Chapter 16: Spreading the News
After Yang Xiuzhen left, Gu Zhuo let out a breath of relief, but soon after, she couldn't help but sigh again.
Because, just as Yang left, she mentioned that her two elder sisters would be coming to visit tomorrow.
Gu Zhuo pinched the bridge of her nose. If she could, she truly wished for a little peace and quiet, free from any social obligations.
Shi Zhen paced several times outside the Xie family’s gate, wanting to go in, but there was no sound from the courtyard—there was little entertainment in the countryside, and after dinner, people usually gathered in the yard to chat. If the courtyard was silent, it meant everyone had gone to bed.
But this matter couldn’t wait.
After some thought, he gritted his teeth and headed to the Gu family’s house.
He didn’t dare approach the elders, and Qixiu’s two younger brothers were still children. The only person he could turn to was Gu Hai, the eldest son of this generation in the Gu family.
The more Shi Zhen thought about it, the more he felt his idea was sound. Gu Hai was nearly thirty, steady and reliable, respected in the family with a wife and children. Both being men, he wouldn’t have to worry about gossip if he went to him.
When Shi Zhen found Gu Hai, the latter was standing beneath the old locust tree at the east end of the village, cradling his youngest son while watching his elder son play war games with other children.
Shi Zhen’s approach didn’t draw Gu Hai’s attention; after all, there were many adults watching the children play, and the age gap between the two men meant they hadn’t played together in childhood.
“Hai, can I have a word with you?” Shi Zhen edged closer and spoke in a low voice.
Gu Hai was focused on his children and didn’t catch the words at first. Only after Shi Zhen repeated himself did he finally hear and replied without concern, “Go ahead.”
Shi Zhen glanced around, then whispered, “It’s about Qixiu.”
In Nine Families Village, the old families were all interrelated, and the generations were strictly observed. Shi Zhen and Gu Hai were of the same generation, so calling him “brother” was only proper.
—Local custom dictated that, unless kin, people of the same generation didn’t address each other as brother or sister.
Oh?
Gu Hai raised an eyebrow and handed his son over to Wang Guifang, who was stitching shoe soles nearby. “Mother, keep an eye on Zhao Zhao. A-Zhen has something to discuss with me.”
Wang Guifang pulled her grandson to her side and fished out a piece of sesame candy from her pocket—children with something to eat would settle down, and that small piece would occupy him for quite some time.
Gu Hai followed Shi Zhen to the foot of the nearby hill and asked, “What’s going on with Qixiu?”
As the only grandson of his generation in the Gu family, Gu Hai always felt a strong sense of responsibility toward his cousins. Besides, even though the family had split, when their grandmother was alive, the entire family had lived together, and Qixiu had been raised mostly by him and his eldest sister.
Nervously, Shi Zhen explained what had happened. He didn’t dare lie, only adding, “My mother speaks before she thinks, please don’t take offense.”
He’d expected Gu Hai to be angry, but surprisingly, the latter wasn’t bothered at all.
Gu Hai certainly wasn’t concerned; after all, there weren’t many members in the Xie family, and the Gu family had nothing to fear. Besides, times had changed—the clan no longer wielded such power.
People may still favor sons over daughters in private, but now the slogans at the top proclaimed that women could hold up half the sky. As long as they invoked those revolutionary quotes, the Xie family wouldn’t dare seize Qixiu and Yinyin’s house.
—Not unless they wanted the Red Guards knocking on their door.
Shi Zhen was stunned. Had he perhaps made a mountain out of a molehill?
“But still, thank you for the warning,” Gu Hai said, patting Shi Zhen on the shoulder. “A prepared battle is very different from an unprepared one.”
Shi Zhen grinned. “What about my mother…?”
Gu Hai’s smile faded a little. “This time, I’ll let it go.” Everyone in Nine Families Village knew what kind of person Aunt Qian was.
Whether she truly spoke without thinking, or simply stirred up trouble for fun, Shi Zhen surely understood her better than anyone.
This time, for the sake of his warning, Gu Hai wouldn’t hold a grudge, but there wouldn’t be a next time.
When Gu Hai returned, Wang Guifang handed Zhao Zhao back to him, asking curiously, “What did A-Zhen want with you?” The two had never been close before.
Gu Hai wiped his son’s drool and replied, “I’ll tell you at home.”
His words only heightened Wang Guifang’s curiosity.
She held back until they reached home, didn't even bother putting away her sewing basket, and grabbed her son, demanding, “Tell me now.”
Seeing this, Gu Daguo and Shen Liyuan also looked over in interest.
Once home, Gu Hai didn’t keep them in suspense and explained everything.
Gu Daguo’s eyes widened. “Qixiu wants to separate from the family?”
“What are you saying?” Wang Guifang shot him a glare. “Didn’t Linzi split the family before? Qixiu is already kind enough to let Chen Xinwan and Xie Chong move in with her.”
“That’s not what I mean.” Gu Daguo rubbed his nose. “It’s not that Qixiu’s wrong, but if she splits from the family, who will look after her child? Even if Chen Xinwan is useless at work, surely she can watch the child.”
“She can’t do a thing!” Wang Guifang snapped. “If she could, would Yinyin have nearly drowned?”
“What’s gotten into you today?” Her temper was usually so gentle.
Wang Guifang glared at him. “A child nearly lost her life—how can you not be angry? Thank goodness she was saved, or else…” She huffed.
Shen Liyuan, cradling her already sleeping youngest son, couldn’t help but sigh. That child Qixiu… She had thought Qixiu would be the luckiest girl in the village, but who could have foreseen…
Back in her room, as Wang Guifang tidied her sewing basket, she suddenly said, “Do you think I should help Qixiu look after Yinyin?”
“What?” Gu Daguo’s eyes widened. “Are you crazy? She has her biological grandmother. You’d only be asking for trouble.”
“Yang Xiuzhen?” Wang Guifang scoffed. “Forget it. With her attitude, favoring boys over girls, Qixiu would never leave Yinyin in her care. She loves Yinyin dearly. She’s suffered herself and would never let Yinyin go through the same.”
“Xiuzhen isn’t unkind to Qixiu,” Gu Daguo couldn’t help defending his sister-in-law.
Wang Guifang dismissed that. “But compared to Gu Jiang and Gu Hai?”
“That’s different,” Gu Daguo muttered. “They’re boys.”
“But they’re not her own children,” Wang Guifang said, putting the finished shoe soles into the cabinet. “If it weren’t for Qixiu, do you think your second brother’s family would have a decent life now? Qixiu is capable—she often brings home wild game. The wild eggs she found, how many ended up in Gu Jiang and Gu He’s bellies? When they didn’t have enough food, wasn’t it Qixiu who found a way? Clearly she’s the capable one, and even though the family relies on her, they still value Gu Jiang and Gu He—those two freeloaders—more than Qixiu.”
“Well, it’s not her fault she wasn’t a boy. If she had been, the Gu family would have prospered long ago,” Gu Daguo said with heartfelt regret.
Unpleasant as the words were, Wang Guifang found herself agreeing, deep down.
But…
“Just don’t say that in front of Qixiu. Yang Xiuzhen is always saying things like that. Qixiu might not say anything, but I can tell she doesn’t like hearing it,” Wang Guifang admonished.