The incident happened so suddenly that Gu Yuanzheng and Gu Yuanxiang both froze, unable to react immediately.
How could Gu Xi dare?
She actually hit someone?!!
In the past, whenever Gu Yuanhui played pranks on her—pouring water all over her on the rooftop, putting bugs in her bed, deliberately leading her to unfamiliar places and abandoning her, scaring her into a panic, taking all the money from her schoolbag so she had to walk home on foot—she never got angry.
She was like a pushover, a quiet, suffering soul, and that had made them accustomed to her meekness.
Gu Yuanhui’s tears streamed down from the pain; only by experiencing it firsthand could one understand the strength of that punch. It felt like half his face had gone numb, and the pain caused a brief blankness in his mind.
He lay on the ground, howling, and only then did Gu Yuanzheng and the others come back to their senses.
“Gu Xi, what are you doing?!”
Gu Yuanzheng shouted angrily, his face darkening as he reached out to grab her.
But as he approached, Gu Xi returned the favor, punching him in the stomach.
Gu Yuanzheng was caught off guard by her attacking him and bent over in pain, unable to speak for a moment.
Her strength was overwhelming, making him feel as if his internal organs were being twisted together.
Seeing the two brothers being hit, Gu Yuanxiang hurriedly shouted, “Xi Xi, how can you hit people? You’re going too far! Apologize to Second Brother and Yuanhui immediately!”
She angrily stepped forward to pull at Gu Xi, clearly displeased.
Out of habit, even seeing Gu Xi suddenly resort to violence didn’t frighten her—she just thought Gu Xi was acting crazy today.
Gu Xi’s arm was grabbed, and she turned to look at her.
Gu Yuanxiang glared at her fiercely.
For some reason, an inexplicable rage suddenly welled up deep inside Gu Xi’s heart. She forcefully pulled her arm back, shoved Gu Yuanxiang away, and pushed her onto the sofa.
Gu Yuanxiang didn’t expect to be pushed. The hard wooden sofa hit her elbow and other places, causing so much pain that tears came to her eyes and she cried out.
At this moment, the three siblings were a mess—one was howling on the ground, another was doubled over clutching his stomach in cold sweat, and the last one had fallen onto the sofa, all looking utterly disheveled.
Gu Xi ignored them and walked straight out the door.
By the time the three siblings regained their composure and rushed out after her, she was already nowhere to be seen, leaving only their furious shouts behind.
***
After leaving, Gu Xi didn’t hesitate and left the Cadres’ Compound immediately.
The Gu Family was a cadre family living in the compound, and when Gu Xi was brought back years ago, she became a notorious country bumpkin there and was ridiculed often.
Perhaps because they were embarrassed by her, even the Gu family members disliked her, blaming her for causing them trouble.
Leaving the compound, Gu Xi headed to the nearby bus stop and boarded a public bus.
The July sun was scorching, blazing down on the earth. Around three or four in the afternoon, the temperature at the surface was at its highest.
The bus was crowded, hot, and stuffy, with a mixed smell that made her dizzy as it rocked along the road.
Gu Xi stood in the corner, breathing in the bus’s scent, her head pounding and nausea rising.
A kind-hearted woman nearby noticed her condition and asked with concern, “Miss, are you okay?”
Gu Xi reacted slowly and whispered, “I’m fine.”
When the bus reached her stop, she followed the crowd off, swaying as she walked forward, following her memory. She felt light-headed and unstable, like a lost soul.
Upon arriving at the Military District Compound, Gu Xi registered herself and went inside.
Standing in front of the house from her memories—a two-story building—her mind began to drift.
So much time had passed that many things felt like they were behind a veil, rarely stirring her emotions.
It was like Gu Yuanzheng and the others—she could face them calmly and even thought they were annoying enough to hit, without feeling any guilt.
But this place was different. It belonged to the softest, loneliest memories. Even after decades, she still kept it deep in her heart.
“Xi Xi?”
A voice with a rural accent called out.
Gu Xi was slow to respond but turned toward the voice and saw a middle-aged woman carrying a cloth basket not far away.
Wang Auntie had just come back from outside and saw a young woman standing at the Shen Family’s door.
She called out happily at first, but as she got closer and noticed Gu Xi’s pale expression, she was alarmed.
She hurried over and grabbed her, “What’s wrong? Are you sick?”
She reached out to feel Gu Xi’s forehead and found it burning hot. She quickly led her inside.
Gu Xi was like a puppet, placed on the sofa, sitting blankly.
Wang Auntie found some fever medicine, poured a cup of warm water, and watched closely as Gu Xi took the medicine. She told her to go rest in the room.
She was too worried to leave and stayed by her side until confirming Gu Xi had fallen asleep, then left with a heavy heart.
