Anti-theft label

  Hua Zi's hands cupped together, his eyes shining like he had just seen his own wife. He carefully scraped the cigarette box several times, making a "tsk" sound, "Good boy, this is indeed a big deal, Qiang Zi, you're really generous this time..."

  Nowadays, a pack of Da Qian Men costs more than two catties of meat, and in this town, you can't even find a place that sells Da Qian Men. You have to go to the county seat or an even bigger city to see this rare cigarette.

  Gu Weiqiang ran long distances outside and naturally had some connections. This big front door was expensive, he himself didn't even dare to smoke it, but carried it on him to use as a connection to smooth things over.

  He smiled wryly and saw Huazi out.

  Zhou Aiju also went to the kitchen.

  Inside the house, only Gu Weiqiang and Gu Dongdong were left. Xiaodouding, who was eight years old this year, lay on the edge of the kang, thin and pale, with a big forehead, making his eyes shine brighter. His eye sockets were misty, with a crying tone, "Dad, will my sister wake up?"

  Gu Wei Qiang patted his pocket, wanting to light a cigarette, but thinking about it in front of the child, he restrained himself. He reached out and gently touched his son's forehead, firmly saying, "Hmm, An An will wake up soon, you watch over him for a bit, Dad is going out for a trip." An An had always been a pushover since childhood, this time going to the county town to attend high school, no matter what, he had to hold onto this spot for his older sister.

  As for the little girl, anyway she is one year younger than him. He will go to run more errands and strive to earn tuition and living expenses, so that the little girl can also go to the county town to study next year.

  After all, it's still useless for him to be a father.

  This statement is somewhat self-deprecating on Gu Weiqiang's part. He drives long-distance trucks for a transportation team, earning a monthly salary of 37.5 yuan, 30 yuan of which he gives to Zhou Aijuan for public use, and the rest of the money he earns from other sources is also mostly used to support his family.

  After all, in the whole Gu family, he is the only one who eats supplied grain, and it's also right to help support a few more brothers.

  But thinking about it, the money he earns, let alone Anan and Wann going to high school, even Dongdong is now in high school, can also be supported...

  The family didn't split up, and the money he earned was all handed over. This time, there were two who could go to the county town to attend high school, one from the second house and one from the fourth house. You know, in these times, being able to afford for children to attend high school is really tightening their belts. And that's not all, there are still several younger ones in the Gu family attending elementary school, which is a huge expense.

  Actually, the Gu family's conditions are not bad, they are among the best in the whole Gu Village. However, it was only two years ago that the Gu family built a red-brick and tile-roofed house with glass windows, which is really luxurious. But the price of this luxury is spending a lot of money. Zhou Aijuan spent all the savings of so many years, leaving nothing behind. That's why there's this situation now, where they have to fight for a spot in school.

  An'an fell asleep, unaware that Gu Weiqiang had gone to find Tang Lanxi alone and warned her not to have any ideas about snatching the quota.

  And Wang Da Ying, the second daughter-in-law of the kitchen, held an oily pot brush and wiped it around the big pot. She stretched her neck to look outside the kitchen, saw no one, and then spoke up, "Sister-in-law, how many eggs did fourth brother take?"

  In front of the stove, Zhao Junyan didn't even lift his head, just kept shoving wheat straw into the stove. On a cold winter day, using wheat straw to fuel the fire was quite accurate. He replied faintly, "I don't know."

  Wang Da Ying raised an eyebrow and curled her lip, "You little girl, it's just a fever, no need to call in some quack doctor, wasting several eggs."

  Zhao Junyan lowered his head and focused on the work in his hands, not responding to Wang Da Ying, as if he hadn't heard him.

  It's worth mentioning that Zhao Junyan has a good name, but her family background is not good. Her ancestors were big landlords and during the early years of criticism and struggle, she was expelled by her family and cut off from them. She escaped from Henan to Gujia Village, where she almost starved to death. It was Gu Jia's eldest son, Gu Weiguo, who saved Zhao Junyan by rationing his own food.

  Zhao Junyan woke up and didn't despise him either. Gu Weiguo was a cripple, so she married Gu Weiguo and settled in Gujia Village.

