CHAPTER 33: CHAPTER 33: SIT DOWN

Gu Ruhai greeted with a smile: "No big deal, just visiting, just visiting."

Gu Ruhai still cared somewhat about the Gu Family’s reputation, so he spoke with restraint.

However, everyone in the village was sharp, who didn’t know that from this direction, he was obviously going to Gu Rushan’s house?

Still, no one exposed it, after all, blood still binds you together.

No matter what, they are family.

This makes sense.

They got through it with laughter along the way.

Gu Ruhai and Gu Xiaoqing reached Gu Rushan’s doorstep.

Five spacious, neat blue-brick tiled houses and a solid big red-painted iron gate, it was one of the wealthiest houses in the village.

At this time, the gate of Gu Rushan’s house was open, and there was no one at the entrance.

Gu Ruhai led Gu Xiaoqing inside, but paused and turned to Gu Xiaoqing saying, "Later, don’t speak so harshly. After all, they’re your second uncle and aunt. If we can avoid falling out, let’s not fall out, we’re family in the end."

He still cherished brotherly feelings for his younger brother.

Gu Xiaoqing nodded in agreement: "I know, Dad, I’m not reckless. As long as Second Uncle and Auntie settle things calmly, how could I trouble Uncle and Auntie?"

Gu Xiaoqing inwardly complained that surely in your eyes, I’m not more intimidating than Uncle and Auntie. You’re not thinking of protecting your daughter, but rather Uncle’s family.

Ah, it seems the path to change is long ahead.

This isn’t something that can be changed overnight.

Upon entering Gu Rushan’s yard, it was tidy and quiet, with only a few hens clucking for food.

Gu Xiaoqing saw this and shouted loudly, "Uncle, Aunt, are you home?"

A curtain swished open, and a sharp voice came out.

"Yo, who is it?"

Gu Xiaoqing didn’t need to look to know it was her own scheming Aunt Jiang Xiulan, a capable but devious woman in the village.

Had Aunt Jiang Xiulan not sought to secure a good job for Gu Xiaocheng by currying favor with the head of the county’s transportation company, trying to get Gu Xiaocheng a clerk job...

Then the transportation company head wouldn’t have asked Aunt Jiang to find a bride for a lame nephew in the village, and Aunt Jiang wouldn’t have set her sights on her elder sister Gu Xiaoying.

Back then, Gu Xiaoying was the same as now, not particularly good-looking, mainly because the family’s conditions were too poor, the food wasn’t nutritious enough, and none of them were healthy, all skinny and dark.

How could anyone find that appealing?

With faces showing signs of malnutrition, it was impossible to look good.

However, she was still an eighteen-year-old maiden, and through Aunt Jiang Xiulan’s silver tongue, sweet-talking and convincing her parents that it was a good match, married off Gu Xiaoying to that fifteen-years-older cripple.

In exchange, Gu Xiaocheng got the clerical job at the transportation company, disgracefully, Aunt Jiang boasted everywhere about them stepping in because they couldn’t bear to see the kids starving.

Also bragging about how capable and talented their Gu Xiaocheng was to get a clerk job at the transportation company.

Who would know that it was at the cost of Gu Xiaoying’s happiness?

Seeing this woman, Gu Xiaoqing really felt like biting her.

This time, in her reincarnation, Gu Xiaoqing wanted to see what tricks this woman could still pull off.

"Auntie, it’s my dad and me."

Gu Xiaoqing maintained her polite façade well.

The main gate was wide open, and everyone knew about yesterday’s events. Even those who didn’t would likely know today. Who knows how many eyes were watching in secret?

One couldn’t afford to let others find fault in their manners publicly; a good reputation would help garner support in the village.

She couldn’t let Auntie find any fault first.

Jiang Xiulan came out, and upon seeing Gu Ruhai and Gu Xiaoqing, immediately put on a smile, though it clearly didn’t reach her eyes, which were cold and contemptuous.

This was due to the annoyance and resentment after hearing what happened yesterday.

"Yo, Big Brother, how come you have time to visit?"

She didn’t invite them to sit, just stood there as if she intended to see them out immediately.

Gu Xiaoqing saw this and hurriedly fetched a stool from the hallway, placing it near the gate for Gu Ruhai, cheerfully saying, "Dad, your leg isn’t doing well and has been hurting. Sit down and talk to Uncle and Auntie. Otherwise, people might say Uncle isn’t even willing to let you sit, and that misunderstanding wouldn’t be good."

Gu Ruhai was puzzled; when had he had leg pain? But seeing Gu Xiaoqing’s wide, blinking eyes, he knew he ought to listen to his daughter, who had more capability and ideas than he did.

So he walked over and sat.

Conveniently meeting the gaze of the four or five people watching from across, he awkwardly smiled, wondering why Xiaoqing moved the stool so far. This is so close to the gate, wasn’t everything audible?

Gu Ruhai didn’t know it was intentional on Gu Xiaoqing’s part. She knew perfectly well Uncle and Aunt cared about face, a weak point because of Gu Xiaocheng’s reputation in the village, even though everyone was aware, publicly everyone still rated Gu Rushan highly.

After all, who knows what happens privately in anyone’s house?

Jiang Xiulan didn’t expect her usually dull brother to really sit, so there was more to come.

Looking at the gazes peeking in from the gate, she knew she couldn’t say much.

"Is Uncle home? He said he’d be coming by today to collect the money,"

Gu Ruhai spoke honestly.

Jiang Xiulan was inwardly furious.

Gu Rushan had bragged just this morning that surely nothing would come of this, reassuring Jiang Xiulan.

Reassure my foot, see their brother in law publicly asking for money, essentially making Gu Xiaocheng lose face.

Annoyed but not able to show it on her face.

She could only shout into the house bitterly, "Gu Rushan, you’re being called."

Then patting her apron, she sat in the hallway and began shelling corn cobs.

Gu Rushan was late coming out, pulling the curtain, and upon seeing Gu Ruhai in front of his door, his heart skipped a beat. Damn, big brother really came to get the money.