Chapter 90: Backing

Lin Zhao set her mind at ease and smiled slightly.

Communicating with smart people is just easy.

"Wait and see what your sister thinks first. If she's willing, arrange for the two young people to meet. If she's even a little bit unwilling, don't force her. A good girl doesn't have to worry about marriage; it's just a matter of time," Li Fen said again.

She was also worried—worried that the girl, having just had her engagement broken, might be in a hurry to marry due to the gossip around her, and might nod in agreement on impulse. Then, once she married over and started living her life, she might hear the neighbors gossiping about her younger brother's injured leg, regret not marrying someone with sound limbs, harbor resentment, and turn the household upside down.

Lin Zhao could understand Li Fen's worry and comforted her in a soft voice: "If the two of them really hit it off, let them talk about marriage after they understand each other, so as to avoid future regrets."

These words hit the mark for Li Fen.

"That's the logic; marriage is a major life event, one cannot be impatient."

But still.

Having had no matchmaker come to the door to propose for her brother for nearly half a year, and suddenly having a suitable girl appear, it was impossible for Li Fen not to be anxious, and she had been restless all morning.

Noon.

Song Yunjin came to deliver lunch to Lin Zhao.

Li Fen's husband also arrived at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative.

He was too lazy to lock his bike, so he didn't come in, standing at the entrance and waving to his wife.

Li Fen took the glued matchboxes and went out, handing the items to her husband, "You came just in time, take this back while you're at it!"

Immediately after, she instructed: "Bring some more materials after you finish the inspection."

The man understood as soon as he heard this; his wife was going to give this work to her colleague.

"Got it," he replied, handing over the aluminum lunch box.

Seeing that Li Fen seemed a bit distracted, he asked with concern: "Are you alright? You look listless, is it the heat?"

"No." Li Fen pushed away the hand the man reached toward her forehead, her fingers gripping the lunch box tightly, and said: "I don't have heatstroke."

Before her husband could press further, she began to mutter to herself.

"I asked Comrade Lin to help me keep an eye out for a suitable unmarried girl, didn't I? She mentioned someone, her cousin. After hearing about it, I think her age and everything else are quite suitable, and so... I'm a bit nervous."

Li Fen's husband knew his wife had been worried sick about her younger brother's affairs.

She even dreamed at night that her brother wouldn't be able to get married and would grow old alone.

He said: "What's there to be nervous about? Let them meet first. If they get along, they can talk; if they don't, it's over."

Li Fen wanted to tell him to shut up. Everyone understands the logic, but when the matter falls on one's own head, one can never think it through.

"Stop talking."

The lean and nimble man instantly shut his mouth.

Fine.

Everything he said was wrong.

"Let's eat first, leave tomorrow's worries for tomorrow," he said.

Li Fen stopped worrying and took the lunch box to return to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative. After walking two steps, she paused and said: "Come back early tonight, we're having dumplings today."

The man's eyes lit up, "Really?"

The monthly grain ration was only so much, and the cubs at home were all at an age where they could eat a lot. His wife was always penny-pinching, fearing they would go hungry at the end of the month, and they never ate dumplings unless it was a holiday. It was rare that she had actually suggested it herself today.

"As if I'd lie!" Li Fen rolled her eyes, but a smile appeared on her face, "Don't dawdle after work."

"Got it!" the man replied, jumping onto his bicycle, smiling so wide his white teeth showed.

His back as he rode away exuded happiness.

Li Fen smiled, the anxiety in her heart smoothed away.

Liu Chunhong was on leave today, and without a party pooper around, the atmosphere in the Supply and Marketing Cooperative was much better.

Lin Zhao opened the lunch box; it was braised eggplant and cold-dressed shredded carrots.

Before eating, she reached into her satchel, took out two sugar tangerines, and with her palm facing up, handed them to her little cousin.

"Yunjin, treat yourself to some tangerines."

In this day and age, supplies were truly not abundant. Fruit spoiled easily, preservation technology couldn't keep up, and transportation costs were high, so they were basically rare to see.

Song Yunjin's eyes lit up instantly, and he shouted excitedly: "Sister!"

His eyes were as bright as little amber stones begging for food, which was quite cute.

"Eat up," Lin Zhao chuckled, "If you like them, I'll bring you more tomorrow."

Remembering there were two apples left, she added: "I'll bring you two apples as well."

Song Yunjin swallowed his saliva and picked up a tangerine, holding it to his nose to smell it. The scent was so fragrant; he really liked it.

