Chapter 27

Lin Yao wasn’t shy or hesitant. She had also considered getting the marriage certificate.

Since Gu Shi’an brought it up, she naturally agreed.

After all, living together without a marriage certificate seemed odd.

Moreover, with Deputy Director Gu’s looks and physique—broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and long legs—he was attractive both dressed and undressed. His monthly salary and allowances were all handed over to her, so she was definitely not at a loss.

Lin Yao’s face lit up with joy, her mood clearly improved. Her slender, fair legs swung back and forth, and Gu Shi’an felt a strong urge to reach out and hold them.

But thinking about the soft slaps he received last night, Gu Shi’an pressed his hot hand and, without changing his expression, strode out the door.

If he stayed any longer, he feared he might lose control…

*

In the afternoon, the courtyard was quiet, and Lin Yao comfortably napped inside.

It had been unbearably hot the past few days, and the bamboo forest outside provided no relief. After just a short nap, Lin Yao’s face turned red from the heat. She missed her old 50-square-meter apartment, where she had air conditioning and a fan, and could lie on the sofa eating ice-cold watermelon while watching dramas.

Alas, the past couldn’t be recaptured.

Nostalgic for her former comfortable life, Lin Yao resigned herself to getting out of bed. Following Gu Chunmei’s advice, she filled a enamel basin with well water and sprinkled it around the room, opened the carved windows, and gently fanned herself with a hand fan. Whether it was the fan or just a breeze that came by, cool air soon began to flow through the room.

Feeling much cooler, Lin Yao returned to her soft bed, stretched out, and no longer needed the fan. Hugging a small quilt, she drifted into a deep sleep.

She napped until after three in the afternoon. During this time, a gentle breeze blew, making her sleep extremely comfortable. She got up, stretched lazily, and put on her slippers. After wiping her face with a wet towel, the coolness of the towel made her feel refreshed, as if her pores were opening up.

In the yard, Gu Shidong was scrubbing clothes in a small basin, grunting as he worked.

The men in the Gu family had been washing their own clothes since they were children, and although Gu Shidong was mischievous, he had to follow his parents’ rules. If he didn’t do the laundry, Gu Chunmei would mock him, saying he was lazy and would end up a lifelong bachelor.

The little rascal was frustrated and grumbled about not knowing how to wash clothes.

Since last week, Gu Shidong has started washing his own clothes, and even his sister’s clothes. Otherwise, his sister would report his misdeeds, such as spying on Li Aifeng’s scandalous behavior with Lin Daguo, to Zhang Cuilan.

Lin Yao, sitting on a small stool eating a piece of white cake, took the opportunity to tease him. “Dongzi, why aren’t you eating the white cake I just bought?”

Gu Shidong grumbled, “What’s so great about white cake? I’m stuffed from the egg cake I ate yesterday. I don’t want this.”

In reality, Zhang Cuilan had instructed him to wash his own clothes properly before he could have any snacks.

Lin Yao said, “Oh,” and poked his cheek. “Look, you’ve got some drool.”

Gu Shidong quickly wiped his face, finding it clean.

Just as Gu Shidong was about to shout, “Sister-in-law, you tricked me!” Lin Yao smiled, ruffled his bald head, and said, “Our Dongzi has grown up. He’s now a sensible and reliable little man.”

Gu Shidong puffed out his chest, his mouth stretching from ear to ear.

Happy with the praise, he eagerly washed the handkerchiefs and clothes Lin Yao had brought, and diligently cleaned all the windows and doors inside and out.

With plenty of rain recently, the vegetables in the Gu family’s small garden were thriving. The newly planted loofah and squash seedlings were growing quickly, with the trellis heavy with fruits, looking green and lovely.

Today was a good day, so Lin Yao and Dongzi watered the garden, pulled weeds, and harvested the plump cucumbers. In no time, they filled a basket full.

Freshly grown cucumbers without pesticides were perfect for salads or pickling, and nothing would go to waste.

Before the end of the workday, Gu Chunmei hurried home on her bicycle, calling out to Lin Yao, “Yaoyao, there’s a sale on scrap wood at the county timber yard. Let’s go buy some.”

Lin Yao quickly went inside to grab the wood ticket.

In winter, the Gu family not only burned briquettes but also bought scrap wood and small pieces to burn. Without this extra wood, the government-supplied coal wouldn’t last through the winter.

