Chapter Ninety: Firm Stance

Before coming back, Gu Chengyi had already made up his mind: this time, there was no way he would let Madam Li keep pressing Madam Zhao down.

Although he had spoken of splitting the family that day, Gu Chengyi knew very well that this was not the time for it. The old master would not agree, and if matters were pushed too far, it would only end badly.

Not splitting the family did not mean Gu Chengyi could not fight for his wife’s rights. The moment he stepped through the door, he made his position plain and said outright that from now on Madam Zhao would no longer be made to do so much work.

Gu Chengyi had finally understood it as well: the more their family endured in silence, the more others trampled them at will. His wife and daughters had already been treated like mud on the ground, something anyone could step on.

Rather than keep swallowing it all, it was better to harden his stance. At worst, things would remain as they were. And perhaps, once they showed their teeth, others would no longer dare bully them.

Having come to that realization, Gu Chengyi’s manner today was exceptionally stern.

Such firmness naturally enraged Madam Li. She had never imagined that Gu Chengyi, who was usually so timid and obedient, the sort of man who could be beaten three times and still not utter a word, would speak to her like this today.

“Fine, fine! So after staying a few days in your in-laws’ home, your backbone has gone all stiff, has it? What kind of bewitching soup did the Zhao family pour into you to make you like this? You even dare to challenge me now? You’ve got some nerve, haven’t you?”

After cursing Gu Chengyi to his face, Madam Li turned and began lashing out at Madam Zhao.

“And you, disaster-bringer, do you think a trip back to your maiden home has made you capable? You think the Zhao family still treasures you? Even if someone from the Zhao family came today, so what? A hen that can’t lay eggs—do you really think the Zhao family would have the face to back you up? Hmph. They’d be delighted to drive you out as fast as they could. Keeping you in the house wouldn’t be shameful enough for them?”

Madam Li was vicious to the core, and when she cursed people, she always went straight for the softest flesh. Madam Zhao had never borne a son; it was the one regret of her life, and the wound no one could touch. Madam Li knew exactly where it hurt, and kept sprinkling salt into it.

Yet today, her words failed to achieve their intended effect. Madam Zhao’s expression did not change in the least; she still stood there, calm and unruffled. During these days at her natal home, her parents had repeatedly tried to persuade her. Having a son was fate; if she did not have one, she could raise her daughters as sons, then take in a son-in-law later, and still have someone to support her in old age and see her off in death.

Besides, a woman knows her own body best. Madam Zhao had recovered rather well now, and she had also managed to get hold of the clay doll. Who knew whether she might truly conceive one day?

Once Madam Zhao’s heart had eased, those harsh words that had once been unbearable and made her hang her head lost much of their sting.

“Your father, let’s go back to the room,” she said. “We’ve been on the road long enough. Let’s go in and rest.”

She did not even look at Madam Li. Turning around, she was about to head toward the western courtyard.

That attitude only further provoked Madam Li. To her, it was a blatant challenge to her authority in the Gu household.

In the past, how obedient had Madam Wu and Madam Zhao been? Whatever was said, they did it. Not one of them dared to show the slightest temper. But now, ever since Gu Chengyong had declared he would eat separately, the eldest daughter-in-law had become disobedient, and the third daughter-in-law had followed suit.

This household was no longer under her control at all. Such a turn of events was the very last thing Madam Li wanted.

“Stop right there! Who said you could go? I am your mother-in-law. When I speak to you, you stand there and listen properly! Ungrateful wretches—so now even a mother-in-law’s reprimand can’t be heard? People like you deserve to be struck down by lightning, sent to the eighteenth level of hell when you die, and thrown into a cauldron of boiling oil!”

Then, in a grim voice, she said, “Let me tell you this: in this family, I make the decisions. Whatever I say goes. Third daughter-in-law, get back to work at once. From today on, you’ll cook for five days in a row.”

Madam Li would never allow matters to slip beyond her grasp, so while she cursed, she assigned work to Madam Zhao.

Gu Chengyi looked at her with a cold smile. “I said just now that my child’s mother will take her turn cooking starting tomorrow. When it is her turn, she’ll do it. When it isn’t, don’t expect a single finger of hers to move. The Gu family is not short of people. From now on, whoever’s turn it is will do the work. As for other people’s tasks, they have nothing to do with us.”

Madam Li had already resolved that this time she would protect her wife and daughters to the end. So no matter how much Madam Li cursed, he would not yield.

Seeing this, Madam Li understood that if she did not use her ultimate move, she would not be able to handle the matter today. So she raised her voice and cried out, “Old man, come out and have a look! Your son is bullying me to death! I’ve been serving them day and night like a cow or a horse, and I still have to swallow their temper! Old man, I really can’t go on living like this. I’ll go first!”

As she spoke, Madam Li broke into a run and headed straight for the Gu family gate.

The old master of the Gu family had been in the house. In truth, he also felt that this time the third son and daughter-in-law had gone a little too far, so when the old lady was making a scene outside and cursing people, he had not come out. This family had to be ruled by the two elders, otherwise in the future one after another would pull the same stunt, and who would still be willing to listen to them?

