Chapter 196: Publishing in the newspaper

The courtyard in the city was different from the one in the countryside. It was square, with three rooms, and the kitchen was semi-open and surrounded.

On the left side of the entrance were clusters of red and yellow ornamental chrysanthemums, each plant simple and beautiful, attracting attention.

On the other side was a small well, covered with bluestone slabs, with a large water vat placed on top, and right next to it was a washbasin equipped with a faucet.

From the gate to the house, there was a road paved with broken tiles, which was not so regular but pleasing to the eye.

A bamboo tube wind chime hung under the eaves, ringing with a clanging sound when the wind blew. Directly below was a lounge chair with a puppy-embroidered cushion, and next to it was a small square table.

The Stone brothers entered the courtyard, not knowing where to put their eyes.

At this time, Xiang Yubao and Gu Hangbao ran out of the room, rushed over, and pulled the two stones into the room.

"Stone brother, Stone brother, you finally came. Come in quickly and see our room. It's very similar to the one in the village, oh. It was arranged for us by Great Uncle." The chatterbox Gu Hangbao's mouth didn't stop.

"My Great Uncle is my mother's uncle, and my Great Uncle is really good. He also sent us roast chicken. The roast chicken is delicious, different from the chicken we usually eat..."

He hadn't eaten enough.

Knock, knock, knock.

Several knocks on the door.

Lin Zhao interrupted Gu Hangbao's little chatter. "You guys stay at home, I'm going to buy something to eat, don't run around."

"Good." Xiang Yubao responded obediently, interrupted the conversation, cut off his younger brother's chatter, and asked the Stone brothers about their uncle.

Lin Zhao knew the twins were sensible, so she left after instructing them.

She returned after half an hour.

When she returned, she brought a roast chicken and two meat dishes. They were bought from a "small restaurant". The small restaurant was opened by an old acquaintance of Uncle Song. It was said that his ancestors cooked for the emperor. He opened it secretly at home and only occasionally entertained acquaintances. Lin Zhao had the face of her biological uncle and was lucky enough to taste many classic dishes.

Going to beg that uncle to make roast chicken was also because the twins were greedy.

Seeing the roast chicken, Gu Hangbao's eyes widened. He pinched the meat on his own cheeks and exclaimed, "Roast chicken! It's roast chicken!!!"

Xiang Yubao swallowed the saliva that kept overflowing in his mouth and also smiled. His eyes burst with extremely bright light, and his whole face was red with excitement.

He shook Little Stone's hand. "Stone brother, roast chicken is delicious. I'll give you my chicken leg later, I'll eat the chicken wing."

Hearing this, Gu Hangbao snorted a few times and said to Da Stone, "Stone brother, my chicken leg is for you."

That tone was as reluctant as it could be.

Woo woo woo woo, he loved chicken legs so much.

Thinking of Stone brother and Stone brother's father being injured and still in the hospital, that reluctance dissipated a little.

"... I'll eat the chicken wing too."

Lin Zhao: "?"

These two little guys eat chicken wings, what do I eat? I love this so much. It was made by the descendants of the imperial chef, the taste was superb, and it couldn't be eaten often...

She patted Gu Hangbao's head and pressed down his soft, fine hair.

"What about me?"

The twins' similar little faces appeared guilty. Ah, they forgot Mom.

Xiang Yubao's eyes flickered a few times, revealing an extremely obedient smile. "Mom, the chicken wing is for you, I'll eat the chicken butt."

"I'll eat the chicken butt too." Gu Hangbao shouted loudly. "I can eat anything, I can eat the chicken head too. I'm not picky."

"Then you eat all the carrots in the dish?" Lin Zhao teased him.

In an instant, Gu Hangbao's face turned bitter.

"Mom~~"

The child who couldn't win the argument could only drag his tone to call Mom.

Hmph, acting like a spoiled child again.

Lin Zhao couldn't help but laugh, put down the food she bought, and greeted the Stone brothers to sit down. "Hungry, right? Eat first."

Da Stone smiled at her, but the heaviness in his eyes didn't dissipate.

