Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside Chapter 1275: One More Hit and He’ll Die

At the doorway of the inner room, Gu Jin’an stood with his hands clasped, his gaze dark and fixed upon Brother Cheng. The younger boy was on tiptoe, attempting to wedge a scroll painting into a porcelain vase that sat upon the treasure shelf.

"Gu Jincheng, what exactly have you done?" Gu Jin’an’s voice was cold, laced with a suppressed fury.

Startled, Brother Cheng’s hand trembled, nearly dislodging the porcelain vase holding the painting. He quickly steadied it, then hastily concealed the scroll behind his back. Lowering his head, he mumbled, "I, I just thought Big Brother’s painting looked nice, so I took it to look. I wanted to copy it, but I had too much homework today and no time to paint, so I just put it back~"

He finished speaking and risked a swift glance at Gu Jin’an. Seeing the exceedingly grim expression on his older brother’s face, he was frightened back into lowering his head.

Tried to copy it? His efforts were futile.

Gu Jin’an’s face was as frigid as ice. He remained still, uttering only a single sentence: "Gu Jincheng, I’m giving you one final chance. You can either confess truthfully, or you can continue with your lies—make your choice. Just keep in mind, you must bear the consequences of your decision. I will not indulge you further!"

Brother Cheng understood that his big brother was genuinely angered this time. Trembling, his small body seemed to shrink, his little hand clutching the painting tightly. He stared silently at the tips of his shoes.

Seeing his continued silence, Gu Jin’an’s anger intensified. However, this was his own younger brother, whom he had raised personally. The boy was still young, so he offered another opportunity: "You can’t decide? Then let me tell you this: I detest liars more than anything. If you confess now, you might avoid a beating. But if you refuse to speak, then never call me Big Brother again. I refuse to have a younger brother who steals, lies, and lacks the courage to admit his mistakes!"

Upon hearing this, Brother Cheng’s face turned deathly pale. To him, Big Brother was more dependable than even Father and Mother. If Big Brother were to disown him, what would become of him?

Now truly frightened, Brother Cheng spoke with a sob, "I, I just wanted to help Big Brother, so I took the painting to show Third Sister~"

By the end of his sentence, his voice had faded to a mere whisper.

Gu Jin’an, who had been diligently practicing martial arts for years, possessed exceptionally keen hearing. He caught every word clearly, and his expression immediately darkened to pitch black: "What did you say? You took the painting to show Third Miss? Gu Jincheng, you truly have a lot of nerve. Is this something you’re permitted to interfere with?!"

Suppressing his fear, Brother Cheng replied, "I know I’m not allowed, but I genuinely wanted to help Big Brother."

Gu Jin’an let out a harsh, angry laugh. "Help me? What capability do you possess, a mere child, to assist me?!"

Seething, he strode over in a few quick steps and roughly pulled Brother Cheng away from the treasure shelf. "Stand still and tell me, word for word, everything you did today. Omit a single syllable, and you will never call me Big Brother again for the rest of your life!"

Witnessing Gu Jin’an’s true fury erupt, Brother Cheng became so terrified that tears welled up.

This reaction only served to further infuriate Gu Jin’an. He roared, "Hold back those tears! You’re meant to be a man—you make a mistake and don't dare admit it, only knowing how to cry. You might as well go reincarnate right now as a little girl!"

Brother Cheng flinched from the harsh shout, hastily wiping his tears away. He dared not cry again. He then recounted to Gu Jin’an precisely what had transpired that day.

After listening to the entire confession, Gu Jin’an was so enraged he almost struck Brother Cheng across the face. He bellowed, "Kneel!"

With a resounding thud, Brother Cheng immediately dropped to his knees.

Gu Jin’an exited the room and retrieved a broom from beneath the eaves of the outer corridor. He snapped the long handle in two, discarded the bristled end, and returned, clutching the remaining stick. With a loud crack, he brought it down forcefully upon Brother Cheng’s back.

The blow was so severe that Brother Cheng sprawled onto the floor. Yet, he dared not cry out. Instead, he gritted his teeth, braced himself on the ground with his hands, and remained motionless.

