1990s: Spring Water Family

Chapter 208 Family Reunion, Grandma is Back
There's no need to pay them any attention.

Gu Bin remained calm and composed: "The more you pay attention to them, the more they get excited, and who knows how nasty they'll say behind your back."

"You can tolerate it, but I can't."

Wu Meng wasn't supporting him because he was her sugar daddy; she was genuinely angry: "Will those people ever stop? Your mother's incident happened years ago, and they're still bringing it up, saying such awful things. Even if it weren't for you, for Xi Yu's sake, I can't let them slander and defame me. Xi Yu is my best friend; if anyone dares to bully her, I'll tear their mouth apart."

She spoke loudly and forcefully on purpose, which intimidated many people. The gossipy old women, seeing that they wouldn't get away with arguing, shut their mouths and slunk away.

"You can do it."

Gu Bin gave her an appreciative look: "Xi Yu didn't waste her time making you her friend. I thank you on her behalf."

"How much longer are you planning to stay here?"

Wu Meng was worried for them: "Those people are so annoying. Sooner or later, the gossip will reach Xi Yu's ears. I'm afraid she'll feel bad if she hears it. If it's not important, you should go back to Shanghai. Out of sight, out of mind. There's no need to get upset over some irrelevant people."

"I won't be leaving for the time being."

Gu Bin had his own plans: "Xi Yu just came back, so let her stay a few more days. Once school starts, she won't be able to come back for several months. Her grandmother is getting old, so let her stay by her side for a few more days to take care of her and show her some filial piety."

"You mean well."

Wu Meng teased him with a laugh: "Your mother-in-law hasn't even allowed you in yet, and you're already rushing to be with her."

"I've always been a rather rational person."

Gu Bin smiled good-naturedly, not taking her disrespect to heart: "Mother-in-law and grandmother can be treated separately and not confused."

"You two have really had a complicated situation, full of twists and turns."

Wu Meng sighed deeply, taking the opportunity to assert her presence once again: "Luckily, you two had my good sister who spared no effort in helping you, otherwise you wouldn't have missed each other and regretted it for the rest of your lives."

"You deserve the most credit."

Gu Bin readily agreed, saying, "I must admit that you and your cousin both have the potential to be double agents."

"Spy? What does that mean?"

Although Wu Meng didn't understand, he could tell from his expression that it was probably not a good word.

"You don't understand this?"

Gu Bin chuckled and joked, "Your English isn't very good. You work for a foreign company, and you don't even know such simple words?"

"I work as an accountant in a foreign company."

Wu Meng had her own reasons: "My colleagues are all Chinese, so I don't need to speak a foreign language all the time."

"Are the senior executives also Chinese?"

Gu Bin jokingly teased, "That's why you've always been stuck at the bottom and can't get promoted. Everyone else is always hanging around their supervisors, but you just hang around your own desk. Which supervisor can remember you? They probably wouldn't even recognize your face if they heard your name."

"I don't care to curry favor with him."

Wu Meng deeply resented her current supervisor: "He's such a filthy and shameless person, I feel disgusted just looking at him."

"Your idea is a bit dangerous."

Gu Bin chuckled jokingly: "Be careful not to get fired. Working for a foreign company isn't so easy."

"Fine, I'll quit then. I was just thinking of quitting anyway."

Wu Meng's eyes darted around, and following his lead, she volunteered: "By the way, I was just about to ask you, what are your plans after you quit your job? Do you want to start your own business? If so, count me in. I can be your accountant, and I guarantee I'll be more loyal and reliable than someone you hire from outside."

"you?"

Gu Bin gave her a suspicious look: "Your loyalty is questionable, and you're changing jobs way too often."

"That's the supervisor's fault, not mine."

Wu Meng quickly confessed, "You're different. I believe you won't have so many ulterior motives, messing around with women and making the company a mess, which is annoying to everyone."

Gu Bin realized: "So your standard for judging your boss is whether he's a womanizer or not?"

"Isn't this normal?"

Wu Meng said confidently, "A man who can't control his belt is definitely not a good person. What good can you do by hanging out with that kind of person? You'll either get framed by him or get yourself into trouble."

"You're right."

Gu Bin nodded in agreement, showing his appreciation.

If you think I'm right, then that means you agree.

Wu Meng smiled and said, "From now on, I'll follow you. When I get back to Shanghai, I'll resign and throw my resignation letter in my supervisor's face."

"You're moving way too fast!"

Gu Bin was both amused and exasperated: "I haven't even decided what to do yet, and you've already resigned."

"I believe you."

