Gu Xiuping's mother, who traveled widely with her husband and was part of a women's military unit in her youth. She held no prejudice against country folk and spoke to Zhang Xiuying with a friendly attitude. She boiled eggs and packed luggage for the trip to Pufeng County. She brought a bride price of 999 yuan, explaining that in their region, bride prices are typically auspicious amounts like 666 or 888 yuan. When her daughter Gu Xiuqi married, she returned the 888 yuan bride price as dowry along with a washing machine. She reminisced about events from her days on the march while cooking with a rural clay stove.
