Chapter 521: I’ve Been Dreadfully Worried About Eldest Cousin’s Courtship
But from the contents of Eldest Uncle’s letter, she could tell that his family was doing quite well over there.
It was just that conditions there were too tough. They had received all the things that their family sent them from their hometown. Based on what they said, there was no issue with that.
Gu Qingyao understood. This time, she sent more. It should not be a problem.
Of course, grain was a necessity.
This time she prepared ten kilograms of rice, five kilograms of flour, ten kilograms of cornflour, and then another twenty kilograms of coarse grain.
That included sorghum flour, sweet potato flour, dried sweet potatoes and so on.
Then there were dried herbs. She included less of these.
Then she added meat – a side of bacon, cured pork ribs, two dried chickens, two dried rabbits, a few dried fish and a packet of small fish and shrimp that had been dried.
Little fish and prawns were meat too!
That way, these looked like things that they would save on a normal basis.
Eldest Cousin needed to go courting. Besides these practical items, she had to send some rarer items to keep up appearances. She had promised Eldest Cousin that when he met a girl that he liked, she would send many delicious items for him to please his wife-to-be.
Especially since she had a younger brother. Gu Qingyao thought for a while and sent a bag of brown sugar, two tins of malted milk extract, a bag of milk candy, a bag of hard candy, and a bag of mixed dried fruits.
Then there was a set of clothes for Eldest Cousin and two pairs of shoes. She had been making clothes for Eldest Cousin and she had sent him a set earlier. Later on, she had not sent anymore for fear of attracting attention, so she had only sent some cloth.
She also sent Eldest Aunt a set of clothes and Eldest Uncle a pair of shoes.
Then Gu Qingyao stuffed some cloth in, especially adding some cloth suitable for making clothes for a young girl. These were meant for Eldest Cousin to please his wife.
It was a huge bag, weighing a hundred kilograms. In order to make the parcel look smaller, Gu Qingyao squashed the items that could be flattened and bound them tightly several times with rope.
By the time Gu Qingyao had finished tying it, she was panting and exhausted.
“Little Six and Little Nine, hurry up and write a letter to your parents. We’ll send it together tomorrow.”
The two children could read and write. They had not seen their parents for a year and naturally missed them terribly. When they heard that, they hurried off to write their letter.
Gu Yunshen laughed when he saw the huge parcel his daughter had prepared.
Gu Qingyao squatted next to the parcel and looked up smilingly at her father.
“Father, I’ve been terribly worried about whether Elder Cousin will manage to court his wife!”
Gu Yunshen was amused and he patted Gu Qingyao’s head.
The next day, the parcel and a letter for Eldest Uncle, as well as Little Six and Little Nine’s letters were all mailed out.
Besides that, there were letters to Third Uncle and Second Uncle’s families to tell them the good news.
At the end of the month, Mo Beihan came back for Gu Qingyao.
Gu Qingyao glared at him. “Who asked you to come back?”
Mo Beihan was aggrieved. “Why haven’t you left yet? I’ve been waiting for so many months. Didn’t you say you would definitely come before the autumn harvest? If you don’t come now, the autumn harvest will be upon us.”
Gu Qingyao: “…”
Summer had only just begun.
Mo Beihan tugged at her hand and said pitifully, “Come on! Come with me, all right? The weather is getting hotter and hotter. It’s so uncomfortable in the countryside. Come with me to the city! There’s no one to restrict you there, so it’s more convenient living there, right?”
Gu Qingyao was speechless. This fellow was growing increasingly different from his previous self. He was getting more and more shameless.
Mo Beihan came back and finally managed to get Jiang Xun, Jiang Ping, Jiang Jing and Mu Mu’s accounts transferred to the Mo family.
Chapter 522: Visiting The Provincial Capital Again
He intended to settle it before the spring planting, but he had been busy with work and had not managed to come back in time. He had been preparing to bring Gu Qingyao to the provincial capital, then go to Nancheng and bring his things back. He needed to make proper arrangements for his work, so he had not managed to come back.
In any case, his uncle was the brigade leader. The work points that Jiang Xun and the others had obtained from their work would certainly be credited to the Mo family. He did not need to worry.
The Mo family had taken in so many children that it had created an uproar in the brigade. Many people were discussing the matter, but coincidentally, Sun Mei’s family suddenly moved away without even telling the Sun family. The Sun family were frantic. The moment the news broke, it became even more explosive than the Mo family’s happenings.