"If I don't teach you a lesson today, you will never learn what you can and cannot do!" Gu Jin’an was in a state of towering rage. The stick in his hand continued to fall upon Brother Cheng’s back repeatedly, accompanied by sharp cracking sounds. In fewer than a dozen strokes, the skin on Brother Cheng’s back was broken and bleeding.

Gu Jinli could no longer bear to witness the brutal scene. She rushed in and, with two swift movements, snatched the stick from Gu Jin’an’s grasp. "Big Brother, if you continue hitting him, you won’t have a little brother anymore."

She had never anticipated that Big Brother would actually strike Brother Cheng, let alone with such ferocity.

Gu Jin’an shot a furious glare at Gu Jinli, barking, "Did you put him up to this? He’s learned all his bad habits from you—the older he gets, the more unruly he becomes!"

Gu Jinli felt utterly wronged, blindsided. "How is this my fault? Brother Cheng clearly felt bad for you, worried you might end up alone. He took it upon himself to deliver the painting to Third Sister."

You can't just pin everything on me because I don't always play by the rules.

Brother Cheng was raised by you from a young age; you were the one who educated him. When he errs, the blame lies with you, not me.

"Besides," Gu Jinli countered, before squatting down to help Brother Cheng rise, "you’re not entirely innocent either. If you hadn't painted that picture in the first place, Brother Cheng would have had nothing to give to Third Sister."

But Brother Cheng simply shook his head, refusing to stand, continuing his kneeling posture.

Gu Jinli clicked her tongue. It’s true, you really do listen to Big Brother—if he tells you to kneel, you just kneel.

Seeing he was adamant about not getting up, she didn't push further. However, concerned about potential internal injuries, she quickly took his pulse. She then turned to Gu Jin’an, saying, "He's still so young, and you struck him with such force. If you've damaged his internal organs or bones, you could ruin his entire life."

Thankfully, it was only around a dozen strikes; he seemed to have avoided internal injuries.

Gu Jin’an’s face paled with sudden fear, realizing he might have overdone it and caused lasting harm to his youngest brother. Yet, Brother Cheng had committed a serious offense, and the desire to inquire about his well-being warred with his anger and uncertainty on how to proceed.

Noticing his inner turmoil, Gu Jinli mused to herself: So now you’re worried? You were quite enjoying yourself while swinging that stick earlier.

Nevertheless, she reassured Gu Jin’an, "Don't fret. Brother Cheng has been in good health these past few years. A dozen or so strikes like that are minor; they're merely superficial wounds."

A wave of relief washed over Gu Jin’an, who then recomposed himself, his expression hardening as he looked sternly at Brother Cheng. "Do you comprehend the gravity of your actions today?"

"I have always instilled in you: never become a pawn for others, nor succumb to envy of power and riches. Yet, your conduct today is akin to that of a lecherous brute!"

Brother Cheng froze, instinctively lifting his head slightly to glance at Gu Jin’an. It was evident he hadn't fully grasped the meaning behind his elder brother's harsh words.

Gu Jin’an elaborated, "Imagine if someone fancied your Second Sister. Without a formal proposal, without the elders' consent, and without your Second Sister's own knowledge, that person's younger brother suddenly presents her with a painting. This leads your Second Sister to discover the man's affections—how would you feel as her younger sibling? Wouldn't you be enraged?"

Gu Jinli was speechless.

If you need to make a point, just do it. Why must you use me as the example?

"Anyone with a modicum of self-respect would be furious and would regard that man as nothing more than a vulgar rogue," Gu Jin’an continued. "Do you recall Zhan Er? What you did today mirrors his actions precisely. Both are selfish gambits that completely disregard the young lady's feelings, driven solely by the pursuit of personal or familial gain!"

"Do not delude yourself into thinking this matter is concluded simply because Third Miss has forgiven you. Your actions constitute an insult to Third Miss and, by extension, an insult to the Ouyang Family!"

Marriage is a significant undertaking, requiring adherence to parental decree and the mediation of a matchmaker. Secretly delivering a painting to convey romantic interest to a young lady is not merely a breach of etiquette—it is a blatant affront to the Ouyang Family's honor.

A young lady of good breeding, nurtured and protected with such care—how could you treat her with such blatant disregard?!