"Thank you, sister, you really are my own sister." At his age, his appetite was truly not small. He would be hungry again not long after eating his fill, and no matter how much he ate, it was useless. Ultimately, it was because his stomach lacked oil and fat.

Lin Zhao looked up at him, her eyes puzzled, "So excited? Didn't you eat your fill?"

"It's not that I didn't eat my fill, it's that my stomach lacks oil and fat. I get hungry in a little while, hungry again in a little while." Song Yunjin truly felt it would be better to send him to the countryside to raise pigs, as long as there was meat to eat.

His family had meat coupons, but meat was very hard to buy. He went to queue early every day, but couldn't even buy a meat bone.

The meat was all bought in advance by people with connections, sigh!

Lin Zhao had a lucky draw wheel and had drawn quite a bit of meat. She hadn't finished eating it yet and hadn't worried about eating meat for some time.

Hearing Yunjin say his stomach lacked oil and fat, she remembered the days when they only had a special meal once a month and felt it was truly miserable.

She didn't say anything, took her satchel again, took out money and coupons from it, and said to Song Yunjin: "Run an errand for sister."

"What do you want to buy?" Song Yunjin leaned over and asked very actively.

"Go to the state-run restaurant and buy twelve bottles of soda," Lin Zhao said casually.

The Supply and Marketing Cooperative also sold soda, but it was in limited supply and had been snatched up in half an hour.

Twelve bottles?

Is sister going to do wholesale?!

Song Yunjin reached out to support his chin, his face full of astonishment, "Why buy so many! Bringing them for people in the village?!"

Can the people in the village afford to buy soda to drink?!

"Your brother-in-law and I are going to take the children to see a movie in a while, so I'm buying the soda first. I'm worried there won't be any later," Lin Zhao explained.

"Watching a movie, sister, I want to go too~!" Song Yunjin stared at his sister with his black eyes and acted like a spoiled child.

Lin Zhao raised her eyebrows slightly, and the glance she cast, light and breezy, was bright and moving, "Aren't you going to school?"

"What does it matter if I go or not? The school is a mess." Song Yunjin retracted his smile, pouted, and his tone seemed dissatisfied, "I hope classes can resume tomorrow, otherwise when will I be able to graduate."

He had no interest in struggling against others; he just wanted to study well, take the high school entrance exam, and get a job in a factory.

"You didn't participate in those things, did you?" Lin Zhao raised her eyes, and the light in her dark, bright eyes didn't look as warm as usual.

It was as if if he dared to nod, she would beat him up.

A small animal's intuition told Song Yunjin that he absolutely, absolutely must not nod, otherwise he would be beaten, and not just once.

"No, no, I didn't!" He shook his hands like a rattle, scared to death, "My classmates called me to go, but I didn't go."

That day, he saw his classmates beating and scolding the teacher. People he was usually familiar with suddenly became strangers, and the fanaticism on their faces made him afraid.

He couldn't watch it anymore and said, "Stop while you're ahead."

And then.

Everyone turned their heads to stare at him, probing, suspicious, thoughtful; it was very complicated, and there was even malice.

Those gazes made his whole body feel cold.

After that, he knew that even if he felt uncomfortable, he couldn't say it.

If he said it, he would be unlucky!

"You can't go in the future either." Lin Zhao frowned slightly, her expression serious.

Song Yunjin nodded like a garlic pounder and said repeatedly: "I won't go, I didn't want to go, I have no interest in that matter."

If he were interested, his right arm would have been tied with a red "accessory" long ago!

Besides.

He was soft-hearted and couldn't bear to see the suffering of the world.

Those teachers didn't deserve this.

"Hmm, go ahead, I'll buy you a bottle too." Lin Zhao retracted the coldness on her face, waved her hand, and sent him off to run the errand.

"Got it!" Song Yunjin replied, walking toward the door with light steps. After walking a few steps, he stopped, "Sister, is your bicycle here?"

"It's not, your brother-in-law rode it back. Did you walk here?" Lin Zhao asked.

Speaking of this, Song Yunjin had something to say.

He rushed back to the counter.

"The bicycle at home was ridden away by my dad, and the neighbor's wasn't there either, so I could only walk here." His emotions were still relatively stable when he said this.

But when he spat out the following sentences, his words were full of resentment.

"My mom started chasing me out of the house after eleven o'clock, saying I was bored to death at home, so I might as well go out early, just consider it exercising."

