The mother of the era is reborn to support her cannon fodder children!

Chapter 109 "He's beyond saving"

Old Qiao was comparable to Mr. Gu's mentor. Hearing his praise, Mr. Gu was overjoyed, his face beaming with smiles.

Gu Chenghuai thought that with him there, his father would not be able to speak properly, so he said, "Uncle Qiao, Father, you two talk slowly. I'll go outside and keep watch."

Gu's father did not stop him.

Mr. Qiao sat cross-legged on the straw, looked at him, then at the person next to him, as calmly as if he were sitting on a sofa.

“Sit down. You were uncomfortable sitting on the sofa at the Qiao Mansion, but this is your turf, why are you still dawdling?”

Father Gu sat down.

“That’s more like it. You and I are old friends. What’s awkward about old friends meeting each other?” Mr. Qiao said.

A few words dispelled the sense of unfamiliarity in Gu's father's heart.

How have you been these past few years?

Mr. Gu's face was full of smiles. "Great! When I came back from Haicheng, I found someone to help me find a wife. She gave birth to four big, healthy boys and two daughters. Now she has several grandsons. We have food and shelter. I never dared to dream of such a life before."

Mr. Qiao smiled.

"What's there to be afraid of? What you want is the most basic thing, something you can get with hard work. If you've tried your best and still don't have these things, it's definitely not your fault."

How can a poor person get married, have children, and start a family when they can't even take care of themselves?
If Gu Feng can live the life he wants, then my help to him will not have been in vain.

"Mr. Qiao, how have you been all these years?" Mr. Gu asked indirectly, trying to find out why Mr. Qiao had become like this.

"Great! The accommodations are good, the food is good, and the younger generation in the family is doing well," Mr. Qiao said magnanimously.

If everything had been better, he wouldn't have ended up like this.

Ugh.

"Since it's good, why...?"

Mr. Qiao sighed softly, "It's because we're living too well."

He sensed something was wrong early on and told his family to leave the mainland immediately. He was originally going to leave too, but he was being watched and couldn't go.

"?" Mr. Gu looked puzzled.

In his eyes, the Qiao family was extremely powerful, like a mountain. But can a mountain collapse?

Old Qiao didn't say much.

"Let's not talk about that anymore." He smiled. "That's life, with its ups and downs. There's no such thing as an evergreen tree."

Mr. Gu didn't ask any more questions, only saying, "Anyway, if you need any help, just let me know."

"Okay." Old Qiao felt a warmth in his heart and agreed with a smile.

Throughout his life, he helped countless people, but Gu Feng was the most inconspicuous, yet also the most devoted.

Mr. Gu grinned, then remembered the important matter and pulled a piece of paper from his pocket. "Mr. Qiao, we haven't given our grandchildren formal names yet. I've been thinking about it for over half a month and have come up with a few. Could you take a look and see what you think?"

Mr. Qiao smiled as he took the paper and began to read it.

In a daze, he recalled things from his youth.

Back then, Haicheng was no exaggeration to call it a den of iniquity; all sorts of people frequented it. At that time, he had just gone from being a young man to a wealthy man, and he was at a dance hall discussing business... Before he even got out of the car, he saw a young man being pushed down by a group of people. He wasn't angry at being pushed down; he just smiled sheepishly, got up, and continued to rush forward, trying to sell the cigarettes he was holding to the rich people.

This simple-minded young man is Gu Feng.

Mr. Qiao's first impression of Gu Feng was, "Where did this idiot come from?"

Later, I saw him a few more times, and each time he was in a worse state. He smiled less and less, and stood on the busy street, looking lost and helpless as if he had been abandoned by the whole world.

Later, Mr. Qiao took the simple-minded boy home. Surprisingly, the boy wasn't afraid of being sold off; he just laughed and followed them...

“Heh…” Mr. Qiao suddenly laughed out loud.

