Chapter 491: Qin Yufeng Is Beaten
The two fishes were large ones. One of them was a grass carp, about three kilograms in weight.
In these times, a grass carp that big was pretty good.
The other was an ordinary bighead carp.
Gu Qingyao liked soup, and the grass carp and bighead carp were suitable for making fish soup, so Mo Beihan had specially chosen these two fish.
The bighead carp was about six kilograms in weight. Everyone who saw it turned green with envy. This was meat!
So many kilograms of meat!
It was the first day of the new year and judging from Mo Beihan’s appearance, everyone guessed that he was going to pay a new year visit. But they did not know if he was visiting his uncle or the Gu family.
Many people guessed that Mo Beihan was going to the Gu house. Because the Mo family had added so many children lately, Mo Beihan had been even more attentive to the Gu family. Everyone understood. So they guessed that he must be visiting the Gu family during the new year.
Mo Beihan was walking along when a woman suddenly rushed out. She was screaming and crying for help. She screamed as she ran and dodged.
A man was chasing her and beating her.
The woman happened to run in front of Mo Beihan, and the man caught her. He grabbed her hair and started to beat her viciously.
Qin Yufeng was crying. She huddled in the corner of a wall and pleaded for mercy. But the eldest Sun was not moved. He continued to punch and kick her.
“It’s all your fault! It’s all your fault! Tell me… where have you hidden our food? Tell me… tell me…”
The eldest Sun beat Qin Yufeng as if he had gone berserk.
The treasure buried at Qin Yufeng’s parents’ home was his last hope and his security.
He had even split from his two younger brothers and agreed to support the two old folks in order to enjoy his riches by himself and have a better future. When they split, he had given many things to his two younger brothers.
But now, the treasure was gone. How would he survive?
Over the past few days, he and Qin Yufeng had been fighting continually. Yesterday, they had not had anything nice to celebrate the new year and they had another quarrel. Today, they had an even worse argument, so they began to fight.
Qin Yufeng felt really wronged. She really didn’t know why the things she had hidden had all disappeared.
Her family did not know about it because she had hidden it secretly. They could not possibly have dug it up.
She had asked her family, and it seemed that they did not know there was anything hidden in the backyard. How would she know why the things had disappeared?
Also, the things that the Old Master and Old Madam had hidden had also disappeared.
The Old Madam had a box she kept by her side, and she intended to go to town the next day to barter for things. But when she woke before dawn the next day, she realized that it had disappeared.
She went to dig in her backyard under the cover for darkness and discovered that everything was gone!
How could he blame her for this?
“Wu wu wu, I don’t know, I really don’t know. I didn’t take it, I didn’t take it! Don’t… don’t beat me…”
“Bitch, if it wasn’t you, who could it be? It must be your family who took it, or why would it suddenly disappear? Our family depends on this food to live! But you dare to hide it. Tell me, where are the things?”
The eldest Sun still retained some sense and did not refer to the things as treasure in public. Or the situation would become more serious.
Qin Yufeng’s face was all bruised and swollen. She wept bitterly. “I didn’t, I really didn’t. My children are all living with us, why would I hide the food? Do I not want them to have a good life?”
Chapter 492: Something Fishy Is Going On
Her four sons and daughter were all living with the Sun family. She herself had to live with the Sun family. Why would she not have the Sun family’s best interests at heart?
She had agreed to the split at first because she wanted to keep the things for her own little family.
From the first, she had hidden the things at her parents’ house because there was someone to keep watch there, so she did not worry as much.
Although they knew that the second brother had some of his parents’ things, they did not know how much he had. Besides, the second and third brothers had many children. If they were to split their inheritance, who knows how much would be apportioned to them. So with that in mind, they hid a portion for themselves.
For many years, all was well. Whenever her parents were away, she would seize the opportunity to take a few things. Things were going well, but when they went back this new year to take some things, they realized that everything was gone.
But at the moment, the eldest Sun would not listen. All he knew was that he had nothing left.
He would never have the pleasant life he had enjoyed in the past. There would not even be enough to eat.
“Shut up. It’s all your fault, it’s all your fault, it’s all your fault… whose fault can it be besides yours?”
