sjar Chapter 536: Doesn’t Understand the Meaning of Paying Off Debts
Chapter 536: Doesn’t Understand the Meaning of Paying Off Debts
"Xiao Xue, my clothes are torn. Could I borrow your needle and thread to mend them?"
After Gu Taohua pulled Gu Xiaoxue out of the storeroom, Gu Xiaoxue squatted outside washing clothes while Gu Taohua sat beside her chatting casually.
Xu Dabao approached Gu Xiaoxue with a grin and tugged at his clothes.
Gu Xiaoxue felt a tingling sensation on her scalp.
Even though Xu Dabao’s demeanor seemed friendly, she didn’t like him.
She had run into Xu Dabao a few times in Qinghe Bay, and he would whistle at her, his gaze making her entire body uncomfortable.
Gu Xiaoxue said, "I don’t have any needle and thread."
Xu Dabao said, "How can you not have any? Last time, I saw you in Qinghe Bay sitting at the entrance stitching shoe soles."
Gu Xiaoxue bit her lip, looking at Gu Taohua for help.
Gu Taohua glared at Xu Dabao, saying, "Get lost! If your clothes are torn, ask your mother to mend them. Don’t come bothering Xiaoxue."
Xu Dabao did not expect Gu Taohua to speak up for Gu Xiaoxue, especially since everyone in the village knew there was friction between the main family and the second family of the Gu family. With Gu Ruinian in such a state, Tong Dajiao didn’t lift a finger, so why would Gu Taohua be kind to Gu Xiaoxue?
"Did you hear that? If you disturb our chat again, don’t blame me for being rude." Gu Taohua flashed her fist.
Gu Taohua’s reputation for fierceness was legendary in Qinghe Bay. Even Xu Dabao, a villain, had suffered from her fists in his childhood. Seeing her about to swing, Xu Dabao felt a chill down his neck and slunk away along the wall.
"Mom, have they finished talking?" Gu Taohua asked as she saw Tong Huaqiong coming out.
Tong Huaqiong said, "Your grandpa is still discussing."
"Xiaoxue." Tong Huaqiong changed her tone, calling out to Xiaoxue, who raised her head while washing clothes, revealing a beautiful face in the sunlight.
"Auntie, is there something you need me for?" Gu Xiaoxue wiped her hands and approached Tong Huaqiong.
Tong Huaqiong glanced at Gu Xiaoxue’s tight, worn clothes and sighed, "Auntie wants to tell you something. Whether you listen or not, I hope you take it to heart. Your brother’s troubles have nothing to do with you. Any calamities he brings are also not your responsibility. Think for yourself in everything. If anyone asks you to repay a debt or use you to pay one off, you must not agree. If you do, it will ruin your life. Do you understand?"
Gu Xiaoxue wasn’t entirely sure.
How could family matters not concern her?
She had never considered being used to pay a debt, believing the family wouldn’t do that. What debt could a girl like her possibly pay off?
Gu Xiaoxue responded, "Auntie, the family won’t use me to pay debts. I’m not like Sister Taohua, who can do business and earn money."
Simple to the point of being foolish. She overestimated Mr. Gu and didn’t understand the concept of being collateral.
Tong Huaqiong lowered her voice, "If your grandfather can’t repay the Xu family, he’ll marry you off to Xu Dabao. Would you be willing? You know Xu Dabao is no good; marrying him would end in torment for you."
Gu Xiaoxue was startled, muttering, "Grandpa won’t do that."
From a young age, she was brainwashed that her brother was the family’s hope. She had to care for him, and her dowry should fund his studies; she was to support her family even after marriage.
She never thought it strange, as other village girls faced the same expectations.
But marrying Xu Dabao? She couldn’t bear the thought.
Tong Huaqiong had done her part to warn. Whether Xiaoxue stood up for herself was up to her.
If Xiaoxue had the will to resist being used as a chattel for Xu Dabao, Tong Huaqiong would support her.
