Chapter 250: “getting Old”
Heng Bao clapped his hands happily, “Grandparents have new quilts to cover like us. Mom, you bought extra cotton too!”
Lin Zhao: ……Need to buy?!
She pinched Heng Bao’s soft and fluffy cheek, her tone laced with laughter, “Wasn’t it you two who beat around the bush and told me that grandparents’ cotton quilt wasn’t warm? Telling me to be filial to the elderly.”
Yu Bao proactively snuggled over, “We know Mom is the best.”
That’s why they dared.
Heng Bao nodded like pounding garlic, his voice sweet enough to ripple waves, “Mom is the best~~”
Hearing this, Gu Mu was deeply moved.
She said in surprise, “They said that?”
“Yeah.” Lin Zhao didn’t hide it, “Knowing there was plenty of cotton at home, after I made new cotton quilts, they kept dropping hints, asking if I had extra cotton, and if not enough, make theirs thinner, save some cotton for grandparents…”
This was exactly what the two kids did; she didn’t exaggerate at all.
Their son’s filial piety needed to be known to their grandparents.
Gu Mu’s heart surged with huge waves, she hugged her grandsons and said, “I didn’t expect Yu Baoheng Bao to think of me and your grandpa so much; where can you find such filial grandsons!”
Kids this young, whichever eats well or uses well, can think of adults.
Only her grandsons!
Yu Bao’s face flushed from being hugged by his grandma, his voice even softer, “Grandma is good to us.”
Heng Bao nodded his little head, “We’re little friends, but we know to respect the elderly and love the young; whatever good things, we’ll think of grandparents.”
Gu Mu’s heart felt warm.
Carrying the cotton out, the cold wind hit her face, but she didn’t feel cold.
The sky cleared, but the road was still muddy.
But.
The village never lacked people strolling around.
Seeing what Gu Mu was carrying, they inevitably asked a few questions.
Gu Mu smiled before speaking, “What else? Cotton. Given by Third Son’s Wife, afraid that me and the old man would be cold, let us stuff it into the quilt.”
The woman speaking saw the bag bulging, stepped forward a few paces, reached out to pinch it a few times; it was soft and fluffy, all cotton.
“So much?” she said in surprise.
Cotton was a controlled good; for many, even with money, they couldn’t get it. The woman grabbed Gu Mu’s sleeve, “Can you spare some?”
Afraid others would hear, she lowered her voice very low.
Gu Mu shook off the other’s hand like she’d been electrocuted, fully vigilant.
“Don’t even think about it.”
“My daughter-in-law gave it to me; if you want some……go find your daughter-in-law!”
The woman: “……”
Her stimulated expression twisted.
Over the line.
Way over the line!
“Not giving is not giving; why say such heartbreaking words?”
Her daughter-in-law?
Not asking her for it would be good enough; giving to her? Heh, dream on.
Gu Mu met her reddened eyes, slightly embarrassed.
“……Well, you, you spoke too rashly. This cotton was given to me and the old man by Yu Bao’s mom; there’s only this much in total, stuffing it into the quilt leaves nothing; how to share with you?”
“Besides, if I give to you, how can I face Third Son’s Wife? If Yu Bao and Heng Bao ask me if the quilt is warm, how do I reply?”
“A child’s intention shouldn’t be squandered like this.”
The woman listened to her prattling on, scalp numbing.
Why hadn’t she noticed before that Yuan Shan’s mother talked so much?
She found a breakthrough and said, “A child’s intention? Does Yu Bao’s mom know you treat her like a child?”
She’s a mother of four kids; what child?
“What do you know?” Gu Mu immediately became proud, “It’s true Third Son’s Wife prepared it, but it also involves Yu Baoheng Bao; they told their mom our quilt isn’t warm, my two grandsons begged their mom to get us cotton; here…”
She raised the bag in her hand.
“Aren’t my grandsons filial?”
The villagers envied and were jealous.
“……Filial.” The woman ground her teeth.
Gu Mu smiled contentedly and satisfied, “All my family’s kids are filial; living to this point, it’s truly worth it, worth it.”
She carried the bag away, her face smiling brighter than the sun.
The woman’s expression was complex.
Yuan Shan’s mother didn’t know how she raised her kids; none grew crooked; truly enviable.
Thinking of her own family troubles, she sighed.
Gu Mu hurried back home.
Not seeing the old man in the room, she went to the mushroom room and sure enough, saw him there.
“Look at this what?” she said mysteriously.
Gu Fu wore an oilcloth smock, covered in filth.
He reacted, “What is it? You look so happy.”
“Cotton.” Gu Mu said laughingly, opened the bag mouth for him to see.
Gu Fu let out an “ouch”, “Where’d the cotton come from?”
Looking at his wife’s smiling face, he guessed, “Given by Third Son’s Wife?”
“Yes……” Gu Mu told Gu Fu everything that happened at Third Branch.
