Uncle Li burst into laughter, "It’s alright, whenever I miss you, I’ll just go to Renxin Hall to see you."
Shen Qing walked away, turning back every few steps.
The uncles at the dock sighed, "This kid is really lucky now!"
When Shen Qing got ho, the family was eating.
Seeing him return, Gu Lian said, "Go get your own food."
Shen Qing shook his head, "I’ve already eaten."
He excitedly repeated, "I ate a chicken leg at Renxin Hall today."
"Sister Jiao gave it to ."
Gu i suddenly went silent, her head lowered.
Gu Lian frowned, "You went to Renxin Hall to eat?"
"How could you be so thoughtless! Your dad needs dicine and we’re counting on your Sister Jiao, and you—"
"Hey, what’s with your clothes?"
Shen Qing’s lips moved a bit, "Sister Jiao bought them for ."
"I—"
"Sister Jiao asked to beco an apprentice at her shop."
"She said she’d give eight silver a month."
Gu Lian and the temporarily breathless Shen Dahe exchanged a glance, both seeing joy in each other’s eyes.
Their son is already in his teens; as a child, he was their only one, and they placed endless hopes upon him, starting his education at six, hoping he would one day pass the imperial exams.
Since Shen Dahe developed asthma, the family lost its inco source; let alone school, even eating beca a problem.
They never imagined what their son could do in the future, maybe carry burdens for life?
Now suddenly there was a path in front of them.
Shen Dahe got so excited he started breathing heavily again, "That’s great. Qing Er, you follow your cousin well, maybe one day you can be a shopkeeper at a pharmacy."
Gu Lian also smiled, but her eyes were tinged with so worry.
Once Shen Qing went back to his room, she said to Shen Dahe, "This apprenticeship should be three years without any pay······"
Shen Dahe nodded slightly, "It’s our niece seeing our difficulties and helping us."
"When I’m better, I’ll do more work, so we don’t have to take this salary, and we’ll repay our niece slowly."
He didn’t dare say they wouldn’t take the pay now, relying solely on the two won washing clothes wouldn’t sustain the family.
This is the city, and the family doesn’t have land; everything must be bought, and everywhere requires money.
Gu Lian nodded, "Alright."
Gu i’s head lowered even further.
Speaking of debts, she still owes Yun Jiao five hundred taels of silver.
Even if she were sold, she wouldn’t fetch that much money; could she ever pay off this debt in her lifeti?
She knows Yun Jiao never expects her to repay, but she herself feels a heavy emotional burden.
Thinking of this, she self-mockingly smiled; she still has her father’s blood running; if she were as selfish and cold-hearted as Mrs. Chen, she’d feel at ease.
She rembered when she ca back to life, she told Gu Chuan not to follow their mother, to be wary she might sell him.
She rembered arguing with Yun Jiao, yet reminding her to be cautious of Mrs. Chen marrying her off.
She knows she can’t be a good person, yet can’t be purely bad either; perhaps this is life’s greatest sorrow.
Gu Lian noticed Gu i’s mood growing increasingly downcast.
After eating, Gu i got up to tidy, Gu Lian quickly pushed her, "You go rest, I can wash the few bowls in a jiffy."
She paused, "From now on, your uncle’s dication won’t cost us anything, and we can live a bit better."
"Your aunt’s family is poor, we’ve wronged you."
Gu i bit her lip and went inside, see, it’s this way.
Just these few words made her feel uncomfortable; she wished everyone around her were like her mother, then she’d live more easily.
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