerly following Lin Shisheng. The eldest son called, “Second brother, mother wants us to shave our heads. Are you coming?”

“I’m not going. I want to help second uncle,” the second son said.

“Mother said shaved heads are cool. If you don’t go, I will,” said the eldest son as he led the younger siblings toward the village entrance.

Seeing this, the second son immediately changed his mind. “I’ll go too. We’re brothers; we do everything together.”

Lin Shisheng smiled and shook his head.

From afar, Tiehammer ran over. “Eldest son, second son, where are you going?”

“We’re going to shave our heads. Are you coming?” the second son asked.

“I’m coming.”

The brothers went off together.

Lin Zhao busied herself in the kitchen. Lin’s mother, returning with vegetable seeds, called out to Zhao Zhao. She had intended to tell her what seeds she got, but as she glanced inside the kitchen, she saw her daughter kneading a large amount of dough—all made from fine white flour—and her face changed immediately.

She rushed in.

“Zhao Zhao, what are you doing? Why are you making so much dough, and all with white flour? Are we out of our minds?”

Getting closer, she saw the dough in the enamel basin was ruined, and she sobbed with worry.

“We’re fine,” Lin Zhao smiled.

Lin’s mother said irritably, “Who lives like you? So much white flour—this can make noodles for the eldest and others for a whole month.”

“There’s still more dough. Mother, don’t worry. I won’t let your grandsons starve. You and my brother came to see me, and I haven’t even made you a single meal. How’s that right?”

Lin’s mother was stubborn and still annoyed. “You never used to be so distant.”

Lin Zhao smiled. “I’ve changed a lot now.”

Lin’s mother hadn’t been educated and didn’t understand much, so she said earnestly, “Zhao Zhao, son-in-law doesn’t earn easily. You have to be thrifty.”

“And you have the eldest and the others to feed. When they grow up, they’ll need schooling, weddings, and families of their own.”

“If you don’t plan and save now, the hard times are still ahead.”

“We have their father,” Lin Zhao said dismissively. She was carefree and never wasted energy on internal struggles. For her, living well in the present was the most important.

Lin’s mother wanted to scold her. “He earns, but he married a careless, reckless wife.”

“I was raised by you,” Lin Zhao wasn’t afraid. She had grown up with her mother, who rarely spoke harshly.

Lin’s mother was speechless and too angry to argue, so she went to the backyard.

Lin Shisheng, having fetched the bamboo strips, saw his mother’s angry retreat and peeked into the kitchen, lowering his voice. “Zhao Zhao, what did you do to make mother angry again?”

Lin Zhao covered the repaired dough and started preparing the filling—a small enamel basin filled with meat. “Mother said my fingers are too loose.”

Lin Shisheng’s Adam’s apple bobbed; he was a bit tempted.

He agreed with their mother. “Your fingers are loose, and you made so much meat filling. Why not save some to eat later?”

Lin Zhao looked up at him. “Stop talking nonsense. Do you want to eat or not?”

“Who doesn’t want to eat meat?” The Lin family’s grain was scarce; they hadn’t had dumplings for two years.

“When second brother finishes, you’ll eat dumplings until you’re full.” Lin Zhao stepped forward and said to Lin Shisheng, “Hold out your hand.”

Lin Shisheng stretched out his arm and opened his hand.

Lin Zhao dropped two rock sugar crystals into his palm, smiling. “Here’s some sweetness for second brother.”

“Rock sugar?” Lin Shisheng’s eyes were full of surprise. He’d seen rock sugar but never such pure, transparent crystals without any impurities.

“Is this rock sugar? It looks different from what I’ve seen.”

Before Lin Zhao could answer, he popped the sugar into his mouth. Tasting the sweetness, a broad smile lit his eyes.

“It is rock sugar,” Lin Zhao said, her hands busy.

“Second brother, will one hour be enough to build the fence in the vegetable garden? I’m timing the dumpling making.”

“That’s plenty,” Lin Shisheng said casually and confidently. For someone used to hard work, it was nothing.

“Got it.”

Lin Shisheng went to the backyard to work. As he expected, he overheard his mother nagging for a long while about how Lin Zhao’s fingers were too loose and that she didn’t know how to manage the household.

He said, “Zhao Zhao injured her head; a little nourishing won’t hurt.”

“Mother brought eggs and fish for Zhao Zhao to nourish herself,” Lin’s mother replied while tidying the garden. “That’s not for her own sake; it’s for us. Your sister is good to you. You have to keep that in your heart and protect her.”

Lin Shisheng had anticipated this topic. “Of course. She’s my only sister. I’ll always protect her.”

“Remember your words.”

The aroma from the Lin household yesterday had made the neighboring children lose their appetite. Today, as mealtime approached, the smell of meat floated through the air again.

The children from the Wang family were drooling, and Wang Chunhua, seeing her grandchildren crying pitifully, grit her teeth and boiled two eggs for the kids to share, finally calming them.

Meanwhile, the neighbors’ children cried inconsolably, the boy’s wails loud enough to shake the roof.

The Lin family was each eating a bowl of dumplings.

Hearing the neighbors’ wailing, Lin’s mother frowned and asked Lin Zhao, “Is it always like that over there?”

“No, it just started these past two days. There’ll be more crying in the future,” Lin Zhao said casually.

She couldn’t forego cooking just because of the neighbors.

“It’s still too little. When your brothers were young, they wouldn’t dare to cry like that,” Lin’s mother said.

Lin Shisheng was savoring his dumplings, but upon hearing her words, his expression froze. “Mother’s fists the size of sandbags—who would dare be unruly?”

It was no exaggeration to say the Lin brothers grew up under their mother’s iron fist.

Lin Zhao had three older brothers—or rather, four. Her third and fourth brothers were twins, but the twin brother was stolen right after birth.

The Lin family only knew the child had a small leaf-shaped birthmark on his ear; nothing else was known.