Free Web NovelChapter 36: Chapter 36: Maternal Uncle
"Oh, and one more thing. For the next few days, you’ll need to give them a ride when you leave in the morning. Don’t forget and leave by yourself, or they’ll be late for work and school. But don’t worry, this will only be for a few days. Your sister probably won’t be able to work at the supply and marketing co-op next month anyway."
"Do you even need to tell me to give them a ride to town? Don’t worry, I’ll be responsible for taking them there and back during this time." Zhang Wei Qiang found it a bit unnecessary that his mother had to specifically instruct him on this, thinking she was being overly cautious. ’They’re my own sister and niece, not strangers. Why is she acting so formal, as if she’s worried I’ll find it a hassle?’
"That’s good, then." Wen Xiu was relieved to get her eldest son’s promise. ’I knew my boy was a good person.’
"Since you’re going to find those people from the Gu family tomorrow, I’ll take the day off and go with you. What time are you leaving the house? Let’s set a time and meet at the post office entrance." Hearing that his parents were going to find the Gu family, Zhang Wei Qiang said without a second thought. He’d even heard that his little sister’s mother-in-law and sister-in-law were unreasonable. His presence would be a deterrent; at the very least, he wouldn’t have to worry about his parents being bullied.
"We’ll leave around the same time as you. We should arrive within the hour. By then, you’ll have taken your leave from work, and it’ll be the perfect time for us to meet up." Wen Xiu thought for a moment before adding, "Minzhen will also take the day off."
"Alright, I got it. It’s settled then," Zhang Wei Qiang nodded.
"I’ll go with you tomorrow," Lin Qin interjected, analyzing the situation calmly. "If a fight breaks out, it’s not convenient for Dad and Qiangzi to scuffle with them since they’re men. And Little Sis isn’t divorced yet, so if she starts a physical fight with her mother-in-law now, it won’t look good to others and could hurt her reputation. If I’m there, I can back up Mom and make sure she doesn’t get the short end of the stick."
She knew how much Zhang Wei Qiang valued his parents and family, especially his much younger sister, whom he doted on like a daughter. Love me, love my dog—she naturally had to value the people her husband held dear.
"Good. It’s getting late, and we all have to get up early tomorrow. Everyone go back and get some sleep now." Wen Xiu gave her daughter-in-law a satisfied glance.
"Thank you, Sister-in-law." Zhang Minzhen’s eyes grew moist, her gaze toward Lin Qin filled with gratitude.
"We’re all family, what’s there to thank?" Zhang Wei Qiang was also extremely pleased with his wife, shooting her an appreciative glance. He instinctively reached out, wanting to pat his little sister’s head like he did when they were children, but stopped halfway, realizing the gesture was no longer appropriate. He hesitated, then pulled his hand back.
"Mhm." Zhang Minzhen gave him and Lin Qin a shy, sweet smile.
Early the next morning, Gu Nuan Nuan groggily felt someone shaking her. Having not been woken up this way in many years, she couldn’t help but frown. She felt dazed, overcome by a disorienting feeling of not knowing where she was.
"Nuannuan, wake up! If you don’t get up, your uncle will leave without you, and then we’ll see if you don’t start crying." Zhang Minzhen thought her daughter’s little face, all scrunched up like a grown-up’s, was especially adorable and couldn’t resist teasing her.
"Uncle—"
Gu Nuan Nuan snapped awake and scrambled out of bed. The first thing she saw was her mother’s smiling face.
"Mom, did you see Uncle last night?" Gu Nuan Nuan asked nervously.
"Of course I did. Don’t worry, your uncle will definitely wait to leave with you." Zhang Minzhen was in a good mood when talking about her eldest brother. She stood up, grabbed both of their toothbrushes, and headed outside. "Hurry up and get dressed, then come to the kitchen to wash up. I’m going to help Grandma cook."
"Okay, Mom." ’So yesterday wasn’t a dream after all.’
