Chapter 227

The Gu family.

Gu Fu learned that Gu Chan had entered the canteen of the cotton textile factory, shocked beyond belief.

"Really?" His eyes locked on his wife, "Who told you? Is it settled yet...?"

He asked one question after another like spilling beans.

Gu Mu didn't keep him in suspense, saying, "Third daughter-in-law said it. Heard that family even paid the medical expenses, when A-Chan is a bit freer, she should come back once, she still owes money to the eldest and second families."

Gu Fu nodded, "Good."

If A-Chan has extra money, it's better to pay back the eldest and second families as soon as possible.

Those two families don't have much money, winter is coming soon, and the things the family lacks should be added, all needing money.

"A-Chan isn't the type to owe money and not pay it back, she isn't your little daughter, so rest assured." Gu Mu said.

Gu Fu was silent for a moment, his face looking bad, "Why mention her for no reason, just purely to cause trouble for people."

Ever since Gu Xing'er published in the newspaper that she was severing ties with the Gu family, she hadn't come to the door again, and Gu Fu and Gu Mu didn't know what her situation was, occasionally hearing villagers say a few words, saying they saw her and a young man watching a movie, the two having an intimate relationship.

The old couple was very helpless, couldn't control her and didn't want to control her, responding with silence every time.

After a few times, the villagers saw that the Gu couple had lost heart for that little daughter, and didn't mention it much afterwards.

Gu Mu was heartbroken, "It's shameful, how did I give birth to such a shameless daughter, the Gu family's face is completely lost."

"Not completely lost." Gu Fu was very optimistic, "Yuanshan and the others, and the eldest daughter, aren't they all quite good. As for that ignorant one, she was raised by her mother, the whole brigade knows, so even if she learns to be bad, it has nothing to do with us."

That's how he comforted himself, and it was quite useful, at least his heart wasn't so stifled!

"..."

Gu Mu choked.

"Is that how you say it?" Her expression was indescribably complicated.

Gu Fu's expression didn't change, "Then how do you say it. Did you bring her up for a year?"

Gu Mu rolled her eyes, "I wanted to, did your old mother give me the chance?" She angrily twisted the old man's arm, using a lot of strength, making the old man gasp in pain.

He pulled his wife's hand away, saying coldly, "What are you doing, what are you doing, talk if you want to talk, why are you moving your hands and feet!"

Dead old woman, her hand is really ruthless, it must be bruised!

"You say what are you doing, you say what are you doing!" Gu Mu wouldn't let it go, "If it weren't for you old thing not doing anything, could my good little daughter have grown up like that, I simply... I simply hate you to death!"

When people are angry, they spit out whatever comes to mind.

Gu Fu saw his old wife was really getting anxious, pulled the stool closer to her, his voice softening a bit, "Look at you, why are you really getting angry, was I letting Mother do it? No, I was feeling sorry for you, so many children in the family, how could you handle it all..."

In his anxiety, he even said the mushy words he hadn't said when he was young.

Hearing the old man's explanation, Gu Mu's face started to smoke, she couldn't sit still, and said angrily, "You dead old man, you really don't know shame!"

As the words fell, she ran out of the house with hurried steps.

Zhao Liuniang just came back, seeing her mother-in-law like she was being chased by a dog, very puzzled, asking Gu Fu, "Father, what's wrong with Mother?"

"... Nothing, you go do your work." Gu Fu was pecked by his wife, feeling aggrieved, with no mood to talk.

"Oh." Zhao Liuniang put down the firewood, returned to the room, and woke up Gu Yucheng who was catching up on sleep.

"Wake up!!" She pinched the man's nose and shouted in a breathy voice.

Gu Yucheng couldn't breathe, opening his eyes helplessly.

"Who provoked you again?" He asked.

"No one provoked me." Zhao Liuniang said, sneaking a look at the door's position, her voice pressed very low, "Father and Mother are acting weird, do you know what's wrong with them?"

Gu Yucheng sat up, looking blankly at his wife, "Are they, why didn't I notice?" He asked back.

Zhao Liuniang pushed his shoulder, staring with her eyes, unhappily saying, "You're at home, why don't you know anything!"

Gu Yucheng was full of helplessness, "Be reasonable when you talk, I'm catching up on sleep, can you hear sounds when you catch up on sleep, can you grasp all the trends in the family?"

"..."

Zhao Liuniang was asked, speechless.

"I see you've rested enough, why don't you glue the remaining matchboxes?"

Gu Yucheng was born with thick nerves, couldn't do this kind of fine work, had tried it before, his shoulders and butt hurt, but the efficiency was extremely low.

At that time, he made up his mind never to do this work again.

Hearing his wife ask him to glue matchboxes, Gu Yucheng's brain cleared up a bit.

He changed the subject calmly, "... Are you asking about Father and Mother's business? I know."

Talking about Father and Mother's business, Gu Yucheng had a sense of proportion, not loud, his volume very low.

"Father and Mother should be talking about Eldest Sister."

"Also talking about eating big wontons at Third Sister-in-law's place." He only heard this, craving it so much, afraid the sound of swallowing saliva would be heard by his father and get him scolded, so he didn't dare to continue listening, "Heard they were meat-filled, and wrapped in white flour, Father and Mother really have a treat."

