Chapter 476: 476: Washboard
Chapter 476: Chapter 476: Washboard
“Once bitten by a snake, one fears the well rope for ten years!”
That’s exactly Madam Tang!
Because of Tang Wanqiu, Madam Tang probably can’t let her guard down around other girls for the rest of her life. If it weren’t for Tang Chuxia’s insistence, Madam Tang probably wouldn’t have kept licorice around.
Now, thinking about how this job wasn’t for Tang Chuxia, Madam Tang felt quite uneasy.
Tang Chuxia said, “Mom, you should trust the kids you’ve observed closely. That Tang Wanqiu wasn’t raised by you, so it’s normal for her to have twisted thoughts!”
Madam Tang sighed, “It’s a job meant for you, and since you don’t want it, just give it away. Just make sure you don’t regret it!”
Tang Chuxia wouldn’t regret it, of course.
Anything was open for discussion, but the cultural troupe’s job was just not going to work.
For one, she had no foundational skills in dance; moreover, Tang Chuxia wasn’t one to spend a lot of time on repetitive actions.
It wasn’t arrogance, just pure laziness.
Having convinced Madam Tang, Tang Chuxia instructed licorice to practice her flexibility at home, waiting for Madam Tang to take her for the interview.
Licorice didn’t know what words of gratitude to say, but Tang Chuxia only instructed her one thing, “Keep attending night school. The cultural troupe looks at academic qualifications!”
It may not be now, but it will be in the future.
An educational background would be the strongest support for Licorice to stand her ground in the future.
Although Licorice didn’t understand why Tang Chuxia said so, she excelled in obedience and also wanted to stay with Qin Zhan. To be a match for him, she definitely had to improve herself.
After solving this worry, Tang Chuxia blissfully went to sleep.
However, she almost fell asleep and still didn’t see Gu Beihuai return.
Her fists clenched, Tang Chuxia kept telling herself that once Gu Beihuai came back, she wouldn’t let him into the bed.
To keep from getting angry herself.
Tang Chuxia’s sleep quality was very good, and she soon fell asleep.
But that night, Gu Beihuai indeed didn’t come back.
He did want to come back and accompany Tang Chuxia, but he couldn’t help being caught up in a task all night.
The matter of Licorice’s arranged date wasn’t even an issue anymore. Qin Zhan had run him ragged all night, and his defenses completely collapsed in the end, spilling everything.
Qingzhu’s situation was far more complex than they had imagined.
Gu Beihuai and Third Grandpa were investigating another matter, about a wide range of graves being dug up.
This kind of ominous matter was bound to draw attention, and another reason was that the bones had all disappeared.
“Why would someone suddenly want to destroy the evidence?” Gu Beihuai couldn’t fathom.
Third Grandpa’s reason was, “Either the poison on these bones is useful, or they don’t want you guys to find out what the poison is!”
Gu Beihuai scoffed, “Haven’t we already preserved quite a few samples before? Didn’t you already find out what’s going on? So how could it not be traceable?”
So Third Grandpa said, “That just means they’re out of their minds!”
Gu Beihuai believed this reasoning.
It’s just a feeling, but those out of their minds aren’t in short supply. It’s best not to get too involved with them.
That night, Third Grandpa and Gu Beihuai discussed for a long time until they realized the time, and the roosters had started crowing.
Gu Beihuai returned home and tried to push the door open but couldn’t.
He guessed it had to do with not coming home all night, but he also didn’t want to knock on the door and wake Tang Chuxia up. Dutifully, he went back to the neighboring Gu Family’s small courtyard, found his own room, and went straight to sleep.
But when he woke up, he saw Mrs. Gu looking at him with a complex expression.
Her eyes were full of sympathy.
Gu Beihuai, still somewhat groggy, looked at Mrs. Gu blankly, “Mom, what’s that expression for? What happened to me?”
Mrs. Gu clicked her tongue twice. “How long have you been married? And you’ve already been kicked out! Looks like you’re no good, son!”
Mrs. Gu’s Schadenfreude was too apparent, causing Beihuai to retort, “Are you really my mother?”
“If I weren’t your mother, I’d have definitely kicked you out by now!” Mrs. Gu snapped back and pulled off his blanket. “Get lost quickly, I need to air out the blankets!”
When he exited the room and saw Father Gu busy in the yard, Beihuai wanted to help, but Father Gu rejected him disdainfully, “A man kicked out by his wife doesn’t deserve to touch my things!”
Beihuai’s mouth twitched.
Confirmed; he really was his dad.
His tone was just like his mother’s, both mocking and reveling in his misfortune.
“I wasn’t kicked out. I came back last night when it was already light. I didn’t want to disturb my wife’s sleep, so I came back to sleep here.”
This explanation only earned Beihuai an even more indescribable look from Father Gu.
Even if Beihuai tried to ignore it, he couldn’t.
It was too obvious.
“Son, we’re family. There’s no need to be embarrassed. It’s just being kicked out by your wife, right? What’s there to fear? At worst, go kneel on a washboard!”
Father Gu, speaking from experience, tried to give his son some advice.
Which only resulted in Beihuai looking at him with disdain. “Dad, that’s the only trick you know, right? Our family’s washboard must have been worn flat by you!”
Father Gu kicked his son away.
Clearly, the ingratitude was too much.
Beihuai stretched lazily and headed to his own small courtyard. To his surprise, Tang Chuxia wasn’t in the room.
When he went to the Tang Family’s small courtyard, he didn’t see Tang Chuxia there either. Just as he was wondering where she might be, Tang Chuxia walked in, laughing and talking with someone.
It was someone Beihuai didn’t recognize.
When Tang Chuxia saw Beihuai at home, the smile on her face disappeared.
“Why are you still at home?” Tang Chuxia asked somewhat irritated, making Beihuai feel even more frustrated. Shouldn’t he be the one asking that?
And there she was, acting all justified.
Especially the man standing next to Tang Chuxia, who said with a worried face, “Sister, don’t be mad. Getting angry is bad for your health!”
Beihuai: …
The smile returned to Tang Chuxia’s face, and she even patted the man’s shoulder. “Sister won’t be mad!”
Beihuai could hear his own teeth grinding.
Sister?
The voice, the demeanor.
It all felt like a taunt directed at him.
Beihuai felt completely off.
But he just couldn’t express it and could only stare at Tang Chuxia, trying to awaken the last bit of her concern.
Tang Chuxia hardly noticed Beihuai; she was being sweetly cajoled by her younger brother in front of her.
If it weren’t for Madam Tang, who was almost unable to watch, Beihuai might have caused a scene.
“Chuxia, aren’t you thirsty?”
Madam Tang hinted, and Tang Chuxia smacked her lips. Before she could even speak, a cup of water appeared in front of her.
Her brother handed her the water, concern in his voice. “Sister, drink some water quickly. If it hurts your throat, I’ll feel bad.”
Tang Chuxia couldn’t resist her brother’s caring gestures. Just as she leaned in to drink, someone took the cup away.