After the family of three had lunch, Chen Xingling went upstairs to take a nap.

Gu Qi felt sorry for her that she hadn't slept well these past few nights, and told her to sleep for an extra hour or two, anyway, it didn't matter if the New Year's greeting was a little late.

Xiaohuzi was bombarded by Gu Yi and Ma Dali's snoring last night, and he also slept badly, yawning and rubbing his eyes and going back to his room to sleep.

Gu Qi followed behind his son, watched the little guy take off his coat and sweater, and covered his small quilt with confidence, so he was relieved to cover the door, and then walked downstairs lightly.

He looked at the time, and it was about half past twelve in the afternoon.

Closing the gate, he mounted his bicycle and walked slowly to the north gate of the shipyard.

The factory was quiet everywhere, only the first floor of Linjiang and the dormitory area were faintly sound.

Gu Qi parked his bicycle in the stairwell, went upstairs gently, and knocked on his door.

After a while, Gu Xuan cautiously opened the door: "Big brother." ”

Gu Qi nodded, walked in sideways, and saw a cold steamed bun and a cup of steaming hot water on the plate on the dining table at first glance, plus a small piece of shriveled beef jerky.

"Ah Xuan, are you having lunch?"

Gu Xuan replied: "I just wanted to eat." Big brother, have you eaten it? ”

"I'm full." Gu Qi looked around and asked, "Why are you the only one at home?" Mom? Doesn't she have to come back for lunch? ”

Gu Xuan shook his head: "She went out early in the morning." She hasn't come back at noon for the past few days, and I'm all eating alone. ”

"The cafeteria hasn't opened yet." Gu Qi said gently: "It's hard to cook alone, you should go to Sanyuan to eat before school starts." ”

Gu Xuan lowered his eyes, pinched the cold steamed bun and didn't speak.

Gu Qi looked at the deserted home, and then looked at his sister, who was always cold and didn't like to talk.

"You have a bicycle, it doesn't take a minute to go to Sanyuan. Your sister-in-law has never been a stingy person, and there is no shortage of a pair of chopsticks for you at home. You are under a lot of pressure to study now, and you should eat nutritious every day. Once the nutrition can't keep up, the rest is not good, the health situation is worried, and the grades will naturally not be able to keep up. This was said by your sister-in-law herself. ”

“…… Good. Gu Xuan nodded.

She knew that her eldest brother didn't lie to herself, and there was no need to deceive.

She has known her sister-in-law for almost five years, and she knows very well what kind of person her sister-in-law is.

Gu Qi said again: "I'll go out to find my mother." ”

After that, he turned around and went out—

"Big brother." Gu Xuan pinched the steamed bun and stood in place at a loss, his eyes were slightly worried: "You are going...... Where to find Mom? ”

Gu Qi saw it all of a sudden, and his face was indifferent: "Where is she, I have already guessed it." You don't have to worry, what shouldn't be in your hands, won't let you take care of it. ”

"I can't handle it either." Gu Xuan whispered: "I really can't control it." ”

Gu Qi nodded: "I know." Neither your second brother nor I blame you. ”

Gu Xuan asked worriedly: "Big brother, what about you...... What will happen to Mom? ”

"Not much." Gu Qi's waist was as straight as ever, and his expression was calm: "She is our biological mother, and it is disrespectful to insult her." She can do wrong, but we shouldn't be unfilial. It is her fault that she is stupid and makes mistakes, and it is our fault that we are not filial. ”

Gu Xuan lowered his eyes and didn't ask any more.

Gu Qi had already made a decision, and said warmly: "After you are full, pack up the clothes that your mother usually wears, and put them in the big suitcase in the corner." Find another bag, fill it with some dry food and beef jerky, and go to the kitchen to get a military kettle to fill it with hot water. Ah Xuan, have you remembered them all? ”

"Remembered." Gu Xuan nodded lightly.

Gu Qi turned around and went downstairs.

……

When Chen Xingling woke up, it was already past two o'clock.

There was a faint sound downstairs, plus her son's laughter, she hurriedly dressed and washed, and then walked downstairs quickly.

I saw Xiaohuzi playing with Ma Dali on the grass to catch chickens, and Zhao Xiaoxing was slapping a big quilt in the sun.

"Sister-in-law!" Zhao Xiaoxing grinned: "The sun is good here, I'll bring our quilt over to dry it." ”

Chen Xingling drank water and nodded, and beckoned Ma Dali to go out together.

