Chapter 565: Chapter 565: Why Should I Give It?
Elder Qin was relieved to see that Qin Er Lang did not lose control and throw a tantrum but instead obediently went home. San Lang has his methods; Er Lang finally sobered up and calmed down quite a bit.
Gu Jinli saw that San Lang’s body was also somewhat dirty, and his clothes still had dried bloodstains, so he immediately took out a bamboo tube of antiseptic medicine and handed it to him: "This is the antiseptic medicine I formulated. Take it home, wash the wounds with salt water, and then apply the medicine."
He also asked with concern: "Do you have any bruises on your body? Are your bones injured? Let me check for you."
San Lang instinctively stepped back two steps: "No need, just give me the medication, I can apply it myself."
He then pointed at Elder Qin: "Grandpa also knows a bit about treating sprains and bruises; he can help me look at them."
After all, to check the injuries on his body, it would be necessary to take off clothes, and Xiao Yu is a young lady.
Elder Qin, now that Qin Er Lang’s matter had been resolved, was in a particularly good mood and rarely teased San Lang: "He can’t check it. I’m old now, my vision is blurry. It’s better to have Xiao Yu check for you; she’s a young girl with keen eyesight."
San Lang was shocked and looked at Elder Qin in disbelief, thinking that grandpa would actually say such a thing.
Elder Qin looked at San Lang’s suddenly flushed face and laughed, pointing at his face and saying to Gu Jinli: "Look, he’s blushing again, just like his dad. Back when his dad just married his mom, he would often blush in front of her too."
Gu Jinli suddenly realized: "That’s why I thought Brother Qin always liked to blush; turns out he takes after his father."
San Lang couldn’t bear it and quickly walked past them: "I’m going home."
He hadn’t taken many steps when he heard the laughter of his grandpa and Xiao Yu behind him, especially Xiao Yu’s clear laugh, which made his lips curl up again.
He walked briskly with long strides, and after a while, he looked back and saw that Gu Jinli and Elder Qin were quite far behind, so he hurriedly called out: "Grandpa, Xiao Yu, hurry up."
It was broad daylight now, and everyone had gotten up. Since the incident at Yushu Village, Mrs. Cui had recently been keeping a tight grip on Xiao Yu; if she had been out so early and for too long, Mrs. Cui would definitely come out to look for her.
"Coming." Gu Jinli quickened her pace, and by the time she arrived at the Qin family’s gate, San Lang had already carried back a load of water and said: "I saw your family’s buckets, so I carried the water back for you; take it home."
Their families live close by; if he carried the water here, she could save some walking distance.
Gu Jinli smiled: "Thank you, Brother Qin. I’m going home now. Remember to apply medicine to your wound. If it hurts too much, come find me, and I’ll check it for you. You can’t delay treating injuries."
San Lang nodded, watching her carry the water bucket home.
"Hmph," Elder Qin snorted, with a touch of jealousy: "There’re two pairs of water buckets by the well; you know which ones are ours, right? Why don’t you carry water for your own family, and only for Xiao Yu?"
Elder Qin looked around, and seeing no one, he asked in a low voice: "You lad, are you..."
"Grandpa, how come you have such wild thoughts like Er Lang," San Lang interrupted Elder Qin’s words: "I’ll go carry water, so you don’t feel neglected."
Ha, Elder Qin laughed. The boy still dared to argue, he thought. Just wait and see how long he can keep up the act.
...
When Mrs. Cui saw Gu Jinli carry the water back, she didn’t go out to look for her: "The water tank is already full; no need to carry any more."
Before she could finish, Zhu Chahua came, knocking on the courtyard gate: "Boss Lady, is the Young Master here? The Liang family sent someone, and the Boss asked me to bring the Young Master over."
Mrs. Cui went to open the door for Zhu Chahua: "Come in, Xiao Yu is here."
Zhu Chahua smiled and greeted Mrs. Cui with a bow, then went to the kitchen to help Gu Jinxiu and Third Grandma with some morning chores.
Gu Jinxiu saw Zhu Chahua come and smiled: "Cha Hua is here; the water has already been carried. You can take a rest today."
Usually, it was either Zhu Chahua or Ms. Wang Ma who carried water for the household, but today Xiao Yu was so energetic that she had filled both water tanks. She really worried that Xiao Yu might get too excited, pour the water out of the tanks, and carry it all over again.
