105 | The Gu Family
We don’t have one. Houses are really expensive right now, so how could we buy one.

Gu Guoxiang organized for their family dinner to be at a seafood restaurant. Before their appointment, Pang Qian and Gu Mingxi went to buy some gifts.

Pang Qian’s memories of Gu Mingxi’s grandparents and aunt were frozen from the day of his 16th birthday. That meal wasn’t exactly a joyous one, and it left an impression on Pang Qian, that his family treated him with such contempt.

At the mall, Gu Mingxi left the gift choices to Pang Qian. She picked out a sheepskin hat for Grandpa Gu and a wool shawl for Grandma Gu. Then she picked out a red wine set for Gu Guoying and her husband, and since she’d heard that Dong Yuan had just gotten married, she also picked out a pair of gold pendants for the new couple. Lastly, she discussed with Gu Mingxi and chose a pair of high grade thermal underwear for Gu Guoxiang and a down coat for Gu Ziyue.

They were the younger generation. Although it had been many years since they’d been in contact with the relatives, and they likely weren’t going to see them often in the future, the two thought they should at least do them this courtesy. After they finished buying the gifts, Pang Qian and Gu Mingxi hurried over to the restaurant. Carrying the bags, Pang Qian went up the elevator with Gu Mingxi, and there, they ran into Dong Yuan and his wife.

If they’d crossed paths on the street, Pang Qian definitely wouldn’t have recognized Dong Yuan. 27 year old Dong Yuan wasn’t very tall, and he looked to be at least 100kg. His hair was cut short and his face had a lot of acne. He stood there holding his wife’s hand.

Dong Yuan didn’t recognize Pang Qian either. He looked her up and down and then turned his head away. That was the typical gaze of a person who saw a beautiful woman on the street. They wanted to look, but they pretended like they weren’t looking. Pang Qian, who was originally about to greet him, stopped in that instant.

In the end, it was Gu Mingxi who called out, “Dong Yuan.”

Dong Yuan was extremely surprised to see Gu Mingxi. He hadn’t expected that Gu Guoxiang had contacted Gu Mingxi and even called him over for dinner. Seeing Pang Qian beside Gu Mingxi, he was even more surprised. Firstly, because the beautiful woman standing there was actually that silly girl who used to stick to Gu Mingxi. Secondly, because that beautiful woman had become Gu Mingxi’s girlfriend!

Dong Yuan looked over Gu Mingxi and Pang Qian. Pang Qian was wearing makeup and a pretty dress. Gu Mingxi’s clothes were very simple, a grey coat and black pants. He seemed to have gotten a bit taller. His skin was a bit tan, but his face was still pretty handsome. Dong Yuan’s eyes fell onto Gu Mingxi’s coat sleeves. Just as in his memories, his empty sleeves hung straight down, and there was nothing poking out of his cuffs.

Dong Yuan’s wife, Xiao Liang, had a medium build and a familiar kind of face. She kept looking over Gu Mingxi curiously. Dong Yuan introduced her. “This is my older cousin, Gu Mingxi, Gu Ziyue’s half brother.”

The four of them rode the elevator up. When they exited the elevator, Dong Yuan lit a smoke and held out the box to Gu Mingxi. “Want one?”

Gu Mingxi shook his head. “I don’t smoke, thanks.”

Dong Yuan squinted at him a bit, and then asked, “Uncle said that you’d been studying in Z City all this time. Is it true? When did you get back?”

Gu Mingxi didn’t want to talk about his past, so he just answered, “I got back a few months ago.”

“I heard that your mom pa.s.sed away?”

Gu Mingxi nodded.

“Are you staying in E City from now on?”

“Yeah.”

“Have you found a job?” Dong Yuan asked. “Where have you been staying these days?”

Gu Mingxi didn’t lie at all. “I haven’t found a job yet. I’ve been staying at Pang Qian’s house since I got back.”

Dong Yuan nodded. “Indeed, it would be hard to find a job with your situation. I’m working at a supermarket right now, in the warehouse. Our supermarket has a few disabled people. A few of the stockers are mute or deaf. There’s one in the warehouse too. I can go back and ask about it for you, if our supermarket has a job for someone in your situation.”

Gu Mingxi smiled and said, “That’s okay. I’m not planning on working for awhile.”

Dong Yuan was startled and asked, “Are you planning on having Pang Qian raise you?”

Pang Qian wasn’t about to bicker with him, so she just laughed and said, “That’s not okay? I’m willing to! I’m happy to!”

