PFC Chapter 56 Treating me specially is for the sake of my ancestors.
Chapter 56 Treating me specially is for the sake of my ancestors.
The other adults nodded in agreement.
Sister-in-law Gu said, "Sister-in-law, what Mother said makes sense. Your brothers all have big appetites. This much refined rice will only last them a few days. One pound of refined rice can be exchanged for several grains of coarse grains. From now on, we should eat coarse grains."
Lin Chang'er frowned, and Gu Ersao gestured to her again: "Having coarse grains to eat is already very good. In previous years at this time, when food was scarce, we might not even be able to get wild vegetable porridge!"
Gu Dalang and Gu Erlang, along with the others, also expressed their opinions, none of them showing any dissatisfaction.
Lin Chang'er's brows furrowed even more. "So, everyone agrees to let me get special treatment?"
Gu Silang said, "It's not that I'm asking Third Sister-in-law to get special treatment, but rather, since it's Third Sister-in-law who earned the money, it's only right that she eats the finest rice."
"So you don't consider me family?" Lin Chang'er knew they felt sorry for her because she worked so hard to earn money, but she was still inexplicably annoyed, so her tone became a bit sharp.
Lin Chang'er said, "According to what you're saying, should I pay each of you a wage?"
I've said it before, haven't I? I'm helping everyone make money so that our families can have a better life.
"While I was digging for clams, were you lying at home sleeping, or were you standing on the shore playing by yourself while I was out fishing?"
Seeing that she was angry, the Gu family was terrified.
Sister-in-law Gu quickly tried to appease her, "Sister-in-law, don't be angry. We're clumsy with words, but that's definitely not what we meant. It's just that you work hard to earn money, and we can't treat you like this."
Sister-in-law Gu also said, "Sister-in-law, we really haven't treated you like an outsider."
Lin Chang'er turned her face away and didn't speak. Gu's mother cried anxiously and turned to her to say kind words, "Chang'er, it was your mother who said the wrong thing. Don't be angry with yourself. You can scold your mother to vent your anger. Don't make yourself sick by holding it in."
Seeing her like this, Lin Chang'er felt a pang of sadness, but she couldn't get angry. She raised her sleeve to wipe the corner of her eyes and asked, "Mother, why do we work so hard every night?"
Isn't the point of living a good life? A good life means eating well, dressing well, and being healthy. If we're still struggling like before, what's the point of making money?
Why should I go through all this trouble? Don't you agree?
The Gu family are simple and honest, but they can be a bit stubborn. You have to explain things to them step by step.
Mother Gu held her hand and said, "Chang'er, I know you are filial. I just feel so guilty. Sanlang didn't let you live a good life. Instead, he made you..." support our whole family.
Lin Chang'er reached out her hand, "Stop, I don't like hearing that. If I think everyone is a burden, wouldn't it be better to separate from the family and live alone?"
Furthermore, my ability to earn money is not only due to my own efforts, but also the result of everyone's support.
Everyone in the family, even Xiaoman, worked hard, so they felt good about eating some fine rice.
After saying that, she looked around and said to everyone, "I know what you all are thinking. Sanlang is gone, and Little Goldfish and Little Deer are not my children. To be honest, I will always be separated from this family."
But have you forgotten what Silang said when he was afraid I would leave and tried to persuade me to stay?
He said to his sister-in-law, "If you don't leave, we can always get through this together."
After pausing for a moment, she continued, "Since we're going to live our lives together, naturally you'll eat whatever I eat. If I get special treatment, that's like offering food to our ancestors."
After she finished speaking, the adults in the Gu family looked at each other, as if they had finally made a decision.
Gu Dalang spoke first: "Mother, it is a blessing that our third sister-in-law does not look down on us. We have prayed for this for generations."
Since my third brother's wife is willing to take care of us, we should just listen to her. From now on, we'll be a family, and we'll do whatever she says.
We'll eat good rice and good meat together, and we'll endure hardship together, even if it means eating bran and wild vegetables.
Gu Erlang nodded, "Mother, we've discussed this before. Let my third sister-in-law take charge. My eldest brother and I have no objections."
“I have no objection either,” Gu Silang added.
“I have no objection either,” Gu Xiaoman chimed in playfully.
Aunt Gu pinched her son's cheek shyly, gesturing, "He's little devil."
Gu Xiaoman giggled, and the atmosphere in the main room eased considerably.
Little Goldfish, Gu Xiaolu, and Xu Gun'er sat quietly on a small stool. Two of them were Lin Chang'er's nominal children, and the other was left behind by Lin Chang'er. They were among the Gu family members most closely connected to Lin Chang'er.
Mother Gu wasn't inflexible, and nodded, saying, "Chang'er, you'll be in charge of this household from now on."
Fearing she might overwork herself, he added, "You just focus on your business; leave the chores to your mother and your eldest son's wife."
Sister-in-law Gu nodded, "Mother is right."
Gu Ersao also gestured, saying, "[Me too.]"
It was originally just a matter of one sentence, which wouldn't make much difference to Lin Chang'er.
But it was different for the Gu family. They were afraid that Lin Chang'er would lose their hearts because of what had just happened. They only breathed a sigh of relief when Lin Chang'er nodded in agreement.
Lin Chang'er said the potato rice was delicious, so Sister-in-law Gu specially made potato rice again for lunch.
I fried some dried anchovies, made mussel soup, stir-fried clams, and also stir-fried salted duck eggs with scallions and a plate of pumpkin leaves.
During the meal, Lin Chang'er mentioned the upcoming cooperation with Sihai Restaurant. The Gu family was delighted to hear that there was a new source of income and a stable sales channel for seafood.
Everyone was overjoyed. Gu Silang, mimicking an adult, said, "Such a wonderful thing! We must toast Third Sister-in-law. If we don't have wine, let's use soup instead!"
The family happily finished a bowl of soup.
Lin Chang'er changed the subject and said, "We met quite a few people when we went out this morning, and even more when we came back."
This business can't be hidden anymore. Of course, our family can't earn all this money. If others want to do it, we can't stop them, even if we don't stop them.
But we shouldn't let the good stuff go to outsiders. Uncle Lizheng's family has been good to us, so I thought I'd take Aunt Zhou along.
As for the others, if they ask you, be quick-witted. Don't give a clear answer about where the goods came from, what you have, how you sold them, or where you sold them. Understand?
The Gu family members all nodded, except for Gu Xiaoman, who was the most mischievous, who mimicked the words in her childish voice, "I don't know."
Gu Erlang couldn't help but gently tap Gu Xiaoman's head, "Your third aunt is talking about serious matters, don't just mess around."
Gu Xiaoman rubbed her head pitifully and called out, "Auntie."
Lin Chang'er smiled at him, "A little man doesn't feel pain during Xiaoman."
Then he said to Gu Erlang, "At Xiaoman's age, she is just learning to speak, so don't be too strict with her, Second Brother."
Gu Erlang nodded awkwardly.
After dinner, Lin Chang'er asked Gu Silang to make a trip to the Zhou family and invite Zhou Hai and his wife to have dinner together that evening. She also wanted to discuss the beachcombing. Of course, walls have ears, so she didn't let Gu Silang say it outright, only that she had something to discuss with the couple.
Unexpectedly, when she woke up from her afternoon nap, Aunt Zhou personally accompanied Zhou Li over.
As soon as she saw her, Aunt Zhou rushed over to greet her, "Chang'er, I heard from Si Lang that you wanted to see your aunt and uncle about something."
What happened? Did the Lin family come to cause you trouble or something?
Your uncle still has some work to do in the fields and won't be back until later. Tell your aunt that, and she'll go and get it done for you now.