Chapter 70
The next day, Xu Yuansheng went to the commune office and made a phone call to the army.
The call was answered as soon as I dialed it.
Shortly after, a somewhat distorted voice came through the phone.
"I wish to live."
Five years have passed, and Xu Yuansheng can no longer remember what her eldest sister's voice sounds like. Even though she has tried hard to remember it over the years, she has gradually forgotten her eldest sister's real voice as time goes by.
However, when she heard that voice on the phone, when she heard her call "Yuansheng," Xu Yuansheng couldn't help but tear up and feel so sad that she wanted to cry.
She was glad that her eldest sister was able to leave the Xu family, stop suffering, and have a new future.
But how come the eldest sister is suddenly no longer their biological sister?
“Yuansheng, did you hear that?” Gu Xi’s voice rang out once again.
Xu Yuansheng blinked, trying to keep her voice steady, and said, "Big sister, I can hear you."
Gu Xi hummed in agreement and continued, "Yuansheng, would you like to come over here?"
Xu Yuansheng froze instantly, thinking he had misheard.
She assumed her older sister was calling to inquire about her marriage, and she mentally prepared herself to reassure her sister not to worry about her, that she would handle the matter, and that her sister should just focus on living her own life and not concern herself with them.
The eldest sister has already helped them enough.
But the older sister actually asked me if I wanted to go to her place?
She thought maybe the wind was too strong outside and she had misheard.
Gu Xi's voice came from the other end of the phone: "Yuansheng, I don't want you to marry someone you don't like, nor do I want you to marry a fool! If you stay there, they won't let you go. Why don't you come here and stay for a while to put an end to their hopes?"
This was a decision Gu Xi made after thinking about it all night.
It would be better to have Xu Yuansheng come to the military base and avoid this marriage.
These days, people's travel is restricted. No matter where you go, you need a letter of introduction, and you can't just run around anywhere. As long as Xu Yuansheng is still in Xujiatun Commune, she can't go anywhere and can't escape these things. Sooner or later, her elders will scheme against her marriage.
Even if she manages to escape this time, what about the future?
Xu Yuansheng is already eighteen years old, reaching the age for marriage.
At her age, many women in the countryside are already married. Plus, she's very capable and can earn money as a seamstress, so there are plenty of men who want to marry her. The Xu family will definitely try to make money off her marriage. As long as the bride price is high, they won't consider the man's situation or her wishes at all.
As long as Xu Yuansheng remains unmarried, the Xu family will not give up on him.
Just like this time, the Xu family already considered the 800 yuan dowry from the family of the mentally challenged man in the county town as their own, without even considering whether Xu Yuansheng was willing to accept it.
If Xu Yuansheng comes to the army, the Xu family can't possibly follow him. Even if they wanted to, they wouldn't know the army's address and wouldn't be able to find it.
Moreover, Xu Yuansheng is only eighteen years old, which is still too young in Gu Xi's opinion.
Even if you want to get married, you should wait a few more years.
If she could wait five years until the college entrance examination was reinstated, Xu Yuansheng could take the exam, or she could go into business if she wanted. At that time, she could go anywhere in the country.
She'll be far away then, and she won't be afraid of the Xu family controlling her marriage or using underhanded tactics to scheme against her.
Xu Yuansheng felt his throat was extremely dry and he couldn't speak.
She heard the person on the phone say, "Yuansheng, go find Aunt Tian and ask the brigade leader to help you get a letter of introduction. Come over sometime! Don't worry, I have a place for you to stay. I'm in charge here now, so just come..."
Xu Yuansheng choked up as he said, "Sister..."
She touched her face and found it was already streaked with tears, as if she had returned to her childhood, to the age when her eldest sister protected and cared for her. From childhood to adulthood, her eldest sister was the only person in the world who made her feel most reliable and at ease, and the person she trusted most.
“Yuan Sheng, come here,” Gu Xi said patiently. “I’ll wait for you to come.”
Xu Yuansheng finally spoke up: "Big sister, no need! Don't worry, I can handle this." Then she pretended to complain, "Huaisheng is really something, there's no need to tell you this at all! Don't worry, I will never marry a fool. As long as I don't want to, they can't force me to marry him, right? Big sister, you know my temperament. If I'm unhappy, I can make a scene and I will definitely not let them get away with it."
Gu Xi felt a sense of familiarity upon hearing her rapid-fire delivery.
A smile appeared on her face. "I know you're very capable, but..." Her tone was somewhat low, "Yuansheng, what if they use underhanded methods against you? Are you going to have to be on guard against them all the time, never able to live in peace?"
She was once a daughter of the Xu family, and she knew what kind of people in the Xu family were.
For the sake of an 800 yuan dowry, they would definitely use all sorts of means to force her to marry him. Even if Xu Yuansheng could get revenge afterward, it would be too late.
They will destroy her.
Gu Xi couldn't rest easy. In her opinion, Xu Yuansheng didn't need to confront them head-on; he should prioritize his own safety.
