Chapter 2

Gu Qingluo paid her respects to the father and brothers of the original owner—the people the original owner had once deeply respected and for whom she had poured out her heart and soul, giving them her genuine devotion. She felt not the slightest attachment to anything in the Yuan family. Seeing how decisively she left, Yuan Shijun suddenly had a thought. He knew very well that the Gu family was dirt poor. After living in comfort and luxury at the Yuan family’s home for so many years, could she really bear to return to a family that could barely scrape together enough food for the next meal? People strive to rise higher, while water flows downward. Giving up wealth to embrace poverty—was this woman out of her mind? Yuan Shijun had never seen anyone so foolish. Did his biological sister know that she was a member of the Yuan family? Then could this fake sister have also known all along that she belonged to the Gu family? If she had known, then her stingy management of the household suddenly made sense. Could it be that she had known from the beginning that she wasn't the Yuan family's daughter, so she had deliberately cut the entire family's expenses and secretly hoarded the Yuan family's money for herself? Then she could take all that money back to the Gu family and use it to curry favor with her biological father and brothers! The more Yuan Shijun thought about it, the more he regretted having considered her foolish. Who in their right mind would willingly give up wealth for poverty? Now, all he felt was disgust toward her. He hurriedly told Yuan Meiliang his suspicions. After hearing his son's reasoning, Yuan Meiliang suddenly understood. He had been delighted to find his biological daughter, but at the same time, he had felt somewhat guilty about the adopted daughter leaving. Now that everything had been explained, his guilt vanished completely, leaving only anger. "The Yuan family has raised you for more than ten years. We never let you go hungry, so we've done right by you. Since you insist on leaving, I won't stop you. Bring out the key to the Yuan family's storeroom and the account books. Once everything has been checked and matched, you can leave!" "Are you accusing me of embezzling the Yuan family's money?" Gu Qingluo asked. Yuan Meiliang snapped angrily, "You can never truly know what's in another person's heart. Besides, you and we aren't even on the same side anymore!" Yuan Shijun added, "Exactly. My biological sister knew who she really was. Isn't it possible that you also knew all along? Is that why you've been cutting our expenses for more than a year? Did you take the Yuan family's money and use it to curry favor with your own father and brothers?" Gu Qingluo's heart suddenly clenched. It wasn't her who felt the pain. It was the original owner. These were the father and brothers she had sincerely respected for more than ten years. Yet, at the moment of parting, they actually thought so poorly of her. The Yuan family had fallen into decline. The shops and estates they once owned had already been sold off because no one in the Yuan family knew how to make a living. Yet there were still five family members and more than a dozen servants. Every day, the moment they opened their eyes, money was needed for everything. In the future, when her father and brothers went to the capital to take the imperial examinations, and when her brothers married and had children, which of those things wouldn't cost money? Everything she had done was for the Yuan family! For the sake of the Yuan family, she had firmly kept control of the household affairs. She dismissed the servants, leaving only one young male servant to take care of her father and brothers, while one capable maid remained to help her wash clothes, cook meals, mend garments, and handle the household chores. With fewer servants, their monthly expenses were reduced considerably. But even that wasn't enough. If something didn't need to be bought, she absolutely wouldn't buy it. If something could be replaced with a cheaper alternative, she would do so whenever possible. They never ate at restaurants. Their three daily meals were simple and light. Everyone ate enough, but nothing was ever wasted. As for anything else that cost money, she cut whatever expenses she could. It was true that she had cut back on her father and brothers' allowances. But what about herself? Not only had she reduced her own expenses to practically nothing, she also woke up early and worked late into the night, embroidering handkerchiefs and copying books to supplement the household income. For several years, she hadn't even been willing to buy herself a new piece of clothing. She earned money and saved money—all for this family! Over the past year or so, the Yuan family's accounts had accumulated nearly a thousand taels of silver. Yuan Meiliang had never managed the