Before seeing Old Madam Gu, the thing that worried Gu Yuan the most was how she would get along with the Gu family.
She had assumed that, even with fragments of the original owner’s memories, she would still feel distant toward Old Madam Gu. She thought she wouldn’t even be able to bring herself to call her “Mother.”
But the moment they met, Gu Yuan realized she had been wrong.
Perhaps it was because Old Madam Gu reminded her so much of her own grandmother. When the word Mother left her lips, it wasn’t awkward or forced as she’d imagined.
It felt as though the woman before her truly was her mother.
It wasn’t that Old Madam Gu resembled Gu Yuan’s grandmother in appearance.
Rather, they gave her the exact same feeling.
Gu Yuan had never met her biological parents.
She had been raised entirely by her grandmother.
According to the neighbors, her mother had been deceived into giving birth to her. Perhaps she saw the child as a reminder of humiliation and a burden. After giving birth, she abandoned the baby to her grandmother and disappeared, never returning.
To Gu Yuan, her grandmother had been the only truly important person in her life.
Old Madam Gu failed to notice the fleeting trace of nostalgia in Gu Yuan’s eyes. Carefully touching the white bandage wrapped around her daughter’s head, she grumbled,
“Why bring her up? That wretched girl! She’s been led astray by her mother. Imagine daring to steal from her own aunt!”
Though she claimed she didn’t want to talk about Er Ya, she still answered.
“That girl’s grown some nerve. She’s even learned to talk back now. She dared argue with both me and the village chief. Your eldest brother’s making her kneel outside to atone for what she did.”
When speaking of Eldest Brother Gu, Old Madam Gu’s expression remained calm.
In her opinion, Er Ya’s disobedience was entirely the fault of her eldest son and his wife. Having him personally supervise his daughter’s punishment was simply making amends.
She snorted.
“Hmph. Lucky for her that my precious girl woke up. Otherwise, I’d have beaten her to death.”
As she spoke, her eyes reddened again.
“My precious baby has suffered such a terrible injustice. If anything had really happened to you… I wouldn’t have wanted to live either.”
Old Madam Gu had given birth to three sons, but only one daughter of her own.
She treasured Gu Yuan beyond measure—afraid she’d fall if held in her hands, afraid she’d melt if held in her mouth.
To everyone else, Gu Yuan was nothing more than a spoiled little princess who had been pampered into uselessness.
In truth, aside from refusing to do farm work, she wasn’t a bad-hearted girl.
Whenever she received something nice, she always saved a portion for Old Madam Gu.
That was why the old woman loved her all the more.
Gu Yuan hadn’t inherited all of the original owner’s memories, but she had inherited every bit of the girl’s affection for Old Madam Gu.
Looking at the elderly woman with her tear-reddened eyes, Gu Yuan suddenly saw her own grandmother’s face overlapping with hers.
The two images blended together before her eyes.
Her own eyes soon became moist.
Lowering her head awkwardly, she murmured,
“Mother… don’t say such things. Didn’t we promise we’d both live to a hundred? When your daughter grows up, I’ll take good care of you.”
She wasn’t lying.
Those were words the original Gu Yuan had often spoken.
The Gu family’s living conditions weren’t good.
On top of that, they were supporting two children through school, making every expense a careful calculation.
Gu Yuan was delicate.
She couldn’t bear hardship herself, nor could she bear to see Old Madam Gu suffer.
Whenever she saw the old woman chewing coarse steamed buns mixed with bran, she’d always say,
“When I grow up, I’ll make sure Mother lives a good life.”
Now…
The original Gu Yuan had disappeared before growing up, and her body had been occupied by someone else.
Whether intentionally or not, Gu Yuan felt responsible for taking care of Old Madam Gu in her place and fulfilling that wish.
Gu Yuan herself had grown up in the countryside.
But modern farming relied heavily on machinery.
If she were actually asked to work the fields by hand, she felt she’d perform even worse than the original owner.
The Gu family was desperately poor.
Even someone as spoiled as the original Gu Yuan only ate steamed buns made from coarse grain.
As a child, Gu Yuan had eaten coarse grain before.
It had been so rough that swallowing it felt like forcing down sand and gravel, scraping painfully against her throat.
The thought that this might become her daily diet from now on made her restless.