It had been a proud moment for them when Sun Mei had married and moved to the city!
The Sun family had gone around the brigade, boasting about this for the past half a year. Everyone was green with envy. The eldest Sun’s family thought their position had been elevated, and they grew smug once more. They looked down on their brothers and even made enemies of many brigade members.
Now that Sun Mei’s family had suddenly vanished without a word, everyone who heard the news thought it was funny.
The Mo family’s incident had happened long ago, so now they were just going through the formalities regarding the accounts. Mo Beihan did it inconspicuously and did not attract much attention. So everyone’s focus was on the Sun family’s incident.
Gu Qingyao only smiled when she heard that Wang Jie’s family had moved. She did not pay much attention. It was best that Sun Mei leave.
She packed her things and followed Mo Beihan to the provincial capital.
The train journey there took nearly two days, and Gu Qingyao was exhausted. When she reached, she collapsed on the bed and did not want to move at all.
This time, Mo Beihan brought Gu Qingyao back to his own home.
Their train was supposed to arrive in the afternoon, but an accident had happened along the way, and the repairs had taken some time. Gu Jinlin had been waiting at the train station for Gu Qingyao, but he did not know when the train would arrive, so he waited for a while and went home.
Anyway, with Mo Beihan around, nothing much could happen to his younger cousin. At most, she would have to spend some extra time on the train.
In these times, transportation was poor. Trains that traveled long distances needed to be repaired along the way and delays were common.
Mo Beihan took advantage of this and brought his wife straight home.
He could finally have his wish and spend some time alone with his wife.
It was completely dark by the time they got home. Mo Beihan’s home was nearer to the train station. It was already eleven o’clock by the time they got home.
Mo Beihan’s heart ached when he saw how exhausted Gu Qingyao was. “Go and take a bath before you sleep, all right?”
Gu Qingyao blinked. She did not want to move. She was bone-weary.
But in this weather, she really could not sleep without a bath. She had not been able to bathe on the train.
So she hurried to the toilet for a shower, then changed into her pajamas and lay on the bed.
Mo Beihan rubbed her stiff and sore arms and legs, and the girl was asleep in two minutes!
Mo Beihan covered her carefully with a thin blanket and turned on the fan. Then he went to take a bath before he slept.
The next day, Gu Qingyao slept until ten o’clock in the morning. It was a deep and satisfying sleep.
The moment she opened her eyes, she saw Mo Beihan lying next to her, properly clothed. She was taken aback!
Mo Beihan turned and said, “Awake?”
Gu Qingyao was not that shocked. She glanced at herself and saw that she was properly dressed. Then she lifted her head and looked at Mo Beihan.
Mo Beihan laughed. “Looks like you have already accepted me as your husband. You’re not afraid of me at all! This… as your husband, I am very pleased!”
Chapter 523: I’m Not Staying With Third Uncle Anymore
Gu Qingyao did not move. She clutched her blanket and looked at him without a word.
Mo Beihan flipped over and rested his head by his chin. He moved nearer and said, “You’re a little nervous, aren’t you?”
Gu Qingyao blinked and nodded as she clutched her blanket.
Could she not be nervous?
After all, this was beyond her experience.
Mo Beihan had been very good to her in her previous life. He had treasured and protected her. Actually, there was a long period of time wherein she overcame her trauma, and she had occasionally been intimate with him.
Even then, they had only hugged or exchanged a few brief kisses. Mo Beihan was probably afraid of frightening her. If she could not accept it, then it would be awkward for them. So he had always held himself strictly in check. He had never expressed such desires in front of her.
Later on, they were preparing to get married, so he was even less urgent. After all, he had waited for more than ten years. He did not mind waiting a little longer.
Since she had been reborn, they had interacted the most last year at home, when she took the initiative to kiss him a few times before her family came back.
They were an old, married couple, but they acted as if they were dating!
Even she did not know what to say!
Mo Beihan laughed and lay on his side as he looked at her. He reached out to twirl her long hair around his fingers.
“Don’t worry. You don’t need to feel anxious when you’re with me. In less than a year, I will definitely marry you. I have that much patience at least. I promise I won’t do anything to you until we are married. Be good! Wait until you can marry me.”
His eyes were gleaming with amusement. He was a little smug, and his smile was a little mischievous. He looked at Gu Qingyao, sure that she could not escape from him.
