Chapter 4 Forced Marriage

Chapter 4: Chapter 4 Forced Marriage

Dashuang immediately hopped off the kang bed-platform and padded out to wash up.

Gu Qingli sat at the door, waiting for him.

“Auntie Hua! Auntie Hua!” At this moment, a woman walked into the courtyard.

Gu Qingli observed the newcomer. Judging by her clothes and demeanor, she wondered if a brothel madam had arrived.

“Well now, it’s the second daughter, isn’t it? You’ve certainly grown into a beauty.” The woman, swaying her thick waist, sauntered past Gu Qingli, her eyes raking over her before she offered a flirtatious smile.

What on earth?

Gu Qingli frowned.

Why would such a person be looking for Granny Hua? Are they planning to sell me off?

Just as Gu Qingli was wondering about this, Ms. Hua came out, adjusting her clothes. Seeing the visitor, Ms. Hua’s face immediately lit up with a smile, and she eagerly welcomed her into the main room.

Ms. Wu, who was cooking breakfast, also craned her neck to peek.

Before long, Ms. Hua appeared at the doorway, calling out loudly, “Second Son! Second Son!”

Second Brother Gu, who was digging in the vegetable garden, heard the call, immediately came back, and entered the main room.

Gu Qingli had a strong feeling that this woman’s arrival was somehow connected to her.

She decided not to rush to town after all and sat by the entrance to listen. Besides, Ms. Hua didn’t care if she worked or not.

In the main room, Ms. Hua said, “Auntie Qiu, this is my second son. It’s his daughter we were discussing.”

Ms. Qiu simpered and said, “Auntie Hua, Niu Ergou doesn’t mind your second daughter’s situation. He has the five taels of silver ready as the betrothal gift and is just waiting for your agreement.”

Inwardly, however, Ms. Qiu cursed the old woman.

This concerns her own granddaughter! Others would try to hush up such a scandal, but she’s parading it around, afraid people *won’t* know! The most detestable part is that she’s personally finding an old bachelor for her granddaughter. Sigh! What a sin!

Second Brother Gu furrowed his brows and said, “Auntie Qiu, which Niu Ergou are you referring to?”

Ms. Qiu flicked the handkerchief in her hand and said with a smile, “Second Brother Gu, how many Niu Ergous do we have in our village?”

“Mother, you want to marry the second daughter to Niu Ergou?”

Everyone in the village knew that old bachelor Niu Ergou. He was thirty years old and spent his days eating, drinking, whoring, and gambling, not to mention petty theft like stealing chickens and dogs. He even preyed on the village widows.

To marry the second daughter to such a man… what on earth is Mother thinking? Even if the second daughter isn’t my biological child, she’s called me ’Dad’ for fifteen years!

Ms. Hua’s face darkened. “She’s already like that! Who else do you think she can marry? At least Niu Ergou can offer a five-tael betrothal gift. Besides, if we keep her at home, won’t it ruin the reputations of your brothers and your nephews? Once she’s married off, she’ll no longer be a member of the Gu Family. In the future, when your brothers and your nephews pass the imperial exams and become scholars, won’t you all benefit from their success?”

“But—”

“No ’buts’! I’ve made up my mind on this matter.” Ms. Hua interrupted Second Brother Gu, giving him a fierce glare.

Second Brother Gu immediately fell silent.

Gu Qingli, outside, heard their conversation crystal clear. Her heart sank.

So, Ms. Hua really is planning this. I suspected as much when she stopped Master Gu yesterday. She’s either going to sell me or marry me off.

Gu Qingli was at her wit’s end.

A girl’s marriage isn’t her own decision here. How can I escape this predicament? I was too naive before, thinking I could just refuse to marry.

In the past, girls who lost their chastity would have been drowned in a pond. But these last few years, due to the wars, the population has drastically decreased, so the government issued an edict forbidding private killings.

So, the idea of killing Niu Ergou is out. If I kill one Niu Ergou, there will be a Li Ergou, a Zhang Ergou… I can’t kill them all. Knowing Ms. Hua’s personality, she won’t give up until she exchanges me for silver.

