What Gu Wan’er could think of, Gu Zhigang naturally could as well.
Curious, Gu Wan’er quickened her pace toward the field not far away.
“Grandpa… Grandpa…”
Hearing Gu Wan’er’s voice, Gu Zhigang gave the work-point recorder a few instructions and walked over toward her.
Noticing that Gu Wan’er’s lips were somewhat pale, Gu Zhigang asked with concern, “You’re not feeling well—why didn’t you rest a while longer?”
“Grandpa, we have guests at home—Auntie’s family. I was afraid Grandma couldn’t handle them alone.”
Grandma was a lady of refined upbringing. If her family hadn’t fallen on hard times, she never would have married Grandpa.
Grandma had a gentle temperament—she definitely couldn’t deal with Auntie’s unreasonable, pushy relatives.
What Gu Wan’er could think of, Gu Zhigang naturally could as well.
He immediately frowned and headed toward home.
Gu Wan’er naturally followed.
As they approached the Gu household, before even stepping inside, Gu Wan’er heard a burst of extremely noisy voices.
The voices were sharp and grating.
Gu Zhigang pushed open the door and walked right in.
He saw Jiang Youdi’s mother rummaging through the family’s belongings.
His old wife wanted to stop her, but didn’t know how to speak up.
Gu Zhigang had failed his wife in so many ways over the years. In the past, when he was away as a soldier, he’d had no chance to protect her—now, he certainly wasn’t going to stand by and watch her be bullied.
He hurried over in a few quick strides and stood in front of his wife.
Gu Wan’er also took the opportunity to move to Grandma Gu’s side.
“Grandma, are you all right?”
Seeing Gu Zhigang return, Grandma Gu immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
She truly couldn’t handle someone with Zhang Afang’s shrewish temperament.
“Zhigang, you’re back!”
When Zhang Afang saw Gu Zhigang return, her expression changed instantly.
“Father-in-law, you… why are you back…”
Gu Zhigang stepped forward and snatched the item out of Zhang Afang’s hands.
“If I didn’t come back, was I supposed to just let you bully my family?”
“From today on, if you come to our house to freeload again, just take your daughter back with you. The Gu family can’t afford in-laws like you!”
Jiang Youdi had learned from an auntie she was friendly with that her mother had come to the Gu family again.
At first, she hadn’t paid it much mind.
But when she noticed that her father-in-law Gu Zhigang wasn’t at work, her heart suddenly lurched—an inexplicable sense of foreboding.
She told the auntie she was working with and hurried home.
Just as she reached the front gate, she heard her father-in-law telling her mother to take her back to her parents’ home.
Jiang Youdi froze at the doorway.
The matter with her daughter wasn’t even resolved yet—how had she gotten into trouble again…
Pale-faced, she called out, “Dad…”
Gu Zhigang had never been satisfied with Jiang Youdi as a daughter-in-law.
Partly because of how she raised the children, and partly because of her natal family.
Though he wasn’t often home, he still had a good understanding of what went on there.
Whenever her natal family gained an advantage, she never said a word—but the moment it was the other way around, she would start defending her own family.
It was only thanks to Cuiping’s good temper and upbringing that things hadn’t blown up. Any other mother-in-law in the village would have long since cast out a daughter-in-law like this.
“Father-in-law, it was just a small matter—there’s no need to make such a big deal of it!”
“Our Youdi married into your family—even if she had no great merits, she worked hard, and she even bore you a child…”
The anger in Gu Zhigang’s heart had already subsided considerably, but hearing Zhang Afang bring up Gu Ting’er filled him with fury all over again.
He waved his hand at once and said, “There’s no need to say anything else. Take your daughter and your granddaughter back to your Jiang family right now!”
The moment Zhang Afang mentioned Gu Ting’er, Jiang Youdi felt a sense of foreboding.
Before long, that premonition came true.
Her face instantly turned even paler.
Her sturdy body began to sway, and darkness flickered before her eyes.
Gu Zhigang didn’t spare her a single glance—his mind was clearly made up.
Seeing Jiang Youdi’s pale appearance, Gu Wan’er felt a pang of sympathy.
She couldn’t help but speak up. “Grandfather, this matter should still be brought to Uncle’s attention. If he finds out later, he’ll be unhappy.”
“Perhaps we should send someone to call Uncle back first. After all, this is his family matter too.”
Gu Wan’er could sense how much Gu Zhigang cared for her.
Even though Gu Zhigang’s expression was cold and his presence imposing at this moment, she wasn’t the least bit afraid.
Even though Gu Zhigang was displeased, he didn’t say a single harsh word to Gu Wan’er.
He nodded and agreed to her suggestion.
“Go call your uncle back!”
Gu Zehai had taken Gu Ting’er to Chen San’s house early in the morning.
He still hadn’t returned.
Gu Wan’er immediately headed along the road toward the neighboring village, searching slowly as she went.
In a grove near Chen San’s house, Gu Wan’er heard faint sounds.
It sounded like someone calling for help.
Strangely, the voice of the person calling for help seemed somewhat familiar to her.
It was… it sounded like her uncle!
Gu Wan’er panicked at once.
She didn’t know why Gu Zehai would have gone into the grove, but she could hear the weakness in his voice.
Ignoring everything else, she hurried into the grove.
Rushing in so hastily, she failed to notice that not far outside the grove, a pair of eyes was staring fixedly at her back, their sinister gaze tinged with malice and scheming.
The trees in the grove grew untended, spreading thick and dense, blocking out most of the sunlight and making the grove rather dim.
Frowning, Gu Wan’er cautiously felt her way along the trees, searching for the source of the voice she had just heard.
Perhaps her luck was good.
After only a few steps, she saw a person lying beneath a large tree not far away.
She guessed it must be her uncle.
Without a moment’s hesitation, Gu Wan’er hurried over to the person’s side.
Looking closely, it was indeed Gu Zehai.
He was clutching his abdomen, his face somewhat pale, his breathing rapid.
Noticing Gu Wan’er’s arrival, his cloudy eyes instantly lit up, and he said excitedly, “Wan’er, you’re here! Quick, help your uncle up!”
As she drew near, Gu Wan’er distinctly smelled a strong scent of blood.
She couldn’t help but frown, worried that moving him might worsen Gu Zehai’s injuries, so she hesitated.
“Uncle, how about I go find some people to carry you? I might not be able to support you on my own…”
After all, her body was rather frail, and she rarely worked in the fields—she simply didn’t have much strength.
Let alone lifting a strong, sturdy man.
“No!”
Gu Zehai frowned and explained, “That murderer Gu Ting’er probably hasn’t left yet. If I keep staying here, I’m afraid she might strike again…”
Gu Wan’er had considered many possibilities, but it had never occurred to her that Gu Ting’er was behind Gu Zehai ending up in this state. She was stunned for a moment.