Chapter 40: The Sudden Death of Gu Litang

Madam Zhou’s complexion was no better, her face a mask of complex emotions. Meeting the questioning gazes of the children, she felt a tightness in her throat and spoke with great difficulty: "Last night, your eldest uncle passed away."

Although Gu Qinghe had mentioned it while knocking on the door earlier, Zhen Mi’er had suspected she misheard. How could someone who was perfectly fine just pass away like that? Now, hearing it confirmed by Madam Zhou, everyone stood there in disbelief.

"We have already asked Old Master Wu to examine him. Your uncle had labored hard for years, eating and sleeping poorly, which severely damaged his heart, lungs, and liver. Last night, after drinking too much, he suffered a stroke and passed away suddenly."

Because of Madam Feng, the Fourth Branch of the Gu family had little contact with the First Branch, and the children were not particularly close to their eldest uncle, yet they had always maintained the proper respect. Gu Qingbai, in particular, felt a deep sense of gratitude toward Gu Litang, as his uncle had once trekked through the night to rescue him when he was in danger on Liangwei Mountain.

Just yesterday, while fetching water by the lake, Gu Qingbai had run into Gu Litang. He had thanked him personally and pressed ten taels of silver into his hand—money Madam Zhou had prepared for emergencies—insisting he use it to buy some good food to nourish himself during the New Year. Gu Litang had refused, chasing after him to return it, but Gu Qingbai had run quickly and dashed into their home. At the time, Gu Qingsong had even asked him what was the matter.

Who would have thought that the man who was fine just yesterday, the man with whom he had spoken at length, would be gone today? Gu Qingbai’s eyes turned red, and he could not help but tear up. Gu Tingzhi stared blankly at the grieving crowd, then turned to Zhen Mi’er. Seeing her brow furrowed and looking equally distressed, his own emotions were instantly infected; he sniffled, his heart sinking into sorrow as well.

Gu Lizong felt a wrenching pain in his chest, a rhythmic, agonizing throb that left him struggling to breathe. More than twenty years ago, during the plague, his parents had passed away early, followed by his second brother, third brother, and fifth sister. He had been only seventeen at the time. He had always possessed a hearty appetite, but during those days, there was nothing to eat. The village had been stripped of tree bark, and not even a blade of grass could be found.

When Gu Litang had returned to the village from town, Gu Lizong was already skin and bone. Certain that his own end was near, he had held Gu Litang for a long time, pouring out his heart. He spoke of all the things he had left undone: he had not yet married or had children, had not earned enough to live a life where he could eat his fill, and had not built proper graves for his parents and siblings. He lamented that he was about to follow them into the grave.

He shared his many regrets and left Gu Litang with many instructions. Gu Litang comforted him, saying he had obtained food from the head of a wealthy household and promised that he would not starve to death. Even after hearing this, the light did not return to Gu Lizong’s eyes. Their houses were close, and because Madam Feng’s voice was sharp, he had heard their argument; he knew Madam Feng would never agree to share the grain with him.

Seeing his brother’s utter despair, Gu Litang had glanced toward the door and whispered, "At midnight tonight, I will push some food through the gap in the wicker fence at the corner of the courtyard. Remember to come and take it." With that, he had hurried away.

That night, as soon as midnight struck, Gu Lizong heard a faint rustling at the fence. He dragged his starving, exhausted body over. In the dim moonlight, their figures were barely visible. Neither dared to speak; they exchanged a silent glance before hurrying back to their respective rooms. That night, Gu Litang had passed over half a steamed bun and half a piece of coarse grain cake.

Gu Lizong’s eyes had welled up as he devoured the half-bun. When he went to eat the cake, he hesitated, unable to bear finishing it all. He drank several scoops of water to fill his stomach and carefully hid the remaining piece to eat the next day. Relying on the food Gu Litang secretly provided, he eked out an existence for another half-month.

But the truth could not be hidden forever. Madam Feng discovered it and caused a massive, reckless scene. The nephews and nieces were awakened, and in the confusion, they slipped out at night, mingled with the infected villagers, and passed away within days. Regardless of what Gu Litang or Madam Feng felt, Gu Lizong had wished at that moment that he were the one who had died.

His two nephews had been so young, barely having seen the world before they were taken. He was filled with such regret and hatred—regret for taking the food from his brother, and hatred for a heaven so cruel that it would strip away even their meager chance to survive like ants.

For the next two days, he went hungry again. On the third day, Gu Lizong felt ready to face death calmly. He dragged his weak body to the neighbor’s house to bid farewell to Gu Litang. When asked where he was going, he did not answer. He gave Gu Litang one long, deep look, then hunched his back and trudged away with great difficulty. He only wanted to pay his respects at the mountain where his parents and siblings were buried, fulfilling the final regret of his life.

Madam Feng cursed and spat venomous words behind him, but Gu Lizong did not turn back. Before he even reached the village entrance, his strength gave out completely. He collapsed softly into the mud and closed his eyes in peace. Yet, his life was tenacious. When he woke again, he thought he was in the underworld, only to be told he was still alive, saved by officials sent by the Imperial Court to provide disaster relief.

When the relief team entered the village, they spotted him collapsed in the mud from a distance. The accompanying physician checked his pulse, found he still had a breath, and saved him with acupuncture. The court brought grain and doctors, and Gu Lizong, Gu Litang, and Madam Feng all survived.

Twenty years had passed. They had struggled for decades at the very bottom of a rigid, stratified society, and their children had grown up. Just as life seemed to be getting better, he had let go of everything—and on the first day of the Lunar New Year, a day meant for family joy.

Regardless of how other families spent the New Year, both the First and Fourth Branches of the Gu family were steeped in gloom. The dead were gone, but the living remained. Life had to continue. Regardless of their past relationship, in these circumstances, Madam Feng stopped her tirades; she no longer had the energy for it. It was as if Gu Litang’s departure had taken her soul with it. She sat dazed and listless by the coffin every day, watching Gu Lizong busy himself with the funeral arrangements.

Gu Qingmao could not return to town on New Year’s Day. With his father gone, he was not only required to observe three years of mourning at home but was also disqualified from sitting for the exams in February. Having studied in town since childhood and ignored all household matters, if not for the uncle he had always been at odds with managing the funeral, things would have surely fallen into chaos.

Gu Litang’s third daughter, Gu Qingmiao, who had married into another family, returned for the funeral. Her husband, Tan Juncai, accompanied her, along with their two-year-old daughter and an infant son held in her arms.