Gu Ruhai stammered, unable to find the words to speak, wanting to argue, but when the words reached his lips, he couldn’t utter them.
Looking at his own wife and daughters, he lacked the confidence.
Li Xuemei tapped Gu Ruhai’s forehead, "You, you’re just too meek, but this fate must change. At the very least, we can’t let our generation suffer quietly and also drag the children into it.
I can’t endure this anymore, my children, I will protect. My children need to go to school. My money is only for my children; everyone else needs to step aside."
Her words were resolute and strong, which made Gu Xiaoqing inwardly applaud her mother—how mighty she was.
Why hadn’t she seen her mother’s potential before?
But having such a powerful ally means she wouldn’t fear even if her father was unwilling. Can he really make unilateral decisions against the whole family? He doesn’t have the courage.
If he did, she wouldn’t need to resort to such extreme measures.
It shows that people are forced into changes.
Isn’t her mother being forced into this too?
Gu Ruhai stuttered, "But, but... what about Father and Mother?"
Li Xuemei rolled her eyes at him, "I never said we wouldn’t be filial to Father and Mother. We’re still giving them their annual five dollars, but others shouldn’t expect anything. You only have one father and mother; surely Gu Rushan isn’t yours too, right?"
This brought laughter to the children in the room; Gu Xiaoying laughed so hard she threw the peanuts in her hand.
Covering her mouth, she chuckled softly without stopping.
Gu Xiaoqing also held her brother Xiao Jie, laughing non-stop.
Gu Ruhai’s face turned red, feeling a bit relieved, as long as the money for his parents was still given, he had nothing to argue about.
Pointing at Li Xuemei, he said, "What words are you saying as a mother? Look, you’ve spoiled these youngsters, better tidy up quickly, and rest early. Tomorrow you have to go to the fields."
The modest man still had a flushed face, being lectured by several people, especially his own daughters, all night must have hurt his pride.
Li Xuemei also understood that this man was pushed by their daughters and herself today, and to be pushed this far was already decent enough, she couldn’t expect everything to change suddenly.
Didn’t even she figure things out only tonight?
Thus she smiled, tidied the clothes by her side, and advised the kids, "All of you go to sleep now, Xiao Jie, wash and go to bed, give your dad a blanket."
Xiao Jie happily agreed and ran to get the basin; mainly it allowed him to run under the rain curtain from the eaves, this child loved the game.
Didn’t he just seize the opportunity?
Gu Xiaoqing and Gu Xiaoying quickly grabbed brooms and swept the peanut shells off the ground, emptying them beside the kitchen stove. These would be perfect to use as kindling tomorrow.
This stuff burns really well.
The sisters washed up and went to bed.
It was called a bed, but it was the northern style earthen bed.
Along the wall was a drawer cabinet, red in color, which was Li Xuemei’s dowry chest from back then.
On the cabinet were neatly folded quilts.
The sisters arranged the two positions side by side, turned off the lights, and snuggled in.
The weather wasn’t too cold yet.
August was still quite hot, with just a bit of chill at night.
But it wasn’t harvest time yet.
Lying for half the night in bed, Gu Xiaoying still couldn’t sleep and tentatively asked, "Xiaoqing, are you asleep?"
Today’s actions and words of her sister really made Gu Xiaoying feel a world-turning change.
Is this still the timid and shy sister who was more cowardly than herself?
What kind of stimulus did she receive for her twelve-year-old sister to dare question their father so loudly today.
That was their dad.
No one ever said Dad was wrong.
Even if she often resented Dad’s compliance with their grandparents’ ways, she never dared to go against him.
If the village knew, they’d accost her endlessly.
Whose daughter dares say such things to her father?
Except maybe Gu Xiaomin from third aunt’s family.
But that’s different.
Gu Xiaomin has always been pampered by third aunt like an apple of her eye.
Besides, third aunt’s disdainful gaze—they’re township people, she even works as a nurse in the town’s hospital. They’re earning government wages, like third uncle—their views are urban, modern ideas, not the rural peasant thoughts like hers.
But today, Gu Xiaoqing taught the whole family a lesson.
"Not yet."
Gu Xiaoqing also hadn’t slept.
Taking this step today was Gu Xiaoqing’s progress, and it showed years of change. The previous generation endured silently, resigned, but it didn’t change anything.
So since that filial submissiveness didn’t work, why repeat it? Better to live openly, and enjoy one’s life wholeheartedly.
It’s fine to feel comfortable; why care what others think?
It’s about being forthright.
Life is short; live this life for oneself.
She mustn’t walk the old path.
Gu Xiaoqing knew her words today had a significant impact on her sister. Actually, she hoped for such an impact. Without thoughts, blindly adhering to filial piety and brotherhood would only lead to being bullied endlessly.
If that’s the case, there’s no need to act that way; instead, pull the family together to resist.
Cultivate the consciousness to pursue a truly autonomous life.
Otherwise, this family might still walk the old road.
Especially her sister, no matter what, Gu Xiaoqing would not let her face the old path from the past, definitely won’t let her marry that old cripple.
"What made you think of telling Dad those things today, how did you become so bold, and weren’t you afraid of Dad getting angry? Don’t you know how he treats grandpa and grandma’s words like divine decree?" Gu Xiaoying curiously asked, turning to Gu Xiaoqing’s side in the dark.
Gu Xiaoqing lay flat, her tone steady, "Sis, I was just speaking the truth. Even though Dad is filial, there has to be a limit. He can’t be filial to everyone, right? Didn’t Dad give birth to us, but isn’t taking care of his own children, instead spending money on someone else’s kids—isn’t that something only a fool would do?
It’s not just our village, even the whole township doesn’t have a dad like ours. I didn’t say anything wrong, Dad would have been furious if I did. But wasn’t I right?
Therefore, one shouldn’t forget oneself; if Dad wants to be filial, he can go ahead, but why drag us along?"