  It turns out that Gu Weiguo, being a cripple, had no one in the village willing to marry him. Instead, he was the last of the old Gu family to get married. Now his son with Zhao Junyan is only ten years old, two years older than Gu Dongdong. ... An'an didn't know about this conversation in the kitchen, she lay in bed, drooling nonstop, dreaming of the supermarket before she came here, standing in front of the braised meat counter, slobbering at the mouth.

  That braised chicken leg is really delicious!

  She subconsciously reached out to touch her flat belly, then touched the empty pockets, pouted, unfortunately she had no money.

  She remembered herself wearing 70s clothes, from originally being a young wealthy woman to becoming a poor and white-collar worker, Gu An An.

  The more she thought about it, the more unbearable it became. She squatted in front of the braised meat stall, smelling the familiar scent of roasted meat, and burst into tears as she hugged her head. She missed her dad and mom, she wanted to go home, she didn't want to stay here at all.

  Gu Dongdong, who had fallen asleep on the kang, did not know that his sister, who was lying in bed, had suddenly disappeared.

  At this time, Gu Anan also felt that something was wrong. This smell was too familiar. She squatted on the ground, which was also icy and had a real tactile sensation.

  Really?

  Is this supermarket real?

  Came with her to this era.

  To say, Gu Anan was also unlucky. She was just strolling through a supermarket and happened to be in the beverage section when the shelf collapsed on her. The originally pampered Gu Anan of the 21st century became a small white radish soaked in bitter water from the 1970s.

  Gu Anan suddenly stood up, perhaps the dizziness hadn't dissipated yet. She was in a daze and didn't care about anything else. She rushed all the way to the beverage area. As expected, where she had fallen, a pile of beverages had rolled everywhere, and her small bag was still pressed under the drinks.

  Gu Anan used all her might and pulled out a small package.

  She took out her phone, which still had three bars of battery. She pressed the recent call log, and her dad's number was at the top. Unconsciously, she dialed it again, but it only rang three times before automatically hanging up.

  An'an gritted her teeth and dialed the second number, which was her mother's, but the result was the same - she couldn't get through. She muttered to herself, "How is this possible?" As she scrolled through her contact list, she pressed down again, still with no success.

  This phone can no longer dial any numbers.

  And she Gu An'an, thoroughly can't go back.

  Thinking of this, Gu An's heart was in pain, if she wasn't around anymore, what would her dad and mom do?!

  She suppressed the sourness in her nose, opened her mobile phone album, and the first photo was a family portrait of her father, mother and herself.

  In the photo, Gu Anan is wearing a graduation gown, with her hair tied up in high ponytail, standing between her parents, smiling brightly.

  Gu An's eyes were misty, staring at the photo intently. As she looked, tears fell like broken pearls, pattering down.

  "Dad and Mom, I miss you so much." She subconsciously stroked the photo with her hand, holding her phone, and burst into loud sobs.

  Cried enough, quietly staring at the supermarket's glass window, dazed and lost in thought, "Can't go back,"

  She put her phone into her bag and carefully placed it in a very conspicuous place.

  Anan then walked to the pharmacy section, picked up a box of cold medicine, took out two tablets and swallowed them with mineral water. After thinking for a moment, she went to the food section and drank half a bowl of freshly baked corn congee.

  Facing himself in the mirror to boost his confidence, it would have been better if he hadn't looked in the mirror, but as soon as he did, An was startled.

  This dark and thin, yellow-haired little girl is actually her?

  How is this possible?

  She was a lovely girl back then, at least a little beauty!

  What's with this body?

  Does the package contain black charcoal?

  An'an has tanned so much that her skin tone is almost indistinguishable from a black person's now.

  What's wrong with you!

  Then there was a loud cry outside, "Sister, where are you going?"

  Gu Dongdong, this little bean, woke up from a nap and subconsciously touched his own sister's forehead. Who would have thought that he actually touched nothing? His drowsiness instantly disappeared, and the little bean cried out and ran out of the west room to find an adult to take a look.

  Scared, Gu Anan quickly ran out of the supermarket and dove into her bed, yawning as the medicine took effect, and fell back asleep. When Cop and little DouDou pulled their dad and grandma into the house, they saw someone lying on the bed and immediately stopped crying, staring blankly, "Sister... sister is back."

  The adults couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time, thinking that this child had hallucinations.

  Zhou Aiju put the Astragalus membranaceus she got from Hua Zi into a pot and simmered it, after simmering for a while, she fed a bowl to An'an. She asked Gu Dongdong to watch over An'an in the house. As the weather was getting colder, every household started preparing goods for the New Year, some were busy.

