Chapter 33: Chapter 33: Heart-to-Heart Between Mother and Daughter, Quarrels at the Educated Youth Compound

“Mom, it’s really late today. I’ve boiled some hot water—let’s all wash up and get some sleep! There’s plenty of time to talk tomorrow.” Seeing how well they were getting along, Gu Qinghuan finally felt at ease.

She just knew that if anyone could handle it, it would be Xu Huai’an. Who could resist that sickly, delicate face of his?

“Alright, the kids should get to bed too. You help Huai’an wash up. Come on, Dabao, Beibei, Grandma will take you to wash your faces.”

Zhong Zijun immediately slipped into her grandma role, energetically preparing to take the two kids to wash up. She forgot about her injured arm and nearly took a tumble, but thankfully Gu Qinghuan caught her in time.

Goodness, she thought, you’re still recovering and want to take care of others? Give yourself a break!

“Grandma, let me hold your hand,” Beibei said sweetly, taking Zhong Zijun’s hand.

Zhong Zijun’s heart melted. Little girls really are the cutest.

“Alright, thank you, little Beibei.”

Not to be outdone, Dabao quickly grabbed the kerosene lamp to light the way for Zhong Zijun, forgetting that his dad needed the lamp too.

Gu Qinghuan and Xu Huai’an exchanged a helpless smile. Still, it was a relief—Zhong Zijun had finally passed this hurdle.

After everyone washed up, Gu Qinghuan gave each person a cup of spiritual spring water as usual, then took Zhong Zijun to the west room to sleep.

Sitting on the kang bed, watching her daughter bustling around, Zhong Zijun felt a warmth in her heart that was hard to describe.

Five years ago, betrayed by the one she shared her pillow with, she was sent to this remote countryside for re-education. Life in the cowshed was truly bitter, especially with people bullying them behind their backs.

She gritted her teeth and endured it all for her two children and her elderly parents. She had been a university teacher, an intellectual, clueless about farm work and unable to cook.

But for the sake of survival, she had learned everything by now.

Life had played a huge joke on her. The daughter she’d always worried about had ended up sent down to the countryside too, and in the neighboring village, no less.

That snake-hearted man hadn’t even spared his own flesh and blood. She had no idea how her younger son was faring.

Every time Zhong Zijun thought of it, she wished she could eat his flesh and drink his blood to vent her hatred.

Over the past year, her daughter had run herself ragged taking care of them. Zhong Zijun saw it all and ached inside, hating that she could do nothing and had to let her daughter shoulder the burden.

Now, being able to sleep beside her daughter again, just like before, she felt as if she were dreaming.

Her daughter had left home at fifteen, and now she was twenty—an adult.

She’d only just heard today that her daughter was married, and it had broken her heart. But after meeting Xu Huai’an and spending a little time with him, she gradually felt at peace.

Having been through it herself, she knew all too well that marriage is a woman’s second life. If you entrust yourself to the wrong person, it can be a disaster.

This young man, though physically disabled and unable to care for a family, possessed something rare.

A noble and interesting soul, someone who knows how to respect and understand others, kind and steadfast.

No one is perfect. Whoever you marry, there will be problems—it’s just a matter of which problems you choose.

Sometimes, the hardships of life aren’t the worst; spiritual emptiness is far more frightening.

“Huanhuan, after meeting Xiao Xu, I think he’s a good person, and the two kids are very well-behaved. If you really want to build a life with him, I won’t object anymore. But I want you to remember: some choices, once made, last a lifetime. There’s no going back, so you must be sure. And remember, no matter what, you’ll always have a home with me.” Zhong Zijun spoke calmly and gently.

Gu Qinghuan was touched. For the first time, she truly felt the weight of her mother’s love. She stepped forward and hugged Zhong Zijun gently. “Thank you, Mom. I understand.”

Mother and daughter, sharing a bed for the first time in ages, thought they’d have trouble sleeping, but both drifted off quickly. After a day of running around and all the emotional ups and downs, they slept soundly.