Hearing her words, a strange expression crossed Dong Yuan’s eyes. Pang Qian saw it very clearly. In his eyes, there was pity, sympathy, and even a bit of contempt.

Indeed. Dong Yuan said, “Gu Mingxi, sounds like you came back at a great time. Uncle divorced last year, so you can take advantage of the fact that he’s not married and Ziyue’s still young, to try to win some things.”

Gu Mingxi, “…”

Pang Qian’s complexion darkened.

When they walked into the private room, the Gu grandparents, Gu Guoying and her husband, and Gu Guoxiang and Gu Ziyue were already present. Gu Guoxiang saw Gu Mingxi and quickly welcomed him. His expression was buried deep, but his eyes revealed a repressed joy. Standing before Gu Mingxi, he hesitated before finally patting his son’s shoulders. “Mingxi, you’re here.”

“Dad, Happy New Year,” Gu Mingxi called out. His attention landed on the little girl beside Gu Guoxiang. She was very pretty, tall with fair skin, wearing a red plaid dress. Her facial features looked more like Gu Guoxiang’s than even Gu Mingxi’s did. She had shoulder length hair and wore a b.u.t.terfly clip. Her eyes looked over Gu Mingxi.

Gu Mingxi smiled and said, “Is this Ziyue? She’s grown so much.” He turned to Pang Qian and said, “Pang Pang, bring the gifts over. We bought Ziyue some clothes, but I’m not sure if they’ll fit.”

Gu Guoxiang didn’t mention Fang Hui, and Gu Mingxi didn’t ask about her.

Pang Qian brought the presents over and handed them out to the elders, one after another. Gu Mingxi stood beside her. “Grandpa, Grandma. Auntie, Uncle.” Grandpa and Grandma Gu were already more than 80 years old, but they were still quite healthy. When Grandma Gu saw Gu Mingxi, tears flowed from her eyes. Grandpa Gu’s gaze was a bit complicated. After he asked about Gu Mingxi, he closed his eyes.

Gu Guoying looked subtly at Gu Mingxi, and even whispered something to her husband.

When Xiao Liang received a wedding present, she was clearly very happy. She stood up and said, “Thank you Cousin (and Cousin’s Wife). But I didn’t know you two were coming, so I didn’t prepare anything.”

Pang Qian laughed and said, “It’s okay. And don’t call me Cousin’s Wife. We still haven’t married yet.”

Xiao Liang also laughed. “It’ll happen eventually. Remember to invite us to the wedding.”

Before Pang Qian could respond, Gu Guoying laughed insincerely from the side. “What’s the use in saying that. When our Yuan Yuan got married, Mingxi didn’t bother to grace us with his presence at the wedding.”

Gu Mingxi and Pang Qian looked at each other, chuckled, and walked on.

Before they’d arrived, Gu Mingxi and Pang Qian came up with a simple method of communicating. They agreed to talk less and laugh more during dinner. No matter what anyone said, they’d laugh a bit and move on.

Pang Qian had thought about this before. Gu Mingxi’s family hadn’t seen him in so many years and only knew a tad bit about his current situation. When they met again, how would they act? She’d even thought about those dramatic reunion scenes where everyone breaks into tears, like they show on TV. But the reality wasn’t like that. Those people didn’t ask about Li Han and they didn’t ask about how Gu Mingxi had been living the past years. Other than Gu Guoxiang and Xiao Liang, those people looked at Gu Mingxi with strange eyes, as if facing a foreign invader. Pang Qian realized that Gu Mingxi’s family seemed to have some misunderstanding after the two of them suddenly dropped back into their world.

Pang Qian handed over presents to Gu Guoxiang and Gu Ziyue. Previously, Gu Guoxiang had already told Gu Ziyue that this man she’d never seen before was actually her brother.

Pang Qian handed the new clothes to Gu Ziyue, who glanced at it and then tossed it to the side. She looked at Pang Qian and Gu Mingxi with obvious hostility.

Gu Guoxiang saw this and scowled. He told her, “Ziyue, what do you mean by this? This is your older brother. He brought you a gift. What should you say?”

Gu Ziyue pretended as if she didn’t hear and scurried over to her grandfather. Gu Guoxiang grabbed her and said, “Ziyue, say thank you to your brother!”

Gu Ziyue glared angrily at him and then clenched her teeth.