Gu Yucheng sighed, before the family split, they could occasionally taste meat, after splitting, they couldn't even suck on meat bones.

Heartache!

Zhao Liuniang also craved it, ever since the family split, they really hadn't tasted meat for a month or two!

"... Father and Mother having Third Sister-in-law's filial piety is a good thing."

Gu Yucheng was innocent, "I didn't say it was a bad thing."

Zhao Liuniang didn't even want to pay attention to him.

Was that what she meant?!

Getting an eye-roll from his wife, Gu Yucheng reflected on himself, realized his mistake, and said, "My wife is also filial, what good things in the family don't you send to Father and Mother..."

Zhao Liuniang looked at him and asked, "What good things are in the family?"

Gu Yucheng tried hard to think, smiled awkwardly, "There really aren't any good things, haha."

He pretended to look at the sky, said "ah", picked up his dusty patched coat, and hurried out, "It's already this time, I should go to work, wife you rest a while, I'm leaving."

Zhao Liuniang: "..."

Without turning on the light, it's so dark in the room, can you tell what time it is? Nonsense.

Speechless for a good while, Zhao Liuniang hurriedly glued matchboxes, Third Sister-in-law is coming back, she'll finish the rest, so she can send them over and ask Third Sister-in-law to help hand them in.

Hand them in and get money.

Thinking of this, her face was full of smiles.

The eldest house.

Huang Xiulan and Gu Lan were also rushing to work.

"Wait until we hand in the matchboxes and get the money, Mother will buy you red hair ties."

Gu Lan bent over to work, hearing this, looked up at her mother, her brows clean and bright, "No need, I have them, Third Aunt sent them to me... I haven't used them yet."

The things Third Aunt sent her were all very pretty, she couldn't bear to use them, kept them all, planning to use them for the New Year.

Huang Xiulan knew her daughter's little thoughts, saying, "Your Third Aunt is your Third Aunt, I am me, I am your mother, I should buy them for you."

She worked while chattering, "Wait until we buy new ones, you wear the new ones, the ones Third Aunt left for you... wait until you want to wear them then wear them."

The red hair ties A-Lan used on her head were bought when the child was six, in the blink of an eye, so many years have passed.

Gu Lan smiled softly, "Good."

She knew in her heart that she was the object of envy for other girls in the village because her family members were all very, very good.

Especially, Third Aunt sent her clothes, shoes, hair ties, etc., and often cooked special meals for them, no family could find such a Third Aunt.

Third Uncle was also good, although he wasn't often at home, as long as he was a soldier, no one looked down on her, looked down on their family.

She was really so lucky.

Gu Lan's mouth lifted in a smile.

Seeing this, Huang Xiulan asked with a smile, "What are you thinking about, why are you smiling so happily?"

"Nothing." Gu Lan pursed her lips and smiled, saying a bit shyly, "Just feel... it's really good to be born in our family."

These words made Huang Xiulan's heart collapse, an indescribable warmth surging.

She smiled, the lines at the corners of her eyes one by one, finally merging into a flower, "Giving birth to such a sensible and well-behaved daughter like you, your father and I also feel it's really good."

People in this era were relatively reserved, because of Lin Zhao's enthusiastic and straightforward personality, the Gu family learned from her imperceptibly, occasionally saying some warm words.

When Huang Xiulan said it, it was inevitably uncomfortable, but thinking of what Third Sister-in-law said, people expressing their inner feelings and emotions from the bottom of their hearts wasn't something shameful, she felt it was nothing.

Gu Lan, however, was thin-skinned, her face turning bright red, lowering her head, her ears burning hot.

The door curtain was lifted.

Tie Dan and Li Bao walked in.

"Mother, Brother and I are going to find Xiang Yubao and Gu Hangbao, do you have anything to say?" Li Bao stopped in front of Huang Xiulan.

"Yes, you two take your rations, and the shoe insoles I made, take them to them too." After all, it's their nephew's birthday, Huang Xiulan wasn't rich, but she prepared gifts, the shoe soles she made herself, not only comfortable to wear, but also with patterns on them, two dogs and a monkey.

Tie Dan urged, "Where are they, Mother you tell me, I'll go get them, you're too slow, we're in a hurry."

"In a hurry for what, how come I don't know you're in a hurry?" Huang Xiulan asked him.

Li Bao exposed his brother, saying honestly, "My brother is lying to you, we're not in a hurry."

Huang Xiulan glared at Tie Dan, "You bastard boy, get aside, don't block the way, so annoying."

After saying that, she went to get the things.

Tie Dan pinched his brother's face, "Gu Zhili, are you stupid, can you not be so honest, sooner or later you'll be cheated out of your underwear!"

Li Bao struggled, wanting to avoid his brother's hand, his words vague, "Except for you, no one cheats me!!"

His tone was angry.

Gu Lan: "Pfft—!"

Li Bao couldn't break free from Tie Dan's hand, reached out to his sister, shouting incoherently, "Sister, Sister..."

Asking for help.