Wu Meng clenched her fist to encourage him: "As long as you want to, there's nothing you can't do. Go for it, boss!"

"Are you trying to cling to me now?"

Gu Bin was speechless: "Let's get this straight, my standards are also very high. The early stages of starting a business are tough, and it's inevitable to work overtime and stay up all night. If you can't handle the hardship, don't do it now, so you don't feel wronged when you can't hold on, and Liangzi will blame me."

"No, I guarantee none of those things you mentioned will happen."

Wu Meng raised her hand and swore: "I'm not such an ungrateful person. As long as you give me a chance, I will definitely work hard and conscientiously to do my job well and give you a satisfactory answer."

"Just doing your job isn't enough."

Gu Bin thought for a moment, then gave her a heads-up: "Our small company doesn't hire idle people. When things get busy, one person might have to do multiple jobs—odd jobs, running errands, answering phones."

"No problem, I can do all of these."

Before he could finish speaking, Wu Meng patted her chest and assured him.

"You'd better remember that."

A hint of helplessness flashed in Gu Bin's eyes: "The first rule of our company's employee code is: do not interrupt the boss when he is speaking."

"Uh."

Wu Meng was embarrassed for only a second before she came to her senses and excitedly saluted: "Understood, boss, I will do my best."

"Not too stupid."

Seeing her quick reaction, Gu Bin nodded in satisfaction.

"Hey boss, what are you doing with that piece of glass between your legs?"

Wu Meng got what she wanted and quickly switched roles, immediately turning into a sycophant and fawning persona: "Is it heavy? Do you want me to help you carry it?"

"no need."

Gu Bin almost couldn't hold back and burst out laughing on the spot.

"Boss, you don't need to be so polite with me."

Wu Meng reached out to grab it, but Gu Bin wouldn't let her, and the two of them tugged at each other and turned into an alley.

-

At the end of the alley, outside a large, peeling, and somewhat mottled iron gate, stood two people.

Hearing the commotion, the two turned around at the same time and looked towards the alley entrance.

Gu Bin recognized one of the figures with gray hair, paused in his steps, and his eyes instantly reddened.

"Xiao Bin?!"

When the other person recognized him, they were overjoyed and burst into tears.

"Grandma!"

Gu Bin was so excited that he almost dropped the glass because he loosened his grip.

Fortunately, Wu Meng reacted quickly and caught it, preventing it from shattering into pieces.

"Xiao Bin."

Grandma Gu excitedly took a few steps forward, but tripped and almost fell.

"Grandma, be careful."

Gu Bin rushed over and helped her up.

"Xiao Bin, you've suffered so much these past years."

Grandma Gu trembled as she reached out and touched his face, tears streaming down her face. "Grandma."

Gu Bin was filled with guilt and unease: "I'm sorry, I couldn't take good care of my mother."

Your mother's situation is not your fault.

Grandma Gu couldn't bear to scold him and defended him: "It was her own fault for not cherishing her life and for not appreciating your sacrifices for her. Even in death, she still caused you trouble."

"Grandma, do you know who my mom is?"

Gu Bin choked up and couldn't speak. The word "suicide" felt like a steel needle piercing his heart, causing him unbearable pain.

"I see."

Grandma Gu was both heartbroken and angry: "Your eldest uncle told me that this child is too selfish. She freed herself but left all the pain to you, making you bear everything for her."

"My mom did it so that I wouldn't be implicated."

Gu Bin is still unable to get over his mother's death.

"Mom, Xiaobin, don't stand outside."

The eldest uncle glanced around warily and whispered a reminder: "Let's talk once we're inside."

"Yeah"

Wu Meng glanced at the luggage on the ground and also advised, "Grandma flew all the way from Guangzhou, she must be very tired. Let's go back to the room and rest."

"you are?"

The eldest uncle had never met Lin Xiyu and mistakenly thought she was his nephew's wife: "Xiao Bin's."

"I am his classmate and subordinate."

Wu Meng took the opportunity to curry favor with the boss's relatives: "My home is at No. 1 Xigengdao Street, which is very close to here. I ran into him on the street just now and helped him get the glass back."

Gu Bin gave her a speechless look.

Considering that she caught the glass and it didn't break, they acquiesced to her explanation.

"Oh."

The eldest uncle glanced away, somewhat disappointed.

He said, "My niece-in-law is supposed to be quite pretty, how could she be a chubby little girl who's a bit silly?"

Actually, I'm not fat.

His expression of disdain was so obvious that Wu Meng felt hurt and felt the need to defend herself: "I'm just a little plump."

"Cough cough."

The eldest uncle was embarrassed; his old face turned bright red.

"Grandma, let's go home."