Mr. Gu thought he had made a fool of himself by naming his grandson and granddaughter, and asked nervously, "Is it not good?"

“No, it won’t work.” Mr. Qiao shook his head with a smile. “I just never expected that the illiterate, simple-minded boy back then would be able to come up with such a sophisticated name.”

"Gu Zhiheng, Gu Zhiqian... they're both good, nothing needs to be changed." He murmured, a faint pride shining in his aged and wise eyes.

Mr. Gu was like a little fanboy, so flattered that he didn't know what to say.

I was greatly encouraged.

“That’s settled then,” he said.

Mr. Qiao nodded, "Okay."

Seeing that he looked tired, Gu's father did not stay any longer and took his leave.

My steps were light, and I was in a great mood.

Wait until it's completely dark.

The Gu family men quietly carried things down the mountain.

After a few visits, the house, which was so quiet that even the mice stopped coming, was barely presentable.

After several months of searching, Mr. Qiao finally found a place to stay.

"Thank you for your trouble," he said to the Gu family.

"No need to be so polite." Father Gu felt deeply guilty for the limited help he could offer. "You helped me so much back then, and Yuanshan and the others have grown up so well thanks to you. What I have to offer is nothing."

He wasn't exaggerating at all. Old Mrs. Gu was biased and didn't care much about him. If it weren't for that... he wouldn't have thought of going out to make a living. When he left Haicheng, Mr. Qiao gave him a lot of good things. He used those things to get married and raise several children.

Mr. Qiao shook his head. "It's different."

In short, he kept in mind this timely kindness.

"Gu Feng, it's getting late, you should head back now and avoid people on the way."

Mr. Gu kept rambling on, "Then we'll go first. You should get some sleep. Tomorrow I'll go see the brigade leader and see if he can help you build a wall around your yard. Don't worry about the grain; I'll deliver it to you every two weeks..."

Mr. Qiao chuckled, but his heart was warmed.

"Okay, go on, the children need to sleep if you don't."

Father Gu chuckled and left with his sons.

As Mr. Qiao watched their retreating figures, he thought of his children who had left the mainland, wondering if they had arrived safely there.
……

A distant port city.

A ferry docks.

People disembarked from the ship in a dense swarm, like ants.

The Qiao family members helped each other off the boat with the crowd.

Seeking a peaceful place, they gazed at the mainland, their expressions varied.

A seven- or eight-year-old boy, his eyes reddening and his voice trembling with tears, asked, "Dad, what about Grandpa? He'll definitely come, right?"

The man clenched his fist, his face grim.

Because he knew it would be difficult.

It was already incredibly difficult for the father to get them out one by one; the fact that he missed the ferry meant something had happened.

"Second brother, let's... let's go find eldest brother first." The only daughter of the Qiao family cried, tears streaming down her face. "Eldest brother is smart, he'll definitely think of a way... Father is so old, I'm so worried about him, sob sob..."

Her man put his arm around her shoulder, his eyes filled with tenderness.

Just then, a tall and imposing middle-aged man appeared in front of them, followed by five or six men in black suits who looked menacing.

"Second brother, sister...you've arrived," said Brother Qiao. He looked around and, noticing that his father was not there, a bad feeling welled up inside him.

"Where's Dad?" he asked.

When Qiao Meimei saw her older brother rushing forward, her eyes were red and her voice trembled as she said, "Big brother, Dad told us to go first, saying he would be there later, but... but we didn't see Dad. Something must have happened to him. Big brother, is there anything you can do?"

Boom——

It was as if thunder had exploded in Brother Qiao's ears, and his usually calm and composed mind suddenly went blank.

"Dad didn't get on the ship?" The calm tone rose.

The Qiao family had never seen him so unsettled.

"Um, big brother, do you have a way?" Sister Qiao grabbed his arm and asked anxiously. Big brother Qiao's expression was solemn, and a hint of red appeared at the corner of his eyes.

