Chapter 101: Chapter 101: Mr. Gu’s Heart Races
While they were speaking, Mr. Gu slowly walked over from the village with his hands behind his back.
Gu Xiaoqing was the first to see him.
She tugged at Li Xuemei and then ran up to greet him, "Grandpa, you’re here."
Mr. Gu smiled kindly and responded, walking over.
Li Xuemei quickly walked over as well, "Dad, you’re here, be careful where you step, there’s a lot of debris."
Mr. Gu grunted, stepping over a few pieces of broken mud as he approached.
His eyes met Li Qinghai’s, who was his in-law.
Li Qinghai greeted him first, being in-laws, even if he didn’t think much of Mr. Gu, he had to be a bit warm.
"Oh, in-law, you came over. Come, let’s go inside and have a seat. It’s chaotic here, watch your step with all the dirt lumps."
As he spoke, he took Mr. Gu’s hand warmly, which made Gu Xiaoqing get goosebumps momentarily.
This grandpa really knew how to put on a show.
Comparison really is the thief of joy.
Her little bit of experience was nothing compared to her grandpa’s skill.
Mr. Gu felt somewhat embarrassed. His son was building a house, and none of his family turned up; initially, he didn’t know, later he didn’t believe it, and now he came to have a look only to find out it was true.
These days, people in the village are all talking about Gu Ruhai building a house. They’ve even discussed with the team leader about borrowing the rundown kiln dwelling, and a lot of red bricks, sand, and cement have been brought into Gu Ruhai’s courtyard.
But at first, not to mention Mr. Gu and Mrs. Gu didn’t believe it, no one in the Gu Family believed it.
Gu Rushan absolutely refused to believe it.
The big tile-roofed house of their own was built five years ago, and it cost two thousand yuan at that time. Much of it was saved by Gu Rushan himself, cheekily pestering Mr. Gu, leveraging Gu Xiaocheng as leverage. Mr. Gu and Mrs. Gu contributed a portion, some borrowed from Gu Ruhai, and the rest was gathered by Jiang Caifa, Jiang Xiulan’s eldest brother.
Because of this, Jiang Xiulan didn’t spare Gu Rushan the attitude for quite a while, and it took several years to finally pay off that part of the debt.
Now the news from Gu Ruhai was that he was going to build a house, a brick house no less, Gu Rushan found it laughable and didn’t believe it. In the past five years, the cost of building a house has increased significantly. Now a row of five big tile-roofed rooms would cost at least three thousand yuan; adding in food and various miscellaneous expenses, it would require at least another three or two hundred yuan.
Gu Ruhai didn’t have that capability.
It’s not that Gu Rushan looked down on Gu Ruhai; it’s just that the impression Gu Ruhai left on everyone over the past forty years was that of a straightforward farmer with no great skills.
Even though now it’s the year of contracting to households, it’s only been a year. Relying solely on farming to build a house, it was utterly impossible for Gu Ruhai.
Yes, now Gu Ruhai was doing some business.
But in Gu Rushan’s eyes, it was just petty earning for pocket money; saving three thousand yuan from business was out of the question.
Gu Rushan didn’t believe it.
His parents also had no money to support Gu Ruhai. Supporting Gu Xiaocheng, supporting Gu Ruhe, he would believe, but supporting Gu Ruhai? He wouldn’t buy it.
Gu Rushan knew his parents’ minds better than anyone; otherwise, he wouldn’t dare to be so arrogant, relying on the glory of Gu Xiaocheng.
Having one educated person in the family made a significant difference.
Who wouldn’t hope that after Gu Xiaocheng returns, he could have a decent job and reign in Gu Family Village?
So, Mr. Gu and Gu Rushan had discussed it and didn’t take it seriously, estimating that maybe Gu Ruhai just wanted to do some renovations. After all, that house of Gu Ruhai couldn’t last long, and they would look bad not helping out as brothers.
Thus, Gu Rushan went back to his in-laws with Jiang Xiulan these days, planning not to help. It also seemed reasonable.
On the surface, they claimed Jiang Xiulan’s parents were feeling unwell and wanted their daughter back for a while.
Mr. Gu didn’t come over early today; he waited until the evening to take a look around, at least so the villagers would see that he didn’t neglect his eldest.
But upon arriving, Mr. Gu felt uneasy.
He wasn’t mistaken, was he?
The house was completely gone, leaving only a big pit on the ground. If he couldn’t recognize it as a foundation, then his lifetime would have been for naught.
His heart seemed a little restless.
As he looked at the place, Mr. Gu felt a wave of dizziness, tightly gripping Li Qinghai’s arm, and turned to ask Li Xuemei, "The eldest isn’t here?"
Li Xuemei was collecting the workers’ empty bowls and chopsticks, placing them in a big basin, as she answered Mr. Gu, "Dad, the eldest and Xiao Ying went to the town for business; at this time, they should be coming back. You should meet them if you go home."
She said no more.
Mr. Gu pointed to the foundation on the open space, his fingers trembling a bit, and asked in disbelief, "What is this....?"
Li Xuemei and Gu Xiaoqing gathered the empty basins and prepared to take them back for washing, knowing there were still days ahead.
"Dad, we’re building a house here. Knowing the second and third are busy, we didn’t call them over and interrupted their affairs. We’re sending these back; Dad, you come to our house with me and my father, have a chat with the eldest when he’s back."
After speaking, she and Gu Xiaoqing carried the big basin away, with little-footed Li Zhaodi following along.
Mr. Gu felt that his heart wasn’t quite right.
How did his eldest quietly start building a house?
This........
Li Qinghai noticed Mr. Gu’s face flushed, slightly breathless, worrying that the old man couldn’t withstand such a shock and falling ill wouldn’t be good.
Moreover, although Feng Zhihai’s construction team had retreated to the courtyard to rest and wash up, many eyes were still observing here, curious about who the old man was.
Not wanting to disgrace Gu Ruhai, he pulled Mr. Gu along, saying, "Come on, in-law."
Mr. Gu, feeling a bit dizzy and distracted, attempted to decline, "In-law, another day perhaps, I’m feeling unwell, quite a painful discomfort, likely caught a chill last night."
Finding it inappropriate to persist, Li Qinghai released him, comforting, "Alright then, head back and have a rest, let Gu Ruhai come check on you tonight."
Mr. Gu made some excuses, "You see, in-law, you came all the way, and I’m sick at this moment, really, I owe you an apology."
Understandingly, Li Qinghai smiled, "Health is important, as you say, health above all, take good care."
Quickly disappearing into the night, Mr. Gu hurriedly left as if escaping.