Chapter 247: “off To A Great Start”
“Where did you go wild, why are you only coming back now? I’m starving to death here, hurry up and open the door!”
The speaker was a slightly hunched old man with dark skin and several deep wrinkles on his forehead, looking impatient and fierce.
Zhao Liuniang’s footsteps stopped as she met those eyes full of malice, her hands and feet suddenly going weak.
This was the psychological shadow left from being beaten since childhood.
“……Dad.”
Zhao Liuniang called out stiffly.
She wanted to ask how he had come, but heard Zhao Old Man say: “No nonsense, open the door! I haven’t eaten, I’m starving badly, first make me a bowl of noodles.”
Hearing this, Zhao Liuniang’s face turned green.
She felt stifled inside and didn’t want to be watched for spectacle, so she gritted her teeth, took out the key, and opened the door.
Zhao Old Man pushed past Zhao Liuniang, swaying his body and swaggering into the Gu Family Courtyard.
The Gu Family Members had all gone out, no one was home, so he acted as if it were his own home.
He rushed straight to Gu Fu and Gu Mu’s room.
Zhao Liuniang hurried forward, spreading her arms to block the door.
“Dad, my mother-in-law will be back soon, she doesn’t like people entering their room, you know her bad temper, if she sees…”
Zhao Old Man thought of the several formidable sons in the Old Gu Family, and his face darkened.
His turbid old eyes stared at the door for a few seconds, spat out a thick glob of phlegm, and looked away.
He felt extremely displeased inside.
“Pa!”
Zhao Liuniang’s elbow was struck down, her whole arm going numb for a long time.
The pain reminded her of being beaten from childhood to adulthood, her face turning deathly pale.
“What are you standing there stunned for, go make food! I rarely come, and this is how you treat me.” Zhao Old Man’s eyes were unkind.
Zhao Liuniang dazedly walked to the kitchen.
Arriving at the kitchen, her senses returned, and she realized she hadn’t resisted again. She bit down hard on the soft flesh in her mouth, her whole body trembling lightly.
Zhao Liuniang, you useless thing, you’re married with several children, what are you afraid of him for? Drive out that man who is unkind to his children and bad to his wife!
This is your home, what are you afraid of?
Zhao Liuniang’s right hand touched the kitchen knife, her eyes red.
“……Eh, why is the door open, who came back?” Lai Mei’s voice rang out. Seeing the kitchen door open, she came to the kitchen.
“Mom, it’s you, why didn’t you answer me?” he asked casually.
He poured half a bowl of water and gulped down a few mouthfuls.
While drinking, he noticed his mom was acting strange. Lai Mei put down the bowl, walked to Zhao Liuniang’s side, and looked her over.
He saw something slightly off.
“Mom, why are your eyes red?” Lai Mei frowned, tone indignant, “Did Dad upset you?”
The Gu Family’s children were raised by Gu Mu, who had a good temperament inwardly and never tormented her daughters-in-law. She taught her grandsons and granddaughters that their moms had it hard giving birth to them, so they must respect them and listen to them.
She taught well; the boys all had good temperaments, and even if they picked up a wild chicken egg, they would bring it back to share with the family.
Zhao Liuniang stared dazedly at her son, unable to speak, her eyes burning.
“Lai Mei…” she called, her voice very soft.
Lai Mei’s brows furrowed even tighter.
This was hopeless!
His mom was like his grandma, always bustling energetically, when had she ever been so listless?!
“Mom, what’s really wrong?” Lai Mei asked, “Did Dad really provoke you? I’ll go find him!”
As he spoke, he rushed outside.
There was a person standing at the door—Zhao Old Man.
He had appeared silently, startling Lai Mei.
“Fuck! Ghost…!” Lai Mei blurted out.
As soon as the words left his mouth, Zhao Old Man raised his hand and slapped his head hard, without holding back, and Lai Mei was unprepared. His body fell, his forehead hitting the wall corner.
The bump was severe, blood immediately flowing out.
Lai Mei fell down.
