Chapter 552: Love Needs to be Expressed Positively
Chapter 552: Love Needs to be Expressed Positively
Su Shen brought over the burn ointment. It was a small tube, just long enough to match an adult’s index finger and as thick as a thumb. It was clearly a precious item. Aunt Zhang felt even more embarrassed, but she couldn’t bring herself to refuse it for her grandson. Deep down, she wanted him to benefit from this excellent medicine.
Gu Zi pulled Shi Tou over, took the ointment from Su Shen, opened it, and punctured the seal with the cap. She squeezed out the bright yellow ointment, carefully applying it to Shi Tou’s wound while speaking to Aunt Zhang, “Is any medicine too expensive when it comes to someone’s well-being? I have it here specifically for Shi Tou. If I didn’t, then we would indeed have to resort to saltwater.”
“Aunt Zhang, you’re not being fair. You clearly care about him so much, but you speak as if he’s not important. Love needs to be expressed positively. Do you want Shi Tou to show his care for you in such a negative way?”
Gu Zi said this, but she understood Aunt Zhang’s mentality. Many women living in this era share similar sentiments. They might sound harsh to their loved ones, but they genuinely care about them.
People like them often find themselves in a state of irritation, perhaps due to the overwhelming household chores and lack of help. When constantly busy, their words often don’t match their hearts.
Furthermore, Aunt Zhang was a straightforward person. She didn’t beat around the bush and often spoke bluntly, sometimes to the point of discomfort. But her intentions were not so. She cared for her grandson but also feared causing trouble for others, hence her behavior.
As the ointment was applied to Shi Tou’s little hand, he finally stopped whimpering. He looked at Gu Zi in surprise and said, “Fairy Sister, it’s cold and doesn’t hurt anymore! Grandma, don’t worry. I won’t treat you like this. Let’s eat roasted sweet potatoes together. I’m so hungry!”
Gu Zi laughed and said, “Alright, let’s eat roasted sweet potatoes together. Remember, Shi Tou, come to my house for the next few days. Come in the morning, and I’ll apply the medicine for you.”
If it were any other medicine, she would have divided some for Aunt Zhang to take home. But this ointment was clearly not easy to divide. However, Shi Tou’s house was nearby, so it was not a problem for him to come over daily for treatment.
Seeing her grandson becoming more sensible, Aunt Zhang felt comforted. Coupled with Gu Zi’s words, she realized her mistake. She felt a bit embarrassed towards her grandson, but given her habits, it was unlikely she would apologize to Shi Tou.
She simply said to Gu Zi, “Ah, I’ve been like this all my life. I’ll change, I’ll definitely change.” If Shi Tou, being so young, could improve, then what couldn’t she change?
Su Shen took back the ointment. Seeing Gu Zi busy comforting Shi Tou, he took the initiative to divide the roasted sweet potatoes among everyone. Gu Zi got half, Aunt Zhang got one, Shi Tou got one, and Su Shen kept the remaining half for himself. It was his first time experiencing eating roasted sweet potatoes with neighbors, but with Gu Zi there, even the ordinary experience became enjoyable.
After everyone finished eating the sweet potatoes, Aunt Zhang took Shi Tou home. Su Shen and Gu Zi went inside, and Su Shen asked Gu Zi, “Does the interview at the store mean we can expand?”
Initially, when Gu Zi said she wanted to help her family open a store, Su Shen suggested opening it directly in the city, with him handling the financial aspect.
Although he had never run a store, he believed the principles of doing business were the same.
Pig farms and other supply businesses were best located in rural areas, but businesses that dealt directly with end customers, like grocery stores and restaurants, needed to be in economically prosperous areas with high foot traffic, and the city was the best place for that.
However, Gu Zi rejected his suggestion and his additional financial help. He didn’t want to make her uncomfortable by interfering too much, so he didn’t bring it up again. He let Gu Zi open the store, thinking he would step in if she encountered difficulties.
But to his surprise, she didn’t give him a chance to step in. The store was already featured in the newspaper. Considering the number of stores in the city, not every one of them could make it to the newspaper. This showed how outstanding his wife was, and he felt proud of her.