Life of Country Folks in the City during the Song Dynasty

Chapter 21

Yang Hao took the chopsticks and buried his head in his food, eating voraciously once again. Gu Zao was afraid he would choke, so she added some hot water to the teapot. She watched as he finally managed to get the last grain of rice into his mouth and drank a large cup of water before straightening up.

"This food is really delicious. I've never seen it before. What's the name of this dish?" Yang Hao let out a long sigh, leaned back in his chair, and smiled at Gu Zao.

Gu Zao thought of Stephen Chow's movies from years ago. Now, it felt like a lifetime ago, so distant that she couldn't even dream about them anymore. A wave of sadness washed over her, and she whispered, "Char siu rice, this is called char siu rice, it also has another name, 'Heartbreakingly Delicious Rice'."

"Heartbreak Rice?" Yang Hao repeated, somewhat puzzled.

"This meal is extremely ordinary, but it reminds me of the past, something that can never be retrieved," Gu Zao said slowly.

Yang Hao paused, then, using the dim moonlight filtering through the wisteria trellis, looked closely at Gu Zao and said wistfully, "Just now, sitting here watching you busy in the kitchen, I had a feeling that we were just an ordinary couple in the neighborhood, and I had just returned from a trip while you were cooking for me. Thinking like that made me feel so comfortable. I just hope that one day this can come true, just the two of us, with you giving me a few children who will call me 'Dad,' and us living a simple life together. How wonderful that would be."

Gu Zao felt as if she had been stabbed in the heart. She stared at Yang Hao for a long time, unable to utter a single word.

Yang Hao reached out his hand to Gu Zao, then suddenly withdrew it, and whispered, "Second Sister, these past few months at sea, I've been thinking of you constantly, and I've finally understood what you said to me at that wild temple. I know you're different from others; what others consider good, you may not appreciate. It's the same with the Grand Commandant's mansion; many people are vying to enter, but you're afraid to go anywhere else. I was too impatient before, only thinking about myself and you, and said some inappropriate things. From now on, I will patiently wait for you. As long as you don't want to enter the Grand Commandant's mansion, I won't force you until you finally agree. Only then will I come to welcome you in with a grand sedan chair."

Gu Zao sat there, her clenched hands trembling slightly. After a long while, she finally spoke, her voice trembling, "What if I don't agree?"

Yang Hao stared intently at Gu Zao, sighed, and said, "I know what's bothering you. Don't worry, I'll wait until you're willing before I tell my mother. It would be best if she agrees. If she doesn't, Yang Hao of the Grand Commandant's Mansion can't marry you, but Yang Hao of Yanghuai and Guangzhou can decide for himself."

Gu Zao looked up and gazed at Yang Hao's bearded face. Seeing the sincerity and gentleness in his eyes that she had never seen in either of her two lives, she felt a sudden pang of sadness, and her eyes welled up with tears.

Afraid of being seen by the man opposite, Gu Zao sniffed and forced a smile, saying, "It's only been a few months, how come you've grown a full beard again? It's quite an eyesore."

Yang Hao rubbed his cheek and smiled somewhat sheepishly, "Life at sea is boring. It's the same few faces every day, and I find shaving troublesome." His eyes lit up, and he leaned closer, saying, "Why don't you shave me?"

Gu Zao chuckled and said, "I've only ever shaved the hair off pig heads before cooking them; I've never touched a man's. You should go back and shave it yourself."

When Yang Hao saw that she finally showed him a bright smile, he was overjoyed. His thoughts began to stir again, but he was afraid that his beloved, whom he had finally managed to persuade to come back, would get angry with him again. So he dared not reveal his thoughts and just sat there watching, feeling sad.

Seeing the sudden change in his expression, Gu Zao thought for a moment and understood. She felt a little annoyed, but also a sweet feeling welled up inside her. She looked up and saw that the half moon was already high in the sky and the sounds on the street outside had quieted down. She then realized that it was getting late. She stood up and gave him the order to leave, saying, "Second Master, it's getting late. You should go back now."

Yang Hao was reluctant to leave and remained seated, unmoving. Gu Zao urged him a few more times, but seeing his continued stubbornness, she said angrily, "If you don't leave, I'll..." Before she could finish speaking, she was pulled into his arms. Gu Zao panicked and instinctively raised her hands to cover herself, but he grabbed both of her hands.

