Chapter 3: She Must Have a Fever That’s Addled Her Brain

The onlookers dispersed.

Gu’s mother trembled as she stroked Gu Yunchi’s face. All four of her children were the apple of her eye; she had never struck any of them. Yet today, her daughter had been beaten in front of her. She wanted to retaliate, but she couldn’t. She didn’t have long to live, and she couldn’t bring trouble upon her daughter.

“Mom, I’m fine, it doesn’t hurt,”

Gu Yunchi forced a smile, afraid her mother wouldn’t believe her.

Gu’s mother suddenly burst into tears.

Gu Yunchi hurriedly wiped her mother’s tears, her own eyes reddening.

“Big Sister, get a divorce.”

Gu Yunchi is the female protagonist of the book. She and Gu Yunze are twins—intelligent, generous, and capable. She fell in love with Qin Gang at first sight. Back then, their father was still alive, and Qin Gang was kind to her. They enjoyed a period of sweet marital bliss after their wedding. But the good times didn’t last. After Gu’s father passed away, the Qin family’s attitude towards her plummeted. Qin Gang initially protected her, but after she gave birth to twin daughters, he ignored her.

Because the one-child policy was already in effect, in rural areas, if the first child was a daughter, they could have another. But Gu Yunchi had two daughters, eliminating the possibility of having another child. Qin Gang was an only child, and in the eyes of Qin’s father, Qin’s mother, and Qin Gang himself, their family line was going to end.

Qin Gang had just made a sum of money, so he took several mistresses. Given Gu Yunchi’s personality, she couldn’t tolerate this, but the original owner ran away with all the family’s money. Gu’s mother was so angry that she collapsed and never woke up, leaving Gu Yunyang and Gu Yuncan without anyone to care for them. Gu Yunze wanted to retire from the army and return home, but Gu Yunchi wanted him to stay in the army, so she could take care of her younger siblings.

At first, the Qin family was overjoyed. Sixty yuan was enough for them to eat meat every day. As for Gu Yunyang and Gu Yuncan, they would give them just enough to survive. But Gu Yunchi didn’t give the Qin family a single cent. The Qin family became furious and treated her even worse, making her do all the housework and farm work.

Gu Yunchi silently endured everything. Not only did she take excellent care of Gu Yunyang and Gu Yuncan, but she also sent them to university.

That wasn’t even the worst of it. When she learned about Qin Gang’s infidelity, she pretended not to know. She was “devoted” to Qin Gang, and even helped him solve problems when his business encountered difficulties. Over time, Qin Gang let her participate in his business. Gu Yunchi used five years to establish her own company, sidelining Qin Gang, and cutting off ties with the Qin family. She only gave Qin’s parents two hundred yuan a month for living expenses. Later, she ran the company very successfully, becoming a renowned businesswoman.

Hearing her words, Gu Yunyang, who was still pulling a cart, instantly straightened his small body. This woman hadn’t caused enough harm to their family; now she was encouraging his older sister to divorce!

“In front of so many people, your mother-in-law dared to treat you like that. She must have treated you even worse in private. Such a marriage is better off ended.”

Gu Yunchi subconsciously shook her head. She had never considered divorcing Qin Gang. No matter how bad Qin Gang was, he was the father of her two daughters, and he would protect them. If she divorced him, not only would her daughters have no one to protect them, but they would also be gossiped about by the villagers.

Gu’s mother quickly wiped away her tears. She also didn’t approve of her daughter’s divorce. She didn’t have much time left to live. Her daughter could come home for a day or half a day, but if she stayed longer, Jiang Yiyi wouldn’t tolerate them.

Jiang Yiyi didn’t persuade her further, changing the subject. She wanted to go back to her room and lie down. She had a high fever last night, and now her body was aching terribly.

Then she remembered something. “Yunyang, there’s a box under my bed. Go get it.”

Gu Yunyang didn’t know what she was up to. After a moment of hesitation, he pulled the cart back to its original place and went into Jiang Yiyi’s room. He found the box under the bed and brought it to her.

