Chapter 7

Yan Qingqing had just taken revenge on the Sun family, and oh, did it feel good!

She explained with a bright smile:
“The Sun family gave me away when I hadn’t even finished my postpartum confinement. They never raised me, yet they kept asking me for money. Yesterday, for the sake of a bride price, Qin Hongying nearly beat me to death. Today, I went and took back 400 yuan! That money rightfully belongs to the Gu family. You keep it — life will be a little easier!”

Mother Gu quickly pushed the money back.
“Silly child! That’s your bride price! A few days ago, Second Son was in a coma, looking like he wasn’t going to make it. What girl would agree to marry into this family? You came, and he woke up. Even if you don’t give it to your birth mother, this money is yours!”

She stuffed a hot water bottle — an old saline bottle filled with hot water — into Yan Qingqing’s hands to warm them. In no time, it chased away the chill from her fingers.

Mother Gu wouldn’t take the money no matter what. Helpless, Yan Qingqing went to the village shop instead: she bought fine noodles, three jin of rice, half a jug of soybean oil, ten eggs, and two jin of pork. She didn’t dare buy too much at once — afraid she’d scare Mother Gu! Still, it was enough to last several days.

Mother Gu only sighed when she saw her buying food; there really wasn’t much to eat at home.

When it came time to prepare dinner, Mother Gu bustled about in the kitchen, and Yan Qingqing helped alongside her. In her mind, she was already planning: today she’d gone to the Sun family, tomorrow it would be the Yan family’s turn.

As she washed vegetables in the basin, Mother Gu suddenly fished a sweet potato from the stove, peeled it, and handed it to her.

“Girl, eat it while it’s hot! The little one — I’ll give to Tiantian!”

The sweet potato was roasted to a soft, fragrant sweetness, mouthwatering just from the smell.

Yan Qingqing’s eyes stung. The big one was for her, the small one for Gu Tiantian — even though she was an adult and Tiantian was only seven.

Mother Gu never once thought to short her, only to look after her. That kind of love — that favoritism — she’d never known in her past or present life.

In that moment, she couldn’t help but be moved.

Mother Gu smiled warmly:
“Child, eat! While it’s hot — it’s good!”

Yan Qingqing took a bite, and tears silently slipped down her face.

She’d only been in the Gu household for a single day, yet she already felt the difference in how people could treat each other.

Mother Gu spoke to her softly, always as if afraid of wronging her. She called her “daughter,” gave her the best food, slipped red sugar into her porridge, handed her a warm water bottle the moment she entered, gave her sweet roasted sweet potatoes…

These were things she had never even dared to dream of.

After enduring too much grievance, even a trace of warmth could bring one to tears.

Quietly, she ate half the sweet potato and gave the other half to Mother Gu.
“You have some too!”

But Mother Gu only took a small bite, smiling, then fixed her slightly clouded gaze on Yan Qingqing.

“Qingqing, I know marrying into our family wronged you. Gu Chi has a cold temperament — he’s not good with words and doesn’t know how to coax a girl. Our family isn’t well-off either. A few days ago, when Gu Chi was unconscious, honestly, I was ready to end it all.

But now he’s awake, even able to walk around a little — and suddenly I have hope again! I know you’re not familiar with Gu Chi, and you’re a bit afraid of his cold face. You probably never intended to truly marry him, so you can’t bring yourself to call me ‘Mother.’

But it doesn’t matter. We sincerely want you to marry into our family and live well. You’re a good girl, and Gu Chi is a good man. Don’t mind his silence — he’s steady, he won’t fool around like other men. Once he’s fully recovered, I believe our days will get better and better.

I only ask you to stay a few more days. Spend time with me, with Gu Chi — see for yourself. If you’re satisfied, stay. If not, you can leave anytime, and you can take the bride price money with you.”

Yan Qingqing was stunned.

She’d already been surprised when Gu Chi himself said she could leave anytime. But hearing such words from a mother-in-law — that was unheard of!

In this era, daughters-in-law had to keep their heads down. For a mother-in-law to humble herself like this was almost unthinkable.

“I’ll think it over carefully!” Yan Qingqing said quickly. “Once Gu Chi is fully recovered, I’ll talk to him. Marriage is a lifelong matter — if two people aren’t suited, forcing it would only end in tragedy.”

Mother Gu nodded.
“I understand. We’ve spoken clearly now. Rest easy here — the Gu family won’t force you. You waking my Second Son is already the greatest kindness!”

With everything said, their hearts both felt lighter.

The kitchen was soon full of steam and laughter, a rare moment of peace.

For an instant, Yan Qingqing thought: though the Gu family had plenty of problems, living here felt surprisingly… relaxed.

Meanwhile, Gu Chi had already gathered information about what had gone on in the village during the month he’d been unconscious.

He’d long had a fearsome reputation as a local tough, with plenty of connections. He knew who slaughtered a pig, who stewed meat, who killed a chicken — every little thing.

“Brother Chi, nothing seems out of place,” Liu Ergou muttered nervously, glancing at Gu Chi’s ice-cold expression.

Gu Chi’s eyes narrowed.
“Useless.”

Liu Ergou hunched his shoulders in fright.

Luckily, Gu Chi didn’t beat him this time — just gave him an order.
“Give a lesson to Qin Hongying — that woman from Sun Dagen’s family — and to Yang Zhaodi, Yan Fugui’s wife.”

Liu Ergou agreed at once.

Gu Chi didn’t linger. He went to the river to fish. No big fish, just one small crucian carp. He tied it with grass rope and headed home.

That little wife of his — even from afar, she’d always looked so delicate, like she might snap an arm working too hard. Back then, hearing how poorly her family treated her, he quietly planned to save up money to marry her.

Now that she was his wife, he wouldn’t eat himself before letting her go hungry.

Thinking of this made his jaw clench.

Before his accident, he’d killed a pig — enough meat to feed the family for a long time and sell for good money. Whoever was behind his injury… if he found them, he’d tear them to pieces!

Carrying the fish and his dark thoughts, Gu Chi walked home.

But just before he arrived, someone called from behind:
“Second Brother!”

Gu Chi turned. It was his elder brother, Gu Shan, already separated from the family.

“What do you want?”

Gu Shan scratched his head awkwardly, hoe slung over his shoulder from the fields.
“You’re awake? People outside were saying you’d never come to — scared me half to death! Hey, your sister-in-law’s pregnant, been craving fish soup for ages, but I can’t catch any. You think maybe…”

Though they’d divided households, the brothers still saw each other sometimes. Gu Chi was usually good to him — if the elder brother asked, the younger rarely refused.

But this time, Gu Chi answered coldly:
“No.”

Gu Shan froze, then stepped closer, lowering his voice.
“Second Brother, your sister-in-law’s carrying the first grandson of the family. All those past issues were just misunderstandings. Maybe when the baby comes, our parents will forgive her. I’m stuck in the middle — it’s tough. She’s been fussing over fish so much she even slapped me yesterday…”

He scrambled for excuses.

But Gu Chi’s sharp gaze swept over him.
“Big Brother… did you get fatter?”

In the month he’d been unconscious… his brother had actually put on weight?