CHAPTER 32: CHAPTER 32: SETTING OUT

Gu Ruhai was there daydreaming, imagining a spacious, neat house made of blue bricks and big tiles.

But Gu Xiaoqing instantly interrupted her old dad’s dreams.

"Dad, I’ll go with you to uncle’s house to collect the money. Uncle did say we should go ask for the money today. Mom and sister should stay home and cook."

Gu Xiaoqing arranged it, not wanting to miss the opportunity.

It would be a total waste otherwise.

No such good things happen.

We don’t take advantage of others, but others shouldn’t think of bullying our family either.

Don’t reach out, because sister dares to cut off such a hand.

Gu Ruhai felt a bit troubled. The experience of trying to collect money a couple of days ago still lingered, making him hesitant. The ever-nice Gu Ruhai just wasn’t cut out for debt collection.

At this moment, he was clearly starting to back out.

Gu Xiaoqing jumped off the bed, pulling Gu Ruhai, "Dad, what are you afraid of? That’s your money. You’re feeling troubled, but the borrower isn’t. You, as the creditor, feel troubled to this extent, I’ve never seen that before."

Gu Ruhai scratched his head and said, "Xiaoqing, your uncle’s family still has to support a college student. It’s not easy for them. Our family has a way of making money now, how about we let your uncle have more time?"

Gu Xiaoqing was almost amused by anger.

No one on their side had asked for more time, but her own dad brought it up first. Is this called being honest, or just being foolish?

Is this how good people act?

"Dad, you’re wrong here. Uncle borrowed the money and he said in front of the whole village that he’d pay it back today, with the village chief as the witness. Does my uncle’s word mean nothing, just hot air?"

Gu Ruhai frowned, "You child, why talk like that? How can you speak about elders this way?"

This was instinctively protecting his younger brother.

Gu Xiaoqing sighed, wondering how she ended up with such a dad.

"Dad, if you want to be respected as an elder, you should at least act like one, right? Do you think uncle acted like an elder yesterday? Stop always saying how our people should be. Think about whether others are correct in their actions or not? Since others are doing wrong, why should we yield, tolerate, and still show respect? This logic works everywhere.

If someone respects me by an inch, I’d give them a foot in return. But uncle, even if you respect him by an inch, he’s quick to take an entire foot from you. No one in the village doesn’t mention them or point fingers at uncle’s family. You’re the only one protecting uncle. But dad, you also need to protect us. We are your family; when you’re tired, hungry, thirsty, or sick, we and mom are the ones by your side, taking care of you. We are the ones you should rely on.

One day when you’re old and sick, do you plan to count on Gu Xiaocheng to take care of you? Or do you expect uncle and third uncle to look after you? Do you dare to count on them?"

Gu Xiaoqing’s words were painstakingly earnest to the extreme.

If her own dad still couldn’t see the light, she had no other way and would have to try something else.

After hearing these words, Gu Ruhai felt like his mind was knocked into clarity with a big hammer.

Amidst the confusion, he seemed to catch a glimpse of clarity. Many things he couldn’t understand suddenly became clear. The layers of fog seemed to suddenly clear away.

Indeed, in the end, who would look after his life, old age, illness, and death?

His own wife and three children.

Neither second brother nor third brother would care for him. Back then, just for his little wedding issue, second and third brothers could revolt against their parents, and parents could be so cruel to make things difficult for him.

To rely on them in the future would be like having his brain caught in a door.

His own daughter really understood, and her words were clear.

Family!

Yes, this is his family.

His wife and children, this is his true family.

They’re the ones wholeheartedly wanting to protect this home. For the future of this home, Gu Xiaoqing, at such a young age, is already thinking of ways to earn money. Whose such young child is so bright in helping the family earn money?

Isn’t it that he’s been forced by himself, forced by family, who in name are relatives but have never given a trace of warmth, those who under the guise of being family, keep hurting, wanting him to give.

He really is foolish.

Not even as understanding as a child.

Having made up his mind, Gu Ruhai stood up, patted off the ash from the cigarettes on his clothes, and said to Gu Xiaoqing, "Let’s go, Xiaoqing, let’s go to your uncle’s house."

Those words had an air of determination.

Gu Xiaoqing laughed, quickly saying, "Alrighty."

Just looking at her dad being enlightened by her words was gratifying. At least this is good, otherwise Gu Xiaoqing would be deeply frustrated if her earnest words went unheeded by her dad.

The elder and the younger walked out the door together.

Li Xuemei smiled as she watched them walk away, a surge of uncontrollable excitement rising in her heart. Such days were something she’d dreamed about for many years but always seemed hopeless. Every time hope arose, it was cruelly shattered by reality and destroyed.

This time it seemed everything was different.

At least she felt the eighteen dollars in her pocket, which was real. This was the prospect for the future, the hope for life.

It would definitely be possible.

It would certainly be possible to live well.

Turning, she called Gu Xiaoying to join her in the kitchen.

Gu Xiaoqing followed behind her old dad, the two walking through the village. Every now and then, they’d run into familiar faces. At this time of the day, a little past four, it was neither mealtime nor a time for out-of-house chores; people gathered in small groups in front of someone’s house for idle chats.

Seeing Gu Ruhai and Gu Xiaoqing, curious greetings followed.

"Ruhai, what are you up to?"

The main thing was that yesterday’s scene at their house was known by many, the intricacies of which weren’t unknown to anyone, including yesterday’s reversal by Gu Ruhai shattering all rumors of him being a softie unable to protect his wife and kids.

While everyone was shocked by such a drastic change in Gu Ruhai, to some extent they understood that even the most honest person couldn’t endure such wear over the years.

An honest person doesn’t mean they don’t have a temper.

Maybe one shouldn’t think about bullying Gu Ruhai anymore; after all, no one’s just made of clay.

When an honest man loses his temper, he can be more formidable than anyone.

Didn’t you see Gu Ruhai’s demeanor yesterday, with his eyes ablaze, looking like he was going to devour someone?

Seeing Gu Ruhai and Gu Xiaoqing heading towards the village, everyone somewhat guessed that they were following up on what was said yesterday about collecting the debt from second brother.