Seeing the teenager was still worried about his father, Lin Zhao comforted him softly, "Don't worry, have some confidence in the doctor. They said your father is out of danger, so basically nothing will happen. You just need to take good care of his body, nothing will happen, don't be tense."

She patted Da Stone's shoulder. This kid was tense all over, and every nerve was highly tense.

Sensible children have heavy thoughts.

Da Stone and Xiang Yubao were very similar. The difference was that Xiang Yubao slowly unloaded the responsibilities that didn't belong to him and returned to innocence.

Da Stone pursed his lips lightly. "Thank you, Third Aunt."

Several uncles and aunts borrowed money from the family. He knew it, and he also knew it wasn't a small amount of money. He was very grateful in his heart. When he grew up, he would definitely repay the help of his uncles and aunts to his family.

"You're welcome~" Lin Zhao said indifferently.

The twins called the Stone brothers to wash their hands. After washing their hands, several people started to eat.

Xiang Yubao and Gu Hangbao tasted the flavor, but still ate while swinging their legs, not raising their heads. The Stone brothers didn't eat much meat in their daily lives. Tasting the meat made by the descendants of the imperial chef, their eyes were as bright as lamps. What injured father, what family debt... sorry, they couldn't think of it.

They only knew how to stuff meat into their mouths.

Da Stone insisted on not wanting the chicken leg. Xiang Yubao and Gu Hangbao shared it. The other one was Little Stone's. The dark-faced little boy's smile was shy and bright.

"Delicious, right?" Gu Hangbao's mouth was oily, taking time to tilt his head toward Little Stone.

Little Stone nodded like pounding garlic, saying repeatedly, "Mm-hmm."

"Delicious." He swallowed the meat in his mouth, his mouth grinning. "I've lived so long, this is the first time I've eaten such delicious meat. I'll never forget the meat I ate today for the rest of my life."

Lin Zhao: "Pfft—"

Her eyes were full of smiles, her voice light and containing laughter. "You're only a few years old, what are you saying about living so long."

The child's tone was really funny, making people's stomachs ache from laughing. She rubbed her cheeks and continued, "There will be many more delicious things you can eat in the future. We've only just begun. Our Little Stone will become a professional table tennis player when he grows up. By then, he will win glory for the country, and he will be able to eat delicious food from all over the place."

I heard Little Stone had perseverance. According to the method sent by Xiang Yunjian, he practiced every day, persisted, rain or shine, and didn't need adults to urge him at all. He could endure hardships better than older children, and was steady and hardworking.

Lin Zhao felt that as long as Little Stone persisted, there would be a place for him in the national table tennis team sooner or later.

Children who have talent and work hard, fate is always reluctant to let them down, ah.

Little Stone tightened his hand holding the chopsticks, his face glowing red, his tone slightly excited. "Can I?"

"You can, ah." Lin Zhao encouraged him with her eyes. "You have talent and work hard. As long as you persist, you will be able to go out sooner or later."

"Mm!" Little Stone's eyes became brighter and brighter.

He practiced every day based on that liking. Occasionally, his small brain would also be confused, thinking about the meaning of his practice, and the more he thought, the more confused he became...

Lin Zhao's words made the young Little Stone more determined.

In the next two years, when he was mocked by people in the village, the child just swung sweat and turned a deaf ear to those malicious words.

Persist, persist a little longer, he can do it!

At this time, Lin Zhao looked at Little Stone's glowing face and smiled. It was really cute, ah.

Fengshou Brigade.

Gu Mu returned home and drank a few mouthfuls of water to quench her thirst. Gu Fu walked over and couldn't stop looking at her.

They had been husband and wife for decades, and he knew how his son-in-law was doing just by looking at her face.

At this moment, the old woman's expression was relaxed. It seemed he was fine.

The old man loosened his brows, and his heart returned to its original place.

"Why don't you ask how the son-in-law is?" Gu Mu stared at the old man.

Gu Fu hehed, his old face revealing a trace of pride. "No need to ask! If I had to ask, the decades of being husband and wife with you would be in vain. I just look at your expression, and I know the son-in-law is fine."

