Chapter 236: “clearly Used To It”
The person pointed out by Gu Chan felt their face burning with embarrassment.
In front of so many people, losing face, they immediately got annoyed and said, “How do you talk? I’m your elder, and this is how you speak to an elder…”
Gu Mu heard this when she came over, rushed in, and angrily pushed her.
“Who’s your elder? Who are you trying to pressure with your elder status!” She stood in front of Gu Chan, glaring fiercely.
“My Ah Chan is fine, it’s not your place to say anything, and elder… Bah!” Gu Mu spat at her, “Do you even act like an elder? My daughter doesn’t have an elder who gossips behind people’s backs!”
She unleashed her full firepower, her voice unusually loud, scaring people into shrinking their necks.
Gu Mu had been fierce when young, and after her sons grew up, she was even harder to mess with, especially after the third son made something of himself, her backbone straightened, and no one could push her around.
She didn’t bully others, but if anyone bullied her family, she wouldn’t allow it; she’d fight no matter what.
Previously, when the third son’s wife was foolish, because of her, Gu Mu often argued with long-tongued women. If the cursing got intense, they’d even pull each other’s hair…
Later, Lin Zhao suddenly took care of the children.
After that, Gu Mu had no weaknesses, walking with a swift stride.
Then it came to Gu Chan.
—Wei Xiangdong was hospitalized to save someone, his life hanging by a thread, relying on his wife to borrow money for treatment,
because of this.
Some in the village with strong jealousy gathered to watch the Gu Family’s misfortune, saying really nasty things.
Who made Gu Mu’s life so good.
Her son was decent, her daughter-in-law filial, except for that little daughter who had already cut ties with the Gu Family, no other headaches, living so smoothly.
Whenever something happened to the Gu Family, those petty thoughts that couldn’t see the light would bubble up, as if watching Gu Mu’s misfortune brought them joy of surpassing her.
Hearing Gu Mu’s merciless words, the woman who had tried to morally bind Gu Chan was somewhat broken.
Her face turned ashen, she huffed unconvincingly, twisted her buttocks, and left.
Seeing her granddaughter returning with firewood, she angrily scolded, “Half a day, and you picked so little firewood, are you being lazy…”
While scolding, a palm-leaf fan-sized hand slapped the little girl’s back.
The little girl was small and thin, carrying firewood heavier than herself at such a young age, heartbreaking to see.
Families who pitied the child had taken her in early, but unfortunately, she was born into that family.
The little girl dodged a bit, but still fell face-down, her nose hitting a stone, skin breaking, blood gushing out, and she wailed loudly.
“What are you crying for, clumsy, you can fall even standing.”
Seeing the child cry hard, extremely annoyed, she threatened, “You still have strength to cry, if you cry again, no dinner tonight!”
Hearing this, the little girl instantly stopped crying, wiped the blood from her face.
Her little body twitched.
She picked up the firewood and followed her grandma.
This scene fell into the eyes of Gu Mu and others.
“What a sin.” Gu Mu was older, her own life good, her heart softer, couldn’t bear to see this.
Clearly used to it.
Still couldn’t bear it.
Li Laotai sighed, “Who says otherwise.”
They valued sons more, but didn’t treat daughters and granddaughters like animals.
Some people really had black hearts and poisonous hands.
Gu Chan looked sympathetic but did nothing.
Such things happened in Fengshou Brigade, and in their brigade too.
Even more, this was the norm.
Families like her third brother’s wife’s maternal family, who liked daughters more than sons, were rare.
Her parents never mistreated her, but she knew they valued sons more.
Not surprising.
In the countryside, the more sons, the more confidence, sons meant labor, could work, continue the family line, provide elder care for parents, naturally more valued.
This was a natural advantage.
Gu Chan thought openly, so never minded, not minding meant not making trouble for herself.
She took a deep breath, “Mom, let’s go home, I still have things to discuss with eldest sister-in-law and second sister-in-law.”
Gu Mu immediately knew what she meant.
“Yes, yes, handle the important matter first.”
She glared fiercely at the long-tongued woman who had been pulled out like a radish with its pit, the one spreading gossip about her daughter, took Gu Chan’s hand and the two grandsons’, and led them home.
Walking very fast.
Two Stones followed running.
A few steps from the Gu house, Gu Mu asked about the matter.
“Ah Chan, is your job really settled?”
Gu Chan nodded, “Yes, really. Starting work tomorrow.”
Gu Mu’s face full of joy, “Good, great news.”
She held her daughter’s hand, eyes teary, “Never thought you’d have such good future prospects, wonderful.”
