Chapter 15 Chapter 15 It was a lawyer who asked us to go down and discuss the establishment of a…
Jiang Hongguo decided to go to Gu Changzong's grandparents' home to celebrate the New Year. She would take some of the New Year's goods prepared at home to eat on the way, and give away the remaining ones that were difficult to store to the neighbors.
Aunt Liu's family got two big bowls of meat and vegetable meatballs and were very happy. Her family set up a stall after the autumn harvest and earned two or three hundred yuan in the two or three months before closing the stall, but she was still reluctant to buy so much meat.
The young couple Hongguo and Changzong earned more than her family, estimated to be three or four hundred yuan, which was really a lot of money. They could not spend it all in the countryside, but when they returned to the city for the New Year, everything was expensive and they had to buy everything, so they spent it without hesitation. Aunt Liu felt a little more balanced.
Many people in Dayang Village knew about Gu Zhiqing's family affairs. His grandmother and step-grandfather formed a new family after their divorces.
Gu Zhiqing did not grow up with his grandmother. When his grandmother was sent down to the countryside, he drew a clear line between himself and others to protect himself. He had nothing to complain about, but he was still implicated.
After the college entrance examination was resumed, other educated youth were able to take the exam and return to the city, but he could not. He was very distressed. Once his grandmother was rehabilitated, educated youth Gu was able to go back. Unfortunately, he had already settled down in Dayang Village, and the Gu family had only sent someone now, which showed that their heart was not sincere. Therefore, there was actually no need for him to go back.
"Hongguo, Changzong said he won't go back, so don't make trouble. What if Changzong changes his mind and stays in the city and doesn't come back? What will you do? You are pregnant now."
Jiang Hongguo said: "If Changzong doesn't come back, then I will stay in the city with him. I can make money by setting up a stall in the county town, or in the provincial capital. It won't be a problem."
The young couple can indeed stay in the provincial capital to work. Aunt Liu is envious. They are the better off. They have no worries in Dayang Village and can leave whenever they want. Although she cannot leave, her son can pass the exam and will not be trapped in the small mountain village. Yes, Hongguo can marry a city girl, so she must let her son marry a city girl too.
"Guoguo, we should go."
Gu Changzong had already packed a large bag containing clothes and quilts, and a small bag containing food, water cups and other things that might be needed at any time.
Jiang Hongguo had empty hands and was carrying a cross-body bag containing money and documents. He left the key to Aunt Liu and asked her to help look after the house, sweep the floor and wipe the dust every few days. He also slipped five dollars into her pocket.
"I'm going to the provincial capital to celebrate the New Year. I'm expected to stay there for a month or so. I have chickens and ducks to feed in the backyard. I hope you'll take good care of me."
Aunt Liu refused several times, but finally took the money with a scolding look on her face. She went home and told her husband that Hongguo had given her the money to look after the house and feed the chickens and ducks.
Why would you give money to a fellow villager? Old Yang said, "Aren't you afraid that people will say you are a money-grubber?"
"If we don't tell anyone, who would know? Besides, Hongguo and the others earn more than us. She has money, not poverty. How long can she rely on favors to help? It's better to rely on money. She and I will be happy."
Lao Yang doesn't think so. Hongguo no longer cares about personal relationships with their family, but only about money. Then in the future, when they need help from Hongguo's family, they will be too embarrassed to ask for help. They attach so much importance to money. They don't understand anything and can't figure out why Hongguo is slowly becoming distant from them. They are not as close as before, so why are they still so happy?
…
Jiang Hongguo had never been to the city and had only heard of the provincial capital. It was her first time in the provincial capital and it looked much more lively than the small county town she had been to. The streets were wider and the houses were taller. However, Grandma Changzong lived in a two-story courtyard with a small bridge and flowing water in the front and back yards. In the city, it was really nice to have a small courtyard with green trees, flowers and plants to relax in.
This was the first time Jiang Hongguo came to visit, but before Changzong drew a clear line with his grandmother, he had come to stay a few times. This time it was Jiang Hongguo who asked him to come back, but he just stood there indifferently without saying a word.
This was what Jiang Hongguo told him on the way. She was afraid that his grandparents would notice that Changzong was different, so she asked him to talk less.
She and Changzong were late for half a day, but they arrived home first. Uncle and aunt had not arrived yet. I wonder what delayed them on the way?
What's more, what my uncle and aunt said was wrong. My step-grandfather was not sick, it was Grandma Changzong who was sick.
Because Changzong came back, she was in better spirits. The old lady was particular. After getting dressed, she leaned on the sofa and talked.
Jiang Hongguo explained why she suddenly changed her mind and came back to celebrate the New Year: "I heard Changzong crying and calling for grandma in his sleep. He was pretending to be hypocritical, but he actually wanted to see you."
The step-grandfather said: "Chang Zong has drawn a line between himself and his grandmother. He hasn't called me in the past six months. I thought he wouldn't come back. Now that he's back, it's good. Let's not talk about the past."
Jiang Hongguo: "Yes, let's not talk about it. Fortunately, I found that Changzong's true feelings came back. Uncle and aunt said that it was grandpa who was sick. Grandpa looked so good. Did grandma fall ill again after grandpa recovered?"
The step-grandfather tucked the blanket covering the frail grandmother's legs and said, "I'll ask Yan'er to cook two more dishes tonight, and let Changzong Hongguo chat with you."
As soon as the step-grandfather stood up, Jiang Hongguo pulled Changzong to her side and said, "Grandma, Changzong was also spoiled before. He had to do all kinds of work in the countryside. After getting married, he even learned carpentry. He made the crib and walker that the child will use next year by himself. He also learned from the masons and can help people build houses. He really learns everything."
