With Gu Qingyao around, the Gu family's meals improved significantly. Also with Third Uncle and Third Brother behind her, Zhou Ping behaved herself. She returned to her former life as a housewife.

The weather grew colder and in her hometown, the autumn harvest was almost over. The food was distributed earlier this year and once they got their share, Gu Yunshen sent some grain over.

Zhou Ping was even more pleased to receive the grain.

Together with Gu Yunshen's parcel came news of Eldest Uncle's family.

His family was doing fairly well in the northeast. Although the conditions there were harsher, nothing worse had happened. Gu Yunshen's letter was very discreet, but Gu Qingyao understood that her father was telling her it was safe over there and she could send some things to her eldest uncle's family.

Gu Qingyao was delighted. She could stop worrying now that she knew that Eldest Uncle's family was fine.

She hurriedly sent some coa.r.s.e and fine grain, some meat and dried vegetables, and also some cotton wool.

It was very cold in the northeast. It would be hard to get through winter without some cotton wool.

Meanwhile, in the capital.

Old Master Mo had received all the information about the Gu family and the Mo family.

Old Master Mo, Grandma Mo and the steward were all in the study. When Grandma Mo saw the information that had been sent over, she asked “Well? How are they doing over there?”

Old Master Mo read it first, then pa.s.sed it over to Grandma Mo. He said, “Beihan's mother's name is Jiang Yingqiu. Her older brother is the brigade leader. Her family is fairly well off and as a child, Jiang Yingqiu was courteous and could read and write. In that area, she stood out from the other illiterate village girls.

“Eldest One must have taken a fancy to Jiang Yingqiu because of her abilities. She's fairly good-looking, and she stood out from among her peers. Also, because her family was well off, he would suffer less if he married a girl like that.”

Grandma Mo quivered with rage when she heard that. “That beast. How could he do something so heartless.”

Old Master Mo sighed. “The year Eldest One came back, the two children were still quite young. It was Jiang Yingqiu who brought them up single-handedly. Eldest Grandson worked very hard to raise a family and establish a career. But he unexpectedly died away from home, leaving two young children behind. His wife ran away when she saw how things were and married someone else. She abandoned them after that.

“Jiang Yingqiu raised her two grandchildren. Beihan left when he was fifteen years old. He has done well in his career over the past few years and with his salary, their lives have improved.

“Jiang Yingqiu's health has broken down from exhaustion, and her overwork has caused her to have many ailments.”

Mo Beihan had not told him all these things in detail, but Old Master Mo had guessed at some of it. Now that he had received reliable news, it turned out to be true.

Then they turned to the Gu family.

“The Gu family's ancestors were landlords and they were one of the richest and most influential families. They had ill.u.s.trious forebears. Old Madam was the daughter of a Shanghainese capitalist. She was also born into a rich and powerful family. Now the Gu family is suffering in the Qing River Brigade.

“But the Gu family's sons and grandsons are doing fairly well. The second son has done the best, and his two children are also outstanding. The third son is living in town. The eldest son's family…”

Old Master Mo frowned. “Something has happened to them. They've left for the northeast.”

Grandma Mo took a look. “That happened early this year. Before that, they were doing pretty well.”

Old Master Mo sighed. “In these times, misfortune may befall us at any moment. A few mishaps are unavoidable. It looks like they are fine though.”

Grandma Mo said, “That's good.”