Gu Wan’er, clinging to a faint sliver of hope, felt the flame of hope ignite in her heart and began struggling desperately, trying her hardest to hold on a little longer! The voice she had just heard was no illusion.
Suddenly, Gu Wan’er felt a burning-hot arm wrap around her waist, carrying her as it swam toward the shore.
Her survival instinct made her cling to her rescuer with all four limbs.
Gu Ting’er noticed Gu Wan’er’s movements and confirmed the identity of the rescuer.
It was Zhong Heyang.
From the bits of information Gu Zhigang had let slip, Gu Ting’er knew that Zhong Heyang’s status was awkward—he had been sent down to the village.
Now Gu Wan’er was in his arms. If anyone saw them, she would never be able to marry anyone else…
With that thought, Gu Ting’er no longer hesitated and immediately shouted loudly, “Somebody, help! My sister has fallen into the water…”
There was a note of anxiety in her voice, but her expression was extremely cold.
Clearly, she didn’t really want to save Gu Wan’er, but had other motives.
As her voice grew louder, Chen San beside her panicked.
He hurriedly tugged at Gu Ting’er’s sleeve, “If the villagers see this, how am I supposed to marry your sister?”
“I gave you the chance. It’s your own fault for not seizing it.”
Gu Ting’er pushed Chen San away impatiently.
Then, glancing at the two who were almost at the shore, she immediately picked up a nearby stick and poked them back into the water.
Hearing footsteps not far away, Gu Ting’er promptly tossed the stick aside.
【Red sandalwood bead string detected. Value: 10 Points. Activate System?】
Just before her consciousness completely faded, Gu Wan’er heard the System’s voice ring out.
Apart from her patch-covered clothes, she had nothing else on her.
This so-called red sandalwood bead string must belong to the person who saved her.
She struggled to open her eyes, wanting to confirm who had helped her.
But her body couldn’t hold on.
Before reaching the shore, her eyes closed and she fainted.
By this time, the other villagers had all gathered around.
Seeing Gu Wan’er soaked from head to toe, and Zhong Heyang holding her with a cold expression and slightly furrowed brows, everyone’s faces showed a trace of astonishment.
“What’s going on here?”
Zhong Heyang laid Gu Wan’er flat on the ground with no intention of explaining, and turned to leave.
But he was stopped by Gu Zhigang, who had hurried over.
“Youth Zhong, what happened here?”
Zhong Heyang knew that Gu Zhigang was the village’s brigade leader, and that the Gu family was one of the village’s prominent clans.
Newly arrived, Zhong Heyang didn’t want to offend the local power.
He immediately stopped and glanced at Gu Ting’er. “I only just arrived as well. Brigade Leader, you should ask your granddaughter instead!”
His tone was somewhat cold, sounding rather impatient.
Gu Zhigang paid it no mind, his gaze immediately falling on Gu Ting’er and Chen San, who stood not far from her.
Noticing that Chen San’s eyes kept drifting toward his granddaughter lying on the ground, Gu Zhigang took off his outer coat and wrapped it around Gu Wan’er’s damp body.
Then, in a cold voice tinged with disgust, he said, “Judging by the looks of you two, you’re clearly smitten with each other. I’ll have your grandmother pack up your things, and in a moment you’ll leave with Chen San!”
Everything Gu Ting’er had done was to make Gu Wan’er marry Chen San.
She never imagined that after all her scheming, the plan would fail completely—and instead make Gu Zhigang even more determined to marry her off to Chen San.
The color drained from her face, and her voice turned shrill. “I won’t do it!”
“Wan’er was in that man’s arms—why don’t you make them marry instead!”
Her piercing voice made quite a few people frown.
Gu Ting’er always acted proper and well-mannered; the villagers had never seen her looking so twisted with fury.
For a moment, apart from Gu Ting’er’s ragged breathing, everything around them fell eerily silent.
Zhong Heyang hadn’t expected Gu Ting’er to drag him into this.
He couldn’t help frowning.
He had no idea what his future held, and the elders of his family were all missing. He had no intention of starting a family—least of all in this village.
Zhong Heyang frowned deeply as he looked at Gu Ting’er. “Whatever quarrel exists between you sisters has nothing to do with me.”
“If you hadn’t tried to drown her, I would never have stepped in.”
Gu Ting’er had assumed Zhong Heyang didn’t know she was behind Gu Wan’er falling into the water, and she had been quietly pleased with herself.
She never expected things to turn so quickly.
Her face instantly turned ugly.
“You’re lying!”
Zhong Heyang didn’t bother arguing with Gu Ting’er. He simply turned to Gu Zhigang and said, “Team Leader, if saving someone means getting tangled up like this, I’m afraid no one will be willing to save anyone in the future.”
“Don’t worry—as long as you refuse, no one will force you.”
Gu Zhigang stepped forward, hoisted his granddaughter onto his back, and snapped coldly at Gu Ting’er, “Come home with me!”
“I won’t…”
Gu Ting’er knew that once she went back, her fate of being sold off would be sealed, and she naturally refused to go.
She immediately tried to push through the crowd and run.
“Third Brother, stop her.”
Gu Laosan had no idea what was happening, but his father ordered him to act.
He reflexively obeyed, blocking Gu Ting’er’s escape at once.
“Dad, what’s going on?”
Gu Zhigang looked at the crowd of onlookers, feeling a wave of mortification.
He had lived most of his life and had never been so humiliated.
“Everyone, disperse!”
The Team Leader’s authority carried great weight. Even though everyone was bursting with curiosity about the Gu family’s affairs, they could only obediently leave.
Gu Zhigang carried the unconscious Gu Wan’er home and sent Gu Laosan to fetch Uncle Fang.
Once everything was arranged, Gu Zhigang grabbed the rolling pin hanging on the wall and, without a word, brought it down hard on Gu Ting’er’s back.
Although Gu Ting’er sensed the danger, she had no time to dodge.
Gu Zhigang struck with tremendous force, holding nothing back.
Pain instantly shot through Gu Ting’er’s back.
Her slender body trembled slightly, and her face paled several shades.
She bit down hard on her lip, refusing to let out a cry of pain that would show weakness.
Gu Zehai and his brothers had also learned what had happened between the two sisters.
Abandoning their work in the fields, they immediately rushed home.
Their faces were grim enough that the curious villagers nearby didn’t dare step forward to stop them.
The men of the Gu family were all big and tall, excellent hands at any kind of work.
And with cold expressions on their faces, they looked extremely imposing.
When they returned home, they saw Gu Zhigang wielding a rolling pin against Gu Ting’er’s back, striking her again and again.
Just from the muffled thuds of the rolling pin hitting flesh, one could tell how brutally Gu Zhigang was beating her.
Hearing the sounds, Jiang Youdi couldn’t help but tremble.
She wanted to step forward and stop Gu Zhigang, but Gu Zehai held her back.