Yang Hao grabbed Gu Zao's hand and immediately began kissing each of her fingers. Gu Zao's hand touched his beard, feeling a ticklish, tingling sensation, and her whole body seemed to go numb, leaving her completely powerless.

Yang Hao kissed Gu Zao's hand, afraid that if he stayed any longer he would really do something outrageous. He then suppressed the turbulent thoughts in his heart, moved his lips to her ear, and said in a hoarse voice, "I... I have to go. You'll be home alone tonight, so make sure the door is locked tight..."

Gu Zao felt as if all the blood in her body rushed to her face, and even her breath was hot. She didn't hear what he was saying in her ear, but just gave a soft "hmm," a voice so gentle it seemed to drip with water.

Yang Hao sighed, and then reluctantly arrived at the entrance of the shop in front, with Gu Zao following him out.

By this time, all the shops on both sides of the street had closed. Yang Hao finally stepped out of the door, but still stood there looking at her and said, "Second sister, you should put up the door board now. I'll watch you lock the door before you leave."

Gu Zao subconsciously responded and placed the door panels one by one. When only the last panel was left, her hand was suddenly grabbed by Yang Hao outside the door. He asked in a low voice, "Second Sister, when can I come to see you next time?"

Gu Zao was in a state of turmoil, wanting to say something but unsure what to say. After hesitating for a moment, she finally whispered, "Second Master, I haven't thought through what you just said. Let me think it through carefully before I speak. There are many people in my household; it might not be good if you were seen here..."

Yang Hao was stunned. Although he was somewhat disappointed, he thought about it again and realized that his second sister's attitude was much better than before. He was overjoyed and dared not push her too hard. He said softly, "I will listen to you. I will come to see you again in a few days."

Gu Zao hummed in agreement, fearing something might happen to him again, and hurriedly closed the last panel. Only then did she realize her legs were weak, and she didn't even have the strength to stand. She just leaned against the door panel, motionless. After a while, she seemed to finally hear footsteps fading away outside the door. Then she went back to the backyard, hastily packed her things, and lay down on her own bed. That night, however, her mind was a complete mess. She tossed and turned, and even felt an itch on her hand where he had kissed her. It wasn't until dawn the next day that she finally drifted off to sleep.

Chapter Fifty Gu Da's Golden House

Gu Zao was half asleep when she faintly heard a series of slapping sounds. She opened her eyes slightly, turned over, and was about to fall back asleep when suddenly she seemed to hear her mother's loud, booming voice. Startled, she sat up abruptly in bed and realized the room was brightly lit. She had no idea what time it was. She quickly got out of bed, wrapped herself in her clothes, and hurriedly went to the front to unlock the door. Sure enough, Fang's eldest sister and the others had returned, all looking anxious. They only relaxed when they saw her.

As Fang stepped inside, she glared at Gu Zao and scolded, "It's past noon, why aren't you up yet? I've been knocking on your door all day, attracting the attention of half the street. They all thought something had happened to you."

Gu Zao hurriedly put on a smile and said, "It's all my fault. I went to bed late last night, and I still haven't woken up by now."

Fang muttered something to herself, then suddenly smiled and pulled three bottles from her bundle. She grinned and said, "I stayed up all night last night, and today I squeezed to the front to get these bottles of water. They say the closer you are to the front, the more Buddhist energy you absorb. You and your eldest and third sisters each take one to wash your hair and bathe."

Sister Gu took the bottle and carefully placed it into her bundle. She then stood and chatted with Gu Zao for a bit about her current braised food business, a smile on her face. Apparently, as she became more proficient, in addition to the dishes Gu Zao had taught her, she had started selling braised chicken gizzards. She was getting a little overwhelmed, so she had hired someone to help. Everyone who had tried her braised food said it tasted several times better than others. As for Butcher Fan, he had disappeared at the end of last year, and half a year had passed without a trace. Sister Gu now assumed he was dead and focused solely on her stall. Regarding the lawsuit, Gu Zao had already inquired about a famous lawyer and had him write it. This lawyer had connections in the yamen (government office), and besides drawing up contracts and writing lawsuits, he mainly acted as a go-between, receiving payment and smoothly submitting the petition.

Sister Gu, preoccupied with the family business, only stood there for a short while before dragging the two girls away. Madam Fang escorted them to the street corner before returning. Upon entering, she found the two bottles of water she had painstakingly obtained still sitting on the table, seemingly ignored by her second and third sisters. Displeased, she loudly called out to Gu Zao and her third sister, who were in the backyard, "You two rascals! I squeezed my own flesh to get this water, and you'd better take it and scrub it off from head to toe, making sure not a single inch is missed. You have to wash away all the bad luck..."

