Chapter 88: Bringing the Bride Home

After the Gu family finished supper, the children went to the west room to read, leaving only Gu Chengyong and his wife seated face to face in the east room, talking quietly.

"How are things over there? Father and Mother must be furious, aren't they?" Feng asked her husband in a low voice.

Gu Chengyong had just gone to the eastern courtyard. They had gone into town today, and bought some pastries and snacks and the like. Feng had told him to bring some over for the old man and old lady in the eastern courtyard. Although the Gu family cooked separately now, they were still all living within the same large compound. Ordinarily, whenever Gu Chengyong made something good to eat, he would send a portion over. Setting aside everyone else, just for the sake of Old Master Gu, it would not do to draw the line too sharply.

"Father looks terribly angry, smoking one cigarette after another, and Mother is lying on the kang groaning nonstop," Gu Chengyong said, describing what he had just seen to Feng. "All this trouble was made for nothing. They have watched that third daughter-in-law being easy to bully all day long, beating and scolding her whenever they pleased. And now? Look how she fought back."

"Just now Third Brother was about to go to the Zhao family hill to bring her home. I happened to run into him and talked him out of it, told him to go in the daytime tomorrow instead. It is pitch dark tonight, and the Zhao family hill is even more out of the way than ours. If he ran into wolves or something on the road, wouldn't that be a life wasted for nothing?" Gu Chengyong sighed. "Tell me, why can't they just live their lives properly? What is the point of making such a racket every day?"

Feng also shook her head and sighed. "Who knows what the old lady is thinking? If she could get along with her daughters-in-law in a reasonable, kind manner, would we not respect her? But she insists on being so fierce, shouting and cursing all day long. After a while, who would not grow sick of it?"

To be honest, Feng truly could not understand what Li was thinking. A family living together in harmony was not wonderful enough for her? "What a good thing it was today. Third Brother's wife came back in high spirits, only to run into this mess. If it were anyone else, their heart would have turned cold."

The couple were still talking when they heard footsteps outside, and then Wu's voice sounded. "Second Brother, Second Sister-in-law, are you asleep yet?"

Feng hurriedly answered, "Big Sister-in-law, we are not asleep. Come in quickly."

As she spoke, Feng put on her shoes and got down from the kang, opening the door to welcome Wu inside. "Oh, Eldest Brother came too? Come in, come in. I will make some tea." She quickly went to the kitchen to fetch hot water and brew tea.

Gu Chengzhong and Wu entered the room and sat down by the edge of the kang. "Second Brother, I only just got back and heard about what happened at home. It is my fault, really. I should not have gone back to my maiden home today. If I had been home helping, Mother would not have been so angry." As soon as she sat down, Wu began blaming herself.

Feng brought in the tea cups, set them before the couple, and said, "Big Sister-in-law, you need not think that way. This is not the busy season in the fields, and who would not want to take the chance to visit relatives? Besides, it is rare for Big Sister-in-law to make a trip back to her maiden home. This has nothing to do with you."

"Actually, your sister-in-law went back to her maiden home for a serious matter. You have not been at home these years, so you do not know how things are here. The nearby villages now make money by raising silkworms on mountain mulberry trees. Those silkworms feed on oak leaves, and once they are grown, people come specially to buy them. The price is not low either." Gu Chengzhong was afraid others might misunderstand his wife, so he quickly explained for Wu.

"In the past two years, your sister-in-law's maiden home in Willow Creek has also learned to raise them. Her family has been doing it for three or four years now, and their life is much better than before. A few years ago, when you were buying land for the family, did you not also buy several mu of barren woodland beside it? There are plenty of oak trees in there."

"Your sister-in-law and I thought that with so many people in our family, especially so many children, we might as well bring back some silkworm eggs and put them in that oak grove for Wenqing and the others to watch over. That kind of thing does not need careful tending. As long as someone keeps an eye on them and does not let birds or beasts destroy them, that is enough. In forty or fifty days, once they are grown, they can earn quite a sum of money. What a good thing it is." Speaking of this, Gu Chengzhong could not help showing a trace of excitement on his face.

"A few days ago, someone sent word that the eggs had already hatched over there, and we should go get some to bring back. That is why your sister-in-law took Wenjie and Wenqing back to Willow Creek. Who could have expected such a mess at home?" Gu Chengzhong shook his head. "This family, honestly, I am truly weary of stirring it up."

Listening to his brother, Gu Chengyong understood a little more. Gu Chengzhong and his wife were also thinking of dividing the family, which was why they had started making preparations in advance. Their family had three sons; Wensheng was already sixteen or seventeen, and it was obvious he would soon need a bride. If they had not prepared even a little, what would they use to marry him off?

"Eldest Brother, the idea you and Big Sister-in-law have is a good one. That barren woodland was lying there unused anyway. If it can really be used to raise mountain silkworms, it will at least bring in some income. I think it is workable. If there is anything I can help with, Eldest Brother, do not be polite." Gu Chengyong strongly approved of his brother and sister-in-law's plan.