Zhao Liuniang supported her son, pressing his forehead, blood flowing through her fingers.
She shrieked, “Lai Mei!!”
After shouting, she picked up Lai Mei, gave Zhao Old Man a glance full of hatred, and ran out the home door in disarray.
“Quick, someone come! Lai Mei hurt his head!!” she shouted loudly, her mind in panic. The moment she saw Yu Bao, she bolted toward the third branch.
Yu Bao and the others saw this scene, their faces changing slightly, and followed Second Aunt.
“Second Aunt, what happened to my Lai Mei bro?” Yu Bao’s tone was urgent.
Even in her panic, Zhao Liuniang didn’t ignore his question, “……His head hit the wall.”
Thinking of Zhao Old Man, she thought viciously inside that if her son didn’t get through this, she would definitely chop that person with a knife.
“Lai Mei, don’t sleep, Mom will take you to find your Third Aunt, she has medicine there, Mom will apply it right away, once applied your head won’t hurt, just hold on a bit longer…” On the way, Zhao Liuniang kept talking nonstop, her voice hoarse from fear.
Lai Mei was nine after New Year, a big kid, not light. She did farm work year-round, had considerable strength, but carrying her son while running was no small burden.
Her arms held tight, her speed didn’t slow, single-mindedly taking her son to get medicine to stop the bleeding.
Seeing Second Aunt keep calling Lai Mei bro, Yu Bao joined in shouting, “Lai Mei bro, don’t sleep, I have good stuff for you, I’ll give it when you’re better!”
Heng Bao was also shouting, “Lai Mei bro, hold on, my mom has medicine, don’t be scared!!”
Bang Bang’s face was very ugly; he hadn’t expected that his younger brother just went back for water and suddenly became like this.
He stared at the blood on Lai Mei’s jacket, his heart sinking.
“Lai Mei, hold on!” Bang Bang roared loudly.
Lai Mei’s head was injured, Zhao Liuniang carried him hurrying along; this scene was seen by many villagers.
Everyone was somewhat puzzled.
“What happened to Lai Mei? I saw him running all over the village earlier, how long ago was that, and now his head is gushing blood, looks like he fainted, hope he’s okay.”
“Where’s Gu Family’s Second Son? His son hurt like this, how come he’s not around?”
“He went to the neighboring village with Gu Old Man, the neighboring village is composting, called the technician to help.”
“Technician… Uncle Gu became a technician too.” The village’s young folks were very envious.
Someone sharp-eyed saw Gu Mu and shouted loudly: “Yuan Shan’s mom, your grandson busted his head, your family’s second daughter-in-law is carrying him to the third branch…”
Hearing this, Gu Mu ran toward the third branch.
Huang Xiulan also heard, gave the things to Tie Dan, and hurriedly followed.
…
Gu Family’s Third Branch.
Lin Zhao was stewing chicken soup when she heard the panicked voices.
It was Second Sister-in-law’s voice.
Hadn’t Second Sister-in-law just left? What happened?
With puzzled eyes, she walked out of the kitchen.
Zhao Liuniang rushed over, panting, asking anxiously: “Third sister-in-law, Lai Mei’s head hit the wall, blood gushing out, do you have medicine?”
“Yes.”
Lin Zhao hurried to get it.
Soon, she came out carrying the medicine box.
Seeing Lin Zhao open the medicine bottle, Zhao Liuniang released her hand covering Lai Mei’s wound.
As soon as she let go, blood continued flowing out.
The wound was quite deep.
Lin Zhao’s expression turned serious, steadily sprinkling hemostatic powder.
The instant the powder fell, the blood stopped flowing out.
Zhao Liuniang’s tense expression eased slightly, weeping with joy, babbling: “No more bleeding, stopped…”
Tears flowed uncontrollably from her eyes.
Lin Zhao wrapped gauze around Lai Mei’s forehead, “The wound is a bit deep, better take Lai Mei to the hospital for a check.”
Zhao Liuniang knew how to manage a household but wasn’t stingy. She said: “Yes, yes, needs checking.”
