Chapter 10

Mother Gu never expected this son to come back.

When Gu Shan had once threatened to split from the family by threatening to kill himself, it had been such an ugly scene. That time had left her crying so hard that her eyesight had worsened, and Father Gu’s back had deteriorated from being able to barely sit up to now hurting so badly that he couldn’t even sleep lying down.

She was truly disappointed in this son!

So Mother Gu spoke with suppressed anger:
“Dashan, didn’t you say after we split the household that we’d live our own separate lives? Your second brother has been unconscious for a whole month, and you never came to see him once. Now you come to me for what? My eyes can barely see anymore—what help could I even give you?”

Gu Shan clutched her legs, crying:
“Mom! I know I was wrong! But I just wanted to continue the Gu family line! Magpie is already pregnant and vomiting so badly—how could I leave her to visit Second Brother? But wasn’t it me who carried Second Brother home when he was injured?

Mom, how can you say that about me! Did Second Brother say something? Since I was young, haven’t I done everything for the Gu family?

If Magpie’s stomach didn’t hurt and I didn’t have to take her to the hospital, I wouldn’t be here asking you for money! This is about your grandson—can you really turn a blind eye?

This medal in your hand, it’s silver, isn’t it? Mom, give it to me. I’ll pawn it for cash to take Magpie to the hospital. Once I earn money, I’ll redeem it back…”

Mother Gu’s chest rose and fell with rage as she pointed at him:
“How could you possibly have no money! When we split the household, everything was divided to you! Speak with your conscience—aside from leaving me, your father, and Tiantian as burdens, what did you leave for your second brother?”

Gu Shan paused, then said:
“But I also heard you spent eight hundred yuan as a bride price for Second Brother’s marriage! Magpie’s bride price was only a hundred and eighty yuan! Who wouldn’t feel upset hearing that? When we split the household, you must have hidden money—how dare you blame me?!”

Mother Gu’s breath came heavy, tears running down her face:
“Unfilial son! That eight hundred yuan was money your brother earned with his life—it was after the split!”

Gu Shan, now desperate, shouted:
“So what? He earned it before marriage, didn’t he? Did he ever think to give me, his elder brother, a share? Does he even acknowledge me as his brother?! Enough talk, just give me that medal!”

Their arguing grew louder and louder, and Yan Qingqing and Gu Chi rushed out of the house.

Seeing Gu Shan, Gu Chi clenched his teeth and barked, “Get out!”

Gu Shan flinched; he didn’t think Gu Chi would be home!

Before he could react, Gu Chi grabbed him by the collar and shoved him straight out of the gate, his face icy cold:
“Don’t you ever step through this door again!”

No matter how angry Gu Shan was, he didn’t dare provoke Gu Chi. He could only slink back to the courtyard next door.

As soon as he stepped inside, Zhao Magpie slapped him hard:
“Useless trash! He just woke from a coma and you still can’t beat him? A brother disciplining his younger brother is perfectly justified! Not only did you fail to get a single cent of that eight hundred yuan, you even lost eighty of your own! Gu Shan, you fool—I can’t live with you anymore! I’m going back to my parents’ house!”

Furious, she packed two sets of clothes and stormed out.

Gu Shan hurried after her, only for Zhao Magpie to slap him several more times in the face at the village entrance—right in front of a group of village women, making Gu Shan’s face burn red with shame.

To chase or not to chase—that was the question!

Back at the Gu household, Mother Gu was so angry that her chest hurt and she couldn’t stand. She sat on a stool, crying. Yan Qingqing quickly came forward to comfort her:

“Please don’t cry! Crying is bad for your eyes! Take things lightly—if others are angry, I won’t be. Getting sick from anger helps no one!

Don’t compare with neighbors, and let children and grandchildren live as they will! Everything in life comes and goes—how can it all go our way? Keep a smile and there’ll be no worries. Don’t get angry, don’t let anger harm you!”

She spoke in a singsong rhyme, but her words truly made sense.

Mother Gu wiped her eyes and smiled, comforted. She looked warmly at Yan Qingqing and beckoned Gu Chi over.

“Second Son, this medal was meant for you from your father. Take it to town, exchange it for money, get yourself checked at the hospital, and buy Qingqing a warm set of clothes.”

