Chapter 42: Returning to the Parental Home

When they reached home, it was already a quarter past five in the afternoon. No one had known they would be returning that day, and the family were already eating dinner with bowls in hand. Zhen Mi’er hurried to the kitchen, brought out the two dishes that had been kept warm on the stove, and set out two more bowls and pairs of chopsticks.

Gu Qingbai gave them a general account of the house he had bought in the county town, and no one in the family found anything to complain about.

Gu Qingsong then handed the page of notes he had written to Madam Zhou, and Zhen Mi’er read it aloud for her.

By the time she finished, Madam Zhou was beaming with delight. The new house already had nearly everything they needed. All they had to bring was their money and a change of clothes; once they had moved in, they could simply buy anything they found lacking.

The things everyone needed to keep close at hand had already been packed over the past two days. For the most part, each person had only a single bundle. Gu Tingzhi had rather more, since many of the books, paper, brushes, and ink he had used before had to be taken along, as well as his Yibai.

The family also had quite a supply of cured meat and sausages from this year, along with dried sweet-potato strips. As for the several baskets of potatoes, they would have been too troublesome to carry, so everyone had worked together and processed them into starch the previous night. The rest consisted of inexpensive odds and ends and was not worth taking.

Once everything had been packed, Madam Zhou summoned her three daughters-in-law to her room.

She took out thirty silver taels and gave ten to each of them. “Tomorrow morning, after you get up, each of you should return to your mother’s family and take this to your parents. Bring two pieces of cured meat apiece as well, and divide up the fruits and pastries left over from New Year’s. Take those to them too.”

The three women’s eyes reddened at her words.

This gift was far more generous than the betrothal presents they had received when they married. Not merely in their village—even throughout Changyun Town, there was hardly a married daughter who returned to her family bearing such a lavish gift.

“Tomorrow, you’ll have the whole day to say a proper farewell to your families. After that, who knows what year or month it will be before you see one another again.”

After saying this, Madam Zhou herself grew sorrowful.

Once again, Zhen Mi’er marveled at what a truly wonderful woman her mother-in-law was. No wonder she had raised three such outstanding sons.

Before dawn the next day, at the first crow of the rooster, Zhen Mi’er opened her eyes. She turned and gently shook Gu Tingzhi, who was still fast asleep.

“Husband, husband.”

Gu Tingzhi opened his sleepy eyes and glanced at her. “Manman, I still want to sleep,” he mumbled.

“Husband, shall we get up now? If we don’t, we’ll be late. Don’t you remember? We’re going to Willow Village today.”

Gu Tingzhi’s mind stalled for several moments before he remembered that he had indeed promised Manman the night before that he would rise early. Gritting his teeth against his drowsiness, he forced himself out of bed.

Zhen Mi’er brought out the new clothes they had made before the New Year. After dressing herself, she personally helped Gu Tingzhi change as well.

Lin Hui Niang’s family lived a little farther away, two villages from theirs, so Gu Qingsong drove the horse cart.

Gu Lizong, meanwhile, drove the ox cart and took Madam Zhou and Gu Qinghe to the Zhou family home.

Willow Village lay just next door and was not far on foot. Zhen Mi’er and Su Hehua walked together toward their family homes. The four of them carried large and small bundles in their hands, attracting quite a few glances from the villagers along the way. They paid no attention to it. After agreeing on a time to return, they parted at the fork in the crossroads.

Zhen Mi’er wore an apricot-colored padded jacket embroidered with white peach blossoms. Though she was rather plump, her brows and eyes were pleasing, and her skin was fair and tender, as though water might be squeezed from it. The villagers of the same community could not help looking at her again and again.

Then there was Gu Tingzhi. Tall and slender, with an exceptionally handsome face, he wore the moon-white robe Zhen Mi’er had bought for him in town. Had there been a scholar nearby, he would probably have sighed, “A man like jade beneath the roadside willows; among gentlemen, none in the world compares.”

In the villagers’ eyes, the couple simply looked far more refined and wealthy than before. Had the Gu family really become so well-off? Everyone had long heard that they ate meat every day now. And with an ox cart followed by a horse cart, they must surely have made a secret fortune.

Amid the crowd, Yang Xiuqing shrank behind her mother. Mother and daughter were carrying bundles of dry firewood, their faces grimy and their expressions difficult to describe.

Yang Xiuqing scrutinized Zhen Mi’er. That padded jacket really was beautiful. She had never imagined that after marrying into the Gu family, Zhen Mi’er would live so well that she could afford such lovely clothes.

Many people were saying that even though Gu Tingzhi had become foolish, he could still lead the Gu family into a life of abundance. If his mind ever recovered, the entire family would surely rise to great heights.

Yang Xiuqing bitterly regretted having rejected him because of his foolishness and refusing to marry him. If she had married into that household, would all of this not have belonged to her? She had always set her standards high, yet now she could no longer find another family as well-off as the Gus.

Her mother was equally consumed by regret. If only she had not rushed to break off the engagement! Had she waited another two or three months and learned that the Gu family could live so well, she would have pushed her daughter into that household by any means necessary. Seeing the large and small bundles in their hands made her heart ache with regret. Those things should have belonged to her family!

Whatever thoughts passed through the minds of the mother and daughter, Gu Tingzhi did not spare them so much as a glance. The road was full of bumps and hollows, and he was worried that Manman might stumble. Shifting everything into one hand, he reached out with the other to hold hers.

Zhao Shi had risen early and was feeding the chickens in the yard. Zhen Jin and his son usually slept late, so she was in no hurry to prepare breakfast. After feeding the chickens, she was about to chop fodder for the pigs when someone began knocking on the courtyard gate. She thought she heard her daughter’s voice as well.

“Mi’er, why have you come so early today? Has something happened at home?”

“Mother, let’s go inside before we talk.”

“Yes, yes, come in first.”

Zhao Shi stepped aside to let them enter.

“Good morning, Mother-in-law.”

Gu Tingzhi respectfully bowed to her.

Zhao Shi looked him up and down. She did not know how to praise people, but she felt that her son-in-law was exceptionally handsome—there was not another man within ten miles who could compare with him. Standing quietly beside Mi’er, he was as graceful as jade and as upright as a fine tree, his face filled with respectful courtesy. Nothing about him suggested a fool.

“Good, good, good. Go sit in the main room. Mother will make you some breakfast.”

When she saw the things they were carrying, Zhao Shi grew anxious. She slapped Zhen Mi’er lightly on the arm, though with some force.

“What is the matter with you, Mi’er? You’re married now, not living at home anymore. How can you bring everything to your mother’s family? What would that look like?”

“Mother, I didn’t bring these myself. My mother-in-law told me to bring them.” As she spoke, she placed everything in her hands on the table in the main room. Beside her, Gu Tingzhi nodded vigorously.

Seeing this, Zhao Shi said no more. She brought them sunflower seeds and peanuts.

“Mi’er, stay here and keep your husband company. Mother will go prepare breakfast.”

Just then, Zhen Jin got up. He was surprised to see them back and came in to sit with Gu Tingzhi for a few words. Somehow, the conversation soon turned once more to Zhen Bowen.