Gu Jinli was startled for a mont, then laughed, "I understand now. Let’s give Brother Luo Wu another chance. Big sister, don’t worry."
Gu Jinxiu smiled upon hearing this and patted her head, "Get up, it’s cold sitting on the ground."
Gu Jinli obediently stood up and after accompanying Gu Jinxiu in the room for a while, she pulled her up and said, "Let’s go out and help with the cooking."
Gu Jinxiu also felt that it wasn’t good to always be confined indoors. Won in the countryside should go out and socialize: "Alright."
After putting on her work jacket, she followed Gu Jinli to the front yard.
Outside the dining hall in the front yard, Qin San Lang had already set up a fire to roast lamb. Seeing Gu Jinli arrive, he said, "Another sheep has been used for clear broth stew, and the bones have been shaved for fish and lamb soup."
Gui Niu squatted beside the fire, eyeing the roasted whole lamb with eagerness, "Brother San Lang, lamb at is so delicious."
Qin San Lang laughed, "Yes, the lamb is very tasty. Once it’s roasted, Brother San Lang will cut a piece for you to try."
"Mhm!" Gui Niu responded, squatting next to the fire, waiting to eat lamb.
People from several families were busy. Mrs. Chu and Mrs. Cui also ca out, busy setting up the incense table for ancestor worship.
This ancestor worship wasn’t for each family’s own ancestors, but for those from their old hos who died escaping famine.
People from the families kept busy with ancestor worship, praying to heaven and earth, preparing various dishes, and were finally done with all the preparations by evening.
But Luo Wu still hadn’t returned.
Third Grandpa and Third Grandma’s expression was not good. They had already discussed with the Luo Family that today, taking advantage of Brother Wu coming ho for a al, they would settle Brother Wu’s marriage to Sister Xiu. But now, Brother Wu had not co back, nor had he sent any ssages.
Mrs. Chu was on pins and needles, speaking sowhat stiffly, "Perhaps he was delayed by sothing."
Father Luo couldn’t save face and glanced at Gu Dashan and Mrs. Cui before saying to Qin San Lang, "San Lang, lend your horse. I’ll go to pick up your Brother Luo Wu."
Father Luo used to be an Escort Master, so riding a horse was not a problem for him.
However, Gu Jinli laughed and said, "Uncle Luo doesn’t need to go and pick him up. Perhaps Brother Luo Wu will be back soon. Let’s eat first and wait while we eat."
Mrs. Chen looked at Gu Jinli’s smile and felt that the Luo Family was done for. She dared not make any sarcastic remarks, but only echoed Gu Jinli, "Xiao Yu is right; in this winter, the food gets cold quickly. Let’s hurry and start the al. If we don’t eat now, the children will be hungry and in pain. These little ones are looking forward to this aty al tonight."
Third Grandpa and Third Grandma also wanted to give Luo Wu a chance and said, "Let’s start the al."
With that said, people from several families took their seats.
Gu Jinli’s house had two very long tables, with n and won sitting separately. There were enough seats for everyone with just two tables.
Because of Luo Wu’s absence, the atmosphere in the dining hall was sowhat subdued.
Mrs. Chen was sharp-tongued and brought up the auctioning of hams today at Yanfu Building, as well as her scolding of Boss Tian. She then brought up Gu Dexing, looking quite pleased, "Look at our Brother Xing; he made us proud today. Not only did he make acquaintances with the young Zheng Family master, but that young master also took a particular liking to him. He praised him for being honest and well-educated, and even wanted to beco sworn brothers with him."
"And that Master Ouyang, what’s his na, Ouyang Xu, a big fat old man with both money and reputation. Even County Magistrate Zheng had to flatter him. Hey, but when this renowned old man saw our Brother Xing, it was as if he saw Wenquxing. He said that Brother Xing will surely pass the examination for Scholar next year."
