Chapter 98: I’m Not an Outsider
Reasonably, Gu Yu felt that Gu Mengyao and her brother’s actions were wrong, but emotionally, it made him feel very comfortable. This conflicting feeling left Gu Yu entangled for a long time, unable to resolve it.
In the past, when Gu Yu saw couples in movies relying on each other for life and death, he didn’t feel much, only thinking, “Are they both fools?” After all, only by abandoning the other could one ensure their own survival. Why sacrifice one’s life for another? One’s own life is the most important.
However, now that this kind of thing was happening to him indirectly, he no longer thought that way. Some people were indeed worth sacrificing for.
Perhaps it was a change in his mindset that made Gu Yu smile joyfully at this moment, dispelling the gloom on his face. He then raised his hand and ruffled Gu Qingheng’s hair fiercely, after which they both walked into the house.
The situation had changed. Why should he remain stuck in the past? As long as he remembered that there was always someone at home waiting for him to return.
After entering the thatched cottage, Gu Mengyao was still busy in the kitchen, while Yan Min sat on a stool as if nothing had happened. However, his rigidly straight body betrayed his inner tension. Clearly, the matter concerning Wang Er Tou weighed heavily on his mind, causing Yan Min great worry.
Gu Mengyao and her brother treated Gu Yu as their only family, so they didn’t want him to venture out alone. However, when Gu Yu insisted on going to teach those people a lesson despite the danger, the siblings silently supported him from behind and did not object. This was because the fault lay with others, and their inaction was only due to their inability to resist. If Gu Yu insisted on taking action, Gu Mengyao and Gu Qingheng would not stop him.
It wasn’t just Gu Mengyao who had secrets; Gu Yu did too, so there was no need to worry about his safety. However, Yan Min had no relationship with Gu Yu, so it couldn’t be that he stayed because he was worried about him.
Yan Min’s true reason for staying at the Gu family’s was simply to protect Gu Mengyao and her brother. After all, they were the children of his deceased friend, and he couldn’t just stand by and watch them get into trouble. As for Gu Yu, the son-in-law who married into the wife’s family, he was not within his scope of protection. Therefore, when Gu Yu decided to leave, Yan Min didn’t even lift an eyelid, let alone try to dissuade him.
Regardless of Yan Min’s previous actions of bringing people to rob, Gu Yu couldn’t say anything just by looking at Yan Min’s current demeanor. Anyway, he wouldn’t be too harsh on anyone who was good to his wife.
“Qingheng, go to the kitchen and ask when dinner will be ready.”
“Okay.”
After sending Gu Qingheng away with a single sentence, Gu Yu nodded towards Yan Min and then turned his head to look at the courtyard, signaling Yan Min to come out and chat with him. As Gu Yu walked to the door, Yan Min thought for a moment, then got up from the stool and followed Gu Yu out.
Because he didn’t want the siblings to hear, Gu Yu stopped after walking a distance from home. Then, he adopted a farmer-like posture, leaning against a tree as if he had no bones, and looked at Yan Min from the corner of his eyes. Yan Min’s expression remained unchanged, his face still grim. Except when facing Gu Mengyao and her brother, when he occasionally showed a concerned expression, Gu Yu had always seen him like this since they met.
“As Mengyao’s husband, I am very grateful that you came to the Gu family to pass on information.”
“You’re welcome. I’m only doing it to protect my late friend’s daughter!”
“Is that all?”
“That’s all.”
Gu Yu had previously heard about Yan Min’s situation from Wang Er Tou, knowing that he had resorted to robbery because his wife was ill and they had no money. Since that was the case, the favor could be repaid. Gu Yu did not want Yan Min to cling to this matter and hold it over him in the future for favors. In that case, it would be better to directly give him what he needed most now to avoid future trouble.
However, Yan Min’s answer was very firm. This time, he was only here to help Gu Mengyao and her brother and had no other intentions. This put Gu Yu in a difficult position, wondering if he had spoken too deeply, causing Yan Min not to understand his intended meaning.
“What I mean is… I know you are in urgent need of silver. I can help you…”
“No need. You should keep your money. The Gu family’s current situation is not good, and there are many places that need money. You can’t spend it so lavishly.”
However, even when Gu Yu stated it so directly, Yan Min still righteously refused. Moreover, Yan Min’s brows were furrowed, clearly expressing his disapproval of Gu Yu so easily taking out silver to lend to others. Come to think of it, the Gu family’s previous situation could be described as very poor. Even the place they were living in now was a dilapidated thatched cottage. How could they have spare money to meddle in other people’s affairs?
Although Gu Yu’s willingness to extend a helping hand made Yan Min feel that the Gu family’s son-in-law was not bad, he finally shook his head, asking Gu Yu not to mention it again. Even when Gu Mengyao took the initiative to help, Yan Min directly refused, let alone Gu Yu. Although he needed money, Yan Min would not extend his hand to take the Gu family’s silver.
“Brother-in-law, Uncle Yan! Dinner is ready.”
Fortunately, at this moment, Gu Qingheng’s voice suddenly rang out. As he quickly placed the large bowl of stewed chicken in his hand on the table, he quickly touched his earlobe. This bowl was too hot! After feeling that his fingers were no longer so hot, Gu Qingheng quickly turned around and continued towards the kitchen, bringing out Gu Mengyao’s dishes one by one. After a few trips, all the dishes were finally placed on the table.