Gu Lan couldn't bear to see her little brother being bullied, stood up and pulled her eldest brother away.

"Tie Dan, don't provoke Li Bao, if you make him cry, watch out for Father swatting your butt."

Tie Dan's mind flashed with not-so-good images, his face stiffened, saying righteously, "Li Bao is too dull, I'm training him."

This was mostly true.

Tie Dan felt that in the whole brigade, no child was as dull as his brother, he had to educate him, so he wouldn't be cheated by others later... and even count the money for them.

Gu Lan shook her head, "Third Aunt said, everyone has their own personality, you have to respect each other, you can't force your little brother."

She patted Li Bao's shoulder, "Li Bao is honest, not stupid, he knows who is good to him, who has bad intentions, besides, our family has so many people watching, can he be cheated?"

Tie Dan's expression was fierce, "Whoever dares to cheat my brother, I'll fix him!"

Gu Lan patted his head, "Fix who? Do you want to get beaten!!"

Li Bao covered his mouth and laughed, still laughing out loud.

Where is he dull, and where is he stupid, he's clearly very clever.

Gu Lan couldn't hold it in, and laughed out loud too.

Tie Dan saw them laughing, and for some reason followed along.

Click.

The sound of the door curtain falling rang out.

Huang Xiulan carried a basket in, seeing her children laughing happily, not knowing why.

Just wanted to ask the reason, but saw Tie Dan greet her, taking the basket from her hand.

"Mother, are these all?" He asked.

So heavy.

"Yes." Huang Xiulan responded, a trace of worry on her face, "You eat so much, I'm worried it's not enough!"

Tie Dan smiled sheepishly.

"Third Aunt said Brother is growing, it's normal to be greedy and eat a lot." Li Bao said.

Huang Xiulan smiled, "Didn't say don't let your brother eat, didn't I give him a sweet potato sooner or later?"

Tie Dan: "..."

Don't even mention sweet potatoes, he even farted in class!

Fortunately, many classmates farted in class, so it wasn't that embarrassing.

Sigh!

When can he stop eating sweet potatoes.

At this moment, Tie Dan had a simple wish—hope to eat fewer sweet potatoes, provided he could fill his stomach.

Sweet potatoes cause heartburn (??? ヮ??)

"Mother, we're leaving with the things." Tie Dan carried the things in one hand, pulled Li Bao with the other, and walked out.

Li Bao looked back at Gu Lan, his brows furrowed, asking, "Sister isn't going?"

"Sister isn't going, you guys play well. Don't fight." Gu Lan felt she was a big girl now, it wasn't good to go and grab food with those children.

Li Bao's eyes were clean, "There's good food. Gu Hangbao said, Third Aunt made a cake, fragrant and soft, Third Uncle also sent them cars and airplanes, doesn't Sister want to see?"

Gu Lan wanted to.

She hesitated again and again, but still shook her head, "... You guys go, I'll see it when I have a chance later."

The little girl was very interested in airplanes, curious about the thing that could take people to fly in the sky... what exactly it looked like.

Li Bao didn't persuade her again, said "oh", and followed his brother away.

The brothers arrived at Third Uncle's house, there were already several children in the yard, all good friends of the twins.

Xiang Yubao and Gu Hangbao were greeting them enthusiastically.

The table was full of candies, the children each had a bowl of malted milk extract, drinking it cherishly, the smiles on their faces especially bright.

Seeing Tie Dan and Li Bao, they called them over to drink together.

Song Yunjin had accurate positioning today, being a waiter, seeing someone come, she conveniently mixed malted milk extract and invited them to sit down.

Tie Dan and Li Bao felt slightly uncomfortable.

Looking around the yard, there were pretty little red ribbons tied on the trees, wild flowers placed on the windowsill, the yard had a different feeling.

Li Bao took a sip of malted milk extract, curling his dark eyes.

"Gu Hangbao, where are your cars, can we see them now?"

Gu Hangbao was enthusiastic, like a little sunflower, "Everyone has seen them, they're in the room, come, I'll take you to see."

He and Li Bao held hands and went into the room, Tie Dan followed consciously.

Hmm, he wanted to see too.

The brothers went in and saw Xiang Yubao and Gu Hangbao's new treasures, their eyes as if fixed on those two toys, unable to recover for a long while.

So this is a car (airplane)!!

Li Bao withdrew his gaze with difficulty, happy for his good brother, "Gu Hangbao, you have a car! Xiang Yubao, you have an airplane!!"

The twin brothers nodded heavily, smiling until their cheeks ached.

Xiang Yubao: "Yes, Gu Hangbao and I are super happy."

Gu Hangbao reined in the smile on his face, saying with emotion, "If only we could have a birthday every day!!"

Tie Dan laughed out loud, "Ask Third Aunt if she hopes you have a birthday every day."

"No." Xiang Yubao said with a serious little face, "My mother got up early to make the cake, didn't sleep well, she also had to make many, many dishes, so tired, so tired, having it once a year is very good."

Gu Hangbao thought it was the same, nodding in agreement, "Right, once a year."

He said super satisfied, "Mother giving us a birthday, I'm already very satisfied, hehe."