Chapter 224: Don’t Owe Anyone Anymore

Chapter 224: Chapter 224: Don’t Owe Anyone Anymore

If they had acted immediately, Tao Jianren might have been saved. But unfortunately—

Seeing that no one was paying any attention to whether Tao Jianren lived or died, and were instead causing a scene, Gu Nuan Nuan couldn’t help but sneer. She ran straight into the main house and called out to Gu Wu, "Grandpa, something terrible has happened! Gu Jiayi and Gu Jiabao’s mom just jumped into the well, and the other four are fighting outside."

"What did you say? Say that again." Gu Wu didn’t even notice his pipe fall to the floor. He shot to his feet, his voice trembling as he asked the question.

"Gu Jiayi and Gu Jiabao’s mom just jumped into the well. My grandma and my dad are fighting them outside." Gu Nuan Nuan could only repeat herself, then asked, "Grandpa, what should we do?"

"A life is at stake! Hurry and get your second uncle. And go find a few people outside to help get her out of the well." After giving Gu Nuan Nuan her instructions, Gu Wu rushed out of the main house. He first grabbed a coil of straw rope, then saw the four people still wrestling in a heap by the courtyard well. Furious, he roared, "Stop!"

His voice was so loud it made their ears ring. The four of them stopped and turned to look.

"Lihui, tie this around your waist and go down and pull her up. There might still be a chance to save her!" Zhang Dazhuang threw the straw rope at Gu Lihui’s feet.

Gu Lihui crept closer and peered into the well. Seeing the pitch-black, seemingly bottomless water below, he timidly shook his head and backed away several large steps, shunning the rope as if it were a venomous snake. "I’m not going down."

"Old man, are you crazy? What if the rope breaks while he’s down there?" Chen Suxiang shrieked, jumping to her feet. "My son’s life is a million times more precious than hers! No! He’s not going down!"

"I’ll go." Tao Junhao spat into his palms and rubbed them together. He walked over, picked up the coil of rope, and tied it securely around his waist.

"Jun Hao?" Mrs. Tao grabbed his arm, her eyes filled with conflict.

"Mom, that’s enough. This time, whether my sister lives or dies, she’ll have paid all her debts. If the Lin family won’t take the two children, we’ll raise them ourselves." Tao Junhao shook his head firmly at his mother, his face a mask of tragic determination. "Then you be careful. Don’t make me bury both my children..."

Mrs. Tao could see her son’s determination. She knew he was wracked with guilt, and if she didn’t let him go, it would haunt him for the rest of his life. ’Forget it,’ she thought. ’She’s my own daughter, after all. If she survives this, I won’t look down on her anymore.’ Wiping away her tears, she stepped aside.

"Don’t worry, I’m not that unfilial," Tao Junhao said. He handed the other end of the rope to Gu Wu, gave him a look, and then, without hesitation, jumped crisply into the well. There was another loud SPLASH—

"When you’re ready to come up, give the rope a hard tug! I’ll pull you up!" Gu Wu gripped his end of the rope tightly, leaned over the mouth of the well, and shouted down.

Meanwhile, in the rooms of the Gu family’s second son, Ye Rong frowned at Gu Lihuang. "Shouldn’t you go check outside? It sounds like there’s a huge commotion."

"No need. When is it ever quiet with them?" Gu Lihuang lay on the bed as usual, eyes closed and legs crossed, listening to the radio. Beside him, his son copied his posture, a look of blissful concentration on his face. Hearing Ye Rong’s words, he snorted. "My mom is getting more and more vicious. The way she treats that woman... isn’t she afraid she’ll actually run off and leave my older brother a bachelor for life?"

"What do you mean, ’that woman’? You should call her Sister-in-law," Ye Rong scoffed. But despite her words, her tone held not a trace of respect.

"Sister-in-law? Is she even worthy of the title?" Gu Lihuang was openly contemptuous. "The other day, I saw her secretly making eyes at Liu Li. And look at Liu Li! The Liu Family is in ruins, he’s got no money and no looks. I can’t believe she’d stoop that low."

"Her and Liu Li? You saw them and didn’t say anything? Tell me the truth, has she ever tried to seduce you?" The color drained from Ye Rong’s face.

"What are you thinking? I didn’t say anything because they were just exchanging a few glances; nothing actually happened. Besides, look at her. She’s pathetic enough as it is. If I’d called her out, it would have been a death sentence, wouldn’t it? And if I had, Gu Jinhua would’ve gotten into another fight with Liu Li, and everyone would be laughing at our family again."

Gu Lihuang’s expression changed. He sat bolt upright, glaring in exasperation. "As for me? Don’t even talk about whether she tried to seduce me. Even if she did, do you think I’d take the bait? No matter what, she’s my older brother’s wife! You think I don’t have that much decency?"

Gu Lihuang was, in fact, bluffing.

’Truth be told, the woman had gone crazy and had indeed tried to seduce him. But, just as he’d said, while he might be a bit of a lecher, he had his limits. Even if a great beauty was served up on a platter, as long as she was his older brother’s wife, he couldn’t bring himself to have any improper thoughts about her.’

’Besides, he wasn’t stupid. He knew that woman was just trying to get revenge.’

’He wasn’t a complete idiot, so why would he get involved with her? But he also knew he could never speak of this. After all, the whole family knew about his "prior offense." If he told the truth, even if nothing had happened, they probably wouldn’t believe him. Not only would that woman be ruined, but he wouldn’t get off easy either.’

Ye Rong watched him with a complicated expression, still only half-convinced.

"Just think about it. When am I ever not right under your nose?" Seeing that Ye Rong still didn’t believe him, Gu Lihuang’s shame turned to anger. ’Is this really necessary?’ he fumed inwardly. ’I make one mistake, and now I’m going to be suspected for the rest of my life?’ Unfortunately, he had no ground to stand on when it came to Ye Rong. No matter how furious he was, he could only swallow his anger and try to coax her gently.

"Fine, I believe you," Ye Rong said, pretending to be magnanimous after thinking it over. But inwardly, she made a secret vow to watch Gu Lihuang even more closely from now on. ’After all,’ she thought, ’that woman is somewhat attractive, and more frighteningly, she’s utterly shameless.’

Just as they were both lost in their own separate thoughts, there was a knock on the door.

"Who’s bothering us at high noon? Can’t a person get a decent nap?" Ye Rong grumbled as she went to open the door. She was surprised to see Gu Nuan Nuan. Then her eyes landed on the meat buns in Gu Nuan Nuan’s hand, and a smile instantly spread across her face. "Nuannuan, it’s you! Oh, my. Did your mother send you with these? We’re all family, there’s no need to be so formal!"

’It’s a rare day for meat buns to be sent to our room,’ she thought. She recalled the few times she had gone over to buy meat buns. Her former sister-in-law had never been particularly warm, but she hadn’t been hostile either. ’And while I don’t need the money for a few buns,’ she reasoned, ’I shouldn’t refuse a gesture of goodwill.’

At this thought, she offered a genuine compliment. "Your mother really has it tough. There aren’t many divorced women who can manage to live as well as she does, let alone thrive. When you’re older, don’t you listen if you hear outsiders making nasty remarks about her. Don’t you dare look down on her. You must be a good, filial daughter to her."