He shook his head.

"Disaster."

"Dad!" Qiao cried out, her usual elegance and tranquility gone, as she slumped into her husband's arms.

It was supposed to be a day of family reunion, but because the father (grandfather) didn't make it, the Qiao family felt as if a thick dark cloud was hanging over their heads, making it difficult for them to be happy.

……

The Gu family, in the room where the third branch of the family lives.

Lin Zhao lay on the bed with his two straight legs crossed, ostensibly reading a book, but actually activating the lottery system.

[By a twist of fate, she saved Xu Anguo's (Li Fen's) husband's life, accumulating merit and receiving a reward of 1000 points.]

[Calmly respond to a report and you'll be rewarded with 200 points.]

[Bringing back defective items, resolving minor conflicts among the children, and helping the group members get what they want—500 points awarded.]

[Caring for families of veterans earns 100 points.]

[Take the first photo of the adorable cat Dan'er and receive 50 points.]

……

I've gained quite a few points over time.

Current total points: 2035.

Lin Zhao didn't even blink before drawing a ticket that cost 500 points per draw.

As with the previous times, the pointer started to spin. The difference was that Lin Zhao was no longer nervous. She took a relaxed approach to the lottery, letting whatever she drew come up with.

You'll win no matter what you get.

[Fruit gift pack.]
A quick glance revealed a remarkable variety and quantity of fruit: lychees, mulberries, cherries, dragon fruit, mangoes, kiwis, bayberries... There were so many that we could eat them all by next summer.

Lin Zhao didn't rush to claim it, knowing her husband could come back at any time.

"Squeak-"

The wooden door was slowly pushed open.

Gu Chenghuai walked in, his clothes damp with sweat.

"Why aren't you asleep yet?" he asked in a low, disapproving voice. "You have to go to work tomorrow."

"I'm waiting for you. I don't want to sleep. You have limited time at home, so cherish every minute. It doesn't matter whether I sleep or not, I just want to talk to you." Lin Zhao sat up, looked up at him with her fair face, her beautiful eyes sparkling, as bright and lovely as a delicate flower.

Gu Chenghuai knew perfectly well that there must be some exaggeration in those words, but his heart still trembled. He felt once again that he was beyond saving, that he was doomed to be with Zhaozhao for the rest of his life, yet he was happy to accept it.

He got into bed, stretched out his arms, and pulled his wife into his embrace.

"...This is really bad."

Lin Zhao's eyes curved into crescents as she rested her head against Gu Chenghuai's chest, in an extremely good mood, so good that she didn't even feel the heat.

"What's the situation with that Mr. Qiao?"

Gu Chenghuai gently stroked her long hair with his long, slender hand, lowered his voice, and said, "She is someone I met when I was young and went to Haicheng to make a living."

Lin Zhao looked up at him and smiled, "I didn't expect Dad to have been to Haicheng. My impression of Dad is that he's the kind of old-fashioned person who would never leave his hometown in his entire life."

“Your father was young once too. Back then, it was war-torn, and it was hard to find anywhere. I heard that you could make money in Haicheng, so I went there.” Gu Chenghuai said slowly, his deep voice carrying a narrative quality.

"How did Father meet Mr. Qiao?" Lin Zhao pressed.

“My father sold cigarettes at a dance hall and met Mr. Qiao by chance,” Gu Chenghuai replied, without mentioning the details of how his father was bullied.

There's no point in dwelling on the past. All he can do is ensure that his father, mother, brother and sister-in-law's family, sister's family, Zhaozhao, and the children are no longer bullied.

Even though the man didn't say it, Lin Zhao knew it must have been difficult.

"and after?"

Seeing his wife's interest, Gu Chenghuai continued, "Later, Father was taken back to the Qiao Mansion by Mr. Qiao, who taught him to read. Then, when the situation in Haicheng became unstable, Father took the gifts from Mr. Qiao and returned to his hometown..."

