When Shen Jiao woke again, it was already nine o’clock the following morning.
She had slept so deeply that she had finally recovered some of her energy. With her eyes still closed, she stretched comfortably and prepared to get up.
“Jiaojiao, you’re awake.”
Shen Jiao opened her eyes in confusion and looked at the unfamiliar woman before her.
She appeared to be in her thirties. Like Gu Xinguo, she had thick eyebrows and large eyes. However, perhaps because she was a woman, her features were much softer than his hard, masculine ones.
On her, those bold features created an open and straightforward impression.
Shen Jiao quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
Someone like this should be easy to get along with.
Neither of her two lives had given her a peaceful family, so this time, she sincerely wanted to live quietly and happily.
“You must be Elder Sister, right? You look so much like Brother Gu.”
“When did you arrive? Brother Gu should have woken me.”
From the moment Shen Jiao opened her eyes, Gu Xinmin had been discreetly studying her.
Seeing that the young woman carried herself naturally and possessed a bright, open expression, she nodded inwardly.
She had only one younger brother, so naturally, she wanted him to build a proper and peaceful life.
The woman he had married previously had been nothing but a family-wrecking disaster.
She could not do anything useful, yet she was exceptionally skilled at spending money. Even then, she had complained about everything.
She had not entered the Gu family to become a wife. She had entered it to become an ancestor whom everyone else had to serve.
This time, Gu Xinmin intended to keep her eyes wide open before her brother remarried.
So far, Shen Jiao seemed quite good.
Grandma had also said that she knew how to care for others.
That was what mattered.
“You were sleeping so soundly that we didn’t wake you.”
Gu Xinmin smiled.
“Xinguo went to the doctor’s office to speak with the doctor. Are you hungry? There are still some steamed buns left from breakfast.”
Strictly speaking, Shen Jiao was the Gu family’s future bride and therefore an honoured guest.
Even though they were in a hospital, Gu Xinmin should have treated her properly and taken her to the canteen for a meal.
It did not need to be anything extravagant, but she should at least have offered her a hot bowl of noodles.
However, Gu Xinmin deliberately said nothing about that.
She wanted to see whether Shen Jiao was as delicate and demanding as An Qing had been.
Besides, the steamed buns she offered were made entirely from refined white flour. It could hardly be considered poor treatment.
“Thank you, Sister. I really am hungry.”
Not only did Shen Jiao show no reluctance or disgust, but she even thanked her sincerely.
Gu Xinmin’s impression of her immediately improved.
When Shen Jiao washed up, returned, and began eating the steamed bun while repeatedly praising how delicious it was, Gu Xinmin’s smile became so wide that she could hardly close her mouth.
Grandma lay in the hospital bed with her eyes closed, listening to the future sisters-in-law chat and laugh together.
Any lingering dissatisfaction she had felt over Shen Jiao being divorced disappeared completely.
She did not know how much longer her body would endure.
Once she passed away, the Gu family would consist only of Gu Xinguo and Gu Xinmin.
Her grandson no longer had parents or elders. If he had children in the future, he would undoubtedly need his older sister’s help.
The fact that Shen Jiao already understood the importance of maintaining a good relationship with her future sister-in-law left Grandma more than satisfied.
By the time Gu Xinguo returned to the ward, the relationship between Shen Jiao and Gu Xinmin had progressed rapidly.
Judging by their affectionate manner, anyone unaware of the truth might have assumed they were biological sisters.
“Xinguo, you’re back. What did the doctor say?”
“It’s still the same.”
Gu Xinguo placed the things in his hands down.
“But the results aren’t bad. If Grandma’s condition remains stable like this, there may truly be a possibility of recovery.”
“Brother Gu, did the doctor say whether Grandma can tolerate a long journey?”
Shen Jiao immediately asked.
“The hospital here in the county can’t compare with the facilities in the city or provincial capital.”
