Chapter 236: Gu Yunshuang: Although I Beat You, I Was Good To You! (3)
Gu Jinye pursed his lips but did not say anything.
Gu Qingyao continued. “But things are different now. Eldest Uncle and you have plans to leave. You have neither failed nor are you forced to leave. You are just lying low and retreating temporarily.
“Your two younger brothers have returned home in advance. Here, we and your grandparents will take good care of them. Even if you are elsewhere, you will not have so many burdens. Isn’t that true?
“Now all of you can still be together. You will be with Eldest Aunt and Uncle and you don’t have to worry about us! And as for my sister-in-law-to-be, Elder Brother, don’t you think that’s it’s better that the match fell through? I somehow feel that your luck will turn!”
Gu Jinlin was shocked!
Gu Qingyao smiled rather craftily. She narrowed her eyes like a little fox. “Think about it, Elder Brother. The girl ran away even before your circumstances took a turn for the worse. How can she share a life with you? You’re the eldest grandson in the family. In the future, many family matters will depend on you. If the eldest granddaughter-in-law of the Gu family is such an unreliable person, then it will be our family’s misfortune!
“Even if you’re demoted now, what of it? Considering your age, you’ll probably find your future wife while you’re demoted. Think about it, Elder Brother, what kind of girls are demoted?”
Gu Jinye was bewildered. He did not understand what Gu Qingyao was saying.
What kind of girls were demoted?
Gu Qingyao laughed. “In these times, only two types of people are doing well. The first are those who are especially sly and opportunistic. How many such people are there? Very few!
“The other type are those who have risen to power the fastest. They are the kind that create rumors, harm others, and disown their own relatives. I guess that the girl you were matched with has family members like that. Do you really want to marry someone like that?
“But the girls who have been demoted are different. Most of them come from families that used to be important. They might be from a scholarly family, or the family elders are experts, scholars or teachers. Such people have a wealth of knowledge and are well brought up. Their girls will certainly be well brought up.
“Elder Brother, perhaps after you leave, you might meet a young lady from a formerly important family. She will be cultured and educated, beautiful and gracious, and able to share both wealth and woe with you!”
Gu Jinye: “…”
He had not expected his younger cousin to say such things to him. But… when he thought about it, it seemed quite reasonable?
Gu Qingyao raised her brows and looked at him. “Have I said anything wrong? Look at you. Our Gu Family used to be such a powerful family. You are the eldest grandson of the Gu family. Even now, our uncles are all in high positions and your family is not doing too poorly, is it? Aren’t you just being demoted to do farming work?
“When you get there, you might meet a girl who is also from an important family. She might be very well brought up, but just rather unfortunate? After a few years, these abnormal times will pass. Then you will be the winner!”
“Re-really?” Gu Jinye was rather stunned.
“Of course!” Gu Qingyao said with certainty. “Elder Brother, let me tell you. In the past, these girls from important families were all pampered and spoiled, and had high expectations. Now they have fallen on hard times, but they have not yet lost their sense of aesthetics. They certainly will not marry an illiterate farmer with whom they have nothing in common. It’s not that they look down on them, but that they really have nothing to say to them.
“These girls will like someone like you!”
Chapter 237: Gu Yunshuang: Although I Beat You, I Was Good To You! (4)
“Look at you, you’re so handsome. You’re well-educated and well-brought-up. They can tell at a glance that you are from an important family. Then I’ll send you more fine grain and cloth! You can use that to cajole whoever you take a fancy to. Since when have those young girls suffered? They will have already noticed that you’re different, then when you give them so many fine things so that they can live better while they’re demoted, they will think the world of you and worship you.”
Gu Jinye: “…”
This… he thought that this image was lovely!
Gu Jinye looked at his young, teenage cousin. He remembered that this young girl had been delicate and pampered. His grandparents, Youngest Uncle and all the older cousins had doted on her. They had always thought of her as a child.
But now this girl was consoling him. She spoke so eloquently that he felt better!
Gu Jinye smiled and patted Gu Qingyao’s little head. He understood now!
The next day, Eldest Uncle’s family left. They did not go back to their place of work, but brought the entire family to visit Eldest Aunt’s family.
