Just as Gu Fei was worrying, a girl of about fourteen or fifteen lifted the curtain and came in.
Gu Fei looked over at her, and the girl was sizing her up in return.
The girl was dressed in a madder-red, coarse-cloth blouse and skirt. She had delicate features and a slender figure.
Li Chunhua smiled at the girl, then turned to Gu Fei. "You probably don't recognize her, do you? This is Xing'er, your eldest uncle's third daughter."
While Gu Fei was still searching her memory for anything related to Xing'er, Xing'er covered her mouth and burst out laughing. "My mother told me that you were beaten, Little Fei, and that you're covered in wounds."
Gu Fei gave her a strange look. "What are you laughing about? Are you that happy that I was beaten?"
Xing'er froze and lowered her hand. "It's not that... It's just that Grandma always said you went to the Marquis Mansion to live a life of luxury. It looks like you were suffering, not living in luxury."
Gu Fei nodded. "Yes, it was suffering. Why else would I have come back?"
Xing'er bit her lip and asked, "I heard that the young ladies of wealthy households wear silk every day and feast on exotic delicacies. Is that true?"
"Mmm, more or less."
Xing'er had really just come over to ask about the good life Gu Fei had in the city, especially in the Marquis Mansion—what she ate, what she wore, and what she used. Her grandmother always said that Gu Fei had been sold to the Marquis Mansion to live a life of comfort, eating and dressing well every day, and even receiving a monthly salary. It was supposed to be so much better than being at home.
Xing'er's greatest wish was to be sold into the Marquis Mansion herself.
But her mother refused, saying it meant becoming a servant, which was nothing good.
She had expected to find Little Fei dressed like a city lady in silks and satins, adorned with pearl flowers and jewelry. But when she rushed over for a look, she saw that Little Fei was not only wearing an old outfit from her sister-in-law but was also injured.
All her previous envy vanished. Her mother was right; being a servant really was nothing good.
Xing'er couldn't help but feel pleased, and all her faint feelings of inferiority disappeared.
Gu Fei, however, had no idea what the young girl was thinking. She closed her eyes and focused on her own problems.
'No matter how bad this place is, it's still better than the zombie-filled apocalypse.'
'But the north is about to become a living hell. The only option is to leave for the south.'
'But how can I convince my family?'
'The saying "it's hard to leave one's homeland" isn't just empty words. The family's fields, their house, all their relatives are here. Leaving means abandoning everything and starting from scratch. It would take immense courage and resolve.'
Ms. Li and Xing'er stayed for a little while longer before leaving. By dinnertime, Gu Zhang and his son still hadn't returned, and the family was waiting on them to bring back food to cook.
The family craned their necks, watching and waiting. The sky had turned completely dark by the time they finally saw the father and son returning.
Mrs. Chen took the sack of grain from Gu Qing's hands, and she and Li Chunhua hurried into the kitchen to prepare the meal.
Gu Zhang walked into the room carrying a bundle. He pulled a document from inside his robes. "My girl, I've sorted out your household registration. From now on, you're no longer another family's servant. You're a free citizen now."
Gu Fei nodded. 'Identity papers and household registration are important in any era. In ancient times, without registration and a travel permit, you couldn't even leave your own town.'
Gu Zhang carefully put the registration document away and then opened the bundle. "I bought you two new outfits. I don't know if you'll like them."
He shook out the clothes inside. One was a fine-cotton blouse and skirt, blue with a delicate white floral pattern. The other had an apricot-yellow top and a light green skirt, looking quite refreshing.
Gu Fei approved of her father's taste and nodded emphatically. "They're beautiful. I'll wear them as soon as I've healed."
Receiving his daughter's approval made Gu Zhang as happy as if he'd received a grand compliment. He rubbed his hands together gleefully. "Actually, it was all bought with your own silver."
Just as he was speaking, Gu Qing came in. "Sister, I made some inquiries for you. I heard that all the women of the Pingyang Marquis Mansion were sent to the Imperial Music Bureau."
"What?" Gu Fei suddenly propped herself up on the kang bed, which pulled at the wounds on her back. She couldn't help but let out a sharp HISS.