Chapter 10 My Return to the Village
Because my house had been requisitioned there was a document that needed a supplemental signature. I had to return to the village once.
Gu Cheng and his siblings had been arranged by the Village Chief into his abandoned small house.
Seeing me carrying big and small bags appear at the Village Chief's door, Gu Cheng's eyes brightened. But he put on a stern face and did not look at me.
"How? Could not mix outside and came back again."
Before when he spoke coldly to me I would panic. I would lower myself to coax him.
Gu Fang put her hands on her waist. "You hand over the demolition compensation first to my brother to repay the debt. We will still let you be my sister-in-law."
Gu Yuan also stretched out his arm to drive me away. "You go. You are not welcome here."
I looked at this dilapidated small room. The crooked table held only a half-eaten steamed bun and half a bowl of pickled vegetables.
Compared with my previous big brick house it was worlds apart.
Gu Cheng's leg was still bandaged with gauze. Noticing my gaze he subconsciously shrank back.
I smiled. "Why should I be your sister-in-law? Am I after your brother now being crippled or after your brother owing a mountain of debt?"
Gu Cheng glared at me in humiliation. He opened his mouth but could not speak.
Gu Fang sounded fierce but was weak inside. "My brother owes money only to marry you. You ran away. You must compensate my brother."
Gu Cheng's eyes reddened. He looked at me with grievance.
"Gu Fang, stop talking. It was all my choice. It has nothing to do with Song Xiaoya."
At this point he still spoke with deep affection in front of me. Then I might as well burst the truth.
"Gu Cheng you became like this today only because you borrowed money to elope far away with Zhu Xiuqin. You just had not flown yet when you were beaten down."
"Tsk tsk. Really pitiful."
Gu Cheng's face instantly turned beet red.
"You... you knew all along?"
"Then I was wrong, okay? It was all Zhu Xiuqin who tricked me."
Gu Cheng looked at me pleadingly. He thought I was still the fool from before who treated them as family. Even if they had erred, for the sake of years of affection I would reconcile with them.
But in my previous life I had already paid a huge price for not knowing people clearly. In this life I would not be that foolish again.
After I signed the documents I planned to leave. Through the window I saw Gu Cheng's unwilling face.
My aunt had written to tell me.
Gu Cheng had promised Brother Ma he would repay the money soon. He might even target me. She told me to be careful.
I noted it down. I continued to focus on my business.
Soon I indeed saw Gu Cheng again.