"If you dare to spew nonsense again, I'll beat you every time I see you." Gu Nanjiao gently touched the scratches on her neck; they stung.
Yang Meiqin was in an even worse state; her face was almost swollen like a pig's head, her hair was disheveled, and her clothes were loose and seemed to have fallen off.
"You're shameless. You're always out and about, doing shameless business, and you don't even let people talk about it."
"If you keep spewing filth like that, believe me, I'll beat you to death." Gu Nanjiao pointed fiercely at Yang Meiqin, raising her foot as if to kick her, but was stopped by Niu Er's wife standing to the side.
"The village chief is here."
Someone shouted something, and everyone turned around at once, only to see the village chief standing not far away.
Yang Meiqin burst into tears, crying, "Village chief, someone's going to be beaten to death!"
The village chief, his face stern, asked, "What are you doing?"
Yang Meiqin started crying and accusing Gu Nanjiao of how cruelly she had beaten her, but before she could finish, the village chief interrupted her.
Yang Meiqin had such a bad reputation in the village that the women wanted to spit on her. Gu Nanjiao, however, not only leased the back mountain but also bought up kudzu roots, claiming she would lead everyone to prosperity. Having been the village head for many years, Gu Nanjiao naturally didn't want to hear Yang Meiqin's whining and complaining.
After a stern reprimand for not causing trouble, everyone dispersed.
Yang Meiqin was unwilling and could only glare fiercely at Gu Nanjiao.
By the time Lu Yanzhao and his mother arrived, the matter was already over.
Although Gu Nanjiao had the upper hand, she wasn't in much better shape. Her hair was disheveled, there were obvious bloodstains on her neck, and she had lost one of her shoes.
Seeing Gu Nanjiao's miserable appearance, a ruthless glint flashed in Lu Yanzhao's eyes.
Mother Lu was heartbroken and burst into tears. She grabbed the stick from Lu Xiaomei's hand, intending to beat Yang Meiqin again, but Gu Nanjiao stopped her.
"Mother, she's in a much worse situation than me."
Seeing this, Lu Xiaomei stepped forward and recounted Gu Nanjiao's heroic feat: "Mother, my sister-in-law is so brave! That bitch got beaten up even worse. Her face is swollen like a pig's head."
Lu Xiaomei just learned the word "bitch" from Gu Nanjiao.
"Lu Wanning, you're not allowed to swear." Lu Yanzhao's eyes darkened, displeased with his younger sister's foul language.
Lu Xiaomei stuck out her tongue, turned her head to the side, and ignored him.
She despised her brother; his sister-in-law was beaten, and he was the last to arrive.
Lu Xiaomei had actually wronged Lu Yanzhao. Lu Yanzhao followed closely behind, but seeing that Gu Nanjiao had gained the upper hand, he didn't step forward. Instead, he hid to the side. If he had intervened at that time, Yang Meiqin might have turned the tables on him, accusing them of bullying her because of their numbers.
After returning home, Lu's mother wouldn't let Gu Nanjiao do anything and just let her lie on the bed.
Lu Yanzhao brought Gu Nanjiao dinner. Gu Nanjiao was speechless. She had only been in a fight, not sick, so why was she being so delicate?
When Lu Yanzhao came in, Gu Nanjiao was wiping the wound on her neck with a hissing sound.
He looked at Gu Nanjiao, his gaze sweeping over her neck: "Let me apply the medicine for you."
"No need, give me the medicine, I'll take it myself." Gu Nanjiao was a little annoyed. Lu Xiaomei's words made a lot of sense; he was the last one to arrive.
Lu Yanzhao stepped forward, suddenly stretched out his slender fingers, pinched her chin, lifted her face, and used his other hand to scoop out some medicine and apply it.
The distance was a bit close; Gu Nanjiao could feel his warm breath on her face, his fingertips were warm, and her neck felt tingly.
"It's...it's okay." Gu Nanjiao felt that her words were weak and her tongue was trembling, sounding like a murmur.
Lu Yanzhao released his hand, gave Gu Nanjiao a deep look, and then turned and left.
The night was quiet. Lu Yanzhao walked along the village road. When he reached the east end of the village, he picked up a few stones and put them in his pocket. When he arrived at Yang Meiqin's door, the light inside was off, and she must have been asleep.
Lu Yanzhao picked up the stone in his hand and threw it at the window.
A series of crackling sounds followed by Yang Meiqin's heart-wrenching screams from inside. Lu Yanzhao threw the trash away and ran home.
Yang Meiqin came out cursing and shouting, but saw no one. Furious, she could only go back inside.
Seeing Lu Yanzhao looking travel-worn, Gu Nanjiao couldn't help but ask, "Where have you been?"
"Degong!"
It's been at least half an hour since you left, according to modern time. Gu Nanjiao was a little puzzled: "You've been in the toilet for so long?"
Lu Yanzhao scoffed: "You even care how long it takes you to relieve yourself?"
Gu Nanjiao blushed deeply. Honestly, why did she have to discuss this with him?
Lu Yanzhao then asked, "Why did you fight today?"
