Now that the loan shark incident was cleared up, Leng Yuan learned that Gu Jiaojiao had sold her father’s fountain pen and suggested they buy it back.
Gu Jiaojiao refused.
"It wasn’t anything important. What’s sold is sold. That scum dad of mine owed it to ."
Watching the young woman’s completely unconcerned deanor, Leng Yuan grew pensive.
’Before, he’d thought Gu Jiaojiao’s family treated her well,’ he mused. ’But now, it seems that wasn’t the case at all!’
Otherwise, Gu Jiaojiao wouldn’t be so indifferent, speaking of her father as if he were a complete stranger.
Afraid of touching a sore spot, Leng Yuan didn’t press the issue.
Thanks to the explanation, Gu Jiaojiao was back to her usual self, no longer bothered by the fact that she had nearly gotten her head smashed in just monts before.
Leng Yuan wore a look of resignation.
’His little wife really was a simple soul!’
After comforting his wife, Leng Yuan went outside to process the deer and roe deer. Feeling a bit clingy, Gu Jiaojiao followed him.
In the anti, Chen JianShe ca by, riding a borrowed bicycle.
He had co specifically to pick up the facial soap.
Gu Jiaojiao hadn’t made many different kinds of facial soap, and Chen JianShe morized them all after she explained them once.
At the ti, a bar of soap from the departnt store cost fifty-five cents.
Gu Jiaojiao’s facial soap contained a lot of Chinese dicinal herbs. She had checked the prices at the pharmacy, and after accounting for the costs, she set the price at eighty cents a bar.
Chen JianShe indicated that he understood and left with the facial soaps.
Seeing Gu Jiaojiao looked a little worried, Leng Yuan explained, "Don’t worry. We always take our ga to the County Town at night."
There are too many people and wagging tongues during the day, which can easily attract trouble.
Gu Jiaojiao didn’t understand this as well as Leng Yuan did, but she also knew it was better to be careful.
The two of them finished the basic processing of the deer and roe deer and then went to sleep.
As for the shed, they would rebuild it after they ca back with more wood.
The next morning, Leng Yuan and Gu Jiaojiao got up and made breakfast together.
After breakfast, Leng Yuan left for the County Town. While her husband was away, Gu Jiaojiao planned to sneak up the mountain to pick soapberries.
Ever since Leng Yuan had told her not to go up the mountain last ti, Gu Jiaojiao hadn’t gone.
The weather was nice today, and Leng Yuan wasn’t around. It was the perfect ti to go up the mountain.
Sure enough, the mont Leng Yuan left, Gu Jiaojiao cheerfully slung a basket onto her back, ready to head out.
However, before she could even leave the courtyard, Chen Erniu appeared at the gate, smiling shyly at her.
Heh!
Heh heh!!!
’That damned man, he’d read her like a book.’
Chen Erniu walked in a bit shyly and called out sweetly to Gu Jiaojiao, "Sister-in-law."
Gu Jiaojiao was speechless.
’She just... couldn’t bring herself to smile at all.’
But, not wanting to frighten Chen Erniu, Gu Jiaojiao still forced a smile.
"Second Girl, co have a seat. Did Brother Leng send you?"
Chen Erniu nodded. "Brother Leng said you’d be bored at ho, Sister-in-law, so he asked to co over and keep you company."
And, incidentally, to spy on her whereabouts.
But Chen Erniu was smart enough not to say that second part out loud.
Now that she couldn’t go out, Gu Jiaojiao’s spirits sank.
Chen Erniu was a perceptive girl and could see Gu Jiaojiao was unhappy. She couldn’t help but suggest, "Sister-in-law, want to go gather so river snails?"
Gu Jiaojiao’s eyes imdiately lit up.
"Our village has river snails?"
She really hadn’t known.
Chen Erniu nodded. "We do. In the river outside the village."
Gu Jiaojiao’s interest was genuinely piqued. She grabbed a bucket and so tools, and went to the river with Chen Erniu.
Near Daqing Mountain, a river flowed through several villages. The spot Chen Erniu was talking about was a tributary where the water wasn’t deep. It was so clear you could see the stones and moss on the bottom, and occasionally, you could even spot large carp swimming by.
Gu Jiaojiao wondered if this was where Leng Yuan caught his fish.
She did see several children with their pant legs rolled up, standing in the river with buckets, trying to catch fish.
Gu Jiaojiao’s interest was piqued as well, and she imdiately pulled Chen Erniu over.
Just as she got closer, she saw a little girl catch a large carp. She held it tightly in both hands, a brilliant smile on her face.
Gu Jiaojiao smiled along with her.
But before the girl could get a firm grip, the large carp was snatched away by a boy standing nearby. He then shoved the girl, pushing her into the water.
"You stinking beggar! How dare you steal my fish! I’ll teach you a lesson."
As he spoke, he grabbed the girl’s head and shoved it underwater. The girl’s face was filled with terror, but she was surrounded by seven or eight boys, all older than her. She couldn’t fight back at all.
When Gu Jiaojiao saw this, her anger instantly flared.
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