Chapter 9: Going Outside

“Sweetheart, have another egg. I made sugar water with poached eggs for you and added a spoonful of sugar!” Yan Fengru said as she picked up the bowl and brought a spoonful to Gu Yuzhu’s mouth.

Gu Yuzhu felt like her hands were useless—these past two weeks, her own mother, Yan Fengru, had been waiting on her like she was a complete invalid.

But when she saw the earnest look on Yan Fengru’s face, Gu Yuzhu thought to herself, Fine, I’m just an invalid then!

Yan Fengru was in an excellent mood—because Gu Caihe wasn’t doing well.

That day when she went to the Han household, it may have looked like an impulsive act, but was she really the impulsive type? People couldn’t understand the scheming of a former senior maid. She had gone there to stir trouble on purpose, to make the Han family lose face. Did she think Hong shi would just let Gu Caihe off easily after that?

Back when Gu Caihe hadn’t married out yet, she still had Gu Dapeng and Gu Qingshan protecting her. As a stepmother, there wasn’t much she could do.

But now Hong shi was her proper mother-in-law, and disciplining a daughter-in-law was a perfectly natural thing.

Could her father Gu Dapeng and her brother Gu Qingshan interfere in the Han family’s domestic matters? Could they watch over the Han household day and night to keep Hong shi in check? Could her husband Han Zhengqing do nothing all day except stand guard over her?

If they really tried that, Gu Caihe’s days would only get worse. And every time Yan Fengru thought about how miserable Gu Caihe must be, she felt delighted.

What she hadn’t expected, though, was that Gu Caihe would be so foolish. All she’d done was sow discord to trigger Hong shi’s displeasure toward her. Yet Gu Caihe had dared to fight back!

Mother-in-law and daughter-in-law conflicts had always been difficult to handle. Yan Fengru hadn’t had a mother-in-law when she married into the family, but she had seen plenty during her time serving the noble ladies in the provincial city. Among the wealthy households, those conflicts were far more complicated than in the countryside. Even her own mistress, with her high status, still had to suffer under her mother-in-law.

Why? Because the mother-in-law was an elder.

Just talking back to a mother-in-law was enough to get punished, let alone fighting with one. If it weren’t for the fact that they were enemies, Yan Fengru would’ve applauded Gu Caihe. What a tough girl!

But the stupider Gu Caihe was, the more aggrieved Yan Fengru felt. All these years I’ve suffered silently, and this idiot has dragged my name through the mud? Yan Fengru wasn’t someone who didn’t care about her reputation. She had been a senior maid and had seen the world; she had been able to let a lot go. But now, she couldn’t anymore.

To hell with the stepdaughter. As a stepmother, she had always tried to take the high road—but now? Let people think she was being petty; did they think she, Yan Fengru, was afraid?

So lately, Yan Fengru walked with a spring in her step and couldn’t stop smiling.

“Mother, I want to get out of bed and walk around a bit,” Gu Yuzhu said, her voice with a soft lilt, a little hesitant. After lying in bed for half a month, she felt like her limbs were about to waste away. She was worried her mother would say no, but to her surprise, Yan Fengru didn’t object too much.

“I’ll support you. Take it slow. Does your head still hurt, sweetheart?”

Gu Yuzhu shook her head. “It doesn’t hurt anymore.”

Yan Fengru gently helped her up. Seeing no signs of discomfort, she was relieved. It was really just that the original body had been born prematurely and was naturally weak. Normally, country children were tough—falling once or twice wasn’t a big deal.

But after this incident, Yan Fengru had fully made up her mind: in this household, her two children could only rely on her. That old man was completely unreliable.

And now he was even getting impatient. Just last night, he’d asked her to take gifts to the Han family. Did he think she was insane?

Gu Caihe, that wretched girl, didn’t care about her stepmother at all, and yet she was expected to pacify Hong shi’s anger? She wanted Hong shi to make life unbearable for Gu Caihe!

Of course, Yan Fengru knew that wasn’t realistic. Hong shi was strict, but not vicious. Still, just seeing Gu Dapeng feeling sorry for Gu Caihe made Yan Fengru sneer. Let’s see how this turns out. That foolish girl still has plenty of trouble ahead!

But dealing with Gu Caihe was only the first step.

Thinking about the past years, Yan Fengru felt wronged on her own behalf. When she married in, Gu Qingshan was fifteen and Gu Caihe was twelve. She could still remember the expression on Gu Caihe’s face the first time she saw her. It was seared into her memory. Gu Qingshan had been slightly more sensible—not fond of his stepmother, but he didn’t show it as openly.

But Gu Caihe had been a complete fool—looking at her like she wanted her dead.

If it hadn’t been for that, Yan Fengru wouldn’t have been so cold toward them. She wasn’t the type to mistreat stepchildren. Even if she couldn’t win their affection, she would’ve at least done her duty. But after seeing Gu Caihe’s look that day, she had lost interest.

She treated them as her stepchildren, but they probably saw her as the stereotypical evil stepmother. So she kept her distance—but she never mistreated them.

She had her own money, of course she wouldn’t just hand it over for nothing. But Gu Qingshan had gone to town to learn carpentry, and Gu Caihe had learned embroidery from a local seamstress. In those days, skilled trades were highly respected. And let’s be clear: sending kids to apprenticeships cost money.

Where did that money come from?

Sure, Gu Dapeng gave her all his earnings, but how much could he really save alone? All their savings had gone into paying for the children’s education. So what were they supposed to eat and drink?

At the time, who dared say Yan Fengru hadn’t used her own silver to make up the difference?

It was just that later, she quietly recouped what she had spent.

This was Yan Fengru’s first offensive move—but definitely not the last. Next, she was going to win Gu Dapeng’s heart back, bit by bit. And along the way, she would reveal the true colors of that so-called son and daughter of his. Then the old man could see for himself—who was really dependable, her precious babies, or those ungrateful wretches?

“Wonderful, just wonderful! My sweet girl, Mama will go kill a chicken right now!”

“Oh, and tomorrow, I’ll take you to town. Your aunt says she misses you—and your brother too. Let’s bring your brother home,” Yan Fengru said.

Only then did Gu Yuzhu remember her twin brother—oh, no wonder she hadn’t seen him!

Yan Fengru hadn’t mentioned Gu Qingshan at all. Things had come to this point—her daughter’s only brother now was her own son. As for Gu Qingshan, he was Gu Caihe’s brother, not her daughter’s.

But the thought of rich, savory chicken soup made Gu Yuzhu nearly drool.

These past two weeks, she’d been on such a bland diet that her mouth had forgotten what flavor was. Just thinking of the taste of that chicken soup made her mouth water. Before she could even stop herself, her saliva started to drip.

Gu Yuzhu: “…” No! I’m not that greedy!

Thankfully, Yan Fengru was too happy to notice her expression. Otherwise, she might not have been able to keep a straight face. After all, Gu Yuzhu was a woman in her twenties on the inside—she had pride, alright?

Once Yan Fengru left, Gu Yuzhu opened the door and stepped out too. The air in this old-time rural village really was different.

She paused for a moment, as if struck by a thought, then slowly wandered into the courtyard.