Chapter 18 Family Dispute
When Liu Erni returned to Gu's house dejectedly with an empty basket.
Chen Chunhua said proudly, "Third sister-in-law, come and have a look. This is the dried black fungus my parents gave me. You say my parents are really mean. I have been married for so many years, but they still treat me like an unmarried girl."
What Liu Erni envied the most was the treatment Chen Chunhua received. Even after getting married, she was still remembered by her parents. A few years ago, Old Gu got drunk and pushed Chen Chunhua. The next day, the three brothers of the Chen family all came to the house to cause trouble for Old Gu. Old Gu was so scared that he almost knelt down on the spot.
Apart from being poor, the Chen family did almost everything a country family could do in loving their daughter.
Chen Chunhua then said in a sarcastic tone, "Third sister-in-law, mother spent a long time in the kitchen ordering tofu this morning, and she felt like there was a piece of tofu missing from the house. Do you know where it went?"
Liu Erni lowered her head guiltily and said, "Maybe I made one too many when I was cooking. I will definitely save some next time..."
Chen Chunhua said, "It would be best if you were sent back to your parents' home. That would be unacceptable. But I heard from the villagers that they saw you go back to your parents' home just now. Is that true?"
Liu Erni was squeezed to the point of being speechless for a long time. She looked at her husband for help, but Gu Laosan's eyes were not very friendly at this time. After all, no one likes a daughter-in-law who only cares about her own family.
Old Mrs. Gu coughed hard, glared at her third daughter-in-law, and then said, "Stop arguing, go make lunch first, and then we can discuss the tofu sale."
Old Lady Gu's words also meant that the matter of Liu Erni stealing tofu was covered up.
But in fact, everyone present was dissatisfied.
Liu Erni felt that she was being treated harshly, and Chen Chunhua felt that her mother-in-law favored the third wife.
The second wife had already hidden aside and did not participate in the fight at all.
Money is the beginning of disputes, and in the afternoon when they were discussing who would be responsible for selling tofu, there was another dispute.
The first and third wives refused to give in to each other, and both felt that they should be the ones to carry the tofu to sell.
Gu Mingda, who finally decided not to get involved in the matter, made a suggestion: "Mom, to the left of our village is Linjia Village, and to the right is Chenjia Village. Third brother, go left, and eldest brother, go right. There is a tofu shop in the town, so there is no need to go there anymore."
Even with such pertinent suggestions, some people are still not satisfied.
Liu Erni said: "Why should Big Brother go to Chenjia Village? That is Big Sister's family's hometown. Big Brother is familiar with many villagers and will definitely be able to sell faster."
After a whole morning of quarreling, the first and third wives were already angry. They were both trying their best to suppress the other. This time, selling tofu was a good opportunity for them to prove themselves.
Gu Mingda looked at her strangely and said, "Third brother's wife, I don't understand what you are saying. You are going to sell tofu for the family, and selling it out as soon as possible is the most important thing. No one is urging the eldest brother to compare with the third brother."
The eldest and third brothers Gu fell silent at the same time, and the two brothers looked at each other.
Gu Mingda looked at Old Lady Gu again and asked, "Mom, do you want to let the eldest brother and the third brother compete to see who is better at selling tofu, and then hand over the tofu stall to them in the future?"
Upon hearing this, the people from the first and third rooms immediately stared at Old Lady Gu with burning eyes.
Old Mrs. Gu frowned and said, "You've just set up the stall and you're already thinking about who's going to take over? I'm not dead yet!"
The first and third rooms suddenly became quiet.
After thinking it over, Mrs. Gu finally decided that it was better to loosen things up than to block them. Instead of the whole family staring at each other like cross-eyed, it would be better to let them all have money they can use.
"I will give each of you a basket of tofu. Just give me fifty cents after you sell them. You can keep the rest of the money for yourself." said Old Lady Gu.
When she said this, it was equivalent to the Gu family becoming a wholesale department. The first and third wives could take things from her and sell them, and she didn't care how much they sold.
Who doesn't like money? As soon as these words were spoken, the people in the first and third rooms immediately rubbed their hands and wanted to perform well.
When they finally went out carrying the tofu, the house finally became quiet.
They took most of the tofu out, and kept some at home to supply customers in the village.
Gu Mingda did not rush back to his room to study, but said: "Mom, I want to take Yunniang and the children with me when I go to the capital to take the exam this time."
When Mrs. Gu heard this, she wanted to object immediately.
Gu Mingda said, "Going to the capital will delay my elder brother and third brother from selling tofu. They will definitely not want to accompany me. Since I am taking Yunniang with me, we are worried about leaving the three children at home."
When Gu Mingda went to the provincial capital to take the exam, he would definitely need someone to take care of him, usually Gu Lao Da or Gu Lao San.
Because the second wife's child was abducted, the couple would not feel at ease if the child was not under their eyes.
Old Lady Gu asked, "You and Yunniang are going to the capital city, and I will take care of the three children myself. Aren't you worried too?"
Gu Mingda said, "Mom, I'm not worried about you, but the children are grown up and it's time for them to go out and see the world. I don't dare to say whether this is my last time to take the exam."
Old Mrs. Gu understood her second son, and seeing that he was so persistent, she stopped trying to persuade him.
"Your wife has three children to take care of, so she will probably be very busy by then," said Old Mrs. Gu.
Gu Mingda said: "The children are sensible and they will not cause trouble casually."
The children who he described as obedient and sensible were now following Old Man Gu into the Daqing Mountains.
"Grandpa, where is the chestnut tree you mentioned? Are there really so many chestnuts now?" Gu Zhao asked anxiously.
Father Gu mumbled, "Pick some chestnuts...for Niuniu to eat..."
It was the thirteen-year-old Gu Yan who didn't want to go into the mountain. However, his younger brothers and sisters were blinded by the word "chestnut", so he had to follow in. However, he kept his eyes on the surroundings, fearing that a wild beast would jump out and take his younger brothers and sisters away.
After walking for about a quarter of an hour into the mountain, Old Man Gu finally stopped.
He looked up at the empty branches, with a sad face: "Mao Lizi... Where is Mao Lizi?"
Gu Zhao was also very disappointed. Seeing that there were no wild chestnuts on the tree, he started searching on the ground to see if he could find any wild chestnuts hidden on the ground.
It’s a pity that there are quite a few thorn balls on the ground, but only a few complete chestnuts.
Niuniu also bent over and stuck her butt out to search on the ground. Her luck was obviously much better than Gu Zhao's: "One... two... Third brother, I found several!"
She stretched out her hand and handed the pitiful chestnuts to Gu Zhao: "Third brother, don't be sad, I'll give it to you!"
Gu Zhao's mood immediately turned from sadness to joy: "Thank you Niuniu!"
He didn't find any chestnuts, but he did find several bugs. He held up a colorful caterpillar and said, "Sister, look, this is the treasure I just found!"
Niu Niu was so scared when she saw the insect that was as thick as a finger that she almost cried.
She couldn't understand why her brother repaid her kindness with evil when she had kindly given him some chestnuts.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
