ARC 2: Stepmother in the Seventies ✦ c71~116 (46)
✦ 24
Translator: InkyDragon (https://inkydragontranslation.wordpress.com)
A web of thorns, not a bed of roses.
The Zhou household – was it truly a den of lions and tigers? In such a short span, they had already reduced the new daughter-in-law to this pitiful state.
Though Gu Shi Chu anticipated Li Dan Yang’s married life wouldn’t be a bed of roses, she never imagined the thorns would be this piercing. Just how much torment had this poor woman endured?
“What…happened to you?” Gu Shi Chu’s voice trailed off, a mix of emotions swirling within her.
Though Li Dan Yang willingly leaped into the fire pit of the Zhou family, seeing her so downtrodden sparked a flicker of sympathy.
Perhaps it was the harsh law of the jungle – the previous wife too must have suffered a similar fate.
No, the real culprit was original Gu Shi Chu’s lack of natal family support. The Zhous, especially the matriarch, bullied her recklessly. But in this life, Li Dan Yang’s strong family backup prevented the Zhous from being too brazen.
Upon seeing Gu Shi Chu, Li Dan Yang’s face flushed with shame, lending an attractive hue to her otherwise pale complexion. She always felt guilty around her, and now, with Gu witnessing her misery, that guilt turned to anger and embarrassment. Embarrassing herself before the whole village was one thing, but not in front of Gu Shi Chu.
Plastering a fake smile, she feigned casualness. “How have I changed? With so many kids at home, I’m just too busy to groom myself… Fortunately, my efforts haven’t been in vain; the children are all well-behaved…”
“Li Dan Yang, I want roasted sweet potatoes. Peel them for me, now!” Zhou Jian Hong’s imperious demand came from behind, making Li Dan Yang’s head throb.
She wished she hadn’t uttered those words earlier.
Gu Shi Chu chuckled softly, retracting what little sympathy she had. It seemed Li Dan Yang was content with her lot, so why bother pitying her?
For the Zhou family’s meteoric rise was like a carrot dangling before a donkey, goading it to pull the millstone tirelessly. And Li Dan Yang was that donkey, enduring present hardships for future rewards, unaware she awaited the slaughterhouse once her utility ended. For who needed an old, workless donkey?
— My poison is her honey.
Their goals were worlds apart. Li Dan Yang played the dutiful stepmother, while Gu Shi Chu had begun studying middle and high school curricula with Zhang Wei Hong’s guidance.
Having undergone numerous gaokao exams, much knowledge resided in Gu Shi Chu’s subconscious, merely requiring a nudge to resurface. So it would be more apt to say Zhang was guiding her to recollect, rather than teaching anew.
- (Gaokao (高考) – The National College Entrance Examination in China, taken by students after completing secondary education, usually in the last year of high school. It is a crucial determinant for admission into Chinese universities.)
Under such circumstances, Gu Shi Chu’s learning progressed rapidly and naturally. The young girl’s brilliant mind absorbed knowledge effortlessly, grasping and applying new concepts with ease. Zhang Wei Hong marvelled at her student’s natural aptitude, proudly proclaiming her a prodigy in the making.
As the bond between Gu Shi Chu and Zhang Wei Hong deepened, they began to share more than just knowledge. Gu Shi Chu would occasionally offer her tutor food supplies, and Zhang Wei Hong reciprocated by sharing items sent by her family. Their friendship blossomed, nurtured by mutual respect and appreciation.
This newfound focus on studies inevitably impacted Gu Shi Chu’s time with Ji Ming Tao.
At first, he feigned indifference, but his façade soon crumbled. After today’s tutoring session, Ji Ming Tao appeared at Gu Shi Chu’s doorstep, his chilly demeanour a silent protest against her neglect.
Sensing his displeasure, Gu Shi Chu quickly reassured him, “Alright, alright, I’ve learned all the middle and high school knowledge. There’s no need for Zhang Wei Hong to come over often for tutoring anymore. We’ve agreed to have lessons only on holidays when I’m not working. I won’t be as busy as before, and I won’t neglect you again.”
Ji Ming Tao couldn’t fathom why she valued this knowledge so much: “What use is learning all this now? You can’t take the college exam, nor will you apply it daily. Isn’t it a waste?”
Gu Shi Chu smiled mysteriously, her words laden with meaning: “Knowledge is never a waste. Opportunities favour the prepared. While these bits may seem useless now, when the moment arrives to apply them, they’ll prove crucial, even decisive.”
Ji Ming Tao pondered her words, understanding she wasn’t someone who acted aimlessly. Everything she did was carefully considered.
“So, are you aiming to become a village teacher?” Ji Ming Tao could only think of this possibility for now.
Gu Shi Chu shook her head with a smile: “No, why limit ourselves to such a narrow vision?”
Furrowing his handsome brows, Ji Ming Tao gazed silently at her. She leaned in, pecking his thin lips lightly. “Enough with the wild guesses. Learning more is never a bad thing. Let’s not dwell on dull matters. Let’s do something joyful instead…”
Winter in Zhou Village was a harsh mistress, blanketing the landscape in thick snow and confining residents to their homes. Gu Shi Chu and Ji Ming Tao, like hibernating animals, rarely left the warmth of their bed, except for the most pressing needs. They spent almost all day and night together, as no one was watching.
As the new year approached, Gu Shi Chu counted the years until the college entrance exam—five more to go. She sighed, feeling the weight of the wait. For someone who relished life’s pleasures, the lack of freedom and scarcity of material goods were particularly challenging.
Hearing her sigh, Ji Ming Tao looked at her quizzically before pulling her into an embrace. “Why the sigh?”
“What’s the farthest you’ve ever been?” she inquired, recalling his past shady dealings in the black market with watches and flashlights.
He paused for a moment before speaking in a low voice. “The city. It’s three hours away by bus from our county town.”
She raised an eyebrow, thinking ‘as expected’, and then asked, “Is it bustling and lively there?”
“It’s livelier than the county town, with more buildings, but otherwise it’s about the same,” Ji Ming Tao replied, holding her lightly.
Gu Shi Chu let out a wistful sigh. “I wish I could go to the city too… Being stuck in the village every day makes it feel like the outside world has nothing to do with me. Given the chance, I’d much rather be in a big city.”
She eagerly awaited the opportunity to take the college exam, but alas, she still had to wait.
After a pensive silence, Ji Ming Tao asked, “Do you really want to become a city person?”
Gu Shi Chu replied honestly, “Absolutely! Can you see yourself forever stuck in Zhou Village? The outside world offers so much adventure. Staying here limits our opportunities, not just in life in general, but also for future children’s education. Why settle for less?”
Ji Ming Tao listened, the flicker in his eyes wavering, until he finally settled into profound silence.
As the offspring of a landlord, he had been under strict surveillance until recently. In the past, even a trip to the market required meticulous planning. Settling in the city seemed as far away as the heavens. Even for poor peasants with clean backgrounds, it was extremely difficult – let alone for someone with his tainted history.
- (Landlord’s children and individuals with perceived “bad class backgrounds” faced discrimination and difficulties in various aspects of life, including migration and settlement in urban areas.)
─── ❖ ── ☆ ── ❖ ───
( )………( )
(๑✪ᆺ✪๑)
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