They would be gone for many years and they did not know exactly when they would be back. So Eldest Uncle decided to bring his wife and children to her home for a visit. They could not just leave like that.
After that, they would return and leave the two children behind.
After Eldest and Third Uncle’s family left, only Gu Jinfeng remained!
The Gu house quietened down. Gu Yunshuang was almost better and she often went out for a walk.
She had not returned to the Qing River Brigade for many years. Now that she had returned to her childhood home, it seemed like a different world.
After returning to her natal home to live, whenever she thought about her life in the Li family, she really did not know how she had survived.
The Gu house was mid-way up the mountain. There was a large empty space in front of the courtyard entrance. Not far from it was a patch of undergrowth. If one looked upwards, the view was blocked and an observer could only see part of it.
Li Dahai really visited that day.
He somehow sensed that he should wait for Eldest and Third Uncle to leave before coming over.
The sun was shining brightly that day and the snow had almost completely melted. The ground outside the door was dry.
Gu Yunshuang often enjoyed coming out for exercise and sun herself at the courtyard door.
Today, Li Fangting… actually she had changed her name to Gu Fangting.
Her accounts and rations had been transferred to the Qing River Brigade and the Gu family. So Gu Yunshuang changed her child’s name so that her surname was Gu.
Gu Fangting supported Gu Yunshuang and accompanied her as she walked around the empty space near the courtyard for some exercise. As she walked, she saw Li Dahai approach.
Gu Yunshuang frowned. Gu Fangting instinctively drew back.
She was afraid of the Li family. Although she was not terrified of her father, he was aloof and cold towards her mother and her, and she was rather frightened of him.
Gu Yunshuang patted Gu Fangting’s shoulder to console her.
Li Dahai came closer and when he saw Gu Yunshuang, he was taken aback!
Gu Yunshuang had been living well recently. Her cheeks were rosy and her skin was much fairer. Gu Qingyao had been nursing her back to health, so she had recovered quickly.
Gu Yunshuang had been born in the Gu family and used to be the daughter of a landlord family. The Gu family had raised her well and had spent much effort to educate her. So Gu Yunshuang naturally had an innate air of nobility.
In the past, the Li family had tormented her terribly because of her background. She had been so oppressed that she was unable to stand up for herself. She was both depressed and repressed. She also had to work all day, so she had aged terribly.
Chapter 238: Gu Yunshuang: Although I Beat You, I Was Good To You! (5)
But the present Gu Yunshuang looked like a completely different person.
Her cheeks were much rosier and she had put on some weight. She no longer looked like a bundle of bones. She was in a good mood and looked alert. She gave off a different energy.
Li Dahai was surprised by Gu Yunshuang’s current appearance. He remembered when he had first met Gu Yunshuang. At that time, Gu Yunshuang was very young and very pretty. To a peasant like him, she looked like a fairy!
Gu Fangting was somewhat repelled by Li Dahai, but Gu Yunshuang put a hand on her shoulder and stood there, her expression frosty and remote.
Li Dahai walked over to Gu Yunshuang and looked at her. “Yunshuang… how have you been? Do they despise you?”
Gu Fangting rolled her eyes.
They were doing very well. Even if the Gu family looked at her contemptuously, she would rather remain with them and serve her grandparents here. Her life here was ten thousand times better than her life with the Li family.
Gu Yunshuang looked at the man standing in front of her. Her mouth twitched and a look of cool amusement flashed across her eyes.
She guessed that Li Dahai was here to bring her home.
She had been with the Li family for more than ten years and was all too aware of the family’s situation. They were a bunch of useless and selfish creatures.
In the beginning, she thought that she could work to change her circumstances. She also wanted to have a good life.
She was not stupid. She was still able to stand up to her sisters-in-law in the Li family. As for Old Madam Li, she could have racked her brains to scheme against her so that she could have an easier time in the Li household.
But after trying hard for several years, she gave up completely.
Li Dahai was utterly useless. This man did not take up his responsibility as a husband or father. Actually, if she, Gu Yunshuang, had exerted herself, she could have used various methods to suppress them so that they would not be so arrogant and useless, and she would have had a better life.
But these people had not given her a chance.
Later on, she watched coldly as the Li family members grew increasingly useless.
