Chapter 10: He left without looking back

“Keep your back straight, stand with your legs steady, focus your eyes on the front, and don’t let your body sway when you pull the trigger.”

Gu Quanzhe learned quickly.

He could perform all the actions Gu Jingyao required.

But Gu Jingyao quickly discovered a problem: Gu Quanzhe was too weak, much weaker than other children his age.

His small face was tense and serious, but when it came to action, he couldn’t pull the trigger smoothly.

“Do you often pick at your food?”

Gu Jingyao asked, frowning.

Gu Quanzhe quickly lowered his head, avoiding Gu Jingyao’s gaze, feeling guilty.

He did pick at his food; he didn’t eat scallions, green vegetables, or meat.

He only liked carrots.

“Uh?”

“Actually, no. I wanted to eat candied haws, but Mom wouldn’t let me. I wanted to eat fried glutinous rice balls, but Mom wouldn’t let me either.”

Gu Quanzhe made excuses.

Gu Jingyao felt helpless. This kid was good at making excuses. He continued, “Do you usually play alone?  Doesn’t anyone teach you?”

“Everyone is busy. I can play by myself.”

Gu Quanzhe mumbled.

The slight upward curve of Gu Jingyao’s lips turned into a straight line, his smile disappearing.  It seemed that the man hadn’t taken care of Lin Moran and her son much.

“These grapes aren’t ripe yet. Who’s got nothing better to do than knock down a bunch of grapes!”

“That bastard, get out here!”

A rough, angry voice came from the other side of the yard.  Seeing the situation, Gu Quanzhe pulled Gu Jingyao and ran, “Let’s go home!”

“Don’t let Old Lady Li see us. Those grapes grow on public land, not hers, but she always treats it as her own! When the grapes are ripe, she won’t let us eat them.”

Gu Jingyao.

“Hahahaha…” As soon as they were out of Old Lady Li’s sight, they burst into laughter.

“Shh, don’t tell my mom, or she’ll scold me.” Gu Quanzhe said seriously.

“Definitely. We now have a revolutionary friendship!” Gu Jingyao nodded.

“What are you two sneaking around for? Come wash your hands and eat!”

Lin Moran’s voice came.

“Wash your hands, quickly wash your hands.”

Gu Quanzhe took Gu Jingyao’s hand to the faucet.

Then, big and small, they walked calmly back into the house.

Lin Moran hadn’t wanted to entertain Gu Jingyao, but seeing that he had helped her with the child and made him so happy, she cooked an extra dish.

She used her cured meat and sausages from the New Year to trade with a neighbor for half a freshly slaughtered chicken.

Strictly speaking, this was the first time the three of them had eaten together.

Gu Jingyao didn’t hesitate at all; when Lin Moran called him to eat, he immediately sat down.

Lin Moran had subtly hinted that she wasn’t entertaining him, but the table was full of delicious food: lean meat, carrot, and corn soup, garlic chives stir-fried with cured fish, ginger stir-fried chicken, and spicy shredded potatoes. There was chicken, fish, meat, and vegetables.

For just three people, ordinary families wouldn’t make such a rich dinner.

“I don’t have any good dishes, make do with this.”

Lin Moran said softly.

Gu Jingyao’s lips were pressed into a thin line, but the corners of his mouth were slightly upturned.

“Quanbao has grown up, I’ll serve Mom’s rice.”

While Lin Moran put down the dishes, Gu Quanzhe took three bowls and went to the rice cooker to serve rice.

He was small, and carrying three bowls at once worried Gu Jingyao.

Lin Moran stopped him, “Quanzhe can do it.”

Since Gu Quanzhe was three, she had been cultivating his ability to do things himself.

Raising a child alone, she sometimes couldn’t look after him properly, so she had to cultivate his self-reliance.

The more the child used his hands, the less likely he was to go hungry in the future.

Gu Quanzhe placed the bowls in a row, holding the rice spoon with his small hand.  With great effort, he scooped up a spoonful of rice, placing it first in Lin Moran’s bowl.

Then in his own bowl.

Finally in Gu Jingyao’s bowl. After serving Gu Jingyao a spoonful of rice, he remembered what Old Chen had said: men should work and eat more.

