"I knew you wouldn't believe me." Qian Rushan wiped his snot and tears, and rushed forward excitedly. He suddenly rushed up, startling Zhou Chenyu. Li Xiuju quickly pulled her back.
"What do you want to do?" Baoyu was about to stop him when he saw Qian Rushan kneel down a few steps away from her for the first time ever, and take off his shirt in front of everyone.
Qian Rushan smiled and scolded the servants beside him, "What are you all standing there for? Miss Chenyu said she doesn't want it, and that's final. Get her out of here now!"
Zhou Wanqiu searched around for a container, used chopsticks to pick up each dish, threw it into the container, and then discreetly placed it under the bed, answering with relish:
"Mmm, sister, it's delicious."
Zhou Chenyu watched her perform so convincingly and smiled faintly, "Right? I'm sure I'm not lying to you."
"Sister, the food is delicious, but after a few bites, it gets a bit salty."
Zhou Wanqiu grabbed the wine pot and took out the sleeping potion.
Zhou Chenyu glanced at it, then slowly got up. "Why drink wine when you're thirsty? You should drink tea. There's hot tea inside. I'll go get it for you. Wait here."
At the order, the servants hurriedly carried away the things, while Qian Rushan remained standing in place. "Miss Chenyu, if you don't want these things, what do you want? Just tell me, and I can make it happen."
Zhou Chenyu glanced at him, then shoved the knife into his hand. "It's enough that we've put aside our differences. We won't take any other advantage."
Qian Rushan caught a glimpse of Zhou Chenyu's anger, grinned, and said, "How dare I? I'll leave right now, immediately."
After Qian Rushan left, the villagers who had been watching the spectacle also left one after another to go home and cook, and the courtyard returned to its usual tranquility.
Still shaken, Li Xiuju saw the pool of blood on the ground and exclaimed, "What bad luck! I need to go inside and get some water!"
Li Xiuju went into the house, and Baoyu wanted to follow her, but then stopped and asked, "Sister, why did you stop Qian Rushan just now? It would be better if someone like him died!"
Seeing his indignant yet foolish appearance, Zhou Chenyu grabbed his clothes and wiped away the blood that hadn't been cleaned. "Are you stupid? He didn't really want to die. I think it was most likely a ruse."
Zhou Chenyu glanced at her, poked at the food with his chopsticks, and shook his head, saying in a deep voice:
"This waiter is no saint. I wonder if he's secretly put something in our food. No matter how delicious it looks, we can't touch it."
“Sister Chenyu, I know.” Zhou Wanqiu pursed her lips and clutched her clothes. “I just think it’s a pity.”
Zhou Chenyu smiled with relief. The waiter came in without saying a word, carrying in the warmed wine. "Ladies, here is the wine you ordered. Please enjoy."
"Thank you." Baoyu hesitated for a moment, then remembered something from the past, and anger rose in his heart. "Qian Rushan, we already know your character very well. Just say what your purpose is. There's no need to pretend to be a good person here."
She raised her eyebrows. "Young Master Qian, anyone can talk a good game." Qian Rushan held on tightly and cut his hand a few more times, groaning in pain. "If my aunt doesn't forgive me, I can't go home. I can only die here."
“Our bodies and hair are given to us by our parents. How much pain would your parents feel if they knew you were belittling yourself like this?” Li Xiuju looked at Baoyu, who was limp, and said, “Mother, if he wants to die, let him die here. That’s exactly what we want.”
“Auntie, if you don’t forgive me, my father will kick me out of the house. Being homeless is worse than death. If I can’t get your forgiveness here today, then I’ll die here!”
Zhou Chenyu watched him walk out and closed the door.
As she spoke, she stood up, walked to a corner exposed to the wind, and placed the rosin needles she had brought next to the flammable screen window, saying:
"Late Autumn, these are all dishes I've had before. I don't know if they'll suit your taste, but please give them a try."
Looking at his shocking wounds, Li Xiuju was reminded of the times Baoyu had been beaten until he vomited blood. She covered her mouth in fear, tears welling in her eyes.
Some of the onlookers who were timid quickly covered their eyes.
“I may lie, but the wounds on my body are real.” Qian Rushan straightened his back, looking at them with despair. “I truly know I was wrong.” Li Xiuju looked at Qian Rushan’s tear-streaked face and the bloodstains covering his back, but she couldn’t bring herself to be cruel. “You almost ruined our family, how can I forgive you? If I forgive you, who will make up for the injuries my two children suffered?”
Zhou Chenyu watched Qian Rushan's every move, silently pulling out a small hunting knife, just in case. Looking over, Zhou Chenyu saw that his bare back was covered in whip marks, stretching from his shoulder blades to his waist, a bloody mess of torn flesh—a truly gruesome sight. Li Xiuju, seeing the blood-stained ground, exclaimed in shock, "Qian Rushan, what are you doing?"
Seeing this, the servant rushed forward, trying to snatch Qian Rushan's knife. "Young master, you've just been whipped dozens of times by the master, and your wounds haven't healed yet. Now you're going to have your flesh cut and bleed again. How can your body withstand that?"
Zhou Wanqiu sat upright with her hands on her thighs, her back straight, looking at the food on the table, drooling constantly.
"Thank you, sister. You're the best to Wanqiu." Zhou Wanqiu smiled and quickly opened the lid, pouring all the medicinal powder into the wine pot.
Zhou Chenyu slowly brought over two teacups, wiping away the remaining powder on the table. "Here you are, the tea you wanted."
Zhou Wanqiu pulled up her sleeve again and wiped the cup vigorously. Trembling with fear, she took the teacup, drank the tea in one gulp, swallowed it all, glanced sideways at the door, and whispered:
"elder sister."
The drug powder, once soaked into the wine, quickly became one with it.
As mentioned before, it is colorless and odorless, making it difficult for ordinary people to detect.
Those who use money like mountains to bully and force themselves on ordinary women probably also use this tactic.
It used to be them, now it's her.
Zhou Chenyu placed his two slender fingers on the wine pot, tapped it lightly, took a deep breath, and filled both cups with the drugged wine.
“Come on,” she said.
Upon hearing this, Zhou Wanqiu lowered her head in alarm, watching the wine settle in the glass. She reached out to touch it, but in a split second, she withdrew in fear.
Zhou Chenyu took the initiative to pick up the cup and pour the wine into the plate, praising it expressionlessly: "Late Autumn, this pot of hot wine tastes quite good too."
Seeing this, Zhou Wanqiu gritted her teeth and spoke with a trembling voice, "Sister, you saved my life, so let Wanqiu toast you."
Zhou Chenyu reached out and took the cup, blinking hard. "Wanqiu, why do I feel a little dizzy?" As soon as she finished speaking, the teacup slipped from her hand and rolled to the ground.
She then leaned forward onto the table.
"Sister, sister, what's wrong?"
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