Most of the comments were advising her not to listen to the haters, that there was no need to take this bet.
The haters were already trying to figure out what to make her appraise tomorrow! That was the only way to make her lose face!
Gu Shengsheng smiled and replied, "It's fine. My stream has only been live for a few days! And there are already so many doubters. If I act like a coward, won't I be letting down the friends who support me?"
"Besides, it's not that hard to begin with."
Her eyes were filled with determination as she spoke. A slight smile touched her lips. "Everyone get a good night's rest."
"When my followers break one hundred thousand, I'll give you all a special bonus."
Gu Shengsheng packed away the Cloud Pattern Jade Pendant and stopped by the roadside to buy a grilled rice cake. It was wrapped around a roasted sausage and tasted delicious with the sauce.
After all, she would probably have to wait a while for dinner at that house later, and she'd even have to put on a performance.
Nothing is more important than a full stomach.
The sensible thing to do was to get a little something in her stomach now.
Just as Gu Shengsheng took a large bite of her grilled rice cake, an old woman appeared before her.
The old woman's eyes were fixed on the food in her hand.
Gu Shengsheng said, "…Should I buy one for you?"
"Oh, yes! You're such a kind-hearted young lady." The old woman's eyes lit up with delight.
She even began to size her up. "A young lady as beautiful and warm-hearted as you… I wonder who'll be the lucky man to marry you!"
Gu Shengsheng thought the woman was trying to play matchmaker. "Grandma, I'm already getting married," she said.
She thought for a moment before adding, "My future husband is a great guy."
'We've never met or spent any time together, but he's dead, so how bad can he be?'
'In any case, this marriage suits me just fine.'
But the old woman was grinning from ear to ear. "Young lady, you and your future husband must have a wonderful relationship, don't you?"
Gu Shengsheng didn't feel the need to explain, so she just gave a noncommittal, "Mm."
Then, the old woman sighed. "Ah, young lady, if my grandson were still alive, he would have definitely fallen for a wonderful girl like you at first sight."
"…" Gu Shengsheng was a bit stunned, but she also felt a pang of sympathy for the old woman.
'To have a parent outlive their child.'
She wasn't good at comforting people. The old woman took her grilled rice cake and started to walk away, calling back, "You should hurry home! We'll meet again, little girl!"
Seeing the old woman's playful expression, Gu Shengsheng nodded. Her cheerful spirit was infectious, and Gu Shengsheng found herself smiling.
'Come to think of it, the people I've met these past few days have been quite kind. I guess there are more good people in the world than bad ones!'
It wasn't far, so she rode a shared bike back while finishing her grilled rice cake.
When she arrived at the gate, several luxury cars were already parked outside.
It seemed the party from the Lu Family had arrived.
She had originally thought only Madam Lu would be coming, but from the looks of it, a lot of people had shown up.
'Did they all come to gawk at the bride who's supposed to bring good luck?'
'I suppose since I'm to become a daughter-in-law of the Lu Family, they all have to come and take a look.'
Having stayed here for two days, Gu Shengsheng had learned a few things. The main branch of the Lu Family was decent and wealthy.
But after the eldest son, Lu Shijing, disappeared, the position of Family Head was given to his cousin, Lu Chaoyang.
The Lu Family was a massive clan, and each branch had its own power base. Her parents, Guan Wutian and Song Shuhua, weren't just worried about their daughter being a ceremonial bride for a dead man.
They were more worried about the Lu Family's chaotic internal politics. In a family like that, a woman without a husband for protection, without cunning or power, could end up dead without anyone even knowing.
So, sending someone like Gu Shengsheng over was a clear sign that her biological parents had completely given up on her.
'Everyone longs for affection. It's just that the parental love others take for granted was something she seemed destined to never have.'
Gu Shengsheng strolled in casually. The living room was already full of people chatting.
When the housekeeper saw her, she quickly said, "Eldest Miss, please go to your room and change your clothes."
"Madam wants you to come down after you've changed."
Gu Shengsheng nodded. Just as she was about to finish off the grilled rice cake in one last bite, a sharp voice cut through the air. "Mrs. Song, it seems you still haven't taught your daughter any manners."
"What kind of upbringing is this, buying and eating food from a street stall? It's completely unhygienic. And to bring it in on an occasion like this, you're just trying to embarrass us."
"Even though Shi Jing's fate is unknown and we've lowered our standards for a bride, for us to even consider your Gu family is a great honor for you. And now you're trying to marry off this piece of trash to us? Are you toying with us?"
Song Shuhua looked embarrassed and forced a smile. "She's my biological daughter, but we just brought her back from the countryside. She's low-born to the core, and still acts like a common peasant. It's hard to change her ways overnight."
"Second Madam Lu, once she marries into your family, you can discipline her however you see fit."
Second Madam Lu glanced at the dignified woman beside her, her eyes glinting with amusement. "Sister-in-law, this is all your business, after all. You can just listen. I'm only offering a few pointers."
Gu Shengsheng finally understood. This Second Madam Lu, whose words were as sharp as thorns, was the mother of the current Lu Family Head, Lu Chaoyang. No wonder she was so arrogant.
Gu Shengsheng glanced at Madam Lu, who remained silent with a frosty expression.
Deciding she'd had enough, she spoke directly. "Second Madam Lu, I haven't even married into the Lu Family, and you're already belittling me. Is this the so-called 'elegant family style' of the Lu Family?"
"And another thing, this grilled rice cake is a famous specialty of Rui City. It has a long history and was even featured on national television. How can you talk about it as if it's garbage?"
"Are you saying you look down on the tastes of the common people?"
Second Madam Lu, dressed in a green qipao, swayed toward her, her face contorted with rage. "Who do you think you are, daring to talk back to me?"
"I'm teaching you how to conduct yourself."
Hearing this sanctimonious lecture, Gu Shengsheng snatched a glass of water from a nearby table and splashed it directly in the woman's face.
"This glass of water is my way of thanking Second Madam Lu for her lesson. A splash of cold water to the face cleanses the soul. And seeing as the space between your eyebrows is looking rather dark, you really do need a good washing."
Then, Gu Shengsheng casually pulled a leftover cephalosporin pill from her pocket and offered it to her. "You must have a headache now, right? Take a pill. You'll feel better."
"Second Madam Lu, don't thank me too much."
With that, she decided against changing her clothes and sauntered over to the sofa.
Second Madam Lu pointed a trembling finger at her, screaming, "You uncultured animal! The Lu Family can't afford a shameless little bitch like you!"
'She wasn't worried. She'd be perfectly happy not getting married. When you don't care about anything, you're invincible.'
Song Shuhua was about to get up and put Gu Shengsheng in her place. 'If this nonsense continues, the marriage will surely be in jeopardy. This country bumpkin is going to be the death of me!'
Madam Lu, who had been silent the entire time, walked over and took Gu Shengsheng by the hand.
"Sister-in-law, that's enough."
"Shengsheng is our family's future daughter-in-law. The arrangement is set and will not be changed. Therefore, her affairs are none of your concern."
Second Madam Lu sneered. "She's eating unpresentable street food, and now I'm the one at fault, her future aunt?"
Just then, an old woman leaning on a cane walked in, also holding a grilled rice cake.
She said, "Wife of my second son, has this delicacy offended you in some way?"