“If Grandma’s health allows it, it would be best to take her to a larger hospital for another examination.”
Gu Xinmin’s impression of Shen Jiao improved even further.
She understood the importance of being filial towards the elderly.
Regardless of whether she was only saying it aloud, her behaviour so far had been commendable.
“We’ve already taken her to hospitals in both the city and the provincial capital.”
Gu Xinmin sighed, her mood becoming somewhat low.
“Xinguo even asked some of his former comrades to help locate specialists, but none of them had a solution.”
“Grandma kept worrying about home and the money being spent. She couldn’t rest properly in the larger hospitals, so we had no choice but to bring her back here.”
Gu Xinmin’s parents had died early, and Grandma was the only elder remaining in her maternal family.
Her younger brother had a respectable job and earned well, so they were not afraid of spending money on treatment.
Unfortunately, even money could not purchase a life.
“Sister, didn’t Brother Gu just say that the doctor confirmed Grandma’s condition hasn’t worsened?”
Shen Jiao comforted her.
“That is already good news. We should believe that Grandma will recover.”
“I hope so.”
Although Gu Xinmin desperately wanted Grandma to recover, she clearly did not dare hold much hope.
Still, Shen Jiao’s concerned expression made her feel considerably better.
With such a granddaughter-in-law beside Gu Xinguo, Grandma could at least leave this world without worrying.
“Xinguo, Jiaojiao hasn’t eaten properly yet.”
Gu Xinmin turned and scolded her brother.
“Hurry and take her to the canteen for a meal. Why are you standing there like a fool? You have no awareness at all.”
Shen Jiao had eaten only one steamed bun and drunk a cup of hot water. That could not be considered a proper meal.
Gu Xinmin was extremely satisfied with her behaviour and was naturally willing to treat her well.
It was the first meeting with her brother’s future wife. No matter what, she needed to feed her properly.
“I just ate a huge steamed bun. I’m still completely full.”
Shen Jiao quickly declined.
“I’ll eat again at lunchtime.”
She was not pretending.
She truly was not hungry.
Rural steamed buns in this era were extremely substantial. The one she had eaten was almost as large as her face.
She had nearly been unable to finish it.
“You won’t be eating lunch here.”
Gu Xinmin waved her hand.
“Since it’s still early, have Xinguo take you back to your hometown immediately. Obtain the letter of introduction and register your marriage.”
Shen Jiao deliberately lowered her head with a shy expression, but inwardly, she was delighted.
When it came to obtaining the marriage certificate, she was even more impatient than Gu Xinguo.
She wanted to stamp him as hers as quickly as possible.
Good men and good women were both highly sought after.
It was better to scoop him into her own bowl before someone else could.
When Shen Jiao and Gu Xinguo prepared to leave, Grandma—who had been lying in bed pretending to sleep—opened her eyes.
She took Shen Jiao’s hand and forcefully pressed one hundred yuan into her palm.
“Good child, this is your first time visiting us, but because I’m in hospital, we couldn’t entertain you properly.”
“You’re about to register your marriage with Xinguo, and everything is happening too quickly for us to prepare a proper bride price.”
“Take this money and buy yourself two new sets of clothing.”
“A bride should possess the dignity and appearance of a bride.”
Had the money come from Gu Xinguo, Shen Jiao might have accepted it without hesitation.
But how could she take money from an elderly woman who was gravely ill and confined to a hospital bed?
Although Grandma called it part of the bride price, the money still felt unbearably heavy in her hands.
“Take it.”
Gu Xinguo spoke from beside her.
“It’s Grandma’s sincere intention. You shouldn’t refuse it.”
Only after Gu Xinguo intervened did Shen Jiao thank Grandma and place the money in her pocket.
The pocket already contained all her remaining possessions—slightly more than eighty yuan.
With this additional hundred, she now possessed around one hundred and eighty yuan.
Going from having nothing to carrying one hundred and eighty yuan made her feel inexplicably more secure.