Song Yunjin was full of resentment.

Lin Zhao only asked one question, and he poured out his grievances like beans, not stopping.

"Sister, heaven and earth are my witness, classes have only been suspended for a few days."

The teenager stretched out his arm and gestured heavily with a two, "I've only been at home for two days, two days! Just two days, and my mom started finding me annoying!"

He emphasized his words, full of grievances.

Lin Zhao couldn't help but laugh, a smile overflowing from the corners of her eyes and brows, and she almost choked on her rice.

Running into her cousin's resentful gaze, she laughed: "My house has started construction. I estimate it will take at most a month to finish. If it doesn't work out, you can live at my place then, and help me teach the twins how to read."

It would also save them from being led astray by those people in the county.

"Can I?" Song Yunjin's eyes were full of anticipation.

"Why wouldn't you be able to." Lin Zhao said, "Your brother-in-law's younger brother is also a junior high student and will be back in a while. You two should have a common language and be able to play together."

"Okay!" Song Yunjin was instantly coaxed by his sister.

Lin Zhao turned her head to borrow a bicycle from Wang Ju and gave the key to her cousin, telling him to go quickly and return quickly.

Song Yunjin left with quick steps.

Seeing his light steps, Lin Zhao was quite surprised.

He was still walking awkwardly yesterday, and it was completely better after just one night!

It has to be young people; their recovery is fast.

With no one in the back seat, Gu Chenghuai rode the bicycle fast and returned to the brigade before long.

Remembering his wife's words, he returned to the room, took some things from the cupboard, and went to the brigade leader's house. After paying a thank-you gift of two eggs, he successfully borrowed a bicycle.

Afterwards.

He went straight to the brigade where his eldest sister was located.

He wanted to bring the two stones back, and a lady's bicycle wasn't convenient; only a bicycle with a crossbar could seat them.

Gu Chenghuai rode the bicycle away from the village entrance.

After riding for a stretch, he noticed movement behind him. He stopped the bike, supported the ground with his left leg, and looked back.

It was actually Da Huang following him.

"Go back." Gu Chenghuai waved at Da Huang, who was guarding the house, signaling it to return.

Da Huang didn't listen, wagging its tail and running over.

It sat in front of him, raised its dog face to look at him, its eyes bright.

Gu Chenghuai: "......"

The man and the dog confronted each other for a moment.

The man sighed lightly, "...... If you want to follow, then follow."

It wouldn't delay him much anyway.

"Woof!!" Da Huang barked and quickly followed.

The Wei family.

Gu Chan didn't know yet that the family members backing her were on the road and would arrive soon.

She was currently dealing with Wei Dasao.

As it turned out—

After the family split, the second branch moved out immediately, and more than half of the household's labor force was gone. Wei Dasao wasn't a diligent person; clothes needed washing, meals needed cooking, cleaning needed to be done, the vegetable garden needed watering... these were all miscellaneous chores, and she still had to work in the fields to earn work points; she simply couldn't keep up.

In just two days, she regretted it!!

She came to the door to seek reconciliation, using a preaching tone.

"Sister-in-law, even if the family has split, Dad and Mom are still your parents-in-law, and the biological grandparents of the two stones. You can't just ignore everything. If outsiders find out, they'll poke your spine."

Wei Dasao opened her mouth and stood on the moral high ground, using filial piety to pressure people.

Gu Chan frowned, "Xiang Dong and I didn't say we wouldn't care. Isn't the family split agreement written very clearly? When Dad and Mom turn sixty, we will provide pension money. No need for you to worry, sister-in-law."

"That's not how you say it!" Wei Dasao was full of twisted logic and didn't agree with her words.

"Dad and Mom are still a few years away from sixty. What about these few years?"

"You two won't just throw up your hands and ignore everything, right? If that's really your plan, I'll have to find someone to talk to and ask what kind of logic this is."

Gu Chan took a deep breath, not wanting to say more, and said faintly: "Oh, do as you please."

Wei Dasao felt like her fist had hit cotton, and her chest felt as uncomfortable as if it were blocked by a stone.

"If you have nothing else, sister-in-law, go back. I still have to cook, I don't have time to bicker with you." Gu Chan's tone was calm, but her words were merciless.

"Xiang Dong said that regarding Dad and Mom's pension, he will talk to the eldest brother when the time comes, and told me not to interfere."

"Gu Chan, are you still a member of the Wei family!" Wei Dasao shouted angrily, her voice sharp, like a wild cat whose tail had been stepped on.