Fang was so engrossed in her own conversation that she didn't notice Yue Teng standing at the door, his face flushed red. When he saw Gu Zao and the three sisters come out together, he lowered his head even further, not daring to move his eyes.

Gu Zaoxin knew that her mother's unrestrained words had embarrassed her, and seeing that her third sister's eyes were fixed on the doorway as soon as she came out, she smiled to herself, walked to the table, picked up two bottles, and said, "Mother, we will use them today, so don't worry."

Fang felt a little relieved. When she saw Yue Teng standing blankly at the door, looking lost, she was about to assign him some work when Gu interrupted, "Brother Yue, there's nothing heavy to do at the shop today. You can go back and come back tomorrow."

Upon hearing this, Yue Teng felt relieved. He quickly bowed, not daring to look his third sister in the eye, and turned to leave in a panic.

After Yue Teng left, Fang muttered to herself, "He looks respectable, but it's a pity he's such a blockhead. I was hoping he would save me a seat today, but he just stood there without moving an inch. I'm afraid he wouldn't even bother to pick up the martial arts examination title if it fell into his lap."

The third sister was displeased upon hearing this and retorted, "Mother, today all those people who went out to squeeze in were women and wives. How can a grown man like him squeeze in?"

Before Fang could say anything more, she heard Liu Zao from the inner room exclaim, "Sister, what is this thing? It looks strange and has a terrible stench that makes you want to vomit."

Gu Zaoxin knew these must be the durians she had received last night, which she had placed in the kitchen along with the bag of curry powder. She had been busy washing up and had forgotten about them, thinking Liu Zao had found them. When she went over to look, sure enough, there were those durians; Liu Zao had thrown them on the floor, pinching her nose and frowning.

Gu Zao stepped forward and said with a smile, "It's not spoiled, it's just stinky cat fruit from Southeast Asia, that's how it's supposed to taste."

Liu Zao still pinched her nose and shook her head. Fang Shi and her third sister also came over when they heard the noise. They hurriedly pinched their noses as well. When they heard that it was edible and that it was a rare foreign product, Fang Shi went over to take a closer look and asked Gu Zao where it came from.

Gu Zao hesitated for a moment, then said that she had bought it from a peddler carrying a load of vegetables the night before. Fang Shi believed her. Gu Zao cut open a durian, and Liu Zao and Third Sister hurriedly shook their heads, avoiding it like the plague. Only Fang Shi pinched her nose and ate it. After a few bites, she found it delicious and let go of her nose, saying it was tasty. She then called Third Sister and Liu Zao to eat as well, while the other two retreated even further back. Just as things were getting lively, they suddenly saw Xiu Niang rush in, her face pale and her breathing labored, as if she had run all the way there.

Gu Zao hurriedly went to meet her. Xiu Niang grabbed Gu Zao's hand, tears streaming down her face, and said in a trembling voice, "Second cousin, my family... my parents are fighting fiercely at home. You and Auntie should go and try to persuade them."

Gu Zao was taken aback, and the Fang family members who had been laughing and joking nearby also stopped and hurriedly gathered around. Xiu Niang choked up a few times before finally managing to explain herself. After hearing the whole story, everyone was stunned and speechless. Seeing that Xiu Niang was so anxious that tears were streaming down her face, they didn't care about anything else. They left their third sister and Liu Zao at home, and Gu Zao and the Fang family followed Xiu Niang and hurriedly headed towards Panlou East Street.

Before they even reached the silk shop, they saw a large crowd gathered at the entrance. If the shop assistant hadn't been holding them back, they probably would have been pushed inside. Fang was strong and quickly pushed through the crowd. Gu Zao and Xiuniang hurriedly followed them inside. The shop assistant breathed a sigh of relief and quickly closed the shop door, leaving the onlookers outside.

Gu Zao stepped into the backyard and saw that everything on the ground was scattered and in a mess. Bowls and plates were broken, tables and chairs were overturned, and even the potted plants were pushed to the ground, with mud scattered everywhere. Hu Shi was sitting on the ground crying out to heaven, tears and snot streaming down her face, her hair falling down, and even her clothes were torn, but Gu Da was nowhere to be seen.

