“Look at you, you’re so handsome. You’re well-educated and well-brought-up. They can tell at a glance that you are from an important family. Then I’ll send you more fine grain and cloth! You can use that to cajole whoever you take a fancy to. Since when have those young girls suffered? They will have already noticed that you’re different, then when you give them so many fine things so that they can live better while they’re demoted, they will think the world of you and worship you.”

Gu Jinye: “..”

This.. he thought that this image was lovely!

Gu Jinye looked at his young, teenage cousin. He remembered that this young girl had been delicate and pampered. His grandparents, Youngest Uncle and all the older cousins had doted on her. They had always thought of her as a child.

But now this girl was consoling him. She spoke so eloquently that he felt better!historical

Gu Jinye smiled and patted Gu Qingyao’s little head. He understood now!

The next day, Eldest Uncle’s family left. They did not go back to their place of work, but brought the entire family to visit Eldest Aunt’s family.

They would be gone for many years and they did not know exactly when they would be back. So Eldest Uncle decided to bring his wife and children to her home for a visit. They could not just leave like that.

After that, they would return and leave the two children behind.

After Eldest and Third Uncle’s family left, only Gu Jinfeng remained!

The Gu house quietened down. Gu Yunshuang was almost better and she often went out for a walk.

She had not returned to the Qing River Brigade for many years. Now that she had returned to her childhood home, it seemed like a different world.

After returning to her natal home to live, whenever she thought about her life in the Li family, she really did not know how she had survived.

The Gu house was mid-way up the mountain. There was a large empty space in front of the courtyard entrance. Not far from it was a patch of undergrowth. If one looked upwards, the view was blocked and an observer could only see part of it.

Li Dahai really visited that day.

He somehow sensed that he should wait for Eldest and Third Uncle to leave before coming over.

The sun was shining brightly that day and the snow had almost completely melted. The ground outside the door was dry.

Gu Yunshuang often enjoyed coming out for exercise and sun herself at the courtyard door.

Today, Li Fangting.. actually she had changed her name to Gu Fangting.

Her accounts and rations had been transferred to the Qing River Brigade and the Gu family. So Gu Yunshuang changed her child’s name so that her surname was Gu.

Gu Fangting supported Gu Yunshuang and accompanied her as she walked around the empty space near the courtyard for some exercise. As she walked, she saw Li Dahai approach.

Gu Yunshuang frowned. Gu Fangting instinctively drew back.

She was afraid of the Li family. Although she was not terrified of her father, he was aloof and cold towards her mother and her, and she was rather frightened of him.

Gu Yunshuang patted Gu Fangting’s shoulder to console her.

Li Dahai came closer and when he saw Gu Yunshuang, he was taken aback!

Gu Yunshuang had been living well recently. Her cheeks were rosy and her skin was much fairer. Gu Qingyao had been nursing her back to health, so she had recovered quickly.

Gu Yunshuang had been born in the Gu family and used to be the daughter of a landlord family. The Gu family had raised her well and had spent much effort to educate her. So Gu Yunshuang naturally had an innate air of nobility.

In the past, the Li family had tormented her terribly because of her background. She had been so oppressed that she was unable to stand up for herself. She was both depressed and repressed. She also had to work all day, so she had aged terribly.