Chapter 23: Please

Yang Xiuzhen actually wanted to speak up, but Gu Dashan held her back. He shot her a look, signaling her not to get involved right now. Chen Xinwan and Xie Chong were already at a disadvantage; if Qixiu went too far, the villagers would definitely gossip. Besides, their own position was awkward—they had relied on Qixiu a lot. If they tried to secure more benefits for their daughter now, people wouldn’t see them as caring parents, but as greedy opportunists.

Yang Xiuzhen understood all this, but she just couldn’t help but feel distressed about the belongings.

Those fine cotton quilts, the festive and elegant enamel cups and basins, the towels, the scarves and hats…

After Captain Gu left with Chen Xinwan and her son, Yang Xiuzhen and Gu Dashan didn’t linger either.

“I remember when Qixiu made that cotton quilt, I was right there watching. The cotton she used was top-notch. It’s hardened a bit over the years, but if you fluff it up, it’s as good as new. Qixiu doesn’t like using things that others have used, but she could at least let Gu Jiang and Gu He use it. The cotton in our own quilts isn’t nearly as nice. And that basin—we only have two wooden ones at home. If we brought that enamel basin back, Gu Jiang and Gu He could even take it to high school with them in the future. The wooden basins are fine, but they’re heavy and people make fun of them. And then…”

Gu Dashan listened to her complaints all the way home; Yang Xiuzhen didn’t stop talking for a moment.

“Xiuzhen,” he finally interrupted her, unable to help himself.

“What?” she replied, puzzled.

“I want to discuss something with you.” Gu Dashan kept a serious face, hesitating before saying, “From now on… let’s cover Gu Jiang and Gu He’s school fees ourselves.”

“What nonsense are you talking about? When the boys get to high school, their tuition will be sixteen yuan each per year. Are you asking me to steal or rob?” Yang Xiuzhen’s voice shot up. “Did Sanxiu say something to you last time she came home? She just can’t stand to see her two younger brothers do well!”

Gu Dashan took a drag on his pipe, his expression heavy. “Sanxiu did talk to me about this, and she had a point. Back when Linzi was around, he earned a lot. Qixiu never said anything, but I guess she gave us at least fifty yuan a month. The boys’ tuition was nothing to her. But now that Linzi’s gone, we have to think about Qixiu’s future. The money she has will only dwindle; we can’t be a burden to our daughter. Besides, didn’t you want her to remarry? No young man, no matter how good, would be as generous as Linzi, turning a blind eye to Qixiu supporting her family. And some of those with better prospects might have stayed away precisely because of this. If this really causes Qixiu to suffer any grievances when she tries to remarry, would you feel at ease?”

Yang Xiuzhen fell silent. “But… we just can’t afford to support the two boys ourselves.”

“Then if we can’t, they won’t go,” Gu Dashan said through gritted teeth. “The boys’ grades are just average. Gu Jiang’s a bit better but still nowhere near as good as Qixiu was back then. She didn’t even finish elementary school and still became the team’s scorekeeper. A junior high diploma isn’t bad in the countryside. If they really have what it takes, they’ll find their own way.”

Yang Xiuzhen covered her face. “Gu Jiang and Gu He don’t know how to do field work.” Neither boy was particularly bright. She'd hoped they could study hard, get a high school diploma, and maybe, if Linzi had connections, find proper jobs as workers, or at least temporary jobs or substitute teaching. Who could have expected things would turn out this way…

“They can learn,” Gu Dashan said in a low voice. “The boys are still young; we don’t need to worry too much. But Qixiu, she’s the one you should worry about.”

“As if I need you to tell me!” Yang Xiuzhen shot back. “I’ll be sure to find our daughter a good husband!”

Gu Zhuo was unaware of her parents’ conversation; she was pondering something else entirely—how exactly had Chen Xinwan spent all her money?

Surely she hadn’t taken it to the black market to buy ration tickets?

Other than that, Gu Zhuo couldn’t think of any other possibilities.

If that was the case, she really would have to go see Dahu and Xiaoshan. However…

Her gaze fell on Yinyin. Dahu and Xiaoshan’s situation was special; she couldn’t bring Yinyin along.

She had originally planned to leave Yinyin with Aunt Liu next door, but since she’d be starting work in a couple of days, she couldn’t ask Aunt Liu to look after the child every day. She’d considered having Xie Ning stay home with the child—she was too young to earn full work points anyway, sometimes only three, at most seven, and the girl’s skin was already peeling from working in the sun. She’d be better off at home. But Xie Ning was determined to earn more work points so she could get a bigger share of grain and lessen the burden on her. If she asked Xie Ning to babysit, the girl would agree, but she’d feel like she was a burden.

Besides, Xie Ning would have to go back to school sooner or later; this wasn’t a long-term solution.

Gu Zhuo recalled what her Aunt Wang had mentioned a few days ago; perhaps she’d really have to trouble her.

She wasn’t one to dwell on things. Having made up her mind, she took the child and went to her uncle’s house.

Wang Guifang was sitting in the courtyard drying corn when she saw them arrive. She quickly said, “Wait a moment, I’ll make you some oil tea.”

“No, please don’t!” Gu Zhuo rushed to stop her. “Auntie, I’m not hungry!”

Oil tea was a rare treat in those days—it required flour, peanuts, sesame, and had to be fried in oil. Even for her grandson, Aunt Wang would carefully measure each spoonful. How could Gu Zhuo bring herself to eat it?

She was strong, and Wang Guifang couldn’t shake her off no matter how hard she tried. In the end, Wang could only sigh, “All right, all right, I won’t make it for you.” She genuinely wanted to make some for Qixiu.

Gu Zhuo had just breathed a sigh of relief when Wang said, “If you won’t eat it, I’ll make a bowl for Yinyin. Her stomach’s small; just a spoonful will do.”

There was no refusing at this point, so Gu Zhuo let it go.

Gu Yang and Gu Zhao had been digging in the yard, but when they heard about oil tea, they dropped their sticks and ran over.

“Grandma, Grandma, I want oil tea too!”

“Oil tea, oil tea!”

Of course Wang Guifang wouldn’t forget her grandsons. She laughed, “All right, everyone gets some.”

Once the three little ones had their bowls, Wang Guifang pulled Gu Zhuo to sit under the eaves. After hearing her request, she quickly promised, “Don’t worry, I’ll look after Yinyin as if she were my own granddaughter. I won’t let anything like last time happen again.”

“How could I not trust you?” Gu Zhuo smiled. “When I was little, either Grandma or you were the ones taking care of me. Wang Guifen had bound feet and couldn’t manage fieldwork, so when the big family lived together, her job was to stay home, wash clothes, cook, and look after the children.”

Because Aunt Wang’s own younger brother had been kidnapped, she was especially vigilant with the children, rarely taking her eyes off them.

Gu Zhuo and Wang Guifang then discussed the details—since Yinyin would be eating a meal there, they’d provide extra grain rations. Relationships are built on reciprocity, and Wang Guifang didn’t stand on ceremony about it.

“Captain Gu wants me to start work the day after tomorrow, but I plan to go to the town tomorrow, so I’ll need to trouble you to start looking after Yinyin from tomorrow,” Gu Zhuo explained her plans.