Chapter Ninety-Eight: Reluctance and Resistance

After hearing this, Gu Dacai was flustered. He had never expected Gu Xiaoyao to be so decisive—to want a divorce immediately. He had been thinking about when he might have time to come here again and take Li Shi away.

If the divorce happened today, how could he still have the confidence to come here and take her away in the future?

"What? Divorce? Absolutely not! I’d rather die than agree to a divorce. Unless you kill me, I will never divorce you," Gu Dacai shouted loudly, his neck stiff with stubbornness and his face flushed red.

No one paid attention to his words; there was no need to consider his wishes anymore.

"Miss, miss, can I go down the mountain now? It’s getting late, and if you’re taking me down with you, wouldn’t that be inconvenient?" Fourth Brother seized the moment to express his desire to leave, but his request was ignored.

"You’ll come down with us. If you try to run, I don’t think the sickle in my hand will agree."

"If you die somewhere in the mountain, there are plenty of pits here to bury you."

"I suppose for someone like you, even if you die, no one would come to fetch your body."

Gu Xiaoyao’s words were true; someone like Fourth Brother would never have anyone come looking for him.

His family wouldn’t want to associate with him either, fearing they might get stuck with such a troublesome burden.

"Alright, alright, I’ll come down the mountain with you. How about this—I’ll make amends by escorting your father down. Does that show sincerity?" Fourth Brother said this just as Gu Dacai spat in his face.

Gu Dacai wiped the saliva off with a glare and clenched his teeth.

"Sis, I’ll come with you too. You take them down the mountain—I’m worried."

Gu Xiaoshu was uneasy. She couldn’t just leave two men to follow her down alone!

Who knew what mischief they might stir up? They couldn’t be allowed to cause more trouble.

"No need. You just take mother back home. She needs rest now, and you have to stay there. I’ll be back soon."

"Alright, it’s decided then. A real man doesn’t fuss over trivial things. I’m off."

Because she now felt a sense of belonging toward Gu Xiaoshu and Li Shi, Gu Xiaoyao’s tone was no longer as cold as before.

Watching Gu Xiaoshu glance back repeatedly as she led Li Shi away, Gu Xiaoyao picked up the rope from the ground and bound Gu Dacai and Fourth Brother’s hands.

Since they still had to accompany them down the mountain, only their hands were tied.

"Let’s go. We shouldn’t waste any more time here; it’ll be dark soon."

Gu Dacai and Fourth Brother reluctantly began walking, their bodies still aching, every step pulling at the sore spots.

Gu Xiaoyao took down the sickle hanging on a tree trunk. Seeing their slow pace, she swung the sickle in their direction.

When they reached Shui Tang Village, the sight of Gu Dacai and Fourth Brother naturally drew many onlookers.

"Xiaoyao, you’re back! What trouble has your father gotten into this time?"

"Yeah, why are those two tied up? Look at him—has he been sneaking around stealing chickens or something?" Some women, looking at Gu Dacai’s disheveled state, speculated.

Could the missing chickens and ducks from their homes have been stolen by Gu Dacai?

"There’s something that needs to be done," Gu Xiaoyao replied briefly before quickly leading them into the courtyard.

Yang Shi and the others, who had been waiting for their son’s return, felt their hearts skip a beat when Gu Xiaoyao entered.