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

Chapter 229 Passionate and Straightforward

Gu family.

When Gu's father learned that Gu Chan had started working in the canteen of the cotton mill, he was shocked beyond belief.

"Really?" He stared at his wife. "Who told you that? Have you made a decision yet...?"

He asked one question after another, like pouring out beans.

Mother Gu didn't keep her in suspense and said, "It was the third son's wife who told me. I heard that the family also paid for the medical expenses. When Achan has some free time, she should come back for a visit. She still owes money to the eldest son's family and the second son's family."

Mr. Gu nodded. "Okay."

If Achan has any spare money, it would be best to pay back the money to her eldest and second sons' families as soon as possible.

Those two families didn't have much money, and winter was approaching. They needed to buy things they were missing, which would cost money.

"A-Chan isn't the type to default on debts. She's not your little daughter, so don't worry," said Gu's mother.

Mr. Gu paused for a moment, his expression turning sour. "Why bring her up when there's nothing to do? It's just making people upset."

Since Gu Xing'er published a notice in the newspaper severing ties with the Gu family, she has never visited again. Gu's parents have no idea what's going on with her. They occasionally hear from villagers that they saw her going to the movies with a young man, and that the two seemed to be very close.

The elderly couple felt helpless; they couldn't control the situation and didn't want to, so they always responded with silence.

After several such incidents, the villagers could tell that the Gu couple had lost their affection for the youngest daughter, and they never mentioned her again.

Mother Gu was heartbroken. "What a disgrace! How could I have given birth to such a shameless daughter? The Gu family has completely lost face."

"We can't lose them all." Father Gu was optimistic. "The few in Yuanshan, and our eldest daughter, are all doing well. As for that one who doesn't know any better, she was raised by her mother, and the whole brigade knows that. Even if she goes astray, it's none of our business."

That's how he comforted himself, and it actually worked quite well; at least his heart didn't feel so suffocated!

"..."

Mother Gu choked.

"Is that what they say?" Her expression was indescribably complicated.

Mr. Gu's expression remained unchanged. "Then what do you say? Did you take care of her for a year?"

Mother Gu rolled her eyes. "I'd like to, but will your mother give me the chance?" She angrily pinched the old man's arm with great force, making him gasp in pain.

He pulled his wife's hand away and said coldly, "What are you doing? What are you doing? Just talk, why are you hitting me!"

That old hag, she really went for it! He's definitely bruised now!

"What are you saying? What are you saying!" Mother Gu persisted. "If it weren't for your inaction, my lovely little daughter wouldn't have turned out like that! I... I absolutely hate you!"

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

Seeing that his wife was truly agitated, Gu's father pulled up a stool and moved closer to her, softening his voice, "Look at you, why are you really angry? Am I just going along with Mother's wishes? No, I'm just worried about you. There are so many children in the family, how can you possibly manage them all..."

In his haste, he even uttered mushy words that he had never said in his youth.

Hearing the old man's explanation, Gu's mother's face turned red with anger. She couldn't sit still any longer and said angrily, "You old fool, you have no shame!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he hurriedly ran out of the house.

Zhao Liuniang had just returned when she saw her mother-in-law being chased by dogs. She was very puzzled and asked Gu's father, "Father, what happened to Mother?"

"...It's nothing, you go about your business." Gu's father felt wronged after being scolded by his wife and had no desire to speak.

"Oh." Zhao Liuniang put down the firewood, went back into the house, and woke up Gu Yucheng, who was catching up on his sleep.

"Wake up!!" she pinched the man's nose and whispered.

Gu Yucheng couldn't breathe and had no choice but to open his eyes.

"Who upset you again?" he asked.

“Nobody messed with me,” Zhao Liuniang said, glancing furtively towards the door, her voice low. “My parents are acting strangely. Do you know what’s wrong with them?”

Gu Yucheng sat up, looking at his wife blankly. "Really? I didn't notice?" he asked in return.

Zhao Liuniang pushed his shoulder, glared at him, and said unhappily, "You're at home, how come you don't know anything!"

Gu Yucheng looked helpless. "Speak reasonably. I'm catching up on sleep. How can you hear anything and keep track of everything happening at home while you're catching up on sleep?"

"..."

Zhao Liuniang was stumped and speechless.

"I see you've rested enough, why don't you paste the rest of the matchboxes together?"

Gu Yucheng is naturally thick-skinned and can't do this kind of delicate work. He tried it before, and his shoulders and buttocks ached, but his efficiency was extremely low.

He made up his mind then and there that he would never do this job again.

When his wife told him to paste matchboxes, Gu Yucheng's mind cleared up a bit.

He casually changed the subject, "...You were just asking about my parents? I know."

When talking about his parents, Gu Yucheng was quite tactful, keeping his voice low and not raising it.

"Father and Mother must be talking about my eldest sister."

"They also said they ate big wontons at their third brother's wife's place." He only heard this much, but his mouth watered so much that he didn't dare to listen any further, afraid that his father would hear him swallowing and scold him. "I heard they were filled with meat and made with white bread. My parents are so lucky."

