CHAPTER 36: CHAPTER 36: THE PROBLEM OF REPUTATION

Stepping out of the courtyard gate, a crowd of people gathered outside, greeting Gu Ruhai and Gu Xiaoqing with smiles. Many people sized up Gu Xiaoqing, wanting to see what the formidable, sharp-tongued girl looked like.

To know that Gu Xiaoqing used to be just an unnoticed little girl in the village; no family had a deep impression of her, mainly because she was timid and shy.

The impression she left on people was indeed not deep.

But these past two days, the whole village was talking about things that involved this girl’s shadow.

It’s said that in both instances, it was this girl who won the battles.

Every family was curious to see such a fiery girl.

After all, people are interested in these things.

Gu Xiaoqing ignored other people’s gazes and just pulled Gu Ruhai back home.

As long as they got the money back, that was enough; who cares what others think.

Anyway, in this life, she would never take on suffering just for the sake of an empty reputation.

If a reputation for being fierce could make those who wanted to bully her family or take advantage of them keep their distance, then Gu Xiaoqing didn’t mind being called a shrew in the slightest.

The fate of virtuous people, she had experienced it once; why take the same path again?

Back home, the aroma of food greeted them.

Li Xuemei was carrying dishes into the main room when she saw Gu Xiaoqing and Gu Ruhai entering. She shouted, "Quickly, wash your hands and come eat."

Gu Xiaoying also came over carrying a tray of black bread buns.

Looking at Gu Ruhai, it seemed like there was no happiness on his face.

She was puzzled; did even their Xiaoqing fail to get the money back?

It seemed even the combat strength of Second Uncle and Auntie was too much for her now impressive little sister to handle.

But when she looked back at Gu Xiaoqing, this girl seemed full of pride, not like she hadn’t managed to get the money.

What’s going on?

The whole family sat down at the table to eat.

Gu Xiaojie gloomily looked at the black bread buns on the table, understanding that his little ambition was impossible. After all, it was the family’s business and needed to be sold for money. He had heard that once sold, they could save up to build a big tile house.

Imagining the days in the big tile house, even the black bread buns didn’t taste as bad to Gu Xiaojie anymore.

Such a young child with adult-like thoughts; it’s no wonder they say poor children grow up fast.

Li Xuemei saw Gu Ruhai’s low spirits and assumed they hadn’t managed to get the money back, knowing well enough how stingy the second brother and sister-in-law were. Money given out wasn’t easy to get back.

Sighing, she comforted, "Alright then, if we can’t get it back, we can’t get it back. Just consider it as feeding it to the dogs. Now that we have a business, if we work well, we’ll always be able to earn it back."

Gu Ruhai looked at Li Xuemei in confusion, not knowing what his wife was talking about.

But Gu Xiaoqing understood; her mother thought they hadn’t gotten the money back.

With a chuckle, she pulled a wad of cash from her pocket and placed it in front of Li Xuemei on the table.

"Mom, who said we didn’t get the money back? With your daughter at it, isn’t it as easy as that?"

These words were obviously self-praise.

Li Xuemei saw the wad of cash and couldn’t help but smile. She hurriedly took it and counted it, and sure enough, it was sixty bucks. Excitedly, she asked, "His dad, the money’s been gotten back, so why are you still pulling a long face, making me think that......"

Gu Xiaoqing was also puzzled, wondering what was wrong with her father.

Since coming back all this way, he hadn’t been in high spirits and his face looked gloomy.

She really didn’t know what was going on.

Gu Ruhai sighed, glanced at Gu Xiaoqing, and said, "The money’s been got back, but I’m afraid Xiaoqing’s reputation has spread too, all I heard along the way were people’s pleasant words, but I also know they might be saying behind our backs that Xiaoqing is too fierce.

If, in the future when it’s time to talk marriage, it might be difficult."

Upon hearing this, Gu Xiaoqing realized what her father was worrying about. He was afraid her reputation would impact her future marriage prospects.

Li Xuemei felt uncomfortable upon hearing this too. In the countryside, a girl’s reputation is of utmost importance. If a girl’s reputation is bad, she can’t expect to marry well.

Families with good people wouldn’t want to talk about girls with a fierce reputation.

Both of them had gloomy faces; even eating the meal felt tasteless.

Gu Xiaoqing suddenly laughed, "Mom, Dad, aren’t you worrying too much? Don’t say my fierce reputation is good or bad, but even if in the future someone looks down on my reputation, I wouldn’t want to find such a family anyway.

Being virtuous is a good reputation, but wasn’t our family’s reputation good before? But apart from a good reputation, what else did we have? Who in the village looked up to us?

As long as our family lives well, others will respect us. People now care about the family’s conditions, who cares about fierceness or not.

If you live well, being fierce will be seen as being able to manage the household, but if our family doesn’t prosper, then people will mind about the fierceness. Mom, Dad, don’t you think so?"

This was to comfort them and it was the truth.

Gu Xiaoqing knew that in a few years, everyone would be eager to find ways to earn money, who would think about fierce reputations?

By then societal trends would have changed, and no one would care about those issues anymore, perhaps fierceness might even become an asset.

But this wasn’t something to tell her parents, so she could only vaguely mention a little.

Li Xuemei also knew this was her daughter trying to comfort them. This child had a good heart, probably taking after Gu Ruhai, but Li Xuemei took Gu Xiaoqing’s words to heart.

She also resolved to earn well and manage the household so that at least their family would have self-confidence. This way, when her daughter marries, with a good dowry, she would stand firm in her in-law’s house.

Who would dare look down on her then?

In the countryside, people just wanted these things. If she and her husband could work hard, support the children, and if Xiaoqing could do well and get into college, then even if she was fierce, she would be sought after by all of the nearby villages.

What is there to fear?

Isn’t it just reputation?

Xiaoqing was right, what’s reputation? For so many years, she and Gu Ruhai aimed for a good reputation, and because the reputation was good, everyone in the village praised them as kind and hardworking, filial people.

But who wasn’t calling them fools behind their backs?

Reputation, in fact, is worth nothing, but it can also do harm.

It’s better to live their own lives well. Let people say what they will.

As long as they have a clear conscience, it’s all good.