Chapter 37 The Mo Family
"Ah!" Gu Zhao cried out in surprise, leaning back sharply, which aggravated the bruises on his back, causing him to grimace in pain.
He dared not drive, and forgot about the cosmetics his wife had been longing for. He practically tumbled out of the car and ran in terror to a crowd.
"Comrade, are you alright?" A kind-hearted man noticed that Gu Zhao looked unwell and patted him on the shoulder to ask.
Gu Zhao subconsciously turned his head and met a pair of pitch-black eyes with no whites.
"Ah!" "Monster!" she exclaimed, then shoved the helpful older brother away.
"Hey, you!" the kind-hearted man said unhappily. "I was just trying to be nice to you, and you actually called me a monster."
"Everyone, please be the judge! This person is so ungrateful!"
In this day and age, people who want to watch the excitement and solve cases will get a lot of support. When the enthusiastic man shouted like that, many people gathered around to ask what happened.
In Gu Zhao's view, it was a group of monsters baring their fangs and claws, ready to devour him!
"Help! There's a monster! There's a monster!"
At this moment, in a private room on the second floor of the state-run restaurant, Shi Yuan and Gu Linyuan were enjoying this good show.
"How are you feeling? Do you feel any better?"
"It's a bit better now." Gu Linyuan smiled and placed the warmed cups and saucers in front of Shi Yuan. "To truly get the qi flowing smoothly, this is far from enough."
"No rush," Shi Yuan reassured her with a smile.
Gu Zhao is different from Wu Guanhai. The Wu family depends on others for survival, and once abandoned, they will fall into disarray. Moreover, the key figure in the Wu family is Wu Guanhai. As long as he is brought down, the entire Wu family will fall apart.
But the Gu family is different. Gu Zhao's own abilities are debatable, but the core figure of the Gu family, Old Master Gu, still holds power firmly. Although the second son of the Gu family is not quite up to par in terms of maintaining the status quo, he is not an ordinary person either.
To reform the Gu family, we must dismantle it from within, and we must not rush it; we must proceed step by step.
What they did last night was true: to teach Gu Zhao a lesson, to tear open a hole in the Gu family, and, more importantly, to test him.
"Eat breakfast first." Shi Yuan picked up a steamed bun and put it into Gu Linyuan's bowl.
Gu Linyuan readily agreed, picked up a steamed bun, took a bite, and said with a smile, "I'll have someone inquire about Wu Guanhai's situation."
Shi Yuan raised an eyebrow: "Thank you very much." Indeed, what's the difference between going through all that trouble only to find out the outcome and secretly hiding one's true intentions?
Wu Guanhai didn't sleep all night, drinking one glass of wine after another, with empty bottles all around his feet.
"Still haven't figured it out?" He finished the last sip of wine in his glass. "Then I'll go and fetch your nephew and niece."
"No!" Xie Minyin said weakly, "I'll tell you whatever you want to know, just don't hurt them!"
Xie Minyin's injuries were shocking, but Wu Guanhai was careful with his strength when he attacked her, and the wounds were not deep. After a night, many places had already scabbed over.
"Back then, it was indeed my brother who selected you, collected your information, and analyzed your likes and dislikes."
"Before I met you, someone specifically taught me how to attract your attention and how to make you lose your mind."
"I know all of that. Now tell me something I don't know!"
Xie Minyin swallowed hard. "My brother secretly got in touch with that person through you." She lowered her eyes to avoid Wu Guanhai's gaze. "That person hinted that my brother should file a formal complaint against you!"
"Smash!" The wine glass shattered. Wu Guanhai, his eyes bloodshot, took a few steps forward and grabbed Xie Minyin by the neck. "You're lying. No one would cut off their own arm!"
"I didn't lie to you!" Now that she had said it, Xie Minyin didn't hide anything anymore. Her brother was gone, and she had to protect her nephew and niece.
"Promise me that you will send me, my mother, my nephew and niece away from Beicheng, and I will tell you everything I know."
After saying this, she gently grasped Wu Guanhai's hand that was gripping her neck and said softly, "Guanhai, whether you believe it or not, I truly love you!"
