Free Web NovelChapter 137: Chapter 137: Taking You to a Faraway Place
Gu’er struggled out of Sun Jiaming’s embrace.
"Brother Jia Ming, I’m okay now. You should go back, or Grandma will start to worry."
Gu’er’s face flushed. It was the first time in her life a man had ever held her. Although there was no ulterior motive and it was just the circumstances, her heart was still pounding. The lamp wasn’t lit, so they were in darkness. Otherwise, Gu’er would have been terribly embarrassed.
"Okay. Don’t overthink it, just get some rest. No matter what, it can all be solved. Whether you decide to acknowledge them or not, you’ll still have me. I’ll always be by your side." fгeewebnovёl.com
He said it to let Gu’er know she should just be herself and follow her heart.
In truth, Sun Jiaming’s heart was also pounding wildly. He was nervous, too. This was the first time he had ever held a woman—the woman he liked. He felt as if the blood in his veins was boiling.
"Okay."
Gu’er nodded.
After Sun Jiaming left, Gu’er lay on the kang, thinking about everything that had happened that day. It had all come as a shock. She had given up hope of finding her birth parents, assuming they were gone, but then she had unexpectedly run into them today.
’Should I acknowledge them or not?’
Gu’er rolled over.
’I’ll wait and see if they even come looking for me,’ she decided. ’As long as they can give me a good reason, then I’ll follow my heart and do what I won’t regret. If they don’t even bother to find me, it just proves they don’t care about me. I don’t need to go chasing after them. I can live just fine without parents!’
Gu’er waited at home for three days, but no one came. She couldn’t help but feel disappointed, but what good was disappointment? The sun still rose, and life went on. Gu’er decided to stop thinking about it and started heading for the mountains.
It had rained recently, and Gu’er calculated that the first flush of mushrooms should be sprouting.
Sun Jiaming was worried, so he called Aunt Zhao over to keep his grandmother company while he rode his bicycle up the mountain with Gu’er.
They first checked a closer spot, but after looking around, Gu’er didn’t find any mushrooms. The two of them then went further out.
Gu’er searched the front of the mountain, but still nothing.
’Am I too early? That can’t be right. In previous years, this was about the right time.’
Gu’er, carrying a basket and a sack on her back, ducked into a grove of mixed trees.
Sun Jiaming shook his head from behind her. ’He could provide for her so she wouldn’t have to earn money, but Gu’er insists on doing it herself. No matter how much she makes, it’s hers, and it gives her a sense of accomplishment. Besides, if Gu’er has something to keep her busy, she won’t dwell on things so much. All I need to do is stay by her side.’
"Brother Jia Ming! Brother Jia Ming, come quick! I found some!"
Hearing Gu’er’s shout, Sun Jiaming quickly called back and ducked into the grove after her.
Sure enough, the small grove was full of mushrooms. Some grew alone, others in pairs or threes, and some in large clumps. They looked firm and dry—very good quality.
Sun Jiaming crouched down, chatting with Gu’er as they picked the mushrooms together.
Gu’er’s heart swelled with excitement. It felt as if she had forgotten everything else, her world shrinking to nothing but mushrooms. ’I’m going to pick every last one!’ she resolved. ’I’ll take them to the city to sell, earn money to buy a house—a home of my own. Then, no matter what happens, I’ll always have a place to go.’
The truth was, Gu’er acted this way because she lacked a sense of security. Even though Sun Jiaming treated her very well, deep down inside, she still felt insecure.
Once both their baskets were full, Gu’er emptied them into the sack. Without even taking a moment to wipe the sweat from her brow or straighten her aching back, she immediately started picking again.
Because everyone thought the mushrooms hadn’t come out yet, no one else from the village was picking. It was just the two of them, so they gathered quite a lot. Gu’er estimated they had over thirty pounds.
When they returned to the Sun Family’s home, they poured all the mushrooms out in the courtyard. Only then did they have a moment to wash their faces. The cool water on their sweaty skin felt so refreshing, as if every pore on their bodies had opened up, washing away all their fatigue.