The two of them were fighting when Sun Mei suddenly rushed out.
“Stop it, stop it, Father. You’ll beat Mother to death…”
The family had always doted on Sun Mei. The eldest Sun was also tired from beating his wife, and Sun Mei dragged him aside. At that moment, Sun Mei saw Mo Beihan standing by the side.
She was taken aback!
She looked at the things in his hand and the basket on his back. For some reason, Sun Mei’s first thought was that Mo Beihan was visiting the Gu family and giving presents to Gu Qingyao. She did not expect Mo Beihan to give things to anyone else.
She pursed her lips tightly when she thought of how generous Mo Beihan had been to Gu Qingyao lately.
Although she was wildly jealous and desperately wished that these things belonged to her, she was clear that she must not marry Mo Beihan.
Two more nephews had turned up in his family. Even if the Mo family did not take in Jiang Xun and Jiang Ping, she would not see Mo Beihan as a potential target anymore.
His burdens were too heavy. She would only suffer with him.
Now that her family had nothing left to support them, her only choice was to marry a rich man and move to the city to enjoy life. If she remained in the countryside, she would be dragged down by her greedy and lazy brothers.
The Gus were her best targets!
Sun Mei ignored her parents and walked towards Mo Beihan. But the Sun Mei of the present had lost the arrogant look in her eyes.
“Brother Mo, are you visiting the Gu family?”
Mo Beihan was immediately on the alert. He had noticed the girl several times when she was making an enemy of Yao Yao. She was vain and arrogant.
She especially looked down on Yao Yao.
Mo Beihan was well aware of this girl’s intentions towards him. She always targeted Yao Yao because of that.
Now, the girl did not look at him with admiration anymore. Her attitude was puzzling!
Mo Beihan narrowed his eyes. “What are you trying to say?”
Sun Mei immediately smiled and said carefully, “I happen to be going to the Gu house too. I’ll come with you! I want to talk to Yao Yao! I’ve been so busy during the new year that we girls haven’t seen each other for many days!”
The Gu family’s three older cousins were all at home. She must marry one of them, hopefully, Gu Jinhang or Gu Jinfeng.
They must be the richest because their families had no burdens.
Chapter 493: Finding A Generous Patron
Mo Beihan grew even warier as he saw the girl’s calculating expression. His own expression grew chilly.
There was a hint of a cold smile on his lips when he said, “As far as I know, you and Yao Yao aren’t really friends! Your parents have had such a bad fight, you should stay home and take care of your mother!”
With that, Mo Beihan walked off.
Sun Mei’s expression stiffened!
“I… sigh…”
Everyone was surprised by her panicked expression.
Sun Mei was not on good terms with Gu Qingyao. She had always been trying to please Gu Ruoqing!
Everyone knew that.
Now, her mother had been beaten so badly, and she wanted to look for Gu Qingyao for a chat?
Wasn’t that strange?
Sun Mei’s expression grew even stiffer when she saw everyone’s looks.
But she had no choice. She must find a way to marry into the Gu family as quickly as possible.
Her family had nothing left. Her life would be unpleasant if she remained with them. Now her grandparents lived with them too and someone had to take care of them. Her parents fought every day and her four older brothers did not do anything.
Who would do all the housework?
All this had just happened, but Sun Mei could predict what her future would soon be like.
Laundry, cooking, everyone’s clothes, taking care of her grandparents. When her mother could not complete these household tasks herself, she would certainly have to help.
She had never suffered in her life. In the past, her family had lacked for nothing and everyone had doted on her. But now…
They barely had enough food. Who would dote on her?
The spring planting was about to begin, and everyone would have to go down to the fields to earn work points. Then all the housework would fall on her. What would she do?
What worried her the most was if her brothers married. If her family grew desperate, she was afraid they might casually marry her off in exchange for some resources.
She must marry into the Gu family as soon as possible so that she could have a good life.
Mo Beihan was now a long way away. With her own parents fighting like that, Sun Mei was too embarrassed to simply go over, so she brought her parents home before starting for the Gu house.
When Mo Beihan reached the Gu house, he put the things down.
