Chapter 13

Gu Chi’s ears flushed red for no reason. He had always known that Yan Qingqing was pretty, but now that she had changed into a new floral cotton jacket, her breathtakingly beautiful face seemed to shine as if a pearl had been scrubbed clean of dust—radiant, gleaming in all directions!

There was something soul-stirring about her, a fairy-like charm that made it impossible to look away.

Yan Qingqing’s skin was naturally fair, as smooth and luminous as ivory. Her clear eyes rippled like spring water, her little nose was delicately upturned, and her lips glowed with a soft cherry-blossom pink. When she bit them lightly, they looked like ripe cherries—soft, fresh, and far too tempting.

Gu Chi’s throat bobbed twice, and he nearly bolted in panic. Snatching up a basin from the ground, he muttered awkwardly, “I’m… going to chop firewood!”

Yan Qingqing: … Chop firewood? With a basin?

Mother Gu pulled her hand affectionately and said with a laugh, “Oh, there’s nothing wrong with your face—but this new outfit looks so good on you! It suits you perfectly! Even with my blurry eyesight, I can tell—you look gorgeous, prettier than anyone in a painting!”

Yan Qingqing felt a little embarrassed.

Back at the Yan household, she had always considered her looks a curse.

Her adoptive mother, Yang Zhaodi, constantly scolded her: “Who are you dressing up for with that shameless face? Trying to seduce someone? You little hussy, smiling at men—slut! You’ll grow up to sell yourself!”

The insults were vicious.

Sometimes Yang Zhaodi would even slap her across the face or jab a needle into her lips.

Yet Yan Qingqing had never done anything wrong. She didn’t even realize that a faint smile from her could take people’s breath away.

So later, she rarely smiled.

She didn’t think she was pretty at all—she even believed her looks were a mistake.

Mother Gu was the first person to praise her so wholeheartedly.

True or not, the words filled her heart with joy.

It was the first time anyone had affirmed her beauty without hesitation.

Yan Qingqing’s chest felt warm as she squeezed Mother Gu’s hand. “I bought some things for you on the way back from town—here’s a pair of waterproof cotton shoes for when it snows. The cloth boots you wear now won’t do then.

“I also bought cotton and fabric. In two months, it’ll be New Year—we can start making new clothes for the whole family! And these meatballs—I’ll cook soup with them later. This medicine is for your eyes, and this is a plaster for Father Gu’s back pain…”

She unpacked the large bag one item at a time, making Mother Gu ache with distress.

“Oh dear, the betrothal money was for you to spend on yourself! Why are you buying so many things for me?”

Yan Qingqing only smiled and coaxed her until she gave up protesting. Mother Gu hurried to put the plaster on Father Gu’s waist.

Both husband and wife felt deeply moved talking about Yan Qingqing.

“This second daughter-in-law is really a blessing to our family! Since she married in, Second Son woke up, your eyes have improved, and even my back pain is better! Wife, you must treat her well—don’t you dare wrong that girl!”

Mother Gu happily pressed the plaster on her husband’s waist and nodded. “Oh, I know. I was just thinking—our second boy is an honest man, and Qingqing’s a good girl. After spending some time together, they’re bound to grow close! You should’ve seen him just now—Qingqing came out in her new clothes, and he was so startled he dropped the basin from his hands… haha!”

Thinking of that scene made her laugh out loud.

Father Gu couldn’t help recalling the first time he met Mother Gu—he’d been so dazzled he forgot to pedal his bicycle and tumbled straight into a ditch.

Sadly, years of hardship had worn his wife down.

Feeling guilty, Father Gu gently held her hand and patted it twice. How he wished he could stand up again! If only… maybe life would still hold some hope.

Outside, Yan Qingqing took out a skewer of candied hawthorn she’d bought specially for little Gu Tiantian.

Tiantian had been peeking timidly from the doorway.

She was a delicate, pretty seven-year-old girl who still hadn’t gone to school—not because the Gu family forbade it, but because a year ago she had fallen into the water, developed a high fever, and afterward stopped speaking properly, as if her soul had been scared away.

Mother Gu had tried doctors and even folk shamans, but nothing worked. At last, they had no choice but to let it be.

Fortunately, though her intelligence seemed affected, Tiantian wasn’t a troublesome child and even helped with small chores now and then.

Smiling gently, Yan Qingqing offered her the candy. “Tiantian, this is for you.”

