Chapter 67: Chapter 67: No Peace
Before it was dark, Gu Juying and Gu Xiaoqing returned.
On the way, Gu Juying didn’t stop criticizing Gu Xiaoqing, "You’re too discouraging. You won’t even let me live, won’t even give me a chance to show off a bit. I’ve got to hand it to you."
Gu Xiaoqing kept smiling apologetically, not intending to discourage anyone, nor to be called a monster, but there really wasn’t much skill involved in bicycling.
You just learn it and that’s that.
She didn’t want to spend too much effort on it anyway.
So, she displayed a genius-at-work appearance.
"It’s just that you explained everything so clearly and in such detail. If I still didn’t understand, wouldn’t that waste all your effort? I was just thinking hard about what you taught me and as I rode, I learned it.
Isn’t it good that I learned? In the future, I’ll take you along so that you won’t be so exhausted every day."
Quickly placing a big hat on Gu Juying’s head, otherwise, this aunt would feel quite unbalanced.
Actually, Gu Juying is really nice, always eager to help others, a model of righteousness. If you suddenly take away her chance to help, the disparity she feels is quite big.
As soon as Gu Juying heard this, she immediately became happy.
She nodded and boasted everywhere, saying, "Of course, who do you think taught you? It was me, the genius Gu Juying. It seems I also have potential to be a teacher. My first student turned out this outstanding. I should go home and brag to my mom, preventing her from always complaining that I’m not doing proper work."
Happily waving at Gu Xiaoqing, she rode back home.
Gu Xiaoqing also headed home.
Walking to the doorstep, she saw that the door was already open.
When Gu Xiaoqing left, she had shut the door, leaving a small gap for Xiao Jie to come and go conveniently.
Seems like Li Xuemei and Gu Ruhai are back.
Entering inside for a look, indeed, they were.
Unexpectedly, there were three more people.
Gu Xiaoqing’s arrival caught the attention of everyone in the courtyard.
It was Mr. Gu, Mrs. Gu, and Gu Rushan.
Gu Xiaoqing opened the door wide, as it wasn’t late yet, doing so also served to intimidate Gu Rushan a bit.
In Gu Xiaoqing’s mind, their visit this time was surely not for a good reason.
Most likely Gu Rushan was up to some trick again.
One could easily guess Gu Rushan’s nonsense.
Wasn’t it just because there was no free labor to help Gu Rushan with his harvest?
That’s why they came.
But manners were still required. Gu Xiaoqing stepped forward to greet Mr. and Mrs. Gu, "Grandpa, Grandma, you’ve come, and second uncle, you also came, not too busy, I see."
Then she diligently fetched stools for Mr. and Mrs. Gu, but as for Gu Rushan, forget it. There were only two stools anyway, and they were three-legged ones, and I bet the second uncle wouldn’t dare sit on them.
If he fell and got hurt, that would be her fault.
Meanwhile, Li Xuemei and Gu Ruhai had finished tidying up, and Gu Ruhai came over to greet the elderly couple.
Li Xuemei washed her hands and went into the kitchen as it was about to get dark.
Farmers couldn’t bear the expense of those few degrees of electricity.
They saved every bit they could.
So, Li Xuemei and Gu Xiaoying were busy cooking.
Gu Xiaoqing obediently stood by her father and deftly rolled cigarettes for Gu Ruhai.
Mr. Gu noticed Gu Xiaoqing wasn’t planning to leave, which made him a little upset.
This oldest one, how did they raise their kids to be so tactless?
Don’t they see grown-ups are talking, where’s the place for kids to listen in?
Mrs. Gu, naturally most familiar with her husband’s temperament, immediately put on a stern face and said in a low voice to Gu Xiaoqing, "Xiaoqing, go play elsewhere. We’re talking to your dad, and it’s not appropriate for a child to stay here."
Her tone was already very kind compared to before; it could be considered quite gentle from the previous stance.
Gu Xiaoqing, still naive, looked up and said, "Grandpa, Grandma, you talk, I’m just rolling cigarettes for my dad. They’re all from yesterday for him. I roll them in advance so he won’t miss out when he goes out. He’s so busy he doesn’t even have time to drink a sip of water, let alone roll a cigarette."
Then she lowered her head and continued her cigarette-rolling enterprise.
Mrs. Gu’s triangular eyes almost seemed to spit fire out of anger.
But she knew this wasn’t the time to haggle over such things. Remembering the purpose of her visit today, she managed to hold back her anger.
Speaking gently to Gu Ruhai, "Oldest, I heard you and your wife are doing business?"
Gu Ruhai nodded, feeling tense inside. Gu Xiaoqing and Li Xuemei had both given him a heads-up about the business matters, teaching him what to say just in case Mr. and Mrs. Gu came looking for them.
"Yes, there’s only a little money in the household all year. Xiao Jie is about to go to school, and whether we say it or not, the kids are growing up, and Xiaoying should be considering marriage, which all needs money. Since idle at home is still being idle, later Xiaoqing’s grandpa mentioned a craft passed down in the family. Seeing how we’re struggling, he let us make a small business for a living to supplement household expenses, so the kids don’t suffer."
These words were pre-arranged.
Gu Ruhai recited smoothly; after being nagged at the ear every day, even if he wasn’t smooth initially, it became smooth.
Moreover, these few days, Gu Ruhai had changed a bit, at least when doing business outside, he dared to shout out loud, and when facing people, he wasn’t so shy and timid.
This also allowed him to face Mr. and Mrs. Gu without panicking.
Mr. Gu shook his head, this kid was just too honest.
Doing business wasn’t that easy.
The Li Family didn’t do it themselves but let you do it. Wasn’t it because they were afraid of losing money and had you act as the guinea pig?
Mrs. Gu instantly got anxious upon hearing this. She slapped her thigh, hopped off her small feet, and pointed at Gu Ruhai’s nose, scolding him.
"You idiot, you’re sticking your neck out like that? What kind of people are the Li Family? They’re all slippery and cunning, harboring several tricks in their minds. You think you can outsmart them? It’s not even paying to get cheated and still count money for them.
Is doing business that easy? You stop that business right away and come back honestly, or you’ll lose what little money you do have."
Gu Ruhai’s face turned black with anger.
But it was his own mother; he couldn’t do anything about it.
He could only lean sideways to avoid Mrs. Gu’s spit.
Awkwardly explaining on the side, "Mom, please stop saying that. Father-in-law’s family treats me well; none of them have it in their minds to harm me. They genuinely look out for me."
It would have been better if he hadn’t said that; saying it only ignited even more of Mrs. Gu’s fury.