Chapter 19: Chapter 19: Pension

Gu Qinghuan fed Xu Huai’an with one hand while holding a pancake in the other, eating as well.

She had to admit, ever since she started adding spiritual spring water, even the pancakes tasted extra fragrant. Normally, she could only eat one, but today she finished two.

As for Xu Huai’an, it was even more impressive. She had brought him eight pancakes, and he still seemed unsatisfied after finishing them all.

So Gu Qinghuan brought in the few pancakes the kids hadn’t finished outside and fed those to him too.

His stomach was like a bottomless pit—he only stopped once all the pancakes were gone. Well, at least there’d be no leftovers to collect for lunch.

After feeding him, Gu Qinghuan had him lift his head a little and poured the spiritual spring water straight into his mouth. He gulped it down without a second thought.

The water was sweet, and Xu Huai’an didn’t suspect a thing.

Even though it was medicine for his own good, it wasn’t something from this era, so it was best not to let him know. The less trouble, the better.

Just as she was about to head out, Xu Huai’an suddenly called her back.

“Comrade Gu, please wait a moment.”

“Is there something else?”

“When I was discharged from the army, the leaders helped me apply for a disability allowance. From now on, I can collect a pension of fifteen yuan every month. I haven’t gone to collect it for the past two years. When you have time, could you go to the county government and help me collect it?

I’m not in my right mind these days, so please keep the money and use it for the household expenses.”

Xu Huai’an used to be a filial son. Most of his monthly stipend was sent home. After he was discharged, the thousand-plus yuan he had saved was tricked away by Liu Guifang with various excuses.

In the first half year after he came back, when he could still move around, he thought he could get by on his own and didn’t want to trouble the organization, so he never went to collect the pension.

Later, when he lost his freedom and was abandoned by his family, he realized even more that Liu Guifang must never know about this money. Human greed knows no bounds—if she got her hands on it, she wouldn’t spend a cent on him or the kids.

The kids were still too young to go to the county on his behalf, so the money had just been left untouched.

Luckily, his old leader had insisted on getting him the pension back then, and now it was a real lifesaver.

Comrade Gu had only married him to get money for her mother’s medical treatment—he was the one who’d benefited. He couldn’t expect her to keep supporting him and the kids with her own money and effort.

With this money as a foundation, and fifteen yuan coming in every month, at least they wouldn’t have to worry about making ends meet. Gu Qinghuan was a good person—surely, for the sake of the money, she’d treat the kids well too.

Gu Qinghuan hadn’t expected such a good thing to fall into her lap. She’d been worrying about how to explain the sudden appearance of things in the house and the overly refined meals. It was like a pillow arriving just when she was about to fall asleep.

Two years’ worth of pension was 360 yuan—enough to last her for a while.

It seemed Xu Huai’an had kept this money hidden from Liu Guifang and Xu Mingshan. At least he had some sense.

“Also, I know it’s been hard on you taking care of the three of us. When I get better, I’ll set you free and end the marriage.

If something happens to me, please look after the children as much as you can.”

Hearing his heavy, almost last-will-like tone, Gu Qinghuan felt a bit uncomfortable. In the book, he really did die—Liu Guifang had someone carry his body into the mountains and left him to rot in the wild.

“Pah, pah, pah, don’t jinx it! You’ll get better, you said so yourself. Once you’re well, we’ll get divorced. Look at how skinny you are, like a skeleton—so ugly.

Honestly, I don’t want to be saddled with the reputation of a widow and have to remarry. How awful would that sound? You have to get better.”

Gu Qinghuan’s words successfully pulled Xu Huai’an out of his gloomy mood.

He looked down at his own thighs, staring at them.

Ugly? He remembered plenty of girls in the art troupe used to like him. Why was it different with Gu Qinghuan?

Then again, he hadn’t looked in a mirror for ages. If he could see himself now, he’d probably be shocked too.

Long, messy hair, a bushy beard, a body as thin as a rake—calling him ugly was no exaggeration.

When Gu Qinghuan came out, she found that Dabao had already washed all the dishes, except for the ones she was still using.

Beibei was sweeping weeds in the yard with a battered old broom she’d found somewhere.

While she’d been cooking in the morning, the two kids had already pulled up all the weeds in the yard.

These two kids really had a sense of responsibility—very little trouble at all.

“Dabao, you can stop now. Take your sister and go keep your dad company. He’s rarely this lucid.”

“Dad’s awake?” Dabao stood up, wiping his hands, his face lighting up.

“Yeah. Remember to talk to him about happy things—it’ll help his recovery.”

