Chapter 5: Bridal Chamber (2)

Ma Hongmei quickly made up the bed neatly, then quietly slipped away, clutching that white handkerchief in her hand. Once she was in a spot where there was no one else, her expression turned angry. “Everyone says a rabbit that bites doesn’t make a sound. Mom, look closely — this girl is already not pure…”

The elderly Gu’s mother turned the spotless handkerchief over and over in her hands. After a moment, her expression grew unpleasant — a mixture of forbearance and barely contained rage. “This… this Su family! I’m going to find your brother and demand an explanation immediately!”

The Gu family’s home was backed by deep mountains, and there were many walnut trees there. Early in the morning, Wang Guifen tugged Su Jianshan out for a walk in the back hills. At that moment, the courtyard was exceptionally quiet. Su Niannian had just finished braiding her pigtails when she heard the sound of water outside. She turned to look out the window and saw Gu Zhiye, a bucket in hand, pouring water into a vat. His arm muscles were firm and powerful. The very next moment, he grabbed his shirt at the hem and casually tugged it up, exposing his sweaty, sculpted torso. What a perverted show-off! Su Niannian slammed the window shut with a “bang.” The abrupt noise made Gu Zhiye raise his gaze. His movement faltered briefly, then he simply put his wet shirt back on, tilting his Adam’s apple up and down. He filled a ladle of water and poured it over his neck, sending a rush of coolness down his body.

A suppressed, excited voice came from behind him. “Zhiye, your mother wants you to come in. She wants to speak to you.” Gu Zhiye half-closed his eyes. “Got it.”

He had barely stepped into the main room when a spotless handkerchief was thrown directly at him. Gu Zhiye caught it in his hand. His sharp Adam’s apple bobbed as he said quietly, “Thank you, Mom.”
He casually put the handkerchief into his pocket — thinking it was just the kind of softness that would be nice for washing his face.

Sitting at the side of the bed, Gu’s mother nearly fell ill from rage. The veins in her forehead stood out as she pressed her voice down, “Last night… honestly tell me — that girl, Niannian… is it true that she’s already been…?”
“It’s the expression on her face — I should have expected it. How could I believe you’d wait honestly until marriage? This kind of luck… I’m ashamed for our family.”

Gu Zhiye interrupted quietly, “Last night… nothing happened.”
He hadn’t expected that his own mother would pursue the matter to this degree — even to accuse Su Niannian — and something in his own heart grew unsettled. His breath faltered briefly. “I fell asleep as soon as I fell into bed after two nights’ drive.”

“So… it’s not her fault?”
“It’s not.”
“That you…”
“That I’m a normal man — not a beast.” Gu Zhiye slowly raised his lashes, a glimmer of barely contained resentment in his piercing black eyes — a lion showing its claws when its territory is encroached upon.

Because Gu Zhiye’s holiday was limited, there was not even time for a visit to her parental home. Wang Guifen was quite pleased with her new grandson-in-law and was unwilling to let her granddaughter suffer from unfair treatment in Xiangyang Village, so she decided, following Gu’s mother’s wishes, to keep Su Niannian there. The normally reserved elderly woman’s eyes glimmered with tears. “Niannian, don’t blame Grandma. You’re not meant to stay in the countryside. This marriage — it’s the best way I can make up for you. Here’s 100 yuan for you — keep it and use it wisely… Your foster parents’ home isn’t a good place, but your mother-in-law is kind and weak. In the future, Zhiye will appreciate your kindness and hopefully bring you to be with him in the army…”

Su Jianshan stood at the corner, tugging at his collar in the oppressive afternoon heat. The sunlight glimmered in Su Niannian’s clear, soulful eyes — as bright as if they held a galaxy. “But what they want is Chen Niannian…”
“Bah! Don’t mention that stupid girl again!” Wang Guifen tightened her grip on her granddaughter’s delicate fingertips and said in a firm, serious voice, “You are a thousand — no — ten thousand times better! I heard it myself at the health center — you learn quickly and are adaptable. Men are creatures who appreciate warmth — if you make him comfortable, he’ll surely keep you close. Your social status doesn’t matter…”
“Grandma… I want to enlist in the army…”
“…” There was a moment of heavy silence. After a moment, Wang Guifen whispered in protest, “Go talk it over with your man.”
Then Wang Guifen waved her hand, called their two to say a few words, and rushed into the jeep to be driven by Gu Zhiye to the bus station in town.