Gu Chan's rebuttal was resonant.

Her words were clear, and every syllable was precisely delivered to her eardrums.

"My surname is Gu, I am a member of the Gu family."

"Wei Xiang Dong and I just formed a new family, but that doesn't mean my surname has been prefixed with Wei."

"I was surnamed Gu when I was born, and I will be surnamed Gu for the rest of my life. Sister-in-law, you are so eager to change your surname, don't think everyone wants to change theirs."

Even if Wei Dasao was stupid, she could hear that this was mocking her, and she was so angry she rushed up, wanting to hit someone.

She was a head taller than Gu Chan and had broader shoulders. Her body pressed forward, her eyes were full of malice, and the arc of her mouth was unkind, as if she wanted to do something.

"Sister."

A voice like jade striking ice came from outside.

Gu Chan's expression turned to joy, and she slammed into Wei Dasao, running outside.

Seeing her younger brother, her face was full of smiles.

"Chenghuai."

"Sister, are you alright?" Gu Chenghuai asked suspiciously.

As soon as the words left his mouth, he caught sight of another person's figure, and his eyes suddenly turned sharp.

"Why are you here?" His eyebrows furrowed imperceptibly.

Zhaozhao said this person always targeted his sister.

His sister had already moved out of the Wei family, yet she actually came to the door, and while Wei Xiang Dong wasn't there. It was impossible for her not to have bad intentions.

It was impossible for Gu Chenghuai to give her a good look.

Wei Dasao was evil-minded and cowardly, and on top of that, she had just wanted to do something bad, so she was feeling extremely guilty.

She was stared at by Gu Chenghuai until her heart almost jumped out. She spoke stutteringly, her brain was a mess, and she randomly thought of an excuse, "I... I, we're making meat at home, I'm calling the two stones back to the old house to eat."

In reality, the Wei family didn't have a hammer's worth of meat, not even a piece of meat skin.

Gu Chenghuai let out a mocking sneer and warned in a deep voice: "Since the family has split, we are two families. You are not welcome here. Don't come over in the future, whether you have business or not."

Wei Dasao didn't dare stay longer. After saying "I know," she ran away like she was being chased by a dog.

As soon as she left, Gu Chenghuai's tightly furrowed eyebrows relaxed.

"Sister, if she comes again, don't open the door."

Gu Chan smiled bitterly and explained: "I didn't want to open it, the courtyard door isn't repaired well, she forced her way in."

Hearing this, Gu Chenghuai turned around decisively, rushed out, and strode toward the Wei family.

In an instant, he saw Wei Dasao in front.

"Stop." he shouted.

Wei Dasao recognized the voice and knew she could dodge the first day but not the fifteenth, so she didn't dare move.

She turned around and waited for him to come up.

That compelling figure drew near.

She was so scared she took a few steps back and said: "What do you want again? I didn't have time to do anything."

Wei Dasao was panicking and blurted out, "I wanted to hit her, but that's because she was too infuriating."

Instantly.

The surrounding temperature plummeted.

An inescapable, icy gaze landed on her.

Gu Chenghuai's whole temperament was as cold as a blade quenched in ice, and his voice was deep, "You still wanted to hit someone?"

The momentum he usually deliberately restrained leaked out.

Like a wild beast baring its sharp fangs, it made people feel a bone-chilling cold.

Wei Dasao only felt that there was a terrifying monster in front of her, scaring her so much she wanted to kneel down.

"I didn't, I didn't want to hit her, I didn't, I didn't." She shook her head violently, truly scared out of her wits this time.

"I went to make peace, wanted her to help me, I didn't want to provoke her, I didn't dare..."

Gu Chenghuai was expressionless and said sternly: "Making peace is unnecessary, don't come to the door again in the future. If you dare to again, I'll bring people to tear down your house."

He was a soldier, so of course he wouldn't do anything that violated discipline, but to deal with such evil people, one couldn't show weakness; one had to make her afraid.

"I won't come, I won't come, I'll never come again!" Wei Dasao said hurriedly.

She had only seen Gu Chenghuai a few years ago and didn't think he was that terrifying, but seeing him this time, she felt this person was truly terrifying.

This person, he had definitely killed people.

"You broke my sister's door, you have to pay, five yuan." Gu Chenghuai said coldly.

"?"

Wei Dasao's face turned black.

"Such a broken door, two cents wouldn't even..."

