A three-year-old child naturally wouldn’t remember anything about gold bars, but Mu Guiying remembered the events from the book.
In the book, during the second year of Mu Guiying’s marriage to Gu Yunche, Liu E had brought the fool to their home to cause trouble. It was Liu E herself who carelessly revealed, "The three gold bars Mu Guiying’s grandmother gave to the Liu family have long been spent."
At that time, Mu Guiying and Liu E got into a fierce fight, and Liu E scratched Mu Guiying’s face. When Gu Yunche rushed back to handle the matter, he brought along Bai Lin, the girl he liked. Gu Yunche’s salary had already been squandered by the lazy and gluttonous Mu Guiying, so it was Bai Lin who took out one hundred yuan to compensate Liu E and settle the matter.
Gu Yunche was deeply moved. Without asking a single word about the injury on Mu Guiying’s face, he escorted Bai Lin back to school, and the two grew even more affectionate. Seeing that Mu Guiying held no favor in Gu Yunche’s eyes, Liu E took the opportunity to mock her relentlessly.
When Gu Yunche returned home from his military duties again, Mu Guiying had a huge argument with him. Yet, he offered no comfort, instead responding with cold, disdainful sarcasm.
In the end, he simply moved his personal belongings back to the Gu family home. Even during holidays and breaks, he never returned to Mu Guiying’s side again. From then on, their marriage existed in name only.
Liu E’s trip to the capital to demand money became the catalyst that officially pushed their marriage toward collapse.
Recalling this, a chill ran down Mu Guiying’s spine.
This time, she would not marry Gu Yunche, but she also refused to let Liu E turn her into a target of public criticism, a burden in Gu Yunche’s eyes, a coarse daughter-in-law in the eyes of the Gu family, or a failure beneath Bai Lin’s contemptuous gaze…
Seeing that Liu E had prematurely revealed the matter of receiving the gold bars from her grandmother, Mu Guiying knew she had to strike while the iron was hot.
Her tone sharpened. "Wait. Three gold bars—I’ve lived and eaten at your house for fifteen years. That should more than cover it, shouldn’t it?"
Gu Yunche watched Mu Guiying, her aura commanding. He realized she wasn’t as foolish as he had imagined; in fact, she was quite clever.
He chimed in, "Fifteen years of living expenses in the village probably wouldn’t even amount to one gold bar."
Mu Guiying turned to Gu Yunche, her starry eyes pleading, like a little rabbit showing weakness.
"Regiment Commander Gu, could you help me write a guarantee letter?"
Gu Yunche nodded. "Alright, what do you want it to say?"
Mu Guiying stood on her tiptoes, her warm breath brushing against Gu Yunche’s ear. He stiffened abruptly, startled by the tingling sensation in his earlobe.
Uncomfortable, he pushed her shoulder away. "Just say it. I can hear you."
Mu Guiying took two steps back, thinking Gu Yunche was being unreasonable.
She was only afraid Liu E might overhear, wasn’t she?
Mu Guiying pulled Gu Yunche aside and quickly explained the contents of the guarantee letter in a few words.
Gu Yunche returned to the car, fetched paper and a pen, and began writing swiftly.
Liu E tried to leave but was stopped by the driver, Xiao Wu.
Not long after, Mu Guiying and Gu Yunche walked over. She took the letter from Gu Yunche’s hand.
"Aunt, press your fingerprint here. From now on, we’ll be even."
Liu E was illiterate, so Gu Yunche read the letter aloud to her. In essence, it stated that Mu Guiying’s upbringing had been compensated with three gold bars, and from then on, the two would have no further relationship.
Liu E refused to press her fingerprint.
Mu Guiying sneered threateningly. "In that case, you’ll have to return two gold bars. Your fool of a brother already told me there are still two gold bars hidden in a basket on the roof. I’ve checked the basket myself."
Actually, the fool had never said anything, and she hadn't seen anything either—she had deliberately deceived Liu E.
Liu E's face turned pale as she pressed her fingerprint onto the paper.
