Free Web NovelChapter 391: Chapter 389: The Situation on the Other Side
Sun Jiaming and Li Zhi left, and they took Gu’er’s heart with them.
No matter how worried Gu’er was, she couldn’t let it show. To keep the two grandmothers from worrying, she could only sit on the *kang* bed-stove, knitting a sweater and chatting with them.
After knitting for a whole afternoon, Gu’er realized she had made a mistake. She had messed up the pattern and had to unravel her work.
"Look at you. You were the one who taught Xinghua, and now her needles fly when she knits. How long have you been working on that sweater for Jia Ming? At this rate, I’m afraid he won’t get to wear it even after the New Year."
Grandma Dingzi teased Gu’er with a smile.
Gu’er was a little embarrassed. She only remembered to pick it up and knit a few stitches every now and then. She really couldn’t compare to Xinghua.
"It’s alright. It’s the thought that counts. You’re knitting it for Jia Ming, so no matter when you finish it, he’ll be happy."
Grandma Sun comforted Gu’er, afraid she would feel too embarrassed.
Gu’er just smiled. She wasn’t angry at all. They were like family, and she was happy no matter what they said. She also believed that Sun Jiaming would be overjoyed when she finished the sweater, because she had knitted it for him with her own hands.
That night, Gu’er tossed and turned, unable to sleep. For one, she wasn’t used to Sun Jiaming not being there. For another, her heart was filled with worry.
She was worried about Dingzi, worried about Sun Jiaming and Li Zhi. She tossed about until the early hours of the morning before finally falling asleep, only to be jolted awake by a nightmare. It left her with dark circles under her eyes the next day.
During the day, she dozed off while knitting on the *kang* bed-stove. Grandma Sun, Grandma Dingzi, and Aunt Zhao all chuckled secretly. They assumed Gu’er had insomnia simply because Sun Jiaming wasn’t around. ’Young couples really are inseparable,’ they thought. ’They can’t even sleep after just one day apart.’
Another day passed, and Dingzi still hadn’t returned. However, Sun Jiaming and Li Zhi called. They said they had arrived safely and gave Gu’er a phone number, telling her to call it if she heard any news.
That night, Sun Jiaming called again. He said they hadn’t seen Dingzi there and had decided to go wait for him again the next day.
This call made Gu’er even more anxious. ’Is Dingzi still in the Soviet Union? But it’s so chaotic there, why wouldn’t he come back? Could something have happened to him? No, no, no, it can’t be. Li Zhi said Dingzi went on dangerous missions before and was fine. He’ll be fine this time, too. He must have just been delayed on the road.’
Gu’er tried to comfort herself. Another day went by, and Dingzi still hadn’t come back. Even Grandma Dingzi was getting anxious and started asking Gu’er about it.
"Grandma, don’t worry. Jia Ming said he called over there. They said they’re handling a larger shipment this time. You know, with the New Year coming up, they’re afraid they won’t have enough to sell. He’ll be back in a few days, so please don’t worry."
Gu’er could only do her best to cover it up.
"Honestly, you kids. How much money is ever enough? As long as you have what you need, that’s fine. Why get so much stock? I’m still waiting for him to come back so we can go see his prospective bride. Her family has asked several times when they can meet."
It wasn’t that Grandma Dingzi had any real complaints; she was just worried about her grandson’s marriage prospects.
"The moment Brother Dingzi gets back, we’ll go with him to the meeting."
Gu’er quickly jumped on the topic, afraid Grandma Dingzi would ask more about the situation in the Soviet Union.
"This time, just you and Jia Ming should go. Don’t let that boy Li Zhi tag along. He’s too eye-catching, and it makes it harder for my Dingzi to find someone. Once Dingzi is settled, we can find someone for him."
Grandma Dingzi didn’t really have anything against Li Zhi. It was just that the matchmaker from last time told her the girl had taken a liking to Li Zhi instead. She didn’t blame Li Zhi; she just felt that since he was handsome, he wouldn’t have to worry about finding a wife. Her own grandson, on the other hand, had a harder time, and she was afraid of a repeat of the last incident.
"Alright, we won’t let him go."
Gu’er nodded with a smile.
That evening, Lin Shuying came over with Zheng Zhongshan and Xinghua. Zheng Zhongshan stayed to chat with Uncle Zhao, while Lin Shuying and Xinghua went inside and sat on the *kang* bed-stove.
The needles in Xinghua’s hands flew ceaselessly, creating one pattern after another. Gu’er was genuinely impressed. Xinghua truly had a gift for this.
"You should take a break. Even if your eyes aren’t tired, your hands must ache."
Gu’er really felt for her.
"It’s fine, Sis. I’m used to it. My wrists hurt for a while, but now that I’ve been knitting so much, I don’t feel it anymore. Sis, you have no idea, I can earn over two hundred yuan a month now! Besides my tuition, I can save up quite a bit."
Xinghua was ecstatic. She had already paid back all the money she owed Gu’er, so everything she earned now was her own. She didn’t spend it recklessly, though. Aside from the money she needed for night school, she saved almost everything. ’Even though Mom and my brother can both earn money, and it’s enough for his medicine,’ she thought, ’he hasn’t fully recovered yet. He still needs to get married, and we can’t live in Gu’er’s house forever. I have to save all my money for Mom and my brother in the future. If we all work hard together, we can help him get better, buy a house, find him a wife, and support Mom in her old age. Even without a father, we can live a good life.’
Gu’er knew what she was thinking. She stroked Xinghua’s hair. ’This girl is so sensible. Although Lin Shuying didn’t marry a good man, having such wonderful children is a blessing in itself. If I’d had such a sensible and obedient daughter in my past life, maybe things wouldn’t have been so bitter for me... and I wouldn’t have been reborn.’
’But now I have Sun Jiaming, a father who dotes on me, an adorable younger brother, and a whole family including Grandma. I’m living a good life now. I’m already so lucky.’
"Gu’er, I heard that the shop across the street that sells Soviet goods—the one competing with our mall—isn’t doing so well lately."
Lin Shuying said to Gu’er in a low voice.
"Oh?"
Gu’er raised an eyebrow. She knew which shop her aunt was talking about. The man behind it was named Zhang Zhenguo, the son of a hospital director. Li Zhi had told her that his father had given him the name Zhenguo with the hope that he would one day "revitalize the country." But he had no such patriotic ideals. Instead, he relied on his father’s influence to bully people and was a rather infamous rich heir in the city.
Zhang Zhenguo was the one competing with them. He’d even spread the word that he was going to drive their mall out of business and show them what he was made of, ensuring that Gu’er, Li Zhi, and the others would come to a bad end.
"Isn’t the New Year coming up? And you know how our mall is running a promotion? A few days ago, they started a promotion too, competing directly with us. Their prices were even lower than ours. But they stopped these past two days. In fact, they raised their prices. Now they’re even more expensive than our mall! People aren’t happy about it, but they still haven’t lowered their prices. I also heard they’ve run out of stock. A lot of their shelves are empty. Many people who pre-ordered from them and paid deposits can’t get their goods now. Everyone’s blocking their door, demanding refunds. People are saying they might be going out of business, that they’re about to go under. Lately, more people have been coming back to our mall to buy Soviet goods, so business is picking up again. Just a few days ago, the people on the third floor were complaining that they had so much Soviet stuff piled up in the warehouse it was going moldy, but now they’re all smiles."
Lin Shuying told Gu’er everything she had heard.
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Thank you to Hai Feng’s Baby 060219 for the monthly ticket, and thank you all for your support.
