When she returned to the Gu Family all those years ago, Gu Xi never completely cut off contact with her two younger sisters in the Xu Family.
Over the years, she would occasionally send money and packages to the Xu Jiatun Commune, asking the Production Team’s Brigade Leader to deliver them specifically to her two sisters.
The Brigade Leader’s Wife and Feng Min were distant cousins, reliable people, and out of respect for Feng Min, they were willing to help with this favor.
The two younger sisters would also send her things from time to time, and the three sisters kept their bond alive.
When the Post Office Worker handed Gu Xi the parcel, he asked, “This is really heavy. Can you carry it back by yourself?”
Gu Xi thanked him, picked up the package, and replied, “I can manage.”
The Post Office Worker gave her a thumbs up, seeing how effortlessly she held the heavy parcel.
Her relaxed demeanor made the package seem weightless, a stark contrast to her slender and beautiful appearance, creating a striking juxtaposition.
Anyone unaware of the situation might have worried she’d trip and fall.
Carrying the large parcel that partially blocked her view, Gu Xi nearly bumped into someone as she stepped out of the post office.
The man quickly reached out to help support the package.
“Careful, don’t drop it.”
“Thank you, I’m fine,” Gu Xi said politely and leaned forward to look at the person helping her, momentarily stunned.
“Oh, it’s you.”
The man was a young man in his early twenties with a handsome face, dressed in a white shirt and army-green trousers, giving off a steady and reliable vibe.
Gu Xi recognized him immediately—he was Chen Ruian, Chen Yunsheng’s older brother.
Seeing the size of the parcel Gu Xi was carrying and feeling its weight as he helped hold it, Chen Ruian asked, “Gu Xi, why didn’t you ask Yuan Zheng to help carry it? Do you want me to take it home for you?”
He and Yuan Zheng were the same age, both children from the Military District Compound, essentially growing up together.
His sister Chen Yunsheng was close with Gu Yuanxiang; the siblings often visited the Gu Family and were familiar enough with Gu Xi to greet her when they met on the street.
Gu Xi said, “Thanks, Chen Ge, but I can carry it myself.”
“Really?”
Chen Ruian looked at her skeptically, feeling uneasy watching such a slender woman carry such a big package without help from a grown man.
As he hesitated, suddenly a familiar voice called out.
“Brother, what are you doing here?”
Chen Ruian turned to see two young women a short distance away—his sister Chen Yunsheng and Gu Yuanxiang.
He smiled and greeted them, “It’s you two. Where are you headed?”
Chen Yunsheng pulled Gu Yuanxiang over and said, “Mom’s birthday is coming up in a few days, so I asked Yuanxiang to come with me to Baihuo Building to pick out a birthday present.”
Then she asked, “Brother, what are you doing here? And why are you with Gu Xi…?”
She blinked in confusion, noticing how close the two were standing.
Gu Yuanxiang’s gaze fixed on Chen Ruian’s hand resting on the parcel, a tightness forming in her chest. She quickly said, “Xi Xi, what’s in the parcel? Do you want me to help?”
As she spoke, she stepped forward, reaching out to assist.
Seeing her move closer, Chen Ruian immediately withdrew his hand and stepped back, careful not to accidentally touch the young lady.
He explained, “I came to the post office on some errands and happened to see Gu Xi carrying the package, so I offered to help bring it home.”
Chen Yunsheng responded with an “Oh.”
She glanced at the parcel, indeed quite large, and said, “Well then, you should help Gu Xi take it home. It looks heavy, and you guys guys have the strength—it’s only right to help.”
Chen Ruian smiled and said to Gu Xi, “Here, let me carry it for you.”
“No need.”
Gu Xi ignored Gu Yuanxiang who was inching closer and said, “Chen Ge, don’t you have things to do? I can manage by myself.”
Chen Ruian replied, “It’s no trouble. I can bring it back first and come back later.”
Chen Yunsheng chimed in, “Yeah, yeah, Gu Xi, just give it to my brother. He’s strong.”
She then looked at Gu Xi’s face, feeling concerned. Her complexion was pale, and she seemed unwell.
“You don’t look good—are you feeling sick? Be careful in this heat; it’s easy to get heatstroke.”
Though close with Gu Yuanxiang, Chen Yunsheng wasn’t one to overlook right and wrong.
She secretly sympathized with Gu Xi—a city girl raised in the countryside after being switched at birth, seemingly not living an easy life after returning to the Gu Family.
But every family had their own troubles. Her mother often said the Gu Family members could be oblivious, and it was better to avoid meddling in their affairs—just keep things peaceful as usual.
Gu Xi was undeniably beautiful, slender and delicate, naturally drawing people’s protective instincts.
Especially now, with her pale face and that indescribable, sickly aura, she was oddly captivating.
Chen Yunsheng couldn’t help sneaking repeated glances, silently admiring her.
