Chapter 229: Passionate And Direct
Gu Family.
Gu Fu learned—Gu Chan entered the Cotton Textile Factory canteen, shocked beyond belief.
“Really?” His eyes locked on his daughter-in-law, “Who told you? Is it settled…?”
He asked one question after another like spilling beans.
Gu Mu didn’t keep him in suspense and said: “It was Third Son’s Wife who said it. I heard that family also compensated the medical expenses. When Gu Chan has some free time, she should come back once. She still owes money to the First Branch and Second Branch.”
Gu Fu nodded, “Good.”
If Gu Chan had spare money, it would be better to pay back the First Branch and Second Branch as soon as possible.
Those two families didn’t have much money, winter was coming soon, and the things missing at home needed to be bought, all of which required money.
“Gu Chan isn’t the kind of person who borrows money and doesn’t pay it back. She’s not your little daughter, so rest assured.” Gu Mu said.
Gu Fu was silent for a moment, his face looking bad, “Why bring her up when there’s nothing to do? It’s purely adding blockage for people.”
Ever since Gu Xing’er published a newspaper announcement severing ties with the Gu Family, she hadn’t come to the door again. Gu Fu and Gu Mu didn’t know her situation. Occasionally, they heard villagers say a few words, saying they saw her going to a movie with a young man, and the two had an intimate relationship.
The old couple felt very helpless. They couldn’t control her and didn’t want to. They responded with silence every time.
After a few times, the villagers could tell that the Gu Family couple had grown cold-hearted toward that little daughter, and they never mentioned her much again after that.
Gu Mu was heartbroken, “Shameful. How did I give birth to such a daughter without any sense of shame? The Gu Family’s face is completely lost.”
“It won’t be completely lost.” Gu Fu was very optimistic, “Yuan Shan and the others, and the Eldest Daughter, aren’t they all doing well? As for that ignorant one, she was raised by her mother. The whole brigade knows it. Even if she learned bad, it has nothing to do with us.”
This was how he comforted himself, and it was quite effective. At least his heart wasn’t so stuffy anymore!
“…”
Gu Mu choked.
“Is that how you say it?” Her expression was complicated beyond description.
Gu Fu’s expression didn’t change, “Then how should I say it? Did you raise her for a year?”
Gu Mu rolled her eyes, “I wanted to, but did your old mother give me the chance?” She angrily twisted the old man’s arm with great strength, causing the old master to gasp in pain.
He pulled away his old wife’s hand and said coldly: “What are you doing? What are you doing? Just talk, why move hands and feet!”
Dead old woman, her hand was really ruthless; it must be bruised!
“What am I doing? What am I doing!” Gu Mu wouldn’t let it go, “If it weren’t for you, you old thing, not stepping up, could my good little daughter have turned out like that? I simply… I simply hate you to death!”
When people are angry, they spit out whatever words come to mind.
Seeing his old wife really losing her temper, Gu Fu pulled a stool closer to her and softened his voice a bit, “Look at you, why are you really getting angry? Was I just going along with my mother? No, I felt sorry for you. With so many children at home, how could you manage…”
In his haste, he even said sappy words that he hadn’t even said when they were young.
Listening to the old man’s explanation, Gu Mu’s face started to smoke, she couldn’t sit still, and said angrily: “You dead old man, you really have no shame!”
As soon as the words fell, she hurriedly ran out the home door.
Zhao Liuniang had just returned and saw her mother-in-law running like she was chased by a dog, very puzzled. She asked Gu Fu: “Dad, what’s wrong with Mom?”
“…Nothing, you do your thing.” Gu Fu felt aggrieved after being sulked at by his daughter-in-law, had no mind to talk.
“Oh.” Zhao Liuniang put down the firewood and went back to the room, waking up Gu Yucheng who was catching up on sleep.
“Wake up!!” She pinched the man’s nose and shouted in a breathy voice.
Gu Yucheng couldn’t breathe and helplessly opened his eyes.