There's no need to put yourself in danger; she just wants Xu Yuansheng to be alright.
She only has two younger sisters and doesn't want them to encounter those terrible things.
Xu Yuansheng opened her mouth, knowing in her heart that she was right. The Xu family favored sons over daughters, and the men in the family did not take them girls seriously at all.
The purpose of raising girls is to work like slaves for the family, and then they will be married off and receive a dowry.
Although it is a new society, many bad habits are still preserved in rural areas. Many parents still feel that their children are their private property and can be arranged however they want. If they dare to resist, they are considered disobedient and unfilial.
For that 800 yuan dowry, the Xu family would really use any means to marry her off.
Even if she manages to sabotage this marriage this time, there's no guarantee she won't encounter a similar situation again, nor can she guarantee she'll escape unscathed.
Gu Xi said, "Yuansheng, think this over carefully. I will call you at this time in two days, and you can give me an answer then, okay?"
Phone calls are expensive, so I can't say too much.
Xu Yuansheng agreed in a low voice.
She stood there blankly until the other end of the phone hung up, completely forgetting how to react.
**
After making the call, Gu Xi wasn't in a good mood.
She was worried that Xu Yuansheng wouldn't come. This younger sister was always strong-willed and had her own ideas. She definitely wouldn't want to come and bother her, afraid of causing her trouble or disturbing her life.
Although she hadn't returned to the Xu family in the five years since she left, nor had she seen her two younger sisters again, she had corresponded with them every month over the years, and could still glean insights into their personalities from their words.
Their personalities haven't actually changed much.
As the eldest sister who has taken care of them since they were young, Gu Xi knows her two younger sisters' personalities all too well, and it is precisely because she knows them well that she is worried.
Sometimes Xu Yuansheng's personality can be quite stubborn, which can be a headache.
When Shen Mingzheng returned home, he saw her sitting there sullenly, not knowing how long she had been sitting there, not even turning the pages of the book on her knees.
Thinking that the phone call hadn't gone smoothly today, I asked, "Xixi, how did it go? Did you manage to get in touch with your second sister?"
Gu Xi took a deep breath and said, "Yuan Sheng might not want to come."
Shen Mingzheng didn't know what to say.
Because of Xu Yuansheng being forced to marry a mentally challenged man, she slept very late last night and didn't sleep well. In fact, she got up early this morning when he did.
Then she told him that she wanted Xu Yuansheng to come to the military base to temporarily avoid the Xu family's schemes.
Gu Xi looked up at him and suddenly asked, "Big brother, is this decision of mine not good? I should have discussed it with you beforehand."
She thought about it all night and made this decision. She got up early this morning to tell him.
He was busy in the morning and had to go to work, so he didn't have time to reply to her.
Shen Mingzheng squatted down in front of her, meeting her gaze, and said, "Xixi, this is your home. You can make whatever decision you want." Then he smiled, reached out and patted her head, and continued, "Besides, aren't you discussing this with me right now?"
“Actually, it’s good that my second sister came over. It’s good that someone can stay at home with you and take care of you. I can rest assured when I’m not around.”
She's just a young girl, it won't matter if she comes over, he doesn't mind.
Moreover, if coming here can help Xu Yuansheng avoid the Xu family's schemes and pressure to marry him, then that would be quite good.
It's quite common for relatives to come and stay with their families in this residential compound; it's not unusual.
Shen Mingzheng always knew that the two younger sisters of the Xu family meant different things to her.
She didn't treat either the Xu or Gu families as relatives. But strangely, the Xu Yuansheng sisters, who were not related to her by blood, were family to her.
Whenever she talks about her two younger sisters, her eyes soften and she always seems very happy.
Gu Xi stared at the smile on his face and couldn't help but ask, "Really? Big brother, do you really think so?"
"real!"
Shen Mingzheng calmly allowed her to look him over.
Gu Xi suddenly reached out and touched his rugged face, her fingertips tracing his sharp eyebrows as if to confirm his words, then leaned in and put her arms around his neck.
Shen Mingzheng hugged the girl in his arms and let her sit on his lap.
This baby-hugging posture is exceptionally intimate, allowing the two to embrace closely and better feel each other's presence.
"Thank you, big brother." Gu Xi's voice was a little hoarse.
He never said anything about any of her decisions; he always offered his support.
Just as he said, this is her home, she is the master of this home, and she can do whatever she wants. This was what she had longed for: a home where she could completely make her own decisions.
**
As soon as Xu Yuansheng stepped out of the commune office, he saw Xu Huaisheng lingering not far away.
The weather has been bad lately; the sky is overcast and the north wind is blowing fiercely, whipping up the dry grass from the nearby haystacks as if it were about to lift people off the ground.
She frowned slightly, walked over, and asked, "Huaisheng, what are you doing here?"
Xu Huaisheng stared at her for a moment and asked, "Second sister, did you get through to eldest sister on the phone? What did eldest sister say?"
She was very excited last night when she learned that her second sister was coming to the commune today to call her eldest sister.