***
A little later, Feng Min came home from work and smelled the scent of Chinese herbs filling the house. Her heart stirred.
“Why are they boiling medicine again? Did Xi Xi come?”
Wang Auntie came out of the kitchen and quickly replied, “Yes, Xi Xi is sick, so I boiled some medicine for her.”
This was the herbal medicine prescribed by the Old Doctor from the Military Hospital, always kept on hand. Since Gu Xi had come, she was given a dose first.
Upon hearing this, Feng Min couldn’t sit still and went upstairs to check on her.
The door was open.
Feng Min pushed it gently and saw the young woman sleeping on the bed, curled up.
Her delicate, pretty face was flushed unnaturally red, her lips dry, and she looked small and fragile.
Feng Min reached out to feel her forehead and found the fever hadn’t broken yet, worry flashing across her face.
As dusk fell, Shen Zhongshan returned home, dressed in his military uniform.
When he learned that Gu Xi had come over today and was ill, concern showed on his face.
“Why did the child suddenly get sick?”
Shen Zhongshan asked with confusion.
Feng Min sighed, “Xi Xi lived poorly in the countryside before, often hungry or barely fed. Her foster parents favored boys and treated the girls like nothing. She was the eldest daughter, made to do all the heavy work.”
“Long-term malnutrition and lack of proper rest have taken a toll. The doctor says her constitution is damaged and needs careful nurturing. Though she’s gained some weight in recent years and looks better, her body is still weaker than ordinary people’s, so she gets sick easily.”
Shen Zhongshan thought of Gu Xi’s hardships and couldn’t help but sigh.
The girl was pitiful—such a good child who had suffered so much because she was switched at birth and sent to the countryside.
Finally brought back, but the Gu family’s attitude…
It was a bitter fate for her.
***
Gu Xi slept until nine at night before waking.
When she opened her eyes, the light was on, and Wang Auntie was by her side, wiping the sweat off her face.
The fever had broken, but the sweating had soaked her clothes.
Wang Auntie was about to help her change when she noticed Gu Xi had woken and relaxed.
“Xi Xi’s awake. Are you hungry? I made some white porridge for you. Come, drink some to settle your stomach and take your medicine.”
She poured a cup of warm water first and helped Gu Xi sit up to drink.
Gu Xi drank most of the water to soothe her dry throat.
When Wang Auntie brought clothes over, Gu Xi reached out and said, “Auntie, I’ll change myself.”
Wang Auntie handed the clothes over, “Alright, I’ll go get your porridge.”
Gu Xi silently watched her leave, then took off her sweat-soaked clothes and put on clean pajamas.
She had her own room at the Shen Family’s house and some personal items here.
She occasionally stayed over, and this place felt like home.
After a while, Wang Auntie returned, followed by Feng Min.
Feng Min wore her pajamas, her hair tied up simply.
Her features were clear and beautiful under the soft light, tall and slender—truly a pretty woman.
Seeing Feng Min, Gu Xi’s nose tingled, and tears began to fall.
Feng Min was startled, thinking she felt unwell, and hugged her, soothing, “Oh, our Xi Xi, why are you crying? Did someone bully you? Tell Auntie, and I’ll make them pay!”
Gu Xi buried her face in Feng Min’s embrace, silent, just crying.
Her sobs were quiet, tears streaming silently as her shoulders trembled.
Feng Min held the fragile girl tightly, feeling pained by her crying and panicking, not knowing what to do.
Xi Xi was always strong—never cried, not even in the tough countryside days.
For her to suddenly cry like this, she must have been terribly wronged.
The more Feng Min thought about it, the angrier she got, convinced the Gu family had hurt Xi Xi again.
Other than the Gu family, she couldn’t think of anyone else who would bully her.
Wang Auntie was equally anxious, joining in soothing, “Oh dear, don’t cry anymore, you’re still sick, it’s not good.”
Hearing the commotion, Shen Zhongshan came over and saw the scene.
He too was worried.
As the family head and a man, he felt awkward to intervene directly, so he only watched from the doorway.
Seeing the normally strong and obedient girl suddenly crying like this must mean something terrible had happened, and it left a bitter feeling in his heart.
Finally, Gu Xi stopped crying on her own, though her eyes were swollen, which made Feng Min heartbroken.
Wang Auntie quickly brought the porridge over, saying, “Eat something, don’t let your stomach go empty or the pain will come back.”
From childhood hunger, she’d developed a stomach ache condition, so missing meals caused severe pain.
With the two by her side, Gu Xi quietly drank the porridge.
After finishing the food and medicine, Wang Auntie wrung a towel to wipe her face, speaking softly and gently, like coaxing a child.
