Chapter 210: 90: A Family by the Spring Chapter 210 Even if Down and Out with Nothing, One Would Still Return to Your Side at All Cos

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Protagonist:

Lin Xiyu

"I know, Xiao Bin told me."

Grandfather Gu's emotions were complex, and she held Lin Xiyu's hand with deep feeling: "Actually, Grandfather should apologize to you. When Xiao Bin's grandfather had just passed away, the memorial hall was cold and deserted, with not a single person coming to pay respects. At that time, Grandfather even resented you, thinking that Xiao Bin had been so good to you, yet you were so heartless, just like the Fu family, preserving yourself when he needed you most and abandoning him."

"Xiao Bin just told me that you wrote him letters, and only now does Grandfather understand that I misunderstood you. Thank you for waiting for him all these years. It was you who gave him confidence and hope. Without you, Grandfather fears that even in this lifetime, I would not have lived to see the day he returned."

——

"I did come..."

Lin Xiyu recalled the past, tears instantly blurring her eyes: "It's just that when I returned, you had all left, the small courtyard gate was tightly shut, and I couldn't get in even if I wanted to..."

"You came back?"

Guben's eyes showed astonishment.

Even he knew nothing of this long-buried past.

——

Five years ago, Lin Xiyu learned from Wang Fan that Guben had already gone abroad, and on the spot she spat out a mouthful of blood and collapsed to the ground.

She lay in the hospital for a day and a night before waking from the coma. Despite her weakened body, she insisted on returning to Jinan.

Wang Fan could not prevail against her and could only accompany her back to the Gu Family Old House.

The Old House gate was tightly shut, the people gone and the building empty.

Lin Xiyu's eyes showed despair, and she nearly collapsed again.

It was then that she asked Wang Fan to inquire about Guben's whereabouts and sent him a letter at a nursing home in the United States.

Things went against her wishes, a twist of fate.

That letter was accidentally knocked over by Guben's mother, falling into a bed crevice, and only months later, after her death, was returned to Guben's hands.

——

"Good child, you have suffered."

Upon learning the truth, Grandfather Gu felt even more guilt and unease: "It is our Gu Family that owes you, letting you suffer injustice."

"Xiyu, you should have told me earlier..."

Guben drew her into his arms, heart aching as if bleeding: "I didn't know. You suffered so much for me, vomiting blood and falling into a coma. If I had known, I surely could not have endured it so long. Even if I were down and out with nothing, I would still have returned at all costs, returned to your side..."

"It's been so long; there's no need to dwell on who was right or wrong anymore."

Lin Xiyu leaned against his shoulder, turning to comfort him: "Let's just call it a test from Heaven for us. Five years of separation, though painful, counts for nothing compared to decades of companionship ahead. Now I ask for nothing else—just that you stay healthy, never give me trouble again. If you don't cherish your body and let yourself get hurt, I really won't pay attention to you anymore."

"As you command, Wife Adult."

Guben smiled teasingly and added: "Considering Wang Fan took care of you after you collapsed, I'll help him once more in the future. I'll repay this favor for you."

"You've already helped him..."

Lin Xiyu smiled and scolded him: "Have you forgotten that five years ago he was stabbed with a knife and hospitalized? Back then he asked us whether we wanted five thousand yuan or a promise. Mengmeng and I wanted money, but you wanted a promise."

"Really?"

Guben smiled and teased: "It's been so many years, I really can't remember. It's a wonder you remember it so clearly."

"That's why Mengmeng and I are sensible."

Lin Xiyu acted a little tsundere: "Let him pay off the debt with money, and the account would have been settled then. Like you, foolishly wanting a promise—if you meet someone trustworthy, fine, but someone like him, full of hot air and not a word of truth, after all these years he'd long forgotten it. He'd be lucky to repay your kindness."

"Yes yes yes, whatever Wife Adult says is right."

Guben, not satisfied with flattering himself, pulled Xiao Ruirui in: "Ruirui, do you think Uncle is right? Isn't Auntie the wisest, with no one comparing to her?"

Xiao Ruirui nestled in his arms, always pricking up her ears to listen to the adults talk. Hearing this, her little eyes lit up, and she nodded very energetically.

"Ruirui is truly well-behaved."

Lin Xiyu found it amusing and pinched his little cheek affectionately.

"Hehe."

Xiao Ruirui loved being praised by Auntie most of all, her eyes crinkling into little crescent moons.

"This child is really close to you two; at first glance she seems like your own son..."

Grandfather Gu watched from the side with envious eyes, clucking his tongue in wonder: "When Xiao Bin first told me, I didn't believe it. Now I see Xiao Zheng's approach is right. Having you take care of Ruirui is more suitable than his being her father."

"Ruirui, call Great-Grandmother..."

Guben chuckled and patted Xiao Ruirui's head affectionately.

"Great-Grandmother is your father's and Uncle's grandmother..."

