Chapter 236: Talking About Love Is a Big Deal

A Qing asked, "Brother, do you have a plan?"

Wu An nodded.

He naturally had a rough plan in mind, but how to carry it out still required waiting for an opportunity.

No rush.

Even Zhuge Liang had to wait for the east wind.

If he acted rashly, he might not only fail to get the person but end up bringing trouble on himself, which would be a laughingstock.

A Qing let out a breath and chuckled, "That's fine; I can't think hard—thinking gives me a headache."

After finishing a cigarette.

A Qing asked, "Brother, we're not going out to sea today, right?"

"That's a pointless question."

Outside the wind blew, the rain came and went sporadically, sparse like the urine of someone with prostate trouble, but that didn't matter; fishermen are famed for enduring hardship.

Going out to sea in light rain is not impossible; making the best of hardship, they feel rain brings wealth.

It's a good omen.

But if the wind picks up, it's no joke; a careless capsize at sea could be fatal.

"Want to go check out the seaside?" A Qing paused, then suggested, "We could go fishing."

Wu An gave him a sideways glance: "Are you going fishing or looking for Lin Hu?"

A Qing smirked: "You caught me."

"I just think it's fun; Lin Hu is clueless about anything."

"Just watching him makes me happy."

Wu An shook his head; he didn't have A Qing's twisted taste.

If we're going to do it, we go big.

"Want to go gathering at the shore?"

"No thanks."

Wu An thought, picked up the implement leaning in the corner, and poured the remaining 10 Luck Value into it: "If you want to go, go."

"Bring me some of whatever you get."

"I'll take a nap."

Seeing A Qing off, Wu An yawned; though he wasn't drunk, he had indeed drunk some alcohol at noon, and now drowsiness welled up.

Moreover, it was raining outside, the weather dull and gloomy, also good for sleeping.

I don't know how long I slept; in a daze I heard A Qing's voice, sat up, sure enough it was A Qing calling, got up and opened the door.

A Qing wore a raincoat, covered in mud, holding a plastic bag.

"Brother, I went to the tidal flats; there's really a lot of seafood."

"Peewee shrimp, sandworms, clams, razor clams, and even some crab—I brought you some of each."

"And here's this money, it's your share."

Wu An looked and said, "Pretty good; a seafood stew will be enough."

"I didn't go, so why give me money? Keep it."

A Qing shook his head: "The gear for gathering is yours."

Wu An snapped irritably: "Get lost."

He couldn't be bothered to explain things patiently to A Qing.

A Qing scratched his head and put the money away.

Wu An had nothing else to pack, grabbed an umbrella, went out, and split with A Qing at the crossroads; even when passing neighbors chatting at their doorways, he didn't forget to greet them.

Now the villagers' talk is all about when this weather will improve.

Otherwise, we'd just be stuck at home idle, unable to go out to fish.

Wu An listened, also feeling anxious inside.

His income of over ten thousand, a day's rest means losing ten thousand.

He arrived home.

Just then his elder brother came home from work, saw a bag of seafood, and Wu Ping asked, "Still went gathering?"

Wu An shook his head: "I didn't go; A Qing brought this from gathering."

At that moment.

Wu Yingwei rode his bicycle into the courtyard, unusually early to return home.

Mei Yueqin came out of the kitchen, took the bag, and said, "Fine; I was worried tonight about lacking a main dish—how do you want to eat it?"

Wu An offhandedly said, "Just stew it in one pot."

"Since Dad came home early, let's eat early too."

"Want to have a drink later?"

That last line was shouted at Wu Yingwei.

Wu Yingwei nodded, went inside to change clothes; although he wore a raincoat, it was practically as if he weren't wearing one, his clothes soaked halfway.

Wu An sat playing with his phone; Gu Anran messaged that Gu Jianfa almost stole the pearl just given to the old lady, but fortunately the old lady walked in just in time to see.

If she hadn't been there, the enraged Gu Jianfa would likely have hit the old lady.

Just reading the text, one can feel Gu Anran's indignation.

Wu An instinctively wanted to suggest how to handle it, typed out a bunch of characters, then thought better and deleted them all.

If it could be handled, Gu Anran would have already done so.

What Gu Anran needs now is not his advice on how to handle it, but to receive positive feedback after venting.

Women are mostly emotional; they need emotional resonance.

Simply put, she wants to scold someone, so you just join her in scolding, venting, laughing, crying, and high-fiving in harmony!

So he, sharing the same hatred, joined Gu Anran in cursing Gu Jianfa, that inhuman dog.

While comforting Gu Anran, he couldn't help but ponder how to resolve the matter of Gu Jianfa.

Not long after, Mei Yueqin called out to eat.

The family sat at the table eating and drinking, chatting, and the conversation turned to Gu Anran.

Soon after, they talked about Gu Jianfa.

Both of them, learning about the Gu family through their own channels, naturally came to know some things about the Gu family, such as that Uncle Gu Jianfa is a gambling addict...

Wu An just listened.

Although Father and his sister-in-law disapproved of his privately inquiring behavior, he also knew it was for his own good, and if he spoke unpleasantly then, it would hurt Father and his sister-in-law's hearts.

"Anran is a good girl, it's just that her uncle is no good."

"In the future, there will surely be trouble."

"A An, you don't need to worry too much; once Anran enters the family, if Gu Jianfa dares to come knocking, we'll just beat him out of Xixi Village."

"A An, you can earn money now; at worst, we could bring her grandmother over as well, we could afford to support her, and your sister-in-law could help you look after the elderly."

"A An, after all that, you still haven't said what you think."

Wu An smiled and said: "I think what you said is quite good."

"You're all smiles, but dating is a big deal." Wu Yingwei took a sip of wine and said: "It seems like it's just between the two of you, but it's also between the two families."

Wu An nodded: "I understand."

He silently added in his mind: "So we need to find a way to settle Gu Jianfa, otherwise the family will always have something on their mind."

Wu Ping interjected: "Dad, that's not right; marriage is the big deal."

Wu Yingwei gave him a sideways glance: "If dating isn't for marriage, then what is it?"

"Playing the hooligan."

"So did I say it wrong?"

"Uh... no..."

"Hmph."

Wu Yingwei watched Wu An fill his glass to the brim, lift it, take a sip, and felt that his family status seemed to have returned.

After the meal.

It was already dark; Wu An didn't linger at home, said goodbye, and went out with an umbrella.

He returned to the old house.

He took out his phone and called Lao Wu.

Earlier, Lao Tan had sent Lao Wu to follow him at the police station to guard Guang Liangjun, and they had exchanged contact information then.

After a while, the call connected.

"Hello, Wu An?"

"It's me."

The other end of the line was very noisy, as if they were playing cards and drinking.

"Why are you calling me?"

"I have something..."

"To borrow money?"

"Uh... kind of..." Wu An had wanted to deny it, but the words changed on his lips, and he asked: "The last time I borrowed money was rather rushed; I want to inquire, if I really can't repay the loan, what should I do?"

Old Wu laughed heartily: "Others might say they can't repay, but you definitely won't."

"Where does your confidence come from?"

"You now have considerable fixed assets; my boss will lend you money based on your assets, and besides, you have a family and dependents, so you couldn't possibly fail to repay."

Wu An: "..."