As the sun set, it painted the evening glow with dazzling beauty, a sight that was breathtaking, but Ganli had no heart to appreciate it.
She walked along the village path toward Gan Tao's house, feeling as if a stone was pressing on her heart, and she couldn't feel at ease.
Gan Li was quite surprised that Gan Tao did not sign up for the restaurant competition.
Logically speaking, given Gan Tao's family's current situation, she shouldn't miss this opportunity to improve her life.
She had a suspicion in her mind and decided to ask him herself.
"Knock knock knock..." Gan Li gently knocked on the gate of Gan Tao's courtyard.
Who is it?
A slightly hoarse female voice came from inside the room.
"Gan Tao, it's me," Gan Li replied.
"Auntie?"
Gan Tao was visibly startled when she heard Gan Li's voice, followed by a series of hurried footsteps.
The door was quickly opened, and Gan Tao looked at the person in front of her, forcing a smile: "Auntie, why are you here?"
Looking at Gan Tao's pale face and her red and swollen eyes, Gan Li became even more certain of her guess. It seemed that there was indeed some hidden story behind this matter.
She pretended not to see Gan Tao's swollen eyes, curled the corners of her lips, and said in a relaxed tone, "I just happened to be passing by and was thinking of coming over for a visit. Is it inconvenient?"
Before Gan Tao could speak, her mother, who had followed her out from inside, couldn't help but curse out loud.
"You brat, you're getting more and more rude as you get older! Your aunt is a big boss now! She's so busy all day, and she finally comes to our house. Aren't you going to invite her in and have a seat?"
As he spoke, he turned to look at Gan Li, and the fierce look on his face instantly turned into a fawning smile. He said to Gan Li, "Gan Li, don't take offense at this ignorant girl. Please come in and sit down!"
Gan Li remained indifferent to her enthusiasm, her eyes fixed solely on Gan Tao.
Hearing her mother's harsh voice, Gan Tao felt a pang of embarrassment, but she still managed a smile and whispered to Gan Li:
"Auntie, please come in and have a seat."
As she spoke, she opened the courtyard gate and welcomed Ganli inside.
Ganli walked into the yard and glanced around. She saw a wooden basin filled with unwashed clothes.
Seeing Gan Tao's sleeves rolled up high and her hands, which were white from being soaked in water, one could guess that she must have been working just now.
Gan Li felt a pang of heartache at this thought, but then Gan Tao Niang warmly greeted her, nimbly pushing the wheelchair to a stop in front of Gan Li, reaching out to take her hand, and saying affectionately:
"Ganli, you're such a busy person these days. I was worried I wouldn't be able to invite you for a visit, but I never expected you would remember to come and see me..."
As she spoke, she glanced back, and when she saw the empty doorway and no food or other items as she had expected, a hint of disappointment flashed across her eyes.
Just then, Gan Li raised her hand to avoid the outstretched hand and said coldly, "I've come to see Gan Tao about something."
After saying that, he turned to Gan Tao and asked, "Can we talk in your room?"
Gan Tao looked up unexpectedly and saw the concern in her eyes. For some reason, her nose suddenly stung, and she bit her lip and nodded.
"Auntie, please come with me."
Ganli nodded and followed.
Seeing that she had been neglected, Gan Tao Niang felt a little resentful. She thought that Gan Li, that wretched girl, had changed, but she was still so ill-mannered!
She's standing right here, a grown man, and she only speaks to Tao'er, a junior? She's so arrogant!
However, despite her thoughts, she realized that Gan Li was now a person of status, and it was not good to offend her.
Another one, Gan Tao Niang still had some hope in her heart.
She could tell that, although she didn't know why, Gan Li seemed to care a lot about Gan Tao. Gan Tao was her daughter, so if Gan Li gave her benefits, wouldn't that be giving benefits to her own family?
Thinking of this, Gan Taoniang forced herself to swallow her anger.
On the other side, Gan Li followed Gan Tao into the house. As soon as the door closed, she went straight to the point and asked:
"Gan Tao, you must have heard about my Gan Ji restaurant's recruitment, right? Today the village chief sent over the list of people who signed up for the restaurant competition, why isn't your name on it?"
Gan Tao lowered her head and remained silent for a moment before whispering, "Aunt, I don't want to go."
"Don't want to go? Why?" Gan Li pressed. "Although I said that the recruitment process would involve a competition, you're so capable, there shouldn't be any problem. Besides, the restaurant pays quite well, and the work is much easier than washing clothes."
Gan Tao bit her lip, hesitated for a moment, then looked up into Gan Li's eyes and whispered:
“Aunt, I know all that you’re saying, but I can’t go.”
"Why can't I go?" Gan Li thought for a moment and asked, "Are you worried about my second sister-in-law?"
Gan Tao pursed her lips and nodded.
"The incident my mother had with Aunt Zhao before... Although I know she's not a petty person, I couldn't just pretend nothing happened."
Besides, if I really went to work at the restaurant, friction would inevitably arise over time, wouldn't that put Brother Ganquan in the middle, putting him in a difficult position? You've been so good to me; if I did this, I would truly be repaying kindness with enmity.”
Ganli saw that she was indeed worried about this, and sighed inwardly. Even in such a difficult time, Gan Tao was still thinking of others, which showed that her character was rare.
She patted Gan Tao's hand and comforted her, "You know my second sister-in-law isn't petty, why would she hold a grudge against someone like you, a junior? Besides, I'm here for you. I'll talk to her myself, so you don't need to worry."
Gan Tao's expression remained tense upon hearing this.
Gan Li noticed this and asked, "Could it be that there's another reason?"
“Aunt…” Gan Tao didn’t want to air her family’s dirty laundry in public, but she was so heartbroken, and Gan Li was so concerned about her, she couldn’t bear to give her a random excuse, so she simply said it directly:
"Did Brother Gan Quan ask you for help because of my matter? Actually, it wasn't my idea to go to Brother Gan Quan at all!"
After she finished speaking, she stared at Gan Li, but saw that the other woman's expression remained unchanged, while she herself was stunned for a moment.
Immediately, Gan Tao realized what was going on and gave a wry smile: "You guessed it all along?"
Ganli nodded.
It's not hard to guess. Gan Tao is a girl with some ambition. She previously forbade her mother and others from going to find Gan Quan, let alone go by herself.
It seems that Gan Tao Niang made the decision on her own.
Gan Tao gave a bitter smile: "Everyone else knows this, but my mother doesn't. She only thinks about her brothers and doesn't consider my feelings at all. This time, I'm going to make sure she doesn't get her way!"
Ganli immediately understood what she meant.
Gan Tao was dissatisfied with her mother's long-term domineering and disrespectful attitude, and she wanted to use this method to silently resist.
She sighed and shook her head helplessly.
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