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

Chapter 273 "A Ghostly Encounter"

When the wedding day arrived, Gu Xing'er was quite upset because she hadn't received any wedding gifts from her third brother.

Thinking about how she was about to marry and move to the city, she put the whole thing out of her mind.

"Hmph, even without Gu Chenghuai, she can still live a good life," Gu Xing'er thought to herself.

The reason the Zhang family agreed to the marriage so quickly and was willing to give a relatively high dowry was because they had heard that Gu Xing'er had a successful third brother and sister-in-law, and that her education had been paid for by her third brother...

Who would have thought that none of the three wives would show up at her wedding?

In this situation, how could they not realize they've been fooled!

The Zhang family members had very long faces.

Zhang Xuejun, in particular, was very dissatisfied, and his smile was forced.

"You lied to me?" He turned slightly to the side, bringing his mouth close to Gu Xing'er's ear, his tone displeased.

Gu Xing'er looked puzzled. "What do you mean? How did I lie to you?"

"Where's your third brother?" Zhang Xuejun asked suspiciously. "Didn't you say you were your third brother's favorite sister? Why didn't your third brother's family come?"

This matter...

Gu Xing'er said dismissively, "If they don't want to come, they don't have to. I already cut ties with those two biased people!"

Zhang Xuejun paused, his calculating eyes revealing shock as he stared at Gu Xing'er as if she were a fool.

"Severed ties?" he asked, enunciating each word clearly.

“Yes,” Gu Xing’er said.

Zhang Xuejun was almost brought to tears by this person's stupidity.

He bit down hard on the soft flesh in his mouth, took a deep breath, and demanded, "When did this happen?"

Gu Xing'er then realized something was wrong, turned her head to look at the man, and said with dissatisfaction, "This is my business, why are you asking so many questions? Also, I don't like it when you talk to me in a commanding tone."

Zhang Xuejun's breath hitched, and he almost turned to leave.

Let whoever wants to get married do it!
Thankfully, I regained my senses.

He thought about how he was getting older, but there were few reliable matchmakers to introduce him to potential partners, and even those who were introduced were uneducated country girls.

He looked down on the illiterate village girls; Gu Xing'er was the best he could choose!

“…I understand.” Zhang Xuejun swallowed his anger.

They'll "teach" her after they marry her.

The bride and groom whispered to each other, and the villagers couldn't help but tease them.

"Look how well the bride and groom have a relationship. This is different from dating someone you met on a blind date. The young couple has so much to talk about."

"The groom looks very dashing, and he and Xing'er are a perfect match."

Gu Xing'er has a bad reputation in the village, but today is her big day, so the villagers are happy to say a few good words about her.

Even for the sake of the Gu family.

"The groom arrived to pick up the bride on a bicycle, how impressive."

The adults praised it, and the children also gathered around to watch the excitement. One mischievous boy tugged at the big red flower on the bicycle.

Gu Xing'er married into the second branch of the Gu family, and the main seat was occupied by Old Madam Gu and the second branch couple.

Mr. and Mrs. Gu sat in the corner, receiving the treatment typical of ordinary relatives.

This is also what they requested.

The elderly couple originally didn't want to come, but when Mrs. Gu came to ask, she heard that they weren't planning to show up and started scolding them, attracting the attention of the neighbors.

Left with no other choice, the two had to agree.

When they appeared, they acted as if they were just ordinary relatives and didn't try to get closer.

Aunt Gu watched Gu Xing'er leave home, tears welling up in her eyes.

Great! The troublemaker has finally gotten married!
Upon seeing this, many villagers had a misunderstanding.

Although Xing'er's second aunt complains about her, she actually has deep feelings for her. Look how red her eyes are; it's not surprising, after all, she's a girl she's watched grow up...

Aunt Gu: Do you think I can still laugh?
And so, Gu Xing'er married into the city as she had wished.

When she arrived at the family dormitory and entered Zhang's home, she didn't smile.

