Chapter 11: Roommate
Gu Ershun was stunned by Gu Jiao's kick.
Although his position in the Gu family was not as high as Gu Dashun's, he was still pampered by his mother Liu Shi and never made to do any farm work. Instead, he was only allowed to study with Gu Dashun in the room. Whether or not he had actually learned anything was only known to God, but he was truly delicate.
He lay on the ground motionless for a long time.
What was wrong with this foolish child today? How dare she kick him? He really wanted to go up and give her a slap, but he wouldn't admit it. Gu Jiao's kick scared him.
"You, you, you... just you wait!" he threatened and ran away, holding his stomach.
Gu Jiao locked the door and turned around to see Xiao Liulang standing in the hall, looking at her with eyes full of scrutiny.
She thought for a moment and calmly said, "He fell himself."
Xiao Liulang: "..."
The Gu family had been waiting for Gu Ershun to bring Gu Jiao back for a scolding, but only Gu Ershun returned, looking battered and bruised, holding his stomach as if he had been beaten up.
Liu Shi hurried over and asked, "Ershun, what happened? Where's that girl?"
Gu Ershun exaggeratedly described what had happened in front of Gu Jiao's door, "I tried to persuade her to come and clear things up with Big Brother and apologize, but she wouldn't listen. She even kicked me. I didn't fight back because I treat her like a little sister..."
Liu Shi was furious when she heard this, "That little slut! She's nothing but a prostitute's daughter! She even kicked her own brother!"
In contrast, Zhou Shi was more calm.
If that girl dared to lay a hand on Big Shun, why wouldn't she dare to lay a hand on Ershun?
But she was still a little puzzled. This girl had been acting a little unusual lately.
"This is outrageous!" Liu Shi was angry that her son had been beaten, rolled up her sleeves, and slapped Gu Xiaoshun, who was standing beside her, "You go! Teach that little slut a lesson! Vent your brother's anger!"
"I'm not going," Gu Xiaoshun rolled his eyes at Gu Ershun, "Who knows what he did?"
"I didn't do anything!" Gu Ershun argued, "I just talked to her! Who knew she would kick me? I think she's just a fool, a lunatic, and a bringer of misfortune!"
"Who are you calling a fool?" Gu Xiaoshun stood up with a bad boy attitude.
"Gu Ershun quickly hid behind Liu Shi."
"You're still speaking up for that jinx! Who is your real brother?" Liu Shi was so angry she wanted to beat up Gu Xiaoshun, but with old master Gu presence, she didn't dare to hit her son.
She turned her head and gave her husband a signal with her eyes: "Aren't you going to say something?"
What could Gu Changlu say? When that girl didn't come to eat for a few days, no one asked her anything, but now they were all up in arms against her.
He didn't want to go.
Not because he was particularly sympathetic towards Gu Jiao, but because he was the weakest of the three brothers. When Third Brother had his accident, he was by his side. If he had pulled Third Brother up in time, maybe Third Brother wouldn't have died.
But the flood was too strong and he was scared. He left Third Brother and ran away.
He didn't dare to talk about this, only Grandfather Gu knew.
He had always felt a bit guilty towards the Third Branch.
"Changhai," Grandfather Gu called his eldest son. "Go over and take a look."
Gu Changhai hesitated for a moment and said, "Dad, the little girl is not very smart. I think we should let this matter drop, lest it become a big deal and make the villagers say that we are harsh to our own flesh and blood."
Liu Shi exploded, "How can we just let it go? Did you forget that it was not your Da Shun who was hurt? Haven't you seen what Ershun looks like now?"
Gu Ershun covered his stomach in grievance.
That kick from the jinx really hurt, and he was still in pain.
Grandfather Gu hesitated with a serious expression.
Gu Changhai whispered, "Dad, if it gets out of hand, it will damage Da Shun's reputation."
In the end, it was Gu Ershun who had been kicked, not Gu Dashun. Gu Dashun had only been pushed and shoved in front of everyone, which was a bit embarrassing. But Gu Dashun had not been injured and his studies had not been affected, so it was not worth damaging his good reputation just to vent their anger.
At this moment, Gu Dashun also realized that scholars value their reputation the most. Otherwise, the Gu family would not have been able to force Xiao Liulang to submit. He couldn't be confused about this matter.
He said gently, "Let it go, Grandpa. My sister is mentally handicapped, and if we fight with her, we will appear unreasonable."
Liu Shi was so angry she almost fell over. Why didn't you say that earlier? If you weren't going to fight, why did you not stop Ershun from going after her just now?
Grandfather Gu was obviously very satisfied with his grandson's words. "You are a sensible person. Learn more from your older brother and don't argue with a little girl all day, which will make you lose the dignity of an elder brother."
The last few sentences were naturally addressed to Gu Ershun.
"And you, don't go out and cause trouble. Don't tarnish your older brother's reputation."
Gu Xiaoshun was not spared either.
Gu Xiaoshun's left ear went in and out of his right ear, without taking it to heart.
Gu Jiao did not know that the Gu family had caused a disturbance because of her.
Today, she made a small profit in town, bought a lot of things, of course, it also cost a lot of things, one less sedative, two less coagulants, and several other wound medicines.
Gu Jiao took salt, star anise, fennel, and some ingredients to the stove room, and boiled water. Finally, she lit a fire in the brazier in the stove.
She handed the brazier to Xiao Liulang.
It was almost December, and it was still very cold at night. She could sleep early, but Xiao Liulang had to read by the light, and his injured leg could not withstand the cold.
The door was ajar, and Gu Jiao knocked on the door: "It's me."
"En." Xiao Liulang responded.
Gu Jiao pushed the door in.
Xiao Liulang was copying books at the desk, with only a small oil lamp by his hand, and the light was very dim.
Gu Jiao put the brazier on the ground and walked over to adjust the oil lamp to the brightest. After thinking about it, she went to get the oil lamp in her own room and brought it over: "The light is too dim, it's bad for your eyes."
Xiao Liulang's eyes moved slightly: "You can use the brazier."
"I won't be cold after I sleep." Gu Jiao said.
After a pause, she seemed to think of something and said again, "Can I come to your room to warm up by the fire before I sleep?"
"...En." Xiao Liulang nodded, sitting upright and continuing to copy the book on the desk.
Gu Jiao knew that he earned money by copying books for others, and although he didn't earn much, he had to give one or two taels to the Gu family every month. They claimed it was for the public grain.
The original owner didn't know that he was paying for her meals at the Gu family, and thought that the Gu family was really good to her.
To be fair, Xiao Liulang was only impolite to the original owner because they had a bad relationship, not because he had a bad character.
After a pause, Gu Jiao said, "You don't have to give the Gu family money anymore. I'll eat at home from now on."
Xiao Liulang's hand holding the pen paused.
Gu Jiao took the half-dry bedding and clothes and heat them up.
She moved very lightly, her breathing was very quiet, if Xiao Liulang had not seen her several times with the corner of his eye, he would not have noticed that there was an extra person in the room.
After heating the clothes, before leaving, she suddenly asked him, "By the way, what's your classmate's name?"
"Feng Lin," Xiao Liulang said.
Xiao Liulang copied books until midnight, got up, and found that Gu Jiao had folded his clothes neatly on the chair. When he picked them up to put them in the cabinet, he saw a pair of new shoes at the bottom.