Gu Yuanfeng couldn’t be bothered to hide her face and weep anymore. "Looks like Seventh’s life is getting better and better," she said sourly. "He spends what others live on for a whole year without a second thought.

"But here I am, his sister, and I’ve been miserable for half the day. Don’t you know how to show a little concern?"

Ancient Wen Heng glanced up at her. "I’ve noticed Sixth Sister has gotten fairer and healthier-looking recently, while Mother seems to have gained a few more white hairs. I was hoping you could tell me why that is, Sixth Sister."

"So you look down on me too, your divorced sister? But this isn’t what I wanted! You all forced me into this." Gu Yuanfeng then threw herself onto the kang bed and began to sob.

Li Cuicui cursed, "You troublesome girl," and briefly explained what had happened with the He Family. "I was the one who decided on her divorce. The moment they dared to plot against us, that marriage was over.

"But don’t worry, I cleared it with the Old Clan Leader. We weren’t the ones in the wrong."

"All I wanted was to stay in Seventh’s house for a while! As his older sister, can’t I even get a little of his good fortune?

"Mother, you never used to be like this with me. Is it because Seventh and his wife are always giving you Silver? Is that why you’re taking their side now?"

Hearing Gu Yuanfeng shift the blame yet again, Li Cuicui’s anger flared. "At least Seventh has never been any trouble! From the day he was born, has he ever caused me a moment’s worry?

"Now look at you. When you were a girl living at home, your brothers always let you have your way. They spoiled you rotten. And you? Do you remember any of their kindness?

"When the He Family mistreated you so badly, wasn’t it your brothers who went to their door time and time again to stand up for you?

"But in all these years, have you ever given any of your brothers a single smile?

"I don’t expect you to bring gifts and visit during the holidays, but you could at least say a few kind words, couldn’t you? 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

"Think about the times you’ve been in trouble. Why do you think your sisters-in-law refuse to get involved? It’s because you’re so awful to be around!

"Now, your brother and sister-in-law have just returned, and you’re already here picking faults. If you’re so unhappy here, then tomorrow I’ll go find a matchmaker and find you a new family to marry into.

"Walking around with that long, moping face all day... Never mind your father—he can’t stand the sight of it. Sometimes, even I want to slap you."

The old woman’s rapid-fire tirade finally silenced Gu Yuanfeng, at least for the moment. But her resentful eyes never stopped staring at Jin Qianqian, as if all her hardships were somehow Jin Qianqian’s fault.

Jin Qianqian silently scorned Gu Yuanfeng. ’So you think you have every right to take my house, and I’m the one at fault for not just handing it over?’

After staying a little while longer, Ancient Wen Heng took Jin Qianqian to visit a few of the elders’ homes before finally returning to their own courtyard.

Gu Yuanfeng stroked her own stomach. "Mother, Seventh’s wife has been married for a while now. How come there’s still no sign of anything from her belly?"

Li Cuicui said, "She’d barely joined the family when we had to flee the famine. After all the hardships she endured on the road, it’s perfectly normal for a pregnancy to take a little longer."

Gu Yuanfeng bit her lip. "Mother, if Seventh and his wife can’t have children, I’m willing to give them the baby in my belly to raise."

Li Cuicui flung down the rag in her hand. "What did you just say? I don’t think I heard you right."

"I said, Seventh’s wife hasn’t had any good news for so long, and look how thin and frail she is. There must be something wrong with her body.

"The baby in my belly doesn’t have a father, so I was thinking that after it’s born, I’ll give it to Seventh and his wife to raise.

"After all, Seventh would be its uncle. It would still be the flesh and blood of the Gu family. That’s much better than them having to adopt some other child later on."

"Bah!" Li Cuicui snatched the rag back up and threw it right in her daughter’s face. "I may not have given you a pretty face, but you sure have some pretty delusions! Who curses their own brother like that?

"How long have Seventh and his wife even been married? I’m not worried, but here you are, his sister, already making plans for them.

"It seems I’ve been too easy on you lately. Letting you get all fat and comfortable has filled your head with these wild fantasies.

"Let me make myself clear. That thing in your belly? Once it’s born, you send it to the He Family. I don’t want that kind of bloodline here; I’m afraid it will drag down my future grandchildren."

Hearing the disgust in her mother’s tone, Gu Yuanfeng felt incredibly wronged, and tears welled up in her eyes once more.

"What’s all this now? Can you stop sniveling all day long?" Gu Dashishi barked the moment he walked in and saw his daughter’s face.

After all, a woman sent back home after a divorce didn’t have a good reputation.

He had seen enough gossipy stares from the villagers these past few days. Coming home to this gloomy face was the last straw, and his temper flared.

Gu Yuanfeng covered her face and ran out, lamenting to herself, ’Why is my life so hard?’

"What’s she carrying on about now?" Gu Dashishi asked, then he spotted the clothes on the kang table. "Seventh and his wife are back?"

He started looking through the clothes, picking out the ones in his size. Besides Seventh’s wife, none of his other daughters-in-law were this thoughtful, nor did they have the money for it.

"Those are for us to wear for the New Year. Don’t you go wearing them out to show off now, or you’ll have nothing new to wear when the time comes," Li Cuicui warned as she saw him about to try a set on.

"What? They brought our New Year’s clothes already?" Gu Dashishi said, turning a garment over in his hands. "The New Year is still two or three months away."

Li Cuicui explained why Seventh and his wife had returned. "It’s such a long journey. I’m thinking I’ll pack up some of that cured fish and pork for them. It’s always good to have extra food when you’re traveling."

A look of reluctance crossed Gu Dashishi’s face. That was his favorite food to have with his wine. "Seventh and his wife aren’t short on things like this, are they!"

Li Cuicui shot him a glare. "You’re always so ungenerous. Relationships require give and take, even with your own son. Look around! The house we live in, the food we eat, the things we use—didn’t Seventh provide most of it? And now you can’t even spare a couple of dishes for him. No wonder the men in the clan don’t want anything to do with you."

"Who says they don’t?" Gu Dashishi retorted, craning his neck. "They ask me over for drinks almost every day now!"

"Hmph," Li Cuicui shot back, deflating him again. "That’s only because they want to curry favor with your seventh son. If Seventh hadn’t become a Scholar, do you really think those clan elders would give you the time of day?

"Oh, stop it. We’ve been married our whole lives; you should know your own standing by now. Hurry up and take the meat and fish over to them before they leave.

"They came all this way back. As their father, you should at least show some appreciation. Don’t just sit here and take everything they give you."

Gu Dashishi’s shoulders slumped. "Do I really have to?"

Li Cuicui raised a fist. Gu Dashishi immediately flinched back, muttering under his breath, "Fine, fine, fine. I’m going.

"All day long, all you think about is your son. This old man works himself to the bone and can’t even get a bite of meat..."