Chapter 15.1

Gu Ying: “…”

Unable to respond, Gu Ying lifted her foot and continued walking forward. Zhang Tao quickly caught up, belatedly realizing that chatting with Gu Ying was actually quite pleasant.

But somehow, the Gu Ying in his memory didn’t seem like someone who was easy to talk to.

Zhang Tao thought carefully about how he remembered Gu Ying and realized he knew very little about her. He actually didn’t know what kind of person she really was, or what kind of personality she had.

He had only formed a vague impression based on what others said — that Gu Ying was quiet, reserved, and kept to herself.

Thinking back to the previous two times he met her, that impression held up: she spoke softly and seemed timid and fearful.

But now, this quick-witted, calm-yet-confident Gu Ying in front of him seemed like her true self.

So then, why would this kind of Gu Ying agree to marry Gui Xiwen?

Was it because she liked him?

Zhang Tao took a big step forward to block her path. He bent down slightly, his eyes sweeping across Gu Ying’s face as if trying to catch even the slightest clue.

“Gu Ying, I have a question too. Why did y—”

Thud!
A small stone hit Zhang Tao squarely on the back, cutting off his question.

This time, Zhang Tao definitely felt it — the stone hadn’t just fallen from somewhere. It had clearly been launched from the slope behind him.

Furious, Zhang Tao looked around and shouted, “Who did that?! Who shot me with a slingshot?! Come out!”

He had been hit in the back of the neck before and hadn’t thought much of it, assuming it was just a falling stone. But now a stone had hit his back directly — this was definitely from a slingshot.

Who didn’t play with slingshots as a kid? But using one to shoot at people? That was a serious problem.

Which family’s brat needed a good spanking?

Zhang Tao scanned the thick tree trunks and short walls on either side of the road but saw no movement. With a booming voice, he yelled, “I know all the kids in this compound. If you come out now, I’ll still talk to you nicely. But if I have to go looking and drag you out myself, you’re done for!”

As soon as he finished speaking, Gui Xiwu sheepishly emerged from behind a tree trunk.

Zhang Tao saw who it was and stormed over to grab Gui Xiwu by the ear.

“Well, well, Xiwu. Your wings have grown now, huh? You dare sneak attack me from behind? Have I ever treated you badly? How many times has your big brother tried to hit you, and who took the blows for you? And this is how you repay me?”

Gui Xiwu ran around the tree to dodge him, whining in his still-childish voice, “Tao-ge, please let me off! I didn’t mean to! I swear I didn’t mean to hit you!”

Zhang Tao paused and blurted out, “You didn’t mean to hit me? Then who were you aiming at — Gu Ying?”

There were only the two of them here. If he hadn’t been the target, it must’ve been Gu Ying.

Gui Xiwu hid the slingshot behind his back and confessed honestly, “Yeah.”

“Oh ho, so you wanted to hit Gu Ying? What, you have a grudge against her?”

Zhang Tao glanced at Gu Ying and chuckled, “Gu Ying, did you offend this little troublemaker somehow?”

Before Gu Ying could answer, Gui Xiwu straightened his back like he was giving a speech on stage and declared confidently, “I just don’t like her. I don’t like her becoming my sister-in-law!”

Zhang Tao gave him a firm smack on the forehead. “You little brat. Even if you don’t like someone, you can’t go around shooting people with slingshots. Do you know how dangerous that is? If a stone hits someone in the temple, it could be fatal!”

He didn’t treat Gui Xiwu like an outsider, and seeing him pull such a dangerous stunt made Zhang Tao feel he had to give him a serious scolding.

Gui Xiwu pouted and admitted his mistake, “Tao-ge, I know I was wrong.”

Zhang Tao tugged at Gui Xiwu’s cheek and scolded with a smile, “Know my foot! Look at your mouth, pouting like it could hold back two oxen. You haven’t realized your mistake at all. Nope, I’m telling your brother.”

Now Gui Xiwu was truly panicking. He clung to Zhang Tao’s arm, pleading pitifully, “Tao-ge, you’re the best, please don’t tell my brother. He’ll beat me to death!”

“Now you’re scared? Why didn’t you think about the consequences when you were aiming your slingshot? From now on, you’re banned from using it on people. Got it?” Zhang Tao warned sternly.

Gui Xiwu nodded rapidly. “Okay, okay, I won’t shoot people again. Just please don’t tell my brother.”

