Reborn as a Happy Wife in a Rural Family
Chapter 43: Chen Erlang’s Thoughts

Chapter 43: Chapter 43: Chen Erlang’s Thoughts

Ms. Wu didn’t know any more details, as she had only worked as a wet nurse in the Gu Mansion for a few months and had been confined to the backyard.

Gu Qingli returned to the Xiao Family’s home after Xiao Yunjing finished assessing Dashuang and Xiaoshuang.

When the two of them were almost at the Xiao Family’s home, Xiao Yunjing paused.

"What’s wrong?" Gu Qingli also stopped and asked him.

"It’s nothing, let’s go." Xiao Yunjing took Gu Qingli’s hand, and they walked back affectionately.

From the corner of his eye, Xiao Yunjing saw a figure turn and disappear into the bamboo grove at the village entrance. It was Chen Erlang, whom he hadn’t seen in a long time. Xiao Yunjing’s sharp brows furrowed. Is that little twerp about to stir up trouble again?

What they didn’t know was that ever since their marriage, Chen Erlang had been pondering for a long time, unable to comprehend the drastic change in Gu Qingli’s attitude towards him.

She’d declared she didn’t like him anymore, just like that. How could his proud self accept Gu Qingli’s sudden change? Every day after that, he would secretly watch Gu Qingli from hidden corners. He believed she must have impulsively married Xiao Yunjing due to some provocation. He knew perfectly well how much Gu Qingli used to adore and admire him. He was also aware that Gu Qingli preferred refined, scholarly men and detested brutes who relied on sheer force, like Xiao Yunjing. So, he reasoned, after some time, Gu Qingli would surely grow to detest that vulgar lout Xiao Yunjing and come back to him, her refined ideal. She would have a change of heart, come back to him, plead with him, worship him as she once did, and follow him faithfully. Just like Gu Qingmei.

Chen Erlang considered marrying Gu Qingmei; it wasn’t a bad prospect. Her brother, Gu Qingyan, was expected to pass the examination to become a student scholar next year, making her the sister of a student scholar. Later, if he became a Cultivated Talent, she would be the sister of a Cultivated Talent. Chen Erlang had this strange self-confidence, believing that both he and Gu Qingyan were favored by their Master and would surely pass the student scholar examination next year. Becoming Cultivated Talents later on wouldn’t be an issue either. That way, he could marry Gu Qingmei as his principal wife and have Gu Qingli as his concubine. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have both status and beautiful women! The thought of the increasingly beautiful Gu Qingli made Chen Erlang eager to take her home and dote on her immediately. But when he imagined the soft, lovely Gu Qingli in that brute Xiao Yunjing’s arms every night, Chen Erlang felt deeply frustrated. He wanted to seek out Gu Qingli, but he was intimidated by Xiao Yunjing’s powerful build, like that of a young bull.

Chen Erlang returned home absentmindedly, not expecting to run into Gu Qingmei, who had come out to look for him.

Gu Qingmei watched the retreating figures of Gu Qingli and Xiao Yunjing with venom in her eyes, then turned and went back into the house.

Since they had cut ties with Gu Dalin’s family, all the household chores had fallen on her and her mother. They also had to serve Ms. Hua, who lay in bed doing nothing but groaning. In just over a month, Gu Qingmei’s hands had become rough and covered in chilblains.

And this was all Gu Qingli’s fault.

Gu Qingmei bit her lip, returning to her room full of resentment. How could she get Brother Erlang to marry her? She also had to make Gu Qingli stay away from Brother Erlang. She knew Gu Qingli wasn’t Gu Dalin’s biological daughter, but she had no idea where Ms. Wu and Gu Qingli had originally come from.

Gu Qingli, oblivious to Chen Erlang and Gu Qingmei’s schemes, went to check on Wuqing. Wuqing was already up and attempting to help in the kitchen, but the more she tried, the more of a hindrance she became. Ms. Yang and Ms. Wang were thoroughly exasperated with her.

