Compared to Gu Zhao’s courtyard, the Gu family’s old house was gloomy and heavy.
Gu Qiang and Gu Fu were still lying on the bed, groaning louder and louder, complaining of back pain, waist pain, and leg pain.
Old Madam Gu had been taken to the police station. Gu Dahai had gone with her and hadn’t returned yet.
In the courtyard, Gu Dajiang’s wife, Chu Dongmei, watched him squat to the side, smoking one pipe after another. The more she thought about it, the angrier she became.
“Gu Dajiang, how can you brothers be so useless? Your sons were beaten like this by Gu Zhao, your mother was taken to the police station, and your house was smashed—and you don’t even dare say a word!”
Chu Dongmei cursed angrily.
Gu Dajiang exhaled a cloud of dark smoke and stood up. “You think I don’t want to do something?”
“That wolf cub Gu Zhao fears nothing now. If only he had something to fear, we could control him.”
His teeth clenched in frustration.
He thought and thought, but couldn’t find any leverage against Gu Zhao.
Gu Zhao was like a dead pig unafraid of boiling water.
He went to work late every day. Others earned full work points and wages, but he only showed up at noon and earned half or less—and didn’t care.
His house had nothing worth smashing.
And selling Gu Kai and Gu Yao?
Just the thought had already gotten their mother sent to the police station. If he actually tried it, Gu Zhao would kill him.
“I’ll deal with him! I must destroy him!”
Gu Dajiang growled viciously.
Inside the main room, Gu Yunfeng—paralyzed from a stroke five years ago—heard everything. He slammed the bed angrily, his crooked mouth struggling to speak.
“That old woman… bastard!”
“Gu Dajiang… you bastards!”
“Bullying Gu Zhao… always bullying him!”
His words stunned Zhu Qiaoqin, Gu Dahai’s wife, who had been taking care of him.
“Father… you can speak? You can talk now?”
Five years ago, after what happened to Gu Zhao’s parents, Gu Yunfeng had collapsed from shock and suffered a stroke, leaving him paralyzed and unable to speak.
Unlike Old Madam Gu, he had treated both his eldest son’s family and Gu Zhao well.
But at the critical moment, he fell ill.
That allowed Old Madam Gu to drive Gu Zhao and his siblings out.
For years, he had been silent.
And now—he could speak again.
Zhu Qiaoqin burst into tears of joy, feeling that her years of care had finally paid off.
Chu Dongmei, however, wasn’t happy.
This old man hadn’t died—and now that he could speak, he was defending Gu Zhao again!
“You old thing! If you care about Gu Zhao so much, go live with him! He’s so capable now—sending people to jail whenever he wants!”
Zhu Qiaoqin walked out angrily. “Second Sister-in-law, watch your words!”
“Hah! Acting like a dutiful daughter-in-law all day. Aren’t you just trying to get some benefits from him?”
Zhu Qiaoqin burst into tears. “He’s paralyzed—what benefits could there be? You and Mother never took care of him. I’ve done everything all these years—feeding him, cleaning him. What could I possibly gain?”
Back then, Gu Yunfeng had opposed cutting ties with Gu Zhao’s parents. After a huge argument, he and Old Madam Gu had completely fallen out.
When he became paralyzed, she ignored him entirely.
Chu Dongmei and the others never helped either.
All these years, Zhu Qiaoqin had taken care of everything alone—yet still endured insults.
“Hmph. Who knows?” Chu Dongmei sneered.
“You… you…” Zhu Qiaoqin trembled with anger, tears falling like beads.
“I’ve taken care of him long enough! Now it’s your turn! If you refuse, I’ll report it to the team leader!”
“Trying to threaten us?” Chu Dongmei snapped.
Zhu Qiaoqin said nothing more. She set down the basin and walked out.
“Look at your brother’s wife!” Chu Dongmei shouted at Gu Dajiang. “Who does she think she is?”
“This family can’t go on! Gu Zhao bullies us, and now your brother’s wife bullies me too! I’m done!”
She packed a few clothes and stormed out.
“Mom, don’t go! Who will take care of me?” Gu Qiang cried.
The Gu household fell into chaos.
Seeing her leave, Gu Dajiang grabbed his pipe and chased after her.
He had no intention of taking care of his paralyzed father either.
“Gu Zhao, the mustard greens have been drying all afternoon. Tomorrow after another day, you can store them in jars.”
“The pickled vegetables need to soak overnight—you can cook them tomorrow.”
“The leftover meat has been salted. Later, hang it by the stove to make cured meat.”
By evening, after finishing all the work in Gu Zhao’s courtyard, Shu Ning carefully gave her instructions.
Gu Zhao lay on a broken bamboo chair, half-asleep, eyes slightly narrowed.
For a moment, he had the strange feeling of a wife giving instructions to her husband.
Shu Ning… seemed worried that his family wouldn’t have enough to eat.
“Mm,” he replied lightly.
But inside, he felt a quiet sense of happiness.
His life… seemed to be falling into order.
“Oh, there’s something I want to ask you,” Shu Ning said, walking over seriously. “You’ve been catching loaches these days, right? I have an aunt in town—her child wets the bed. She says loach soup helps. Can you come with me tomorrow to deliver some?”
Gu Zhao frowned slightly. “How many does she need?”
“As many as you have. They won’t die if kept in water anyway.”
“And we’ll sell them at market price. Don’t think about giving them away.”
“…It’s just a few loaches. Why charge money? I have some at home—you can take them now.”
“… ”
Shu Ning’s expression stiffened.
Thick-headed fool!
Did he really think she just wanted to deliver loaches?
She wanted him to go to town with her!
“That’s not enough. Catch more. I can’t carry them myself—you have to help tomorrow.”
With that, she turned away coldly and left.
“… ”
Gu Zhao watched her retreating figure, puzzled.
Not enough?
He had three or four jin of loaches at home already!