Wu Guanhai seemed to believe him, and he released his grip: "You know my abilities. If you tell even one lie, I can find you even if you leave Beicheng." After saying this, his brows suddenly furrowed.
The fog before them seemed to be clearing a little, and there seemed to be a glimmer of hope that the Wu family and he could overcome this crisis.
Xie Minyin gave a bitter smile: "Our whole family's lives are in your hands, how could I dare to lie to you!"
It's a pity that the spark of inspiration was interrupted by Xie Minyin's words. Wu Guanhai's expression was not good, but his attention was quickly drawn to Xie Minyin's words.
"The person who made my brother report you by name wanted you to be dependent on him and to move you from the spotlight to the background."
"What did you say?"
"That person heard from others that the most powerful fortune tellers can defy fate and change people's destiny."
"And you are the most capable fortune teller in Beicheng!"
“But at that time, you were a promising regimental commander, how could you voluntarily step down behind the scenes?”
“No!” Wu Guanhai squinted and shook his head. If what Xie Minyin said was true, that person wouldn’t have watched him running around trying to turn the tide.
The more noise he makes, the less likely that person will want to hide him from the public eye.
If that person really cared, they would definitely have sent someone to appease them beforehand!
Xie Minyin concealed the sarcasm in her eyes and patiently explained, "That's because he saw through your resentment."
"First you wanted to use the Blue Army's treasure to make a comeback, then you tried to use Shi Yuan to clear obstacles for the Wu family." You're too difficult to control.
“Actually, you did have a chance.” Xie Minyin closed her eyes. “The fact that the person agreed to let you go south to search for treasure means that they had already made a choice.”
"If you successfully unearth the Blue Army's treasure, you will still be the glorious Commander Wu."
"Unfortunately, the treasure was intercepted by Shi Yuan." The word "Shi Yuan" was emphasized.
Seeing Wu Guanhai's cold face, Xie Minyin lowered her eyes. Shi Yuan had schemed against her, so she had to retaliate in kind. Besides, what she said was true.
"Later, you tried every means to get in touch with Shi Yuan, and that person completely gave up on you."
"You know that Shi Yuan is backed by the Seventh Bureau, and that person also has people in the Seventh Bureau, but since he has decided to use you, he must want to avoid the Seventh Bureau."
"Unfortunately, your last chance was ruined because of Shi Yuan!" Remember, it was Shi Yuan's appearance that made everything irreversible!
Seeing Wu Guanhai staring at her intently, she hesitated for a moment, then said, "That man's trusted wife was also a later marriage."
"The same group of people trained us."
"where are they?"
"I don't know. They disappeared after I successfully got to know you." She bit her lip. "My brother might know." Too bad you killed him, you'll never know!
"Guanhai, I've told you everything I know. When are you going to send us away?"
Wu Guanhai glanced at her: "Don't worry, I'll make sure your whole family is safe and sound on your way!"
Xie Minyin's expression changed; these words didn't sound nice at all!
"Ring ring ring!"
Wu Guanhai glanced at Xie Minyin and then answered the phone.
The call was from the old house; it was from Grandpa Wu: "Guanhai, come to the old house. I have something important to discuss with you."
After thinking about it, Wu Guanhai agreed.
But he didn't leave immediately. Instead, he sat behind his desk, tapping his fingers lightly on the surface as he considered the possibility of going head-to-head with that person.
He gave up on the idea after tapping it a third time.
Then there's only one way out. The one who's watching him struggle now is like a cat playing with a mouse. When he gets tired of watching, that's when he'll make his move.
He had to leave the North City before that, to a place where that person's reach couldn't extend.
He looked at Xie Minyin and said, "Change your clothes, I'll go with you to the neighborhood office."
What are you going to do?
"Aren't you leaving Beicheng? Go and get some passes and letters of introduction."
Xie Minyin, as the director of the subdistrict office, certainly had the document, but said, "The seal isn't with me."
"Then think carefully about how to get the seal." After saying that, Wu Guanhai strode out of the study, locking the door behind him.
Xie Minyin lay on her side on the ground, completely exhausted. She moved her bound hands and feet, and a wave of indescribable numbness and pain washed over her. Xie Minyin couldn't help but groan.
