After a male student transmigrated into the body of a widow,

After selling out of cold dishes, Gu Lin packed up his stall and picked up his bamboo basket. Since it wasn't noon yet, even if he left the town now, Uncle Zhang's oxcart wouldn't leave, so Gu Lin didn't plan to leave the county town immediately.

He had just sold fifty tubes of cold dishes, each costing seven coins, which meant he had earned three hundred and fifty coins today. Gu Lin's heart began to race, but he gradually calmed down. This three hundred and fifty coins wasn't pure profit; the vegetables were free, and after deducting the fifty coins for the seasonings, he should have earned three hundred coins today.

But this was still quite a lot. Gu Lin's face lit up with joy. He turned to look at Zheng Hao beside him. The other party still had a cold and unruly look, but when he thought about how the other party had taken the initiative to help him earlier and saw the other party's fierce expression, Gu Lin found it hard to feel any fear anymore.

Gu Lin thought that the reason why Zheng Hao in the original work became like that later was probably because he suffered too many misfortunes in his childhood. His father passed away, his stepfather and his lover ran away with the family's wealth, and he grew up alone under countless malice and ridicule. Even the kindest person's mind would probably be twisted.

Gu Lin looked at Zheng Hao. Zheng Hao was still young. As long as he could gradually feel that he was genuinely good to him, Zheng Hao would probably not become as cold-blooded and ruthless as he was in the original book, harming loyal and virtuous people.

Thinking of this, Gu Lin felt that the future was bright. He looked down and smiled at Zheng Hao, saying, "Come on, we made some money today, let's go buy some meat to eat."

Heaven knows how much Gu Lin craves meat right now. The only meat he's ever had since coming to this world was those two meat buns. Now that he's finally made money, of course he has to treat himself properly.

The boy's expression was more radiant than Zheng Hao had ever seen before, but he felt no disgust whatsoever. The boy's arrogant and smug demeanor from before seemed to vanish from his mind in an instant.

Gu Lin returned the wooden plaque to the street official and, under the official's surprised gaze, led Zheng Hao to the butcher shop on the next street.

Looking at the pork belly hanging on the butcher's stall, Gu Lin's mouth kept watering. After swallowing, he said to the butcher, who had a face full of fat and a thick waist, "Boss, I want a pound of pork belly."

Gu Lin didn't buy only one pound of meat because he was reluctant to spend the money, but because there were only two of them, Zheng Hao and he couldn't eat too much. The weather was hot and the meat was hard to preserve; if it wasn't finished, it would spoil overnight.

Therefore, Gu Lin still felt it was better to buy and eat it on the same day.

The butcher took the meat that Gu Lin had just looked at, cut it with his knife, and cut off a beautiful piece of meat. Then he tied it with straw rope and said, "Fifteen coins."

After paying, Gu Lin took the meat and put it in the bamboo basket. Then, he left the county town with Zheng Hao, but it was too early and the rest of the villagers hadn't arrived yet, so Gu Lin and Zheng Hao stood under the shade of a tree to wait.

After everyone had arrived, they boarded the vehicle, and Uncle Zhang cracked his whip and embarked on his journey home.

Upon arriving at Xiahe Village, Gu Lin was still the first to get off the bus and pay.

After he left, the woman and boy who were standing there started to talk.

Tian Dahua pointed at Gu Lin's departing figure and said, "Did you see that?"

Another guy nodded repeatedly: "I noticed it a long time ago. That bamboo basket looks heavy. I guess Brother Lin didn't sell many vegetables this morning."

Another woman said, "He's pitiful too. He's only eighteen, a perfect age, and he's already a widow with a child in tow. I'm afraid he'll have a hard time remarrying in the future."

Tian Dahua glanced at her and sneered, "Are you confused? He and Zheng have no blood relation whatsoever. How much affection can a father and son formed by marriage have? You all saw how Gu Lin treated Zheng before. Now that he's put on a show for a bit, you really think he's changed for the better."

Although Tian Dahua's words were unpleasant to hear, they made some sense, and the other men and women pondered them for a moment.

The woman who had just spoken hesitated, feeling that Lin Ge'er had really changed a lot and was different from before. But seeing Tian Dahua's sharp and mean face, and remembering that the other party had a scholar's son whom she couldn't offend, the woman swallowed back the words she was about to say.

Gu Lin returned home, unaware that people had been gossiping about him behind his back ever since he left. However, even if he knew, he wouldn't care; as long as he didn't hear it, he didn't mind.

Gu Lin took out the meat he bought, washed it once, poured out the bloody water, and then put the meat into the pot to stir-fry. He added some minced garlic and sauce, and the golden and shiny stir-fried pork belly was ready.

Gu Lin didn't eat right away. He first took out a bowl, filled it with meat, and then went out of his house to the Zhao family's house. The Zhao family's door was not closed, but Gu Lin did not go in. He called out to Sister-in-law Zhao from outside.

Zhao's wife was cooking at home when she heard Gu Lin's voice and immediately came out to ask, "What's wrong, Brother Lin?"

After seeing her appear, Gu Lin walked into the Zhao family and said, "I went to the county town this morning to buy some meat, but I didn't expect to buy too much. Zheng Hao and I can't finish it, so I brought some over."

These days, ordinary families can't even afford a few pieces of meat a year. They're always hungry and lack oil and fat. When Gu Lin came in, Zhao's wife smelled a meaty aroma. She thought she was just imagining things because she hadn't eaten meat in so long, but it turned out to be true.

