Of course, a three-year-old child would not remember anything about gold bars, but Mu Guiying remembered the plot from the book.
In the story, during the second year of Mu Guiying and Gu Yunzhe’s marriage, Liu E brought her foolish son to their home to make trouble. In the middle of the argument, Liu E accidentally let slip that “the three gold bars Mu Guiying’s grandmother gave the Liu family were long gone.”
At the time, Mu Guiying fought fiercely with Liu E, and Liu E even scratched her face. When Gu Yunzhe rushed home to deal with the matter, he brought along Bai Lin, the woman he liked. Mu Guiying had already spent all of Gu Yunzhe’s salary because of her laziness and greed, so Bai Lin took out one hundred yuan to settle the issue with Liu E.
Gu Yunzhe was deeply moved. He never once asked about the injuries on Mu Guiying’s face before personally escorting Bai Lin back to school, their relationship growing increasingly affectionate.
Seeing that Mu Guiying held no place in Gu Yunzhe’s heart, Liu E mocked her mercilessly.
When Gu Yunzhe returned home from the army again, Mu Guiying caused another huge scene, yet he still offered not a single word of comfort. Instead, he mocked her with disgust. In the end, he simply moved his personal belongings back to the Gu residence. Even during holidays and leave, he never returned to Mu Guiying again.
From then on, their marriage existed in name only.
Liu E coming to the capital to demand money became the final spark that completely destroyed their marriage.
Thinking of all this sent a chill through Mu Guiying’s heart.
This time, she would never marry Gu Yunzhe.
But she also refused to let Liu E turn her into a public target again, into a burden in Gu Yunzhe’s eyes, a vulgar daughter-in-law in the eyes of the Gu family, or a loser looked down upon by Bai Lin…
Since Liu E had already exposed the matter of the gold bars ahead of time, Mu Guiying knew she had to strike while the iron was hot.
Her tone sharpened.
“Wait. Three gold bars? The cost of feeding and housing me for fifteen years surely wasn’t worth more than that.”
Watching Mu Guiying’s imposing demeanor, Gu Yunzhe suddenly realized she was not as foolish as he had imagined.
In fact, she was rather clever.
He spoke in support of her.
“The expenses of raising Xiao Mu in the village for fifteen years probably wouldn’t even amount to one gold bar.”
Mu Guiying turned to look at Gu Yunzhe. Her starry eyes carried a pleading softness, like a little rabbit lowering its guard.
“Commander Gu, could you help me write a guarantee letter?”
Gu Yunzhe nodded.
“Alright. What do you want written?”
Mu Guiying stood on tiptoe and whispered into his ear, her warm breath brushing against it. Gu Yunzhe instantly straightened his back, suddenly aware that even the tips of his ears had gone numb.
Feeling uncomfortable, he quickly pushed her shoulder away.
“Just say it. I can hear you.”
Mu Guiying stepped back two paces, finding him inexplicably strange.
She had only lowered her voice because she did not want Liu E to overhear.
Pulling Gu Yunzhe aside, she briefly explained the contents of the guarantee letter.
Gu Yunzhe returned to the vehicle, retrieved paper and pen, and quickly began writing.
Liu E wanted to leave but was blocked by Driver Xiao Wu.
Not long after, Mu Guiying and Gu Yunzhe walked back over. She took the paper from his hand.
“Auntie, put your fingerprint here, and from today onward, we’ll owe each other nothing.”
Liu E was illiterate, so Gu Yunzhe read the document aloud to her. In simple terms, it stated that the debt for raising Mu Guiying had already been repaid with the three gold bars, and from now on, the two parties would have no further relationship.
Liu E refused to leave her fingerprint.
Mu Guiying sneered coldly.
“In that case, return the other two gold bars. Your foolish son already told me there are still two bars hidden in the basket on the roof. I’ve even checked the basket myself.”
In reality, the fool had never said such a thing, nor had she ever looked. She was deliberately bluffing.
Liu E’s face instantly turned pale.
In the end, she pressed her fingerprint onto the paper.
