Chapter 1 Name
"Daddy." The little dumpling with bright eyes and white teeth sat on the carpet playing with building blocks, its big, round eyes darting around.
Seeing that no one answered her, the little dumpling called out again in a soft, sweet voice.
A man wearing an apron walked out of the kitchen, but his gentle and refined demeanor was still undeniable.
"Xingxing, what do you want from your dad?" The man squatted down, a smile playing on his lips, and touched the little dumpling's soft face.
Danxing, the chubby boy, pointed to the wall clock and said, "It's time to pick Mom up from get off work."
"Thank you for reminding Dad, Xingxing." Dan Anwen smiled gently, her warm eyes sparkling.
The man took off his apron, tidied himself up, and drove to school with the little one in his arms.
As Gu Ji and his colleagues left the school after get off work, they saw a tall, slender man carrying a little girl in a pink princess dress.
A colleague who was leaving get off work with her joked, "Teacher Gu is so lucky, her husband even picks her up after get off work."
"You're still not used to it? It's been so many years, and her husband, Mr. Dan, has been there almost every day, rain or shine."
"This is envy from a single person."
A smile appeared on Gu Ji's well-maintained face. "Goodbye, teachers. I'll be going now."
After speaking, the shapely Gu Ji slowly walked towards the man.
Even on a sweltering summer afternoon, it's hard to stop a man's tender gaze from falling on a woman.
"Mommy." Danxing couldn't wait to reach out in the man's arms, wanting Gu Ji to hug her.
"Uncle Dan." Gu Ji hugged his daughter, a faint smile on his face.
Even after so many years of marriage, Gu Ji still hasn't changed how she addresses Dan Anwen; everything remains the same.
Dan Anwen's smile widened as he gently touched the woman's smooth forehead, his voice seemingly capable of dripping water, "Little one, let's go home."
"Daddy, Mommy, I'm so embarrassed." The little dumpling covered its eyes with its chubby white hands and mumbled to itself.
The two adults laughed out loud at the little dumpling's adorable appearance.
After getting on the bus and returning home, Danxing, the little dumpling, ate dinner under Dan Anwen's coaxing and went to sleep early.
Gu Ji and Dan Anwen left the little dumpling's room.
As soon as he stepped outside, Gu Ji was pressed against a strong, broad chest.
"Uncle Dan, Xingxing just fell asleep." Gu Ji's fair wrist rested slightly between the two of them.
Dan Anwen brought his lips close to the woman's ear, his voice deep and magnetic, "Little one, it's been a long time since we slept together."
These past few weeks have been unusually busy since school started, and Gu Ji, as the grade leader, has been neglecting his family.
Knowing she was in the wrong, the woman withdrew her hands, her small face flushed pink. "Then be gentle, I have class tomorrow."
Seeing his wife, whom he had been married to for many years, still acting like a shy little girl, Dan Anwen's face lit up with a smile.
This proves that he has spoiled her more and more over the years, which is exactly what he intended.
"Okay." The man picked up the woman and strode towards the room.
Nestled in his arms, Gu Ji felt more happiness than shyness.
Mr. Dan was a constant presence throughout her high school years and will continue to be a part of her life.
......
Gujia Village, Lin'an City.
Wisps of smoke slowly rose from the chimneys of each household, the thick smoke being dispersed by the sultry summer breeze.
The sounds of chickens and dogs could be heard from the small courtyards and alleyways, with the dog of one neighbor and the cat of another fighting.
The original ecological farmhouses in Gujia Village and the surrounding barren fields are completely different from the environment of the 21st century.
It has the connotation of finding tranquility amidst the hustle and bustle, but it also signifies poverty.
"Zhao Di, is dinner ready?" A woman's sharp, piercing voice rang out from a small courtyard.
"Mom, almost done." A clear, girlish voice came from the narrow, dilapidated kitchen, like a refreshing spring seeping into a restless heart.
As she spoke, the girl emerged from the kitchen carrying a large iron basin in her thin, bony hands.
The girl wore slightly worn and short clothes; her white T-shirt was faded and yellowed from washing, and she wore a pair of half-broken sandals whose original color was no longer visible.
At this moment, the girl spoke up: "Mom, wait a little longer, the steamed egg custard in the pot isn't cooked yet."
As she spoke, she placed the large iron basin on the dark wooden table in the main room. Her slender fingers tucked the sweat-dampened strands of hair behind her ears, revealing a pale and thin face, but her eyes were exceptionally clear and bright.
Gu's mother, Lin Hua, sat on a chair in the main room, poured a glass of cold water, and watched Gu Zhaodi about to go into the kitchen again. She said loudly, "Don't you dare steal any of the steamed egg custard. This is for your father and your brother."
Gu Zhaodi (Gu Ji) paused slightly as she walked into the kitchen, then pretended nothing was wrong and went inside.
As I left, I heard Gu's mother say behind me, "You're just a little girl, you don't need to eat so well."
I put half of the steamed egg custard in a box, filled it with rice, and took it into the main room.
Gu Zhaodi looked at her mother sitting to the side and slowly said, "Mom, I'm about to start school."
"What are you going to tell me when school starts?" Gu's mother mumbled as she ate the eggplant and green bean stew on the table.
The girl clenched her fingers, pursed her lips, and said softly, "I'm going to Nan'an City to start my first year of high school. I don't have any living expenses or travel money."
Lin'an City and Nan'an City differ by only one character, but their economic conditions and living environments are vastly different. One is a nationally renowned impoverished city, while the other is a globally prosperous metropolis.
"Money?" Upon hearing this word, the woman's already shrill voice sounded like knives scraping against glass.
"Where would I get the money to give you for living expenses?"
