Chapter 124: 100 Fighting for Favor (first update)

What’s wrong, don’t chickens usually cluck? Why do these chickens chirp instead?

The saddest thing in the world is when even chickens have learned bird language, while he hasn’t mastered the Turkic language…

Yao Family noticed that her daughter’s dwelling had been renovated, with new tiles on the roof, and the backyard had been confined and expanded with two more rooms.

“Jiaojiao.” Yao Family looked at her daughter who was pouring water into the pot, “Can I…live here for a few days?”

Gu Jiao placed the bucket aside after filling the water and looked at Yao Family with a touch of bafflement.

“I can help with the chores!” Yao Family quickly proposed.

Although Yao Family grew up in a wealthy family, her family fell down when she was young, so she did not cultivate a spoiled personality.

Of course, it’s a bit far-fetched to say that she could do farm work in the countryside, but if her daughter could bear such hardship, why couldn’t she as a mother?

“There’s no need, I can do it myself.” Gu Jiao rejected.

A hint of disappointment flashed across Yao Family’s eyes. She understood that her daughter was not rejecting the work but herself.

“Then… I can cook! I’m a good cook! Didn’t you praise my dim sum last time? I can cook for you every day!”

“No need.” Gu Jiao replied.

“What about laundry! Look at the whole family, how can you manage all this by yourself?”

Gu Jiao paused for a moment, lifting her gaze to Yao Family.

She did not speak, just looking at her steadily.

Yao Family suddenly understood.

It’s not that her daughter didn’t need her to do the work, she just didn’t need her to stay here.

She had suspected this outcome, but she was still holding onto hope, it was her who was anxious after all.

Yao Family suppressed the bitterness in her heart and chuckled nonchalantly, “I’ll leave Yanyan in your care then. It’s getting late, you go back to your work, I’ll head back too.”

Having said that, she turned around with a smile.

Her expression and tone were impeccable, but the trembling of her body that she couldn’t control betrayed her sadness.

Gu Jiao watched her retreating figure and spoke, “It’s not your fault.”

Yao Family paused in her steps.

Gu Jiao hesitated for a moment. She wasn’t very good at expressing her emotions: “It’s mine.”

She said so, not knowing whether Yao Family could understand.

She had once had very terrible parents, which made her begin to reject all parents in the world.

As she grew up, she had her own life. She thought she didn’t care, but the arrival of Yao Family made her realize that the wound at the bottom of her heart had never healed.

She could accept Xiao Liulang, Little Pure Sky, the Old Lady, and Gu Yan because they would not become her mother or father.

But she could not say these words to Yao Family.

Yao Family stared at Gu Jiao intently for a moment. She used to think that her daughter couldn’t accept her because her daughter couldn’t forget the Gu’s couple. Now, she wasn’t so sure.

Something must have happened to her daughter, but her daughter wouldn’t talk about it, and she didn’t have the heart to pry.

With reluctance, Yao Family got into the carriage back to the villa.

Gu Jiao continued to prepare the meal.

The rice was cooking rather slowly.

She didn’t know if it was because Yao Family’s arrival had reminded her of some past memories she didn’t want to recall, which led her to remember her two-year-old self.

At that time, she was wearing a thin nightgown, hugging a doll, barefoot, standing in the freezing cold of winter.

She was forced out of the bed, not even given a pair of shoes to wear.

Her parents had a fierce argument, which was actually over a small matter, but it escalated uncontrollably, and in the end, the argument fell upon her head.

She was pushed around, fell several times, and even broke her hand.

It started with the man called dad, who left in a fit of pique, then the woman called mom also walked away.

She was abandoned in the bustling square. She watched a group of giant people hurriedly passing her by, feeling like a tiny ant.

“Mommy—Waa—Mommy—”

She was terrified. She cried out loud.

But the woman called Mom didn’t come back.

The man called Dad didn’t appear either.

—

The rice wasn’t done yet, so Gu Jiao made a couple of Syrup Poached Eggs for Gu Yan first. She went to his room to call him.

“Have those two left?” Gu Yan asked, pricking up his ears.

“Yes.” Gu Jiao replied.

Only then did Gu Yan open the door. But he didn’t open it wide, only a small crack. He stuck out his head to look around and made sure his parents were gone before he confidently walked out.

The old lady woke up; Gu Jiao made her a bowl of soup. Then, she spoke about Gu Yan’s living arrangement.