Chapter 26 Chapter 26 Just freeze!
Zhao Zirui's personality is similar to Zhao Zhanming in some aspects.
He doesn't talk much, likes quietness, and does things carefully.
Lu Qinghe usually drew puzzles for the children to play with, but Lu Yao quickly lost her patience, Lu Yang just thought it was boring, and only Zhao Zirui would immerse himself in his own world for an entire afternoon.
After finishing the puzzle, he gave it to Lu Qinghe obediently, then stood shyly in front of Lu Qinghe, not daring to speak, but waiting expectantly for Lu Qinghe to give her a compliment.
Lu Qinghe always satisfies this little kid's little thoughts.
After praising him, sometimes I would draw a little red flower for him, and sometimes I would give him a childish stamp with my thumb.
Even simple things would make Zhao Zirui feel particularly satisfied and happy for a long time.
Of course, Lu Qinghe would not ignore Lu Yao and Lu Yang, but each child had a different personality, so she would praise them in different aspects.
What Zhao Zirui is praised for most is his patience and meticulousness.
Naturally, he secretly took note of this compliment and was proud of it.
Children are sometimes like this. The more you praise them for something, the more they tend to care about it.
So, when something he cares about is destroyed, he will be more likely to break down than other things.
For example, today.
As soon as Zhao Zirui finished the last word, he pursed his lips and couldn't hold back his tears. He burst into tears again, feeling so sad and miserable that tears streamed down his face.
"Alright, alright."
I don’t know why, Zhao Zirui was crying so sadly. After knowing the reason, Lu Qinghe couldn’t help laughing when she saw his snot flowing into his mouth.
After enduring for a while, Lu Qinghe helped him clean up and comforted him: "Don't cry first, tell me how you lost it."
Zhao Zirui's voice was a little hoarse, and Lu Qinghe fed him some water, which made him feel better.
"When we were leaving in the morning, Lu Yang said he wanted to take it to school, so I said I would take it. Then we went to school. We spent the whole morning in class and playing."
"Then what?"
Zhao Zirui choked up, "Then I didn't even realize the notebook was missing until school was almost over. I remembered to take it out and show it to my deskmate, but it couldn't be found anywhere in the school. I thought I'd lost it on the road, so I told my older brothers and sisters and we went back to look for it, but we couldn't find it. Woohoo... It's lost, it must be lost. I lost it. I made a mistake. I'm such a bad guy, woohoo..."
"He's not a bad guy. Zirui is a good boy. He just lost it accidentally. How can he become a bad boy? No way."
After Lu Qinghe finished comforting him, Zhao Zirui continued to cry and said, "It snowed this morning, and there were uncles and aunts sweeping the snow. The little notebook must have been swept into the trash can. It was your hard work. You worked so hard to draw it for us, but now it's gone. I lost it. I'm sorry..."
When Zhao Zirui mentioned Lu Qinghe's hard work, he started crying again. It was all over.
Lu Yang next to him started sobbing.
Lu Yao, who was squatting, didn't even sway, she just opened her mouth and started wailing.
Lu Qinghe's head was buzzing, feeling helpless and amused.
"Look, you guys lost my things, and I have to comfort you, right? I've been coaxing you for so long, I'm tired."
With a "Ga" sound, Lu Yao stopped first.
I don't know how she did it. Her eyes were like faucet switches. She would cry in a second and stop crying if she was told to. She would just run to the table, pour a glass of water obediently, and then bring it to me with both hands.
Lu Yao: "Mom, drink it! I'll pour more for you after you drink it!"
That little look makes it seem as if the cup contains not water but nectar.
Lu Qinghe chuckled, rubbed the face of her cheerful and lively little girl, took the water and drank it all.
Lu Yao was not vague and turned around to drink another cup.
Lu Qinghe was put aside. At this time, Lu Yang stopped crying. He wiped his tears, walked over, lowered his head and admitted his mistake.
Lu Yang: "Mom asked me to take good care of my younger siblings, but I didn't. Mom, punish me instead of my younger siblings."
"Who said I was going to punish you? No one is going to punish you."
Lu Qinghe sighed and asked Lu Yang to sit on the sofa.
