“This is my first time cutting someone’s hair, so don’t be ungrateful,” Lin Zhi warned.
Perhaps because Lin Zhi had changed so much in the past couple of days—no longer hitting people at the slightest provocation and rarely even scolding—the usually timid little He Ze had gained some courage.
He didn’t dare move his head, but his mouth couldn’t stay still. He hummed, “Dad gave you so much money… and you’re charging us two mao to get our hair cut?”
His tone was full of discontent. Lin Zhi snorted. “Once the money is in my hands, it’s mine. Dream on if you want to take it from me.”
“If you don’t like it, let your dad give you fifty yuan a month.”
Although He Ting was now a battalion commander, his salary was only at level 16. After deductions, he brought home about a hundred yuan. He gave Lin Zhi fifty, leaving himself with roughly the same.
When their dad was alive, he might occasionally give them a few fen, but he wasn’t wealthy. One mao was already generous; fifty yuan? They wouldn’t even dare imagine it.
“What are we eating tomorrow?” He Ze, knowing there was no chance of getting money, quickly changed the topic.
“Can we have vegetable porridge again?” Today’s vegetable porridge and egg custard were too delicious, but there had only been one bowl per person—he hadn’t eaten his fill.
“Yes!” Lin Zhi replied firmly. “There’ll be egg custard too.”
Lin Zhi had already planned it. Tomorrow she would follow the unit’s supply vehicle into the county to buy some meat.
Her grocery store had cured meat, but no fresh pork. If she wanted to make pork porridge, she would need to buy some. Luckily, she still had two pounds of meat tickets; otherwise, pork was off the menu this month.
The hens she bought today wouldn’t be slaughtered yet. She still needed to see if anyone else was selling and buy two more. Apart from those two pounds of pork, the only meat this month would be chicken.
She had initially thought she had enough money left, but after calculating, it seemed insufficient.
She also planned to take the twins for a medical checkup. After that, money would be even tighter.
Hearing about the egg custard, little He Ze felt hungry again. He licked his lips, wanting to eat immediately.
After cutting their hair and helping them bathe, Lin Zhi went into the kitchen and came out carrying a kettle full of hot water.
Now that dinner came early and the twins were growing, the little food they’d eaten was already digested before bedtime. She planned to make bowls of tofu pudding (douhua) for them soon.
She had bought packaged tofu pudding for herself but hadn’t had a chance to eat it yet. No matter—at least now she could finally enjoy it.
The clothes she washed last night were dry, but the bedsheets were still a bit damp. She gathered the dry clothes and set aside the ones that weren’t wearable.
The twins, freshly bathed, didn’t have clean clothes to change into, so they wore today’s set. Lin Zhi pretended to rummage in the cabinet and then took out some prepared cloth from her grocery store.
She planned to make a few more sets of clothes for the twins. She wasn’t skilled at cutting patterns, but she had seen pigs and knew what pork looked like.
She cut two pieces of cloth according to the size of the clothes and sewed them together. If anything didn’t fit, she would cut more fabric to patch it.
Whether the clothes looked ugly or not was not her concern right now.
The freshly bathed twins didn’t leave. They stood on either side of Lin Zhi, like little bodyguards, watching her frown and measure the cloth with scissors.
A piece of fine cloth was being chopped into pieces under her scissors. Little He Ze’s eyelids twitched, but facing Lin Zhi’s serious expression, he didn’t dare say a word.
Lin Zhi picked up a needle and thread to sew the pieces together. Seeing the twins standing like tiny guards, she gave them each a calcium biscuit and waved them off to play.
The two boys took the biscuits but didn’t move. Little He Run stared innocently, his big eyes fixed on her.
Though silent, Lin Zhi magically understood him—he was worried she would ruin the fabric.
Feeling underestimated, Lin Zhi was briefly annoyed, but her anger faded within seconds. The original owner hadn’t even bought the twins scraps of fabric; now she was giving them both material and labor—how dare they complain?
“Consider yourselves lucky I’m even making these for you. If you keep nitpicking, I’ll take the cloth back,” she warned.
“Can you really do it?”
Little He Ze doubted her again, and Lin Zhi’s mood soured. She took a deep breath and forced a stiff smile at him. “If you open your mouth again, I’ll hang you up and give you a beating.”
Her mood was more volatile than the weather in July or August. One moment she could be sunny and cheerful; the next, lightning and thunder.
The threat was enough. Little He Ze immediately obeyed, fetched a stool, and pulled He Run over to watch Lin Zhi work.
Though clumsy, after two to three hours, Lin Zhi had at least finished the clothes. She had the twins try them on. They weren’t beautiful, but they covered everything properly.
Satisfied, she set the clothes aside and went to make a few bowls of tofu pudding.
The twins had never seen such a food before. They stood on tiptoe, resting their chins on the table, eyes fixed on the sweet aroma drifting through the air, constantly swallowing.
“Are we going to get some too?” There were three bowls, so surely one was for them.
But thinking of how Lin Zhi used to eat without sharing even a bite, little He Ze wasn’t so sure.
“It’s fine if I don’t get any, just give some to my brother,” he said, nudging He Run toward Lin Zhi.
Even though they were the same age, as the older brother, he always thought of his younger brother first.
Seeing little He Ze’s earnest face, Lin Zhi felt a pang of sympathy. Such a considerate child—how could the original owner hurt him?
She reached out to ruffle his hair. Feeling him tense, she patted gently. Though her tone was awkward, it sounded warm: “We each get a bowl.”
“Do I get one too?”
“Yes, you do!” Lin Zhi nodded affirmatively. As she withdrew her hand, she noticed little He Run staring intently.
Following his gaze to her hand, she hesitated two seconds, then reached out and ruffled his head as well.
Seeing the corner of his mouth lift slightly, Lin Zhi knew she was right—the child, though hurt by the original owner, still longed for motherly affection.
After finishing the sweet tofu pudding, little He Ze made contented noises, smacking his lips happily.
“What’s this? It’s so good! Even better than the sugar cakes the soldier gave us,” he said.
“This is called tofu pudding. Tasty, right?”
The twins nodded in unison. “Delicious.”
“Delicious doesn’t mean you get more,” Lin Zhi said, clearing the bowls and urging them. “It’s getting dark. Go brush your teeth and sleep.”