“Okay, got it.”

“Dad, you’re awake?” Dabao walked to the kang, eyes red.

“Dabao, thank you for taking care of me these days. From now on, you must listen to… to your mom, and take care of your sister and yourself, understand?”

Xu Huai’an had meant to say “Aunt Gu,” but changed it to “Mom” at the last second. Women are emotional, and he hoped that by calling her “Mom,” Gu Qinghuan would feel more compassion and treat the kids better.

“Dad, I understand. Mom treats me and Beibei very well, don’t worry.” With Gu Qinghuan not around, Dabao could say “Mom” easily.

Actually, he already accepted Gu Qinghuan in his heart, but it was still hard to say it in front of her.

Beibei climbed onto the kang, sat beside Xu Huai’an, and chattered, “Dad, I like this new mom. She’s so gentle and cooks so many delicious things. No one’s ever been this nice to us before. I really wish she were my real mom.”

Xu Huai’an’s eyes darkened, a sense of helplessness welling up inside.

…

Gu Qinghuan finished washing the remaining pots and bowls, walked around the house inside and out, planning what else needed to be bought, and even discovered a cellar.

It’d be great for storing vegetables in winter.

Right now, the most urgent needs at home were firewood for winter and cotton-padded clothes and quilts.

As for food, there was still plenty in the villa’s pantry, and she could always buy more when it ran out, so she wasn’t worried about that.

Speaking of clothes, she remembered she’d bought new clothes and shoes for the kids yesterday but hadn’t had time to give them out. They’d just moved in last night, and she’d been too busy and tired.

She’d give them a proper bath and change them into new clothes and shoes tonight.

In October, there was less work in the fields, so most people were busy preparing for winter—gathering firewood and collecting wild goods to dry.

Gu Qinghuan wasn’t short on food anymore, so as for earning work points, she planned to just show up occasionally—three days working, two days off—just enough to get her share of the rations.

If it weren’t for the fear of being labeled a capitalist or pleasure-seeker, she wouldn’t bother going at all.

She didn’t need to go to the hospital today, and her grandfather’s side was taken care of, so she decided to get the firewood sorted first.

Without further ado, she went to the vending machine and bought an axe, ready to head up the mountain to chop firewood.

As it happened, someone was selling a second-hand axe, claiming it had been passed down for generations from his great-great-grandfather.

A brand-new axe would draw too much attention, so Gu Qinghuan wanted this old one with a handle polished smooth by years of use.

The seller even sharpened the blade for her—it would cut cleanly with a single swing.

“Dabao, Beibei, look after the house. I’m going out to get some firewood and will be back to cook lunch.” Gu Qinghuan slung the axe over her shoulder and prepared to leave.

“Mom, I want to help too!” Beibei piped up quickly.

“Me too,” Dabao chimed in.

“Did you forget what I told you? Keeping your dad company is the most important thing. You’re too little to help with chopping firewood. There’ll be other chores for you, don’t worry.”

Mainly, if you two came along, you’d just slow me down and keep me from using my space to cheat.

Gu Qinghuan knew the two kids still felt insecure and were desperate to prove their worth by working hard.

They were afraid she wouldn’t like them and would abandon them.

She’d tasted that feeling of living under someone else’s roof herself. A happy childhood heals you for life, but a painful one takes a lifetime to heal.

Until adulthood, she’d been a classic people-pleaser.

Afraid of upsetting others, always trying to please, scared of causing trouble, caring too much about what others thought, unable to say no, unable to ask for what she wanted, and even more afraid of owing anyone a favor.

It had taken her years to break free from the negative influence of her original family and become more confident.

The kids’ situation now was even worse than hers had been—no wonder they’d grow up to be so twisted and ruthless.

Thinking of this, she crouched down and reassured them, “I promised your dad I’d always look after you and never leave.

And he’s given me a lot of money—enough for you to spend for a long time—so you don’t need to feel like a burden.”

Gu Qinghuan remembered when she was little and living with her grandparents. All her cousins’ parents sent living expenses on time every month, but her own parents were lucky to send money once a year.

Her grandparents never treated her differently, but the invisible wounds hurt the most. The sadness in her heart was no less.

So she made a point of saying Xu Huai’an had given her money.

That way, maybe the kids would feel better and wouldn’t think they were freeloaders who had to work to make up for it.

Sure enough, the two kids visibly relaxed and didn’t insist on going up the mountain.

“Then, Mom, come back early, okay?” Beibei waved obediently."

"Chapter 20: Chopping Firewood and White Rice