Chapter 11: The Gu Family of Qing River
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
This was a villa that an ancestor of the Gu family had chosen. After the war erupted and the situation became precarious, the entire Gu family moved here in search of stability.
The ancestor of the Gu family had been a major landowner and all the land that belonged to the Qing River Brigade once belonged to the Gu family.
Later, all the family’s property was seized and their land was distributed to the farmers.
The Gu family lived by itself on the margins of the Qing River Brigade, halfway up the hill.
Because their family was a bad element, all the other families avoided them and refused to stay with them.
Grandfather Gu, Gu Chonghua, was a major landowner. Grandma Wen Ruyu was the daughter of a great financier in Old Shanghai. The two of them were considered to be utterly despicable because of their background.
Fortunately, Grandfather Gu had made large donations to support the war effort and had continued to treat patients in the village with his youngest son. This had allowed the entire family to continue to survive in peace.
In those days, doctors were rarely found in villagers. Many who fell ill could only wait for death. The presence of the Gu family’s father and son in the Qing River Brigade gave the common folk there much peace of mind.
Mo Beihan drove the car and sent Gu Qingyao back to the Gu House.
When she saw the familiar cowshed, Gu Qingyao’s eyes turned red.
That’s right, that was the cowshed!
Their entire family lived in the cowshed.
The Gu family was a bad element and after the founding of the nation, their property was seized. Grandfather and Grandma had been sent to this cowshed to undergo reeducation through labor. They did the dirtiest work and received the smallest share of work points.
Grandfather and Grandma were old, and Father had been worried about them, so he had moved into the cowshed with the two old people. Their family had been in the eye of the storm then. Even if he had the ability to build a separate house, he also did not dare to make a careless move.
This was a time in which food was very scarce. Cows were the main labor force during the busy season, so the cows led a better life than humans.
Although it was a cowshed, it was sturdily constructed of stone and brick and much better built than many of the houses belonging to the Qing River Brigade.
The Gu family lived next to the cowshed, separated from the shed by only one wall. The hay was kept on the other side of the wall, and the animals lived next to the hay.
The animals were some distance away from the Gu family and the hay was placed in the intervening space. This was not because the Gu family would be cleaner or suffer from fewer smells by staying a little further, but because the room containing the hay was better than the Gu family’s room.
The best place was given to the cows. The hay was for the cows, because they had to be well fed.
As for the Gu family, at that time, everyone wished they could move the whole family into the cowshed to live with the cows.
Gu Qingyao’s heart bled as she recalled the past.
Mo Beihan’s heart ached when he saw her red eyes. He thought that his Yao Yao had suffered so much from last night’s incident that she burst into tears upon reaching home!
“Yao Yao…”
Gu Qingyao only snapped out of her trance when he called her name. She quickly reined in her emotions, but did not have time to say anything before she hurried into the courtyard.
In the courtyard, her grandma, Wen Ruyu, was washing the clothes. She was startled to see Gu Qingyao return. “Yao Yao? Why are you back? And so quickly? Where are your grandfather and your father?”
Grandma was old and her hair was almost completely white. Her face bore the mark of the passing years.
Gu Qingyao almost burst into tears when she saw her grandma.
Her grandma had already spent her life worrying over the events she had encountered in her previous life. She had worried about Gu Qingyao’s future, even up to her death, and said that Gu Qingyao caused her the most concern.
She and Mo Beihan had both been good children and they had clearly liked each other. But they had been manipulated by others, and suffered terribly.
Chapter 12: Mo Beihan, I Will Definitely Marry You In This Lifetime!
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Gu Qingyao tried her best to keep her emotions in check. She was already reborn, and many things in this life had changed. She must not allow her grandma to suspect anything.
“Grandma, Brother Beihan had to return to attend to some urgent matters, so he gave me a ride back.”
“Father and Grandfather were called out to see a patient in the middle of the night. Mother brought Elder Sister out while it was still dark, and I was afraid to stay there by myself. Fortunately, I ran into Brother Beihan and came back with him. I left a message with the neighbors. When Father gets back, he will know that I left with Brother Beihan and won’t worry.”
When Wen Ruyu heard that Zhang Xiaohui had brought Gu Ruoqing away before daybreak and left Gu Qingyao there alone, she frowned. However, she did not comment but said to Gu Qingyao, “Alright then, it’s good that you’re back. Where’s Beihan?”