Afraid Gu Chan would change heart becoming a worker, Gu Mu’s gaze serious, “Ah Chan, Xiangdong is good to you, you can’t…”
Her peripheral vision caught the two Stones, hurriedly swallowed her words.
She swallowed in time, but Gu Chan still caught the implication in her biological mother’s words.
“Mom!” She blushed shyly and annoyed, “I’m not that kind of person.”
“The job was given to me by Xiangdong, if I… could I still be human?”
Gu Mu knew Ah Chan’s good temperament, wouldn’t do something that would get her backbone poked, knew but still had to say it beforehand.
“Mom knows you’re sensible, some words said upfront, as long as you know in your heart.”
She pulled Gu Chan to sit, “My daughter will eat commodity grain from now on, Mom’s really happy for you.”
“Never imagined before.” Gu Mu had to sigh at her daughter’s good fortune.
Gu Chan smiled.
She’d rather her man hadn’t been injured.
Though the doctor said with good care, no problem, but until that day, she’d still worry.
“Is Xiangdong’s body doing well?” Gu Mu asked caringly.
“Doing well.” Gu Chan said, her man’s condition unstable, she couldn’t relax either.
“You came back to maternal home, your mother-in-law is taking care of him?” Gu Mu asked again.
“Yes.” Gu Chan nodded, “I should have come back earlier, but worried about Xiangdong before, couldn’t get away, that’s why I didn’t. Today my mother-in-law came, I kept her there to watch her son for one night, I’m back to handle things, go back tomorrow morning…”
She joked, “Mom, is there room for me and the two Stones to stay?”
Gu Mu lightly patted her daughter’s back, “What do you think?”
“When you married out, your dad and I said, no matter how long you’re gone, if you want to come back, home always has a place for you.”
Now she still said the same.
Hearing this, Gu Chan seemed back to the day she left.
Dad silent, eyes reddening, Mom’s every word an instruction, all from worry.
Her eyes tinged red.
“Mom, I remember, why say this suddenly.”
Emotions surging, her voice hoarse.
Little Stone confused.
“Mom?” He called uncertainly.
Gu Mu hugged her little grandson, “Nothing, your mom is happy about the job, she’ll be fine after calming down.”
Little Stone believed it, showed a shy smile.
Gu Mu took the little grandson inside for food, Lin Zhao had sent the old couple lots of things, the elderly reluctant to finish them at once, always hoarding, sharing some with grandsons and granddaughters, some with grandsons from daughter.
Big Stone didn’t follow, he went out playing wildly with Bang Bang and Lai Mei.
In the yard.
Zhao Liuniang got back her loaned money, plus a package of pastries.
She beamed, “All family, why so polite.”
Though said so, eldest sister-in-law acting this way felt very comfortable.
Gu Chan said, “Should be, for Bang Bang and the others to eat.”
With that, Zhao Liuniang no longer polite, “Alright, I’ll take it for them. When Bang Bang and the others return, I’ll tell them it’s what eldest aunt bought for them.”
Put things away in the house, Zhao Liuniang came out soon.
Sat next to Gu Chan, casually asked, “Eldest sister, going to the canteen at the cotton textile factory, what do you do?”
“Prep vegetables.”
Zhao Liuniang slapped her thigh, “Prep vegetables is good.”
Her eyes gleaming, “Can you sneak-learn?”
Gu Chan choked.
“This is too… direct.” Her expression somewhat amused and helpless.
Zhao Liuniang scooted her stool closer to Gu Chan, “At our own home, we’re close aunt and sister-in-law, why beat around the bush for whom.”
This made sense, Gu Chan said, “Can learn, not sneak, can learn openly. The head chef knows the family who arranged my job, the old mister greeted him, head chef said while he cooks I can watch nearby.”
Heard the head chef was very skilled, previously from a big restaurant, could make anything.
“Good thing.” Zhao Liuniang a bit jealous of eldest sister-in-law’s luck, but fortunately she thought openly.
“No matter the skill, if learned, won’t waste it.”
Gu Chan thought the same, nodded in agreement, “I’ll learn well.”
“I believe you.” Zhao Liuniang’s gaze firm, “You’re diligent and capable, what can’t you do, given time, you can learn that head chef’s signature skills.”
Gu Chan lacked that confidence, quickly waved hand.
Before she spoke, Zhao Liuniang heartily patted her shoulder, “Have confidence. You can!”
Gu Chan smiled helplessly.
“Alright, I can.”
Zhao Liuniang: “That’s right.”
After that, Gu Chan went to repay the First Branch’s money.
External debts cleared, felt light all over.
Leaving First Branch, sky already dark, stars very bright, with a few insect chirps, walking the countryside path felt particularly leisurely.