Hearing that Gu Jinli had carried the water, Zhu Chahua hurriedly went to thank her.
Gu Jinli washed his face and sat in the courtyard leisurely sipping soy milk: "It’s just carrying water. When you all weren’t here, I used to take turns with Big Brother and Big Sister."
Seeing Gu Jinli still slowly drinking soy milk, Zhu Chahua asked, "Young Master, Manager Liang and his party have arrived. Won’t you go over?"
Gu Jinli replied, "No rush, let’s keep them waiting a bit longer."
Hearing this, Zhu Chahua didn’t say anything more, just busied herself with the Gu Family’s chores, taking a broom to do the cleaning.
Brother Cheng was already up and had brushed his teeth with tooth powder using the method Gu Jinli had taught him. After washing his face, he ran over to Gu Jinli, baring his teeth and said, "Second Sister, does it smell good?"
Gu Jinli looked at his tiny teeth and smiled, "Yes, there’s a fresh scent after brushing your teeth, but..."
Brother Cheng tilted his head: "Um?"
Gu Jinli went on, "No matter how nice the scent, it’s useless because in a year your teeth will all fall out."
Brother Cheng would turn five by the end of the year, and children usually start losing their teeth at that age.
"All my teeth will fall out?" Brother Cheng almost burst into tears and ran to find Mrs. Cui: "Mother, what do I do if I no longer have teeth and can’t eat?"
Mrs. Cui laughed and shook her head, "Your Second Sister is scaring you again. All children change their teeth. After they fall out, new ones will grow in. Don’t be afraid."
"Really?" Brother Cheng was still very worried.
Mrs. Cui nodded, "Of course it’s true. If you don’t believe me, you can ask Good Brother An when he comes back."
Brother Cheng trusted Good Brother An the most. Anything that Good Brother An said, he never doubted.
Brother Cheng felt a bit more at ease and went to find Gu Jinli, huffing angrily, "Second Sister lied to me again. Mother said my teeth will grow back after they fall out."
Gu Jinli, with a gaze of innocence in her eye, responded, "I never said that your teeth won’t grow back after they fall out. It was your own assumption that they wouldn’t, so you can’t blame me."
Brother Cheng was at a loss for words.
Second Sister is evil, always bullying him.
Seeing the little guy’s dejected look, Gu Jinli put down the wooden bowl and said to Mrs. Cui, "Mother, I’m off to the workshop."
Mrs. Cui replied, "Eh, go ahead."
When Gu Jinli arrived at the workshop, Liang Zhuzi and the others were anxiously waiting, nearly losing their patience to go to the Gu Family house and look for Gu Jinli. But Gu Jinli had already stated before: business matters are discussed in the workshop; with a lady in her house, external men were not to visit. Whoever dared, would not have to talk business anymore.
"Little Xiao Yu, you finally came," said Liang Zhuzi as soon as he saw Gu Jinli, bringing two people to meet her, "This is my brother-in-law Xizi, and this is my cousin Chang Kang. They’ve taken over a shop and want to get goods from your family to sell."
This cousin was the son of Liang Zhuzi’s wife’s aunt who lived in Hukang County. Liang Zhuzi and his wife were able to open a shop in Hukang County thanks in part to this aunt’s family’s assistance. Liang Zhuzi had even hired this cousin to work as a shopkeeper in his shop.
Now, does he disdain the position of shopkeeper and wishes to become a manager to gain some prestige?
Gu Jinli smiled, surveying Liang Zhuzi, and said, "Uncle Liang, you seem to be living quite well these days, having gained quite a bit of weight."
In the past, Liang Zhuzi’s family was poor, barely able to get enough to eat, and he was quite thin. Now, only having been a shop manager for four months, he had noticeably gained weight, even wearing clothes made of brocade that were fancier than hers. Truly, he was an oily nouveau riche.
"Uncle Liang, since you’re being so straightforward, I’ll be clear too. I won’t sell goods to your brother-in-law and cousin," Gu Jinli said as she sat down on the chair Qiu Lang had moved over for her.
Qiu Lang and Feng Jin stood beside her, giving her the air of a formidable elder sister.
Upon hearing this, the faces of Xizi and Chang Kang darkened, especially Chang Kang, who directly asked Gu Jinli, "Young lady, why won’t you sell goods to us? We will pay money for the goods and sign a contract with you. With all said and done, why not sell to us?"
Gu Jinli laughed, "The goods are mine. Why should I have to give them to you?"