She hesitated for a moment between immediately saving herself and trusting Wu Guanhai.
Deep down, she didn't want to believe that Wu Guanhai was the murderer, but from a practical point of view, it seemed that she had no other choice but to believe him.
You said you'd call the police? Her injuries are evidence, aren't they?
However, if Wu Guanhai were to tell others that she was Kang Nian'en's biological mother, her reputation would be completely ruined, and people would say that she deserved the beating.
Even if she said that Wu Guanhai killed her brother, firstly, she didn't know where her brother's body was buried, and secondly, since Wu Guanhai dared to say it, it meant that he did it without leaving any trace or evidence. He could easily say that she was holding a grudge against him for the beating and was deliberately slandering him.
In the end, this matter was just a conflict between husband and wife. At most, Wu Guanhai would be given a lecture, and that would be the end of it, since she was only injured and not dead!
But what about her?
If you lose your reputation, you might even lose your life!
But she really didn't dare to put her whole family's lives on Wu Guanhai's shoulders. He admitted to killing her brother in front of her, which didn't seem like a slip of the tongue on impulse. Could he feel at ease if he let her go?
what to do?
She used both her hands and feet to climb onto the desk, where there was a letter opener that could cut the ropes binding her.
When Wu Guanhai arrived at the Wu family's old house, both Wu elders and Wu Guanchao's family were there.
"Dad, you wanted to see me?"
"Guanhai, is there any chance for things to turn around?" Old Master Wu asked in a deep voice.
Wu Guanhai remained silent; his silence was the answer.
Grandpa Wu sighed: "Is there absolutely no chance of things turning around? What about Shi Yuan's side?"
Wu Guanhai shook his head, thinking it was already a favor that Shi Yuan didn't kick him while he was down.
"What should we do then?" Jiang Qiqiao couldn't help but ask.
“Leave Beicheng,” Wu Guanhai said.
"How can that be!" Wu Guanchao frowned. "Our Wu family's roots are in Beicheng!"
"Then what do you suggest we do, brother?" Wu Guanhai leaned back in his chair. "I'll listen to you."
Wu Guanchao fell silent. He couldn't make up his mind, and even if he did, no one would listen to him.
"Second Uncle, how about I go find Shi Yuan?" Wu Xingzhou tentatively suggested. After all, he was the first person to have any contact with Shi Yuan, and Shi Yuan had even saved his life.
Huh? Is Wu Xingzhou really that confident that Shi Yuan will see him? Anyone who didn't know better would think that he saved Shi Yuan's life!
Shi Yuan would certainly not meet with Wu Xingzhou, nor would she allow the Wu family to leave Beicheng smoothly.
Until she finds out the cause of her maternal grandparents' deaths, the Wu family must stay obediently in Beicheng!
The Wu family ultimately decided to let Wu Xingzhou give it a try. Wu Guanhai knew it was futile, but he didn't stop him. Leaving Beicheng wasn't something that could be done overnight, so he let Wu Xingzhou try and see what would happen.
To avoid feeling resentful and causing him trouble.
Shi Yuan and Gu Linyuan finished their breakfast leisurely. They watched as Huan Ni, mixed in with the crowd, revealed Gu Zhao's identity. When someone who knew Gu Zhao's identity suddenly lit up, they stepped forward to help Gu Zhao back to the Gu family. Then they saw Gu Zhao beat someone up and run away in a mad dash.
Huan Ni said arrogantly, "How about it? Isn't my illusion amazing!" It turned out that Gu Zhao hadn't gone mad just now, but Huan Ni had woven an illusion for him, and those kind-hearted people looked like all sorts of monsters in his eyes.
"It's a pity that my abilities are limited now. As long as he is one kilometer away from me, the illusion I created will no longer affect him."
Shi Yuan poured the cooled wontons into her special jade bowl: "It's already very good. Otherwise, given Gu Zhao's temperament, he would at most be suspicious for a moment, and then we would have done all this for nothing."
Gu Linyuan watched with a smile as Shi Yuan and Huan Ni talked and bickered. The sunlight slowly shone in, and for the first time in his life, he felt that the light was warm.