“Who provoked you again?” he asked.
“No one provoked me.” Zhao Liuniang said, sneakily looking toward the door, her voice very low, “Dad and Mom are acting weird. Do you know what’s up with them?”
Gu Yucheng sat up, looking blankly at his wife, “Are they? How come I didn’t notice?” He asked back.
Zhao Liuniang pushed his shoulder, glaring, unhappily saying: “You’re at home, how do you know nothing!”
Gu Yucheng was full of helplessness, “Talk some reason. I was catching up on sleep. Can you hear sounds while sleeping? Can you grasp everything happening at home?”
“…”
Zhao Liuniang was stumped and speechless.
“I see you’ve rested well. Why not glue the remaining matchboxes?”
Gu Yucheng was naturally thick-nerved and couldn’t do such delicate work. He had tried before, and it made his shoulders and buttocks ache, but the efficiency was extremely low.
At that time, he was determined never to do this work again.
Hearing his wife ask him to glue matchboxes, Gu Yucheng’s mind cleared a bit.
He calmly changed the subject, “…You just asked about Dad and Mom? I know.”
When talking about Dad and Mom, Gu Yucheng was quite measured, not speaking loudly, keeping the volume very low.
“Dad and Mom should be talking about Eldest Sister.”
“And something about eating big wontons at Third Brother’s Wife’s place.” He only heard this much, and it made him crave so much. Afraid his father would hear him swallowing saliva and scold him, he didn’t dare listen further. “I heard it was meat filling, even with white flour wrapper. Dad and Mom really have good fortune.”
Gu Yucheng sighed. Before separating households, he could occasionally taste meat flavor. After separating, he couldn’t even gnaw on meat bones.
Heartache!
Zhao Liuniang was also craving. Since separating households, they indeed hadn’t tasted meat for a month or so!
“…Dad and Mom have Third Brother’s Wife being filial; that’s a good thing.”
Gu Yucheng looked innocent, “I didn’t say it was a bad thing.”
Zhao Liuniang didn’t even want to pay attention to him.
Is that what she meant?!
After getting a white eye from his wife, Gu Yucheng reflected on himself, realized the mistake, and said: “My wife is also filial. Whatever good things are at home, she sends them to the parents-in-law…”
Zhao Liuniang looked at him and asked: “What good things are there at home?”
Gu Yucheng racked his brains, smiled awkwardly, “Yeah, there aren’t any good things.”
He pretended to check the time, exclaimed “oh,” picked up the grayish patched jacket, and hurried out, “It’s this time already? I should go to work. Wife, you rest. I’m off.”
Zhao Liuniang: “…”
Without turning on the light, the room is so dark; how can you tell the time? Nonsense.
She stood there speechless for a while, then hurriedly glued the matchboxes. When Third Brother’s Wife came back, she would finish the rest and send it over, asking Third Brother’s Wife to help hand it in.
Once handed in, there would be money to get.
Thinking of this, her face was full of smiles.
…
First Branch.
Huang Xiulan and Gu Lan were also rushing work.
“Once the matchboxes are handed in and exchanged for money, Mom will buy you a red hair tie.”
Gu Lan bent over working, heard this, lifted her eyes to her mom, her brows and eyes clean and bright, “No need, I have one. Third Aunt gave it to me… I haven’t used it yet.”
The things Third Aunt gave her were all very pretty; she was reluctant to use them, kept them all, planning to use them at New Year.
Huang Xiulan knew her daughter’s little thoughts and said: “Your Third Aunt is your Third Aunt, I am me. I am your mom; I should buy it for you.”
While working, she nagged: “Once we buy new ones, you wear the new ones. The ones your Third Aunt left for you… wear them when you want to later.”
The red hair tie Gu Lan used on her head was bought for her when the child was six years old. In the blink of an eye, so many years had passed.
Gu Lan smiled softly, “Okay.”