Feng Min sat nearby, lightly patting her back to comfort her.
Seeing no further issues, Shen Zhongshan returned to his room.
After Wang Auntie packed up and left, Feng Min looked at Gu Xi’s pale face, took her hand, and said, “Xi Xi, tell Auntie, who bullied you?”
Looking at Feng Min’s concerned expression, Gu Xi felt a sharp sting in her heart.
Perhaps fate between people is strange—she was blood family to the Gu family, yet never received their love or approval.
Meanwhile, the Shen family, unrelated by blood, gave her genuine affection and love.
Shen Zhongshan and Feng Min even treated her like a daughter.
“Feng Auntie,” Gu Xi’s voice was hoarse, “I hit someone.”
Feng Min was taken aback and instinctively asked, “Who did you hit?”
Gu Xi obediently replied, “Gu Yuanzheng and Gu Yuanhui.”
Without hesitation, Feng Min said, “They must have done something wrong for you to hit them.”
Xi Xi was such a well-behaved child; for her to get angry enough to hit, Gu Yuanzheng and the others must have crossed the line.
Feng Min didn’t think Gu Xi was in the wrong at all.
In her eyes, Gu Xi was a good child.
Having witnessed what the Gu family did these years, Feng Min thought the brothers deserved to be hit.
What was wrong with hitting someone?
Gu Xi was just a young girl hitting her own brothers. That was family business—so be it.
Did the Gu family really have such thick faces to take this to the police?
Hearing Feng Min’s blatant bias, Gu Xi felt even more heartbroken.
In her past life, after she died, how heartbroken Feng Auntie and the others must have been.
Her life was only twenty short years, with blood relatives who weren’t like family, while the Shen family gave her all their love and kinship.
Feng Min didn’t press Gu Xi on why she hit them, but said, “You stay here and rest first. Don’t worry about anything else. Get better first.”
She didn’t consider Gu Xi hitting people a big deal—health came first.
Once Gu Xi lay down and fell asleep again, Feng Min returned to her room.
Shen Zhongshan was still awake, sitting on the bed reading a newspaper.
When she came back, he put down the paper and asked, “What’s wrong with Xi Xi?”
Feng Min took a sip of water and sat beside him, “I didn’t ask. I guess the Gu family did something again.”
She complained, “Those Gu family people are clueless. Even though they haven’t been together for fifteen years, that’s their own child who suffered so much in the countryside. How could they bear to dislike her and favor the one who had a good life in the city?”
If it were her own child, raised mistakenly but returned after hardships, she’d want to love and cherish her with all her heart.
Though you love all your children, fairness is necessary—don’t be so biased.
It’s understandable to be reluctant to part with a foster daughter of fifteen years, but you can’t let your biological daughter suffer because of it.
Shen Zhongshan had no words. Every family has its own hardships.
The Gu family clearly favored the switched child and looked down on the biological daughter raised in the countryside.
Such a mindset is hard to change.
Feng Min suddenly laughed, “But Xi Xi said she hit Gu Yuanzheng and his brother today. Not sure if it’s true.”
Shen Zhongshan was surprised, “Gu Xi hit someone? Could it be that Gu Yuanzheng and the others hit her first?”
He couldn’t believe that such a gentle and quiet child would hit others. She was always so well-behaved, only ever bullied by others, never the aggressor.
“Xi Xi said so, so it must be,” Feng Min replied, uncertain.
She had just looked carefully and saw no injuries on Gu Xi, so presumably, she hadn’t been hit.
If Gu Yuanzheng and his brother dared to hit her, Feng Min would report them to the Women’s Federation and shame the Gu family.
Originally lying down, Feng Min sat up again, saying, “No, I have to go over to the Gu family tomorrow.”
She still wasn’t at ease and needed to check on them.
If Gu Xi really hit someone, she could imagine how Gu Maowen and his wife would react—and Gu Xi would suffer again.
Shen Zhongshan shook his head at Feng Min’s energetic resolve, “You women always do as you please. Don’t keep going to the Gu family—they’re not good to Gu Xi.”
No matter what, the Gu family were Gu Xi’s relatives.
She wasn’t married into the family yet, so the mother-in-law interfering in her birth family’s matters was inappropriate.
Even if you want to protect your daughter-in-law, this wasn’t the way.
“Nonsense. How could they be bad to her?”
Feng Min glared at him angrily.
“Old Shen Comrade, your way of thinking won’t do! Why would I go to the Gu family if they weren’t bad to Gu Xi?”
Shen Zhongshan said no more.
He knew his wife was straightforward and frank, which was her strength.
But with Gu Xi’s matter, she did lack some consideration, though her love for Gu Xi was genuine.