Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside Chapter 3 - 003 Granny Gu Hits Someone

Gu Jin'an felt deeply anxious: "Doctor Du, how severe is Xiao Yu's situation? What are we supposed to do?" Was it possible she'd lost her memories so completely that she'd turn foolish?

Doctor Du shook his head with a gentle smile: "Memory loss is quite typical after brain injuries, to varying degrees—it's perfectly normal and nothing serious. She's fortunate to have survived, and unclear recollections of past events aren't a big deal. Go ahead and explain it to Xiao Yu."

Doctor Du's reassurance greatly relieved Gu Jin'an and the others.

Doctor Du left behind a small packet of golden sore medicine for Gu Xiaoyu, advising her to redress the wound daily. Then he gathered his medicine box and prepared to depart: "I'm heading back now. If Xiao Yu suffers intense dizziness or headaches, seek me out again."

Gu Dashan quickly offered a bamboo tube full of water to Doctor Du: "Doctor Du, you rescued Xiao Yu—please take this water."

Earlier, when they'd summoned Doctor Du, he'd refused the water, forcing Gu Dashan to carry it back. Now he pleaded once more for Doctor Du to accept it.

Doctor Du dismissed it with a wave: "Save the water for Xiao Yu to drink; she needs fluids badly after waking. I've got half a jar left at home and don't need your little amount."

Fleeing famine was grueling. As a physician, he'd already taken half a bowl of grain from the Gu family—how could he claim their precious survival water?

He'd seen the Gu father and son bearing Gu Xiaoyu through the last three days of hardship. The Gu family's oldest son was upright and kind; he wouldn't rob their lifeline.

With those words, he swiftly departed, medicine box slung over his shoulder.

Gu Dashan tried to pursue him, but hunger blurred his sight and weakened his legs; he couldn't keep pace. He returned and told the children: "Doctor Du showed great kindness to our family. We must never forget this favor and repay it someday."

Gu Jin'an and Gu Jinli both nodded firmly.

The family rejoiced at Gu Jinli's recovery, yet the famine escape had exhausted them utterly, and hunger gnawed fiercely. After brief chatter, everyone settled down to rest.

Before drifting off, Gu Jinli asked Mrs. Cui: "Mother, where's the medical book Grandpa Bai gave me?"

The original owner had been a daring, warm-hearted girl who aided many on the road. One was an old man named Bai. For sharing sips of water and supporting him days on end, he bequeathed her a medical book upon dying, saying she could study it, keep it, or sell it to a pharmacy for silver—it was treasure either way.

The original owner treasured that medical book, carrying it always and reading it in spare moments. Gu Jinli thrilled at this recalled memory; no need to fabricate reasons for her medical expertise.

Mrs. Cui unwrapped a bundle and passed the medical book: "Your mother kept it safe for you and stopped your grandma from discarding it."

Her literacy and teaching the kids letters had enraged her mother-in-law, who banned all reading. Discovery meant brutal beatings.

"You've only just awakened—rest properly. Skip reading tonight; if tomorrow, do it secretly from your grandma to avoid her notice," Mrs. Cui cautioned.

"Thank you, Mother," Gu Jinli replied, accepting the medical book.

The book was hefty, its cover inscribed with the ornate title "You's Medical Book". Its pages, yellowed and frayed, flipped open easily.

Skimming several pages, Gu Jinli saw most content covered identifying herbs, with scant sections on disease diagnosis and fewer prescriptions—few truly practical.

Yet it suited her fine; as a past-life military doctor versed in traditional Chinese medicine, she knew her stuff. This book merely served as cover for her healing skills.

Knowing they'd depart before dawn next day, Gu Jinli stowed the medical book and reclined on the grass mat, quickly surrendering to sleep.

The following morning, as dawn barely lightened the sky, Gu Jinli jolted awake to furious cursing.

"A pack of lazybones, what hour is this and you're still lazing in bed, expecting this old lady to wait on you? And you even had the nerve to borrow grain to call a doctor for that troublemaker, figuring you won't pay it back? All that grain belongs to the Old Gu Family!"

Three days prior, Granny Gu discovered that Gu Jin'an had borrowed grain to rescue Gu Xiaoyu, and she'd been hurling curses daily since. This morning, news of Gu Xiaoyu's awakening sent her into a furious frenzy, hopping mad. She seized her cane and charged to Gu Dashan's family's sleeping quarters, swinging wildly at Gu Jin'an.

Gu Jin'an was well aware of Granny Gu's ferocity. If he tried to evade her blows, she'd turn on his big sister or little brother instead, so he gritted his teeth through the agony, standing firm as she thrashed him.

Mrs. Cui dropped to her knees, tears streaming, begging Granny Gu, "Mother, stop hitting Brother An, please. He borrowed the grain just to save Xiao Yu."

Gu Dashan wrapped his arms around Gu Jin'an to block Granny Gu's savage strikes, pleading too, "Mother, I beg you, don't hit Brother An." The boy was only half-grown; how could he endure such punishment?

With Gu Dashan shielding Brother An, Granny Gu swung her cane even fiercer, snarling, "Fine, protect that little wolf, you unfilial wretch—I'll beat you dead!"

Gu Jincheng trembled in terror, yet he sobbed out a plea to Granny Gu, "Granny, stop the beating, you'll kill my brother!"

Gu Jinxiu shook with fear and stammered, "Yes, Granny, keep it up and you'll shatter little brother."

"Pah! You little fox spirit, hold your tongue—this isn't your business!" Granny Gu despised Gu Dashan's entire family, but Gu Jinxiu most of all, with her beauty mirroring her mother's and outshining every granddaughter. The sight of that face always stirred her urge to carve it up.

Gu Jinli had never witnessed such a venomous old hag. Jostled awake by the commotion, she mustered her weary energy, dashed forward, seized Granny Gu's cane with both hands, locked eyes with her, and declared, "Granny, Dad and big brother are heading out to forage soon. Injure them, and do you want Uncle Gu Er's family doing it instead?"

Granny Gu relished her assault until the cane was yanked from her grip, igniting her wrath. She opened her mouth to explode, but Gu Jinli's words froze her.

The whole Gu Family Village fled the famine as one; daily, every household dispatched sturdy men to hunt food, guard nights, and repel rival refugees fighting over scraps. In the Old Gu Family, Gu Dashan and his son handled it all. Harm them, and the village chief would demand substitutes from Old Gu Family. Mrs. Cui and Gu Jinxiu lacked the strength, so he'd reject them—leaving the men, her own sons.

Her precious second son, the scholar she doted on—no way would she let Uncle Gu Er's household forage.

Mrs. Gu of Uncle Gu Er's home, from a scholarly lineage, had watched the spectacle coldly as Granny Gu attacked. But those words alarmed her; she urged Ms. Zheng from Fourth Uncle Gu's house, "Fourth Sister-in-Law, let's talk Mother back. Hurt big brother, and our families bear the brunt."

Ms. Zheng, savoring the chaos, rushed up alongside Mrs. Gu to steady Granny Gu, soothing her, "Mother, big brother and Brother An know their error—calm yourself, don't hold it against the young ones."

Granny Gu adored her sons too much to risk them foraging, so she swallowed her rage, snorted, "For family's sake, this old lady won't bicker. But you borrowed that grain on your own—no Old Gu Family payback! Don't expect pity after three hungry days. Steal grain secretly again, and your rations get cut till it's repaid."