Gu Ying, who had been quietly observing the whole time, finally spoke. “If the child truly realizes his mistake, let’s let him off this time.”

Zhang Tao, hearing this, couldn’t help teasing. He clapped Gui Xiwu on the shoulder and said, “Your future sister-in-law is speaking up for you. I guess I’ll let it slide this time.”

Gui Xiwu snorted coldly, completely ungrateful. “Hmph, I don’t need her fake kindness.”

Zhang Tao flicked his forehead hard and scolded, “Ungrateful brat. She just stuck up for you!”

Gui Xiwu rubbed his head and winced. Having just been pardoned, he had no desire to stay any longer and pulled Zhang Tao’s arm, urging, “Tao-ge, let’s go back, let’s go together.”

Zhang Tao pointed to a camphor tree not far off. “Go wait under that tree. I’ll come over in a minute.”

Gui Xiwu rolled his eyes at Gu Ying and reluctantly walked toward the camphor tree.

Once he was out of earshot, Zhang Tao returned to the question he hadn’t finished asking. “Gu Ying, I want to ask you — why did you agree to marry Gui Xiwen?”

Gu Ying gave a light chuckle, her expression calm. “Why wouldn’t I agree?”

Zhang Tao felt like he couldn’t breathe for a moment.

Why did that answer sound so familiar? Where had he heard it before?

No — he had heard it before!

Zhang Tao walked in a daze, following Gui Xiwu back. Halfway there, he suddenly shivered.

He remembered. Back when he asked Zhang Kuo why he agreed to be with Ming Xue, Zhang Kuo had given the exact same answer!

For some reason, Zhang Tao suddenly shivered.

He had a strange feeling that he had glimpsed something important and hidden, but everything seemed shrouded behind a veil, making it hard to see clearly.

Could it be that there was some connection between Gu Ying and Zhang Kuo?

Didn’t seem like it—those two didn’t usually appear familiar with each other.

But then again, Ming Xue and Zhang Kuo didn’t seem familiar either, and now they were about to get married. Same with Gui Xiwen and Gu Ying—they never looked close, yet they were about to walk down the aisle.

So, was there really nothing between Zhang Kuo and Gu Ying?

Zhang Tao’s head was a mess, like a bag of mush. He couldn’t think straight anymore.

He decided to let it go for now. There was no point in stressing over something he couldn’t figure out.

He turned to Gui Xiwu and asked, “Why don’t you like Gu Ying? She’s your future sister-in-law. It’s one thing to not greet her respectfully when you meet, but you even used a slingshot on her.”

At that moment, Zhang Tao suddenly remembered—all the little stones from Gui Xiwu’s slingshot had hit him. Gu Ying wasn’t hurt at all.

No wonder Gu Ying had stood up for Gui Xiwu earlier.

Well then, he was the one who got hurt, he was the one who played the bad guy, and Gu Ying walked away as the good one.

Zhang Tao gave a self-deprecating smile. He was starting to feel that Gu Ying wasn’t so simple after all.

After waiting a while with no response from Gui Xiwu, Zhang Tao reached out and ruffled his head. “What’s wrong? Can’t figure out why you dislike her?”

“It’s not that,” Gui Xiwu shook his head, his expression turning serious. After a bit of hesitation, he confessed, “I saw her talking closely with a man that day.”

Zhang Tao froze. “Who? Who was she talking to?”

“Zhang Kuo,” Gui Xiwu said firmly. “I saw his face. It was definitely Zhang Kuo.”

A silent thunderbolt exploded in Zhang Tao’s mind. His whole body trembled as if struck by electricity.

So it was true! There was something going on between those two…

Zhang Tao sucked in a cold breath. His breathing became rapid, and his body temperature rose with the turmoil in his heart. Suppressing his emotions, he asked, “Are you sure they were talking closely? How close? Were they standing very near each other?”

Gui Xiwu tilted his head and thought carefully. He took a step back, then another, finally pointing to the distance between himself and Zhang Tao, and said, “About this close.”

Zhang Tao stared at the space wide enough to fit two people side by side: “…”

He smacked a hand onto Gui Xiwu’s head, utterly frustrated. “Don’t give me false alarms like this! You call that talking closely? That’s just normal distance! It’s not even the distance between friends—it’s how strangers talk!”

Zhang Tao let out a long sigh of relief.