Gu Shidong was in the vegetable garden pulling weeds. Lin Yao reminded him, “Dongzi, the white cake is inside. If you want some, wash your hands first.”

Don’t grab it with dirty hands.

Gu Shidong nodded obediently, “Sister-in-law, I know.”

Gu Chunmei was surprised, “Wow, this little rascal is so well-behaved today. It’s quite unusual.”

Before Lin Yao left, she checked her bag to make sure the fire wood was still there. Gu Chunmei pushed out a wheelbarrow with two large baskets, which would be filled with the scrap wood they were buying.

The timber yard was a street away from the courtyard. They hurried over, and by the time they arrived, the line at the timber yard was already long.

Lin Yao didn’t expect there would be so many people buying scrap wood these days.

Standing in the heat, she wasn’t happy about waiting in line.

Noticing her glum face, Gu Chunmei tugged at Lin Yao’s braid and said with a smile, “What’s wrong? You can wait in line to see a movie with my brother, but you can’t wait here with me to buy wood? Don’t be so picky, Yaoyao. Oh, newlyweds are really different!”

Lin Yao wasn’t embarrassed. Her eyes wandered and she spotted a tall figure approaching in the distance. She nudged Gu Chunmei and said with a grin, “Sister Chunmei, your considerate Da Tou Brother is here.”

Gu Chunmei looked over and saw Xu Xiangqian, drenched in sweat, running towards them with a big smile.

“Chunmei, the wood is too heavy. You’re weak. Let me help you.”

Lin Yao winked at Gu Chunmei, “Oh, you are indeed a newly engaged couple, you are different.”

Xu Xiangqian scratched his head, grinning widely, his eyes sparkling as he looked at Gu Chunmei.

Gu Chunmei: “……”

Compared to Yao Yao’s thick skin, she had to admit defeat and admire it.

*

These days, the timber yard only had unusable scraps and sawdust left. Most of the good wood had already been picked up by the early arrivals.

By the time it was Lin Yao’s turn, only small, fragmented pieces of wood were left. Gu Chunmei wasn’t discouraged, though; she squatted down to pick out some burnable wood strips, and Lin Yao joined her in the search, enjoying the treasure hunt among the pile of wood.

After selecting the wood, their two baskets were filled to the brim. Although the wheelbarrow was heavy, with Xu Xiangqia’s help, Lin Yao and Gu Chunmei didn’t need to push it themselves.

Since the young couple was on a date, Lin Yao didn’t want to be a third wheel. She made an excuse about having things to do at home and left first.

In reality, Lin Yao didn’t have anything pressing to do; she simply felt a bit nostalgic and missed Deputy Director Gu.

— I wonder if Gu Shi’an will come home early today.

He was always working late and rarely came home early to spend time with her… to spend time with family.

Wandering through the streets, Lin Yao saw an old lady selling jasmine flowers for a penny a bunch. She bought a bunch to take home and put in a vase.

At this time, it was already after work hours, and female factory workers were hurrying home with their cloth bags.

Because of the heat, the factory workers had switched to light, dark blue summer uniforms. The streets were filled with blue and gray, devoid of any aesthetic appeal.

As Lin Yao turned into the alley towards the courtyard, she didn’t notice Lin Hongna, who was dressed in a dusty gray work uniform and had a scowl on her face.

Since being caught in bed by Old Lady Qi, Lin Hongna couldn’t stay in Linjia Village anymore.

In a conservative environment, especially in a rural area, the scandal between Lin Hongna and Sun Jialiang was enough to ruin a person’s reputation, even in a relatively open city.

Lin Hongna wasn’t foolish. She couldn’t stay in the countryside, so she clung to Sun Jialiang and moved to the town.

Sun Jialiang, overwhelmed himself, had to arrange for Lin Hongna to work in the light bulb factory to calm down the upset Lin Daguo family.

Lin Hongna thought she had nothing wrong. She just wanted to live a good life. She was going to marry into the Sun family sooner or later, so why shouldn’t she have been intimate with Sun Jialiang earlier? If she were carrying Sun Jialiang’s child, that old hypocrite in the Sun family wouldn’t dare look down on her!

Lin Hongna had it all planned out, but she never expected her father to find a mistress!

Not only did he find a mistress, but her mother also caught him.

Men were all the same, always looking at other women while eating. She had enough trouble managing her own life, and now she had to clean up her parents’ mess. It was infuriating!

**

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