Qian Peilan is only ten years younger than Hu Wenbo and has been with him for over thirty years. She lives a comfortable life and has been a matriarch for many years. At fifty years old, she looks like she is only in her early forties. Sitting to the side, she has a kind and gentle appearance when she smiles.
Granny Wu sat down on the stool, but she didn't dare to sit on the whole thing, only on a third of it. Just as she sat down, she heard Hu Mingmei's second uncle, Hu Haichuan, ask, "Granny, what did the second young master say?"
What do you mean by "second young master"? Hu Mingmei is clearly the oldest among the grandchildren, yet he insists on being called "second young master." This has caused him to offend the Second Master and made all the other young masters have to be ranked lower.
Every time someone who doesn't know anything about his family asks him if he has a deceased eldest son, he is always at a loss for words and feels extremely embarrassed.
He said he respected his deceased father, but did Hu Mingmei respect his second uncle?
"The second young master said... the second young master said..." Although Granny Wu was the dowry maid of the old lady and Hu Haichuan's wet nurse, the Hu family had very strict rules due to its special circumstances. Granny Wu did not dare to be presumptuous in front of so many people, and she was always very afraid when she saw Master Hu.
"Stop beating around the bush, just say it!" Hu Haichuan said. "Speak quickly."
"The second young master said that these girls are either unlucky for their husbands or unable to bear sons. Is the old master hoping for his early death, which is why he brought these girls here to ensure the Hu family line ends? But..."
Seeing that Granny Wu was stammering, Hu Haichuan became very impatient and urged her repeatedly, "But what? Hurry up and say it, Granny. Are you getting old and your tongue isn't working properly anymore?"
“Yes, Granny, hurry up and tell us! There are no outsiders here, what can’t you say?” Qian Peilan urged.
Granny Wu took a deep breath before mustering her courage to say, "Even if he dies and the Hu family line ends, he will still come back to haunt us in our dreams day and night, making the person who caused the Hu family line to end never have peace!"
After saying that, Granny Wu lowered her face and dared not look up at the three people at the head of the table.
"Hu Mingmei, how dare you be so insolent!" Hu Haichuan was furious upon hearing this, but then he suddenly remembered that even if he wanted the Hu family line to end, he could never admit it. So he lowered his hand and added stiffly, "What nonsense is this child spouting? Who would have thought he would die? Aren't we all worried about him?"
Granny Wu buried her face deeply, pretending not to see or hear anything.
"Didn't Granny Wang in the Second Young Master's courtyard help with the matchmaking or offer any advice to the Second Master?" Qian Peilan asked, seeing that her husband hadn't said a word. She had been with her husband for decades, but sometimes she still couldn't figure out what Hu Wenbo was thinking. Since he didn't speak, Qian Peilan could only ask him herself.
"Because the second young master's illness was so strange this time, and he almost died, the courtyard was under heavy guard. Granny Wang checked everyone who came in and out, but didn't ask any questions."
Upon hearing this, Hu Haichuan curled his lips in a mocking smile, thinking it was all unnecessary.
Meanwhile, the news that the Hu family was hoping Hu Mingmei would die quickly so that the Hu family line would end quietly spread from within the Hu family. In no time, it had spread from the second alley of West Street to the beginning and end of West Street. Everyone who could speak and hear knew about it.
At that time, Hu Haichuan's son, Hu Yikang, was having tea with his friends. When he heard the people around him talking like this, he was so angry that his face turned pale. He hurriedly apologized to his friends and ran towards the Hu family home.
After entering the Hu family's house, Hu Yikang did not return to his own courtyard, but instead rushed to Hu Mingmei's courtyard.
"Fourth Master, Second Master has just lain down. It would be best if you didn't go in and disturb him!" Lu Ying stood at the courtyard gate, stopping the furious Hu Yikang, and said in a serious tone.
Third Master is ruthless, and Fourth Master and Second Master don't get along. Right now, Second Master is in a weak state, so he can't let Fourth Master go in and disturb Second Master.
"Outrageous!" Hu Yikang was already furious when he heard those rumors, and now that Lu Ying had stopped him, his anger level rose ten points higher. He pointed at Lu Ying and cursed, "What Second Master? He's clearly the eldest son, yet he's made such a mess of things. He's ruined this family! You dog of a servant, get out of my way! I need to see my brother, are you going to stop me?"
Normally, Lu Ying wouldn't stop any of the three—Hu Yikang, Hu Yi'an, or Hu Ziyao—from visiting Hu Mingmei. But things are different now. Normally, Hu Mingmei could be on guard, and the Hu brothers wouldn't get much of an advantage against him. But today is different. Hu Mingmei is exceptionally weak; one finger could easily knock him down.
For the sake of his master's life, Lu Ying had no choice but to bite the bullet and go ahead.
"Second Master is already asleep, Fourth Master, please come another day!" Lu Ying stood firmly in front of Hu Yikang, refusing to let him take another step forward!
"Get out of my way!" Hu Yikang roared. "My brother isn't well, and I need to go in now to check if he's alright. How dare you, a lowly servant, stop me?" Seeing that Lu Ying didn't budge, Hu Yikang angrily pointed at his servant, "Are you all dead? Hurry up and pull this servant away!"
"Yes!" Hu Yikang's servants stepped forward to pull Lu Ying away when their master spoke. Lu Ying looked at them warily, ready to fight.
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