Seeing how adorable the little child was, the entire family burst into laughter. Second Aunt, Lady Wu, smiled with a bit of embarrassment.
“Qingyun, you even bought us lip balm and rouge. We’re at the age where we’re about to become grandmothers; wouldn't it be inappropriate for us to use these?”
“Sister-in-law, speak for yourself—don't drag me into it. I’m still young! I’m going to apply these things Qingyun bought me every day, dress up nicely, and live happily every day.”
Old Lady Zhang feigned anger.
“Second Son’s wife, are you talking about me? Qingyun bought them for me, too. By your logic, as a great-grandmother, shouldn't I be even less suited to use them?”
Lady Wu cupped her hands repeatedly, softly begging for mercy. Seeing this, Gu Qingyun and the other younger family members desperately held back their laughter. Gu Qingyun looked at her family with a beaming smile, pulled out the hairpins she had bought from her robes, placed them on the table, and gave a playful wink.
“Grandma, Aunts, Mother, you’re so happy now, but if you see what’s in here, you’ll be even happier. Open it and take a look.”
Her words caused Old Lady Zhang to laugh and scold playfully,
“Let me see what you’ve brought back this time.”
As she spoke, she opened the wooden box. Inside were four gold hairpins. One was noticeably larger and more detailed than the other three, which were similar in size.
Seeing the contents of the wooden box, the whole family froze. Gu Qingling and the other girls gasped, and seeing the elders dazed, they hurriedly said,
“Grandma, take them out and put them on your hair to see! You’re driving us crazy with anticipation!”
Old Lady Zhang snapped back to her senses, thoroughly wiped her hands on her clothes, and tremblingly picked up the largest hairpin.
“I never imagined that at my age, with one foot in the grave, I’d actually wear a gold hairpin bought by my granddaughter. This life of mine has been worth it.”
Seeing Old Lady Zhang getting emotional again, Gu Qingyun hurriedly said,
“Grandma, put it on and try it! I picked yours out specifically—it’s heavier than the ones for Mother and Aunts. I spent six liang of silver on yours, while theirs were only five.”
Hearing the price of the hairpins, everyone in the room gasped. Old Lady Zhang, in particular, almost dropped the hairpin.
“So expensive! Did you skimp on yourself in the prefectural city and spend all the emergency money you kept for yourself?”
Upon hearing this, Lady Su had a look of concern as well.
“Qingyun, when you’re away from home, take good care of yourself. For an ordinary family like ours, the silver hairpins you bought us before are good enough. Let it pass this time, but don't buy anything like this next time.”
Beside her, Lady Zhao and Lady Wu nodded in agreement.
“Sister-in-law is right. Our life now is already as good as it gets. I wouldn't even dare wear gold outside for fear of getting robbed.”
At these words, the whole family doubled over with laughter. Old Lady Zhang pointed at her,
“Eldest Son’s wife, Second Son’s wife, you two are too hilarious.”
Gu Qingyun pulled out the several silver hairpins she had bought and handed them to her older sisters.
“Grandma and Mother get gold, while my older sisters get silver. Everyone gets one! Pick whichever styles you like.”
Saying that, she fished out five liang of silver from her pocket and handed it to Old Lady Zhang.
“Grandma, I won second place in the tournament in the prefectural city this time. I spent a few liang of silver treating Head Constable Liu and the others to a meal at a tavern, and this is what's left. Please keep it.”
Old Lady Zhang handed the money back to her.
“You have social obligations when you’re out. Keep this money for yourself. This past year alone, you’ve brought back a lot of silver. From now on, keep half of whatever you earn for yourself, and put the other half into the family fund.”
Gu Qingyun was a bit stunned.
“Grandma, didn't we agree on a thirty-seventy split? Is it really okay to change it like this?”
Old Lady Zhang waved her hand.
“Things are different now than before. Back then, if we didn't put more money into the family fund, the family wouldn't even have enough to eat. Now it’s different. Our family lives in the county seat, and we have many more ways to earn money, so of course we should adjust. I’ve discussed this with your aunts, and they all agreed.”
Seeing that everyone in the family agreed, Gu Qingyun nodded.
“Alright then. I’ll go back to my room to rest for a bit. Grandma, Aunts, Mother, you can keep chatting. Oh, right, I brought back a potted flower. Please keep an eye on it for me and don't pull it out thinking it's grass.”
After saying this, Gu Qingyun took the potted flower and her luggage back to her room. Since it was still early, she planted the flower in her family’s small flower bed.
After finishing that, she played with Big Yellow for a bit, lit a stick of incense for it, and offered a piece of meat it liked before picking up her saber and starting her practice in the courtyard.
Her martial arts training couldn't be interrupted. Whenever she took a break, she always felt like she had left something undone, and practicing brought a sense of calm to her mind.
Having gotten used to it, martial practice seemed to be her only remaining hobby. As for things like dressing up, she felt they were a waste of time. She would rather spend that energy practicing her mental technique one more time.
After washing up in the evening, Gu Qingyun slipped into her mother’s room in the back courtyard. When she offered the five liang of silver to Lady Su, Lady Su refused to accept it.
“Keep it for yourself. I’ve kept the money you gave me last time safe and sound. Now that the family has the food business, our lives are getting better by the day. Your sister’s dowry and your brother’s betrothal gifts will all come out of the family fund, so I don't need this much money.”
Gu Qingyun firmly shoved the silver into her hands.
“Mother, just take it. I still have some money left—enough for myself. When I earn even more money in the future, I’ll buy you a full set of head ornaments just like rich families do, so you can live like a wealthy lady.”
Lady Su smiled gently.
“Our life right now is already wealthy and prosperous. As long as you come back safe and sound every day, that’s all that matters. I don't care about big money. I just hope everyone in our family stays well. If your father were still here, he would definitely feel the same as me.”
“Mother...” Gu Qingyun gently wrapped her arms around her.
“I’ll take Father’s place in taking good care of you, so don't be so sad.”
Lady Su wiped the corners of her eyes and said softly,
“Go back and rest early. Mother knows.”
Gu Qingyun nodded. Her parents had a deep affection for each other, and if her mother missed her father, there was nothing she could do to help.
The next day after breakfast, Gu Qingyun headed straight to the quietest street in the northernmost part of town. This street provided one-stop shop services for funerals, with everything a deceased person might need available here.
Gu Qingyun walked straight into a shop hanging the sign 【Rebirth Hall】. The shop was desolate and cold, devoid of the slightest trace of life. On the shelves, yellow paper, Rebirth Money, and gold ingots were neatly displayed. Against the wall stood stacks of paper effigies, as well as crafted paper houses.
Inside the shop was a white-haired old man. Seeing a capable young woman walk in, he hurriedly came forward to greet her.
“Customer, what do you need? We have everything you could possibly require.”
Gu Qingyun looked around the shop for a moment before saying,
“Give me two bundles of yellow paper and some gold ingots. As for the paper effigies, give me two dogs, a house, and prepare four sets of clothing for each of the four seasons—spring, summer, autumn, and winter.”
“Understood. Please wait a moment, customer.”
...
Carrying those items, Gu Qingyun went straight to the charitable cemetery. The official charitable cemetery was located on a desolate mountain, with a plot of land partitioned off specifically to bury unclaimed victims. Yu Xiaohong’s grave was located right here.
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