She knew in her heart that she was the envy of other girls in the village because all her family members were very, very good.
Especially, Third Aunt gave her clothes, insoles, hair ties, and so on, and often gave them extra treats. No other family could find such a Third Aunt.
Third Uncle was also good. Although not often at home, as long as he was a soldier, no one would look down on her or her family.
She was really so lucky.
Gu Lan’s mouth curved into a smile.
Seeing this, Huang Xiulan smiled and asked: “What are you thinking about? Why are you smiling so happily?”
“Nothing.” Gu Lan pursed her lips in a smile, a bit shyly saying: “Just feel… being born in our family is really good.”
These words made Huang Xiulan’s heart sink a bit, an indescribable warmth surging.
She smiled, the lines at the corners of her eyes forming into flowers, “Giving birth to such an obedient and sensible daughter, your dad and I also feel it’s really good.”
People these days were quite reserved, but because of Lin Zhao’s enthusiastic and straightforward temperament, the Gu Family members had subtly learned it, occasionally saying some warm words.
When Huang Xiulan said it out loud, she inevitably felt uncomfortable, but thinking of what Third Brother’s Wife said—expressing inner feelings and emotions sincerely from the heart is not shameful—she felt it was nothing.
On the contrary, Gu Lan, the little girl had thin skin; her face flushed red, she lowered her head, her ears burning hot.
The door curtain was lifted.
Tie Dan and Li Bao walked in.
“Mom, my brother and I are going to find Yu Baoheng Bao. Do you have anything to say?” Li Bao stopped in front of Huang Xiulan.
“Yes, you two take the rations, and also the insoles I made, take them to them too.” After all, it was her nephew’s birthday. Huang Xiulan, though not wealthy, prepared gifts—insoles she made herself. Not only comfortable to wear, but she also made patterns on them: two dogs and one monkey.
Tie Dan urged, “Where are they? Mom, tell me, I’ll get them. You’re too slow; we’re in a hurry.”
“Hurry for what time? How come I didn’t know you were in a hurry?” Huang Xiulan asked him.
Li Bao exposed his brother, saying honestly: “Brother is lying to you; we’re not in a hurry.”
Huang Xiulan glared at Tie Dan, “Brat, get aside, don’t block the way, annoying to death.”
After saying that, she went to get the things.
Tie Dan pinched his younger brother’s face, “Gu Zhili, are you dumb? Can’t you not be so honest? Sooner or later, someone will trick you out of your pants!”
Li Bao struggled, trying to dodge his brother’s hand, mumbling unclearly, “Except you, no one tricks me!!”
His tone was indignant.
Gu Lan: “Pfft—!”
Li Bao couldn’t break free from Tie Dan’s hand, reached toward his sister, shouting incoherently: “Sis, sis…”
Seeking help.
Gu Lan couldn’t bear to see her little brother bullied, stood up, and pulled away her older brother.
“Tie Dan, don’t provoke Li Bao. If you make him cry, watch out for Dad spanking your buttocks.”
A not-so-good scene flashed in Tie Dan’s mind, his face stiffened slightly, and he said righteously: “Li Bao is too dumb. I’m training him.”
This was mostly true.
Tie Dan felt that in the whole brigade, no child was as honest as his brother. He had to educate him, lest he get tricked later… and even count the money for them.
Gu Lan shook her head, “Third Aunt said everyone has their own personality; we should respect each other. You can’t force your little brother.”
She patted Li Bao’s shoulder, “Li Bao is honest, not dumb. He knows who treats him well, who has bad intentions. Besides, with so many people in our family watching, how could he get tricked?”
Tie Dan’s expression turned fierce, “Whoever dares trick my brother, I’ll deal with them!”
Gu Lan patted his head, “Deal with whom? Want to get beaten!!”
Li Bao covered his mouth laughing, still laughed out loud.
Where was he honest, where dumb; clearly very clever.
Gu Lan couldn’t hold it, also laughed out loud.
