novelraw Chapter 431 "A Last Glimmer of Light"
Chapter 431 "A Last Glimmer of Light"
Chapter 431 "A Last Glimmer of Light"
Wu Sanzhu and Zhao Yuan both knew about Shen Jianjun's family situation. They patted him on the shoulder but didn't say anything.
Every family has its own troubles.
Take Wu Sanzhu, for example; his inner suffering was no less than Wu Sanzhu's.
He lost an arm and couldn't earn many work points, so his family struggled. His wife ran off with a passing driver, leaving him with two sons and a daughter.
Fortunately, his parents felt sorry for him and helped take care of the children, which allowed him to go out and earn money.
Zhao Yuan is also in a bad situation. He is lame, doesn't have much money, no good girl will marry him, and he is still a bachelor. He is cursed in the village as having no descendants.
Ugh.
Now that they have jobs, the three of them have something to look forward to, and their numb faces have regained their luster.
Gu Zhiheng and Gu Zhili lived in Lin Shisheng's small villa, where they kept a large white dog with long fur and a beautiful face.
The dog barked a few times.
Tao Tao came out and saw her husband and two nephews. A warm and friendly smile appeared on her beautiful face.
Pat the dog's head to tell it that it was one of their own, and greet the two younger ones, "Zhiheng and Zhili are here. Come in quickly. Have you eaten? If not, I'll cook you a few dishes."
"I'll eat," Gu Zhiheng replied.
Lin Shisheng waved to his wife, "Don't worry about these two boys, you go about your business, I'll take care of things."
Tao Tao nodded, telling Gu Zhiheng and Gu Zhili to make themselves at home, and turned to go back to the living room.
"Second Uncle, where are my sister Xuanxuan and sister Zhengzheng?" Gu Zhiheng didn't see Lin Xuan and Lin Zheng.
"They went to the library early this morning. They go every day. They're busier than me, the factory manager," Lin Shisheng said affectionately.
"Sister Xuanxuan and Sister Zhengzheng have lofty ambitions; their dreams are much grander than mine," Gu Zhiheng said admiringly.
He just wanted to make money, lots and lots of money, and become a big businessman.
Unlike her two older cousins, one of whom wanted to be a great writer and publish books in the future, and the other who wanted to be a diplomat and fight for her country.
Lin Shisheng patted his nephew's head, who was several centimeters taller than him, and said, "What's all this talk about grand things? You all have things you like and are good at. As long as you don't do anything wrong, you can do whatever you want. We'll support you."
"Second Uncle is so kind," Gu Zhiheng said affectionately.
Lin Shisheng shook his head and led his nephew to an empty room.
"Zhiheng, this is the room prepared for you. Let me know if you need anything. Zhili's room is next door, and so is yours. Just tell me if you need anything, don't be shy."
"Thank you, Second Uncle!" Gu Zhiheng said, then asked anxiously, "Second Uncle, when are you going to register us? I want to get my driver's license as soon as possible. I'm about to start a driving team, and I don't even have a driver's license yet. This won't do. It's all my dad's fault. He keeps saying we're still too young. My mom doesn't say anything for us either. Otherwise, I would be an experienced driver with two years of driving experience."
Two years of driving experience and you call yourself an experienced driver? What a silly kid.
Lin Shisheng smiled helplessly.
"You two weren't adults back then, how could your parents agree to let you take driving tests? You were such troublemakers, you'd be a mess if no one kept an eye on you." His tone was indulgent and doting.
Seeing his nephew's expectant look, Lin Shisheng gave him a look of utter defeat.
"Alright, I'll go register you two in a bit!"
Gu Zhiheng immediately broke into a smile, "Second Uncle, when will the certificate be released?"
"About a month." Lin Shisheng has connections, so it won't be long before they get their driver's licenses, especially since both of them can drive, which would be even faster.
Gu Zhiheng's eyes lit up, "That's great!"
"Second Uncle, didn't you say you could help me contact the seller? When are we going to see the car?" he asked again.
He remembered the purpose of his trip: to buy a car.
