Back to the 70s: My Childhood Sweetheart Spoils Me Rotten

Chapter 616 - 617: A Simple-Minded Child

Gong Zhuang knew that Gong Ruini and the others had all sorts of excuses, meaning they definitely had something going on.

What he didn’t expect was this kind of thing, which made Gong Zhuang feel a bit awkward.

He realized that since his second brother could manage to send him good stuff from the Northeast, Gong Zhuang understood that this second brother had real skills and knew quite a few people there.

Even though some people had left the Northeast, they could still mail him what he needed from there, which said quite a bit.

What Gong Zhuang didn’t expect was that the so-called urgency to go back and have Gong Tao work to earn money was actually Gong Ruini and them wanting to go to the Northeast to gather herbal medicine.

"Does this make money?" Gong Zhuang felt a bitter taste in his heart.

Don’t be fooled by Gong Tao getting into college; everyone says it has a promising future, but Gong Zhuang always felt it was because he didn’t reveal their family’s situation.

These past two years, Gong Zhuang really did make quite a bit of money and considered himself the one who earned the most in the Gong Family. Yet, his second brother in the distant Northeast had silently figured out how to make money too.

Make money? "Well, it depends on how much you can gather."

"And going up the mountain to gather herbs is really tough." Cai Ming wasn’t sure why Gong Zhuang was asking but still explained how tiring it was to gather herbs on the mountain.

No way, with snakes and wild boars, Gong Zhuang swallowed hard at the thought.

Although he often heard Gong Tao talk about hunting in the mountains and catching large animals, Gong Zhuang was always envious—envious of his second brother having plenty of meat to eat and being able to enjoy hot pot.

But that was just hearsay. Now that his daughter and the others were going up the mountain, what if they encountered danger? Gong Zhuang panicked, really at a loss on what to do.

"Really, are there rabbits on the mountain?" Gong Jiaming thought it sounded fun when he went to the countryside to play, never expecting that Gong Ruwen and the others would have so much fun, making him incredibly envious.

Gong Jiaming also realized why when he invited Gong Ruwen and them to his grandparents’ place in the countryside, they firmly declined; he wouldn’t be interested either.

Gong Jiaxin, however, was thinking further ahead, "Collecting medicinal herbs can be exchanged for money."

"Yes, this time the money we came back with is all ours." Gong Ruini wouldn’t foolishly tell them that they could still make money in Beijing; saying that would be pointless.

No way, Gong Jiaming’s eyes widened. In recent days, Gong Ruwen and the others often went to buy delicious food, assuming their uncle gave them money.

Gong Jiaming had even muttered about how generous their uncle was, more generous than the parents. Little did he know it was the money earned by his older siblings, making him incredibly envious.

Wait, his sister learned to make money too? Oh my, Gong Jiaming felt dizzy; he was, after all, their brother. The money for his education was provided by their parents, and he had no money of his own. If he wanted to buy something, it was all funded by his parents, leaving him with no freedom at all.

Before, Gong Jiaming didn’t feel anything was wrong because everyone around him was like that, so he didn’t consider it an issue.

But now knowing another way was possible, how could he not be excited? If he had money, could he buy the things he liked to eat like Brother Rui Wen?

Gong Jiaxin, being a grown-up girl, also started having thoughts about beauty. She had long dreamed of making a beautiful red suspender skirt to wear outside, which would undoubtedly look beautiful and attract a lot of attention.

Unfortunately, no matter how much Gong Jiaxin begged, her parents wouldn’t agree, saying she should focus on her studies. If she had money, could she make the clothes she liked?

Gong Jiaxin was truly excited and paid a lot of attention to this.

No way, Gong Ruini suddenly realized they made a really big mistake.

Though earning this money is tough, the city kids might not be willing to make money through hard work, but the parents didn’t have the habit of giving their kids pocket money either.

"Can I go?" Gong Jiaxin wasn’t a shy person. She also knew Gong Ruini and the others liked straightforward people, not someone who secretly plotted without saying anything.

"Right, my sister and I are going." Gong Jiaming shouted loudly. Initially, he didn’t speak up because he didn’t know his sister’s intention. He feared she wouldn’t want to go.

If Gong Jiaxin didn’t go, Gong Jiaming knew that no matter how much he fussed, their parents would never agree.

But now that the parents agreed, they could tag along.

Not surprisingly, Gong Ruini and the others looked at Gong Zhuang, who was hesitating a moment ago.

"No." Gong Zhuang was genuinely unwilling to let his kids go to the Northeast, knowing that even though they could transit in Beijing for a few days, the train journey from here to the Northeast would take quite a long time.

And even though his second brother said how great the Northeast was, could it be as good as home?

Plus, Gong Tao initially stayed there with the intention of settling down, so he adapted to various challenges. But would his kids get used to it?

However, before Gong Zhuang could object, Miao Cuihua flatly denied it, "What are you going for? Stay home and review your lessons."

Phew, Gong Ruini sighed with relief. At least there was someone in charge, saving her from harping on about this topic with them.

"Mom, I want to go." Gong Jiaxin complained unhappily, "I want to earn a red suspender skirt."

"You still can’t go." Miao Cuihua motioned the two kids to follow her back to the room.

Miao Cuihua wasn’t foolish, it’s not that she was unwilling, but the fact is Gong Ruini and the others didn’t want Gong Jiaming and them to go to the Northeast.

Miao Cuihua understood they didn’t want the situation in the Northeast to be relayed back home, didn’t want people here to know how things were going there.

Maybe their second brother and his wife were doing really well in the Northeast and earning loads of money, so why bother going back? Not to mention the Northeast isn’t without its dangers, Miao Cuihua didn’t want her kids going there and getting into trouble.

Gong Jiaming watched his old mom step in, feeling all sorts of discontent, but he knew the matter wasn’t about what he wanted.

At this moment, Gong Jiaming genuinely regretted it. Had he known there would be such great conditions in the Northeast, he would never have caused trouble; he’d definitely behave well and get Brother Rui Wen to agree to take him there.

But now, he couldn’t even think about it. His parents wouldn’t agree, and neither would Brother Rui Wen and the others. Regret, regret, but no matter how much he regretted it, some things just weren’t up to him to decide.

He kept giving meaningful glances to Gong Ruwen, hoping the latter would save him.

Gong Ruwen wouldn’t agree to take Gong Jiaming and the others to the Northeast, even though he knew they’d probably be obedient, since who doesn’t want to earn money? But he really didn’t want to bring Gong Jiaming along, so he could only watch silently as Gong Jiaming was dragged into the room by Miao Cuihua.

Gong Ruini was all kinds of lamenting, knowing this older brother was quite straightforward, but she didn’t expect him to be this straightforward. Even though they didn’t like these two siblings going to the Northeast, he still sought their help.

Gong Ruini was really curious about how they raised such simple-minded children; they were truly a bit too naive.