He had been scared half to death just now. He’d really thought there was something between Gu Ying and Zhang Kuo.

Most likely, they just bumped into each other and politely exchanged greetings. After all, they lived in the same compound.

Zhang Tao collected his thoughts and warned Gui Xiwu, “Don’t tell anyone about this, okay? We don’t want any unnecessary rumors spreading, got it?”

Gui Xiwu raised his head, somewhat unsure. “Not even tell my brother?”

Zhang Tao thought about it and said, “Don’t tell him either. It would be bad if he misunderstood.”

“Alright then—but you can’t tell him what happened today either,” Gui Xiwu bargained.

“Fine. Deal.”

A few days later, the elders of the Gu and Gui families met at Aunt Wu’s house in the compound.

That was the custom here. If it wasn’t a formal visit to someone’s home, the families would meet at a neighbor’s house instead.

At Aunt Wu’s house, the parents of both sides finalized the wedding date—it was set for two months later. That would be enough time to prepare everything.

On the way back from Aunt Wu’s, Sun Lan seemed worried.

She leaned beside Gu Ying and held her hand tightly, speaking earnestly, “In a few days, you’ll be going to the Gui family’s house for a meal alone. To be honest, I’m a bit concerned.”

It was a local custom—before the wedding, the bride would visit the groom’s home for a meal, and afterward, the groom would do the same. This was called “guo men” (entering the household).

Even though everyone lived in the same compound, Sun Lan still couldn’t shake her unease. She patted Gu Ying’s head and reminded her, “Gui Xiwen’s father seems mild-mannered, but he’s the deputy director of the factory. People like him have an unspoken sense of authority. Just because he’s nice doesn’t mean you should treat him casually. You have to be extra careful with your manners.”

“Gui Xiwen’s mother has a strong temper. Xiwen probably takes after her. She’s used to being flattered and isn’t someone who silently swallows her anger or lets things slide. When dealing with her, it’s best to go along with her a little.”

After giving her advice, Sun Lan suddenly felt a pang of sorrow.

It felt like she was teaching Gu Ying how to endure humiliation.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she wiped them away with the back of her hand and choked out, “If you do get married, don’t be too cautious. If you ever get bullied, come back and tell us. Our family will stand up for you. No matter how good their conditions are, we’re not envious. You understand?”

Seeing Sun Lan get more upset, Gu Ying stood up and gently wiped her tears, then grabbed the pattern samples by the bed. “Mom, don’t overthink. Come help me pick which pattern looks best?”

Sun Lan wiped her tears and glanced at the samples. She pointed to one and said, “This one with the double phoenix and peony pattern. It’ll look lovely on the quilt.”

“Alright, I’ll go with this one.”

Gu Ying made her decision and held onto Sun Lan’s arm. “Mom, you have to come with me to the big market tomorrow. I want to personally pick out a set of dishes, look at dressing tables, and buy the fabric for the double phoenix and peony bedding.”

Looking at Gu Ying so actively preparing, Sun Lan couldn’t help but smile.

Ever since the marriage was set, she had been full of worries. But Gu Ying seemed genuinely happy. In the end, that was all that really mattered.

Sun Lan patted her daughter’s head and agreed, “Okay.”

The next day, Gu Ying happily took Sun Lan to the big market.

Gu Ying had rarely gone out in the past. Her surroundings were usually very quiet. She couldn’t stay long in noisy and chaotic places like the big market.

Gu Ying had a clear goal in mind. She first pulled Sun Lan along to look at dressing tables. She had her eye on a simple design — four slender legs underneath and an oval mirror on top.

Unlike other dressing tables that were packed with two full rows of drawers, this one only had two drawers. It was extremely minimalist, giving off a refined aesthetic.

Gu Ying took a liking to it immediately. The shopkeeper praised her sharp eye, saying, “This is the last set we have! It’s a hot-seller — all sold out! The next batch won’t be here for another week. You’ve got great taste, miss!”

Businesspeople really were smooth talkers — praising others didn’t seem to require a script.

Gu Ying felt a little embarrassed from all the compliments.

Since it wasn’t convenient to carry such a large item back right away, she spoke with the shopkeeper, paid a deposit, and arranged to have someone pick it up later.

With the dressing table settled, Gu Ying pulled Sun Lan to look at dishware next.

