He immediately exploded at Fu Yunzhu, shouting at her without any restraint. “You damned girl! Out all day again! I slaved away at the Gu house all day, and there wasn’t even anyone to hand me a sip of water. Hurry up and go to the little shop at the village entrance and buy me two liang of liquor, then weigh out some peanuts. And when you get back, boil me two eggs!”
He was exhausted and irritable, completely forgetting the image of a loving father he usually tried so hard to maintain.
In this household, he didn’t dare lose his temper at anyone else but Fu Yunzhu was fair game.
Fu Yunzhu shot him a glare. “I can boil you two eggs from the ones at home. As for liquor and peanuts, it’s already this late the shop’s closed.”
Fu Weidong slammed his hand on the table. “Give me the money. I’ll go buy it myself.”
Fu Yunzhu knew exactly what he was after those two hundred yuan she’d just gotten. Too lazy to bother with him, she turned and headed for the kitchen.
She had only taken two steps when Fu Weidong grabbed her and slapped her across the face, roaring, “If it weren’t for you giving your sister such a rotten idea, I wouldn’t have ended up like this today!”
Fu Yunzhu clutched her ringing ear in terror, frozen in place for a long time, unable to react.
He Cuihua tugged at the corner of her mouth and turned away.
Seeing that Fu Yunzhu still hadn’t moved, Fu Weidong raised his hand again but then he met her stare. The hatred bursting from her eyes looked like it could kill him. He froze on the spot.
Before, he could hit his daughter whenever he wanted say a few soothing words afterward and it would be fine. But now, a chill ran through his entire body.
“Fu Weidong, you spineless coward remember this slap,” Fu Yunzhu said. She no longer had any mood to go into the kitchen and went straight back to her room.
Fu Weidong stood there dumbfounded, for the first time feeling as if he’d committed a grave mistake.
Before coming here, Fu Yunzhu had lived to twenty-eight without ever being hit, nor had she ever hit anyone. Her instinctive reaction was shock. She covered her burning cheek as large tears streamed down her face.
It took her a long while to calm down. Then she began packing the clothes and daily necessities she’d need, and carefully put away her ID and travel certificate. Whether or not she could buy a ticket tomorrow, she had to leave.
Just then, He Yanyan’s voice sounded from outside the door. “Yunzhu, are you there?”
Fu Yunzhu wiped the tears from her face. “I am.”
Hearing her reply, He Yanyan hurried straight to the room. Seeing Fu Yunzhu packing, she grabbed her and whispered, “My cousin bought a big watermelon from town and asked you to come eat some. We really owe today’s wild boar to you.”
Only then did Fu Yunzhu realize that she still hadn’t properly said goodbye to this friend who was sincerely good to the original owner of this body. She nodded. “Okay.”
She went with He Yanyan to He Yong’s home. There was only his grandmother there. When she saw Fu Yunzhu, she greeted her warmly. “Yunzhu’s here? Go sit in the backyard I’ll cut it up and bring it over in a bit.”
“Thank you, Grandma,” Fu Yunzhu said politely.
When she and He Yanyan entered the backyard, she discovered that besides He Yong, Gu Yu was also there. Two other young men were sitting nearby one from the village, and another she didn’t recognize from the original owner’s memories.
Seeing Fu Yunzhu, He Yong quickly stood up. “Yunzhu, come over here.”
Then he turned to the boy sitting next to Gu Yu. “Use some sense and give up your seat.”
Fu Yunzhu hurriedly waved her hand. “No need, I’ll sit anywhere.”
The boy glanced at Yunzhu, then at Gu Yu. Seeing that Gu Yu said nothing, he immediately understood. He scooted aside and laughed. “Since I’m already moving, come sit.”
He Yanyan also nudged her.
Looking at the well-meaning siblings trying to set things up, Fu Yunzhu didn’t know what to say for a moment. They truly were sincere to the original owner.
She walked over and sat down beside Gu Yu, saying nothing.
