Chapter 153: Chapter 154: Disciplining the Daughter
Gu Yuanfeng couldnât be bothered to hide her face and weep anymore. "Looks like Seventhâs life is getting better and better," she said sourly. "He spends what others live on for a whole year without a second thought.
"But here I am, his sister, and Iâve been miserable for half the day. Donât you know how to show a little concern?"
Ancient Wen Heng glanced up at her. "Iâve noticed Sixth Sister has gotten fairer and healthier-looking recently, while Mother seems to have gained a few more white hairs. I was hoping you could tell me why that is, Sixth Sister."
"So you look down on me too, your divorced sister? But this isnât what I wanted! You all forced me into this." Gu Yuanfeng then threw herself onto the kang bed and began to sob.
Li Cuicui cursed, "You troublesome girl," and briefly explained what had happened with the He Family. "I was the one who decided on her divorce. The moment they dared to plot against us, that marriage was over.
"But donât worry, I cleared it with the Old Clan Leader. We werenât the ones in the wrong."
"All I wanted was to stay in Seventhâs house for a while! As his older sister, canât I even get a little of his good fortune?
"Mother, you never used to be like this with me. Is it because Seventh and his wife are always giving you Silver? Is that why youâre taking their side now?"
Hearing Gu Yuanfeng shift the blame yet again, Li Cuicuiâs anger flared. "At least Seventh has never been any trouble! From the day he was born, has he ever caused me a momentâs worry?
"Now look at you. When you were a girl living at home, your brothers always let you have your way. They spoiled you rotten. And you? Do you remember any of their kindness?
"When the He Family mistreated you so badly, wasnât it your brothers who went to their door time and time again to stand up for you?
"But in all these years, have you ever given any of your brothers a single smile?
"I donât expect you to bring gifts and visit during the holidays, but you could at least say a few kind words, couldnât you?
"Think about the times youâve been in trouble. Why do you think your sisters-in-law refuse to get involved? Itâs because youâre so awful to be around!
"Now, your brother and sister-in-law have just returned, and youâre already here picking faults. If youâre so unhappy here, then tomorrow Iâll go find a matchmaker and find you a new family to marry into.
"Walking around with that long, moping face all day... Never mind your fatherâhe canât stand the sight of it. Sometimes, even I want to slap you."
The old womanâs rapid-fire tirade finally silenced Gu Yuanfeng, at least for the moment. But her resentful eyes never stopped staring at Jin Qianqian, as if all her hardships were somehow Jin Qianqianâs fault.
Jin Qianqian silently scorned Gu Yuanfeng. âSo you think you have every right to take my house, and Iâm the one at fault for not just handing it over?â
After staying a little while longer, Ancient Wen Heng took Jin Qianqian to visit a few of the eldersâ homes before finally returning to their own courtyard.
Gu Yuanfeng stroked her own stomach. "Mother, Seventhâs wife has been married for a while now. How come thereâs still no sign of anything from her belly?"
Li Cuicui said, "Sheâd barely joined the family when we had to flee the famine. After all the hardships she endured on the road, itâs perfectly normal for a pregnancy to take a little longer."
Gu Yuanfeng bit her lip. "Mother, if Seventh and his wife canât have children, Iâm willing to give them the baby in my belly to raise."
Li Cuicui flung down the rag in her hand. "What did you just say? I donât think I heard you right."
"I said, Seventhâs wife hasnât had any good news for so long, and look how thin and frail she is. There must be something wrong with her body.
"The baby in my belly doesnât have a father, so I was thinking that after itâs born, Iâll give it to Seventh and his wife to raise.
"After all, Seventh would be its uncle. It would still be the flesh and blood of the Gu family. Thatâs much better than them having to adopt some other child later on."
"Bah!" Li Cuicui snatched the rag back up and threw it right in her daughterâs face. "I may not have given you a pretty face, but you sure have some pretty delusions! Who curses their own brother like that?
"How long have Seventh and his wife even been married? Iâm not worried, but here you are, his sister, already making plans for them.
"It seems Iâve been too easy on you lately. Letting you get all fat and comfortable has filled your head with these wild fantasies.
"Let me make myself clear. That thing in your belly? Once itâs born, you send it to the He Family. I donât want that kind of bloodline here; Iâm afraid it will drag down my future grandchildren."
Hearing the disgust in her motherâs tone, Gu Yuanfeng felt incredibly wronged, and tears welled up in her eyes once more.
"Whatâs all this now? Can you stop sniveling all day long?" Gu Dashishi barked the moment he walked in and saw his daughterâs face.
After all, a woman sent back home after a divorce didnât have a good reputation.
He had seen enough gossipy stares from the villagers these past few days. Coming home to this gloomy face was the last straw, and his temper flared.
Gu Yuanfeng covered her face and ran out, lamenting to herself, âWhy is my life so hard?â
"Whatâs she carrying on about now?" Gu Dashishi asked, then he spotted the clothes on the kang table. "Seventh and his wife are back?"
He started looking through the clothes, picking out the ones in his size. Besides Seventhâs wife, none of his other daughters-in-law were this thoughtful, nor did they have the money for it.
"Those are for us to wear for the New Year. Donât you go wearing them out to show off now, or youâll have nothing new to wear when the time comes," Li Cuicui warned as she saw him about to try a set on.
"What? They brought our New Yearâs clothes already?" Gu Dashishi said, turning a garment over in his hands. "The New Year is still two or three months away."
Li Cuicui explained why Seventh and his wife had returned. "Itâs such a long journey. Iâm thinking Iâll pack up some of that cured fish and pork for them. Itâs always good to have extra food when youâre traveling."
A look of reluctance crossed Gu Dashishiâs face. That was his favorite food to have with his wine. "Seventh and his wife arenât short on things like this, are they!"
Li Cuicui shot him a glare. "Youâre always so ungenerous. Relationships require give and take, even with your own son. Look around! The house we live in, the food we eat, the things we useâdidnât Seventh provide most of it? And now you canât even spare a couple of dishes for him. No wonder the men in the clan donât want anything to do with you."
"Who says they donât?" Gu Dashishi retorted, craning his neck. "They ask me over for drinks almost every day now!"
"Hmph," Li Cuicui shot back, deflating him again. "Thatâs only because they want to curry favor with your seventh son. If Seventh hadnât become a Scholar, do you really think those clan elders would give you the time of day?
"Oh, stop it. Weâve been married our whole lives; you should know your own standing by now. Hurry up and take the meat and fish over to them before they leave.
"They came all this way back. As their father, you should at least show some appreciation. Donât just sit here and take everything they give you."
Gu Dashishiâs shoulders slumped. "Do I really have to?"
Li Cuicui raised a fist. Gu Dashishi immediately flinched back, muttering under his breath, "Fine, fine, fine. Iâm going.
"All day long, all you think about is your son. This old man works himself to the bone and canât even get a bite of meat..."