Chapter 12

Gu Daniu could understand Gu Xiangrong’s words, but Gu Chenshi was screeching from the side: “How dare you defy the natural order! Does a father need permission from others to discipline his own child? Even if Second Aunt’s business earns money today, will she share a single coin with you? Can that money ever reach your hands? How dare you claim you’ll provide Gu Xiangrong?”

She then turned to Gu Daniu: “Their wings have hardened. If you don’t teach them a lesson today, they’ll dare to talk back today and lock you in the woodshed tomorrow. Children only become filial through beatings.”

Gu Xinxin turned to look at Gu Chenshi, whose heart grew faint under that gaze. After a moment, Gu Chenshi lifted her chin and continued shouting: “What? Am I wrong? Without a good beating, you’ll never understand your place! You always think you’re the cleverest person under heaven! Those Jagged Potatoes you find so novel you think are some Secret Recipe, but anyone with a sensitive tongue could figure out how to make them after trying twice. Who would still pay for yours then?”

She turned back to Gu Daniu: “This business won’t last. I dare say within a month, several shops in town will be selling the same thing! And all the village’s potatoes being sold to Second Aunt? She probably can’t even use up her own family’s potatoes!”

Gu Daniu had been silently frowning with a dark expression, but Gu Chenshi’s words made him thoughtful. He didn’t know much about cooking, but this dish… didn’t seem that difficult?

Women seemed born with the talent they could tell how a dish was made just by looking at it.

But that couldn’t be right. If that were true, why did most women’s cooking taste equally bad? In the village, only a handful cooked well the rest either served boiled vegetables with garlic sauce or boiled vegetables with extra salt.

Gu Xinxin remained calm: “Time passes quickly anyway. Today will be over before we know it. Why don’t you wait a bit longer, Father?”

Wait, they would. People were like this – initial momentum fades after the first pause, then exhausts completely by the third.

The moment Gu Daniu’s stick paused the first time, when his murderous rage toward Gu Xinxin was interrupted, it destined his defeat today he had failed to subdue Gu Xinxin. So, conceding again now seemed perfectly natural.

Now everything depended on Second Aunt.

If Second Aunt made money, Gu Xinxin would gain the upper hand today and earn herself a voice in the Gu household henceforth. If Second Aunt didn’t make money… today’s beating, though delayed, would inevitably come.

Gu Daniu sat by the table repairing his bow, while Gu Xiangrong grew restless, frequently glancing toward the door. He wanted to inquire at the village entrance but feared leaving in case Gu Daniu went mad and beat Gu Xinxin again.

Gu Chenshi continued staring at Gu Xinxin with venomous eyes.

Gu Xinxin remained unperturbed, resuming her horse stance she hadn’t held long enough earlier. Thick-skinned, she asked Gu Daniu when she felt she’d practiced enough: “Father, what should I do after finishing horse stance?”

Like Gu Xiangrong, if she wanted to maintain a good reputation in this lifetime, having been born as Gu Xinxin meant she would remain Gu Daniu’s daughter until death.

So, severing family ties… was out of the question.

Since severing family ties wasn’t possible, Gu Daniu couldn’t just bear the title of father without fulfilling his responsibilities. He still needed to do his part.

Gu Daniu glanced at her, seemingly impressed by her audacity. After a moment, he said, “You want to learn archery?”

“Of course! It never hurts to learn more skills. What if I make a fortune someday? When traveling, shouldn’t I have some means to protect myself? Otherwise, what if I get robbed easily? I’m just a girl I could lose both my money and my life.” Gu Xinxin spoke with utmost seriousness. “Father, can you teach me archery?”

Gu Daniu remained silent for a while before standing up. “To learn archery, you must first practice your lower body stability and arm strength. Here are two stone dumbbells lifting them.”

These stone dumbbells were what Gu Daniu normally used.

Gu Xinxin paused. Two were out of the questions she couldn’t manage that. So, she used both hands to lift one.

Huffing and puffing, the stone dumbbell didn’t even budge.

Gu Xinxin took a deep breath, squatted down, and tried again, her face turning red with effort. Still, the stone dumbbell remained motionless.

She felt Gu Daniu’s gaze carried a hint of mockery.

This wouldn’t do! Even if it was just to avoid being looked down upon by Gu Daniu, she had to… Well, maybe she should try something else. One shouldn’t always push themselves too hard, sometimes it’s better to let go. If she couldn’t handle the big ones, she could use smaller ones. Who said she had to use a large bowl? She could always make a slingshot and tuck it into her belt one would even notice.

Pursing her lips, she thought further: She could even make a repeating crossbow. That shouldn’t require as much arm strength as archery, right?

Gu Xiangrong couldn’t bear to see his sister embarrassed and quickly fetched two wooden buckets from the kitchen. “Sister, try these instead. Once you get used to them, we can fill them with water.”

Gu Xinxin held the two buckets level, glancing at Gu Daniu. Gu Daniu remained expressionless. “Keep them level. Lower your shoulders, tighten your abdomen, and chest out. Squat back, press your legs firmly, and plant your feet solidly.”

Then, he tapped her with a stick. “Here, move back.”

Gu Xinxin adjusted her posture. The buckets weren’t particularly heavy but holding them level for a long time made her arms ache. She glanced at Gu Daniu, who was busy with his bow and arrows. Just as she thought about relaxing a little and slightly moved her arms, Gu Daniu seemed to have eyes on the back of his head openly struck her arm with the stick. “Keep them level.”

She suspected Gu Daniu was trying to make up for failing to hit her earlier, especially since this strike was quite heavy.

But could she really confront Gu Daniu about it?

All she could do was grit her teeth, raise her arms again, and fantasize about someday becoming a mighty warrior immensely strong and fearlessly pinning Gu Daniu to the ground and beating him until he cried for mercy.

Then, she imagined stepping on Gu Chenshi, forcing her to kowtow and beg for forgiveness.

Ah, such a scene was as refreshing as ice pop on a scorching summer day thrilling from head to toe.

At first, this method worked, but as time passed, she no longer had the energy to fantasize. Her attention was entirely on her arms, sore, aching, and on the verge of cramping. Sweat dripped from her forehead, splattering onto the ground in front of her, forming tiny puddles.

Gu Xiangrong felt sorry for her. “Sister, maybe you should stop practicing. In the future, whenever you go out, I’ll accompany you. No matter where you go, I’ll protect you.”

Gu Xinxin was inwardly annoyed. Did they need to follow her to the outhouse too? Or when she bathed?

But she truly had no strength left to speak, so she could only shake her head slightly to show her disapproval.

Watching from the side, Gu Chenshi felt a chill of apprehension, which this girl was far too enduring. Someone who could endure being so harsh with themselves would surely be capable of ruthlessness toward others.

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