He had just heard the news and clenched his fists in anger, shouting, “Fu Yunzhu went to my house yesterday. She said Uncle Fu told her to ask my dad for a long-distance travel permit to go to Kyoto to see her sick mother. At this hour, she shouldn’t have left the county yet. We need to go find her immediately.
“If she dares to pull a stunt like this, she clearly has no intention of coming back.”
The entire Fu family froze upon hearing this.
Huang Xiuxiang, in particular, forgot to curse for a moment, incredulously asking, “She said Weidong sent her to Kyoto to see Jiang Youqing?”
Fu Weidong suddenly realized, feeling as if struck by lightning. He remembered her fierce expression yesterday and her warning for him to remember that slap. He collapsed onto the ground.
After a long while, he finally reacted. “I really didn’t expect this girl full of lies, so cunning. She must have been prepared all along when she extorted that 200 yuan.”
Huang Xiuxiang cursed, “I said she’s just like that Jiang Youqing dishonest through and through.”
He Cuihua trembled with anger. “Now she’s sold everything in the house. She’s carrying at least five hundred yuan on her. Go find her immediately.
“She doesn’t have the guts to go to Kyoto alone except through the county post office. Weidong, find a way to the county now. Mom, hurry to He’s house.
“No matter what, we have to find that wretched girl, otherwise what will happen to our Yufen?”
Gu Yu immediately left the crowd, returned home, mounted his motorcycle, and sped toward the county…
He headed straight for the ticket window at the county train station.
There was no one at the ticket window. He strode forward, suppressing all emotions. Bowing slightly with a faint smile and gentle tone, he asked the ticket clerk, “Comrade, are you busy right now?”
The clerk immediately realized he wasn’t there to buy a ticket. She was about to tell him not to waste time if he was, but when she saw that ridiculously handsome face smiling at her, her attitude softened automatically. “Not busy. What can I help you with?”
“Excuse me, did a young lady named Fu Yunzhu buy a train ticket here early this morning from the provincial capital to Kyoto?” Gu Yu added a few descriptions to help her remember: “About eighteen or nineteen years old, with two braided pigtails, and two shallow dimples when she smiles.”
Long-distance travelers were rare at this time, and the purchase process was complicated and required registration. If the clerk cooperated and checked, she could easily find out.
“Is that your girlfriend?”
Gu Yu smiled. “My sister.”
Of course, Gu Yu knew what he was doing. But in this era, one had to humble oneself under the roof. Besides, he was only trying to make things convenient, so he didn’t mind.
The clerk was momentarily stunned. She didn’t expect a man to be so good-looking when smiling. His full lips curved slightly, and his eyes sparkled as if filled with starlight so gentle, and he looked like he had a great temperament.
Normally, she had little patience for ticket buyers, let alone random people. After all, this was her secure state job.
But for such a polite comrade, she was willing to help. “I’ll check for you.”
She pulled out the ticket registration book and flipped page by page. Sure enough, she found it. “Ah, I found your sister. She bought a ticket this morning just after 8 a.m. She also bought an extra bus ticket to the provincial capital.”
“Has that bus already departed at this hour?”
“Yes,” the clerk said. Seeing his sudden expression of disappointment, she quickly reassured him: “She’s grown up, can read, and seems capable. Don’t worry.”
“Thank you,” Gu Yu said, turning to leave, seemingly not hearing her continued small talk.
Outside the post office, he put on his helmet, mounted his motorcycle, and sped off wildly. Even through the helmet, he could feel the rush of wind.
But no matter how fast he rode, he couldn’t shake the thought growing crazily in his mind it was that she had returned…
After more than an hour, his motorcycle stopped at the Fu family’s door, where He Yong was waiting.
Gu Yu removed his helmet. “Come in with me.”
He Yong followed him inside, closing the door before speaking. “Brother Gu Yu, Yun Zhu’s family let her give up her marriage arrangement to Yufen. I heard your family was pleased about this, and she’s very disappointed.
“You even demanded a dowry of 1,800 yuan, which she couldn’t provide. After so many years of attachment, she doesn’t want to see you and Yufen happily attending college, getting married, and having children. So she decided to leave here to find her mother.”
Hearing this, Gu Yu’s rationality finally returned.
If his wife really appeared in this world, she would recognize him and wouldn’t let him go.
So he only needed to prepare a grand public appearance in this world, and she would surely see him.
He Yong, seeing Gu Yu silent, grew anxious. “Brother Gu Yu, are you really treating Yun Zhu this way?”
Gu Yu withdrew his thoughts, his tone calm. “This is the best outcome for her. Aunt Jiang has reliably sent her child support every month for seven years. That proves she has both the financial capability and cares for Yun Zhu. It’s far better for Yun Zhu to stay with someone who truly treats her well than to be a slave at the Fu family.”
He would continue waiting for her in Kyoto.
He Yong said nothing, seeming to agree.
After a while, he suddenly thought of something. “I don’t think Yufen is right.”
Gu Yu nodded. “I won’t marry her.”
Then he asked, “Did the Fu family cause trouble at your house?”
He Yong smiled. “Our Yanyan held the receipt high in front of Uncle Fu, saying she doesn’t care about family matters, only about business freedom, and basically drove him away like a machine gun. I didn’t expect Yun Zhu to think so thoroughly and even let Yanyan issue the receipt.”
“She let Yanyan make the receipt?”
He Yong nodded. “Yes, looks like she learned to be clever from Brother Gu Yu.”
Gu Yu pressed his lips, silent. He realized he had been too cold toward Fu Yunzhu before and didn’t understand her enough.
“Oh, and the things Yun Zhu sold us today were 20% cheaper than the market price,” He Yong added.
Gu Yu nodded. “Okay, take that 20% profit and split it between you and He Yanyan.”
“No need, no need.”
Gu Yu glanced at him, and He Yong quickly said, “Thank you, Brother Gu Yu.”
“If there’s nothing else, go tell the Fu family that the Gu family still has work waiting.”
He Yong laughed. “Brother Gu Yu, that move was excellent.”
Gu Yu frowned. He Yong hurriedly explained, “I misspoke. Not ‘strike someone when they’re down,’ more like ‘add a finishing touch.’”
“Mm, go ahead.”
He Yong ran to the Gu family. Huang Xiuxiang immediately began yelling at him, “What a black-hearted merchant! You dare take anything?”
“Grandma, what are you saying? We collect poultry and farm goods from around the area. Didn’t your family sell chickens and eggs before? How was I supposed to know we couldn’t buy from you this time?
“But now that you’ve said it, we absolutely won’t collect from your family again.”
Huang Xiuxiang was left speechless, furious. “Our family doesn’t have anything to sell now. Why are you coming here?”