Grandma Gu moved quickly. She found Matchmaker Zhao to set an auspicious date and went to Chen Xiu’s home in Xiahe Village to propose the marriage.
On the day of the visit, Grandma Gu patted down her clothes. “Hanhan, change your clothes and come with Grandma to Xiahe Village.”
Gu Yihan was slightly taken aback. “Grandma, is it… appropriate for me to go?”
Grandma Gu said with an amused laugh, “We country folk aren’t so particular about these things. That Chen Xiu is coming to our family to be a stepmother to you and your sister, so you should take a look too.”
Seeing the look on Grandma Gu’s face that insisted she go along for the viewing, Gu Yihan put on a newly made dress and tied her hair into the double braids characteristic of the era. The little country girl was instantly transformed into a youthful, beautiful, and delicate young lady.
Looking at her pretty granddaughter, Grandma Gu said, “New clothes really do look better.”
In truth, Gu Yihan felt that she was still young and didn’t need to dress particularly well. But Grandma Gu, worried she would be looked down upon when she started school at the Commune, had spent a fortune to have a new outfit made for her.
Matchmaker Zhao led their group onto an ox-cart headed for Xiahe Village. The two-hour journey nearly made Gu Yihan sick from the bumpy ride.
They soon found Chen Xiu’s house. Upon entering, they saw a middle-aged woman dressed in patched clothes. Her hair was dry and she looked frail, as if she couldn’t withstand a gust of wind.
Matchmaker Zhao introduced her to Grandma Gu, “This is Sister-in-law Chen. Her daughter, Chen Xiu, is the eldest. She’s exceptionally capable.”
Gu Yihan rolled her eyes inwardly. If she wasn’t capable, she would have starved to death. Judging by Chen Xiu’s mother, she didn’t look like someone who could do heavy labor.
Grandma Gu didn’t waste any time. “You look younger than me, so I’ll call you ‘younger sister’.”
“My son is getting married for the second time, so we won’t be holding a banquet. We’ll just have a meal at home to celebrate the marriage.”
Sister-in-law Chen didn’t care whether there was a banquet or not. If they wanted to marry her daughter, they had to give money. “No banquet is fine, but you must give 55 yuan for the betrothal gifts.”
While they were speaking, Chen Xiu came out to pour them water, allowing Grandma Gu and the others to get a good look at her.
Grandma Gu looked her over and felt she was acceptable. While her looks weren’t outstanding, her youth was a definite advantage.
Seeing that Grandma Gu hadn’t replied, Matchmaker Zhao stepped in to smooth things over. “Auntie Gu, the girl is only 23. She was held back by her family situation.”
“In ’59, the family had no grain. Her father went into the mountains to find food and never came back. She could have married someone to get by, but she couldn’t bear to leave her younger siblings. She single-handedly supported the family for several years.”
“I wouldn’t have recommended her to your second son if she wasn’t a good person. That would ruin my reputation, wouldn’t it?”
Grandma Gu knew Matchmaker Zhao’s reputation was reliable. “Alright. No wedding, 55 yuan for the betrothal gifts, and we’ll provide a bolt of red cloth.”
With both sides in agreement, the wedding date was set.
After leaving Xiahe Village, Grandma Gu said, “Sister Zhao, if there are any suitable young men around here, please keep an eye out. My eldest granddaughter is already 17, it’s time to arrange a match for her.”
Matchmaker Zhao patted her chest and guaranteed, “Don’t you worry, leave it to me.”
That night, Gu Yihan lay alone in bed, unable to sleep. Sipping her milk, she thought about how quickly time passed. Tomorrow, her new stepmother would be arriving.
On the way home that day, Grandma Gu had even asked her what she thought of this stepmother. She was clearly testing her, treating her like a child. In any case, as long as they stayed out of each other’s way, it was all the same to her who married into the family.
Suddenly, Gu Yihan sniffed the air. Why was there a smell of smoke? Could something be on fire? She had a bad feeling.
She went outside to look and saw that the firewood pile next to the kitchen and the kitchen itself were ablaze. This was arson.
Gu Yihan immediately screamed in the courtyard, “Murder! Someone set a fire! Catch the murderer!” Her sharp, childish voice was exceptionally loud in the quiet night.
Not only did it wake up her family, but the neighbors on both sides as well.
Her family members were startled by her voice. Hearing what she said, they hastily threw on some clothes and rushed out. The moment they saw the fire, Gu Lao Da and the others had no time to say anything and immediately started fighting the blaze.
The neighbors ran directly toward the fire and saw a dark figure flash by. “Quick, grab him! That’s the murderer!”
The villagers were quite united. Some brought water to douse the flames, while the remaining few intercepted the arsonist, finally managing to capture the person.
Gu Yihan felt relieved once the fire was out. Grandma Gu was terrified; if not for her granddaughter’s alertness, the entire family would have been gone.
When Gu Jiawang and the other villagers dragged the arsonist over, they saw it was Zhang Cuihua.
Grandma Gu and Gu Dasao rushed forward. One grabbed her hair while the other kicked her to the ground, then picked up a wooden stick and started beating Zhang Cuihua’s body with it.
Grandma Gu cursed hatefully, “You motherless bitch! You ungrateful wolf! You want to die? I’ll grant your wish!”
Zhang Cuihua curled up on the ground, shielding her head with her hands as she rolled around.
The Brigade Leader also rushed over and said, “Alright, stop hitting her! If you beat her to death, you’ll go to jail.”
Only then did Grandma Gu and Gu Dasao let go.
Grandma Gu said, “Brigade Leader, report this to the Public Security Bureau! This is attempted murder!”
Gu Lao Da and Gu Lao Er, having finished their work, added, “We must report her to the Public Security Bureau. She was trying to burn our whole family alive.”
A deep hatred shone in Zhang Cuihua’s eyes. “None of you will die a good death! As long as I’m alive, I won’t let you go!” Her face was contorted with rage as she stared at everyone in the courtyard, as if she wanted to tear them all to pieces.
The Brigade Leader gave the order, “Gag Zhang Cuihua and tie her up. Arrange for someone to watch her tonight, and we’ll send her to the Public Security Bureau tomorrow.”
An auntie from the village said, “She won’t come back for revenge later, will she? She’s a madwoman. Who knows what she’ll do in the future?”
Jiawang’s Wife also said, “This is all Gu Aidang’s family’s fault. They had a perfectly good wife and they divorced her.”
Then she added mysteriously, “You all don’t know, do you? After Zhang Cuihua went back to her parents’ home, her family sold her to a man whose wife had died. That man beats her whenever he’s in a bad mood.”
Liu Zhaodi shivered in fear. “Really?” She was once again thankful that she had exchanged for a precious son.
Jiawang’s Wife, looking smug that her information was better than anyone else’s, said proudly, “Would I lie to you? My cousin married into the same village as her second husband. I heard the beatings are terrible.”
Just as Liu Zhaodi was about to ask something, she heard the Brigade Leader shout, “Everyone go back to sleep! You still have to work tomorrow!”
The crowd dispersed.