Chapter 64: Chapter 64: Delivering Supplies, Wang the Cripple

On her way back, Gu Qinghuan deliberately avoided people and quietly slipped into the cowshed in the neighboring village to visit her grandparents.

As she neared the place, she took out the supplies she’d brought for them and stuffed them into a bag. She also grabbed an extra ten jin of rice and ten jin of white flour, carrying them in her other hand. If she could have managed the weight, she would have brought even more.

Her grandparents were cleaning out the cow dung. When they saw her coming, they quickly looked around to make sure no one was nearby before pulling her inside.

“You’re here again? Is everything okay at home?” Cheng Shuying asked nervously.

“Everything’s fine. It’s Mid-Autumn Festival today, so I brought you some food and supplies,” Gu Qinghuan said as she started taking things out.

“Mid-Autumn Festival? Oh right, look at me, I barely know what day it is anymore. Getting old, I guess. But child, why did you bring so much? Quickly put it away and take it back home. Give it to your husband and the two kids—they’re still growing and need the nutrition. Us old folks can eat anything,” Cheng Shuying tried to stop her when she saw the pile of things.

“Grandma, we still have plenty at home. This batch is just for you and Grandpa. Normally the whole family should gather together for the festival, but since we just met a few days ago, meeting too often might draw attention. So I thought I’d just bring the ingredients over for you to cook yourselves. Sorry to trouble you.

This is kelp—soak it, slice it, and make a cold salad, it’s delicious. There’s a mooncake for each of you—just a taste, since it only comes once a year. I also got some ribbonfish, salted fish, and prawns—these are special for the holidays, so I bought a bit of each. This perch is good for older folks—just steam it, there aren’t many bones. Oh, and here’s a crucian carp for soup. It’s a lot, but the weather’s getting colder, so it’ll keep. Don’t be stingy with it—if it spoils, it’ll be a waste.”

As Gu Qinghuan handed things over, she explained everything in detail.

Seeing her insist, Cheng Shuying didn’t refuse anymore.

“You’ve worked hard, Huanhuan. But don’t bring us so much next time—be careful your husband doesn’t mind. We’re already much better off than before, and the work is easier now,” Cheng Shuying said, gently smoothing her granddaughter’s hair.

“Don’t worry, Grandma. This was Huai’an’s idea, and besides, I’m earning my own keep now—I’m not just freeloading.”

Cheng Shuying and Zhong Weiqian didn’t try to keep her, either—after all, a cowshed wasn’t a good place to linger.

After dropping off the supplies, Gu Qinghuan headed home. Just as she reached the main road, she ran into Duan Shengfa, who was with a young man.

Duan Shengfa quickly sent the young man away and pulled Gu Qinghuan aside to talk.

“Comrade Gu, here to see your grandparents again?”

“Yes, it’s Mid-Autumn Festival today. Happy holidays, Captain Duan.”

“Happy holidays to you, too. By the way, I have news about what you asked me to look into last time,” Duan Shengfa said in a low voice.

“Really? Who was it?” Gu Qinghuan hadn’t expected results so soon.

“It’s Wang the Cripple from our village. He’s an old bachelor, born with a bad leg, over forty and still hasn’t married. He never does honest work, just goes around bothering widows. Yesterday he got drunk and admitted to someone that he’s taken a liking to your mother. He’s tried to… take advantage of her a few times, but she always managed to avoid him and even scolded him for being shameless. He couldn’t stand being rejected by someone living in a cowshed, so when your mother was working on the hillside, he pushed her from behind.”

Duan Shengfa knew about this because he’d been drinking with Wang the Cripple’s cousin, who told him everything. Duan Shengfa had specifically told him not to let it slip.

Gu Qinghuan felt a pang of sadness and distress.

She’d always known life in the cowshed was hard, but she’d forgotten that Zhong Zijun was still quite young—just over forty, dignified and beautiful, with a refined air. A woman like that, fallen into such hardship, would easily attract the wrong kind of attention. Who knew how she’d survived these years—caring for her elderly parents, working herself to the bone, and still having to guard against scoundrels. It couldn’t have been easy, yet she’d never let on, probably to keep them from worrying.

Wang the Cripple, huh? If you dare to harm others, you’d better be ready for payback.

This grudge—she would definitely settle it.

Seeing her silent and grim-faced, Duan Shengfa called out, “Niece? Comrade Gu?”

“Huh? Captain Duan, thank you for telling me. Otherwise, I’d still be in the dark. Here’s a little something for your trouble—please don’t mind.” With that, Gu Qinghuan quickly slipped twenty yuan from her pocket (actually from her space) into Duan Shengfa’s hand.

Feeling the thickness of the bills, Duan Shengfa grinned from ear to ear. “You’re too polite, niece.”

But he wasn’t slow to pocket the money, either.

This little Gu really knows how to handle things. He’d made quite a bit from her already—it was a pity there might not be more chances in the future.

“Well then, Captain Duan, see you around. Happy holidays.” Gu Qinghuan slung the sack over her shoulder and walked off with a carefree air.

No matter how furious she was inside, she kept her composure and even smiled calmly.

Duan Shengfa wondered if he’d misunderstood—wasn’t she looking for revenge?

It wasn’t until a month later, when he heard that Wang the Cripple had gotten drunk, fallen down a slope, and broken his other leg, that he realized: the dog that bites doesn’t bark.

One way or another, this was payback.

He actually admired this girl—brave, clever, and ruthless when needed.

—

Meanwhile, Gu Qinghuan took more supplies from her space and stuffed them into her bag.

Now that Xu Huaian could go out, she didn’t dare wait until she was at the door to take things out, for fear he’d catch her and blow her cover. She had to get everything ready early.

Sure enough, as soon as she entered the village carrying her heavy load, she ran into Xu Huaian. He was sitting on a big stone outside the mill, as if waiting for someone.

When he saw her, he strode over without a word and took the things from her hands. “Let me carry that.”

Gu Qinghuan was happy to be relieved—she’d given a good portion to her grandparents, but what was left was still heavy.

Xu Huaian hefted the sack—it was pretty heavy. He’d known she wouldn’t just buy a little. He should have gone with her after all.

Such a big sack—he wondered how she’d managed to carry it back, especially with her injured shoulder.

“Didn’t you say you’d only buy a little? Does your shoulder still hurt?” Xu Huaian asked, a hint of reproach in his tone.

Gu Qinghuan scratched her head and grinned sheepishly. “I accidentally bought a bit too much. But I’m fine—my constitution’s good, and my wound’s almost healed.”

That was true. Her shoulder was just scraped, and though it had looked scary the first day, after some ointment and the help of the spiritual spring, it had already scabbed over.

“I’m not upset you bought too much—I just worry you’ll hurt yourself carrying it and reopen the wound,” Xu Huaian explained, afraid she’d misunderstand.

“That’s what you’re here for! You even came out to meet me at the village entrance—how thoughtful,” Gu Qinghuan teased.

The two of them walked home together, chatting and laughing like an old married couple—anyone who saw them would think they were a perfect match."