But the more he listened, the more wrong it felt. Today, for some reason, the third son seemed to be acting as if he had taken the wrong medicine, and simply would not be subdued. The old master could no longer sit still and was about to head outside, just in time to see the old lady rushing to ram herself into the gate.

“Stop your mother! That gate plank is thick as anything—if she hits it, she’s done for!”

Terrified, the old master rushed out of the house at once, shouting as he ran.

Gu Chengyi was a little stunned too. He truly had not expected Madam Li to resort to this kind of suicide bluff.

He also felt somewhat uncertain and stepped forward to stop the old lady. Madam Zhao and Wenfang and the others hurried to intercept her as well. Meanwhile, Madam Xu and Gu Xiuli had also been watching the excitement in the courtyard, and now they came forward in a flurry of cries and shouts.

By the time the old lady was only a foot away from the gate, Gu Chengyi was still two steps away from her. He stretched out his hand, but could not quite reach Madam Li.

Suddenly, a figure flashed past and blocked Madam Li’s charge toward the gate. Immediately afterward, that person flicked a hand, and Madam Li was sent stumbling backward several steps.

Using that force, she fell heavily onto the ground.

“Oh, murder! Someone’s been killed!”

She sat there on the ground and refused to get up, crying and yelling.

The one who had stopped her in time was Gu Chengyong. When they heard from the western courtyard that something was off, they had come over to take a look, and just happened to see Madam Li about to ram the gate.

Gu Chengyong knew very well that Madam Li did not truly want to die; she was only putting on an act. But no matter what, he could not let her really crash into it, or it would be impossible to explain.

So he flashed forward and stopped her in time.

“What is all this fuss now? The house had only just been quiet for a few days, and already this is not over, is it? If that’s the case, we might as well split the family. Each branch can live its own life, and no one need be bothered by anyone else.”

Seeing Madam Li like this, Gu Chengyong could not help frowning, then said in a deep voice.

The aura surrounding him was not something ordinary people could bear. Standing there with a stern face, he immediately made Madam Li’s crying and shouting die down a great deal.

“Wenfang, go and fetch your Seventh Great-Uncle. Wenfei, go call your Second Great-Uncle. Wenxiu, go find Uncle Qi. Tell them our family is dividing, and ask them to come bear witness.”

Without looking at anyone, Gu Chengyong directly gave orders to the children in the yard.

When Wenfang and the others heard that the family was going to split, they hurried to leave the Gu household to fetch people. At that moment, Madam Li had already been dumbstruck. It was the old master who quickly shouted, “All of you come back! I’m still alive—what splitting the family? Second Son, this is not something you can decide. I do not allow a division!”

“No splitting the family? Then must we keep making a racket like this every day? Not live a decent life, but spend our days in chaos and turmoil? A life like that is pointless even without a division. Better to split sooner and let everyone calm down.”

Gu Chengyong’s face remained dark as he fixed his gaze on Madam Li, who was sitting on the ground, and said heavily.

At this point, Gu Chengzhong and Gu Chengxin, who had originally gone back to their rooms to rest, also came rushing over. Gu Chengzhong happened to hear Gu Chengyong’s words and chimed in, “Exactly. If this keeps up every day, the Gu family will become a laughingstock. Go ask around outside—who doesn’t laugh at our house? Wen Sheng is already sixteen or seventeen, and not a single matchmaker has come. The moment people hear it’s our old Gu family, they all shake their heads. Who would dare marry a daughter into the Gu family just to be bullied and beaten?”

The old master was nearly livid at this. “Nonsense! Utter nonsense! What family ever splits while the parents are still alive? I’m not dead yet, and even if I were, there would still be your mother. On what grounds do you want to divide the family? I won’t allow it. I absolutely will not allow it!”

“Exactly, exactly! Your father and I are still alive. If you dare bring up splitting the family, that would be unfilial. This family will not be divided. It absolutely will not be divided.”

By now, Madam Li had also risen from the ground and come to her husband’s side, shouting loudly.

How could this family be split? Everything they had now was earned by Gu Chengyong; it had nothing to do with the fourth or fifth sons at all. If they split the family now, what would the fourth and fifth sons do in the future? And their daughter—she was clearly about to be engaged and married off. If they split the family at this point, would that marriage not be ruined?

Madam Li was truly panicked now. Turning to the old master, she said, “Old man, we can’t split the family. We absolutely can’t.”

“Father, we can’t divide the household. Fifth Brother still hasn’t taken a wife, and Little Sister is just about to be married off. We absolutely must not split the family now.”

Gu Chengxin also stood behind his parents and reminded them in a low voice.

Gu Chengren was not at home; he had gone back to the town school to study. Gu Chengren had to prepare for the autumn county examination, so of course he needed to work hard. After Gu Xiuli’s marriage had been settled, he had returned to the school in town and buried himself in his books. This was also why the household had been in such a uproar lately: with Gu Chengren away to keep things under control, how could a woman like Madam Li possibly stay quiet?

Hearing his fourth son’s words, the old master’s eyes flickered.

This family would eventually have to be divided, but not now. The fifth son was at a crucial point in his studies; how could they split the household at a time like this? If they were to divide at all, it should be after the fifth son had gained some degree of standing and his future was secure. For the moment, the whole family ought to support him in preparing for the imperial examinations.