B5SB -Chapter 5 Gu Hao Goes to School

The eldest sister-in-law, Wang Ni, said angrily, “She really knows how to slack off. She didn’t even wash the bowls and just left. I’ve been doing housework for over a month now. Mom, I’m not washing dishes this month.”

“You won’t lose a piece of meat by washing one more bowl,” Gu Aiguo said honestly.

With a loud bang, Wang Ni snapped, “I’m not washing them! Why should I do all the housework while she’s in confinement? When I was in confinement, she didn’t do any housework for me!”

She deliberately shouted in the courtyard.

Gu Aiguo said, “Lower your voice. If the neighbors hear, they’ll laugh at us. Besides, when you were in confinement, your sister-in-law hadn’t even married into the family yet.”

“She’s not afraid of being laughed at, so why should I be? If anyone laughs, they’ll laugh at Zhang Cuihua!”

“Gu Aiguo, you’re such a useless man! Can’t you see how much work your wife does every day?” Wang Ni flared up.

Hearing the quarrel in the courtyard, Grandma Gu said angrily to Grandpa Gu, “Look at them—no one wants to do a bit more work.”

“Old man, what do you think about letting our eldest grandson go to school?”

Grandpa Gu glanced at her and said, “If there’s money, then let him go. Aren’t you the one managing it?”

“That’s fine. I just don’t want the child to grow up illiterate. Look at the name that Old Madam Gu gave our little granddaughter—so nice and meaningful,” Grandma Gu said happily.

Suddenly, she thought of something and stood up, walking into the courtyard.

“Eldest daughter-in-law, don’t keep saying how much work you do every day. Why don’t you mention how you secretly eat when you’re cooking? Do you think I don’t know?”

Wang Ni was about to argue, but Grandma Gu continued, “I originally planned to let Xiao Hao start school.”

“But since you’re so calculating, I can’t be too biased. The second branch doesn’t have any children who can go to school either, so none of them will go.”

Hearing this, Wang Ni panicked and immediately said, “Mom, what are you saying? I’ll wash the dishes, won’t I?”

“Xiao Hao must go to school. He’s the only boy in our family. If he becomes successful, you’ll be honored too, won’t you?”

Although Wang Ni was illiterate herself, she knew that studying was important. Only by going to school could one have a way out.

Inside the house, Gu Hao heard that he could study. He happily ran out and hugged his grandmother’s arm.

“Grandma, can I really go to school? I really want to study!”

Grandma Gu looked at his smiling little face and said, “Yes, you can go—but you must study hard, understand?”

Gu Hao let go and ran around the courtyard excitedly.

“I can go to school!”

Meanwhile, the family of three from the second branch heard everything inside their room.

Zhang Cuihua angrily patted Gu Aidang’s shoulder. “Look at your mother—she’s biased toward your eldest brother again, letting that little brat Gu Hao go to school.”

Gu Aidang wasn’t convinced. “What’s wrong with you? Do you really hate seeing children succeed that much?”

Zhang Cuihua didn’t dare say that her body had been hurt recently. The last time she mentioned it, he thought she was just making excuses to be lazy.

She knew Gu Aidang valued sons over daughters.

He pretended to care for her usually, but if she couldn’t bear children in the future, who knew what he would be like?

So she said pitifully, “I don’t know why, I just don’t like her. And asking Mom to help with the baby—it’s all for you.”

Then she pretended to wipe her tears.

“I don’t have enough milk. The baby is so small and has to sleep with us. You work all day, and at night you have to get up so often—won’t that affect your sleep? I’m doing this because I care about you. Don’t you remember how Mengmeng was when she was little?”

Gu Aidang thought about how Mengmeng used to cry every night and shuddered.

Grabbing Zhang Cuihua’s hand, he said, “My wife is really smart, thinking of such a good solution. It’s just that you’ll have to work hard with me.”

Zhang Cuihua didn’t want to work and said aggrievedly, “I can’t do much anyway. Isn’t there still Dad and Big Brother?”

“Don’t overwork yourself. If you ruin your health, I’ll feel bad. I still want you to take good care of your body and give me a son.”

Gu Aidang thought that made sense. Since he often shirked work, he said, “From now on, let Mengmeng go to the fields with us. Other people’s kids can wash clothes, cook, and take care of younger ones at five years old.”

Mengmeng heard her name and didn’t understand how hard farm work was. She said happily, “Mom, I’ll help you work!”

Zhang Cuihua smiled and said, “My daughter really understands me. She knows how hard I work. I love my daughter the most.”