Gu Nuan Nuan hugged her clothes and began to smile foolishly. As she smiled, tears streamed down her face. There was no one else in the room, so her tears fell all the more freely.
After finally managing to stop her tears, she walked out of the room. In the courtyard, by the well, she immediately saw her uncle splashing his face with a handful of water.
’A lifetime has passed. We haven’t seen each other in decades, yet the feeling my uncle gives me is still so familiar and warm.’
Her tears welled up again in an instant.
Zhang Wei Qiang felt a gaze fixed on him. He turned and saw Gu Nuan Nuan staring at him, her face covered in tears. Her eyes held an immense, bewildering sorrow that puzzled him. He froze for a moment, assuming his niece was heartbroken over her parents’ issues. A pang of sadness hit him, followed by another wave of anger at what Gu Lihui had done. Wiping the water from his face with one hand, he strode over, squatted down, and patted Gu Nuan Nuan’s head. "There, there, Nuannuan. Don’t cry."
Gu Nuan Nuan threw herself into Zhang Wei Qiang’s arms, hugging him tightly. "Uncle, I missed you! I missed you so, so much."
"Uncle missed Nuannuan too." Holding Gu Nuan Nuan and hearing her whine affectionately in her sweet, childish voice, Zhang Wei Qiang’s entire heart felt so soft it could have melted into a puddle.
’He had two sons, but no one knew how much he had always longed for a soft, sweet daughter who would hug him and act cute with him. It wasn’t that the family lacked girls, but besides his niece Gu Nuan Nuan, who was a little more affectionate toward him, his other two nieces were clearly a bit afraid of him. When they ran into him, they barely said a few words—the type to just say hello and run off as if he were some kind of terrifying monster, let alone get close to him.’
’But even though Nuannuan was always close to him, she had never lost control of her emotions like this before.’
Zhang Wei Qiang patted Gu Nuan Nuan’s back with his large hand, murmuring comforting words. His brow suddenly furrowed. ’Could it be that the kid was frightened yesterday by that brother-in-law of mine?’
At this thought, his heart ached even more for the little one in his arms. He gently pulled Gu Nuan Nuan out of his embrace and carefully wiped away her tears with his big hands, saying in a serious tone, "Nuannuan, don’t be sad. If your dad doesn’t cherish you, we don’t need him. From now on, you’ll have me and Grandpa to dote on you."
"Mhm. I’m not sad, I just missed you." Gu Nuan Nuan shyly let her uncle wipe away her tears and gave a bashful smile.
"Heh heh, you little glutton. Who told you not to visit for so many days? Did you really miss me, or did you miss all the tasty treats I have here?" Zhang Wei Qiang was about to say, ’I’ll go get you some snacks,’ but then he suddenly remembered that the candies and cookies he’d bought last time, which he had meant to save for Nuannuan, had apparently been secretly eaten by his two sons. Feeling a bit annoyed, he changed his tune and said, "Quick, think about what you want to eat. When we get to town later, I’ll buy it for you, okay?"
"No, it’s okay. I don’t want to eat anything. I’m happy just seeing you, really," Gu Nuan Nuan said with a serious expression. ’Although she sometimes still missed the snacks from her childhood, she no longer had the desire to eat them. Her nostalgia wasn’t for the snacks themselves, but for the memories of her grandfather and uncle that came flooding back whenever she thought of them.’
"My, my, our Nuannuan is really growing up. Even your words have become so sweet to coax your old uncle?" His niece’s change made Zhang Wei Qiang even happier. He assumed her refusal was just her way of being polite and didn’t take it seriously at all. So, he made a new offer, "How about I buy you a big fried dough stick to eat when we get to town?"
"Okay, thank you, Uncle." Gu Nuan Nuan saw that her uncle clearly didn’t believe her, so after a moment’s thought, she decided not to refuse.
’Love, in truth, isn’t just about giving; it’s also about receiving.’
’Graciously and naturally accepting what others give can also bring a deep, heartfelt sense of satisfaction and joy to those who love you.’
