Chapter 26 Rumors
Grandma Gu carried a small stool and sat under a tree at the village entrance, deliberately stretching out her legs, which were almost touching the old lady's lap.
This old lady is Liu Zhaodi's mother-in-law.
When Granny Zhou saw that Grandma Gu was wearing liberation shoes, she said, "Dad's wife, you're actually willing to wear these shoes? They must be very expensive!"
Everyone around was focused on Grandma Gu's shoes.
Grandma Gu immediately sat up straight and said proudly, "Oh, it's all thanks to my Hanhan, who bought a pair for me and my husband."
“I said no, but she insisted on buying it, saying that she would buy it for her grandma and that she wouldn’t care how much it cost.”
The team leader Baoqing's wife looked at Grandma Gu with envy and said, "This Han girl is so filial!"
"That's right. Everyone says that raising a granddaughter is not as good as raising a grandson. This granddaughter is just as filial as a grandson. Those jealous people even said that I was stupid to let my granddaughter go to school."
Grandma Gu deliberately stretched out her feet for everyone to see: "For a girl who works at home to be able to afford these shoes, they must be very expensive."
The women around her complimented Grandma Gu, saying, "Your children are so successful. Your eldest grandson is a city dweller, and your youngest granddaughter is so filial."
Grandma Gu's vanity was also satisfied: "Of course, this life is quite comfortable."
After showing off, she said, "It's time. I have to go home and cook for my little granddaughter. She's finally back, so I have to make her something nice to eat." With that, she happily carried her little stool home.
Jiawang's wife watched Grandma Gu's retreating figure and said, "Pah, she's probably doing something shady outside. Otherwise, how could a student afford such expensive shoes?"
Old Mrs. Zhou chimed in, "That's right! It's not like there aren't any students in our village who go to junior high. They're all at school, so why is she the only one who came home?"
A wave of her hand, and the women around her all gathered around Old Lady Zhou.
"Think about it, that girl Han has never worked in the fields before, and her skin is so fair. When she goes to the city, wouldn't everyone admire someone like that?"
One of the aunties said, "You know what, that girl is unmatched in all the surrounding villages."
Widow Zhao was also standing not far from the crowd. She already had a grudge against Gu Aidang, so she was even more enthusiastic about gossiping about Gu Yihan.
"We don't even know if that girl is clean or not. Who in this neighborhood would dare to marry her granddaughter? Just wait, they'll all be married off in the future," Widow Zhao interjected.
The people around Zhao fell silent upon hearing what she said, and no one spoke to her.
Widow Zhao knew that the old women in the village didn't like her, so she sneered, "If you're so capable, why don't you keep an eye on your own men? What kind of ability is it to try to find a sense of existence here with an old woman like me?" After saying that, she swayed away.
"Pah, she's a vixen, she deserves to die a horrible death," Jiawang's wife said through gritted teeth.
Rumors spread faster than expected in the village because after Gu Yihan returned to the village, she never left her home again, nor did she return to school.
The villagers speculated that she might have done something wrong in the commune, or that the girl was definitely not innocent.
Every time Grandma Gu went out, she would see villagers looking at her with a hesitant expression, which left her completely confused.
Gu Yihan was explaining junior high school knowledge points to Gu Meng in the yard. Gu Meng had already received her elementary school graduation certificate and was very motivated.
Looking up, Gu Yihan saw Gu Aidang walking aggressively towards her. Before she could react, Gu Aidang slapped her to the ground.
Pointing at Gu Yihan, he kept cursing, "The family sent you to school so you could mess around outside. You've ruined the reputation of our Gu family."
Gu Yihan raised her hand to cover her burning cheek, her eyes filled with hatred. This was the first time she had ever felt such intense hatred for this person.
Seeing Gu Yihan's glare, Gu Aidang flew into a rage: "You're my daughter! I'll beat you to death and make you look bad in public!" He then stepped forward, ready to grab her.
Grandma Gu heard the noise in the kitchen, came out and saw Gu Aidang about to hit her granddaughter.
A sharp voice rang out: "Gu Aidang, you dare to hit her and see what happens. You heartless, barking bastard, you've never raised her for a single day."
He jogged up and blocked Gu Yihan's path, slapping Gu Aidang's chest hard with both hands.
Gu Aidang grabbed Grandma Gu's hand angrily and said, "Mom, you're still protecting her. Do you know what people in the village are saying about her? She's immoral and seduces men."
Grandma Gu wailed, "You're not a human being! When others talk about your daughter, why don't you hit them back? You're only good at bullying your own family."
"Hanhan is so young. Those heartless bastards who give birth to sons without an anus, aren't they afraid of their intestines rotting? Who said that? I'm going to find them." Grandma Gu said, and was about to leave.
Gu Aidang grabbed Grandma Gu directly: "Can you stop everyone in the village? I've already said that girls don't need to study so much, but you insisted on making her study. Now look what's happened, her reputation is ruined."
Grandma Gu was trembling with anger as she pointed at Gu Aidang and said, "You trust others but not your own family. I didn't spend your money to send her to school."
Gu Yihan stood up and watched them argue, her eyes cold as she looked at Gu Aidang. Without saying a word, she went straight back to her room.
Gu Aidang said angrily, "Mother, you see? This is her attitude. She's an ingrate. I've wasted so many years raising her."
Grandma Gu said disappointedly, "Second son, you'll regret this later." Then she left dejectedly.
Inside the large house, Gu's sister-in-law, Wang Ni, looked at Gu Aiguo lying on the bed and said, "Do you think what's going on in the village is true? Will it delay our son's marriage?"
Gu Aiguo looked at his wife speechlessly and said, "Whether it's true or false, I'm Hanhan's uncle, so I can't say it."
Sister-in-law Gu glared angrily at Gu Aiguo and said, "If it were me, I wouldn't let her go to school. Look at our Daya, she never went to school and she's living such a comfortable life. She gave birth to a big, healthy boy in the first year of her marriage and immediately gained a foothold in her husband's family."
Sister-in-law Gu sighed and said, "I wonder when Gu Hao will find a girlfriend. He's already 23."
Gu Aiguo rolled over in bed, annoyed, and said, "You want your son to marry a woman from the village?"
Sister-in-law Gu said anxiously, "That won't do. Our son is now receiving government-subsidized grain rations."
Gu Aiguo squinted and yawned, saying, "That's settled then. Let him find one himself. You don't know any girls in the city anyway. Okay, I'm not going to talk about it anymore. I'm going to take a nap."
Sister-in-law Gu spat at Gu Aiguo, who had fallen asleep immediately, and said, "Hmph, I hope you sleep to death."
Grandma Gu was wiping away tears sadly inside the house: "Old man, seeing our granddaughter become so successful, their relationship was never very warm to begin with, now Hanhan and the second son are definitely going to drift apart."
Grandpa Gu looked at Grandma Gu with suspicion: "She's just a girl. After she gets married, she'll only go back to her parents' home to visit when she has nothing else to do. What kind of future can she have?"
Grandma Gu opened her mouth but then closed it again. She had promised her granddaughter that she would talk about it after her granddaughter started school.
All I could say was vaguely, "You wouldn't understand even if I told you."
Grandpa Gu looked at Grandma Gu, who seemed puzzled, but he didn't press her for an explanation.
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