1990s: Spring Water Family

Chapter 206 Returning to the old house, the scenery remained the same, but everything had changed.
"Sis, I'm not talking to you anymore. Gu Bin's grandfather just passed away, and it's not good for me to leave at this time. I'm going back now. We can talk again when we have time."

"Hey, I haven't finished yet, don't go yet."

My cousin was a little confused when she said she was leaving so soon and couldn't wait a moment longer.

"Let's talk about it later."

Lin Xiyu put on the puffer jacket and turned up the collar.

Her cousin grabbed her arm and said, "I was just about to say that. Where did you get such an ugly outfit? I brought your coat over. It's in the private room. You can leave if you want, but don't be in such a hurry. At least tell your aunt and the others and change into your own clothes before you go."

Lin Xiyu was pleasantly surprised: "You brought my coat?"

My cousin, not wanting to take credit, changed her story: "Grandma was worried you'd get cold, so she had my aunt bring it over."

Lin Xiyu hesitated for a moment: "You take it out for me, I won't go in."

"why?"

My cousin couldn't understand: "They're all family, what's there to worry about?"

"Grandpa Gu Bin has passed away, so I shouldn't be here."

Lin Xiyu said with embarrassment: "I just remembered that this occasion is not appropriate for me. There is a custom that says you can't visit relatives before the seventh day after someone's death."

My cousin didn't take it seriously: "We're family, there's no need for such formalities."

"I forgot before, so I'll just leave it at that."

Lin Xiyu insisted: "Since there is such a saying, it's better to be careful. My cousin-in-law is pregnant, and wearing mourning clothes is considered unlucky. It would be bad if it offended the baby."

"Okay, I'll go get it."

My cousin couldn't argue with her, so she had to go back to the private room and get her coat.

"Sis, we just met and you're already leaving?"

Chen Xiaoyi followed her out and reluctantly grabbed her sister's arm.

“We will stay in Jinan for a while. After we finish the funeral arrangements in a couple of days, we will contact each other again.”

Lin Xiyu wanted to follow her usual habit and affectionately pat her younger brother's head.

She reached out and realized that her younger brother had grown quite a bit taller; he was almost up to her ears now.

You should start taking care of your younger brother early, otherwise you won't be able to reach him in two years.

Thinking it over, she decisively changed from patting to rubbing, and happily rubbed her younger brother's head.

Chen Xiaoyi watched helplessly as his sister ruffled his hair into a messy, disheveled mess, and sighed in exasperation.

She's my own sister, I can tolerate it!
-

While the siblings were talking, my cousin slipped an envelope into her coat pocket.

"Sis, what did you stuff in there?"

Lin Xiyu looked surprised.

"This is the gift we gave as a family contribution."

My cousin, using my maternal grandmother as an excuse, wouldn't let me refuse: "Grandma said that since Grandpa Gu Bin has passed away, we are relatives no matter what, and we can't just leave without showing any appreciation. Take this money and give it to Grandma Gu Bin as a token of our Chen family's goodwill."

"Go back and thank Grandma for me."

A look of gratitude flashed in Lin Xiyu's eyes, and she did not refuse again.

It's not about the amount of money, but about Grandma's good intentions and her attitude.

This shows that in the grandmother's heart, she tacitly approved of Gu Bin's existence and recognized him as the Chen family's son-in-law.

"I will."

Seeing that she had accepted it, her cousin smiled with relief, put on her coat, and saw her out.

Chen Xiaoyi and her cousin watched as her cousin got into a taxi and drove away from the hotel, only reluctantly turning their gaze away once she was out of sight.

-

Military compound.

Lin Xiyu gave the two thousand yuan her cousin had given her to Gu Bin's grandmother in her maternal grandmother's name.

"Keep this money for yourselves. It'll be good to give back to people you need to do favors with in the future."

Grandma Fu was indeed very pleased. She had her eldest son register the name on the list and returned the money to her.

Lin Xiyu wanted to decline, but Gu Bin gave her a wink, signaling her not to refuse.

"Ok."

Lin Xiyu followed his lead and accepted the envelope.

"Auntie."

When Xiao Rui Rui saw her return, she stuck her little bottom out of Fu Zheng's arms and slid down to hug her leg.

"Rui Rui, have you missed your auntie?"

Lin Xiyu smiled and bent down to pick up the adorable baby.

"think."

Little Rui Rui affectionately hugged her neck, and her answer couldn't have been more straightforward.

The child's sweet, childlike voice uttered the word "want," which made his father's heart ache again.

Fu Zheng looked at his clingy son, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

"I'm relieved that Rui Rui will be taken care of by Xiao Bin and his wife from now on."

Grandma Fu smiled with satisfaction, her gaze towards Lin Xiyu filled with affection.

"Mother-in-law, are you really sure you want to go to Sanya?"

Auntie San chimed in with a laugh, "Living with your eldest brother and the others? Why not reconsider and come back to Xi'an with us?"

"No."