  Gu Dongdong's head nodded like a garlic press, his eyes wide open and staring at his sister on the bed without blinking, as if he was afraid that in the next second, his sister would disappear again.

  Gu An was sleeping dazedly, the rustling sound beside her ear made her head ache. She forced herself to open her eyes and found that her cheap mom and cheap sister were rummaging through her room, their expressions clearly not right.

  She shifted her arm and grunted.

  The two people searching indoors suddenly froze.

  Tang Lanji looked worried, this big girl, why didn't she wake up early or late, but woke up at this time.

  Gu Wanwan's expression didn't change, she raised her hand and patted Tang Lanzhi's arm, "Mom, you continue to clean up, I'll go take a look at my sister."

  As she spoke, she stuffed some tickets into Tang Lan Zhi's cloth bag on the side, and then walked in front of Gu An An, smiling innocently, "Sister, you're awake! Are you feeling better?" Although her mouth was full of concerned words, there were no actual actions, not even offering a glass of water to the patient or helping Gu An An get out of bed.

  Gu Anan didn't expect her younger sister to help her up, so she leaned against the headboard, propped herself up with her arm, and sat up. "What are you doing? Packing things to go where?" She really couldn't bring herself to call out for her mom.

  Tang Lan Zhi also stopped collecting, tied the mouth of the bag and held it in her hand. "Mom, I'm going to take your sister to grandma's house for New Year."

  Gu Wanwan bit her lip and nodded, "Where's mom, I'm there."

  Gu Wei Qiang waved his hand and pulled Gu An An back, walking away without any hesitation.

  Duan Liu Tang Lan Zhi stood dazedly in the snowy ground, unaware of what she was thinking.

  Gu Wei Qiang had just taken a few steps when an eight-year-old Gu Dong Dong came running from in front of him, and with one glance, he saw Tang Lan Zhi standing at the village entrance with her large bags. He immediately threw himself at her legs, crying his heart out, "Mom, mom, don't go..." Eight-year-old Gu Dong Dong knew that Tang Lan Zhi was biased, but after all, she was his mother.

  He is like all other children, yearning for motherly love.

  Tang Lanxi lowered her head, looking at Gu Dongdong who was crying and gasping for breath. She squatted down, prying open Gu Dongdong's hands one finger at a time. Her eyes sparkled with tears as she spoke firmly, "Dongdong, I'm sorry..." Sending their daughter to the provincial city to study was only one aspect of it; she would be able to leave, but her biggest personal desire was that she herself didn't want to stay in the countryside anymore and didn't want to live a hard life.

  She had heard a lot of news about the returning educated youth, and those educated youths were all doing well.

  If I had a choice, who would want to stay in this mountain valley?

  Gu Dongdong sat in the snow, wailing loudly, watching as Tang Lanzhi's figure grew farther and farther away.

  Looking at Gu Weiqiang beside him, his heart was broken.

  He picked up Gu Dongdong from the snowy ground and comforted him, "Don't cry, Dad will find you a beautiful stepmother."

  Gu Anan almost fell into the snow upon hearing this sentence, was there ever a comfort like this for a son?

  She stuffed a large handful of money and tickets into Gu Dongdong's arms, domineeringly saying "Let's go! I'll take you to buy sweets, let you eat sweets every day, and have meat for every meal." Indeed, with sweets and meat, everything is fine. Xiaodou heard that there were sweets to eat and meat to eat, and Jindou also stopped crying.

  He stared blankly, "Buy sugar, eat meat."

  Gu Anan's eyes sparkled as she looked at Gu Weiqiang, with an expression of seeking praise, "Dad, I cheated that woman out of a lot of money and tickets."

  The daughter-in-law ran away, which was originally a sad thing, but it was made into a joke by the big girl, and I couldn't bear to feel sad anymore.

  Gu Weiqiang held his youngest son in one arm and his eldest daughter with the other, shouting "You're indeed my Gu Weiqiang's daughter!" Perhaps in Gu Weiqiang's heart, Tang Lanzhi would eventually leave this home anyway. Having been mentally prepared, it wasn't that hard to bear.

