Chapter 40 Where the Money Lies, Where Love Lies
Shi Yuan looked at Huan Ni, who hesitated and shook her head: "It shouldn't be. In just two years, this world can't nurture any strange demons."
Gu Linyuan also had doubts in his eyes: "In the past, there were some strange demons who caused trouble in the black market by relying on their supernatural powers, but they basically had something to ask for. There were basically no cases of causing trouble for the sake of causing trouble."
For example, most of the strange demons are there for the treasures that appear on the black market.
They couldn't offer or were unwilling to exchange for something, so they tried to take it by force, relying on their abilities. Of course, the seventh place never let the alien demons succeed.
Some demons who have made enemies cannot find their foes outside, so they wait for them when the black market opens each year. If they manage to catch their enemies, a bloody battle will ensue. However, in the end, they will all be suppressed by the Seventh Bureau. Many magical artifacts in the artifact storehouse came from this.
After this happened a few more times, the demons would behave themselves. When the black market opened, they would either save up their fortune to exchange for their desired treasures, or they would obediently come over to feast their eyes.
Those with personal grudges will choose a place far away from the black market to arrange a fight.
Many of those who receive invitations to the black market are regulars. They may not always have something they like or need, but they always go with great enthusiasm because what they see and hear in the black market is enough to get their adrenaline pumping.
At this time of year, some regular customers will take off their dusty work clothes and put on their usually treasured gowns, along with their jewelry that has never seen the sun in a long time, and on that day they will almost forget themselves and become the extravagant spenders they once were.
Some customers, on the contrary, would dress in tattered clothes and enter the black market, playing the role of a deranged madman.
In short, once you're in the black market, no one cares who you are. Just be yourself. After all, once you leave the black market, no one will admit that they were ever there.
What black market? I've never heard of it!
The Mo family only set their sights on the black market because they were attracted by its huge profits and amazing connections.
It's no wonder the Mo family suspected that the woman had turned into a demon and caused trouble. They probably thought the black market had a stable operating model, and that even if there were some disturbances, the Mo family's connections would definitely be able to solve the problem.
But the Mo family forgot that there was a reason why the Seventh Division was so active in dealing with the black market, and that the most powerful and extraordinary people in the world were all in the Seventh Division.
The Mo family is capable of recruiting people like Wu Guanhai, who is already considered quite formidable.
"Have you accepted the commission?" Shi Yuan asked, putting down her chopsticks.
It is the Seventh Division's duty to proactively address the strange demons that affect the lives of the masses.
However, while the black market is now ostensibly handed over to the government, the power is actually firmly in the hands of the Mo family. If something happens to the black market, it becomes a private matter for the Mo family, and they will have to ask the Seventh Bureau to intervene, which will come at a high price.
"Didn't Grandpa Mo try to pressure you with grand principles?"
“He wanted to, but I said I was too busy.” Gu Linyuan’s smile had become more down-to-earth than before. “Just like He Tian said, the Changbai Mountain barrier is a huge deal. Everyone is on standby, and we simply can’t spare any manpower.”
"And then?" Shi Yuan touched the vine that Shi Meili was reaching out to touch.
"In the end, they said they would use half of the black market's profits this year to sell the seventh item."
"I didn't agree!" Gu Linyuan scoffed ambiguously. "I handed over the black market, but I didn't give it back to those people and channels who used to find treasures for the black market." This is the core reason why the black market has stood the test of time for so many years.
Although the Mo family patriarch rose to power through marriage, he was quite capable and should have been able to see through the intricacies of the situation. However, given Gu Linyuan's status, he could only use reason to pressure him, not coerce him.
This is similar to moral blackmail; if the person being blackmailed lacks morality, then everything is in vain.
Gu Linyuan is the kind of person who has no morals, no, he's the kind of person who won't be bound by grand principles.
He said directly that those people had all gone back to their hometowns, and even thoughtfully provided their hometown addresses, saying that if Grandpa Mo was willing, he could invite them back to the fold.
Old Master Mo didn't accept the address, not because he thought it was fake, but because Gu Linyuan dared to give him the address so easily, which meant he was certain that none of those people would return to the black market.
