Chapter Thirteen: The Gambler Father Beyond Redemption

Gu Da Cai heard his mother's complaints and curled his lips, thinking she simply didn’t understand; sometimes luck at the gambling house had to be waited for. There were plenty of people in the gambling den whose fortunes had arrived, winning hand after hand. His luck just hadn’t come yet.

“Mother, you really have to trust me. My luck is just about to arrive. Besides, it’s only two taels of silver. We should have asked for more back then.”

“Raising a useless daughter all these years and only getting two taels for her—what a loss.” Gu Da Cai clicked his teeth, feeling that this deal was indeed far too disadvantageous. Though his daughter was thin and frail, hardly looking like someone who could bear children, two taels was far too little.

“You’re still thinking about that? Gu Da Cai, get out of here! Just pretend I never gave birth to a son like you.” Mrs. Yang shouted, urging Gu Da Cai out of the courtyard, unwilling to see her disappointing son any longer.

“Mother, hey, don’t be angry. If you shout at me and drive me out, then I’ll go inside and beat your daughter-in-law.” Gu Da Cai’s words made Mrs. Yang’s heart ache with rage. This son was nothing but trouble since the day he was born.

As a man, how could he use such things to threaten his own mother? He was simply inhuman.

“Gu Da Cai, she’s your wife. She married you when she was still young, and you’ve never given her a single good day. Now you want to beat her…”

Mrs. Yang took several deep breaths to push down the pain in her chest; her hands trembled with anger, at a loss for words.

Old man Gu, who had been silent, furrowed his brows deeply and sighed. “Da Cai, if you’re willing to change, life can still go on. If you aren’t, it can’t. Every bit of spare money is gambled away. If this keeps up, the family will soon be ruined.”

Gu Da Cai didn’t care. He felt his hands itch if he didn’t gamble for a day; if he couldn’t gamble, he might as well die.

“No, gambling is the only joy I have left in life. If I can’t gamble, I’d rather die.”

Just then, Gu Xiao Yao pushed open the courtyard gate, catching the tail end of that sentence. The sound of her entering drew the attention of everyone in the yard.

Mrs. Yang saw her granddaughter, married only two days ago, returning home. Joy flashed across her face, but remembering her son’s actions, her expression turned apologetic.

“Xiao Yao, why are you back today? Weren’t you supposed to return tomorrow? Did you come alone?”

On the third day after marriage, a woman’s return home was customarily done with her husband. Seeing her granddaughter returning alone, carrying a basket and looking dusty, Mrs. Yang’s heart ached. She’d always felt guilty toward this granddaughter; now, seeing her so forlorn, even opening her mouth felt shameful.

“I came back since I had the time. Where are my mother and younger brother?”

Gu Xiao Yao could clearly see the guilt and apology in Mrs. Yang’s eyes. She ignored Gu Da Cai and directly asked about Mrs. Li and her little brother, Gu Xiao Shu.

Gu Da Cai, seeing his daughter return, grinned and sidled up. “Xiao Yao, did you bring any good things back for your father? Let me have a look.”

With that, he reached for the basket on Gu Xiao Yao’s back, wanting to see what goodies she’d brought.

Gu Xiao Yao yanked it away, making Gu Da Cai stumble. She looked directly at Mrs. Yang.

“Your mother is lying inside. Xiao Shu went up the mountain to collect firewood.” Mrs. Yang, seeing her eldest son so eager, felt nothing but embarrassment. How had she given birth to such a shameless creature?

“You wretched girl, what are you doing? Put that basket down! Don’t think you can do as you please just because you’re married. I’m your father!” Gu Da Cai staggered a few steps, then steadied himself and glared at Gu Xiao Yao. He felt that this useless daughter had grown a backbone since her marriage.