The fragrant stewed pork knuckle, the mellow and tempting stewed chicken with yam, the tender and refreshing cold black fungus, as well as stir-fried pork with black fungus and scrambled eggs with tomatoes. The dishes were perfect in color, aroma, and taste, making one’s mouth water. Auntie Wang Er’s cooking skills were truly impressive! Gu Mengyao had only learned from her for half a day, and the meal she made now was quite passable. Could it be that his little wife had a talent for cooking, and he would truly have good fortune in the future!
Compared to Gu Yu and Gu Qingheng’s satisfaction with today’s meal, Yan Min, who was on the side, had already widened his eyes. His previously unchanged face now showed shock, clearly very surprised by this lunch. Σ(っ°Д°;)っ…
Wasn’t the Gu family very poor?
Didn’t the Gu family barely have enough to eat and wear?
Didn’t the Gu family have no money for school?
Why was the scene before him not like this? Outsiders seeing the Gu family’s current good food would definitely say some envious, sour words, but Yan Min had a good relationship with the Gu family, so he naturally wouldn’t do that. He just worriedly turned his head to look at the doorway, thinking of asking Gu Mengyao properly what was going on when she appeared later! They couldn’t be so extravagant with their money just because they had a son-in-law who married into the family. How would they get through the winter like this?
Yan Min, who hadn’t been to Yang Family Village for some time, didn’t know the Gu family’s current situation. He still thought of the Gu Mengyao he remembered, who struggled to earn money to support the family, bearing the heavy responsibility of supporting a family of three alone! Just looking at the thatched cottage with drafts everywhere first led Yan Min to believe… that the Gu family was still the same as before.
But he didn’t know that since Gu Yu changed his soul, the Gu family had undergone earth-shattering changes. Firstly, they had money. Secondly, Gu Yu was no longer foolishly filial. Finally, Gu Yu cared about Gu Mengyao and her brother, and had successfully integrated into his current life. Although Gu Yu’s personality had changed greatly compared to before, Gu Mengyao and Gu Qingheng didn’t want to dwell on it. As long as things were good now, that was enough!
“Qingheng, where did you get this pork knuckle and these dishes? I didn’t buy these when I went to town before.”
“Sister bought the meat at the village butcher shop, and the vegetables were a gift from Auntie Wang Er.”
Looking at the table full of good dishes, after Gu Qingheng sat down on the stool, Gu Yu asked doubtfully, not knowing where these dishes came from. After hearing Gu Qingheng’s explanation, Gu Yu nodded and inwardly remembered to buy fresh meat and vegetables and other ingredients from town in the future, so as not to leave Gu Mengyao in a helpless situation due to a lack of ingredients, preventing her from fully exercising her cooking skills.
“Yu, Uncle Yan, please eat! It will taste bad if it gets cold later.”
“We’re waiting for you! Come over quickly.”
Not long after, Gu Mengyao tidied up the kitchen simply and washed her hands before walking into the house. Immediately, she saw everyone gathered around the table but not eating, and blinked her eyes in confusion. She then quickly urged everyone to start eating. She wondered how the results of learning cooking skills from Auntie Wang Er would be this time. She had even deliberately come a little later, wanting to see everyone’s reaction… especially Gu Yu. In the future, she would have to make more nourishing meals to take care of her husband.
As Gu Mengyao urged everyone, she heard Gu Yu’s gentle voice. She smiled shyly, but her footsteps did not stop as she walked to Gu Yu’s side and sat down. Then, she took the chopsticks that Gu Yu handed her. However, Gu Mengyao did not take the initiative to pick up food but looked at Gu Yu with an expectant expression. The hope in his wife’s eyes made Gu Yu no longer hesitate. He directly picked up his chopsticks and put a piece of meat into his mouth. It was rich but not greasy, with a lingering fragrance. Although there were still some minor flaws, considering Gu Mengyao’s sincere intention, Gu Yu felt as if he had tasted a top-grade delicacy.
“Mengyao girl, why are you making such a lavish meal today? I’m not an outsider, so you don’t need to be so extravagant and wasteful…”
“Uncle Yan, don’t misunderstand. My sister made these dishes not for us, but to supplement my brother-in-law’s body.”
As soon as Gu Mengyao came in, Yan Min eagerly began to ask, his words carrying the tone of an elder admonishing a junior. He was practically saying, “Your family’s situation is not good, don’t waste money. Good steel should be used on the cutting edge.” He was directly telling Gu Mengyao not to be extravagant and wasteful. However, before Yan Min could finish, Gu Qingheng, who was on the side, ignorantly interrupted him. Although today’s meal was richer than Gu Qingheng had ever imagined, he could understand it. After all, his sister’s eagerness for her brother-in-law to recover quickly was very sincere. However, if they kept supplementing like this, would he and his brother-in-law become fat?
The new month has begun, and the author is starting to grind out words, waiting for a burst of updates in April~ If you have monthly votes, please cast them. They can be counted as additional updates in April~ (50 monthly votes or 5000 fire scrolls will add one update). (↑The rules for additional updates in April will be doubled, so it’s more cost-effective to vote in March. After the burst updates are over, it will be time to make up for the overdue updates.) Also, I often see readers leaving comments saying they hope this article will not have a harem and will remain pure love. The author has already said that this is a pure love one-on-one story, so there will be no “glass shards” later. Please enjoy it with confidence, 23333.