Lin Shisheng said, "I've checked those two cars. They're about 80% new, have a legitimate origin, and no problems. The price is fair, and the seller is someone I know well. You can go see them anytime. I'll take you two to see them after I finish what I'm doing, okay?"
“Okay!” Gu Zhiheng replied immediately.
So the two boys began their journey to get their driver's licenses.
When I went to Changfeng Daily Chemical Factory, I inevitably ran into Wu Sanzhu and his group. Seeing the uncles in their work clothes, full of energy and spirit, I was very happy. I told Lin Zhao and Gu Chenghuai about it when I called them.
A look of unease appeared in Gu Chenghuai's eyes.
His comrade-in-arms was never greedy. He used to hope to protect his country and homeland. After leaving the army, he hoped to have a job that could support his family. Now that his dream has finally come true, he was happy for his old comrade-in-arms as he listened to Hengbao's story.
very nice.
……
anyway.
Lin Zhao and his wife took Yao Bao to see Qian Bao.
The boy, dressed in a white shirt and black pants, with clean sneakers on his feet, walked towards us, exuding a clean and refreshing aura.
His eyes were dark and bright, his expression was calm, and his slightly long black hair fell messily over his brow bone, giving him a cool and aloof air.
It has a kind of high intelligence.
Upon seeing his family, the boy's lips curled into a slight smile, and he quickened his pace as he walked towards his parents and sister.
“Dad, Mom, Yaobao.” His rustling voice rang out.
Yao Bao bumped into her brother's arms, beaming like a sunflower, "Brother, Mom, Dad, and I came to see you! When can you come home? I want to play with you!"
"Brother, these are the snacks I brought for you. I love them, and I'm sure you will too. Here, take your time. Let me know when you're done, and I'll buy you more."
It's rare to see Brother Xiao, and Yao Bao always has a lot to say to Qian Bao every time they meet.
"Brother, have you grown taller again? You're so much taller than me now!!"
Qianbao let his younger sister cling to him and said, "I eat a lot, so I grow fast. If you eat more, you'll grow taller than other girls too."
Lin Zhao's lips twitched as he listened to Qian Bao talking about female comrades in such a serious manner.
Is it really okay for someone so young to be so serious?
After the brother and sister finished speaking, Lin Zhao finally chimed in.
They simply asked if the food was good, if I needed anything, and to take care of myself and not overwork myself... Qianbao's actions had to be kept secret, and I couldn't say anything. They could only ask about family matters. Knowing that his second brother had gone to Haicheng and was going to form a car team, Qianbao said he could invest.
He has a high salary, and he made a small mistake that earned him a lot of bonuses from his superiors, making his slush fund quite large.
Lin Zhao said, "Okay, I'll talk to your second brother when we get back."
Qianbao replied seriously, "Mm."
After asking around and hearing that the rest of the family was doing well, Qianbao's face relaxed.
"Mom, I have a holiday for Chinese New Year. Let's go home for the holiday."
He's still young, and the organization won't exploit him too much. They need to give this flower of the motherland some private time so he can clear his head.
Wasn't his original intention in creating the water heater to make things easier for his mother?
“Sure, your grandparents haven’t seen you for three years. They miss you and will be happy to know you’re coming back,” Lin Zhao replied with a smile.
Yao Bao was overjoyed. "Brother, really? You really want to celebrate the New Year with us?"
She nestled close to her brother, saying, "Brother, it's been so long since I've celebrated the New Year with you. Without you, I'm not as happy during the New Year."
Qianbao nodded seriously, "It's true, I'm going home for the Chinese New Year."
Researchers are so busy that they don't have any holidays. At first, Qianbao wasn't used to it and couldn't concentrate on her days off. But she got used to it later.
Gu Chenghuai didn't compete with his wife and daughter, leaving the time he spent talking to Qianbao for Lin Zhao and Yaobao.
Before leaving, he said to Qianbao, "Take care of yourself and don't worry your mother."
Before Qianbao could speak, Yaobao quickly said, "I'll worry too, brother. If anyone bullies you, just go home and don't stay here!"