Su Niannian stood there, quietly watching their departure — a moment of emptiness in her heart. A breeze blew by, tugging a strand of her hair forward. Unconsciously, she raised her hand and tucked it back behind her ear, which drew out a delicate curve in her silhouette. Gu’s mother, who was just a few paces away by the stove, furrowed her brows and whispered to herself, “Could it be… something’s really not right with him?!”

…

The night breeze was cool. The headlights of two jeeps glimmered down the path into the village. Gu’s mother, upon hearing the movement, hurried to call Ma Hongmei to bring out the chicken soup.
“It’s almost ready.” Ma Hongmei rushed forward, wiping away traces of oil from her lips, and carried the chicken soup toward the doorway.
“Slow down.” The elderly woman rebuked her.
“That’s just because I’m worried Second Brother might be hungry. The chicken soup’s still warm — perfect to ease his hunger…”
The wild night fell upon the man’s broad shoulders. After Ma Hongmei said this, the silhouette at the doorway raised its head. Gu Zhiye took the chicken soup, drinking it down in big gulps. He had been busy all the way, worn out, hungry, and thirsty — he finished the chicken soup in a few large swallows, without touching the chicken itself.

He turned his gaze slightly, furrowing his brows as he asked, “Did she eat?”

Gu’s mother’s lips curved into a satisfied smile. “Yes, yes. Niannian’s probably already asleep. Keep it down and get some rest.”

“Mm. I’ll shower and then sleep.” Gu Zhiye slipped into the dark room, grabbed a vest, and headed for the bathhouse. Shortly after, he came back into the room. The air was filled with a faint fragrance, and the person resting on the bed was turning restlessly, looking unsettled.

Gu Zhiye furrowed his brows. “Su Niannian?!”

He drew back the mosquito net, and the soft glow of the moon fell upon her. The silhouette of her form was faintly visible — the creamy white nightgown outlining her graceful contours — her skin pure and smooth, like porcelain. Gu Zhiye turned his gaze away quickly. “Su Niannian! Wake up!”

In the silence of the night, a piercing scream suddenly came from the neighboring room — Ma Hongmei’s — adding a rush of chaos to the calm.

After drinking the chicken soup that Gu’s mother had brought, Su Niannian fell into a heavy, sleepy state, growing increasingly feverish. So much so that she chose to change into her nightgown. At that moment, every inch of her felt unsettled. Her lashes trembled as her starrous eyes slowly opened, confused, and she asked the man in a weak voice, “Am I… sick? My forehead’s so hot… I want some medicine… medicine…” Her cheeks were rosy with fever, and her damp hair clung to her skin. Gu Zhiye hurriedly reached out to check her temperature, only to realize that his own palm was just as warm. The moment their skin made contact, both fell silent in surprise.

Startled by the piercing, aggressive look in his eyes, Su Niannian turned away, trying to break the silence. She turned over and got up from the bed. “About last night… if you’re unwilling… I can leave… but before I do… I need to go to the health center… I feel awful…”

Before she could finish, a tall shadow fell over her. Su Niannian hadn’t yet come back to her senses when the man already bent down, extending his strong arms to lift her up. “Su Niannian, you’re the wife I crossed a thousand miles to bring back.”

Su Niannian’s eyelids drooped. “Mm?”

“I will never regret it.” Gu Zhiye’s voice was scalding.

In her confusion, Su Niannian’s first, purest reflex was to wrap her arms tightly around his neck. The veins on Gu Zhiye’s left arm stood out as he tugged away the blanket from the mattress and let it fall to the floor. Su Niannian opened her lips in alarm — “What…?” — but the rest of her words were cut off.