Only Zhao Zirui was still crying, but he didn't open his mouth. His lips covered his front teeth, and he shed tears silently. After hearing Lu Qinghe's words, his eyes welled up with tears: "You won't punish me?"
"No."
"W-why…"
Halfway through his "Woo," Zhao Zirui suddenly remembered that he would disturb Lu Qinghe, so he covered his mouth with his hands and uttered a "Woo" softly.
Lu Qinghe was amused again, "Are you a trumpet? Beep, beep, beep. Otherwise, I'll send you to the opera troupe to play the suona for others in the future."
"What is suona?" Zhao Zirui felt sad and curious.
"It's the sound people make when they die!" Lu Yao kindly helped to explain.
Lu Qinghe: “…”
"Okay, stop making a fuss. I just finished washing your faces. You can go wash them yourself later. Don't cry or be sad. It's lost, so it's lost. There's only one page with new drawings on it. You know the rest of the words, so it's okay."
“It does matter!”
Zhao Zirui reacted strongly, "I...that's very important. You have to draw it for a long time every night!"
That's because she was bored while drawing this, and was still drawing the serialized children's comics from her previous life. The pictures used for literacy are all the simplest stick figures, which don't take much time at all.
After explaining, Zhao Zirui was still sad.
"But...but...I like picture books very much. I like them very much."
Maybe, it’s not just about liking picture albums.
Zhao Zirui didn't dare to say anything further.
He not only likes the picture book, he also likes his mother.
I love mom very much.
I like her so much that I even hope she is my real mother.
Can……
But is this really right?
Before leaving his grandparents, they told him that his new mother was his stepmother, and if he really fell in love with her, he would be betraying his biological mother.
But his dear mother...left him very early and never spent any time with him, let alone draw those beautiful little figures for him.
He always felt that as long as he was with his mother, she was a good mother.
Seeing that Zhao Zirui was about to cry again, Lu Qinghe frowned, told Lu Yao and Lu Yang to wash their faces, and pulled the little kid into the house.
Why can’t I coax this child?
He wasn't punished, and he was told it was okay, so he couldn't have something else on his mind.
After entering the house, Lu Qinghe patiently carried Zhao Zirui to the chair opposite.
"If you like it, I will continue to draw it in the future. Don't be so sad."
"I'm not punishing you, not because you're right or wrong, but because there's no way to find out how that little picture album got lost."
"It's possible that it was lost, but it's also possible that someone accidentally took it by mistake, or it could just be forgotten somewhere."
"You haven't investigated the matter thoroughly yet, so don't jump to the conclusion that you lost it."
"Zi Rui, don't scare yourself or punish yourself in advance for something whose outcome is not yet clear."
"Don't put so much pressure on yourself. You're only five years old, a little kid. Don't take things so seriously, and don't let them weigh on you. Remember what I told you before?"
"You, Lu Yao, Lu Yang, and Zhao Zimo, are all the same. No matter what happens, don't forget that your parents are always there for you."
"It's like this for a small matter, and it will be like this for big matters in the future."
"Or...is there something else on your mind?"
Having said that, Zhao Zirui couldn't help but want to cry again, but when he looked up, he saw Lu Qinghe's eyes full of concern.
So warm and gentle.
Zhao Zirui: "Can I tell you something in private? But don't tell grandpa and grandma."
Lu Qinghe: “…”
Damn it!
I knew there was a problem, and it turned out that the problem was with those two unlucky guys at home.
"Speak boldly, I will not only keep it a secret, but I will also help you vent your anger!"
Now that I have started talking, I won’t be afraid of what comes next.
Zhao Zirui blurted out all the words his grandparents had used to morally blackmail him before they left.
Fortunately, Zhao Zirui was only five years old, otherwise he would have seen the gentle Lu Qinghe's not-so-gentle fist on the table.
Not only intimidation, but also moral kidnapping!
If you teach a child to feel guilty from a young age, it’s no wonder that he becomes more and more timid.
Lu Qinghe: "Zirui, I don't ask you to call me mom, not at any time. You can call me mom if you like, and it doesn't matter if you don't like it. Just follow your heart. As for your biological mom, she is also your mom. She gave birth to you, and I will raise you from now on. There is no conflict between the two, do you understand?"
