"Thank you, uncles and aunties. Thank you to all the big brothers, sisters-in-law, and younger sisters."
Gu'er thanked the crowd. Whatever their reasons for not speaking up earlier, they were showing goodwill now, and she accepted it. 'I still have to live in this village,' she thought. 'I can't just give everyone the cold shoulder forever.' Now that they were approaching her of their own accord, she would accept their kindness and simply treat them as neighbors.
The crowd chatted for a bit longer before many of them began to disperse, with some heading home to get things for Gu'er.
"Hmph. What are you standing around for? Waiting for your old man to carry you home?"
Zhou Mazi's angry bellow rang out. Gu'er instinctively flinched, ready to respond, but when she looked over, she realized he wasn't yelling at her. He was yelling at Zhou Feng'er.