"So, the quality of the treasures on the black market has dropped this time?" Shi Yuan asked curiously.
"No, not at all." Gu Linyuan revealed a fox-like smile that was completely out of character for him. "The Mo family brought out some of their private collections to bolster their image."
"As a result, it was smashed by that strange demon."
"Pfft!" Huan Ni laughed gleefully, "This sounds so funny!"
Gu Linyuan said in a serious tone, "People around Mo Xun are saying in private that the Mo family's misfortunes started after that woman from Haicheng was suppressed."
Therefore, Mo Xun did not suddenly get tired of watching Wu Guanhai struggle, but rather believed that Wu Guanhai had not done his best in suppressing that woman two years ago, which is why he suddenly took action.
Shi Yuan frowned in deep thought. Based on her deduction of Mo Xun's personality from the information she received, if he really believed that the crisis in Haicheng's black market was because of Wu Guanhai, he would never have let the Wu family leave Beicheng unscathed.
There must be more to this story.
She shared her thoughts, and Gu Linyuan nodded slightly: "That's what I think too."
"So, I'm waiting for Old Master Mo to go the extra mile and personally make a trip to Haicheng." He asked with a smile, "Comrade Shi Yuan, would you be interested in going on a business trip?"
Shi Yuan said frankly, "I'll answer you when my mom arrives."
"Alright, anyway, Grandpa Mo won't extend an olive branch again so soon."
"Aren't you worried that he'll ask someone else from the Seventh Division to do the job without going through you?" There's a big premise here: the Seventh Division allows taking on private jobs, and they can even bring colleagues along.
“No one will answer,” Gu Linyuan said. “Although the people in the Seventh Division are disorganized and seem to act independently, no one has ever held back when it comes to external affairs.”
"That's great," Shi Yuan said sincerely. After a while, she added, "Before my business trip, should I go to the Gu family to collect some more interest?"
"Great idea!"
The two smiled at each other. Gu Linyuan tidied up the table and then went with Shi Yuan to help tidy up the Shi family's old house.
Mo family
"Dad, how is it?" Mo Xun asked anxiously for the result.
"Still making excuses."
"You don't know what's good for you!" Mo Xun slammed down the teacup beside him.
Old Master Mo's expression remained unchanged: "It's normal for someone to be arrogant because of their talent, especially since we took the black market from him."
"But the profits from this market opening are far from enough to cover the losses." The black market, which they had been longing for for so long, made its first appearance after finally getting their hands on it, but it turned into a farce.
Since the Mo family came to power more than ten years ago, no one has ever seen them make such a joke!
"How about I contact someone else privately?"
"It's no use," said Old Master Mo. "Gu Linyuan is the director of the Seventh Division. Out of respect for him, the people in the Seventh Division won't take on this private job."
"Then why don't we have Old Master Gu put pressure on us?" Mo Xun suggested.
“Gu Linyuan won’t buy it,” Old Master Mo said firmly. “There’s no need to use such favors.”
"Could it be that the rumors lately are true? Gu Zhao killed his first wife?" Mo Xun asked disdainfully. "He went to such lengths for a woman!"
Grandpa Mo ignored him and fiddled with the walnuts in his hand. He and Gu Linyuan both knew that the Seventh Division would definitely make a move in the end, and the fundamental reason for the standoff between the two sides was time and interests.
The Mo family needs to resolve the issue of the Haicheng black market within a controllable timeframe; otherwise, being held accountable is a minor matter, but having their control over the black market revoked is a major one. The longest time they can currently secure is half a month.
Of course, during these two weeks, other parts of Haicheng must not be disturbed by the strange demons.
As for Gu Linyuan, he wanted to pocket the profits that should have been his this year.
In this round, Gu Linyuan has a clear advantage.
The Mo family has only two options to resolve the crisis in Haicheng's black market: either offer Gu Linyuan satisfactory benefits or find an extraordinary person to help.
The former was painful, the latter uncertain; for the first time, Old Master Mo felt trapped in a dilemma.
