After preparing the meal, Du Qincai asked Gu Changqing to bring back two ounces of liquor so that the old gambler could eat and drink to his heart's content.

Having known Du Qincai for many years, how could Gu Changqing not know what was inside her? So he honestly took the money and bought two ounces of sorghum wine from the village peddler.

When the old gambler saw that there were vegetables, meat, and wine, he immediately felt that he had made the right decision to come to the Gu family for a free meal. "Du Qincai and Gu Changqing, you two are very capable! Compared to others, you are simply great people!"

Thinking about it carefully, he realized he hadn't eaten meat or drunk any alcohol for over a month, so the old gambler ate heartily, devouring all the food on the kang table like a whirlwind.

After finishing his meal, the old gambler wiped his greasy mouth and said, "I enjoyed this meal very much. Du Shi, Gu Changqing, I will keep my promise to you, but you must also remember to cook extra food for me every day! Because from now on, I will come over for all three meals a day!"

After saying this, the old gambler left the Gu family satisfied.

At this time, the Rong family...

When the Rong brothers returned, they didn't see Rong Sheng, but they did see Rong Sheng's medicine box. They asked Rong Yu about it, but Rong Yu was at home recuperating and reading, completely engrossed in his book, and had no idea that Rong Sheng had returned. Faced with his three older brothers' questions, he couldn't say a word.

Seeing this, Madam Xu said, "Shengbao isn't a child anymore, he should be fine. The food isn't ready yet, you brothers can go out and look for him!"

Rong Dong'an also said, "Although your fourth brother's illness has greatly improved and he can get out of bed and walk, he is not completely recovered yet. But as you know, he has been focusing on his books lately!"

Rong Yu was overjoyed to learn that his heart condition had improved significantly and that there would be no long-term effects. However, he needed to take good care of his health and could not work, no matter what kind of work he did.

So Rong Yu asked Rong Hua and the others to bring all the books over, and he stayed home to read them.

Now that he's healthier, he can take the preliminary examination for the imperial examination next year. If he passes the examination and becomes a student, he can then participate in the autumn examination next year.

Therefore, he focused his attention on his books and neglected Rong Sheng.

And that's how this happened.

Rong Yu felt very sorry, but he was so engrossed in reading that he hadn't paid any attention to anything else.

Of course, Rong Hua and the others wouldn't be angry with Rong Yu. Rong Yu's health was the priority, so they comforted him and then went out to find Rong Sheng.

The three brothers split up and searched in different directions, covering the entire village, but they couldn't find Rong Sheng after searching the whole village.

They also asked many patients who had been treated by Rong Sheng, especially those who had been treated today. They all said that Rong Sheng left after treating them and they hadn't seen her since.

Some people said they saw Rong Sheng carrying a medicine box back, but they didn't know what happened after that.

Rong Hua and the others were helpless and decided to go back and check first, just in case Rong Sheng had returned home.

As it turned out, Rong Sheng hadn't returned home yet. Rong Dong'an wanted to say something, but remembering that Rong Sheng's secret was very big, he held back his words. He couldn't expose Rong Sheng's secret.

So the three Rong brothers went out to search again. This time they set their sights on the old gambler, because the old gambler had always wanted to take Sheng Bao away, so Rong Sheng must have been taken away by the old gambler.

When they arrived next door, they didn't see the old gambler; he had already gone home. When it was time to cook, the old gambler wasn't home, so they genuinely believed he had abducted Rong Sheng.

The three brothers went on a grand search for the old gambler in the village, and also took the opportunity to look for Rong Sheng.

The two people in the closet were so engrossed in their kiss that they forgot why they had come to the Gu family. They were unaware that the old gambler had taken advantage of them and left, and they were even more unaware that the three Rong brothers had been searching for Rong Sheng everywhere, but still had no clue whatsoever.

The system, that scoundrel, didn't even warn Rong Sheng, letting her and Gu Beiyi hide in someone's closet and do things that were inappropriate for children.

After seeing the old gambler off with a forced smile, Du Qincai's face immediately darkened. She looked coldly at Gu Changqing and said, "Later, when you see the village head, you must tell him about the old gambler's freeloading at our house. Make him punish the old gambler properly and let him know that the meat in our Gu family isn't so delicious, and the wine isn't so easy to drink!"

Gu Changqing lowered his head: "I will definitely tell the village head and have him deal with the old gambler!"

"That damned old gambler!" Du Qincai thought of the old gambler's repulsive face and wanted nothing more than to beat him to death with a stick!

Not long after the old gambler left the Gu family, he was spotted by the clansmen, who all went to tell Rong Hua and the others.

Upon learning of the old gambler's whereabouts, Ronghua and his companions immediately went to find him.

Seeing the three Rong brothers' furious expressions, the old gambler involuntarily shrank back. His arrogant and domineering demeanor in the Gu family vanished instantly, and he became as timid as a mouse before a cat.

"You old gambler, where's my little sister Shengbao? Where did you hide her?" Rong Zheng asked through gritted teeth in a stern voice.

Rong Sheng? How would he know where that brat went!

But the old gambler didn't dare say that, and just shook his head repeatedly: "I don't know, I haven't seen her all day!"

"You haven't seen her? What a joke! My little sister Shengbao is missing! She disappeared the moment you came back from work!" Rong Zheng grabbed the old gambler by the collar: "Tell me, where did you hide my little sister Shengbao! You better tell me the truth, or I'll beat you to death!"

The old gambler was so scared he almost wet his pants, and even nearly vomited up the food he had just eaten: "I don't know, I really don't know, Rong Zheng, let me go! I didn't bring your sister, I really didn't!"

"Impossible! In our Zhonggui Village, you are the only one most likely to take Shengbao away. Who else could it be but you? Speak up!" Rong Zheng roared angrily.

The old gambler turned pale with fright. "I really don't know, I've never seen it before!"

Rong Hua and the others were so angry that they completely ignored the fact that another person was also missing, so they focused all their attention on the old gambler.

"Second brother, don't waste your breath on him. Take him back and teach him a lesson, or he won't tell the truth!" Rong Mu said resentfully.

Rong Hua said, "Don't worry about the village head and the clansmen. After we find Sheng Bao, we'll explain everything to them properly! Besides, many clansmen already know about our search for Sheng Bao, so there's no need to worry!"

Rong Zheng threw the old gambler to the ground, then knocked him unconscious with a palm strike. He then carried the old gambler back to their home like a sack of potatoes.

Du was unaware of the old gambler's unfortunate misfortune. When she entered the house, she saw Chai and Hui cleaning up the dishes. Their submissive demeanor only fueled her anger. She hated Chai and Hui's submissive manner the most, just like that dead woman!

Without that woman, how could her life have become such a mess?!