Chapter 981: The Illness Strikes

Gu Dashan got angry and tried to stop them: "Sister-in-law Tian, these past few days we’re tidying up to prepare to return to the village, the house is a mess, it’s not convenient to have guests..."

Would Tian Xiwang’s wife listen to him? Not at all, before he could finish, she directly dragged Tian Hui’er toward the rear residence.

Unfortunately, they were blocked by Erqing.

Erqing stared at Tian Xiwang’s wife and said coldly, "The back residence is a restricted area, outsiders cannot enter indiscriminately."

Tian Xiwang’s wife was shocked, looked around, then looked at Erqing, wondering where this girl had popped out from. Her movements were too fast; she hadn’t seen her clearly before she was in front of her.

Tian Xiwang’s wife quickly calmed down and asked, "Who are you?"

Erqing replied indifferently, "Maid of the Gu Family."

Tian Xiwang’s wife raised her eyebrows, curled her lips, and sneered, "So, you’re just a maid. Then stop dawdling and come help me. My Hui’er has fainted. Little Sister-in-law Dashan really likes my Hui’er. If anything happens to her, you’ll be the one getting sold by Little Sister-in-law Dashan."

Hearing this, Erqing almost laughed. The Dong Family’s Madam doesn’t like you at all; she hinted twice that it’s getting late for you to leave, yet you pretended not to hear.

After scolding Erqing, Tian Xiwang’s wife, afraid of being caught up by Third Grandpa and the others, looked back at Tian Xiwang and her son, signaling them to quickly hold up Third Grandpa and the others.

Tian Xiwang and his son did just that, pulling on Third Grandpa and Gu Dashan, pleading, "Third Master Gu, Brother Dashan, please help us, send a mule cart to fetch a doctor for Hui’er, she’s really quite ill."

Gu Jinli laughed and said, "Miss Tian fainted. Our family will naturally send a mule cart to fetch a doctor, don’t worry."

Hearing this, Zezi immediately went to prepare the mule cart.

The Tian Family people were very happy to see this, especially Tian Xiwang’s wife, thinking that things were working out. As long as the Gu Family sends a cart for the doctor, the doctor won’t arrive at Gu Family until dark, and after diagnosing and brewing medicine, they certainly can’t leave tonight.

As long as they stay the first night, they can find an excuse to stay at Gu Family to recuperate, and then they can spread rumors about their desire for a marriage proposal between the two families.

This creates a compelling story, and as long as rumors spread, the Gu Family can’t ignore it. That way, their Hui’er can marry into the Gu Family legitimately.

After securing this marriage with the Gu Family, their whole family will live in luxury with their servants at command, no longer having to guard a house with little resources.

Tian Xiwang’s wife was feeling optimistic and called to Erqing: "Come over here and help out, why aren’t you attentive?"

When their family worked as servants for the Dai Family, just a cough from the master would have them rushing to ask how they could help; this Gu Family’s maid clearly had no sense of protocol.

But it doesn’t matter; once Hui’er marries over, they’ll properly teach these maids how to do their job.

Erqing pretended not to hear, just standing in front of them without moving.

Tian Xiwang’s wife got angry: "What’s wrong with you, maid? Don’t you have any manners? Fine, fine, I don’t need your help, just get out of the way."

Get out of the way?

What wishful thinking.

Erqing wouldn’t move, and Tian Xiwang’s wife was very upset.

Gu Jinli walked over, took Tian Hui’er’s hand, secretly checked her pulse, and said, "Aunt Tian, don’t worry, Erqing is just following the rules."

"What? She’s blocking the door, not letting us in, and she calls it following the rules? No matter what, we are your guests, aren’t we? How can the host’s guests faint, and the host’s servants not help?" Tian Xiwang’s wife was very angry and wanted to lose her temper, but was concerned about Tian Hui’er’s instructions.

Hui’er had said that their family was here to form an alliance with the Gu Family, not to make enemies. Small schemes were fine, but they shouldn’t break relations.

