Gu Xiaoqing, a girl yet to be married, blushed and turned pale as she was scolded by those words. She shook off Gu Wu’s arm and retorted, "Dad, what nonsense are you spouting? Why would I need to be dunked in a pig cage? What have you seen me do? Is it not okay for me to pick mushrooms on the mountain?"
She was still holding a mushroom in her hand!
Of course, Gu Wu was not buying any of it. After chewing out Gu Xiaoqing, he turned to point his finger at Wang Shun’s nose and said, "Shunzi, let me make it clear to you today, you can forget about Erya. Even considering her is pointless. Considering your family’s situation, it’s debatable whether you can even get a wife. Yet you dare to fancy my Erya? You’re a toad lusting after swan meat. Hmph, I’ve already found a suitable match for her, and in a few days, it will be settled. Just give up on it!"
Wang Shun’s face turned ashen. Even a person without much cunning couldn’t help but feel his self-esteem bruised by such scorn!
His face flushed with embarrassment, he stammered for a while without being able to say a word.
Gu Wu sneered disdainfully, "What virtuous behavior!"
Gu Xiaoqing, with a stern face, said, "Dad, his family may be poor, but I like him. The son of the Bun Shop in town, I don’t want to marry him!"
Gu Wu scoffed coldly, "Marriage is the decree of the parents and the matchmaker’s word. It’s not up to you!"
In desperation, Gu Xiaoqing’s face turned red, and then she lowered her head in shame and said, "Then you might as well take me to be dunked in a pig cage! If I must die, I’d rather die in the river outside the village; the water is clear, and it’s closer to home. That way, if I die too far away in town, my soul won’t be able to find its way back!"
Hearing these words, Wang Shun became panicked, and his courage grew. He sidestepped Gu Wu and took hold of Gu Xiaoqing’s arm, asking, "Xiaoqing, what’s with this talk of dying? What are you saying?"
"What do you mean?" Gu Wu was also alarmed.
Gu Xiaoqing pinched Wang Shun’s arm from behind, signaling him not to speak, and then she sighed with regret, "Dad, it’s just like what you’re thinking. Actually, I regret it too. I mean, look at his foolish appearance; how could he be a match for me, right? But it’s already done. Now, what should we do? If you really want your daughter to die, I guess I have no choice!"
As she spoke, tears began to swirl in her eyes.
Wang Shun still didn’t understand the meaning of her words, but Gu Wu, shrewd as he was, felt a storm inside his heart!
He was speechless for a moment.
"How could this... Oh!!"
Wang Shun wanted to say something else but was pinched again by Gu Xiaoqing, this time with more force, making him cry out in pain.
"Xiaoqing..." He looked at her with a mix of pain and confusion.
Gu Wu, his mind reeling as if he had been struck on the head, buzzed for a while before he could recover.
He looked back and forth between Gu Xiaoqing and the stupefied Wang Shun and asked, "Did you really...?"
"Of course, it’s true!" Gu Xiaoqing interjected before Wang Shun could speak.
Although Wang Shun didn’t quite understand what "true" meant, when Gu Xiaoqing nodded, he naturally nodded along.
Gu Wu felt his heart go cold. Stumbling, he had to steady himself on a nearby villager before he could remain upright.
Had it been anyone else facing this situation, they would have exploded with curses by now.
But Gu Wu was different. His mind was spinning rapidly. Once he had sorted out his thoughts, he took Gu Xiaoqing’s hand and hurried down the mountain without another word.
Gu Xiaoqing did not resist, letting him lead her.
Wang Shun was anxious, following behind them. Gu Wu’s barbaric demeanor was frighteningly intimidating, and Wang Shun feared for Gu Xiaoqing’s well-being, so he hurriedly called out and chased after them.
Gu Wu stopped, turned around, and glared furiously at Wang Shun, causing Wang Shun to instinctively shrink back.
"Don’t . Go down the mountain separately!"