Chapter 73 - 25: "Seeing Off

Chapter 73: Chapter 25: "Seeing Off

"Then, after I cook them, you can share some with the friends who helped you catch them," Lin Zhao said.

"Okay," Er Zai agreed.

"We’re going to the old family house for dinner later, and I need to pack some things. You two go play by yourselves." Lin Zhao sent the two boys off and got busy herself.

Aside from the troublemaker Gu Xing’er, everyone at the old house was nice to Da Zai and Er Zai, so the two brothers had no objections to going there for dinner.

Seeing that their mother didn’t need their help, the two little ones went hand-in-hand to the old house to show off.

When they got to the old house, they saw a crowd of people gathered at the main gate before they even went inside, craning their necks to watch the commotion.

Da Zai pulled his little brother along, ran over, and squeezed into the crowd.

Gu Xing’er was in the courtyard, jumping up and down and roaring at the top of her lungs. You could hear her clearly two houses down.

"...That connection was through my third brother! Why should Lin Zhao get all the benefits? I’m a junior high student! I can handle the job at the supply and marketing cooperative too! Why not give it to me? Is a wife more important than a blood sister?"

’She wasn’t afraid of getting a bad reputation. She thought a job was more important than her name. As long as she could snatch Lin Zhao’s job, she’d be a city person. Then she could even marry a factory director’s son. Once she became the factory director’s daughter-in-law, who would dare laugh at her!’

Veins bulged on Mother Gu’s face and her lips trembled. She was clearly furious.

Just then, Father Gu came out of the main house. He gave Gu Xing’er a cool glance and said to Gu Yuanshan and Gu Yucheng, "Take Gu Xing’er to your grandmother’s place."

The two Gu brothers froze.

’Is he serious?’

’He’s serious!’

"Get a move on!" Father Gu said coldly.

Gu Yuanshan and Gu Yucheng exchanged a look. They moved forward in perfect sync, grabbed Gu Xing’er’s arms, and started dragging her outside.

In the past, no matter how much of a scene Gu Xing’er made, Father Gu had never been this severe. Realizing her father was serious, Gu Xing’er panicked. "Father, are you trying to kick me out?" she shouted in disbelief.

Father Gu ignored her and looked at Huang Xiulan and Zhao Liuniang. "You two, pack Gu Xing’er’s things."

"Don’t leave anything behind," he emphasized.

Gu Xing’er struggled violently, her face contorted with rage. "Father, I’m your daughter! You can’t kick me out!" she screamed.

Father Gu’s eyes were filled with disappointment. He retorted, "You still remember I’m your father? Have you ever listened to a single word your mother and I have said?"

He shook his head helplessly. "I can’t control you. Go live with your grandmother."

Seeing their father wave them off, Gu Yuanshan and Gu Yucheng dragged Gu Xing’er out of the Gu family home. Huang Xiulan and Zhao Liuniang followed with two large bundles, walking so fast it was as if they were afraid their sister-in-law would be allowed to stay if they were a second too slow.

Once the main actor left the stage, the audience dispersed. The circle of villagers knew it was time to leave and tactfully went on their way.

Father Gu poured a cup of water for his wife. "If she makes you unhappy, just send her away. Don’t ruin your health over it," he coaxed.

Mother Gu truly didn’t want to deal with Gu Xing’er anymore. For years, she had taught her everything she could, using both soft and hard approaches. But that girl wouldn’t listen to a word and only grew more willful and reckless. There was nothing more she could do. She was mentally exhausted.

"Your younger brother and sister-in-law... will they be happy to have her back?" she asked.

"We’ll give them her grain rations. Why wouldn’t they be happy?" Father Gu knew what he was doing.

"You’re right. I’d rather give up the rations than have that girl causing trouble at home. I’m truly scared when she’s here," Mother Gu sighed heavily.

"Scared of what?" Father Gu was puzzled. "You’re her biological mother. What could she possibly do to you?"

Mother Gu shot him a look. "She can’t do anything to me, but she’s so much older than Da Zai and the others. I’m afraid she’ll get some wicked idea and harm my grandchildren."

For the past few days, she had been keeping the boy-girl twins with her at all times, terrified that something might go wrong.

Father Gu thought so too. "Let her stay at the second branch of the family until she gets married. It’ll save you the anger."

Hearing him say that, the tightness in Mother Gu’s chest eased considerably, but her words were still sharp. "So you did have a solution. Why didn’t you say so earlier? You just let me be angry for so long for no reason."

Father Gu gave a wry smile and explained with a wronged expression, "Weren’t you the one who insisted on straightening Xing’er out? You were so confident, how could I dare say anything?"

Mother Gu was at a loss for words and quickly changed the subject. "Third Brother’s wife is a salesclerk at the supply and marketing cooperative now. This is wonderful news. I told her to bring the kids over to the old house for dinner so we can all celebrate."

"Do we have enough eggs at home? If not, I’ll go out and trade for some." ’Sending that troublemaker of a daughter away was an absolutely brilliant move,’ Father Gu thought. ’Otherwise, there’s no way this dinner would have gone well.’

’What a relief, what a relief.’

Da Zai and Er Zai had witnessed the entire scene of Gu Xing’er being sent away.

The two little ones’ eyes were shining brightly. Forgetting all about finding their younger siblings, they grabbed hands and scampered back home.

At that moment, Lin Zhao was organizing the supplies at home.

’You can’t go to the old family house for dinner empty-handed.’

The items she had given Yang Junzhi today were prizes she had won from the lottery turntable last night.

She had also used up all her points.

Fortunately, she had passed the exam today and successfully transferred her grain and oil rations, earning another 50 points.

Lin Zhao wasn’t in a hurry to use the lottery. ’I’ll save up for a big prize,’ she planned.

’There are so many good things at home that the cabinets are almost full. What I’m missing is a storage space like the ones an Immortal Family Member would use. Even if it’s not that high-grade, a substitute would be fine, too.’