Chapter 269: Sick Siblings

"Yes, we will remember that... Third Uncle, thank you so much." Gu Dafu’s voice choked with emotion; without the help of Third Uncle, they would have definitely been driven out of the workshop.

Gu Dafu turned to look at the dazed Gu Yumei and scolded, "Apologize to Xiao Yu quickly. Without Xiao Yu, do you think you could have enjoyed days wearing cotton clothes and eating your fill as the daughter of the workshop owner?"

Hearing Gu Dafu scolding her, tears kept falling down Gu Yumei’s face, yet she dared not cry out loud. Trembling, she said to Gu Jinli, "Xiao Yu... I’m sorry, it was my fault... I shouldn’t have been disobedient and secretly interacted with people from the Zou family and Lu family... I won’t do it anymore... please forgive me."

Gu Jinli looked at her and only said one sentence, "You owe your apology not to me, but to the several families who fled the famine with us, and to yourself."

Indifferently she added, "I’ve told you before that besides tofu and spices, I can make other things. If I lose the business of tofu and spices, it’s not life-threatening for me, but it’s different for your family."

"So, if you want to seek death, just go ahead, but in the end, it will be your family and a few others who suffer."

Gu Jinli’s words were cruel, but they struck Gu Yumei like a thunderbolt. Gu Yumei was completely stunned, looking at Gu Jinli, speechless.

Gu Jinli didn’t want to look at her and said to Third Grandma, "Third Grandma, it’s getting late, we’re starving, let’s have dinner."

"Eh, I’ll go get the food for you now. Brother Qin, Daya, you eat here too, then go home after eating." Third Grandma called Mrs. Cui and Gu Jinxiu, and the three of them went to the kitchen to get the food.

Third Grandpa told the families, "Everyone go back, we need to get up early to work tomorrow."

Then to Gu Yumei he said, "Fend for yourself."

Gu Yumei didn’t know how she made her way home, her mind was muddled, head heavy, and feet light, as if floating, until suddenly, with a thud, she fell to the ground, finishing, her vision darkened, and she fainted.

That night, Gu Yumei developed a high fever, more severe than the previous night. Gu Dafu’s family did not sleep all night, they borrowed a mule cart from Scholar Shang’s Family and went to Xuanhu Fang during the night to fetch Doctor Du to treat Gu Yumei.

Gu Jinli knew medical skills and understood that Gu Yumei was seriously ill, but chose not to treat her. Treating Gu Yumei wasn’t worth losing sleep over for her; after all, Gu Yumei wouldn’t die from it.

...

In the guesthouse of Lu Mansion, Zou Yuzhen’s servant reported to Zou Yuzhen and Zou Yuwan what had happened in the home of Gu Dafu’s family.

After listening, a surge of anger rose in Zou Yuwan’s heart. Pointing her sharp-nailed finger at Hua’er’s head, she scolded, "Useless, how could you handle things this way? Didn’t I tell that idiot to be careful not to let others find out she was interacting with you? Now it’s ruined; that plan can’t be used anymore."

Hua’er, poked hard on the head, didn’t dare to dodge, and could only sobbingly explain, "Fifth Miss, I’ve been wronged. I repeatedly told her to be cautious when coming out and hide the gifts we gave her first, not to wear them openly. But she was foolish; no matter how much I told her, she didn’t listen and secretly wore the silk flower on her wrist. Unbeknownst to her, the Gu Family’s daughter saw it."

He added, "That Gu Family’s daughter is ruthless. She made a scene on the spot, even demanding that Gu Dafu’s family leave the workshop without showing any mercy."

Zou Yuzhen’s servant, originally a Protector and trained in martial arts, had been stealthily watching Gu Dafu’s family. Knowing more than Hua’er, he supplemented, "Gu Dafu’s family hasn’t been driven out of the workshop, but they and a few other families have signed a promise. If anyone threatens the workshop or Gu Jinli’s family again, they must leave it and pay compensation, a lot of it, up to ten thousand taels of silver."

"Ten thousand taels of silver! Why doesn’t she just rob us?" Zou Yuwan slammed the table angrily, "A lowly girl who fled here due to famine dares to ask for ten thousand taels of silver as compensation. How are we supposed to bribe the other families then?"

Originally, they thought that if Gu Yumei wasn’t manageable, they could bribe the other families. But Gu Jinli’s move left them with no options, what should they do now?

Ten thousand taels of silver, even together with Third Brother, they couldn’t come up with such an amount.

Zou Yuzhen also clenched his teeth in hatred, "She’s really capable." With just one move, she blocked all their paths.

Hearing Zou Yuzhen’s words, Zou Yuwan said angrily, "Brother, are you actually praising that lowly girl? What should we do now? Why don’t we use that calligraphy postcard as a raft?"

Zou Yuwan had Hua’er deliver a calligraphy postcard to Gu Yumei, which belonged to Zou Yuzhen. Initially, they wanted to use this postcard to attract Gu Yumei, make her fall in love with Third Brother, and deceive her by promising to make her his official wife, thereby tempting her to work for them.

As for what she should do?

That depends on whether the Gu Family could be useful to them or not.

If the Gu Family could be utilized, they would have Gu Yumei bring out Gu Jinxiu to meet Zou Yuzhen, plot against Gu Jinxiu, and establish a connection with the Gu Family.

If the Gu Family decided to be their enemy, then they would have Gu Yumei steal recipes or poison their spices— in short, they needed to severely punish the Gu Family and let these damned peasants know the consequences of opposing the Zou and Lu Families.

But Zou Yuzhen shook his head, "No, it’s no use, Zou Yumei has been found out already."

"What should we do then?" Zou Yuwan said, "We can’t just stay in this godforsaken place forever."

Zou Yuzhen said, "Don’t rush, if this method won’t work, we can think of others. This time, we’ve been severely affected by the Lu Family, we have to do something to show father our capabilities."

Zou Yuzhen initially was just upset that the Gu Family targeted the Lu Family, causing him and his siblings to suffer. He wanted to teach the Gu Family a lesson. Unexpectedly, the Gu Family was difficult to deal with. They even unintentionally offended Master Qi. He had always been proud, and the Gu Family indirectly hurt him several times, fueling his anger, making him determined to destroy the Gu Family to prove his prowess!

Hua’er, standing at the side with hands clasped, listened to the siblings’ discussion. Thinking about recent events, she increasingly felt that these siblings were problematic, her fantasies about Zou Yuzhen completely shattered.

Initially, this was a matter involving the Lu Family, and the County Governor only punished the Lu Family and Concubine Lu, scolded the siblings a bit without intending to abandon them. But they ran from the county to this poor rural area, intending to crush those families who fled from famine.

Now that it had failed, it left them infuriated.

Hua’er thought, she should find a new backer sooner rather than later. If she continued following Zou Yuwan, her end would definitely be miserable.

Hua’er contemplated various masters in the house and eventually set her sights on Mrs. Zhong.

Mrs. Zhong had risen to the status of a concubine shortly after entering the household and was now pregnant. The Old Master was currently favoring her, and the lady of the house was also kind to Mrs. Zhong. Mrs. Zhong knew how to get along with all, did not offend anyone, and treated the servants well. All things considered, it seemed more promising to align with Mrs. Zhong.