Seeing them laugh, Tie Dan didn’t know why but also laughed along.
Click.
The sound of the door curtain falling rang out.
Huang Xiulan carried a basket in, saw her children laughing happily, not knowing why.
Just about to ask the reason, she saw Tie Dan come forward and take the basket from her hand.
“Mom, what’s all this?” he asked.
So heavy.
“Yes.” Huang Xiulan replied, a trace of worry on her face, “You eat so much; I’m worried it’s not enough!”
Tie Dan smiled sheepishly.
“Third Aunt said brother is growing taller; being greedy and eating a lot is normal.” Li Bao said.
Huang Xiulan laughed, “Didn’t say not letting your brother eat. Aren’t we giving him a sweet potato sooner or later?”
Tie Dan: “…”
Don’t mention sweet potato; he even farted in class!
Fortunately, many classmates farted during class, so it wasn’t too embarrassing.
Sigh!
When can he stop eating sweet potatoes?
At this moment, Tie Dan had a simple wish—hope to eat less sweet potato, on the premise of filling the belly.
Sweet potatoes burn the heart
“Mom, we’re taking the things and going.” Tie Dan carried the things in one hand, pulled Li Bao with the other, and walked out.
Li Bao turned back to look at Gu Lan, frowning, asked: “Sis not going?”
“Sis not going; you guys have fun. Don’t fight.” Gu Lan felt she was a big girl now; it wasn’t good to grab food with those kids like before.
Li Bao’s eyes were clear, “There’s good food. Heng Bao said Third Aunt made cake, fragrant and soft. Third Uncle also mailed them toy car and airplane. Doesn’t sister want to see?”
Gu Lan wanted to.
She hesitated repeatedly, still shook her head, “…You guys go. There’ll be opportunities later for me to see.”
The little girl was very interested in airplanes, curious about what that thing that could carry people into the sky looked like.
Li Bao didn’t persuade anymore, said “oh,” and left with his brother.
The brothers arrived at Third Uncle’s house; there were already several little friends in the yard, all good friends of the twins.
Yu Baoheng Bao were enthusiastically greeting them.
The table was full of candy; the children each had a bowl of malt extract, sipping it cherishingly, their faces beaming with bright smiles.
Seeing Tie Dan and Li Bao, they called them over to drink together.
Song Yunjin was accurately positioned today as a waiter. Seeing someone come, he smoothly poured malt extract and invited them to sit.
Tie Dan and Li Bao felt a bit uncomfortable.
Looking around the yard, pretty little red ribbons tied on the tree, beautiful wildflowers on the windowsill; the yard had a different feeling.
Li Bao took a sip of malt extract, his dark eyes curving.
“Heng Bao, where’s your toy car? Can we see it?”
Heng Bao was full of enthusiasm, like a little sun flower, “Everyone has seen it. It’s in the room. Come, I’ll take you to see.”
He and Li Bao went hand in hand to the room; Tie Dan followed consciously.
Um, he wanted to see too.
The brothers went in and saw Yu Baoheng Bao’s new treasures; their eyes were fixed on those two toys, unable to recover for a long time.
This is the toy car（airplane）!!
Li Bao reluctantly withdrew his gaze, happy for his good brother, “Heng Bao, you have a toy car! Yu Bao, you have an airplane!!”
The twin brothers nodded heavily, smiling until their cheeks ached.
Yu Bao: “Yes! Heng Bao and I are super happy.”
Heng Bao tossed down his smile and said with emotion.: “If we could have birthday every day, how great!!”
Tie Dan laughed heartily, “Ask Third Aunt if she wants you to have birthday every day.”
“No.” Yu Bao said with a serious little face, “Mom got up early to make cake, didn’t sleep well. She also had to make lots and lots of dishes, so tiring. Once a year is great.”
Heng Bao thought about it and agreed, nodding, “Right, once a year.”
He said super satisfied: “Mom celebrating our birthday, I’m already very satisfied hehe.”
