She was so anxious that her head was covered in cold sweat, yet she had no idea what to do.
When Gu Wan’er woke up, she found herself back in the Great Emporium.
The Great Emporium looked no different from before.
The only difference was a System Pop-up floating in the air of the Emporium.
The content of the pop-up was the System’s notification she had heard right before she completely lost consciousness.
I wonder who the person who saved me was. Could I trade something for the rosewood bracelet in his hands?
As long as she had that bracelet, she could activate the System… and then she could exchange for things to improve her family’s living conditions!
The thought of that scene made Gu Wan’er feel excited.
First, leave this place and find the benefactor who saved her!
She quickly made a plan and left the Emporium Space.
The moment she woke up, she saw Sun Xiaoya sitting by her bed, looking worried.
“Wan’er, you’re finally awake. Are you feeling unwell anywhere else?”
“Mom, I’m fine. What’s all that noise outside?”
When Sun Xiaoya heard this question, the worry on her face faded, replaced by anger and mockery.
She twitched the corners of her mouth slightly. “They’re fighting over splitting up the family!”
“Why would they suddenly want to split the family when everything was fine?”
She remembered that in the book, the family split happened after Ting’er’s cousin got into the Workers-Peasants-Soldiers University.
At that time, Sister Ting’er had also gotten to know quite a few powerful bigwigs. But this year’s quota for the Workers-Peasants-Soldiers University hadn’t even been announced yet—why was the family splitting up now?
Could it be my butterfly effect?
Would other things change as well?
Gu Wan’er was both confused and worried.
Changing her family’s fate through Sister Ting’er was clearly unrealistic… She would have to rely on herself!
No matter what, I must change the fates of my parents and brothers…
“Mom, let’s go out and take a look too!”
“You just fell into the water, and medicine is still brewing in the kitchen. Why are you running around?”
Gu Wan’er blinked her watery eyes, looking at Sun Xiaoya pitifully. Her pale face and bloodless lips made her look all the more endearing.
“Mom~”
Sun Xiaoya had never been able to do anything about this daughter who had inherited her and Gu Zemu’s good looks.
Hearing her call out to her in that soft voice, her heart nearly melted—how could she possibly refuse?
She shot Gu Wan’er an exasperated look, then immediately helped her up and walked toward the main hall.
“Dad, why do we need to split the family when everything was fine?”
Gu Zehai asked cautiously.
Even though his children were nearly grown, he still didn’t dare speak loudly in front of Gu Zhigang.
“Go ask your good daughter!”
At these words, everyone in the Gu family turned to look at Gu Ting’er, who was kneeling on the ground.
Noticing the hint of displeasure in Gu Zehai’s gaze, Jiang Youdi suppressed the fear in her heart. With reddened eyes, she slapped Gu Ting’er’s back, muttering, “What have you done now?”
“Can’t you just behave for once? Are you really only satisfied when you’ve driven me and your father to our deaths…”
Jiang Youdi’s hand struck the bruises on Gu Ting’er’s back.
She couldn’t help gasping in pain, her face growing even paler.
But what chilled her heart even more was Jiang Youdi’s words.
With reddened eyes and a weak voice, but undiminished spirit, she said, “You’re the ones forcing me to die!”
“We’re all Gu family children. Whatever Gu Wan’er wanted to eat as a child, even if we didn’t have it at home, Grandpa and Grandma would find a way to get it. But if I so much as looked at the eggs in the house a few extra times, I’d get scolded…”
“Even when Gu Wan’er brought trouble on herself and got hurt, you still blamed it on me. We’re both girls—why do you treat me like this!”
Gu Zhigang snorted coldly. “At first, the family would satisfy whatever you wanted too. But how did you behave?”
“You’d finish your own food and then eat your sister’s. If she didn’t give it to you, you’d cry nonstop.”
Those were only minor matters.
The real reason Gu Zhigang disliked this granddaughter was her attitude when he came back injured after retiring from the army.
At that time, Gu Ting’er was only ten years old.
When she saw him return, she didn’t feel any sympathy for his wounds. Instead, she thought that with him back, she wouldn’t get to eat the good food anymore.
“You say we favor your sister, but you’ve eaten plenty of those things over the years. And if it weren’t for you…”
Before Gu Zhigang could finish, Jiang Youdi’s suppressed sobs rang out in the room.
She thudded down on her knees before Gu Zhigang. “Father, those things were all my fault. They have nothing to do with Ting’er. If you must blame someone, blame me!”
Seeing his eldest daughter-in-law take the blame for her granddaughter’s sake, Gu Zhigang ultimately didn’t say what he had been about to.
“No need to say anything more. Let’s split the family!”
“The eldest’s family will move out and live on their own!”
Gu Zehai didn’t want to split the family.
Even if they did split, his parents should stay with him as the eldest son. Otherwise, the villagers would point at his back and curse him.
He immediately looked pleadingly at Li Cuiping, who was sitting beside Gu Zhigang.
“Mother…”
“Old Gu, how about… how about we just let it go?”
“Ting’er is at the age to marry anyway. Didn’t you take a liking to Chen San? Just marry her off when the time comes. Why split the eldest’s family off?”
“The eldest’s family has no son. If they’re split off, their line will die out. If we all live together, the nephews can carry the funeral urn and see him off in the end.”
Looking at Gu Zehai, who was getting on in years with only one daughter, Gu Zhigang softened a little.
He didn’t show it on his face, still frowning.
The whole family, watching Gu Zhigang like this, couldn’t help feeling nervous.
“You have three days. Marry this family-wrecker off.”
Hearing this, Gu Zehai’s eyes lit up at once.
Without a word, he grabbed Gu Ting’er by the collar and dragged her toward the door.
As long as this girl was sent away, there’d be no need to split the family…
That was the only thought in his head.
Jiang Youdi had only this one child in her life.
Seeing Gu Ting’er’s pale face, looking at her with pleading eyes, she softened.
Tears streaming down her face, she rushed over to Gu Zehai and grabbed him. “Husband, give Ting’er another chance, please?”
“I’ll teach her properly. Father…”
Gu Zhigang ignored Jiang Youdi’s feelings and snapped angrily, “As a child, she put rat poison in the family’s food. When she grew up, she pushed her cousin into the water. How do you teach someone like that?”
“If she could be taught, she’d have been taught long ago.”
“Either your family splits off with her, or you marry her off. Choose for yourselves!” After saying this, Gu Zhigang didn’t press Gu Zehai to make a choice right away.
He walked over to Gu Wan’er, who was standing at the door, and said gently, “How are you feeling?”
Seeing the worry in her grandfather’s expression, Gu Wan’er shook her head to show that she was fine.