She did all the housework and also did as much of the other work as she could. If the Li family members made any wrong decisions, she would just look on coldly. Anyway, they would not listen to her opinion.
Over the last few years, she had served the entire Li household until they were almost useless. Later on, she had almost stopped resisting entirely. She was waiting!
She knew how capable her older brothers were. She was waiting for her older brothers to attain powerful and important positions and for her nephews to establish themselves. She thought that if she bore with it for a few more years, she could certainly find a way to leave the Li family.
She, Gu Yunshuang, certainly would not be a slave to this family forever.
She had served them until they were all useless. Once she left, the Li family would be in a mess.
She was desperate and it was her only form of revenge.
Now, it was not yet ten days since she left and Li Dahai was already here. Gu Yunshuang felt the joy of vengeance.
Although her vengeance was mixed with sadness.
Gu Yunshuang placed a hand on her daughter’s shoulder. She stood there with a smile and asked lazily, “What’s the matter?”
This attitude startled Li Dahai!
In the past, Gu Yunshuang had always been very gentle and obedient. Although she was sometimes unwilling and complained occasionally, she would still perform her tasks obediently. She had never shown him this kind of attitude before.
“Yun… Yunshuang, our mother is so angry with you that she’s fallen ill. Come back with me and apologize to her and she will forgive you. When she has forgiven you, you can come home.”
Gu Yunshuang burst out laughing!
Chapter 239: Gu Yunshuang: Although I Beat You, I Was Good To You! (6)
She had guessed correctly.
“Who asked you to come? I heard that Old Madam Li is ill and your oldest and second sisters-in-law are also ill. So it must be your third sister-in-law? Now everything has fallen on her shoulders. She must be exhausted?”
Li Dahai had not discerned the sarcasm in Gu Yunshuang’s tone. After all, for the past few years, he was used to his impression of Gu Yunshuang. Now he did not know that the Gu Yunshuang before his eyes was different from the Gu Yunshuang whom he had known.
Li Dahai nodded frankly. “It was her. The house is in a mess lately and Mother is very ill and needs someone to take care of her. There’s no one else but Third Sister-in-law to take care of her. She can’t manage.”
Li Dahai raised his head and looked at Gu Yunshuang. He said sincerely, “Yunshuang, it’s not the same having to raise your child in your natal home. Mother hasn’t been well recently. Come back with me! Apologize to Mother, take good care of her, and she will forgive you.”
Gu Yunshuang’s lips twitched. “We’re already divorced. How can I go back? Are you going to marry me again? Do we need to hold a wedding?”
Li Dahai was stunned!
Hold a wedding?
“This… we’ve already been married for so many years. We even have a child together. We’ve just had a quarrel. Just come home and it will be fine. Is there any need to hold a wedding? That’s too troublesome and such a waste of time.”
As he spoke, Li Dahai bowed his head. He looked very distressed. “One thing after another has happened in our family. Especially Mother. She’s old now and we always have to pay the doctor when he sees her. We’ve spent a lot lately. Where will we find the resources for a wedding?”
Gu Yunshuang stood there silently.
When Li Dahai saw that she did not speak, he continued, “Yunshuang, come back with me! You really don’t need to worry that Mother won’t let you enter the house. She’s ill now! Come back and take good care of her for a while and apologize to her. She will certainly forgive you.”
Gu Yunshuang laughed. She seemed rather amused. “Are you saying… you want me to apologize to her? What did I do that was wrong? Why is your mother angry with me? Tell me?”
Li Dahai was stunned!
What had she done wrong?
His mind was suddenly blank.
Gu Yunshuang said, “Li Dahai, do you remember the child I was carrying? You beat me until I miscarried.”
Li Dahai was stunned again. Only then did he remember the child that had been lost.
“I… don’t worry, Yunshuang. We will have other children in the future…”
Gu Yunshuang looked at this man. She felt that he was rather funny. She was not at all hurt by his indifference. Perhaps her heart had grown cold after so many years. She did not have any feelings left for this man.
“Your mother has mistreated me for so many years in the Li family and you have never spoken up for me. Tell me, what’s the use of marrying a man like you?”
