"Ah——"Xue Ningxiang screamed.
Gu Jiao, however, turned swiftly and kicked the man away.
Xue Ningxiang was completely dumbfounded, she had absolutely no idea how Gu Jiao had managed it!
Gu Jiao, after beating up the man, turned to leave with her basket, not even glancing at Xue Ningxiang. It seemed as if she had stepped in simply because these shameless rogues were blocking her way.
Xue Ningxiang finally snapped out of her stupor and stood up shakily: " You...wait!"
Gu Jiao continued to walk forward.
Xue Ningxiang wanted to follow her, but her clothes had been torn by those men. If she went out like this, she would be exposed. Tears welled up in her eyes out of desperation.
Gu Jiao paused, then with a flick of annoyance, she reached into her basket, took off her own cotton-padded coat, and tossed it at Xue Ningxiang.
Xue Ningxiang stared, looking at the cotton coat, then back at Gu Jiao: "Aren't...aren't you cold?"
"If you're not wearing it, give it back to me." Gu Jiao stretched out her hand.
"I'll wear it! I will!" Xue Ningxiang hurriedly put on the cotton coat.
Gu Jiao's cotton coat was a bit tight, especially around the chest, making Xue Ningxiang uncomfortably constricted.
Xue Ningxiang bent down to pick up the herbs that had fallen to the ground, and said softly to Gu Jiao, " Just now...thank you."
She really hadn't expected this to happen, let alone that Gu Jiao would step in to save her. She was feeling a mix of emotions, no matter what, her thanks were sincere.
It was at this moment, she was truly certain that Gu Jiao had changed.
"Have...have you recovered your wits?" she asked cautiously.
Gu Jiao didn't respond.
"Or maybe you're still foolish…" Otherwise, why would she have saved her? She had bullied her so much before.
Gu Jiao remained silent.
Suddenly, Xue Ningxiang noticed the blood dripping down from Gu Jiao's left hand: "You're hurt!"
Gu Jiao said indifferently, "It's not my blood."
She was not lying; indeed, it was not hers.
However, something must have crossed her mind, for she wiped the blood off with a handkerchief.
Xue Ningxiang looked back at the four ruffians lying on the ground, thinking to herself, they didn't seem to be bleeding, so where did the blood on her hand come from? What had she done?
Both of them left the alley.
Gu Jiao glanced at the sky.
Suddenly, Xue Ningxiang caught her sleeve and looked pitifully at her: "Can...can I go back to the village with you?"
Gu Jiao's brows furrowed slightly.
She was not going back to the village.
Xue Ningxiang felt it would be reasonable if Gu Jiao refused, after all, they didn't get along. It was already magnanimous of her to have helped her due to their same village bond. There was really no need to bring her back to the village.
Xue Ningxiang silently withdrew her hand.
Gu Jiao calmly stated, "I'm going to the academy first."
Xue Ningxiang's eyes brightened and she looked up: "Can I come with you?"
Gu Jiao didn't respond.
She turned and headed toward the eastern side of town.
Xue Ningxiang tentatively followed for a few steps, seeing that Gu Jiao didn't dismiss her, she hurriedly caught up, feeling a sense of relief.
Xue Ningxiang's feet were bound, so she walked slowly.
Gu Jiao, despite her impatience, slowed down to accommodate Xue Ningxiang's pace.
When they arrived at the academy, classes had just ended.
Xiao Liulang walked out with his satchel and caught sight of Gu Jiao at the entrance of the alley. He paused for a moment.
He walked over with his usual expression, "Were you around here today too?"
"Hmm," Gu Jiao replied vaguely.
Xue Ningxiang was shocked. It was at least seven or eight miles from the marketplace to here. Was that still considered nearby?
Only then did Xiao Liulang notice Xue Ningxiang standing next to Gu Jiao.
A trace of surprise flashed in Xiao Liulang's eyes. He couldn't think of any reason why these two would be together, especially since Xue Ningxiang was still wearing Gu Jiao's clothes.