"Xiao Xing, you stay with Xiao Huzi. You and Ah Yi both came over for dinner, and there was still a lot of food in the kitchen. ”

Zhao Xiaoxing didn't say anything polite to her, and hurriedly answered.

Chen Xingling handed the remaining water to his son, rode a bicycle and loaded Ma Dali, and hurriedly set off to Chongwen Middle School.

Ma Dali couldn't help but ask, "Did you bring a gift to the teacher?" ”

"A bag of tea." Chen Xingling replied: "I don't dare to bring too much, I'm afraid that Teacher Lin won't accept it." ”

Ma Dali smiled and explained: "I also know that the teacher will not collect things indiscriminately, so I brought her the crispy dumplings that have just been made at home." Tomorrow the family will worship God, and in March they made three or four plates of crispy dumplings in the morning. ”

"Did you bring it to me?" Chen Xingling asked unceremoniously.

Ma Dali smiled dumbly: "Put it above the first cabinet in the kitchen, there are mung bean paste and red bean paste. ”

"Thanks!" Chen Xingling changed the topic and asked, "Are your younger brothers sure that he wants to transfer to a liberal arts class?" ”

Ma Dali replied: "Sure." He has a document for the return of young people from the countryside, as well as an enrollment certificate for his previous high school, so it stands to reason that he can go directly to Chongwen Middle School to register. However, I heard that it is a bit crowded now, so I still discussed with Mr. Lin to ensure that there is a place. ”

"I've heard that the number of liberal arts students is on the low side." Chen Xingling explained: "When I helped my sister-in-law sign up, Mr. Lin said so. If you choose liberal arts, you should be fine. ”

Ma Dali didn't know what to remember, and sighed low behind him.

"I haven't been at home for the past two days, the widowed sister-in-law surnamed Lin...... It was a fuss again. If you celebrate the New Year, you have to make your family restless...... On the contrary, it made me firm up my determination - I have to let Erli go to university. ”

Chen Xingling asked curiously while pedaling the car: "What's wrong?" ”

Ma Dali smiled bitterly: "I heard that on the first day of the Lunar New Year, the widowed sister-in-law asked her daughter to pay New Year's greetings to Erli and March, and asked her to call Erli 'Dad'." The daughter didn't dare to shout, Erli also shook her head, and the widowed sister-in-law cried, saying that Erli still disliked their mother and daughter in her heart and didn't want them to join this big family. ”

"And then?" Chen Xingling asked.

Ma Dali sighed: "What else?" Nothing. She also told Erli that she hoped he wouldn't go to school, otherwise she was worried that she and her daughter would be helpless and unable to get by. Erli told her and said that I had personally promised that as long as there was a bite to eat at home, there would definitely be a share of food for their mother and daughter, so that she could relax. But she still cried and cried, always saying that Erli would abandon them sooner or later. ”

"She just has to get entangled with your family." Chen Xingling smiled bitterly: "You can't persuade her, otherwise you will be excessive." In the final analysis, this matter is actually between Erli and her. As long as you can persuade your brother, everything else will be solved sooner or later. ”

Ma Dali whispered: "Yes, I think so too." ”

Chen Xingling said: "Ma Li has implemented this matter, and when Erli returns to school and is admitted to university away from Yucheng, it will naturally be different." ”

Ma Dali couldn't help but worry: "I'm really worried that she will continue to entangle...... In case Erli goes to college and has a better future, she will probably not let go. ”

"Time is the test of people's hearts." Chen Xingling whispered: "Now that the time is short, you don't have much contact with others, so it's not good to judge what kind of person she is at once." If she can keep her heart and wait for Erli to graduate and finish her studies, you won't be able to say anything at that time. ”

"Hmm." Ma Dali suddenly had confidence and said: "Judging from the current situation, her mind is not pure, and all kinds of tricks are constantly layered. Such a person will definitely not be able to bear a few years of loneliness. ”

"I've said it all, let's do it and see!" Chen Xingling reminded.

"Yes, yes, yes! You're right! ”

"Also, I'll learn to ride a bike tomorrow! Do you know how heavy you are? Usually it's Archie who carries me! You're a big man and let me be a girl to carry me - isn't it a shame? ”

"Haha! No shame! You're no ordinary woman! ”

"An ordinary woman doesn't necessarily have to be graceful!"

"No, you're very personable."

"One last time, don't take it as an example!"

"Haha!"

……