If it weren't for what happened to her second sister, she would have really wanted to hear her eldest sister's voice. She hadn't seen or heard her eldest sister for five years and missed her terribly.
Xu Yuansheng: "It's connected."
Xu Huaisheng asked excitedly, "That's great! What did Big Sister say?"
However, Xu Yuansheng remained silent and did not make a sound.
After waiting a while and still not hearing her speak, Xu Huaisheng grew anxious and grabbed her hand, saying, "Second Sister, what's wrong? Why aren't you saying anything? Could something have happened to Eldest Sister?"
Seeing that she was about to cry, Xu Yuansheng quickly said, "Big sister, it's alright, what are you thinking?"
"Then why didn't you say anything?" Xu Huaisheng complained. "You're the one who scared me."
Xu Yuansheng felt a little guilty, pursed his lips, and said, "You ran away like this, not doing any housework at home. Aren't you afraid Mom will scold you?"
"Let her scold me, no matter what I'm doing, she'll still scold me," Xu Huaisheng said nonchalantly, then urged, "Second sister, what did you and eldest sister talk about on the phone? Tell me."
Xu Yuansheng took a deep breath, looked around, pulled her to a deserted path, and said, "My older sister wants me to go to the army to avoid this for now."
"Huh?" Xu Huaisheng's eyes widened, then he said happily, "Great! Second sister, hurry up and go to the army to find eldest sister. I support you! When you get to the army, they can't possibly chase you there and make you marry a fool, can they? They definitely don't have that guts."
Xu Yuansheng frowned and remained silent.
Upon seeing this, Xu Huaisheng's smile vanished instantly. "Second sister, you wouldn't be unwilling, would you?" She looked at him with disbelief. "Why? Do you really want to marry a fool?"
"Nonsense, why would I want to?" Xu Yuansheng said, somewhat annoyed. "I just don't want to cause trouble for my older sister."
Xu Huaisheng was puzzled. "How is it causing trouble? If you don't leave, you'll really be forced by Mom and Dad to marry the idiot." She bit her lip. "Second sister, you go. I don't want to see you knocked out or drugged and sent directly to the idiot's house one day. I'm not strong enough to save you."
She became very frustrated when she said this.
I clearly remember that my older sister did farm work since she was a child and was quite strong. She also did farm work since she was a child, so why can't she be as strong as my older sister?
Xu Yuansheng said irritably, "You don't understand! My eldest sister has no blood relation with us. She shouldn't have suffered in the Xu family in the first place! Now that she's married, she has her own life and family. I don't want to bother her or cause her any trouble!"
Xu Huaisheng was stunned; he hadn't expected her to think that way.
"But... even if our eldest sister isn't related to us by blood, she's still our eldest sister." She said, puzzled. "Just because we're not related by blood, does that mean you're disowning her? How could you do this?"
Upon hearing this, Xu Yuansheng couldn't help but roll his eyes and cursed, "You're such an idiot."
"You're the stupid one!" Xu Huaisheng retorted angrily.
The two sisters exchanged insults for a while, then tacitly called a truce.
Xu Huaisheng said, "Anyway, I don't care. I don't want you to marry a fool. You should go stay with your eldest sister for a while! I overheard Mom and Aunt talking about inviting the fool's family over for dinner this weekend, and they'll arrange your marriage then."
Xu Yuan was so angry that her face turned pale. If they weren't outside, she might have actually hit someone.
She took a deep breath. "Fine, since they want me to marry them so badly, then I'll let them have their way."
"What?!" Xu Huaisheng was shocked and quickly hugged her, tears welling up in his eyes. "Second sister, don't do anything foolish! Don't marry a fool just out of spite! I don't want you to marry a fool, and I don't want a foolish brother-in-law. I prefer a soldier like my eldest brother-in-law who protects our country. I hope both of my brothers-in-law are upright and normal men. I don't want a foolish brother-in-law... Waaah..."
In the end, Xu Huaisheng was overcome with grief and wept uncontrollably.
Xu Yuansheng was speechless at her crying. He took out a handkerchief to wipe her face and scolded, "Idiot, how could I marry a fool just out of spite?"
"Really?" Xu Huaisheng looked at her with teary eyes, "But you said you wanted them to have their way..."
Xu Huaisheng nodded, "Yes, I will make them happy. Didn't the fool's family give an eight hundred yuan dowry?"
Xu Huaisheng looked at her blankly, still not quite understanding what she meant.
"Alright, don't overthink it." Xu Yuansheng put his arm around her and said, "Don't cry. I won't marry a fool. In fact, I'm going to do something big and teach them a lesson."
Thinking of something, her eyebrows relaxed and a smile appeared on her face.
Seeing that her face was no longer gloomy as it had been for the past half month, and that she even smiled for once, Xu Huaisheng honestly said, "Second sister, I don't understand."
"You don't need to understand."
As Xu Yuansheng spoke, he pulled her home, pondering what to do next. Perhaps he really should go to his older sister's place to avoid her for a while.
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