Chapter 10: I Don’t Want to Make Things Difficult for You

Just as Gu Leyou was about to go after Lu Yan, two people she really didn’t want to see emerged from the crowd — her grandmother and her aunt-in-law, Yang Shi.

As soon as they appeared, everyone’s attention returned to this family drama — people just couldn’t get enough of the spectacle.

Yang Shi stepped forward and grabbed the village chief’s hand, putting on a pitiful expression as she said, “Village Chief, don’t listen to their nonsense. They’re just unhappy that I arranged a marriage for their daughter, so they’re using the excuse that the man’s child is sick to stop the marriage.”

The whole situation gave the village chief a headache. With so many people in one family all saying different things, he was completely confused and didn’t know who to believe.

So he quickly shook off Yang Shi’s hand and walked over to the family matriarch — Gu Old Madam.

Since the others couldn’t be trusted, he figured he’d ask the true head of the family.

He went to Gu Old Madam and asked, “Old sister-in-law, is your granddaughter getting married or not?”

Afraid that her elderly mother-in-law might say something wrong, Yang Shi quickly shot her a look.

Lin Shi saw this and couldn’t stay silent any longer. For the sake of her daughter’s future, she suddenly sat down on the ground and began to wail.

“Oh heavens, what kind of unreasonable people are you! I already said my daughter isn’t getting married, and now you’re forcing her into it. Do you want to drive us to our deaths just to get your way?!”

Gu Leyou felt completely embarrassed. She rushed over to pull her mother up.

“Mom, get up, stop crying. It’s already been settled. I want to marry him. If you keep this up, the entire village will see us as a laughingstock — it’s even more embarrassing.”

Gu Hai Xiong, her father, also rushed to pull his wife up. After all, her words made them lose face. But Lin Shi truly cared about her daughter and wouldn’t budge no matter what.

Finally, Gu Old Madam shouted, “You from the second household — get up immediately! Stop disgracing the Gu family!”

Frightened by the outburst, Lin Shi trembled and got up. Gu Hai Xiong thoughtfully patted the dust off her clothes.

The village chief was annoyed by their whole mess. He just wanted to get out of there, so he left with a parting shot:

“This kind of family matter is hard to settle even for the fairest judge. You lot figure it out yourselves. We’re leaving.”

He then led the crowd of onlookers away. Gu Leyou, ever quick-witted, followed them out of the courtyard — and without even asking Lu Yan if he was willing, grabbed his hand and ran.

When they reached a secluded spot, they finally stopped.

Gu Leyou, slightly embarrassed, apologized.

“Brother Lu Yan, I’m sorry. My family’s troubles have dragged you into this. But don’t worry — I won’t go back on my word.”

Lu Yan, being a considerate person, knew how difficult this had been for her. He comforted her, “If your family truly doesn’t approve, I won’t force you. We can call the whole thing off.”

“What? How can we just call it off? Are you saying you regret it now?” Gu Leyou asked, confused.

“If you don’t regret it, how could I?” Lu Yan replied gently. “I just don’t want to make things hard for you. After all, my son really is sick, and he needs constant care and medicine. It’s only natural that your parents want the best for you. They don’t want you to suffer — that’s understandable.”

Gu Leyou smiled. What a genuine man.

“This whole thing is already public. Marrying you is the only logical step now. Don’t worry — I won’t change my mind, and you don’t need to care about what my family thinks. You probably already know that in our house, my grandmother makes the final decisions, and she listens most to my aunt — and my aunt loves money. You’ve already agreed to pay quite a bit. She’s not going to pass up that chance.”

Lu Yan understood and nodded. “Alright. I’ll go back, save up the money, and bring the betrothal gift to your family.”

Gu Leyou nodded as well, and the two of them walked side by side for a while longer.

Back at the Gu household, chaos had erupted.

Gu Old Madam was scolding the second branch of the family so harshly they couldn’t even lift their heads.

“You from the second household, let me be clear: if you dare break off this engagement, you’ll be digging my grave next!”

Yang Shi, the eldest daughter-in-law, added sarcastically, “I think you’re just unhappy that I arranged this marriage, so now you’re trying to break it off out of spite.”

Old Madam Gu believed her immediately and turned to question her second son. “Are you really trying to cancel this engagement?”

Gu Hai Xiong immediately became timid. “Mother, I wouldn’t dare. Since it’s already settled, let’s just pick a good date and send Leyou off.”

Gu Le Shu, hearing this, quickly voiced his disagreement.

“Dad! You can’t do this! Weren’t you both against her marrying him because it would be too hard for her? Now that Grandma’s here, you’re suddenly changing your minds?”

Embarrassed to be contradicted by his own son in front of his mother, Gu Hai Xiong scolded him. “This is grown-up business. Go inside. We’ll handle your sister’s marriage.”

Lin Shi usually didn’t have much say in the household, but for her daughter’s happiness, she knelt down before her mother-in-law with tears in her eyes.

“Mother-in-law, she’s your granddaughter too. Don’t you care about her happiness? If she marries that hunter, she’ll have such a hard life.”

Yang Shi chimed in with a mocking tone, “Sister-in-law, we’re just a farming family. Do you really think your daughter’s going to marry into a rich household? Even if she had the chance, they probably wouldn’t want her. Who would want a country girl?”

Though Yang Shi said this, she was secretly hoping that her own daughter would be chosen by some wealthy young master — then the whole family could reap the benefits.

Gu Old Madam agreed with her eldest daughter-in-law, so she ignored Lin Shi’s crying and said sternly:

“That girl of yours isn’t some fairy. She’s not meant for a pampered life. Just stay home and wait for the right day to marry. Stop embarrassing us. Maybe you can stand the shame, but the rest of the family can’t.”

Before the second branch could argue further, she turned and walked out, with Yang Shi hurrying to follow.

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