He suddenly chuckled, "The Gu family, they picked up sesame seeds but lost watermelons!" As soon as he said that, he seemed to find some comfort, and the pent-up anger in his heart dissipated by a third.
He couldn't help but think that his son was indeed not good at handling women and had caused trouble, but after a few more years of experience, he would have no problem taking over his job.
But can you take care of your family?
Although Gu Linyuan is indeed despicable, it is undeniable that his abilities surpass those of all other members of the Gu family.
The eldest son of the Gu family retired from the core of power decades ago and is still contributing to the elderly care industry at a young age. The second son of the Gu family is ambitious and enterprising, but unfortunately he lacks the qualifications. It will be difficult for him to take over the Gu family business!
The Gu family kept their past secrets very well. There were only vague rumors that Ji Shuyang's identity was somewhat problematic, but nothing more.
Decades later, the eldest son of the Gu family proved to be a disappointment and revealed his true colors!
Although the rumors about Gu Laoda killing his wife have mostly subsided, everyone still has their own judgment.
Every man envies the idea of getting promoted, making money, and changing wives; even if there are some complaints, they're just sour grapes.
But killing one's wife is a different matter altogether.
Imagine a man who can kill even the person he sleeps with; what else wouldn't he do?
Thinking about it this way, it's clear that Grandpa Gu's decisive action in arranging retirement for his eldest son was quite resolute.
Unfortunately, he was already old, and Gu Linyuan, the only one in the Gu family who could support the family, was excluded from the core of power by the Gu family, or rather, Gu Linyuan abandoned the Gu family.
In short, after this incident involving Gu Laoda, the Gu family's situation became even more scrutinized than before, when they were facing a period of transition.
Haven't you noticed that the second son of the Gu family has been having a much harder time lately than before?
Old Master Mo thought that he must outlive that old man from the Gu family. Thinking that he could then divide up the Gu family's resources without restraint, he suddenly felt that giving up some immediate profits was not impossible.
The Gu family, which was the subject of much discussion among the Mo family father and son, has been having a really tough time lately. No one outside knows that after the rumors subsided, Gu Zhao was summoned for questioning and asked to explain Ji Shuyang's affairs.
Gu Zhao may be confused in some ways, but when faced with such a major event, he is very clear-headed, explaining everything clearly and answering questions flawlessly.
Of course, this is thanks to Old Master Gu's foresight in personally cleaning up the mess immediately after Ji Shuyang's accident, and for predicting today's events, so that Gu Zhao was mentally prepared at any time.
When Gu Zhao got home, he unbuttoned his collar, tossed his coat onto the wooden sofa, and his straight back finally bent. He propped himself up on the sofa, slowly sat down, and then slowly rubbed his face with both hands.
The questions he was asked during the interview were very sharp. If his father hadn't rehearsed them with him beforehand, he couldn't guarantee he would have been able to leave the interview room unscathed.
His emotions have been tense ever since.
Looking at his slightly trembling fingertips, Gu Zhao couldn't help but smile bitterly. He had once complained about the position his father had assigned him, and he also didn't understand why his father had handed over the reins of the Gu family to his second brother.
But at this moment, he truly admired his father's foresight and was grateful for his father's protection of him.
He, who had been in that position all along, was still summoned for questioning because of unfounded rumors. If he were in a high position, no, he wouldn't even have the opportunity to be in a high position!
Ji Shuyang herself is a soldier who has fought on the battlefield and made meritorious contributions. Her parents are martyrs. This meeting confirmed what Grandpa Gu was most worried about. Apart from Gu Linyuan, there have been people in the army who have been investigating the truth behind Ji Shuyang's disappearance!
On his way home from the interview room, Gu Zhao asked himself if he regretted his choice that day.
Before today, he could say with absolute certainty, "No regrets!" But after today, he will probably regret it.
It wasn't that she regretted falling in love with Feng Qing and giving up Ji Shuyang, but rather that she regretted that her actions that day might implicate the Gu family.
"Gu Zhao!" Feng Qing's spoiled voice rang in, "What have you been doing these past two days, leaving early and returning late?"
"Are you having an affair?"