“I will,” Qianbao replied to her sister.
“I will not be bullied,” he emphasized.
……
When they left, Yao Bao's eyes were red, and Lin Zhao's mood was also somewhat gloomy.
Gu Chenghuai sighed inwardly.
He said gently, "There are only two months left until the New Year. You'll have plenty of time to spend with Qianbao then. Don't do this. If Qianbao knew that his mother and sister were so unhappy because of him, he wouldn't feel good either."
Yao Bao wiped her eyes and said, "Dad, I want my brother to be home." Gu Chenghuai replied, "Your older brother isn't home either. Why don't you bother him?"
Yao Bao rolled her eyes, then stammered and didn't say anything.
She would never admit that she was afraid of being lectured by her older brother.
Every time her older brother comes home, he whispers in her ear for an hour, telling her to stay away from those blond-haired bastards. It's so hard for her.
Lin Zhao could tell what her daughter was thinking and couldn't help but chuckle.
Yu Bao is... a bit long-winded.
……
Harvest Brigade.
After many years, the elderly Gu family couple heard news of their youngest daughter, Gu Xing'er, again.
That's bad news.
Gu Xing'er's husband, Zhang Aijun, came to the Gu family home, saying that Gu Xing'er was dying and wanted to see her parents one last time.
Upon hearing the news, Mr. and Mrs. Gu's first reaction was disbelief.
how can that be possible?
Xing'er is so young, how could she be so weak?!
The couple didn't say anything and followed their son-in-law, whom they weren't very familiar with, to the Zhang family's house.
This was their first time visiting the Zhang family.
The house was very small, with a four-poster bed set up in the living room, and things piled up very crammed in.
The Zhang family members are not very bright and their minds are scattered. After the opening up, they didn't think of ways to make money. They clung to their secure jobs and looked down on self-employed individuals, so they couldn't earn this kind of income.
The Zhang family elders were biased and held their son Zhang Aijun firmly in their grasp, leaving Gu Xing'er with very little money.
Furthermore, because Gu Xing'er was from the countryside, she had no job, no dowry, and was also mentally challenged, she broke up with her high-ranking official brother. Zhang Aijun couldn't gain any advantage, and for various reasons, Zhang Aijun wasn't very attentive to Gu Xing'er, so Gu Xing'er's life was very unsatisfactory.
After Old Madam Gu passed away, Gu Xing'er never returned to her parents' home. Uncle Gu asked his son to visit her, but the Zhang family only accepted gifts and didn't even return a packet of brown sugar.
Even worse, Gu Xing'er refused to come out to see him.
After several attempts, Uncle Gu lost heart and stopped paying attention to Gu Xing'er.
Who knew she wouldn't be there?
"What happened? Xing'er is only a few years old, how could she be dying so soon? How have you been taking care of your wife?" Uncle Gu frowned and looked at Zhang Aijun with a fierce expression.
Even if he had given up on Gu Xing'er, she was still his niece, and he had to protect her if she was wronged.
For a moment, Gu's father was distracted. Hearing his second brother's voice, he looked at his unfamiliar son-in-law.
His face held a fierce look as he waited for Zhang Aijun's explanation.
“She caught a cold and developed a fever. I went to the clinic and bought her some medicine, which brought down her fever. But then it came back up. My family and I rushed her to the hospital, but the doctor said… we were too late, it was too late. I came here quickly so my parents could go see her. My wife misses her family…”
Upon hearing this, Gu's mother snapped out of her shock.
He pounced on Zhang Aijun and slapped him.
"How could you take care of her like that? She's so young! Why didn't you take her to the hospital sooner? Are you dead?"
Mr. Gu pulled his wife aside and said, "Don't waste any more time, we need to hurry to the county."
Gu's mother came to her senses. "Where's the fourth son? Qingzhou, take your father and me to the county."
Upon hearing the news, the couples from the first and second wives, fearing something might happen, quickly followed.
Even the greatest resentment can be eliminated in the face of life and death.
For Huang Xiulan and Zhao Liuniang, their lives are so good now that they really have no time to argue with that twisted-tempered sister-in-law.
