Years later, when Gu Sigou recalled this memory...
I'm incredibly grateful to myself now; thankfully, I was an obedient child.
If I don't agree to change my name, it's hard to imagine my colleagues calling me "Four Dogs" in my ear.
"Sister, can you write the four characters Yun Chu and Yan Yu?" Gu Erniu asked curiously.
Gu Lili put the mussels in her hand into the basin, picked up a twig from the side, and started writing on the ground.
"This is Gu Yun Chu, this is Gu Huan Huan, this is Gu Yan Yu, and this is Gu Li Li." Gu Li Li pointed to the words on the ground and taught the three siblings one by one.
As they looked at the writing on the ground, a unique feeling welled up in their hearts.
This was the first time they had ever learned what their names looked like.
At the same time, all three of them secretly vowed to learn to read.
After writing the message, the group continued to pry open the mussels.
By the time the mussel meat was shucked, it was almost dark.
Gu Lili quickly urged the others to hurry up and wash up.
I had just finished washing up when I heard a loud commotion outside the door.
Before Gu Lili could react, Gu Erniu darted out.
Upon hearing this, Gu Lili realized it was Aunt Zhang and Zhang Dahua's voices.
She quickly followed him out, eager to see what was going on.
As soon as she stepped out of the yard, she saw Zhang Dahua running away crying.
Aunt Zhang slapped her thigh and cried out, "Oh dear, they've really gone too far! They don't even listen to their own mother anymore! They've only said a few words and they've already run away. This is truly outrageous!"
Gu Erniu watched Zhang Dahua run towards the sea and was about to chase after her when Gu Lili quickly called him back.
Gu Erniu couldn't chase after them. It was pitch black, and they were alone together. Although Gu Lili saw them as children, the people here didn't think that way.
"Aunt Zhang, what's wrong?" Gu Lili asked.
Aunt Zhang wiped away her tears and said, "Sigh, I just arranged a marriage for her, but she didn't agree and ran away. Lili, you get along well with Dahua, why don't you help me persuade her!"
Upon hearing about the marriage proposal, Gu Lili instinctively looked at Gu Erniu.
Sure enough, Gu Erniu looked flustered when he heard what Aunt Zhang said.
Gu Lili shook her head and comforted her, "Aunt Zhang, don't worry. I'll go check on Da Hua first. You three just stay home and wait!"
After Gu Lili finished speaking, she took off running towards the seaside.
Fortunately, it's not completely black yet, otherwise it would be quite troublesome.
Zhang Dahua was clearly quite angry with Aunt Zhang, and Gu Lili chased after her for a long time before finally spotting her.
"Dahua, don't run away! Wait for me! It's your sister Lili!" Gu Lili called out to Zhang Dahua, panting.
Hearing the familiar voice behind her, Zhang Dahua turned around to look.
Only after confirming that Gu Lili was the only one behind him did he stop and wait for her.
"Big Flower, why are you running so fast? You're like a rabbit, I can't catch you at all, ouch..." Gu Lili wiped the sweat from her forehead and teased.
When Zhang Dahua heard Gu Lili say that she looked like a rabbit, she couldn't help but laugh through her tears, but then she sighed again.
"Sigh, Sister Lili, you have no idea how unreasonable Mother is! I'm not even fourteen yet, and she's already in such a hurry to get me engaged! I don't want to get engaged at all!" Zhang Dahua grumbled in dissatisfaction.
Upon hearing this, Gu Lili felt that this was a good opportunity to find out Zhang Dahua's feelings and see if she had any interest in Gu Erniu.
If it's a good match, you can find a matchmaker to propose marriage and finalize the engagement.
However, for a moment, Gu Lili didn't know how to start the conversation.
After thinking for a moment, Gu Lili asked tactfully, "Why don't you want to get engaged? Is it because you don't like the other person?"
Zhang Dahua didn't expect Gu Lili to be so blunt, and her face flushed red.
The marriage that Aunt Zhang mentioned was actually the son of her own cousin.
He's not bad-looking, and his family is relatively well-off.
As for whether she likes it or not, Zhang Dahua herself doesn't know; in short, she doesn't dislike it either.
My cousin's family owns an oxcart and seven or eight acres of land.
These conditions are among the best in any village.
However, Aunt Zhang's cousin seemed just like her own son—honest and law-abiding.
But he drinks every day, and after drinking he gambles, and when he loses, he comes home and beats his wife.
I witnessed it with my own eyes once in town. As the saying goes, dragons beget dragons, phoenixes beget phoenixes, and rats beget rats that know how to dig holes.
She didn't want to marry into that family and be beaten every day.
Zhang Dahua stammered, "Sister Lili, his father is an alcoholic and beats his wife. I'm a little scared. As for whether you like him or not, I really don't understand."
After hearing this, Gu Lili pondered for a moment.
Indeed, when choosing a husband, one should not only consider the person he marries, but also the character of the family.
If a father doesn't respect his mother, his children are likely to become the same kind of person.
After all, some influences are subtle and gradual.
"So, do you have someone you like, um... someone who makes you happy just thinking about them?" Gu Lili continued to probe indirectly.
Gu Lili only knows how to speak bluntly. This might be acceptable in modern times, but in ancient times, it would be incredibly embarrassing.
Zhang Dahua was at a loss for words when Gu Lili asked her a question, and her face turned bright red.
Gu Lili also felt that her question might have been a bit too direct. After all, Zhang Dahua was only thirteen years old, how could she understand these things?
"Alright, I won't ask anymore. Let's go home. Auntie will worry later," Gu Lili said.
Upon hearing that she was going home, Zhang Dahua pouted and looked very unhappy.
She snorted and said, "I don't want to go back. I'll just argue with my mother again!"
However, just now Sister Lili said that the person who makes her happy just by thinking about them seems to be someone she actually has.
Gu Erniu's image flashed into Zhang Dahua's mind. Could it be that thinking of someone makes you happy, or that means you like that person?
Zhang Dahua didn't understand; she felt happy when she thought of her own parents.
Gu Lili said earnestly, "Aunt Zhang is only doing this for your own good. She was crying just now, which is why she asked me to go after you. Besides, there are snakes at night. Are you sure you don't want to go back?"
When Zhang Dahua heard Aunt Zhang crying, she felt extremely sad.
Just then, the cries of wild animals came from the mountain.
Zhang Dahua looked left and right, then whispered, "Let's go back then, the worm really is coming soon!"
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