Gu Zhao rallied his spirits and coaxed Feng Qing, "No, no, you're the one I love most, how could there be anyone else!"
"I've been busy with work lately, please don't worry about it."
"By the way, I heard that Friendship Store has received a lot of new seasonal clothes. Go and take a look, and buy whatever you like."
"You still say there's no one else!" Feng Qing stamped her foot in protest. "You used to always make time to go to the Friendship Store with me, no matter how busy you were, but now you're sending me there alone!"
"Gu Zhao! Do you regret being with me?"
"Really, no, my goodness! I'm really busy."
"I don't believe you! You're definitely hiding something from me!" Feng Qing persisted. "It's not that you're seeing someone else." She hissed, "You've taken a fancy to another demon?"
"Shut up!" Gu Zhao covered her mouth with his hand. "How can you say such things?"
"Me!" Feng Qing pulled his hand away. "Who told you to have a criminal record!"
"I'm a human now, not as young and beautiful as before, you'll definitely change your mind!"
"I won't. I love you for who you are, not for your physical appearance."
"Really?"
"Really, I was so fond of your original form back then, have you forgotten?" he said softly, his voice ambiguous.
Feng Qing playfully punched Gu Zhao a few times, exclaiming, "You bad boy!"
Gu Zhao took her hand and kissed it lightly a few times, smiling contentedly: "Yes, I'm a bad guy, but I'm only bad to you." Feng Qing became even more shy, snuggling into Gu Zhao's arms like a little girl experiencing her first love, wriggling and resisting, but this time her resistance was just coquetry.
When Grandpa Gu and Gu Lie received the news that Gu Zhao had come out of the meeting room, they rushed back as fast as they could, only to find such a loving scene between the two. For a moment, they were both dazed, thinking that they had remembered wrong and that Gu Zhao had not been summoned for questioning at all.
When Feng Qing saw Grandpa Gu and Gu Lie, she stomped her foot shyly and ran back to her room.
Grandpa Gu and Gu Lie looked like they'd eaten shit!
"Dad, Second Brother, you're here." Gu Zhao wasn't embarrassed at all. The couple was deeply in love, a perfect match, and there was nothing to criticize.
Grandpa Gu, Gu Lie: ...Yes, that's true, but that's not how it works!
Has Gu Zhao forgotten why he was summoned for questioning?
No matter how uncomfortable he felt, Old Master Gu still asked about the details of the meeting in great detail.
This meeting was not confidential, so Gu Zhao told him everything, big or small.
"It seems they don't have any substantial evidence at the moment," Gu Lie analyzed. "This meeting was entirely caused by what happened last time." His words carried a hint of complaint.
"Brother, remember not to come home late these days!" Gu Lie said. He had reminded Gu Zhao of this countless times recently, but he couldn't help but remind him again every time he saw him.
There was nothing he could do. He heard that Gu Zhao was afraid that the cosmetics would be tampered with by the evil spirits, so he threw them away rather than let Feng Qing use them. Feng Qing made a fuss with him several times, so Gu Zhao agreed to buy her another set.
These aren't cosmetics that are readily available in Friendship Store; they were smuggled in through other channels. If they're caught, it will cause a lot of trouble for both the seller and the buyer.
That's fine, but these things are usually traded at night. He was worried that his older brother, who wasn't thinking clearly, might go to get cosmetics for his wife late at night and something else might happen. In that case, it wouldn't be as easy to resolve as it was this time.
Sometimes he really wanted to crack open his older brother's head and see what was inside!
To be honest, he never had any objection to Grandpa Gu's favoritism towards his eldest brother, because while he was enjoying a comfortable life with his parents, his eldest brother was suffering in the fields.
But there has to be a bottom line!
He hated his older brother the most, and he was most dissatisfied with his father when his father wanted his older brother to marry Ji Shuyang.
Who is Ji Shuyang?
The most outstanding girl of her generation in Beicheng!
How could his older brother possibly be worthy of him?
As it turns out, his older brother was not only unworthy, but also a fucking beast!
He's no good either; he's always cleaning up after those bastards!
But what could he do?
If the Gu family's ship sinks, he will die too!