Grandma Fu waved her hand: "I know you are all very filial. I won't go to Xi'an. Sanya is warm in winter, which will be good for my old leg pain. My legs won't hurt there, and I can go out for a walk. Even if there is heating in the north, I'll be stuck at home and won't be able to go anywhere."

"How about this."

My fourth aunt is good with words and knows how to make people happy: "There are four seasons in a year. Let our mother stay in Chengdu in the spring, Qingdao in the summer, Xi'an in the autumn, and Sanya in the winter. This way, all four sons will have the opportunity to be filial to their mother. Our mother won't have to worry about whether she favors this son or that son anymore."

Listen to this.

Grandma Fu laughed in exasperation: "I don't go to stay with her because I don't want to cause her any trouble, but it's become me being biased."

"You are a blessed person, you are blessed with good fortune."

Aunt Si laughed and said, "Wherever we stay, it will bring us good luck. You didn't choose Qingdao but went to Sanya. Isn't that being biased?"

"I think the fourth son's wife is right."

The third aunt chimed in smoothly: "Mom should treat all her sons equally, so that all four sons can have a chance to share in her good fortune."

Am I blessed?

Grandma Fu laughed and scolded, "How could I not know? You two stop trying to fool this old woman with your back-and-forth singing."

"How could we dare to fool you?"

"That's right, you're so shrewd! Even four, no, five sons combined can't compare to you."

"Not just the son, but the daughter-in-law too is not acceptable."

The daughters-in-law deliberately tried to make the old lady happy, chatting and laughing around her.

Gu Bin gave Fu Zheng a wink, and the two brothers left the living room together.

"dad."

When Xiao Rui Rui saw her father leave, she gestured with her finger, wanting to follow him.

"Good boy, Rui Rui"

Lin Xiyu hugged him and turned him around: "Daddy and Uncle have something to discuss. How about Auntie takes you out to play?"

"it is good."

Little Rui Rui stayed in the mourning hall all morning, but her eyes lit up when she heard about going out to play.

Taking advantage of the fact that no one was paying attention, Lin Xiyu carried him out through the side door and went to the vegetable garden in the backyard.

There are carrots in the vegetable garden, and little Rui Rui is pulling them up with great enthusiasm.

Lin Xiyu also rediscovered the joy of her childhood, helping him dig in the soil with a small shovel. The aunt and nephew worked together seamlessly, pulling up radishes and digging in the soil, having a great time.

-

The front gate was wide open, and people kept coming to the Fu family to offer their condolences.

Fu Zheng left the living room and went to a quiet corner in the yard, where he handed the key he had been keeping for a long time to his younger brother.

"Grandma gave me the key to Grandpa's house when she passed away. Now that you're back, I'll give you the key. Grandpa also said before he passed away that the old house was left to you. After we finish Grandpa's funeral tomorrow, you and your sister-in-law can go back there to live."

"What else did Grandma tell you before she passed away?"

Gu Bin took the keys, his heart aching with a painful ache.

"Nothing."

Fu Zheng looked guilty: "I was recovering in the hospital at the time and couldn't go to the airport to see her off. My grandmother asked someone to bring the keys over."

"She didn't go to the hospital to see you in person?"

Gu Bin, with his keen senses, sensed something was amiss. "Perhaps..."

Fu Zheng shook his head sadly: "She resents me too, doesn't she?"

"will not."

Gu Bin firmly denied it: "She won't blame you, she'll only blame Dad. Her grandson is family, her son-in-law is an outsider, she makes that distinction very clearly."

"Ah"

Fu Zheng was both amused and exasperated: "You really know her very well."

"Thanks."

Gu Bin chuckled and put the key in his pocket: "You've really done me a big favor. I was just worried about not having a place to stay, and you brought me the key."

"The old house has been empty for five years, and the house is old and dilapidated."

Fu Zheng added, "It's probably not feasible for you to just move in directly. It would be best to have someone clean it up beforehand."

"That's easy, I have someone ready to help."

Gu Bin nodded, took out his phone, pressed a button, and the other party answered immediately. He gave a few brief instructions and hung up.

Seeing that he had made proper arrangements, Fu Zheng did not inquire further. The two brothers talked for a while longer, and seeing that more and more people had come to pay their respects, they did not linger and returned to the mourning hall together.

-

On the day of the old man's funeral, snowflakes fell heavily from the sky. A group of filial sons and grandsons, dressed in mourning clothes, braved the heavy snow to send him off on his final journey.

The funeral ended, and it was time to say goodbye.

When Xiao Rui Rui saw her father leaving, she cried until her voice was hoarse. In order to return to the team on time to participate in the military parade training, Fu Zheng had no choice but to leave, no matter how reluctant he was.

Gu Bin instructed Zhao Yuncheng in advance to find someone to clean the old house.

Zhao Yuncheng was also quite a talent. Under the guise of visiting a temple fair, he tricked his entire family into coming from the countryside to work for him for a day.

Fortunately, the boss, Gu Bin, was quite generous and transferred 500 yuan to treat them to a meal at a restaurant, which saved the unfilial son from being beaten to death by the whole family.