Looking at the oily slices of meat in Gu Lin's bowl, Zhao's wife swallowed hard.

But she held back: "After you buy the meat, keep it safe for yourself and Zheng boy to nourish your bodies. Why bring it here? Take it back and eat it quickly. Your brother Zhao and I are old and can't stand meat."

Although Sister Zhao was craving meat, she never liked to take advantage of others. If someone gave her a needle, she would rather return a handful, let alone a bowl of meat.

Gu Lin could naturally see through Zhao's sister-in-law's insincerity and care, but since he had already taken the meat, he wouldn't take it back.

He lowered his eyes slightly, his expression somber, and said, "Sister-in-law Zhao has treated me like an outsider, but I consider her my own sister-in-law. Before, when Liu Sanlai tried to smear me, if it weren't for Sister-in-law Zhao and Brother Zhao speaking up for me, I'm afraid I wouldn't know what to do."

"Oh dear!" Seeing that the young man seemed about to cry as he spoke, Sister Zhao slapped her thigh anxiously and said, "What nonsense are you talking about, you silly boy? If I really treated you as an outsider, I would have been busy taking care of you these days, afraid that you would be bullied by others after Zheng the hunter left."

Gu Lin had been waiting for these words. He looked up at Sister Zhao in front of him and said, "Since you've said that, you can't be so formal with me and refuse my meat. Otherwise, I'll have no face to accept anything from you if you bring anything to my house again in the future."

Having lived for decades, Aunt Zhao could easily see through Gu Lin's thoughts. But looking at the obedient, sweet-talking young man in front of her, Aunt Zhao felt both hot and warm inside. She had no son or daughter, only a son. Although her son was usually filial, he was just like his father, dull and honest, and couldn't say so many heartfelt words. Aunt Zhao thought to herself, "It would be so much better if I had a son or a daughter."

She looked at Gu Lin and said, "I'll accept it this time, but you can't do this again in the future."

Gu Lin's initial sadness faded, replaced by a smile, but he still didn't agree to what the other person was going to say next.

Zhao's wife was unaware of Gu Lin's thoughts. She patted Gu Lin's shoulder affectionately and said, "Here, give me the bowl. I'll go pour out the meat. You can just take the bowl back later."

Eating someone else's meat already shows a lack of shamelessness; Zhao's sister-in-law was too embarrassed to use Gu Lin's bowl anymore.

Gu Lin did not refuse to hand over the bowl. After the other person poured the meat into another bowl, Gu Lin took his own ceramic bowl and said, "Sister-in-law, I'm now running a small business in the county town and I need a lot of bamboo tubes. I've used up the ones Da Gen brought yesterday, and I need Da Gen to make another 150 bamboo tubes today."

When she heard that the other party wanted so many bamboo tubes all at once, Sister Zhao was surprised, but she didn't ask any more questions and said, "Okay, I'll have Da Gen deliver them over later."

Gu Lin: "This time you must pay me. Last time you refused to pay me, I was so ashamed that I couldn't sleep at night. I want 150 bamboo tubes every day from now on. If you still refuse to pay me, I won't dare to ask Da Gen to make them."

Seeing that Sister Zhao was about to refuse again, Gu Lin said, "Even close brothers should keep clear accounts. If Sister Zhao doesn't accept the money, I'll have to find someone else."

Zhao's wife panicked.

She didn't want to accept the money for two reasons: firstly, the bamboo tubes were cheap and not worth much; secondly, she had received too much kindness from Hunter Zheng and hadn't even had time to repay his kindness, so how could she ask her benefactor's widow for money over a few bamboo tubes?

But when Gu Lin heard that she wouldn't take the money, he wanted to go find someone else. Zhao's wife got anxious, afraid that the silly young man in front of her would be cheated and even count the money for someone else. She pointed at Gu Lin with her finger and said, "You're driving me crazy. I'll listen to you, but two bamboo tubes for one coin is too much. Change it to five for one coin."

Gu Lin had never seen anyone so afraid of others suffering losses. He said, "Sister-in-law, listen to me. Three bamboo tubes for one coin. The bamboo has to be cut down from the mountain, polished, and made into bamboo tubes. It takes a lot of effort for Da Gen. Are you willing to let Da Gen work so hard just to earn a few coins?"

Sister Zhao disagreed. This was not just a few coins. Even if it was five bamboo tubes at one coin each, she could earn thirty coins a day.

Thirty coins can buy two catties of meat, that's quite a lot.

But she couldn't resist Gu Lin's insistence and agreed.

After finishing his business, Gu Lin walked home in a cheerful mood.

He ate the slices of meat in his bowl; they were crisp, tender, and fragrant. A satisfied expression appeared on his fair face, and his round eyes narrowed slightly in enjoyment.

After eating several pieces of meat, Gu Lin stopped. He turned around and saw that Zheng Hao was eating slowly. He paused for a moment, then picked up a piece of meat and put it in Zheng Hao's bowl, saying, "Eat more meat. Thanks to your help today, otherwise I definitely wouldn't have been able to handle so many people."

Zheng Hao glanced at the slices of meat in his bowl, then looked up at the boy in front of him with a bright, star-like smile in his eyes. He remained silent for a moment, then picked up the meat and ate it without saying a word.

However, upon closer inspection, one can see that the boy's brows lacked some of the fierceness he once possessed.

Finally, the two people at the table finished off a large bowl of tender and fragrant sliced ​​meat.