nucmednet Chapter 264: Have we been eating too much these past two days? Is the Gu family preparing to see us
Chapter 264: Have we been eating too much these past two days? Is the Gu family preparing to see us
Aunt Gu paused, then picked at her scalp with the needle in her hand and said, "It's hard to say. Everyone has their own thoughts. I know you think your second uncle is a good person and want to help him out."
"But my second uncle might not think that way. He seems to be someone who is extremely unwilling to trouble others."
After saying that, she paused for a moment, glanced at the second wife from whom the babbling sound came, and smiled with narrowed eyes: "However, the third wife will definitely be happy."
Lin Chang'er nodded. Everyone has their own ambitions, so the final decision rests with Li Er himself; she won't force him.
As they were talking, the little ones came out of the kitchen in an orderly fashion, each carrying a pastry.
With so many people, it was difficult to distribute the cakes evenly, so Sister-in-law Gu cut a piece of cake in half, giving one half to each of the little ones.
The pastries Lin Chang'er bought were quite substantial; even half a piece was not small.
The little ones were all happily playing by themselves, their eyes crinkling with laughter. Holding their pastries, they found their own spots in the yard and sat down in a row before taking small bites of the osmanthus cake.
Sister-in-law Gu came out of the kitchen with two small plates of osmanthus cake.
Two pieces were sent to Sister-in-law Gu, and three pieces were put in the sewing basket for them to eat themselves.
After everyone had settled in and sat down, Li Er washed his hands and came out. He glanced at the pile of firewood in the yard, picked up the axe by the corner of the wall, and went to chop the wood.
Seeing that he looked as if he was afraid of being criticized for being a freeloader if he was idle, Lin Chang'er smiled and said, "Second Uncle, these tasks are not urgent. Sit down, have some tea, and take a break."
Upon hearing this, Sister-in-law Gu hurriedly went to pour tea.
Li Er smiled shyly, "The sun is shining brightly, so it's easier to dry them after splitting them open. My sister-in-law's workshop consumes a lot of materials, so it's good to stock up on some while we have some free time these days."
Lin Chang'er waved her hand, "It won't make a difference if it's just a little while longer."
He pointed to the tea that Sister-in-law Gu had brought over, "Hurry up and rest, lest people who don't know you see this and think you've come here to do hard labor for our family."
Li Er hurriedly shook his head, "That's impossible!"
Unable to resist, I sat down on the stone stool next to the needle and thread winnowing basket.
Lin Chang'er handed him a piece of osmanthus cake, saying, "I bought it from the county today, have a taste."
Li Er knew these were all delicate items, so he dared not accept them. "I'm not hungry. I'll save them for the children."
Lin Chang'er said, "Of course there are for the children. This is for Uncle. Eat up!"
Li Er couldn't refuse her, so he had to take it, but he didn't eat it. He just held it in his hand, thinking that he could give San Niang a snack later.
Raising children is not easy. Although I have taken good care of my younger sister and never neglected her, there are always times when I can't be there for her.
Lin Chang'er also took a piece, broke off half and gave it to Sister-in-law Gu, and ate the other half herself.
While eating, he chatted with Li Er, "I heard that Uncle studied carpentry with his master for several years?"
Li Er paused in his drinking, then nodded, "Yes."
Lin Chang'er then asked, "Are you going to work independently now, or are you working under a master?"
Li Er lowered his head and remained silent for a while. He couldn't bring himself to say that he had offended several junior brothers because he was too honest and was eventually kicked out by them.
In particular, this matter also involves my junior sister.
Li Er said, "I won't be following Master this time."
Lin Chang'er nodded. "What are your plans next, Uncle?" A carpenter needs his own team, right? Maybe he could open a carpentry workshop or a carpentry shop.
Li Er naturally knew this, but even if he didn't rent a shop and just formed a makeshift team to make tools for people, he still had to support workers.
A few years ago, when I was an apprentice, I didn't have much money to begin with, and my family was pressuring me to send it back to my mother most of the time.
The money that had been saved was used to make a silver hairpin for Third Sister as part of her dowry, and this time it was used to make a silver locket for Raindrop.
Right now, I simply don't have the money to go it alone.
Li Er remained silent, unsure how to respond. Suddenly, he wondered if he had been eating too much these past few days, and if the Gu family was preparing to see him off.
Fearing to make things difficult for Li San Niang, Li Er smiled and said, "I originally planned to go to the provincial capital to find a job first, and then open my own shop once I had saved enough money."
"It just so happens that we encountered the flood before we even set off!"
"I will go to the provincial capital in two days."
It wasn't that he was greedy for the Gu family's rice; he just really wanted to see his sister and two nephews a little longer, which is why he wanted to stay for two more days.
Seeing his flustered appearance, Lin Chang'er thought of something and asked, "What about home? What are your plans?"
Li Er's face darkened. With the family and the Gu family having such a messy falling out, he shouldn't even have the face to stay at the Gu family's house, let alone talk about family matters.
However, his mother and elder brother had indeed gone too far, and given their blood ties, he couldn't simply ignore it.
Li Er sighed and said, "If things turn out well in the future, we'll give them a meal; if not..."
If you can't even take care of yourself, you naturally can't care about the life or death of others.
Lin Chang'er nodded, thinking that Li Er did have a little bit of a brain, but only a little.
She couldn't bring herself to advise someone to sever ties with their family.
All I could say was, "You know your family best."
"With my second sister-in-law as a living example, I'm sure Uncle knows how to get along with them."
Li Er paused for a moment, feeling that there was something more to what his third sister-in-law was saying. But it was true, as she said, that his eldest brother and mother were not only greedy but also shameless.
If he truly achieves great fortune in the future, they will only gnaw on him like leeches, sucking his marrow dry and leaving him with nothing.
After all, they dared to lay a hand on Third Sister's wife.
Li Er tightened his grip on the bowl and nodded, "Third sister-in-law, you have a keen eye for detail, you're right."
Lin Chang'er felt relieved when she heard that he didn't seem to be just being perfunctory. "Well then, since Uncle is also going to the provincial capital to find work, why don't you stay for now? In a couple of days, construction on my new house will resume."
"Now that we have a new house, we need to furnish it with new furniture! And we also need to order more desks and chairs for the elementary school."
"Making furniture takes time. Once the house is back in operation, my uncle can start making furniture too. However, I have some other ideas about the style, and I will discuss them with him in person at that time."
Li Er was startled, knowing that the Gu family's new house occupied a considerable area. If all the furniture were replaced, it would take at least half a year to complete.
Lin Chang'er thought he was complaining about the lack of work, so she added, "The land next to our house was bought by several wealthy families in the county town a long time ago. I suppose once my house is built, their houses will also be built."
"As long as Uncle's skills are good enough, he won't have to worry about making a living."
"In addition, if I have some free time, I would like to introduce my uncle to learn shipbuilding from a boatman."
“We are coastal people, after all, so we should have our own boat.”
Li Er was shocked and felt deeply ashamed for having misunderstood Lin Chang'er.
This isn't about kicking him out; it's about supporting him for life!