Chapter 34: A Swift Marriage

When Gu Hai Xiong saw his daughter return safely, he rushed forward and hugged her tightly.

“My dear daughter, thank goodness you’re safe. Otherwise, how could I have faced your mother?”

Seeing her usually stoic father tear up in front of her for the first time, Gu Leyou’s heart ached. She gently stepped back from his embrace, spun around with a smile, and reassured him, “Father, I’m fine. Look, I’m perfectly okay.”

Lu Yan, knowing it was a heartfelt family reunion, stood quietly to the side, silently observing.

Grateful for their help, Gu Hai Xiong took Gu Leyou and approached Lu Yan and the county magistrate.

“Leyou, kneel and thank the magistrate. If it weren’t for them, who knows what would’ve happened to you? A life-saving grace like this must never be forgotten.”

Obediently, Gu Leyou knelt and bowed to the magistrate.

When she raised her head, even the magistrate was taken aback.

Such beauty truly existed in this world—no wonder Young Master Zheng insisted on claiming her for himself. While his methods were vile, one could now understand his obsession.

“It’s already quite late. You should head back. Leave the rest to us,” the magistrate said.

“Thank you, Your Excellency. You truly are a just and caring official,” praised Gu Hai Xiong.

He then led his daughter and soon-to-be son-in-law home.

On the way back, he reminded her, “Don’t tell your mother what happened, or she’ll worry herself sick. And you must promise not to sneak out again. What would we do if something like this happened again?”

Gu Leyou nodded solemnly.

She had learned her lesson—she would never run off again. Staying home safely was best.

—

After returning home, Gu Leyou rushed into her mother’s room. Seeing Lin lying on the bed, she felt a wave of guilt and sorrow. She knelt by her mother’s side and cried, “Mother, your daughter has returned safely. Please open your eyes and look at me.”

Perhaps awakened by her daughter’s voice, Lin slowly opened her eyes. Seeing her beloved daughter again, she struggled to sit up and pulled Gu Leyou into a tight hug.

“My daughter, you’re finally back. Do you know how worried I was? What happened? How did you end up getting taken away?”

Worried the matter might spiral if discussed further, Gu Hai Xiong quickly changed the subject.

“What’s done is done. The important thing is that our daughter is home. Tomorrow, find that almanac and pick an auspicious date. Let’s get her married to her fiancé within the next couple of days and settle things quickly.”

He was still deeply shaken.

What if next time, they weren’t so lucky?

That night was anything but peaceful.

After calming her mother down, Gu Leyou returned to her room to rest—but she slept uneasily.

She had a nightmare.

In it, Zheng Yuanhao forced himself on her. No matter how she screamed or begged, he didn’t stop. In the end, he defiled her. Devastated, she chose to throw herself into a river. As she sank into the freezing water, she awoke.

She was drenched in sweat, unable to fall back asleep after being startled awake.

Then she remembered her promise to Brother Zhang—to come up with a name for his restaurant. She couldn’t forget that.

She pulled out a sheet of paper and began writing, but the characters she used were ones no one here could understand. It looked like she’d need her brother’s help to sound it out again.

—

When morning came, she got up early to prepare breakfast. Gu Hai Xiong noticed and asked, “Why are you up so early? Why not sleep in a bit more? You didn’t need to make breakfast. I could’ve done it.”

But before they could enjoy their meal, uninvited guests arrived at the door.

It was the last people they wanted to see—her eldest uncle’s family again.

This time, however, Gu Hai Xiong had no intention of letting them in.

After they had refused to help save his daughter, he had already decided to cut ties with them completely.

Gu Leshu thought they should still show respect to elders and was about to open the door when his father stopped him.

“Sit down and eat. Pretend we didn’t hear anything. Don’t bother with them. That whole family has no conscience. I begged them last night, and they didn’t lift a finger.”

His wife added, “Let’s just hear what they have to say. Maybe they’ve come to make things right.”

“There’s no need. We don’t need to explain our family matters to outsiders.”

After what happened, Gu Leyou felt reassured. Her parents were finally learning to stand up for their own family instead of always listening to others.

Her uncle’s family, along with her grandmother, shouted at the door for a long time, but no one responded. Eventually, they left, still angry and unwilling to give up.

Before leaving, her aunt muttered, “I don’t believe you’ll stay inside forever. If you won’t see us today, we’ll come back tomorrow.”

—

Gu Hai Xiong, worried something might go wrong again, told his wife, “Let’s have our daughter marry her fiancé the day after tomorrow. We’ve already bought everything. Tomorrow, decorate the house, and we’ll hold the wedding in the morning.”

“Father, isn’t that too soon? I’m not ready yet. Shouldn’t we talk to Brother Lu first and make sure he’s okay with it? He might not even be prepared yet.”

“No need to discuss it further. I’ve already spoken to him, and he agreed. He’ll have people on his side help prepare too. As for the bride price and betrothal gifts, let’s skip those. The sooner this is done, the better. We don’t want more trouble.”

In this era, marriages were arranged by parents and matchmakers. Since her parents had already made the decision, she couldn’t protest. The date was set—there was no changing it now.

But before the wedding, she had to settle Brother Zhang’s matter.

So, after breakfast, just before her brother left for school, she called out, “Wait, I need your help with something.”

Gu Leshu replied, “I’ll help after school!” and ran out the door.