household himself. When had he ever seen so much money? After seeing the amount recorded in the account book and a stack of silver notes, and confirming that everything matched, he was finally satisfied. "Since you insist on leaving, I won't try to keep you. From now on, we'll each go our separate ways." Yuan Meiliang pretended to sigh regretfully. But only he knew that once this stingy woman was gone, his good days could finally return. Yuan Shijun waved his folding fan. It was only February, and he was still wearing a padded jacket, yet he had already brought out his fan. The cold breeze from it sent the two strands of hair above his forehead swaying back and forth. "I'll do as Father says. I'm sure Big Brother and Third Brother will agree with Father too." In other words, everyone agreed to go their separate ways. Not a single one of them was reluctant to part with the younger sister who had been with them for so many years. Gu Qingluo didn't feel much about it. Instead, it was the original owner's heart that was being torn apart with unbearable pain. Gu Qingluo could understand how she felt. She had devoted herself wholeheartedly to this family, exhausting her mind and pouring out her heart and soul. She had worked tirelessly and diligently, never complaining. Yet in the end, these people suspected her of having ulterior motives and completely misunderstood all the painstaking efforts she had made for them. Gu Qingluo sighed. Fortunately, the original owner didn't know what would happen to her more than ten years later. If she had known, even the coffin lid wouldn't have been able to hold her down. "Since the accounts have been handed over and everything is in order, then let's part ways here." Gu Qingluo didn't want to remain under the same roof as these heartless people for even another moment. She turned around and prepared to leave. Yuan Wangyue timidly muttered, "Father, is she really leaving just like that? I didn't take a single thing from the Gu family." Yuan Shijun immediately stopped Gu Qingluo. "Wait. The hairpin you're wearing—that belongs to the Yuan family!" Gu Qingluo didn't even bother taking it off. "This wasn't bought with the Yuan family's money." "Not the Yuan family's money?" Yuan Shijun snorted. "Who would believe that?" Yuan Meiliang also frowned. "Wangyue didn't take anything from the Gu family. Logically speaking, you shouldn't take anything from the Yuan family either!" Gu Qingluo couldn't be bothered to argue. She removed the silver hairpin and held it in her hand, giving it one last look. It was an ordinary silver hairpin, nothing particularly valuable. But it was also the only piece of jewelry on the original owner's person—and in her dowry—that was worth mentioning. She had bought it herself with the money she earned copying books for her birthday last year. It was a birthday gift she had given herself. It was also the only birthday present she had received in all thirteen years. She gently placed the hairpin on the table. Her heart twisted painfully. That was the original owner who was hurting. Don't worry. I'll buy you a hairpin even prettier than this one someday, Gu Qingluo silently told her. Then she turned to Yuan Shijun. "Do you want me to take off these clothes too?" The sleeves and trouser legs had become too short long ago. She had added strips of matching fabric to extend them, then embroidered a row of matching patterns over the seams. You couldn't tell at all that the clothes had been pieced together afterward. Yuan Shijun actually turned to Yuan Wangyue and asked, "Do you want them?" Yuan Wangyue's eyelids twitched in alarm. She had never even worn fabric this poor while she was living with the Gu family. "Just leave them to her. Otherwise, people will say the Yuan family is heartless and ungrateful. They won't even give her a set of clothes." "See? My daughter is kind-hearted." "Little Sister is so understanding." After praising her, Yuan Shijun turned his cold gaze toward Gu Qingluo. "My sister is merciful, so she'll give them to you." Gu Qingluo still wore that same indifferent expression. "Goodbye." She walked away without looking back. From behind her, Yuan Shijun shouted loudly, "Gu Qingluo, this is the path you chose yourself. Don't regret it!" Yuan Wangyue watched Gu Qingluo's departing figure, which showed not the slightest trace of reluctance, and let out a long sigh of relief. She had originally thought she would have to put some effort into driving her away. Unexpectedly, Gu Qingluo had taken the initiative to leave herself. Yuan Wangyue hadn't even needed to say a word. She had no idea how glorious the Yuan family would become in the future, nor how miserable the Gu family would be. If she had known, she would certainly have regretted it until her guts turned green! But there were no "ifs" anymore. Everything belonging to the Yuan family was hers now.