Free Web NovelChapter 312: Chapter 312: Gu’er and I Are a Pair
Lin Shan was furious. If he had known his older sister was living this kind of life, he would have long since made her divorce Zheng Daniu and come back with her children. But he never knew. He had always thought it was because of Zhongshan’s health that she didn’t return.
After hearing Lin Shuying’s story, Gu’er and the others couldn’t help but sigh. That Zheng Daniu was truly no father, to treat his own son like that.
"This was something I should have handled myself. I was planning to take some time off work, find someone to go over there, and get this whole thing settled. But seeing Jia Ming and Gu’er today, and how efficiently you all handle things, I feel like you’ve grown up. Maybe it would be better to leave this to you than for me to do it myself. Gu’er, Jia Ming, Li Zhi, Dingzi, getting your great-aunt a divorce, ensuring the children stay with her, and transferring the household registration... it won’t be simple. I’ve never been to their village, but I can imagine they won’t be reasonable. They’ll likely cause trouble. If you don’t want to do it, that’s okay. It was my responsibility to begin with."
Lin Shan had originally intended to handle it himself. He couldn’t possibly let his older sister go back to living that way. But seeing how decisive the young people were, he felt that letting Gu’er and her friends handle it might be a good idea after all.
"Dad, she’s our great-aunt. We wouldn’t have done anything if we didn’t know, but now that we do, we certainly won’t stand by and do nothing."
Gu’er was the first to speak.
"That’s right, Uncle Lin. Just leave it to us. We promise we’ll handle it perfectly. If that good-for-nothing Zheng Daniu tries to play dirty, I’ll beat him to a pulp. Even if he cooperates, he still deserves a beating. He’s bullied our great-aunt for so long—how could we, her family, not stick up for her?"
Li Zhi added, puffing out his chest in agreement.
It went without saying for Sun Jiaming; Gu’er’s family matters were his matters.
Dingzi said nothing, but a glint flashed in his eyes. ’Looks like I might finally get to let loose a little,’ he thought.
"Good. You’re all fine young people."
Lin Shan nodded, gratified, a look of approval in his eyes. Then, he let out a long sigh. "Originally, I was the one supposed to be assigned to that mountain valley. But your great-aunt went behind my back to arrange things, and she went in my place. She said I was young, impulsive, and hot-tempered. She was afraid that if I went there and got bullied, I wouldn’t be able to stop myself from fighting back. In a new place where I knew no one, if I got into a fight, they would all gang up on me. I wouldn’t have a single person to help, might never have made it back, and who knows what would have happened. So, she went in my stead. By the time I found out, she was already on the bus, gone."
Lin Shan didn’t say any more, but everyone understood. He felt a deep sense of guilt toward his older sister. He believed that if she hadn’t taken his place back then, Lin Shuying would never have met Zheng Daniu, and she wouldn’t have ended up in this predicament.
"Oh, by the way, Gu’er, your great-aunt asked me to tell you that if they really can stay, they’ll rent a place. She’ll find a job—even if it’s just washing clothes for people, she can support Zhongshan. And Xinghua is old enough to find work too. She told me to tell you not to worry."
Lin Shan smiled at Gu’er after he finished speaking. ’Of course, if my sister’s whole family stays, I’ll make the arrangements for them,’ he thought.
Gu’er was speechless. ’Did Great-aunt get scared after seeing how Jia Ming and I treated my uncle’s family?’
"Jia Ming and I aren’t unreasonable. With my uncle’s family, we only sent them away because my aunt and the others were completely unbearable. If they were all like Chen Ping, we never would have done something like that. Great-aunt is different. They’re good people, so of course, we’ll be good to them. My house is empty, so they can stay there. I’ll help however I can. Tell Great-aunt not to worry so much, it’s not like Jia Ming and I are a couple of unreasonable tyrants or something."
Gu’er couldn’t resist getting a few words in.
Lin Shan chuckled. He knew what kind of person his daughter was. He had already tried to reassure his sister, but Lin Shuying was still a little worried.
