Lin Qingping and Gu Juncheng

Chapter 211 The Discordant One

He then asked the elderly woman next door, "Auntie, what are you having for dinner tomorrow? I'd like to learn how to improve the nutrition for patients."

The woman blushed deeply at the question and was speechless.

Lin Qingping smiled. "You don't want it to be too bland, do you? Too bland isn't good either. Then we'll head back now."

Lin Qingping was also afraid that talking too much would upset the old lady next door and make her sick again. However, with such energy to gossip about people behind their backs, she was probably cured of her illness.

Lin Qingping was about to leave after she finished speaking when she turned around and bumped into a fleshy wall. She covered her forehead and looked around. How did Gu Juncheng get in? Wasn't she supposed to keep him out?

While she was still in a daze, Gu Juncheng placed his thick palm on her forehead and gently massaged it.

Contrary to the gentleness in his hands, his face was stern as he said to his mother, "Mom, duck soup may taste better from other people's houses, but a wife is always the best from your own."

Even those present who didn't understand the words had their own thoughts and figured out what they meant—the conversation had been overheard, and the man had come to support his wife.

Liu Fen kept her head down and didn't dare to say anything.

The old lady next door also had a flushed face.

Gu Juncheng then took Lin Qingping's hand and went out.

Lin Qingping knew that Gu Juncheng wasn't the type to show affection so openly, especially since he was a soldier and very careful in public, rarely having any physical intimacy with her. Today's "show of affection" was very unusual.

However, as a woman, Lin Qingping still inexplicably enjoyed that moment.

She's only in her early twenties, but she's already living like someone in their early twenties more and more...

After they went outside, she asked him, "Gu Juncheng, everyone says that you shouldn't be too nice to your wife in front of your mother, otherwise, if your mother gets jealous, your wife won't have a good time."

“My mother listens to me.” Gu Juncheng said without changing his expression. “My mother will not mistreat the people and things I value.”

Lin Qingping believed this; he was the little tyrant of the Gu family! Who in the Gu family wouldn't act according to his wishes?

“But you’re not home all the time, are you? And you’re rarely home!” Lin Qingping rolled her eyes at him.

Gu Juncheng laughed when he heard this, "If I'm not home, how could my mother bully you?"

Lin Qingping nudged him. "What if? What if? Who do you believe?"

“If that day ever comes, I believe you are in the right,” Gu Juncheng said without hesitation.

Lin Qingping was surprised. "Why? Do you trust me that much?"

Gu Juncheng then became serious, “My mother is a kind-hearted person. She doesn’t have bad intentions and won’t harm anyone. However, she is also easily swayed by what others say. So, if you have any conflicts with her, it’s definitely because she’s been provoked.”

Lin Qingping had only been being sentimental, but after his well-reasoned analysis, she was speechless.

“If such a thing happens, I’ll take care of it. If I’m not there, you can try to reason with my mother. If you can’t, then ignore her. Just tell me and I’ll handle it. Even if my mother is wrong in many ways, she has one good point: she listens to me.”

Forget it, there's nothing left for her to be dramatic about.

The next day, Lin Qingping indeed brought Liu Fen stewed chicken with pork tripe. For several days in a row, she made different kinds of nutritious soups, and the old lady next door was too embarrassed to drink any more.

He was just a stranger she met by chance. Lin Qingping finished her rant and that was it. Anyway, they would go their separate ways from now on and no one would know each other.

A week later, Liu Fen was discharged from the hospital.

Lin Qingping and Gu Juncheng took her back to Gujia Village. Gu Youlian also took Xiaomai back to her parents' home. Coincidentally, Du Gen also came home. The whole family reunited at the Gu family home, and it was very lively.

Gu Juncheng rarely comes back, and he and Du Gen, along with his father, opened a bottle of wine and had a couple of drinks.

In such a joyous family occasion, there just happens to be someone who causes discord.

Chen Xia is here again.

His hair was disheveled, his clothes were torn, and he was carrying a pheasant in his hand.

The moment she appeared, the laughter and joy in the room froze.

Gu Juncheng's gaze naturally swept over everyone else and landed on her, as did the others.

Lin Qingping glanced at it only once before looking away.

Chen Xia's thin arms were rolled up, and there were several bloodstains on her arms. She put down the pheasant, forced a smile and said, "I'm sorry, I didn't know that Brother Chengzi and Sister-in-law were here. I thought you... had gone back. I... I just heard that Auntie was discharged from the hospital, so I went up the mountain to catch a pheasant to help her recover."

The Gu family fell silent briefly.

Tears welled up in Chen Xia's eyes, her voice filled with panic and timidity. "I...I'll leave right away, so as not to delay your meal. I...I really just came to see Auntie. I really didn't know Brother Cheng was here. Sister-in-law, please don't be angry...please don't blame Brother Cheng. I came on my own; it has nothing to do with him..."

She was about to cry as she spoke, as if Lin Qingping had bullied her...

Gu Juncheng had already drunk three cups of wine, and his face was flushed with the redness that comes with alcohol. He was about to get up when Gu Youlian stopped him.

Gu Youlian picked up the pheasant and returned it to Chen Xia. "Xiaxia, we appreciate your kindness, but we don't need the chicken. These days, no one is well-off. Take it back and use it to nourish your parents, and also your little nephew, who is at the age where he craves meat. Just consider it as if we've already accepted it. Du Gen, go and get another piece of meat. Thank you for your kindness, Xiaxia."

Dugan agreed and went to the kitchen.

Chen Xia burst into tears at this moment, "Sister, do you hate me too? I was divorced and brought back home, and everyone hates me. My father and mother think I'm a disgrace, my brother and sister-in-law think I'm a burden, and the villagers laugh at me. Only Auntie, only Auntie doesn't despise me. I only came to her because I remember how she used to love me, and since you're all not home, I wanted to cheer her up. Only she treats me the same as before. Now that she's recovered from her illness, can't I even catch her a chicken? Even if you despise me, this chicken is wild and clean, raised on the mountain..."

Chen Xia was crying pitifully when a figure rushed in from outside, shouting at the Gu family, "Gu Juncheng! What do you mean? We've been friends since we were kids, and now that you're successful, a military officer, and married a beautiful wife, you think you can ignore all of us?"

Lin Qingping chuckled to herself when she saw this. Chen Xia had just said that everyone hated and looked down on her, so what was this?

“Da Zhou, speak properly, that’s not what we meant…” Gu Youlian called the young man by his name.

Da Zhou snatched the chicken from Gu Youlian's hands. "If you don't want it, then don't! Chen Xia tore her clothes and bled while trying to catch this chicken for Auntie. Gu Juncheng, you not only don't appreciate it, but you're also trying to drive her away? In my Gu Family Village, there's no such thing as turning away guests! Today, when Chen Xia and I walk out this door, we'll sever all ties with you, Gu Juncheng!"