Mu Guiying added her own fingerprint as well. Gu Yunzhe signed her name for her and even had Driver Xiao Wu sign and fingerprint the document as a witness.
Mu Guiying carefully tucked the agreement into her pocket.
Liu E had tried to gain an advantage only to suffer a loss instead. Even as she left, she continued cursing Mu Guiying.
“Don’t think climbing onto Gu Yunzhe means you’ll live a good life! One look is enough to tell me the two of you aren’t the same kind of people. He looks down on you and despises you. Your suffering is only just beginning!”
Gu Yunzhe’s expression turned awkward and unpleasant. He glanced at Mu Guiying, only to find her completely calm, as if Liu E’s words did not bother her in the slightest.
Smiling faintly, Mu Guiying watched Liu E leave.
Still cursing loudly, Liu E walked away before suddenly tripping over something underfoot, nearly falling flat on her face.
Mu Guiying burst into laughter at the sight.
Her laughter was crisp and sweet, like silver bells swaying in the wind. Even Driver Xiao Wu foolishly grinned along while staring at her without blinking.
Seeing this, Gu Yunzhe gave a light cough.
“We should go now, or we’ll miss the bus to the provincial capital.”
Frowning slightly, Mu Guiying followed behind him.
“We’re still going to the provincial capital?”
Gu Yunzhe turned and walked back.
The movement tugged at the wound on his back, causing pain that tightened his jaw, though his tone remained indifferent.
“Yes.”
Mu Guiying noticed the discomfort in his expression and glanced at his broad back.
She asked cautiously, “You’re injured? Shouldn’t we stop at the county hospital first?”
“It’s just a minor injury. Nothing serious.”
In a low voice, Gu Yunzhe continued, “Someone is waiting for us in the provincial capital. I already wasted enough time handling your situation in Ancient City Village. I don’t want to keep her waiting any longer.”
So someone was waiting for Gu Yunzhe.
Mu Guiying chose not to ask further and simply opened the car door and got in.
Along the way, she stared out the window, wondering what she should do in the future.
What was the capital like in 1984?
Could she still take the university entrance exams?
After all, the current Mu Guiying’s “outer shell” was merely an uneducated village girl who had never even attended elementary school. Yet the “inner self” of Mu Guiying already held a graduate degree and was an outstanding young woman in every aspect.
She refused to let herself be buried in this era simply because she had “knowledge but no diploma.”
Gu Yunzhe noticed that after getting into the car, Mu Guiying had not spoken again.
Turning around, he saw her leaning quietly against the seat, gazing out the window.
Outside were fields and forests. As a girl raised in the countryside, such scenery could hardly seem novel to her.
Could it be that hearing Liu E say he looked down on her had made her sad?
Thinking this, Gu Yunzhe suddenly asked, “Xiao Mu, are you thirsty?”
Mu Guiying returned to her senses, but before she could answer, Driver Xiao Wu handed over a military-green water canteen.
“Miss Xiao Mu, my mother made sugar water for me. The canteen is brand new too, so go ahead and drink.”
Embarrassed, Mu Guiying accepted it.
“Thank you, but I’m not thirsty right now.”
She placed the canteen aside and looked toward Gu Yunzhe, only to find his expression somewhat ugly.
Gu Yunzhe asked again, “Then are you hungry?”
Before Mu Guiying could answer, Xiao Wu handed over another yellow paper package.
Keeping one hand on the steering wheel, he stretched the package toward her.
“My mom bought me some bread. If you get hungry, eat this.”
Mu Guiying thought this driver was unexpectedly kind.
Smiling, she accepted it and set it aside as well.
“I ate breakfast this morning, so I’m not hungry either. I’ll keep it for later. Thank you, Driver Xiao Wu.”
Driver Xiao Wu grinned proudly.
Gu Yunzhe let out a cold snort and turned away.
Mu Guiying found him rather baffling. Other people were simply giving her food and drink—what was there for him to be unhappy about?
Meanwhile, Xiao Wu casually asked Gu Yunzhe, “Commander Gu, are you going to the provincial capital for official business?”
“No. I’m picking up the daughter of my father’s comrade-in-arms and bringing her back with me.”