Money truly gave a person confidence.
The fact that Shen Jiao had not immediately accepted the money further improved both Grandma’s and Gu Xinmin’s impressions of her.
After Shen Jiao and Gu Xinguo left, Grandma praised her several more times.
“That’s why people should still marry someone from the countryside.”
Grandma said with satisfaction.
“They know how to live steadily and manage a household.”
“City people simply can’t live properly with people like us from the countryside.”
“Xinmin, from now on, don’t mention An Qing again, no matter whether what you say is good or bad.”
“She and Xinguo are divorced, so she has nothing to do with our family anymore.”
“Xinguo is about to remarry. If you keep mentioning his former wife, the new bride might feel uncomfortable.”
“All right, all right. I’ll never mention her again.”
Gu Xinmin readily agreed.
“My new sister-in-law is a thousand times better than her. I certainly wouldn’t bear to make Jiaojiao sad.”
After leaving the hospital, Shen Jiao and Gu Xinguo did not immediately head towards the railway station.
Instead, Gu Xinguo took her to the department store to purchase new clothing.
Although Shen Jiao had changed her clothes before coming, and the garments did not contain any patches, they had been washed until the colours had faded.
They were not holding their wedding banquet today, but they were registering their marriage.
That still made her a bride.
At the very least, she should dress beautifully.
Unfortunately, the clothing in the department store was both ugly and expensive.
Shen Jiao walked around the entire place without finding anything suitable.
In the end, Gu Xinguo could no longer tolerate her indecision.
He directly took out his money and ration coupons and bought her a Lenin suit.
He also purchased a carton of cigarettes and two bottles of alcohol as gifts for the brigade captain.
Regardless of everything else, the brigade captain had allowed Shen Jiao to stay in his home for one night instead of forcing her to sleep outdoors.
He had also helped her protect the remaining eighty yuan in her possession.
Now they needed to ask him for another favour.
Giving him gifts was certainly worthwhile.
After purchasing the clothing, Gu Xinguo took Shen Jiao to a public toilet.
He stood outside to keep watch while she entered to change.
Enduring the terrible stench, Shen Jiao changed only her jacket.
Public toilets in this era were truly unbearable.
Not only were they dry latrines, but some people even relieved themselves wherever they pleased.
Anyone entering had to watch their step carefully, or they might tread directly on a “land mine.”
“I’m finished. Let’s go.”
As they walked away, Gu Xinguo asked, “Are you truly not going to tell your brother and sister-in-law that we’re registering our marriage?”
“We severed our relationship. That means we’re strangers now.”
Shen Jiao glanced at him.
“Why would I tell them I’m marrying you? So they can demand another bride price from you?”
“I’m only worried that people will criticise you.”
Gu Xinguo hesitated.
“After all, he is your biological older brother.”
“Who said that?”
Shen Jiao snorted.
“I was adopted. How could he be my biological brother?”
“Besides, I won’t be living in Shenjia Village in the future. We’ll be far away from them.”
“Why should I care what they say about me?”
After learning the full story, Gu Xinguo froze.
He had not expected another hidden matter.
No wonder Shen Jiao’s sister-in-law had bullied her so harshly while her brother ignored it.
It turned out that she was not their biological relative.
He felt both heartache and pity for her.
One blow had followed another.
He could not imagine how she had endured everything.
“We’ll do as you say. We won’t visit them.”
After a brief pause, he still asked, “Have you ever considered searching for your biological parents?”
He did not ask without reason.
A woman’s maternal family was often the source of her support and confidence.
If Shen Jiao found her biological parents, she might no longer be so alone.
Shen Jiao paused.
She truly had never considered that question.
In her previous life, her divorced parents had disliked her since childhood and passed her between them like an unwanted ball.
She had long since stopped placing much importance on blood relations or parental affection.
Therefore, after learning the truth about the original owner’s birth, the thought of searching for her biological parents had never entered her mind.
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