His movements showed not a hint of hesitation—he was very decisive.
He looked Chen San up and down and asked in a low voice, “Didn’t you say before that you wanted to marry our Ting’er?”
“How is Gu Ting’er any match for Gu Wan’er? Either marry Gu Wan’er into your family, or forget about the bride price!”
After saying this, Chen San leisurely crossed his legs.
Eighty-eight yuan—that was enough to cover the Gu family’s food for a whole year. No one in the nearby villages would surely offer a higher bride price than he did.
Since they were willing to marry Gu Ting’er to him for eighty-eight yuan, they would surely be willing to marry Gu Wan’er over instead.
He waited confidently for Gu Zehai’s answer.
Who knew that Gu Zehai not only didn’t agree right away, but instead grabbed Gu Ting’er’s hand and headed straight out the door.
His movements showed not a hint of hesitation—he was very decisive.
“Anyone who didn’t know better would think Gu Wan’er was your daughter!”
“You sell your own daughter without a second thought, but when it comes to your niece, you’re suddenly so protective. Could it be that Gu Wan’er is actually your daughter with Fifth Aunt?”
Those words really did go too far.
When Gu Wan’er learned that Gu Ting’er was to be married off to Chen San, she had secretly slipped out of the house.
Unexpectedly, just as she got near Chen San’s house, she heard Gu Ting’er say those words in a mocking tone.
Her normally good temper made her tremble all over with rage.
Without a word, she walked straight up to Gu Ting’er.
Before the dark-faced Gu Zehai could react, she raised her hand and slapped Gu Ting’er across the face.
Gu Wan’er had never fought with anyone before.
This was the first time she had ever struck someone.
Because she was so furious, she used tremendous force.
A crisp slap rang out.
Gu Ting’er covered her cheek in disbelief.
“How dare you hit me!”
She couldn’t beat Gu Zehai, but surely she could beat Gu Wan’er?
The more Gu Ting’er thought about it, the angrier she got. Ignoring Gu Zehai’s dark expression, she charged straight at Gu Wan’er.
She wanted to return that slap.
“I think Ting’er’s head hasn’t been quite clear these past couple of days—let me help you wake up!”
“You did wrong, Ting’er, and you won’t repent. You keep blaming others, and now you’ve even made up such rumors. Who are you trying to drive to death?”
Gu Wan’er spoke through gritted teeth, enunciating every word.
Her body was still trembling slightly.
She hadn’t expected that Gu Ting’er—the capable, magnanimous woman depicted in the book—would say such things.
Didn’t she know that in this village, rumors could sometimes drive people to death!
If her parents suffered any consequences because of this rumor, she would definitely not let it go, and she would not spare Gu Ting’er either.
“How dare you hit me!”
“If it weren’t for you, would I be like this now?!”
Gu Ting’er broke down emotionally, screaming without any restraint.
Gu Zehai heard footsteps slowly approaching in the distance.
He didn’t want others to know about this family matter.
After all, it was far too humiliating.
He clamped a hand over Gu Ting’er’s mouth. “Wan’er, go back first. I won’t let your sister Ting’er keep spouting this nonsense.”
Gu Wan’er glared viciously at Gu Ting’er. “Sister Ting’er, if any rumors that shouldn’t spread start circulating in the village, I’ll consider it all your doing. Don’t blame me then for disregarding our sisterly bond.”
Gu Ting’er’s eyes were bloodshot, and she stared fixedly at Gu Wan’er like a vengeful ghost crawling out of hell.
She let out muffled whimpering sounds, unable to say anything.
Gu Wan’er didn’t spare Gu Ting’er a single glance before turning and leaving.
Perhaps what was written in that book wasn’t the complete truth.
That book had started entirely from Gu Ting’er’s perspective—perhaps in Gu Ting’er’s heart, her family really weren’t good people!
As she thought this, Gu Wan’er walked toward home.
From now on, whether Gu Ting’er lived or died had nothing to do with her.
Even if she became prosperous, with the malice Gu Ting’er held toward her, Gu Ting’er would never let her live in peace.
She had to make herself stronger.
As long as she could activate the System, those items alone would be enough for her and her family to live well…
Once policies loosened up, she could do some small business and surely make a fortune!
As she thought about it, Gu Wan’er felt as if that scene had already appeared before her eyes, and a smile inevitably crept onto her face.
But soon, she thought of a crucial problem.
Activating the System required the red sandalwood bracelet in Zhong Heyang’s hands…
She couldn’t very well just ask him for the bracelet out of nowhere!
Better to visit Zhong Heyang a few more times first, and once they were more familiar with each other, then bring up the matter!
Gu Wan’er let out a long sigh, the smile on her face fading somewhat, her expression turning a bit troubled.
“I wonder how I can get that red sandalwood bracelet from Youth Zhong…”
Gu Wan’er muttered quietly.
“You want my bracelet?”
A cold male voice sounded from not far away, startling Gu Wan’er.
She pulled herself out of her thoughts and looked toward where the voice had come from.
Before her eyes was Zhong Heyang, the very person she had just been muttering about.
Thinking of what she had just murmured to herself, Gu Wan’er’s face flushed red in an instant.
“I… I wasn’t, I wasn’t…”
She was at a loss, not knowing how to explain.
Zhong Heyang glanced at Gu Wan’er, still wearing that cold expression, as if the words he had just heard had no effect on him whatsoever.
“I won’t give this bracelet to anyone.”
After leaving those words, Zhong Heyang didn’t give Gu Wan’er a chance to explain, immediately turning and leaving.
Great, now it would be even harder to get the bracelet from him…
Why can’t I control my mouth!
Gu Wan’er felt deeply regretful.
But there was no medicine for regret in this world; she could only think of other ways to activate the System.
Everyone in the village was poor, so they surely wouldn’t have anything the Trading System wanted.
Maybe… a trip to the county town!
Gu Wan’er remembered that quite a few people had found valuable things at the scrap station—perhaps… perhaps she could too!
And it just so happened that her mother had been wanting to take her to the county town for a medical checkup.
Gu Wan’er couldn’t help touching the scabbed-over wound on her face, feeling a sense of anticipation.
She hurried toward home.
Just as she reached the gate, she saw that her aunt’s family from her mother-in-law’s side had come to visit.
Her aunt’s family didn’t have nearly as good a temperament as her aunt did.
Every time they came to the Gu family, they would eat and take things, and few people in the household liked them.
But her aunt took her family’s words very seriously, and out of consideration for her face, no one could say much about it.
When Gu Wan’er recalled the way that uncle’s younger brother—her aunt’s brother from the original owner’s memories—had looked at her, she couldn’t help frowning.
From her current position, she could see the few people at the entrance, but they couldn’t see her.
So she decided to take the small path and go find Grandpa.
Grandpa had been a soldier, and when his face turned cold, he looked truly intimidating.
Her aunt’s family always came while Grandpa was away.
Who knew what they were here for this time?