Xiu Niang wiped away her tears and hurriedly went to help Hu Shi up, but Hu Shi pushed her away. Looking up and seeing Fang Shi approaching, Hu Shi scrambled to her feet, grabbed Fang Shi's sleeve, and began to sob, wiping away her tears: "Second Aunt, you've finally come! You have to be my judge! That old scoundrel Gu Da, he's going to be a father-in-law in a few days, and he's been keeping a young widow on the side without my knowledge! She's three months pregnant now. Is there any justice in this world? I've worked like a slave for his family day and night, and this is how I end up..."

Fang had come with a gloating heart, but seeing Hu grabbing her and crying incessantly, and noticing her bruised and swollen face as if she'd been beaten, she felt a pang of sympathy. She stamped her foot and said angrily, "Men are all so unreliable. My husband, who's gone, used to be a womanizer too. I thought yours was better, but he's even worse. What are you crying about? Grab a stick and go give that vixen a good beating, then see how she laughs!"

In this household, Madam Hu, having taken charge of the management, became quite smug, seeing her husband always completely under her thumb. She rarely paid attention to his whereabouts. However, in the past six months, Gu Da had become increasingly absent from home, sometimes not returning all night. When Madam Hu inquired, he would claim to be spending his time at the entertainment venues. Sometimes at night, Madam Hu would deliberately rub against Gu Da, but he would simply close his eyes, claiming exhaustion, and ignore her. Madam Hu, barely in her forties, was in the prime of her life, secretly resentful but helpless. Initially, she didn't suspect anything and even made him a potent tonic soup, but as this happened more often, she became increasingly worried. Last month, when she checked the accounts, she discovered a large sum of money was missing from the shop. When she questioned the accountant, he said the manager had taken it and forbade her to speak of it. Only then did she become suspicious and secretly began to keep an eye on Gu Da's movements.

Yesterday, Ms. Hu deliberately told Gu Da that she was going to Chanlin Temple overnight to ask for bathing water for the Buddha, but secretly she turned back and hid at the alley entrance. Sure enough, as dusk fell, she saw Gu Da come out of his house. Ms. Hu followed him, watching him cross several streets, then twist and turn into a small alley, knock a few times in front of a low door, and then immediately disappear inside. Ms. Hu followed and tried to push the door open, but found it was firmly bolted. Her heart pounded wildly. After finally calming herself down, she grabbed someone at the alley entrance and asked them what was going on. She learned that a woman around thirty years old lived inside, with only a seven or eight-year-old daughter, and was a widow who had been widowed for several years.

Hu was struck dumb, and it took her a while to recover. Gritting her teeth, she returned to the door and began kicking wildly, wishing she could rush in and catch the couple. However, her feet ached from kicking, but the door remained firmly in place. Helpless, she stood at the door cursing, only attracting onlookers. Inside, however, it was quiet and no one was there. She was so angry that her teeth were about to break, but she couldn't bear the pointing and whispering of the onlookers. She had no choice but to go home in a huff, but she didn't sleep all night, just sitting there with her eyes open until dawn.

Gu Da never expected his affair to be exposed. While Hu was making a scene at the door, he was cowering in fear, completely at a loss. Looking up, he suddenly saw his lover, the widow Li, gazing at him pitifully, her eyes misty and captivating. Remembering Hu's domineering nature, and realizing he was nearly fifty and still childless, while he had finally given the widow Li his own bloodline, he steeled himself, and, without knowing where the courage came from, went to comfort the widow Li, ignoring Hu outside. After half a day, hearing that the noise at the door had finally subsided, he decided not to go home. He slept at the widow Li's house until dawn before slowly making his way home.

Hu stayed up all night, and seeing that Gu Da hadn't returned yet, her eyes were bloodshot with hatred. When she couldn't bear it any longer and was about to go over, she saw Gu Da slowly returning. How could she hold back? She immediately started scratching at his face with her ten fingernails.

Gu Da was still a little scared and was thinking about how to coax Hu Shi when he got back. But as soon as he entered the door, he was slashed and his face was scratched with several bloody marks that burned painfully. He was furious and grabbed Hu Shi's hair, and the two started to fight.

