'Yes, Auntie, you can keep it. You have helped Piran without fail before, and these red papers and soot ink are quite expensive.'
Gu Chen paused and glanced at his daughter-in-law.
Ji Pianran hurriedly said, 'Yes, Auntie, this time Teacher Li is not feeling well, so please take this money to help Teacher Li get better.'
To be honest, she had also thought this just now. After all, Teacher Li and Auntie Li had helped her a lot.
But the money was earned by Gu Chen, so she didn't want to say anything.
Now that she heard Gu Chen say so, she felt an indescribable sense of comfort.
Li Dainiang waved her hand, 'This ink and paper is not worth much. My large box of it is only worth about 20 yuan. You are giving me so much, I don't know how to accept it.'
'Let's do this: We'll accept the money for the ink and paper, but you can take back the rest. We can't let you work for nothing,'
'Yes, Chen, listen to your aunt. You have already helped a lot by helping to use up the paper and ink. Otherwise, if this stuff is left in the box, it will be eaten by worms during the New Year.'
Teacher Li heard the voices outside and became very anxious. He immediately got up from the bed with difficulty, supporting his waist with one hand and leaning on his crutches with the other, and walked out of the back room.
'Your aunt is right, take it back, take it back!'
Seeing that Mr Li had come out, Gu Chen hurriedly went up to support him, for fear that he might fall.
'Mr Li, you should be resting, what are you doing out?'
Mr Li looked helpless. 'No family is rich these days, and even if ours is poor, we are still better off than you. After all, I still have a pension. Take the money back and buy two catties of spare ribs for Tangtang to eat!'
Ji Pianran knew the family's situation, and he could not accept the money.
Upon hearing this, Gu Chen smiled and said, 'Teacher Li, you can keep the money. You won't be short of spare ribs for Tangtang.'
Ji Pianran was afraid that Teacher Li wouldn't believe him, so he hurriedly said, 'Yes, Gu Chen is selling vegetables in the city now, and he has everything he needs for household expenses. He even bought clothes for me and Tangtang. You can rest assured.'
Teacher Li was surprised that Gu Chen could actually lower himself to sell vegetables.
After all, he was really a master of empty talk.
He smiled, 'Selling vegetables is good, but it's hard work.'
Gu Chen smiled, "As long as it can make Pyan and Tangtang live a good life, it's not hard!'
On hearing this, Teacher Li nodded, "Good!'
He didn't have much contact with Gu Chen in the past, and he only met him twice. After all, Gu Chen had always worked in the city.
He only came back once a year during the New Year.
But everyone said that Gu Chen was a little hooligan.
Today, after meeting him, I realised that you really need to see for yourself to believe anything!
Gu Chen is polite, writes well, and knows how to treat his wife and children well.
This is a young man who will surely go far in the future!
Gu Chen placed the money on the table and said, 'Teacher Li, you and Auntie Li have helped Pianran a lot in the past. This time, I am just doing a little writing for you. Let's call it quid pro quo. I sincerely hope you will accept it.'
With his words having reached this point, Teacher Li felt bad refusing.
He glanced at Auntie Li and said, 'Go to my room and get out the copybook.'
Li Dajiang's brows twitched. Good grief.
Is he going to give away his treasure?
That copybook was a treasure the old man had acquired when he was young, and had carefully collected for so many years.
He's telling me to get it, but he's not going to give it to Gu Chen, is he?
But she's not a stingy person, so since the old man told her to get it, she'll get it!
Thinking this, Li Dajiang went into the back room, and a moment later came out with a thick copybook in her hands.
The copybook was clearly quite old, the pages curled and slightly yellowed.
'Chenzi, I don't have much to give you, but please take this copybook.'
Gu Chen didn't expect Teacher Li to give him a copybook, and hurriedly said, 'No, Teacher Li, it would be a waste if you gave it to me.'
To be honest, Gu Chen didn't like writing, and he had just been given this skill by the system.
But he really has no interest in it.
Giving it to him would really be a waste.
Mr Li insisted on stuffing it into Gu Chen's hands, saying, 'Take it. Don't look at the handwriting exercise book as old, but it is from a master's hand. If it were anyone else's, I wouldn't give it away!'
Mr Li was not a wealthy person, but he was not stingy.
Especially when he met someone like Gu Chen, who could write better than himself.
He really hoped that the copybook would help Gu Chen along the way, and that he might become a master of calligraphy in the future.
Then he would be able to say that he had played a part in Gu Chen's success!
'If you don't want it, just take your money back,'
Mr Li said, worried that Gu Chen might not accept it.
Gu Chen laughed and said, 'Okay, thank you, Mr Li. If I become famous in the future, I'll definitely give you a big banner!'
Everyone laughed when he said that.
It was already late when they left Mr Li's house, almost noon.
Gu Chen was afraid that the market would be over, so the family of three hurriedly set off towards the market.
Obviously, there were not many people in the market at this time.
After all, today was the New Year!
Who wouldn't want to go home early.
Gu Chen held the calligraphy and couplets that Mr Li had given him in one hand, and held Tang Tang in the other, as they wandered around the market.
After a few steps, little Tangtang saw the hawker selling hawthorn cakes and excitedly pointed with her little hand.
'Daddy, hawthorn, hawthorn!'
The hawthorn cakes were cut into pieces, red and still soft.
Just looking at them made people think of the sweet and sour taste, especially if a little white sugar was sprinkled on top.
They were simply a girl's favourite.
Gu Chen saw that Tang Tang kept swallowing her saliva, looking like a greedy cat, and smiled lovingly.
He patted the little girl's head and said, 'Good! Let's go buy Tang Tang hawthorn cakes!'
After saying that, he hugged Tang Tang and walked over to the hawthorn cake stall.
Hawthorn cakes were very cheap, one yuan each, so Gu Chen bought two and, contentedly, hugged her daughter as they went to find Ji Pianran.
Ji was crouching in front of a mushroom stall, talking to the owner.
When the little girl saw her mother, she ran happily over, holding out the hawthorn cake in her hand and saying, 'Mummy, eat, eat!'
Ji Pianran was haggling over the price, after all, things were really expensive on New Year's Eve.
But there was no way she could resist her little treasure running over.
Tangtang has always been sensible and would share everything with her mother.
Ji Pianran opened her mouth, took a small bite, and then stroked Tangtang's little head, saying gently, 'Thank you, Tangtang.'
Only then did she turn back to the owner.
'Make it cheaper and I'll take it all.'