"At first, we also wanted to bring Third Brother's family in. Third Brother's daughters are diligent, steadier than Wenqing and the others. Third Brother's family has had a hard time these years too. If they could have a bit of income, life would be easier for them. Alas, who would have thought such a thing would happen today?" Wu could not help sighing as well.

The four of them sat in the room, all sighing one after another.

"Endure it. Slow endures make the day brighter eventually. Once the youngest girl is married off, and if Fifth Brother can pass the provincial examination in the autumn, then this family should be split apart too. Second Brother, the three of us brothers must stand together on this. This family must be divided."

In the end, Gu Chengzhong said this.

Gu Chengyong nodded. "Eldest Brother, what you said is exactly what I was thinking. If this family keeps being tangled together like this, nothing good will come of it. Better to divide it now, and let each branch live its own life. We can all have a few quiet days. Eldest Brother, let us keep this in mind first. Once there is an outcome to Third Brother's wife's matter, the three of us brothers will tell Father together."

"It is not that we are being unfilial and want to divide the family while our elders are still alive. It is just that the Gu family has become like this now; if we keep mixing together, no household will live well. If we separate sooner and each family lives its own life, we will not forget Father and Mother either. Who knows, things may even be better than they are now."

The two brothers were of one mind and reached an understanding. Gu Chengzhong and his wife sat a while longer before taking their leave. After seeing them off, just then Jiao Yan and the others also came back after finishing their reading, and everyone went to bed separately.

Early the next morning, before even eating breakfast, Gu Chengxin hurried off to Zhao family hill. Gu Chengyong took out two packets of pastries and a bundle of dry rations from home, and also gave Gu Chengyi some silver, forcing them into his hands.

"Third Brother, take this money and buy some good things. You are going to your in-laws' house to bring your wife home. How can you go empty-handed? Once you get there, apologize properly to your father-in-law and mother-in-law, and say plenty of good things. If you can bring your sister-in-law back directly, that would be best. If not, then stay there and keep her company for a while at her maiden home. To be honest, your sister-in-law ought to rest and recover her strength anyway. There is no need to rush back. The work at home will still get done even if you are gone."

Holding the things and money his brother had thrust upon him, Gu Chengyi's eyes reddened. "Second Brother, count this as something I am borrowing from you. When I have a bit of money later, I will pay you back." After speaking, Gu Chengyi took the things and money and left.

As Gu Chengyi went out, Li saw him from inside and launched into another tirade. Unfortunately, this time Gu Chengyi was determined not to listen to her. He ignored her completely and left. Furious, Li collapsed onto the kang and kept saying her heart hurt.

Gu Chengyi walked quickly, taking any cart going his way for part of the journey. When he passed through the town, he bought wine, meat, and other things. By the time he reached Zhao family hill, it was almost noon.

At this time of year, in places where the crops had been planted earlier, thinning the seedlings had already begun. Even where planting had been later, the fields still needed weeding. The men of the Zhao family had just returned from the fields, while the wives were busy preparing lunch. The whole yard was full of children, laughing and playing, a picture of family harmony.

Among the children at play, one suddenly turned his head and saw a man walking up to the gate. "Oh, it is Uncle-in-law! Aunt, Uncle-in-law is here!" The child clearly knew Gu Chengyi and shouted at the top of his lungs.

Zhao was helping in the kitchen. When she heard the shout outside, she froze. She had not expected her husband to come so quickly. She had originally thought that now that the family was busy and Li would never let him go, it would be good enough if he could come in three or five days. She had not expected him to arrive so soon.

"Little Sister, wipe your hands and go out quickly. Your brother-in-law is here, and you cannot keep putting on airs." Zhao's eldest sister-in-law hurriedly took off the apron Zhao was wearing and pushed her toward the door. "Speak properly with your brother-in-law. There is no need to rush back. The two of you can stay here ten days or half a month before going home, and let that old woman from the Gu family know that our girl is not so easy to bully."

Thus Zhao was pushed out and ran straight into Gu Chengyi. Seeing that his head and face were covered in sweat and that he was carrying quite a few things in both hands, Zhao's heart softened at once. "Child's father, you are here," she said softly.

"Yes, I am here. I came to see Father and Mother," Gu Chengyi answered. Though honest, he was not foolish, so the moment he opened his mouth, he called his father-in-law and mother-in-law father and mother.

Hearing this, Zhao was very pleased. She nodded and led Gu Chengyi into the east room of the main house. "Father, Mother, Third Brother has come to see you."

Old Master Zhao and the old lady had already heard the commotion outside. The two elders were rather pleased that Gu Chengyi had come so quickly. But thinking of Li's behavior, they were also somewhat angry. So when Gu Chengyi entered, the old lady deliberately kept a stern face.

"Well now, is this not Third Master of the Gu family? What wind has blown you to our house today?" the old lady of the Zhao family said in a cool, half-smiling, half-scolding tone.