Chapter 12: The Family Split

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Si Si Ji turned toward the voice. The speaker was an astute woman with slanted eyes, full of calculation—Aunt Gu San, who had just called out earlier.

“Aunt San, Si Si is a good girl,” Gu’s mother immediately spoke up to defend her daughter-in-law.

Although she was quite dissatisfied with the high bride price demanded by the Ji family, since the two were already married, Gu’s mother wouldn’t play the villain and make things difficult for the young couple.

But Aunt Gu San wouldn’t relent and continued, “Sister-in-law, you need to be vigilant. You should know that this girl used to be involved with someone from the Dong family. Now suddenly she wants to marry Ah Yu; who knows if they’ve really cut ties?”

Those words were harsh. Gu’s mother’s face darkened, and her tone turned cold: “Aunt San, don’t speak recklessly.”

Unfortunately, her usual image in the Gu family was that of a weak and easily bullied woman, so Aunt Gu San wasn’t afraid at all. “Sister-in-law, I’m just speaking the truth. You need to keep an eye on Ah Yu’s wife.”

Si Si Ji felt comforted by her mother-in-law’s support and noticed Aunt Gu San’s face flushing red from being cornered.

She no longer wished to endure it and turned around to ask Aunt Gu San directly, “Aunt San, what do you mean? Do you want Ah Yu to divorce me just because I’ve married into your family?”

Aunt Gu San was stunned, then looked at Si Si Ji incredulously. “You little brat, to speak to your elders that way on your very first day here?”

Si Si Ji was unafraid and snorted coldly, “Of course, you speak to people as they deserve. If it’s ghosts, you speak ghostly words.”

On the very first day, Aunt Gu San tried to slap her down with the pretense of being an elder, but Si Si Ji would never tolerate such a person.

Aunt Gu San’s expression turned very ugly, shifting between pale and flushed, wishing she could tear Si Si Ji apart.

She dropped what she was holding and plopped down on the ground, throwing a tantrum.

“Is there any justice? The new bride just came in and already bullying her elders? Does she think we, the third branch of the family, are easy to push around? Grandma, you must stand up for us!”

“Aunt San, please get up. If outsiders see this, they’ll laugh at us,” Gu’s mother hurriedly said, tears beginning to well in her eyes.

She knew about all the chaos the Ji family had caused in the courtyard these past days. If her daughter-in-law gained any more bad reputation, how could life go on?

But Aunt Gu San ignored her. Crying, causing a scene, threatening to hang herself—these were her usual tricks.

Because of this, not only the mother-in-law and husband, but even Gu’s second eldest brother were helpless against her.

“I can’t live anymore! I have no face to live with!” Aunt Gu San shouted loudly.

Si Si Ji wasn’t afraid of her but felt a little pity seeing her gentle mother-in-law being bullied.

She didn’t bother to say more. Just then, she looked up and noticed a stone mill in the courtyard outside the main room.

She walked out and, with ease, lifted the two-hundred-pound stone mill, carrying it step by step back inside.

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“Aunt San, can you speak properly now?” Si Si Ji walked slowly and deliberately, full of imposing presence.

Aunt Gu San was dumbfounded, her shrill, hen-like scream abruptly stopped.

She rubbed her eyes, unwilling to believe what she saw.

Rubbing again, she thought, “My goodness, this woman must be a demon.”

“Aunt San,” Si Si Ji smiled, “What exactly did you want to say earlier?”

She shook the stone mill in her hand and added, “Think carefully before you speak.”

This stone mill had been used by the family before; even her husband and second brother together couldn’t lift it.

But seeing Si Si Ji hold it as casually as if it were a kitten or puppy scared Aunt Gu San senseless.

She was terrified, afraid Si Si Ji might accidentally drop it on her.

Not only Aunt Gu San, but everyone in the room was stunned by the scene.

However, Aunt Gu San was skilled at enduring and yielding. She quickly put on a smile: “Ah, Si Si, Ah Yu, you’re married now, so live happily together.”

It was as if nothing had happened, and they were just going through the normal process of family recognition.

Si Si Ji turned and carried the stone mill back to the courtyard and put it away, then returned to the main room, sitting obediently beside Gu’s mother and Gu Yu, looking like a good daughter-in-law.

What followed was the usual ceremony of family recognition—serving tea and handing out red envelopes. Gu’s matriarch had originally planned to scold the new bride a bit to establish authority.

But sitting at the head of the table, her eyes fell on the stone mill in the courtyard, and there was no need for words.

The new bride was not as meek as she appeared; she tilted her head as if consulting with her husband but spoke loudly, “Ah Yu, now that we’re married, shouldn’t we live separately from the family?”

A smile flickered in Gu Yu’s eyes, understanding the warning his wife had just sent.

He had long wanted to separate the households. Although the matriarch was still alive, the first, second, and third branches of the family had all grown numerous and scattered.

Crowding together brought no benefits, and his mother was rather weak and often bullied.

But Gu Yu’s job meant he was often away for ten days or half a month, and Aunt San was known in the courtyard as a tough and fierce woman.

Now, he had married a fierce wife who could protect his mother and siblings.

Si Si Ji’s words were deliberate. She clearly remembered from the book that after Gu Yu died, the army issued a compensation payment.

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But the money was all divided among the second and third branches of the Gu family, while the first branch received nothing. Gu’s mother even died quickly due to lack of funds for treatment.

Si Manrou’s suffering in her past life was not just hers alone; Gu Yu’s younger siblings were also bullied by the second and third branches.

The fate of the first branch of the Gu family was truly tragic.

Now that she, Si Si Ji, had married in, she was determined to change this reality.

Since she saved Gu Yu’s life last night, Si Si Ji believed the fate of the first branch would be transformed.

Living separately was the first step she intended to take to alter their destiny.

With filial piety as the principle, if Gu Yu couldn’t raise the issue of separation, she would be the one to do it!

“You old woman, I’m still alive, and yet you’re already talking about splitting the family? What are you thinking, the matriarch of the Gu family?” Gu’s matriarch slammed her cane hard against the ground.

Though she was a bit startled by Si Si Ji’s strength earlier, now her wits returned, and she began to wield her authority with the arrogance of age.

She was convinced the little brat wouldn’t dare to cause trouble for her, the matriarch.

With that thought, her gaze toward Si Si Ji was fierce.

“You’re truly a troublemaker. On your very first day, you’re causing chaos. Do you still want to be part of the Gu family? Your Ji family did those shameless things; you should be ashamed on their behalf.”

Si Si Ji snorted coldly, “Oh, your majesty is really impressive. I’m so very afraid.”

But the contempt in her voice was unmistakable.

The matriarch was furious beyond measure. In her mind, she was the supreme being of the Gu family.

If this were 300 years ago, she might have even held the title of Grand Matriarch.

To be openly defied by a junior in front of everyone made her see red.

Disregarding her own dignity and forgetting the strength Si Si Ji had shown earlier, she swung her cane fiercely at the little brat.