"Shi Yuan, should I send someone to follow Kang Mingfeng?"
“Not for now.” Shi Yuan shook her head. “Kang Mingfeng has spent the first half of his life on the edge of a knife and then worked as a policeman. He’s much more vigilant than the average person.” Plus, she’s managed to get Wu Guanhai to discover the secret of the “family of three” this time. He probably won’t be able to sleep soundly.
"Let's leave him alone for now." Shi Yuan brought up Wu Guanhai. "What do you think he'll do now that he knows I'll never help him, and might even kick him when he's down?"
Gu Linyuan put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth with a handkerchief, and then said, "It depends on how much Xie Minyin will confess to him."
"Xie Minyin has very deep feelings for Xie Minzhi. For the sake of Xie Minzhi's two children, she will probably tell him everything she knows."
"I wonder if Wu Guanhai will have the guts to rebel when he finds out that the person he always thought was his backer is the real culprit behind the Wu family's and his current predicament."
Shi Yuan looked puzzled: "I used to think that Wu Guanhai was at least someone important." Ruthless, he killed his parents-in-law to steal treasures, cheated on his wife and best friend, abandoned his wife and daughter, and Shi Yuan even suspected that he was the one who forced Shi Ling to leave Beicheng with Shi Yuan in the end.
"I didn't expect that." Shi Yuan shook her head, and to paraphrase Ji Ying, Wu Guanhai's character is so inconsistent!
It was a complete breakdown. If Huan Ni hadn't been certain that Wu Guanhai's soul was stable, she would have thought he had been possessed by some wandering ghost.
Gu Linyuan thought it was quite normal: "The situation in Beicheng has changed again and again in the past few years. Wu Guanhai is not lacking in ambition and ruthlessness, but the Wu family and he himself lack foresight and decisiveness."
"Moreover, they are too greedy, they want everything." Gu Linyuan and Shi Yuan had discussed Wu Guanhai's matter before. It's not that he has no way to go, but that he wants to take more paths, to take the road to heaven.
As a result, they walked until they were exhausted.
"If he had always had a smooth life, he would naturally have become the 'person' you mentioned. It's a pity that he didn't see the situation clearly or understand people's hearts. He deserves his current fate."
As soon as Shi Yuan and Gu Linyuan returned to the first location, He Tian came over: "Master Gu, something has happened at the Haicheng black market!"
Gu Linyuan raised an eyebrow: "I have already handed over the authority over the black market. Now that something has happened, you shouldn't be coming to me."
Seeing Shi Yuan's clueless expression, Gu Linyuan stopped He Tian from speaking and instead explained to Shi Yuan his original intention in establishing the black market.
Let me explain first. Gu Linyuan's black market is similar to an underground market, where all sorts of strange and unusual items are traded. It has nothing to do with the black market of this era; it's just that the black market set up in Qingzhen happens to be next to the ordinary black market.
In addition, he first established the black market, where he was noticed by a senior member of the Seventh Division who took him under his wing to guide his cultivation.
Gu Linyuan became the director of the Seventh Division in recent years.
"My real purpose in setting up the black market was to find a reincarnation platform, or a way to restore Linfeng to human form."
The black market was an industry he built with his life on the line. At that time, he was very unclear about what the future held, but he probably wanted to become the boss of the underground industry chain and then take revenge in his own way.
He never imagined that years later, that thin, fierce, and ruthless boy would become the director of the Seventh Division and be regarded as a gentle and refined gentleman.
He Tian was someone he rescued by chance in the black market, and He Tian was extremely loyal to him. So when the senior was guiding him in cultivation later, he asked for a favor for He Tian.
Therefore, everyone in the Seventh Division called Gu Linyuan "Division Chief", except for He Tian who called him "Master Gu".
“The black market had long been established, with an astonishing daily turnover. Later, I found the Reincarnation Platform, and they spoke with me there, so I handed over the black market.”
"That's a bit of a pity," Shi Yuan sighed. "So much money!"
Gu Linyuan chuckled, and He Tian's lips twitched.
