The Daily Life of a Stepmother in the 1980s
Zhao Linan loved eating meat. Whenever there was meat, he usually avoided the vegetables. When he was younger, he was too shy to pick and choose his food, but as he slowly tested Xu Tao’s limits, the boy started to enjoy more sunlight and began showing signs of being picky.
Originally, Xu Tao just gave him whatever was prepared, but now, the boy wasn’t afraid of her anymore, nor of Zhao Weiguo. His picky eating habits began to surface more clearly.
“Mom, Xiao Nan doesn’t like vegetable” Zhao Linan said, looking at the green vegetables in his bowl, his little face scrunching up in clear disgust.
You see, now he’s even saying he doesn’t like it directly.
“No, you do like them” Xu Tao said seriously, looking at the boy.
This picky eating habit had to be corrected. The child was only three years old, and he couldn’t be allowed to eat only meat every day. Vegetables were essential for balanced nutrition.
“...” Zhao Linan looked at Xu Tao and then at the vegetables. His little hand grabbed the chopsticks, and he turned them towards Zhao Weiguo’s direction. “Dad…”
The child was preparing to pass the vegetables to his father!
“I already have some in my bowl, there’s no need to be so filial” Zhao Weiguo replied, understanding the child’s tricks. As soon as the boy opened his mouth to call someone, he had already responded.
Zhao Linan immediately felt disappointed and lowered his head, holding the vegetables in despair.
Xu Tao quietly observed the child’s attempt.
“Big Brother (stone) Shitou” Zhao Linan muttered after a brief moment of silence, and suddenly his chopsticks turned in a different direction, reaching out with surprising speed.
Before Shitou could react, a piece of vegetables landed in his bowl. Shitou’s expression became a little gloomy.
Xu Tao couldn’t help but click her tongue in surprise, watching Zhao Linan’s quick reflexes with new understanding. The speed was truly impressive, and his agility was even more remarkable.
“Eat your vegetables. If you dare pass them to Shitou again, I’ll spank you” Xu Tao threatened with a grin, adding more vegetables to Zhao Linan’s bowl.
If Zhao Linan was willing to eat even a bite of the greens, Xu Tao wouldn’t be so worried. The boy had a good appetite and strong teeth, but refusing to eat vegetables was unacceptable.
“Mom” Zhao Linan pouted in grievance.
Xu Tao raised her chin and threatened him, “Are you going to eat or not?”
She never expected that one day she would have to transform into a fierce mother to get her child to eat vegetables.
It was so troubling; this child’s resistance to vegetables was beyond her belief.
“Mom, Xiao Nan will eat later” Zhao Linan, seeing how strict Xu Tao was, reluctantly pushed the vegetables aside in his bowl, trying to buy some time.
“...” Xu Tao closed her eyes and took a deep breath, feeling her patience being tested.
After a while, she calmed herself down and smiled as she spoke to the child, “If you don’t eat your vegetables today, starting tomorrow, I won’t buy meat. You’ll eat vegetables every day.”
She didn’t believe there was a way she couldn’t make him eat vegetables.
Zhao Linan was immediately shocked. He raised his head to look at Xu Tao, then pursed his lips and closed his eyes, reluctantly shoving the vegetables into his mouth with a deep grudge.
The child swallowed the vegetables in one go, his little face puffed up. Before he had even swallowed, he looked at Xu Tao and said, “Mom, I ate it.”
So you can’t stop buying meat!
“Good boy, Xiao Nan is so great. Mommy will reward you by letting you eat more vegetables” Xu Tao nodded in satisfaction, adding another serving of vegetables to his bowl.
“...” Mom has changed!
The child looked at Xu Tao, and his expression cracked, as he reluctantly chewed the vegetables, then pouted and hurriedly drank two sips of chicken soup to comfort his fragile little heart.
Zhao Weiguo watched the interaction between Xu Tao and Zhao Linan during dinner. He didn’t say much, as he was also a meat lover. However, unlike Zhao Linan, he didn’t only love meat. As an adult, he understood that even if you didn’t like something, you still had to eat it when necessary, like vegetables.
While eating his meal, Shitou enjoyed his potato chicken nuggets and glanced enviously at Zhao Linan.
