CHAPTER 59: CHAPTER 59: UNEXPECTED

But the hard work early this morning, upon seeing that line of burly figures, left Mr. Gu feeling utterly chilled.

Those were Li Xuemei’s father and her older brothers, along with their nephews.

And after eagerly searching behind the five people for a long time but not seeing Gu Ruhai’s silhouette, Mr. Gu finally confirmed that Gu Ruhai hadn’t come out today.

Fortunately, Mr. Gu wasn’t too cold-hearted; he still worried a bit, wondering if the eldest was sick.

After all, he was still his son, even if he was hopeless, useless, and not sweet-tongued. Still, he was his son. Mr. Gu stepped forward and worriedly asked Li Qinghai.

"Ah, in-laws have arrived. What’s up with the eldest? Didn’t see him today."

Li Qinghai couldn’t stand Mr. Gu. In his mind, this was a narrow-minded old scholar poorer than himself, an illiterate old farmer.

Just the way he handled Gu Ruhai’s family, Li Qinghai couldn’t feel any closeness.

But a person cannot live by their own thoughts for a lifetime; after all, it involves Li Xuemei and the three children. Li Qinghai knew that no matter how much he disliked Mr. Gu, he had to pretend to smile and socialize.

Because this was his daughter’s father-in-law.

Li Qinghai stepped forward and, smiling, took off his straw hat in the cool breeze, saying, "The eldest is fine; they are doing some small business in town to earn some pocket money for the kids. I saw nothing urgent at home, so I discussed with my brothers and came over to help them harvest the wheat, to avoid delaying their business. It’s not easy for the two of them; they have to support a family of five."

Li Qinghai didn’t say anything else; complaining was unnecessary, as the Gu Family hadn’t been biased only today.

He considered it helping his daughter, leaving the rest to Gu Ruhai to handle. For him to step in would only escalate matters and invite rumors.

Mr. Gu, hearing that it wasn’t an illness, felt relieved, but anger rose instead, and he couldn’t help but start mumbling: "The eldest is just unreliable, not tending to farm work but instead doing some business. What business are we farming folks doing? It’s a waste of farm work and even troubled my in-laws to help. When he returns, I’ll have a good word with him; he mustn’t go tomorrow and should finish the farm work at home properly."

In fact, what Mr. Gu didn’t say was that he also needed to help Gu Rushan finish the farm work.

Li Qinghai also didn’t get angry, merely said, "That’s not necessary; the five of us will finish by tomorrow, no need for him. Better to let him earn some money and get some things for the house. The eldest’s house is leaking badly, you know."

Then, ignoring Mr. Gu, he led the four behind him to start working in the fields.

Mr. Gu was furious.

What kind of words were those? Could he not manage his own son?

What did he mean by finishing by tomorrow?

That was for Gu Ruhai, but there’s still time for Gu Rushan.

But he couldn’t say that.

He hadn’t shamelessly reached the point of asking Li Xuemei’s family to help the younger son’s farm work.

Moreover, the implication in Li Qinghai’s words was that he treated the eldest poorly?

Back when they split the family, they didn’t give the eldest a house, only gave him five yuan, and he couldn’t help but get a plot from the team, struggling to borrow some money, building a mud-brick house.

While within two years, he built a row of five tiled houses for the second son; so many people saw it.

He knew he hadn’t handled it well.

But when Gu Xiaocheng got into college, joy and the second son’s manipulations swayed him.

And the second son was a smooth talker, one he and Mrs. Gu had relied on for years, so inevitable bias arose.

The situation turned into what it is today.

This became a talking point for Li Qinghai.

Mr. Gu, fuming, returned to Gu Rushan’s field, sitting heavily at the edge of the fields.

Gu Rushan saw Mr. Gu had gone to find Gu Ruhai, thinking he wouldn’t be back soon.

Wouldn’t he talk, building rapport, and convince Gu Ruhai to work for him every time?

This was Mr. Gu’s usual tactic.

But today, not even a quarter-hour had passed.

And he was back.

Could it be Gu Ruhai dared anger Mr. Gu?

That would be outrageous.

Before, Gu Ruhai was in the right, but as big as the world is, nobody dares openly violate filial piety, and this time there wasn’t anything against Gu Ruhai.

Gu Rushan already thought of complaining to Captain Gu Changhai.

On how to use this to turn unfavorable public opinion.

He hurriedly walked over to ask Mr. Gu, "Dad, what happened? Did big brother upset you? I’ll go and find him, at worst let the folks adjudicate."

Forced by Gu Xiaoqing’s tactics these days, Gu Rushan now wanted to let everyone laugh at their expense, determined to ruin Gu Ruhai’s family’s reputation.

Mr. Gu shook his head, sighed, "Just harvest the wheat yourself, the eldest didn’t come today."

Seeing Gu Rushan’s expression, Mr. Gu knew what he was thinking.

Suddenly, a melancholy filled his heart, the son he banked on being so petty and troublemaking, the one he favored seemed out of control.

As for the third son, even more unattainable.

Whom could the Gu family’s good days rely on?

Gu Xiaocheng?

Yes, he still had a promising eldest grandson.

Hoping this time Gu Xiaocheng would bring good news for himself.

In six months, Gu Xiaocheng would graduate.

The bright future lay ahead.

Gu Rushan was dumbfounded, unbelieving, "Dad, big brother didn’t come? Impossible, without him, who’ll harvest the wheat?"

That was impossible.

That was the year’s livelihood.

The elder’s family survived on that harvest.

No wheat harvesting meant starving.

Mr. Gu weakly pointed at the Gu Ruhai’s field, "Your sister-in-law’s brothers and father came to help harvest; I heard your brother and sister-in-law are doing small business in town, with no time for the wheat."

The words coldly ended all of Gu Rushan’s thoughts.

What now?

What about our wheat?

Gu Rushan felt a headache coming on.