"You're capable." Gu Mu was dissatisfied and retorted unceremoniously.

The old man who was retorted didn't get angry, but became even more proud.

The old woman was embarrassed and angry.

Gu Mu didn't pay attention to the old man's little thoughts, sat on the edge of the kang pounding her waist, and talked about the third branch having a house in the city.

"... The Lin family's foundation is really thick, even willing to give a house in the city to their daughter."

Honestly speaking, if the house were hers, she wouldn't be willing to give it to her daughter. Old concepts were at work, and she still felt... property should be given to sons.

Because of this, Gu Mu felt the Lin family was really different.

"?"

Gu Fu had a row of question marks on his head. "What house in the city?"

"The third branch has a house in the city. I heard from the third daughter-in-law that it's a courtyard, given to her by her father." Gu Mu sighed. The Lin family couple really loved their daughter, and maybe even some people in the city couldn't compare.

Gu Fu was stunned for a long time before finding his voice. "Have you seen it?"

"No, I was in a hurry to go home. The two stones went. I heard Xiang Yubao and Gu Hangbao were also there." Gu Mu replied.

"The Lin family couple are both capable people. The third daughter-in-law's father's family background is not ordinary, back then..." Gu Fu didn't continue halfway through his words, changed the topic, and added, "Her mother is also a powerful person. Her reputation was very loud back then, so it's not strange that the family foundation is thick."

"Don't talk about this outside, don't even tell the eldest and second couple, it's too eye-catching."

"Just say they live at the third daughter-in-law's uncle's house."

Gu Mu glared at him. "Do you need to remind me? Can I not know!"

"The third branch is eye-catching enough. If people know they have a house in the city, who knows if someone will have bad intentions? Wealth shouldn't be revealed. The words left by ancestors always make sense."

She didn't plan to say it anyway.

She just wanted to tell the old man so he would know.

The stinky old man looked down on her!

Gu Fu was wronged.

He just said it, ah.

Feeling that the old woman was like eating a bomb, he didn't dare to provoke her and went to the courtyard to weave bamboo curtains.

Time flew by.

Morning.

Brigade Department.

The brigade leader looked at the newspaper taken from the commune as usual and saw a statement about severing ties in the corner.

First shook his head.

The world is really chaotic, ah.

Father and son, mother and daughter, brothers and sisters, teacher and student, master and apprentice... any close relationship can be severed.

Originally didn't plan to look much, but his sight caught a familiar name—Gu Feng.

Eh?

Isn't this Old Man Gu?

Looking at another name, it was Gu Chenghuai's mother's name, ah.

What's going on?

In a few breaths, the brigade leader looked at the protagonist of the newspaper...

Gu Xing'er.

(⊙? ⊙；)？？？

Absurd but not so unexpected.

"Sigh."

The brigade leader suddenly sighed. The brigade accountant looked over. "What's wrong?"

He didn't answer, handed the newspaper over, and signaled his old partner to look down.

After a silence of several seconds, he exclaimed in shock: "Gu Xing'er published a notice in the newspaper and has severed ties with the Gu family??!!"

Silent for several seconds, he exclaimed, "Gu Xing'er published in the newspaper and severed ties with the Gu family??!!"

The brigade leader wanted to light a cigarette. "Looks like I didn't misread it."

It really was...

"Really crazy." He complained. "You say, what is that girl Xing'er trying to do? She's only a few years old, hasn't reached adulthood, hasn't married, how dare she sever ties with her family!"

The accountant shook his head. "Who knows."

He looked over. "Do you think Old Gu knows about this?"

The brigade leader felt heartache for Old Gu for a second, thinking of his promising third son, filial other sons, and considerate eldest daughter, and withdrew the extra emotions.

"Shouldn't know."

Feeling that this matter must be told to the Gu family, so they wouldn't be caught off guard.

He immediately took the newspaper out of the brigade department.

Without stopping his feet, he came to the Gu family.

