Chapter 73
After several busy days, everything is finally almost ready.
We'll see what we're missing and then take my two younger sisters to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy it, or we can buy it in the city.
Gu Xi had made up her mind and turned to discuss it with Shen Mingzheng.
"Judging by the time, Yuansheng and the others should be arriving soon. I'm thinking of picking them up at the train station in the city." She opened her notebook, which listed things she needed to buy. "I'll go to the city to buy some paints and brushes, and see what books the bookstores have, and buy a few..."
Some things are not sold at the supply and marketing cooperative; you can only buy them at the department store in the city.
Qiao Hui has almost finished reading all the books she has. Now she wants to read other books, so she might as well go to the bookstores in the city. If they don't have any, she can also go to the recycling center and find some books she can read.
Although Xu Yuansheng knew the address of the military base and could take a bus there, Gu Xi preferred to pick them up at the station.
For Gu Xi, it had been decades since she had seen her two younger sisters. After she died in her previous life, besides Feng Min and the others, her two younger sisters were also the ones she was most worried about, and she wondered what had become of them.
After hearing this, Shen Mingzheng said, "Call back first and ask which day their train is coming. Confirm the time before you go to pick them up." After thinking for a moment, he added, "I'll ask around tomorrow what time their train arrives."
Knowing the arrival time is important for picking people up.
Although trains are sometimes delayed, they are never excessively late.
Gu Xi chose a time to call Xujiatun Commune and looked for Tian Qiaolian.
Tian Qiaolian is the brigade leader's wife, so calling her wouldn't attract too much attention. If she directly called her two younger sisters and asked them to come over to answer the phone, the villagers would hear the announcement, which would inevitably alert the Xu family. She didn't want to cause trouble for her two younger sisters.
After making the call, Gu Xi waited for about half an hour before Tian Qiaolian called back.
Gu Xi didn't mince words and asked directly, "Aunt Tian, how are Yuansheng and Huaisheng doing lately? Have they said when they're coming to the army?"
“I was just about to call you,” Tian Qiaolian said. “Yuansheng and Huaisheng left yesterday, and they should have already taken the train to the city today.”
Gu Xi's eyes lit up with joy, and she asked, "Aunt Tian, is everything alright with Yuan Sheng and the others? Is everything alright over there?"
She was very worried that something might happen and couldn't feel at ease until her two younger sisters arrived at the military base safely.
"It went relatively smoothly," Tian Qiaolian sighed. "Actually, the day before yesterday, the family of the mentally challenged man from the county town came to propose marriage. Yuansheng refused, and your father slapped her across the face, bruising her cheek..."
"What? He actually made a vow to live?"
Gu Xi's face turned pale with anger, and images from her childhood flashed through her mind, a surge of resentment rising from the depths of her heart.
Although she was her adoptive parents' first child, she did not receive their love or attention. The reason was ridiculous: she was a girl, not the son that Xu Dagui and his wife wanted.
Xu Dagui was a very traditional, impatient man who did not allow his children to resist in the slightest. He would beat and scold them at the slightest provocation until they obeyed. He did not treat girls he disliked, whom he considered worthless, as his own children.
When she was little, if she did anything wrong, she would get a slap; if she disobeyed even slightly, Xu Dagui would kick her if he saw it...
After many such incidents, even though she was very young, she learned to read people's expressions, especially her parents', to avoid being beaten.
In young Gu Xi's heart, Xu Dagui was like an insurmountable mountain, pressing down on her heart, filling her with fear, terror, and making her live in constant anxiety, like the most terrifying nightmare.
Gu Xi thought that after two lifetimes, she had long forgotten those things.
However, when she heard that Xu Yuansheng had been beaten, she realized that some things, no matter how much time has passed, can never be forgotten or let go of.
Like a shadow rooted in one's life, it cannot be completely dispelled even under the scorching sun.
