A Happy Wife in a Rural Family - Chapter 16

Chapter 16: Chapter 16. Second Brother Gu’s Parentage

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

As he spoke, he took the lead and entered the central room.

The village leader and Gu Qingli followed him in.

A few people watching from outside followed them in and stood at the door of the central room. It was rare that Madam Hua did not follow.

Gu Qingli saw that an elder (first grandfather) of the village was among the people following them. She yelled, “Grandfather, come in and sit.”

First grandfather nodded and entered.

The village leaders and old Gu sat down while Gu Qingli stood up.

Old Gu took out his pipe and lit a pipe. He said slowly, “Big brother, second brother, you don’t have to glare at me like that. I’ll tell you the truth today. My second brother is not our biological son. Everyone knows that the second brother was born in Madam Hua’s maiden family, right? We picked him up on our way back. We took pity on the child and just happened to lose a son, so we took him back and raised him.

We have raised him for many years, and he is seriously injured today. We do not have the money to treat his legs; whether his legs can be cured is another matter.”

After he finished speaking, he started smoking his pipe again.

When second brother Gu was carried back, he was covered in blood and had a broken leg. He was dumbfounded. How could he go out and get himself back in such a miserable state?

Then who would do the work in the future?

It just happened that Dr. Li had heard the commotion and followed them, but he had only done what he could. With such a severe injury, he had to go to the town or County.

However, it would cost him dozens of taels of silver to cure second brother Gu’s injuries.

At that time, Madam Hua did not want to do it. If they spent money on second brother, Gu, what would happen to third brother and her two grandsons next year?

The old couple decided to tell them about second brother Gu’s background without thinking.

In this way, no one could say that the family did not care about their second son. After all, if they had not carried him back that year, wild dogs might have eaten him.

Second brother Gu should be grateful to them.

Gu Changan, his brother, and the people outside were silent and sighed.

It was no wonder that among the three brothers of the Gu family, only second brother Gu had been working since he was young. He was always there in the dirty, miserable, and bitter places.

Gu Qingli wasn’t surprised to hear that.

Here, picking up and throwing children away was as normal as eating.

There was no procedure to pick up a child, and throwing a child away was not against the law. In an era where people couldn’t afford to eat or wear warm clothes, even adults couldn’t survive. Throwing a child away might give them a way out.

In short, it was still a disaster caused by poverty.

Gu Changan asked after a long while, “What are you planning to do? You don’t want their family anymore?”

Old Gu smacked his lips again. He looked up at Gu Changan and said, “Second brother, why do you say it so harshly? I’m your cousin, after all.”

“Hmph! I’d rather not have a cousin like you. You shouldn’t be so mean if you say I’m being mean. The second branch’s young sons are small, and he’s injured, so you have to explain. You can’t just say he’s not your son just because your lips are trembling, and the village will follow your example in the future, right?”

Gu Qingli gave the village head and second master a thumbs-up for protecting her family at such a critical moment. However, she didn’t say anything, waiting for old Gu to kick them out.

This was an excellent opportunity to get rid of the couple.

After a while, old Gu said, “I mean to get rid of their family. Second brother’s family will have no relationship with us in the future.”

“Ah? How could this happen? I thought that, at most, they would be sent out. What’s the difference between driving them out and breaking off their relationship?” As soon as old man Gu finished speaking, the people outside the door were surprised.

“Don’t say anything. This is their family matter.” The other man quickly stopped the man.

The few people outside the door did not say a word.

Gu Changan was very disappointed. He had thought that old Gu would pay some money to treat the second son of the family first. He did not expect that old Gu would ask to get rid of the second son.

Gu Changan was furious. “They’ve been calling you father for so many years. They’ve been working so hard to support your family. In the end, they’re being treated like this.”

“Didn’t I raise him?” old Gu rolled his eyes.

“How many years have you been raising him? He had already returned the money years ago. Why didn’t you treat him well after picking him up? It’s better not to pick him up. Maybe he could have ended up in a better family.”

“Alright, there’s no point in saying more. I can’t possibly ignore my children and grandchildren. ” Old Gu waved his hand impatiently.

“Alright, since he’s not your biological son, you don’t have the right to accept Er Nizi’s betrothal gift. Bring it out, and I’ll immediately issue the documents to settle the household registration.”

Gu Qingli wanted to applaud the village chief. She had never seen such a fair village chief. She looked at him gratefully.

“There’s nothing else,” Old man Gu said.

“Then use your family’s silver as compensation.”

Old Gu was like a dead pig, not afraid of boiling water. He straightened his neck and said, “No, I didn’t,”

“You …”

Gu Changan pointed at old man Gu and was so angry that he could not say anything.

Old master Gu also frowned.

Hearing that they couldn’t develop a wizardry barrier, Gu Qingli walked over to help Gu Changan calm down. “Second master, don’t be angry. Our family is very grateful to you. How about this, master, first master, second master, and all the uncles are here; we don’t want the betrothal gifts. Since my father isn’t master’s biological child, we don’t want to rely on him and let everyone be our family’s witness. Second master help us immediately to write a document and open our household registration. My father is waiting for me to think of a way.”

“Er Nizi,” Gu Changan raised his head and said, “You can’t act on impulse. Can you make the decision? ”

Gu Qingli said, “Second master, this has nothing to do with being impulsive. I can make the decision. My father is in a bad state, and my parents are still young. You know my mother’s personality.”

Seeing no turning back, Gu Changan shook his head and sighed, “Where are you going to stay?”

Gu Qingli had an idea. “There are a few houses at the foot of the mountain. Let’s move there.” She said.

If they were close to the Gu family and broke off their ties, they would regret it when their family prospered.

The most important thing was that it was next to the road leading up the mountain. There was ample open space behind the house and a large puddle under the cliff, so they didn’t need to go to the well in front of the village to get water.

Gu Changan was worried, “Those houses are about to collapse. Can people live in them? I’m afraid your family will live in town for the next few days, so I’ll hire a few people to help you repair it tomorrow.”

Gu Qingli nodded and said, “Thank you, second master.”

She glanced at old Gu, who was smoking a pipe. He was a cold and selfish person.

Grandpa Gu, Gu Changan, and old man Gu were cousins. Old man Gu’s character and personality differed at first sight from theirs.

She also felt sad for second brother Gu. He was abandoned at birth and had such a pair of outrageous foster parents.

She wondered what he would do if he found out the truth.

Gu Qingli sighed deeply in her heart, hoping he would be fine.