"Old Gu? Are you there?" The brigade leader shouted twice, poking his head to look into the Gu family's courtyard.

Gu Fu emerged from the corner. "Just come in, ah, what are you poking your head for."

Brigade leader: "..."

Gu Fu was busy with his hands, looking at him in his spare time. "What's the matter?"

"Your family's matter." The brigade leader didn't sell the secret.

Feeling that his tone was wrong, Gu Fu stopped what he was doing and looked up.

Asked again: "What's the matter?"

The brigade leader didn't know what to say, put down the newspaper. "Look for yourself."

Left a sentence and walked away quickly.

Gu Fu had a confused face.

"What's wrong with him..." Muttering in his mouth, he took the newspaper and looked at it. First looked at the headline, it had nothing to do with his family, continued to move down, still had nothing to do... After several times, it was inevitable to scold the brigade leader for being mysterious in his heart, until...

He saw that small, unnoticeable statement.

#Statement of resolutely severing ties with a patriarchal family#

"I am the daughter of Gu Feng and Xun Chun. After personal ideological struggle, I have deeply realized:

My parents' patriarchal words and deeds seriously violate the organization's requirements and are enemies of the XX document.

To thoroughly transform my personal ideology, I solemnly declare:

From today, I will thoroughly draw a clear line with Gu Feng (father) and Xun Hua (mother) and sever all relations!

From now on, I will firmly follow the correct ideological guidance, demand myself with high standards, strive to become a brick for building the motherland, and live up to my youth and the school's teachings.

Declarant: Gu Xing'er (Signature/Handprint)

Date: XXXX Year XX Month XX Day"

Finished reading word by word.

Gu Fu's hands couldn't stop trembling, his teeth collided, making a clattering sound.

"Good! Very good, good, good..." He suddenly laughed in anger, his face unprecedentedly gloomy, as if it could drip ink.

Gu Mu came out of the kitchen, poured out the dirty water in the basin, and found the old man exuding low pressure, pausing in place.

"What's wrong with you? Why is your face so ugly?" She asked.

"Old woman, where is our family's household registration certificate?" Gu Fu came back to his senses.

Gu Mu was confused. "What do you want the household registration certificate for?"

"Move Gu Xing'er's name out!"

Gu Mu thought this old man was crazy. Xing'er hadn't married yet, what should she do if her household registration was moved out?

Knowing that the old man wasn't heartless, she didn't impulsively blame him, but asked: "Why?"

Gu Fu told the news that Gu Xing'er published in the newspaper and severed ties with them.

Gu Mu only felt it was unbelievable, her tone was difficult. "... Are you telling the truth?"

She hated Gu Xing'er for not living up to expectations, accumulated a lot of disappointment, sometimes wished she didn't have this daughter, but also comforted herself in her heart... maybe the child was still young, maybe she would be fine after forming a family, didn't expect... didn't expect she would sever ties with them.

Does she hate them so much?

Gu Mu's heart felt like it was being smashed by a hammer, bloody.

"True, white paper and black words, written clearly on it!" Gu Fu said with a dark face. "Anyone who sees this newspaper knows that Gu Xing'er unilaterally severed ties with us."

He closed his eyes, covering the disappointment in his eyes. "Don't bother with her in the future. She won't change, and can't change. We have so many children, not missing her one, don't make the other children feel cold."

After finishing the words, Gu Fu shouted toward Gu Gu Qingzhou's room. "Gu Qingzhou."

Gu Gu Qingzhou walked out of the room. "Dad."

"You go to the county with me to do something." Gu Fu said.

"What's the matter?"

Gu Fu didn't answer, waved his hand, and returned to the room to get the household registration certificate.

"Mom?" Gu Gu Qingzhou saw his mother's expression was not very good and shouted worriedly.

Gu Mu's eyes were very astringent, she pulled the corners of her mouth. "It's okay, it's okay..."

After the words fell, she walked quickly into the kitchen.

In the kitchen, a string of tears slid down her face full of traces of time.

Listening to the movement outside, her hands gripped the newspaper, enduring not to go out to stop it.

Just like this.