Li Dahai turned pale. “Yunshuang, how can you say that? I… haven’t I been good to you? I’ve worked hard every day and always obeyed you. I really do care about you deeply.”
“But you did not protect me when your mother bullied me.”
“I may not have protected you, but I was good to you! After all, she’s my mother and our elder. You just have to give in to her. Mother is so old. Surely, I can’t argue with her?”
Gu Yunshuang continued, “For many years in the Li family, I single-handedly did all the housework. Your mother and the others never lifted a finger to help. They treated me like a slave and ordered me about like a servant. You did not help me either.”
Chapter 240: Gu Yunshuang: Although I Beat You, I Was Good To You (7)
“I… she’s my mother. As her daughter-in-law, it’s your duty to be filial to her! Mother is so old, you can’t possibly expect her to do the housework? It wasn’t easy for her to raise me. Although I did not help you in this respect, I’ve otherwise always been good to you! Yunshuang, don’t you understand me after so many years?”
Gu Yunshuang smiled. She was not sad. She just rejoiced that she had finally left this household.
She had no desire to talk to him anymore. Gu Yunshuang held Gu Fangting’s hand and turned to leave.
Li Dahai immediately advanced and caught hold of her. “Yunshuang, don’t go. Come back with me and apologize to Mother. She will certainly forgive you…”
Gu Yunshuang turned, with her hand raised. She mercilessly slapped Li Dahai’s face.
Piak!
It was so loud!
Li Dahai was shocked. He held his face and looked at Gu Yunshuang in disbelief.
“Yun… Yunshuang, you… you hit me?”
Gu Yunshuang curled her lip. “Although I beat you, I was good to you!”
When he heard that, Li Dahai was unable to respond for a long time.
Gu Yunshuang laughed coldly. Then she tugged at Gu Fangting and left.
Li Dahai panicked when he saw Gu Yunshuang leave. It was as if he was losing something. He instinctively grabbed Gu Yunshuang. “Yunshuang, don’t… I… come home with me! We can discuss it at home. As a woman raising her child in her natal home, you will be despised. Come back with me. I’ll bring you to apologize to Mother and she will certainly allow you to return. Yunshuang…”
“Fourth Brother, Little Feng, Li Dahai is here. Fourth Brother…”
Gu Yunshuang did not want to listen to his nonsense. Since she could not get rid of him, she just shouted for Gu Yunshen and Gu Jinfeng.
Gu Yunshen and Gu Jinfeng were both at home. They rushed out when they heard the shouts from beyond the courtyard. How dare that bastard come here!
Gu Jinfeng had been trained outside the village. But he was in the house whereas Gu Yunshen was working by the well in the courtyard, so the latter arrived first.
They reached Gu Yunshuang almost simultaneously.
Gu Yunshen rushed towards her. When he reached Gu Yunshuang, he pulled her behind himself, then in the same move, kicked Li Dahai in the stomach.
“Let go!”
Gu Yunshen roared.
Gu Jinfeng followed at his heels. When he saw his youngest uncle kick Li Dahai, he raised his eyebrows.
He had arrived at the same time as Youngest Uncle, but Li Dahai was his elder, so he had not acted so quickly or so decisively. He had not expected Youngest Uncle to act so resolutely. And his kick…
Li Dahai was a peasant, and was tall and well-built. He was almost 1.8 meters tall and was a very large man.
His youngest uncle was about a head shorter than Li Dahai. But in the village, his youngest uncle was already considered tall. However, he was slender and as a physician, he looked gentle and scholarly.
But one kick from his youngest uncle forced Li Dahai to double over. He retreated several steps before he fell to the ground.
Such force…
Li Dahai held his stomach. He turned pale with agony and was unable to get up for a long time.
Gu Yunshen looked at him contemptuously. “Get lost!”
With that, he pulled Gu Yunshuang back to the house.
Li Dahai said with difficulty, “No… Yunshuang… Ting… Tingting, come back with Father. The Li family is your real family! Tingting… don’t you want your parents to be together?”
Gu Fangting paused and turned to look at Li Dahai. She said, “Father, I’ve already broken off my ties with you. From now on, I am Gu Fangting and a member of the Gu family. It was you who threw us out of the house.”
Li Dahai had not expected that his daughter had also become like that. Did they not want to go home?