“Aunt Lu.” Gu Mufeng gave Sun Kaifeng a calm, level glance.
“From what I have seen, even here in the city, a bride price of eighty or a hundred yuan is already considered generous. Two hundred yuan is the standard amount—and it is every copper the Gu family could scrape together. We have emptied all our savings and still had to go into debt to raise this sum. In our village, most families give no more than fifty yuan. My mother told me this match was arranged by my grandfather, and that the Lu family must be treated with proper respect. So we did whatever was needed—sold everything we could—to ensure your daughter would be given the honor she deserves.”
“Hmph!” Sun Kaifeng scoffed. “Keep your pitiful stories. If that is all you could scrape up, so be it.”
She turned sharply to Lu Qiqi.
“Lu Qiqi—did you not ask to sever all family ties? Husband, go with her to the commune and make it official. Let it be clearly stated: she is the one ending this relationship. We are not casting her out.”
Sun Kaifeng had already decided: now that she heard the Gu family was burdened with debt, it was far better to cut ties cleanly. Otherwise, Lu Qiqi would surely keep coming back to beg and rely on them later.
Lu Qiqi sneered inwardly—they want all the benefits while pretending to be entirely blameless. But none of that mattered. All that mattered was getting the severance signed.
“Second Aunt, it is true I asked for this,” she said smoothly. “But I have no choice. I am marrying into the countryside, after all. His family is large and their grain stores small—likely they will not even have enough to eat. And now they have gone into debt just to wed me. I could not bear to drag all of you down along with me—and that is why I asked to cut ties. But if Second Aunt truly cannot bear to part with me… we need not sever anything at all! That way, whenever I go hungry at my in-laws’, I can bring my whole household back to the Lu family to share your plenty…”
“Heh—heh…” Sun Kaifeng laughed uncomfortably, shifting in place. “Qiqi, of course I shall miss you dearly. But as the saying goes: a married daughter is like water poured away. You have a new home now; go and live well. Do not worry about us. The commune office closes very soon—hurry along with your uncle and take care of your business!”
She darted a pointed look at Lu Jianshe, who immediately stepped forward ready to leave.
Lu Qiqi stood perfectly still. “Second Aunt—have you forgotten something? The things my mother left to me.”
“You stubborn girl! It is nothing but an old worn box! You carry on as though it were treasure. Wait here—I shall fetch it.”
Sun Kaifeng stormed into the inner room, returned carrying a lacquered wooden box, and tossed it dismissively toward Lu Qiqi.
Lu Qiqi paid no attention to her aunt’s scornful manner. The box was all that mattered. She caught it, checked quickly that it was undamaged, then handed it to Gu Mufeng.
“Hold this for me a moment. I must go sign the severance papers—and once that is done, I shall come with you.”
“Very well. Take your time. There is no rush.”
Gu Mufeng accepted the box gently, handled it with care, and tucked it securely inside his cloth pack.
The original Lu Qiqi had lived so poorly in this house she possessed nothing but the tattered clothes she stood wearing. No bundles, no possessions—nothing to carry. She walked out freely, arms swinging loosely at her sides.
The original owner had been educated; her grandmother had seen to her schooling, and she had always done well. Writing a formal severance agreement was well within her ability.
Lu Qiqi brought their marriage certificate to the commune office, requested a certificate of household separation, and arranged for both the severance document and a formal letter of introduction to be issued. Once she held those papers safely in hand, she breathed a true sigh of relief.
On the walk back from the commune, Lu Jianshe leaned in and spoke as if offering wise counsel.
“Since you have chosen to cut ties, do not come back later with regrets. From now on, do not darken our door whether in trouble or in ease. And as your uncle who wishes you well—leave Lu Chuan here. No one wants to take in a wife who brings a younger brother along as a burden. You will only be sent back to us in shame when the Gu family tires of him…”
“Hah!” Lu Qiqi halted and looked him coldly in the eye.
“Little Chuan is my brother. I will bring him to live with me. But rest assured, Uncle Lu—even if my brother and I must one day beg for our food, we shall never stand upon your threshold.”
Without waiting for his reply or casting him a second glance, she turned and walked away.
Gu Mufeng had said nothing all this time. He had simply followed quietly behind her, watching how she handled every matter with her relatives. Once they were out of Lu Jianshe’s sight, Lu Qiqi turned to the man walking behind her.
“You… are… Gu… what was it again…?”
She had been so preoccupied she had not even properly learned her own husband’s name.
“Gu Mufeng,” he said quietly. “I am the third son in my family. I have two elder brothers, one younger brother, and one younger sister.”
He felt a quiet heaviness in his chest—after all this, his young wife still did not know his name.
Lu Qiqi nodded, absorbing it.
“Very well. Comrade Gu Mufeng… I believe you understand the truth of this situation. The match arranged by Grandfather was meant for my cousin Lu Meili. When she refused to marry you… I was sent in her place. I have no father, no mother—only a younger brother of eight years. He is still small. I must raise him. If this arrangement… does not suit you…”
“It suits me.”
“What?” Lu Qiqi blinked, certain she had misheard. She leaned forward slightly, looking up at him in disbelief. “You… you need not force yourself. If you do not wish this… we can arrange a divorce.”
At those words—divorce—Gu Mufeng felt a sudden jolt of alarm. Yet his expression remained steady and calm.
“No divorce. Your brother is my brother. I will help you raise him as our own.”
Lu Qiqi fell still, stunned. Such generosity was rare enough in this hardscrabble 1970s era—but even in the world she came from, few men would willingly accept a wife who brought a young brother to raise. She let out a soft breath.
“You truly need not do this. Marriages involving soldiers are difficult to dissolve, yes—but they can be dissolved.”
“I will not divorce you.”
Since he would not agree to part ways, Lu Qiqi did not press the matter. In truth, leaving now would be foolish. She had no money, no connections, no home—and a brother to care for. If Gu Mufeng was willing to stand by her… then so be it, for now.
“I must go fetch my brother,” she said. “Perhaps you…”
The sun was already sinking low. It was too late to travel far today. She had meant to suggest he find somewhere to rest for the night—when Gu Mufeng stepped forward, gently took the cloth pack from her hands, and said simply:
“I will walk with you to fetch him. Lead the way.”
Lu Qiqi led the way out of town toward Sunjiazhuang—Sun Kaifeng’s family village, where Lu Chuan was being kept. He had been placed in the home of Sun Kaifeng’s eldest brother and his wife. They had been married for years and had three daughters, yet no son. When Lu Qiqi and Lu Chuan were left orphaned, Sun Kaifeng’s mother had seen how bright and handsome little Lu Chuan was—and suggested he be adopted by her eldest son. Sun Kaifeng had then deceived Lu Qiqi with sweet words, telling her her brother would be raised as a young master—fed well, clothed well, and sent to school.
The trusting original owner had agreed without hesitation. She had only slipped away secretly once to visit him…