At that moment, Mo Beihan was entering the house to get some things. He placed the ribs and fish in the basin. Wen Ruyu did not see it but said a few words to Mo Beihan before continuing to wash her clothes.
Mo Beihan helped Gu Qingyao to bring what little luggage she had into the house, then followed Gu Qingyao into her own room.
“Yao Yao…”
Gu Qingyao looked at him. His face was filled with worry and heartache, but when he looked at her, his eyes were filled with tenderness.
When she recalled all the ways in which this man had been good to her in her previous life, Gu Qingyao suddenly laughed. “Brother Beihan, should I repay you for saving me?”
Mo Beihan was shocked and somewhat confused by Gu Qingyao.
Shouldn’t Yao Yao be frightened and terrified right now? Although she had changed a lot in this life, she had been as frightened as usual last night.
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But Mo Beihan did not know that the young girl before him was no longer an innocent young maiden of fifteen. So many things had happened in her past life. Gu Qingyao had experienced much in her past decades of life.
Gu Qingyao felt that she had been a failure in her previous life, unable to emerge from the shadows of her youth. The more she refused to emerge, the more people mocked her for her past.
The truth was that if she had been stronger, she would have been a winner in the game of life, even in her previous life.
1
Bai Youran had been the beloved daughter of a rich and powerful family, but she had not hesitated to drug Mo Beihan in order to get him. Although this man’s heart belonged to her, she had delayed and wasted her life.
She was killed in a car crash in her previous life, but at the last second, Mo Beihan’s promise to marry her in her next life had struck her deeply. Having experienced life and death, she could now think clearly.
Mo Beihan, I will definitely marry you in this lifetime!
When she saw that Mo Beihan did not speak, Gu Qingyao reached out and tugged at his sleeve. “What’s the matter? Don’t you want me to repay you?”
The girl was standing in front of him, tugging his sleeve. Her large, liquid eyes glowed as they gazed at him.
She was stunningly beautiful. Her skin was especially pale and her eyes were lively. She had a pretty little nose and a pointed chin. Her soft pink lips were like peaches and absolutely alluring!
As Mo Beihan looked at her, his throat felt warm and his mouth became parched. But what shocked him was Yao Yao’s present attitude towards him. Was he… mistaken?
Why did he feel that… Yao Yao was flirting with him?
Repay?
How could she repay him?
Chapter 13: Untitled
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
At that moment, Gu Qingyao was making Mo Beihan rather nervous!
Gu Qingyao smiled and tugged harder at him. “Brother Beihan, if not for you, I don’t know what would have happened to me last night! You saved me! Are you sure you don’t want me to repay you?”
He had doted on this girl all her life in his previous life. When he saw that she truly was not frightened, Mo Beihan suddenly heaved a sigh of relief.
He held her hand. Actually, he did not dare to hold her hand. He only held her wrist through her sleeve, and said gently, “Yao Yao, I’m glad you weren’t frightened. What happened last night was just an accident. Brother Beihan will deal with it. In the future, Brother Beihan will take good care of you and will keep you safe. Do you understand?”
Gu Qingyao lowered her head to look at him holding her wrist. She lifted her eyes and glanced at him. Then she suddenly reached out both hands and clasped his hand. This time, she did not do it through her sleeves, but directly placed his hands in hers.
She even shook them and said, “If you say so, I will take you at your word!”
Her soft voice made Mo Beihan’s heart itch. The warmth in his hand felt so real.
The feeling of being reborn was fantastic.
“Of course you can take me at my word. I will keep my promise.”
Gu Qingyao smiled and said, “That’s good. Alright then, I’m home now and you don’t need to worry about me. I’m not that timid. You go about your business! Come and look for me when you’ve finished.”
Although Mo Beihan had suddenly sent her home, he had not really made a special trip to bring her here. He actually did have matters to attend to that had been delayed in his previous life.
Mo Beihan was relieved to see that Gu Qingyao truly did not seem frightened.
“I’ll go then. Have a good rest at home!”
He really did have things to attend to. He had a mission to perform on this vacation.
Mo Beihan reluctantly let go of her hand and turned to leave. But before he reached the doorway, Gu Qingyao suddenly held on to him and said smilingly, “Are you sure you don’t want me to repay you?”
Mo Beihan looked at her. A fire burned in his eyes but he did not say anything.
Gu Qingyao laughed. “You saved me. How about I promise to marry you? Do you want me to repay you?”