Gu Dexing couldn’t listen anymore and corrected Mrs. Chen, "Auntie, Young Master Zheng didn’t want to beco sworn brothers with , and Master Ouyang didn’t praise either. He just said a few words to . And his na isn’t Ouyang Xu, it’s Ouyang Hu, which sounds similar to ’tiger.’"
Mrs. Chen glared at him, "You child, don’t you know what’s good for you? Your auntie is trying to help you. Fine, fine, sit down and eat. You’ve always been such a spoilsport."
Thanks to Mrs. Chen’s playful manner, the Dongzhi al was enjoyed amidst laughter and cheer.
But even after the al was finished and the leftovers were distributed, the sky had darkened completely, and Luo Wu still hadn’t returned.
Mrs. Chen was astute and knew that Gu Jinli’s house was about to cut ties with the Luo Family. Though she wanted to watch the drama unfold, she feared that her own family might get caught in the crossfire, so she quickly took the leftover dishes and a packet of ham slices and ran off with her children.
Seeing this, other families also excused themselves and went ho.
Soon, only Father Luo’s family of three remained at Gu Jinli’s house.
Father Luo and Ms. Chu were very embarrassed and did not know what to say.
Before they could speak, Gu Jinli asked Ms. Chu directly, "Aunt Luo’s jacket looks really nice. What do you think? Do you like it?"
Without waiting for Ms. Chu to answer, he continued, "It was personally made by my eldest sister. She spent over half a month to card the cotton, sew the jacket, and embroider the flowers on the fabric. With such ticulous craftsmanship, of course, it’s good."
Ms. Chu knew that Gu Jinli was angry and hurriedly said, "Xiao Yu is right, the jacket is indeed very nice, and Aunt Luo loves it very much."
Gu Jinli smiled, "Oh, so Aunt Luo likes it too? I thought Aunt Luo looked down on things made by my elder sister."
"Xiao Yu," Mrs. Cui called out to Gu Jinli urgently, reminding her not to talk that way to Ms. Chu.
Gu Jinli seed not to hear and continued to stare at Ms. Chu with chilling eyes.
Three years ago, their families could have beco in-laws, but the Luo parents didn’t co to propose. From Luo Huiniang’s inadvertent complaints, Gu Jinli knew that it was Ms. Chu who did not want to propose marriage at the ti.
Gu Jinli was furious in her heart. Why did Ms. Chu do this? Praising her elder sister on one hand, yet not allowing Luo Wu to marry her, leading to this situation today.
And she could tell that Ms. Chu genuinely liked her elder sister, which was precisely why Gu Jinli was so frustrated. If Ms. Chu had been feigning her sentint, Gu Jinli would have taken action directly, without holding back.
Ms. Chu, under Gu Jinli’s scrutiny, felt so ashad that she hurriedly said, "I never ant to disparage Sister Xiu. I was just afraid..."
Maybe she had held it in for too long, maybe she didn’t want to bear resentnt between the families, or maybe she truly didn’t want to lose Gu Jinxiu as a daughter-in-law. After a mont of silence, she looked at Father Luo, "I’m sorry... I want to tell Xiao Yu’s family about that incident."
The apology was directed towards Father Luo. By revealing her secret, aside from embarrassing herself, the person who would be most disdained was Tie Zhu.
To be seen as picking up soone’s cast-off shoes, especially those of a woman who had been slept with by who knows how many n, is sothing no man could bear.
Father Luo respected Gu Dashan as a brother, not only because Gu Dashan was honest and trustworthy but also because they shared a similar fate, both mistreated by their stepmothers and not favored by their biological fathers.
Father Luo approached and took Ms. Chu’s hand, saying, "When we got married, we agreed to face all problems together, but let handle this. I’ll tell Dashan... he trusts ; it won’t be an issue to tell him."
"No!" Ms. Chu said vehently, with tears already streaming down her face, "You can’t go say it... I’ll tell Dafu and his wife."
Tie Zhu was a man; how could he possibly bring himself to tell another man how his wife had been violated by others?!
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