Chapter 22 Chapter 22 She Doesn't Seem to Be a Bad Woman
Gu Yuhe tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep. The next morning, as soon as the sun rose, he rushed out of the house with dark circles under his eyes.
"Gousheng, where are you going? We haven't had breakfast yet!" Mother Li, who was feeding the chickens, chased after him with a chicken feed bowl and shouted.
Oh, Gu Yuhe’s nickname is Gousheng.
The villagers all believe that people with humble names are easier to raise, so most of the children in the village have names that are difficult to mention when they grow up.
What's more, many people never have a proper name in their entire lives.
After all, as they get older, their names are rarely mentioned. Everyone calls them "Mother So-and-so" or "Father So-and-so." When they get older, they become "Grandpa So-and-so" or "Grandma So-and-so."
The people of the Gu family have formal and nice names because the Gu family was once rich and powerful, and it was said that they had produced a high-ranking official.
This high-ranking official disliked the ugly names of the children in his family, so he asked someone to revise the family tree and set generation names. Later generations only needed to name themselves according to the generation names.
Grandpa Gu is of the Xuan generation, Uncle Gu and his ilk are of the Huang generation, and Gu Yuhe's generation is of the Yu generation.
However, this generation name does not include daughters. Daughters are not included in the ancestral hall, are not included in the family tree, and do not have a generation name.
Therefore, all the aunts in the Gu family were named after the four seasons. The eldest aunt was born in winter, so she was named Gu Dongshuang; the second aunt was born in spring, so she was named Gu Jichun.
Gu Jiayue's generation was named after birds, Gu Chunyan, Gu Bailu, and Gu Zhigeng, all of which are quite pleasant names.
However, the name Gu Wangshu is different because it was given by an old monk who passed by.
It is said that on Gu Wangshu's first birthday, an old monk with a white beard passed by Taohua Village and came to the door of Gu's house to ask for water. He happened to see Gu Wangshu, who was just taking his first steps.
Seeing this, the old monk said that the child looked smart and asked if he had a name.
Grandma Gu replied that she hadn't given them a name yet. Farmers usually didn't give their children a name until they were three years old, because they were afraid they wouldn't survive. Giving them a name would only increase the longing of the living, and the child wouldn't rest in peace when he passed away.
The old monk stroked Gu Wangshu's hair and said that she had a connection with Buddha. He decided to name her that day: "This girl has a strong character. Ordinary names are hard to appease her. How about calling her 'Wangshu'?"
"Wangshu" comes from the "Chuci Li Sao" (Chuci Li Sao): "Wangshu in front is the pioneer, and Feilian behind is the follower." Wang Yi's note: "Wangshu is the moon's charioteer." Hong Xingzu's note: "The Huainanzi says: 'The moon's charioteer is called Wangshu, also called Xian'a.'"
In mythology, Wangshu drove the chariot of the moon god, galloping across the sky, allowing the bright moon to move in the night sky. Later generations of literati often used "Wangshu" as a synonym for the moon.
The old monk said that only this name could suppress her fate of three disadvantages and five deficiencies.
Grandma Gu was a Buddhist, and when she heard the old monk say that her granddaughter had a bad fate, and that the name was easy to remember and represented gods, the moon, and the like, she immediately agreed.
"I'll be back soon!" Gu Yuhe's voice came with the wind.
He had to go to Goudan's house to find him as soon as possible, otherwise if he was too late, Goudan would have to go up the mountain to work with his parents.
He also had to remind Goudan not to be deceived by that bad woman, and to stand firmly on his side no matter what that woman said or did.
They are good brothers, and good brothers will never betray their friends, right?
Half an hour later, Gu Yuhe appeared in the Gu family yard holding a thin boy.
"This is Goudan, my best brother!"
At this time, all the adults in the Gu family had finished breakfast and went out to work. Only the two children, Gu Zhigeng and Gu Bailu, and the idle Gu Jiayue and Hua Chao were left at home.
Gu Jiayue thought that the adults at home had been busy plowing the fields and planting rice, so she took out some money and asked Gu Zhigeng to take Hua Chao to buy some meat to improve the lunch.
So now there are only Gu Jiayue and Gu Bailu at home.
Gu Jiayue shifted her gaze from the wild chrysanthemums embroidered by Gu Bailu to the child hiding awkwardly behind Gu Yuhe.
Is he Goudan? He looks so skinny, is he really seven years old?
The Gu family was already poor, but Gu Yuhe still had some flesh on his body. In comparison, Goudan was reduced to nothing but skin and bones.