Gu Qingyao blushed and glared at him. She shrank into her blanket.
She was shy!
That delighted Mo Beihan even more!
He smiled and said, “Are you hungry? Get up and have breakfast, then we have to make a trip to your third uncle’s house. They’ll be worried about you!”
Gu Qingyao clutched her blanket. “I’m not getting up!”
Mo Beihan was amused and leaned over to coax her. “Be a good girl! Get up and have breakfast. I will be sad if you don’t eat breakfast. Don’t frighten me! I will panic and be thrown into confusion. What do you want to eat? I’ll cook for you right now, all right?
“Yao Yao! You can beat me or scold me! But you must eat. If you don’t eat, I’ll feel as if my world is collapsing…”
“Ah ah, you jerk… stop it…” Even before Mo Beihan could finish speaking, Gu Qingyao could not stand it any longer. This fellow! This fellow!
He was doing it on purpose!
Gu Qingyao sat up angrily and swung her pillow at him.
Mo Beihan was delighted. He casually carried her off the bed.
“Ah! What are you doing? Put me down!”
Mo Beihan carried her towards the toilet and said, “Be good! Listen to me and brush your teeth, wash your face, and eat breakfast. Then I’ll bring you out to play, ok?”
It was as if he was coaxing a child.
By the time he finished speaking, they had reached the toilet. Gu Qingyao was not as shameless as him, so she stopped bickering with him. After she washed up, they had breakfast in the living room.
It was late, so she did not cook. She just took some food from her interspace, then started packing for her trip to her Third Uncle’s place.
Mo Beihan saw that she was only packing presents, mostly grain, meat and rice, as well as some snacks for the two children. She did not bring any of her clothes or belongings. He hesitated. “Aren’t you staying with your third uncle this time?”
Although he hoped that Yao Yao would stay with him, it was impossible that Gu Qingyao would come to the provincial capital and not stay with her third uncle.
Gu Qingyao shook her head as she packed. “Uhm! I’m not!”
Chapter 524: It Has Nothing To Do With Me
Mo Beihan was rather surprised!
His first response was not joy, but concern.
Knowing Yao Yao, something must have happened for her to refuse to stay with them.
“What’s the matter? Is there a conflict between you?”
Gu Qingyao put the grain in a parcel and shook her head. “It doesn’t count as a conflict! I’m just worried that things will become unpleasant if I stay too long with my third uncle’s family. Third Aunt dislikes me. The last time I stayed with them, there was trouble. I had better keep my distance this time! In any case, I’m not staying here for long, so I might as well stay at your place!”
Mo Beihan frowned as he thought about what had happened last time.
“Besides the incident that I encountered, were there any other worse quarrels?”
Gu Qingyao smiled calmly and did not conceal it. “I’m sure you remember Zhang Qiang! The Zhang family was doing so well then! Third Aunt was delighted when she heard that Zhang Qiang had taken a fancy to me. She wanted to marry me to the Zhang family because it would benefit the Gu family.
“Third Uncle and Third Brother were very disappointed and they lost their tempers. Third Aunt said some nasty things, and because of that, Third Uncle slapped her two or three times.”
Mo Beihan said, “So what? Third Uncle is not the kind to casually hit a woman. She must have crossed the line for him to strike her.”
Gu Qingyao nodded. “She did go overboard, which was why Third Uncle hit her.”
“That’s settled then!” Mo Beihan did not think much of it.
Gu Qingyao sighed and said to Mo Beihan earnestly, “I don’t really detest Third Aunt, but I don’t really like her either. Anyway, things are like that, and I seldom interact with her. In the past, she stayed in the provincial capital while I stayed in our hometown. In the future, I will marry you and move to the Mo house, and I won’t be related to her.
“Besides, even if she wanted to harm me, she doesn’t have the ability to do so. But she thinks about it. I don’t care, but Third Uncle and Third Brother do!
“The Gu family has always been very united. If Third Aunt is always plotting against me, after a while, Third Uncle will quarrel with her. I hope that won’t happen.
“My third uncle and third brother all dote on me. I don’t want my stay to displease Zhou Ping or make her think of ways to harm me, which will lead to divorce with Third Uncle. You should know that if Third Aunt tries to harm anyone from the Gu family and goes overboard, Third Uncle will definitely divorce her.
