Chapter 26: Goodness

Chapter 26: Chapter 26: Goodness

It was already almost noon, and by the time Ms. Wu finished cooking, everyone was ravenous.

Ms. Wu nodded and sighed. Looking at their spacious and clean new home, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

She said, “Alright then. When I have a moment later, I must also go and thank them.”

Gu Qingli agreed silently.

That’s a good idea.

“Mother, remember we also need to thank the Village Chief, Second Grand-uncle.”

“Don’t worry, I know. When we were at the Drugstore, many fellow villagers came to visit your father. He was so delighted.” As Ms. Wu spoke, she began to shed gold beans, but this time they were tears of joy.

In the past, their family had lived worse than dogs, despised by everyone in the village. Now, being treated so kindly by so many villagers, the bitterness in Ms. Wu’s heart from severing ties with the Gu Family finally dissipated.

She had also figured it out; it was better to rely on oneself than on others.

Even if her children were successful in the future, wouldn’t they still have the Gu Clan as backing?

“Oh, by the way, Li’er, Doctor Shen gave us back five taels of silver.”

Ms. Wu took out the five taels of silver, preparing to give it to Gu Qingli.

Gu Qingli didn’t accept it. “Mother, you keep the silver. I still have Dashuang’s silver with me.”

“Dashuang’s silver? What silver?” Ms. Wu asked in surprise.

Gu Qingli briefly explained how Dashuang had found the Ginseng. She then took out the remaining silver notes and loose silver, placing them all on the table.

Excluding the money spent on the house, clothes, furniture, and food, a total of ninety-three taels and some tens of copper coins remained.

Now that Gu Qingli was married and Gu Dalin was living separately with his immediate family, she didn’t have to worry about Ms. Hua coming to confiscate their silver, so she let them manage it themselves.

Especially with money, it’s best to keep things clear.

Even blood brothers settle accounts clearly.

Seeing so much silver, Ms. Wu was stunned for a long moment. She never imagined the three siblings could earn so much money just by digging for medicinal herbs.

Her hands trembled as she touched the silver notes.

After looking at them for a good while, she picked up the silver notes and placed them back in Gu Qingli’s hands. “Li’er,” she said, “keep these silver notes safe. You had no dowry when you married, and my heart aches because of it. Let me be shameless and use the money you children earned to provide you with a dowry.”

Gu Qingli was taken aback. Looking at the silver notes in her hand, her heart warmed, and tears welled in her eyes.

Their family was so destitute, yet Ms. Wu wasn’t tempted by the silver at all and gave it all to her.

Did she even realize what ninety taels meant to a family that usually never had a chance to see even a copper coin? This was a huge sum of money! They would have to rely on this silver to live in the future!

Besides, Gu Dalin, their primary laborer, was still bedridden.

And they had no fields or land after separating from the main family.

For Ms. Wu to give it all to her like this… it was impossible not to be moved.

Even Dashuang and Xiaoshuang stopped what they were doing to look at them. The two boys didn’t seem upset that Ms. Wu had given all the silver notes to Gu Qingli.

They even nodded at her.

Looking at this kind and lovely family, Gu Qingli turned away, sniffled, and then stuffed the silver notes back into Ms. Wu’s hands. “Mother, please keep this safe.”

Ms. Wu wanted to say something, but Gu Qingli interrupted her.

“Mother, listen to me. Next year, we’ll send Dashuang and Xiaoshuang to school. We’ll use the remaining silver to buy two or three acres of land first. As for the dowry, you can add to it later when we have more money.”

“Li’er, how can I ever thank you?” Ms. Wu pulled her into an embrace and started crying again.

Gu Qingli sighed.

Ms. Wu is wonderful in every way, except she can’t seem to change this habit of crying at the slightest thing.

AHEM.

Xiao Yunjing saw this scene as soon as he arrived. He hadn’t wanted to interrupt, but the food was getting cold.