Gu Linyuan said, "You can never earn enough money." He lowered his voice and said, "I used the black market to exchange for some autonomy for the Seventh Division."
"This deal isn't a loss."
Shi Yuan raised an eyebrow, completely failing to see that Gu Linyuan, who looked like a refined gentleman, was actually talking about business. How incongruous!
He Tian chimed in, "Comrade Shi Yuan, don't worry about the money. We've gathered all the good stuff we could from the black market."
"You have a private treasury?" Shi Yuan was genuinely surprised this time. Recalling the first time she met Gu Linyuan, her first impression of him was that he was "unworldly".
The identity of the seventh division chief is also consistent with his, I really didn't expect that he was also a businessman!
"You can't judge a book by its cover!" Huan Ni said, echoing Shi Yuan's sentiment.
Gu Linyuan smiled a little embarrassedly: "When I have some free time, I'll take you to the storeroom to have a look. Take whatever you like!"
He Tian glanced at Gu Linyuan in surprise, but then remained indifferent, thinking that since it wasn't his stuff, he wouldn't care!
Huan Ni excitedly asked, "Really? I can take whatever I want?" Seriously? She still has plenty of empty space in her storage world!
"Really!" Gu Linyuan said, "I haven't had a chance to properly thank you for what happened at the birthday banquet last time."
"Hehe, just let me know if you ever need anything, and I'll go through fire and water for you!" Huan Ni was thus easily won over.
Shi Yuan shook her head, ignoring them, but she did become a little curious about Gu Linyuan's storeroom.
Even now, she hasn't forgotten the shock that "Peach Blossom Spring" brought her. It felt to Shi Yuan like a bold and colorful stroke in a traditional Chinese ink painting, abrupt yet vibrant!
"Go on," Gu Linyuan said to He Tian.
“Yes.” He Tian handed a document to Gu Linyuan. “After it was handed over to the black market, the Mo family took over.”
"Old Master Mo's position in the military is similar to that of Old Master Gu," He Tian explained, knowing that Shi Yuan was not very familiar with the personnel in Beicheng.
After thinking for a moment, Shi Yuan realized that he was not an outsider, so he simply said a few more words: "The black market occasionally has things that are suitable for strange demons, so when the market is open, strange demons will come by following the scent."
Once Gu Linyuan becomes the head of the Seventh Division, he will wait for them to come to him and record them in the "Record of Strange Demons" for easier management.
Of course, the "rabbits" here vary in strength, but their nature is the same.
In those years, whenever the market opened, the experts from the Seventh Division would almost give their all.
Don't get me wrong, they weren't invited by Gu Linyuan to help out of friendship, but rather they were taking advantage of this opportunity to earn some performance bonuses and browse the black market.
The black market used to be the seventh place where employees inflated their performance records.
Those who know about the black market, whether they are demons or monsters, all know it's best not to cause trouble there, or they'll be taught a lesson in no time.
A few months ago, after Gu Linyuan handed over the authority over the black market, the employees of the Seventh Division privately said that they felt uncomfortable staying in territory that wasn't theirs, and they would temporarily stop going out to boost their performance. Anyway, it wasn't the end of the year yet, so there was no rush.
Of course, even if the performance targets for the year are not met, it's not a big deal, since you won't lose your salary and bonuses anyway.
Nonsense, no one would dare to shortchange them!
The winds of this world blow from all directions, and the whispers of the employees at the Seventh Division were blown away by who knows which gust of wind.
Sure enough, the black market has been non-stop since the market opened this year.
"It was alright before when it was just people causing trouble, after all, the Mo family is not to be trifled with."
"But the trouble that broke out in Haicheng's black market a couple of days ago was caused by strange demons," He Tian said seriously. "I heard they suffered heavy losses!" Even with his serious expression, he couldn't hide the schadenfreude in his tone.
Why bother hiding it?
He Tian was definitely gloating!
He followed Gu Linyuan before the black market had fully taken shape. No one knew better than him how much Gu Linyuan suffered and how many times he teetered on the brink of death so that the black market could operate normally.
According to him, even if the black market is shut down, the goods cannot be sold!