Gu Mingxi and Pang Qian didn’t know what to think. After Gu Guoxiang reprimanded Gu Ziyue once more, the little girl’s eyes reddened and tears flowed down from her eyes. Gu Guoying walked over to pull her away and kept coaxing her, “Be good, darling. Yue Yue. Princess Ziyue,” over and over. Gu Ziyue finally stopped crying and looked at Gu Mingxi. She said to Gu Guoying, “Auntie, my mom said that I had a crippled brother who didn’t have arms. Is it because of him that my parents got divorced?”

A ‘boom’ went off in Pang Qian’s mind. She felt as if all the blood in her body had rushed to her head. She couldn’t stand that someone had called Gu Mingxi ‘crippled’ right in front of her face. Especially since that person was his own flesh and blood, his sister! Pang Qian couldn’t help herself from stepping forward, but Gu Mingxi stepped in to block her path.

He pushed against her with his shoulder and spoke in a low voice. “Pang Pang, forget it. She’s still a kid.”

Pang Qian’s expression was sour from how angry she was. Gu Mingxi tried to placate her again. “Pang Pang, I’m fine. Calm down.”

No one else stepped in to reprimand Gu Ziyue. After Gu Guoxiang chided her with a few more words, Gu Ziyue looked like she was about to cry again. Grandpa Gu looked at Gu Guoxiang and said, “It’s the New Year, what are you yelling at the child about?”

With these circ.u.mstances, what could Pang Qian say. To all these people, Gu Mingxi was like a stranger, and Pang Qian was even more so.

She helped Gu Mingxi take his coat off and the two of them sat down. She helped him clean his feet with a wet towel, and she repeated to herself that they were just here to eat a meal. When the meal was over, they could leave, and then they wouldn’t see these people often after that.

Gu Ziyue kept observing Gu Mingxi who ate with his feet. As she watched, her eyebrows furrowed. She realized that Gu Mingxi couldn’t grab the food himself from the dishes, and Pang Qian was helping him. Then an idea sprouted in her head.

After that, Pang Qian realized that when she went to grab some food, the gla.s.s turn table started to turn quickly. Sometimes Pang Qian would be in the middle of grabbing the food when the dishes suddenly moved away. In a difficult situation, she could only pull back with her chopsticks in the air.

Pang Qian looked over at Gu Ziyue, who looked to be very happy. Her hand was always at the turn table, spinning away, just like she was playing a game. It was hard for others to get food as well. Gu Guoxiang finally realized what was happening. After he spoke to her, she would stop for a bit, but soon after, she started up again.

When they were eating, they also had to talk. Gu Guoying asked Gu Mingxi about work and Gu Mingxi said he wasn’t currently working. Gu Guoying recalled what Gu Guoxiang had once told her– that Gu Mingxi had quit school.

Gu Guoying said to Gu Mingxi, “It’s hard to find work now. Our Yuan Yuan graduated college, but he still had to count on his dad’s connections to get a job at the supermarket. Mingxi, for someone with no arms or educational background like yourself, it’s impossible to find a job.”

Gu Guoxiang asked, “Mingxi, didn’t you mention that you wanted to go back to school before?”

“Yeah, I’m taking the college entrace exam.” Gu Mingxi explained everything very simply. “I’ll get a job after I get my diploma.”

Dong Yuan chipped in. “How many years will that take? Are you going to a prep school or are you studying on your own?”

Gu Mingxi smiled but didn’t respond.

Gu Guoxiang pondered a moment and then said, “Mingxi, don’t force yourself when it comes to school. It’s best if you can get your degree, but it’s okay if you can’t. If you want to work, I can help you arrange something. Find some work in an office, something simple and easy. Something that would suit you.”

Gu Mingxi laughed again and said, “Dad, it’s okay. I want to go back to school.”

Since Gu Mingxi used the Mister Ostrich pen name when he published his books, Gu Guoxiang didn’t know about it. And neither Gu Mingxi nor Pang Qian had any intention to tell him. They’d already set their plans. While they were studying, Gu Mingxi could continue to draw after cla.s.ses. With his current popularity, if he released just one book a year, the two of them would still be able to live comfortably.

Gu Guoying was very interested in Gu Mingxi and Pang Qian dating. In her eyes, Gu Mingxi was a disabled person without education or work, and thus without a house or money. Pang Qian was such a pretty girl, so why would she date him? What was her plan?

She asked quietly, “Mingxi, Qian Qian, how long have you two been dating?”

Gu Mingxi glanced at Pang Qian, and then he answered, “A bit more than a year.”

“For that long already? Are you planning on getting married?”

