Chapter 21 Chen Erlang Reappears

Chapter 21: Chapter 21 Chen Erlang Reappears

Fourth Aunt’s mention of a child’s first-month celebration stunned her.

She was still a child herself, and she was supposed to have a child? She had never even considered having a child with Xiao Yunjing.

Ms. Qiao sighed helplessly, took out a purse from her bosom, and poured out a silver kernel, which looked to be about an ounce. She took Gu Qingli’s hand, placed the silver kernel in her palm, and said, “Xiaoli, please take this. Consider it a small token from us elders.”

Gu Qingli was annoyed but accepted it anyway.

If she didn’t, who knew how long this would drag on.

She said, “Thank you, First Aunt, and my other aunts. I will accept this. Let’s go up the mountain now.”

The people who had come to help repair the house arrived, and only then did Ms. Qiao nod.

After climbing the mountain, Gu Qingli and her brothers began to teach the women how to recognize medicinal herbs. The four women were already familiar with these plants but hadn’t known they were medicinal. Now, with the trio’s explanation, it was as if everything clicked into place. They memorized everything and began to dig on their own.

Only when they started digging did they realize that the mountain was truly full of medicinal herbs, a realization that left them feeling regretful. The people of Qinghe Village had been guarding such a treasure mountain for generations yet still often went hungry; it was truly a pity. Ms. Qiao even considered having her younger son study medicine.

Thinking of this, Ms. Qiao walked over to Gu Qingli and cautiously asked, “Xiaoli, how do you know these are medicinal herbs?”

Gu Qingli replied, “The day I woke up, I had nothing to eat and was starving. I saw these grasses all over the mountain, looking quite plump and healthy. At that time, I remembered Doctor Li often came to the mountain to dig for medicinal herbs. So, I dug up all the ones that looked intact and took them to the Drugstore. I figured some of them had to be medicinal herbs, and if I could exchange them for some money to buy food, that would be good. Later, the shopkeeper found out I couldn’t recognize medicinal herbs, so he gave us a book on herbs and told us to dig according to it.”

“Oh, you’re quite a clever child,” Ms. Qiao said, her admiration for Gu Qingli growing. Faced with such circumstances, Gu Qingli hadn’t collapsed. Instead, she had taken her two younger brothers to dig for medicinal herbs, earn money, buy a house, and treat Second Brother Gu’s leg. She had also courageously broken off relations with Master Gu.

Looking at the three siblings now, they had changed so much in just half a month. Before, they were sallow-skinned and gaunt, but now their faces had whitened a bit, and they had gained some weight. The twins, especially, were growing more and more refined in appearance. Moreover, the malicious gossip about Gu Qingli in the village had significantly lessened, and there were even voices of praise.

Gu Qingli gave a wry smile. “First Aunt, I really had no other choice back then. I just took a gamble. I never expected to meet such a kind shopkeeper.”

Ms. Qiao patted Gu Qingli’s arm. “Xiaoli, things will get better from now on. It’s good that you’ve left that family.”

“Mm,” Gu Qingli acknowledged, letting out a long sigh.

It was indeed the right decision to dig up those plants along with the grass that day. For her, a local girl who had never known anything about medicinal herbs, to suddenly be able to identify them—she herself wouldn’t believe it if there wasn’t something strange about it. Coupled with the fact that she had been deflowered and was now considered a ruined woman, this whole affair would probably end up before the county magistrate if the truth came out. In her memory, the people here were extremely superstitious about ghosts and spirits. Therefore, her small, preemptive actions had eliminated many potential future troubles.

By noon, the three siblings came down the mountain. As expected, Xiao Yunjing was already waiting there. However, there were two other people with him: Ms. Liu, the matchmaker, and Chen Erlang.

Did he stuff himself and run all the way here just to see her off for her wedding?

Gu Qingli wondered. They were, conveniently, right in front of their house.

“Let’s go,” Gu Qingli said coolly, walking up to Xiao Yunjing. She then took her two brothers’ hands and started to leave.

“Second daughter, wait a moment!” Chen Erlang called out hastily when he saw her leaving without even a glance. A few days ago, Gu Qingmei had come to him in tears, claiming that this “second daughter” was still pining for him and hoped he would visit her more often. Knowing she was getting married today, he had secretly asked his Master for a day off and rushed over, intending to tell her he still liked her. If she was willing, he was ready to take her back and marry her.

But what was this? What did this cold dismissal mean?

Gu Qingli turned back and asked coldly, “Young Master Chen, what instructions do you have for me? Today is my wedding day.” Her tone implied:

If you have something to say, say it. If it’s nonsense, then spare me. I’m about to get married; who has the time to dither with you?

Xiao Yunjing also turned to look at Chen Erlang.

He had wanted to drive him away the moment he arrived. What was this former fiancé doing here on his wedding day?

Chen Erlang opened his mouth, finally summoning his courage. He walked up to Gu Qingli, looked at her face, which had become even more beautiful, and her petite figure. His heart skipped a few beats. “I heard from your elder sister that you didn’t actually want to call off the engagement and are still thinking of me,” he said. “I came today to tell you, if you don’t want to marry him, I will marry you.” After speaking, he looked at Gu Qingli with eager anticipation.

The twins immediately grabbed Gu Qingli’s hands from either side, glaring unfriendly at Chen Erlang.

It was his family who had come to call off the engagement, and now he was here spouting such shameless words. They found him utterly repulsive.

Even Ms. Liu, the matchmaker, stared with her mouth agape. She glanced at the people around and found herself admiring Gu Qingli even more.

She had never seen a ruined woman so sought after. Truly, what was the world coming to?

Xiao Yunjing clenched his fists, looking grimly at Chen Erlang.

He wondered if this wimp could even withstand one of his punches. Damn it, it was his wedding day, and this wimp was trying to steal his bride!

He reached out a large hand, pulling the three siblings behind him, and glared at Chen Erlang. “Kid, are you itching for a beating?”

Confronted by a man well over one meter eighty tall, Chen Erlang felt immense pressure and immediately took a step back.

When Gu Qingli saw that Xiao Yunjing was about to resort to violence, she let go of the twins, walked up to him, and patted his arm, signaling him to keep quiet. Her pat extinguished half of Xiao Yunjing’s anger.

Gu Qingli looked at Chen Erlang seriously.

He was handsome, yes, but with so little courage and such a simple mind… She felt like laughing. This fool thought he could pass the scholar’s examination? If he managed to pass, the examiners must have shit for brains!

She stated, enunciating each word clearly, “Young Master Chen, first, I have no elder sister. Second, which eye of yours saw that I didn’t want to call off the engagement? And which eye saw that I’m still thinking of you, pining for you? Are you more handsome than Xiao Yunjing? Do you know more characters than him? Or would you marry me as your principal wife? And you actually believe what Gu Qingmei says?”

Finished, she shook her head and walked away, ignoring the expressions on the faces of the others.

Only Chen Erlang remained standing there, stunned. This outcome was a million miles from what he had imagined. Gu Qingli’s words echoed relentlessly in his mind.

Even the grown men who had come to help repair the house couldn’t help but chuckle.

Has Chen Erlang addled his brain with too much studying? How could he not understand such simple reasoning?

The distance from the newly bought house to Xiao Yunjing’s home was about half a mile, a straight path along the foot of the mountain with no turns.

Xiao Yunjing followed somewhat stiffly behind Gu Qingli, matching her step for step. Her words kept replaying in his mind, especially the phrase, “Do you know more characters than him?”

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