In fact, three years ago, Gu Chen's family didn't have much money.
But Ji Pianran still agreed to marry him.
At that time, she knew very clearly that she liked him.
Gu Chen is very good-looking, fair and clean, not very tall, about 1.8 metres.
He had naturally attractive eyes, a straight nose and a full mouth.
When Ji Pianran first saw him, she knew she liked him.
But after they got married, he pushed her away again and again.
Three years of hurt was too much.
She could only carefully hide her feelings for him.
It had been so long.
She couldn't even tell if she still liked him.
Gu Chen, who was doing the laundry nearby, had listened intently.
He sneered inwardly.
Gu Chen, Gu Chen, what are you hoping for?
Haven't you brought this on yourself?
There's no such thing as two people being happy together. You're such a jerk, how can you expect someone to like you?
He didn't say a word, and his hands, which were red from the cold and still washing clothes, rubbed harder.
The little girl saw that her mother wasn't speaking.
She immediately pouted, looking extremely aggrieved.
The watery mist in her dark almond-shaped eyes instantly condensed, and then turned into a crystal-clear little water bag.
It fell with a plop.
'Mommy, Tangtang likes Daddy!'
Ji Pianran felt so much pain in her heart that she quickly took the child in her arms.
She cooed softly, 'Mommy knows that Tangtang likes Daddy. Mommy knows.'
The little girl leaned against Ji Pianran's soft bosom.
'But Tangtang wants to like Daddy with Mommy.'
After she said that, Tang Tang's crying got even louder.
Children have simple minds.
She likes her father, and she wants to like him with her mother!
Gu Chen looked at his daughter, feeling both heartbroken and amused.
He dropped the clothes in his hands, wiped his hands, and walked over.
He squatted down next to Ji Pianran and Tang Tang.
'Be a good girl, Tang Tang. Don't cry. Mommy likes Daddy. Mommy not only likes Daddy, she likes Tang Tang even more.'
He knew that Ji Pianran couldn't say it, and didn't want to force her.
But the child still had to be appeased, so that was all he could say.
After listening to Gu Chen's words, Tang Tang stopped crying.
She wiped the tears from her face and looked at Gu Chen.
She asked with a twitching voice, 'Then does Dad like Mum?'
Gu Chen nodded and looked at his daughter seriously.
'Yes, Dad really likes Mum, and he also likes Tang Tang very much!'
In fact, it wasn't just like.
It is love, a heavy love with guilt, responsibility, making up for it and a heart full of tenderness.
Having received a satisfactory answer, the little girl broke into a smile.
She touched the tears that were still on her face.
In a baby voice, she said, 'Tantan likes Daddy and also likes Mummy!'
Ji Pianran looked at Gu Chen, his eyes full of surprise.
He said he likes himself?
Does he really, like himself?
Gu Chen patted the top of her head, turned around and went back to the stool to continue washing the clothes and sheets.
After everything in the basin had been washed, it was hung up to dry.
Then he turned back into the kitchen to prepare the meal.
He took out the beef he had bought and looked for potatoes in his own box.
Time to cook!
The beef, which had some fat on it, was washed, cut into pieces and blanched.
Then he took the meat out of the pot and poured oil into the pan.
He began to chop the spring onions and ginger.
Once the chopped spring onions and ginger were in the pan, he added the garlic cloves, star anise and bay leaves.
Finally, he put the beef in the pan.
With a 'sizzle,' the beef began to sizzle.
The aroma spread instantly.
It was a rich beef aroma with the right amount of seasoning.
The aroma was simply amazing.
The smell made Sugar Candy drool. She looked at the sugar-coated skewers in her hands and suddenly felt that they didn't smell as good anymore!
The little girl stuffed her sugar-coated skewers into Ji Pianran's hands, turned her head and ran over to Gu Chen.
She hugged his legs, stood on tiptoe and looked up at him.
'Daddy, it smells good! Sugar Candy wants to eat!'
Gu Chen was startled. The stove was dangerous.
He quickly took his daughter away from the stove.
Then he looked at her lovingly.
'Little glutton, it'll be ready soon, but you can't eat it until it's cooked.'
At that moment, Ji Pianran was tidying up the things Gu Chen had bought.