She immediately threw off the quilt and tried to get out of bed.
Old Madam Gu stopped her, her face stern.
“What do you think you’re doing? Your injury hasn’t healed yet. Stay in bed! If you need anything, tell your mother.”
Gu Yuan had intended to retrieve the bracelet from Gu Liu herself.
But the moment she moved, her head pounded violently, and nausea surged through her stomach.
She remembered that the original owner had slammed her head against a stone bench and lost a great deal of blood.
She might very well have suffered a concussion.
Since this body now belonged to her, Gu Yuan wasn’t about to push herself.
She obediently lay back down.
But she absolutely had to get the bracelet back.
Taking advantage of the situation, she grabbed Old Madam Gu’s hand and, imitating the original owner, whined coquettishly,
“Mother… my bracelet is gone. Er Ya must have taken it. You gave it to me. Please help me get it back. I feel uncomfortable if I go even a day without wearing it.”
Old Madam Gu exploded.
She slapped the edge of the bed with a loud smack.
“That little bitch! My precious girl, just wait! I’ll go get it back right now!”
She had beaten her own aunt and now dared steal from her too?
That little brat had grown far too bold.
Old Madam Gu decided she wouldn’t show the slightest bit of mercy this time.
It was about time she taught Eldest Brother’s family a proper lesson.
Otherwise, they’d forget who truly ruled this household.
With a dark expression, Old Madam Gu strode out of the room.
Seeing her face, everyone outside immediately assumed Gu Yuan’s condition had worsened.
Every heart skipped a beat.
Everyone in the Gu family knew how treasured Gu Yuan was.
If anything happened to her, Old Madam Gu would tear the entire household apart.
No one would escape unscathed.
Least of all Eldest Brother Gu’s family.
Eldest Brother Gu understood this all too well.
The moment he saw Old Madam Gu, his heart lurched.
“M-Mother… Little Sister…”
Under her fierce glare, the words “…isn’t going to make it?” died in his throat.
Old Madam Gu snorted.
“I knew you heartless lot weren’t hoping for my precious girl to recover. Hmph! Too bad for you. The Bodhisattva blessed us. Your little sister is awake.”
Though he’d just been scolded, Eldest Brother Gu secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Awake was good.
If she had remained unconscious…
He honestly didn’t know what he would have done.
Did he feel relieved because he cared about his sister?
Not at all.
He was terrified that if his daughter had accidentally killed Gu Yuan, the villagers would blame him and gossip behind his back.
After all…
He wasn’t Old Madam Gu’s biological son.
Because of that fact alone, any disturbance in the Gu household became entertainment for the entire village.
Eldest Brother Gu valued his reputation.
He wanted to become well-known and respected—
Just not for something like this.
Old Madam Gu had no interest in explaining anything to her stepson.
She walked straight over to Er Ya and extended her hand.
“Hand over your little aunt’s bracelet.”
“I can’t control you anymore, can I? First you beat your own aunt, now you steal from her. The Gu family doesn’t have such ‘fine traditions.'”
As she spoke, she shot Yang Shi a sidelong glance.
The implication was obvious.
The Gu family doesn’t teach children to behave this way.
Your daughter learned it from you—and from the Yang family.
Old Madam Gu’s accusation immediately turned everyone’s attention toward Er Ya.
Er Ya’s heart tightened.
In her previous life she had been an elite special agent with extraordinary combat skills.
But now…
She was nothing more than an abused, half-starved little village girl.
She simply didn’t possess the strength to oppose Old Madam Gu—or the Gu family.
Almost instinctively, her hand moved toward the bracelet hidden inside her clothing.
Realizing the movement might expose her, she forced herself to stop.
Lifting her chin stubbornly, she said,
“I didn’t steal anything. And I didn’t mean to push Little Aunt.”
Old Madam Gu wasn’t interested in hearing excuses.
If her precious daughter said the bracelet had been stolen, then it had been stolen.
She waved a hand.
“Eldest Son, hold her down. Eldest Daughter-in-law, Second Daughter-in-law—you two search her.”
The Gu family had returned home quickly.
Gu Yuan had only just been pushed over when they arrived, followed immediately by Old Madam Gu’s furious outburst.
Less than the time it took to burn a stick of incense had passed.
