The next day, when Gu Xi woke up, she felt much better.
She didn’t rush out of bed but lay quietly with her face buried in the pillow, inhaling the scent of sunlight.
The blanket, warmed by the sun, was soft and comforting, making her reluctant to leave it. The feeling of being alive was truly wonderful.
Wang Auntie was a relative on the Shen family side. Although somewhat distant, she was still family.
These days, most well-off families in the city preferred to hire relatives to help with housework and care for the elderly. Wang Auntie was such a person. She was diligent; when the weather was good, she would move mattresses and bedding outside to air them out.
Even though Gu Xi stayed at the Shen family’s house only a few days each month, Wang Auntie still came in daily to clean and occasionally aired out the quilts and clothes.
After lying there a while, Gu Xi sat up.
The curtains were not fully drawn, allowing some light to seep in, leaving the room half dim and half bright, enough to see its layout clearly.
Compared to the room she had at the Gu family’s house, this one was larger and had more belongings. From the details, it was clear this was a girl’s room, carefully arranged.
The Gu family had many members. When Gu Xi returned home, the rooms were already full. It was difficult to displace anyone, so they cleaned up the small study in the corner on the second floor for her to stay in.
The Shen family, on the other hand, had Shen Zhongshan’s rank, so they lived in a two-story house with a yard.
They did not live with their elders; the household was simple — just Shen Zhongshan and Feng Min as a couple, their two sons Shen Mingzheng and Shen Mingrong, and Wang Auntie who did the housework.
Shen Mingzheng was in the military and rarely came home, having last returned two years ago.
Since the Shen family had fewer people and more rooms, and because Gu Xi was a girl, they gave her a room facing the sun to stay in, even if she didn’t visit often.
When Feng Min decided to adopt Gu Xi, she regarded her as a daughter. This room was specially prepared for her at that time.
Gu Xi didn’t stay in bed long.
After changing clothes, she went downstairs.
It wasn’t early; Shen Zhongshan and Feng Min had already left. Only Wang Auntie was at home.
In the kitchen, medicine was simmering, filling the house with a strong herbal scent—not very pleasant. This was a smell Gu Xi had become used to each time she came here.
“Auntie, good morning,” Gu Xi greeted.
Wang Auntie touched her forehead, smiling happily.
“That’s good. You don’t have a fever today; you should be better.”
She gestured for her to sit at the table and brought over breakfast.
Wang Auntie knew Gu Xi’s appetite had been poor these past few days due to illness, so she made her meat porridge. The porridge was rich with rice oil, mixed with fresh minced pork.
The minced meat blended with the rice, making it thick and fragrant. Even just a sprinkle of light salt made it incredibly tasty.
“Today, logistics sent over a chicken. I’m making chicken soup for you. You have to nourish your body properly.”
She looked at Gu Xi’s pale face with pity, noting she seemed even thinner than the last time they met, her chin sharper. She was pretty, but a young woman still needed to be a bit fuller to look healthy.
Gu Xi smiled at her quietly, looking obedient.
“Thank you, Auntie.”
Wang Auntie affectionately patted her head. Elders always liked girls who were gentle, quiet, and considerate. Pale and beautiful, they softened one’s heart at a glance.
More importantly, this child was truly good.
After years of living together, she had come to regard Gu Xi as her own child. Since Gu Xi was to marry into the Shen family, she was practically family already.
As Gu Xi ate the porridge, Wang Auntie sat beside her, busy mending a piece of clothing.
Gu Xi recognized it as Shen Mingrong’s clothes. Boys were active, always running around, wearing out their clothes quickly. It was common for their clothes to tear after a short time and need mending.
“Auntie, where’s Mingrong?”
Gu Xi asked.
“He’s over at Old Master’s place. The holiday just started, and he went to accompany Old Master and Old Madam for a few days,” Wang Auntie said cheerfully.
“Mingrong is a good boy and sweet-talking. Old Madam likes having him around and wants him to stay there a bit longer.”