Gu Fu was slightly stunned, his heart full of warmth.
“Third Son’s Wife is thoughtful. Yu Bao and Heng Bao are both good children, good descendants of our Gu Family.”
He didn’t deny Gu Mu’s credit, praising her, “Half the credit is yours; you know how to teach kids. They say marry a virtuous wife; I married a good wife.”
These words, Gu Fu hadn’t said even in his youth.
Getting old, he could say anything.
Gu Mu’s eyes grew sour, a bit embarrassed, annoyed into anger she punched the old man, “Why say these; get back to work!”
As soon as the words fell, with a burning hot face, she quickly left.
Gu Yucheng came over with things from his dad, saw his mom hurriedly walk away, asked in surprise, “Dad, why’s Mom running? Did you provoke her?!”
Gu Fu of course wouldn’t say; he didn’t know either.
He felt wronged; he hadn’t said anything harsh, why get punched for no reason.
The old woman was getting more unreasonable; alas!
“When have I ever provoked your mom; where’s the stuff?”
Gu Yucheng hurriedly said, “Here.”
……
The Zhao Family had six golden flowers; the Zhao Old Man lying on the bed yelling only got the eldest—Zhao Daya.
He reeked all over, squinted at the visitor; his already gloomy face looked even less like a good person.
“Why only you?” Zhao Old Man’s voice was very hoarse, full of dissatisfaction.
Zhao Daya didn’t have much courage but was quick and efficient.
Softly replied “None came”, then briskly got to work.
Zhao Old Man had a waist injury, which didn’t affect him sitting up a bit, but affected walking, especially long distances.
And just so.
Apart from Zhao Daya, the remaining five golden flowers had all married far away.
This almost cut off his chance to go raiding.
Zhao Old Man realized this, heart full of frustration, and a trace of panic he deliberately ignored.
Six daughters, only one came; this fact made him realize he was old, no longer the man who controlled everyone in the Zhao Family with his fist!!
Just lost control, Zhao Old Man’s mentality unsteady, he angrily swept all things in front of him to the floor.
A clatter of sounds.
He shouted, “Call them back!”
“A bunch of unfilial things! Old me is almost dead; how can they not come back!!”
Zhao Daya’s movements paused slightly, looked at the raging man on the bed.
Her aged face was full of bitterness.
“Dad, you went to sisters’ in-law families to make trouble, caused them to be disliked by their in-laws; Er Ya got beaten by her brother-in-law, can’t get up.”
“Third Ya isn’t easy either; brother-in-law is clamoring for divorce with her.”
“Si Ya can’t give birth to a son; her mother-in-law didn’t like her to begin with, you went making noise at the door; Si Ya’s mother-in-law forced brother-in-law to drive her out; she has no place to stay.”
“Fifth Ya has strong self-esteem, said she’d repay what you took; moved stones with a bunch of men, all ten fingers rotted!”
“Six Ya, no, Liuniang…”
Zhao Daya’s furrowed brows relaxed.
Liuniang’s situation was the best.
She was truly happy for her little sister.
“Lai Mei was injured in the head by your beating; Gu Family Members vented anger on Liuniang, drove her to live in the mushroom room; all the dirty and tiring work at home became hers…”
This was all made up by Zhao Daya.
She had to exaggerate, make it sound miserable.
Only then would Zhao Old Man know he couldn’t gain advantage, give up going to Fengshou Brigade to find little sister.
Her sisters were all suffering, bitter like soaked in bitter melon. Finally one had a comfortable life; she didn’t want Dad to disturb her.
Zhao Old Man didn’t care for his daughters, instead said, “All wastes, can’t even control their in-law families; don’t know what they’re eating for!”
Zhao Daya just kept working, didn’t speak.
This was biological father; she couldn’t speak against him, couldn’t hit; what could she do?!
“Gone mute?!” Zhao Old Man glared at Eldest Daughter, eyes furious.
Zhao Daya looked over, “……I’m cleaning the room.”
Zhao Old Man was lazy; no firewood stored at home, she couldn’t boil hot water, could only rinse the rag with cold water; hands frozen red and swollen.
“Don’t talk nonsense; go, go call all your sisters over!” Zhao Old Man commanded.
Zhao Daya: “Call them for what?”
She pitied her sisters, said, “I live close, can take care of you.”
“No nonsense; go when I tell you; I don’t feel like beating you today.” Zhao Old Man said fiercely.
Zhao Daya recalled bad experiences, shrank her neck.
“……Just asking.”
Afraid as she was, she didn’t move; feet like nailed in place, her lackluster eyes flashed stubbornness.
Zhao Old Man knew how stubborn this daughter was.
The debt-collector who wouldn’t bow even if beaten with a stick broken.
“What else; call them back to discuss elder care for me.”
Zhao Old Man had a rightful air, “My waist injured like this, can’t do heavy work hereafter, hard to even support myself; I raised six daughters; you dare not provide for my elder care.”
