B5SB -Chapter 20 Fire

Grandma Gu acted quickly, arranging with Matchmaker Zhao to set a date for visiting Chen Xiu’s family in Xiahe Village to propose marriage.

On the day in advance,

Grandma Gu patted her clothes and said, “Hanhan, change your clothes and come with me to Xiahe Village.”

Gu Yihan paused slightly. “Grandma, should I… really go? Isn’t this a bit inappropriate?”

Grandma Gu laughed. “We’re country folk, we don’t fuss over these things. Besides, Chen Xiu is coming to our house as a stepmother to my granddaughters—just take a look for yourself.”

Seeing the determined expression on Grandma Gu’s face, Gu Yihan knew she had no choice.

She put on a newly made dress and tied her hair into the traditional braids of the era. The little country girl immediately transformed into a youthful, charming young lady.

Grandma Gu looked at her beautiful granddaughter and said, “New clothes really do suit you.”

Gu Yihan had always thought she was too young to dress up nicely, but Grandma Gu, worried that she might be looked down on at the commune school, had spent a fortune making a new outfit for her.

Matchmaker Zhao led the group on a bullock cart to Xiahe Village. After two hours of bumpy travel, Gu Yihan was nearly thrown sick.

They soon found Chen Xiu’s house. Inside, they saw a middle-aged woman wearing patched clothes, her hair dry and brittle, looking frail.

Matchmaker Zhao introduced her: “This is Sister-in-law Chen. Her daughter, Chen Xiu, is the eldest—very capable.”

Gu Yihan rolled her eyes inwardly. Capable? If she weren’t, they’d starve anyway. Judging by her mother, Chen Xiu clearly wasn’t going to do much work herself.

Grandma Gu didn’t waste words. “She looks younger than me, so I’ll call you ‘big younger sister.’”

“My son is on his second marriage, so we won’t hold a wedding banquet—just a simple meal at home, that counts as married.”

Sister-in-law Chen didn’t mind whether they held a banquet but insisted on a bride price: “No banquet? Fine. But the bride price should be 55 yuan.”

During their conversation, Chen Xiu came out to serve water, allowing Grandma Gu and the others to get a look at her.

Grandma Gu thought she was acceptable—nothing outstanding in looks, but young enough.

Seeing that Grandma Gu didn’t reply, Matchmaker Zhao stepped in to smooth things over: “Aunt Gu, this girl is only 23. Her family was delayed in marrying her off. Back in ’59, the family had no grain. Her father went to the mountains to find food and never returned. She could have married someone else to secure a livelihood but was unwilling to leave her younger siblings, supporting the family for several years.”

“If she were unsuitable, I wouldn’t even recommend her to your second son. That would ruin my reputation.”

Grandma Gu knew Zhao’s reputation and said, “Alright. No wedding ceremony, 55 yuan bride price, and we’ll also add a red cloth from our side.”

The agreement was reached, and the wedding date was set.

After leaving Xiahe Village, Grandma Gu said, “Sister Zhao, see if there’s a suitable young man nearby. My eldest granddaughter is 17—time to think about marriage.”

Matchmaker Zhao patted her chest confidently. “Don’t worry, I’ll handle it.”

That night, Gu Yihan lay in bed unable to sleep. She drank milk while thinking: time really flies—tomorrow, a new stepmother would enter the household.

Earlier, Grandma Gu had asked her opinion of the new stepmother. She felt it was just a test, treating her like a child. As long as she didn’t interfere with her life, it didn’t matter who came into the house.

Suddenly, Gu Yihan sniffed the air—was that the smell of smoke? Could something be on fire? Something felt wrong.

She rushed outside and saw that the firewood near the kitchen and the kitchen itself were ablaze—it was arson.

Gu Yihan immediately shouted in the yard, “Murder! Someone set fire! Catch the criminal!” Her sharp, youthful voice rang loudly in the quiet night.

Not only did she wake her family, but the neighbors also stirred.

Hearing her voice, the family was startled. They hastily threw on clothes and ran outside. Seeing the fire, Gu Yihan’s elder siblings had no time to speak and immediately began firefighting.

The neighbors rushed to the burning area, spotting a shadow dart past. “Quick! Catch him—this is the murderer!”

The villagers cooperated: some carried water to extinguish the fire, while others blocked the arsonist. Eventually, they captured the culprit.

Once the fire was out, Gu Yihan finally relaxed. Grandma Gu was also terrified—if her little granddaughter hadn’t been alert, the whole family could have perished.

When Gu Jiawang and the villagers turned the arsonist over, they saw it was Zhang Cuihua.

Grandma Gu and eldest daughter-in-law each grabbed her by the hair, kicked her down, and picked up wooden sticks to beat her.

Grandma Gu, furious, yelled, “Ungrateful wretch! You want to die? I’ll help you!”

Zhang Cuihua curled on the ground, rolling and shielding her head with her hands.

The team leader arrived and said, “Enough! Stop hitting her. If you kill her, you’ll go to jail.”

Only then did Grandma Gu and eldest daughter-in-law let go.

Grandma Gu said, “Team leader, report to the police—this is attempted murder.”

Gu Jiawang and his second brother added, “Yes, we must report her. She tried to burn our whole family alive.”

Zhang Cuihua’s eyes were filled with deep hatred. “You’ll all die. As long as I live, I won’t let you go!” Her face twisted with rage, glaring at everyone in the yard as if she wanted to shred them all.

The team leader ordered, “Gag her, tie her up, keep someone on watch tonight, and take her to the police tomorrow.”

An older woman from the village said, “She won’t retaliate later, will she? She’s crazy—who knows what she might do.”

Jiawang’s wife said, “This is all Gu Aidang’s fault. A good wife got divorced.”

Then she whispered conspiratorially, “You don’t know—after Zhang Cuihua returned to her parents, her family sold her to a man whose wife had died. The man was in a bad mood and beat her.”

Liu Zhaodi shivered. “Really?” She again felt grateful she had chosen a different son.

Jiawang’s wife, smug, added, “How could I lie? My cousin married into the village where she remarried. I heard she was beaten badly.”

Liu Zhaodi was about to ask more when the team leader shouted, “Everyone go back to sleep! Work starts early tomorrow.”

Everyone dispersed.