Chapter 104: You Are Free Now

Chu Qingsong stretched his neck and pricked up his ears to listen inside the house but heard nothing, which struck him as odd.

“Mother, why isn’t there any sound from inside? That wretched woman hasn’t come back yet, has she? Didn’t we win?”

The three of them had agreed the day before to go and see Gu Xiaoyao, who had supposedly been beaten black and blue by the people from Dayu Village.

But upon arriving, they found that Grandpa was still Grandpa — it wasn’t Gu Xiaoyao who had been beaten, but rather the people from Dayu Village who had been taught a lesson, their faces pale and bruised.

“Why do you care if they’ve come back or not? Let’s go inside. This is our home! Why do we feel like thieves sneaking back?”

Mrs. Liu looked at her eldest son’s cowardly demeanor, gave his back a sharp pat, urging him to move inside quickly.

Chu Qingsong felt his mother’s reprimand was justified. How could he be so timid? He was a man who stood tall and proud.

“That’s right, why am I so afraid? This is my home after all…”

He lifted his head and took a few steps forward, but the others behind him saw his strides grow shorter and finally stop.

“Big brother, you’re back so early! No, wait, why didn’t you let me come down the mountain with you?”

Chu Qingsong, who had been brave moments before, saw Chu Chengjin standing at the door with a smirk and instinctively took two steps back in fear.

Every time he saw his older brother smile like that, Chu Qingsong felt a sharp ache all over; he didn’t know why, he was just scared.

“Chengjin, aren’t you feeling unwell? Why aren’t you resting inside? Where is Gu Xiaoyao? Why isn’t she tending to you?”

“I married her to take care of you, and yet she dares to not stay home? Then why did I marry her at all? I’ll divorce her, I must divorce her,” Mrs. Liu’s sharp voice burst out as if she had caught some terrible secret, words pouring rapidly from her mouth.

Chu Chengjin, seeing how fast she spoke and catching the remnants of oil around their mouths, understood immediately.

“You all went to Dayu Village to watch the commotion!”

It was not a question, but a statement.

Mrs. Liu, hearing this, swallowed her intended words and shook her head vigorously in denial.

“No, we didn’t go to Dayu Village to watch the commotion! You can ask those who went; did any of them see us?”

“By the way, Chengjin, do you have any money on you? Our family’s money is running out.”

Saying this made Mrs. Liu feel a bit humbled. They hadn’t divided the family assets yet, and any money in hand should have been hers.

When Gu Xiaoyao hurried back through the woods, she overheard Mrs. Liu asking Chu Chengjin for money again, and something in her mind snapped.

“No money.”

Chu Chengjin was somewhat surprised to see her back so soon; he had thought she wouldn’t return so quickly.

“What? What do you mean no money? Chengjin is educated and usually earns by taking odd jobs in the city.”

Mrs. Liu turned to see Gu Xiaoyao speaking and was so furious her mouth twisted. Hands on her hips, rolling her eyes dramatically, she shot back:

“He is my husband, and it is only right that I manage the money he earns. If you want money, go earn it yourselves. You have hands and feet; even carrying sacks can earn money.”

Pushing open the courtyard door and stepping inside, Gu Xiaoyao ignored their piercing glares as sharp as knives and calmly spoke these words.

“Is my mother in the house?”

Mrs. Liu and the other two didn’t even glance at Gu Xiaoyao before retreating inside, their chests tight with frustration.