Shen Zhongshan and Feng Min had two sons. When their firstborn, Shen Mingzheng, was born, Feng Min had injured her body and was thought unable to have more children.
But unexpectedly, when their eldest was older, she became pregnant again and gave birth to Shen Mingrong.
Shen Mingrong was ten years old now—half-grown and full of energy. During holidays, he and a group of boys from the compound would run around and play all day, rarely coming home.
Since Shen Zhongshan and Feng Min were busy and had little time to discipline him, they left him in the care of the Old Master, who could also keep the couple company.
After finishing the porridge and taking her medicine, Gu Xi was urged by Wang Auntie to return to her room to rest.
Wang Auntie said, “Your Aunt wants you to rest well here these days and not go back yet. When you’re fully recovered, she’ll come with you to the Gu family.”
They both understood the implication—Aunt was going to support her when she went back to the Gu family.
Gu Xi was silent for a moment before agreeing.
She really wasn’t in a hurry to return.
Gu Xi didn’t go anywhere that day. She ate on schedule, took her medicine, and rested in her room.
Her body was still weak, and she soon drifted off into a haze.
In her dreams, it felt as if she was still a Ghost, rejected by the entire world, separated by an invisible boundary, silently watching time pass, witnessing changes in the world, watching history turn upside down, and seeing the country rise…
Suddenly, she saw her own corpse.
Feng Min fainted when she learned of Gu Xi’s death and cried heart-wrenchingly upon waking, but Gu Xi, standing beside her, was unseen and could not comfort her grieving Aunt Feng…
The knock on the door startled her awake.
Gu Xi suddenly sat up, breathing rapidly and drenched in sweat.
Feng Min pushed the door open and, seeing her panicked state, was alarmed. She quickly patted her chest and called her name softly, murmuring, “It’s okay, don’t be scared…”
Gu Xi’s tense body gradually relaxed.
Seeing the concern on Feng Min’s face, she forced down the suffocating panic in her chest and whispered, “Aunt Feng, I’m okay.”
“Really?”
Feng Min studied her carefully, sensing something had changed in the girl. She looked…
After Gu Xi assured her repeatedly, Feng Min didn’t press further and said, “Xiao Wang said you slept all day. Eat something and then rest again.”
Gu Xi nodded.
***
The two went downstairs and found Shen Zhongshan already seated at the dining table waiting for them.
Once they sat down, Wang Auntie brought out the prepared dishes, including the chicken soup she had simmered for Gu Xi.
The soup had been cooked slowly in a clay pot for most of the day until the bones were soft and the meat tender. The broth was golden and delicious.
Feng Min told her to drink plenty and recover her strength.
After dinner, Feng Min pulled Gu Xi onto the living room sofa and chatted with her.
Shen Zhongshan sat nearby, reading a newspaper.
Wang Auntie brought over more medicine, saying, “There are a few more doses. This time, Xi Xi will stay a few more days and finish these.”
Gu Xi wasn’t fond of traditional medicine. Anyone with a normal palate probably wouldn’t like it.
But this medicine was prescribed by an experienced doctor from the Military Hospital, specifically to help her recover.
Every time she came here, they brewed a few doses for her.
Not wanting to disappoint her elders, Gu Xi held her breath and drank it all in one gulp.
Feng Min popped a sugar cube into her mouth and laughed when Gu Xi’s cheeks puffed out around the candy, showing a rare childlike side.
Shen Zhongshan glanced over and saw the two sitting together like mother and daughter. He shook his head silently.
He knew Feng Min had always wanted a daughter, but when their first son was born, Feng Min had been injured and was thought unable to conceive again.
Unexpectedly, she became pregnant again, but it was another boy.
Feng Min was older now, and even if she wanted more children, Shen Zhongshan didn’t dare let her try.
Feng Min talked to Gu Xi about how she spent her summer vacation, then scolded her playfully for not coming to see them during the break.
“I was planning to come visit you all in a few days,” Gu Xi said shyly.