Xu Dagui was grateful that she was in Beijing when she was reborn. If she had been in Xujiatun when she was reborn, she couldn't guarantee that she wouldn't have picked up a wood-chopping knife on the spot and killed this man named Xu Dagui, then killed the other disgusting men in the Xu family, and then committed suicide to continue being a ghost.
Being a ghost is better than living in a disgusting world.
"...Before leaving, Yuansheng went to the Women's Federation to complain about them. The director of the Women's Federation came directly to their home that same day and took Xu Dagui and his wife away. Yuansheng and Huaisheng then took the opportunity to leave," Tian Qiaolian said. "The police also came today. I heard that the educated youth from the educated youth settlement went to the police station to complain about Xu Dagui's alleged physical harm to Xu Yuansheng..."
Gu Xi listened, somewhat dazed.
Because phone calls are expensive, Tian Qiaolian didn't say much, finally saying, "Let's see how things go in a few days, and then I'll write to you again."
"Okay, thank you, Aunt Tian. I'm sorry to trouble you again," Gu Xi said quickly.
"What's the trouble? I can't bear to see such a good girl being treated like this," Tian Qiaolian said with a smile. "Just call me if anything happens in the future. I watched you grow up, and I'm happy to see you doing well."
She wasn't the kind of person who couldn't stand seeing others doing well. On the contrary, she was happy for the little girl who had suffered so much in the past and was now free from her hardships.
Gu Xi felt a lump in her throat, unsure how to thank her properly.
Although her memories of Xujiatun were bitter and painful, she also met some kind people and received some help.
**
After making that phone call, Gu Xi wasn't in a good mood.
When Shen Mingzheng returned home that evening and saw her appearance, he thought something had happened and asked, "What's wrong?"
"He hit Yuan Sheng." Gu Xi clenched her fists and gritted her teeth as she said, "He actually hit Yuan Sheng, and he even injured her face..."
She looked furious, her jaw clenched, her body tense like a taut string about to snap.
Seeing this, Shen Mingzheng pulled her into his arms and gently patted her back to soothe her emotions.
After a moment's thought, he realized that the "he" she was referring to was probably Xu Dagui. Perhaps it was related to Xu Yuansheng's unwillingness to marry a fool, and he guessed that Xu Dagui was angry and hit her.
From Gu Xi's words, he could roughly guess Xu Yuansheng's personality. She was a girl who clearly distinguished between love and hate and dared to resist, not the kind of blindly filial person who would listen to unreasonable arrangements made by her elders.
Gu Xi was in great pain. She rested her forehead on his shoulder, her eyes slightly closed, and said with a mixture of anger and resentment, "What right does he have to hit Yuan Sheng? Who does he think he is? Why are there such irresponsible parents in the world who bully the weak just because they are strong and are elders..."
"Gu Xi!"
Sensing that something was wrong with her, Shen Mingzheng interrupted her.
When he saw her red-rimmed eyes, filled with hatred, resentment, and disgust for the world, he finally understood how much those fifteen years living in the Xu family had affected her, and why she had broken down when he met her in the park.
Shen Mingzheng felt an overwhelming, agonizing pain in his heart. He felt sorry for her experiences and heartbroken for her past, which ultimately transformed into deep affection and forgiveness for her.
He gently stroked the corner of her reddened eyes with his fingertips and said softly, "Xixi, it's all in the past. You've left Xujiatun. You're no longer the daughter of the Xu family. You're Gu Xi. From now on, no one can control your life, and no one can bully you anymore." He kissed the corner of her eye. "And I will stay with you."
Gu Xi looked at him, and tears she had been holding back finally fell.
When he wiped away her tears with his fingers, she turned her face away and choked out, "Don't look at me, I look ugly right now."
She didn't want to cry in front of him. Just like he said, it was all in the past. She was Gu Xi now, not Xu Xi. No one could bully her or control her life anymore.
