☆, Chapter 1
Chapter 1
Yanjiang River has been rainy for several days.
Outside the window, the rain was cold and heavy. Raindrops hit the car window, forming a trail of water that meandered in all directions.
On Chang'an Street, a long line of cars was jammed on this ancient avenue. Gu Qingyue glanced out the window. Amidst the gray rain, an antique lantern hung from the eaves of a teahouse across the street, swirling in the wind.
Mother Gu's voice was beside my ears: "Has it been raining in Yanjiang these days?"
Uncle Yu, the driver in the driver's seat, said, "That's right. It's been raining for several days straight."
Gu Qingyue withdrew her gaze and listened to her mother say, "How is the old man's health lately?"
Uncle Yu said, "He had a little high blood pressure a few days ago. After Doctor Xu came to see him at home, his blood pressure has been normal these past few days."
Mother Gu nodded.
The topic came to an abrupt end, and there was silence all the way thereafter.
These days are Mr. Gu’s 70th birthday. Gu Qingyue specially asked for a few days off from school to accompany her mother back to Yanjiang to celebrate Mr. Gu’s birthday.
The Gu family is a large family of the older generation. They were an official family during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Although the times have changed several times, the Gu family has a deep foundation and abundant wealth. The empire built by the older generation is not a big deal even if the descendants of the Gu family live a leisurely life.
Gu Qingyue didn't particularly enjoy returning to Yanjiang, especially since her father's death. She harbored a vague fear of the old house.
The car drove all the way, and two hours later, it stopped in front of an old house with green tiles and white walls.
In the gentle breeze and drizzle, the vermilion gate stood wide open, with two stone lions standing at either end of the gate.
Uncle Yu got out of the car, opened his umbrella and walked around to Gu's mother's side, holding the umbrella for her. Then he walked over to Gu Qingyue's side, took a look at the thin clothes on Gu Qingyue, and said, "Qingyue, you are wearing too little."
Mother Gu touched Gu Qingyue's hand and asked, "Are you cold?"
Gu Qingyue shook her head.
After entering the gate, you will see a screen wall in front of you. On the screen wall is a picture of snow-covered Taibai Mountain, one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Guanzhong.
Behind the screen wall, sparse footsteps approached.
Nanny Wu was wearing a plain cheongsam, with a smile on her face. She bowed slightly towards Mother Gu and said, "Second Madam."
Gu Qingyue called out, "Madam Wu."
Nanny Wu looked kind and glanced at Gu Qingyue. "Hey, Qingyue, you've grown up to be very beautiful. Are you a senior in college now?"
Gu Qingyue nodded softly.
Nanny Wu smiled, stepped forward, took Gu Qingyue's hand, and held an umbrella for her: "She's still a bit of a taciturn person."
When they reached the corridor, Nanny Wu folded her umbrella and handed it to the servant behind her. She looked at Mother Gu and said, "Second Madam, do you plan to go see the old man first, or should you rest in the west wing?"
Mother Gu: "You are so damp, you should go to the west wing to clean up a bit before visiting the old man."
Nanny Wu led the two to the west wing.
As soon as Gu Qingyue entered the room, she let out a long sigh.
Seeing her like this, Mother Gu laughed and said, "Why do you look like you've been bitten by a tiger since you came back to the old house?"
Gu Qingyue sat on the old bunk bed, raised her hand to push the gauze curtains aside, and muttered softly, "This is scarier than a tiger's vagina."
Through a folding screen, Mother Gu said gently, "Don't be childish. Just say this in front of Mom, but don't mention it in front of others."
Gu Qingyue sniffed: "I understand."
There is a knock on the door.
"Second Madam, are you okay?"
Mother Gu fastened the last button of her shirt and went to open the door.
Standing outside the door was a pretty young lady who said, "Second Madam, Madam Wu asked you and the young lady to visit the old man."
Mother Gu turned around and waved to Gu Qingyue who was lying on the bed: "Qingyue, let's go and see your grandfather."
The two were led by a young girl to the door of Xingzhi.
The two carved wooden doors were ajar, leaving a gap.
The girl was about to raise her hand to knock on the door when she suddenly heard the old man's angry scolding from inside, followed by the sound of something rolling on the ground.
Gu Qingyue's eyes showed a hint of surprise. Her mother looked up at Gu Qingyue, and then Gu Qingyue restrained her expression, lowered her eyebrows and eyes, and looked obedient.
A minute later, the two wooden doors were pushed open from the inside.
The man was wearing a white long-sleeved shirt and gray trousers. He had a handsome face and a natural expression, without any sign of abnormality, as if the commotion in the room just now had nothing to do with him.
The man saw Mother Gu outside the door and nodded slightly: "Second sister-in-law."
Mother Gu smiled.
Gu Qingyue tilted her head to look at the corridor, and saw the man's back from the corner of her eye. He was tall and slender, wearing a thin white shirt with some water stains near his left shoulder blade.
When she was distracted, she heard Mother Gu's voice: "Qingyue."
Gu Qingyue came back to her senses, followed her mother, stepped over the door lintel and walked in.
A teacup was rolling on the ground, with some tea residue floating on the broken wall of the cup.
A servant knelt on the ground and picked up the broken pieces.
Gu Qingyue lowered her eyelashes and said softly, "Grandpa."
At seventy years old, Mr. Gu still looks energetic. Even in his old age, he is still the head of the Gu family.
Gu Qingyue was quite afraid of the old man. When she was little, he had always impressed her as a strict and solemn person. Gu Qingyue never dared to joke or act coquettishly in front of him.
After a few pleasantries, the old man felt tired and decided to take a rest.
Gu Qingyue and her mother left the house, and she looked much more relaxed.
Mother Gu touched her daughter's hand, smiled and said nothing.
At dinner time, Gu Qingyue and her mother ate in the west wing.
After dinner, Gu Qingyue washed up a bit and went to bed. She shared a room with her mother.
At night, it was still raining outside, the rain was heavy and there was a sound of tide.
Gu Qingyue had the habit of being familiar with her bed, so she turned over.
Mother Gu asked, "Can't sleep?"
Gu Qingyue nodded, and after a while, she leaned over to her mother and whispered, "Mom, who was that person at noon?"
Mother Gu smiled: "Your third uncle, don't you remember?"
Gu Qingyue didn't have much impression. The Gu family was a large family. Although the old man was now seventy years old, he was a playboy in his early years. He married four wives and had eleven children.
Since Gu Qingyue met the Gu family once when she was a child, her father passed away and her mother remarried. Gu Qingyue's contact with the Gu family became much weaker, so naturally she had no memory of these things.
Mother Gu hugged her, patted her back gently, and said, "When you were a child, didn't you like your third uncle the most?"
Gu Qingyue frowned slightly, a little skeptical: "Is there?"
Mother Gu recounted an old memory: "The pendant around your neck was given to you by your third uncle on your tenth birthday. He had it specially crafted and blessed by a high monk. This kind gesture is rare among your uncles."
Gu Qingyue was silent for a moment, raised her hand and touched the red rope at the back of her neck, her fingers slowly slid down the red rope, and wrapped a pendant in the palm of her hand.
Gu Qingyue was lying in the quilt, wrapped up warmly. The pendant felt cool to the touch, with a hint of chill.
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