Although Gu Da was usually disciplined by Madam Hu, when truly angered, a man's strength was considerable. After being grabbed and punched a few times, Madam Hu dared not retaliate further, but her words still poured out like dates as she pointed at Gu Da and cursed incessantly. Gu Da, having gained the upper hand, realized that Madam Hu was nothing more than a blusterer than a coward, and that he had only been afraid of her in vain. New and old grudges surged in his heart, and he viciously declared that Widow Li was already carrying Gu family blood, and now that the deed was done, she would be brought into the family no matter what. With that, he ignored Madam Hu and left.

Xiu Niang learned about this last night and was so frightened that she didn't sleep a wink. She finally made it to today, but seeing her parents fighting like this made her legs go weak and she cried incessantly. A woman next to her reminded her of Gu Zao's family, which led to her panicked rush to get help.

Now, reminded by Fang, Hu suddenly realized what was happening. She turned around, grabbed a carrying pole leaning against the door, and angrily prepared to leave.

Gu Zao then saw that her mother had also rolled up her sleeves and was rubbing her hands together as if she wanted to go and teach the vixen a lesson, so she hurriedly stepped forward to stop the two of them.

Chapter 51

Gu Zao stopped the two and said to Hu Shi, "Aunt, in principle, I am a junior, and it is not my place to interfere in such matters. However, since Uncle has done such a thing, he must have provided quite a few things for that widow's family. Even if you rush over and smash everything to pieces, you are only smashing your own things. Do you really intend to kill someone? If you ask me, this matter needs you to sit down and calmly discuss it with Uncle to see how to resolve it. Aunt, you are a respectable person. Rushing over and making a scene will not only push Uncle further towards that widow, but it will also become the laughing stock for the neighbors."

Hu Shi paused in her tracks after Gu Zao's words, but Fang Shi, seemingly eager to stir up trouble, pulled her towards the door. Gu Zao grabbed her arm and said, "Mother, we only came to mediate because we were worried that Auntie would be taken advantage of. Now that Uncle has left, it's none of our business. Let Auntie rest and think about how to handle this." As she spoke, she pulled Fang Shi towards the door. Seeing Xiu Niang standing to the side, looking like she was about to cry, she looked at Hu Shi and said, "Auntie, Xiu Niang is timid. Even if you want to argue, you should restrain yourselves."

Hu's mind was completely preoccupied with Gu Da and Widow Li, and she had no time to care about Xiu Niang. She seemed not to hear anything and just stood there blankly, lost in thought. Gu Zao stepped forward, took Xiu Niang's hand, offered a few words of comfort, and escorted her back to her own room before he and Fang Shi went out through the back door.

Fang Shi, still unwilling to give up, continued to curse the shameless widow Li all the way. Gu Zao, puzzled as to why her mother had suddenly sided with Hu Shi, grew tired of hearing it and couldn't help but say sternly, "Mother, why are you so vehemently cursing that woman? In most cases, it's the man who starts these things. Even your aunt has her share of inappropriate behavior. After all, it's someone else's business, and we've already moved on. Don't be foolish enough to incite your aunt. If things escalate, don't blame me for not helping you."

Seeing Gu Zao's stern expression, Fang muttered a few words under her breath and then fell silent. By the time the two returned to their shop, it was almost dusk, and there was no time to prepare for the evening's business, so they simply closed the shop and rested for another meal.

Gu Zao was initially worried that Hu Shi might do something rash, but after two or three days, nothing happened. He repeatedly ordered Fang Shi not to go and inquire, and seeing that although she was somewhat uneasy, she was kept in close watch and did not cause any trouble, Gu Zao felt somewhat relieved.

A few more days passed, and Xiu Niang's wedding day was fast approaching. Remembering that Madam Hu had previously mentioned having her third sister accompany her to her son-in-law's residence to prepare the wedding room, she felt she should be discreet as a widow. Seeing that lunchtime had passed and the shop was less busy, she quietly asked her third sister to go and inquire about the situation. The third sister then took a few pieces of embroidery she had hastily made for Xiu Niang's dowry and headed towards Panlou East Street.

The two houses weren't far apart. When Third Sister arrived at the silk shop, she thought they would be preparing for their wedding day, but the house was deserted. Neither Gu Da nor Madam Hu were there; only the shop assistant was sitting on a stool, dozing off. When she found Xiu Niang's room, she saw her sitting alone in front of the mirror, lost in thought. She called out to her a few times before she came to her senses.

The third sister handed over her embroidery work and was about to ask about the shop, but Xiu Niang shook her head and said, "I'm afraid it's no longer needed. My mother is making a fuss about breaking off the engagement."