He never picky about food and loved meat, but he couldn’t have it at every meal. The food at home was typical, and he could only have a little bit of meat once a week, which made him appreciate his meals even more.
“Little brother, Auntie is doing this for your own good. Eating more vegetables helps you grow taller” Shitou said to comfort Zhao Linan.
“Well, okay then!” Zhao Linan replied begrudgingly, chewing the vegetables with a look of deep frustration.
After dinner, Shitou felt stuffed and, while he and Zhao Linan were watching the chicks in the yard, his father, Sun Tonghai, came over.
Fan Qiumei had given birth to a second child. After a few hours of working, she suddenly felt pain and was rushed to the hospital, where she quickly delivered. Not long after giving birth, she wanted to save on hospital fees and decided to return home that night.
"She gave birth so fast!" Xu Tao exclaimed, astonished at Sun Tonghai.
No wonder many older women in the future complain about younger daughters-in-law being too delicate. Comparing this, today’s women are much tougher. Shitou had told her that his mother had stomach pain, and within a short time, she was already back home after giving birth.
“The second child came smoothly, less than half an hour, and the baby was born” Sun Tonghai said with a smile.
Less than half an hour! Isn’t that impressive?
“A boy or a girl?” Xu Tao asked curiously.
“A boy, six pounds and eight ounces!” Sun Tonghai answered happily.
He now had two sons!
“Congratulations, congratulations!”
“Thank you! Shitou also caused you trouble today” Sun Tonghai said, smiling at Zhao Weiguo.
“We’re all neighbors, no need to be so polite” Zhao Weiguo replied.
“My wife was in a panic when she didn’t see Shitou after giving birth. She thought something had happened to him and almost went to the Lin family to cause a scene. I’ll take him home now, and I’ll bring some red eggs to you tomorrow when I have time” Sun Tonghai whispered and quickly took Shitou back home.
After hearing Sun Tonghai’s explanation, Xu Tao and Zhao Weiguo understood why Fan Qiumei had been so anxious. After all, the Lin family was quite ruthless. The couple exchanged a glance but didn’t say much, closing the yard door and returning to the living room.
On their way back, Xu Tao couldn’t help but marvel, “So impressive! Less than half an hour to give birth!” She had only heard how painful childbirth could be, how exhausting it was, and how some women suffered for hours. But after comparing it to Fan Qiumei’s case, everything else seemed much weaker.
“It’s indeed impressive” Zhao Weiguo nodded.
You have to know that his ex-wife had died due to complications during childbirth, which had left Zhao Weiguo with some lingering guilt and psychological scars. He felt a sense of relief when Xu Tao said she might never get pregnant—at least she wouldn’t have to face the dangers of childbirth.
His ex-wife had died during a difficult labor, and although Zhao Weiguo hadn’t been at home at the time, the death still weighed heavily on him. A woman had died giving him a son, and that burden made him feel like he could never truly breathe easy.
That night, as usual, Xu Tao and Zhao Weiguo helped Zhao Linan fall asleep. Afterward, Zhao Weiguo embraced Xu Tao and remained silent for a long time.
“You’re acting strange today” Xu Tao, sensitive as always, noticed Zhao Weiguo’s unease and directly asked.
Xu Tao wasn’t someone who kept things hidden; if something was bothering her, she usually addressed it the same day, or she couldn’t sleep from worrying.
“Well, I was just thinking about Linan’s biological mother” Zhao Weiguo replied openly, without hiding anything.
He had an ex-wife, Liu Qingqing, who gave birth to Zhao Linan. It wasn’t something that he was ashamed of.
“I see!” Xu Tao was a little surprised. They had never talked about his ex-wife before. Zhao Weiguo’s thoughts were likely triggered by the situation with Fan Qiumei giving birth, reminding him of his past.
His ex-wife, Liu Qingqing, had died from blood loss while giving birth to Zhao Linan.
"What did you remember about her?" Xu Tao asked, with a hint of jealousy she hadn't even realized.
This man couldn’t possibly be thinking of his ex-wife’s good qualities, or maybe he still had deep feelings for her, Liu Qingqing?!
