Chapter 71
Two days later, Gu Xi called Xujiatun Commune again.
Xu Yuansheng's voice came from the other end of the phone. She said, "Big sister, I've made up my mind. I'm going to need your help for a while."
Gu Xi was surprised, but after the surprise came a pleasant surprise.
Although I don't know what Xu Yuansheng was thinking, as long as she's willing to come, that's fine. Anyway, let's avoid this marriage for now. As for what happens in the future, we'll deal with that later.
Gu Xi asked happily, "When are you coming?"
"Let's wait a few more days." Xu Yuansheng mentally calculated the time he needed to spend on his tasks and said aloud, "I still have some things to do: pack my luggage, arrange the tailor's work, and say goodbye to everyone. I can't just leave like this."
After hearing this, Gu Xi was a little worried, "Can't you leave tomorrow? What if the Xu family finds out and tries to stop you?"
Although Xu Yuansheng was clever from a young age, she was still just a girl. If she were to go against all the men in the Xu family, she might not be able to withstand it. What if they locked her up or deliberately broke her legs so she couldn't walk?
Gu Xi had witnessed too much darkness in people's hearts, and she could only speculate about people's hearts with the utmost malice.
After all, that's an 800 yuan dowry. Cutting off someone's money is like killing their parents. It's hard to predict what they might do for that dowry.
In her plan, Xu Yuansheng would secretly go to the brigade leader to get a letter of introduction, and then leave immediately after obtaining it, avoiding any confrontation with the Xu family, as she, a young woman, would be easily taken advantage of.
Fortunately, Tian Qiaolian was the brigade leader's wife, so when she went to the brigade leader to get a letter of introduction, she didn't have to worry about the brigade leader telling the Xu family. After Xu Yuansheng left, the Xu family couldn't do anything about it.
Xu Yuansheng's eyes flickered slightly, and she said, "Big sister, don't worry, I know what to do." She smiled and said, "Big sister, I understand them better than you do."
She had been in the Xu family for eighteen years, so how could she not understand what disgusting things those people would do?
What is the deep affection and longing for family?
That's completely true. Perhaps she's just cold-hearted by nature. Apart from her eldest sister and youngest sister, she has no feelings for the rest of the Xu family, and even less for her parents who don't treat them like human beings. At most, she feels sorry for her cousins who were born into the Xu family.
However, her older and younger cousins were much better than her sisters. At least their mothers weren't like He Guihua, who favored sons over daughters to the point of mistreating them.
Their mothers are also willing to protect them and consider the groom's situation when they get married, and are willing to fight for them instead of letting them marry just because of the bride price.
Gu Xi decided to trust her and said, "Also, I'm worried about Huaisheng, so why don't you bring Huaisheng along too?"
She worried that if Xu Yuansheng left, the Xu family would be enraged and take their anger out on Xu Huaisheng. Xu Huaisheng wasn't as assertive as Xu Yuansheng, and he was young; she didn't know how he would be mistreated if he stayed at home.
Anyway, there's not much difference between one and two, so why don't we just have both younger sisters come over together?
Xu Huaisheng is fourteen years old this year and can attend junior high school in the army, but she may need to take extra classes beforehand.
Thinking about what he had to do, Xu Yuansheng was indeed reluctant to keep Xu Huaisheng around, and whispered, "Wouldn't that be too much trouble?"
Gu Xi said, "What trouble is it? I'm your eldest sister, it's only right that I take care of you."
Xu Yuansheng wanted to say that they were not related by blood and that they were not her responsibility, but her throat was choked with sobs, and she knew without looking that she was probably going to cry again.
She sniffed and said in a low voice, "Then I'll take Huaisheng there."
“I have everything here. You only need to bring some changes of clothes. You don’t need to bring anything else, and you don’t need to bring too many clothes either. I have a lot of fabric here, and we can make some later.” Gu Xi then asked, “Do you have enough money? If not, borrow some from Aunt Tian first, and I’ll send it back to her when you arrive…”
"And you've memorized the address of the military base, right? First, take a bus to the county town, then transfer to another bus to the city, and then go to the train station to buy tickets and board the train. Check the train's departure time first. If you're running late, arrive in the city a day early and stay overnight at a guesthouse. Don't skimp on money, and don't deprive yourself. I have money here..."
Listening to the rambling on the other end of the phone, Xu Yuansheng wiped her face, removed her tears, and said, "Big sister, don't worry, I have money."
Over the years, she helped out at the old tailor's shop, and at the beginning of this year, she even took over his shift. In addition, she took on freelance work on the side, so she actually had some savings. Unlike those naive country girls who would have their parents take any money they had to support the family, she held onto her money tightly. Even when her parents scolded her for being a money-loser, she didn't give it to them.
Gu Xi gave some instructions and finally said, "If you don't understand anything, you can ask Aunt Tian. She has been to Beijing before, so she knows a bit about outsiders."
I'm afraid they've never traveled far from home and don't know anything, so I inevitably have to worry about them.
The two sisters exchanged a few more words, but hung up quickly because of the high cost of phone calls.
