The dishes and chopsticks at home were all fresh, the rice was hot, there were lots of vegetables and meat, and everyone enjoyed the meal very much.
After eating, Chen Xingling made a large pot of hot tea and gave each person a cup.
There were often villagers growing tea in the mountains near Chongqing. Chen Sanshui would go into the mountains every few months and exchange fresh fish and shrimp for some tea to drink at home.
He had exchanged several kilograms of tea leaves a few days ago, giving one kilogram to each of his sons, and leaving two kilograms for his youngest daughter who was about to be born.
After Chen Daxing took a few sips, he suddenly remembered something.
"Dad, do you have any tea leaves left at home?"
The old man shook his head: "No more, the rest is given to Lingling."
Chen Daxing reminded: "Dad, when you go down to the mountains, remember to exchange a few pounds. Last time, the fourth child came back from the ship and said he wanted to find a few pounds of tea to send to his overseas friends. He said that tea is a rare thing over there and is very popular among the local overseas Chinese."
"Okay." The old man agreed immediately.
After hearing this, Chen Xingling, who was standing by, immediately came up with an idea.
"When will Fourth Brother come by boat? How often can these two come here?"
The old man thought for a moment and answered, "Sometimes half a month, sometimes eight or nine months. The last time I came was around the Mid-Autumn Festival, so I guess - I guess it will be another month or two."
Liu Peiyun sighed and said, "The ship is floating on the sea. Sometimes it encounters bad weather or something, and it is delayed for several days. There is no certainty at all. As for him, it doesn't matter when he comes, as long as he is safe."
A mother worries about her son even when he is far away. For an old mother, as long as her children are safe and well, nothing else matters.
Chen Zhongxing explained: "The fourth brother has been going to the southeastern waters in recent days. He said he likes the warm weather there and will stay at the local dock for a month or two from time to time. He is now a first mate, and maybe he will be able to become a first mate in the next few years. He won't have to do some small chores and won't have to work so hard."
Liu Peiyun looked at her daughter and smiled: "When your fourth brother comes, he will definitely come to the city to find you. He has always loved you the most."
Chen Xingling nodded hurriedly: "I miss my fourth brother too. When he comes, I will definitely have a good reunion with him."
After drinking tea, everyone got on the tractor and set off.
Little Huzi couldn't bear to leave his cousins and cried anxiously. Gu Yi almost couldn't hold him and kept coaxing him.
"Don't cry!" Chen Xingling glanced at him with a smile and explained, "This is Daddy and our new home. It's very close to grandma and grandpa. Mom will be free the day after tomorrow and can bring you here again. Don't worry, you can go to the fishing village every now and then. When the weather gets hot, Mom will teach you how to swim!"
Little Tiger sobbed and asked, "...Really?"
"Why would I lie to you!" Chen Xingling replied, "This is the shipyard where my father works, and upstairs is our new home. We are very close to my grandparents, and it only takes half an hour by boat. We can go to the fishing village anytime when my mother is free."
Gu Yi hurriedly helped to comfort the little guy and finally calmed him down.
After going upstairs, Chen Xingling took out bedding and made the bed for Gu Yi.
Gu Yi felt a little embarrassed when he saw that the beddings were all brand new.
"Sister-in-law, I've made you spend so much money... I won't stay here for a long time, and you bought me such a nice quilt and bedding... It's such a waste."
Chen Xingling said gently: "Don't worry, your brother and I also have new bedding. Just buy it, and you can use it whenever you come over in the future."
Gu Yi felt warm in his heart, and after thinking about it, he did not dare to hesitate any longer and confessed to Chen Xingling directly.
"Sister-in-law, thank you for helping me out. Actually... Actually, it's not that I don't want to return to the city, but I'm still very confused and don't know what to do."
Chen Xingling pulled at the pillowcase and asked with a smile, "What are you confused about? Do you not want to find a job, or do you not want to move to Beijing?"
"I don't want to go back home." Gu Yi dodged his gaze and hesitated, "My mother...sister-in-law, you know her very well. Your family is cheerful and casual, and it's easy to get along with them. My family can't compare. And...and if I find a partner, my mother will definitely object."
Chen Xingling laughed softly: "What was your plan at the beginning? Not returning to the city but staying in the countryside to accompany your partner?"
"Sister-in-law, you-you know?" Gu Yi stared in surprise: "Who told you?"
Chen Xingling told the truth: "I guessed it from your expression."
Gu Yi didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "Is it really that obvious?"
"It's quite obvious." Chen Xingling's pretty face was full of smiles, and he whispered: "After all, I'm an experienced person, so I can still see it."
Gu Yi pulled over a small stool, sat down against the wall, looking quite helpless.
"Sister-in-law, I am not only confused, but also very troubled. I want to find a job in the city. After all, there are more job opportunities in the city, and life is more convenient. But I... my partner is from Pingshuo Mountain, and my mother seems to be very opposed to it. Her family seems to expect her to move to the city with me. I want to be with her, but I am afraid that my mother will object and I am afraid of disappointing her."
Chen Xingling pulled the mattress in place, turned his head and asked, "Are you sincere to that girl? The kind that you will love her for the rest of your life?"
"That's right!" Gu Yi was a little embarrassed and stammered, "She is very beautiful, very kind, and very hardworking... She and I are very close... The kind that wants to stay together forever."
Chen Xingling couldn't help asking, "What does she think? She wants to go to the city with you, right?"
"She didn't say." Gu Yi lowered his eyes and looked at the concrete floor, and whispered: "But I heard her family members say that this is indeed their attitude. She has brothers and sisters at home, and her daughter is going to get married."
As the saying goes, if you marry a chicken, you follow the chicken; if you marry a dog, you follow the dog. The target's family does not need to recruit a son-in-law, but they hope that their daughter will marry a good husband and follow Gu Yi to the city to become a city daughter-in-law.
Gu Yi explained: "There are mountains all around Pingshuo Mountain, dozens of miles away from the city. The place is not barren, but the mountain roads are rugged and difficult to travel. It can't be compared with the city. Sister-in-law, your home is just on the outskirts of the city, it's not remote, the concrete road is flat and easy to walk on, and it's very convenient to go into the city by water. You...you married my brother, and my mother still despised you. If my mother knew that my partner was really a mountain girl, she would probably kill me!"
Chen Xingling finally understood his difficulties and said, "So you always postpone your return to the city because you want to delay it and stay with your loved one."
"Yes." Gu Yi buried his head and answered, "I... I feel so anxious if I can't see her for a day or two."
Chen Xingling couldn't help but remind him, "You can delay it for a while, but you can't delay it forever. When you went back to your hometown, you asked your mother to give you a few more months. Did you already have an idea in mind?"
The mother-in-law only cares about her own interests. Her son is her own, but he is not a puppet in her hands. She can arrange things however she wants, even controlling her son's major life events. In the end, it will only harm her son and herself.
She felt that he was really pitiful at the time, and couldn't stand her mother-in-law's arrogant and domineering attitude, so she decided to help him.
"No." Gu Yi whispered, "I just want to slow down my mom... the longer the better."
After hearing this, Chen Xingling couldn't help but roll his eyes secretly.
No wonder in the original book he lost his beloved girl and spent half his life in depression. With such a cowardly attitude of his - it would be strange if he wasn't miserable!
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