Chapter 18: First Arrival at the Gu Family

Xinshi was the largest city among the coastal cities in the southern part of the country. In the late seventies, although its urban development had not yet caught up with the capital, it was still more prosperous than Nancheng. The cityscape before her eyes carried a sense of the passing years, yet everywhere was brimming with the restless urge for reform and innovation.

“Sister-in-law, is this your first time in Xinshi?” Xiao Li cheerfully introduced everything along the way.

“Yes, it’s my first time. Xiao Li, why aren’t we going directly to see Commander Gu?”

Xiao Li hesitated, as if in a bit of a dilemma. “It was Aunt Cheng’s request—she’s the mother of Deputy Division Commander Gu. She said she wanted to invite you to their home first for a gathering. They want to meet you before anything else.”

Qian Lai immediately understood: this was the final interview before officially taking up her post.

As the car passed through a solemn cluster of buildings, Xiao Li suddenly grew excited and pointed them out. “Sister-in-law, look. That’s the city government office. Deputy Division Commander Gu’s uncle and father both work there.”

Qian Lai knew from the book that Gu Hanchuan’s uncle, Gu Weijia, held a key position in the government office, and his father, Gu Weiguo, thanks to his second brother’s support, was an investigator in the city office.

They arrived at the government residential complex just as the workday ended. People coming and going paused to look at the military jeep, some whispering among themselves.

After two turns, the car stopped in front of a row of small, white, two-story houses.

“Sister-in-law, the first house ahead is Deputy Division Commander Gu’s.”

Xiao Li helped Qian Lai with her many bags, most of them filled with local specialties from Nancheng for the Gu family.

He rang the doorbell, and a thin, middle-aged woman emerged from the house with a welcoming smile.

“Aunt Zhang, I’ve safely delivered sister-in-law. My mission is complete, I’ll head back now. Please let Aunt Cheng know for me—I won’t come in.”

Before Aunt Zhang could respond, Xiao Li pushed the luggage forward and dashed off as if fleeing.

Qian Lai smiled at his haste. This wasn’t the underworld—what was he running from? As if he feared being haunted by ghosts in the next moment.

But when she entered the living room and saw the formation of the Gu family, she suddenly understood Xiao Li’s reaction.

“Aunt Cheng, Comrade Qian has arrived,” Aunt Zhang announced as she led Qian Lai inside. No one rose to greet her.

This was nothing like the “first meeting” she had imagined.

The three sofas in the living room were packed with Gu family members, each with a different expression. In the center of the room stood a solitary wooden chair.

Ah, a tribunal for three judges!

The middle-aged woman seated at the center, upon seeing her enter, let the smile fade from her face, which was replaced by cold scrutiny. She gestured toward the wooden chair. “Sit down.”

The atmosphere chilled the early summer evening by several degrees.

Qian Lai quickly surveyed the “enemy camp.” The four people in the center must be Gu Hanchuan’s parents and his younger siblings. To the left sat a father and daughter, the girl appearing mature and composed. Qian Lai guessed they were Second Uncle Gu Weijia and his daughter, Gu Shanshan.

To the right were four people: a husband and wife with faces twisted in disdain and criticism, a son of about fifteen or sixteen, and a daughter around Qian Lai’s own age, who was smiling at her.

This must be the family of Fifth Uncle, Gu Weidong.

She recalled from the book that Gu Weiguo had four brothers. Their father died young, leaving behind only a widowed mother. The eldest, Gu Weibao, led his brothers from nearly starving on the streets to rise as powerful officials in Shanghai and Xinshi. Their story was one of relentless struggle, inspiring but also ruthless. Even now, the legend of the “Five Tigers of the Gu Family” was widely recounted in their hometown.

Today, all but the eldest’s family, still in Shanghai, and the third brother, who had died young, were present.

Having sized up the situation, Qian Lai set her luggage down and obediently took her seat on the wooden chair.

“Your name is Qian Lai? You’re almost nineteen?” Cheng Fangping scrutinized her from head to toe, asking a question whose answer she already knew.

Qian Lai nodded.

“Do you know about Hanchuan’s current condition?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Are you truly willing to fulfill the marriage contract? To take care of him for the rest of your life?”

Of course she wasn’t! Her plan was to withdraw as soon as she found her footing, complete her task, and return to her real world as quickly as possible.

Just as she was about to speak, the system’s male voice sounded in her mind: [Attention, character: rescuing Gu Hanchuan will advance your progress bar by thirty percent.]

“I volunteer to take care of Comrade Gu Hanchuan! He is a hero of the people, and being able to look after him is my honor!”

The opposing camp’s faces clearly revealed their contempt, as if to say, “So there really are brave souls for sufficient reward.”

“Since you’re willing to marry into the Gu family, I hope you will dress more modestly in the future. Focus all your attention on Hanchuan. We don’t want your behavior to bring any disgrace upon him.”

Qian Lai glanced down at her own clothes, puzzled as to what was inappropriate.

“I heard you only graduated from junior high?” Fifth Aunt, Gao Zhen, curled her lip. “Hanchuan is a top graduate of a military academy, now a deputy division commander. You must realize that in terms of status, education, and family background, you are not his equal. If he hadn’t been injured, you would never have had a chance to enter our family, let alone become the wife of a high-ranking officer. So you must be grateful, and devote yourself wholeheartedly to caring for Hanchuan. Understand?”

“Yes. Before Hanchuan was injured, countless daughters of eminent families chased after him, and he never glanced their way. Now that such an opportunity has fallen to you, it’s a blessing for your Qian family, and for you. You ought to cherish it,” Fifth Uncle added.

What a blessing, indeed—to feed and clean up after him, to live as a widow guarding an invalid!

Qian Lai cursed internally.

“With only a junior high education, you surely never learned how to care for a paralyzed patient. Tomorrow I will arrange for someone to train you. I hope you will take it seriously…”

“Thank you, Aunt Cheng,” Qian Lai interrupted, unable to endure any longer. “However, in order to care for Comrade Gu Hanchuan, I have already prepared in advance and studied nursing knowledge diligently. Though I only graduated from junior high, I have a learned teacher who not only taught me how to conduct myself, but also how to be self-taught. I have memorized the professional skills required—you can rest assured.”

Hmph!

Her words were met with open disdain.

“You’re very confident!” Gu Hanchuan’s sister, Gu Yue, sneered.

Qian Lai swept her gaze over the room, her eyes fierce with stubbornness. “Of course. But if everyone here doubts my ability, or thinks I’m beneath your family, I’m not desperate to marry. I can step aside right now. You might as well choose someone of matching status!”

With that, she stood up and tossed the envelope of bride money onto the chair. “The bride money is here, not a cent touched.”

She picked up her luggage and prepared to leave. Rather than be ensnared by their tactics, she would take the initiative, seize the upper hand.

The Gu family members immediately grew anxious. What family of equal standing would marry their daughter to a paralyzed man? Hadn’t they tried already? If it were so easy, why would they have spent so much money and gone to such lengths to seek out someone from Nancheng?

If Qian Lai walked out now, they would have a hard time finding a suitable candidate.

Cheng Fangping had only cared for Hanchuan for two days, and she had been nearly broken by exhaustion—not to mention enduring his irascible temper. The memory of those dark, endless days made her go weak at the knees.

She could not let Qian Lai go!

“Wait. Why are you so hot-tempered?” Cheng Fangping rushed over and pressed her back into the chair.