Chapter 30 - 11: Backbone

Chapter 30: Chapter 11: Backbone

"Sixteen and still young?" Huang Xiulan scoffed.

"When I was sixteen, people were already arranging my marriage. Was there anything around the house I didn’t do? Are the daughters of the Gu Family just that precious? Fine, even if she is... if you want to spoil her, you can do it yourselves. There’s no reason why we daughters-in-law should have to spoil her too."

Seeing how furious his wife was, Brother Gu lost any inclination to deal with his troublesome sister. He moved a small stool over and nudged her leg with his knee.

He tried to sweet-talk her.

"I didn’t mean you had to spoil her. It was just something I said, why are you so angry?"

"Xing’er isn’t a child anymore, and it’s true we’ve spoiled her rotten. Aren’t Mom and Dad trying to fix her attitude? Maybe it won’t be long... before they can straighten her out."

"Hah." Huang Xiulan gave a cool chuckle, then smiled. "This is just about the shoes. If our dear little sister-in-law finds out that Third Brother’s wife also bought Da Zai some special children’s snowflake cream, she’ll be even more sour about it."

She knew very well that her sister-in-law’s jar of snowflake cream was almost empty, and she’d been dying for a new one.

Da Zai got what she wanted so effortlessly. How could Gu Xing’er not throw a fit?

Brother Gu was speechless.

His wife wasn’t exaggerating in the slightest.

Seeing him silent, Huang Xiulan added, "Let me tell you, Tie Dan and Tie Chui are getting older, and our family has a lot of expenses. You need to keep that in mind. If that ’good sister’ of yours comes to sweet-talk you, you’re not allowed to go soft."

Brother Gu said with a simple-minded honesty, "I don’t have any money. You’re in charge of our family’s finances, so no one can fool me."

Huang Xiulan thought about it and realized he had a point.

Gu Xing’er’s wails rang out intermittently, but every member of the Gu family knew her temperament, so no one went outside.

The sounds of cursing and grumbling drifted in from outside.

She started cursing her brothers and sisters-in-law, not even sparing Father Gu and Mother Gu. Her words were filled with nothing but resentment.

Mother Gu was seething. "Look at your ’good’ daughter! I told you your mother, with her mean and selfish nature, couldn’t possibly raise a good child. Look at her! Xing’er’s personality is beyond saving now. All she knows how to do is compare herself to others. Today, she even dared to lay a hand on her own nephew! It’s a good thing Chenghuai isn’t home. If he were here, he’d have her strung up and beaten."

Since it concerned his own mother, Father Gu found it difficult to comment and could only laugh evasively.

"There’s still a chance to set her straight, still a chance."

"A chance, my ass!" Mother Gu swore under her breath. "She’s already sixteen and will be getting married soon. With a temperament like hers, she’ll bring ruin to any family she marries into. Mark my words, you’ll have plenty to worry about later."

The thought of her mother-in-law, who had spoiled Gu Xing’er rotten, made Mother Gu gasp with anger.

Father Gu was worried too. He let out a heavy sigh, unable to say another word.

Outside, Gu Xing’er cried for a while longer. When she realized no one in the family was paying her any mind, she shot up from her stool and ran out of the Gu residence like the wind.

She made a beeline for her grandparents’ house.

The Gu grandparents were both long-lived and still alive, but they lived with their youngest son.

Father Gu, the middle son, wasn’t the favorite, but at least the old couple hadn’t treated him too badly.

The reason Old Mrs. Gu had taken Gu Xing’er to raise was that the girl resembled her. But who could have known that, spoiled rotten by the old matriarch, Gu Xing’er’s personality would become so domineering and arrogant that she couldn’t get along with anyone.

"Granny!" Gu Xing’er cried.

Old Mrs. Gu was getting on in years, and her hearing wasn’t what it used to be. Gu Xing’er had to call out several times before she was heard.

"Is that Xing’er?" the old woman asked, starting to get out of bed. "Why do I hear Xing’er crying? Who’s been bullying my Xing’er?"

The lady of the house—the old woman’s youngest daughter-in-law—rolled her eyes so far back they could have seen the wooden ceiling beams.

She pursed her lips in disdain.

’Bully Gu Xing’er?’

’With that girl’s bossy and aggressive personality, who would dare bully her?’

Unaware of her youngest daughter-in-law’s thoughts, Old Mrs. Gu lifted the bamboo curtain to step outside. A figure charged forward, nearly knocking her over.

Fortunately, her youngest son was right behind her and reached out to steady his mother. His voice was sharp with fear. "Gu Xing’er, what’s the big hurry? What would you have done if you’d run into your granny!"

Gu Xing’er’s face was pale. Her eyes were so swollen they looked like two eggs resting in their sockets.

"I didn’t know Granny was right in the doorway," she explained meekly, her head bowed.

Old Mrs. Gu patted her youngest son’s arm. "I’m fine, Son. Xing’er didn’t mean to, so don’t pick on a junior."

After placating her son, she turned her cloudy eyes to Gu Xing’er. "Why are you crying? Who bullied you? Tell Granny, and Granny will go give them a piece of her mind for you."

Through her tears, Gu Xing’er sobbed, "It was my third sister-in-law’s second older brother. He hit me."

Upon hearing this, Granny Gu, who had been all bluster and fury just a moment before, instantly fell silent.

’So it was someone from Chenghuai’s wife’s side of the family.’

The terrifying rumors about Lin Zhaoniang being a she-devil came to mind. Granny Gu’s hand, as rough as tree bark, pulled Gu Xing’er into the house as she said, "Xing’er, you’ve come at the perfect time. Granny saved some candy for you. Come on, let’s go to my room and eat it."