When Gu Fangting saw that Mo Beihan had brought them so many nice things again, she gave him a thumbs-up. “Brother-in-law, you’re so capable!”
In these times, only a capable man could produce so many things.
Most importantly, Mo Beihan could bear to part with them, which showed that he had even more than that.
Mo Beihan smiled. This girl was so likable!
She kept calling him ‘Brother-in-law’, which pleased him.
Mo Beihan smiled and took a packet of beef jerky out of his coat and handed it to Gu Fangting.
“For you. It’s the new year, so I’m giving you some snacks.”
Gu Fangting’s eyes brightened. She thought it was just a simple snack! But when she opened it and saw that it was beef jerky, she was shocked!
“This… Brother-in-law…”
Mo Beihan laughed at her shocked expression. “Don’t tell anyone! Hide it and eat it yourself.”
In these times, meat was very rare, much less beef jerky, which was just a snack. Who would be so extravagant as to use beef jerky as a snack?
Gu Fangting was shocked by Mo Beihan’s generosity!
Mo Beihan said, “This is for you. There are some other snacks in the parcel which you can share with Little Six and Little Nine. I have other things for your older sister. Where is she?”
Gu Fangting gulped. “She’s in her room! I think she’s making clothes.”
Mo Beihan went to look for Gu Qingyao.
Chapter 494: A Sweet Surprise
Mo Beihan left and Gu Fangting looked through the things he had brought, then took the snacks to share with Little Six and Little Nine. She looked at the snacks, then at the beef jerky in her hand and thought of what Mo Beihan had said, that he had already prepared a share for her older sister.
Gu Fangting thought that whatever he had for her older sister would certainly be much nicer than what he had given them. Or at least, it would be a larger portion.
My God!
This Brother-in-law was so generous!
Why did she suddenly feel as if she had a generous patron?
Her older sister was usually very generous to her, and now her brother-in-law was the same!
A patron!
She must hang on to him!
Gu Fangting happily took the snacks and hurried off to look for Little Six and Little Nine.
In her room, Gu Qingyao was sitting by the bed. She was indeed making clothes for Lin Wanyin and Old Master Guo. She had taken apart some old clothes and altered them, stuffing them with new cotton wool. The outer layer was made of old material so no one could tell.
Mo Beihan entered and very naturally sat next to her. He reached out his hand and rested it on her shoulder. Gu Qingyao did not look up. She continued to focus on the needle and thread in her hand, but a smile appeared on her lips.
She shifted into his embrace so that he could partially hug her.
Delight filled Mo Beihan’s heart!
As he moved closer, he could smell her faint, girlish fragrance. He had been with her for so long in his previous life that her fragrance was all too familiar to him. The closer he was to her, the more mesmerized he felt.
From his angle, he could see the girl’s profile and her beautiful neck. Yao Yao’s complexion was very fair, soft and smooth. He could not see a single pore on her skin because of how smooth it was.
Mo Beihan could not help but lower his head and slowly move closer to try to linger over her smooth skin.
Gu Qingyao smiled as the breathing by her ear grew closer. She turned and looked at him. Without a word, she smiled and put her things aside, then she hooked her arms around his neck and lay back.
It was the new year, and Gu Jinhang, Gu Jinlin and Gu Jinfeng’s vacations were almost over. They had been learning frantically recently. As they studied, they realized that their former pride was just arrogance.
In this world, knowledge was as deep and wide as the ocean. What little they knew was not worth mentioning.
Compared to these old professors, they were truly immature.
When they realized this, they studied even more earnestly.
In the past, they only went to visit the old folks during the evening. But now, as time grew short, they also went in the afternoon.
So only the three children, Gu Fangting, Little Six and Little Nine were left at home. They were still young and could not learn too much at once, so they remained at home.
Gu Yunshuang returned early to cook lunch. Gu Jinlin and Gu Jinhang were not as crazed as Gu Jinfeng, so they came back to help Gu Yunshuang start the fire and cook.
Gu Jinfeng came back too. He had come back earlier to change his clothes before returning to the cowshed to ask his grandparents to come home and rest.
Besides the cowshed, there was a pigsty and a place for rearing chickens and ducks. The animals had to be fed every day and their area cleaned.
