Chapter 11

Gu Xinxin said with a cold expression: “If Father doesn’t want to pay, that’s fine. I’ll find a way to handle Xiangrong’s education expenses. But Father must also sign a document to Separate the family for Xiangrong. This will prevent shameless people from coming to ask Xiangrong for favors when he becomes successful in the future.”

Gu Daniu’s face immediately darkened: “I’m not dead yet.”

While parents are alive, the family should not be separated.

Gu Xinxin raised her eyebrows: “Indeed, Father isn’t dead yet, but his sister already has to find a way to handle Xiangrong’s education.”

She was most skilled at sarcastic remarks.

Gu Daniu shouted: “Gu Xinxin, do you have a death wish? Have I been too kind to you these past few days?”

He could tolerate her targeting Gu Chenshi he knew she had pent-up anger that needed release, otherwise she would become estranged from the family. Considering her friendship with the county magistrate’s daughter, Gu Daniu was willing to let her vent.

But now, she even dared to target her own father? If he didn’t teach her a lesson today, she would really think she could fly up to the sky in this household, trample everyone under her feet, and do whatever she wanted above everyone’s heads.

Gu Daniu turned to get a stick and swung it down toward the back of Gu Xinxin’s knees.

Gu Xinxin was startled and tried to run forward, but Gu Daniu had anticipated this. He took a large step, reached out and grabbed her, blocking her path exactly. The stick followed its original trajectory and landed on Gu Xinxin’s legs.

Excruciating pain shot through her, making Gu Xinxin almost think both her legs were broken.

Gu Xiangrong rushed over: “Sister!”

Without a word, Gu Daniu threw Gu Xiangrong aside and raised the stick to strike again, this time aiming for the thighs. He wanted to teach Gu Xinxin a lesson, not cripple her.

A cripple would be hard to marry off and keeping her at home would only be a burden.

Moreover, crippling his own daughter would damage his reputation.

As intense pain struck again, Gu Xinxin’s vision nearly went black. She had indeed become somewhat arrogant these past few days, repeatedly making sarcastic remarks and targeting others at home. Since Gu Daniu hadn’t responded, she thought there was still some father-daughter affection between them.

She never expected that in this damned ancient era, parents wouldn’t break any laws even if they beat their children to death.

Beating and scolding children was commonplace here. To children, parents were lofty figures who even controlled their life and death.

Her eyes reddened, half from pain and half from hatred.

Gu Xiangrong rushed over again, shielding her with his body: “Father, don’t hit sister. She hasn’t fully recovered from her illness yet; her body can’t take it. If you must hit someone, hit me instead. I won’t go study, I’ll stay home and learn hunting from you, let younger brother go study instead…”

He quickly added: “My sister is just too worried about me; she didn’t mean to defy you intentionally. These past few days sister has been working very hard at home…”

Gu Xinxin gritted her teeth, her mind clearer than ever: “Father, it’s almost dark, isn’t it? Shouldn’t Second Aunt and the others be returning soon? Doesn’t Father want to know how Second Aunt’s business went today?”

Gu Daniu said with a dark expression: “Threatening me?”

He couldn’t help but sneer: “Quite courageous indeed, and your bones are hard enough too – not even crying out in pain.”
He raised the stick again, but Gu Xinxin spoke rapidly: “If Second Aunt makes money, she’ll definitely buy potatoes from the whole village. Then the entire village will benefit. In our village, only our family hunts for a living, everyone else farms. They’re surely hoping Second Aunt can earn money.”

By then, as the one who came up with the idea, Gu Xinxin would surely gain the genuine respect of many villagers. Meanwhile, Gu Daniu, who wanted to beat her to death, would find himself opposing the entire village.

She knew what Gu Daniu wanted: he wanted her to yield, to confirm his dominance in the family, and to secure his absolute authority at home. So today, Gu Daniu was determined to admit defeat, to force her to kneel and beg for mercy.

But she simply refused to let Gu Daniu have his way.

It was like a game of strategy. If she conceded today, she would forever be subordinate to Gu Daniu in this household, becoming nothing more than a pawn in his hands.

She had never been married before, but there was one saying about families that she firmly believed: a household can only have one person in charge.

Gu Xinxin stared straight at Gu Daniu. “Besides Second Aunt’s Jagged potatoes, I have other ways to make money with potatoes. All these ideas are right here in my head.”

If he injured her or angered her, she wouldn’t share one of those methods with him.

Today, either he killed her, or if he failed, the entire village would likely stand behind Gu Xinxin and support her. Moreover, while other families could profit, only Gu Daniu’s household would be left out.

Gu Daniu’s face remained dark and grim, but the descending stick paused mid-air.

Gu Xinxin breathed a sigh of relief. If he didn’t strike immediately, Gu Daniu would be tempted and hesitating. Any moment of hesitation from him… would give her a chance to catch her breath.

“Even if Father finds me utterly displeasing, wouldn’t it be better to wait? Let’s see how much money Second Aunt earns from her business when she returns tonight,” Gu Xinxin added.

She had chosen Second Aunt precisely for this day.

Of course, not to get beaten, but to intimidate Gu Daniu and warn the Gu family treat her well and listen to her, and she would share money-making methods with them. Mistreat her, and she’d rather give those methods to others.

If Second Aunt’s family profited, they would surely protect her. Even if Gu Daniu and Gu Chenshi controlled her marriage prospects, preventing her from marrying, if she could earn money, she could live as an esteemed unmarried woman in the village.

Besides, if she could make money, the villagers might even prefer her to remain unmarried.

Gu Xiangrong straightened up, still fearful that Gu Daniu might suddenly lose his temper again. He shielded Gu Xinxin with one hand and blocked the stick with the other. “Father, what Sister says makes sense. Didn’t you stop me from studying because of money? If Sister has ways to earn money, then funds won’t be an issue. She said she’d cover my tuition fee, and I’ll just follow her lead.”

“After all, no matter what, I still call you Father. Even if we separate the family early, you will always be my father.” Unless Gu Xiangrong gave up on the imperial examinations, he was born as Gu Daniu’s son and would die as a descendant of the Gu family.

For the rest of his life, he would have to acknowledge Gu Daniu as his father and recognize the Gu family ancestors as his own.

Therefore, if he achieved success, Gu Daniu would also benefit and enjoy prosperity. Otherwise, once branded with the stigma of filial impiety, his future would be completely ruined.

Given this, and since it wouldn’t cost him anything, why insist on tying him down at home and preventing him from making something of himself?

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