“Mm, we are.” Gu Mingxi nodded and smiled a bit. Pang Qian added on, “We’re going to get married this year.”

Gu Guoying asked, “That… What about the house for your marriage?”

Gu Mingxi was about to answer when Pang Qian’s hand suddenly reached under the table to press on his leg. She smiled and said, “We don’t have one. Houses are really expensive right now, so how could we buy one.”

Gu Mingxi gave her a curious look. Pang Qian stared at him and blinked her eyes. She said, “My dad said that our house is big, so we can use it when we get married.”

Gu Guoying’s husband, Dong Ping, asked, “Then are your parents going to rent a place somewhere else?”

“Of course not,” Pang Qian replied with surprised. “Naturally, they’ll live together with us. In any case, the house has a lot of rooms. When we have a child, there will still be room too.”

Dong Ping said, “That means Mingxi will be joining his wife’s family?”

Gu Guoying pat his arm. “What do you mean joining? When they have a child, they’ll surely keep the Gu name.”

“Not necessarily.” The speaker was actually Gu Mingxi, which caused Pang Qian to jump in place.

Gu Mingxi said, “Whether the child’s name is Gu or Pang, I don’t mind.”

“Nonsense!” Grandpa Gu hadn’t spoken before, but he’d been listening to everyone’s words. This time, he couldn’t hold back as he slammed his hand down on the table. “The children of the sons of the Gu family will have the name Gu! How can you name your children recklessly?! I definitely won’t agree to it!”

Pang Qian laughed grimly and picked up her teacup to drink a bit.

Gu Guoxiang’s expression became awkward and he finally spoke firmly to Gu Mingxi. “Mingxi, if you and Pang Qian need a house for your marriage, you can tell me. I can help a little.”

Gu Guoying quickly called out, “Brother! You still have Ziyue!”

All these years, Gu Guoying had benefitted a lot from Gu Guoxiang. Fang Hui was rarely home, so when Gu Guoxiang was busy with work, Gu Guoying stayed around with the nanny. The little girl looked down on the nanny, and her naughty tricks left the nanny in tears. After that, since Gu Guoying was retired and Dong Yuan didn’t have a child yet, he hired Gu Guoying to take care of Gu Ziyue’s daily needs.

Gu Guoying wasn’t a nanny though. When she went to Gu Guoxiang’s house, she wasn’t treated like an outsider. The metals company was successful so they would send lots of things to his house. When Gu Guoying saw this, she would pack it up and take it home, and Gu Guoxiang wouldn’t say anything either.

The sister and brother pair both spoiled Gu Ziyue greatly. She was given whatever she wanted. Whenever the little girl started making a ruckus, Gu Guoying would ask Gu Guoxiang for some money to buy snacks, toys, clothes, take her out to eat, go to watch a movie, or to go play games. Sometimes, Gu Guoying would invite Dong Yuan and Xiao Liang along. Since her brother was paying for it, she didn’t worry about it.

And so, Gu Guoying was also very sensitive towards Gu Guoxiang’s a.s.sets. She’d rather her brother spend the money on Gu Ziyue and refused to allow any of the money to go to Gu Mingxi.

Gu Ziyue had already snuck over to Gu Guoying’s side, and Gu Guoying held her in her arms. She told Gu Guoxiang, “I can’t agree to that. Ziyue’s still young, and you’ll be retiring in a few years. Didn’t you say you were going to send Ziyue to study abroad? That needs money! Mingxi’s already a grown up. When Li Han left, you didn’t treat the two of them poorly. Gu Mingxi didn’t work for it himself. He didn’t finish school or get a job. Do you have to be responsible for that? When Ziyue’s mother left, I promised her that I would take care of Ziyue…”

Gu Guoying started crying as she spoke. Gu Ziyue was very smart. She saw Gu Guoying and then quickly ran back to Gu Guoxiang’s side, wrapping her arms around his leg, crying out, “Daddy, Daddy, don’t let Auntie cry! Auntie treats me so well!”

Grandpa Gu told Gu Ziyue, “Ziyue, be good. Come over to Grandpa.”

He grabbed Gu Ziyue’s hand. He looked at her pale and slender finger and sighed. “The children in our family. Yuan Yuan wasn’t good at his studies, Mingxi doesn’t have arms. What’s so good about them. All our family’s hopes are resting on Ziyue’s shoulders. Little Ziyue, don’t worry, I’ll make sure to educate you. Your father said you wanted to learn piano? I’ll buy it for you! I’ll send you to school! Look at our Ziyue’s pretty fingers. They were made to play piano.”

