Chapter 30 Don’t think I admit you

The other party’s words weren’t exactly kind, and she was a stranger, so Song Youyou didn’t respond. But Wei Shufen wouldn’t let it go.

“Hey! You little girl, you sure are rude, ignoring someone who’s talking to you?”

“I don’t respond to rude people,” Song Youyou frowned slightly and replied calmly.

“…” Wei Shufen was choked by her neither soft nor hard tone. “So you’re saying I’m the rude one?”

Song Youyou didn’t confirm it, but her silence was clearly an admission. That kind of infuriating skill—clearly, birds of a feather flock together!

Wei Shufen secretly gritted her teeth. “Let’s see what kind of wild country stuff this shabby Gu family daughter-in-law brought.”

As she spoke, she moved to lift the cloth covering the basket on Song Youyou’s back.

Song Youyou sidestepped, her gaze cold as she stared at her.

Wei Shufen got stubborn and insisted on seeing what was inside. “You ungrateful girl, it’s your good fortune I’m even willing to speak to you.”

“You can keep that ‘fortune’ for yourself,” Song Youyou replied with a frosty expression.

“You—!”

Just as the two were locked in a standoff, a deep male voice interrupted them.

“Aunt Shufen, what are you doing?”

They both turned and saw that it was Gu Xiao’s father, Gu Wanqing.

“This girl says she’s here to see the Gu family. I just wanted to see what stuff she brought from the countryside, but she won’t even answer me,” Wei Shufen said, mixing in belittlement, disdain, and a hint of tattling in just a few lines.

Facing this hostile old woman and Gu Wanqing, who clearly didn’t like her either, Song Youyou’s gaze grew colder. A chill crept into her heart. She didn’t expect Gu’s father to speak up for her.

“She’s our honored guest—my daughter-in-law. What countryside nonsense? And who’s obligated to answer you? Aunt Shufen, please speak properly. If others hear you, they might think you’re trying to stir up conflict in the military compound,” Gu Wanqing said in a low, firm voice with a cold warning.

Wei Shufen’s face turned an ugly mix of green and black. She couldn’t find a retort.

Meanwhile, Song Youyou’s cold expression gave way to surprise. She hadn’t expected Gu’s father to defend her.

“Come, let’s go,” Gu Wanqing said as he clasped his hands behind his back and walked ahead.

Song Youyou snapped out of her shock, responded with a quiet “oh,” and followed him into the compound.

Left standing behind, Wei Shufen muttered to herself, “Didn’t expect the Gu family to care so much about this shabby daughter-in-law. Must be blind…”

As the two walked one behind the other, Gu Wanqing seemed conflicted for a moment. Then he suddenly turned around and said, “I helped you back there because I don’t want the Gu family’s reputation tarnished. Don’t think I’ve accepted you.”

“Mm, I understand, Uncle Gu,” Song Youyou nodded.

Gu Wanqing: “…”

“And I heard your adoptive parents kicked you out, and even your job was taken by someone else?”

“Mm.”

“So stupid! A job is your foundation in life—how could you be dumb enough to give it up? Whether someone’s blood-related or not, that was your job. As long as you don’t give it up, no one can take it from you!” Gu Wanqing’s tone was full of anger at her lack of backbone.

Yet Song Youyou’s heart warmed a little. “Mm, I was indeed a bit dumb back then.”

Gu Wanqing: “…”

This girl really didn’t play by the usual rules. He’d already prepared a whole argument to scold her, and she just softly admitted she was wrong. With a personality that easy to push around, no wonder she was bullied! Hmph. Maybe this was her sweet-talking strategy to win him over.

In just a few seconds, Gu Wanqing’s mind had gone through several twists and turns.

He let out a cold snort and said stiffly, “What kind of work do you want? I can help you find something. But don’t get the wrong idea—it’s not because I accept you. I just don’t want people saying the Gu family’s daughter-in-law can’t even get a proper job!”