Gu Jingyao was so tall, he had to eat more.  He scooped another spoonful of rice into Gu Jingyao’s bowl, pressing it down with the spoon.

After serving, he carefully carried the bowls over.

He handed the bowl of rice to Gu Jingyao, smiling at him.

Lin Moran sat to the side, feeling uneasy.

Was this the magic of blood ties?

Gu Quanzhe, playing with Gu Jingyao for the first time, was so close to him.

Afraid he would be hungry, he wanted to put all the rice in his bowl.

“Jingyao, you’re really here! I’ve been looking for you.”

A hurried voice suddenly came from the door, disrupting the harmonious atmosphere.

“Jingya is injured! The doctor said she needs stitches, but she refuses, saying she’s scared!”

A young man came in, his face full of helplessness and anxiety, “You have to go see her! She says she won’t be afraid unless she sees you.”

Gu Jingyao stood up and asked, “How did she get hurt? Is it serious?”

“It’s serious, she needs stitches. She can’t even move her foot. Hurry up, let’s go to the hospital. What if something happens to her?”

The man pulled Gu Jingyao out.

“No! He hasn’t finished his meal, he can’t go!”

Gu Quanzhe stood up, grabbing Gu Jingyao’s hand, his face puffed up, “I served you so much rice, you can’t waste it!”

Gu Jingyao looked at Gu Quanzhe, then at Lin Moran, “Moran, Jingya is injured, I’ll go take a look.”

Lin Moran didn’t respond, only feeling ironic.

This was their first meal together, she had painstakingly prepared so many dishes, yet a single “Xu Jingya is injured” made him get up and leave, not even finishing the rice his son had served him.

“If you leave, I’ll never talk to you again! I won’t acknowledge you as family!”

Gu Quanzhe looked at Gu Jingyao with teary eyes, his lips tightly pursed, aggrieved and angry.

“I’ll be back. I still have something to tell your mother.” Gu Jingyao patted Gu Quanzhe’s head and left without looking back.

Gu Quanzhe angrily chased after him, watching Gu Jingyao disappear from the yard.

When he could no longer see him, he burst into tears.

He was so sad!

So heartbroken!

In the evening, Old Chen said that his father had returned with his mother, asking him to go home quickly.

As soon as he entered the yard, he saw Gu Jingyao from afar.

Although he had been angry last time, he had forgiven him.

He ran home, deliberately making a sullen face, not wanting to talk to him.

But Gu Jingyao was kind to him, coaxing him, teaching him how to use a slingshot and shoot a gun.

He was handsome and dashing, his military posture perfect, every movement full of strength, making Gu Quanzhe’s heart flutter.

When his mother called him to eat, he eagerly served him rice, heaping spoonful after spoonful, wanting him to eat his fill.

But when he heard that Xu Jingya was injured, he immediately left.

He didn’t eat the rice his son had served him, and even though his son begged him to stay, he left without hesitation.

He didn’t want his mother, nor his son.

Lin Moran watched Gu Quanzhe cry loudly, her heart aching.

“Quanzhe, be good, don’t cry. Let’s eat first, don’t go hungry. It’s not worth getting sick.”

“Mom, he left as soon as he heard that woman was hurt. But I’m also sad, Quanbao is also sad…” Gu Quanzhe’s tears fell, heartbroken.

“Let’s not cry, let’s not cry for him anymore.”

“Quanbao, don’t cry, Mom will buy you candied haws, okay?”

Lin Moran’s heart was breaking, forcing a smile to comfort Gu Quanzhe.

Then she looked up at the stars and moon, (Why, God, why?)

She took a deep breath, forcing back her tears.

“Quanbao doesn’t want candy, Quanbao is sad… Quanbao is really sad…”

Gu Quanzhe’s crying gradually subsided.

Lin Moran looked down, and Gu Quanzhe’s face suddenly turned pale, his lips purple, his body limp in her arms.

Her tears flowed uncontrollably. Lin Moran’s legs went weak, her lips trembling, she used all her strength to hug Gu Quanzhe and ran out, “Zhezhe, don’t scare Mom! Zhezhe, cheer up, Mom will take you to the hospital immediately.”