Gu Yucheng sighed. Before the family split up, he could occasionally taste meat. After the split, he couldn't even suck on meat bones.

Heartache!

Zhao Liuniang was also craving meat; since the family split up, they hadn't tasted meat for a month or so!
"...It's a good thing that my parents have three younger brothers and sisters-in-law who are filial."

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

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

Is that what she meant?!
After receiving a glare from his wife, Gu Yucheng reflected on his actions, realized his mistake, and said, "My wife is also very filial; she always sends the best things to her parents-in-law..."

Zhao Liuniang looked at him and asked, "What good things do you have at home?"

Gu Yucheng thought hard, then gave an awkward smile, "There's nothing good about it."

He pretended to look at the sky, then exclaimed, picked up his dusty, patched coat, and hurried outside, saying, "It's already this late, I should get back to work. Honey, you rest for a bit, I'm off."

Zhao Liuniang: "..."

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

After standing there speechless for a while, Zhao Liuniang quickly pasted matchboxes. When her third sister-in-law returned, she finished the rest so she could deliver them and ask her to help her finish the task.

You get paid as soon as you hand it in.

Thinking of this, her face was full of smiles.

……

Large room.

Huang Xiulan and Gu Lan were also working overtime.

"Once you hand over the matchbox and get the money, Mom will buy you a red ribbon in your hair."

Gu Lan was busy with her work when she heard this. She looked up at her mother with bright, clear eyes and said, "No need, I have some. My third aunt gave it to me... I haven't used it yet."

The things her third aunt gave her were all very beautiful, and she couldn't bear to use them; she kept them all, planning to use them for the New Year.

Huang Xiulan knew what her daughter was thinking and said, "Your third aunt is your third aunt, and I am me. I am your mother, so it's my duty to buy it for you."

As she busied herself, she kept saying, "When we buy a new one, you can wear the new one. It's what your third aunt left you... You can wear it whenever you want."

The red ribbon in Alan's hair was bought for her when her child was six years old. In the blink of an eye, so many years have passed.

Gu Lan smiled gently, "Okay."

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

In particular, her third aunt gave her clothes, shoes, hair ties, and so on, and often cooked special meals for them. You can't find a third aunt like that anywhere else.

Even though her third uncle wasn't home often, as long as he was still a soldier, no one looked down on her or their family.

She is so lucky.

Gu Lan smiled.

Seeing this, Huang Xiulan asked with a smile, "What are you thinking about? Why are you smiling so happily?" "Nothing," Gu Lan smiled shyly and said, "I just feel... it's so good to be born into our family."

These words touched Huang Xiulan deeply, filling her with an indescribable warmth.

She smiled, the lines at the corners of her eyes merging into a flower shape. "Giving birth to such a well-behaved and sensible daughter like you, your father and I are truly blessed."

People these days are generally more reserved. Because of Lin Zhao's passionate and straightforward nature, the Gu family members gradually learned from her and would occasionally say some tender words.

Huang Xiulan felt uncomfortable when she said it, but when she thought of what her third sister-in-law had said, that it was not shameful for people to express their feelings and emotions from the bottom of their hearts, she felt that there was nothing wrong with it.

Gu Lan, on the other hand, was a shy young girl. Her face flushed red, and she lowered her head, her ears burning hot.

The curtain was lifted.

Tie Dan and Li Bao walked in.

"Mom, my brother and I are going to find Yu Bao and Heng Bao. Do you have anything to say?" Li Bao stopped in front of Huang Xiulan.

"Yes, you two take some food and the insoles I made for them too." It was her nephew's birthday, and although Huang Xiulan wasn't rich, she had prepared a gift: insoles she had made herself. They were comfortable to wear, and she had even made patterns on them—two dogs and a monkey.

Tie Dan urged, "Where is it, Mom? Tell me and I'll go get it. You're too slow; we're in a hurry."

"What time are you in? I didn't know you were in a hurry?" Huang Xiulan asked him.

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

Huang Xiulan glared at Tiedan, "You brat, get out of the way, don't block the way, you're so annoying."

After saying that, he went to get his things.

Tie Dan pinched his younger brother's cheek, "Gu Zhili, are you stupid? Can you stop being so honest? You'll get tricked out of your underwear sooner or later!"

Li Bao struggled, trying to get away from her brother's hand, and said vaguely, "No one lied to me except you!!"

He spoke angrily.

Gu Lan: "Pfft—!"

Li Bao couldn't break free from Tie Dan's grasp, so she reached out to her sister and mumbled, "Sister, sister..."

They were calling for help.

Gu Lan couldn't bear to see her younger brother being bullied, so she got up and pulled her older brother away.

"Tie Dan, don't mess with Li Bao. If you make her cry, Daddy will spank you."

A not-so-pleasant image flashed through Tie Dan's mind, his face stiffened slightly, and he said matter-of-factly, "Li Bao is too dull, I'm training him."

