“Big Sister! The village head is here!”
Second sister, Gu Rong’s voice rang out. Gu Jiu bit hard into her cracked, pale lips, released her grip on the old woman, and shoved her straight to the ground.
Gu Jiu’s vision darkened. She steadied herself by leaning against the wall.
The trouble in front of her wasn’t over yet—she couldn’t fall now!
Old Madam Zhao broke free and immediately started screaming at the top of her lungs, clutching the wound on her neck as she scrambled toward Gu Laoda.
“Help! Murder! My own granddaughter is trying to kill her grandmother! Where is justice?!”
The villagers were always fond of gossip. A large crowd followed the village head to the Gu household to watch the commotion, and the moment they entered, they saw this chaotic scene.
Village Head Feng stepped inside. He was thin and stern-faced. Because he always handled matters fairly and impartially, he held great prestige in the village.
Seeing that her elder sister looked unwell, Gu Rong quickly ran over to support her. Leaning on her, Gu Jiu gradually recovered—she had just suffered from low blood sugar.
“Old Madam Zhao, I heard you want to sell off the four children from the third branch?”
Seeing the village head arrive, Old Madam Zhao felt a flicker of guilt. But then, remembering this was a family matter, she immediately straightened her posture again.
“Village Head, you know our Gu family has too many children—we simply can’t afford to raise them all. It would be better to send them away to live better lives! And everyone, look at this ungrateful wretch who even tried to kill her own grandmother! Who would dare keep her in the house?!”
Village Head Feng glanced at Old Madam Zhao’s injury, then at Gu Jiu holding a bloodied knife.
Gu Rong, supporting Gu Jiu, protested angrily:“Grandpa Feng! They were trying to force my sister to death! She only fought back because she had no choice!”
Everyone in the village knew about the Gu family’s third branch. Even though Village Head Feng hadn’t witnessed everything, he could guess most of what had happened.
“Zhao family matriarch, your grandchildren in the other branches are all well-fed and plump. Sharing a few mouthfuls of food would be enough to keep these children alive—it’s not difficult at all!”
“Gu Laosan was a good child. I watched him grow up. Now he died serving the country, and his wife followed him soon after. The mourning period hasn’t even ended, and you already want to sell his children? Aren’t you afraid of divine retribution, you and Gu Youfu?!”
The villagers immediately began murmuring in anger, all condemning the Gu family’s cruelty.
At this point, the Gu family members inside could no longer stay hidden—they all came out.
So they had been watching coldly from the sidelines all along.
Old Master Gu, Gu Youfu, looked clearly displeased.“Brother Feng, this is our family matter. I already have my own plans—you don’t need to interfere. If you really pity these children, then take them all to your house and feed them yourself!”
Village Head Feng was so angry he could not even speak. The Gu family was utterly shameless.
If he took the children home for a day or two, that would be fine—but he already had his own children, and there was even a one-year-old baby in the third branch. If something happened under his care, he would bear a lifelong guilt.
But if he didn’t handle this, even though the Gu family hadn’t succeeded this time, they might try again later.
He was caught in a difficult position and couldn’t think of a solution immediately.
Just then, Gu Jiu spoke clearly:“Village Head Feng, there’s no need for you to support us. We only ask that you divide the family for us four siblings and sever all ties with the Gu family. From now on, we live or die by our own fate!”
“You want to split the family?” Village Head Feng frowned deeply, thinking it over.
The eldest of the third branch was only ten years old. The others were eight, four, and a baby still nursing.
After separation, without any adults, how long could these children survive no matter how capable they were?
But if they didn’t separate, Gu Youfu and his wife would eventually sell them anyway.
Old Madam Zhao’s eyes widened in fury.“You little wretch! You still want to split the family? You were born of the Gu family and will die a Gu ghost! Don’t even think about cutting ties!”
Gu Jiu understood Village Head Feng’s hesitation. If she didn’t push for it now, it would only become harder later.
“Village Head Feng, my siblings and I do not wish to become servants, nor do we wish to trouble others. I believe my parents in heaven would also agree to the separation. As long as the four of us work together, we can survive. Please grant our request!”
Gu Jiu and Gu Rong both knelt down. The villagers couldn’t help but sigh at the sight.
Village Head Feng saw them kowtowing repeatedly and worried they would injure themselves. In the end, his heart softened.
“Alright. Gu Jiu, Gu Rong, get up. I will preside over your family division!”
Old Madam Zhao looked unwilling.“Village Head Feng, aren’t you overstepping? These are our Gu family children—what right do you have to decide for us?”
Village Head Feng’s expression darkened.
“Our Shangxi Village is known far and wide for its strict moral conduct. If you shamelessly try to sell children and ruin our reputation, who will still dare marry into our village? As village head, I have every right to intervene!”
Hearing this, the villagers realized how serious the situation was.
Village Head Feng then announced the decision. The villagers all supported him.
Soon, clan elders were summoned, and Village Head Feng returned home to fetch brush, ink, and paper.
Inside the Gu house, Gu Youfu, his sons, and Gu Jiu went into the inner room to discuss the division. The others were not allowed to enter.
After careful consideration, Village Head Feng decided to give the old family house to the third branch. Since the children couldn’t farm, the land would be converted into 500 copper coins instead.
As for the family’s savings, no matter how they pressured Gu Youfu, he insisted there was no money.
Gu Jiu, recalling her memories, spoke up in front of everyone:
“Old Master Gu, have you forgotten? My father used to hunt and earn seven to eight taels per trip. He also worked in town earning 150 coins a month, all of which he handed over to you.”
“Also, the ten taels of silver sent as pension money from the provincial government last year—all of it went into your pockets.”
The crowd was stunned into silence.
Ten taels of silver was enough for an ordinary family to live comfortably for two years.
Gu Youfu gritted his teeth in anger but forced a smile.“With so many children and expenses, everything was mixed together before the family split. It’s impossible to account for it clearly.”
He refused to admit the money.
Village Head Feng said coldly, “Then take out whatever silver you currently have and divide it into three parts for the third branch.”
The clan elders’ expressions darkened. Gu Youfu fell silent.
In the end, Gu Jiu only received one tael of silver.
The documents were made in four copies. After thumbprinting, the family division was finalized.
The old Gu household had once relied entirely on Gu Laosan’s income. Now, without him, the parasites were simply consuming the family dry—which was why they were so eager to sell the children.
The old house was at the village entrance, dilapidated and barely livable.
Gu Jiu carried a basket containing their share: two wooden basins, two quilts, two broken clay jars, and some old clothes. Gu Rong carried the remaining bowls and utensils.
They first went to Granny Zhou’s house to pick up the youngest sister and little brother. Granny Zhou had tried to keep them for lunch, but Gu Jiu declined, saying they still had to move.
Granny Zhou had lost her own children long ago and had no grandchildren, so she was already struggling to survive—she couldn’t afford to feed them either.
After walking most of the village, they finally arrived.
Little Man stood blankly in front of the broken house.
“Big sister… is this our new home?”