LHBP | Chapter 6

The next morning, when Gu Yun woke up, they went outside and washed their face with cold water. There were no toothbrushes in this era, so they chewed on a willow twig and rinsed their mouth twice more.

Breakfast was still made by Cui Guizhi. This time she had learned her lesson and directly handed Gu Yun a bowl of watery porridge with hardly any grains in it. “You can eat in the kitchen today.”

Gu Yun did not care where they ate. If not for boiling medicine, they would not have come into the kitchen at all. And they had things to do today, so they did not want to say much to Cui Guizhi. They took the bowl and said nothing more.

Seeing that Gu Yun did not talk back, Cui Guizhi was a little satisfied and went to the main hall to eat instead.

After quickly finishing the meal and medicine, Gu Yun went out.

Cui Guizhi watched Gu Yun’s back and said, “Running wild all day long. Once we find someone for you, we’ll send you off right away.”

When Gu An heard that, he was overjoyed and hurriedly asked, “Mother, have you found someone for Yun-ge'er to meet?”

Gu An could not wait for Gu Yun to be married off. His mother had promised him that when Gu Yun married, part of the betrothal gift would be set aside and added to his own dowry, so he had only been able to endure Gu Yun sleeping in his room these past few nights.

Cui Guizhi smiled. “I went to find Matchmaker Wang myself and specifically told her to find our Yun-ge'er a good family.” Then she turned to Gu Yuanshan and said, “Master, you know Yun-ge'er isn’t young anymore. If he doesn’t marry soon, he won’t be able to marry at all. I’ve been exhausting myself over his marriage.”

Gu Yuanshan heard this and waved it off carelessly. “Handle it as you see fit.”

By the time Gu Yun reached the Yu family home, breakfast had only just been set on the table, and they felt somewhat awkward. They had deliberately wandered around the village a couple of extra times before coming over, never expecting the Yu family to eat breakfast so late.

When Meng Xiaoshuang saw Gu Yun come in, she immediately greeted them warmly. “Yun-ge'er is here? Come in, come in. Your aunt just made breakfast, sit down and have some with us.”

Gu Yun quickly waved their hands. “Auntie, you eat. I already ate at home.”

“What could Cui Guizhi possibly make for you? And why are you being so polite with your aunt?”

Yu Qiu directly pulled Gu Yun over to the table and sat them down. “Eat up. My mother knew you were coming today, so she deliberately made breakfast late and waited for you. She even went to Mingde Village to buy meat.”

The two of them coaxed Gu Yun to the table. The Yu family was a simple household, only Yu Peng, Meng Xiaoshuang, and Yu Qiu, so Gu Yun did not feel out of place.

Today’s breakfast was quite lavish for the Yu family: a large basin of braised pork belly, cabbage, and tofu. Rural people would not bear to eat meat unless it was a holiday or festival. The staple was the white flour flatbread Meng Xiaoshuang had made. Yu Peng and his wife were both from the south, and Meng Xiaoshuang’s cooking was pretty good. Even simple ingredients came out delicious. The flatbread was very chewy, and Gu Yun ate more than half a piece with the dish.

After the meal, Gu Yun wanted to help clear away the bowls and chopsticks, but Meng Xiaoshuang waved them off. “There aren’t many bowls. We don’t need you for this. Go to the inner room with Yu Qiu. I’ll come find you after I’m done cleaning up.”

Meng Xiaoshuang still remembered that Gu Yun had come today for business.

Yu Qiu led Gu Yun into their room and took out a pale lotus-white handkerchief to hand over. “Look, this was a few days ago when I went to the He family with my mother. Auntie Wei gave it to me. She said she embroidered it herself.”

Gu Yun took it and looked it over. The handkerchief was thin and light in the hand, smooth to the touch, and should have been made from excellent material. In the lower right corner was an exquisitely embroidered pattern for wealth, peace, and safety.

After looking at it, Gu Yun returned the handkerchief to Yu Qiu and praised it. “It’s beautiful.”

