Chapter 22: Gu Yuanfeng

Chapter 22: Chapter 22: Gu Yuanfeng

The more everyone heard, the darker their faces became. No wonder He Tiping dared to say the money wasn’t spent on him—apparently, it didn’t count if it was spent on his family.

"The He Family are really quite the schemers," Ancient Wen Heng said, seeing that everyone was still stunned. He decided to charitably spell it out for them. "We’re all just old farmers. Who has time for all these pretentious formalities? They must have had several birthday celebrations, big and small, right? I wonder what kinds of gifts my foolish sister received during those parties?"

"We’re all family. It was all voluntary," He Tiping said meekly.

"What a world of difference," Wang Caiyue scoffed, her hands on her hips. "This is like shearing the same sheep over and over. Now that you’ve fleeced your own wife dry, you’re setting your sights on the entire Gu family. Your He Family is so large, yet you’re doing so poorly that you have to beg for money just to buy water?

Surely not? I remember your older brother is a traveling peddler. How could he be coveting his sister-in-law’s dowry?"

"You’re wrong, Second Sister-in-law," Li Xiaohua said, looking at Gu Yuanfeng with disappointment. "What kind of peddler runs a losing business? Didn’t you hear our younger sister just now? She said she was ’contributing to the pot.’"

"That’s just hilarious. Our family has had several celebrations, but we never saw anyone from the He Family come and contribute. So there are special rules, I see. It’s a one-way street!"

"Don’t be so harsh. Mrs. Gu did it willingly." He Tiping’s face fell. Resentment toward Gu Yuanfeng surged within him. He had told her to come back alone, but she insisted on dragging him along to suffer this humiliation.

"You should go back. I can’t help you." Li Cuicui looked at Gu Yuanfeng with some disappointment. ’My daughter used to be so clever. How did she become so dull?’

Gu Yuanfeng suddenly spotted Jin Qianqian and rushed toward her, holding her child. "Mrs. Jin, didn’t you pawn your dowry? You must have some extra money on hand. Lend me some."

Jin Qianqian was a bit slow to react. ’Wasn’t I just a spectator? How did I suddenly get a part in this drama?’

"I’m your sister-in-law! You can’t just watch me die and do nothing." Gu Yuanfeng had already made up her mind before she came. If she couldn’t borrow from the old matriarch, her only other option was to target Jin Qianqian.

As for her other sisters-in-law, she’d never held out any hope.

All the voices that had been so loud in their opposition fell silent the moment she confronted Jin Qianqian.

Ancient Wen Heng could tell at a glance that Jin Qianqian was off in her own world again, so he immediately pulled her behind him. "Sixth Sister, we can’t help you. Look, back in the last county town, we couldn’t even bear to buy yellow millet. We’ve been surviving on a single bag of rice bran until now."

As he spoke, he upended the bamboo canteen at his waist. "See? Not a single drop of water comes out. You need to live, but don’t your younger brother and I need to live, too?

Instead of begging us, you’d be better off going back and asking your brother-in-law’s older brother. He’s earned a fair bit on this journey. Anyone who’s short on supplies can trade with him for what they need."

"My older brother is having a hard time too!" He Tiping blurted out anxiously before Gu Yuanfeng could speak.

"No matter how hard a time he’s having, he’s still much better off than people like us. We don’t owe you anything. Please return to your own group."

Ancient Wen Heng’s expression turned stern. The refined bearing cultivated in his family from a young age suddenly emerged, and the oppressive aura he exuded made He Tiping, who had been about to retort, swallow his words.

’When did his gentle brother-in-law become so imposing?’

Seeing his demeanor, Jin Qianqian felt as if she were once again looking at the high-spirited senior from her past. His ragged clothes couldn’t conceal the flamboyance, nobility, and elegance that emanated from his very being.

The members of the Gu Family and the other villagers who had been watching the spectacle also schooled their expressions and awkwardly looked away.

The corners of Jin Qianqian’s mouth lifted, her heart swelling with pride.

But in Gu Yuanfeng’s eyes, Jin Qianqian’s smug expression was nothing but mockery.

Holding her child in one arm, she took several quick steps forward and swung her hand straight at Jin Qianqian’s face.

But Ancient Wen Heng was a step faster. He pulled Jin Qianqian aside, causing her to miss completely. Due to the momentum, the child in her arms was flung into the air.

The onlookers gasped in alarm, but the Gu family’s eldest grandson, Gu Letian, with his quick eyes and even quicker hands, managed to catch the child.

"Chuncao?" Only after regaining her balance did Gu Yuanfeng start looking for her daughter.

He Chuncao was terrified, and the moment she realized what had happened, she began to wail.

Hearing her daughter’s cries, Gu Yuanfeng snatched the child back from Gu Letian’s arms.

"You little bitch, you dare to dodge?!" Gu Yuanfeng felt a surge of pure rage as she pointed at Jin Qianqian and began to curse venomously.

Hearing the ugly, piercing curses, Ancient Wen Heng felt his own anger flare. He turned and told Jin Qianqian, "Stand back."

Before Jin Qianqian could understand what was happening, she saw Ancient Wen Heng charge directly at He Tiping, who was still watching from the sidelines. He raised his fists and began to beat him soundly in the face.

"What are you doing?!" Gu Yuanfeng finally snapped out of it, but the unprepared He Tiping had already been beaten to the ground.

"You’re a freeloader who can’t even support his own wife and child! Do you even call yourself a man?" Ancient Wen Heng cursed with every punch. "You think our Gu Family is easy to bully? We gave you a perfectly good daughter and a huge dowry, and after just a few years, you’re already back at her family’s home begging for help.

They say a husband should discipline his wife in private. Look at you! You’ve turned my perfectly fine sister into a shrew! What kind of upbringing does your family have?

Today you dare to cause trouble for my wife. Next time, are you going to offend all my sisters-in-law, too?

A woman’s dowry is the support her family gives her, it’s her dignity! Your whole family schemed to get my sister’s, and now you want to scheme for what my brothers and I have? What a brilliant plan you’ve hatched!"

The Gu Family Brothers and their wives, who had previously felt this was none of their business, now wore serious expressions. Perhaps the He Family really did have such intentions.

If Seventh and his wife compromised this time, wouldn’t that just give these people a better excuse to come knocking next time?

Seeing He Tiping on the ground, unable to get up, Gu Yuanfeng quickly put her child down and lunged forward to pull at Ancient Wen Heng.

This time, Jin Qianqian didn’t hold back. She grabbed Gu Yuanfeng firmly, but shouted, "Sixth Sister, I know you’re disappointed in your husband, but you can’t kick him! He’s your husband!"

As for whether the couple would have a falling out later? Jin Qianqian couldn’t care less. The moment Gu Yuanfeng had tried to hit her and started cursing, their family had become the enemy.

Hong Daya also quickly shoved Le Shun into Gu Yuantu’s arms. "Sixth Sister, don’t be rash! Even though your husband was disrespectful to the elders, you can’t hit him. Let’s go over to the side and cool down."

But Gu Yuanfeng was in no state to listen to what anyone was saying. "Let go! Don’t hold me back!"