Speaking of this, Gu Nanjiao was also puzzled. Why did Yang Meiqin keep picking on her? She had never offended her, so why was Yang Meiqin so hostile?
"She always brings up the time I pounced on you to annoy me, saying I'm shameless and you wouldn't even look at me naked. I couldn't take it anymore, so I hit her." Gu Nanjiao finished speaking through gritted teeth, then turned to look at Lu Yanzhao: "Regarding what happened before, I admit that I was depraved. I shouldn't have torn your clothes to frame you, and I shouldn't have forced you to marry me. But no matter what, it's not Yang Meiqin's place to say that. Who does she think she is?"
Upon hearing this, Lu Yanzhao lowered his eyelids and remained silent, sitting quietly to the side, seemingly lost in thought.
Seeing that Lu Yanzhao remained silent, Gu Nanjiao continued, "I've turned over a new leaf now, Lu Yanzhao. I caused you to lose your qualification for the prefectural examination and ruined my own reputation. Now that a government-funded student is vouching for you, you can take the imperial examination again. As compensation for what I owe you, I'll give you one hundred taels of silver. Let's get a divorce."
Yang Meiqin's words today are truly disheartening. The original owner's mistakes have left her with a stain on her reputation for the rest of her life. Whether in modern or ancient times, women who are eager to please are always looked down upon.
Lu Yanzhao slowly raised his head, his eyes becoming inexplicably complicated as he looked at Gu Nanjiao. After a long while, he chuckled softly: "You think you can settle things with just a casual remark like compensation? Gu Nanjiao, you really think you're so great. Let me tell you, in this lifetime, unless I pass the high school entrance exam, you will always owe me a debt you can never repay."
"You..." Gu Nanjiao was furious: "Then we'll wait until you pass the high school entrance exam, and then we'll get a divorce. In the meantime, I'll take good care of Mother and my younger sister, including paying your tuition every year, how about that?"
"You really want to leave?" Lu Yanzhao's previously calm expression suddenly darkened, his tone carrying a hint of gritted teeth.
Gu Nanjiao didn't think there was anything wrong with what she said. Lu Yanzhao didn't like her, and she was willing to let him go and promised to support his whole family. What else could he be dissatisfied with?
“You hate me so much, and you’re always so cold and distant. We’re not like a married couple at all. I feel so repressed around you every day. Instead of torturing each other, let’s just let go and be happy.”
Lu Yanzhao suddenly stepped forward and walked up to Gu Nanjiao, leaning close to her ear and whispering, "Tell me what it means to be a couple, and see if I can do it."
Gu Nanjiao's face flushed red from the hot breath she was exposed to. She felt that Lu Yanzhao was unpredictable, so she quickly stood up and moved aside.
"I don't want to discuss this with you. Anyway, I've said what I needed to say. I hope you'll keep your word after high school."
"We'll see when the time comes!"
Lu Yanzhao couldn't sleep all night, tossing and turning, his mind filled with Gu Nanjiao's words: she said he hated her. Did he hate her?
They don't seem that bad, do they? Don't they look like a married couple? They're sleeping in the same bed now, and apart from not going all the way to the end, how are they not like a married couple?
Gu Nanjiao slept soundly, having said everything she needed to say. She had been running around all day, and then had a fight with Yang Meiqin when she got back; it had taken a toll on her energy.
...
The next day, when they woke up, Lu's mother came and knocked on the door, telling the two of them to get up quickly and prepare for the New Year, as today was New Year's Eve.
The two tacitly avoided mentioning anything about what happened last night.
The family was busy preparing for the New Year. Lu's mother bought some chicken, duck, fish, and meat to eat during the New Year, while Lu's younger sister swept the dust with a broom. Gu Nanjiao cooked some paste and handed it to Lu Yanzhao, asking him to paste the Spring Festival couplets she had written on the door.
Lu Yanzhao glanced at her, smeared paste on the back of the Spring Festival couplets, and pasted them on the front door, one on each side.
"May you receive blessings, wealth, and peace."
"Welcome spring, welcome joy, welcome wealth and prosperity."
It must be said that Lu Yanzhao's calligraphy is truly remarkable. His writing is powerful yet not weak, elegant yet not ostentatious, and his strokes flow smoothly like water and clouds.
Gu Nanjiao bought new clothes for both Lu's mother and Lu Xiaomei. She came up with the designs herself and commissioned Lü Siniang to make them. Lü Siniang also asked Gu Nanjiao to redesign a men's suit for her, one that would be more refined and approachable.
Lu Xiaomei put on her new clothes and chattered incessantly. Lu's mother was also very happy. She had never worn such beautiful clothes before. They were exquisite and beautiful.
Gu Nanjiao wore a rather brightly colored dress, embroidered with flowers. Although the colors were vibrant, they were not ostentatious.
Lu Yanzhao, who was standing to the side, frowned. Gu Nanjiao had forgotten about him again.
Noticing Lu Yanzhao's unhappiness, Gu Nanjiao said, "It's the New Year, don't look so gloomy. Didn't I just make you two outfits a while ago? Do you want more?"
Lu Yanzhao...
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