"...Where do you live?" Gu Xing'er asked Zhang Xuejun, her face grim.

Zhang Xuejun sat down and gulped down water without asking Gu Xing'er if she was thirsty. He pointed to a corner and said, "There."

There was a single bed resembling a tent in the corner, and a small double happiness symbol was pasted on the wall, offering absolutely no privacy.

Gu Xing'er froze on the spot, then quickly came to her senses, her eyes widening in disbelief as she asked, "You don't even have a proper house?"

Thinking of something, she added, "No wonder...no wonder you wouldn't let me come to your house. You lied to me!"

Zhang Xuejun stood up. "How did I lie to you? Go outside and see, isn't everyone's house like this?"

"I don't want to argue with you on this joyous occasion, and you shouldn't come looking for trouble in front of me."

Gu Xing'er pointed at her man and said angrily, "I'm picking a fight, and you say I'm picking a fight? You liar..."

Her voice was very loud, and the neighbors on both sides could hear her clearly.

The Zhang family felt ashamed and embarrassed; the neighbors' eyes seemed to say they had committed marriage fraud.

Zhang's mother smiled awkwardly, "I'm sorry for making a fool of myself in front of everyone. I'll go inside and take a look."

As mentioned earlier, Zhang Xuejun was not favored by his parents, and he saved up all the dowry money for his marriage. His parents did not contribute a single penny, nor did they plan to hold a banquet. They simply brought the bride back, and the newlyweds distributed some candy to the neighbors. That was how the marriage was considered complete!

Zhang's mother found fault with Zhang Xuejun and Gu Xing'er in every way, as they had embarrassed her.

He glared at the two of them as soon as he entered the room.

He lowered his voice and said, "Keep your voice down! Shouting like that is so embarrassing!"

“Especially you—” Mother Gu glared at Gu Xing’er, “You just married into the Zhang family. You should know better. Why can’t you ask questions politely? You’re the only one who knows how to whine!”

After scolding her, he muttered, "Country girls are just not presentable!"

Gu Xing'er wasn't one to put up with things, so she rolled up her sleeves, ready to confront her wicked mother-in-law, but Zhang Xuejun pulled her behind him.

“Listen to what Mom says,” the young man said bluntly. “You’ve really brought shame to the family.”

He felt that Gu Xing'er had lied to him, and he was furious, so he didn't want to protect her.

and……

Gu Xing'er was so loud, the neighbors must have heard her! Thinking this, his eyes were filled with dissatisfaction.

“You…” Gu Xing’er was furious.

After only a brief exchange, she realized that life in the city was not what she had imagined, and that the Zhang family was not so easy to get along with.

Zhang's mother said, "Stop talking. Second son's wife, go and cook with your sister-in-law. Eldest son's wife, take care of her."

"I just married into this family and they're already making me cook?" Gu Xing'er's chest heaved violently as she pointed to her nose, about to explode.

"Otherwise what?" Zhang's mother glanced at her unfriendly. "Everyone is like this. You think you're so special? You married into my Zhang family, so you have to abide by my Zhang family's rules. If you're not happy, then get out and go back to your village."

Gu Xing'er was proud and would certainly not go back looking humiliated.

He followed Sister-in-law Zhang with a cold face.

She wasn't honest; her eyes were always daring and she was always up to no good. She even tried to do something naughty, pretending she couldn't cook. But Zhang Dasao's eyes were like radar; she always managed to catch her, and she would look at her with a half-smile.

Gu Xing'er: It's a ghost.

Gu Xing'er's first day in the city after getting married was not a good one.

The wedding night was even worse...

If you make even the slightest sound, you'll hear a thumping sound coming from the other side of the wall.

Her mother-in-law also said, "There are children in the family, so be mindful of the impact."

Gu Xing'er: You old geezer.
-
Let's turn back time.

Lin Zhao led the children out of the movie theater and was about to go to a restaurant when she saw a bicycle adorned with a big red flower.