Zhao Zirui was stunned for a moment, "I seem to understand a little bit."
"Well, so don't worry about what others say. Remember what happened before you came out? Grandpa and grandma's ideas are their ideas, not mine, and certainly not yours. You just need to have your own ideas based on your own feelings."
"In other words, if I think you're good, it doesn't matter if others think you're not."
Lu Qinghe frowned: "I don't think it matters to me, do you think it matters to you? Can other people's words affect me?"
Zhao Zirui shook his head.
Shake your head vigorously.
Of course not. Even if people outside say a lot of things about her, the gentle mother in front of me is still a super good mother.
"That……"
Zhao Zirui suddenly understood something, "Can I call you?"
"Of course." Lu Qinghe nodded affirmatively.
"Can I call my biological mother mommy too?"
"Of course." Lu Qinghe nodded again.
"I understand." Zhao Zirui's eyes suddenly became clear, and his tears stopped flowing. His eyes were red. "Just like brothers and sisters can call dad dad, right?"
"almost."
But Wu Xingliang is a bastard, and none of the babies she raised would call that bastard "Dad".
It’s just that Zhao Zirui is too sensitive.
He had to figure this out, and luckily he asked it today, otherwise he wouldn't know how depressed he would be in the future.
"Mother!"
Zhao Zirui jumped up and threw himself into Lu Qinghe's arms. Lu Qinghe was a little moved. She sighed and ended the psychological counseling.
After everything was said and done, Lu Qinghe repeated the same words to Lu Yao and Lu Yang.
Lu Yao also felt sorry that the album was lost, but she was actually more of a member of the atmosphere group. She would cry when others cried, and she would go to do something else after a while without any cares.
Lu Yang was also sad, but he was more sensible. Instead, he advised Lu Qinghe like a little adult not to work too hard on painting in the future. He also promised to take good care of his younger siblings and protect the album.
Just as the atmosphere at home was gradually improving, the door was suddenly pushed open.
Zhao Zimo stopped in the yard, panting heavily, with worry and fear coexisting on his face.
But when he saw the happy scene in the yard, his face suddenly tightened.
"Why are you running so fast?" Lu Qinghe checked the time. "You ran home just five minutes after school. What happened?"
Zhao Zimo subconsciously glanced at Zhao Zirui.
Lu Qinghe noticed this look and understood: "Did you hear that your younger brother and sister were crying in the street?"
All in all, they have been in the military family compound for almost a month.
But these days, the three younger ones are getting along better and better, while the older one, although they go to school together every day, is rarely seen talking to his younger siblings on his own initiative.
Even if his younger siblings would occasionally talk to him, he would just walk away silently.
It even gives people the feeling that it is good enough if he doesn't say anything back.
But it's only been a month after all.
He was only fourteen years old.
When he couldn't help it, he would argue with Lu Yao. If Lu Yao hummed a few times in a temper, he would hum back in the same way.
When Zhao Zirui accidentally fell and wanted to cry, he would silently help her up and then leave.
As for Lu Yang, the two men, one big and one small, seemed to have different personalities. When they met, they looked at each other and went their separate ways.
Lu Qinghe watched silently, but did not bother to force them together to establish a relationship.
There is still a long way to go, and feelings are developed slowly, so there is no need to rush.
But I didn’t expect that Zhao Zimo would run back home so worried today.
And...it's quite fast.
"No." Zhao Zimo lowered his head again.
"Really?"
Lu Qinghe pursed her lips and smiled: "So you are... practicing long-distance running?"
Zhao Zimo's ears turned red instantly, and his face might have turned red too, but he lowered his head and couldn't see clearly.
With a "click", a small stone on the ground was kicked away by Zhao Zimo.
Zhao Zimo: "I'm going into the house."
"Don't bully Shizi!" Lu Yao snorted, picked up the stone and blew on it.
Zhao Zimo, who had been lowering his head, suddenly raised his head in anger, "You are childish!"
"Huh?" Lu Yao turned her head. "What do you mean by childish?"
Zhao Zimo: "...so childish!"
"Who died?"
Lu Yao's eyes widened. "Oh my god, is someone dead? Zirui, hurry up, go play the suona. Brother Zimo, you didn't even know Zirui could play the suona today!"
