Free Web NovelChapter 293: Chapter 293: Worry
"Your father is thinking about this family," Liu Yun didn’t know what to say; both hands are like meat, and her son’s future is quite important as well.
"Don’t worry, your brother still needs your support in the future. Your father won’t ignore your matters."
An Tong fell silent, anyway, every time this topic came up, it always ended without a result.
"Quick, eat a few more pieces, and wrap up the rest to leave for your brother," Liu Yun couldn’t bring herself to take more and started busying herself.
The pastries she used to disdain, she now couldn’t bear to eat another piece, which was somewhat laughable when she thought about it.
For some reason, she thought of Bai Suihe again, also a daughter-in-law of the Gu Family. Looking at her life, was it because of her family’s support?
This was probably only a small part of it. Gu Kaiyuan’s behavior along the way, though mocked by others as a freeloader afraid of his wife, was the kind of husband she wanted too.
Clearly, they are both members of the Gu Family, so why is the gap so wide?
An Tong was half-full, looking at the meat and dried vegetables in the pot with disdain, "Mother, do you really think grandfather has no silver?"
Now, he’s actually urging family members to go up the mountain to collect firewood. Is the Gu Family’s life really so destitute?
"Previously, the clan leader called your grandfather over, probably gave him some silver again..."
"That’s simply a bottomless pit, grandfather is really confused."
"Your grandfather is not confused, he’s driven to desperation.
He doesn’t dare gamble now. If he angers the clan people again, and the clan leader really hardens his heart to expel us from the clan, it would bring disaster to three generations of descendants."
...
That day, the Gu Family, young and old, braved the cold wind and snow to haul load after load of firewood from the mountain.
At first, the family felt a bit too ashamed, but when they saw other families doing the same, especially Chen Dafu, who brought out his entire family and even set a rule for them—everyone was responsible for their part of the mountain, no one could snatch from another.
Because if the dead branches at the bottom of the mountain were picked clean, they would have to go higher up the mountain.
Never mind the difficulty, there were also many dangers in the mountains.
Anyway, everyone’s in the same situation now. No one laughed at anyone. Occasionally, when they met on the way, they would stop to rest and chat for a bit.
"Don’t talk to Chen Dafu too much," Gu Baijiang saw all of this and warned.
"Chen Dafu is quite nice. Earlier when I stopped to rest, I couldn’t lift the load, and he taught me how to use skill." Gu Kaiping was a little puzzled, "Dad, did you have a conflict with Mr. Chen before?"
"What conflict did I have with him? At most some verbal disputes." Gu Baijiang knew he was not well-connected and didn’t dare to offend people lightly in the court.
"Since there’s no conflict, there’s no need to be wary of him," Gu Kaiping heaved a sigh of relief, "I just had a chat with Mr. Chen, I found him quite wise and thorough in analysis.
It’s a pity I didn’t know before, otherwise I would have visited him often for guidance."
"Guidance on what? But there is one thing you could learn from him," Gu Baijiang said a bit sarcastically, hearing his eldest son praise others in front of him, "His frugal and money-gathering nature is definitely something you should learn.
If you could learn half of his skills, I wouldn’t worry about you suffering losses in the future."
...
☆
Bai Suihe didn’t sleep well that night, waking up several times, seeing the empty space at the foot of the bed, feeling not just worried but also a bit disappointed.
She didn’t know when it happened, but she had unconsciously gotten used to Gu Kaiyuan’s company.
This time he went into the deep forests, fortunately, it’s winter, so the snakes, insects, rats, and mosquitoes would be hiding.
Thinking of those people in later generations who want to return to nature, fantasizing about pastoral life, if really made to return to the countryside, how many could genuinely stay for long?
Once spring arrives, this Lingnan is a paradise for snakes, insects, rats, and mosquitoes. By that time, those pastoral dreams would just be seeing flowers in the mist, catching the moon in the water, ultimately defeated by reality.
Of course, if you have a strong economic foundation, this wouldn’t be a problem.
Listening to the rustling outside, Bai Suihe turned over again, this sound making it even harder for her to sleep.
In such cold weather, she wondered about Gu Kaiyuan in the mountains.
If he couldn’t find anything and didn’t return, it would be like risking his own life.
Living near the mountains, she often heard strange sounds from the mountains after nightfall. Gu Kaiyuan said there were many wild animals, and once they had time, they would go up to clean them out.
But this time, he only took Zhuang Datou with him, she wasn’t sure if they’d manage.
Especially with those two villagers, they might just be a burden in real trouble.
Bai Suihe couldn’t lie still anymore, so she swayed into the space.
The fragrance of the fruits there slowly calmed her emotions.
She couldn’t sleep either, so without anyone to restrain her actions, she simply made herself a steaming hot pot, but once it was ready, she had no appetite.
"I really am quite ill," Bai Suihe muttered, then returned to the room, everything around was quiet, so she simply lay on the bed, starting to count stars in her mind.
☆
By noon the next day, Bai Suihe was considering seeking help since they hadn’t returned yet.
She was thinking about asking the Gu Family people. Before she could leave, she heard a knock on the door.
"The son-in-law is back," hearing the joyful call from the front, Bai Suihe quickly walked forward, with Dongmei and Chunxiang hurrying to follow.
The door that was tightly closed was now open, and Gu Kaiyuan stood there with Zhuang Datou, looking disheveled.
Bai Suihe saw them covered in blood, with clothes torn beyond recognition, and rushed forward, "What happened? Are you hurt?"
Gu Kaiyuan glanced at Huang Pingguo, this guy really didn’t handle things well, not realizing this would alarm Bai Suihe.
But now that it happened, he could only teach him slowly later. He quickly took a few steps forward, stopped a few meters from Bai Suihe, and said, "Don’t come near me, I’m not hurt, but I’m soaked through. Prepare some hot water for us."
Only then did Bai Suihe notice that their clothes had frozen into icy lumps, "Hurry, Chunxiang, boil more water quickly.
Don’t worry about anything else, just get inside, the bed is warm."
After the three men tidied up and each ate a large bowl of noodles, they finally felt somewhat recovered.
"Why are you in such a sorry state?" Bai Suihe asked worriedly.
"It’s even colder up the mountain than down here, the snow was over our knees."
Gu Kaiyuan warming himself with hot water, was finally able to eat something hot, slowly warming up.
"The trees deep in the mountains were all frozen, and slowly we turned into ice people ourselves. We slipped all the way, that’s why our clothes were torn.
The mountains aren’t to be entered until spring."
