Chapter 83: 83: Why ask about the exam results when you are having a good time?

Chapter 83: Chapter 83: Why ask about the exam results when you are having a good time?

Gu Qiaoqiao looked down at the paper-wrapped bundle in the pot.

The black, oily fruit was delicious.

She really did enjoy eating it.

In summer, she would search the entire garden for the black, oily fruit to eat.

But she had never thought that the fruit could also be dried in the sun.

Gu Qiaoqiao opened the paper bundle and took out a piece to eat.

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It was a bit sour, a bit sweet, very different from the fresh taste.

But it was indeed very tasty.

Gu Qiaoqiao thought about Chang Qing, who had already run off out of sight, and imagined that in his previous life Chang Qing must have been very sad to learn of his own death.

She knew he wanted to repay her father for his kindness.

But that kindness would equally bind him.

Without her and her younger brother as burdens, he should lead a more relaxed life in the future.

Gu Qiaoqiao put the paper bundle into the pocket of her down jacket, went into the storeroom, took about a dozen bean pastries, and returned to the main house.

All those who came to gawk had left.

Some people still wanted to come, but seeing that it was mealtime, they dismissed the thought.

Usually, the absence of a pair of chopsticks doesn’t matter, but today was the newlywed son-in-law’s return, so there had to be some consideration.

As a result, the Gu Family’s home quieted down.

However, it was only the sort of quiet that comes from not being disturbed; the Gu Family’s home was very lively today.

Gu Qiaoqiao, along with Lian Yuhong and Gu Qianqian, were busy bustling about in the kitchen.

Meanwhile, on the big kang bed in the living room, Gu Zishu was listening with great piety to Qin Yize as he recounted interesting stories that he could tell about his experiences in the mountains and borderlands over the past few years.

Gu Zishu listened with sparkling eyes.

However, after listening for a while, he began to play along with Qin Yize.

Sometimes he crawled forward on the kang bed,

sometimes he held up his mom’s feather duster, squinting his eyes and mimicking the motion of ‘tat-tat-tat.’

His mouth continuously made ‘bang bang’ noises.

Even the usually impassive Qin Yize couldn’t help but laugh.

Actually, Gu Zishu had been just as lively the first couple of times Qin Yize came.

And the child’s love and yearning for the military, as well as his knowledge of various weapons, were truly impressive.

He was exceedingly well-versed.

If he were to get into the military academy, he might be able to display his talents.

Qin Yize couldn’t resist asking, “Zishu, how are your grades? What rank did you get in the final exams?”

Gu Zishu’s movements suddenly froze.

He blinked and stared at his brother-in-law in bewilderment.

Everything was going so well, why ask about exam scores?

That question was too profound.

It wasn’t easy to answer.

With a flip, Gu Zishu rolled off the kang bed, hurriedly put on his shoes, and ran outside.

As he lifted the door curtain, Gu Qianqian’s small face appeared, and she called out teasingly to Qin Yize, “Brother-in-law, Gu Zishu ranked third on the final exams… Too bad it’s from the bottom… Haha…”

Gu Zishu, infuriated, waved his little fists threateningly, “Gu Qianqian, shut up.”

“You dare to threaten me, I’ll have sister take care of you,” Gu Qianqian turned to go snitch.

Gu Qiaoqiao smiled as she watched her brother and sister.

Especially her brother, who definitely had ADHD.

But she really liked her lively little brother who bounced around so much.

It seemed as if the nightmare of her previous life was gradually receding.

Gu Qiaoqiao’s smile grew even deeper.

The families on this land are almost all from the pioneering eastward movement.

There are hardly any locals who were born and raised here.

However, there’s no shortage of distant relations and extended family.

The Gu Family, though, they’re purely newcomers, save for Gu Qiaoqiao’s maternal grandmother’s side, Grandpa Gu has no relatives here.

Thus, as night fell, the usually quiet Gu Family home buzzed with unusual liveliness today.

Yet Lian Yuhong felt unsettled.

There was none of the pride that one’s daughter had grown up; it was just sadness, and tears threatened to fall.

But she had to hold them back since her son-in-law was sitting in the room.

Watching her eldest daughter Gu Qiaoqiao skillfully chopping vegetables, cooking, and plating dishes, Lian Yuhong wondered, what kind of life did she lead at the Qin Family?

How had her daughter, in just over six months, become as proficient as a seasoned restaurant chef?

To think, at home, she rarely even let her wash dishes.

Firstly because she only had two daughters.

Secondly because she never forgot what her father-in-law said: Qiaoqiao’s hands were meant for a sculptor.

Not for cooking or preparing meals.

Though it might have been a joke, she was always a competent woman, and her husband never just stood by idly.

He wouldn’t let her do the housework all by herself.

So, as long as she managed, she never asked her daughters to lift a finger for such tasks.

But what was she seeing now?

Lian Yuhong wiped away a secret tear, and then forced a smile, praising, “My daughter is so skillful, the food smells amazing.”

It really did smell good.

Especially the dishes stir-fried in a big iron wok over a cornstalk fire had an extraordinary aroma.

But Gu Qiaoqiao noticed something off in Lian Yuhong’s voice and expression, and looking over without understanding why, she saw her mother gazing intently at the spatula in her hand.

Gu Qiaoqiao instantly understood.

Lian Yuhong had really misunderstood the Qin Family.

In two lifetimes combined, she had only cooked for half a month at the Qin Family’s home.

Her culinary skills had nothing to do with them.

“Mom, you’re thinking too much. I hardly ever cooked at the Qin Family’s home, just washed dishes a few times, but I did tidy up the house often.

Sweeping and mopping floors, I’ve always done that efficiently.”

Lian Yuhong seemed skeptical, “Really, you’re not lying to me, are you?”

Gu Qiaoqiao smiled, “Why would I lie to you? Besides, being good at cooking isn’t something shameful. I learned it from Grandma Qin. Don’t you know how smart your daughter is?”

Lian Yuhong stared blankly at Gu Qiaoqiao for a long moment before conceding that her daughter was right. Being good at cooking was something to be proud of, especially for a girl.

Thus, she quickly hid her sorrow, thinking to herself how fortunate it was that the son-in-law was in the living room; how embarrassing it would have been if he had seen her.

Lian Yuhong continued to praise, “My daughter has always been clever and skilled, there’s nothing she wants to learn that she can’t master.”

“Yes, sister, if you worked a bit harder, you could have taken the college entrance exams, maybe you’d be a university student too,” Gu Qianqian said with regret.

Gu Qiaoqiao didn’t feel much about it. Marrying Qin Yize was one thing, but she really didn’t like studying that much.

What she preferred was sitting there, using Grandpa’s carving knife, creating beautiful worlds from her imagination.

But with so many opportunities in this life, she certainly wouldn’t settle for being an assistant chef. She knew that becoming a true sculptor required serious study.

At a minimum, she had to take advanced courses at the Art Academy.

In fact, she never understood why her grandpa vacillated between delight and sorrow about her exceptional sculpting talent.

It really was strange.

Did Grandpa not want her to carry on his legacy?

Or was it because she was a girl?

But she never saw him pressuring her brother.

Gu Qiaoqiao only spaced out for a moment before she said to Gu Qianqian, “Qianqian, you study hard. Zishu is restless; our family is counting on you.”