It wouldn't be a bad idea to give her a ride.
Gu Qingzhou drove the tractor, chugging along towards the county.
Parked in front of the health clinic.
Gu Yucheng jumped off the tractor immediately and ran towards the ward.
Upon seeing Gu Xing'er, who was on the verge of death.
It's true.
She was extremely thin, like a flower that had lost its moisture, so withered that a gust of wind could blow her away.
"...How did you get like this?" Gu Yucheng said incredulously.
Gu Xing'er heard the sound, barely opened her eyes, saw her second brother's face, and many scenes from her childhood flashed through her mind.
She was one of only two girls in the family, and her older brothers and Gu Qingzhou all spoiled her, always thinking of her when it came to good food and fun things.
Grandma treated her even better than her brothers; that unique favoritism made her constantly develop unrealistic expectations... and eventually, it spiraled out of control.
Gu Xing'er is a selfish person and never thinks she is wrong.
She was just resentful.
"Where are my parents?" Gu Xing'er looked towards the door, her chapped lips moving slightly. "Why aren't they here? Do they still hate me? They're so heartless! They said they wouldn't acknowledge me... cough cough..."
"I am where I am today because of you, Father and Mother... You are all responsible! Lin Zhao is the most responsible. If my third brother hadn't married her, how could I be living like this?! I hate her to death!"
"Everyone says the Gu family is kind and righteous, ha! Where's the kindness and righteousness? They're all heartless, caring nothing for their own sister's life or death. Is that kindness and righteousness? That's just hypocrisy..."
Hearing the complaints in her words, Gu Yucheng felt a chill in his heart.
Even though Gu Xing'er could tell the situation was bad, he couldn't help wanting to stab her, "Fake affection... I'm going to laugh, all the money we give you every year has gone to dogs!"
“Gu Xing’er, after all these years, you haven’t improved at all. We shouldn’t have come here; it’s a complete waste of time.”
Enraged, Gu Xing'er suddenly felt a surge of strength. She sat up, grabbed the cup from the bedside table, and threw it at Gu Yucheng's face.
She stared with eyes that appeared large due to her thinness, her eyes filled with hatred.
"If you don't want to come, then get out! I don't need you here, get out... all of you, get as far away as possible, don't dirty my cycle of reincarnation..."
Gu Yucheng covered his ears.
He couldn't understand where Gu Xing'er's hatred came from.
She didn't hate the Zhang family for treating her badly; on the contrary, those who helped her were resented.
Damn it, an ingrate is an ingrate, and will never change.
Gu Xing'er was so angry at Gu Yucheng's attitude that she was panting heavily. Before her parents and others could enter, she collapsed on the hospital bed and slowly stopped breathing.
Gu Yucheng then realized—
Gu Xing'er's energetic speech and cursing just now was... a final burst of energy before death.
His heart skipped a beat, and he couldn't quite describe the feeling.
The elderly couple, father and mother, were heartbroken as they mourned the loss of their son. Their bodies trembled slightly, and they nearly fell over.
Gu Yuanshan rushed forward to help his parents.
"Father, mother..."
Mr. Gu waved his hand, and in an instant, he looked three to five years older.
"Get busy with what you need to do, and properly... send your sister off."
Even if Gu Xing'er is troublesome, unfilial, and an ingrate, she is still his and his wife's child, and they once had many warm memories together.
Gu Yucheng lowered his eyes, thankful that his parents had arrived late and hadn't heard Gu Xing'er's outburst.
……
Lin Zhao was stunned for a long time after hearing the news from his hometown.
Gu Xing'er is gone just like that?
She asked Gu Chenghuai, "Shall we go back?"
Gu Chenghuai's heart wasn't made of steel and concrete after all. After hearing the news, he wasn't completely calm. It took him a while to suppress the turmoil in his heart.
He shook his head. "It's too far away. I won't be able to catch up if I go back. Let's send some money back."
Knowing that Gu Xing'er hadn't come to her senses before she left and still resented her parents and family, Gu Chenghuai was furious.
(End of this chapter)