At this moment, Gu Chen's mother, Shen Cuizhi, was standing in the courtyard with her eldest daughter-in-law, Liu Lizhen, and her second daughter-in-law, Fan Xiaoli, doing some work. The three of them were feeding the chickens and rabbits.
Then they heard a knock on the door.
The eldest daughter-in-law looked curiously at the door, 'Who is it during the New Year?'
The second daughter-in-law gave her a look, "How do you know who it is if you don't open the door?'
Don't look at these two as sisters-in-law, they are on the surface harmonious, but in fact their conflicts run deep.
The eldest daughter-in-law heard this and gave the second daughter-in-law a look, "I was just saying that, didn't you see me feeding the chickens, where would I find the time to open the door, you go if you want to.'
The second daughter-in-law smiled, 'You're right, sister-in-law. I'm feeding the rabbits too, as if I had nothing better to do.'
The two of them started arguing with each other, neither one willing to give way.
Shen Cuizhi was so annoyed that she threw down the broom in her hands and said, 'Just shut up, will you!
It's the New Year, and they're fighting over such a trivial matter as who's going to open the door.
Shen Cuizhi made a face and walked over to the front door.
When she opened the door, she saw Gu Chen and Ji Pianran and was momentarily stunned.
These two had not returned for three years, so why had they come back this year?
She blinked, looking at Gu Chen with surprise, 'Chenzi?'
Gu Chen looked at his grey-haired mother and gave her a big smile, 'Mom!'
In a previous life, she was stubborn and immature. Later, after Ji Pianran had left, she had entrusted Tangtang to Shen Cuizhi's care. She was already old, suffering from various ailments of old age, and was also raising three children on her own.
She really owed her too much.
Ji Pianran stood behind Gu Chen and also called out with a smile, 'Mom.'
After all, he was her biological son, and it would be false to say that he didn't miss her at all.
Shen Cuizhi immediately broke into a smile, 'Hey!'
'Hurry, go inside, it's cold!'
Hearing it was Gu Chen, both of the eldest daughter-in-law and the second daughter-in-law shut up. Goodness, Gu Chen has actually returned?
This kid isn't up to something, is he? He hasn't returned for several years, why has he suddenly returned this year?
And he's carrying so many things.
Is he planning to let his mother raise his children?
That won't do, I'm still relying on my mother to look after my own children!
Gu Chen led Ji Pianran into the house, passing through the courtyard and smiling as he greeted his two sisters-in-law.
'Big sister-in-law, little sister-in-law.'
Seeing this, Liu Lizhen and Fan Xiaoli both smiled, 'Hey, Chenzi is back.'
The attitude was quite cordial, but the expression on his face made them feel a bit fake no matter how they looked at it.
But Gu Chen didn't care. He wasn't really here to see them.
He nodded and led Ji Pianran and Tang Tang into the back room.
As soon as the two had left, Liu Lizhen and Fan Xiaoli couldn't help but start whispering.
'I always feel that there's something fishy about this,' said Liu Lizhen.
Fan Xiaoli turned her head and glanced into the room to make sure that the people had gone in, before speaking up, 'I feel the same!'
Then she thought again.
'But did you just look at Ji Pianran? That woolen coat and little leather shoes, and the little flannel skirt on that Tantan, they really look good.'
The clothes, the style and the material are so good, you can tell they're not cheap.
'Okay, let's worry about the real business,' Liu Lizhen said with a disgusted look, sprinkled the last handful of chicken feed, turned around and went into the main room.
Fan Xiaoli looked at this and hurriedly threw the grass into the rabbit cage, turning her head to follow Liu Lizhen.
They all wanted to see what medicine Gu Chen had in mind.
Inside the house, Shen Cuizhi looked at the various health products and had mixed feelings, but mostly she was happy.
However, she muttered, 'If you're going to come, why buy all this stuff? It's so expensive.'
Shen Cuizhi knew that Gu Chen and Ji Pianran were not doing well either, and they still felt bad buying so many things.
It would be better to save the money for living.
Ji Pianran smiled at Shen Cuizhi while holding her daughter in her arms, 'Mom, Gu Chen bought all this especially for you, so you can rest assured and eat it. Chen can earn money now, so it's not expensive.'
Upon hearing this, Shen Cuizhi immediately smiled. Who wouldn't want their children to be successful?
'Really? The factory is doing well this year?'
Gu Chen smiled and shook his head, 'I quit the factory and now sell vegetables.'
Liu Lizhen couldn't help laughing when she heard Gu Chen say that he sold vegetables as soon as she entered the door.
She thought he was doing some big business, but it turned out that he was selling vegetables.
What a loser!
Liu Lizhen laughed, 'No wonder you were willing to buy all these nice things for your mother, it turns out you're selling vegetables, it's hard work and doesn't pay much.'
Her husband Gu Zhigang, on the other hand, works in the city as a carpenter for a furniture factory, earning more than 200 yuan a month!
Otherwise, she wouldn't have married him!
Shen Cuizhi glared at her daughter-in-law, 'What do you mean, it's hard work? It's comfortable to die, but I don't think any of you would ever do it!'
This eldest daughter-in-law can't do this or that, and when she does work, she's lazy. All she thinks about is how to take things from her parents' home.
Every year when the family harvests rice, it's sent to her family first.
She keeps all the small benefits for her husband's family, and while she calls her "mom" on the surface, she secretly wishes she could die sooner. It really makes her angry just watching her.
Liu Lizhen's face fell when she heard her mother-in-law start to scold her again.
'Mom, you see what you're saying? I'm just thinking that selling vegetables is hard work and doesn't earn much money. It's better to go to the furniture factory with Zhigang and learn a trade, and earn more.'
He just doesn't believe that Gu Chen, a vegetable seller, can earn more than his own man.
Shen Cuizhi looked impatient, 'Okay, okay, go feed the chickens.'
When it came to these two, Shen Cuizhi really had a lot of grievances. The eldest son said he worked in the city, but they clearly lived under the same roof and never even saw each other.
The daughter-in-law did nothing at home all day, and she had to take care of the children and cook for her, becoming a virtual maid.
It really gives me a headache just looking at her.
Liu Lizhen was scolded again, feeling aggrieved. What's going on? She hadn't even spoken to her own daughter-in-law since her return.
'Mom, I haven't done anything to offend you. Let's be on good terms during the New Year,'
Liu Lizhen said, then lifted the door curtain and turned to go back to her room.
Trying to give her a hard time?
That's impossible. Just wait until Gu Zhigang gets back, she'll tell him everything, and let him know how his mother treats him!
Over here, Ji Pianran quietly pulled Gu Chen aside and took out 2,000 yuan from her bag and handed it to Gu Chen.
'Give this to your mother, it's been a hard year.'
Ji Pianran had not said much since entering the door, but from the brief conversation between Shen Cuizhi and Liu Lizhen just now, she knew that the two were not on good terms.
She guessed that her mother-in-law probably wasn't very happy either.
Gu Chen pushed the money back, 'It's more appropriate if you go.'
He felt that it would be better if Ji Pianran gave it, even though it was earned by herself, but if the daughter-in-law gave it to her mother, her mother would definitely feel that the daughter-in-law was understanding and would treat her better.
So, why not?
Ji Pianran blinked, a little overwhelmed.
'It's not appropriate for me to give it,'
Gu Chen earned the money, so what's the point of her giving it?