“Didn’t someone sponsor my studies, pay my tuition, and give me four thousand yuan a month for living expenses? Where would I be short of money?” Gu Zhaodi stared wide-eyed at the woman in front of her in disbelief.
Four thousand yuan a month is a huge sum in this impoverished village; it's impossible for it to be spent in such a short time.
“What’s the point of you, a girl, studying so much? There are plenty of girls in our village who finish junior high school and then go out to work. It doesn’t matter whether you go to high school or not, you’ll get married eventually anyway,” Gu’s mother retorted bluntly.
"Besides, the four thousand yuan you earn every month is meant to be saved for your younger brother's future marriage. In short, if you don't have the money, you're on your own."
The girl clenched her fists, took a deep breath, and said with a pale face, "Mom, without living expenses I can't go to Nan'an Middle School. If I don't go to school, the sponsor will stop sponsoring me, and I won't have the four thousand yuan a month anymore."
Gu Zhaodi stared at the woman in front of her, not missing a single change in her expression. She wanted to use this method to get money from her mother, otherwise she would not be able to go to Nan'an Middle School, receive a better education, or leave this family that favored sons over daughters.
As expected, upon hearing that without the four thousand yuan every month, Gu's mother hesitated for a moment, then became angry.
He felt that the girl had found his sore spot and was forcing him to compromise.
"What, are you threatening me by not going to school? You've really grown wings."
As she spoke, Gu's mother reached out to hit Gu Zhaodi.
Gu Zhaodi did not dodge, and her thin back took several solid slaps from her mother. The "bang bang bang" sounds were particularly loud in the sultry and silent midday.
After her mother stopped hitting her, Gu Zhaodi said in a hoarse voice, "Mom, I didn't mean that. I was just thinking about my brother. After all, this money is a lot of money."
“I can’t survive there without money. My classmates will definitely find out, and it will be troublesome if the person who is sponsoring me finds out.”
Gu Zhaodi knew that people from elite schools wouldn't meddle in other people's business, and the sponsors wouldn't know about her situation, but she could use it to deceive her mother, who had never been to school.
When Gu Zhaodi said this, Gu's mother assumed that she was thinking of her younger brother. After thinking it over for a while, she went into the inner room to get her the money.
"That's all, no more." Gu's mother handed the thousand yuan in her hand to Gu Zhaodi.
The girl clutched the large red banknotes, her fingertips appearing white against the vibrant color.
She knew that her mother wouldn't give her much money, but she didn't expect it to be only a thousand yuan. After deducting the transportation costs, the remaining amount wasn't even enough for her living expenses for the first month.
In this patriarchal family, she never received a shred of care or love, and eventually even faced the predicament of being deprived of the opportunity to study.
"Mom, this money isn't enough." Gu Zhaodi's voice was choked with emotion, and her eyes were red.
Mother Gu narrowed her eyes and remained silent. Of course she knew it wasn't enough, but she didn't want to waste money on a useless girl.
Thinking about the money his precious son would need for his future marriage, he went back into the inner room and took out another thousand yuan.
"It's just two thousand yuan. You can figure out how to cover your living expenses from now on."
After saying that, he sat down to eat and didn't look at the thin girl again.
The girl lowered her head slightly, her shoulders trembling slightly, and she held back the tears in her eyes as she took the money and went into the kitchen.
The roosters, which had been strutting proudly in the yard, returned to their coop. The sun beat down on the stuffy air, and the once-weak summer breeze quietly ceased.
The sweltering heat couldn't warm the girl's cold, numb heart.
The girl standing in front of the stove curled her lips into a slight sneer. "You've long been disappointed with this family, haven't you?"
After finishing up in the kitchen, Gu Zhaodi went into the main room and found that there was only eggplant crumbs left in the iron basin. She picked up her chopsticks and ate a couple of bites casually.
"Gu Bao, get up and eat." Gu Zhaodi brought the steamed egg custard that was simmering on the stove into a bright and spacious room.
The little boy on the bed was still sleepy. He rubbed his slightly swollen eyes with his chubby little hands and called out "Sister" in a soft and sweet voice. His chubby and adorable appearance was a rare sight in this impoverished village.
The girl placed the steamed egg custard and rice on the small table beside the bed and told the little boy to go wash up first. He had suffered from heatstroke yesterday and was feeling listless, so he had only woken up now.
If it weren't for taking care of him, the girl would definitely be working in the fields these past few days, and Lin Hua wouldn't have had to come back to get her lunch in the middle of the day.
"What are you having for dinner, sister?" Gu Bao twitched her little nose, her chubby face full of anticipation.
The girl chuckled softly, her bright eyes sparkling with a youthful radiance. "Today we have your favorite steamed egg custard, you little glutton."
Upon hearing about the steamed egg custard, the little boy quickly sat down on the stool, looked at the custard with a satisfied expression, grabbed a metal spoon, scooped up a spoonful of custard, and brought it to the girl's mouth.
Gu Zhaodi lowered her eyes, pursed her lips, and licked her dry mouth. "You eat it yourself. I've already eaten."
“You’re lying. You won’t eat steamed egg custard.” Gu Bao easily saw through her lie.
"Sister, eat quickly." Gu Bao said, pushing the steamed egg custard forward again, staring at her stubbornly.
The girl blinked and accepted her brother's kindness.
In this home, the heartwarming eight-year-old boy in front of him must be his only concern.
Logically speaking, I shouldn't like him, but he is really incredibly considerate.
Zhao Di, Zhao Di, she brought her younger brother into the world. Even her own name was something she had only acquired because she was looking forward to his birth. She had no sense of self at all.
Concealing the unusual emotion in her eyes, she turned and went back to her room.
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