Since Eldest Girl had remained at home the whole time, Old Madam Gu was certain that if the bracelet had been stolen, it was still on Er Ya.
And if it wasn’t…
Then she’d search Eldest Brother’s room.
She refused to believe it couldn’t be found.
Within the Gu family, Old Madam Gu’s word was law.
Once she gave an order, even Er Ya’s own parents had to obey.
Eldest Brother Gu immediately stepped forward and seized Er Ya’s arm.
Even with all her experience as a former agent, she was no match for a grown farmer who spent every day doing hard labor.
He easily lifted her off the ground.
Yang Shi and Second Brother’s wife, Qian Shi, stepped forward to search her.
Yang Shi was Er Ya’s biological mother.
Qian Shi, meanwhile, was notorious for pocketing little things and hiding valuables.
If there was anyone in the Gu family skilled at concealing objects, it was undoubtedly Qian Shi.
Even now, Old Madam Gu was still trying to preserve a shred of Er Ya’s dignity.
After all, the girl was already in her teens.
She instructed only the women to search her while the men turned their backs.
As Yang Shi searched, she cried,
“Er Ya, how have I raised you? If you really took your little aunt’s bracelet, hurry and hand it over. You know your grandmother’s temper. If we can’t find it, our family won’t have a single peaceful day. I gave birth to you—you can’t repay me with ingratitude!”
Even with both hands restrained, Er Ya refused to stay still.
She twisted desperately from side to side, trying to prevent the women from touching her.
For the first time, she felt genuine regret.
Not for stealing the bracelet—
But for failing to hide it immediately.
Instead, she’d kept it on her person.
Truthfully, she couldn’t entirely blame herself.
As a former special agent, she’d been trained never to trust anyone but herself.
When she’d stolen the bracelet, there had still been people in the courtyard.
She had taken it while her back was turned toward them.
There had been no opportunity to hide it elsewhere.
Besides, the Gu family wasn’t her territory.
Keeping it on herself had seemed far safer than hiding it somewhere in the house.
She simply hadn’t expected Gu Yuan to survive such a brutal blow.
Nor had she imagined that, even at a time like this, Gu Yuan would still care about one worthless bracelet.
As Er Ya continued struggling, Old Madam Gu grabbed a stick leaning against the wall and struck her.
“Stand still, or I’ll sell you!”
Any lingering doubt vanished.
She was now certain the bracelet was hidden on Er Ya.
“Eldest Son! Take her inside!”
“Strip her naked if you have to and search every inch!”
Er Ya shot the old woman a murderous glare.
Strip her?
Aside from the harsh training she’d endured as a child, she’d never suffered such humiliation.
The old hag was truly vicious.
This body belonged to her own granddaughter.
Yet for the sake of a bracelet, she was willing to do something so degrading.
Er Ya shouted,
“If you’ve got the guts, kill me! Otherwise, one day I’ll make you pay!”
She engraved today’s humiliation into her heart.
Once she’d recovered…
She would repay this old witch a hundredfold.
Old Madam Gu merely laughed.
“Did everyone hear that? The girl’s threatening me now. Eldest Son, you and your wife certainly raised a wonderful daughter.”
Oddly enough, she wasn’t even that angry anymore.
Er Ya wasn’t her biological granddaughter.
When she died someday, the one who’d suffer from Er Ya’s behavior would be Eldest Brother’s family—not her.
She had already given the girl several chances.
If Er Ya had simply handed over the bracelet, she’d have scolded her a few times and let the matter end there.
Or if she’d cooperated during the search and they found it, a few whacks would have settled everything.
Instead…
She chose to resist.
That wasn’t Old Madam Gu’s fault.
The old woman had never considered herself a kind person.
She knew it.
Eldest Brother Gu and his wife knew it too.
Seeing the dangerous look on her face, Eldest Brother Gu immediately barked at his stunned wife,
“What are you standing there for? Search her! Look at the daughter you’ve raised!”
Stealing.
Hitting an elder.
Threatening her own grandmother.
If word of this spread…
How could he ever face the villagers again?
The mere thought of everyone pointing fingers behind his back made his scalp tingle.
No.
Absolutely not.
He couldn’t allow people to call him an ungrateful son who couldn’t even raise his daughter properly.
Making up his mind, he shouted,
“Second Brother, fetch a rope! Tie her up! I’ll search her myself!”