But as soon as Tiantian met her eyes, she shivered, darted under Qingqing’s arm, and bolted into the kitchen to hide!

Yan Qingqing froze, puzzled.

Tiantian wasn’t afraid of her parents or her second brother, Gu Chi—so why fear her so much?

Since arriving at the Gu household, she’d hardly spoken to Tiantian, only glanced at her sympathetically now and then. Such a pitiful child…

With a sigh, Yan Qingqing followed to the kitchen door and spoke softly: “Tiantian, these are really tasty. Just try one, alright? If you don’t eat them, they’ll melt and go to waste. I’m not a bad person. I won’t hurt you, I promise.”

But Tiantian shrank behind the door, her whole body tense.

She shook her head frantically, silent, terrified.

No—she couldn’t speak!

That woman had said if Tiantian dared to open her mouth and let Yan Qingqing hear her voice, she would kill Tiantian’s parents and second brother!

Wasn’t it that same woman who had pushed her into the river?

Even now, Tiantian remembered the icy water flooding her mouth and nose, making her sob just thinking about it.

She couldn’t trust Yan Qingqing!

Back then, that woman had lured her to the river with the same soft voice and gentle smile…

And afterward, Second Brother had nearly died too…

Tiantian shut her eyes and covered her mouth, swallowing her sobs.

She wouldn’t trust anyone outside her family again—not even her second brother’s wife!

Seeing Tiantian refuse to open the door, Yan Qingqing could only give up and hand the candy to Gu Chi instead. Tiantian accepted it only when he brought it to her.

For lunch, Yan Qingqing helped Mother Gu make a hearty meal.

Meatball and vermicelli soup, with fragrant fried pork slices, cabbage leaves, potato slices—half mild, half spicy—served with crispy corn cakes pressed against the wok.

She secretly replaced all the kitchen water with spirit-spring water from her space, so the food not only tasted better but would also improve everyone’s health.

They also made scrambled eggs with chives and fried radish in lard. The whole spread was incredibly satisfying.

Gu Chi still ate six full bowls plus ten corn cakes at his usual shocking speed.

Yan Qingqing was already used to it…

With that kind of appetite, she figured he’d need his own oversized rice bowl!

The Gu family courtyard was filled with the aroma of food, and everyone ate harmoniously.

Even Tiantian, after stealing a glance at Yan Qingqing, quietly took another cake.

Meanwhile, the Yan household was cold and cheerless. Yang Zhaodi had caught a fever from falling into the water that morning and lay weakly in bed.

“Water… Yan Qingqing… bring me water…” she panted.

Outside, Yan Dahai, Yan Xiaohai, and Yan Fugui had all returned home.

Not one of them cared about Yang Zhaodi. Hungry, they only complained: “Where’s the food? Why haven’t you cooked yet? We’re starving!”

Shivering under her quilt, Yang Zhaodi glared at them. “Can’t you see I’m sick? I fell in the river washing clothes this morning! How can I cook like this? Dahai, go fetch Yan Qingqing back here!”

Yan Dahai, still shaken from being kicked twice by Gu Chi earlier, didn’t mention it and instead shoved Yan Xiaohai.

“Xiaohai, isn’t Qingqing the one who dotes on you most? Go! See if the Gus are eating. Better yet, take a basin and bring some food back with you!”

Yan Fugui impatiently sat down. “Just go already! I’m starving—I’ve got things to do this afternoon!”

He’d been busy lately, angling for a village-cadre position next year.

Pressed by everyone, Yan Xiaohai grabbed a big basin and hurried to the Gu house.

The moment he reached their gate, the delicious smell made him hungrier. He barged straight in, shouting, “Yan Qingqing! So you’re just eating by yourself, not caring about me, Mom, or Dahai? We’re all starving! Hurry up—give me some food to take home!”

The entire Gu family froze and looked toward the door.

Yan Qingqing, who’d been eating happily, went pale in an instant.

Yan Xiaohai’s eyes locked on the dishes, drooling. He lunged to grab a corn cake—

—but before his fingers touched it, Yan Qingqing smacked his hand with her chopsticks.

“Ow!” Xiaohai yanked his hand back. “You dare hit me?! Yan Qingqing, you bitch—wait till Mom hears about this, she’ll beat you to death!”

But before his mother could lay a finger on her—

Gu Chi was already on his feet.

With one swift slap across Xiaohai’s mouth, he spun the boy twice in place!