Chapter 9: Unreasonable, Part 2

Xu Qingshan noticed that the family seemed like they had something to discuss, and judging by their expressions, something was off. So he said, “Since the child is fine now, I’ll take him back home.”

As he was about to leave with Lu Yao, Gu Leyou stood in their way, clearly unhappy. She asked, “Where are you taking him? His father isn’t back yet. If you take him home, won’t it be unsafe for him to be alone?”

The moment she said this, Gu Hai Xiong lost his temper and scolded her directly.

“Shut up and go inside. If he wants to go, let him. We’ll deal with you later.”

Lu Yao was startled and began to cry. Xu Qingshan quickly carried him and left.

Gu Leyou wanted to chase after them, but Lin Shi held her back and tried to persuade her gently, “Daughter, just give your father and me some peace of mind. Listen to your father, don’t stir up any more trouble.”

Faced with her family’s sudden unreasonableness, Gu Leyou felt helpless.

Once the doctor and Lu Yao were gone, the family of four shut the door again and brought the topic of the hunter and their daughter’s arranged marriage back onto the table.

Gu Hai Xiong said seriously, “Daughter, your mother and I have decided to cancel the engagement. Tomorrow we’ll go talk to your grandmother and call it off. You can’t marry him and end up having to care for their sick child. As your parents, we only want you to be happy—we don’t want you to suffer.”

Lin Shi added, “We didn’t know the whole situation when we agreed. If we had known, we’d never have let your aunt arrange this match with that hunter. Since the betrothal gift hasn’t been delivered yet, we’ll go and break it off ourselves. This way, you won’t have to suffer in the future.”

Gu Leyou was frustrated. Not a single peaceful day had passed recently. Things were already agreed upon, and now her parents, despite being in the wrong, wanted to go back on their word. What was the point of agreeing in the first place?

She tried to reason with them.

“I don’t agree. Why is it that whatever you say goes? You were the ones who wanted me to marry him, and now you’re saying I can’t. A person should act with conscience—I won’t do something against mine.”

Gu Hai Xiong looked at his daughter, sensing that something about her had changed, though he couldn’t pinpoint exactly what.

Their argument grew louder, and some passersby paused to listen, curious about the commotion.

One nosy villager even ran to the village chief’s house to stir things up.

“Village chief, come quickly to Gu Lao Er’s house. They’re fighting! It’s really loud—they need someone to mediate, or this won’t get resolved.”

The village chief, always eager to help with community disputes, hurried to the Gu family’s house with a few people.

Seeing the tightly shut door and hearing Gu Hai Xiong yelling inside, the chief felt disrespected and decided he had to step in.

The villagers watching added fuel to the fire.

“Chief, knock on their door. I think they’re fighting—I even heard something break just now!”

“Gu Lao Er! Open up! I need to talk to you.”

Hearing the commotion outside, Gu Hai Xiong and Lin Shi were confused. Why had the village chief shown up now? What was going on?

Puzzled, Gu Hai Xiong opened the door himself.

Seeing the village chief and a group of people outside, he quickly put on a smile and welcomed them in.

Lin Shi, being considerate, poured tea for everyone.

Seeing the chief, Gu Leyou immediately knelt down in front of him, pleading for justice.

With teary eyes and a choked voice, she said, “Village Chief, you know our family’s situation clearly. Now my parents want to cancel the engagement just because Brother Lu’s child is sick. Please, help convince them. Let me make my own decision about this marriage.”

Her words stirred up a buzz among the onlookers.

“That Gu girl is really bold—since when do daughters decide their own marriages? That’s just laughable. Doesn’t her family have any elders?”

“Exactly! I’ve always said that girl is a handful. Looks like the Gu family’s troubles are only beginning.”

…

Gu Hai Xiong, hearing the chatter, angrily reached to pull his daughter up and barked, “You troublesome girl! Get back inside! Your mother and I can still make decisions about your marriage—you don’t need to worry about it!”

But Gu Leyou was just as stubborn and refused to get up. In fact, she hadn’t intended to make such a scene, but since the village chief was now involved, it was better to lay everything on the table. That way, her parents would have a harder time opposing her.

The village chief watched the family arguing and tugging at each other. It was unsightly. He asked, “Gu Lao Er, why are you suddenly refusing to let your daughter marry that hunter? Is it just because he’s a widower with a child?”

Lin Shi, tearfully kneeling, responded, “As parents, how can we not consider our daughter’s future? If she marries him, she’ll have to be a stepmother. And that child is sickly, always needing medical care and medicine. That hunter barely has enough to support his child—how could he support our daughter too?”

Gu Leshu, hearing his parents’ concerns, didn’t know whose side to take—his parents’ or his sister’s—so he stayed silent.

The village chief, touched by their worries, turned to Gu Leyou and asked, “Gu girl, do you still insist on marrying that hunter?”

Gu Leyou nodded firmly. “Yes, village chief. He once saved my life. And besides, my aunt already arranged everything with him, and he agreed. If we go back on our word now, wouldn’t that make us untrustworthy and dishonorable?”

The village chief seemed to reflect on her words, then turned to her parents and said, “The girl makes sense. If it’s already agreed upon, you can’t go back on it. What happened with your daughter before already spread through the whole village—probably even the town knows. Do you want her to remain single forever?”

Gu Hai Xiong, hearing this, reluctantly nodded, setting aside his pride.

Just then, a familiar voice came from the gate.

“If the Gu family parents don’t agree, then I’m willing not to be with Miss Gu.”

Everyone turned toward the gate—Lu Yan had appeared, but no one knew when he arrived.

Gu Leyou stood up immediately, her face full of worry.

Oh no… Brother Lu definitely heard everything.