Three days passed just like that. Zhou Gu'er felt she had almost completely recovered.
She couldn't help but marvel at her body's constitution. 'I'm so resilient!' A cold and fever, gone in just four days without any medicine. It was nothing like later in life, when a simple cold would drag on for ten days or half a month if left untreated.
Her recovery should have been a joyous occasion, but Zhou Gu'er was blindsided by something she never could have anticipated: Zhang Da had come to propose marriage.
Zhou Gu'er knew Zhang Da would propose marriage eventually, just not now.
'Zhang Da should be broke right now. Where did he get the money?'
Zhou Gu'er was baffled. She knew this meant things were different now.
'The proposal is more than half a year earlier than in my past life. What should I do? How can I get my foster father to refuse Zhang Da?'
She hadn't earned any money yet, but Zhang Da had promised her foster father thirty yuan and a host of other gifts. Even though her foster father hadn't agreed on the spot, Zhou Gu'er knew it wouldn't be long before he gave in. This was exactly how much she'd been sold for in her past life.
Zhou Gu'er grew anxious. 'I still haven't figured out how to make money.'
"So, you've been lazing around these past few days, not doing any work. I bet you're pleased with yourself now. Dad's going to marry you off to Zhang Da. It's not like you don't know what kind of man he is, right? We'll see how you like that."
Zhou Duo'er stood by the kang, her face a mask of smug satisfaction and her eyes dancing with unconcealed glee. She had heard the news and come specifically to gloat and provoke Zhou Gu'er.
"Don't say that, Du'er. If Zhang Da is willing to spend thirty yuan on her, maybe she'll actually have a good life."
Zhou Feng'er added coldly from the side. A cold glint flashed in her eyes. She wanted to see Zhou Gu'er break down and cry; only then would she feel vindicated.
The reason they acted this way was that they both knew Zhou Gu'er would surely have a miserable life if she married Zhang Da.
Zhou Gu'er was irritated, especially by her two sisters coming over just to mock her. She was about to retort, but then a new idea struck her, and she changed her approach.
"That's right, I'm off to a better life. So what if Zhang Da isn't great? He lives alone. Once I'm married, I'll only have to look after him. It's nothing like here at home, where I have to do so much, working myself to death all day. With just two people's chores, it'll be so much easier. I'm really going to live a life of leisure. Oh, and when I'm gone, the household will be relying on you, my younger sisters. You'd better help Mom out more. You can't just do nothing like you did when our eldest sister was still here. If you do, Dad might just start treating you the same way he treats me."
Zhou Gu'er was no longer angry. She knew both her sisters were lazy; she was sure her words would make them panic.
Sure enough, Zhou Feng'er's face fell. She hadn't thought much of it before, but with Zhou Gu'er being less capable these past few days, she and her sister had been forced to pick up some of the slack. She was tired of it; she didn't want this kind of life.
She had been quite happy when she heard Zhou Gu'er was to marry Zhang Da, assuming she would break down in tears. She never expected Zhou Gu'er to be completely unfazed, and even seem to be looking forward to it.
'It's true, Zhang Da is a terrible person. But just like Gu'er said, the Zhang Family is small. If she marries him, she'll only have to do the work for two people. All she'll have to do is take good care of Zhang Da. Compared to this house, that would be so much easier.'
'But if she leaves, my sister and I will have to take over everything at home. We'd have to do so much work! It would kill us.'
'No! I can't let Gu'er get what she wants. Even if Zhang Da is a bad man, maybe she won't even mind. Our own father is just like that, and Gu'er is already used to being beaten and yelled at. She won't care.'
'Looks like this wasn't a good idea. I can't let Gu'er leave the Zhou family. Otherwise, I'll be the one to take her place and do all the suffering.'
"Sis, what should we do? If she leaves, we'll have to work every day! We're not as good as she is. If we mess up, Dad won't spare us."
Zhou Duo'er, being younger and less composed, blurted out her worries.
Zhou Feng'er shot another glance at Zhou Gu'er.
Zhou Gu'er looked perfectly calm and composed, a hint of joy on her face, as if marrying Zhang Da was the happiest thing in the world.
"I won't let you have your way," Zhou Feng'er snarled, gritting her teeth. "You want an easy life? Not a chance!"
"I'm your big sister! You can't ruin this for me! Dad is about to agree!"
Seeing her reaction, Zhou Gu'er let her own expression falter, feigning anxiety.
"He hasn't agreed yet, has he? You don't deserve an easy life. You deserve to be a servant. Just you wait," Zhou Feng'er said with a sneer.
She grabbed Zhou Duo'er and stormed out of the room. 'I have to find a way to make Dad refuse. I can't let Gu'er get her way.'
Once they were out of the room, Zhou Gu'er's expression turned grim.
Although she had successfully manipulated her sisters, she knew they had little real influence. The final decision rested with Zhou Mazi.
Zhou Mazi wouldn't be as easy to fool as his daughters. If she wanted to make him change his mind about marrying her to Zhang Da, there was only one way: she had to give him money. Only a real, tangible profit would stop him from selling her off so casually.
Money, money, money!
'I need money, but where am I going to get it?'
Zhou Gu'er agonized over the problem...
That evening at the dinner table, Li Hua cautiously brought it up with Zhou Mazi. "You know what kind of man that Zhang Da is. You're not actually going to agree to his proposal, are you?"
She had originally planned to ask him in private, but after what her two daughters told her that afternoon, she felt she had to ask right away. It would be too late if she waited until after he'd already agreed.
Zhou Mazi shot his wife a glare.
Zhou Mazi's mood was, in a word, conflicted.
On the one hand, he was pleased. The money and gifts Zhang Da offered were a considerable sum, quite high for their village. It was only because Zhou Gu'er was pretty; Zhou Feng'er certainly wouldn't have fetched such a high price.
On the other hand, he was displeased. He knew what kind of man Zhang Da was—a degenerate who loved to eat, drink, and gamble, just like himself. A man like that would never have money to spare. He didn't care what kind of life Zhou Gu'er would lead, but he was annoyed that such a son-in-law would be useless to him in the future.
'I'd rather find a son-in-law from a well-off family, one who could offer more money. Even after Gu'er is married, I could still get benefits from him now and then, ensuring I always have wine to drink and a little cash to play with. That's what I really want.'
So, while he was tempted by Zhang Da's offer, he hadn't made a final decision. He wondered if a better prospect might come along later, which is why he hadn't accepted on the spot.
But he had no intention of sharing these thoughts or plans with Li Hua. In his eyes, she was just a woman who served him and was there to bear him a son to carry on the family line. She was in no position to be consulted, let alone meddle in his affairs.
"What's up? What's Mom talking about, Dad?"
Zhou Cai asked. Because he attended school, he still didn't know about Zhang Da's marriage proposal.
"Children shouldn't ask so many questions. Just eat your food," Li Hua told her son.
"Then why are you talking so much?" Zhou Mazi snapped at Li Hua, giving her a look of disgust. "Can't even eating shut your mouth? Say one more word and you can forget about eating at all."