334: Chapter 333: Uninvited Guest 334: Chapter 333: Uninvited Guest That afternoon, two unexpected visitors from afar arrived at Lin Aiguo’s ho.
An old man and a young boy, presumably father and son, hesitated at the doorway, pacing around twice before the older one took another look at the neighboring houses and said, “Daming!
Maybe this is the place!”
The middle-aged man was not tall and had a slight build, with a crew cut, and ordinary features highlighted by a mouthful of yellow teeth—a sure sign of a frequent smoker.
“Dad!
Shall we go in and ask?” asked the boy referred to as Daming.
He wasn’t very tall either, with a broad forehead and puffy cheeks; his single eyelids and the red pimples around his cheeks gave off an uncomfortable feeling.
“Asking’s fine!
If they’re not the ones, we’ll just ask around.
When I was here years ago, it didn’t look like this.
I only rember there was a well nearby!”
With that, the two of them entered.
Qian’s mother happened to co out to fetch water and saw the two of them as they ca in.
She asked coldly, “Who are you looking for?”
The elder one, seemingly nervous, asked, “Ma’am, does a Lin family live here?”
Qian’s mother scrutinized them sharply, “Yes!
And who might you be?”
“I’m looking for Lin Aiguo!”
Luckily, Lin Aiguo was ho and ca out when he heard the noise.
Otherwise, Qian’s mother, not recognizing the two, would have certainly turned them away.
Lin Aiguo squinted at them, thinking the man looked familiar…
“You are?”
“Brother-in-law!
It’s Qiushui!
It’s been so many years since we last saw each other!
You’ve really changed a lot!
And this is my son, Yu Ruiming!”
As he spoke, he tugged at Yu Ruiming’s arm to get him to greet, “Hurry up and call him uncle!”
“Uncle!” Yu Ruiming, also not very tall, called out softly, shyly looking down with an expression that seed very timid.
Lin Aiguo frowned deeply, finding it completely unexpected that relatives from Yu Wanhua’s side would suddenly show up.
“Hmm!
Why didn’t you send a telegram or even a letter before coming?” Coming directly into his ho like this was truly startling.
Yu Qiushui paused, then a smile quickly spread across his face, “Brother-in-law!
It was a spur-of-the-mont decision for the two of us to co and see you!
Thank goodness we found your ho!
As soon as we got off the train, we kept asking around, and luckily you haven’t moved!”
His gaze turned straight to the old lady standing to the side, scrutinizing him, “Who is this family mber?”
Lin Aiguo felt a bit embarrassed.
When Yu Wanhua passed away years ago, he had sent a telegram to her family in the south, but no one had co afterwards.
The relatives who had co to Spring City for work with Yu Wanhua also ntioned they had lost contact with the family.
So, they probably had no idea about him remarrying Qian Chunli.
“This is my new wife’s mother!”
Yu Qiushui’s eyes widened as he looked at Lin Aiguo, then at Qian’s mother, and quickly called out, “Auntie!”
Qian’s mother responded, knowing that these were the relatives from Lin Aiguo’s first wife’s family, “Continue talking!
I’m going inside!” after which she returned to the Western House.
Lin Aiguo invited the two to sit on the kang in the Eastern House.
He didn’t beat around the bush and asked directly, “What brings you here?”
After he married Yu Wanhua, her family only visited once, and that was when Lin Chun and the others were very young.
After that, no one from her family ever ca again.
Now, soone suddenly shows up at ho, who would believe they’re just here to have a look?
Yu Qiushui chuckled, “Brother-in-law!
I was really doing nothing at ho, and I heard that it’s easy to find a job with a good salary in Lin District, so I thought of bringing Daming over to check it out!
If there’s sothing suitable, let him find so work here!”
“Your household registration isn’t here, what kind of job can you get?
To others, you’d be nothing but drifters!” Lin Aiguo was not keen on taking on this burden.
It wasn’t like they were close, having only t once, and even if they were, he couldn’t help.
Yu Qiushui was not one to be easily discouraged, “A drifter then, so be it!
As long as we can earn enough to have food to eat, that’s good!
Brother-in-law!
You should at least do it for my sister’s sake, lend a helping hand, won’t you?
Look at you, already found yourself a new wife, and I didn’t even say a word…”
Lin Aiguo’s eyes widened, “What’s there for you to say?
When she passed away, not a single one from your family showed up!
Now you co to only when you need sothing!
Am I supposed to be overjoyed and welco you with open arms?”
He had never had a good impression of this Yu Qiushui.
When he had stayed at their ho for about half a month years ago, he did all sorts of thieving and sneaking around.
Back then, Yu Wanhua kindly tried to find him a job, but Yu Qiushui, who feared hardship and was averse to fatigue, complained about trudging through the snow and ended up heading back to his southern hotown, stick in hand.
Seeing that his half-joking, half-serious comnt had upset Lin Aiguo, Yu Qiushui quickly tried to make ands, “Brother-in-law!
Look at that temper of yours!
Wasn’t I just making a joke?
My sister has been gone for several years, it’s only normal for you to find soone else!
As for our absence back then, wasn’t it because our family was so poor that we couldn’t even afford the travel expenses?
You really shouldn’t fuss over that.
If my sister knew, she wouldn’t bla us from beyond the grave…”
Lin Aiguo grabbed the wooden cigarette box, took out a rolled cigarette, and lit it up, “Let’s not talk about the past.
You all showed up out of the blue, and I can’t help you on short notice.”
Yu Qiushui glanced at the furnishings in the house, noticing that Lin Aiguo’s life also didn’t seem too good.
Yu Qiushui abandoned his previous attitude, no longer picky about anything.
“Brother-in-law!
I understand!
Although we ca without warning, we can’t cause you big trouble!
Just giving us a place to stay temporarily is enough!
Once I settle Daming down, I’ll go back.
Things are busy at ho, and I can’t be away for long!”
Seeing him say this, and since they were already at his house, Lin Aiguo couldn’t just kick them out, could he?
“Then let’s see if there’s anything suitable!
Can you leave him here by himself?” But he had to make one thing clear, “I don’t have the ti to look after your kid.
If he causes any trouble, you’ll have to take care of it!
Don’t co blaming later!”
Yu Ruiming hung his head even lower; since coming into the house, he hadn’t said much and appeared very honest and simple.
Yu Qiushui’s face was all smiles, “Brother-in-law, don’t worry!
Daming is a good boy!
I’m just thinking of letting him earn so money outside so he can go back and get married!
What money can he make just by farming?
How about this – he won’t eat and stay for free; he will give you money for room and board every month after he gets paid…”
Since Lin Aiguo heard him say that, he couldn’t say much else.
Yu Qiushui began asking about Lin Chun and the others, “Brother-in-law, are Lin Chun and the rest of them all at work?
Why are you at ho at this ti?
Is your work still on holiday?”
Lin Aiguo knew there was no need to keep it a secret; once they settled in, they would find out everything.
“They’re in Spring City!
They won’t be coming back!”
Yu Qiushui pressed on, “They’re all working in the city, huh?
That’s really sothing to be proud of!”
In the Western House, Qian Chunli and her mother listened silently, their ears tuned in to the noises from the Eastern House.
Qian Chunli asked quietly, “Mom!
What have they co here for?”
Her mother leaned in and whispered back, “Who knows!
But from what I hear, it sounds like they want to find work here!”
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