There were many styles to choose from, and Gu Ying had some knowledge in this area. Back when her brother Gu Chengzhi worked as a chef, he often brought home all sorts of rare and quirky bowls, and she had seen quite a few.

She chose carefully and finally found a set that caught her eye — jade green on the outside, decorated with peacock patterns. It had an antique feel, as if it came from an ancient dynasty.

Would rice taste more fragrant when eaten from such a bowl?

Gu Ying loved the set so much she couldn’t let go of it. She liked peacocks — thought they were stunning when they displayed their feathers — but had never seen one in real life.

She immediately placed an order for the dishware. But it was too heavy for her and Sun Lan to carry, so again, she paid a deposit and planned to have her older brother Gu Chengzhi pick it up later.

As they were leaving, the shopkeeper showered her with more praise. “Wow, miss, what great taste you have! That dishware set is our most popular one — and the very last set, too.”

Gu Ying couldn’t help but laugh. It seemed the shop only had one script — repeating the same compliments over and over.

Finally, she and Sun Lan went to pick out a duvet cover with a “Double Phoenix and Peony” wedding design. Gu Ying carefully chose from a dazzling array of patterns and settled on one she liked. As soon as the shopkeeper saw it, more praise followed.

“Oh my, you’ve got such great taste! This is a classic style, and the only one we’ve got left. If you came any later, it would’ve been gone!”

Gu Ying was a little stunned. How had she ended up hearing the same thing at every shop all day? Were these merchants really so lazy that even their compliments were all standardized?

She found it odd and asked the shopkeeper blankly, “Are you telling the truth?”

“Of course! Why would I lie to you? This cover set is one of our best-sellers. We can barely keep up with demand. If you’d come even one minute later, it might have been gone. I swear I’m not lying.”

Looking into the shopkeeper’s sincere eyes, Gu Ying couldn’t detect even a trace of dishonesty. Could it be that her luck really was this good today — she had bought the last set every time?

She carried the only thing light enough — the “Double Phoenix and Peony” duvet cover — home with her. As they walked, she proudly said to Sun Lan, “See, I knew we had to come early. Otherwise, we’d have missed out.”

Sun Lan was busy tidying and replied, “Make sure to tell your brother to pick up the rest.”

“I will. I’ll go to the canteen to find him later. He’s free this afternoon and can make the trip.”

After fussing around in her room a bit, Gu Ying changed shoes and headed to the canteen.

Almost at the same time, Ming Xue and Li Qing also stepped out — just heading in the opposite direction. While Gu Ying was going to the factory canteen, Ming Xue and Li Qing were heading outside the compound.

Li Qing held Ming Xue’s hand, worried, and kept muttering, “We’re going to buy… what was it again? Duvet covers and dishware, right?”

Ming Xue nodded. “Yeah. My parents already picked out the big items, but I don’t really like the dressing table they chose. It has too many drawers — it looks so ugly. I want to look at some other options today.”

Li Qing immediately began to promote a product like a salesperson. “I know a really pretty one! Very simple and classy, just two drawers. My cousin bought the same one for her wedding recently. I’ll show it to you when we get to the market.”

She then asked, “What about dishware? Have you decided on a set yet?”

“Not yet,” said Ming Xue.

Li Qing got even more excited. “Then I have a great recommendation — a peacock design! It looks super nice, like something from ancient times. It has such a premium feel.”

Ming Xue only shook her head. “That’s not too important to me. Honestly, what I want the most is the duvet cover I picked out earlier. The Double Phoenix and Peony one is really popular. I wonder if it’ll still be there.”

Li Qing guaranteed it. “Xue, don’t worry. There aren’t as many people at the big market on weekdays. No one’s gonna beat us to it. And for something that sells well, they definitely stock more. It won’t sell out that easily, trust me!”

Her words reassured Ming Xue a bit. The wedding was fast approaching, and a lot of preparations had been rushed. But she really wanted to choose her own duvet cover, since she’d be using it every day.

Seeing Ming Xue go quiet, Li Qing leaned closer and whispered, “Aren’t I a good friend? I even took the morning off to go to the market with you. How are you planning to thank me?”

Ming Xue smiled. “If we get everything we need, I’ll treat you to KFC.”

Li Qing cheered, “Yay!”

,,,,,,,,, History check ,,,,,,,,,,,,

KFC first entered China in 1987, opening its first restaurant in Beijing on November 12, 1987.