Yan Qingqing was still wearing her old clothes from the Yan family—
black coarse cotton, with one sleeve patched at least eighteen times, hand-me-downs from her foster mother Yang Zhaodi when she was young.

Even when she married, no new clothes were bought—Yang Zhaodi had said it was just a wedding for luck, no need to waste money. Ironically, for Qingqing’s wedding, Yang Zhaodi bought new clothes for her two sons, Yan Dahai and Yan Xiaohai.

Gu Chi frowned slightly:
“Mom, I have money. I’ll go to the hospital today, and I’ll buy her clothes.”

Mother Gu was skeptical:
“Where did you get money?”

Gu Chi simply explained:
“Someone owed me money. I got it back yesterday. It’s enough. Don’t worry. This medal was earned by Father through life-and-death service—it can’t be sold.”

Since her son insisted, Mother Gu didn’t press further, but still shoved the medal into Yan Qingqing’s hands:
“Our family doesn’t have gold bracelets or heirlooms, but we have this medal. It’s not very valuable, but it’s meaningful! Qingqing, you take it!”

Yan Qingqing quickly refused:
“This is too precious—I can’t take it!”

But Mother Gu smiled and pushed it on her anyway:
“If only because you made my eyes less painful and my vision clearer, and even eased your father-in-law’s back, this medal belongs to you! Good girl, take it—otherwise I won’t use your ointment anymore!”

Yan Qingqing could only accept it temporarily.

Meanwhile, Gu Chi somehow borrowed a bicycle. Mother Gu found an old but very warm scarf and carefully wrapped it around Yan Qingqing.

Standing close, she gently smoothed Qingqing’s hair and tied the scarf snugly to block the wind.

That tender care, so full of motherly love, nearly made Yan Qingqing cry again—
she could hardly recall her “mother” ever treating her with such kindness.

So this is what it feels like to have a mother’s love—so warm, so happy!

Yan Qingqing held back her tears and left with Gu Chi under Mother Gu’s instructions.

She sat on the back seat while Gu Chi didn’t ride fast. Once they left Old Sow Village, Yan Qingqing spoke:

“The Sun family—that’s my birth parents—I’m taking back that four hundred yuan bride price. It’s really money from the Gu family, so I should hand it to you. As for the four hundred yuan from the Yan family…”

She was just about to pull it out when Gu Chi cut her off:

“Keep the money. Don’t worry—whether you stay with me or not, it’s yours. This is your security. If I give it to you, I’ll never take it back. If you think it’s too little, I’ll earn more to make it up to you.”

Yan Qingqing was startled:
“How could I think it’s too little! It’s such a big sum—I only thought it belonged to you…”

But Gu Chi suddenly sped up. On the bumpy dirt road, Qingqing instinctively clung to his strong waist for balance!

In an instant their bodies were pressed together. Even with thick winter clothes, her face burned.

She tried to let go, but at this speed she’d fall right off if she did.

The whole way, she dared not say another word—just bit her lip and held on tightly.

And Gu Chi, looking straight ahead, nearly pedaled the bicycle into smoke, eyes glinting with a faint smile.

Meanwhile at the Yan household, Yang Zhaodi, face dark with anger, was eating breakfast with Yan Fugui and their two sons.

Usually, for over ten years, Yan Qingqing had been the one cooking. If the food wasn’t good, Yang Zhaodi would beat her hands with chopsticks.

No wonder Qingqing’s cooking skills were excellent.

Now Yang Zhaodi had to cook, and the blackened food on the table was hard to swallow.

Especially Yan Dahai, who said bluntly:
“Mom, isn’t that fool Yan Qingqing supposed to have gotten a job as a measurer at the town textile factory? I got the notice but didn’t give it to her. Today I’ll report in and just say she didn’t want it and gave it to me.

But on the first day, I need to greet the factory leaders—you should give me some money to buy gifts.”

Yang Zhaodi, still fuming from the brick-blow to her head, snapped:
“Money, money, money! Do I look like I can make money out of thin air? That four hundred yuan you spent on a bicycle—did you even ask me first? Why don’t you go get money from Yan Qingqing? What kind of sister is she if she won’t pay up?”

Thinking of how Yan Qingqing had smashed her with a brick, Yang Zhaodi seethed with resentment, secretly vowing to find a way to humiliate Yan Qingqing severely!