Chapter 11: 11 Roommates

Editor: Atlas Studios

Gu Ershun was totally stupefied by Gu Jiao’s kick.

Although his status within the Gu Family was not as high as Gu Dashun’s, he was still raised and nurtured by the Liao Family. They usually didn’t let him do any farming labor and only made him study indoors like Gu Dashun.

Whether he actually absorbed any knowledge was another matter, but his soft constitution was unquestionable.

After he was kicked onto the ground, he stayed still for a long time.

Where did this silly little girl get the audacity to kick him today? He really wanted to march over and slap her but he wouldn’t admit it – Gu Jiao’s kick had indeed scared him.

“You… you… you just wait!” He left behind these threatening words and ran away, clutching his stomach.

After barricading the door, Gu Jiao turned around to see Xiao Liulang standing in the room gazing at her in complete astonishment.

After giving it some thought, she said with the utmost composure, “He fell out on his own.”

Xiao Liulang: “…”

The Gu Family had been waiting for Gu Ershun to bring Gu Jiao over to be reprimanded, but only Gu Ershun returned. He was incredibly disheveled and holding his stomach as if someone had beaten him up.

The Liao Family hurried over, “Ershun, what happened? Where’s the girl?”

Gu Ershun then exaggerated the events outside Gu Jiao’s door, “… I kindly convinced her to come over here, apologize to Big Brother, but she didn’t listen and kicked me. I didn’t retaliate because I see her as my sister…”

After hearing this, the Liao Family exploded with rage, “That ungrateful little wretch! That whore’s brat! Even attacking her own brother!”

On the other hand, the Zhou Family was much calmer.

If that girl dares to lay a hand on Dashun, how could Ershun stand a chance against her?

But deep down they were a bit confused, this girl had been acting strangely lately.

“Unbelievable!” The Liao Family couldn’t bear the fact that their son had been hit. Rolling up their sleeves, they slapped Gu Xiaoshun, “You go! Teach that little wretch a lesson and make her pay for what she did to your brother!”

“I’m not going.” Gu Xiaoshun gave Gu Ershun a disdainful look, “Who knows what he did?”

Gu Ershun argued back defiantly, “I didn’t do anything! I just spoke to her kindly! Then out of nowhere she kicked me. I think she’s just an idiot, a lunatic, a jinx!”

“Who are you swearing at?” Gu Xiaoshun stood up, wreathed in a swaggering air.

Gu Ershun quickly hid behind the Liao Family.

“You’re even defending that jinx! Who’s your real brother anyway!” The Liao Family was so furious they wanted to hit Gu Xiaoshun, but since the Gu Family head was present they couldn’t hit their grandchild.

They then turned their head and glared at their husband, “Say something!”

What could Gu Changlu say? When the girl didn’t come home for meals for several days, nobody bothered to check on her. Only now they started blaming her for everything.

He didn’t want to get involved.

He wasn’t so much in favor of Gu Jiao, it’s just that he, of all three siblings, was the most spineless. When their young brother was in trouble, he was right there next to him. If he had pulled him in time, maybe their brother wouldn’t have died.

But the flood was too powerful. He got scared and ran away, leaving his brother behind.

No one outside knew about this incident, only the old man had been informed.

He had always felt a bit guilty towards the third brother.

“Changhai.” The Gu Family head called his eldest son, “You go over there.”

Gu Changhai hesitated for a while, then said, “Father, Jiao’s brain isn’t good. Let’s just ignore this matter this time. Otherwise, it will lead to gossip that we’re treating the blood of the third brother harshly.”

The Liao Family was livid, “How can we just let it pass like that? So it’s okay because Dashun wasn’t the one who got hurt? Haven’t you seen what condition Ershun has ended up in after being kicked by her?”

Gu Ershun held his stomach, looking pitiful.

Ah, that kick from the jinx was truly hefty, and his stomach still hurt.

The Gu Family head was stoic and pondering.

Gu Changha softly said, “Father, if we make a big fuss about it, it will tarnish Dashun’s reputation.”