Gu Bin seized the opportunity to change the subject and helped his grandmother into the house.

"Old man, it's been five years, and I'm finally back."

Grandma Gu entered the courtyard, and the sight of it stirred up a wave of sadness within her.

"Grandma, the pomegranate tree you loved is still here."

Gu Bin deliberately changed the subject to ease her grief: "The grapevines are still alive, they haven't withered."

"There are still pomegranates hanging on the pomegranate tree."

My eldest uncle also used the pomegranate as an excuse, marveling, "It's already the first month of the lunar calendar, and we still have pomegranates. It means we're lucky and have a good meal. We came back at just the right time."

"Yesterday, Xiyu and I picked one, tasted it, and it was quite sweet and edible, but the skin was a bit dry and hard to peel."

Gu Bin deliberately tried to please his grandmother: "If Grandma wants to eat one, I'll pick another one."

"It's too high, you can't reach it, can you?"

Grandma Gu was a little tempted, and she couldn't take her eyes off the pomegranate.

Gu Bin said it beautifully: "If Grandma wants to eat it, we'll pick it down no matter how high it is."

Grandma Gu was indeed very happy to hear this, and the sadness she felt when she first entered the door was swept away.

Do you have a stool?

Wu Meng seized the opportunity to chime in: "It's easier to pick them if you step on them."

"Need not."

Gu Bin took a few steps back, preparing to run up and jump.

Be careful.

Grandma Gu looked at the still unmelted snow and said with concern, "There's snow on the ground, it's very slippery, don't fall."

"Pfft."

Upon hearing the words "snow," Gu Bin couldn't help but recall the scene from yesterday. He couldn't help but laugh when he thought of Lin Xiyu holding pomegranates, looking disheveled in the wind.

"You kid."

Grandma Gu, unaware of the situation, smiled and scolded, "I told you to be careful, what are you grinning about?"

"nothing."

In front of outsiders, Gu Bin chose to keep the beautiful memories to himself.

"Let me get you a stool."

Wu Meng, being very perceptive, put down the glass, ran into the living room, and soon brought out a stool, handing it to Gu Bin.

"Thanks."

Gu Bin did not refuse her kindness and tentatively reached out his hand while standing on a stool.

The pomegranate hung on the topmost branch, a little distance from his fingertips.

"Use a fire hook."

Grandma Gu had a sudden inspiration and instructed her son to do something: "Go to the kitchen and get the fire hook for Xiaobin."

"I'll go."

Wu Meng rushed to speak and quickly ran over to hand the fire hook to Gu Bin.

With the fire hook, things were much more convenient. Gu Bin hooked the branch and pulled it down forcefully.

Taking advantage of his height, the eldest uncle reached out and grabbed the pomegranate, tearing it off along with its withered branches and leaves.

"There are two more, let's pull them down together."

Gu Bin thought that Lin Xiyu and Xiao Ruirui also liked to eat it, so he hooked another branch.

All three pomegranates were picked, and Grandma Gu held them in her hands, smiling happily.

-

The living room window was broken. Gu Bin didn't have time to catch up with his grandmother. After picking pomegranates, he immediately put the glass back in place.

He wedged nails into the window frame to secure the glass, then evenly applied a layer of putty around the window frame, and a brand new pane of glass was installed.

Wu Meng served him diligently, doing a lot of work for him. After finishing installing the glass, she gracefully took her leave.

After Wu Meng left, Gu Bin finally had time to tell his grandmother everything that had happened in the United States.

When Grandma Gu heard the details of her daughter's suicide, she cried so hard that she almost fainted.

Fearing that the old lady would be too heartbroken, Gu Bin deliberately changed the subject, telling her that his elder brother had entrusted his son to him and that he would live with the couple from now on.

When Grandma Gu first heard about this, she was so shocked that she forgot to cry. It took her a long time to come back to her senses. The joy of seeing her great-grandson soon overshadowed the grief of losing her daughter.

-

Lin Xiyu spent the morning playing with Xiao Ruirui at Grandma Hu's house. When it was time to go home and cook lunch, she reluctantly said goodbye and left.

Before leaving, Grandma Hu insisted on giving Xiao Rui Rui a hundred yuan as a New Year's gift. Lin Xi Yu couldn't refuse, so she had to accept it on his behalf.

Little Rui Rui really likes Grandma Hu. When asked if he wanted to come again, the little guy nodded vigorously, making Grandma Hu beam with joy.

After leaving Grandma Hu's house, the aunt and nephew strolled around Furong Street for a while and bought a braised chicken and six freshly baked pepper and salt sesame cakes.