บท 14: Fourteen Father likes mother and also likes candy!_1
Actually, three years ago, Gu Chen's house was already short on money.
But Ji Pianran still agreed to marry him.
At that time, she was very clear about her feelings, she liked him.
Gu Chen was very good-looking, fair and clean, not very tall, about one meter eighty.
He had naturally charming eyes, a straight nose, and full lips.
The first time Ji Pianran saw him, she knew she liked him.
However, after they were married, he pushed her away time after time.
Over three years, the hurt had been too much.
She could only carefully hide her affection.
It had been too long.
So long that she couldn't clearly say whether she still liked him or not.
Gu Chen, who was doing laundry next to her, had been listening very intently.
He sneered inwardly.
Gu Chen ah Gu Chen, what are you hoping for?
Isn't all this the result of your own doing?
There's no sweetness at both ends of a sugarcane; how can you still hope for someone to like you when you've been such a scoundrel?
He didn't make a sound, his hands, red from the cold and still washing clothes, scrubbed even harder.
The little girl saw that her mother wasn't speaking.
She pouted her lips, looking extremely aggrieved.
In her glossy, dark apricot eyes, mist instantly condensed, turning into a crystal-clear droplet.
It fell with a plop.
"Mommy, Tangtang likes Daddy!"
Ji Pianran's heart ached; she hurriedly drew the child into her arms.
She soothed her tenderly, "Mommy knows Tangtang likes Daddy, Mommy knows."
The little girl leaned into Ji Pianran's soft embrace.
"But Tangtang wants to like Daddy with Mommy."
After saying this, Tangtang cried even louder.
A child's thoughts are simple.
She likes Daddy, and she wants to like Daddy together with Mommy!
Gu Chen looked at his daughter, feeling a mix of heartache and amusement.
He dropped the clothes in his hand, wiped his hands, and walked over.
He squatted down beside Ji Pianran and Tangtang.
"There, there, don't cry Tangtang. Mommy does like Daddy. Not only does Mommy like Daddy, but she also likes Tangtang even more."
He knew Ji Pianran couldn't say it outright, and he didn't want to force her.
But the child still needed comforting, so that was all he could say.
After hearing Gu Chen's words, Tangtang finally stopped crying.
She touched the tears on her face and looked up at Gu Chen.
With sniffles, she asked, "Then, does Daddy like Mommy?"
Gu Chen nodded and looked earnestly at his daughter.
"Yes, Daddy likes Mommy very much, and he also likes Tangtang very much!"
But it wasn't just like.
It was love, a heavy love filled with guilt, responsibility, amends, and tenderness.
Getting the answer she wanted, the little girl's tears turned into laughter.
She touched the remaining tears on her face.
In a babyish voice, she said, "Tangtang likes Daddy, and also likes Mommy!"
Ji Pianran looked at Gu Chen, her eyes full of surprise.
He said he liked her?
Did he really like her?
Gu Chen patted Tangtang's head and turned back to his little stool, continuing to wash the clothes and bed sheets.
After cleaning everything in the basin and hanging them to dry,
he then turned back into the kitchen to start cooking.
He took out the beef he had bought and found a potato from his own stock.
And began to cook!
Cleaned the beef with a bit of fat, cut it into chunks, blanched it.
Then he scooped out the meat, and poured oil into the pot.
He began chopping green onions and ginger.
Once chopped, he threw them into the pot, followed by garlic cloves, star anise, bay leaves, and other seasonings.
Finally, the beef went into the pot.
With a sizzling sound,
the aroma instantly dispersed.
The rich scent of beef, with a just-right mix of seasoning.
The fragrance was simply irresistible.
Tangtang's mouth watered as she saw it; she glanced at her hawthorn candy skewer and suddenly felt it was no longer appetizing!
The little girl thrust her skewer into Ji Pianran's hand, turned, and ran towards Gu Chen.
She hugged his leg and looked up at him on her tiptoes.
"Daddy, it smells good! Tangtang wants to eat!"
Gu Chen got a fright; it was dangerous near the stove.
He quickly moved his daughter away from the stove,
and then looked at her affectionately.
"Little glutton, it's almost ready, you can only eat it when it's cooked."