Yu Bao has good eyesight and was the first to spot Gu Xing'er. She whispered, "Mom, it's Auntie."

Hengbao emphasized, "She was my aunt from before. Grandma said that my aunt has cut ties with our family, so she is no longer our aunt."

Severing ties is not a glorious thing, and those in the know won't tell a single person.

That's how the two stones found out about it.

The two boys, one big and one small, stared wide-eyed with similar expressions.

"Ok?"

"Eh?"

The two brothers made a questioning sound through their noses.

"Is my aunt no longer my aunt?!" Before Lin Zhao could speak, Yu Bao said to the two stones, "Stone Brother, Stone Brother, Heng Bao is right, she's the former aunt, not the current aunt."

Hengbao clenched her little hands, waved them in front of her chest a few times, her face serious and her tone angry, "My former aunt cut ties with our family, which made my grandma cry. I hate her so much."

He stared at the Stone Brothers and said domineeringly, "You're not allowed to call me 'Little Aunt' anymore, or else... or else I'll never call you that again when I play football!"

Little Stone nodded his head, "I won't call her, I won't call her aunt!"

The big rock stared at him speechlessly, then thought of shaking his head to see if there was any sound of water.

So stupid.

"...We never called each other 'little aunt' in the first place!"

Little Stone scratched his head. "Oh, it's not aunt, it's maternal aunt."

Hengbao reached out and touched his face, pulling it inward. "Don't call me auntie. That bad person isn't your auntie."

Little Stone blinked and asked hastily, "Then what should we shout?"

“Traitor, call her a traitor,” Hengbao said on a whim.

Yu Bao nodded in agreement.

The big rock didn't object at all.

Lin Zhao didn't notice what the children were whispering about. She was busy taking orders and occasionally glancing at the children out of the corner of her eye.

After ordering, Lin Zhao sat down in her usual spot.

“What are you saying?” she asked.

Hengbao's eyes lit up, and she looked at the mischievous boy. "We didn't say anything, we were just playing around!"

"Don't bully Little Stone, Gu Hengbao," Lin Zhao said.

Before Hengbao could even complain, Little Stone Head shook his head like a rattle drum, speaking up for his brother Hengbao, "Third Aunt, Brother Hengbao didn't bully me."

"Good boy." Lin Zhao patted the child's little face. Little Stone was honest, but he couldn't outsmart the clever Hengbao.

“If your brother Hengbao bullies you, tell your aunt, and I will punish him for you.”

Hengbao protested, "Mommy!!"

He won't bully anyone; he wants to be a good child that makes his mother proud!
"Okay, okay, you're a good girl too," Lin Zhao coaxed softly.

The kid started laughing.

Soon, the waiter called Lin Zhao over to get the food.

Big Stone offered to help.

The four kids have eaten here several times. This is the second time that the two boys have come. The first time was when their third aunt brought them here.

"Let's eat!" Lin Zhaochong said to his friends.

I took the empty bowl from the waiter and put noodles on the twins' plate.

She asked the chef to cook the noodles until they were very soft. It was a simple, light noodle dish that the two little ones could eat.

These days, kids aren't picky eaters; they eat everything with gusto. The twins, wearing bibs around their necks, clumsily used spoons to scoop food into their mouths.

They were still a bit awkward and hesitant after coming back from the big rock. But after the first time, knowing that their aunt was genuinely treating them to a meal, they felt much more at ease and ate heartily, making everyone's mouths water.

Lin Zhao's lips curled slightly.

"Mommy, this noodle is delicious," Hengbao said as he ate, his cheeks covered in noodles.

"Don't just eat noodles, eat some vegetables too." Afraid that the two boys would miss their sister-in-law, Lin Zhao added, "I've prepared your mother's food separately, we'll send it over later."

Big Stone swallowed the noodles in his mouth, his eyes bright and alert. "Thank you, Third Aunt."

"You're welcome, have some."

