Auntie Zhang looked at Gu Chen with a smile.
'Chenzi, since you're here today, I'll tell you a few heart-to-heart words. Don't mind if I talk too much.'
How could Gu Chen mind if Auntie Zhang talked too much?
He shook his head quickly and said seriously, 'No, you go ahead!'
Auntie Zhang looked at Gu Chen with a long face.
'Pianran is an honest child, and these past few years, it hasn't been easy for her to bring up her daughter with just the two of them.'
'Now that you're back, don't go to the city to work again. It's really hard for a family to get by with just one man.'
As she spoke, her expression became serious.
Gu Chen is never at home, and he doesn't know that behind his back, many people laugh at Ji Pianran for being a widow living alone.
That's not to mention
the fact that a woman always goes out in public to borrow money.
Although the villagers don't say anything, they can't help but laugh at her behind her back.
From time to time, she encounters people like Shen Cuilan, and has to put up with all this.
Anger and grievances can kill a person!
Auntie Zhang was not Gu Chen's relative after all, and there were some things she could not say too bluntly.
She was afraid of hurting the feelings of her neighbours.
This was all she could say, and she hoped that Gu Chen would behave himself.
But Gu Chen was no fool.
He had basically known all of this since his previous life, after Ji Pianran had left.
He had also repented, but in the world, the most powerless and useless thing is probably repentance.
Now that he is starting over, he will never allow these things to happen again.
He will take care of his wife and raise his child himself!
Gu Chen nodded seriously.
'Auntie, I'll remember!'
Auntie Zhang smiled, 'That's good.'
Gu Chen looked at Auntie Zhang.
'Auntie, I'll be going now. You should try the dumplings soon, they won't be as good if they're left to stand. I'll be going now.'
When he left the house, the dumplings were still cooking in the pot.
Judging by the time, they should be ready soon, and he had to go back and feed his daughter.
After Gu Chen left, Auntie Zhang sat down at the table.
She took a pair of chopsticks and picked up a piping hot dumpling that Gu Chen had sent over.
Gu Chen was a bright child.
She always felt that the boy had great potential.
He was just too impetuous. Maybe it was because he was young a few years ago.
Or maybe it was because the temptations of society were too great, and he took the wrong path.
Now it seems that he has finally come back to the right path.
Not only is he willing to go out and sell vegetables, he can even cook for his wife and child.
And now, he can even bring himself a bowl of dumplings.
That's really good.
I really did not misjudge him.
This is what they call a prodigal son who has returned home!
Mrs Zhang had a feeling that Gu Chen was about to turn over a new leaf.
This family is finally going to turn over a new leaf!
She took a bite of the dumpling and chewed slowly.
The beef filling was even and delicate.
The meat was a mixture of fat and lean, tender and smooth, and the soup was rich.
It had a strong meaty aroma, and what was most rare was that the dumpling was fragrant but not greasy.
After taking a bite, she couldn't wait to take a second!
Mrs. Zhang smacked her lips.
She said to herself, 'My, this boy has the talent of a chef. Did he go to the city to learn his craft?'
She had just said that he would have a bright future and could support his family by selling vegetables.
Now, Mrs. Zhang felt that if Gu Chen opened a restaurant, it would definitely be more promising than selling vegetables!
The business would definitely be incredibly successful!
Zhang's grandmother's family was originally a wealthy family.
So when she was young, Zhang also ate delicious food.
The best dumplings she had eaten in her life were her grandmother's beef dumplings.
But Gu Chen's dumplings were definitely even better than her grandmother's!
They were so fragrant.
Simply superb!
Gu Chen returned home and entered the kitchen along the courtyard.
As soon as she lifted the door curtain, she saw Ji Bianran standing at the stove.
He was holding a colander and was about to serve the dumplings.
He took a few steps and reached out to take the colander from her.
'Come on, I'll do it,'
Ji Bianran said, not giving him the colander, but looking at the dumplings in the pot.
His tone was casual.
'It's fine, I'm not that delicate, I can't even serve a dumpling. You go and rest, it'll be ready soon.'
Gu Chen had really been very busy that day.
In the morning, he had gone shopping, and in the afternoon, he had taken them to buy clothes.
In the afternoon, she went to sell wolfberries.
In the evening, she came back and made dumplings. All of this Ji Pianran saw with her own eyes.
To be honest, she really felt that Gu Chen was really tired.
She also sincerely felt sorry for him.
After saying that, she extended her fair hand and put the colander in the pot.
Then she scooped up a full spoonful of dumplings and placed them in the white porcelain bowl in her hand.
Tangtang squatted beside her, holding a small wooden man in her hands and having fun by herself.
As the dumplings were cooking, the kitchen was filled with steam, and the light bulb above her head gave off a warm yellow glow.
It seemed like everything was peaceful and quiet.
Gu Chen's heart warmed, and suddenly a sense of happiness welled up within him.
This was a feeling he had never experienced in his previous life.
It was warm, ordinary, and full of the smell of smoke.
He knew that this was the feeling of home.
He saw Ji Pianran ladle up a large bowl of dumplings.
Gu Chen hurriedly reached out to take it.
When he did, his fingertips touched Ji Pianran's fingers.
Her fingers were very cold, even though she was holding a bowl of piping hot dumplings.
Gu Chen felt a pang of concern.
He blinked, 'Listen to me! Wear warmer clothes in the future, and buy more clothes if you don't have enough. Don't be stingy with money, we have it!'
Gu Chen's voice was loud and brash, and it clearly carried a touch of insolence, but it made Ji Pianran's heart soften.
She held the dumplings in her hands and looked at Gu Chen across the table, stunned.
Her almond-shaped eyes, full of spirit, were suddenly watery and frightening.
At that moment, she felt the warmth of life and the warmth of home for the first time.
This feeling was so good that it was actually a little unreal.
The moisture in her eyes quickly condensed and turned into crystal clear, round teardrops, one by one, falling down her fair and delicate cheeks.
Gu Chen was shocked and hurriedly placed the dumplings on the stove top, then reached out to wipe away the tears on Ji Pianran's face.
Her long, thick eyelashes were streaked with tears, and her eyes were now slightly red.
She looked pitiful and helpless.
Gu Chen's heart was about to break, and he hurriedly held her in his arms.
'I'm sorry, Pianran, I'm sorry...'
He didn't know why Ji Pianran was crying, but Gu Chen felt that whenever his daughter-in-law cried, it was most likely his fault!
Looking at his nervous expression, Ji Pianran suddenly raised the corners of her mouth and laughed out loud.
'Why are you sorry again?'
Gu Chen's tone was extremely serious.
'Although I don't know why you're crying, I understand that the suffering you once endured was all because of me, and I owe you an apology.'
'All I can say is that from now on, each day will be better than the last. There's still a long time ahead of us, so let's take it slow together, okay?'
'Don't leave me behind, don't leave the kids behind. Give us hope, give this family hope.'