B5SB -Chapter 21 Marriage

The next day’s wedding was far less lively than usual. Everyone in the household was exhausted from the sleepless night before, so there was none of the usual excitement that accompanies a joyful family event.

Grandma Gu and Wang Ni made do by cooking in a half-burned kitchen.

Wang Ni had already been unhappy about spending so much money on this younger brother’s bride. Now, with this incident, her irritation only grew.

“Mother, is Chen Xiu some kind of jinx? Otherwise, why would something happen right on the wedding day? Why does Zhang Cuihua have to set fire?” Wang Ni fanned the flames of her complaint.

Grandma Gu, already in a bad mood due to age and lack of sleep, snapped irritably: “Just do your duty as the eldest sister-in-law.”

Early in the morning, Aidang had borrowed the brigade leader’s bicycle to pick up the bride. By noon, they still hadn’t returned home, and Grandma Gu was very worried.

Gu Yihan was sitting in the courtyard reading. When she looked up, she saw her father, Gu Aidang, covered in dust, leading Chen Xiu, whose clothes were patched and washed to a faded white, into the house.

She hurriedly called out to the kitchen: “Grandma, Father’s back!”

Grandma Gu wiped her hands and walked out: “Why are you taking so long?”

Seeing her son in such a messy state, she scolded: “What happened? These are new clothes! How could you ruin them like this?”

Gu Aidang: …Is she only worried about the clothes?

“Mother, Chen Xiu has no dowry for the marriage, and her family has cut ties with her.” After saying this, he went straight to his own room. On his wedding day, having her family sever ties—it was humiliating.

Grandma Gu and her little granddaughter exchanged a glance and both stared sharply at Chen Xiu.

Chen Xiu was equally helpless. Being stared at, she awkwardly explained: “My mother asked me to continue supporting my younger brother’s wife, but I didn’t agree. She didn’t give me a dowry, and now, without me as a daughter, the families have cut ties.”

Grandma Gu sighed. There was not a hint of joy in this wedding: “Let’s eat first. Everyone’s busy.”

Then they all turned back to their own tasks.

Gu Yihan glanced at Chen Xiu, then at her father whose door was closed. This was hardly a wedding—it was pure suffering, with no celebration at all.

Time flew by like a river.

The day after tomorrow, Gu Yihan would start school. She was busy preparing her things at home because she was starting middle school at a rather young age.

Grandma Gu was constantly worried, always fretting whether Gu Yihan might be treated unfairly.

“Yihan, have you packed everything? Don’t forget anything. If you realize something’s missing at school, just send word home and we’ll bring it to you.”

Then she put a week’s worth of rations into the already-packed schoolbag.

“Also, if your mother comes looking for you at school, don’t go. She doesn’t mean well!”

Gu Yihan looked confused: “But didn’t they hand her over to the police?”

Grandma Gu ground her teeth in anger: “The police said no substantial harm was done. She paid a fine and was sent home.”

Gu Yihan was speechless but reassured her: “Don’t worry, Grandma. I won’t go.”

Satisfied that her little granddaughter had listened, Grandma Gu finally relaxed.

Gu Yihan was genuinely touched: “Grandma, I don’t lack for anything. Don’t worry about me—I’m grown up now.”

To prove it, she lifted her luggage with one hand: “See? I’m strong enough!”

Grandma Gu carefully took a handkerchief from her pocket and handed Gu Yihan 4 yuan and a ration ticket.

“Middle school tuition at the commune is 3 yuan. I’m giving you an extra yuan for pocket money. Don’t let yourself go without.” With that, she quietly wiped her tears and walked out.

Gu Yihan immediately set down her bag and carefully helped her out: “Grandma, you mustn’t be sad. You have to stay happy—you’re the most beautiful grandmother in the village.”

Her playful words cheered Grandma Gu, and she no longer felt sad.

She looked at Second Son’s wife and Gu Aidang, who were busy plucking a wild chicken in the courtyard.

Grandma Gu said: “Second, take Yihan to school tomorrow.”

Gu Yihan glanced at her new stepmother, gave a little tug to her father, and sent him a meaningful look.

Gu Aidang pretended to be troubled: “Mother, my wife is pregnant and unwell. I need to help her at home for the next few days. Yihan is grown up now. It wouldn’t be right to make her compete with her brother.”

Grandma Gu pointed at her son: “You…”

Gu Yihan slipped her arm around Grandma Gu’s and pouted: “Grandma, it’s not much luggage. I can carry it myself. The weather’s hot, just a few changes of clothes—it’s light.”

“Besides, when my eldest brother went to school, no one went with him. I want to be like him. Grandma, you can’t be partial, or big brother will get angry.”

Grandma Gu poked her granddaughter’s forehead and scolded with a laugh: “You little clever one.”

Gu Yihan genuinely didn’t care about much—only about what she cared for.

In this household, her own matters came first; next came Grandma Gu. Everyone else was just treated as relatives.

Even in the whole Gu family village, she always felt out of place.

The village girls were either working or on their way to work; almost none of them went to school.

Because she went to school, she didn’t fit in with them. She wasn’t part of their group, and there was no need to force herself in.