“Ah, Yunjing, you’re here! Quick, come in.” Ms. Wu released Gu Qingli, wiped her tears, gave an embarrassed laugh, and went to take the food container from Xiao Yunjing’s hands.

Xiao Yunjing entered the room and said, “Mother, you should all eat quickly before it gets cold.”

“We should go back and eat too,” he then said to Gu Qingli.

“Is there none for me?”

“Ah? You didn’t say, so I didn’t pack a portion for you.” Xiao Yunjing scratched his head.

“Li’er, go back with Yunjing. There’s nothing more to do here,” Ms. Wu said hurriedly.

Gu Qingli nodded. Indeed, there was nothing left to tidy up. “Then I’ll come over again in a bit,” she said.

“No, no, it’s such a cold day, don’t run back and forth. Hurry back now.” Ms. Wu pushed her gently and winked.

Gu Qingli was speechless.

My mother-in-law isn’t like Ms. Hua, who holds grudges. She actually has a sharp tongue but a soft heart,

she wanted to say.

But seeing the look in Xiao Yunjing’s eyes, she had no choice but to say goodbye to Gu Dalin and follow him home.

When they returned home, the whole family was waiting for her. Ms. Jiang merely glanced at her before announcing, “Let’s eat.” Only then did the family begin their meal.

Gu Qingli chewed on the preserved meat-like vegetables, finding them hard to swallow.

Since there’s no need to go up the mountain to dig for herbs this winter, I might as well do the cooking,

she thought.

The taste of this food is really torturing my stomach.

With this in mind, she said, “Mother, now that we don’t need to go up the mountain for herbs, let me do the cooking every day.”

Ms. Jiang glanced at her. Seeing Gu Qingli’s bird-like appetite, she figured the girl probably couldn’t stomach their food.

Besides,

Ms. Jiang thought,

I can’t always have the Eldest and Second’s wives do all the cooking, laundry, and feeding the livestock. It’s time Third’s wife shared some of the burden.

So, she nodded. “Alright, you can make lunch every day then.”

Ms. Jiang thought,

If I make her get up early, HMPH, Third will be unhappy again.

Gu Qingli nodded. Lunch was perfect.

After the meal, there was nothing to do in the afternoon, so Gu Qingli took out the dirty clothes to wash. Xiao Yunjing immediately came to help without a word, heating water, carrying it, and wringing out the clothes. All she had to do was scrub and rinse.

Ms. Yang and Ms. Wang watched, their eyes wide, as Eldest Brother Xiao and Second Brother Xiao scratched their heads, looking flustered.

Looks like our workload is about to increase again,

the two men thought.

With nothing much to do in winter, the family went to bed early after dinner. Now they were entering the season for holing up, just waiting for the New Year.

As soon as they lay down, Gu Qingli asked Xiao Yunjing, “Will you go up the mountain if it snows?”

“Why?” Xiao Yunjing habitually pulled her into his arms, inhaling her sweet fragrance as he asked.

It’s strange,

he thought.

I’m a normal man, so why do I have no physical desire for her? Even if I wanted to do something, I can’t.

“Just asking. Don’t they say there are many ’silly roe deer’ in winter?”

I want to eat stewed meat,

she thought.

A steaming hot pot in this cold winter, with everyone gathered around—it would be as comforting and satisfying as a hotpot, both warming and delicious.

I’ve been here for so long but haven’t had a single truly satisfying meal.

During those days at the old Gu Family home, there was never enough to eat; we just ate whatever little we could to get by.

After marrying and moving here, there was food, but its taste was truly lacking—even worse than the makeshift meals I used to scrape together.

Now that I’m cooking lunch, I absolutely must make a delicious meal to treat my stomach.

In the modern world, when did I ever have to eat so poorly?

There’s food in my Space, but am I supposed to sneak in there to eat alone?

Besides, I don’t want to expose my Space. The shadow of my past life makes it impossible for me to let go. I don’t want to experience that kind of pain ever again.

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