Back then, when the Gu elders went to the Educated Youth Office, they didn’t happen to hear about Song Youyou’s translator position, so the Gu family didn’t know she was a translator.

“No need. I already have a job that makes money. It’s not a formal position, but I really enjoy it,” Song Youyou explained.

“It’s not even a formal job. What’s there to like?” Gu Wanqing snorted. “Fine, do what you want. But if you ever want a formal job in the future, come to me.”

“Mm, thank you, Uncle Gu.”

Song Youyou knew very well how obsessed people were with formal jobs these days, so Gu Wanqing’s offer did make her feel a bit grateful.

When they arrived at the Gu home, Gu Wanqing briefly told Grandma Gu what had happened at the gate. She immediately flew into a rage.

She comforted Song Youyou for a while, then angrily had Grandpa Gu push her out to confront Wei Shufen.

Song Youyou tried to stop her, but Gu Wanqing held her back and said, “My mother and Wei Shufen are paternal cousins. They’ve never gotten along. Let her go. That’s part of the reason you were targeted—Mom’s just angry now. Let her blow off some steam.”

“Oh, I see,” Song Youyou finally understood.

Grandma Gu returned full of fighting spirit and beaming with pride, clearly having won the verbal battle.

“Granddaughter-in-law, if that Wei Shufen dares bully you again, just tell Grandma—I’ll stand up for you. And don’t worry about what she or anyone else says. Whether you work or not, where you come from—it doesn’t matter to our family. Your Grandpa and I spent our whole lives bleeding and sweating just so your generation can live as you please.”

Grandma Gu gently held Song Youyou’s small hand, coaxing her in a soft, loving voice.

Off to the side, Gu Wanqing was pretending to read the newspaper, but he was clearly eavesdropping on their conversation. His face was full of disbelief, and he nearly rolled his eyes to the heavens.

Since when did he ever know his mother to be so indulgent with the younger generation? Back when he was a child, he got beaten plenty.

Once, when he said he didn’t want to study anymore, his mother had hung him up and given him a thorough spanking.

But Song Youyou had no idea what others were thinking. She was deeply grateful for Grandma Gu’s affection.

“Grandma Gu, I still need to hurry back home and take care of things, but I came today to give you this,” Song Youyou said as she took a small clay jar from the bamboo basket.

“What’s this?” Grandma Gu asked with curiosity.

“This is jar meat.”

“Jar meat? Never heard of it before, but it sure sounds delicious,” Grandma Gu said supportively.

“Mm, it’s a secret recipe from Jin City. I was lucky enough to learn it from someone,” Song Youyou explained.

That only made Grandma Gu even more curious, and she immediately opened the lid.

“Oh wow, it smells amazing!” Grandma Gu didn’t expect the aroma to be so enticing.

The rich scent of the meat was infused with a tempting tingle of spice that instantly made her appetite stir.

Even Gu Wanqing, sitting beside them on the grandpa chair pretending to read, couldn’t help sneaking a glance into the jar.

“Wow, that’s a lot of meat in there! This must’ve cost quite a bit—and how many meat ration coupons did it take? No, no, you youngsters should keep this for yourselves. We old folks don’t move around much and don’t eat much either—our regular meals are enough,” Grandma Gu said, though she was clearly tempted. Seeing the jar filled to the brim with meat, she resisted and closed the lid again.

“I already kept a jar for myself. This one’s for you,” Song Youyou said.

“Aiyoh! My granddaughter-in-law is just too sweet!” Grandma Gu was truly moved now.

“To think, at my old age, I’d have such a warm, caring little girl who always thinks about this old woman~”

After Song Youyou left, Grandma Gu wasted no time proudly showing off her granddaughter-in-law’s thoughtfulness to everyone in the military compound.

That Wei Shufen actually dared to badmouth her granddaughter-in-law? Nonsense!

She was going to let the entire compound know just how wonderful her granddaughter-in-law was!

As for all that commotion in the compound, Song Youyou had no idea. Nor did she have time to think about it—because on her way home, she ran into He Wenqing.