Gu Yuanzheng and the others were all still bothered by how Jiang Huijun had been driven to tears from anger. When they woke up in the morning, they looked exhausted, faces drawn and with dark circles under their eyes.
When they saw Gu Xi casually appear at the dining table, their faces inevitably showed irritation.
However, having learned their lesson from yesterday’s breakfast, they didn’t confront Gu Xi directly—afraid she might hit them, they held back for the time being.
After breakfast, Gu Yuanzheng and Jiang Huijun left for work, while Gu Maowen took leave to rest at home.
When Gu Xi came out carrying a large package, Gu Maowen, sitting on the sofa sipping tea from an enamel cup, couldn’t help but ask, “What’s that?”
Gu Yuanxiang and Gu Yuanhui were also there. Seeing the big package Gu Xi was carrying, they immediately knew it was what she had picked up from the post office yesterday.
No need to ask; it was definitely sent from the Xu Jiatun Commune.
Gu Yuanhui was a bit puzzled. In the past, whenever something came from Xu Jiatun, their dinner table that night would have some wild mountain food or earthy snacks—things obviously cheap and worthless. Only Gu Xi, that country bumpkin, would be thrilled like she had never seen the world.
But yesterday, there was no sign of such a thing; their dinner was made from vegetables Gu Yuanxiang bought in the morning.
Gu Xi glanced at him and said, “It’s from the Xu Jiatun Commune.”
Gu Maowen frowned and asked, “Why did they send so much? What’s inside?”
He didn’t want Gu Xi to have contact with the Xu family, but she never listened. The Xu family was shameless too, sending some rural stuff now and then, thinking the two families could get along like relatives.
Fortunately, they only sent things; they didn’t come over to cause trouble. Otherwise, they would have demanded their money back from the Xu family long ago.
“They’re just some country mud-stained things you all don’t like,” Gu Xi said casually.
“I know you hate them, looking down on rural people like they have no culture, saying their stuff smells like dirt and soil and pollutes your nobility! Don’t worry, from now on, anything they send, I’ll give it to the Shen family. Aunt Feng likes it quite a bit.”
She said no more and carried the package out the door.
Gu Maowen opened his mouth to say something but by the time he reached the door, she was already gone. He could only watch her leave helplessly, his chest tightening in anger.
She was clearly mocking their false sense of superiority!
Even if they looked down on the countryside in their hearts, having her say it so bluntly still made him feel embarrassed.
Gu Maowen was furious. He could feel Gu Xi’s cold and hostile attitude toward them, toward her parents as well. Her words were sharp, full of biting sarcasm, without a single kind one.
As the family head, the one thing he could never accept was a child openly defying their elders. Even the most stubborn eldest son, Gu Yuanyang, had never been as bad as Gu Xi—she had not only made their mother cry but shown no respect to him as her father.
Gu Yuanhui watched Gu Xi leave until she was out of sight, then felt emboldened and started complaining, “Dad, look at her—arrogant, willful, completely disrespectful. So annoying! She deserves a good lesson!”
He gritted his teeth angrily.
“Last night, she made Mom cry. How can she be a daughter like that… Does she think we care about those cheap country goods? If she wants to take them away, fine. Better if she never comes back…”
Gu Maowen’s face darkened but he said nothing. However, his youngest son’s words stung and made him even angrier.
Still, Gu Xi wasn’t around. No matter how mad he was, there was nothing he could do but bottle it up, growing more miserable.
After rambling for a while, Gu Yuanhui suddenly said, “Dad, why don’t you call big brother back?”
Hearing this, Gu Maowen and Gu Yuanxiang both looked at him with some confusion.
Gu Maowen asked, “Why call the eldest back?”
“Let big brother teach Gu Xi a lesson!” Gu Yuanhui ground his teeth and suggested bitterly. “She’s been hitting people because she’s strong, right? Big brother’s in the army, he’s definitely stronger than her. If he comes back, he can surely control her.”
In his view, the reason Gu Xi was able to turn the family upside down was because she was strong and could fight. None of them could beat her, so they were all at her mercy.
They needed someone who could overpower her physically. That person could only be their eldest brother, Gu Yuanyang.
Gu Yuanyang had been in the military for years; regardless of anything else, his strength was definitely superior to theirs as civilians.
After Gu Xi had beaten them, Gu Yuanhui realized brute strength alone wouldn’t work against her. Now, he just wanted someone who could beat Gu Xi, humble her arrogance, and make her realize her mistakes so she wouldn’t dare act up again.
Gu Maowen said without thinking, “No, we can’t call the eldest back.”
“Why not?”
Gu Yuanhui frowned.
Gu Yuanxiang also looked confused. She didn’t have a deep impression of their eldest brother Gu Yuanyang. When he left to join the army, she was still young, and it was her second eldest brother Gu Yuanzheng, close in age, who had looked after her more.
Gu Maowen kept a stern face. Even if Gu Yuanyang came back, it probably wouldn’t help.
It wasn’t that Gu Yuanyang couldn’t beat Gu Xi physically, but his personality was too rebellious and stubborn.
When they acknowledged Gu Xi back into the family, Gu Yuanyang was still in the army. Upon hearing the news, he called home specifically to insist they send Gu Yuanxiang away.