"I remember her, but I can’t quite recall what she specifically looked like" Zhao Weiguo replied, his tone mixed with surprise and guilt.
He had married his ex-wife as part of an arranged marriage by their parents, which was common at that time, just like his marriage to Xu Tao. Before leaving the army, he had never planned to get married. As a soldier, he was often away on missions and frequently faced dangerous situations.
Because of that, he hadn’t given much thought to his marital life. As for Liu Qingqing, his impression of her was faint. They had spent little time together, and after so many years, when he suddenly thought of her again, he couldn’t remember what she looked like. He only remembered that she didn’t talk much and wasn't as beautiful as Xu Tao.
Of course, this beauty wasn’t just about appearance. Xu Tao and Liu Qingqing were different types, and it wasn’t about comparing who was prettier or uglier. It was just that Xu Tao exuded a confidence and aura that Liu Qingqing didn’t have.
Because of that, Zhao Weiguo thought Xu Tao was more beautiful. He liked her not just for her looks, but for her personality as well.
"Xiao Nan probably has her lips. She must have looked decent" Xu Tao quietly responded.
Zhao Linan resembled Zhao Weiguo, except for his lips, which were more delicate, so he didn’t have the same rugged look as Zhao Weiguo.
"Yeah" Zhao Weiguo responded, pulling Xu Tao closer by the waist. "But Xiao Nan’s personality is like yours."
Zhao Weiguo couldn’t remember much about Liu Qingqing’s appearance or his son’s personality before, as he only truly got to know Zhao Linan after Xu Tao brought him to Yangcheng. Xiao Nan’s personality had been influenced by Xu Tao, and now the child was just like her.
"Where is he like me?" Xu Tao asked, not feeling it.
"He’s learned how to throw tantrums and act spoiled just like you" Zhao Weiguo chuckled lightly.
"..." Xu Tao was speechless.
"Zhao Weiguo, let's take Xiao Nan for a family photo sometime!" After a moment, Xu Tao suggested, suddenly realizing they hadn’t thought about taking photos before.
Most of their photos were still in film format, which Xu Tao disliked. But when she heard Zhao Weiguo say that he couldn't clearly remember his ex-wife’s appearance, she felt they should take some photos to keep as memories.
Memories can easily blur over time, and without photos, future recollections would only rely on vague memories, which felt too abstract.
Taking photos, combined with memories, would make the recollections clearer.
"Okay" Zhao Weiguo agreed.
Since he couldn't even remember his ex-wife’s appearance, he naturally agreed with Xu Tao’s suggestion. Memories fade, but a camera can preserve a person’s likeness.
"Find a time to finish work early, and we’ll take Xiao Nan for photos. We’ll also send one to Grandma Zhao" Xu Tao added, as Zhao’s mother, Song Xiaoyan, loved Zhao Linan and probably missed him by now.
"Okay."
Xu Tao and Zhao Weiguo discussed finding a time to take photos, and two days later, Zhao Weiguo left work early. The family of three dressed up, with Zhao Linnan ready to go to the photo studio.
Zhao Weiguo was very serious about taking the photos and specially wore his military uniform.
Since retiring from the army, Zhao Weiguo had put away his uniform. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to wear it, but he was reluctant to, as he could no longer get new uniforms every year. Knowing that this would be his last military uniform, he was particularly careful with it. Had it not been for the photo shoot, Zhao Weiguo wouldn't have worn the uniform.
"You look really handsome in your uniform!" Xu Tao said, surprised, as she looked at Zhao Weiguo.
This was the first time she saw Zhao Weiguo in uniform. She had always known that he was quite good-looking—after all, he was why a certain woman next door had fallen for him at first sight, and why she had easily accepted being his wife. But now, for the first time, Xu Tao felt how exceptionally handsome he was when he wore the uniform.
The confidence and military charm that radiated from him when wearing the uniform was completely different from his usual demeanor. He was born to be a soldier, but unfortunately, that path was now behind him.
"Dad looks great, and I want to look like him too!" Zhao Linnan, dressed in a cute little suit Xu Tao had bought, immediately exclaimed.
The child had been very happy with his clothes, even running outside to show off and receiving compliments from his friends. But when he came back inside and saw Zhao Weiguo in his military uniform, he suddenly felt that his outfit was no longer as appealing.