Mo Beihan’s eyes immediately brightened. Promise to marry him?
That would be great!
“Hee…” Gu Qingyao could not help but laugh when she saw Mo Beihan’s immediate response.
“But it doesn’t seem too possible…”
Mo Beihan panicked. “Why isn’t it possible? Yao Yao…”
“I’m too young!”
Mo Beihan: “…”
“I still have to wait for my older brothers to marry before it’s my turn.”
Mo Beihan immediately grew anxious!
Did he really have to wait for Yao Yao’s older brothers to get married before he could marry this girl?
Yao Yao had five older brothers and they were all unmarried…
Mo Beihan left at last with a heavy heart.
Gu Qingyao almost burst out laughing when she saw his expression.
She had not realized how adorable her brother Beihan was!
Gu Qingyao turned and looked at the room that she had lived in since she was a little girl. The room was quite small. There was only a bed, a desk, a chair and a closet. Besides that, there was nothing else.
It was completely different compared to her living conditions in her previous life. But at that moment, she was still exuberant at being reborn!
She had been rather stifled in her previous life. She must lead a more exciting life this time.
She would have a proper romance and marry the person she liked the most. She would have a successful career, with her family living happily and harmoniously with her. She would reach the pinnacle of her life!
Mhm!
That’s what a reborn person should be like!
Chapter 14: Gather Our Resources!
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
By the time she emerged from her room, her grandma, Wen Ruyu, had almost finished washing the clothes and was about to hang them up to dry.
Gu Qingyao said, “Grandma, are you hungry? I’ll cook for you. Brother Beihan bought buns and red braised pork from the state-run restaurant but didn’t finish, so we brought it back.”
Even Grandma Wen Ruyu could not help but look eager when she heard that there was meat. Wen Ruyu had lived well when she was young, but unfortunately had encountered times like this, and had suffered much in recent years.
In these times, commoners only had a taste of meat at the end of the year when they killed the pigs and distributed the meat. Under normal circumstances, one needed both money and coupons to buy meat from the grocery store, and even then, it was not always available.
If not for Eldest, Second and Third Uncle, the Gu family could not possibly afford to eat such things.
Because of the constraints of the times, even though the Gu family could afford it, they still seldom ate meat.
Wen Ruyu immediately smiled when she heard that and said, “Alright, just heat up one bun. I don’t eat much.”
Gu Qingyao entered the kitchen.
In the kitchen was a typical wood-burning clay stove found in villages. By its side was a brazier. But the weather was warm and the brazier was not in use and was just sitting there.
Gu Qingyao added some water to the pot and lit the fire. Then she placed two buns and the red braised pork in the steamer to heat them up.
Knowing that her grandma was still outside, Gu Qingyao looked at the red braised pork she had brought back and seized the opportunity to add another two large spoonfuls from her interspace.
She had lots of cooked food in her interspace. Red braised pork was one of them. It was rare for her family to eat meat, and she wanted to seize the opportunity to let her grandma have a little more.
After that, she took out about half a kilogram of pork ribs and added it to the pork ribs she had bought. She washed and salted them, then went to deal with the fish.
At that moment, Wen Ruyu came in and was shocked to see the pork ribs and the large fish!
“Did you buy all these? Wow! These items may not be available even if you want to buy them. How unusual that you managed to get them!”
Gu Qingyao smiled. “We were lucky today. We bought them at the grocery store. Only this fish and the pork ribs were left when we were there, so we bought them all.”
Wen Ruyu smiled, “Wonderful! Salt them and when your father and grandfather get back, they can have some meat. That’s a lot of pork rib! We can add some carrots and cabbage later and it will be enough for several meals.”
In times like this, resources were scarce. To everyone, meat, no matter whether it was fatty meat, lean meat, pork collar, or pork ribs, they all had to be braised with carrots and cabbage in a large stew so that everyone in the family could taste some meat and have a share of these coveted foods.
Gu Qingyao did not argue. In times like these, she could not change her grandma’s thinking at once. Anyway, she had her interspace. In the future, she certainly would not allow her grandma to suffer!
Grandma had once enjoyed a good life. In the future, her living conditions would improve and she would naturally get used to it.
Gu Qingyao carried the fish to the well to clean it. By the time she had gutted and cleaned the fish, Wen Ruyu had already eaten and emerged. The red braised pork had been soft and tender, melting in her mouth. Wen Ruyu had been completely satisfied with her meal.