"Alright, the eldest knows what he's doing." Old Master Gu was quite satisfied with Gu Zhao's handling of the situation and even praised him a few times.
Gu Lie's overflowing emotions were stuck there, unsettled.
Has his father forgotten that this crisis in the Gu family was caused by his older brother?
"Okay!" he said, picking up his coat. "I'm going to work." Reaching the study door, his hand already on the doorknob, he couldn't help but add, "Brother, stay home these next few nights. If your sister-in-law's cosmetics arrive, let me know, and I'll send someone to pick them up." He wouldn't go himself; he was afraid of being targeted.
"I know!" Gu Zhao's voice was already a little impatient.
Gu Xiyue overheard the brothers' conversation when she returned home at noon. She didn't take it to heart and casually mentioned what had just happened when she asked her mother for money to go to Lao Mo Restaurant with her friends.
"Mom, please be nicer to Dad. He's the eldest brother, but he's still being controlled by my second uncle!" He's so pitiful!
"That's what your second uncle said?"
“Yes, I heard it with my own ears.” Gu Xiyue nodded and then advised, “Mom, don’t argue with Dad. Dad loves us very much.”
"I know, little girl, what do you know? This is just part of the fun in a marriage." Feng Qing opened the dressing table drawer, took out a stack of banknotes, and gave them to Gu Xiyue. "Couples need to bicker and argue to grow old together."
Gu Xiyue asked doubtfully, "Is that so?"
"That's exactly right, your dad likes me just the way I am!"
"Alright then, I'm off!"
"Yeah, have fun!"
So when Grandpa Gu went to work, Gu Zhao returned to his room from the study to say goodbye to Feng Qing, saying that he also had to go to work. Feng Qing then asked about the cosmetics.
Gu Zhao said that once the cosmetics arrived, he would ask a friend to pick them up.
Feng Qing protested, "Then what about sincerity?" She put on a stern face, "I won't accept it unless you brought it yourself!"
Gu Zhao was in a dilemma. He loved Feng Qing, but he also valued his life.
"I was attacked by a strange demon just now. I reported the incident, but there's still no result. I can't go out tonight!"
Feng Qing pushed him away: "Go away! You don't care about me at all! I don't want makeup anymore! Who am I dressing up for!"
"Feng Qing, listen to me..." "Bang!" The door slammed shut, and Feng Qing covered her ears, shaking her head frantically. "I won't listen! You don't love me anymore!"
"Okay, okay, I'll agree to anything you want, don't be angry!"
The only response she received was the sound of something heavy being thrown against the door.
Gu Zhao wanted to coax his wife, but when he glanced at the time, he realized he was going to be late.
Although it's a retirement job, he had already taken several days off, so being late again would be excessive.
"I'm going to work now, I'll explain when I get back." With that, she hurriedly left.
What's there to explain?
No one kept Feng Qing from what happened in the Gu family.
Shi Yuan and Gu Linyuan anticipated that the Gu family would cause trouble, but they probably didn't expect that the most troublesome thing would not be quelling the rumors or reviewing the situation afterward to avoid repeating the same mistakes, but rather finding out about the alien plant, or rather, the person behind the alien plant.
The most troublesome thing is actually taking care of and coaxing his wife!
Gu Linyuan pointed with his fingertip, and a peach leaf rolled into the shape of a feather duster to wrap up the spider web on the roof beam: "The Mo family probably won't be able to hold out for long. I expect they will compromise within three to five days."
"I will personally go to the Haicheng black market at that time."
Shi Yuan threw a fire talisman into the yard and controlled the fire to clear away the weeds.
Shi Yuan hesitated for a moment, then lowered her voice and asked, "Is there something else to take care of in Haicheng?" Otherwise, Gu Linyuan wouldn't have made this trip.
Gu Linyuan smiled upon hearing this: "Yes, there are other things as well."
Shi Yuan didn't press further, but instead suggested, "Before you set off, shall we find another opportunity to put a burlap sack over Gu Zhao's head?"
“That’s what I think too,” Gu Linyuan said. “However, I’m afraid Grandpa Gu will restrict him and not let him come home late.”
