Rebirth: She is Ready for a Counterattack!

The children grabbed the candy and immediately dispersed, while a few who had once played well with Gu Xiaojie stayed behind, curiously asking what the city was like.

Gu Xiaojie and Zhang Zijie were chatting enthusiastically under the eaves in the courtyard, long having thrown their unhappy thoughts to the wind.

That night, Gu Xiaojie slept at Zhang Zijie’s house; the two were inseparable once more.

Gu Xiaojie even brought his Chinese checkers to Zhang Zijie’s house, and they played the whole night.

Meanwhile, the villagers caught up with Gu Ruhai and Li Xuemei and then gradually left for their own homes, understanding that the family had just arrived and were tired from traveling all day, needing some rest and tidying up.

Country folks are inherently kind-hearted and considerate.

Of course, there are those who are less observant, but Li Xuemei managed to send them away.

It had been dark for quite some time, and they were truly tired, unable to keep up with hosting any longer.

The house was tidied up neatly by Li Weimin and his children.

The heated brick bed was warm.

Jianhui didn’t leave and stayed in the guest room upstairs.

Gu Xiaoying also returned to her room.

Touching the belongings of the house, Gu Xiaoying felt a stir in her heart.

The family hadn’t been gone long, yet everything felt strangely unfamiliar, as if this was no longer their home.

Gu Xiaoying washed and went to sleep.

Gu Ruhai and Li Xuemei also went to bed, with much to do the next day.

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That night, the village was lively with discussions in each household.

Everyone was talking about the return of Gu Ruhai’s family, especially about his four-wheeled car. It was said to be something only the wealthy in the city could afford.

Even touching it felt different from the village’s three-wheelers and tractors, sleek and impressive.

Everyone inwardly noted that Gu Ruhai must have struck it rich.

Team Leader Gu Changhai—though no longer a team leader since household responsibility systems meant the production teams had disbanded—was now the village chief, which was still an official position.

Although Gu Changhai didn’t visit today, his wife did, and her extravagant descriptions upon returning painted Gu Ruhai’s family as city people.

The look of envy in her eyes, just speaking of Li Xuemei’s poise, was enough to make one envy aloud.

Gu Changhai knew in his heart that he hadn’t misjudged.

Seeing that clever daughter of Gu Ruhai, called Gu Xiaoqing, handling matters so deftly, he knew the family would achieve great things.

To think, Gu Ruhai really was capable.

Just hearing about the car, Gu Changhai knew it wasn’t something anyone could have.

It seemed he would have to pay a visit as village chief the next day.

It wasn’t a matter of status; if Gu Ruhai was capable, the village might need his help in the future.

The road construction quota in the village was a task, and as the village chief, he couldn’t produce money, nor were there funds from the county. They only talked; to enrich the farmers, roads needed building—but where was the money?

Gu Family Village was an ordinary place. People lived off the land; there were no special sidelines, and at most, the able-bodied went out to earn some extra income.

There were no exceedingly wealthy figures.

Expecting everyone to pay out of pocket to build roads was out of the question.

Gu Changhai made numerous attempts to mobilize the villagers with countless meetings, but mentioning spending personal money immediately silenced them.

Gu Changhai knew well; life wasn’t easy for them. Though there’s no longer a question of hunger, ready cash was scarce in any household.

It was tight all around.

So upon hearing his wife’s words, seeing Gu Ruhai’s current situation, Gu Changhai felt prodding within—to persuade Gu Ruhai, given he had helped draft the estrangement documentation between Gu Ruhai and Mr. Gu before.

It would be beneficial for Gu Ruhai’s reputation to contribute a bit for the village.

Early the next morning, Li Xuemei and Gu Ruhai rose, made breakfast, and the four ate together.

Gu Xiaojie hadn’t woken up yet, exhausted from playing with Zhang Zijie too late the previous night.

Li Xuemei tidied up and, along with Gu Ruhai and Gu Xiaoying, prepared to visit Mr. Gu’s house.

Returning home without visiting parents would earn them a bad name in the village as heartless ingrates and unfilial children.

So the three, laden with gifts, headed to Mr. Gu’s house.

Along the way, many warmly greeted them, familiar and unfamiliar alike, eager to invite Gu Ruhai into their homes.

They arrived at Mr. Gu’s house to find the gate half-closed, exuding an air of desolation.

Gu Ruhai frowned; both Mr. and Mrs. Gu were fastidious, yet the courtyard remained unswept, strewn with dust, stalks, and dry grass, clearly untended for a long time.

Pushing open the front gate, they entered, and Gu Ruhai headed straight to Mr. Gu’s room.

"Dad, Mom, we’re back," Gu Ruhai called.

As he lifted the curtain, a pungent stench assaulted his nostrils.

He paused.

Yet he continued inside.

Upon entering, Gu Ruhai was dumbfounded.

In the large room, cold and deserted, without a trace of warmth, Mr. Gu lay in bed, his face sallow, eyes sunken; his once imposing face gone, reduced to a skeletal frame.

His eyes were crusted, his mouth smeared with cornmeal gruel, unwashed, beard stubbly and unruly.

Upon hearing Gu Ruhai’s voice, Mr. Gu opened his murky eyes, and tears rolled down as he glanced at Gu Ruhai.

His mouth opened, laboriously gasping for air.

Gu Ruhai was terrified; was this the once spirited father who had insisted on severing ties with him?

Looking around, the room was barren, only a chipped bowl on the brick bed table with traces of cornmeal gruel remaining.

Gu Ruhai was driven to the brink of madness.

He rushed to Mr. Gu’s side.

"Dad, what happened to you?"

Mr. Gu closed his eyes tightly; tears streamed from the corners, soaking into the stained quilt.

Grasping Mr. Gu’s hand, Gu Ruhai felt the emaciated fingers, unfit for sight.

The palm was cold as ice.

Li Xuemei and Gu Xiaoying were also frightened upon entering.

It wasn’t said that Mr. Gu was unwell, but no one had mentioned he was this seriously ill. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you’re welcome to head over to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast recommendation votes, monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com for reading.)