Gu Yunjing really disliked that woman, Zhang Xiaohui. He had always felt a little guilty towards his younger brother, and now that he discovered that his brother had been bullied by a woman, he was furious.
Especially Gu Yunshuang. His only younger sister had suffered so much.
Gu Yunshen pacified him a little before Eldest Uncle’s temper cooled.
“They’ve gone too far!”
Gu Qingyao suddenly said, “Eldest Uncle, Third Uncle, don’t be angry. I’ve visited the Li family and considering the circumstances, it’s best that Younger Aunt is back. Also, she had no regrets about her divorce. She has long wanted to leave the Li family, but the situation over there is complicated, and the brigade leader, Li Aiguo, is difficult to deal with.
“Since all of you are back today, why don’t you get Younger Aunt’s accounts and food rations transferred here! While you’re doing that, get them to write a divorce certificate. Also, Ting Ting must break off her ties with them. That Li Dahai is really a poor specimen of a man. I’m worried that when our family does better in the future, the Li family will bother Younger Aunt and Ting Ting.
“The Li family members are fairly easy to deal with, but everyone thinks that Li Dahai is a good man – filial, honest and simple. If he apologizes and refuses to leave Younger Aunt and Ting Ting alone, others might even speak up for him. Then Ting Ting will be in trouble!”
Gu Yunshen thought about it and said, “That’s right. Yao Yao is right. Eldest Brother, we should seize the opportunity before the news of your demotion becomes common knowledge. We brothers, Jinye and the other cousins should go together. Li Aiguo will probably be wary when he sees all of you. If you can get Younger Sister’s rations back, then that will be good. But if you can’t, then at least you must get a clean break from that family. That will save trouble in the future.”
Gu Yunjing was very angry. “Alright. We’ll go together. In fact, we’ll go now. We’ll settle it so we can enjoy Yao Yao’s engagement dinner tomorrow.”
“Alright!”
They had returned at an opportune moment. They had boarded the train on the morning of the eighth to Jiangchong City, and arrived home just past lunchtime.
They had plenty of time if they went now.
So the brothers packed up and put Gu Yunshuang in the cart. They lined the cart with thick blankets and covered her with more blankets. Li Fangting also sat in the cart. Then the troop of them marched grandly off towards the Poplar Brigade.
The members of the Poplar Brigade had just finished lunch when they saw the large group from the Gu family arrive. All of them were tall and well-built, and their expressions were grim. When they saw Gu Yunshuang and Li Fangting in the cart, they knew that these must be the Gu family brothers returning to settle accounts with the Li family.
Everyone in the nearby brigades knew the Gu family. They were famous landlords. Much of the Poplar Brigade had once belonged to the Gu family. They were truly an important family.
It was just after lunch and many members of the Poplar Brigade were sunning themselves. Today, the sun was unusually bright and many of them were gathered together, softly discussing how Old Madam Li had met a ghost last night.
Old Madam Li was an active member of the brigade and often went on stage to give speeches during propaganda sessions. She even talked about the importance of believing in science. For years, Old Madam Li had flaunted herself as someone who was well versed in science!
But last night, she had wailed tragically as she half-crawled, half-ran home. Along the way, she continued to shout about ghosts.
Everyone had run to the Li house to look. Old Madam Li had been beaten until her face was bruised and swollen. She was drenched and half-frozen. She was a pathetic sight.
When they asked her what had happened and who had beaten her, she said she had encountered a ghost. What a strange incident!
When they saw a crowd from the Gu family arriving, everyone hurried over to watch the show.
The Gu family immediately headed for the brigade leader, Li Aiguo’s house.
Li Aiguo was smoking in his house, but came out when he heard the noise. When he saw the group from the Gu family, his knees grew weak and he collapsed to sit on the ground.
“What… what do you want?”