  Actually, to tell the truth, Gu Weiqiang and Tang Lanzhi were together back then because of Tang Lanzhi's scheme. Tang Lanzhi was a cultured person from the big city, with a good appearance, a white and tender oval face, sparkling eyes, and a head of black braids. When Tang Lanzhi first arrived in Gujia Village, she stunned all the young men in the village.

  The young men in Gu's village all came to Tang Lanzhi with enthusiasm, but Gu Weiqiang was an exception. At that time, he had just learned to drive and was preoccupied with how to join the transportation team so that he could stay behind, without any thought of romance.

  Due to the transportation team's relationship, Gu Weiqiang was the only one in the village who often went out. He would go back and forth, and many educated youths would ask Gu Weiqiang to bring things from the county town for them.

  Tang Lanxi was no exception. Logically speaking, with such close contact between Gu Weiqiang and Tang Lanxi, he should have been moved by this watery, pale city girl, but he wasn't.

  At the age of eighteen or nineteen, Gu Weiqiang was emotionally immature and had not opened up yet. He worked hard and diligently because compared to city people, this rootless rural person wanting to join the transportation team was simply a fantasy.

  He put all his mind on the transportation team.

  However, he forgot that a woman's heart is the most difficult to measure.

  Tang Lan Zhi was used to the young men in the village adoring her, but then she ran into a wooden lump who didn't even acknowledge her, which naturally caught her attention.

  It's not like there's any other way, after Tang Lan Zhi's careful consideration, returning to the city is hopeless. If she wants to live a good life in Gu's Village without having to do heavy farm work, marrying Gu Wei Qiang is the best solution.

  He's the village head, and Gu Weiqiang's second brother is now the team leader. As for Gu Weiqiang himself, he has a robust build, tall and strong, and his work as a temporary worker in the transportation team has great prospects.

  Tang Lanzhi had the idea of marrying Gu Weiqiang.

  Gu Wei Qiang, who was initially hesitant, was no match for Tang Lan Zhi. After a series of events, he was naturally captivated by Tang Lan Zhi's gentle and charming demeanor. The two got married and spent a sweet and blissful life together.

  However, as time went by, people's flaws would emerge. Tang Lanzhi was vain and selfish, while Gu Weiqiang knew about it but chose to turn a blind eye, after all, this woman had given him three children.

  In public and in private, he should give way to her.

  So, Gu Weiqiang worked even harder outside, wanting to earn more money to satisfy his young wife.

  Gu Weiqiang publicly announced that his monthly salary was 37.5 yuan, but he drove long distances and could earn some extra money on the side. Every month, his extra earnings were more than his salary, and after deducting the part he gave to Zhou Aijuan, the remaining money was basically all given to his wife Tang Lanxi.

  But Tang Lanzhi is a city girl, originally spoiled, and at home there is Gu Wanwan, who is not in good health. In terms of food, clothing, and daily life, they are raised like city girls, and the money earned by Gu Weiqiang is basically spent on Tang Lanzhi and her daughter Gu Wanwan.

  This time the quota for going to high school in the county town, money is one aspect, on the other hand, it really depends on the grades. Tang Lanzhi has enough money to let Gu Wanwan go to high school in the county town as well.

  However, she cannot do so because the family has not yet divided up the property, and the four houses are still as one entity. Each house sends out one person to go to the county town to study.

  If that's the case, they would have sent two daughters from the four houses to study in the county town. Tang Lanzhi dared say that she would be scolded to death by her sisters-in-law.

  So he clenched his fist over the money and didn't dare spend it.

  Gu Weiqiang led a boy and a girl walking back and forth, and happened to meet Zhou Aijuan who had just returned from Er Ma Zi's house, as well as Da Sao and Er Sao.

  Zhou Aiju had always doted on Gu An'an, and at a glance, she saw that Gu An'an's clothes were dirty and her hair was disheveled.

  She immediately quickened her pace, pulled over Gu Anan's arm and asked with concern, "What's wrong? Who bullied you?"

  Gu An'an saw the old man in front of her, and the tears that had stopped falling again flowed down. However, she glanced at so many people and considered her own father's face, feeling embarrassed to say that her stepmother had run away and didn't want them anymore.

  Just pouted and didn't say anything in the end.

  In Gu Weiqiang's arms, Gu Dongdong didn't care that much. Seeing his sister cry, he also started wailing and said, "My...my mom doesn't want us anymore."