Lin Zhao sighed with emotion, "I didn't expect Dad to have such a rich life experience. He was really brave when he was young."

Ordinary people don't want to leave their comfort zone.

Gu Chenghuai respected his father very much. He said, "Father just doesn't like to talk, but he understands everything in his heart. Without Father, I wouldn't be who I am today."

Lin Zhao knew that Gu Chenghuai had not come this far easily, and she felt a pang of sympathy, especially when she thought about how she had been possessed by a ghost a few years ago. Her heart suddenly ached, and she grabbed the man's hand, interlocking her fingers with his.

"I will take better care of the family from now on."

Gu Chenghuai chuckled softly, his laughter low and seductive.

He lowered his head, his forehead touching Lin Zhao's, and spoke gently.

"How can I put it? You manage the household very well, and I've never felt that you've done anything wrong. The only thing is... when you don't write to me, I feel like you're angry with me, but I don't know what you're angry about. I'm okay when I'm busy, but I feel very tormented when I'm free."

"My Zhaozhao is doing well. It would be even better if she didn't forget to write to me..."

"I won't forget." Lin Zhao sat up slightly and hugged Gu Chenghuai's neck. "I'll never forget it again!"

The head bobbed up and down against the man's neck.

The smile in Gu Chenghuai's eyes deepened.

Now I finally understand why the fourth child loves to nuzzle people's necks; it's because she learned it from her mother.

"Go to sleep, you have things to do tomorrow morning, don't you?"

Lin Zhao remembered the important matter she had to attend to tomorrow, and suddenly looked up, instructing him, "Sister Xiangxiang will be coming tomorrow morning, so you need to wake me up early."

"Okay," Gu Chenghuai said good-naturedly.

"I'm hot, fan me until I fall asleep," Lin Zhao asked again.

Gu Chenghuai's gaze softened. "Of course."

Lin Zhao was satisfied. She went back to her own pillow, rested her hands on her lower abdomen, and slept in a proper posture.

Just as I closed my eyes, I remembered something: "My brother and the others didn't forget to bring the vegetable pancakes, did they? It's hot, those things won't last overnight!"

Gu Chenghuai covered her eyes with his palm, his voice tinged with helplessness, "I haven't forgotten, I personally hung it on the front of the car, go to sleep."

Lin Zhao was completely relieved. He closed his eyes, felt the wind blowing from his neck to his feet, a smile appeared on his lips, and he slowly fell asleep.

When her breathing slowed down, Gu Chenghuai didn't stop. He leaned over and blew out the kerosene lamp, then turned to face his wife and continued fanning her for a long time.

……

The next day.

Lin Zhao woke up at 6:30. She felt a slight pressure in her lower abdomen, so she quickly got up, changed her clothes, and ran to the outhouse.

As soon as I stepped out of the room, I saw Yuan Xiang sitting in the courtyard.

She paused slightly and said, "Sister Xiangxiang, you're here. Wait for me a moment, I'm going to the restroom."

“Okay,” Yuan Xiang replied.

The image of the bamboo mat imprint on her cousin's cheek flashed through her mind, and her eyes crinkled with laughter.

Just as her mother said, Zhao Zhao married very well.

Yuan Xiang wasn't jealous; in fact, she was happy for her cousin.

After Lin Zhao finished using the restroom and washed her hands, she sat down next to her cousin. "Sister Xiangxiang, when did you arrive? Why didn't anyone call me?" she muttered.

"My brother-in-law said you went to bed late last night and wanted you to sleep a little longer, so I didn't wait long," Yuan Xiang said hurriedly.

Lin Zhao was not angry.

She said, "Sister Xiangxiang, I've altered some clothes for you. If you don't mind, I'd like to show you around."

Yuan Xiang certainly didn't feel offended. These days, unless you have a good relationship, who would give you clothes?

"Okay, thank you for your help," she said shyly.