If he could draw in the air, Zhao Zimo would definitely be confused.
Zhao Zimo: "You don't care about the stone anymore?"
"Oh yes, and Shitou. Mom is asking you a question, why are you bullying Shitou? It's not Shitou who is asking you, do you want to bully Mom?"
“…”
He could have just snorted and left, but Zhao Zimo remained silent for a moment, then lowered his head again: "I don't think so, I just..."
“I just want to practice long-distance running!”
Lu Qinghe: “…”
"Long-distance running? Then I'll give it a try next time." Lu Yao said, and called Lu Yang and Zhao Zirui to join in.
But Zhao Zimo no longer had the interest to play with them. He turned around, looked at Lu Qinghe again, and was about to go back to the house.
Passing by the living room, Lu Qinghe greeted with a smile: "Remember to wait until the sweat has dissipated before taking off your clothes. It's getting cold, so be careful."
After a long time, until Zhao Zimo walked to the door of his room, I finally heard his low "hmm".
“You’re really cool.”
Lying in bed at night, Lu Qinghe talked to Zhao Zhanming about what happened today. "Although he plays it cool, Zimo is actually a little easier to talk to now than when we first met. What do you think?"
Zhao Zhanming nodded with a smile, and put his arm around her shoulders from behind. "It's all thanks to you. I'm often not at home, and you've worked hard."
"It's not that hard."
Zhao Zhanming would prepare breakfast in advance and help with dinner when he got home. Except for lunch, he would do any heavy work he saw. Besides, he was not idle outside. He brought his monthly salary home on time and handed it to Lu Qinghe, not a penny less.
"I just got a little mad today!" Lu Qinghe frowned. "I was thinking of sending something home now that it's cold. You wrote to me a couple of days ago asking for some leather. Now I think I won't send it. Let them freeze!"
They don't deserve it!
Lu Qinghe claims that she is not a saintly person who is unconditionally kind to others. She will take revenge when she has a grudge and will vent her anger on the spot.
If I'm unhappy today, I won't send anything tomorrow.
Zhao Zhanming chuckled, "They are wrong. You are the boss at home. If they make you unhappy, we won't send anything. I have done a lot in the past few years, but some people's appetites can't be satisfied."
"That's right, they should be hungry to let them know right from wrong."
"Just starve them, don't starve me."
A man's dull voice came from behind, and while Lu Qinghe was stunned, Zhao Zhanming pulled her into his arms.
The strong muscles and heartbeat instantly enveloped her.
Although Lu Qinghe had done this several times and was quite used to it, she couldn't help but feel embarrassed when she thought of Zhao Zhanming's extraordinary enthusiasm.
This man is not incompetent at all.
He had been holding it in for too long, and except when Lu Qinghe had her period, he had to do it properly.
"Look, she's e too." Zhao Zhanming's fingertips were frivolous, and he was as happy as a fish falling into water.
Lu Qinghe snorted softly and tried to push away but Zhao Zhanming pressed on her instead. He kissed her forehead skillfully and gently.
Lu Qinghe gritted her teeth, her eyes red as fallen petals. After a moment, she no longer restrained herself and slowly walked forward.
After the bodies become familiar with each other, the pleasure will be greater than the tiredness, and even the back pain the next day will be much relieved.
But Zhao Zhanming still had the habit of massaging her lower back when she got up in the morning. After Zhao Zhanming left, Lu Qinghe stretched and got up.
It snowed yesterday and it was even colder today. The school was officially closed. Except for Zhao Zimo who had to wait for the final exam for a week, the other three were running around in the yard, waiting for Lu Qinghe to grant them amnesty.
Seeing three pairs of eager eyes, Lu Qinghe smiled and opened the door for them, indicating that they could go out and play today. Only then did they cheer and ran out.
"Girl!"
Lu Qinghe turned around and said, "Sister-in-law Han? I haven't seen you for a few days. I thought you went back to your hometown without telling me."
"How could I? I was just bored at home after finishing my work a while ago, and I didn't want to go to the literacy class, so I joined the tailoring group run by the Military Families Association, and usually took on the work of cutting fabrics for the military region."
As she spoke, Han's sister-in-law pulled the woman who followed her and said, "Sister, I came to see you today for something serious."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