He figured that although it would shame Er Ya, he had no other choice.
His mother’s attitude made it obvious she wouldn’t stop until the bracelet was found.
If he acted harshly now, people would merely say he was weak and blindly obedient to his stepmother.
With Old Madam Gu taking the blame, the villagers would end up sympathizing with him instead.
His plan sounded perfect.
Unfortunately…
Things did not unfold as he’d imagined.
In the brief moment everyone hesitated, Qian Shi reached into Er Ya’s clothes and pulled out the bracelet.
Holding it up, she first waved it in front of Yang Shi before loudly calling,
“Mother! Look! Isn’t this the one?”
Though she phrased it as a question, Qian Shi knew perfectly well it belonged to Gu Yuan.
She loved taking advantage of others.
Because she’d given birth to two promising sons, she believed everything in the Gu household—including Old Madam Gu’s dowry—should eventually belong to her.
The bracelet itself wasn’t valuable.
But when Old Madam Gu had gifted it to Gu Yuan years ago, Qian Shi had secretly complained about it countless times.
Gu Yuan wore it every single day.
There was no way Qian Shi could mistake it.
The instant the bracelet emerged, Er Ya’s face turned deathly pale.
Panic flooded her heart.
She had an overwhelming feeling that something unimaginably important was about to slip away forever.
She struggled frantically.
“Give it back!”
“It’s mine!”
“I bought it! I bought it myself!”
“You can’t claim it’s my little aunt’s just because it looks similar!”
Qian Shi burst into laughter.
She was the one twisting the truth?
“Oh my, Sister-in-law is incredible! She’s even teaching her daughter to hide private savings.”
Turning to Old Madam Gu, she continued,
“Mother, I think we should search Eldest Brother’s room too. You’re the head of this family. Everyone is supposed to hand over whatever money they earn. If Er Ya managed to ‘save up’ enough to buy a bracelet, who knows how much more Eldest Brother and his wife have hidden? Third Sister-in-law, don’t you think I’m right?”
Never one to let chaos go to waste, Qian Shi even tried dragging Third Brother’s wife into the argument.
Yang Shi turned pale with fright.
“N-No, Second Sister-in-law! We didn’t!”
Afraid Old Madam Gu might believe those accusations, she hurriedly looked toward the old woman.
“Mother… you know us. Every coin we’ve earned has been handed over to you. We’ve never hidden any private savings.”
Having failed to bear a son, Yang Shi had always feared falling out of Old Madam Gu’s favor.
She had spent years living cautiously and submissively.
Hiding money?
Second Brother’s family might dare.
Third Brother’s family perhaps.
But she absolutely wouldn’t.
Now that she’d been accused, she looked ready to swear an oath before heaven.
At the same time, resentment toward Er Ya quietly took root.
Not only had this daughter failed to bring her honor by being a son—
Now she’d dragged her mother into suspicion as well.
Just as everyone said…
Er Ya really was a jinx.
Old Madam Gu snatched the bracelet from Qian Shi’s hand.
She examined it carefully several times.
Only after confirming it was indeed the bracelet from her own dowry did she tuck it safely into her clothes.
Rolling her eyes, she snapped,
“I may be old, but I’m not blind. Don’t try that nonsense with me.”
“I promised your father I’d keep this family together, and I intend to keep my word.”
“Anyone who dares destroy this family’s unity…”
“Don’t blame me for showing no mercy.”
As she finished speaking, she glared fiercely at Qian Shi.
Did the foolish woman think she didn’t know what she was trying to do?
Eldest Brother Gu might not have been her biological son, but he was still the Gu family’s eldest son.
The Gu family’s property belonged to him as much as anyone else.
Did Old Madam Gu favor her own children?
Of course she did.
In small matters—better food, a little extra spending money—she naturally leaned toward her biological children.
But when it came to the bigger picture, she always tried to be fair.
She refused to become the sort of stepmother people cursed behind her back.
Qian Shi was such an idiot.
Had she really mistreated her eldest stepson, would the clan have tolerated it?
And what about Qian Shi’s own two sons?
If such a scandal spread, would they really escape its consequences?
Too lazy to argue with someone so foolish, Old Madam Gu simply took the bracelet and headed straight back to Gu Yuan’s room.