Five to six years?
Gu Conghua and Wen Ruyu were taken aback when they heard that, and they turned to look at Gu Qingyao.
“Who told you that?”
Gu Qingyao pursed her lips and thought before saying, “Elder Brother Beihan told me so. He said I should not be too worried and that these times will surely pass. Times are always turbulent whenever there is a new era. He heard that schools have reopened in some cities, so he thinks that in a few years, these times will pass.”
Gu Conghua’s eyes brightened. “Are classes really resuming?”
Gu Jinlin frowned. “I did hear some rumors, but I’m not too sure whether classes have really started, or whether all schools will be reopened. When I get back, I will immediately tell you if I hear any news.”
Gu Conghua calmed down and thought about it carefully. “If you ever have external news like that, remember to tell us. Based on my analysis, this situation cannot persist for long. If they are really reopening all the schools now, then there might be hope in a few years’ time.”
Gu Qingyao stopped talking. She bowed her head and ate her food.
Gu Yunshuang awoke in the evening and Wen Ruyu brought some chicken soup over to feed her.
Gu Yunshuang was taken aback at the sight of the chicken soup.
“Mother, where did the chicken come from?”
The soup was made from a fresh hen. It was not preserved, or the kind of wild chicken that was dried.
It was very hard to come by.
When Wen Ruyu thought of her granddaughter, a hopeful expression surfaced on her face. “Don’t ask so many questions. Just focus on getting well. Come, have some more.
“Oh, by the way, Yao Yao and Beihan are going to be engaged on the ninth day of the new year. That’s in a couple of days time. We’ve sent a telegram to your elder brothers and they will all be back in a few days time. The home will be very lively then.”
Gu Yunshuang was shocked!
“Yao Yao is getting engaged?”
“That’s right!” Wen Ruyu said with a smile.
Gu Yunshuang recovered her wits and thought about it. “That’s right, Yao Yao will be sixteen after this new year. It’s time she is engaged. Beihan is usually away and needs to take leave to come home. She can be married in a few years’ time.
“That’s right. Mother, Yao Yao is all grown up and so smart. Fortunately, she was so eloquent when dealing with the Li family, or that old shrew and Li Aiguo might continue to make trouble for me!”
Gu Yunshuang told her what had transpired with the Li family. Wen Ruyu was enraged but gratified when she thought of what Gu Qingyao had said.
“Yao Yao dealt with this matter quite well. That’s pretty good for a young, teenage girl!”
Gu Yunshuang said, “That boy, Beihan, is not too bad. We watched him grow up all these years, and he will probably treat Yao Yao well. But he has two nephews, and his mother’s health has broken down after raising her three children. I’ve heard that she is often ill and the two children are still young. If Beihan is not home and Yao Yao marries into the family, won’t she be overworked?
“Since when could anyone in this family bear to see her suffer? When she marries, she will have to take care of the entire family. I really can’t bear to see that.”
Wen Ruyu smiled. “Don’t worry! Yao Yao will never lack for food. In any case, Beihan has been doing increasingly well, and Jiang Yingqiu is fairly reasonable. And our entire family is here too! Yao Yao won’t suffer.”
Gu Yunshuang nodded. “It’s best if she doesn’t have to suffer.”
That afternoon, Gu Qingyao rushed out a quilted jacket and padded trousers for Li Fangting. She stuffed them with new cotton wool, although the exterior was remade from her old clothes.