The day the Gu Family had agreed upon to propose marriage to the Lei Family had to be postponed due to the disappearance of Gu Youyou.
The girl from the Lei Family was already eighteen, and the family was worried that the Gu Family might change their minds. In the past few days, they had asked Matchmaker Zhang to inquire several times.
With a hint of helplessness, Matchmaker Zhang explained, "Lei Family’s lady, there have been no changes on the part of the Gu Family, and I believe in Old Master Gu’s character. What he has promised, he won’t change, so you can rest assured and just wait for your daughter to get married this time."
"But how much longer do we have to wait? You know my daughter has already been delayed for three years because she was mourning her father. We can’t afford any more delays."
"Oh, that’s not up to me to decide. Haven’t I already told you? Their eldest granddaughter had an accident while picking mushrooms in the mountains. Everyone in the village has gone up to search. Imagine, at this critical juncture, if they were preoccupied with matchmaking for their grandson, what would others think of them?
If the entire village is helping to search, and their own family doesn’t show concern, they would be criticized by their neighbors, wouldn’t you agree? You wouldn’t feel assured marrying your daughter into such a family, would you?"
This lady from the Lei Family didn’t care who had an accident; she was only worried about her daughter who couldn’t wait any longer.
But Matchmaker Zhang had made things so clear that she had nothing more to say, only responding, "Then I must trouble you, Matchmaker Zhang, to visit Lotus Village when you have the time. See if the Gu Family’s eldest granddaughter has been found. If you manage to finalize my daughter’s marriage match, you’ll certainly receive a generous gratitude gift!"
Upon hearing the mention of a gratitude gift, Matchmaker Zhang’s face bloomed like a chrysanthemum, and she repeatedly assured, "I understand, I understand..."
Over at the Gu Family, Gu Feng had been in bed for several days, not until Gu Youyou appeared before him in good health.
In just a few days, Gu Feng seemed to have aged greatly, and his head full of white hair startled Gu Youyou.
"Grandfather, Youyou has worried you again!" Gu Youyou felt a pang of guilt and stealthily checked Gu Feng’s pulse as she grasped his withered arm.
Jin Zijin had accompanied Gu Youyou on her return, and seeing Gu Feng distraught over her disappearance, she glared at him furiously.
’It’s all your fault!’ Gu Youyou communicated silently with her lips.
Struggling to sit up from the bed, Gu Feng finally recognized that the person before him was indeed Gu Youyou, and with tears streaming down his face, he cried, "Youyou, is that really you? Have you come back?"
"It’s me, Grandfather, Youyou has returned. Don’t be sad anymore; harming your health isn’t worth it!"
Gu Feng’s aged eyes showed a glint of life again as he sighed deeply, "You, my child, why do you have to suffer so much? The Gu Family hasn’t done anything to deserve this. Why does my eldest granddaughter have to endure such hardship? If Heaven has any complaints, let them come at me. What kind of Heaven is this, that constantly torments a young girl..."
"Oh dear, old man, have you gone mad, daring to curse Heaven?"
Old Mrs. Huang, who had rushed in from the outside, happened to hear Gu Feng cursing Heaven. She spat twice and quickly ran back into the yard. Kneeling down, she began kowtowing and praying incessantly.
"Oh, Lord of Heaven, my old man is out of his mind; please don’t take his words seriously. Don’t blame him..."
Ancient people were superstitious, and rural villagers in ancient times even more so. Thus, Gu Feng speaking ill of Heaven was committing a great taboo!
When Matchmaker Zhang arrived and saw that the gate to the Gu Family’s courtyard was open, she walked right in, only to witness this scene.
"Oh my, Old Madam Gu, what occasion is it today that has you bowing and praying to Heaven?"