Just as she was about to retort, she looked up and met those deep, gloomy, and cold eyes. Instantly, the words on the tip of her tongue were swallowed back into her stomach.

The stingy woman's heart trembled with pain, and she gritted her teeth: "I'll pay."

"I'll pay!"

Oh my god, she hadn't taken advantage of anything, and had suffered heavy losses instead.

"I'll give you ten minutes, bring the money over, don't make me come to the door to get it." Gu Chenghuai left these words and turned to leave.

Wei Dasao: "......" She didn't dare, she didn't dare let him come to the door; she didn't want to rebuild her house.

She returned home listlessly, took the iron box out of the mouse hole, counted out five yuan, and stuffed it into her husband's hand.

Wei Dage thought his wife had found her conscience and was giving him private money. His eyes lit up, and he said with emotion: "Wife?"

"...... Send it to the second branch." Wei Dasao was almost weeping blood, restraining the urge to snatch the money back, and rushed back to the room, lying on the edge of the bed, howling as if she were mourning her parents.

Wei Dage was full of confusion and rushed into the room, his shoulder hitting the door frame, shaking the dust on the wall down in a flurry.

"Why?"

"This is five yuan! Five yuan! Why give it to the second branch?!" he asked anxiously.

"If I tell you to send it, send it! Ask, ask, ask, if you don't want our house to be unprotected, hurry up and send it." Wei Dasao's expression was twisted.

Hearing his wife say it was so serious, Wei Dage didn't dare delay and ran to the second branch, his mind uncontrollably running wild on the way.

Arriving at the second branch, he found out what his wife had done.

"Money to pay for the door, just that door?" Wei Dage pointed at the door that could collapse at any time, his face full of disbelief.

Such a broken door, worth five yuan?

"Just this door, plus my sister's mental distress fee. I didn't ask for more. If there's a next time..." Gu Chenghuai paused cleverly, doubling the threat.

This wasn't asking for more?

Wei Dage almost couldn't look directly at the words "didn't ask for more."

He looked at the young man, wanting to bargain, but after meeting his cold eyes, he couldn't say a word. With great reluctance, he put down the money and left quickly.

Gu Chenghuai didn't think he was being excessive.

The couple in the first branch had taken advantage of his sister's family quite a bit, and after the family split, they still dared to come and bully his sister. Five yuan was considered little.

"Sister, keep it, hire someone to build a sturdy door."

Gu Chan didn't stand on ceremony with her own brother, put the money away, and smiled: "Okay, build a good one. This is the first time taking advantage of the first branch, must build a good one!"

Outside the door, a urging child's voice came.

Immediately after, Big Stone and Little Stone ran in.

"Third Uncle." Big Stone shouted.

He didn't have much impression of his Third Uncle, but he recognized the military uniform.

Just as he wanted to let his younger brother call him, he didn't expect Little Stone to run over quickly, open his arms to Gu Chenghuai, and say rarely actively: "Third Uncle, hug."

Gu Chan had never seen her younger son be so unafraid of strangers, and was slightly stunned.

Knowing her third brother's cold temperament and that he didn't like to be close to people, she hurriedly wanted to pull her son away.

But she saw Gu Chenghuai bend down and pick up Little Stone.

The child was covered in dirt from playing, and that dirt stained the green military uniform, which was very conspicuous.

Seeing this, Big Stone stepped forward to pat his uncle. When his hand landed on the military uniform, his movements were very light, his expression was worshipful, and he was filled with awe.

A faint smile flashed in Gu Chenghuai's eyes, and he let his nephew pat him.

He looked at Gu Chan and said: "Sister, my wife said she wants to take Big Stone and Little Stone to see a movie. I'll take them back to the brigade in a while, and let Dad and Mom see them too."

"Ah...?" Gu Chan opened her mouth slightly, surprised: "Why did Zhaozhao suddenly want to take the two stones to see a movie? Is there any good news?"

"No, the four cubs were pestering to watch, so Zhaozhao wanted to take all the children." Gu Chenghuai's face was smiling, his eyes bright.

"I see, Zhaozhao is truly thoughtful." Gu Chan said.

She earnestly instructed her brother: "Chenghuai, treat Zhaozhao well."

"Hmm."

Gu Chan said to her two sons: "You two treat your uncle well, I'm going to find you clothes. You can't wear clothes that are too dirty or tattered when going to the county."

Can't let people laugh at Zhaozhao and Chenghuai. ===== CHAPTER 91 =====