Of course, Gu Maowen and his wife refused.
Gu Yuanyang was adamant and even argued with them. Seeing they were unwilling, he finally gave up, only saying they would regret it.
Gu Maowen felt that son was too stubborn, lacking any sense of empathy. How could they just send away a child raised for so many years like that?
However, now, although he didn’t regret it, Gu Xi’s rebelliousness was giving him headaches. He didn’t want to ask for help from this eldest son—that would only make him a laughingstock.
***
When Gu Xi arrived at the Military District Compound, the sun was already high.
Carrying such a large package, a young passerby kindly asked, “Comrade, do you need help?”
Gu Xi stopped, turned to look at the young man with a face damp with sweat, and said, “No, thank you.”
But the other party widened his eyes.
“Ah, it’s you, Shen Mingzheng’s fiancée!”
Looking up at him, her fair and delicate face was strikingly beautiful. Even drenched in sweat, she didn’t look disheveled; rather, she inspired a protective sympathy.
The young man blushed, scratched his cheek awkwardly, and stammered, “I-I’ll help you then. That looks heavy…”
He reached out and tried to lift the package, but found—he couldn’t.
Gu Xi still held it steadily, not letting him snatch it away.
The young man: “…”
His face turned even redder, feeling embarrassed, wondering if his strength was really less than this slender girl. Otherwise, how could he not lift this package?
“Xiangzi, what are you doing?”
A voice sounded, pulling Lin Zhaoxiang out of his embarrassment. He turned to see Zhou Huaimin, surprised, and called out happily, “Huai Ge, I’m helping… helping!”
Zhou Huaimin walked over with his hands in his pockets. His short, stylish hair and burly build gave off an imposing presence, an intangible pressure.
Several young men and women followed him, as if they were about to go out and have fun together.
Zhou Huaimin saw Gu Xi carrying the big package and raised an eyebrow.
“Then hurry up. No spirit of serving the people at all!”
Lin Zhaoxiang: “…” Could he say he hadn’t tried moving it?
Gu Xi spoke up, “Really no need. I can manage it.”
Then added, “I have things to do, won’t bother you all.”
With that, she carried the package away.
The group stood there, watching her carry the big bundle steadily, which sharply contrasted with her slender, frail appearance.
Someone exclaimed, “She’s so strong!”
“Looks so weak but…”
“And so pretty. Shen Mingzheng is really lucky!”
“…”
Everyone turned to look at the one who had said Shen Mingzheng was lucky, and saw it was Zhou Huaiying, Zhou Huaimin’s sister.
Seeing all eyes on her, she wasn’t shy, hands on hips, saying, “What? Am I wrong?”
Everyone quickly agreed, “Right, right, Yingzi, you’re absolutely right!”
As they left, Zhou Huaiying walked alongside her cousin, nudged him with her elbow, and grinned, “Isn’t she gorgeous? Aunt Feng really has good taste, picking such a pretty bride for Shen Mingzheng! You can’t lose, big brother. You have to find me a pretty sister-in-law too, someone like Shen Mingzheng’s fiancée!”
Zhou Huaimin just called her silly.
***
Gu Xi brought the package to the Shen family’s home. Wang Auntie was astonished just looking at it and hurried over to help. She poured tea for her, fanned her to cool, afraid she would get tired.
Wang Auntie asked, “What’s this? Why did you come alone? Why not ask for help?”
“It was sent by the Xu family’s two younger sisters,” Gu Xi said, drinking water.
“It’s actually not heavy.”
Wang Auntie didn’t believe it. She tried lifting the package herself and found it heavy enough to make her back ache. How could it not be heavy?
After drinking, Gu Xi and Wang Auntie took everything out of the package and sorted it.
Wang Auntie didn’t expect there to be so many mountain goods and countryside items that Xu’s sisters had dried themselves. Though not precious, these were rare in the city. She praised, “Your two younger sisters at the Xu family really have heart.”
She knew Gu Xi’s background, knew how she had kept in touch with the two younger sisters at her foster parents’ home, even helping pay for their schooling. The sisterly bond hadn’t been broken, and Wang Auntie thought Gu Xi was a loyal and kind girl.
While busy, Shen Mingrong came back from outside.
Seeing Gu Xi, he cheerfully rushed over, “Sister Xi! When did you get here? Are you moving your things in? Will you live here from now on? Not going back?”
Gu Xi picked a sweet fruit dry and popped it into his mouth, smiling, “No, just came to deliver some things.”
Chewing the sweet, Shen Mingrong looked very disappointed.
When Wang Auntie went to put things away, he slyly pulled Gu Xi aside and said, “Sister Xi, I’m telling you, my brother should be back next month.”
Gu Xi’s expression paused, then she said, “Oh.”
Actually, she already knew Shen Mingzheng would be back soon, no need to wait till next month.
“Sis, why aren’t you smiling?”
Shen Mingrong looked at her curiously. Did she not want to see my big brother?
Gu Xi gave him a smile.
“You’re happy too, right?”
Shen Mingrong winked at her. “When big brother comes back, you two… hehe.”
Gu Xi laughed at his teasing and patted his head without saying anything.
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