Chapter 21 Marriage

The wedding on the second day was less lively than usual because everyone in the family hadn't slept well the night before and was quite tired.

Grandma Gu and her sister-in-law made do with cooking in the half-burnt kitchen.

Sister-in-law Gu was already unhappy about spending so much money to marry her brother's wife, and now this has happened.

"Mother, is Chen Xiu some kind of jinx? Otherwise, why would Zhang Cuihua set a fire right before her wedding?" Sister-in-law Gu said, stirring up trouble.

Grandma Gu was also very unhappy. She was irritable because of her age and hadn't rested well the day before. She said, "Just do your job as your sister-in-law."

Gu Lao Er borrowed the brigade leader's bicycle early in the morning to pick up the bride. It was already 12 o'clock, and he still hadn't arrived home. Grandma Gu was still very worried.

Gu Yihan was reading in the courtyard when she looked up and saw her adoptive father, Gu Aidang, covered in dust and dirt, leading Chen Xiu, whose clothes were patched and faded from washing, into the house.

She quickly called out to the kitchen, "Grandma, Dad's home."

Grandma Gu wiped her hands as she walked out, saying, "Why did it take so long?"

Seeing her son's disheveled appearance, she said, "What happened? These are new clothes, how could you ruin them like this?"

Gu Aidang: ...You only care about the clothes?

"Mother, Chen Xiu got married without a dowry and has severed ties with the family." After saying that, he went straight back to his room. He felt ashamed to be severed ties on his wedding day.

Grandma Gu and her granddaughter exchanged a glance and stared at Chen Xiu.

Chen Xiu was also helpless and looked at helplessly, saying, "My mother told me that I should continue to support my younger brother and sister-in-law in the future, but I did not agree. Then she did not give me a dowry and said that she would not have me as her daughter anymore and that the relationship would be severed."

Grandma Gu sighed, "This wedding has no joy at all: Let's eat first, the family is too busy."

They turned around and went about their own business.

Gu Yihan glanced at Chen Xiu, then at the closed door of her adoptive father. This was no wedding; it was torture. There was no joy at all.

Time flies like water.

Gu Yihan starts school the day after tomorrow. She is at home preparing her things because she started school early and is too young to start junior high school.

Grandma Gu was not at all at ease, always worried that Gu Yihan might suffer a loss.

"Hanhan, have you packed everything? Is there anything you forgot? If you find anything missing at school, send a message home and we'll bring it to you."

After saying that, he put the week's worth of food rations into his packed schoolbag.

"Also, if your mother comes to the school looking for you, don't go. She doesn't mean any harm!"

Gu Yihan asked in confusion, "Wasn't it handed over to the police?"

Grandma Gu said through gritted teeth, "The police said there was no substantial harm caused, so they paid a fine and let me go home."

Gu Yihan was truly speechless, and assured her, "Grandma, don't worry, I won't go."

Grandma Gu was relieved to see that her granddaughter had taken her advice.

Gu Yihan was truly touched: "Grandma, I don't need anything, so don't worry, I'm an adult now."

To prove it, she lifted her suitcase with one hand: "See, I'm just as strong as you!"

Grandma Gu carefully took out a handkerchief from her bosom. She took out 4 yuan and a grain coupon and handed them to her granddaughter.

"The tuition for junior high school in the commune is 3 yuan. Grandma will give you an extra yuan. Take it for your pocket money and don't deprive yourself." After saying this, she quietly wiped away her tears and walked out the door.

Gu Yihan immediately put down the package she was packing.

He carefully helped her walk outside: "Grandma, we can't be sad. You have to be happy all the time. That's the most beautiful old lady in the village."

Grandma Gu was amused by her granddaughter's witty remarks and stopped feeling sad.

Watching the second son's wife and Gu Aidang killing pheasants in the yard.

Grandma Gu: "Second son, take Hanhan to school tomorrow."

Gu Yihan looked at her new stepmother and gave her a wink as she tugged at her stepfather, who was killing chickens.

Gu Lao Er pretended to be troubled and said, "Mother, my wife is pregnant and has morning sickness, so she can't work these days. I have to stay home and help her. Han Han is so big now, it's not right for her to compete with my younger brother."

Grandma Gu pointed at her son: "You..."

Gu Yihan reached out and took Grandma Gu's arm, saying coquettishly, "Grandma, there's not much luggage. I can carry it myself. It's hot now, and I only need a few changes of clothes. It's not heavy."

"Besides, when my older brother went to school, he didn't have anyone from the family send him off. I want to be the same as him. Grandma can't just favor me, or my older brother will get angry."

Grandma Gu poked her granddaughter's forehead with her finger and chuckled, "You little rascal."

Gu Yihan truly didn't care; she only cared about what she cared about.

In this family, she only cares about herself and never causes internal strife; she only cares about Grandma Gu second, and treats everyone else as just relatives.

She herself felt out of place in the entire Gujia Village.

The girls in the village are either working or on their way to work; basically, none of the girls in the village go to school.

Because of her schooling, she didn't fit in with them and wasn't part of their group, so there was no need for her to force herself into it.