—

Gu Qinghuan was woken by sunlight.

She suddenly smelled the aroma of cornmeal porridge. Sitting up, she saw that Zhong Zijun, who’d been sleeping beside her, was already gone.

She hurried to get up.

She found the three of them—her mother and the two kids—in the kitchen.

Zhong Zijun had woken up early, wanting her daughter to sleep in a bit, so she’d quietly gotten up to make breakfast.

She’d secretly checked the food stores in her daughter’s home and found they were decent—at least they wouldn’t go hungry this winter. So she generously made cornmeal porridge for breakfast.

Her son-in-law couldn’t work, but he had a pension—fifteen yuan a month was no small sum. If they were careful, they could live quite well.

The two kids had run straight to the kitchen after getting up. When they saw Grandma, the three of them roasted potatoes over the fire and chatted happily.

“Mom, Grandma made cornmeal porridge and roasted potatoes for us. It smells so good!” Dabao said with a grin.

Gu Qinghuan frowned at Zhong Zijun. “Mom, your arm isn’t healed yet. Why did you get up to do all this? What if you hurt yourself again…”

Seeing Gu Qinghuan unhappy, Dabao and Beibei immediately went quiet, as if they’d done something wrong.

“I’m not made of clay, you know. I can cook with one hand just fine. Look at you scaring the kids! I’m perfectly fine,” Zhong Zijun said, pulling Beibei into her arms.

Gu Qinghuan could only keep nagging, “Don’t do this again. As long as I’m here, I’ll handle the housework. You just focus on resting.”

“I’m not an invalid, you know. Don’t worry about me—I know my limits. By the way, I saw a bicycle in your yard. Whose is it?” Zhong Zijun pointed at the bike.

Gu Qinghuan slapped her forehead. She’d forgotten to return it last night since it was so late. She needed to get it back to Chen Jianghe right away.

“Thanks for reminding me! I need to return it to Chen Jianghe. Mom, watch the kids for me. I’ll be right back. If anyone comes, stay out of sight so you’re not seen.”

After giving her instructions, Gu Qinghuan quickly tidied herself up and rode off.

As she approached the educated youth compound, she could hear the sounds of an argument from afar.

A group of educated youths were gathered, trying to break up a fight.

No one noticed as Gu Qinghuan pushed the bike in.

She parked the bike and patted Lin Shengnan, who was standing quietly to the side. “Comrade Lin, what’s going on?”

“It’s Xu Secretary’s family—your sister-in-law, Xu Meiling. She brought two eggs to Chen Jianghe early this morning, trying to curry favor. Jiang Xue couldn’t stand it and called her a show-off, said she was making a fool of herself. And then, well, here we are…” Lin Shengnan shrugged. She couldn’t be bothered with this drama and hurried off to work after filling Gu Qinghuan in.

“Jiang Xue, just you wait! I’ll have my dad deal with you!” Xu Meiling, unable to win the argument, threatened with her secretary father.

“Dung beetle yawning—what a big mouth! You think your dad’s such a big shot? Dream on! Country bumpkin, village girl! Take your two eggs and get lost! What’s so special about two eggs anyway, that you have to come here and show off?” Jiang Xue was furious. First Gu Qinghuan, now Xu Meiling—she was sick of it.

At least Gu Qinghuan was pretty and capable, and it was Chen Jianghe who pursued her.

But Xu Meiling? Who did she think she was, coming here to stir up trouble?

Gu Qinghuan didn’t like either of them, so watching them go at it was pure entertainment. She almost wished she had sunflower seeds to snack on while enjoying the show.

But soon, the other educated youths pulled the two apart.

Chen Jianghe stepped in, playing peacemaker, lectured them both, and declared the matter settled.

With the show over, Gu Qinghuan could only leave, a little disappointed.

She hadn’t expected Xu Meiling to like Chen Jianghe and even chase after him. That wasn’t in the book—according to the story, Chen Jianghe and Jiang Xue, a pair of scoundrels, ended up together.

Looks like Xu Meiling is destined for nothing but disappointment."