She should no longer dwell on the darkness and pain of the past and indulge her emotions; this is a sign of weakness.
She shouldn't appear too weak in front of him.
"Not ugly at all, my Xixi is the most beautiful girl." Shen Mingzheng smiled, turned her face back, and kissed her gently.
Gu Xi pursed her lips and reached out to hug him.
Shen Mingzheng held her in his arms, gently patted her back, and said, "I asked around, and my second sister and the others are coming from over there. It will take them three days by train. If the train is on time, they should arrive around 2 p.m.
Gu Xi calculated that if her two younger sisters boarded the train today, they should arrive by noon the day after tomorrow.
“Then I’ll go to the city with them the day after tomorrow morning and pick her up there,” she said. “There are no buses back to the military base in the afternoon, so we’ll stay at the guesthouse for one night and then take the military’s bus back the day after tomorrow.”
Shen Mingzheng asked, "Do you want me to come with you to pick them up?"
Gu Xi asked, "Are you off that day?" The day after tomorrow isn't a day off.
"You can take leave." He was a little worried when he saw her lose control of her emotions just now, afraid that when she saw her two younger sisters, she would be reminded of those bad things from her childhood and feel sad.
Gu Xi shook her head. "No need, I can go by myself."
She didn't want him to take time off work specifically for this; it wasn't necessary.
**
Gu Xi decided to go to the city to pick someone up the day after tomorrow, so she went to find Qiao Hui and asked her if there was anything she wanted to buy, so she could bring it back for her from the city.
"Are you going to the city? What for?" Qiao Hui asked curiously.
Gu Xi paused for a moment, then said, "I have two younger sisters coming to the military base. I'll go to the city to pick them up."
Qiao Hui was surprised, "Two younger sisters? Are they my biological sisters?"
She knew that Commander Gu of the Second Brigade was Gu Xi's older brother, but she didn't know about Gu Xi's family situation. Gu Xi rarely talked about her family with others.
Gu Xi shook her head, "They're not my biological children." After a pause, she added, "But to me, they're like my own sisters."
Sensing that she didn't want to say more, Qiao Hui considerately didn't ask, and said, "I don't need to buy anything, but could you bring me a bottle of face cream? I've run out of face cream."
Then she complained that the winter weather here was too dry, unlike where she used to live.
She used to live in the southern coastal area, where the temperature was relatively mild even in winter. Unlike here, because it's further north, she already finds it hard to stand the cold even though it's only the beginning of winter.
Gu Xi agreed and then said, "Actually, it's not that bad. I heard it's not as cold here as in Beijing. If it were further north, it would be snowing by now and it would be cold for several months. That's when it's really cold."
After leaving Qiao Hui's house, Gu Xi went to find Ye Fenghua.
Gu Xi gets along well with her neighbors. She never forgets them when she has something good, and they do the same. They also think of her when they have something good. They are very friendly and kind, just like the saying goes, "A close neighbor is worse than a distant relative."
Upon learning that Gu Xi was going to the city to pick someone up, Ye Fenghua didn't ask any questions and said, "Take two bottles of face cream for my Cui Ni and Cui Yu. This stuff can prevent their skin from cracking in winter. The girls' skin is thin, and their faces get cracked from the cold every winter. It breaks my heart to see them like this."
“Okay.” Gu Xi smiled. “It seems there are quite a few people who want to buy face cream, so I’ll bring a few more bottles.”
Later that evening, after dinner, Gu Xi and Shen Mingzheng went for a walk.
Since the weather turned cold, Gu Xi has disliked going out. After meals, she prefers to stay in her room reading, practicing calligraphy, drawing, or doing some woodworking. It was Shen Mingzheng who felt she wasn't getting enough exercise, so he wrapped her in a coat and insisted on taking her out for a walk.
Of course, once he wasn't home at night, she would skip the walk and snuggle into her warm bed.
