Chapter 8: Alone at 08

Editor: Atlas Studios

The roads in the village were tough to navigate, especially the stretch leading to Xiao Liulang and Gu Jiao’s home. There were too many potholes, making it easy for cart wheels to get stuck.

The mule cart stopped at the entrance of the village.

“Brother Xiao.” The fellow student was the first to hop off the cart, he reached out and helped Xiao Liulang down, then took down Xiao Liulang’s bundle from the cart.

After steadying himself, Xiao Liulang turned his head to steal a glance at Gu Jiao.

Gu Jiao gracefully hopped off the cart, slinging a basket onto her back.

Xiao Liulang averted his eyes, addressing his classmate, “You can go back. There’s no need to accompany me further.”

It was indeed late, and the cart driver was growing impatient.

The fellow student obliged, “Alright, I’ll take my leave. Don’t forget about the exam in three days. There’s no holiday at the academy that day, so I won’t be able to pick you up. Remember to go on your own.”

“Hmm,” Xiao Liulang answered, showing his comprehension. He took the bundle from the other student.

The way home in the dark was hard to navigate, particularly since neither Xiao nor Gu had a lantern. Gu Jiao remained stationary, waiting silently by Xiao Liulang’s side.

The fellow student shot her a cold glance, pulling Xiao Liulang a little further away from her and whispered, “Xiao Brother, perform well on the test in three days. Once you pass, you can move into the academy and no longer need to be bullied by that wicked woman! Don’t rush about treating your leg, I’ll continue to investigate Dr. Zhang’s news. Oh, and keep the osmanthus cake for yourself, don’t share it with her!”

Gu Jiao returned from the marketplace carrying a basket and covered in sweat, but the ride on the cart had dried her off. Her lively and rosy little face was now ghastly pale made more conspicuous under the moonlight.

In the corner of his eye, Xiao Liulang caught sight of her. His classmate still wanted to say more, but Xiao cut him off. “I understand. You go back.”

The fellow student opened his mouth, but Xiao Liulang paid him no mind, holding his bundle in one hand and his cane in the other, he turned and headed towards his house.

Gu Jiao stepped in stride to follow him.

The distance between Gu Jiao and him was just right, not too close to make people feel uncomfortable but close enough for her to catch him if he fell.

However, Xiao Liulang was very familiar with this route, and there were no mishaps until they reached home.

Now, the sky was completely dark, and every household had their doors shut, except for Xue Ningxiang, who was out washing the bath water and standing at the door, lost in thought.

“Ah Xiang, why aren’t you coming in? What are you looking at?”

From inside the house, Xue Ningxiang’s mother-in-law, lying on the sick bed, asked hoarsely.

Xue Ningxiang blinked absent-mindedly, she said, “Nothing…nothing…”

She must have seen it wrong, how could Xiao Liulang be walking with that simpleton? Although they were a couple, they were more hostile than enemies.

The Gu Family’s old house.

Today was the turn of the big room to cook. Zhou’s wife and daughter, Gu Yue’e, brought the steaming food to the hall and set up the dishes and chopsticks.

In the Gu family, women didn’t eat at the table. Only the old Gu master, his eldest son Gu Changhai, his second son Gu Changlu, and his three grandsons did.

Elderly Mrs. Wu took two daughters-in-law and granddaughter Gu Yue’e, sat in the kitchen and ate with bowls in their hands.

Master Gu was the village Lizheng, more successful than most villagers who only know how to toil the soil. As a result, the Gu family could afford meat twice a month, unlike most villagers who could hardly see meat for an entire year.

Today happened to be one of their meat-eating days.

Pork belly stewed with cabbage, even the soup was bursting with the rich aroma of meat.

But the pork belly wasn’t much, everyone couldn’t get even two chopsticks full.

Gu Changhai and Gu Changlu each took a piece, then under the imposing aura of their stern father, dared not entertain the idea of having any more meat. They turned to eating pickles.

Old Master Gu also didn’t eat much, just took a small slice for himself, then gave Gu Xiaoshun and Gu Ershun a medium-sized cut each while giving all the rest to Gu Dashun.

Gu Xiaoshun checked carefully and saw that there were exactly five full slices dedicated to Dashun!

“Why does he get to eat all of it?” Gu Xiaoshun grumbled resentfully as he ate his rice.

Gu Ershun whispered, “That’s because our eldest brother is a scholar. Our family is depending on him for our future.”

Even as he said it, he couldn’t help but glance at the meat in Dashun’s bowl.

He was salivating.

Truly salivating.

