"No need, I'll just eat a little something," Li Rong said, shaking her head.
"Alright then, if you don't want to eat it, that's fine too." Gu Sang nodded.
Gu Sang and Li Rong continued walking and soon came to a stream. The water was clear, and fish swam happily in it, creating a very pleasant scene. Many wildflowers bloomed beside the stream, making it a beautiful sight.
Gu Sang and Li Rong walked to the stream, then squatted down, picked up a leaf, gently smelled the scent on the leaf, and then closed their eyes to smell it.
Gu Sang had a very keen sense of smell. Upon smelling the aroma, she immediately opened her eyes and picked up the leaf. The scent on the leaf was exactly the same as the herb from before. Gu Sang handed the herb to Li Rong.
After smelling the fragrance of herbs, Li Rong also felt very hungry, but he didn't want to eat the leaves.
"What is this? Why does it smell so good?" Li Rong asked, looking at the herb.
“This is called a strawberry,” Gu Sang said.
Strawberries? Gu Sang actually knew about strawberries. It seems she often goes to the countryside and might even know how to cook wild vegetables. When Li Rong heard Gu Sang say this, she immediately nodded in agreement.
Li Rong held the strawberry, ready to put it in his mouth and take a bite, but he hesitated for a moment and then put it back.
"Let's go." Seeing Li Rong's action, Gu Sang guessed that Li Rong didn't like strawberries.
Li Rong nodded.
The two slowly walked away into the distance.
Seeing Li Rong's behavior, Gu Sang couldn't help but laugh. Although Li Rong looked refined and gentle, he was still a child at heart, an immature child. Gu Sang felt that this kind of personality was very much to her liking. If Li Rong was willing, she would be willing to tell Li Rong all her secrets. However, this was just a fleeting thought. Gu Sang knew that this was just her fantasy.
Seeing that Gu Sang was staring at him, Li Rong asked, "Gu Sang, why are you looking at me like that?"
"Huh?" Gu Sang was startled, but quickly composed herself and said, "I'm fine. Let's go back quickly, or the sun will be setting soon."
"Oh." Li Rong nodded, then continued walking forward.
The two arrived outside the city gate, and Li Rong bid farewell to Gu Sang and left, but Gu Sang did not try to stop him.
Gu Sang stood there watching Li Rong's retreating figure, a smile involuntarily appearing on her face.
She likes this little boy.
Li Rong walked out of the city gate and onto the street, where he saw a group of children chasing and playing. He joined in the chase and play.
As before, Li Rong's mood improved more and more.
Li Rong went to a stall selling candied hawthorns, bought a skewer, and then walked to another spot. He saw a little beggar sitting on the ground crying, his clothes tattered and looking every bit the beggar. He handed the candied hawthorns to the little beggar, who was startled, then quickly took the skewer from Li Rong and thanked him.
Li Rong smiled, then turned around and continued shopping.
Li Rong went to a tea shop, ordered a cup of hot tea, and slowly drank it. Suddenly, Gu Sang popped into his mind, and he suddenly felt his heart beat faster. This feeling was very strange, but he enjoyed it very much. He felt that this feeling was wonderful.
Li Rong's grandfather raised him, but never told him where his parents were or what they looked like. He had never met his biological parents. All of this made Li Rong feel both familiar and strange.
His heart was filled with complex emotions, an indescribable feeling welling up inside him, leaving him deeply conflicted. He felt he should investigate this matter himself, that he should go to his parents. But he dared not; he feared his grandfather would scold him.
Li Rong brought the candied hawthorn to his lips and took a bite. He found it delicious, much better than the candy he usually ate. After eating two candied hawthorns, Li Rong felt his mood calm down a bit, stopped overthinking, and began to seriously consider his own affairs.
Meanwhile, the Gu family's life was getting better and better. The villagers praised the third branch of the family, and their popularity in the area grew even more. Gu Sang was very good at business, always making a lot of money, which he then sold at the market to others.
What she's doing now is very simple; she's just making money in her own way. It's not a crime, nor is it petty theft.
That's something that no one would object to.
"Look at you! This is a losing proposition!" Madam Li sat in her chair, pointing her finger at Gu Sang's nose. "Why do you always do things like this? Aren't you just ruining the entire Gu family?" "Mother, don't worry. Our family isn't like it used to be. We're better off now. This deal is actually quite profitable. I just enjoy this feeling when I'm doing business, and I'm doing this so that our third branch of the family can have a better life in the future."
"Can't we take it slow? Do you have to work so hard to earn money?! You're so stupid!" "Mom... if I don't earn money now, what will we do in the future?"
As Gu Sang spoke, a flicker of sadness crossed her eyes. Hearing this, Li Shi felt a pang of heartache. "Child," she said, "I refuse to believe it. Aren't we doing well enough? We don't have much money, and right now we have to take care of our eldest and second children. Where would we find any extra money? What we're doing..."
"mother......"
"Alright, alright, I won't scold you anymore, but you have to promise me one thing: you can't work so hard anymore!" said Madam Li.
“I understand, Mother, you don’t need to say anything more. I knew it; in your heart, you still can’t bear to see our third branch of the family suffer.”
"Sigh, I know, I won't say anything more, but don't overwork yourself." Madam Li sighed helplessly.
"Mother, I know, you should go back to your room and rest."
"Alright, then you do your job well." Gu Sang nodded, and Li Shi left. After she left, Gu Sang glanced at the sauerkraut fish in the pot, stirred it with a spoon for a while, and then scooped the fish out.
After the fish was all packed, Gu Sang prepared the chili powder. After sprinkling the chili powder, Gu Sang marinated the fish with salt and vinegar for a while. Then she turned the fish into dry-fried fish slices. Gu Sang placed a large bowl of fish slices in front of Da Wa and Er Wa.
"You guys should eat something quickly."
"Big sister, I'm not hungry." Erwa shook his head.
"If you don't eat, I can't eat either. If you don't eat, I won't eat either." Upon hearing this, Da Wa and Er Wa immediately finished all the fish slices.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
