Third Grandpa didnât care what Elder Gu was thinking, he had said all he needed to and looked at Third Grandma, saying, "Old woman, give them the silver notes."
Silver notes!
Ms. Zhang and Gu Chengli heard this and their eyes lit up. Initially, they thought after Gu Dashan left, they would not benefit at all, but unexpectedly, Third Son Gu and his wife would give them silver.
Ms. Zhang immediately reached out her hand, "Third Uncle, Third Aunt, niece-in-law just knew you were thinking of us. The silver, give it to niece-in-law."
Third Grandma looked at Ms. Zhangâs greedy face and felt disgusted, but the silver had to be given, "Here are ten silver notes, each worth a hundred taels, totaling a thousand taels of silver, enough for you to live well from now on. After taking this silver, leave Heâan Prefecture immediately and stop pestering Dashanâs family, otherwise, weâll go to the government office to sue you and make you pay."
They decided to give the silver to the Old Gu Family firstly to sever Elder Guâs entanglement with Gu Dashan, and secondly to show the onlooking townspeople that although Elder Gu was paralyzed, he wasnât pitiful, as he had a thousand taels of silver to his name. Even if Dashan did not acknowledge him, he could still live well.
To put it bluntly, Third Grandpa and Third Grandma just wanted to use this thousand taels of silver to shut the mouths of those who continued to accuse Gu Dashan and Gu Jinâan of being unfilial.
When the crowd saw Third Grandma take out the ten silver notes, they rushed forward to look, and seeing that the silver notes were real, exclaimed, "Itâs truly ten silver notes worth a hundred taels, a thousand taels, a full thousand taels! Elder Gu has struck it rich."
With so much silver, Elder Gu can continue to act like an old master even if heâs paralyzed.
The townspeople were filled with emotion, saying that Third Grandpa and Third Grandma truly have kind hearts, and they said to Elder Gu, "Old Man Gu, now you have silver to live a good life, stop pestering Dashanâs family. Heâs nearly driven to death by you, after all, heâs your son. Let him go."
Humph!
Elder Gu snorted coldly, what are a thousand taels worth? If he could get Dashan to recognize him, what he could get would be far more than a thousand taels.
Ms. Zhang hurriedly agreed, "Oh, oh, oh, rest assured Third Aunt, after taking the silver notes, we wonât cause trouble for the big uncleâs family again."
As she was speaking and reaching for the silver notes, Third Grandma refused to give them, "You all never keep your word, Iâm afraid of you. Write a commitment, press your fingerprint, then come take the silver notes."
This trick was learned from Xiao Yu, black and white paper plus fingerprint was more useful than a big basket of promises.
Ms. Zhang was furious, "Third Aunt, why are you treating us like scammers?"
Third Grandma sneered, "I canât trust anyone in your family. If you want the silver notes, write a commitment, otherwise donât take the silver."
Ms. Zhang had no choice but to agree.
Someone present who was literate helped them write the commitment, after Ms. Zhang, Elder Gu, Gu Youfu, and Gu Chengli pressed their fingerprints, Third Grandma finally gave them the silver notes.
Ms. Zhang took the silver notes, feeling displeased, and gave Gu Chengli a nudge.
Gu Chengli immediately cried, "Third Grandma, the grandson hasnât seen you and Third Grandpa for many years, where do you live now? The grandson wants to visit you and show filial piety."
"Ah, plah! What do you know about filial piety, you just see Third Aunt has money and want to get close to her to steal the silver from the two old folks." Mrs. Chen pointed at Gu Chengli and cursed, "Gu Chengli, are you even human? You even want to rob the silver of a childless old manâs possession, arenât you afraid of divine retribution?"
Gu Chengli was originally a poor speaker and was dumbfounded by Mrs. Chenâs scolding, looking at Third Grandma and crying with grievance, "Third Grandma, I know our family did many wrong things, but Iâm innocent, I have no malicious intent, I really just want to go to your place more often in the future to serve you and Third Grandpa."
Third Grandpa had been silent, but upon hearing this, he laughed and looked at Gu Chengli saying, "Brother Li, although weâre old, weâre not senile yet. You say youâre innocent, but what about that indenture of Dashanâs family? Your father impersonated Dashan and pressed the fingerprint while your family members testified that the fingerprint was pressed by Dashan, causing Dashanâs family to nearly be sold, and you have the face to say youâre innocent?"
No one in the Old Gu Family was innocent, even the youngest Gu Chengzhi and Gu Rong had harmed Dashanâs family.
"Brother Li, thereâs no need to serve us old folks, just be a good person in the future." Saying this, Third Grandpa took Third Grandmaâs hand and left.
Mrs. Chen yelled before leaving, "Fellow villagers, remember the faces of Gu Chengli and the others, thereâs not a single decent person among them, donât be cheated by them again!"
Upon hearing this, Gu Chengli was infuriated, his eyes flashed coldly as he glared at Mrs. Chen.
Mrs. Chen was startled, quickly ran away, and didnât forget to shout one last thing, "Ms. Zhang is an adulteress!"
Ms. Zhang was close to being furious and went to chase Mrs. Chen, but she was holding the silver notes and dared not run.
After Mrs. Chen and the others left, in front of the house, the commotion continued, and the townspeople pointed at Ms. Zhang and the others, cursing them.
Ms. Zhang no longer needed to pretend to be pitiful and responded immediately, "You better be polite to us, or when my daughter returns home, youâll be finished!"
Zhang Sanjin couldnât stand it anymore, "Stop talking nonsense, hurry and leave."
She still had the face to mention her daughter; her daughter had already been dealt with by the Zhan Family, right?
Zhang Sanjin really couldnât bear Zhang and her family, despised their slow movements, and directly brought the government officials to drive them out, removing them from Moxiang Street.
With silver in hand, Zhang and her family became arrogant beyond belief, went to the largest inn in the Prefecture, booked a yard to settle down, and then went to a restaurant to order a table of good dishes to feast on.
After Daqing informed Gu Jinli of the whereabouts of Ms. Zhang and the four.
Gu Jinli laughed coldly, "Keep an eye on them, then send someone to book the two yards closest to where they are staying. Tonight I want them to wish they were dead!"
Did they think causing this incident meant her father wouldnât need to repay with his severed finger?
Eat, drink, for after tonight, theyâll have nothing even to keep their bellies full!
"Yes." Daqing immediately went to make arrangements with his men.
Gu Jinli then checked on Gu Dashan, who had been holding on all this time, just after entering the door, vomited blood and collapsed. They hurriedly carried him to the main courtyard, and now he was being treated.
"Xiao Yu, how is your father?" Mrs. Cui asked, her heart full of worry.
Gu Jinli said, "Mother, donât worry, my father is just filled with grief, acupuncture will resolve the blood clots and circulate the energy."
Before long, Gu Jinli completed the acupuncture, prescribed a medicine, and said to Mrs. Cui, "Mother, my father will not wake up until just before dawn, donât worry, you donât need to stay up all night, you can rest assured and sleep."
However, Mrs. Cui could not relax and kept vigil beside Gu Dashan, fearing that something might happen.
Gu Dashan had suffered greatly at the Old Gu Family, but in recent years, he often ate the medicinal meals prepared by Gu Jinli, so his body was in good condition and he woke up in the middle of the night.
In the dimly lit room, Mrs. Cui was squatting down, watching over the meat porridge warming on the stove. Xiao Yu had mentioned if Dashan wakes up, he can have some porridge first.
Gu Dashan saw Mrs. Cui, felt a sense of peace, and called softly, "Min Niang~"