Chapter 821 - 824: Discussion

Chapter 821: Chapter 824: Discussion

Gu Sanbu looked at Gu Benluo, who was standing behind Gu Wenheng, and nearly suffered a heart attack.

This child was the new hope of the clan. If he hadn’t had to return to attend the funeral and fulfill his filial duties, he would have entered the examination hall in a couple of days.

He had absolute trust in Gu Wenheng. For a child personally taught by him, even if he couldn’t take first place, a runner-up or third place was definitely in the bag.

That damn Gu Yuanfeng was an absolute menace. Now, for the sake of the clan’s reputation, he had to reconsider everything.

Since Gu Wenheng had taken a stance of letting the clan make the decisions, Gu Sanbu had no choice but to have everyone discuss it together.

Meanwhile, Gu Yuanfeng and her son, who had already been taken to the side room of the ancestral hall, had their hands bound but were still kicking up a relentless fuss.

"We already told you this has nothing to do with us! His health was already poor, and his time was simply up," Shi Laiyun roared. "Besides, my mother cooked and brought over that food and wine herself. How could there be anything wrong with it?

"You people from the Gu family can’t just pin the blame on us because my mother was showing filial piety to my grandfather!

"Over the years, my grandfather lived worse than the paupers in our village. That was all because my uncles were unfilial! What’s wrong with my mother showing some filial piety?

"For you to turn around and falsely accuse us like this is truly too vicious!"

Gu Yuanfeng chimed in, "My son is right! You were the ones who didn’t take good care of my father. I was just doing my filial duty by his side and happened to run into this incident, yet you want to pin it all on me? There’s no justice in that anywhere!

"Older brother, all of you, come out here! I didn’t poison our father, nor did I beat or scold him. His own body gave out, so how can you blame me for it entirely?

"I know you guys have found me an eyesore for a long time, but you can’t frame me for such a massive crime!"

"Enough, quiet down," He Mei said, tapping on the window from outside the door. "The entire clan is currently discussing how exactly to deal with you.

"Instead of keeping quiet, you’re making such a ruckus. Do you want everyone to punish you even more severely?"

"Aunt Mei!" Gu Yuanfeng quickly leaned against the window and shouted. "You watched me grow up. I don’t even have the guts to kill a chicken on a normal day, so how could I possibly harm my own father?

"My father was sickly and had been bedridden on the kang for over a decade. His health was long past its prime. How can you pin everything on us?"

He Mei replied, "I don’t know the inside details. A few of us are just responsible for keeping an eye on you.

"It’s true that I watched you grow up, but your temper has become increasingly eccentric over the years. Because you have a successful brother, you’ve never shown any respect for us elders.

"Sigh, why am I even telling you this?"

Seeing her turn to leave, Gu Yuanfeng hurriedly knocked her forehead against the window. "Aunt, Aunt Mei, could you help me call my mother over? I want to see her."

He Mei knew exactly what she was up to upon hearing this. "Didn’t you know that ever since your father passed away, your mother also collapsed? She’s still bedridden right now. You caused all this, and you’re actually completely clueless?!"

Did Gu Yuanfeng really not know? No, someone had told her earlier. It was just that right now, she only wanted to get out of here as quickly as possible and chose to forget about it.

"Why are you wasting your breath on her?" Dai Ling pulled He Mei aside. "We already mentioned it to her earlier. It’s not that she doesn’t remember; it’s just that her mother isn’t as important as herself."

Dai Ling had a deep understanding of Gu Yuanfeng’s selfishness. So many days had passed, yet she showed no concern for her own father who had lost his life because of her. She only cared about herself, which was chilling to see.

Now, upon hearing that Li Cuicui was sick in bed, there wasn’t a hint of worry on her face. Instead, she was just anxious—anxious to escape from this place.

Meanwhile, Jin Qianqian and her sisters-in-law were all keeping Li Cuicui company. Today, the old lady was finally able to sit up and eat a little something.

Looking at her daughters-in-law’s haggard faces, Li Cuicui sighed. "You girls don’t need to crowd around me. I’m fine; it’s just that I couldn’t cope well in the beginning.

"You all have a lot on your plates, and these past few days must have exhausted you. Hurry up and go back to rest."

Xie Ruyi said, "Mother, Old Seventh’s wife has been managing most of the affairs these days. We older sisters-in-law have actually been slacking off.

"I think Old Seventh’s wife should go back and rest. We can stay here with you a bit longer, and us women can have a chat."

Jin Qianqian was indeed tired, but for her to leave alone right now would be inappropriate, so she replied, "I wouldn’t dare take the credit. You sisters-in-law haven’t been any less busy."

Li Cuicui said, "Sigh, you are all good, but I don’t know how I ended up giving birth to such a wretched daughter. Her father and I must have owed her in our past lives, and now we’re paying off our debts in this one."

Jin Qianqian remained silent.

Sitting beside Li Cuicui, Xie Ruyi placed a hand on her back and patted it gently. "Mother, none of us wanted these things to happen. Now that Father is gone, you must take even better care of your health.

"We still need you to hold the family together, both inside and out."

It had only been a few short days, but Xie Ruyi actually felt a bit of panic in her heart.

Although the brothers had already split into separate households, because their parents were still around, it always felt like they were still one big family.

But if both elders were gone, Gaoling Village would, at most, just be Old Seventh and the others’ ancestral land. Their relationships couldn’t possibly remain as close as they were now.

She was still hoping that her younger grandsons might benefit from the blessings of their Seventh Great-Uncle in the future, to see if they could raise an official among them.

"I’m old now," Li Cuicui said. "In the past, I kept an eye on your father all day long and felt my life still had meaning. While he was alive, I sometimes wished he would die, but when that day truly came, all those past grudges meant nothing anymore."

Even though Li Cuicui was speaking somewhat incoherently, Jin Qianqian and the others understood her perfectly. Being husband and wife for a lifetime and raising so many children together, how could there be no affection at all between them?

It was just that those past days had been too bitter, with too many conflicts. Coupled with Gu Dashi’s unbecoming behavior for a few years, the tensions had only been exacerbated.

Now that he was gone, the beautiful memories stored in her mind outweighed the arguments, which was what had ultimately caused Li Cuicui to become completely bedridden.

"Besides, there’s nothing for me to worry about with you brothers and your families," Li Cuicui added abruptly, causing the sisters-in-law’s expressions to change.

They had been keeping a close eye on her these days, terrified that the old lady might become too grief-stricken or suddenly do something drastic.

Hearing her speak like this, it sounded just like she was giving her final words. How could they not be anxious?

Liu Liu quickly intervened. "Mother, what kind of talk is that? I was actually hoping to complain to you!

"You have no idea. Old Fourth is already a grandfather, yet he still wants to run off outside.

"When I was cleaning the house a few days ago, I even found a packed bundle of his belongings. If Father’s incident hadn’t happened so suddenly, he probably would have sneaked off with it by now!"

Guessing Liu Liu’s intention, Jin Qianqian chimed in, "Mother, that boy Luo Luo has been following his father around these past few days. He even mentioned coming over to pay his respects to you.

"I just don’t know who he gets his temper from. He acts like a little old man all day long. You have to help me give him a good talking-to; otherwise, who will ever dare to get along with him in the future?"