Gu Guoxiang wasn’t even a person to them. Gu Guoying didn’t give up though, and she continued, “Actually, with Mingxi’s condition, can’t he apply for public welfare?”

Xiao Liang worked in that area, and after Gu Guoying asked some more, Xiao Liang’s face reddened. She looked at Gu Mingxi and said, “He can indeed do that.”

“Can’t he also apply for public housing?” Gu Guoying felt that she was so smart, helping Gu Mingxi and Pang Qian come up with such a good solution. “Mingxi, you and Pang Qian can get public housing and use that for their marriage. First register the marriage and apply for financial difficulty, and then you can get a house. Although the house will be a bit far away, but it only costs some tens of dollars each month. Aiya, you meet the criteria. Even if we wanted to apply, we can’t!”

Dong Yuan said, “Actually, Mingxi can apply for affordable housing like me.”

Gu Guoying shot him a death glare. “Affordable housing is more than 200 thousand dollars. Where will Mingxi find the money for that!”

Dong Yuan said, “200 thousand. Uncle can help out with that. When I bought my house, Uncle helped me with 50 thousand too.”

Gu Guoying panicked to shut him up. “You fool, don’t talk nonsense! Your uncle was lending that to us! We have to return it!”

Pang Qian was no longer angry at all. In fact, she felt it was kind of interesting. From the moment she spoke that lie, it was like she was watching a clown show. Originally, she wanted to let everyone know the truth, to tell them she was just kidding and she and Gu Mingxi already had a house.

But now, she suddenly didn’t want to clarify things. Just let them all think that Gu Mingxi was a pauper. After all, there was nothing embarra.s.sing about that. Just then, Gu Mingxi whispered to Pang Qian, “I’m going to head out a bit. I’ll be right back.”

“Where are you going?” Pang Qian asked.

“I’ll tell you later.” He flashed a naughty smiled at her.

Gu Mingxi stood up and apologized to everyone before heading out of the room. Not long after, he returned but didn’t sit down. He stood by the table and said there was a pressing matter and he and Pang Qian would leave first.

They were only halfway through dinner. Gu Guoying kept talking about public housing, and while Pang Qian didn’t know what was going on, she stood up and helped Gu Mingxi put on his coat. She even helped him wipe off his mouth.

Gu Guoxiang was a bit angry. “Mingxi, what are you doing?! Your aunt didn’t have any ill intentions. You don’t have to be so willful!”

“No, Dad, something’s really come up.” Gu Mingxi smiled politely, his gaze even. “A friend of mind is visiting E City for New Year’s and invited me out to talk about work.”

His eyes shimmered. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mention it earlier. Although I don’t have a job, I do some ill.u.s.tration work for magazines, and the income isn’t bad. As for buying a house, you don’t have to worry, Auntie. I don’t need my dad’s help with it. Pang Qian and I have already looked at some houses and we’re putting a down payment on one soon.”

He was carrying on Pang Qian’s fib. Gu Guoying was taken aback and then asked, “Where is the house?”

“Prosperous North.”

It was Dong Ping’s turn to be startled. “Downtown?”

Gu Mingxi nodded, “Yes.”

Gu Guoying asked, “How big is the house? The houses there cost 20k per sqm.”

“Not big, 138 sqm.” Gu Mingxi smiled. “When we’re better off, we can buy a bigger one.”

Everyone else, “…”

Pang Qian had already grabbed her bag. Gu Mingxi said, “Grandpa, Grandma, Dad, Aunt, I’m heading out first. I’m sorry for being unable to stay longer. Next time, please invite me again.”

As he spoke, he and Pang Qian left the room.

A few minutes later, Gu Guoying came back to her senses. “He’s just talking big. How much money could he make from some ill.u.s.trations? Does he think we’re some country b.u.mpkins?!”

Dong Yuan said, “Mom, it’s your fault. You didn’t give Mingxi any face at all, so he could only find an excuse to leave. He probably won’t eat with us again in the future.”

Gu Guoying curled her lips. “If he doesn’t want to eat, fine. No one’s clinging to him.”

Gu Guoxiang’s expression was overcast. After dinner, he called the waiter to get the bill. The waiter walked into the room and said, “Sir, a young man already paid earlier. He wanted me to relay that since he hadn’t treated his grandparents to a meal in so many years, he would pay for this meal.”

Gu Guoying’s mouth dropped. She asked, “How much was it?”

The waiter smiled slightly. “Ah, 4380 dollars.”