---

Chapter 11: Courageous Act 1

Just as Gu Leyou returned home, Grandma Gu and Aunt Yang were coming out. The three of them almost bumped into each other.

Aunt Yang already didn’t like Gu Leyou. Now that her mother-in-law was with her, she used that as backing to act arrogant. She scolded Gu Leyou in a condescending tone, “You silly girl! So reckless! You almost bumped into us, and you didn’t even greet your grandma and me.”

Hearing the commotion, Lin Shi walked out into the courtyard, just about to say something, when Gu Leyou unwillingly greeted them, “Hello, Grandma. Hello, Aunt.”

Only heaven knew how much she hated these two.

Her family could have lived a peaceful life, but ever since Grandma and Aunt Yang stirred things up, everything at home had become a chaotic mess.

Grandma Gu suddenly looked Gu Leyou up and down, then gave a warning:
“I’ve already talked with your parents. We’ll pick a good day soon to marry you off to that hunter. Until then, stay put at home and don’t run off.”

But Gu Leyou wasn’t paying attention to her grandmother at all—her thoughts were elsewhere. When Grandma Gu saw that she didn’t respond, she raised her voice and shouted:
“You little girl, I’m talking to you—did you hear me or not?”

Only then did Gu Leyou snap back and respond perfunctorily, “Got it, Grandma.”

Hearing that, Grandma Gu was finally satisfied and left with Aunt Yang.

Once they were out of sight, Gu Leyou rolled her eyes and turned to Lin Shi.
“Mom, I’m not eating. I’m tired. I’m going to rest.”

With that, she went into her room.

…

As night fell, Lin Shi became worried about her daughter. She walked to her room and gently knocked on the door, asking with concern:
“Sweetie, are you hungry? I can cook something for you.”

She added:
“We’re really doing this for your own good. Think it through these next few days. If you regret this, your father and I would risk our lives to stop this marriage.”

But no matter what Lin Shi said, there wasn’t a single sound from inside the room.

She could only walk away feeling discouraged.

Gu Hai Xiong was already lying down. As Lin Shi came in, she began blaming him.

“This is all your fault. When your mother came, all you did was obey her. You didn’t even say a word in defense of your daughter. If she ends up suffering in that marriage, won’t you feel any guilt?”

As she spoke, her voice choked with emotion.

Gu Hai Xiong couldn’t stand to see his wife cry. He immediately got up and comforted her.

“My dear, it’s not that I don’t care about our daughter, but what Sister-in-law said made sense. Do you want our girl to stay unmarried forever?”

Lin Shi shook her head. Of course not. She only had two children and wanted them both to be happy.

“Then if you want our daughter to be happy, we can’t stop this marriage. After all, the matter has already caused such a stir in the village. We can’t let her go unmarried forever—that’s our daughter, too,” Gu Hai Xiong continued to persuade her.

Lin Shi could only nod tearfully.

“Then I’ll start preparing things for her, to make sure she’s happily married.”

Gu Hai Xiong silently agreed. After all, his mother had said they’d pick an auspicious day.

---

The next morning, just before dawn.

Gu Leyou got up, washed up, and quietly slipped out with her basket on her back.

She was going to the mountains to gather herbs—and to find a quiet place to enter the spiritual spring space and bring out some medicinal herbs.

In the early morning, there were few people on the village paths and the air was fresh.

When Lin Shi got up to cook, she first went to her daughter’s room and knocked.
“Leyou, are you up? You didn’t eat dinner last night. Mama’s making food for you.”

After speaking, she heard no response and thought her daughter was still asleep, so she went to the kitchen.

Once breakfast was ready, Gu Leshu had already woken up, so she asked her son to wake his sister. Gu Leshu went to his sister’s door and knocked:
“Sis, come eat! Mom made your favorite pancakes—they smell so good!”

But still, there was no response—no sound from inside.

Puzzled, Gu Leshu ran back to ask his mother:
“Mom, why is Sis sleeping so late today? She’s usually up by now helping you.”

Lin Shi felt something was wrong. She hurriedly got a key and unlocked the door.

Inside, there was no one. The bedding was neatly arranged—clearly untouched. She panicked and called her husband.

“Come quickly! Our daughter is missing!”

Gu Hai Xiong remained calm, “Don’t shout—don’t let the neighbors hear. They’ll gossip again. Maybe she just went out for something.”

But this time Lin Shi wasn’t having it. She tore off her apron and snapped:
“You’re not worried, but I am! I’m her mother—I have to look for her. What if something happened?”

She flung the apron at him and rushed out. Gu Hai Xiong, seeing he couldn’t stop her, quickly followed. Before leaving, he said to his son:
“Boy, stay home and keep watch. If your sister comes back, stay put.”

“Dad, should I help look for her too?” Gu Leshu asked.

“No need,” he replied simply, and rushed out after his wife.

Their family used to live peacefully. But ever since the engagement fiasco, it had been nothing but trouble.

The couple searched the village high and low, but there was no sign of their daughter. Soon, word of Gu Leyou’s disappearance spread through the village, and of course, Grandma Gu and Aunt Yang came knocking.

When they arrived at the second son’s house, the couple still hadn’t returned, so the old lady and Aunt Yang waited.

When the couple finally came home, they saw Grandma Gu sitting in the courtyard with a dark expression.

Lin Shi’s heart sank. Here comes trouble again.

Sure enough, Grandma Gu immediately began scolding them the moment they stepped inside.

“Where’s your girl? What did I say yesterday? I told you to keep an eye on her and not let her wander off! Now where is she?”

Gu Hai Xiong didn’t know how to answer—he didn’t know where his daughter had gone either. They’d searched everywhere.

Aunt Yang took the opportunity to sow more discord.

“Mother, do you think Second Brother and his wife might be hiding the girl? Maybe they want to defy you and force you to agree to cancel the engagement.”

Aunt Yang really had it out for the second branch—always targeting them at every turn.

---