"Miss, you’re back!" Wuqing exclaimed upon seeing her and immediately came out.

Ms. Yang and Ms. Wang audibly sighed in relief.

Gu Qingli looked at Wuqing’s soot-smudged face and couldn’t resist pinching her cheek. Still, this made Wuqing seem a bit more grounded, more connected to the mundane world.

She led Wuqing into the courtyard. "You’re not cut out for kitchen work. Rest for a few days and focus on getting better. I’ll have tasks for you next year."

Wuqing nodded listlessly. She’d thought lighting a fire would be simple. She hadn’t realized that lighting a fire outdoors was entirely different from lighting one in a kitchen stove. It seemed that apart from killing, she was truly useless at everything else.

Gu Qingli patted her shoulder. "Go wash your face."

"Wash my face?" Wuqing asked, puzzled.

"Mhm. Go take a look in the water vat," Gu Qingli said, her lips pursed in a smile.

At the courtyard entrance stood a large ceramic vat filled with water, used for washing hands and feet to avoid tracking mud indoors.

Wuqing walked straight over, bent down, and looked into the vat.

"Miss!" Wuqing exclaimed, her mouth twitching. She could have just told me my face was dirty!

Gu Qingli rolled her eyes good-naturedly but didn’t comment further, heading into the kitchen to help with dinner.

After dinner, Ms. Jiang had Jiang Han take a brazier to Wuqing’s room to keep her from getting cold.

Gu Qingli’s estimation of her mother-in-law rose even higher.

That night, Gu Qingli told Xiao Yunjing what she had learned about the Gu Mansion.

"Oh? You even asked about your mother’s child? Do you suspect her?" Even Xiao Yunjing hadn’t considered this possibility.

"Not suspicion, I was just curious," Gu Qingli said, shaking her head. I can’t jump to conclusions without evidence. But after watching so many melodramatic television series, I just asked an extra question out of habit. There are novels with similar plots, aren’t there? Some people can’t bear the pain of losing a child and try to find a replacement for solace.

Consider this scenario: the Original Host’s mother miraculously survives some disaster. She returns home to find her daughter and the wet nurse missing. Then, upon seeing a young girl who resembles her lost daughter, she starts to see her as her own child. The wet nurse disappeared with the Original Host. And perhaps the mother felt responsible for the other little girl losing her own mother young, an event somehow connected to the Original Host’s mother. Plus, this other girl was about the same age as the Original Host—just two days different in age. So, out of a dual sense of guilt, the mother began to raise this girl as her own. Over time, this girl truly began to see herself as the legitimate young lady of the Gu family. Then one day, this girl accidentally discovers the Original Host is still alive. She panics. If the Original Host returns and reclaims the affection and status that are rightfully hers, then she, the substitute, would be stripped of everything and returned to her former, ordinary life. Unwilling to give up the life she has, how could she relinquish the happiness she’s obtained? So, she decides to hire assassins. With the Original Host dead, she can continue to enjoy her life of privilege without worry. Of course, these were just some wild scenarios Gu Qingli was imagining. The actual reasons remained unknown, as she currently knew nothing about the real situation at the Gu Mansion in the Capital City.

Xiao Yunjing watched her get lost in thought, his own mind considering the possibilities. He gently stroked her head. "Sleep now. It’s no use dwelling on it."

"Mhm." Gu Qingli nodded, snuggling into Xiao Yunjing’s embrace and closing her eyes.

She had initially thought that by transmigrating to such a backward era, she could live a stable and peaceful life. Yet, it seemed tranquility was elusive. No matter where one is, as long as one lives in this society, various power plays and conflicts unfold daily. Whether you choose to engage in these struggles or not, they will inevitably find their way into your life. Ideals are beautiful, but reality is harsh. If you possess no means to protect yourself, you are merely prey for others, destined to die filled with regret, just like in her previous life. Cunning and strategy are not tools for harming others; rather, they are effective instruments for self-preservation and defense against those who would do you harm.