Chapter 205: Chapter 206: A Wife Obeys Her Husband
After seeing off the doctor she had summoned to the inn, Song Xiuxiang couldnât shake the feeling that everyone was laughing at her.
Gu Lejia let out a cold snort, ditched her, and returned to their room alone. Xiuxiang scurried after him.
"Lejia, that doctor must not be very skilled. I swear I could feel our child in my belly.
Oh, right, he did say it might be too early in the pregnancy for him to get a reading. In a few more days, heâll definitely be able to tell."
"Then weâll wait a few days and see. Just stop causing trouble for me day in and day out." Gu Lejia shoved the door open, flopped onto the bed, and turned his back on Song Xiuxiang, refusing to speak to her further.
Seeing how Gu Lejiaâs attitude was the complete opposite of how heâd been in Sea City, Xiuxiang could only grit her teeth, walk over, and pull the shoes off his feet.
"Lejia, I was just trying to make things a bit more comfortable for us. If we were in the same carriage, we could chat about the family. Iâve followed you so far on this journey, and I feel very anxious."
Xiuxiang spoke in a soft, gentle voice. When Gu Lejia didnât respond, she gritted her teeth and pressed on.
"Youâre Seventh Uncleâs own nephew, after all. The thought of you having to squeeze in with a bunch of servants... I feel indignant on your behalf."
Gu Lejia suddenly whipped his head around. "Youâre the one who feels indignant, arenât you! Youâre like a beggar complaining about spoiled food. When we fled our hometown, we did it on our own two feet.
When we followed Chen Dongjia south, forget about a carriageâwe had to haul cargo. Donât take your blessings for granted."
"You..."
"âYouâ what?" Gu Lejia cut her off. "Donât forget, youâre a daughter-in-law of the Gu family. My Seventh Uncle is our elder. Do you have no fear that heâll actually write you a bill of divorce on my parentsâ behalf for slandering him like this?"
Song Xiuxiangâs expression instantly froze. The thought of that horrifying phrase made her swallow any complaints she had.
But the thought that Ancient Wen Heng and Jin Qianqian were the reason she was now separated from her dear brother reignited her indignation. âI wonder if Gou Dan is heartbroken that I left?â
Song Gou Dan: "..." âHeartbroken? I just have a bad case of heartburn.â
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"Do you think Gu Lejia will come over and cause another scene?" Jin Qianqian asked, propping her chin on her hands as she lay her head on the table. She had just heard Qingzhu recount what happened.
Ancient Wen Heng gave a knowing smile. "He wonât. Lady Song is probably off hiding and crying her eyes out as we speak."
Jin Qianqianâs face lit up with gossip. "Tell me! I saw you specifically sought out Hong Tianbao and Housekeeper Fu a few days ago. Did you send them to talk some sense into him?"
Ancient Wen Heng shook his head. "With someone as easily influenced as Gu Lejia, a lecture wonât work. You have to instill in him a few âlife hacksâ heâs never encountered or even heard of before."
"Such as?"
Ancient Wen Heng lightly tapped her on the forehead. "Arenât we the gossipy one?"
"Donât leave me hanging! The stage is yours," Jin Qianqian urged, quickly pouring him a cup of warm tea.
Ancient Wen Heng cleared his throat. "It was really just some things men talk about, like the kind of gossip you girls would share in your dorm rooms back in the day.
Except Tianbao and the others tweaked the topics a little. They talked all about how a husband is a wifeâs heaven, how a wifeâs duty is to her husband, how a married woman must obey her husband, and so on.
They also used it as an opportunity to bring up how a virtuous wife leads to fewer troubles for her husband."
Jin Qianqianâs mouth fell open. She then gave Ancient Wen Heng a thumbs-up. "You even came up with such a devious plan? I have to admit, though, that Song Xiuxiang needs to be kept in check like this. Otherwise, who knows how much trouble sheâll stir up in the future."
"I just want us to have a bit of peace and quiet on our journey," Ancient Wen Heng said. "As for what happens later, that will be Elder Sister-in-lawâs headache."
Jin Qianqian shot him a sidelong glance. "Easy for you to say. Iâm just worried weâll still get dragged into it."
Jin Qianqian had no idea her words would become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Looking back on this day in the future, she would wish she could travel back in time just to spit on the ground and take it all back.
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ăGaoling Villageă
"How did it go in the county seat today? Are Seventh and his family back yet?"
The moment Li Cuicui walked in the door, Gu Dashishi propped his head up to ask.
"No," Li Cuicui said, placing the box of pastries from the shop in front of Gu Dashishi. "Stop making me go into town every few days. I feel my face burn with shame every time I bring pastries back from there."
"Itâs our own sonâs shop. Whatâs there to be ashamed of? That damn brat has a shop thatâs raking in money hand over fist, yet he canât be bothered to show his old man a little more filial piety."
Li Cuicui retorted, "Take a look at yourself. Youâre already fat as a pig, and all you think about all day is eating this stuff.
If you get any fatter, your sons wonât even be able to move you.
I think youâve had enough. You should get up and move around a bit. If you keep lying down like this, your legs will really become useless."
Gu Dashishiâs expression changed instantly. He grabbed the paper-wrapped pastries Li Cuicui had just set down and hurled them at her. "Even if I become a cripple, you all still have to wait on me!
Besides, what kind of quacks did you find? They canât even cure my illness. I told you I need to go to the Prefecture City for treatment, but you took Seventhâs silver taels and are too stingy to spend them on me."
Li Cuicui took a deep breath. "Even if you canât count, donât you have a clue? Youâve already ruined this family. If you keep this up, donât come to me for anything except your three meals a day."
"You treacherous hag! Youâre finally showing your true colors! Iâve been living under your thumb for years, so suppressed I can barely breathe. Now that Iâm old, you canât even let me have a few worry-free days..."
Li Cuicui, hearing the same old tirade, couldnât be bothered to engage. She bent down, picked up the pastries from the floor, gently dusted them off, and placed them directly on the cabinet by her side of the kang bed.
âSince he doesnât want them, he wonât be eating them from now on.â
Too impatient to listen to Gu Dashishiâs rambling, Li Cuicui turned and walked out of the room, only to see Gu Yuanfeng hunched over, about to duck back into her own room.
"Yuanfeng, you went out again?"
"Mother, youâre back from town," Gu Yuanfeng said with a grin, straightening up while holding her belly. "Are Seventh and his family back yet?"
"No," Li Cuicui said, sizing her up. "Where have you been? I never see you around all day. It doesnât occur to you to lend a hand around the house."
"Mother, look at this belly of mine. What could I possibly do in this condition?"
"Back when you were with the He Family, werenât you still working in the fields the day before you gave birth to Chuncao? What, are you too precious for that now?"
Gu Yuanfeng put on a pained expression. "Itâs precisely because those days were so hard that my health isnât what it used to be. Now, just bending over makes my whole body ache with exhaustion."
Li Cuicui felt a wave of exhaustion wash over her and waved her hand dismissively. "Once this baby is born, you should hurry up and find a new husband! Iâm getting old, and I have to serve the elderly and now you. This is truly my karmic punishment."
This time, Gu Yuanfeng didnât return to her room. Instead, she peered behind Li Cuicui. "Mother, didnât the staff at Seventhâs shop send you back with any pastries? Iâm hungry. How about you give me a piece?"
Li Cuicui was speechless. "..."