"Mom!" Zhao Linnan pouted at Xu Tao in distress.
The child thought his mother was amazing, capable of getting him whatever he wanted, always able to fulfill his wishes.
"Don't make things difficult for mom." Xu Tao crouched down to comfort the child with a wry smile.
She had no idea where to find a three-year-old’s military uniform. It wasn’t like in future times where everything could be found online.
"Dad!" Zhao Linnan turned back to look at Zhao Weiguo.
"Why are you so vain, boy? Don’t you think you look great in your clothes?" Zhao Weiguo pinched his son's cheek.
"Dad looks better." Zhao Linnan reluctantly gazed at Zhao Weiguo’s uniform, his little hand stroking the fabric with reverence. His admiration was incredibly cute.
"If you like military uniforms so much, why don't you become a soldier? Then you can wear a uniform every day." Xu Tao teased the child.
"Okay, I’ll be a soldier!" Zhao Linnan immediately nodded firmly when he heard that he could wear a uniform every day.
"That kid won’t really become a soldier, will he?" Xu Tao sighed, feeling that she had inadvertently steered her child away from the path of becoming a rich CEO to becoming a soldier.
"Kids have short attention spans" Zhao Weiguo chuckled, bending down to pick up Zhao Linnan. "Let's go, it’s time for the photos."
"Oh! Let's go take pictures!" Zhao Linnan immediately became cheerful again, happily being carried out by Zhao Weiguo.
"Uncle looks so handsome!" Shitou and several other children playing outside saw Zhao Weiguo in his military uniform and immediately stared wide-eyed.
Boys seemed to have a natural admiration for soldiers, especially in this era, where children idolized them, and the sense of responsibility and mission in soldiers was profound.
"Yeah! So handsome!" A group of children from the alley immediately ran after Zhao Weiguo, their eyes sparkling.
Xu Tao smiled as she watched Zhao Weiguo surrounded by the children.
Finally, the family left the old alley and arrived at the photo studio. During this time, taking photos wasn’t cheap, and the film could be exposed, so everyone was extra careful. The photographer, with his reading glasses, was very cautious with each shot, knowing that wasting film was not an option.
"Look here, yes, right."
"Smile, don’t look so serious, you two can move a little closer."
"Little one, look at me over here."
"Yes, keep that pose, say cheese!"
The photographer, adjusting his glasses, clicked away while giving instructions. Xu Tao felt like she was a wooden puppet, doing whatever he said—smiling when told to, moving closer when told to.
After they finally finished, Xu Tao was exhausted with the whole process. She had a feeling the photos would be stiff, and indeed, when they received the pictures a few days later, her hunch was confirmed. She and Zhao Weiguo looked a bit unnatural, but Zhao Linnan had a huge grin, showing his teeth.
"Look at you, you look so silly" Xu Tao said, looking at the photos and teasing her son.
"Not silly, Mom, I look good!" Zhao Linnan, upset at being called silly, puffed out his cheeks.
"Where’s the not silly part? You’re silly" Xu Tao continued teasing.
"Ah! Mom!" Zhao Linnan immediately scrambled onto Xu Tao's lap, protesting, "I’m not silly!"
"Alright, alright, you’re the best-looking" Xu Tao laughed, giving in to her child’s pleas for praise.
The child was becoming a little narcissistic now. If Xu Tao said he didn’t look good, he would be unhappy and ask her to compliment him regularly. Whenever she praised him, he would puff out his chest proudly.
"You need to go feed your little chickens now, and by the way, you didn’t cover the chicken droppings with dirt today" Xu Tao reminded the child after setting him down.
"..." The joy of raising chickens had faded. At first, the child would watch the chicks happily, covering their droppings with dirt.
Now, he had become lazy. "Mom, the chickens are so troublesome" he grumbled, hanging onto Xu Tao’s leg.
"You wanted to raise chickens, so you can’t just quit halfway" Xu Tao warned sternly.
Xu Tao could spoil her child and indulge him, but when it came to responsibility, she would never allow him to quit just because he wanted to. Indulging could easily spoil a child, and she would not be blind to teaching him right from wrong.
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