At that moment, a light bulb in the backyard flicked on. The warm yellow light fell squarely on Fu Yunzhu’s face. At a glance, He Yanyan saw the slap mark on her cheek and her red, swollen eyes. She jumped up immediately. “Yunzhu, what happened to your face?”
“It’s nothing.” Everyone was in such high spirits she didn’t want to bring up something unpleasant. Besides, she’d already thought of a way to get back at him.
Gu Yu turned his head to look at her. One side of her face was badly reddened, and the way she lowered her eyes and answered so submissively felt like a heavy blow to his chest.
He thought he must truly have gone crazy these past few days, to the point where he couldn’t even tell Fu Yunzhu and his wife apart anymore.
But he quickly withdrew his gaze. “So stupid. Didn’t I teach you long ago how to deal with your family?”
Fu Yunzhu didn’t want to argue with him and risk arousing suspicion, so she remained silent.
Just then, Grandma He came out with the watermelon, happened to hear that remark, and saw Yunzhu’s condition. She immediately comforted her. “Xiao Yu actually cares about you don’t take it to heart.”
As she spoke, she handed a slice of watermelon to Fu Yunzhu. Only then did Fu Yunzhu realize how hungry she was. No one understood Gu Yu better than she did what he’d just said truly hadn’t been malicious. It was the tone of someone frustrated that iron wouldn’t become steel.
He Yanyan quickly chimed in, “Yunzhu’s memory isn’t very good. Could you teach her again?”
“Soft mouth, hard heart. At the Fu household, all traditional virtues must be used in reverse and in secret. Things like diligence, endurance, honesty, and integrity,” Gu Yu said, then took a bite of his watermelon.
“Used in reverse? Won’t they scold Yunzhu for that?” one of them asked.
“Pair it with ‘soft mouth,’ ‘hard heart,’ and ‘in secret.’ If you still can’t understand, take the talented Fu Yufen as your example,” Gu Yu said. Then, as if remembering something, he looked at Fu Yunzhu again. “Didn’t I tell you a year ago not to bring me things anymore? Such a simple matter do you not understand, or do you just not remember?”
Fu Yunzhu froze for a moment before realizing he was referring to the things she’d mentioned earlier at the village chief’s house.
He Yanyan immediately stepped in to smooth things over. “Yunzhu, where did you hide the things you brought back today? If Brother Gu Yu doesn’t want them, you can sell them to my cousin for cash.”
“Next time,” Fu Yunzhu replied vaguely. She didn’t want to lie to He Yanyan.
She hadn’t expected Gu Yu’s information network to be so efficient. In a village like this, there really were no secrets luckily, there hadn’t been many people around when she went to the village chief’s place.
She hadn’t eaten dinner, and it wasn’t good to eat too much watermelon on an empty stomach. After two slices, she felt less hungry and stopped.
After that, she listened as they discussed how to allocate their business during Gu Yu’s college entrance exam period, as well as preparations for an appliance store.
Gu Yu taking the college entrance exam didn’t surprise her at all. Before transmigrating, he’d received the world’s top elite education from childhood and attended prestigious schools all the way.
She wasn’t very interested in listening further. She stood up and said to He Yanyan, “I have a few words I want to say to you alone.”
He Yanyan got up with her. Once they reached the main hall, Fu Yunzhu spoke. “Yanyan, thank you for all your care and companionship. I’ll remember it well.”
He Yanyan was momentarily stunned. “Why are you suddenly saying this? The two of us what’s with the formalities? I want to be your good sister for a lifetime, so don’t say such distant things.”
Fu Yunzhu smiled. Though this was only her second time meeting He Yanyan, she already liked her wholeheartedly, without reserve. It was just a pity that she only remembered to say goodbye when she was about to leave and had even forgotten to prepare a gift.
She didn’t dare say too much. Leaning close, she whispered a few words into He Yanyan’s ear. He Yanyan’s eyes widened in shock. “Really?”
Fu Yunzhu nodded. “Really.”
“Then I’ll take leave tomorrow morning and not go to the county. My cousin and I will wait for you at home.”
“Okay. Thank you,” Fu Yunzhu said with a smile.
After all, this was a debt Fu Weidong owed her.