Chapter Nineteen: My Love, I Have Come

After helping Mrs. Li back into the courtyard, Gu Xiaoyao fetched a small wooden stool for her to sit on. Staring up at Gu Dacai, who was still hurling curses from the tree, she felt the noise was too much to bear. She went into the kitchen, grabbed a filthy rag usually used for cleaning, and stepped out past the fence. With one hand, she pinched Gu Dacai’s jaw and stuffed the rag into his mouth. Peace and quiet returned.

Everyone in the courtyard was startled by her swift and decisive action, feeling that the child seemed somehow changed.

The bystanders outside, watching the commotion and seeing Gu Dacai’s miserable state, fell silent as well—especially the few ruffians who had been hoping to stir up more trouble.

“Grandmother, did you take my mother to the clinic to see a doctor?” Gu Xiaoyao asked Mrs. Yang.

“No, we just called the barefoot doctor to take a look and prescribe some medicine. Your father gambled away all the family’s savings—there’s no money left for a proper clinic!” Mrs. Yang shook her head, guilt clouding her expression. The wounds really did need a clinic, but there were only a few coins left at home.

A trip to the clinic would cost at least a tael of silver, and there was no way they could come up with that.

“Doesn’t Gu Dacai have any money on him?” In her memory, Gu Dacai was always stuffing himself until his mouth was greasy, and he often went into town for better food. If he had no money, how could he afford those treats?

“He never has any money—he’s always rummaging through the house, turning out all the drawers, looking for silver!” Mrs. Yang had never imagined her eldest son would be hiding money, and now she regretted ever agreeing to live with his family. Her younger son’s family had been wise, building their house at the far end of the village when the family split, out of sight and out of mind.

“He must have money hidden away. If he didn’t, how could he keep going to town for drinks? I’ll go and ask him myself,” Gu Xiaoyao said, convinced Gu Dacai was hiding something. If ordinary threats didn’t work, she’d have to try something more persuasive.

She went into the kitchen and took out a sharp knife—the same one Old Gu used for slaughtering pigs. Whenever anyone needed a pig killed, they’d call on Old Gu. The pay was meager, but people would often give him meat instead of money.

“Xiaoyao, what are you doing with that? Don’t mess around—that’s the butcher’s knife!” Old Gu’s eyelid twitched in fright, and even his hand on his beard trembled as he spoke anxiously.

“I’m going to force him to tell us where the money is. I’m sure he’s hidden it somewhere. Mother’s wounds must be treated at the clinic.” There was no need to inspect Li’s injuries—Gu Xiaoyao knew she’d taken a severe beating from Gu Dacai, and it had happened more than once. No doubt there were other old bruises as well.

“Don’t go, Xiaoyao. I’m really all right, just a few days’ rest and I’ll be able to work again.” Li looked at her daughter, blaming herself for her own weakness. She truly feared her daughter would lose control and stab Gu Dacai to death—and if that happened, she wouldn’t want to live either.

“Don’t worry, Mother. I’m only going to scare him—I won’t really hurt him.” Yet no one in the yard believed her; her cold gaze and the gleaming knife in her hand made it look as though she really meant to kill.

Gu Dacai, hanging from the tree, had been tormented by pain and hadn’t heard any of the conversation in the courtyard. When he looked up, just as he was about to curse again, he saw Gu Xiaoyao approaching with the knife.

“What do you want? I’m your father! Are you going to kill me? Murderers go to jail!” Gu Dacai dangled from the tree, wishing desperately that he had more arms and legs to defend himself.