Today, Gu Yunshen was there helping Gu Chonghua and Wen Ruyu with their work. Now Gu Jinfeng was about to go over to ask Gu Chonghua and Wen Ruyu to come back and rest.
When they arrived home and saw so many things in the kitchen, they realized that Mo Beihan must have brought them.
“Ting Ting? Ting Ting?”
When Gu Fangting heard that, she hurried out. “Mother, you’re home!”
Gu Yunshuang pointed at the things in the kitchen. “Did your Brother-in-law bring these?”
Chapter 495: It’s Too Cold Outside, Of Course We Have To Close The Door
Gu Fangting said, “That’s right! Brother-in-law is paying a new year visit! He also brought us some snacks, and I’ve shared them with Little Six and Little Nine.”
Gu Yunshuang was delighted as she looked at the things.
She was not just happy to have all these things but also delighted that Mo Beihan was so good at managing relationships. He managed to please them in every way.
His actions showed how important Gu Qingyao was to him. He continually let the Gu family see how much he cared about Gu Qingyao. As her family, of course, Gu Yunshuang was happy.
“All right. Bring Little Six and Little Nine to play. Mother will cook now.”
Gu Jinlin hurried to help while Gu Jinfeng looked around. “But where is Mo Beihan?”
Gu Fangting said, “He went to look for Elder Sister. He’s probably in her room!”
Gu Jinfeng immediately made a beeline for Gu Qingyao’s room. As he walked, he shouted, “Yao Yao…”
From her room, Gu Qingyao could hear the sounds of Gu Yunshuang and the rest returning, so she pushed Mo Beihan aside and sat up.
She straightened her slightly crumpled clothes and hastily tidied her hair.
Behind her, Mo Beihan slowly sat up. He stared at her, unable to move his eyes away.
She had completely surprised him today. He had not expected such a… bonus!
When she was tidy, Gu Qingyao turned and looked at Mo Beihan, who was still staring at her. She could clearly see the flames burning in his eyes.
So she smiled and went over to help him tidy his clothes. No one else must see any traces.
He looked at the girl who was now standing right in front of him, her face still flushed from pleasure. As he looked at her, he continued to breathe heavily.
She had just finished tidying when Gu Jinfeng arrived at their door.
“Yao Yao, is Mo Beihan in there with you?”
Gu Jinfeng was knocking on the door.
Gu Qingyao calmly picked up the clothes and carried on sewing. “Come in, Fourth Brother!”
Gu Jinfeng pushed open the door and saw his younger cousin making clothes while Mo Beihan sat very close to her.
Gu Jinfeng was rather displeased. “Who gave you permission to linger in my younger sister’s room by yourself? And why is the door closed in the day?”
Mo Beihan was inwardly agitated but maintained his composure. He raised his brows and looked at Gu Jinfeng. “It’s too cold outside. If I leave the door open, Yao Yao will be cold!”
Gu Jinfeng: “…”
Gu Jinfeng gritted his teeth. He could not stand Mo Beihan. The fellow would not be so irritating if he was not hovering around his younger cousin.
But the moment the fellow stayed by his younger cousin’s side with that possessive air, he just could not stand it!
It was the new year, and his younger sister was now a year older.
She would probably get married next year.
His own younger cousin whom he had raised was being taken away by someone else!
Gu Jinfeng’s expression darkened. “Come with me to change your clothes, and let’s go work in the cowshed.”
Gu Qingyao kept a straight face and bowed her head without saying a word.
Although Mo Beihan was rather reluctant, he did not protest either. Work was nothing. His wife had given him a surprise today. Now he was willing to do any amount of work.
Mo Beihan rose and left with Gu Jinfeng. The two of them changed into tattered old clothes and shoes, then headed for the cowshed.
When they had left and Gu Qingyao was alone, she giggled to herself.
After a while, Gu Chonghua, Wen Ruyu and Gu Yunshen came back. They were a little dirty, so they changed their clothes and washed up before heading to the kitchen for a chat.
“What’s going on between Beihan and Little Feng? They seem to be quarreling!” Gu Chonghua said as he washed his face.