Shi Yuan thought for a moment: "It is indeed a bit troublesome to do it in broad daylight." Trouble doesn't mean we have to give up. They started this matter with the Gu family, and Gu Zhao has been fully cooperating.
I sincerely hope he can cooperate one more time.
As Gu Linyuan had predicted, the Mo family relented after only a few days. Before that, Shi Ling and Shi Ming had also arrived in Beicheng and settled in the Shi family's old residence.
These past few days, Shi Yuan has been staying with Shi Ling at the Shi family's old house. During the day, he helps her buy suitable furniture and items, and at night he talks to her about the old stories of the Shi family.
Regarding the fact that Shi Ling did not witness the Wu family's downfall, Shi Ling said she had no regrets at all.
“I don’t want to see them at all.” Shi Ling took a bite of the fish that Shi Yuan had grilled herself, praised it as “delicious,” and continued, “I’m satisfied knowing that they’ve ended up like this.”
She added, "It's all thanks to you for your hard work."
Shi Yuan smiled and shook her head, flipping the fish in her hand over: "It's no trouble at all, just a quick thing!"
"My Shi Yuan is really amazing." Shi Ling praised sincerely.
“That’s right!” Huan Ni exclaimed. “Shi Yuan resolved the Ghost King’s rebellion as soon as he arrived in Beicheng!”
"She's now the star of the Seventh Division!"
"Do you know how powerful the Ghost King is?" Huan Ni began to recount how the Ghost King had ambushed the Purple-Robed Celestial Master and trapped Fengcheng. "If it weren't for Shi Yuan, Beicheng would have entered the Ghost King's domain starting from Jingshan. At that time, the devastation would have been no joke!"
He listened attentively, occasionally asking questions about details, his facial expressions were very vivid, sometimes worried, sometimes relieved, and sometimes proud.
Shi Yuan saw envy and longing deep in her eyes.
Shi Yuan placed the grilled fish onto Shi Ling's plate and glanced at the Shi family's old house, which had been tidied up neatly.
Shi Ling is the only child in the Shi family. Her maternal grandparents were among the few parents in this era who did not have the idea of favoring sons over daughters.
They only had one child, Shi Ling, and gave her all their love. Naturally, Shi Ling was also raised as their successor from a young age.
If Shi Yuan weren't soulless, and Shi Ling didn't need to spend so much time and energy on her daughter, then even if Wu Guanhai still cheated and divorced her, her life would probably be completely different.
"Mom, I brought back all the books from the Shi family's collection." Shi Yuan leaned on Shi Ling's shoulder. "I'll put them in the study."
"Mom, please redo Shi Ling, the Shi family's Shi Ling!"
Shi Ling was stunned for a long time after hearing this. Looking at the calluses on her palms, she thought of the more than twenty years of neglected studies: "Me, am I still okay?"
"I... I've forgotten how to read qi." As she spoke, tears streamed down her face. "I'm too old now, can I still be Shi Ling again?"
Shouldn't she be like Sister Mingfen, thinking about providing food, drink, and clothing for her child, hoping that the child will be successful, get married, and start a family, and then take care of her grandchildren?
Shi Yuan firmly told her, "No, you are yourself first, you are Shi Ling, and then you are your mother."
"Mom, you can't start over in life, but you can change things from here on out. You can do it!"
"You've overcome those desperate situations back then!"
The confusion in Shi Ling's eyes faded a little. Yes, she had gritted her teeth and overcome such a desperate situation back then. But would it be more difficult to pick up what she had learned before than to live with Shi Yuan from back then?
No, it won't.
"Okay, I'll give it a try!"
"Um!"
Shi Ling gently stroked Shi Yuan's cheek with her thumb and said tenderly, "Then let's let Shi Yuan do what she likes and wants to do, instead of always accompanying me."
“Okay.” Shi Yuan leaned on Shi Ling’s shoulder and looked at the stars with her, listening to Shi Ling tell the legends of various constellations.
The next day, Shi Yuan returned to the Seventh Division.
Why didn't you spend more time with your aunt?