“Isn’t it? If Auntie Wei weren’t so rarely in the village, my mother would have wanted to pay to send me to learn embroidery from her.”

The two of them said a few more things before Meng Xiaoshuang came into the room.

“Yun-ge'er, Yu Qiu told me yesterday that you had something to discuss with me. What is it?”

After hearing Yu Qiu say yesterday that Gu Yun had something to ask of them, she had assumed Gu Yun had been bullied again at the Gu family home.

Gu Yun said sincerely, “Auntie, if not for the help you and Yu Qiu have given me all these years, I would probably have died in the Gu family long ago. I drowned this time, and in my dream an old immortal taught me many foods. One of them is made a lot like tofu. I want to teach this food to you, as a way of repaying all the care you’ve shown me over the years.”

The old immortal was the excuse Gu Yun had thought of early on. After all, in this world, everyone had a certain reverence for gods and spirits. Gu Yun also wanted to use that psychology to make Meng Xiaoshuang believe them.

In this era, there were quite a few households that made tofu, and almost every village had a tofu workshop. Peach Blossom Village did not have many families to begin with, so the Yu family’s tofu workshop was not actually doing all that well.

Meng Xiaoshuang quickly waved her hands. “How could your aunt accept a younger generation’s food recipe? Since you’ve got this recipe, when you marry and go to your husband’s family, it’ll help you stand on your own feet too.”

Gu Yun was not surprised by Meng Xiaoshuang’s refusal and said, “Auntie, to be honest, Cui Guizhi has already started looking for someone for me. But she’s asking Matchmaker Wang from our village. You know what kind of person that matchmaker is, don’t you? She’s trying to push me straight into a pit of fire.”

Meng Xiaoshuang was furious when she heard that. “That Cui Guizhi is truly black-hearted. Treating you like this, she isn’t afraid the retribution will fall on her own children one day.”

“This time I drowned, and it was like I walked through the gates of hell. I’ve figured out a lot of things too. I’ve spent so many years owing the Gu family their support and upbringing, and after working myself like an ox or a horse, I’ve more than paid it back. I don’t owe them anything anymore.” After a pause, they said, “I’ve decided to sever all ties with the Gu family completely!”

Seeing Gu Yun’s solemn expression, Meng Xiaoshuang was a little surprised. She had not expected them to make such a decision, but she also knew breaking off family ties was not as easy as Gu Yun made it sound. So she said, “Cui Guizhi really is vicious. It’s just that even for the sake of the betrothal money, she would never agree. And severing ties is never good for the reputation of a male omega like you. How will you marry in the future?”

Meng Xiaoshuang’s concern was not without reason. In this era, the reputations of girls and male omegas mattered a great deal. But Gu Yun did not care about so-called reputation at all.

“I’ve already thought of a plan to get the Gu family to agree to sever ties on their own. Then I’ll still need your help. As for reputation, I care even less. If someone is too afraid of gossip to marry me, then they’re not the one for me.”

Seeing how firmly Gu Yun spoke, Meng Xiaoshuang nodded and said, “It’s good that you think that way. In any case, you need to get out of the Gu family’s fire pit first. Don’t worry, if there’s anything you need help with, just say so. As for the food recipe, there’s no need.”

Gu Yun insisted, “How can your kindness to me over so many years not be worth a single recipe? Besides, food is meant to be eaten. If it’s hidden away and hoarded, doesn’t that lose its original meaning? I believe auntie will definitely make it well. If you won’t accept it, then I’d feel too ashamed to ask you for help.”

Meng Xiaoshuang saw Gu Yun say so much and could only nod in agreement for the time being. Afterward she called Yu Peng in, and Gu Yun explained their plan to the three of them.

After hearing Gu Yun’s plan, Yu Qiu was full of confidence. “Yun-ge'er, you really have had it so hard. Don’t worry, leave this to me. This time I’m definitely going to make sure you’re cut off from the Gu family completely.”

“Then when the time comes, we’ll be relying entirely on our Yu Qiu.” Gu Yun smiled. “Enough about them. I’ll make the food the old immortal taught me for you all to try.”