She carried a basket and a small hoe, and was prepared to work in the vegetable patch.
At that time, every household had a private plot which they used to grow some vegetables. These vegetables were part of the farmers’ diet. Most families lacked food and only continued to eke out an existence by growing vegetables for half a year and melons and other vegetables for the other half.
When Gu Qingyao saw that, she said, “Grandma, I’ll go up the mountain later to dig for some wild herbs. Perhaps I can pick some mushrooms or fungus, and I’ll also bring back some firewood while I’m there.”
Wen Ruyu said, “Don’t worry about the firewood. You can’t possibly manage it. You must be careful when you go up the mountain!”
It was common for the children in the village to go up the mountain to dig for wild herbs. Gu Qingyao had also frequently done so in the past, so Wen Ruyu did not feel that anything was amiss.
Chapter 15: Did They Bully You?
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Wen Ruyu left and Gu Qingyao brought the fish to the kitchen, covered it with a layer of salt, then left it there.
She looked at the oil, salt and other condiments in the kitchen and hurriedly added to them from her interspace. Then she looked in the household’s rice jar. Many sacks of grain were in the large jar. At the top were the coarse grains – some sorghum flour, sweet potato flour, dried sweet potatoes and corn husks.
Below was the rice, wheat flour, and some cornflour.
In these times, fine grains were very dear and very few could afford them. Even the Gu family, which was supported by the wages of several people, had a pitiful amount of fine grain.
There was less than fifteen kilograms of rice, and about ten kilograms of wheat flour. There was slightly more cornflour, about twenty kilograms of it.
Gu Qingyao knew that there was not much grain in the house. The autumn harvest had just passed, and the grain would only be distributed at the end of the year. At this time, some families in the brigade who were in more difficult circumstances would be almost out of food. There was not much left in the Gu household either!
After some thought, Gu Qingyao added two kilograms of rice, a kilogram of wheat flour, and two kilograms of cornflour. She also added a few dried sweet potatoes.
She did not have much coarse grain in her interspace, or at least, she only had a few types.
Food and other resources were abundant in her modern life, and her interspace was mainly used as a supermarket and to provision hotels and restaurants. In modern times, the only people who ate coarse food and grains were those seeking its health benefits.
It was not like the present, when they could not afford to eat fine grains!
After she had finished doing all this, Gu Qingyao took her basket and cloth sack and went up the mountain. Winter was coming and in order to survive the winter, the people here were all frantically searching everywhere for food.
Everywhere on the mountainside were people digging for wild herbs and looking for tree bark.
Gu Qingyao found some shepherd’s purse at the edge of the field. Then she carried her basket and went deeper into the mountain.
The Qing River Brigade occupied a large mountain which stretched over a huge area. In the deepest part of it was a primeval forest. The trees in the outlying region had mostly been cut down in the Great Leap Forward, but it had recovered after many years and the mountainside looked like itself once again.
The outlying regions were very safe and small animals like wild chickens, rabbits and hedgehogs could often be seen. However, these animals were not easy to catch unless one knew how to go about it.
“Elder Sister Gu! Elder Sister Gu!”
Gu Qingyao was about to head deeper into the mountain when she heard someone calling her name. She paused and looked. A few small boys rushed out of the nearby forest. They were about 11 or 12 years old, and they all carried baskets or firewood.
Children of these ages were all working. They could only have a comfortable winter if they had sufficient firewood.
The child leading the pack was called Goudan. His surname was Chen, but had no other name, so everyone called him Goudan.
Chen Goudan was 12 years old. His father had died of an illness a few years ago. His mother had abandoned them and run away to marry someone else. He had a 6-year-old sister. The year this happened, his sister was still a newborn, and their grandparents had pitied them and taken them in for a few years.
Last year, their grandparents had passed away, one after another, so he was left to bring up his sister alone.
The rooms in their house were mostly occupied by their Eldest Uncle’s family. The two children lived with their Eldest Uncle’s family and were treated like slaves.
Gu Qingyao’s smile was very gentle. “Goudan, what’s the matter?”
Chen Goudan lifted his eyes to look at Gu Qingyao’s face and wavered when he saw her smiling face. She was so pretty!
Elder Sister Gu must be the prettiest girl in the entire brigade.
“Elder Sister Gu, did Gu Ruoqing and the others bully you? I saw her speaking to Elder Sister yesterday, something about how you should wait and see, she would force you to leave the Gu Family in the future. Did they bully you?”