But Gu Linyuan saw further ahead; he had already received news that the higher-ups were discussing the restoration of the college entrance examination and the selection of talent.
Some people are certainly unwilling to accept the end of their era, and there's no guarantee they won't have one last crazy outburst.
They wanted it, and Gu Linyuan gave it to them. Anyway, it wouldn't be long before the black market would either be truly handed over to the government or return to his hands.
In the end, the Mo family will definitely be eliminated!
He didn't analyze these things with He Tian, but only told him that his things weren't so easy to take.
He raised an eyebrow and glanced at He Tian, as if to say: Look, something's happened!
He Tian suppressed his smile and continued his report: "The Mo family wants a few people from the Seventh Division to go to Haicheng to help deal with the strange demons there."
Gu Linyuan nodded: "When strange demons cause chaos, the Seventh Division has an inescapable duty."
"Okay, see who's free and ask them to go on a field assignment."
"It's just bad luck, everyone's busy," He Tian said, suppressing a laugh. "Everyone's busy."
"We're not in a hurry. We're waiting for Comrade Fengcheng to send back a message so we can prepare to head to Changbai Mountain to provide support!"
"The barrier there cannot have the slightest mistake."
Shi Yuan understood that this meant the entire Seventh Division was dissatisfied with the Mo family taking over the black market!
That's true, there are so many rare and precious treasures on the black market!
After all, the boss is your own superior, so you shouldn't let the benefits go to outsiders.
Gu Linyuan was not stingy. After deciding on the rare and precious items for the opening, he would have He Tian review the list with the members of the Seventh Division. Then, everyone would divide up the locations they needed to wait for according to their own needs.
Of course, the price for employees of the Seventh Division is much more favorable than that for those outside.
And so, I got the rare item I wanted, boosted my performance rating, and now the black market is safe too.
What a wonderful and harmonious workplace relationship! A true win-win situation!
As a result, the black market became public property.
If this is truly a public institution, then there's no question about it. Although their abilities are extraordinary, their sense of public duty is the same. They also study ideology and write ideological reports regularly!
But this Mo family, ah!
Anyway, no one sent any rare lists this time, and no one mentioned going to check out the venue.
Well, something went wrong!
But what does this have to do with them?
They're just ordinary working people!
He Tian feigned helplessness: "We really can't spare any manpower. The situation at Changbai Mountain is the most critical. If we don't have enough manpower when our comrades in Fengcheng need support, it will cause a huge mess!"
Gu Linyuan also spread his hands in a dilemma: "There's nothing we can do then. But with the Mo family's capabilities, finding a few extraordinary people is no problem. Let them handle it themselves as best they can."
"Okay, I'll go reply to them right away." He Tian skipped away, his back view showing great excitement.
"The Mo family." Shi Yuan pondered Gu Linyuan's earlier words that the Mo family should find someone to take the fall, and asked, "Wu Guanhai's backer? Hmm, the one from the past?"
“That’s right!” Gu Linyuan looked at Shi Yuan with admiration in his eyes. “More than ten years ago, the Mo family rose to prominence through marriage and then quickly established its own power.”
"I heard that the head of the Mo family once encountered a strange event, so after taking power, he both wanted to recruit talented people and was extremely wary of them."
Shi Yuan nodded. These family secrets are generally not circulated outside the family. If it weren't for Gu Linyuan, she would never have known. Gu Linyuan was very open and honest with her.
In return for the favor, Shi Yuan sent Huan Ni and Shi Meili to the Gu family to check on Gu Zhao's current situation.
The matter concerning the Wu family should also be addressed.
Xie Minyin hesitated for a long time before finally making a call to Kang Mingfeng. She simply said, "I have money and ways to get letters of introduction and passes. Wu Guanhai is weak now, but he has plenty of ways to kill you."
"Kang Mingfeng, let's leave Beicheng together!"
Kang Mingfeng agreed almost without hesitation. In fact, with his abilities, he could have done better in Beicheng, but Kang Nianen's background and his past were all bombshells that couldn't be dug up. His previous life had been relatively stable and peaceful, so there was nothing wrong with staying in Beicheng.
But now, if Wu Guanhai wants to mess with him, he might lose his life here.