Lin Xiyu, afraid Xiao Ruirui wouldn't understand the meaning of Great-Grandmother, patiently explained: "Just like Grandmother, they are the people closest to them."

"Put it this way..."

Guben was simpler and more direct: "Uncle and Mommy's mother is called Great-Grandmother, Uncle and Daddy's mother is called Grandmother. Understand?"

Xiao Ruirui was muddled by his string of mothers, stunned for a good while, before she came to herself. She tugged at her little voice and called out in a soft, childish voice, "Great-Grandmother."

"Ai."

Grandfather Gu was delighted, beaming with joy. He hurriedly took two hundred yuan from his wallet, treating it as New Year's money, and stuffed it into his little hand.

Xiao Ruirui clutched the money, smiling even more happily.

"I've found a good way to make money."

Lin Xiyu smiled and teased: "From now on, whenever you're short of money, just take Ruirui around to relatives' and friends' homes, and come back with a stack of red envelopes."

"Hehe."

Guben was amused by her little money-grubbing expression and couldn't help but laugh out loud.

—

Lunch had braised chicken and shaobing, and Lin Xiyu also made a winter melon egg soup.

"Soup and shaobing, this taste, it's too delicious."

Guben ate very contentedly, praising enthusiastically: "Our local pepper-salt shaobing is still the best. I eat pizza every day in the United States, I'm almost sick of it, and I dream of this taste."

"Eat more if you like it."

Grandma Gu smiled affectionately, handed him another shaobing, and by the way picked a chicken drumstick for Xiao Ruirui.

Guben looked at the shaobing in his hand, then at the chicken drumstick on Xiao Ruirui's plate, feeling a bit speechless: "Grandma, I'm not your favorite grandson anymore. Before, you always gave me the chicken drumsticks."

"How old is Ruirui?"

Grandma Gu laughed in anger: "Are you really embarrassed to compete with him?"

"Uncle eats......"

Xiao Ruirui raised her head to glance at him, holding the chicken drumstick up to his mouth with her hand.

"Good nephew, Uncle hasn't spoiled you for nothing."

Guben was pleasantly surprised and gave him face by taking a bite.

"Auntie also eats......"

Seeing him eat happily, Xiao Ruirui held the chicken drumstick up to Lin Xiyu again.

Lin Xiyu smiled with crinkled eyes: "Ruirui is good, you eat it yourself."

Xiao Ruirui insisted she eat it, still holding it up without moving.

"Since I'm telling you to eat, just eat it."

Guben chimed in from the side: "Look how much face I'm giving you, I took a big bite."

"You're just thick-skinned."

Grandma Gu laughed with amusement and scolded him with a smile.

Lin Xiyu also laughed, no longer declining, and went along with Xiao Ruirui's intention, taking a bite of the chicken drumstick.

Xiao Ruirui was happy, her eyes crinkled with laughter.

"This child is really lovable......."

Grandma Gu liked her grandson more the more she looked at him, and came up with an idea to help them take care of the child: "I've decided, I'm not going back to Guangdong, I'll follow you back to Shanghai."

"Ah?"

"You're not going back to Guangdong?"

Now, not only Guben and Lin Xiyu, but even Eldest Uncle showed surprised expressions.

"Not going back."

Grandma Gu had her own reasons: "Ruirui is small and can't be without someone by his side. Xiyu has to go to work and has no time to watch him. Even if we hire a nanny, there needs to be someone at home to keep an eye on things. You can't just leave the child with her alone."

"Isn't there still me?"

Guben didn't want Grandma to work herself to death and volunteered: "It just so happens I'm not practicing law anymore, idling at home. Watching the child counts as having a proper job to do......"

"Count on you?"

Grandma Gu looked at him with dislike: "You can break glass just kicking a ball. Letting you watch the child, what's the difference from tearing down the house?"

"Grandma, you're really looking down on people too much."

Guben rarely showed a bit of embarrassment: "You're saying I'm like a husky, even tearing down the house......"

"That's right, I'm looking down on you......"

Grandma Gu laughed and scolded: "How naughty you've been from small to big, don't you know it yourself? Letting you watch the child, I'm ten thousand percent not reassured."

"Mom, you're getting old......"

Eldest Uncle didn't want his old mother to work herself to death and also advised: "Just don't worry about that. When you're free, go climb mountains, stroll the streets, or go to the park to dance square dance. Isn't that better than working at home and watching the child?"

"I'm only 75. Compared to 90, I'm still young."

Grandma Gu was most taboo about age. She glared with both eyes and was unhappy: "Besides, even if I watch the child, it won't delay my square dancing. I'll have the nanny follow along and take Ruirui together. Isn't that fine?"

"Ruirui is three and a half years old......"

Eldest Uncle smiled helplessly and said: "It's time for kindergarten, right?"

"The age is right."

