Chapter Ninety-Four: The Chase

The people of Lotus Village watched them leave the yard one after the other, and many opened their mouths only to say nothing.

After all, when it came to matters between husband and wife, it was hardest for outsiders to judge. Even when such things happened to other couples in the village, all they could do was offer a few kind words of advice.

To rush over and beat Gu Dacai into the ground—that was something none of them dared do, for this kind of business was not something one could meddle in.

Mrs. Li was dragged along, and as she watched the yard grow farther and farther away, the despair on her face suddenly went blank.

“Oh, heavens, why isn’t there a single soul in Chengjin’s house? If only someone had been there!”

“Yes, this really was bad luck. Of all times, not a person was home. Chengjin’s two younger brothers are usually so lazy and idle—why did they have to go out today too?”

Seeing the hopeless look on Mrs. Li’s face, some of the women felt pity and grew anxious as well.

Why, if only Chengjin and the others had been in the house! If they had been, they could have stopped this.

After Gu Dacai dragged Mrs. Li out of Lotus Village, he finally let out a breath of relief. No one came chasing after them; it seemed he could take this wretched woman down the mountain after all.

“Brother Old Four, let’s head straight for town. No need to go back through the village. We’d only have to come out again anyway.”

He was already itching to sell Mrs. Li for a sum of money. He had not touched the gambling tables in far too long; if he went any longer without them, he feared he might go mad.

“Fine, then we’ll go straight to town. I know you’re afraid delay will bring trouble. Good, let’s hurry down the mountain!”

Old Four felt the same way. The buyer had already been found, and he had no desire to see anything go wrong at the last moment.

It was true that money would be exchanged for goods, but the goods had to reach the buyer’s hands quickly enough. Besides, the buyer would want to inspect them.

“Brother Dacai, when you get the money this time, you’ll be heading back to the gambling den again, won’t you?”

In high spirits, Old Four smiled as he chatted with Gu Dacai, who was walking ahead.

“Of course. Brother Old Four, don’t you want to take a turn there too? It’s been several days since you last went in, hasn’t it?”

As the two of them bantered, Mrs. Li, who had been dragged along in silence, suddenly stirred. She lifted her head sharply and stared at Gu Dacai in front of her.

“Gu Dacai, you’re planning to sell me, aren’t you?”

She had long since expected this day; she had only not expected it to come so soon.

Everything in the house that could be sold had already been sold. In the Gu household, the only things left of value were the living people themselves.

“Heh, how can you call that selling? I’m sending you off to live a good life! When the time comes, you’ll have fine food and rich drink. That’s far better than following me around.”

Gu Dacai even sounded envious. Women really were fortunate—if they ever ran out of money, they could simply sell themselves. How convenient.

Hearing the self-satisfaction in his voice, Mrs. Li wanted nothing more than to rush up, sink her teeth into his throat, and drink his blood straight from the wound.

“Gu Dacai, why don’t men like you get struck by lightning the moment you step outside, drown the instant you go down the mountain, or get hacked to death the moment you walk into a gambling den!”

She would never have dared say such words in the past. But a rabbit, when driven to desperation, will bite. This time, she was truly furious and consumed with hatred.

Gu Dacai turned back, clearly wanting to beat her again, but after thinking it over, he knew that if he did, it would only slow them down. He could only grit his teeth and endure it.

Besides, once they reached the town and sold her off, she would no longer be his wife. Then he would not be able to beat her whenever he pleased.

The three of them stumbled and tugged at one another as they followed the narrow path down the mountain, while Gu Xiaoyao and the others, baskets on their backs, entered the village and prepared to head home.

“Wife of Chengjin, you’re back at last! Something’s happened—your mother seems to have been tied up and taken away by your father.”

A woman who saw Gu Xiaoyao return hurried forward and told her everything that had happened in the courtyard.

Gu Xiaoyao had not even finished listening before she threw down the basket on her back, grabbed a sickle, and rushed off.