Gu Nanjiao, who was still asleep, was woken up by Lu's mother. Lu Yanzhao was also urged to get up. The two were confused for a while before being told that today was the day Gu Nanjiao was going back to her parents' home.
On the second day of the Lunar New Year, it is customary here for daughters to return to their parents' home with their husbands. Families gather together on this day to celebrate a joyous reunion.
Early in the morning, Lu's mother prepared the gifts that Gu Nanjiao would bring when she returned to her parents' home for the festival. There were six catties of pork, six carp, six boxes of pastries, six jugs of wine, six catties of sugar, and six bundles of vermicelli, a total of six items. Each item had a different meaning.
For example, pork symbolizes the heart's flesh cut in one slice; carp symbolizes abundance year after year; wine represents longevity; sugar represents sweetness; and vermicelli symbolizes continuous ties and frequent interactions.
Looking at the cart piled high with gifts, Gu Nanjiao asked curiously, "Mother, why are we buying so many gifts? Are we going to visit relatives?"
“It’s not us, it’s you and Yanzhao. Today is the second day of the Lunar New Year, the day when daughters and sons-in-law return to their parents’ home.”
"Oh!" Gu Nanjiao then remembered that she had a cheap father.
Since transmigrating, she has never returned to her parents' home, partly because she is unfamiliar with it, and partly because she is afraid that her scholar father will notice something amiss. Naturally, she has wanted to escape.
Seeing Gu Nanjiao's sudden realization, Lu Yanzhao was quite puzzled. She was going back to her parents' home, so why did she look like that? Were her family treating her badly?
After having breakfast and getting ready, the two set off at Lu's mother's urging.
Lu Yanzhao pulled the cart in front, while Gu Nanjiao helped push it from behind. Along the way, the cart full of New Year's gifts attracted everyone's attention.
"Oh, so the young couple are going back to the wife's parents' home?" a villager greeted them.
The two answered in unison, "Yes!"
"You bought so many gifts to go back to your parents' home, how filial you are!" Gu Nanjiao felt a little ashamed because all the gifts were prepared by Lu's mother, and she was just doing a favor.
Gu Nanjiao's family home is in an alley in Luozhuang Town, called Dumb Alley.
Her only remaining family member was Scholar Gu.
When the young couple arrived at the Mute Alley, they saw Gu Xiucai waiting at the door, looking eagerly anticipating their arrival.
Today, Scholar Gu wore a new outfit and looked refined and approachable.
Upon seeing the two, Scholar Gu warmly greeted them: "Daughter and son-in-law, you've arrived! Please come in and have a seat."
When Gu Xiucai saw his daughter, he was very worried. However, the brat acted like a stranger when she saw her father, even though he had been waiting at the door since before dawn.
“Father,” Gu Nan called out in a clear, sweet voice.
Upon hearing his daughter call him, Gu Xiucai's face immediately lit up with a smile.
Lu Yanzhao bowed respectfully to Gu Xiucai, saying, "Father-in-law."
Scholar Gu quickly helped him up, saying, "We're family, there's no need for such formalities."
Lu Yanzhao held Gu Xiucai in high esteem. Not only was Gu Xiucai his father-in-law now, but he had also been his mentor. Gu Xiucai was Lu Yanzhao's first teacher.
Gu Nanjiao instructed Lu Yanzhao to bring down the New Year's gifts.
"Why are you carrying so many things?" Gu Xiucai was quite surprised to see the whole cart full of New Year's gifts.
The Lu family was poor. When they made the betrothal, they only brought two boxes of pastries. The bride price was not even two taels of silver. Scholar Gu was afraid that his daughter would be mistreated after marriage, so he also gave her twenty-five taels of silver and some jewelry as a dowry.
“There will be plenty of places to spend money in the future. Why are you spending money so recklessly? How can your father eat so much by himself?” Scholar Gu continued to nag.
Lu Yanzhao stepped forward: "Father-in-law, it is only right for Jiaojiao and me to be filial to you. How could we waste money? Recently, our family has been a little better off, so we prepared some small gifts. They are just a small token of our appreciation, and we hope that you will accept them with a smile."
When Gu Nanjiao heard Lu Yanzhao call her "Jiaojiao," she got goosebumps for some reason.
