Chapter 403: Chapter 404: Is This My Own Mother?

Now that Li Cuicui was back in the countryside, she naturally wasn’t going to hold back anymore. She revealed her true nature by grabbing Gu Yuanshui’s ear and scolding him at the top of her lungs. "You rotten brat! You’ve been whining and chattering this whole trip.

"Don’t you forget, our family came from the dirt, generation after generation! What’s the matter? Are you disgusted that you were born from my belly?"

Gu Yuanshui hadn’t expected Li Cuicui to turn on him so suddenly and was completely caught off guard. He quickly covered his stinging ear, crying out, "Ma, let go! Let go! You’re going to twist my ear off!

"How would I dare be disgusted with you? I just wanted you to enjoy a more comfortable life with Seventh."

"Mother, what’s wrong with Yuanshui?" Liu Liu ran out when she heard the commotion. She hadn’t expected to see her husband being disciplined by her mother-in-law and hurried over.

"Hmph," Li Cuicui couldn’t resist giving his ear one last hard tug before letting go. "Even if you are disgusted with me, it’s too late now. In your next life, remember to get yourself reborn into an official family."

Gu Yuanshui clutched his ear, a bitter taste in his mouth. "My dear mother, weren’t things fine just a moment ago? What’s all this about?"

Li Cuicui said, "This whole trip, I’ve heard you go on and on about how prosperous this place is and how bustling that place is. It looks to me like this trip to Shangjing has made your heart go wild. Is Gaoling Village not big enough to hold you anymore?"

’I’ve already figured out Fourth’s little scheme. He’s probably just waiting for Seventh’s official notice of an external post to come down, and then this boy will eagerly trot right off after him.’

’While I can still discipline him, I need to knock some sense into him a few more times. It’ll save him from causing trouble for Seventh later on.’

"You’ve got it all wrong!" Gu Yuanshui felt deeply aggrieved. "Weren’t I just trying to keep you from being bored on the road? You were so sullen in the carriage, I thought you were sad about leaving Seventh and the others."

"I think it’s *you* who’s sad to leave," Li Cuicui retorted, glaring at Liu Liu, who was helping Gu Yuanshui up. "Go back and keep a closer watch on this husband of yours. Don’t let him think about running off all day, or his heart might just run wild."

Gu Yuanshui was speechless. ’Is this really my mother?’

He could see his wife’s expression changing colors like a kaleidoscope as her face instantly turned fierce.

"No, dear, listen to me—" With a yelp, Li Cuicui saw her Fourth son being dragged by his other ear toward his own courtyard by his wife.

She chuckled and muttered that he deserved it, then clapped her hands and called for Granny Song to help carry her personal belongings inside first.

These included the clothes and jewelry that Seventh Wife had helped her prepare over the past few days, as well as some curious little trinkets she had bought.

As for the other gifts, she would wait until all her sons had arrived before distributing them.

"Oh, right. Where are those two lasses?" Li Cuicui asked casually as she entered the courtyard.

It was normal for village children to be out and about all day, which was why she hadn’t asked the moment she stepped out of the carriage.

"The two young misses are at the schoolhouse right now. They won’t be back for another couple of hours," Granny Song said, first placing some things in the courtyard while directing the coachman where to put the rest.

Li Cuicui said, "Look at my memory, I’d completely forgotten about that. How have the two children been behaving lately?"

To be honest, keeping Gu Yuanfeng’s two daughters with her was a last resort. She couldn’t just ignore the two children and leave them to fend for themselves; after all, they were her own flesh and blood.

But she knew how to distinguish between insiders and outsiders. If these two children’s hearts were to lean toward the He Family in the future, it would not be a good sign for the Gu family.

She was giving them a good life now, but if some inherent bad nature were to reveal itself, she would make a choice without hesitation.

Granny Song glanced cautiously at Li Cuicui. "Madam, I’m truly not trying to stir up trouble, but while you were away, members of the He Family came looking for them. Although the two young misses refused to see them at the time."

"But they are their blood relatives, after all. Things seem fine now, but if this goes on for too long, I worry they might come to resent us."

Li Cuicui froze for a moment. This was much sooner than she had expected.

She knew the He Family wouldn’t give up so easily, but for them to be unable to hold back this soon... it seemed their lives were truly in a wretched state.

Thinking of her troublesome daughter, Li Cuicui looked up at the sky. It was gray and overcast; it looked like it was about to rain.

"Let’s just let nature take its course. If it’s going to rain, we can’t stop it. If it really comes to that, this old woman can still pat her chest and say she’s acted with a clear conscience."

At that moment, the face of Gu Yuanlei flashed through her mind. She wiped her own face and muttered to herself, "I’m getting old, and my heart is getting softer. That’s not a good thing."

Seeing the coachman preparing to unload the stacked chests from the carriage, Li Cuicui instantly shook off her thoughts. "Don’t touch those chests yet! I need to send them to the Old Clan Leader’s place later."

"Just unload these other things into the courtyard for now. Leave the rest on the carriage to save us the trouble of loading it all up again."

...

In truth, there was no need for Li Cuicui to make a special trip. The moment the carriage stopped in front of her courtyard, everyone knew she had returned.

The women who weren’t busy had already gathered outside the courtyard, all eager to hear about the exciting world outside from Li Cuicui’s own lips.

Li Cuicui left the task of organizing her things to Granny Song, brought out the pastries Jin Qianqian had prepared for her before she left, and stood at the entrance, launching right into conversation with everyone.

Between her experiences on the road and her days in Shangjing, Li Cuicui felt she could talk for ten days and ten nights straight.

When Gu Sanbu arrived with a few others, he saw Li Cuicui surrounded by a tight circle of people, each holding pastries she had handed out.

"So lively here," Gu Sanbu said, and the crowd automatically parted to make way for him.

"The Clan Leader is here!"

"Greetings, Third Grand-uncle!"

...

A wave of greetings rose and fell, making the area outside the courtyard feel exceptionally lively.

"Is all your housework done?" Gu Sanbu asked with a smiling nod, not forgetting to show his concern.

Li Cuicui quickly turned and placed the plate of pastries she was holding into Xie Ruyi’s hands. "Third Uncle, you’re here! I was just thinking of going to find you."

Gu Sanbu smiled and looked at the circle of people around her. "I knew you wouldn’t be able to get away, so I came over to join the fun."

Hearing the Old Clan Leader crack a joke, everyone could tell he was in an exceptionally good mood. The atmosphere immediately relaxed, losing its initial formality.

"Everyone is just curious, but I know my limits. I’ll just give everyone the general rundown today, and we can have a proper chat when we’re all cooped up for the winter," Li Cuicui said, showing her consideration. She knew everyone was still busy with preparations before the winter set in; there would be plenty of time after this busy period.

Gu Sanbu said, "It seems you had a good trip to Shangjing. How are Wenheng and the others? Are they all doing well?"

This was the only question he was truly concerned about. Gu Wenheng’s success or failure alone concerned the fate of the entire clan.

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