Confession: The only reason I started TLing this book was because I’m addicted to the money making arcs in female protag stories.
Chapter 7 - Going out
Gu Man put the bottle in a cupboard by the bedside and handed An Qian a cup of water.
"Thank you, Gu Ning's mother." An Qian received the cup politely.
"Gu Ning, how's your condition?" An Qian asked.
"It's alright, I've already been discharged." Gu Ning replied.
"Really?" An Qian was also happy hearing Gu Ning. "Then, congratulations!"
"Thank you."
After chatting for a while, An Qian showed the mother-daughter pair outside.
Knowing that An Qian was a doctor in the hospital, Gu Man declined in fear of delaying her work.
However, An Qian was determined. Gu Man's insistence fell on deaf ears.
When they reached outside, An Qian called them a taxi. Though Gu Man was embarrassed, she knew already that her insistence would be useless against a person like An Qian, therefore she just settled on expressing gratitude.
Gu Ning, on the other hand, accepted confidently, offering a thank you out of politeness.
When they left the hospital, Gu Ning felt her body ease.
They finally reached home after another half an hour.
Gu Ning and her mother resided in an alley in Laocheng district. The building in which they lived was quite old; it was only a matter of time before it was demolished.
Therefore, Gu Ning and her mother wouldn't have lived for a much longer time.
This piece of real estate belonged to Gu Ning's grandparents. About ten years ago, after Gu Ning's grandfather passed away, Gu Ning's grandmother followed her eldest uncle, Gu Qingxiang to live.
So this abandoned place was given to Gu Man and her daughter to live in temporarily.
Naturally, they had to pay rent.
This house would have rented out for about 1000 Yuan normally, so the mother and daughter got a family discount of 500 Yuan. (160 USD and 80 USD)
Though this old building was located in Laocheng district, there wasn't much around. That was the reason that the average rent had fallen so low.
The two-story house was about 40 square meters per floor. The first floor contained a living room, kitchen, and bathroom, while the second floor contained three rooms.
Before, the entire Gu family, comprising of Gu Ning's grandparents, first uncle Gu Qingxiang, third uncle Gu Qingyang, second aunt Gu Qing, and Gu Man all lived in the crowded house.
However, when Gu Qingxiang started to develop, he bought a house of his own and left. Soon, when Gu Qingyang also secured a job, he moved out. It continued on until the family separated one by one.
This dwelling was furnished quite plainly. What furniture? What TV? Don't even think of something like a fridge, washer, or other electrical appliances.
Facing this sort of situation, Gu Ning felt as if she was drunk.
Even as Tang Aining, she had never had to face poverty to this level. The lack of money in her two lives was simply incomparable.
However, Gu Ning was neither disgusted nor repelled by this sort of situation, instead, she was still basking in Gu Man's motherly love. This was the love that she had longed for her entire life as Tang Aining.
She only felt that she must make money quickly and provide Gu Man with a comfortable and wealthy lifestyle.
After she started making money, the first matter at hand would be to buy a big house, to buy beautiful clothes for Gu Man and pamper her with cosmetic products. She needed to make sure that her new found mother maintained herself well.
Gu Man wasn't old, she was just 39. It was just that life hadn't treated her well.
Gu Man was quite a beauty in her younger days, many men pursued her. However, out of fear that her daughter would be wronged, she never chose to marry.
However, Gu Ning was all grown up now. She planned that once she was able to clean up Gu Man, she would find her a kind man that loved her. That way her mother would have someone to spend the rest of her life with.
As for the matter about her father, Gu Man had never mentioned him, so Gu Ning didn't know anything about him.
Gu Ning did, however, know that Gu Man was studying in her freshman year's second semester when she became pregnant. After she found out, she chose not to study and returned back home.
At that time the whole family was shocked. None of them had thought that the most promising Gu Man would end up in that manner.
For the family, it was a matter of great shame; therefore they tried to compel Gu Man into aborting the baby.
But Gu Man did not wish to do so. In order to care for her child, she left and found work outside in order to care for herself and her child.
That time was quite hard for her. Because she was pregnant, no one wanted to hire her, so she had to make a living as a cleaning lady.
Back then, Gu Ning's grandfather was still alive. The old man truly loved Gu Man, so he couldn't bear to see his daughter suffering. He found Gu Man and brought her back home.
For the time after Gu Ning was born, whenever Gu man went out to work and make money, the old Gu father would look after Gu Ning.
Because they were living in Gu Man's parents' house, out of consideration, all of Gu man's money was used to pay off the house bills.
Ten years ago, Gu Ning's grandfather passed away. The old Gu mother left the house as well in order to live with her eldest son.
Because Gu Qingxiang and Gu Qingyang disliked Gu Man and her daughter living in their parents' house, they soon instigated the old Gu mother into asking for rent.
"Ningning, you go rest upstairs, mother will cook and do the laundry." Gu Man said.
"Then you prepare the food, and I'll wash the clothes, mom." Looking at the emancipated Gu Man, Gu Ning couldn't find it in herself to make the woman work while she lounged.
"That's no good, you're a patient." Gu Man was also unwilling.
"I'm fine already!" Gu Ning didn't know whether to laugh or to cry facing this mother of hers.
"No, you're a patient." Gu Man feigned anger, unwilling to compromise.
"…Fine." Gu Ning gave up.
Half an hour later the meal was cooked.
Because of their conditions, the Gu mother and daughter usually ate very simple meals. However, because Gu Ning had just been discharged from the hospital, Gu Man specially bought meat.
When it came time to eat, Gu Man kept on putting the meat onto Gu Ning's plate but she herself had not even taken a single bite.
"Mom, there's too much meat for me to eat, you should have some. It's hot outside; the food will go bad soon if we leave it." Gu Ning immediately placed several pieces of meat on Gu Man's plate.
Naturally, Gu Man was aware of her daughter's real thoughts, but she didn't argue in case it adversely affected her health.
Her heart was bitter.
She blamed herself. She was unable to give her Ningning a good life.
After finishing off the food the food, Gu man tried to hurry Gu Ning off to bed but Gu Ning did not want to rest. It was currently the weekend so Gu Ning wanted to use her time to visit the antique street and take a stroll.
She wanted to try out her Jade Pupils and see if she could pick out any mistakes and make money.
Gu Ning picked out 500 Yuan from the previous soul's private stash and her ID card. She said to Gu Man, "Mom, I'm going to go out and take a walk."
Gu Ning had only just been discharged, so Gu Man protested a little, "But you've only just left the hospital, you need rest."
"Relax mom, I haven't had any problems. I'm just going out for a walk; I can get some sunlight, and move my body. I've been stuck in the hospital so long; my legs creak when I move!" Gu Ning revealed a spoiled expression, tugging at Gu Man's heartstrings.
"But…" Gu Man was still a little hesitant.
"Mom, I'm a grown up now. I'm not a child anymore, I'll pay attention. Moreover, I'll take the cellphone; you can call me whenever you feel worried!" Gu Ning continued to wear down her mother.
-> This is a Cherry Clan translation, if you are reading this anywhere other than the wordpress or wattpad account, it's been stolen.