Chapter 6 Driving Home

Ye Qingtao’s attitude was firm, Zhu Guihua rubbed her temples, feeling a headache. Gu Jingming was neither good nor bad, and you couldn’t find fault with him. He had a handsome face, a tall figure, and looked very good from his appearance alone. He had been in the army for many years, and through his own efforts, he had become a high-ranking officer, his monthly salary was not bad, and he had promised to let his daughter manage the family finances after marriage. His father owned his own company, although he was busy, he also made a lot of money every year.

Her daughter marrying into their family, not seeking wealth, but at least there was no pressure on retirement. If his body had no problems… But if that were the case, there would probably be no need for her daughter. Some time ago, her daughter’s desperate attempt to force her father to go to Lu Yunchuan’s house to ask for his hand had caused a stir in the residential area. Now, they had to be pointed at wherever they went, she was old enough to not care, but her daughter was young and couldn’t take it. If she really married Gu Jingming, it would be good to get away from this place of gossip. It was just that too much would be sacrificed, she didn’t know if it was a wise move. The more Zhu Guihua thought about it, the more agitated she became.

She knew she shouldn’t have come to this wedding banquet. She had just chatted with others for a few sentences while eating, and she had already lost her precious daughter. No matter how she thought about it, it didn’t seem worth it. “Let’s go, let’s go, Mom will take you home!” Zhu Guihua grabbed Ye Qingtao’s hand and was about to leave, Gu Jingming quickly caught up. “Mom, are you leaving already? Let me take you back.” Gu Jingming used a question, but his attitude was firm. He quietly rubbed his still sore butt, he just wanted to know if Ye Qingtao had given him an injection that morning? Gu Jingming kept calling her “Mom”, which made Zhu Guihua’s heart tremble, she was too weak to refuse. “Maybe not?” Ye Qingtao didn’t want to trouble anyone, she refused. “Yes, yes, you’re my wife now, I have to know where you live, so I can go and meet your parents.”

 Gu Jingming took the lead and walked ahead, there was a wedding car parked at the entrance of the restaurant, decorated with red silk and flowers. Gu Jingming walked over and directly tore off these unsightly things, it looked much better now. Gu Jingming opened the car door and invited them to get in with a gentlemanly gesture. Zhu Guihua had only taken the bus a few times, let alone a car, she was so surprised that she couldn’t speak properly.

“This, this is your car?” Gu Jingming smiled and nodded, “I borrowed it from a friend, how could I afford to buy one.” “Oh, I see.” Zhu Guihua nodded in realization, only this could explain it. Cars weren’t cheap these days, people who could afford to drive cars were either rich or powerful. Gu Jingming’s family was not bad, but it wasn’t easy for them to buy a car. The mother and daughter got into the car, Ye Qingtao was used to riding in cars, she didn’t think much of it, only Zhu Guihua, it was like a country bumpkin entering a grand palace. She sat down on the seat and bounced on it. “Oh my! This cushion is so soft, it’s so bouncy, it’s so comfortable to sit on.”

After sitting down, Zhu Guihua looked around, there were two wooden carvings hanging in the car. Although the carvings were small, they were exquisitely carved. The carvings were strung with red rope and hung behind the seats, looking both antique and cute. Ye Qingtao’s eyes flashed with surprise, but she didn’t show it. Zhu Guihua wanted to put on a serious face, but her personality was lively and cheerful, even after becoming a mother. She was quickly attracted by the small carvings and couldn’t help but play with them in her hands.

Ye Qingtao frowned slightly, but didn’t say anything. Gu Jingming saw everything through the rearview mirror, a faint smile appeared on the corner of his lips. Gu Jingming’s driving skills were very skilled, the mother and daughter felt almost no bumps while sitting in the car. Shencheng was very close to the town where they lived, it only took an hour or so by bus before, and now it only took 30 minutes by car. Zhu Guihua played with the carvings while looking at the road, and she would also actively help with directions when they came to a fork in the road.

The car quickly arrived in Yangshuzhen, it was named after the poplar trees that were planted all over the town in the early years. “Mom, where do we go next?” The roads were much narrower in the town, Gu Jingming didn’t know where they lived, so naturally he didn’t know where to go. “Do you know Yangtian Machinery Factory? We live in the old residential area next to the factory.” “Oh! It’s Yangtian Machinery Factory, I know where it is.” Ye Qingtao originally thought that Gu Jingming was coming to Yangshuzhen for the first time, he shouldn’t know Yangtian Machinery Factory. He skillfully turned the car, driving in the opposite direction of Yangtian Machinery Factory, Zhu Guihua immediately panicked when she saw the wrong road.

“Wrong, wrong, Yangtian Machinery Factory is on the right, why are you driving to the left?” “Let’s go buy some stuff first.” Gu Jingming stepped on the gas and drove the car to the only supply and marketing cooperative in the town. “Wait here for a moment, I’ll buy some things and come back.” After saying that, Gu Jingming got out of the car, Zhu Guihua was still muttering. “Isn’t Yangtian Machinery Factory right there? If he wants to buy something, he can just let us get off and walk, why does he have to bring us to the supply and marketing cooperative?”

 Ye Qingtao looked in the direction of the supply and marketing cooperative, and she had a guess. Ten minutes later, she saw Gu Jingming coming out of the supply and marketing cooperative with bags in his hands. Gu Jingming put the things in the trunk, got in the car, and skillfully drove the car to the entrance of the residential area. “Auntie, which building do you live in? I’ll take you to your door.” Zhu Guihua was about to get out of the car, but Gu Jingming was so polite.

Zhu Guihua was hesitant about Gu Jingming’s marriage to her daughter; she wanted to go home and discuss it with her husband. Therefore, she didn’t want to take him home, but Gu Jingming was too enthusiastic, and Zhu Guihua couldn’t refuse. Several times, she wanted to get out of the car, but Gu Jingming stopped her. Finally, the car stopped at the door of their house, Gu Jingming got out of the car first, and then he took the initiative to open the door for them. There were more and more cars in the 1980s, but not everyone could afford one. Their residential area was for employees, everyone’s salary was not high, it was impossible to afford a car.

 There were also some leaders, their salaries were good, but it was still difficult to buy a car. Only Lu Yunchuan’s family, because his father was the factory director, could often borrow the factory’s car, and they could also get a taste of riding in a car. The machinery factory had three shifts, and those who worked the morning shift happened to be getting off work at this time. Gu Jingming suddenly drove to their door, which caused quite a stir in the residential area.

Everyone stretched their necks to see who was coming back in a car. The man who got out of the car first was tall and handsome, he was wearing a white shirt, and his whole body looked broad-shouldered and narrow-waisted, very upright. Everyone was guessing in their hearts, this man was so stylish, he couldn’t be from Yangshuzhen. They saw Gu Jingming open the car door and invite Zhu Guihua and her daughter out.