Uncle Luo's oxcart was already waiting in the alley. They had made arrangements in the morning for him to pick them up at the rooster hour.
The three of them got on the oxcart, with Gu Jiao sitting in the middle.
Xue Ningxiang once had a good impression of Xiao Liulang, but after that terrifying incident just now, she was somewhat wary of men and did not even greet Xiao Liulang.
Xiao Liulang did not care about Xue Ningxiang's attitude towards him. He just found it a bit strange, but he did not ask.
Gu Jiao gave her cotton-padded jacket to Xue Ningxiang, leaving herself with only a thin coat. She didn't feel it while they were traveling, but the moment they sat down, she began to feel cold.
Xiao Liulang looked down at his own robe, visibly hesitating. If he gave it to her, it might imply a closeness that didn't exist between them; yet, if he didn't, she might end up freezing. As he was pondering, he saw Xue Ningxiang weakly lean towards Gu Jiao, using her own body to warm Gu Jiao.
Xiao Liulang: "..."
After the oxcart passed through the alley, they caught sight of Gu Dashun waiting there.
Gu Ershun was already sent back home, so Gu Dashun was the only one left waiting for the oxcart.
Gu Dashun didn't pay attention to Xue Ningxiang on the cart. He just looked at the emotionless Gu Jiao and Xiao Liulang, and it occurred to him that they had been just as calm in the morning. He suddenly felt like they had already expected this outcome from the very beginning.
But they said nothing, simply watching as Gu Ershun was driven out. This even put him in the precarious position where his teacher almost suspected him.
Whose idea was it anyway? Xiao Liulang's? Or this innocent child's?
A gentle breeze blew past. Gu Jiao brushed away the hair blocking her face, revealing the birthmark without any concern.
This was a side to Gu Jiao that Gu Dashun had never seen before.
No, he had seen it once before, on the day of the examination. When she pulled him down from the oxcart, she had been just as carefree. But he had been too angry at the time to pay attention.
What had happened to this naive girl? Suddenly behaving differently, suddenly refraining herself from eating with the Gu family, and suddenly getting along well with Xiao Liulang.
"Are you thirsty?" Xue Ningxiang unfastened the water pouch from her waist and handed it to Gu Jiao.
Even Xue Ningxiang – the widow who had always clashed with her, had become her friend?
Gu Dashun's eyebrows furrowed deeply.
As the oxcart arrived at the village, Gu Dashun jumped down from the cart immediately.
Gu Jiao didn't bother to compete with him and only smiled at him lightly from the cart, "Remember to send Xiaoshun to school tomorrow."
Gu Dashun clenched his fists.
----
Upon returning home, Gu Jiao found it exceptionally cold that day. Her hands and feet were chilled. By the night, she got her period.
Among individuals with poor nutrition in rural areas, their periods tended to start late. At the age of fourteen, she was experiencing her first period.
She didn't know if it was because she had fallen into cold water recently, leaving her body susceptible to cold, or because she had caught a chill today, but her stomach hurt terribly.
She had been in the Organization for many years and was accustomed to various kinds of pain, but she couldn't tolerate this pain that came with her period.
Xue Ningxiang came over to return Gu Jiao's clothes. As soon as she entered the house, she noticed Gu Jiao sitting on the chair, her face pale, and asked immediately, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Gu Jiao answered casually.
A woman who could knock out four men with a single punch during the day was now so weak that she could barely stand up. Could there really be nothing wrong? Spotting the hand Gu Jiao had placed on her stomach, Xue Ningxiang exclaimed, "You got your period?"
Gu Jiao was too drained to respond to her.
Xiao Liulang heard the commotion in the next room and walked over, asking, "What happened?"
Gu Jiao remained silent, but Xue Ningxiang spoke up, "She got her period and she's in a lot of pain. Do you have any brown sugar at home? Let's make her some sugar water."
Xiao Liulang suddenly froze.
Xue Ningxiang didn't think too much into it. Given that they had been married for half a year, they must have consummated their marriage. So, it shouldn't be something they couldn't talk about.