Chapter 82: Chapter 82: The Beauty of Imagination
Mr. Gu and Mrs. Gu’s cotton-padded jackets were sent back by Gu Ruhai that day, along with five yuan for their retirement. This year’s grain had already been sold.
The grain payment had come in two days prior. In previous years, Mr. Gu would have already brought Mrs. Gu and Gu Rushan to visit by this time, but there had been no movement recently, probably because they were stunned by Gu Ruhai’s last words.
So Li Xuemei asked Gu Ruhai to deliver it, to avoid the old couple coming to make trouble.
Carrying the two soft and thick cotton-padded jackets and the five yuan in his arms, Gu Ruhai felt warm inside.
His wife being so filial made his heart warm too.
He thought that if the old man and lady saw these clothes, maybe their faces would improve a bit, and they might be a little more lenient toward him. At least they shouldn’t come with a scolding demeanor.
He felt a little better inside.
Gu Ruhai still harbored hopes for the love from his father and mother that had been missing for many years, likely until his death.
He knocked on the door and heard Mr. Gu’s voice from inside.
"Who is it?"
"Dad, it’s Ruhai."
Hearing his father’s voice, Gu Ruhai didn’t know why he suddenly felt guilty, as if he was a child facing his parents’ every demand, always afraid to go back.
That feeling seemed to have returned.
But thinking about the warm kang, his three obedient children, his gentle wife, and the big tile-roofed house, Gu Ruhai seemed to regain the courage that had vanished for a moment.
The door opened, and Mr. Gu beckoned Gu Ruhai to come in.
Gu Ruhai closed the door and followed the old man inside.
As soon as he entered, he saw Gu Ruhe sitting on the kang next to Mrs. Gu.
Wearing a pair of wide-framed glasses, he looked cultured, but there was impatience and a hint of sharpness in those cultured eyes.
This was the third son of the Gu Family, Gu Ruhe, also the apple of Mrs. Gu’s eye.
On the table were a bowl of stewed meat, a bowl of scrambled eggs, five or six white steamed buns, and a pot of millet porridge, all steaming hot.
It looked like they were about to have a meal.
Mrs. Gu, upon seeing Gu Ruhai, immediately narrowed her eyes and her face sank. She snorted through her nose.
She didn’t even ask Gu Ruhai a question; instead, she handed the chopsticks to Gu Ruhe and warmly said, "Eat, eat, third son. How is town life? Your wife isn’t giving you a hard time, is she? Why don’t you bring Xiaofeng back? We haven’t seen them for a long time."
She completely ignored Gu Ruhai.
Treated him like he was invisible.
Gu Ruhai felt uncomfortable, but he was used to Mrs. Gu’s differential treatment and didn’t mind anymore.
Even if he minded, what could he do? At most, he’d be hurt, but no one would care or pay attention.
Perhaps his youngest daughter was right: the only ones who really cared were his children and his wife; no one else ever paid attention to him, so why should he be sad?
Mr. Gu, however, addressed him, "Eldest son, come sit over here and eat a bit."
Before Gu Ruhai could shake his head, Mrs. Gu spoke up, "Are you full from eating? Can’t even close your mouth with hot food. Don’t you see he’s wealthy now, with father-in-law supporting him? Do you think he’d fancy our food? Just eat your food and stop talking nonsense."
Saying that, she gave Gu Ruhe a big piece of stewed meat and stuffed a white steamed bun into his hand.
Gu Ruhai shook his head, smiling bitterly, "Dad, Mom, you eat. Xuemei made two cotton-padded jackets for you. Seeing that the weather is getting colder, she asked me to bring them over. You two can see if they fit. If not, she can alter them."
Then he handed over the bundle, placing it on the edge of the kang.
After all, she’s his mother; he had no choice.
So many years haven’t changed; would one attitude switch things up?
He hadn’t hoped, so he didn’t care about those feelings.
Mr. Gu, however, spoke kindly, "Then sit down. There’s tobacco over there; roll one for yourself; we’re fine."
Mr. Gu had thought a lot recently. He didn’t want to push his eldest son away, as in many matters, the eldest was steadier, and there were benefits to being honest. If he ever fell ill in the future, perhaps only the eldest could be relied upon.
Gu Ruhai responded, then sat on the stool by the door and started rolling tobacco.
Mrs. Gu shot a glance at Gu Ruhai, then relaxed her ferocious face, smiling at Gu Ruhe, "Eat more, eat more."
Gu Ruhe didn’t mind, took big bites of the bun with stewed meat, slurping millet porridge, enjoying his meal with gusto. This was a long-established routine, one Gu Ruhe was accustomed to.
Basically, this form of interaction had been like this for many years, and nobody found it strange or problematic.
Gu Ruhe even felt somewhat superior, a sentiment given to him by his parents over the years.
He seemed to enjoy this extraordinary position very much.
On one side, the lively meal continued, while Mrs. Gu eagerly attended to her youngest son, wishing she could give all the good food to Gu Ruhe.
On the other, Gu Ruhai silently smoked, thinking of the cheerful laughter of his children at home, his stomach growling involuntarily.
Startled, Gu Ruhai glanced covertly at Mrs. Gu and Mr. Gu, relieved no one noticed him.
Bitter feelings rose within him.
He seemed like an invisible person there.
Finally, after the meal was finished and the kang table cleared, Mr. Gu, Mrs. Gu, and Gu Ruhe sat there.
Then Gu Ruhai stood up and pushed the bundle over.
"Dad, Mom, see if they fit?"
Then he took out the five yuan from his pocket, placed it on the kang in front of Mr. Gu, and said, "Dad, this is this year’s pension money, please keep it safe."
Then he stood there, silent and expressionless.
Mr. Gu smiled and said, "Sure, sure, they must fit. Xuemei is skillful. No rush with the money; if you need it urgently, keep it for now. Your mom and I have money."
This was probably the nicest thing Mr. Gu had ever said, leaving Gu Ruhai so moved he didn’t know what to do.
Such treatment had never been given before. Either it was divine intervention or he had hearing problems.
Mrs. Gu, however, was unhappy, snatching the five yuan from the kang and stuffing it into her pocket, grumbling, "You think you’re rich? He’s got money now, backed by his father-in-law, and doesn’t need this bit of money. I say, eldest son, you’ve got rich, yet you give your parents so little money, isn’t that ungrateful?"
How did the topic turn this way?
A chill crept into Gu Ruhai’s heart, realizing there weren’t such good things after all.
He had been too optimistic.
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Thank you to reader kinkikids520 for the reward.