She was about to pour the rice into the rice bucket.
Gu Chen was afraid that she couldn't carry it, so he hurriedly said, 'Let me do it.'
Ji Pianran shook her head, 'It's okay, I can do it.'
After saying that, she lifted the rice with all her strength.
Gu Chen had not bought much, only about 30 catties, otherwise he really could not have carried it back alone.
Ji Pianran poured the rice into the rice container, and then looked over at Gu Chen.
'I'll go get some multigrain cakes, and we'll heat them up for dinner.'
Multigrain cakes were Ji Pianran's most frequent food, and to be honest, they had a very unpleasant texture.
They were coarse, dry, and hard.
However, with only so much rice, they definitely had to be eaten sparingly.
Ji Pianran was used to careful planning, not for herself, but more for her child.
Gu Chen hurriedly stopped her.
'If we don't eat the multigrain bread, we won't eat bread in the future. Let's eat rice!'
After saying that, he rubbed his head on Gu Chen's head, and then walked over to the rice container, scooping out two full bowls of rice.
Then he washed the rice and started cooking.
The Tian family across the street.
Shen Cuilan came out of the house with the washing-up water, ready to pour it away.
As soon as she lifted the door curtain, she could smell a strong meaty aroma.
She sniffed carefully, 'Who's having meat for dinner today? This smell is really delicious!'
The aroma drifted into the house along with the door curtain.
Tian Lao San, who was lying on the bed, also smelled it.
He swallowed, 'This smell is even more delicious than my grandma's stewed big bones!'
Then he sniffed again, as if he couldn't get enough.
Shen Cuilan went out into the yard and splashed water at the entrance.
The more she smelled, the more she felt that something was wrong.
Why did the smell seem to be coming from Ji Pianran's house?
She looked doubtfully at the iron gate of Gu Chenjiahong's house.
Ji Pianran had borrowed her husband's 20 yuan last month and hadn't paid it back yet.
She could afford to buy meat but didn't know how to pay back the money?
The more Shen Cuilan thought about it, the more angry she became.
This Ji Pianran always puts on a pitiful appearance.
Relying on her good looks, the men in the village all love to be overly attentive.
The last time she came to borrow money from the family, her husband lent her 40 yuan without a second thought.
This made her feel uncomfortable in the first place.
But since they lived across the street from each other, she could only put up with it.
Unexpectedly, she can afford to buy meat and doesn't even know how to pay back the money?
Does she really think that just because she is good-looking, she can borrow money and not pay it back?
The more Shen Cuilan thought about it, the more upset she felt. She turned her head and put the vegetable basin in the yard.
Then she went to Ji Pianran's house.
'Knock, knock, knock!'
'Knock, knock, knock!'
The knocking got louder and louder, and more urgent with each knock.
At that moment, Gu Chen and his family had just sat down at the table.
They hadn't even picked up their chopsticks yet.
When they heard the knocking, Gu Chen looked at Ji Pianran in puzzlement.
'Who is it? Why are they here at this hour?'
He finished and was about to go open the door.
Ji Bianran knew that Gu Chen had been busy all day, and although he didn't say anything, she couldn't help feeling distressed.
She hurriedly stopped him, 'It's fine, you guys eat, I'll go open the door.'
After saying that, she got up and walked out towards the courtyard.
As soon as she opened the courtyard door, she saw Shen Cuilan, with a scowl on her face, standing outside with her arms crossed.
She gave a strange, cold laugh.
'Hey, what's going on? It looks like the gambler in your family has won. You can afford meat now?'
Upon hearing this, Ji Pianran's face turned a little red.
But after all, they were neighbours, so she explained patiently.
'Gu Chen found a job, and he bought the meat today to cook for Tangtang.'
Shen Cuilan sneered.
Gu Chen found a job?
Who would believe that? It's almost New Year's Eve, and Gu Chen is notorious for being a bum.
He's always broke but likes to act like a big shot.
He's just trying to boost his own ego.
He's looking for work? And buying meat for his family?
Who's he kidding?
She raised an eyebrow and said, 'That's enough. Let's not talk about it anymore. You owe my family 40 yuan, so pay up!'
After she finished speaking, she held out her hand, as if she wanted the money right away.