Ji Pianran was currently organizing the things Gu Chen had brought back.
Getting ready to pour the rice into the rice barrel.
Gu Chen, afraid she wouldn't be able to handle it, hurriedly said, "Leave it, I'll do it."
Ji Pianran shook her head, "No worries, I can manage."
Having said that, she exerted herself to lift the rice.
Gu Chen hadn't bought much, probably around thirty kilograms; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to carry it all back by himself.
After Ji Pianran poured the rice into the rice bin, she then turned to look at Gu Chen.
"I'll fetch a few mixed grain cakes; we can heat them up and eat them tonight."
Mixed grain cakes were what Ji Pianran ate most often, and to be honest, they didn't taste good.
Coarse, dry, and hard.
However, given the amount of rice, they certainly needed to eat it sparingly.
Ji Pianran was accustomed to being frugal— not for herself, but even more for her child.
Gu Chen hurried to stop her.
"Don't eat mixed grain cakes anymore, from now on, we're not eating cakes; we'll eat rice!"
After saying that, he ruffled Tangtang's head and then walked over to the rice bin, scooping out a full two bowls of rice.
Then he started to wash the rice and began cooking.
...
Across the street, at the Tian Family's.
Shen Cuilan carried out wash water from cleaning vegetables, intending to dispose of it.
She had barely lifted the door curtain when she smelled a rich aroma of meat.
She took a careful sniff, "Who's cooking meat today? This smell, it's really fragrant!"
The fragrance wafted through the door curtain into the house.
Tian Laosan, who was lying on the bed, also smelled it.
He swallowed hard, "This smell is even better than the big bones my grandma stews!"
After saying that, he sniffed again, relishing the scent.
Shen Cuilan left the yard and tossed the water at the entrance.
The more she smelled, the more something seemed amiss.
This aroma, it seemed to be coming from Ji Pianran's house?
She looked doubtfully toward the red iron gate of Gu Chen's house.
Last month, Ji Pianran had borrowed twenty bucks from her man and still hadn't paid it back.
Able to buy meat but doesn't know to repay money?
Shen Cuilan grew angrier the more she thought about it.
This Ji Pianran always played the poor little act.
Using her good looks, the men in the village always offered help unasked.
Last time she came to borrow money, her man lent her forty without a second thought.
This had already made her uncomfortable.
Helpless, as their neighbor, she had no choice but to suppress her frustration.
But to think Ji Pianran could afford meat and still not know to repay money?
Really thinks being pretty means she can borrow without paying back?
The more Shen Cuilan thought, the more upset she felt, and with a twist, she placed the vegetable basin inside the yard.
Following that, she went straight to Ji Pianran's door.
"Bang bang bang!"
"Bang bang bang!"
The knocking sounds got heavier and more urgent with each knock.
At this moment, Gu Chen's family of three had just settled down at the table.
Chopsticks hadn't even been picked up yet.
Hearing the knocking, Gu Chen looked confusedly at Ji Pianran.
"Who is it, coming to our house at this time?"
He said, preparing to go open the door.
Ji Pianran knew that Gu Chen had been busy all day, and although she didn't say anything, she couldn't help but feel sorry for him.
She quickly stopped him, "It's alright, you guys eat. I'll get the door."
After speaking, she got up and walked out into the yard.
As soon as she opened the yard door, there stood Shen Cuilan with her arms akimbo, scowling at her.
Shen Cuilan let out a mocking sneer.
"Oh, what's this? Looks like your gambler has won some money? Affording meat now?"
Upon hearing this, Ji Pianran's expression turned a bit ugly.
But after all, she was the neighbor, so she still patiently explained.
"Gu Chen found some work; the meat today was bought by him to make for Tangtang."
Shen Cuilan scoffed.
Gu Chen found work? Who would believe that? With the new year just around the corner, Gu Chen was known to be a loafer.
Always broke, yet pretending to be generous.
Lifting his own status, him finding work?
Buying meat for the family?
You're kidding yourself!
Shen Cuilan raised an eyebrow, "Alright then, let's not talk too much. The forty bucks you owe me, pay it back now!"
Having said that, she even extended her hand, as if expecting to receive the money immediately.
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