Chapter 243: “gone”
Lin Zhao gave one package of the peach crisps she brought back to Gu Lan.
“Hard work for you, treating our Alan to peach crisps.”
Gu Lan didn’t take it, blushing as she said, “…I don’t want any, give it to Yu Bao and the others to eat.”
“Yu Bao and the others have theirs, this is for you all.” Lin Zhao knew the little girl was shy and directly stuffed it into her hand, smiling, “It’s not just for you alone, there are Bang Bang’s and theirs too, you distribute them to them. I heard you’ve all been working hard lately, so this is to sweeten your mouths.”
At home with mushroom cultivation, the children hadn’t been idle either, all helping out.
Gu Lan heard there were shares for her younger brothers and sisters too, hesitated a bit, then didn’t refuse anymore, softly thanking her, “Thank you, Third Aunt.”
Lin Zhao smiled.
She had the children stay in the kitchen warming by the fire while she went back to the room to pack things.
After she finished bustling about, the kitchen was still lively and bustling.
Yuan Bao and the others were telling the twins… about the exciting gossip from the village.
Whose family had a fight.
Who got beaten by their mom.
And who was so hungry they ate dirt.
Heng Bao kept exclaiming “wow” one after another, giving the little friends full emotional value, making Yuan Bao and the others even more eager to share.
Lin Zhao held back her laughter.
She took out some peach crisps for the children, instructed them to be careful with the fire, and planned to go to the old house.
The twins wanted to go too, but also wanted to hear Yuan Bao’s gossip, struggled for a few seconds, and decided to go to the old house later.
Tie Niu patted his chest, “Aunt Lin, don’t worry, I’ll watch the fire.”
“Then trouble for young comrade Ye Tieniu.” After praising the child, Lin Zhao left unhurriedly.
After she left, bursts of laughter poured out from the kitchen.
Ye Tieniu… is so funny!
“Ye Tieniu hahaha…” Heng Bao laughed the loudest.
Tie Niu uncomfortably bit into a peach crisp, his ears red, “What’s so funny about it.”
Yu Bao was a warm-hearted child, comforting his little friend, “My mom didn’t know your full name, that’s why she called you Ye Tieniu.” He explained.
Tie Niu was a generous child, didn’t mind being laughed at, “It’s fine, Aunt Lin can call whatever she wants.”
A name is just a label anyway.
Adding the nickname to the surname is pretty funny.
He couldn’t hold back and laughed along.
The little friends stayed in the Gu family kitchen giggling and laughing, Da Huang guarded at the door, occasionally looking back, otherwise staring at Amber jumping around the yard.
Amber had been brought to the Gu family when she was still a puppy, hadn’t gone hungry since, was happy every day, had a lively personality, sometimes caused a bit of trouble, at which Da Huang would stop her.
Gu family old house.
Gu Mu saw Lin Zhao and smiled at the corners of her mouth.
“Third Son’s Wife is back, Light Boat said the Supply and Marketing Cooperative has been working overtime every day lately, must be tiring, huh? Nothing is easy to do.” She sighed.
“When’s the holiday? Rest well when it’s off.” Afraid Lin Zhao would impulsively refuse, Gu Mu racked her brains to comfort her.
Lin Zhao’s voice carried a smile, “Soon.”
She pointed to the things she brought, saying, “These are defective products I brought back, Mom, you handle them.”
Joy appeared on Gu Mu’s face, “More defective products, great, I’ll handle them, don’t worry, I won’t let you suffer a loss.”
Zhao Liuniang was beaming, “Mom, should Second Sister-in-law and I pick first?”
“Of course, good things naturally go to family first.” Gu Mu was clear-headed, knew closeness and distance, she was willing to help fellow villagers, but wouldn’t harm her own family’s interests.
“I underestimated Mom.” Zhao Liuniang smiled, proactively poured water for her mother-in-law as apology.
Gu Mu helplessly glanced at her, took the enamel mug.
Lin Zhao smiled at the corners of her mouth, then said, “There’s a wool sweater in the bag for Mom, and a vest for Dad.”
Gu Mu was stunned, then came back to herself, opened the cloth bag brought by Third Son’s Wife, rummaged for her wool sweater, saying, “Why did you prepare wool sweaters for me and your dad, we don’t lack cotton-padded clothes, wool yarn is so expensive…”
As she spoke, she saw the wool sweater Lin Zhao mentioned.
It was a bright red, soft and warm to the touch, fairly loose, could layer an autumn clothing inside.
Gu Mu stared at the wool sweater, eyes unblinking, at this moment her mood warm with a touch of bitterness, indescribable.
“It’s red again, I’m at this age… red looks weird on me, Zhaozhao, keep it for yourself.”
She said that, but her eyes uncontrollably fixed on that red wool sweater.
Gu Mu was of the bitter generation, didn’t even have a red wedding dress when she married, as a girl she had hoped for a red wool sweater, she hadn’t expected her daughter-in-law to bring the thing she yearned for right to her, that outwardly tough inwardly fragile heart of hers… was about to tear up.
The smelly old man hadn’t thought to give her red socks.
