Chapter 243: Chapter 244: Severing Ties 5
Wang Ying, who was in on it with Gu Yuandao, chimed in, "Exactly, my old Gu is so kind-hearted. If he hadnât kindly taken in Gu Nianyang, she would have died. Our family has done everything for Gu Nianyang, but she canât live up to expectations and got herself locked up. We announced this truth only because we couldnât bear it any longer!"
Gu Yuandao lamented with grief, "I was afraid Gu Nianyang would be upset upon learning her true background. I intended to keep this secret for a lifetime, but sheâs truly too disappointing.
I raised her, provided for her education, and made sure she could live till now, not to let her ruin our familyâs reputation.
To live up to my ancestors, Iâve decided to sever ties with Gu Nianyang, and officially remove her from the Gu familyâs ancestry. I hope the villagers can understand my actions today!"
Gu Yuandao and Wang Ying sang the same tune, portraying their Gu family as unbearably kind and doing so just to protect their familyâs reputation. Naturally, the villagers would understand and even see them as courageous.
After all, back in those years, people even abandoned or consumed their daughters. To adopt someone elseâs unwanted daughter was seen as such a noble character!
Jiang Aiguo jumped out and spat,
"What a dignified explanation! If you were really so responsible, why did you mistreat Yangyang after taking her in, not treating her as a human?
Honestly, you were just afraid a stillborn would tarnish the Gu familyâs name, so you took in Yangyang to cover it up!"
This single statement hit the nail on the head, and the look in everyoneâs eyes towards the Gu family changed immediately. Gu Yuandaoâs face turned red, "I never had such thoughts!"
Wang Ying lashed out like a shrew, "What do you mean, Jiang Aiguo? Our families can be considered relatives, yet youâre siding with an outsider, a bastard child, instead of your own family!"
Were it not for the Jiang family now doing well in business and theyâd want a piece of the pie, Wang Ying would surely have cursed out the Jiang family too!
Sun Li, dissatisfied, spoke, "What do you mean by bastard? Yangyang may not be your daughter, but she has parents. As elders, itâs really the Gu family name youâre tarnishing by insulting the younger generation!"
Wang Ying smirked, "Gu Nianyang is indeed a bastard, with a malicious heart, ending up getting herself locked up. Iâm being nice by not spitting on her. Whoever wants such a nasty girl can take her, but our Gu family wonât acknowledge her!"
"Oh, really? Well, I couldnât ask for more~"
Nianyang and Li Tingyan appeared calmly in front of everyone, and the crowd was instantly shocked!
Seeing Nianyang return safe and sound, the Gu family looked as if they had seen a ghost, quivering to the point they could hardly stand.
"Gu Nianyang, how did you come back? Werenât you locked up for wrongful death?"
Gu Youlan screamed out with a pale face, as if the situation had once again spiraled out of expectation.
"Who said I was locked up for wrongful death? Spreading rumors has no cost, so you just make things up?"
Nianyang laughed coldly twice, having heard everything that just transpired here.
She hadnât expected that while she was agonizing over how to get Gu Yuandao to admit she wasnât his daughter, they had delivered themselves right to her doorstep today!
Isnât this like asking for a pillow when youâre sleepy?
"Yangyang, so you werenât locked up. Where have you been these days?"
The three from the Jiang family snapped back to attention, asking excitedly and thankfully.
"I went to the county to treat someone. The treatment was successful; the patient has already woken up. Iâve been busy handling follow-up these days, so I didnât get a chance to come back and say something, causing you worry."
Nianyang spoke nonchalantly, omitting the arduous process, so as not to make them anxious, and let the villagers know it was all Gu Youlan spreading falsehoods.