The third sister was taken aback, but seeing that Xiu Niang didn't seem particularly upset, she asked a few questions and learned the whole story.

It turned out that Hu Qingxian had been waiting for his post in the capital for over a year. Initially, he used his father-in-law's money for food, drink, and entertainment without much concern for the position, thinking that he would eventually be appointed. However, after waiting for a long time without any news, and having been reprimanded by the Ministry of Personnel last year, he knew that the path to a post was blocked. So, he decided to curry favor with someone powerful and painstakingly climbed the social ladder to become a second-rank vice minister in the Ministry of Rites, thus becoming his protégé. A few months ago, he finally received word that a seventh-rank deputy director position in the Ministry of Rites was about to be filled.

Upon receiving the news, Hu Qing was overjoyed, but he also knew that to truly obtain the official position, money was indispensable. He knew he had already asked his future father-in-law's family countless times over the past year, each time claiming it was for smoothing things over. Initially, the Gu family had been generous with their money, but after a long period of silence, they were now hesitant to spend any more. While inwardly cursing the Gu family for being stingy, he set his sights on Xiuniang's dowry, which led to the matchmaker's visit last month to arrange the betrothal and wedding date. When he saw the long list of dowry items, he was already ecstatic. Although the dowry still belonged to the bride's family, he had heard that the Gu family's daughter was gentle and docile. If she married into his family, he could mold her however he pleased, so he couldn't wait to marry Gu Xiuniang.

Hu Qing was happily waiting to reap the rewards of wealth, women, and official position, but unexpectedly, half a month ago, the Vice Minister of Rites whom he had been clinging to was exposed. His mortal enemy, the Censor-in-Chief, reported him to the emperor, accusing him of forming cliques and secretly recruiting many disciples, some of whom were former green-robed scholars.

After establishing the dynasty, Emperor Taizu, recalling his own path to the throne, feared his ministers would follow suit. Therefore, besides promoting civil administration and suppressing military affairs, he also established a rule that all successful candidates in the imperial examinations were considered his protégés, strictly forbidding ministers from forming factions or becoming his protégés. However, in the early years, the emperor was young and the Empress Dowager assisted him, which inevitably led to some underhanded dealings among the civil and military officials. Now that the emperor had only recently taken personal control, he already harbored some resentment, but without a pretext, he couldn't easily take action. Now that someone had been thrust into the line of fire, exactly what the emperor wanted, he was quick to act and ordered a thorough investigation. The result was a long list of names, mostly low-ranking officials, some even waiting for vacancies, but enough to enrage the emperor. Some were dismissed on the spot, others investigated, leaving the court ministers terrified of being implicated and no one daring to speak up for others.

Hu Qing never imagined that his attempt to curry favor with the wrong person had backed him. Now, not only was his official position hopeless, but even his status as a newly appointed Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) had been erased by the emperor with a single stroke of his vermilion brush. The green robe, boots, and ceremonial tablet he had received upon being granted the title of Jinshi were confiscated by officials from the Ministry of Rites. He stood there dumbfounded, his heart aching maddened, yet outwardly he could only offer words of gratitude for the emperor's great favor. After the officials left, if his servant hadn't reacted quickly and caught him, he probably would have collapsed on the spot.

Hu Qing, after much agonizing reflection, was even more eager to marry Xiu Niang immediately so he could obtain a generous dowry. After a few jugs of wine, he made up his mind to secretly keep it a secret until the deed was done. Then, when the Gu family knew he was now a commoner, they would be helpless. Thinking he had devised a plan, he took advantage of his drunkenness and fell into a deep sleep.

He was dreaming, forgetting that the servant beside him had also been hired by the Gu family. This servant was used to seeing Hu Qing revel in drinking and carousing with his mistress, while he himself waited in the cold wind at the alley entrance. Besides, he was notoriously stingy; even when sent to buy a pot of wine, he would haggle over a mere copper coin or two, never managing to make a profit. The servant had long harbored resentment, and now seeing his father in trouble, he couldn't hold back any longer. Taking advantage of Hu Qing's deep sleep, he dashed off to report to Madam Gu.

Ever since the incident with Widow Li, although Hu had temporarily refrained from going there at Gu Zao's suggestion, her heart felt like it was being scratched by a cat, a persistent, unbearable ache. Unable to bear it any longer, she grabbed a stick and rushed to Widow Li's alley, only to be dumbfounded. In less than half a day, Widow Li's house was completely empty; she was nowhere to be found. Only some worthless, broken tables and chairs remained. It seemed that Gu Da had come and moved her away immediately after their fight.

