Chen Goudan was silent for a long while before he looked at Gu Qingyao and said, “Elder Sister Gu… I want to move out, but… I’m afraid that Eldest Uncle and his family won’t let us go. They’ve already taken the house and my grandmother had nothing. I cannot possibly bring my little sister away without even a place to stay. And the grain hasn’t been distributed yet! I doubt I’ll be able to get any grain from my eldest uncle.”
Which meant to say that he had already made up his mind to leave, but had not yet thought of a good plan.
Gu Qingyao said, “If you really plan to leave, I think you will certainly succeed. Right now, you and Xiaocao are a burden to your eldest uncle’s family because they have to share their grain with you. They might even think they’ve given you a sizable amount!
“Goudan, if you really want to leave, then forget about your old house. Find an empty house in the brigade and stay there. You should get as far away from them as possible. As for food, Elder Sister Gu guarantees that in the few years before you are grown, I will make sure that Xiaocao will have something to eat.”
Chen Goudan was stunned!
“Re-really?”
Gu Qingyao smiled. “Certainly! If you think about it, you’re already thirteen years old now. When the new year comes, you’ll be fourteen. Right now, the work points that you get from your work will gain you sufficient grain to pretty much support yourself. In another three to four years’ time, you’ll be a grown man. Then you definitely will have no problem supporting yourself and your little sister.
“It’s just for a few years. Over the next few years, if Cao’er lacks food, I can always make up the shortfall. All you have to do is support yourself, you don’t have to worry about Xiaocao.”
Gu Qingyao did not say anything about supporting both of them. Because in these times, that kind of talk was unrealistic. Chen Goudan was actually very hardworking. As long as he could be assured that Chen Xiaocao would be taken care of, it would resolve his fears and to him, that was enough.
And that was the most… acceptable!
Chen Goudan was surprised and delighted. “This… Can you really do that? Elder Sister Gu, it’s not easy for your family to get by. I… with the work points which I earn from my work now, I estimate it will take at least two years before I can only support myself and my sister. I…”
Gu Qingyao smiled. “Although my family also has its difficulties, you must remember that I have three older uncles and five older cousins! We have so many people supporting the family! If we pinch our pennies a little, we can support Cao’er for a few years. My older cousins are still unmarried. After a few years, when they marry and have children, then the situation may become a little more difficult. But by then, you would have grown up, right?
“If you are embarrassed, you can slowly repay us when you’re older. I also hope that Xiaocao won’t have to serve such a big family while she is so young, and be beaten all the time.”
Chen Goudan’s face reddened with excitement. “Thank you, Elder Sister Gu. I… when I grow up, I will repay you. Thank you!”
Gu Qingyao was amused. “No need to thank me. Why don’t you think about how you can avoid a beating when you get home!”
Chen Goudan’s excited little face immediately stiffened.
Gu Qingyao smiled. “I’ll teach you a trick. When you get back and they want to beat you or Xiaocao, just cry, howl and shriek desperately. Don’t resist, just grovel and beg for mercy. You must shout so loudly that everyone in the brigade knows you’re being beaten just because you didn’t bring those few fish and prawns that you caught back home today. Do you understand?”
Chen Goudan was stunned!