-

As evening fell, the snow stopped, and a taxi stopped at the entrance of the alley.

Lin Xiyu carried Xiao Rui Rui out of the car, Gu Bin paid the fare, took the luggage from the trunk, and the two walked side by side into the alley.

Passing by the Prince's Mansion Pond, little Rui Rui's eyes lit up when she saw the crystal-clear water. She wiggled her little body and kept looking into the water.

"The water in the Prince's Palace Pond is so clear. It's cleaner now that swimming is prohibited, but it's also less fun."

Lin Xiyu carried him to the railing so he could see better: "If this were in the past, even in the coldest winter, people would still swim. In the summer, there would be even more people, like dumplings being dropped into a pot, a huge crowd of people."

Excuse me, may I bother you?

Two female tourists, who looked like students, approached us with a camera and asked, "Could you take a picture for us?"

"can."

Lin Xiyu was holding the child and it was inconvenient for her, so Gu Bin put down his suitcase and took the camera.

The two tourists were delighted and posed close to the railing.

"Click."

Gu Bin pressed the shutter and captured their youthful and beautiful smiles.

"Thank you."

The two blushed, thanked her, took the camera, and ran off laughing.

"That guy is so handsome."

"So stylish, it's a pity he's already married."

Lin Xiyu could still hear the two women's playful laughter from ten meters away.

"My husband is as popular as ever; he can charm people even just by taking a picture."

"hehe."

Gu Bin couldn't help but laugh when he heard her sarcastic remark about the child's father.

"whee."

Little Rui Rui understood and grinned along with him.

"Rui Rui, from now on, when there are strangers around, just call them 'Dad'."

Gu Bin teased him with a smile, "Help your aunt chase those women away, so she won't always be jealous and bully your uncle."

"Uh-huh."

Little Rui Rui understood what he meant and nodded very seriously.

"What are you saying now?"

Lin Xiyu said coquettishly, "You're teaching children bad things? When have I ever been jealous?"

"Listen to that sour smell."

Gu Bin continued slyly, "They've practically turned the Prince's mansion's pond into a vinegar vat, and they still say they're not jealous."

"whee."

Little Rui Rui listened to the two bickering and smiled, her eyes crinkling.

The handsome man and beautiful woman were a striking combination, attracting the attention of many tourists, and some even came over with cameras to strike up a conversation.

When the little guy saw that it was a woman, he indeed called out "Daddy" in his babyish voice.

The woman's face stiffened, and she looked at Gu Bin with great suspicion.

It seemed they couldn't believe that a man as young as him could have such a grown son.

"Pfft."

Lin Xiyu couldn't help but burst out laughing.

-

Wangfuchizi West Street.

"Brother Bin, you're back."

The courtyard gate was wide open, and Zhao Yuncheng came out to greet them when he heard the laughter.

"Thanks a lot."

Gu Bin was very satisfied with his efficiency.

"It's no trouble at all; it's only right that I serve Brother Bin."

Zhao Yuncheng, with keen insight, handed over the keys, intending to take his leave.

Are we leaving already?

Lin Xiyu exchanged polite greetings: "Let's invite Mengmeng and go out for dinner together."

"No."

Zhao Yuncheng smiled and declined, "You guys go ahead, I won't go. My parents haven't left yet, they're waiting for me to take them to Daming Lake."

"Okay, you guys go first, we'll take Rui Rui out to play tomorrow too."

Lin Xiyu was just being polite; she didn't really mean to invite him.

"okay."

Zhao Yuncheng knew exactly what was going on, and following her instructions, he quickly left.

-

Five years have passed in the blink of an eye. The courtyard remains the same, but the people and things have changed.

Gu Bin carried his luggage into the courtyard. Looking at the scenery that hadn't changed at all in five years, his eyes involuntarily reddened.

"Hey, there are still pomegranates on the pomegranate tree!"

Seeing a few pomegranates hanging sparsely on the top of the pomegranate tree, Lin Xiyu deliberately pulled out something else to distract him.

Little Rui Rui was also very happy to see the pomegranate tree, and stretched out her little arms, wanting to pick a pomegranate.

"The pomegranate is too tall, Auntie can't reach it."

Taking the opportunity, Lin Xiyu stuffed Xiao Ruirui into Gu Bin's arms: "Let your uncle help you pick them; he's the best at picking pomegranates."

"Uncle, pomegranate."

Little Rui Rui indeed turned her attention to her uncle, gesturing for him to pick pomegranates.

"What do you mean I'm the best at picking them? They're so high, I can't even reach them."

Gu Bin was filled with sadness, but before he could vent it, he forced it back down.

"Why don't you climb up?"

Lin Xiyu gave him some advice.

Gu Bin laughed in exasperation: "I'm not a monkey, I can't climb trees."

"How about this, you lift me up, and I'll go up and pick it."

Lin Xiyu rubbed her shoulders a few times, preparing to show off her skills.