The only benefit is that I don't have to worry about not seeing light anymore, and, who knows, maybe I can even watch the stars at night.
It is already getting cold at the end of September, and in a couple of days, it will be October (this September refers to the lunar calendar, and all months in this book are calculated according to the lunar calendar). When it gets even colder, it will snow, and this thatched house is drafty from all sides. My frail body can't withstand it; it's not advisable to stay here for long.
This was the first decision Gu Youyou made after assessing the house.
The noise outside was loud; the villagers of Lotus Village were outside drinking, and Jin Zijin was among them.
Every now and then, I could hear him clinking glasses with the villagers. Of course, most of those sounds were of laughter. Some even secretly wagered in whispers that his new bride wouldn't live past the New Year.
Others were even more exaggerated, saying she wouldn't make it through the wedding night.
The people nearby who heard the talk about her not making it through the wedding night couldn't help expressing their disagreement.
"That might not be the case. We all saw the bride this morning; like a ghost, she is. Even if Jin the hunter is bold, I bet he won't lay a hand on her!"
This remark successfully made several people around laugh out loud, which attracted even more attention from the vicinity.
"Wang Hai, what are you laughing at? It's not like you're the one getting married," joked a granny.
"Granny Liu, my laugh is none of your business. If I married that bride, I would've..." He suddenly stopped, noticing that old Master Gu was staring at him fiercely, and even Zijin's expression was not very pleasant.
They all quietly made jokes among themselves; it was someone's big day, and later on, no matter how they ridiculed, it was not appropriate to cause trouble there, as it might backfire.
He quickly changed his tune, "How could I dare? Even if I wanted to, my wife wouldn't agree to it."
The people next to him burst into hearty laughter, and someone teased, "Wang Hai, your life is pretty much over, you're utterly henpecked by your wife."
Saying this, another loud laughter erupted outside; had Gu Youyou not had keen hearing, one might have thought all the guests were so cheerful and happy.
Ever since she had acquired this sharp hearing, her inner strength grew day by day. As for the slandering words against her, she just treated them like stories. Without marrying, she would've been criticized to death; having married, the chance that people would stop the criticism was even slimmer, no telling how long the mockery would continue. They were just strangers who had heard but never seen her; as long as they didn't say it to her face, let them talk, what concern was it of hers?
Jin Zijin seemed to be a formidable person, possessing a substantial presence. Listening to his voice, sometimes as soft as the warm sun, other times deep and magnetic, he was articulate and graceful. It was hard to associate such a voice and demeanor with a rough hunter who couldn't find a bride.
He managed the mockery from everyone with ease. He did not lose out in his words and did not offend anyone; not everyone could do this.
Gu Youyou couldn't help but wonder, is he really just a poor hunter?
The guests left, and Lotus Village gradually fell into nightfall.
She heard the men outside tidying up the dishes with proficiency, and soon Jin Zijin went to the river to fetch water, washing the dishes clean and stacking them neatly. These all belonged to the villagers and needed to be returned in the coming days.
By the time he finished tidying up, the sky was completely dark.
Gu Youyou couldn't help feeling nervous and scared; if she hadn't frightened Jin Zijin during the day, she was even less likely to scare him at night.
Could it be true, as those grannies suggested, that at his strong and vigorous age, he actually married her just to fulfill a physical need?