Chapter 103: Deception
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Gu Xiaoyao climbed the mountain clutching the still warm divorce decree. After leaving Shuitang Village, the road was quiet, and with the sky growing dim, the fields were deserted.
On the mountain.
After Gu Xiaoshu brought Mrs. Li back to Lotus Village, many villagers came forward to ask.
“Is your mother alright? Hurry back and rest; she must have been terribly frightened today.”
“Yes, go rest quickly! It’s getting late. If she’s in pain tomorrow, take her to the clinic.”
All those speaking were women; the men dared not approach, feeling somewhat ashamed.
In truth, the village chief had scolded them, accusing them of standing by as death approached, saying it was a simple matter to lend a hand, yet they showed no unity.
Gu Xiaoyao had won against Dagucun, and all by herself at that. The barren land below would no longer have to be given to others.
She had done such a great deed, yet the people of their village merely watched as her mother was dragged away.
Gu Xiaoshu’s expression wasn’t exactly good; he was still a ten-year-old child and sometimes couldn’t hide what he felt.
He silently helped Mrs. Li into the courtyard, closed the door, cutting off the outside voices.
“Look at what you’ve done. Seriously, I told you to help earlier. Let’s see how you face her in the future.”
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“That’s right. Xiaoyao worked so hard to help us win over Dagucun, and now you watch her mother suffer like this. Don’t you think she must be full of hatred inside?”
The women, seeing the men around them with heads hung low, did not comfort them but scolded them further.
When Chu Chengjin saw the mother and son come back and entered the house, he noticed the slap marks on Mrs. Li’s face.
“Xiaoshu, here’s some medicine. Apply this to your mother’s face. It’s good stuff—after applying it tonight, the marks should fade by morning.”
He took medicine from a drawer and handed it to Gu Xiaoshu to help Mrs. Li apply.
Mrs. Li, knowing how disheveled she looked, smiled awkwardly at Chu Chengjin.
“Chengjin, I’m sorry to let you see me like this. I really am so useless.”
Hearing her, Chu Chengjin gently shook his head and sat down to comfort her.
“Mother-in-law, that’s not true. You’re already very brave. At least now you’ve made up your mind and know what you want to do.”
In fact, Chu Chengjin had seen many such cases. This era was inherently unstable.
Most common folk lived in hardship; selling children was common. In even poorer households, newborns were sold.
The darkness of human hearts and the evil within always revealed itself layer by layer, sometimes chilling one to the bone.
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“I don’t have that much courage. It’s just that Xiaoyao gave me courage. Seeing her so brave, I felt I should fight back too.”
Mrs. Li smiled, wincing from the pain at the corner of her mouth. She instinctively touched her face. Although Gu Dacai had beaten her again today, she felt little sorrow.
At least today, she had resisted and scolded Gu Dacai, instead of silently enduring his blows as before.
Gu Xiaoshu helped apply the medicine. Seeing her expression improve, he knew the medicine was indeed effective.
“Thank you, brother-in-law. You must be hungry. I’ll go make food now.”
His anger still simmered, so his tone sounded a bit harsh.
Mrs. Li watched her youngest son leave and smiled awkwardly at Chu Chengjin.
“Chengjin, I’m sorry. Xiaoshu is still mad at me.”
While the two chatted inside, Mrs. Liu returned with her two sons. The three sneaked into the courtyard as if they had done something wrong.