After Ms. Hua and Ms. Qiu agreed that someone would come to pick up Gu Qingli the next day, Ms. Hua cheerfully saw Ms. Qiu off.

“You better behave yourself! If you dare try any funny business, I’ll break your legs!” Upon her return, Ms. Hua’s expression changed instantly when she saw Gu Qingli, and she threatened her menacingly.

“Second Sister!” Dashuang had heard everything too. Tears welled in his eyes, and his small hands clenched into fists.

Gu Qingli reached out and ruffled his hair.

These two ’convenient’ younger brothers are actually quite good.

Ms. Wu was also good to the Original Host, but her pushover personality is too weak. She cries at the slightest thing and can’t protect me at all.

“Dad, please, beg Grandma not to marry Second Sister to Niu Ergou!” Seeing Second Brother Gu walk out with a grim expression, Dashuang rushed forward, grabbed his arm, and cried out, “Doesn’t Grandma want silver? My sister, Xiaoshuang, and I can earn it!”

“Second Sister.” Xiaoshuang came over to stand beside her, his little face also streaked with tears.

“Crying! Crying as if for a funeral! Crying again so early in the morning!” Ms. Hua snatched up a broom and threw it at Dashuang.

Second Brother Gu immediately shielded him.

“Grandma, what’s going on?” A girl about Gu Qingli’s age hurried in, carrying a bundle.

This was Gu Qingmei, the daughter of Gu Qingli’s eldest paternal uncle.

She had gone to town two days ago to do laundry and cook for her two older brothers. Since they, along with her third uncle, were preparing for the imperial examinations next year, the three of them had rented a house in town to make it convenient for their studies.

As soon as she heard something had happened to Gu Qingli, she had rushed back.

She hadn’t returned out of concern for Gu Qingli; their relationship wasn’t that close.

She had come back for Chen Erlang.

Originally, the matchmaker had come to propose a match for Gu Qingmei. However, on the day of the meeting, Chen Erlang had been captivated by the beautiful Gu Qingli.

This had infuriated Gu Qingmei’s entire family. But if Chen Erlang didn’t like her, what could she do?

From that day on, Gu Qingmei had loathed Gu Qingli.

Hearing about Gu Qingli’s misfortune, she had laughed heartily several times before hurrying back.

Now that Gu Qingli’s engagement is broken, doesn’t that mean there’s hope for me?

She just hadn’t expected to see Ms. Hua beating Dashuang when she got back.

Upon seeing Gu Qingmei, the anger on Ms. Hua’s face immediately vanished. “Mei’er, why are you back? How are your third uncle and your brothers doing?” she asked.

Gu Qingmei replied, “They’re doing well.”

She glanced at Gu Qingli, then entered the east wing-room.

Gu Qingli went to lead Dashuang away. Her gaze swept past the kitchen and caught Ms. Wu hiding inside, crying.

Gu Qingli sighed, sent Dashuang back to his room, and then entered the kitchen to help stoke the fire.

Seeing her, Ms. Wu cried even more sorrowfully.

“Second daughter, Mother has let you down,” Ms. Wu said, leaning against the doorframe and wiping her tears.

Gu Qingli sat down, added a bundle of firewood to the stove, and said, “Tomorrow isn’t here yet.”

No matter what, I’m going to kill that Niu Ergou tonight. Ms. Hua is moving too fast, giving me no time to breathe.

“Second daughter, why don’t you run away?”

“Run away? Mother, where could I possibly go?”

If I run away from home in this place, I’ll become an undocumented person. Anyone could catch me and sell me, and I’d have no recourse. I can’t just hide in the Space for the rest of my life either. Worst case, for every suitor Ms. Hua finds, I’ll kill one. Better them than me. Besides, the kind of men Ms. Hua picks are hardly good people. It could even be considered ridding the community of a menace. Even if the authorities suspect me, no one can prove I was the one who administered the poison. At worst, I’ll end up like Xiao Third from our village, with a reputation for jinxing husbands.

Ms. Wu’s lips trembled, as if she was about to say something, when suddenly Ms. Qiu’s voice sounded from outside again.

“Auntie Hua! Auntie Hua! Good news! More good news is here!”

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