Her several children hadn’t thought of it either.
Third Son’s Wife had thought of it, and specially sent it over.
Gu Mu felt this life was worth it.
For a moment, the way she looked at Lin Zhao grew softer and softer.
Lin Zhao: “…”
No, don’t do that.
Her arms got goosebumps!!
“I have one, the four kids have theirs, Cheng Huai has one too.” She cleared her throat, “The size is knitted to Mom’s measurements, I couldn’t wear it.”
Lin Zhao drank some sugar water, said to Zhao Liuniang, “Second Sister-in-law, this color suits Mom perfectly, don’t you think?”
Zhao Liuniang hadn’t seen a red wool sweater either, her eyes fell on that red wool sweater and couldn’t be pulled away.
Hearing her younger sister-in-law speak, she snapped back.
Nodded several times.
“Right.” Her expression was firm, “What’s not suitable about it! I think nice clothes… anyone of any age can wear.”
Zhao Liuniang didn’t hide the envy on her face, “If this was filial piety from my daughter-in-law, I wouldn’t wait overnight, I’d wear it in a minute and show off all over the village.”
She said this from the heart.
As long as Bang Bang and the others dared to give it to her, she’d dare to wear it! Even at seventy or eighty!!
Gu Mu’s face was full of smiles, “Then you’ll have to wait, less a few years still ten or so.”
Hearing Second Son’s Wife say that, she hesitated a moment, suddenly said, “Then I’ll try it on?”
Lin Zhao nodded, “Try it, if it doesn’t fit I’ll alter it.”
“How could it not fit, it definitely will.” Gu Mu immediately said, “You’re so skilled, the clothes and shoes you make always fit.”
With that, she took the wool sweater into the room.
She had just put on the wool sweater, posing back and forth in front of the water basin, when Gu Fu walked in, his old eyes resentfully staring at the back of her head.
A ready-made mirror delivered to the door, Gu Mu abandoned the water basin, tugged at the hem of the wool sweater, smiling at the old man.
“How’s it look?”
Gu Fu looked, “…Looks good.”
“My daughter-in-law is filial to me!” Gu Mu raised her chin high.
This time, Gu Fu finally couldn’t hold back, stated his purpose for coming, “Why didn’t you take my vest, I want to try it too.” He said somewhat aggrieved.
“Forgot!” Gu Mu said.
She stared at Gu Fu, straightening her wool sweater, glaring at him with great anger.
“I’ve followed you for most of my life, half my body buried in the soil, and you never gave me even a pair of red socks!” Gu Mu gestured across her chest, finding Gu Fu displeasing everywhere.
Gu Fu: “?”
Gu Fu was baffled.
“I… every penny I earned was kept by you, buy what you lack yourself.” He felt very wronged.
Since marriage, all his earnings were handed over to his wife, he had not a cent in his pocket.
Gu Mu was speechless for a moment.
Didn’t know what to say, stormed out of the room huffily.
Every penny at home had its use, how could she bear to buy things for herself!
Gu Fu sighed.
The old woman was truly unreasonable.
…
Gu Mu stepped over the doorstep, and smiles appeared on her face.
She rarely wore red clothes, felt very embarrassed, didn’t know where to put her hands and feet.
“Very spirited, my craftsmanship and eye are not bad, suits Mom.” Lin Zhao praised first.
Zhao Liuniang heard her conveniently praise herself too, couldn’t help laughing.
“Very spirited.”
After praising, she looked at Lin Zhao, “What pattern is this, first time I’ve seen it, really nice. When I get wool yarn, teach me, I want to knit one for Yu Yu.”
If it was before, she wouldn’t say this, wool yarn so expensive, better buy cotton for cotton-padded clothes.
Now it’s different, the brigade has money-making work, she and the children’s dad also set up a mushroom room. Just this once, they earned over ten bucks.
One crop of mushrooms earns that much, buying some wool yarn what’s wrong, not excessive at all!
Lin Zhao proactively said, “I have extra wool yarn there, Second Sister-in-law want some?”
Zhao Liuniang full of joy, “Yes yes yes, how could I not!”
She knew, Third Sister-in-law asking this meant she’d give it even without tickets.
Zhao Liuniang’s heart was full of gratitude.
“Third Sister-in-law, thank you! I don’t need much, just enough to knit for Yu Yu.”
Lin Zhao had a lot of wool yarn on hand, after knitting sweaters for the four kids, knitted replacement wool pants, still plenty left.
What she used was all sent by Third Brother and Gu Chenghuai, the storage ring had plenty more from lucky draws, couldn’t use it all up.
It took up too much space.
“Second Sister-in-law, what color do you want?”
Zhao Liuniang astonished, “Can pick?”
Before Lin Zhao answered, she added, “What colors are there?”
“Light yellow, light green, rose red, dark blue…” Lin Zhao listed the wool yarn colors.
Zhao Liuniang fell into dilemma.
Each color suited her Yu Yu so well.
Her face scrunched up like buns.
Lin Zhao found it funny, said, “Second Sister-in-law take your time, no rush, I’ll save it for you.”
