Chapter Sixty-Three: Spring Breeze Melts Snow

Everyone in the entire Malutun village knows that Ma Quan's mother is notoriously biased.

Other people's children are their eldest grandson and youngest son, the old lady's lifeblood. But she's different. She doesn't love her eldest son or grandson, she only dotes on her married daughter. She sends all the good things in the house to her daughter and her in-laws, making them all rosy-cheeked, while her own son and grandson are all thinner and thinner.

Just because her daughter didn't like her two sisters-in-law when she went back to her parents' home, the mother-in-law started to find ways to torment her daughter-in-law. Going to the river to wash clothes in the dead of winter was a minor matter. They also saw Xiuhe's sister-in-law working all night to earn work points, her eyes were so dark that she looked like she had late-stage tuberculosis. She would go out to catch fish and pick mushrooms on rainy days, and she would come back covered in bruises from falling. Even then, she wouldn't get any better treatment. She would either be scolded or not allowed to eat every day.

"What a mess! Aunt Cheng is getting old and still can't stop causing trouble."

Gu Zuozuo picked up the medicine box she had prepared beforehand. Since she wanted to use the barefoot doctor as an excuse, she had to show some attitude.

"Let's go, lead the way."

Seeing that she was about to leave, the little fox leaped directly into her arms, curling itself into a ball and hiding inside her military coat.

The older women stopped working and, since the owners of the house had left, they stayed as well. They all left with a clatter. Liu Ximei, who was the last to get up, closed the door. Fearing that Gu Zuozuo might not have brought the key, and thinking that there were many people in the educated youth settlement, no one would dare to steal anything, she simply hung it up with a large padlock.

Along the way, Ma Quan was so anxious that sweat kept pouring down his forehead, but Gu Zuozuo remained calm and composed. If it weren't for the strict separation between men and women and his own reluctance, he would have been so anxious that he wanted to carry her on his back.

"Gu...Gu, can we...walk a little faster?"

Gu Zuozuo glanced at him indifferently, and her first words struck a nerve with Ma Quan.

"You're in a hurry now? Why? Why weren't you in a hurry when your wife was being tortured? Oh, you're afraid you'll lose your child, aren't you?"

Ma Quan was so anxious he kept rubbing his hands together, wishing he could move his entire house over there.

"I...it's not that I'm not in a hurry, but...isn't that how all daughters-in-law are? Just bear with it and it will pass. Besides...besides, she's my mother, what can I do?"

Gu Zuozuo suddenly stopped, her expression indifferent.

"I think there's probably no point in trying to save your wife. She's being treated like dirt every day, and her husband is a useless muggle. It would be better if she died, don't you think?"

Ma Quan quickly knelt down before her. What did he say? He said he wanted his wife!

Just as Gu Zuozuo was about to turn around and leave, a loud and furious roar came from behind her.

"Gu Zuozuo! What are you dawdling for! Hurry up, someone's about to die!"

Gu Zuozuo froze, couldn't help but roll her eyes, and obediently carried the medicine box to save the person.

Duan Jianhua wiped the cold sweat from his brow, took several deep breaths to swallow his anger, and seeing Ma Quan still standing there dumbfounded, he kicked him, knocking him to the ground.

"What are you doing here like an idiot? Are you planning to dry yourself out and stew yourself for your wife to help with lactation?! Aren't you going home to help?! You can't even protect your own wife!"

If he hadn't known that Gu Zhiqing was fiercely opposed to evil, and that once she angered him, her stubbornness—the kind that would make her refuse to help someone she didn't like—wouldn't have been swayed by even nine oxen pulling her back. How could he have ended up here? Honestly! She never gives him a moment's peace, always causing him trouble. If it weren't for his understanding wife, he wouldn't even want to be the brigade leader anymore!

Gu Zuozuo, who had already walked far away, suddenly turned around and came back, staring at Duan Jianhua with her clear, bright eyes.

Duan Jianhua's heart skipped a beat, and a sense of foreboding grew stronger.

What is this old lady up to now?

"Gu Zhiqing, what's wrong?"

Duan, the humble captain online, who was frightened by her, cautiously asked the question.

"Captain, I'm willing to rescue people, but don't blame me if any conflict occurs in the process."