Jiang Yiyi and the others had already returned to Gu’s mother’s room. Jiang Yiyi sat down, took the box, and opened it. Inside were several rolls of “Great Unity” banknotes and some loose change.

She took out two rolls and handed them to Gu’s mother. “This is the money Yunze sends every month. It’s a thousand yuan. Take it.”

Gu’s mother hurriedly waved her hands, but Gu Yunyang snatched the money and stuffed it into his mother’s hands. This was the money his older brother sent to the family; why shouldn’t they take it?

Jiang Yiyi then opened another roll, took out five “Great Unity” banknotes and added them to the fifty yuan she already had, giving it all to Gu Yunchi. “Big Sister, please buy some meat and noodles, and make something delicious. Mother and the younger siblings need to replenish their bodies.”

Gu Yunchi took the money, calculating that besides buying meat and noodles, she could also take her mother to the hospital for a checkup. Although her sister-in-law gave her a thousand yuan, her mother would certainly be reluctant to spend it.

Jiang Yiyi returned to her room.

After she left, Gu Yunyang finally relaxed, and said to Gu Yunchi, “Big Sister, don’t listen to her. She’s not up to anything good.”

Gu Yunchi patted his head and smiled, “Sister-in-law is doing this for my own good.”

Gu Yunyang didn’t believe it.

Gu Yunchi stood up, “You stay home and keep Mother and Little Sister company. I’ll go buy meat and noodles.”

“I’ll go with Big Sister.”

“No need. Prepare the firewood and wash the pot at home. Big Sister will cook meat for you when I get back.”

Gu Yunyang hadn’t eaten meat in almost two years. At these words, he swallowed hard and nodded eagerly.

…

Jiang Yiyi leaned against the headboard, looking around the room. After Gu’s father made money, he rebuilt the house. It was a spacious five-room tiled house, the best in the village.

The walls were painted white, and the windows were the large windows popular in later times. The windows were still decorated with the big red double happiness characters from the wedding of the original owner and Gu Yunze. Two years had passed, and they were somewhat faded.

There was a large wardrobe, a high and low cabinet, and a dressing table, which was extremely rare in this era.

After looking around, Jiang Yiyi let out a sigh. Such conditions were not only top-notch in Gujia Village, but also in the surrounding areas. What’s more, she still had a lot of money.

Speaking of money, Jiang Yiyi opened the box and counted the money inside. There was less than two thousand yuan left. In this era, this was still a lot of money, and it would be easy for her to do what she wanted to do.

…

Gu Yunchi returned quickly, spending every cent of the fifty yuan Jiang Yiyi gave her. It wasn’t that she liked spending money, but she was afraid that Jiang Yiyi would change her mind and ask for the money back. Once she had spent the money, Jiang Yiyi wouldn’t be able to get it back.

Gu Yunyang and Gu Yuncan were waiting at the gate, eyes wide. As they watched Gu Yunchi pull the cart back, they ran to help push it. Seeing the full cart, their eyes widened.

They glanced at Jiang Yiyi’s house. Gu Yunyang lowered his voice, “Big Sister, let’s put the things in Mother’s room.”

If they put the things in Mother’s room, Jiang Yiyi wouldn’t be able to steal them.

Gu Yunchi shook her head with a smile. Although she was also afraid that Jiang Yiyi would change her mind, she couldn’t let her younger siblings have such thoughts. “Since Sister-in-law asked me to buy them, it’s for you to eat.”

Gu Yunyang didn’t think so. That woman suddenly became so nice. She must have had a fever that addled her brain. Once she was completely clear-headed, she would definitely hide the money and these things.

But Mother and Eldest Sister were deceived by her outward appearance. He had just tried to persuade Mother to hide the money somewhere, but Mother refused, saying that the money was originally given to that woman by Big Brother, and that woman should be able to take it back. Now Big Sister felt the same way.