If she was determined to sacrifice for Ruinian, trying to intervene would be pointless and only cause enmity.
Tong Huaqiong left with Gu Taohua from Wu Ji.
Gu Xiaoxue was still pondering Tong Huaqiong’s words.
The family needed to pay the Xu family five hundred taels of silver, but they didn’t have that much money. If they couldn’t pay, the Xu family would threaten her brother’s life. If they demanded she marry Xu Dabao as repayment, what would she do?
If she refused, would her grandparents be disappointed, her mother heartbroken, or her brother beyond rescue?
Gu Xiaoxue’s thoughts were in a jumble, and when she looked up, she saw Xu Dabao emerging from the wall, walking towards her.
Xu Dabao stuck out his tongue, and Gu Xiaoxue felt as if a venomous snake was darting out its tongue at her, her body shuddering. She quickly rushed toward Mrs. Wei, who had just come out.
"What’s wrong?"
Mrs. Wei sensed Gu Xiaoxue trembling, glanced at Xu Dabao in the distance, and pondered deeply.
Gu Xiaoxue said, "It’s nothing."
Mrs. Wei looked at Gu Xiaoxue, hesitating. Last time, Second Uncle and the village chief mentioned to Feng Nian that he should look after his sister Xiaoxue, and she found the suggestion strangely unsettling.
Earlier, in the house, she noticed Xu Dabao’s gaze fixed on the little sister-in-law, coupled with Xu Jin wanting to speak privately with Mr. Gu, setting her nerves on edge.
When Xu Jin and Mr. Gu concluded their discussion, they exited the storeroom together.
"How did it go?" Liu Tieshan inquired.
Xu Jin replied with a faint smile, addressing the Gu family, "They say it’s better to resolve enmity than to keep it. After all, I live in the same village as Mr. Gu. We encounter each other regularly. My daughter Zao Hua, once married off, is like water spilled and no longer our concern. Strictly speaking, she’s not part of the Xu family anymore. Rui Nian has already kowtowed three times to me, so we’ll consider the matter settled. The five hundred taels primarily compensate for my son Dabao’s previous loss as a steward at Zheng’s shop. Mr. Gu can’t afford it now, and I won’t push someone to death. Mr. Gu and I agreed on using something else as collateral, giving him ten days to think it over."
Mr. Gu, expressionless, said, "I will think it over properly."
Xu Jin then led the Xu family members away in a horde.
Liu Tieshan and Gu’s second uncle weren’t reassured, so after Xu Jin left, they asked Mr. Gu, "What are you using as collateral?"
Mr. Gu responded, "It’s just the house and the land, or the strength of the family."
Gu’s second uncle stared directly at Mr. Gu, saying, "Big Brother, don’t be confused. Tell me the truth. Do they intend to use Xiaoxue as collateral by marrying her to Dabao?"
Mr. Gu’s face changed, and he said, "Do I look like that kind of person? How could you think that of me? Xiaoxue is my granddaughter, after all. Would I still be human if I used her as collateral?"
Gu’s second uncle saw Mr. Gu’s serious expression and doubted his initial suspicion.
After all, Big Brother cares about his reputation.
Liu Tieshan, seeing the Xu family leaving, also departed with other villagers.
Lately, the village had been irrigating the cornfields, and they’d already delayed two days because of Guiyuan’s issues; they couldn’t afford further delays.
Once everyone was gone, Mr. Gu called in Gu Youtian, Mrs. Jia, and others to discuss the situation inside.
"Old man, how did you negotiate with Xu Jin? Five hundred taels of silver isn’t a small amount. We shouldn’t have agreed to it. Even if you pledged the house and land, it wouldn’t be enough. Where will we live and what will we eat then?" Mrs. Gu wiped away a tear, saying.
With a troubled look, Mr. Gu said, "No need to pledge the house and land. Xu Jin wants us to use something else."
Mrs. Gu’s eyes brightened with hope, asking eagerly, "What would we use? Our family doesn’t have anything else valuable enough to cover the debt."