Chapter 9

Gu Shan was almost beaten to death—how would he dare go ask for money!

Zhao Xique made a racket well into the middle of the night before finally collapsing from exhaustion and falling sound asleep.

Gu Shan’s face had been scratched up like an old rag, hurting so badly he couldn’t even feel sleepy!

Just across the wall, things were much cozier on Gu Chi’s side.

That evening, Mother Gu made hand-rolled noodles. For once she rolled them extra thin, and she made two types: half pure wheat noodles, and half mixed with sorghum flour.

By coincidence, Gu Chi had brought home a little crucian carp. They made a broth, cooked the noodles in it, and added some fresh home-grown chive leaves—so delicious it could raise your eyebrows clean off!

Yan Qingqing helped with cooking and serving, and though Gu Tiantian didn’t say a word, she still fetched bowls and chopsticks.

It wasn’t until dinner that Yan Qingqing realized Gu Chi treated her only the tiniest bit better than he treated Gu Tiantian.

All evening long, Gu Chi spoke only two or three sentences.

But his appetite—oh, that really opened Yan Qingqing’s eyes!

She was full after one bowl of noodles. Gu Chi ate six…

No wonder Mother Gu had mixed in coarse grain—if it were all fine wheat noodles, the food bill for a month would be enormous!

Still, Gu Chi wasn’t just a big eater; he was a hard worker too.

Even though he’d only just recovered from being unconscious, he seemed full of boundless strength.

After dinner, he washed the dishes himself, hauled several buckets of water, heated water for the whole family to wash their feet, chopped wood in the courtyard, and stacked it neatly.

While Gu Chi busied himself, Yan Qingqing cleaned and medicated Mother Gu’s eyes.

Then she washed her own feet, face, and brushed her teeth.

Mother Gu considerately prepared two quilts for her and even filled a hot-water bottle to warm her feet.

This way, even though Yan Qingqing and Gu Chi would have to share a room, they wouldn’t have to sleep under the same blanket.

Yan Qingqing slipped quickly into bed, hugging the wall, thinking there was no way she’d roll into Gu Chi during the night!

She wrapped herself up tightly, leaving only her eyes showing, and pretended to be asleep.

When Gu Chi came in after washing up, he immediately noticed the faint fragrance unique to young girls lingering in the room.

Yan Qingqing curled herself into a corner, eyes shut, feigning slumber.

He really did want to leave her alone.

He wanted to respect her.

But seeing her eyelashes tremble like butterfly wings, her little face pale as fresh tofu, her silky black hair falling across her neck…

Something in his chest itched unbearably.

If he forced her, he wouldn’t be a man.

But if he really slept in a separate quilt tonight, he wouldn’t feel like a normal man either.

The cup in Gu Chi’s hand trembled; he clicked his tongue softly.

Yan Qingqing’s heart skipped a beat, and she risked peeking through one eye.

Seeing Gu Chi’s exasperated look, she couldn’t help asking, “What’s wrong?”

Gu Chi calmly lay down: “Nothing. The quilt’s wet.”

Yan Qingqing blinked and peeked more openly. Sure enough, his quilt had a big wet patch!

“…In weather this cold, you can’t sleep under a wet quilt! You haven’t fully recovered yet!”

Gu Chi raised an eyebrow: “I’ll just make do. There’s no other quilt in the house. I can’t share yours, can I? Worst case, I catch a fever.”

Yan Qingqing realized that although he’d barely spoken at dinner, he suddenly seemed rather good at talking now.

She pressed her lips shut, letting him settle into the damp quilt. After a long inner struggle, she finally whispered, “Why don’t you… share mine? I’ll put a piece of clothing between us…”

Otherwise, if he really caught a chill and relapsed, everything they’d accomplished would be for nothing!

Gu Chi replied lightly, “That wouldn’t be proper, would it?”

But the very next second, he shoved his wet quilt aside, lifted Yan Qingqing’s blanket, and slid right in.

Yan Qingqing: …

A wave of masculine heat washed over her. She snapped her eyes shut, frantically chanting to herself to fall asleep immediately!

Her heart pounded like a drum, her whole body stiff with nervousness.

Luckily, Gu Chi seemed calm. He merely said, “Sleep.”

Then he closed his eyes and soon appeared to drift off.

This made Yan Qingqing feel she was the one being overly tense. She sighed in relief and shut her eyes as well.

After today’s exhausting confrontation with the Sun family, she really was tired, and soon her breathing turned even and steady.

Beside her, Gu Chi opened his eyes. He turned his head and watched her at such close distance.

It still felt like a dream—too beautiful to be real.

He reached out and gently held her smooth little foot. Silly girl, Mother Gu had given her a hot-water bottle, yet her feet were still ice-cold.

Gu Chi pulled her feet onto his own body; he was warm all over.

Even in sleep, Yan Qingqing instinctively moved toward the heat.

Before she knew it, she had snuggled into his arms, lips curved in a sleepy smile.

Gu Chi watched her roll right into him, her hair brushing against his chin, tickling softly.

Her fragrance filled his nose.

The girl was so soft it was unreal. He lowered his head, kissed the top of her hair lightly, eyes glimmering with a faint smile, and only after a long moment did he fall asleep reluctantly.

The next morning, before Yan Qingqing woke, Gu Chi had already gotten up.

She had slept so comfortably she didn’t want to wake at all!

For the first time, she felt what it was like to sleep warmly and safely, utterly at ease.

When she finally did wake, all her fatigue had vanished.

Gu Chi was already in the kitchen making breakfast.

Mother Gu and Father Gu were also awake.

Gu Tiantian was still asleep in their bed. Father Gu said to Mother Gu with a sigh, “That plaster our daughter-in-law gave me really works—my back pain’s much better.”

Mother Gu nodded. “And my eyes can see much clearer now. I didn’t even tear up last night. I feel like ever since Qingqing married in, everything in this house has been getting better.”

Father Gu thought for a moment. “Qingqing’s a good girl, but our second son’s like a gourd with its mouth sealed! We’ve got no money left now, but we can’t let Qingqing suffer.

Take my medal and give it to the second boy. Have him go to town today to sell it, get himself checked at the hospital, and buy Qingqing something nice!”

When the Yan family asked for the dowry, they demanded cash only, no goods, so the Gu family handed over the full eight hundred yuan and didn’t buy anything else.

Thinking about it, they all felt guilty toward Yan Qingqing!

Mother Gu sighed. “That medal—you earned it risking your life, and you’ve never wanted to part with it…”

Father Gu waved a hand. “It’s just an object. As long as our children can live well, as long as this family can be happy, none of that matters!”

Mother Gu put on her clothes and shoes, took the medal, and opened the door—only to see her eldest son Gu Shan arriving, face and head covered in injuries!

Gu Shan dropped to his knees before her, crying bitterly: “Ma! Please help me!”