This is mostly true.

Tie Dan felt that no child in the entire brigade was as naive as his younger brother. He had to educate him so that he wouldn't be easily fooled in the future... and lose money.

Gu Lan shook her head. "Third Aunt said that everyone has their own personality and we should respect each other. You can't force your younger brother."

She patted Li Bao on the shoulder. "Li Bao is honest, not stupid. He knows who is good to him and who has ulterior motives. Besides, with so many people in our family watching, how could he be fooled?"

Tie Dan's expression hardened. "Anyone who dares to lie to my brother, I'll deal with them!"

Gu Lan slapped his head, "Who are you messing with? Do you want to get beaten up?!"

Li Bao covered her mouth and laughed, but she still laughed out loud.

He seems simple-minded and silly, but he's actually quite clever.

Gu Lan couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Seeing them laugh, Tie Dan didn't know why he started laughing too.

Click.

The sound of the curtain falling rang out.

Huang Xiulan came in carrying a basket and saw her children laughing happily, but she didn't understand why.

Just as she was about to ask why, Tie Dan stepped forward and took the basket from her hand.

"Mother, are these all?" he asked.

It's so heavy.

"Yes," Huang Xiulan replied, a hint of worry on her face. "You eat so much, I'm worried it won't be enough!"

Tie Dan gave an awkward smile.

“My third aunt said that it’s normal for my brother to be greedy and eat a lot as he’s growing taller,” Li Bao said.

Huang Xiulan laughed, "I didn't say you couldn't have it. Aren't we going to give your brother a sweet potato sooner or later?"

Tie Dan: "..."

Don't even mention sweet potatoes, he even farted in class!
Fortunately, quite a few students farted during class, so it wasn't too embarrassing.

Ugh!
When will I be able to stop eating sweet potatoes?

At this moment, Tiedan had a simple wish—to eat less sweet potato, provided that he could fill his stomach.

Sweet potato is so hearty! (ヮ)
"Mom, let's go with our things." Tie Dan carried the things in one hand and pulled Li Bao with the other, walking out.

Li Bao turned to look at Gu Lan, her brows furrowed, and asked, "Isn't Sister going?"

"I'm not going, you guys have fun. Don't fight." Gu Lan felt that she was a grown woman now, and it wouldn't be right for her to go and compete with those kids for food.

Li Bao's eyes were bright. "There's something delicious. Heng Bao said that Third Aunt made a cake, it's fragrant and soft. Third Uncle also sent them a toy car and an airplane. Don't you want to see them, sister?"

Gu Lan thought about it.

After hesitating for a long time, she shook her head and said, "...You guys go ahead, I'll see you another time."

The little girl was very interested in airplanes and curious about what things that could take people flying in the sky looked like.

Li Bao didn't try to persuade him any further, just said "oh" and left with her brother.

When the two brothers arrived at their third uncle's house, there were already several children in the yard, all of whom were the twins' good friends.

Yu Bao and Heng Bao were greeting them warmly.

The table was covered with candy, and each child had a bowl of malted milk powder, which they drank with great relish, their faces beaming with smiles.

Upon seeing Tie Dan and Li Bao, I called them over to drink together.

Song Yunjin's role was accurate today; she was a waitress. Seeing people arrive, she quickly prepared malted milk powder and invited them to sit down.

Tie Dan and Li Bao felt slightly uncomfortable.

Looking around the yard, pretty little red ribbons are tied to the trees, and beautiful wildflowers are placed on the windowsill, giving the yard a unique feel.

Li Bao took a sip of malted milk powder and her dark eyes curved into a smile.

"Hengbao, where's your car? Can I see it now?"

Hengbao was full of enthusiasm, like a little sunflower. "Everyone has already seen it, it's inside. Come on, I'll take you to see it."

He and Li Bao went into the house hand in hand, and Tie Dan followed them.

Yes, he wants to see it too.

When the two brothers went inside and saw Yu Bao and Heng Bao's new treasures, their eyes were fixed on the two toys, and they couldn't come back to their senses for a long time.

This is a car (airplane)!
Li Bao reluctantly looked away, overjoyed for his good friend, "Heng Bao, you have a car! Yu Bao, you have an airplane!!"

The twin brothers nodded emphatically, their cheeks aching from laughing.

Yu Bao: "Yes, Heng Bao and I are super happy."

Hengbao's smile faded, and she said wistfully, "If only every day could be a birthday!!"

Tie Dan laughed heartily, "Ask your third aunt if she wants you to have your birthday every day."

"No." Yu Bao said solemnly, "My mom got up early this morning to make a cake. She didn't sleep well. She also has to cook a lot of dishes. She's so tired. It's good enough if we celebrate once a year."

Hengbao thought about it and nodded in agreement, "Yes, once a year."

He said with great satisfaction, "I'm already very happy that Mom is celebrating our birthdays, hehe."

(End of this chapter)