Chapter 86: Even a Sick Cat Shows Its Claws

Chapter 86: Chapter 86: Even a Sick Cat Shows Its Claws

Suddenly, Gu Lihui’s expression froze. His face went pale in an instant, and his hands began to tremble uncontrollably. He felt around again, but there was still nothing there.

’How could this be? Where’s the cloth bundle I put in here? How could it be empty? My money... where did all the money I worked so hard to save go?’ He refused to give up. He ran to find a flashlight and shined it into the secret compartment. It was completely empty—not even a scrap of paper was left, let alone the bulging cloth bundle he had personally placed inside, filled with his bank passbook, cash, and grain and oil coupons.

Gu Lihui’s face twisted into a snarl. He slammed a fist heavily onto the cupboard as countless thoughts flashed through his mind. His first suspect was Zhang Minzhen, but then he shook his head. ’It can’t be her.’ For one, the hiding spot was too secret; she’d never find it. For another, she didn’t have the guts. After living together for so many years, he at least understood that much about her. If it had been her, she would have taken a portion at most, not been so ruthless as to clean him out completely...

’Could it really have been Mom?’

’She’s probably the only one who could have.’

As much as Gu Lihui didn’t want to believe it, he had to admit that his mother was the prime suspect. He remembered how she had kept his house key for so long, and how she was the one who had told him about this secret compartment in the first place. He couldn’t help but grind his teeth. ’No, I can’t stay here a moment longer. I have to go back and get the money from her right now. And while I’m at it, I’ll ask her—aren’t I her favorite son? How could she be so cruel, secretly emptying my entire savings in one go without leaving me a single cent? What does she need so much money for anyway? Is she planning to give it to my second brother?’

’Has Mom just been humoring me all this time? Does she actually love my second brother more than me?’

The more he thought about it, the more agitated he became. Gu Lihui’s heart burned with anxiety as he paced back and forth in the room, wishing he could sprout wings and fly home that very instant. But what little rationality he had left told him he still had to wait for Gu Jinhua to return with food.

"Dammit."

He kicked the cupboard hard.

The wait was agonizing. It felt like a century had passed before a series of THUMPS came from the door. At the same time, Gu Jinhua’s voice carried in, "Brother, open up! I can’t hold on much longer."

Gu Lihui yanked the door open, his expression grim. "We’re leaving right now."

"You’ve come around? That’s great! We’ll eat, then we’ll go. Ah, why didn’t you say so earlier? If I’d known, why would I have bought all this food?" Gu Jinhua didn’t notice Gu Lihui’s expression. Hearing his words, she was both happy and pained about the ten-plus yuan she had spent on the meal in her hands. She walked in, kicked the door shut behind her, and complained, "Hurry up and take some of this. I can barely hold it."

"I said, we’re leaving *now*."

"What—" Seeing that Gu Lihui was ignoring her even after she’d spoken, Gu Jinhua knew he wasn’t going to help her carry anything. She hurried over to the table to set the food down, shook out her hands, and, hearing him again, thought she must have misheard.

"I—said—we—are—leaving—now!" Gu Lihui’s anger had reached its breaking point. Gu Jinhua stared at him blankly, then glanced at the food on the table and stammered, "But... I already bought it all. If we don’t eat before we go, how are we supposed to carry all this? There’s soup and sauces..."

’If they took all this good food back home, what would be left for her?’

She didn’t know what had gotten into her brother all of a sudden, but Gu Jinhua was ten thousand percent against leaving immediately. Nothing was more important than eating. Whatever it was, it could wait until after they’d finished their meal.

"Eat, eat, eat, that’s all you think about! Don’t you know the doctor told me I can’t eat greasy food? Did you buy this stuff just to spite me?" When Gu Lihui saw that Gu Jinhua was still not taking him seriously even though he was furious, he flew into a rage. He rushed forward and violently flipped the table. "I’ll give you something to eat!" As he spoke, he started jumping up and down, kicking and stomping on the food, ensuring that even the small portions that had remained intact in their bowls were completely ruined.

"Are you insane? That’s food! We paid for that with money..."

Watching the fragrant white rice, the enticingly aromatic red-braised pig’s trotters, and the crispy fried ribs scatter across the floor, now streaked with yellow and white, mixed with dirt until they were a disgusting mess—and then to see Gu Lihui trample them underfoot—Gu Jinhua’s heart ached so much she nearly fainted. She didn’t know where she found the courage, but she suddenly rushed forward, slammed her body into him, and roared, "If Dad found out you were wasting food like this, he’d beat you to death!"

Gu Lihui staggered before steadying himself, his senses returning. In that instant, regret, guilt, frustration, and remorse flooded him all at once. He glanced at his handiwork on the floor, too preoccupied to blame Gu Jinhua for shoving him. Though he tried to bluster, his weak attempt at a defense was obvious. "How is this my fault? Why didn’t you just agree with me when I spoke? I wouldn’t have done this if you hadn’t made me so angry. Besides, how will Dad find out if you don’t tell him?"

"Because I made you angry? Ha... ha... Tell me, how exactly did I make you angry?"

Gu Jinhua looked from the floor to Gu Lihui in anguish, her eyes practically shooting fire. "You were the one who refused to go home and insisted I go buy you all this food! Then, after I finally buy it and bring it back, you’re the one who says you can’t eat it and we have to leave immediately! Just how old are you? You’re a grown man! Your own son and daughter are in their teens and old enough to be sensible, yet you still act like a little kid, doing whatever you want, saying whatever you want, demanding everything go your way!"

Gu Lihui flushed with shame and anger. "..."

"So, tell me. What is it you really want? If you don’t give me a straight answer today, I swear I’m going to have a good long talk with Dad about this when I get back, even if Mom beats me to death for it afterward." Gu Jinhua’s face was set in a ruthless expression as she threatened him. She was certain this threat would work on Gu Lihui, and she wasn’t the least bit afraid he would dare to lash out and hit her for it.

In truth, Gu Jinhua was also very curious about what could have made her usually decent-tempered brother lose his mind to the point of recklessly wasting food like this.

"You’d really snitch over such a small thing? Do you have to be so relentless?"

Gu Lihui saw how serious Gu Jinhua looked and suddenly felt unsure of himself. He couldn’t tell if she was just threatening him or if she would actually do it. He didn’t dare to take that bet, because he knew he had really gone too far this time.

He couldn’t help but shiver violently at the thought of his father’s cruelty toward anyone who didn’t cherish their food.

’If Dad knew I dared to do this... he would definitely make me eat everything on the floor, including the blackened mush I stomped on. He might even make me lick the floor clean with my tongue... Dad is a ruthless man. Even though I’m all grown up, I still don’t dare challenge his authority.’