Lin Qingping and Gu Juncheng

Chapter 504 When did I miss it?

Lin Qingping's family had dinner at Gu Youlian's place before returning home.

The dinner time was even warmer with only family and Sister Zhao. Gu Juncheng even played a happy birthday song on his newly bought harmonica, which made Zhangzhu dance with joy.

"You're quite capable!" Lin Qingping said with a smile. She had never heard Gu Juncheng play the harmonica like that before.

Gu Juncheng smiled and said, "I learned it from an old soldier when I was on the frontier."

Lin Qingping then recalled the heavy snowfall he encountered at his post when he first visited his relatives.

Amidst the endless wind and snow, when the grass and trees are silent, perhaps it was that zither that accompanied him through countless lonely nights.

"Let's go back to the island, you can play the piano more." The music doesn't just belong to one person; the sea breeze and sunset for two people are made even more romantic by the music.

Gu Juncheng replied matter-of-factly, "That's for sure, our darling loves to hear that."

Lin Qingping: ...Okay, my darling, my darling, if you want the moon in the sky, can you pluck it down from the sky?

“Uncle, I like listening to it too!” Xiaomai shook the violin in her hand and then played a piece, which turned out to be Mozart’s Serenade.

Lin Qingping was shocked. "Xiaomai, who taught you that?"

“She goes to the Children’s Palace to learn,” Gu Youlian said immediately. “By the way, Pingzi, I was just about to ask for your opinion. Hasn’t Xiaomai been learning this and that at the Children’s Palace? Recently, she said she wants to learn piano properly. What do you think about that?”

"Let them learn!" If the child wants to learn, shouldn't the parents support them? Lin Qingping strongly supports it. Although later generations of children studied this and that and became obsessed with exams, in those days, only big cities had the conditions to cultivate children's interests and talents.

Gu Youlian hesitated, "So it turns out they were learning at the Children's Palace for the past two years, but they said it wasn't enough and they wanted my family to buy a piano so I could practice every day. But pianos aren't cheap..."

Lin Qingping glanced at her. "You still dare to talk to me like that? Others may not know you, but I know you too well. You little rich girl, don't tell me you can't afford a piano!"

Lin Qingping simply told Xiaomai, "Your mother can't bear to part with it, so she'll ask your uncle to buy it for you." After saying that, she glared at Gu Juncheng, "When you take the kids out to play, they want to buy a piano, and you just buy them a harmonica to appease them."

Gu Juncheng: ...

Gu Juncheng wouldn't know the saying "sitting at home, a pot falls from the sky," and if he did, he'd say this pot hitting him hard was quite a blow. Xiaomai didn't even ask for a piano!

Gu Youlian was amused by her. "Don't try that. You're trying to drive a wedge between us, mother and daughter? No way!"

Xiaomai smiled at this, knowing full well that her mother wasn't reluctant to part with her child.

"Then why are you asking me?" Lin Qingping scolded her. "Why don't you just buy it! Is your house not big enough? You could fit ten pianos in here!"

"I was worried it might affect my studies..." Gu Youlian laughed, "Never mind, with your support as my aunt, what more can I say? I'll go buy it tomorrow!"

“No matter what industry you're in, if you do it well, you'll succeed! Every profession can produce an expert,” Gu Juncheng chimed in.

"Playing the piano can lead to success?" Gu Youlian asked in surprise. "Isn't it a waste of time and energy?"

"Come on, you've been in the capital for so many years and you still have such conservative ideas," Lin Qingping said to her. "Ask your brother if the performing arts soldiers in his troupe are multi-talented and promising."

Gu Youlian suddenly understood and chuckled, "I'm just taking you as my role model. I want my child to be like her aunt, with good grades and to get into a university in the capital. Since you all say that every profession can produce an outstanding person, then I won't hesitate."

“Mom, I’m not saying I’ll stop studying after learning this instrument. I will still study hard,” Xiaomai said anxiously.

“That’s right,” Lin Qingping added. “Nobody knows what will happen in the future. Having more skills and hobbies will give you more ways to entertain yourself when you grow up.”

"I know, I know!" Gu Youlian laughed. "How could I be as knowledgeable as you! I still have something to discuss with you!"

Lin Qingping laughed, "I'll charge a consulting fee!"

“You’re so greedy!” Gu Youlian was amused by her again. “Do you remember, two years ago before you went to the island, you told me that as long as I saw a house for sale and I had some money left over, I should buy it immediately?”

"I remember!" Lin Qingping herself even considered buying another one. Before, with only Zhiyuan as her child, one set was enough, but now with her precious daughter, it's always good to plan ahead.

“There are quite a few houses for sale on this street,” Gu Youlian told her in detail.

With the recent rise of emigration, some people are indeed selling their houses to move abroad.

Lin Qingping didn't hesitate: Buy it! Contact someone tomorrow and buy it right away!

"Should I buy it too?" Gu Youlian hesitated. "It's just Xiaomai and me. This apartment is more than enough for us!"

"Buy it!" Lin Qingping didn't waste any more words with her. "Just tell me, when have you ever missed out if you listen to me? If you buy it, Sister Zhao will buy it too. We won't be greedy. We'll just buy two or three more sets to keep on hand."

indeed!

Gu Youlian's morale immediately soared: When did my sister-in-law ever miss out?

Having finished discussing the house, we moved on to other matters. The family sat together, eating watermelon and chatting, with the electric fan on. They talked about all sorts of funny things, and the house was filled with laughter. Occasionally, Zhangzhu would let out a few "ah ah, oh oh" sounds, as the little girl, not wanting to be ignored, would also join in the conversation...

Life doesn't have to be earth-shattering. Just living a simple life, with family gathered together, enjoying peaceful times, is perfectly fine.

When Zhangzhu started yawning, Lin Qingping and Gu Juncheng took the two children back to their own home.

Zhangzhu was really sleepy. She had been quite active today—although she didn't have to walk by herself all day. When we got home, she was still giving me a bath when she yawned several times and fell asleep in the tub.

Lin Qingping only dared to put Zhangzhu down after she had fallen into a deep sleep, lest she wake up whimpering as soon as she was put on the bed.

In the sweltering summer, people are more prone to getting excited, and Gu Juncheng's gaze towards Lin Qingping was different.

"You didn't make enough noise yesterday! You'll wake Zhangzhu up again." Lin Qingping slapped his hand away and took out a notebook from her bag.

As if she had heard her mother's words, Zhangzhu started kicking her little feet wildly. Lin Qingping glared at Gu Juncheng with a reproachful look.

Knowing he was in the wrong, Gu Juncheng obediently rocked the cradle to coax the woman, and put aside his other thoughts. He then spoke privately with Lin Qingping, saying, "You were able to hold back today? I thought you were going to get angry."

"Why should I get angry?" There was something in front of Lin Qingping, which Wang Pingan had secretly given her when he left today. She looked at the title page and pondered, "Getting angry can only solve the problem temporarily. I will leave sooner or later. To solve the root problem, we need to expose all the problems. Now is not the time for me to get angry."