At this moment, Gu Mu ran in.
Seeing her grandson lying on the lounge chair, pale as a sheet, her old face full of heartache.
“Is Lai Mei okay?” Her speech was hurried and worried.
“He was fine before, how did he suddenly hit his head? So much blood, how long to recover, my poor grandson.”
Hearing her mother-in-law ask how her son got hurt, Zhao Liuniang clenched her fists, eyes full of hatred.
“My dad came, he pushed Lai Mei.”
Gu Mu was speechless.
Second Son’s wife had a hard life, lost her mom young, her dad was a shameless bully who didn’t treat his daughters as people, only knowing to beat, scold, and leech…
Back then he even wanted to marry her off to the mountains to be a shared wife; if she hadn’t been clever and run away, who knows what would have happened.
“……Why did your dad suddenly come?” Gu Mu muttered.
Zhao Liuniang showed no expression, “Probably heard we separated households, New Year coming soon, he went to us sisters’ homes to scrape.”
Her dad scraped good things from them, kept most for himself to eat and use slowly, gave a small portion to the village widows—she knew all about it, felt like vomiting when she first found out.
If possible, she’d rather not have this dad.
Lin Zhao now knew Second Sister-in-law’s maternal family was like this.
No wonder she never mentioned it.
She took out a White Rabbit Toffee, tore open the wrapper, and handed it to Zhao Liuniang.
“Have a candy.”
Zhao Liuniang looked down at the candy, eyes stinging.
She took it, for the first time not thinking to save it for the children, ate it herself.
The sweet rich milk flavor spread in her mouth, and she couldn’t help shedding tears.
“Really sweet.”
Lin Zhao took out a handful, placed them in her palm.
“Keep them, eat one when irritated, it’ll improve your mood.”
Zhao Liuniang didn’t refuse, said thanks.
Her sister-in-law with no blood ties willingly gave her precious White Rabbit Toffee, yet her own dad wanted her dead—truly ironic.
He despised his daughters for being girls, got called childless, no one to pour water for him later, yet year after year raided us sisters’ homes.
Bang Bang learned his younger brother was hurt by Zhao Old Man’s doing, face darkened, quietly left.
He jogged homeward.
Picked up a sharp stone on the way.
Gu Family Old House.
Zhao Old Man saw his own maternal grandson fall without batting an eye, rushed into the Gu Family kitchen, packed all the good stuff he saw.
After packing the kitchen, he went straight to the second branch, packing whatever he saw.
Aim: leave not a blade of grass behind.
Bang Bang returned home, heard movement in his parents’ room, quietly approached, lightly lifted the door curtain, looked inside.
Zhao Old Man was very alert, quickly noticed someone.
He turned back, saw it was Bang Bang, and even smiled.
“Great grandson.” Zhao Old Man greeted, without guilt: “Lai Mei hit his head, did you see? Is he okay?”
Bang Bang gritted his teeth, took a deep breath, “This is my parents’ room, get out.”
Zhao Old Man: “What’s the rush, I’ll leave when I should.”
Seeing the glued matchboxes, he picked one up and shook it, unhappily saying: “Home even has gluing matchboxes work now? Haven’t been here months, your family’s days getting better, your mom didn’t tell me, not taking her dad seriously.”
He tore up the matchboxes Zhao Liuniang had glued, mouth downturned, looking ominously gloomy.
Bang Bang went to stop him, not wanting his mom’s work wasted, didn’t dare use force, just grabbed Zhao Old Man’s hand.
“……Mom worked hard to glue them, don’t tear.”
Zhao Old Man ignored him, very dissatisfied with Zhao Liuniang, determined to teach her a lesson, swept away his grandson’s arm, tearing one after another.
Bang Bang’s eyes reddened.
He pounced again.
Zhao Old Man impatient, raised his fist to hit him; this scene was just seen by Gu Yuanshan hurrying over.
“What are you doing!” He rushed over, grabbed Zhao Old Man’s arm, face cold as frost, “Come to my home and hit my family’s child, think us brothers are all dead?”