Zhao Liuniang’s furrowed brows relaxed, “Thank you, Third Sister-in-law.”
Lin Zhao smiled indifferently.
The two daughters-in-law talked calmly and peacefully, not at all at odds, this atmosphere was comfortable to see.
Gu Mu felt thoroughly at ease.
After Lin Zhao left, she didn’t even wear a thin jacket, just the new wool sweater, went strolling in the village.
The people in the yard all left.
Gu Fu sneaked back to the room with the vest, took off his thin jacket, put it on inside.
Wearing it, really warm.
Especially the belly, toasty warm, very comfortable.
He wanted to go out and show off a couple rounds too, but thinking of the old woman’s mocking face, could only suppress the thought.
After giving up showing off, the emotions in his heart didn’t diminish but increased, happily pacing the room, hoping his wife would come back soon.
Gu Mu didn’t know any of this for now.
Gu Mu walked out the door.
The red on her was really eye-catching, villagers chatting spotted it at a glance, like cats smelling catnip, involuntarily came over.
Seeing Gu Mu’s red wool sweater, their eyes lit up brightly.
Leaned in to look.
“Yuan Shan’s Mother, you’re wearing a wool sweater, this is a wool sweater, right?”
“Such a pure red, rare, did your A Chan knit it for you?!”
“Spirited, really spirited, makes your complexion look much better.”
…
Aunties and such chimed in one after another.
Some couldn’t resist reaching out, but were swatted away by quick-handed Gu Mu.
“Don’t tug randomly, you’ll make it pill!” She said displeased.
Looking at the one who mentioned A Chan, she smiled like a flower, “Not knitted by A Chan, A Chan just started work a few days, where’s the money for wool yarn, it was knitted by Cheng Huai’s Wife.”
“Not only knitted for me, made a warming vest for Yuan Shan’s Father too.”
The crowd’s expressions twisted.
“!!!”
Even if it was from a biological daughter, it wouldn’t shock them this much.
Look at other people’s daughters-in-law, enough to make anyone envious to death.
Letting this one show off again!
Villagers said sourly, “You’re the one enjoying your daughter-in-law’s blessings!”
Gu Mu didn’t deny, sharp-tongued on her mouth.
“Mushroom cultivation, selling mushrooms, all related to Cheng Huai’s Wife, you didn’t benefit from her? And those defective products, what, all forgotten?!”
The sour one lightly patted her own mouth, “How could forget, remember crystal clear, Cheng Huai’s Wife is a good one, who doesn’t know…”
“Yeah yeah.”
Another said, “In our village you’re living the most comfortably, how’d you teach your daughter-in-law, any tips, teach us.”
Gu Mu thought, what tips, just true heart for true heart.
“You treat your daughter-in-law sincerely, she’ll think of you too.” She said.
For this, the women present scoffed, didn’t take it to heart.
They had endured from “long-time daughter-in-law turns mother-in-law”, mostly guarded against and suppressed daughters-in-law, what true heart, not willing to give true heart…
Gu Mu saw something, didn’t say more.
No use saying more.
She couldn’t control others, just manage herself.
“Yuan Shan’s Mother, your A Chan started work, right?” Someone asked caringly.
Gu Mu smiled, “Yes, someone brought her along, she’s adapting very well.”
All this learned from Lin Zhao’s mouth.
“Your A Chan won’t have worries this lifetime.” Villagers looked envious, if it was their kid getting such big luck, broken or not she’d go up the mountain to kowtow to the mountain god a few times.
It’s all fate.
Strolled out for ten or so minutes, Gu Mu couldn’t withstand the wind, quickened steps home.
Entered the room, conveniently closed the door.
“Why’d you take so long to come back…” Gu Fu had waited anxiously, couldn’t hold back.
Gu Mu was in a good mood now, saw the old man wearing the new vest, praised, “This vest looks good, stately, more stately than the commune secretary.”
Hearing that, Gu Fu’s mouth nearly split to the back of his head, “I’m just an old farmer, what qualification to compare to the commune secretary.”
Gu Mu: You still have some self-awareness.
“…I meant the vest.”
Gu Fu’s smile faded.
Took off the new vest, carefully folded it, put it in the cabinet, stormed out huffily to the mushroom room.
Hmph.
…
Lin Zhao hadn’t been home long when Lin Shisheng came.
His face wasn’t good, though still smiling, the smile unnatural, even the twins noticed.
The two little brothers looked at Second Uncle, not very lively.
“Why’d Second Brother come?” Lin Zhao pretended not to notice, asked.
Lin Shisheng sent the four kids away, then said, “Zhaozhao, Qiu Lian is gone.”
Lin Zhao’s mind went blank for an instant.
“…?”
Gone.
Did it mean what she thought?
As she thought this, emotions showed on her face too.
Lin Shisheng nodded slightly, “Just what you’re thinking.”
“How’d she go?” Lin Zhao asked.
She didn’t like Qiu Lian, had no familial feelings for her, hearing this bad news, her reaction was flat.
Just felt the world’s impermanence, no regret or grief-like emotions.