Grandma didn't seem to like Changzong very much, saying, "That's how it is in the countryside. The more you know, the easier it is to live. You are so weak, what will happen if he doesn't learn?"
Jiang Hongguo nodded: "Grandma is right, we will go to the county town to set up a stall and sell sesame cakes during the slack season."
Grandma looked at Gu Changzong, who was silent and sullen, and continued to speak without emotion: "We are all country people. There is really no need to save face. Any money we can earn is good."
Jiang Hongguo smiled and said, "Grandma has lived a lifetime after all. She is more knowledgeable than us. Unlike me, I am still young and don't know anything. Fortunately, I listened to her advice. I remember all the good things she said."
This kind of direct confrontation was encountered when she just returned home, and Jiang Hongguo was able to adapt to it. She and Changzong were young, and Changzong was capable and could earn everything by himself. Even if her grandmother wanted to take the inheritance, she couldn't do that.
If grandma is willing to give her inheritance to someone who is not related to her by blood out of spite, then let her do as she pleases.
Given Changzong's current state, Hongguo was not sure if he was still grandma's biological grandson, so she didn't care much about the inheritance under her grandmother's name.
After dinner, Jiang Hongguo and Gu Changzong were arranged to sleep on the second floor. Hongguo did not check out the rooms, but first made a very impolite request:
"Grandma, I know my bed. Can I change into the quilt I brought from home?"
Grandma nodded: "Change it if you want."
Step-grandfather laughed and said, "Hongguo, I didn't expect that a country girl like you would be so particular. You have the same habit as your grandmother. When she was sent to the countryside, she would ask fellow villagers to exchange her quilt for a new one."
Being sent down and going to the countryside are different. The educated youth who went to the countryside had better conditions and a more comfortable life, while being sent down was for labor reform and they were not respected in the countryside. How could they live a life with special treatment?
Jiang Hongguo was full of admiration: "Grandma is so outstanding. She can live well in such an environment. Changzong is worthy of being your grandson. He has the same tenacious character as you."
Grandma smiled and said, "There is no such thing as character. Money is the key to success."
She went back to her room, and when she came out, she held a handful of golden melon seeds in her hand and said to the nanny, "Yan'er, go and exchange them for money tomorrow. Hongguo is pregnant, and she needs nourishing soup every day. If you don't have enough, I'll give you more."
This small handful weighs at least a dozen grams. The nanny helped to change it several times. The price of gold has dropped a little compared to the first half of the year, and it weighs about 451 grams. This small handful is about 600 to 700 yuan. Even if you eat delicacies every day, you can't spend that much in a month.
The step-grandfather smiled and said to his granddaughter: "Hongguo is pregnant with your grandmother's dear great-grandson. These golden pumpkin seeds are nothing. Exchange them for money to buy better food."
The nanny wiped her hands on her apron again and again before picking up the golden melon seeds and putting them in the cloth bag, then she tied the bag and put it away.
Jiang Hongguo asked: "Grandma, you hid such a valuable thing before you were sent down, right?"
Grandma said, "You are asking even though you already know the answer. No one can find where I hid it unless I tell them. No one knows how many there are."
Jiang Hongguo: "Grandma, you are really wise. Even though you only have a little bit of gold left, we didn't know about it. Fortunately, Changzong and I are not greedy and were not taken advantage of. Unlike my uncle and aunt, they said that it was grandpa who was sick and didn't mention your illness."
Grandma smiled and said, "So what if I have some small thoughts? Your uncle and aunt are still very filial. They take care of me much more than Changzong accompanies me."
Jiang Hongguo thought to himself, this old lady is a very capable person. After talking for so long, she still couldn't guess what she was thinking.
She touched her belly again, and the child made her see clearly the intentions of her uncle and aunt, and it was right to come here.
When it was time to go to bed at night, Jiang Hongguo picked up the pillow in the arranged room and smelled it. It seemed to have a musty smell. The cotton wool had been dried in the sun, and she could smell the musty smell of the sheets and quilt covers that had been pressed for a long time.
Changzong could smell it without getting close, so he quickly changed the sheets and quilt covers he brought with him and went to sleep at home. Jiang Hongguo turned over with satisfaction.
She was not so pampered before. When she stayed at Aunt Liu's house, she slept on other people's sheets and quilts. But after she became pregnant, she couldn't help but start to dislike this and care about that. She refused to eat pickles and didn't use other people's sheets and quilts. Alas, it was not her problem, but the baby in her belly. Jiang Hongguo was trying to excuse herself.
Chang Zong said, "Hongguo, I don't think grandma likes us. If we stay for two days and go back, we can still celebrate the New Year at home."
Jiang Hongguo was too lazy to move: "Grandma didn't chase us away, so let's stay here first. If we leave, we won't be able to spend the money we got from the gold melon seeds."
Gu Changzong could also go look for gold, but Hongguo wouldn't let him. After seeing the golden light in his grandfather's and the nanny's eyes today, he knew that having that gold might not be a good thing.
After changing her own quilt cover, Jiang Hongguo slept comfortably. She woke up naturally and heard some noise downstairs, as if there were guests coming.
Gu Changzong went downstairs and came back up again, and said to Jiang Hongguo: "Grandma's student is here, a lawyer, and asked us to go downstairs to discuss the will."
Grandma’s attitude towards Hongguo and Changzong yesterday was actually very bad. She asked someone to make a will today. Was it decided early in the morning or last night?
Grandma was really unpredictable, Jiang Hongguo hurried downstairs.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
