Chapter 400: Chapter 401: Their Youth…
Indeed, that man and my mother have known each other since childhood.
Xia Yangyang continued to ask, “Grandma, what kind of relationship did my mom have with him?”
The old woman found Xia Yangyang’s question strange, “Why are you suddenly asking about this?”
“Some things have happened recently, related to this man. Grandma, I want to know everything about him and his relationship with Mom. If you know anything, please tell me everything.”
Grandma took a bite of food, but put down her chopsticks and heaved a deep sigh, “This Gao Wenbin was a little ruffian who grew up orphaned. He lived in the only orphanage in the town. He was notorious for causing trouble and ended up at the police station every few days… But he was always kind to your mom.”
Xia Yangyang was slightly surprised, “Didn’t you say Mom was very well-behaved and gentle when she was young? How could she get mixed up with someone ?”
Speaking of this matter, the old lady seemed to have a deep impression.
“I don’t know how they met. All I know is that one day after school, that ruffian brought your mother home. Since then, he came every day. I thought he was just harassing your mother. I chased him several times and even called the police. But it was no use. He still brought your mother home every day. Later, I found out that Xiao Zhen encountered some bullies after school one day and Gao Wenbin saved her. He brought her home every day to protect her. But I was worried since Gao Wenbin was an uneducated hoodlum. I feared he might think improperly of your mother. I tried various ways to cut off their contact, but it was no use. That ruffian ended up escorting your mother to and from school for three years.”
After hearing this, Xia Yangyang felt a mix of emotions.
Images of her mother’s youthful days floated in her mind.
Grandma continued, “During those three years, Gao Wenbin came over almost every day. Sometimes during farming season, he would help out in the fields. He took initiative in doing everything at home. Even if I tried to shoo him away with a broom, he wouldn’t leave. I initially thought it was because your mother, being a gentle person, didn’t want to make a fuss with this ruffian. Later I found out that the two were actually dating.”
Xia Yangyang was also taken aback, “Was Mom in a relationship earlier than usual?”
“Early love or not, at that time your mother was already eighteen. She was the only college student in the village and even in the town. But she insisted on attending a film school, which had a very high tuition fee. I couldn’t afford it even after selling all the cattle and sheep in our house. Later, that ruffian handed over twenty thousand yuan, saying it was for your mother’s tuition.”
Listening to this past story, Xia Yangyang felt as though she had been transported back several decades, completely immersed in it.
Gao Wenbin must have truly liked her mother.
“I refused to take the money at first. Who knew whether this ruffian obtained the money through fraudulent means. But later, he promised that he had earned the money through honest work. In the end, your mother didn’t hesitate to accept the money. That’s when I realized they had been dating for quite a while, and were very affectionate.”
The old woman sighed deeply, “I was very anxious at that time. How could my beautiful daughter become interested in an uneducated thug? They seemed so mismatched. Besides his good looks, I couldn’t see any other merits in that thug. However, one thing’s for sure, he was genuinely good to your mother. He complied with her in every way..”