But he had grown accustomed to this unjust treatment.

There were many men in the family, but only the eldest brother was scholar material. This autumn, Dashun had been admitted into a county academy, an achievement even higher than their grandfather’s.

“Ha.” Gu Xiaoshun rolled his eyes, “My brother-in-law is also a scholar. Why don’t you guys call him to eat meat?”

“How can the two be compared? Our eldest brother got into a county academy, how could he be compared to your brother-in-law?”

“My brother-in-law simply didn’t take the exam.”

The two brothers were about to argue again, but the old Master Gu slammed his chopsticks onto the table. They instantly fell silent.

When the old man lost his temper, not to mention the three grandchildren couldn’t stand it, even Gu Changhai and Gu Changlu felt a bit stunned.

The room was eerily silent.

“Ershun, did you read the books I gave you? There are annotations I made in them, read them carefully. If you don’t understand anything, come and ask me,” said Gu Dashun.

He was the only one brave enough to speak against the old man’s rage.

His voice was clear and smooth, his tone was calm. He really had the demeanor of a scholar.

The old man liked his golden grandson more and more, and his anger quickly subsided.

Gu Ershun smiled in surprise and said, “Thank you, big brother!”

The old man had taught all three grandsons, but only Gu Dashun had passed the examinations. The old man’s knowledge wasn’t sufficient for him anymore so he sent Gu Dashun to a private school in town.

The private school was so expensive that the Gu Family could only afford to send the best one.

Gu Ershun dreamed of being like Gu Dashun.

The old man said with dignified authority, “Don’t disturb your big brother these days, he has exams to take.”

Gu Ershun nodded respectfully, “Got it, Grandpa.”

Gu Xiaoshun didn’t want to stay long. After hastily finishing his meal, he left.

He wanted to go out, but couldn’t leave from the front door of the hall, nor the back door of the kitchen. Dealing with the Wu Family was not easier than dealing with the old man.

Gu Xiaoshun decided to climb over the wall.

But he was caught by Liu halfway through, “Gu Xiaoshun! Get down!”

Gu Xiaoshun was dragged down by Liu.

Liu slapped his head and chided, “Your grandparents are here, are you trying to get yourself killed?”

“Don’t hit my head!” Gu Xiaoshun complained.

“What are you going out for at this late hour?”

“My sister hasn’t come home to eat all day, I’m gonna check on her.”

Liu snorted, “It’s good that she didn’t come! What are you going for? People who are already married shouldn’t run back to their parents’ house every day, it doesn’t look good!”

Gu Xiaoshun retorted, “That’s not what my third uncle and aunt said before they died. My grandparents promised my third aunt that my sister would choose a husband at our house. Xiao Liulang is a son-in-law who married into our family, my sister is still our family member.”

Liu couldn’t outtalk him, so she pinched him hard! Gu Ershun was useless, and Gu Xiaoshun was not only disobedient but also useless. Liu had given birth to two useless sons!

—

Gu Jiao had gone to the marketplace to buy some cornmeal, and she didn’t expect Xiao Liulang had also bought some, and even bought a few extra steamed buns.

Gu Jiao warmed the buns in the kitchen.

The fire was made by Xiao Liulang.

Gu Jiao didn’t make a fuss.

When she left the house, her wrist injury wasn’t severe. But she did something at the marketplace, and her wound tore open. Luckily, she was carrying a first-aid kit with her on this trip because she felt the house was not safe, and had it bandaged on the spot.

Neither of them mentioned the incident with the three cornmeal buns from the morning. Xiao Liulang didn’t explain, and Gu Jiao didn’t ask.

“Let’s eat here, it’s warm,” Gu Jiao said. She was really cold and still shivering.

Xiao Liulang hesitated for a moment, then sat down on the small stool next to Gu Jiao.

This was the first time they were sitting so close together. He was sitting to her left and could clearly see the birthmark on her left cheek.

In the past, Gu Jiao always used thick makeup to cover it, but today she went out bare-faced, confidently without any cover.

Xiao Liulang’s attractive lips moved slightly, but he didn’t say anything in the end.

Just as she wouldn’t ask about his affairs, he wouldn’t ask about hers either.

They were two completely unrelated people, and there was no need for any deeper involvement.

The steamed buns didn’t taste like much, but Gu Jiao had been hungry all day, so she wasn’t picky.

Gu Jiao choked a bit while eating, went back into the house for some water. When she returned to the kitchen, Xiao Liulang was gone, and there was a package left on the small stool.

Gu Jiao opened it to take a look.

It was Osmanthus Cake.