Hua Kai was surprised that the old lady was so insightful. She said, "Grandma Chen, let Auntie decide these things herself. She will definitely understand your feelings."
“Your aunt is just too kind-hearted. She’s afraid that if she leaves this family, there will be no one to take care of me and your grandfather. But we can’t be so selfish, can we? After the autumn harvest, have your mother come over. I’ll talk to her and find her a suitable person in your village. Everyone knows her, and there’s a lot of gossip. Let her come back to your village and start a new life.” Old Mrs. Chen had been thinking about this for a while.
“Grandma Chen, there’s no rush. Our family is doing well now. After the autumn harvest, we’ll have Auntie come to our house and learn from my mom how to make money at the market. She’ll go out more often in the future, and maybe she’ll meet someone suitable and want to take the next step. It’s not right for us to pressure her like this, don’t you think?” Hua Kai was increasingly impressed with this old lady Chen.
Grandma Chen sighed, "That's fine too. Anyway, what I mean is, you should tell your mother that your aunt is coming to your house, and you two can help find out what's going on."
Hua Kai smiled and said, "Don't worry about that, Grandma Chen. My brother and I just came to visit today and will be going back this afternoon, so we won't stay any longer. We still need to go back to my maternal grandparents' house to talk. When my aunt comes back, please tell her that our family is doing well and that she can come and stay at our house for a few days when she's not busy."
"Yes, don't worry, I promise I'll let her go. Good children, you two look promising. When you're successful in the future, you can help Jianjun. His father passed away early, and the child has suffered a lot these years." Grandma Chen shed tears again when she talked about her grandson.
Hua Kai patted the back of Grandma Chen's hand: "Grandma Chen, don't worry, we are cousins with Jianjun, we will definitely take care of him."
Grandma Chen nodded: "Grandma Chen owes you too much. I can't repay you in this life, but I'll repay you in the next."
Hua Kai said, "Grandma Chen, you're being too formal. We're family, so let's not talk like strangers."
Grandma Chen chatted with Huakai for a while longer, then saw them off at the gate. Even after they were out of sight, she was still watching them.
Hua Kai felt a pang of sadness. Anyway, her family would have a lot of business to do in the future and would need a lot of help, so she would help her aunt's family more in the future.
The siblings returned to Gu Jinzhou's home. Jiang Fengxian, now recovered, said to the two children, "Grandma will make you pancakes, meat pancakes and sugar pancakes, all in one pot, enough for you to eat. You used to love Grandma's sugar pancakes the most."
Although Hua Kai didn't have this memory, listening to her grandmother's words and feeling the love from her grandparents warmed her heart. She washed her hands and said, "Grandma, let me help you."
Hua Qingyang also washed his hands and came to help.
While cooking, Hua Kai talked to Jiang Fengxian about some things at home. Jiang Fengxian couldn't help but sigh, she really didn't expect her daughter's family to have changed so much.
Just after 11:30, voices came from the courtyard. Jiang Fengxian said, "Your uncle and the others are back."
Hua Kai and Hua Qingyang quickly ran out to call their uncle and aunt.
This was the first time Hua Kai had met her uncle's family, but she didn't expect that her uncle had a problem with his legs, with a limp in his left leg. Perhaps everyone in the family was used to it, so no one had specifically mentioned it. It was just a bit of a surprise for her since it was the first time she had seen him like this.
Gu Jinzhou was overjoyed to see Hua Kai and Hua Qingyang: "What brings you two little ones here?"
Hua Kai said, "My mom said that since it's a holiday and they're busy with the autumn harvest, she asked my brother and me to come and visit, and bring some things over."
Gu Jinzhou smiled as he looked at the two children: "Your mother is something else. Her own family isn't well-off, yet she still sends us gifts."
Aunt Fan Lianfang sniffed: "We need to borrow your food. Come on in, let your little sister get you some jujubes. Your little brother picked them up on the mountain yesterday."
Hua Kai didn't know her aunt Fan Lianfang very well, and was afraid that her aunt might have some thoughts about her grandmother cooking meat when she saw them. So she said to Fan Lianfang, "My brother and I came to Aunt's house to satisfy our cravings. My mom said that you're tired from the autumn harvest, so she specially asked me to buy you this meat so that you'll have energy to work."
Fan Lianfang laughed when she heard Hua Kai's words: "This child used to be quiet, but now he has a good temperament. You come inside, and your uncle and I will change our shoes and clothes before we go in."
Hua Kai felt much more at ease after hearing her aunt's words. Everyone in this family was easy to get along with, so she felt reassured and replied, "Then I'll go and help Grandma put the dishes on the table first."
After exchanging greetings, Hua Qingyang started playing with Gu Wen, the youngest son of his uncle's family. Although Gu Wen was only thirteen years old, he was tall, honest, and very friendly.
My cousin Guling is sixteen years old this year. She's quite pretty, with big eyes, a small mouth, and a cute round face.
She smiled, revealing a row of small white teeth, and happily followed Huakai: "Sister Huakai, you seem different from before."
Hua Kai still liked the little girl very much: "Because I've grown up, and you'll change when you grow up too."
Gu Ling sighed, "I don't think I could ever be as good as you, sister, even if I changed."
Hua Kai looked at Gu Ling with confusion: "Why do you say that? You're only sixteen. You have a long life ahead of you. Who knows what changes might happen in the future?"
"I didn't go to school, and I don't have any future. In a couple of years, I'll find a husband, and that's how I'll live my life, right?" Gu Ling said weakly.
Hua Kai was surprised that this little girl had thought so much. Of course, what she said was indeed a common phenomenon in this era.
However, Hua Kai, whose thinking was twenty years ahead of theirs, naturally had his own ideas.
She said to Gu Ling, "Who says girls have to get married early? I went to school too. You can go to the city to learn a trade or something, like beauty or hairdressing, and open your own small shop. It's not impossible to find someone you like and get married then, right?"
Gu Ling pouted and whispered to Hua Kai, "Would my mom really be willing to spend money on me to learn a trade? She can't wait for me to get married and collect a dowry."
Hua Kai asked in a low voice, puzzled, "Does your aunt favor your brother?"
Gu Ling pulled Hua Kai to the north corner of the kitchen and whispered, "I'll accept it if she favors my brother. After all, he's my own brother. My mom's heart is with my maternal uncle's family. She treats my cousin from my maternal uncle's family better than my brother."
It took Hua Kai a while to realize that this meant her aunt, Fan Lianfang, was a "brother-supporting demon."
This was something Hua Kai never expected, and it really put her in a difficult position. After all, she couldn't think of a solution for the time being, especially since it's usually very difficult to change the mindset of someone who is obsessed with supporting their brother.
However, Hua Kai knew one thing for sure: she could help Gu Wen and Gu Ling leave this mountain village and stay away from their uncle's house so that they could control their own finances. Of course, she was also relieved that Gu Ling hadn't been influenced by her mother's incorrect thinking.
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