He had been thinking about leaving Beicheng these past few days and was trying to get a letter of introduction and a pass, but nothing went smoothly. Xie Minyin's phone call was a timely help.
Leaving Beicheng to start anew, just like when he left Haicheng!
When Wu Guanhai returned home, he saw that Xie Minyin had cut the rope herself and didn't say anything. He just gave her a gloomy look and tied her up. However, he didn't take the letter opener. He just looked out the window and started drinking again.
When Huan Ni and Shi Meili returned, Shi Yuan was battling the eye of the storm with a broom. They hadn't come back all night, and the yard was piled high with all sorts of leaves and petals.
Actually, Shi Yuan didn't mind. Anyway, once Shi Meili came back, the place would be clean and tidy. Moreover, she enjoyed the feeling of stepping on the fallen leaves. But when the eye of the wind kept throwing leaves and petals at her head, she couldn't stand it anymore. She took out a broom and tried to sweep the eye of the wind away!
But Fengyan felt that Shi Yuan was just playing around with him, so he smashed Shi Yuan even more enthusiastically.
Shi Yuan is just unbelievable; I've never been this mentally exhausted, not even when fighting zombies!
So when she saw Huan Ni and Shi Meili return, she almost rushed over with tears in her eyes, thinking, "My family who's been supporting me is back!"
Shi Meili tidied up the yard quickly and efficiently, even weaving herself into a fine, dense net of branches. Of course, this didn't keep the eye of the wind out, but it prevented it from bringing in any debris to cause trouble.
Shi Yuan finally had some peace and quiet, picked up her pen and started writing a letter. This was the third letter she had written to Shi Ling since coming to Beicheng. She never knew she could write so much: drink more water, rest more, let Shi Ming do all the work, and occasionally she would subtly state her position that she didn't mind her looking for a third spring, and then add a sentence, but the men in Qinglin Bay were too bad.
As she wrote this, her pen paused, and she suddenly remembered that she had never asked Shi Ling if she wanted to go back to Beicheng!
For her, Beicheng was just one of many cities in the Flower Kingdom, but for Shiling, it was her hometown, her roots.
Furthermore, she did not ask Shi Ling whether she wanted to witness Wu Guanhai's fate or ask the Wu family about the Shi family's past.
Furthermore, the Shi family's collection of books is still in the Wu family's possession.
Shi Yuan sighed, realizing that she had overlooked many things and was now single-mindedly rushing forward.
Thinking of this, Shi Yuan solemnly asked Shi Ling in the letter whether she wanted to return to Beicheng. She also hinted at the fate of the Wu family in the letter, and mentioned the simple and subtle things she had just thought of, believing that Shi Ling would understand her meaning.
After sealing the envelope, Huan Ni said, "Give me the letter, and I'll have Xiao Hui mail it."
"Little Grey does this too?"
"No way! When did you become so familiar with Little Grey?"
Shi Meili stretched out a slender branch that meandered to Shi Yuan and bloomed into a seven-colored flower: "We have private gatherings."
Shi Yuan: "...That's great, life is quite fulfilling."
"By the way, how's it going with the Gu family?" Shi Yuan asked, then slapped her forehead. "I'll call Gu Linyuan and have him come over so we can all listen together, so you don't have to tell me all over again."
Shi Meili shook the vines: "He's here, he's coming with a lunchbox."
Shi Yuan was somewhat surprised and hurriedly opened the courtyard gate.
Gu Linyuan was slightly taken aback, but then he understood when he saw the vine netting hanging on the roof of the courtyard. He gestured to the lunchbox in his hand: "The cafeteria has pig's trotters today, shall we have some?"
"Come in quickly." Shi Yuan greeted them with a smile. "We won't drink alcohol at noon; I'll make some grape juice instead."
"good."
After they sat down, Huan Ni started talking about the Gu family.
The Gu family members were all busy with their own things. At first, only Gu Zhao's current wife, Feng Qing, knew that he hadn't returned home all night. However, Feng Qing didn't seem to understand what had happened to him, just as Gu Zhao thought. After waiting for Gu Zhao to return for a long time without him coming back, she threw a small tantrum and went to bed.
