CHAPTER 18: CHAPTER 18: THE CONSEQUENCES OF ACTING ON IMPULSE

Mr. Gu also knew that no matter which family this issue was placed with, it wouldn’t make sense, yet their own family had done it anyway. Originally, if this wasn’t brought to the surface, everything would be fine, and everyone could save face.

But if this matter were to be really challenged, their family wouldn’t be in the right.

Yet the old lady insisted on saying it out loud, and with such confidence too.

Being stared at by a young one like this, Mr. Gu really felt embarrassed.

Fortunately, they were facing their own family right now, the eldest understood and was honest, not one to refute him, so as long as he suppressed the situation a bit, he could still keep this matter within the family.

He couldn’t let it spill out and lose face publicly.

Otherwise, the second son would be ridiculed by everyone in the village.

Even Gu Xiaocheng wouldn’t be able to escape, and by then, finding a job after graduation would be difficult to discuss.

So, he made up his mind to suppress the matter.

With the decision made, Mr. Gu was no longer as panicked as before; he took on a senior’s demeanor and said to Gu Xiaoqing, "Xiaoqing, you’re still a child, you don’t understand. These are adult matters, you shouldn’t get involved. Even if we tell you, you won’t understand. Besides, since when do girls involve themselves in family matters?"

This was telling Gu Xiaoqing to stay out of it.

Gu Xiaoqing was both angry and amused; the old man wasn’t planning on reasoning, expecting his seniority would suppress her.

Since he wasn’t concerned about saving face, why should she be? In her past life, she had been cautious, valued others’ opinions, tried to please everyone, yet it brought no good in the end. Why live carefully in this life?

To hell with others’ opinions, let good reputation go to the side.

Living truly and freely is the real truth.

Saving face only results in one’s own suffering, ultimately benefiting others.

"Grandpa, what you’re saying, I just don’t understand. How come I can’t know about this? Isn’t it a family matter? Doesn’t it relate to whether I can go to school? What kind of society is this, a free society, where one hasn’t heard of being forbidden to ask questions or speak out.

Besides, my grandma just mentioned, that my dad lent twenty yuan to my uncle’s family and has no money for my schooling, right?"

Gu Xiaoqing replied without backing down.

Mr. Gu hadn’t expected his authority couldn’t suppress this little girl; she was speaking logically and reasonably, leaving him with nothing to say.

Mrs. Gu, seeing Mr. Gu speechless, was furious, and it went straight to her head. She took two steps forward and grabbed Gu Xiaoqing by the collar, saying viciously, "You little girl, what are you saying? How dare you speak to your grandpa like that. In the old days, you would’ve been beaten to death. You unfilial thing, it’s only right for your dad to help out with his younger brother’s kids’ schooling. Why do you care? You’re not allowed to go to school, just not allowed, now get lost."

A slap sent Gu Xiaoqing sprawling to the stone ground near the courtyard gate, and with a thud, her forehead hit a protruding stone on the courtyard wall.

Was this a fight?

Li Xuemei was just about to help Gu Xiaoqing up, feeling a pang in her heart.

Gu Xiaoqing had already gotten up, step by step advancing towards Mrs. Gu.

Her eyes fierce as if about to devour someone.

Mrs. Gu subconsciously felt a jolt, stepping back several steps.

Could it be, she got knocked silly?

This usually timid Gu Xiaoqing was behaving as if she had taken gunpowder, exhibiting a reckless determination.

But accustomed to being domineering for so many years, Mrs. Gu wasn’t someone easily frightened by Gu Xiaoqing’s mere gaze.

"What do you want to do? Got some nerve, dare to lay a hand on your grandma. If you do it today, I’ll die right here and let everyone in the village see how disobedient and unfilial your family is. Gu Ruhai, are you dead? Letting your daughter bully your mother, are you still human?"

Mrs. Gu indeed started to make a scene.

Gu Ruhai looked at the bloody mark on Gu Xiaoqing’s forehead and felt a pang in his heart, this was his daughter after all, and none of it was her fault, it was his own mother who struck first.

But where could reason be spoken?

He was about to urge Gu Xiaoqing to bear with it, after all, that was an elder.

Before Gu Ruhai could speak, Gu Xiaoqing spoke up: "Grandma, aren’t you inviting the whole village to see how we are disobedient and unfilial? Fine, I want the whole village to judge, I’ll open the gate and let everyone hear how we are disobedient and unfilial, how I bully grandma, and what a non-human my dad is?"

Gu Xiaoqing quickly stood by the courtyard gate, her hand on the latch, ready to open it.

The saying that domestic scandals shouldn’t be spread was something Gu Xiaoqing would think about.

Mr. Gu was indeed startled, as was Gu Rushan, who jumped up frightened.

Bullying behind closed doors was one thing, watching a scene was another, but if the gate were opened and the entire village became aware of this, what good would it be for them?

Gu Rushan especially regretted it, had he known it would turn out like this, he wouldn’t have watched with curiosity earlier, it wasn’t bringing fire upon himself.

Who would have thought this girl was such an unyielding fool, a downright lunatic, if she really went out, it would be utterly humiliating.

Others might not care about reputation, but Gu Rushan certainly did, especially since there was a future cadre-bound college student, if this broke apart, there wouldn’t be anything good, not to mention the money borrowed every year from his brother under the pretense of Gu Xiaocheng’s schooling would shame him to death.

After all, he received a scholarship from the village every year, a hundred yuan.

If today’s chaos erupted, could he still receive it?

In the surrounding villages, they were the only one with a college student; everyone’s eyes were fixed on him, hoping to extract a few dollars from it.

If he exposed the matter, Gu Xiaocheng wouldn’t be able to return.

With the reputation of forcing his cousin not to go to school and borrowing money for himself, which company would want him? It’s an issue of character.

Gu Rushan dared not risk any harm to Gu Xiaocheng.

Especially having witnessed Gu Xiaoqing’s desperate stance today.

Secretly lamenting internally.

If only he hadn’t encouraged his parents to come to his brother’s house early in the morning, he hadn’t gained an advantage, but got himself into trouble.

Why did he act impulsively, thinking his brother dared to come asking for money last night, insisting his parents come and discipline his brother, that’s why he incited Mr. Gu and Mrs. Gu to come.

This time, he had shot himself in the foot.