"Jia Ming isn’t the tyrant, but you’re pretty close."
Li Zhi muttered. He often liked to bicker with Gu’er—not for any real reason, he just enjoyed any chance to talk with her.
"You’re the tyrant."
Gu’er shot him a glare.
"Whatever Gu’er is, I am too," Sun Jiaming said with a smile. "We’re a set."
"Gu’er is a woman. Does that make you a woman too?" Li Zhi asked, unconvinced.
"Gu’er is a woman, and I’m a man. We’re both people, and we’re still a set," Sun Jiaming replied unhurriedly.
"You’re both people? What, are you implying I’m not?" Li Zhi’s eyes went wide.
"You said it, I didn’t," Sun Jiaming said with an innocent look. "Everyone here can testify to that."
Li Zhi was so mad he could have jumped. Everyone else burst into laughter, and just like that, the somber, oppressive atmosphere from before disappeared.
’It’s wonderful to be young,’ Lin Shan sighed to himself.
"Dad, tell Great-aunt and her family to stay at my place and not worry. You should go back to the countryside and focus on your work; you don’t need to be concerned about things here. After a couple of days, we’ll take Brother Zhongshan for a full medical examination. If his condition is treatable, we’ll get it treated. We’ll nurse him back to health slowly. I’m sure Brother Zhongshan will get better. As for Great-aunt’s divorce, we’ll start making some calls. Once we have a plan, we’ll make a trip over there and settle it. There is no way we’re letting her go back to that life."
Gu’er concluded, laying out her plan for Lin Shan.
"Alright. Then I’ll leave this in your hands."
Lin Shan nodded.
By the time they came out, the meal was already on the table. When she saw Lin Shan nod at her, Lin Shuying couldn’t hold back her tears. She hadn’t wanted Lin Shan to tell the younger generation. ’You don’t air your dirty laundry in public,’ she had thought, not wanting people to look at Zhongshan and Xinghua strangely. But Lin Shan had persuaded her. He said that Zhongshan and Xinghua would have to interact with their peers sooner or later; they couldn’t always be with the elders. Only if they got along well with their own generation could they look out for one another. Lin Shan had also assured her that the young people were all kind and wouldn’t make fun of them; in fact, they would be even more committed to helping.
Lin Shuying felt that Lin Shan had a point. Her life had already come to this, so what did it matter if people laughed? She wasn’t afraid of the disgrace anymore, so she had agreed.
Lin Shan’s nod told her the conversation had gone well. When she saw Gu’er and the others come out, they acted no differently than before. Their gazes toward Zhongshan and Xinghua held no contempt, no mockery, and no pity. They were just the same. At that, her heart finally settled.
Perhaps Lin Shan was right after all. If Zhongshan and Xinghua could get along well with Gu’er’s group, they could truly support each other in the future.
After dinner, Gu’er spoke with Lin Shuying alone for a while, reassuring her and telling her to stay at her house without any worries. She mentioned that Li Hua was living there all by herself, and that she was a bit concerned about her. Gu’er then told her great-aunt about Li Hua’s tragic past, asking her to chat with Li Hua whenever she had a free moment so that Li Hua wouldn’t be left alone to brood. freёwebnoѵel.com
Lin Shuying never imagined that Li Hua’s life had been even more bitter than her own. At least she had her own children to rely on, two good children at that. But for Li Hua’s children to treat her so cruelly... Lin Shuying’s heart filled with sympathy for the other woman, and she felt a sense of kinship born from shared suffering. She promised Gu’er she would be very good to Li Hua.
Gu’er’s main intention was simply to put Lin Shuying’s mind at ease about staying. If the two women could get along, that would be for the best.
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Thank you to 6763hs for the peace charm, and thank you to Book Friend 140525141926461 and Bingshui Chanchan for the monthly tickets. Thank you all for your support. Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival, so I, Xue, would like to wish all my friends a happy Mid-Autumn! May your families be healthy and happy!
