CHAPTER 161: CHAPTER 161: WAY OUT

Gu Mei didn’t know how long it had been when she crawled out of bed and stared at the bowl of medicine on the table.

She looked at it for a long time before getting up and drinking the medicine in one go.

She lit a lamp, searched in the wardrobe, found an old pair of cotton pants with several holes that she hadn’t worn in a long time and put them on. Then she put on Yun Jiao’s cotton-padded jacket and stepped out of the room.

Once outside, she hesitated for a moment, standing in front of Yun Jiao’s door, and softly asked, "Are you asleep?"

Yun Jiao lay in bed, unable to sleep.

Hearing Gu Mei’s voice, she got up to open the door.

Gu Mei entered the room like a ghost.

Yun Jiao closed the door and went to light the lamp, but Gu Mei suddenly said, "Don’t light the lamp."

Yun Jiao silently sat by the bedside, waiting for Gu Mei to speak.

Gu Mei sat quietly for a long time before slowly saying, "Sister, I’ve been thinking, and I can’t live here in Chunlin County anymore."

"I have to leave."

Yun Jiao slowly responded with an "Mm," "Where do you want to go?"

Gu Mei suddenly started to sob, "I don’t know where to go either."

"I’m just a weak woman, and I can’t support myself out there. I don’t know what to do."

Yun Jiao realized this was a problem too.

After crying for a while, Gu Mei said, "I think maybe I should seek shelter with our aunt."

Yun Jiao raised an eyebrow, but Gu Mei continued, "Aunt is in Prefecture City, and the matters here shouldn’t reach there."

"I could say that my husband died and ask Aunt to help find me a family to marry into."

Yun Jiao had to admit, Gu Mei was good at planning for herself.

It was indeed a good idea.

She thought for a moment and slowly said, "Going to Aunt’s is a good idea."

"Just remember, life isn’t perfect anywhere."

"Here or there, there will always be dissatisfaction."

"In the future, don’t always chase after what’s beyond your reach, living practically is what’s important."

Gu Mei lowered her head, "I understand."

"I’ve brought this on myself."

Yun Jiao nodded, "Okay, tomorrow I’ll arrange the travel permit for you."

"Then we’ll ask Uncle Liu Er to make the trip and take you to Prefecture City."

Upon hearing this, Gu Mei slid off the chair and kowtowed a few times to Yun Jiao, "Sister, if I can’t repay your immense kindness in this life, I swear to repay it in the next."

Yun Jiao looked at her and nonchalantly said, "I’m not expecting you to repay me."

"As long as you don’t harm me in the future, I’ll be grateful."

Gu Mei was full of shame, "I won’t."

"I know I was wrong before for pushing that marriage onto you."

Yun Jiao stood up, "It’s late, hurry and sleep. Get well so you can leave early."

Gu Mei left with her head lowered.

In the morning, Yun Jiao got up, made medicine for Gu Mei again, and brought it to her room.

Uncle Liu Er came early, and Yun Jiao went back to Qingshan Village. Zhao Lizheng gave her the divorce letter, and he handed over Gu Mei’s clothes, belongings, and the silver she had stored in her dowry chest to Yun Jiao all at once.

For the used items like the bathtub and chamber pot, Zhao Lizheng didn’t take them out but converted them into silver for Yun Jiao.

He knew Yun Jiao didn’t lack this bit of silver, nor did he, but since he didn’t want to make an enemy out of Yun Jiao, he thought it best to handle things nicely.

Yun Jiao dragged the things back to her maiden home and went to the government office to obtain the travel permit with the household registration.

When she returned to her maiden home, the carriage had just stopped at the door, and Aunt Wang from next door was peering over from her doorway.