Chapter 306: Idle Gossip

In this era, rumors can ruin a person; spread enough, and they might be taken as truth.

In the evening, when Gu Ning returned, she heard these idle gossips.

Her father-in-law, even while eating, was absent-minded.

Niu Niu several times wanted to speak but held back.

Feeling uneasy in this atmosphere, Gu Ning proactively explained.

Dad, Li Da Xiong is seven years younger than me.

Would he take a liking to me? Don't listen to those women's nonsense in the courtyard.

Then she looked at Niu Niu again.

And you, after summer vacation you'll be going to school; don't believe whatever others say.

Niu Niu muttered.

Actually, Uncle Big Bear is also quite good.

The old gentleman also nodded.

Yeah, Ning, I also think it's fine.

It's just that he doesn't want you to bring us along; we're in the same courtyard, if anything comes up, you can handle it.

Gu Ning shook her head, 'Alright, you guys stop worrying needlessly.'

Chen Hong told me that Yang Qing can arrange for me to work cleaning at his factory.

I want to give it a try; that would count as a formal worker.

With Niu Niu able to go to school, I can also go to work with peace of mind.

Her father-in-law, upon hearing this, was pleased and then said.

Think about it; I feel this is an opportunity.

Li Da Xiong, being an orphan, might find it hard to get a wife; maybe he wouldn't mind someone older.

Isn't Chen Hong three years older than Yang Qing?

Li Da Xiong, if you trust Yang Qing so much, maybe he'd also like someone older.

Gu Ning, flushed from the talk, hurriedly finished her meal and went to Yang Qing's place.

Yang Qing had also eaten; seeing Gu Ning, he took out some spiced beans for her to eat.

Chen Hong also held two little beans, coaxing them.

Gu Ning, not standing on ceremony, directly said she wanted to go to the Agricultural Machinery Factory to do cleaning work.

Yang Qing agreed without a second thought.

The Agricultural Machinery Factory's development is improving, and they urgently need some odd-job workers.

This is also within his authority.

Of course, we can first look after our own people.

As long as you don't mind, you can report for work tomorrow.

Gu Ning is used to earning big money, yet she can still lower herself to do odd jobs; her mindset is really good.

Gu Ning thanked them.

Then thank you, you two.

Chen Hong teased at this point.

The courtyard is spreading rumors about you and Li Da Xiong; is it true or false?

The two of them are also close friends, so when they talk, there are no taboos.

Gu Ning glared at her.

How could that be possible; I don't know which bastard spread it.

Nowadays, everyone is talking about this.

To be honest, just now at home my father-in-law was talking about this, and Niu Niu also told me about it.

It's made me annoyed to no end.

Chen Hong laughed heartily.

Ha ha, isn't this a good thing?

I think Li Da Xiong is not bad either; he's down-to-earth, performed well in the construction team.

Now he's a senior worker, soon to be a master; wages will go up, over forty a month, which is not bad.

If you follow him, you won't have to mess around with shady dealings all day.

Gu Ning rolled her eyes.

You guys, you all said his wages will soon be over forty; such a person won't lack a wife.

It's just that some people look down on him for being an orphan; if he adds a bit more betrothal gift, everything's settled.

In Jingcheng, many are money-grubbing.

Moreover, who knows how many parents don't value their daughters, disliking women wasting food at home.

What Gu Ning said is also correct.

Li Da Xiong, as long as he puts up a bit more money, indeed won't lack a wife.

If not, just add more betrothal gift.

Just as they were talking, Li Da Xiong came running over in a hurry.

Brother, you're back……

Um……

Gu Ning was here, and his face instantly turned red.

"Gu, Gu sis, you're also here..."

Seeing his embarrassed look, Chen Hong laughed with a puff.

Yang Qing joked.

"Just now, we were talking about the rumors in the courtyard."

"Da Xiong, are you really going to marry your Gu Ning sister-in-law?"

Yang Qing's words carried a hint of probing and scrutiny.

After all, the name 'Da Xiong' inevitably makes people think too much.

Li Da Xiong quickly waved his hands.

"No, I don't, it's all their nonsense, Brother Qing, you have to believe me."

Chen Hong pressed forward aggressively.

"So you look down on our Gu Ning?"

Li Da Xiong shook his head repeatedly again.

"No, not, ah, you're killing me, I don't have..."

Chen Hong continued pressing.

"Since there isn't, what do you mean then?"

Li Da Xiong said embarrassedly.

"Gu Ning sister-in-law, she's basically watched me grow up, too familiar..."

Yang Qing heard this and burst out laughing loudly.

"Too familiar... hahaha..."

Yang Qing laughed too unrestrainedly, causing Chen Hong to glare at him fiercely.

Yang Qing looked at Gu Ning, whose face was a little annoyed, and quickly shut his mouth.

"Um, uh, Da Xiong, do you have something to ask me?"

Li Da Xiong also felt uneasy, and hurriedly said.

"Brother Qing, my house is almost finished repairing, I want you to come help me check it."

Yang Qing stood up.

"Then let's go."

Afterward, the two fled as if escaping.

This again made the two women laugh nonstop.

Arriving at Li Da Xiong's home, the renovation was indeed nearing completion.

Because their siheyuan's specifications are relatively high, the gatehouse area is also about twenty square meters.

Moreover, the gatehouse courtyard belongs solely to Li Da Xiong, so the whole household doesn't feel cramped.

Having arrived at home, Li Da Xiong then stated his purpose.

"Brother Qing, I had the matchmaker introduce a prospect to me; you give me some advice."

He had held it in for days, unable to find someone to talk to; he regarded Yang Qing as an elder, so he sought him out.

Seeing how much he trusted him, Yang Qing quickly adjusted his attitude.

"Speak, I'm listening."

Li Da Xiong said embarrassedly.

"Um, her mother used to do that thing, her reputation isn't good."

"That thing?"

"What does she do? Explain clearly."

"Well, well, her mother used to be a half‑closed door, her reputation is bad."

Yang Qing became interested, his gossip spirit rose.

"Tell me in detail."

Li Da Xiong said softly.

"I heard her mother came from the Eight Great Alleys; because she was pregnant, she moved out and bought a small courtyard, wanting to live a proper life, but life was hard, and later she became a half‑closed door again."

"In the famine years she didn't make it through and passed away."

"She left behind a daughter."

"This daughter didn't want to stay there being pointed at, so she wanted to marry out."

"But because of her mother's reputation, respectable families dare not marry her."

"The matchmaker asked if I wanted her; after selling that house, she brought all her money over, heard to be over two thousand."

Yang Qing rolled his eyes.

"Don't just talk about money; tell me about the person—have you seen her?"

Li Da Xiong nodded.

"I have, the matchmaker brought me to take a secret look."

"The matchmaker also told me her mother used to be nobility, fallen into the Eight Great Alleys; otherwise she wouldn't have had that wealth to buy a house."

In his ten sentences, eight are not about anything else but her money.

Yang Qing said unhappily.

"Let's talk about the real matter."

"What does she look like, what's her figure like, what's her conduct like?"

"Her mother is a half‑closed door, she must have seen plenty too; you need to check whether she's clean or not."

Finally, see how much she thinks, whether she is a peaceful person.

Don't come over to marry, you're not peaceful, in our courtyard there aren't many good people, don't get hooked up with someone.