Gu Jinli said, "We’ve all escaped famine before, so we know if someone is sick, it might not be a minor illness, but a plague. My family is afraid of this, so we’ve set a rule: no guest can be taken back home without determining what illness they have. If it’s a plague, the whole family would suffer, so it’s better to wait."

Tian Xiwang’s wife was stunned; she didn’t expect Gu Jinli to talk about a plague, and it made her laugh in anger: "Gu Family’s daughter, how can you say that? My Hui’er is fine, just a minor illness, how did it become a plague in your mouth?"

Gu Jinli smiled sweetly and said to Tian Xiwang’s wife, "Everyone says it’s a minor illness before it’s diagnosed. The Old Gu Family didn’t believe they had venereal disease either, and what happened? So you’d better be patient, it’s better for everyone."

After that, the needle hidden in her palm poked into Tian Hui’s wrist.

Tian Hui’er felt the pain but held back from opening her eyes.

She had to hold on; as long as she did, she could stay overnight at Gu Family, and once she’s inside, everything else would be easier.

But Zezi had already brought Third Grandma and Mrs. Cui over.

Mrs. Chen loved gossip and wouldn’t miss such a show, so she came along too.

As soon as she saw Tian Hui’er being supported by Tian Xiwang’s wife, she exclaimed, "Oh dear, Sister-in-law Tian, how did your Hui’er faint? Could it be some serious illness surfacing now? That would be terrible; she should be taken to a clinic quickly before it’s too late. Let me help you get her on the mule cart. Come, come, make way."

With that, she bumped Tian Xiwang’s wife with her hip, pushing her aside, grabbed Tian Hui’er with both hands, flipped her onto her back, and ran off with her.

Tian Xiwang’s wife was dumbfounded; what just happened? How did her Hui’er disappear?

By the time she realized, Mrs. Chen had already carried Tian Hui’er to the main gate.

Tian Xiwang’s wife hastily called her husband and son to catch up: "Little Sister-in-law Da Gui, stop right there, my Hui’er just has a minor illness, there’s no need to go to the clinic, waiting for the doctor will be fine!"

Mrs. Chen just huffed, ignoring the Tian Family, and after carrying Tian Hui’er out the gate, she shoved her into the cart, saying to Zezi, "The Tian Family’s daughter has a severe illness, can’t afford the delay, quickly take her to the Liu Family Clinic."

Doctor Liu loves money, and the medical fees are always high. This Tian Family dreams too much; it’s time for them to spend some money and sober up.

"Okay," Zezi responded, about to drive off but was pulled down by Mrs. Chen.

"You can’t go, you’re Brother An’s servant. If you send the Tian family’s daughter to the clinic, there will be rumors. Get down quickly." Mrs. Chen shouted to the approaching Gu Dagui, "You, drive her to the Liu Family Clinic!"

She pulled Zezi down and pushed Gu Dagui onto the mule cart’s board, then smacked the mule on its backside, causing it to charge forward.

Gu Dagui was almost scared to death, hurriedly grabbing the reins to control the mule cart, while Tian Xiwang and the others gave chase; by the time they caught up, the mule cart had already left the street of the Gu Mansion.

Tian Xiwang’s wife was furious, cursing at Gu Dagui, "Gu Dagui, what do you think you’re doing? Does a toad like you want to eat swan meat? Taking my daughter and running off, what’s your intention?!"

Gu Dagui was himself confused, and said to them, "My son can marry in a few years, what intention could I have? Aren’t you afraid of besmirching your own daughter’s reputation by saying that? Hurry up and get in, I’ll take you to the clinic."

Tian Xiwang’s wife was not convinced and didn’t want to go; she went into the mule cart to ask Tian Hui’er what to do, but this time Tian Hui’er was truly unconscious. The needle Gu Jinli poked her with was poisoned, she couldn’t wake up to salvage this chaos even if she wanted to.