“Why disrupt their marriage? After all, Zhou Ping is just a housewife. She gave Third Uncle four sons, and they have been together for more than twenty years. How can Third Uncle bear to divorce her just like that? And what will happen to the family? My two older cousins and two younger cousins will all suffer!”
Mo Beihan sighed and stroked Gu Qingyao’s little head. “Girl, the entire Gu family dotes on you, but they haven’t spoiled you. Any other girl would have thrown her weight around to show her superiority. Or even tried to sow discord between Zhou Ping and your third uncle and third brother, or complain about her so that your third uncle will beat her a few more times!”
Gu Qingyao laughed and raised her little head. “Don’t I have better things to do? Third Uncle and Third Brother dote on me, I can’t possibly hope that they will file for divorce? That would be too nasty of me. Even if I want their love, I won’t stoop to fighting Third Aunt for it!
“They’ve been married for more than twenty years. They have been doing fairly well! Although Zhou Ping is not very good at managing the household and likes assisting her parents, the Gu family can still tolerate what she has taken.”
Chapter 525: You Can Stay In Your Work Unit’s Dormitory
“Our Gu family has its reserves, and Third Uncle has a share of that. She spends her husband and sons’ money. Ultimately, I’m an outsider! How am I supposed to interfere? Why should I interfere?”
Gu Qingyao shrugged and said indifferently, “Anyway, Third Uncle is no fool. After he dealt with Zhou Ping last time, she has become much more reserved.
“They have been married for more than twenty years. Third Uncle still loves Third Aunt. Look, they said they would come back to the Qing River Brigade for the new year, but they didn’t in the end. I guess Third Uncle brought Third Aunt and the two boys to visit Third Aunt’s parents.
“He must have felt sorry for her after beating her but couldn’t let her have her way either. So he had to find ways to cheer her up after that!”
Gu Qingyao did not take this matter to heart.
She did not know Zhou Ping very well. Her impression was that Second Aunt doted on her the most and Eldest Aunt was the most mature. She was generous and could see the big picture.
Second Aunt’s family was the richest, and she had plenty of resources. She lived comfortably, so it was natural that she had a better disposition. She was also generous and often sent her things.
As for Zhou Ping, she had not interacted much with her. They only saw more of each other during the new year or on special occasions, so she did not care whether Zhou Ping liked her or not.
Gu Qingyao put the last bag of food into her parcel and said to Mo Beihan with a smile, “So! I want to maintain my distance from them as much as possible. I won’t quibble with Zhou Ping for Third Uncle and Third Brother’s sake.
“If I maintain a distance, she can’t see me and she naturally won’t understand me. If I live there and she discovers how rich I am, she may become unhinged. Then what?”
Gu Qingyao sighed melodramatically. “Sigh… I have no choice. I’m just too rich; she can’t stand me!”
“Hee…” Mo Beihan burst out laughing. “In that case, are you staying with me?”
Gu Qingyao turned. “Of course. Is there anything wrong with that? You’re my fiancé. Can’t I stay at your house?”
Mo Beihan hastily said, “Yes, yes, yes, of course you can! My things are yours. Everything I have belongs to you. You can stay as long as you please. It’s not just the house, even I am yours.”
Mo Beihan was over the moon!
His heart was pounding with excitement!
He moved closer to Gu Qingyao. “Yao Yao, you can just stay here without any worries. You can stay as long as you like. If you want anything, I’ll buy it for you. If you want to eat anything, I’ll cook it for you. You don’t need to lift a finger. I’ll take care of you, all right?”
Gu Qingyao looked at him and said earnestly, “No!”
Er…
Mo Beihan was shocked. “What?”
“Because you have no time!”
“Says who?” Mo Beihan was indignant. “I have time. I definitely have time. I have lots of time! I guarantee I’ll take good care of you and you’ll be comfortable. You can do anything you like. All right?”
Gu Qingyao looked at him and grinned. “You’re staying at your work unit’s dormitory!”
Mo Beihan: “…”
He felt as if he had been struck by lightning! Gu Qingyao looked at his shocked expression and laughed craftily like a little fox. “Why? Are you intending to live with me?”
Mo Beihan nodded furiously. He wanted to live with her! He wanted to be together!
Gu Qingyao smiled. “No way! I wouldn’t dare. We aren’t married yet! If someone finds out, we’ll be in big trouble. It will certainly cause gossip. This era is just too conservative.”
“Who dares to gossip. Why would they gossip?”