After the six children finished their meal, Lin Zhao took them to the textile factory.

He walked straight towards the cafeteria.

Uncle Song has worked here as long as she can remember, so she knows this place very well.

As for the Stone Brothers, we haven't had a chance to come and see them yet.

Looking through the window at Gu Chan, who was finishing up her work, the two stones felt that their mother was glowing, her two faces radiating a red light.

Little Stone jumped up and greeted Gu Chan, "Mother, Mother..."

Gu Chan looked over at the sound and smiled when she saw Lin Zhao and the children.

She pointed to the dining table, indicating that they should sit down for a while, and that she would be done soon.

"How do you feel seeing your mother working?" Lin Zhao asked the two children with a smile, sitting them closest to Gu Chan.

“Proud.” Big Stone stood up straight. “I’m proud of my mother.”

Little Stone is tongue-tied; he only knows how to nod.

He was also proud.

“I’m happy,” he said. “Mom doesn’t have to do farm work anymore.”

Even though Little Stone was still young, he knew that the work in the fields was much more demanding than the work in the canteen.

Lin Zhao patted Xiao Shitou's head.

My sister-in-law is really good at raising children. She has raised Qingzhou very well, and she has also raised the Shitou brothers very well.

With these two sensible sons, she'll be fine in the future.

Lin Zhao was happy for the Wei family as their lives improved.

The eldest sister's family's fate changed completely...

so good.

May we always live such ordinary, happy lives.

Gu Chan finished her finishing work and came over.

"Why are you all here? Why don't you go back and rest? Zhao Zhao, you have to go to work tomorrow morning."

Lin Zhao said, "We ate too much, so we brought the children here to digest their food. We'll also take the two stones to see where their mother works."

Her gaze swept over the Stone Brothers, and she smiled, "Big sister, your two sons, one is proud of you, and the other is happy for you."

Gu Chan looked at her son, her expression showing emotion.

Somewhat annoyed, she said, "I'm so careless, I didn't even think to let them come and see. Zhao Zhao, it's all thanks to you."

Big Stone quickly comforted his mother, "It's the same whether you come today or not. Mother, let's eat."

His brother offered to help open the lunchbox.

"Mom, all of this is packed for you. Eat up, it's the food your third aunt ordered, it's so delicious!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Zhao was both amused and exasperated.

It tastes good because of the chef's skill; what does Guan Dian's actions have to do with it?

Gu Chan didn't stand on ceremony and started eating.

"It's delicious. It's no wonder it's made by a chef from a state-run restaurant. It tastes just as good as what Zhao Zhao makes."

As she spoke, she saw Yao Bao's head nodding off, looking drowsy, so she didn't delay and sped up her eating.

Lin Zhao held her daughter in her arms, patted her back gently, and said, "Big sister, don't worry, I'll hold her while she sleeps."

How can they be the same?
Sleeping in a bed is the most comfortable way to sleep.

Gu Chan didn't slow down. She finished her dinner quickly, wiped her mouth, handed the lunchbox to Da Shitou, and bent down to pick up Qianbao.

"Is our Qianbao sleepy too? Let Auntie hold him."

The group went home.

The conversation inevitably turned to Gu Xing'er's wedding on the way.

"I wonder if I made any fools of myself today?" Gu Chan muttered.

Lin Zhao said, "Probably not. She cares about her image, and on such a joyous occasion, she probably wouldn't want others to see her make a fool of herself."

Gu Chan thought about it and agreed.

"I hope so. If she causes trouble, her parents will lose face. I just hope she gets married peacefully."

She had tried to teach, beat, and even lecture her wayward younger sister, Gu Xing'er, but to no avail.

She learned from Gu Xing'er that one's nature is hard to change.

"Zhaozhao, when are you going back to the brigade? I'll go with you then." Gu Chan was worried about her parents and wanted to go back to see them.

Lin Zhao turned her head and asked, "Is brother-in-law alright?"

(End of this chapter)