Hey, how poor is Taohua Village?
This kid named Goudan has a big head, thin arms, and a short stature. Standing next to Gu Yuhe, who is the same age as him, he is ten centimeters shorter.
His clothes were covered in patches, his trousers were so short that they almost reached his knees, and he was wearing a pair of straw sandals, with his dark toes twisted together nervously.
He was holding a basket with a piece of bamboo in it. It seemed that he was going to the field to dig wild vegetables.
Gu Yuhe said to Goudan in a low voice, "This is the bad woman I told you about. Don't worry, she is very weak now and can't hurt you."
Goudan cautiously peeked out from behind Gu Yuhe and secretly looked at Gu Jiayue.
Oh my God, is this the second daughter of the Gu family who returned from the distant Kyoto that my mother mentioned?
Her face is so pale, is she seriously ill?
He remembered that his neighbor's grandmother looked like this when she was dying last year.
There was also a circle of white cloth wrapped around her neck, so she must be dying.
Humans are naturally sympathetic to the weak. Goudan asked doubtfully, "She's in this state now. How could she still bully you? It doesn't seem like she would?"
It seems more likely that Gousheng bullied her.
"Why not? She wanted to spank me yesterday. Oh, stop asking so many questions and go challenge her! If you win, I'll give you the two candies I had left over from yesterday."
Yesterday he was given six candies in total. He gave two to Goudan, ate two himself, and put the remaining two in his purse, intending to save them for a few days.
"Okay." Goudan was helpless. For the sake of the candy in Gousheng's pocket, he could only "bully the weak".
Goudan, who had prepared himself mentally, walked out from behind Gu Yuhe and looked directly at Gu Jiayue with his dark eyes: "I heard from Gousheng that you want to see me?"
Although the voice was loud, Gu Jiayue could still hear a lack of confidence in it.
Gu Jiayue was previously a high school teacher, but she also taught elementary school students during her volunteer teaching experience. So, she's experienced every kind of child she's encountered. Dealing with this troublemaker is easy.
She first smiled kindly. "Come here."
But she forgot that she had just been injured and her face was extremely pale. Her grin made her look a little eerie, which frightened the two children so much that they quickly ran out of the courtyard door. Each of them held onto one side of the courtyard door.
Goudan shouted, "I'm telling you, I'm not your servant, nor your brother, you can't hit me!"
Goudan heard from his sister that young ladies from wealthy families would be gentle even when punishing servants, and would never be bossy or make a fuss like the village ladies.
Woohoo, the look on Gu's sister's face just now was as if she wanted to eat him.
"Yes! Although I am your brother, you can't hit me!" Gu Yuhe also agreed.
The two children looked at her warily.
Gu Jiayue secretly laughed. Children of this age always had wild imaginations and random thoughts all day long. "Why would I hit you? I just wanted to treat you to some cakes."
Gu Jiayue opened the pastries that had been prepared long ago. "These are the snacks and candies I brought from Kyoto. They are sweet and delicious. Just a bite is enough to make you squint your eyes." Gu Jiayue described as she ate.
The two children swallowed their saliva, and after a struggle, they shook their heads firmly: "If we don't eat it, who knows if you have poisoned it?"
Gu Jiayue pretended to be surprised: "Poison? Poison is expensive, are you worthy of it?"
The two children thought about it and shook their heads decisively. "Not worthy."
Then the two began to whisper again. Gu Yuhe said, "This candy is exactly the same as the one she gave me the day before yesterday. I think it's edible."
Goudan nodded and said, "Yes, this is your home. There are so many uncles and aunts here. She wouldn't dare to poison us."
"Well, what you said makes sense."
After they had discussed it, Goudan spoke up again: "Since you're so sincere in inviting me, I'll reluctantly eat one."
Then they ate one after another, and while Gu Jiayue was not paying attention, they each put two into their pockets.
"Goudan, what do you do on a daily basis?"
Seeing that the time was almost right, Gu Jiayue asked casually.
Goudan was studying the candy wrappers, completely defenseless. "I'm still young and can't do much, so I just play around with Gousheng every day."
In Goudan's opinion, cooking at noon, helping his mother wash clothes and cleaning the house are not considered work.
"So what do you guys play?"
"Play house, hide-and-seek, and catch stones. You're sure you can't do that, are you?"
"Wow, you guys are so awesome. I really don't know how to do it, can you teach me?" Gu Jiayue's eyes lit up with approval.
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