  Zhou Aiju's face changed, she stared with her eyes wide open at her youngest son.

  Gu Wei Qiang smiled wryly, "Mom, Lan Zhi has returned to the city."

  "Who gave her the certificate?" The old lady was sharp, she had known all along that this young daughter-in-law was too clever and couldn't be kept down, so she had specifically instructed Old Second not to give the young daughter-in-law a certificate.

  In those days, educated youth who wanted to return to the city had to get a certificate from the village's team leader, and also needed a certificate of acceptance from their relatives in the city. Both certificates were required to leave the village.

  Gu Wei Qiang hesitated, "Second brother?", he actually understood the situation clearly. He had even greeted his own second brother specially, if Tang Lan Zhi had come to him privately to open a proof, he would have agreed with just one word, but unexpectedly, this time's proof was opened by him, yet he didn't know anything about it.

  When others want to leave, using such petty tricks can't keep them from leaving. What's the point of staying here if their heart is not in it?

  Zhou Aiju dragged Gu An'an away with a fierce momentum, rushing back and forth.

  Gu Wei Qiang shouted from behind, but it was no use.

  The two daughters-in-law who were originally following Zhou Aiju, the elder daughter-in-law Zhao Junyan and the younger daughter-in-law Wang Daying, looked at each other and said: "Did the fourth daughter-in-law run away?"

  This is big news.

  However, Zhao Junyan never liked to gossip, and after knowing this, she would at most go back and mention it to her husband.

  But Wang Da Ying was different, as the wife of the team leader, she felt superior to others, and in the village, she was also considered a person who could speak with authority. Whatever small news there was, she would be the first to know. It's worth noting that her mother-in-law had always looked down on Er Si's wife, but now it seemed that Er Si's wife was not even worthy of consideration, and had directly returned to the city.

  Wang Da Ying felt a mix of emotions, both happy and worried.

  She naturally noticed Gu Anan's disheveled appearance, and intentionally said, "Anan, your mom is really heartless, look at the state you're in, and she still left without even looking back."

  Gu An rolled her eyes, from the memories she received, Second Aunt wasn't a good person.

  Zhou Aiju's footsteps paused, warning, "Daying, watch your mouth, don't say what shouldn't be said, shut up."

  Wang Da Ying perfunctorily responded with an "uh-huh".

  Zhou Aiju left, and the news spread throughout the village. Tang Lanzhi was a ruthless woman who didn't care that her own daughter had become a cripple, she still wanted to leave Gujia Village.

  Gu An'an and Gu Dongdong became like small white vegetables soaking in bitter water, motherless children.

  ……

  Take care of your family.

  Inside the east house, a warm kang was burning, and the adults of the Gu family were all snuggled up inside, silent. Although it was a warm kang, Zhou Aijuan's heart had cooled by half.

  The old man sat on the edge of the kang, holding a tobacco pouch in his hand, taking an occasional puff, and gazing out the window as if he hadn't heard a word of what Zhou Aijuan had said.

  Guo Weiguo, the eldest of the Guo family, crouched beside the kang, his head lowered, lost in thought.

  Only Gu Jia Lao Er Gu Weifu occasionally retorted, "Mom, the proof has been issued, and Lao Si's daughter-in-law has left. You're still talking about these things, it's useless."

  This has really infuriated Zhou Aijuan.

  She slapped a palm on Gu Weifu's head, scolding, "If it weren't for your wife, you'd be standing here talking nonsense without any discomfort. If your family's Da Ying wants to return to the city, does this prove that you can drive so smoothly?"

  Gu Weifu was indeed the team leader, and when he spoke, he had a logical and reasonable tone. "What's wrong with being open? Husband and wife are one entity, my wife is living well, and I'm happier than anyone else. Old Fourth, don't you think that's right?"

  Gu Wei Qiang, who was asked to speak, looked up and stared deeply at Gu Wei Fu. After a long while, he finally spoke, "Second brother's ideological awareness is indeed high." He was willing to let Tang Lan Zhi go, but it was another matter that his own second brother had privately opened the proof without even telling him. It wasn't that he didn't want to let Tang Lan Zhi go, but rather that he was angry at his own second brother for helping to cover up the truth. As Tang Lan Zhi's man, he understood why she wouldn't speak, but Gu Wei Fu, as his second brother, had helped to conceal it tightly.