Before, she didn’t want to trouble the Shen family too often.
Even with a Marriage Contract in place, constantly visiting her future in-laws wasn’t proper.
Each time she came to the Shen family, her parents’ expressions weren’t good. Gu Yuanhui would sarcastically accuse her of shamelessness, saying she was already focused on her future husband even before marriage, hinting at improper intentions.
Gu Xi worried about causing trouble and avoided coming when possible.
Feng Min was well aware of this. She knew it was likely the Gu family causing trouble but didn’t bother to argue. Instead, she said, “You have to take care of yourself from now on. Health is the foundation of everything. Don’t run around when you’re sick. Rest well at home.”
She was upset because Gu Xi had come over yesterday despite having a fever.
With her so ill, not a single person in the Gu family stopped her from going out. Feng Min wondered if they had deliberately looked the other way or simply didn’t care.
Gu Xi obediently agreed and whispered, “I just missed Aunt Feng…”
Feng Min was pleased to hear that but worried even more about her health. She reminded her again, “Stay here these days and let Xiao Wang take care of you. We’ll send you home when you’re better.”
Gu Xi hesitated, then glanced at Shen Zhongshan reading the newspaper.
She hurried to say, “No, no, I can go back on my own…”
Shen Zhongshan and Feng Min were busy with their work. She didn’t want to trouble them constantly.
“It’s no trouble,” Feng Min smiled.
“We haven’t visited your family in a long time. There are some things I want to discuss with your parents.”
Gu Xi looked at her and knew “some things to discuss with your parents” meant trouble.
Seeing Shen Zhongshan silent, she knew he agreed.
After chatting some more about family matters, Feng Min suddenly asked, “Xi Xi, you’ve graduated from high school. What are your plans? Do you want to go to university? We have a recommendation quota for Gongnongbing University. I can recommend you…”
Gu Yuanxiang was currently attending Gongnongbing University.
Back then, the Gu family happened to have a quota, and since Gu Xi was still in high school, they gave the spot to Gu Yuanxiang.
Feng Min cared deeply for Gu Xi. If she wanted to continue studying, she would help her.
Then Gu Xi would be a college student, and no one could mock her as a country bumpkin.
If she didn’t want to study, that was fine too. They could arrange a job for her, which would also get her out of the Gu family and away from their troubles.
Of course, if she rejected both options, marriage was another possibility.
After all, the two children were not young anymore…
Gu Xi shook her head.
“Aunt Feng, I don’t want to continue studying for now.”
Though she was a Ghost before, she had seen the country’s future and knew the National College Entrance Exam would be reinstated.
From a future perspective, the Gongnongbing recommendation held little value, and it was hard to learn anything worthwhile there.
It was better to wait until the exam was restored.
Now it was 1972; if she waited five more years, she’d be twenty-five — not too late to go to university.
Feng Min respected her decision.
“Then find a job first. I’ll keep an eye out for something.”
Gu Xi wanted to say more but saw the smile on Feng Min’s face and swallowed her words.
That night, Feng Min discussed with Shen Zhongshan about asking their eldest son, Shen Mingzheng, to come back for a visit.
Shen Zhongshan asked, “Why?”
“Of course to discuss his marriage with Xi Xi,” Feng Min said reproachfully.
“Xi Xi has graduated, and even if she finds a job and stays in Beijing, it won’t be easy dealing with the Gu family people. Better to have them marry and let Xi Xi completely leave the Gu family. Then she’ll be my daughter-in-law, and let’s see if the Gu family dares bully her!”
These days, the prevailing view was that a married daughter was like water poured out — her natal family shouldn’t interfere with her affairs.
Even if a daughter returned home, she was treated as a guest and had to be respectful.
Seeing Feng Min’s protective attitude, Shen Zhongshan understood her meaning.
Their eldest son was of age, and Gu Xi was already twenty—old enough to marry.
“Alright,” Shen Zhongshan thought for a moment.
“I’ll call the unit where my son is stationed tomorrow and let him know.”