Aunt Zhao was a bit stunned when she saw the haul. She had also thought there were no mushrooms yet and was surprised to see so many.
"These are good mushrooms, nice and firm. They’ll be delicious in a soup or a stir-fry."
Having lived in the village for so many years, Aunt Zhao knew her mushrooms well.
"Auntie, take some with you when you leave. This is the first flush, so you can enjoy them while they’re fresh."
Gu’er wasn’t stingy, and when she offered the mushrooms, Aunt Zhao didn’t refuse. Mushrooms weren’t a rare delicacy in the village. It was just a treat to have the first ones of the season. Once the second flush came, the mountains would be covered in them, and every family would be able to gather them by the sackful.
Gu’er went to the kitchen to make a soup. She didn’t make any other dishes for lunch. She sliced some meat and flash-fried it to release its aroma, then added seasonings and water. Once the water boiled, Gu’er added the blanched mushrooms and let them cook, along with some potato strips. When they were almost done, she threw in some bok choy and finally sprinkled chopped scallions on top before serving.
Served with rice, Gu’er ate a large bowlful. Grandma Sun also had more than a bowl, exclaiming how fresh and delicious the soup was. Sun Jiaming devoured two huge bowls, and the soup in the serving basin was drunk down to the last drop.
Gu’er let out a small burp and smiled, a little embarrassed. She hadn’t eaten properly the last couple of days. She was tired from the morning’s work, and with her mind clear of worries, she just wanted to enjoy a good meal.
After washing the dishes, Gu’er looked at the mushrooms in the courtyard and frowned.
"Brother Jia Ming, I want to make a trip to the city to sell all these mushrooms. If they sit overnight, they’ll lose moisture and won’t look as good. I might be back a little late, so you can make dinner tonight. Don’t wait for me."
Gu’er wanted to go to the city. She had worked hard to pick these mushrooms and didn’t want them to go to waste. No one was picking mushrooms yet, so they were scarce. This was a rare opportunity to earn some money. If she dried them, it would be a lot of work and wouldn’t be very profitable.
"Wait a minute. I’ll ask Aunt Zhao to come over, and I’ll go with you. I won’t feel at ease if you come back too late by yourself."
Sun Jiaming couldn’t stop worrying about Gu’er, so he went to find Aunt Zhao.
Gu’er went inside to tell Grandma Sun. His grandmother didn’t object, only reminding them to be careful on the road and to come back early even if they couldn’t sell the mushrooms.
"Auntie, please make some extra food tonight and have my uncle and the others come over to eat. There’s meat, so don’t be shy with it. Just cook it all up. We’ll be back early."
Sun Jiaming had called Aunt Zhao over, and as he was about to leave, he gave her these instructions. After all these years, he considered Aunt Zhao part of his family.
"Alright, off you go."
Aunt Zhao nodded.
Sun Jiaming took Gu’er with him, tying the sack of mushrooms to the back of his bicycle.
Before, Gu’er had always ridden the bicycle herself. Now, with Sun Jiaming giving her a ride, she felt a sense of security.
’She couldn’t see the road ahead, but she could see Sun Jiaming’s back. She felt that no matter where this man took her, she would go willingly.’
They were surrounded by endless fields, with no one else in sight. Under the sun, the back of Sun Jiaming’s shirt was soaked with sweat. Gu’er’s hand, which had been gripping the bicycle seat, moved to tug at the back of his shirt, and she rested her head against his back.
Sun Jiaming felt it. His heart skipped a beat, and his grip on the handlebars faltered, causing the bike to swerve for a moment. He quickly steadied it, a wide grin spreading across his face as a smile flowed into his eyes. Gu’er seemed to be getting closer to him, trusting him more and more. He felt a comforting warmth spreading from his back, a warmth so profound it melted his heart.
Sun Jiaming pedaled with all his might. With Gu’er leaning against him, he didn’t feel tired at all. On the contrary, he felt joyful. He wished he could keep riding like this forever, carrying Gu’er far, far away.
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