Guben didn't tell him about Xiao Ruirui being a bit withdrawn before, and casually perfunctorily said: "Grandma dotes on him and can't bear to let him go to kindergarten, so he hasn't gone."

"Going to kindergarten also needs pick-up and drop-off......"

Grandma Gu had made up her mind to watch the child. No matter who said it, she wouldn't budge: "A child this small, if not watched closely, someone might really carry him off. Then you'd have something to cry about."

"Fine then."

Guben looked at Lin Xiyu. Seeing she had no objection, he stopped declining: "Grandma is willing to live with us. It's our honor. It shows this grandson of mine is still very important in Grandma's heart. Grandma not only likes Ruirui, but also feels for me, doesn't want me to work hard, and wants to contribute herself to help us watch the child......."

"What you say, can be considered hitting the nail on the head......"

Eldest Uncle sighed with great feeling: "No one can compare to your grandma's heart of doting on her grandson. Even your three female cousins added together can't compare to you alone."

"I feel the same way......"

Guben agreed with a serious expression.

"You......"

Eldest Uncle laughed in anger: "If your female cousins hear this, they'll be angry again."

"What are they angry about?"

Grandma Gu was unhappy hearing this and righteously backed her grandson: "The Old House was left to Xiao Bin by the old man's decision. Xiao Zheng didn't say anything. What do they have to quibble about?"

"Eldest Uncle, I'll trouble you with this matter."

Guben followed up: "Please go back and tell my female cousins, I won't sell the old house. As long as there's no demolition, this house won't change hands. This is the root of our Gu Family. As long as the old house stands, no matter how far or how long we're away from home, we can always come back. Not just me—my sisters feel the same. One day if they want to bring their children to Jinan and stay at the old house for two days, their own home is always more comfortable than any outside hotel."

"That's reasonable."

Grandma Gu understood perfectly in her heart, and glared at Eldest Uncle with dissatisfaction: "Don't think I don't know what those three girls are thinking. They just think the house is worth more than before, and selling it would give them some benefits, so they keep harping on it, afraid Guben would pocket the money alone."

"Cough cough."

How could Eldest Uncle not know his own daughter's thoughts? He coughed twice, somewhat embarrassed.

"Bang bang bang."

Just at that moment, someone came to visit, and the big iron door was knocked on with loud bangs.

"Who is it?!"

Grandma Gu frowned with dissatisfaction: "Knocking on the door at this hour, do they even let people eat?"

"Who would come?"

Lin Xiyu panicked inside, subconsciously thinking: Could it be her mother is still unhappy and has come looking for them?

"You eat first, I'll go open the door."

Guben gave her a reassuring gaze, stood up from the chair, lifted the curtain, and left the room.

Lin Xiyu pricked up her ears to listen to the commotion at the doorway. Seeing him return not long after, she was very surprised.

"Who is it?"

Grandma Gu voiced the doubt in her heart for her.

"Don't know them."

Guben guessed to himself: "Probably a businessman, asking if our house is for rent..."

"These people sure get the news fast."

Lin Xiyu scoffed: "We've only been back one day, and they've already come knocking."

"What did you say?"

Grandma Gu frowned, feeling very annoyed at the uninvited guest.

"I refused."

Guben answered decisively: "The old house is neither for sale nor for rent; it's only left for our family to live in."

"Mm."

Grandma Gu nodded with satisfaction.

"Actually, it can be considered."

Eldest Uncle was a businessman, used to considering problems from a businessman's perspective: "The old house sits empty anyway; it might as well be put to reasonable use..."

"Don't even think about it!"

Before he finished a sentence, Grandma Gu interrupted him: "The old house is the keepsake left by the old man; none of you dare to have designs on the house."

"I didn't mean anything else..."

Eldest Uncle explained awkwardly: "Just said it casually; if you're not willing, then forget it."

"Not eating anymore. Can't even eat a meal in peace."

Grandma Gu still didn't like the look of him, put down her chopsticks, and returned to her own room to rest.

Eldest Uncle was extremely embarrassed, chatted awkwardly with Guben for a few more sentences, took his luggage, and returned to Guangzhou that same day.

He left in a hurry, which also suited Grandma Gu's wishes. Following Guben and his wife back to Shanghai, the matter of helping them look after the children was thus settled.

—

Lin Xiyu's children's diplomacy went very smoothly. In the afternoon, after Ruirui woke from his nap, he indeed took him to Liu Nainai's home again.

Ruirui rarely had a playmate of the same age, and soon became familiar with Niuniu.

Niuniu taught him to play hopscotch, jackstones, and shuttlecock kicking.

Ruirui taught Niuniu to play Rubik's Cube, marbles, and iron hoop rolling.

The two children played freely in the alley, gradually attracting the gazes of other children.

Children kept joining in; as the number increased, there were more choices of games to play.

Older children played with younger children—jumping rubber bands, throwing sandbags, hide-and-seek—and the children's happy laughter could be heard throughout the whole alley.