There was nothing she could do. Ever since she used a secret method to become human, she had acquired human habits and would experience human birth, aging, sickness, and death. Whenever she thought about these things, she would feel dazed.
Having gone through childbirth and reached middle age, one morning she was surprised to see signs of aging at the corners of her eyes in the mirror!
At that moment, her eyes no longer held the satisfaction of a comfortable life, a loving husband, and an understanding daughter, but rather panic, a deep panic.
She suddenly realized that she had become a human, and that she would grow old and die!
In that instant, she actually wanted to find a demon, teach her secret techniques, and then have that demon refine her back into a demon!
Of course, she quickly dismissed this dangerous idea. Refining a demon would have unpredictable consequences and could even lead to death!
After that, she started to focus on health. She couldn't bear the thought of her skin no longer being fair and smooth, and her appearance no longer being young and beautiful, so she started going to bed early and getting up early.
So, she was shocked to find out after waking up that Gu Zhao hadn't just come home late, but hadn't come home all night. She was furious, which made her think of how Gu Zhao had stayed by her side night after night back then.
Because she was angry, she didn't go downstairs for breakfast, so she missed the opportunity to tell the Gu family about Gu Zhao's situation. At this time, Gu Zhao was still asleep in the car.
In other words, the Gu family might have had a chance to find Gu Zhao earlier, thus saving him from embarrassment and subsequent disgrace.
But now, everything is going according to the script that Shi Yuan and Gu Linyuan had prepared.
Huan Ni underestimated her own illusion, or perhaps it's true that some people have done evil, and even if it doesn't show up normally, when they experience a change in circumstances, the panic in their hearts will spread throughout their bodies.
After Gu Zhao escaped from the "monster horde" and stayed away from Huan Ni, his symptoms did not improve significantly.
Fortunately, as a member of the Gu family, he had been sent to the military camp by his grandfather in his early years to be trained. Although he had never been on the battlefield and did not have the perseverance of a soldier, he was still more capable than the average person.
Even under the influence of the illusion, he still found the family compound accurately and entered it smoothly, although he staggered and looked dazed.
Seeing that Commander Gu's eldest son was in such a state, the guards were worried that something might have happened. They asked their comrade to call the Gu family to inform them of Gu Zhao's situation, and then immediately caught up with Gu Zhao and offered to take him home.
Feng Qing answered the phone. When she heard about Gu Zhao's situation, her first thought was that Gu Zhao had been drinking with someone all night!
Everyone in his circle of friends knew that Gu Zhao loved her very much. Or to be more precise, from the day he insisted on divorcing his first wife and marrying Feng Qing, he lost most of his friends. Of those who remained, he had almost no close confidants; most of them were involved in matters of interest.
They knew he needed to take care of his family, and they never invited him for drinks late at night.
After hanging up the phone with the soldier on duty, Feng Qing didn't immediately go out to pick up Gu Zhao herself or have someone else from her family do so. She immediately felt very wronged.
She looked at the patch of dodder that Gu Zhao had specially planted for her in the yard, and couldn't help but feel melancholy as she gazed at the tangled vines.
At this moment, a warm-hearted soldier walked up to Gu Zhao and reached out his hand: "Comrade Gu, are you alright? We've already called your family, let me take you home." He then reached out to help Gu Zhao up.
Gu Zhao closed his eyes and shook his head. He seemed to hear a familiar yet unfamiliar female voice. The voice was gentle, yet firm. She asked him if he was alright.
How could he hear her voice?
She's been dead for over twenty years!
Gu Zhao's face paled even more. He followed the soldier's outstretched hand and saw a gentle and beautiful face—his wife's face! No! It was the face of his ex-wife, who had been dead for over twenty years!
"I didn't kill you! Don't come looking for me!" Gu Zhao covered his head in terror and ran frantically into the family compound, shouting as he ran, "Don't come looking for me! It wasn't me! I didn't kill you!"
Huan Ni glanced at Gu Linyuan, whose fingers were tightening, and her high spirits subsided. She said in a low voice, "Many people saw it. Some people's eyes were not looking at Gu Zhao properly."
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