Chapter 11: Tightening Their Belts

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

“I will still stay here even if I have a separate household registration, Grandpa. I’m still your granddaughter, and I am still a Gu. I decided on a separate household registration because I didn’t want to burden Uncle and Auntie with an additional member in this household,” Gu Jin said with a smile.

Her grandfather squinted, knowing that his daughter-in-law would surely protest if he let the wild child stay.

He took a drag and looked Gu Jin in the eye. “Let us discuss it with the other family members once your uncle gets home.”

“Thanks, Grandpa.”

Her grandfather did not mention his second son, who was Gu Jin’s adopted father. Gu Jin knew that she did not have to inform him.

Gu Jin had never been close to her adopted parents, and she had known that she was not biologically related to the Gu Family since she was little.

She had only found out in her past life that despite not being emotionally close to her adopted father, he still treated her well as his daughter.

It was a shame that he had fallen from grace and lost everything because of her.

She could not help but feel remorse when things from her past life came to mind.

She got to her feet, nodded at her grandfather as a sign of respect, and left the room.

Her uncle came home at nightfall.

The family members were sitting at the small dining table in the kitchen, and among them was the wild child.

An Mingji was sitting next to Gu Jin nervously and finding the whole thing surreal.

While they ate, her grandfather asked his eldest son, Gu Dechang about the crops.

Her uncle glossed over the topic and changed the conversation abruptly.

“Food supply has run out in the cooperative and amongst the merchants. Even meats have increased in prices. Rations have not been forthcoming, and many workers have been forced to tighten their belts,” her uncle said.

Chen Hong, Gu Jiajie, and Gu Minmin froze when they heard the news.

The situation was much worse than they had imagined. Earlier, there had been news that there might be help from the government, but now, their hope seemed to dim.

“Times are bad…” her grandfather lamented.

No one spoke a word, as they all knew that harder times were yet to come.

Gu Jin said nothing the entire time. She just placed a bunch of preserved vegetables in An Mingji’s bowl.

The boy had only been sipping on watery congee since the start of the dinner. He never touched the dishes on the table.

Her actions drew Chen Hong’s dissatisfaction, but Chen Hong did not express her resentment toward Gu Jin. She just glared at An Mingji.

Noticing the hostile stare, An Mingji shuddered nervously.

Gu Jin had seen it too, and she spoke to him in a low voice. “Finish your dinner and return to the room. I have something to discuss with Grandpa, Uncle, and the others.”

An Mingji looked down and nodded in acknowledgment. Then, he finished the bun and congee in his bowl as quickly as he could.

After he was done, he placed the bowl and chopsticks on the table. Gu Jin patted him on the head. “Go on now. The blanket on the bed is clean. Sleep first if you’re tired.”

“Okay.”

Gu Jin only brought her attention back after the boy disappeared from view.

At the end of dinner, her grandfather hemmed and reached for the pipe behind him. He took some tobacco out of a packet and lit it up.

Her grandfather breathed a cloud of smoke out of his mouth and glanced at Gu Jin before he shifted his attention to his eldest son.

“Jin would like to adopt the kid, An—”

“What?”

Chen Hong blurted before her grandfather could finish his sentence.

“We have been struggling to feed ourselves and living from hand to mouth every day! Now she wants to bring in another mouth? Oh, great!”