Mu Guiying also pressed her fingerprint, and Gu Yunche added his signature. He even had the driver, Xiao Wu, sign and fingerprint as a witness.
This guarantee was carefully tucked into Mu Guiying's pocket.
Liu E had tried to gain an advantage only to suffer a loss. Before leaving, she cursed and swore at Mu Guiying.
"Don't think that just because you've latched onto Gu Yunche, you'll live a good life. At first glance, I can tell you two are not from the same world. He neither values nor respects you—your bitter days are still ahead!"
Gu Yunche looked both awkward and displeased. He glanced up at Mu Guiying, but her expression remained calm, as if Liu E's words didn't bother her at all.
Mu Guiying watched Liu E leave with a faint smile at the corner of her lips.
As Liu E stormed off, cursing under her breath, she stumbled over something and nearly fell flat on her face.
At the sight, Mu Guiying couldn't help but laugh aloud.
Her laughter was clear and sweet, like a string of silver bells swaying in the wind. Even the driver, Xiao Wu, couldn't help but grin foolishly, his eyes fixed intently on Mu Guiying.
Noticing this, Gu Yunche cleared his throat lightly.
"Let's go, or we'll miss the bus to the provincial capital."
Mu Guiying frowned slightly as she followed. "We're going to the provincial capital?"
Gu Yunche turned and started walking back.
The movement tugged at the wound on his back, causing him to clench his jaw in pain. He replied indifferently, "Mm."
Mu Guiying noticed his pained expression and glanced at his broad back.
Tentatively, she asked, "Are you injured? Let's go to the hospital first when we reach the county town!"
"It's a minor injury. Nothing serious."
Gu Yunche's voice was low. "Someone is waiting for us in the provincial capital. I've already wasted time handling your matters in Gucheng Village. I don't want to keep her waiting."
So, someone was waiting for Gu Yunche!
Mu Guiying didn't press further and opened the car door to get in.
On the way, she gazed out the window, wondering what she should do next.
What was the capital like in 1984? Could she take the university entrance exam?
After all, the current Mu Guiying's "shell" was that of a young village girl who hadn't even finished elementary school. But the "inner" Mu Guiying had already graduated with a master's degree—a well-rounded young woman excelling in all aspects. She didn't want to be overlooked in this era just for "having knowledge but no credentials."
Gu Yunche noticed that Mu Guiying hadn't spoken a word since getting in the car.
He turned to look at her. She was leaning gracefully against the seat, gazing out the window.
Outside were rural landscapes—scenes a girl raised in the countryside wouldn't find unusual. Clearly, she wasn't marveling at the view.
Could she be upset about Liu E's taunts that he, Gu Yunche, looked down on her?
At that thought, Gu Yunche spoke up, "Xiao Mu, are you thirsty?"
Before Mu Guiying could respond, the driver, Xiao Wu, handed over a military-green canteen.
"Miss Mu, my mom made me some sugar water. The canteen is new too—please have some!"
Mu Guiying accepted the canteen somewhat sheepishly.
"Thank you, but I'm not thirsty right now."
She set the canteen aside and looked up at Gu Yunche, whose expression had darkened.
Gu Yunche asked again, "Are you hungry then?"
Again, before Mu Guiying could answer, Xiao Wu passed over a yellow paper package.
Holding the steering wheel with one hand, he extended the other toward Mu Guiying. "My mom bought me this bread. If you're hungry, you can have it."
Mu Guiying thought to herself, This driver is really quite kind!
She took it with a smile and set it aside. "I had breakfast this morning, so I'm not hungry. I'll leave it here for now. Thank you, Little Wu."
Driver Little Wu grinned, looking quite pleased with himself.
Gu Yunche snorted coldly and turned away.
Mu Guiying found Gu Yunche rather inexplicable—why should he be unhappy just because someone gave her food and drink?
Little Wu, unfazed, asked Gu Yunche, "Regiment Commander Gu, are you on official business in the provincial capital?"
"No, I'm here to pick up the daughter of my father's comrade-in-arms. She'll be returning with me."