Scholar Gu was overjoyed, though. He had worried that his daughter would be treated coldly by her future husband. Unexpectedly, Lu Yanzhao was quite responsible, not only preparing so many New Year's gifts but also affectionately calling his daughter Jiaojiao.
Gu Nanjiao pursed her lips. So many New Year's gifts were clearly prepared by Lu's mother. She had to admit that Lu's mother was a good mother-in-law, who considered everything very carefully.
Gu Nanjiao looked at Gu Xiucai's clothes and felt they looked familiar: "Father, your clothes are so handsome, where were they made?"
A hint of unease crossed Gu Xiucai's face: "This... was made by a student's family member at my father's request. It's almost New Year's, and I don't have any new clothes."
Hearing Gu Xiucai's words, Gu Nanjiao felt very ashamed: "Father, it is your daughter's fault for being unfilial. It is New Year's Day and I did not think of making you a dress."
“Oh dear, you’re still so young, how could you understand these things? As a father, how could I let my child worry about these things?”
Lu Yanzhao's eyes flickered. Gu Nanjiao had prepared new clothes for her mother and younger sister, but she ignored her father completely. Was it because their relationship had cooled and she couldn't care less, or was there something else?
"Hurry up and go inside, don't linger at the door." Scholar Gu beckoned the two inside.
Gu Nanjiao walked into the courtyard, her eyes stinging. Her father, who was always impeccably dressed and refined in public, was now in such a mess at home.
It's not surprising. Gu Xiucai is a grown man who only knows how to read the classics. He doesn't know how to manage a household, and he doesn't have a woman by his side.
"Oh dear, I was so looking forward to your arrival that I forgot to tidy up." Gu Xiucai hurriedly pulled off a piece of clothing that was hanging precariously on the rope, curled it up, and hugged it to his arms.
"Jiaojiao, Yanzhao, please sit down. Your father will pour you some tea."
Gu Nanjiao quickly stepped forward and took the clothes from Gu Xiucai's hands: "Father, leave the house to me. You go and talk to Yanzhao."
Gu Xiucai paused, his expression faltering. "Oh, you're a guest now, how can I let you clean up? It's all my fault, the house is such a mess."
"Dad, you go ahead. I'll make lunch. Don't worry about the rest."
Scholar Gu was deeply moved: "My daughter has gotten married and grown up. She knows how to do things for her father now."
Gu Nanjiao was speechless!
Did the original owner of this body not do anything at home before?
Gu Nanjiao tidied up Gu Xiucai's courtyard in an orderly manner and prepared lunch.
For lunch, I made braised carp and pork stew with vermicelli, using ingredients that Gu Nanjiao brought. Because Lu's father's kitchen really didn't have any dishes, I don't know how he usually eats.
Gu Nanjiao suddenly remembered that Gu Xiucai's academy provided lunch, and Gu Xiucai often brought the original owner of this body to freeload. They would usually eat one portion and take one portion home, saving the one they took home for dinner.
Although Scholar Gu was a man of great learning, his lifestyle and manners were truly indescribable.
No wonder, the original owner of this body had no mother since childhood and had never heard Gu Xiucai mention his mother.
After lunch, Gu Nanjiao went to wash the dishes, while Gu Xiucai chatted with his son-in-law:
“Yanzhao, I only have this one daughter. She grew up without a mother and no one to discipline her. She has a somewhat spoiled personality, so please be more tolerant of her. If she really does something wrong, tell me and I will discipline her. But you can’t scold her or hit her.”
After listening, Lu Yanzhao bowed to Gu Xiucai and said, "Father-in-law, it was not easy for you to raise Jiaojiao. Our family is so poor, but you and Jiaojiao did not look down on us. I am very grateful and will treat Jiaojiao well for the rest of my life. Please put your mind at ease, Father-in-law."
Gu Xiucai knew that Lu Yanzhao was quite resistant to this marriage. Hearing him say this, his eyes reddened a little, and he nodded vigorously: "Good son-in-law, with your words, your father can rest assured."
Lu Yanzhao looked up and saw Gu Nanjiao standing at the door. Thinking of what she had just said, his ears turned red and a hint of unease flashed across his face. He didn't know how much she had heard.
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