The one who got kicked was Gu Ershun, not Gu Dashun. Gu Dashun only had a bit of a scrape, which was somewhat embarrassing. But Gu Dashun wasn’t injured, nor did it affect his exam, it wasn’t worth harming his reputation just for the sake of avenging Gu Ershun.

Gu Dashun came to his senses at this point, too, realizing that reputation was the most important thing for a man of letters. Otherwise, the Gu Family wouldn’t have forced Xiao Liulang into submission in the first place. He couldn’t be foolish about this matter.

He said gently, “Never mind, grandfather. My sister is ill, and it doesn’t seem right for us to be harsh towards her.”

Liao was so angry he almost fainted. Why hadn’t they said that earlier? If they didn’t care, they should have stopped Gu Ershun when he was about to catch her!

The head of the Gu Family was apparently very satisfied with these words from his oldest grandson, “You are sensible. You two should learn from your older brother, and not constantly quibble with a little girl. It’s beneath your dignity as older brothers.”

The last few sentences were naturally meant for Gu Ershun.

“And you, don’t go out looking for trouble again, it will only tarnish your older brother’s reputation.”

Gu Xiaoshun didn’t escape either.

Gu Xiaoshun let his grandfather’s words go in one ear and out the other, he didn’t take them to heart at all.

—

Gu Jiao had no idea that the Gu family had made a fuss over her.

She had made a small fortune in town today, bought a lot of stuff, but also used a lot of stuff. One anesthetic was gone, two clotting agents were gone, and numerous other wound medicines including suturing materials as well.

Gu Jiao took the salt, star anise, and some other cooking ingredients to the stove, then went back to light the fire and boil some water. Last but not least, she lit the firewood in the stove.

She carried over a heating basin to Xiao Liulang.

Since it was almost the end of the year, the nights were still very cold. She could go to sleep early, but Xiao Liulang had to stay up late reading, not to mention, his injured leg couldn’t catch a cold either.

The door was slightly ajar, Gu Jiao knocked the door, “It’s me.”

“Hmm.” Xiao Liulang made a sound to acknowledge.

Gu Jiao pushed the door open and walked in.

Xiao Liulang was leaning over his desk copying a book. He had only lit a small oil lamp next to him that was dimly lit.

Gu Jiao placed the heating basin on the floor, walked over, adjusted the oil lamp to its brightest setting, thought for a while and brought over the oil lamp from her room as well, “The light is too dim, it’s bad for your eyes.”

Xiao Liulang’s gaze shifted slightly, “You can use the heating basin.”

“I won’t be cold after I fall asleep.” said Gu Jiao.

She paused for a while, as if thinking of something, and added, “Can I come into your room to warm up before I go to sleep?”

“…Hmm.” Xiao Liulang nodded his head, sat upright and continued copying the book before him.

Gu Jiao knew that he made his living by transcribing books for people – even though he didn’t earn much, he still managed to make approximately two taels a month. Unfortunately, one tael would be taken by the Gu Family. They pretentiously claimed that they were paying meals for the original owner.

The original owner didn’t know that she was paying for her food in Gu’s house and still thought that the Gu Family was genuinely treating her well.

To be fair, Xiao Liulang’s attitude towards the original owner was not good, but this was because their relationship was not good. Xiao Liulang’s character was not the problem.

After hesitating a bit, Gu Jiao said, “You don’t have to continue giving money to the Gu Family. From now on, I will eat at home.”

Xiao Liulang’s hand, which was holding the pen, froze.

Gu Jiao brought over some wet quilts and clothes to dry over the fire.

Her movements were gentle, her breathing was soft. If it wasn’t for the fact that Xiao Liulang looked over several times in the corner of his eye, he wouldn’t have noticed that there was another person in the room.

The clothes were dry, and as she was about to leave, she suddenly asked him, “What is the name of your classmate?”

“Fen Lin.” said Xiao Liulang.

Xiao Liulang continued to copy his book till midnight. When he got up, he found that Gu Jiao had dried his clothes as well and neatly folded them on the chair.

While he was about to put the clothes in the closet, he saw a new pair of shoes at the bottom.