After making the call, Xu Yuansheng took a deep breath, clenched his fist to encourage himself, and then went to the commune's supply and marketing cooperative to buy some candy and snacks before going to find the village's retired old tailor.
The old tailor had no family. It was said that he had married a wife when he was young and had three children with her. Later, due to the war, his wife died in the gunfire, two of his children died in the war, and one of his children died of illness. In the end, he was all alone. Fortunately, he still had the skill of making clothes, which allowed him to barely support himself.
It can be said that the old tailor was also a family member of a martyr and was highly respected in the village.
Xu Yuansheng loved watching others make clothes since she was a child, and she was very good at needlework. When she was six or seven years old, she would shamelessly go to the old tailor to help him with his work. The old tailor probably took pity on her and would give her some food as payment. She would take these back and secretly share them with her older sister and younger sister to fill their hungry stomachs.
When she was ten years old, she officially became the old tailor's apprentice and learned to make clothes from him. Until the beginning of this year, when the old tailor fell seriously ill, she took over his job and became the village's tailor.
Xu Yuansheng arrived at the old tailor's house, which consisted of two mud houses, one for living and the other as a kitchen and storage area; it was very simple.
As soon as I entered, I heard the old tailor coughing. He had fallen ill again since the weather turned cold.
She hurried inside, placed the things she had brought on the table, poured water for the old tailor in the house, and found that the thermos was empty, so she went to the kitchen to light a fire and boil water.
The old tailor was puzzled when he saw her suddenly arrive. "What brings you here?"
Xu Yuansheng said, "I came to see you. Haven't you eaten yet?"
Then she quickly made a multigrain porridge for the old tailor, took out an egg and made him a steamed egg, chopped some pickled vegetables, and then brought the cooked rice over and placed it in front of him.
The old tailor said while eating, "Speak, what's the matter?"
Xu Yuansheng sat opposite him and said, "Seventh Uncle, I'm leaving to go to the army to find my eldest sister."
The Xu family is a prominent surname here; everyone you meet when you go out is surnamed Xu. The old tailor is also surnamed Xu. According to seniority, people of Xu Yuansheng's generation should call him Uncle. Although they are not related by blood, they are from the same clan.
The old tailor was taken aback for a moment, then said, "Go find Gu Xi?"
“Yes.” Xu Yuansheng did not hide it from him. “As you know, my parents want to marry me off to a mentally challenged man in the county town. I am not willing. Huaisheng wrote to my older sister about this, and my older sister told me to go to her place to avoid it.”
“Then go ahead,” the old tailor agreed. “Gu Xi is a sentimental person. She has been thinking about you two sisters all these years. She wouldn’t feel at ease if you stayed here.”
He still remembered that back then, in order to get him to accept Xu Yuansheng as his apprentice, Gu Xi secretly did a lot of work for him, carrying water, chopping firewood, washing clothes, cooking, and even going into the mountains to find herbs for him when he was sick...
Later, she left with Feng Min, but she still missed her two younger sisters and sent money to support their education.
When the villagers talk about her, most of them think she is a good person, kind and righteous.
As for the Xu family's complaints that she was an ingrate who hadn't come back to see them or send them money and things for so many years, everyone just listened and let it go; they didn't take it to heart.
Given their sexist and sexist nature, it would be strange if Gu Xi cared about them. Besides, Gu Xi wasn't their biological child, yet they still had the nerve to complain.
Of course, there are also some who are not quite right in the head, saying that the Xu family raised her after all, and she is unfilial, but it's no use saying that.
Anyway, Gu Xi isn't coming back, so what they say won't affect her.
Xu Yuansheng said, "I don't know when I'll be back, so I'll have to trouble you, Seventh Uncle, to choose a new tailor. You have a good eye and know how to judge people. You'll definitely be able to find someone who will treat you like his own father. If he doesn't treat you well, please don't take him. Don't make yourself suffer."
When the old tailor took her in, she said she would take care of him in his old age.
However, given what happened, she had no choice but to leave, and felt somewhat guilty.
The old tailor said, "Do you need to tell me? There are plenty of people who want to learn how to make clothes from me. Even if you're gone, I can choose someone else. There are plenty of people eyeing this tailor's position."
Xu Yuansheng added, "Once I've settled down over there and found a job, I'll send some money back to Aunt Tian every month so she can buy you food and you won't go hungry."
"Alright," the old tailor interrupted her impatiently. "You don't need to send money. Just save up for your dowry. You're not young anymore. Once you get there, have your sister introduce you to a good man. Don't come back after that." Then, as if remembering something, he asked, "What are your plans? If your parents knew you were going to the army, they would definitely stop you."
At this point, his expression turned serious.
Xu Yuansheng said, "Don't worry, I have a plan. They won't have time to stop us then."
"real?"
"Really? Don't you believe me?"
After the old tailor finished eating, Xu Yuansheng washed the dishes and tidied up the room for him before leaving.
By the time I got home, it was completely dark.
There's not much entertainment in the countryside, so everyone goes to bed early after dark to avoid wasting oil lamps.
Xu Huaisheng hadn't gone to sleep yet and had been waiting for her. When she returned, he jumped out of bed and asked in a low voice, "Second Sister, why are you back so late?"