Bang Bang pulled the stone from his pocket, raised his arm high, smashed viciously onto Zhao Old Man’s arm.
He said: “I said, don’t bully my mom.”
Bang Bang knew his mom had suffered before, just saw her cry, huge anger surged in his heart.
Zhao Old Man cried out in pain, eyes vicious, slapped his palm toward Bang Bang’s face.
Gu Yuanshan blocked in front of his nephew, grabbed the old man’s arm again, voice very cold, “Don’t lay hands!”
Zhao Old Man was pushed staggering, the sack fell to the ground, things inside rolling out.
Seeing the mess on the floor, Gu Yuanshan laughed in anger.
Zhao Old Man knew he couldn’t gain advantage today, eyes darkened, glanced at Bang Bang, picked up things to leave.
Gu Yuanshan couldn’t just watch him take all their stuff, tugged the sack, pulled slightly, didn’t speak, smiled insincerely at him.
“Gu Family kid, what are you doing?” Zhao Old Man had thick skin, righteously said: “I rarely come, my daughter’s filial things to me, can’t I take?”
Bang Bang exposed him: “You hurt Lai Mei, Mom won’t let you take advantage.”
“Who hurt Lai Mei, he hit the wall himself, how’s it my fault.” Zhao Old Man shamelessly denied.
Zhao Liuniang returned and heard this, trembling with rage.
“Not you pushing, how could he bust his head?” She rushed into the room.
Seeing the torn matchboxes on the floor, her face turned ashen.
Zhao Old Man said: “He disrespected elders, what’s wrong with hitting him! Not only him, I’ll hit you too!”
He swung his palm, “Unfilial thing!”
At this time Gu Mu entered, loudly said: “Yuan Shan, drag this person out!”
Gu Yuanshan obeyed his mom, pulled Zhao Old Man out of the room.
Young and strong, Zhao Old Man couldn’t match him, afraid of hurting his waist, wisely didn’t struggle.
After reaching the yard, he shook off Gu Yuanshan’s arm, grabbed a jar of pickled vegetables from Gu Family, quickly ran out of Gu Family, cursing all the way, saying Zhao Liuniang unfilial to her dad, Gu Family looks down on in-laws…
Zhao Old Man came yearly, villagers knew his temperament, didn’t believe at all, upon learning he even hurt his own maternal grandson, all condemned him.
The condemned old man felt no shame, cursed back at people, nearly got beaten.
…
Zhao Liuniang looked at the messy room, plopped down on her buttocks, silently shed tears.
How did she have such a dad!
Gu Mu glanced at her, started tidying the room.
Bang Bang silently helped.
Grandma and grandson bustled, room soon neatened.
Zhao Liuniang kept her head down.
Gu Mu spoke, “Don’t overthink, he didn’t get anything this time, isn’t that good? Good start, won’t get anything this year, nor in past years, sort your mood well, wait for Second Son back, you two still need to take Lai Mei to hospital.”
Lai Mei’s pale face flashed in Zhao Liuniang’s mind, she pulled herself together, wiped her face.
“Mom’s right, good start this year.”
Bang Bang said: “Mom, for New Year this year, can we not go to Grandfather’s house?”
Zhao Liuniang was still angry, immediately said: “Not going! Never again!”
She hated her dad; went in past years for reputation’s sake, afraid he’d come regardless, making her unable to hold head high at in-laws.
Today with Lai Mei injured, she was completely disheartened toward Zhao Old Man, only wanted to cut ties forever.
“If Grandfather comes again, I’ll protect Mom.” Bang Bang said.
After speaking, he felt a bit embarrassed, rushed out the room, grabbed his saved candies, found village kids, developed informants, made them his eyes.
With candy to eat, the kids happily agreed.
Lai Mei slept on the dragon-phoenix twins’ bed, Xiao Jin curled by the pillow, clever eyes turning.
Lin Zhao, afraid it’d pat Lai Mei’s head, picked up Xiao Jin, stroked from head to tail.
“Don’t think of doing bad things.”