It's not that Gu Xi doesn't like exercise, but rather that she is very sensitive to cold and feels cold all the time. No matter how many clothes she wears, she still feels quite cold, and since it's so cold outside, she doesn't like to go out.
Shen Mingzheng asked with some concern, "It's so cold, are you really going to pick someone up?"
"Of course." Gu Xi didn't think it was a big deal. "I'll fill the hot water bottle with some hot water and take it with me. I can just carry it with me to keep warm."
Shen Mingzheng was speechless, but this was one way; he just needed to change the hot water more often.
The two walked to Gu Yuanyang's house.
The weather is cold, so the couple doesn't go out for walks, mainly because they're afraid their child will get cold.
"Auntie~~"
Upon seeing Gu Xi, Gu Tuantuan, dressed in plump clothes, happily rushed over.
Seeing Gu Tuantuan's action of throwing herself at him, Shen Mingzheng suddenly realized that Gu Xi's action of throwing herself at him was probably learned from the little girl. It seems that after coming to the army, she liked to throw herself at him.
It's nice, very cute.
Gu Xi put her arm around Gu Tuantuan and sat down next to her sister-in-law to chat.
"Sister-in-law, I'm going to the city to pick someone up the day after tomorrow, and I'll also be buying some things. Is there anything you need me to buy?"
Ji Ya was somewhat surprised, "Picking someone up? Picking up who?"
“They are the two younger sisters from Xujiatun.” Gu Xi paused and told her about Xu Yuansheng being forced to marry a mentally challenged man.
Ji Ya suddenly realized, and said angrily, "How could there be such a father, forcing his daughter to marry a fool just for that eight hundred yuan dowry? It's really..."
Thinking that he was Gu Xi's adoptive father, and that Gu Xi had lived in such a terrible family for fifteen years, I couldn't help but feel sorry for her. No wonder she was so quiet, even aloof, unlike most young girls who are lively and energetic; there was a reason for it all.
Gu Xi nodded, her eyes cold. "He truly doesn't deserve to be called a human being."
He's a beast.
Gu Yuanyang, who was standing next to her, was stunned when he heard his sister's words.
Suddenly, an indescribable feeling welled up inside him, so uncomfortable that he couldn't speak.
Even long after Gu Xi and Shen Mingzheng left, Gu Yuanyang remained sitting there silently, without saying a word.
"Yuanyang?" Ji Ya looked at him, puzzled. "What's wrong with you?"
Gu Yuanyang raised his eyes, his gaze deep, as if suppressing something. He said hoarsely, "Aya, I... I'm not a good older brother. Mingming Xixi has been back in the Gu family for five years, and I know that Mom and Dad value their reputation the most. She might be in a very difficult situation after returning from the countryside to the Gu family... but I didn't go back to see her, and I didn't do anything for her..."
Ultimately, it's because he didn't really care about his younger sister.
Having never spent time together or met, one naturally wouldn't take her seriously, let alone empathize with her suffering.
No wonder she was cold and distant towards them, unable to trust them as much as she trusted Shen Mingzheng, yet she was also soft-hearted and tried hard to accept him as her brother…
Ji Ya didn't know what to say.
Actually, it wasn't just him; I was the same way.
Perhaps their work is indeed very busy, but they could ask for leave to go back home if they wanted to. However, neither of them considered going back. Part of the reason is that the husband and his parents had a falling out years ago. What would they do if they went back? It would only put them in a more awkward situation.
At that time, Gu Xi was just a stranger to them.
They really didn't value her enough.
If Gu Xi hadn't come here and hadn't spent time with her, perhaps they would have remained strangers.
Ji Ya sighed, unable to find any excuse for their indifference back then.
She looked at her daughter, who was drawing with crayons beside her, and said, "From now on... let's take better care of her, and you should make it up to her as well."
Gu Yuanyang gave a soft "hmm," realizing that regret was useless, and ultimately swallowed all his complicated emotions.
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