Especially Gu Chan who had just gone through that “blessing in disguise”, at this time and place, her heart really calmed.
A beam of light approached from far to near.
“Eldest sister.” Gu Yucheng’s voice sounded.
Gu Chan quickened steps, waved at him, “It’s me, why’d you come out?”
“You hadn’t returned so late, parents worried, sent me to meet you.” Gu Yucheng said, “Hurry back, the two Stones aren’t asleep yet.”
“Still not sleeping now, did they play too wildly?” Gu Chan figured, Big Stone Little Stone played with Bang Bang and others forgetting time.
Gu Yucheng: “Didn’t play, said they’d sleep when you get home. The brothers are worried about you.”
Gu Chan’s heart warmed, but said, “In my own village, I know every pit, what to worry about.”
Gu Yucheng heard her insincerity, didn’t expose, just used flashlight to light the way.
“Turn it off, moon so big, can see the road, don’t use up Dad’s battery, careful he scolds you.” Gu Chan said.
“No matter, Dad lent it to me willingly.” His dad was rarely so generous.
“When I get paid, buy Dad batteries.” Gu Chan said.
Gu Yucheng couldn’t help laughing, “Not started work yet, first paycheck gone.”
“Yes, buying things for family, not heartbreaking at all.” Gu Chan’s eyes full of smiles.
Her maternal family’s kindness to her, she remembered all.
Without maternal brothers and sisters-in-law lending money, helping pay treatment fees timely, her man might have… if man gone, their family would collapse, where would she have today’s good future prospects.
Gu Yucheng knew eldest sister, she was clear-headed, said no more.
Brother and sister returned home, Stone brothers saw Mom safely back, then slept peacefully.
…
The next day.
Fengshou Brigade held a villagers’ meeting.
Calling everyone to assemble at the threshing ground.
Not double harvest rush, not grain distribution, villagers wondered what it was, hearts a bit uneasy.
On the way to threshing ground, in groups of three or five whispering.
Even educated youths couldn’t help guessing variously.
“Why suddenly call to threshing ground, don’t know what to say, so early, exhausted to death, let people sleep more why not?!” Meng Xiaoying yawned while rubbing waist, looking not awake.
Wen Huaiyuan couldn’t hold back retorting, “Brigade Leader notified all members to quickly come to threshing ground, didn’t mention educated youths, you can skip, if go don’t complain, we’ve finally built good relations with members, don’t ruin it.”
He always spoke bluntly, educated youths used to it, Meng Xiaoying knew too.
But being called out publicly by Wen Huaiyuan, she really felt uncomfortable.
“…I didn’t say not going.” Meng Xiaoying said aggrievedly.
Grievance real, didn’t dare act up also real.
Obediently followed, face no longer reluctant.
Wen Huaiyuan didn’t care if genuine or fake, enthusiastically greeted village aunts.
“Li Da Niang, isn’t it said going to threshing ground means big news, why suddenly call us? You hear things fast, know?”
Li Laotai shook head, feet moving fast, “How would I know, don’t ask around, wait at threshing ground to see yourself.”
No news gotten, Wen Huaiyuan no frustration, agreed, happily headed to threshing ground.
His manner seen by others, many changed view of educated youths.
Setting aside thorny ones like Meng educated youth, Wen educated youth, Song educated youth and others were good.
Crowd gradually arrived at threshing ground, all found places to sit properly.
Brigade Headquarters cadres came.
Accountant held a big loudspeaker.
Brigade Leader took it, tested, sound came, unlike previous temporary failures.
His expression more relaxed.
Raised loudspeaker to mouth, started speaking.
“Fellow member comrades, urgently calling everyone today mainly to announce an important matter.”
“This matter concerns the whole brigade’s livelihood, whether brigade can do sideline to increase production and income, whether every household has meat and sugar on New Year table, whether kids have cotton-padded clothes to wear…”
He said several “concerns”, members anxious to throw shoes at him, but throwing at Brigade Leader risked work points deduction, members didn’t dare.
A bold one started hooting.
“No more concerns, say the point, what exactly to do?!”
“Yes yes, makes listeners anxious.”
“Can you finish quick, I got up early no outhouse yet, kinda urgent.”
…
Below one sentence each.
Brigade’s accountant, warehouse manager etc., helplessly glanced at Brigade Leader’s back head.
Always muttering secretary talks too much in meetings, he was no less.
Brigade Leader stretched arm forward, palm down, pressed down.
“All don’t hurry, listen me slowly say, this for our brigade, absolutely huge good thing, other brigades wouldn’t dare dream…”