He threatened, “If you dare not provide elder care, I’ll crawl to the county, beg the officials to uphold justice for me!”
Zhao Daya’s eyes despaired.
All those years the things he robbed, not enough for his elder care?
How much more did he want to lionize!!
“……Er Ya and them have no money.”
Zhao Old Man grabbed the spittoon by the bed and smashed at Zhao Daya.
Missed.
Filth splattered, stench assaulting the nose.
He fumed, “No money but have grain! Give me grain; one hundred jin per family per year!”
Hearing this one hundred jin, Zhao Daya blurted, “One hundred jin? How much grain per year allotment. Dad, you want to force your daughters to death; you know we can’t take out that much grain!”
Really couldn’t.
Even fifty jin required tightening belts, let alone one hundred.
Zhao Daya felt her dad too greedy.
He had six daughters; one hundred jin each, six hundred jin a year; which elderly eats six hundred jin grain a year; even landlords couldn’t eat that much!
“Don’t talk irrelevant!” Zhao Old Man said, “I raised you; you must provide elder care.”
“Didn’t say not to; but one hundred jin too much; we have families to support too.” Zhao Daya tried to persuade him.
This was also because Zhao Old Man couldn’t move easily; otherwise, give her a hundred courage, she wouldn’t dare.
Zhao Old Man tried to get up and beat Zhao Daya, halfway, waist stabbed with pain.
Ouch-ing, fell back.
Zhao Daya wanted to go support, mind flashed Zhao Old Man’s raised fist, body froze.
Stood a few steps away, didn’t go up.
Zhao Old Man furious beyond measure, “Still not coming to help; blind thing.”
“……One hundred jin too much; we can’t take out; at most thirty jin per person, okay?” Zhao Daya’s expression stubborn, face full of “if you don’t agree, I won’t care for you”.
She calculated; her and five sisters thirty jin each, total one hundred eighty jin a year; eat thriftily, enough.
Won’t starve to death.
That’s how he treated them too.
They still willing to provide elder care; enough!
Just repay his rearing grace.
Zhao Old Man almost exploded with anger.
But he needed care.
His old flame saw him useless; he sent people to call, but she wouldn’t come.
—Truly a bitch.
These years ate his, used his; when needed, not even show face.
Zhao Old Man’s big yellow teeth nearly bit to pieces.
He ground teeth, “……Fine, thirty jin it is; quick come help me.”
Zhao Old Man’s waist injury also from dragging too long in the big rain, caught chill; hereafter couldn’t stand cold, could only recuperate.
Zhao Daya went forward.
Zhao Old Man reverted to form, clenched fist to hit, dodged by Zhao Daya.
She retreated to safe distance, body slightly trembling, but tried to restrain.
This was her first open defiance.
She feared, yet bottom of heart bubbled irrepressible excitement.
“Dad, I’m not that kid you could beat and scold anymore……” Zhao Daya’s voice shook slightly, still said word by word what she wanted.
“Dad, looks like you don’t want my help; I’ll find someone.”
Words fell, she turned and went out.
Walked very fast.
Zhao Daya suffered hardships since small; wrinkles on face more and deeper than Gu Mu’s. At this moment, she raised her head, looked at the sun shining on earth, first time felt the sun so warm.
Looking, she smiled, tears flowed from eye corner.
That pair of numb lifeless eyes gained bits of sparkle.
The man who beat her mom to death, beat her six sisters afraid to resist, was old.
He, seemed, couldn’t harm them anymore!!
Zhao Daya covered face and sobbed.
Waited till emotions stabilized.
She went to the brigade where sisters were, told them the good news.
Er Ya and others all excited cried bitterly.
Cried their bitter fate, cried the day of relief they’d waited for.
Zhao Liuniang also happy.
Especially hearing big sis say Zhao Old Man’s waist injury hard to heal, hereafter couldn’t walk far roads, couldn’t come to Fengshou Brigade; her mouth corners uncontrollably upturned, arc growing bigger.
“Too good.” Zhao Liuniang hugged big sis.
Too happy, her eyes a bit wet, “Big sis, I’m useless; my man protective and fierce, son filial, but I still fear that person; I despise myself…”
Zhao Daya patted little sister’s back, shaking head.
“You’re not useless; we all fear.”
“No need to fear hereafter; he can’t harm us anymore; I’ll watch him, won’t let him find you again.”
She probably knew how to handle that person now. She’d protect her sisters well.
Zhao Liuniang wiped tears, smiled, “Big sis, if anything, don’t keep it in; send message via someone.”
“I know.”
Zhao Daya also told her about needing to give Zhao Old Man thirty jin grain per year.
“……Got it; wait, help me take back.” Zhao Liuniang said.
To get rid of that rotten person, let alone thirty jin; fifty jin she’d give, just a bit more hardship.
Zhao Daya nodded, “Good.”
She tasted the sugar water little sister poured her, stunned a moment, then laughed.
Truly sweet.