Gu Xi was truly gorgeous. Such a pretty girl, yet the Gu Family didn’t seem to like her much. If she were her sister, Chen Yunsheng would be overjoyed.
Unfortunately, Gu Xi was too introverted and quiet, disliking much socializing or fun. Chen Yunsheng felt awkward trying to get close and hadn’t managed to become friends with her.
Gu Xi gave a soft “Mm” but still didn’t hand over the parcel. She said, “Thanks, I can carry it myself. It’s not heavy.”
With that, she avoided the lingering Gu Yuanxiang and walked away directly.
Chen Yunsheng sighed again but felt awkward pushing further when the refusal was so clear.
She grumbled, “Brother, seriously… how can you just stand there and watch a woman carry such a heavy thing without helping? We’re supposed to serve the people!”
Chen Ruian scratched his nose and shrugged, “Should I chase after her?”
“Forget it, forget it.” Chen Yunsheng quickly backtracked.
“She looks like she doesn’t need help, so don’t bother.”
She felt a pang of regret—perhaps pretty girls tended to be more independent and didn’t want assistance.
Gu Yuanxiang listened to the siblings’ chatter, her expression darkening slightly as she said, “You don’t need to worry. Gu Xi is actually very strong. She’s used to farm work from the countryside—carrying water, chopping wood. She has plenty of strength; carrying a package like this is nothing to her.”
Upon hearing this, the Chen siblings looked over at her.
Chen Yunsheng was surprised.
“Really? Gu Xi did all that before? She’s pretty capable.”
She must have suffered a lot.
Though she had never done farm work herself, she had heard from her parents about how tough it was, how exhausting even strong men found it, especially during double-harvest seasons, when people pushed themselves to the limit.
It was hard to imagine such a fragile-looking girl doing all that from a young age.
She recalled when Gu Xi first came back to the Gu Family—dark and skinny, with hardly any flesh on her bones. Though the same age as Gu Yuanxiang, she was almost half a head shorter, proof her countryside life hadn’t been easy.
Chen Ruian’s expression shifted slightly as he glanced at Gu Yuanxiang but said nothing.
He told his sister, “I’m heading out now. It’s hot; if you’re done, go home soon and don’t get heatstroke. I’ll come home for dinner when I’m finished. Save me some food.”
Chen Yunsheng responded and bid him goodbye, then pulled Gu Yuanxiang toward home.
Gu Yuanxiang watched his figure disappear into the post office, feeling a bit down and somewhat regretful, wondering if she shouldn’t have said what she did.
Would he think she was deliberately making that comment?
But Gu Xi really was strong—she’d seen her throw punches that left Gu Yuanhui howling and unable to fight back.
***
At noon, Chen Ruian returned home and ate lunch with his sister.
Suddenly, Chen Yunsheng asked, “Brother, what do you think of Gu Xi?”
Chen Ruian blinked.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, her personality—she doesn’t seem to be doing well in the Gu Family,” Chen Yunsheng said, biting her chopsticks.
“Yesterday I went to the Gu Family to find Yuanxiang and just happened to run into her coming back. She seemed so cold… Every time I visit the Gu Family, everyone else is laughing and happy, but she always sits alone in a corner or hides in her room. I don’t even get a chance to talk to her.”
Chen Ruian finally understood and couldn’t help but laugh.
“If you like her, just be brave and be her friend. No need to be shy.”
He knew his sister was one to judge people by looks. Anyone beautiful, male or female, would get a few extra glances and people wanting to befriend them.
Gu Xi was indeed stunning, the kind of beauty that struck deep and left people speechless.
When she first returned to the Gu Family, pale and plain, the Military District Compound kids made her a joke. The teenage boys would gossip about the switched child and say she didn’t look like a Gu at all—disdainful and dismissive.
But years passed, she grew into a young woman, increasingly beautiful to the point of dazzling.
Chen Ruian had overheard those boys, once dismissive, now openly smitten, even waiting on her route home from school.
Unfortunately, Gu Xi already had a Marriage Contract partner from the Military District Compound.
If it weren’t for that, those boys might have actually approached her to talk.
“That’s not good, is it?”
Chen Yunsheng said.
“If I befriend Gu Xi, Yuanxiang might feel bad…”
The two had played together since childhood, a sisterly bond of sorts. Yuanxiang had often been upset, wishing she could overlook that Gu Xi wasn’t a Gu Family daughter and still treat her as a good sister.
Chen Yunsheng had made a solemn vow at the time.
Chen Ruian shook his head with resignation.
“What’s the problem? If Yuanxiang really thinks you’re a friend, she won’t care about that.”
“Really?”
Chen Ruian nodded calmly, knowing his sister was too innocent and pure. When the switched child incident was revealed, the Military District Compound kids ostracized Gu Yuanxiang, but Chen Yunsheng had still innocently vowed she’d always be her friend, her attitude unchanged.
Chen Yunsheng brightened quickly.
“Okay, I’ll go find Gu Xi to hang out soon.”