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Chapter 256: Chapter 256: Father and Son Heart-to-Heart
Gu’s father said: "You are my child, how could I not worry about you."
Gu Hongwei took out twenty yuan from his pocket and handed it to his father, "This is the money I earned from working part-time and studying hard, you can use it."
"I don’t need money at home, you keep it for living expenses at school. My health is not good, I can’t afford to send you to school or give you living expenses. You will still have to rely on yourself in the future." Speaking of these, Gu’s father felt very ashamed.
His son is talented and got into Kyoto University. Unfortunately, he was not able to give a single cent.
"Dad, don’t blame yourself." Seeing that his father didn’t accept it, Gu Hongwei casually put the money on the table, picked up his bowl and took a sip of porridge, which warmed his body quite a lot. He continued: "The school provides a living allowance every month. Combined with the salary I get from working at Tong Yao’s store, I can’t spend it all, I can even save some. I still have money for my own use, this is for your daily life."
Talking about Tong Yao running a store, the smile on Gu’s father’s face gradually disappeared, and he frowned: "I wanted to talk to you about this before, it didn’t feel right to talk about it over the phone, so I didn’t."
He coughed a few more times, and said solemnly: "You must not work in her store next year. Since the school provides subsidies, you should study well. If you can find other jobs, do it. If you can’t, be willing to endure hardship. You also don’t need to worry about the family. I can take care of myself."
Gu Hongwei frowned, put down his chopsticks, and said, "Dad, working in a shop does not affect my studies."
"You are not allowed to work in her store anyway." Gu’s father was adamant, "You know the things she’s done in the village, how can you become a good person by mixing with her long term? You’ve finally gotten into university, and I cannot stand by while she ruins you."
Gu’s father is obstinate and old-fashioned, and he despises women like Pan Jinlian the most. If he waits for his son to be bewitched by Tong Yao, it will be too late to regret it.
He could not stand by and watch his son being fooled.
Gu Hongwei could tell that his father had objections to Tong Yao, and his eyebrows were almost knitted into a ’川’ character, "Dad, the rumors in the village are not credible, don’t spread rumors, they have funded the most money for my school, they have been kind to us."
His son’s defense of Tong Yao made Gu’s father very angry. His face turned red with anger. Thinking that his son had just returned home on the first day, he suppressed his anger. However, his tone had changed from the initial kindness to sternness.
"The money she sponsored is all recorded. When you earn money after graduation, pay her back in double."
From Gu’s father’s tone, it seemed that he was determined that his son would definitely make a big difference after graduation. This little bit of money was nothing. People in the village who finished middle school could take over their father’s work and teach in the neighboring village. His son, who had gone to Kyoto University, could definitely find a better job.
His salary would not be lower than that of Si Chen.
The small debt owed to the village was a few hundred yuan and could be repaid in half a year.
In less than two years, they would be able to build a new tile-roofed house, and those who looked down on them in the village would look at them with admiration. The matchmaker could step on the threshold of their house.
Thinking of this, Gu’s father added: "While you are in school, don’t learn from others who think about love all day long. Right now, studies are your first priority. Everything should be centered around your academics."
Gu Hongwei did not agree with his father’s attitude towards things, but he didn’t want to quarrel with his father. He responded: "I will not fall in love, do not worry about this. I have a plan for other things, so you don’t need to worry too much. You keep this money for your daily life, I will send more money back in the future."
In Gu’s father’s eyes, Gu Hongwei was in a state of stubborn ignorance. He jabbed the ground with his walking stick, and angrily said, "I am your father, I will not harm you, I don’t want to know what kind of person she is, I just don’t want you to get too close to her. If you feel that the living expenses are not enough, you can find other work. If it really doesn’t work, I will help you borrow money. I just don’t allow you..."
Gu Hongwei frowned and interrupted his father’s words, "Dad, big cities are not as easy to survive as you think, and Tong Yao is not the restless person others say she is. She and Si Chen run a legitimate milk tea shop in Li City and all the money they earn is clean. They let me work there out of goodwill because we are from the same village. We cannot repay kindness with resentment. How the villagers gossip about them in the future is none of my business, but I do not want those words to come from our house."
Looking at his father’s sad face, he said sincerely: "I know what you are thinking, even if you don’t trust your own son, you don’t have to doubt other people’s characters. In your eyes, your greatly honored son is actually just a grain of dust in society. In other people’s eyes, he is just an ordinary staff member, nothing at all. You don’t need to think that your son is such a capable person."
Gu Hongwei knew that since he was admitted to Kyoto University, even though his family remained poor, his father’s character had become arrogant and proud, believing that others would seek alliances with him because of the prestigious son.
Carrying his father’s expectations, Gu Hongwei also felt a great deal of mental pressure.
He is just an ordinary person, no different from others.
What he wanted to say more is that his father thinks that others are angling for him, but in fact, he is too mediocre to be caught in other people’s eyes.
To put it bluntly, in other people’s eyes, he is nothing, it’s only in his father’s eyes that he seems capable.
These words undoubtedly hit Gu’s father’s self-esteem. He looked sullen but did not refute his son’s words, because he knew that every word his son said was correct. After suffering for most of his life and being looked down on by others for most of his life, now that his son has won him some face, he feels proud and has lost track of himself.
Now that his son has pierced through him face to face, he is somewhat unable to maintain his dignity.
The previously firm and angry face seemed to collapse, and suddenly became dispirited.
Seeing his father like this, Gu Hongwei felt a bit of heartache. He wondered if he was too harsh with his words earlier. He changed the subject and said: "Boyi is getting married the day after tomorrow. I will go to help tomorrow. As for the gift money, just follow what the other villagers do!"
The custom of the villagers for wedding gifts was five cents in the past, and it has now increased to one yuan. Gu Hongwei did not plan to pretend to be wealthy by giving more than necessary. He was going to be just as he was.
Gu’s father waved his hand, seemingly aged by a few years in an instant, "You have grown up now, and I have lost my mobility. These matters will fall on your shoulders in the future, you decide them yourself."
From his son’s words, Gu’s father had already felt that his son was no longer the ignorant son of the past. His son has grown up and he does not need to control him in everything.
People age and lose the ability to support their children, and their say also diminishes.
No matter what he says, children do not listen and it is futile.
He was both happy that his son has grown up and has his own ideas, and also felt heartache that his grown-up son no longer listened to him. The mixed feelings in his heart were like the snow piled up outside, getting deeper and deeper...
