Ch 39: Conveying The Wrong Information
“You came back without even telling me? We grew up in the same compound, you know.”
Gu Sisi pouted, her face full of worry.
Zeng Tian had already entered the living room by now, throwing the clothes he bought for his mother onto the sofa before sitting down and lighting a cigarette.
He had a rather heavy smoking habit, smoking a pack a day.
“What should I tell you? I came back, so what’s the big deal?”
Zeng Tian’s tone was flat, as if he couldn’t understand Gu Sisi’s feelings at all.
Gu Sisi’s face turned pale, and she subconsciously bit her lower lip.
“That’s not how you talk to me. Telling me wouldn’t have made you lose any flesh. Don’t you know people missed you while you were serving in the army?”
By the end, Gu Sisi’s face turned red.
Even if Zeng Tian were a fool, he would have realized something. He didn’t have those feelings for Gu Sisi. They had known each other since Gu Sisi wore open-crotch pants. Back then, in the compound, among their peers, he was a mischievous brat, and Gu Yuanzhou at that time was no pushover either. The two of them fought a lot over the so-called dominance of the courtyard.
And back then, Gu Sisi would always follow him around, even ignoring her own brother.
“If you have the time to think about others, why bother thinking about me?”
Seeing Zeng Tian’s unyielding attitude, Gu Sisi became even more anxious.
After entering high school, there were quite a few male and female classmates who were ambiguous with each other, and some even secretly had partners.
She had never had a partner, not for any other reason, but because she had someone else in her heart.
“I don’t care, I just miss you. Anyway, you don’t have a partner, and missing you isn’t illegal.”
Zeng Tian’s brows furrowed even tighter, but he didn’t continue the topic. Instead, he brought up Shen Mingyue.
“Your second brother got married? Whose family is that girl from? Do you know what happened?”
Hearing Zeng Tian ask about this, Gu Sisi was also taken aback. The change of topic was too abrupt.
However, she still recounted the whole matter in a straightforward manner. After finishing, she didn’t forget to criticize Shen Mingyue.
“That country bumpkin, how could she be a match for my second brother? As soon as the child in her belly is born, I’ll make her leave immediately.”
Hearing the disdain in Gu Sisi’s words, Zeng Tian’s eyes darkened. After so many years, Gu Sisi was still so self-righteous. This was one of the reasons he didn’t like her; she was arrogant and always thought she was a young miss, superior to others.
“Is this your second brother’s idea?”
Gu Sisi didn’t know what Gu Yuanzhou was thinking, but she thought it should be like this. Her second brother’s ideal type certainly wasn’t this rural woman, but if he didn’t marry her, then the third brother would have to. The second brother always took good care of them, so he sacrificed himself.
Once the child in Shen Mingyue’s belly is born, the second brother will definitely get rid of her.
“It should be. Otherwise, why would my second brother fall for her? She only has a pretty face; she’s useless otherwise. How could she be worthy of my brother?”
After Gu Sisi finished speaking, Zeng Tian’s brows were almost knotted together. If that’s how it is, the Gu family members are pretty ruthless. Aren’t they ganging up to bully a little girl?
Shen Mingyue is already miserable enough, yet she’s still being bullied like this. Is she just a tool for having children?
Gu Yuanzhou is not a good person either. When he was a child, he was quite vicious when fighting, even cracking someone’s skull open. Later, he somehow suddenly changed his nature, becoming a sly fox. When he got older, he pursued an official career and joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Now, seeing him in a human-like form wearing glasses and a necktie, Zeng Tian found him annoying.
I didn’t expect him to be underhanded, and now he’s bullying women.
Seeing Zeng Tian not speaking, Gu Sisi was a little curious. “Brother Zeng, why are you asking this? Is there something wrong?”
“Nothing, just asking casually. If you have nothing else, just leave. I’m tired and want to sleep.”
Zeng Tian leaned directly onto the sofa and closed his eyes, the meaning being clear—he didn’t want to chat anymore.
Gu Sisi hadn’t even said a few words before Zeng Tian urged her to leave, making her so sad she almost cried, but she was also afraid that continuing would make him even more disgusted.
“Brother Zeng, can I come see you tomorrow?”
Zeng Tian, however, didn’t want to speak anymore. He didn’t know whether he had fallen asleep or hadn’t heard, but he didn’t make a sound.
Gu Sisi had no choice but to leave reluctantly.
She had spent so long dressing up, yet it felt like Zeng Tian hadn’t even looked at her properly. Thinking of this, she felt even sadder.
After returning home, her family had already gone back. Tian Shufang’s facial expression wasn’t very good because she ran into quite a few people chatting when she got off work.
She stayed there for a while after passing by, and several people started to sneer at her, indirectly targeting her.
They said that if the family conditions were good, who would let their daughter-in-law work as an individual business owner outside?
Being a teacher or a doctor would be much better; those were respectable and proper jobs.
Several people who heard this echoed, saying that they would definitely not let their daughter-in-law do this kind of thing. In a clothing store, she might even encounter thugs, and then she might be taken advantage of by male customers.
Tian Shufang’s smile almost couldn’t be maintained, and she could only go home with a dark face.
After returning, she was unhappy and told Gu Jianjun about it. Gu Jianjun also frowned, telling her not to pay attention. Wherever there are women, there is war. They just gossip all day long; they have nothing better to do.
Shen Mingyue is doing quite well now and is earning a lot of money, which counts as progress.
To put it bluntly, no matter what Shen Mingyue does, they will look down on her, thinking that she is from the countryside and not presentable.
So during dinner, Tian Shufang mentioned that she might as well close the clothing store and transfer it to someone else; she would find a job for Shen Mingyue at her workplace.
Shen Mingyue always thought that her mother-in-law was easy to talk to. Unexpectedly, her store was doing so well, yet she mentioned this again, making her a little unhappy.
But she didn’t want to have a conflict with her mother-in-law, so she kicked Gu Yuanzhou under the table.
Gu Yuanzhou put down his chopsticks.
“Mom, don’t listen to rumors. No matter what she does, you can’t stop people from gossiping. Mingyue’s store is doing quite well, and she’s making a lot of money. Closing it isn’t reasonable.”
Shen Mingyue was pleased, thinking that her husband was still useful.
Zhou Xiaofei also added fuel to the fire.
“Second Brother, actually, what Mom said makes sense. Your work is special, and our family is also from a scholarly background. Doing business might somewhat affect our family’s image.”
Gu Yuanyang always knew how to play dumb; he didn’t say a word and just ate.
In the end, Gu Yuanzhou withstood the pressure and directly decided to keep Shen Mingyue’s small shop.
Although Tian Shufang wasn’t very happy, she didn’t want to offend her second son, so she didn’t say anything.
Back in the bedroom, Shen Mingyue sincerely thanked Gu Yuanzhou.
The Gu family is not that easy to get along with; there are a lot of rules.
If it really doesn’t work out, I’ll just leave.
Anyway, if the store is successful, I won’t be short of money. I’ll just buy a courtyard.