Xu Yuansheng said, "Go visit Uncle Qi and talk to him."
Xu Yuansheng went to the kitchen to fetch hot water to wipe her body and wash her feet. Then she changed her clothes, crawled into bed, and hugged her sister's warm body. The two sisters whispered to each other under the covers.
“Huaisheng, my older sister and I have discussed it. I will take you to the army base to find her.”
Xu Huaisheng almost screamed, but he still remembered that his parents were next door, and it wouldn't be good if they heard him.
She clenched her fists, her face flushed with excitement. "Really? You're going to take me with you to find my older sister?"
"Yes, I'm leaving. I don't feel comfortable leaving you here."
After his initial excitement, Xu Huaisheng hesitated for a moment: "Forget it, you go by yourself. I'm still young, and my parents can't possibly be eyeing my marriage too, can they?"
Actually, she was afraid of causing trouble for her older sister, and she hoped that her older sister would be doing well.
The second sister was forced into marriage and went to the eldest sister's place to avoid it, but she didn't need to. Before she grew up, her family would only ignore her and wouldn't scheme about her marriage.
They can't possibly be so heartless as to marry her off for a dowry when she's only fourteen, can they?
Xu Yuansheng said, "Alright, don't say any more. We'll leave in a few days. During this time, just act as usual and don't let anyone know. Don't tell anyone, understand?"
Although Xu Huaisheng was still hesitant, she listened to her sister and nodded.
She definitely wouldn't tell anyone. What if word got out and her parents locked her second sister in the house, or cruelly broke her legs to prevent her from leaving?
She remembered that her third great-uncle's family had a cousin whose legs were broken and who was imprisoned by her family until she got married.
**
As expected, the fool's family came to the Xu family's house over the weekend.
Not only the mentally challenged man's parents came, but also their relatives and the matchmaker, bringing many gifts: pork, sugar cakes, a basket of eggs, and cigarettes.
The Xu family members were almost all dumbfounded.
How much do these things cost? Xu Yuansheng hasn't even married into the family yet, and they're already so willing to spend money. Once Xu Yuansheng marries into the county town, will she be able to bring even more things back to her parents' home?
For a time, everyone in the Xu family was determined to marry Xu Yuansheng off to the groom's family so that she could help her own family in the future.
As for Xu Yuansheng's unwillingness?
Even if she gets married, she's still a daughter of the Xu family. If she dares to refuse, they'll make a scene in the county town and at her workplace, and see if she dares to not help her family.
The fool's parents said that once Xu Yuansheng gets married, they will find her a job in the city. People with jobs will definitely be afraid of being harassed at their workplace, so they will be able to do whatever they want with her.
The Xu family warmly welcomed the guests.
Just as everyone was enjoying themselves, Xu Yuansheng ran out and strongly declared that she would absolutely not marry him.
Xu Dagui was furious. Seeing that she was making a scene in front of the mentally challenged family and was not obedient at all, he slapped her across the face, sending her flying to the ground. He looked fierce and menacing.
The gate to the Xu family compound was open. Upon learning that the family of the simpleton had come to propose marriage today, all the neighbors came to join in the fun, along with some educated youth who happened to be passing by.
They were all shocked to see Xu Dagui hitting someone. When they saw Xu Yuansheng's face swell up instantly and his lip was broken, they couldn't help but look at Xu Dagui with reproach and felt very sorry for Xu Yuansheng.
Xu Yuansheng, with a swollen and red face, ran out crying.
Xu Huaisheng also cried as she chased after her sister, and the two sisters eventually went to the village clinic.
Along the way, the two sisters met many people. When they saw Xu Yuansheng's face, they were all shocked. When they learned that the family of the "idiot" had come to propose marriage today, and that she had been beaten by Xu Dagui because she did not want to marry him, they all felt very sorry for her.
The Xu family is so greedy for money that they're forcing their daughter to marry a fool.
Although the dowry of 800 yuan is quite enviable, many normal people also feel that it is hard to bear to let Xu Yuansheng, a perfectly good girl, marry a fool.
Xu Yuansheng walked around the village with his swollen face, receiving a lot of sympathy.
As I passed by the former educated youth settlement, I was stopped by several female educated youth.
Because Xu Yuansheng was the village tailor, he made beautiful clothes and had made clothes for these educated youths, so he had become familiar with them.
The educated youth had all heard about Xu Yuansheng being forced to marry a mentally challenged man. Now that they saw her face and learned that she had been beaten by Xu Dagui, they were furious and offered her advice.
"This is a new society now, arranged marriages by parents are no longer common. You can go to the Women's Federation to complain about them."
"Yes, the Women's Federation will definitely take care of it."
Xu Yuansheng hesitated, "They are, after all, my family..."
"Oh dear, they're all going to sell you to an idiot, what's the point of caring about your family? And if you let them get away with it, who knows if they'll sell your sister too?"
Xu Yuansheng's expression changed drastically, and he quickly hugged his younger sister beside him: "This won't do! I can't let Huaisheng be sold too!"
"That's it! For the sake of your future, you two sisters, you must sue them!"
"Yes, I support you in suing them at the Women's Federation!"
"..."
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