Chapter 154: Chapter 155: Trouble at the Door
Looking at Gu Yuanfeng standing at the door, Jin Qianqian really wanted to slam it right in her face. What was with that look? It was like she wanted to eat her alive.
"Move aside. I have business with Seventh." Gu Yuanfeng put on the full airs of an older sister, but unfortunately for her, Jin Qianqianās hand remained firmly on the door.
"Seventh is out. If you need something, come back later."
"Why should I? This is my younger brotherās house, so Iāll go inside and wait.
What? Is this the hospitality the Jin Family taught you? Donāt forget, Iām your sister-in-law."
Jin Qianqian sneered. "What an impressive sister-in-law. Too bad itās just the two of us here. If you want to put on airs, you should at least find an audience. Otherwise, youāre holding your head high and sticking your tail up for nothing."
Gu Yuanfeng didnāt get the jab and actually turned to look behind herself. What tail was she talking about?
Jin Qianqian seized the opportunity to slam the courtyard gate shut and slide the bolt home.
"Ah! Open this door! You ill-mannered wench! Iām going to make Seventh divorce you! A hen that canāt even lay an egg dares to throw her weight around in the Gu family?"
Jin Qianqian was in no mood to stand there and listen to a shrewās tirade. She turned and went back to the kitchen, wondering if she should make a spicy hot pot to ward off the winter chill.
āAs for the one at the gate, Gu Wenheng should be back soon. Iāll just let him deal with her.ā
Little did Jin Qianqian know that Gu Wenheng was standing not far from their home at that very moment, watching Gu Yuanfeng brave the cold wind as she pointed at their front gate and screamed curses.
Seeing her curses grow more and more vicious, Gu Wenheng walked over with a cold expression. "Are you done cursing? If youāre done, then get lost."
Gu Yuanfeng stared at him in disbelief. "Seventh, you never used to talk to your sister like this. Have you forgotten? Iām the one who raised you when you were little.
Did that woman in there teach you this? Sheās driving a wedge between us! You need to divorce her right now."
Looking at the crazed Gu Yuanfeng, Gu Wenheng said coldly, "Donāt paint yourself as so noble. How exactly did you āraiseā me? Donāt you have any self-awareness?
That single step at our front doorāI must have tumbled down it dozens of times. When did I ever not have to pick myself back up?
Every time you told Mother you were staying home to look after me, youād just run off to play by yourself. Then youād come back and scold me for not being well-behaved or sensible.
When I got a little older, you pushed all the chores Mother gave you onto me. You called it ālooking afterā me, but it was more like I was the one looking after you.
Iām not trying to dig up the past now. Iām just saying that we were never that close as siblings. So from now on, donāt come over unless you have a good reason."
āGu Wenheng utterly despised this sister of his, who was only a bully to her own family. If it were up to him, they never should have let her get divorced and come back. It would have been much better if she had stayed to torment the He Family.ā
"I came here because I have something important to tell you, but that wife of yours wouldnāt even let me in the door. Otherwise, I wouldnāt have wanted to stand here cursing."
Gu Wenheng almost laughed in anger. āShe said that with such self-righteous confidence. This was his and Qianqianās home. Did she really expect them to do her bidding?ā
"I donāt think we have anything to talk about. You should just go home."
Gu Yuanfeng suddenly clutched her stomach. "Iām carrying your nephew in here."
"Oh, congratulations." With the thick winter clothes she was wearing, Gu Wenheng honestly hadnāt noticed.
"But Iām divorced now. I wonāt be able to support this child after heās born. I see that you and your wife still havenāt had any children, so when this child is born, Iāll just leave him here for you to raise. He can be a filial son to you, his uncle, in the future."
Gu Yuanfeng said this with utter confidence. "Look at that Jin woman. Sheās been married into the family for so long, and yet thereās no sign of a baby. If you raise my child from birth, itāll be much better than adopting a stranger later on."
āThis was the most ridiculous thing he had ever heard.ā Gu Wenheng looked up at the sky, speechless. āHis own sister was meddling in his marital affairs. Whether or not they had children, and when they had them, was a matter for him and Qianqian alone.ā
āBesides, they hadnāt even slept together yet. Where would a little brat come from?ā
"Go. Donāt come here again. As for the child in your belly, give it to whoever wants it. No matter how magnanimous I might be, I will not raise someone elseās child." Gu Wenheng had the urge to physically drag her away, but now he felt it would just dirty his hands. "If you donāt leave, my only choice will be to go get the Clan Leader."
āAlthough the Gu family had precedents for divorced women returning home, it really depended on the person. Someone like her would just make a mess of her life no matter how many chances she was given.ā
Her goal unachieved, Gu Yuanfeng was in no mood to leave. "Your life is so good now, whatās wrong with helping your sister out a little?
This child is ill-fated, being born to me. Heāll be without a father from the moment heās born, and our parents are already pushing me to remarry. Canāt you take pity on me? Give this child a chance to live."
Gu Wenheng replied, "None of this is my fault. If you really donāt want to raise him, you can always send him to the He Family. He is their flesh and blood, after all.
If they refuse to take him, you can go to their clansmen. Thereās always a way to solve this."
Gu Wenheng glanced at her barely showing belly. āThere was, in fact, a better solution,ā he thought, but he kept his lips sealed, refusing to invite trouble upon himself.
"What are you doing out here?" Gu Dashishi appeared, carrying cured meat and fish. He ignored the black soot on them and shoved them directly into Gu Wenhengās hands.
"Your mother wants you to take these to eat on the road. Itās not like youāre fleeing a famineāyou can buy food anywhere. That old woman just loves to worry."
Gu Wenheng saw the old manās eyes glued to the meat in his hands. He lifted the cured meat to his nose and took a sniff. "Motherās cured meat always smells the best. They donāt make it in the south, so this will be great for satisfying my cravings.
Dad, when you go back, please thank Mother for me. Iāll bring her a gift when I return."
Gu Dashishi snorted. "All you think about is your mother. That meat was saved from my own plate."
Gu Wenheng gave him a toothy grin. "Dad, since youāve been cooped up for the winter, your face has gotten a lot chubbier."
"Really?" Gu Dashishi touched his face, feeling a little self-conscious. Ever since he got injured on the road last time, he had been using his not-quite-healed wound as an excuse to slack off. So much time had passed that Li Cuicui no longer nagged him to do chores, and he was more than happy with the arrangement.
"Well, the things are delivered, so Iāve done my duty to your mother. Iāll be heading back now." Gu Dashishi saw Seventhās all-knowing gaze and suddenly felt he had lost a bit of face.
Just as he turned to leave, he saw Gu Yuanfeng still standing there frozen. He bellowed, "Arenāt you going to hurry back and help your mother? What are you doing here?"
"Dad, I came to discuss important business with Seventh... "
Gu Wenheng cut in, "I have nothing to say to you. Since youāve returned home, you should focus on being a filial daughter to our parents. Donāt walk around with a miserable look on your face all day; it doesnāt make the old folks happy to see it."