Hu was short of breath, her head was heavy and her vision was blurred. With the help of several neighbors, she finally made it home, but couldn't get out of bed. In the middle of the night, Gu Da stealthily returned, grabbed her, and tried to fight again. Although Gu Da felt he was in the right, he was still somewhat traumatized by Hu's long-standing dominance. He also knew that if Hu didn't agree, his idea of having a son would be in vain, so he tried to plead with her. However, Hu was unmoved by his words and actions, insisting that he get rid of Widow Li. As for the child in her womb, she declared that unless she died, he could never have the Gu surname. This infuriated Gu Da, who, without caring about Hu's well-being, turned and left. The two argued like this for several days. If it weren't for Hu Qing's servant bringing news yesterday, Hu would have almost forgotten about Xiu Niang's marriage.

Upon hearing the servant's report, Madam Hu was horrified. She waited anxiously until Gu Da returned home, explained the situation, and the couple stopped arguing and rushed off to find Hu Qing. Hu Qing initially tried to deny it, but seeing the servant who usually cowered in his presence now standing behind Gu Da and his wife with his hands behind his back, sneering at him, he knew he'd been betrayed. He cursed the servant as a shameless scoundrel and had no choice but to confess.

Gu Da was fine with it, since this marriage wasn't his idea to begin with. But Hu Shi was struck dumb, collapsing to the ground on the spot with her eyes rolling back in her head. Gu Da was so frightened that he pinched her philtrum and struggled for a while before she slowly woke up.

When Madam Hu regained her senses, she tried to look for Hu Qing again, but he was nowhere to be seen. It turned out that he had slipped away in the chaos. Helpless, the couple could only go home together and sit there glaring at each other, blaming one another. Xiu Niang overheard them.

"My mother said something this morning, that she was going to break off the engagement with the Hu family, and then she grabbed my father and rushed out. I don't know what happened to her now," Xiu Niang said softly.

The third sister glanced at Xiuniang, who was a few months younger than her. Although Xiuniang didn't seem too sad, her eyes were swollen, suggesting that she hadn't had a good time these past few days. The two had grown up together since childhood, and although they had separated later, they still had some affection for each other. The third sister couldn't help but sigh with sympathy and offered her words of comfort for a long time before getting up and going home.

As soon as Third Sister returned home, she pulled Gu Zao into her room and recounted everything she had just learned. Gu Zao listened in stunned silence, yet secretly pleased for Xiu Niang. Although breaking off an engagement after the formal betrothal would damage a young woman's reputation, it was still far better than marrying someone like Hu Qing. She immediately instructed Third Sister not to reveal anything to Madam Fang before the two left the room.

As the weather gradually warmed up, the number of customers in the shop dwindled until late in the evening. Just as Yue Teng was about to leave, the firewood deliveryman arrived with a cartload of firewood and stopped at the door. Without being told, he immediately came over to unload it, making five or six trips back and forth, finally managing to carry the entire cartload of bundled firewood inside.

Seeing that the work in the shop was almost finished, Yue Teng was about to take his leave when Gu Zao stopped him and asked him to wait a moment. Confused, he could only stand still on the threshold. After a while, he saw her come out with a green lotus leaf package in her hand, and she handed it to him with a smile, saying, "It's steamed meat with rice flour inside. Make it as a late-night snack when you go back to study tonight."

Yue Teng accepted it with both hands, thanking her repeatedly. Gu Zao smiled and said, "Why are you thanking me? I'm not that thoughtful. It was Third Sister who made it and asked me to hand it to you."

Yue Teng's face flushed red again. He secretly glanced behind Gu Zao, but didn't see the person, and felt a little disappointed. However, holding the still-steaming lotus leaf bun, his heart warmed as well. He thanked her repeatedly before leaving the shop.

Gu Zao escorted him to the door and watched him leave before turning to go into the shop. Suddenly, she noticed a person standing in front of a fried dough shop diagonally opposite hers, staring at her intently. The person seemed somewhat displeased. Upon closer inspection, she realized it was none other than Master Yang.

Chapter 52

In the blink of an eye, Gu Zao saw Yang Hao walking towards her. After hesitating for a moment, she turned and turned into a small alley not far away at the end of the street.