“My mom has her own things to do. If I’m with her, she’ll still have to worry about my food and drink, so I came back.”
Shi Ling has made up her mind to pick up feng shui again, but after being a mother for decades, it's not so easy for her to get out of this role. Shi Yuan simply decided to go back to the Seventh Residence first. Anyway, she has a car, so she can just go back to the old house when she misses Shi Ling.
With Shi Ming and Shi Qingtian watching over her, Shi Ling will be safe.
"Should we install a telephone at the old house?" Gu Linyuan said. "That way, you can know immediately if anything happens to Auntie."
"Great idea!"
"Then leave this to me." Gu Linyuan added jokingly, afraid that Shi Yuan would refuse, "Consider it an employee benefit."
"Thank you for your trouble, Director Gu!" Shi Yuan said gratefully. "You've helped me so much, I can't just take advantage of you for nothing. I've been having Huan Ni keep an eye on Gu Zhao's situation."
“Gu Zhao’s man,” Shi Yuan paused for a moment, then continued, “is his wife, who knows how to manipulate him.”
"Huan Ni said that Gu Zhao will personally go tonight to pick up the cosmetics he asked someone to buy for his wife."
Gu Linyuan didn't understand at first. He could bring cosmetics during the day, so why did Shi Yuan look like she had a "sack ready" expression?
Shi Yuan then explained to him the origin of this cosmetic product.
Gu Linyuan sighed sincerely, "I never imagined buying cosmetics would be so troublesome."
"It's all thanks to their touching love that we had another chance to take action!" This statement was utterly sarcastic, containing only mockery without any sense of injustice or resentment, and certainly no intention of speaking up for his mother, Ji Shuyang.
In his eyes, Gu Zhao had only one identity: his enemy. Nothing else mattered, and he was not worthy of being compared to Ji Shuyang.
What puzzled him was that Gu Linfeng was also very quiet this time, even though the brothers had disagreements about revenge in the past.
He didn't blame Gu Linfeng. When they were young, before Feng Qing appeared, everyone in the Gu family treated the brothers very well, to the point of giving them everything they wanted.
After his transformation, Gu Linfeng's mind remained that of a young child. Therefore, he harbored hatred for the Gu family, but also inevitably had some expectations. In addition, Gu Linyuan also needed time to become stronger, so the matter of revenge had not progressed.
Unexpectedly, because he didn't take action against the Gu family, the Gu family actually thought he had forgotten his hatred and tried to ease the tension between them.
Gu Linfeng was the first to soften his heart. The old man who had once coaxed him with candied hawthorns put on a heart full of unbearable pain, and it was almost effortless for him to believe that the old man loved him.
Gu Linyuan was helpless. He had tried to stop Gu Linfeng from associating with Old Master Gu, but he felt sorry for the mutated Gu Linfeng. He thought he could take revenge after Gu Linfeng passed through the Reincarnation Platform. However, he did not expect that Gu Linfeng would suddenly change his attitude.
After parting ways with Shi Yuan, Gu Linyuan stroked the peach leaf on his wrist and said softly, "Why didn't Lin Feng object to his brother taking revenge this time?"
Gu Linfeng didn't object to putting a sack over Gu Zhao's head last time because he also wanted to teach Gu Zhao a lesson, but later events proved that Gu Linyuan and Shi Yuan were actually after the entire Gu family.
Logically speaking, since they are going to take action against Gu Zhao again, Gu Linfeng should oppose it as he did before.
Gu Linfeng remained silent for a long time before saying in a low voice, "These days, Huan Ni has been dragging me into it when she's keeping an eye on the Gu family."
He used to think that his grandfather loved him the most, and that every time he saw him, his grandfather would prepare his favorite candied hawthorns for him.
However, Huanni showed him how Grandpa Gu interacted with his other grandchildren. He taught them how to win people's hearts, pave the way for their future, give them money and coupons to supplement their lives, and occasionally have someone buy and send over things that his grandchildren might like.
Even Gu Xiyue, whom he disliked the most, he was planning to spend his life with.
All he ever got were candied hawthorns.
Gu Linfeng's voice trembled with tears: "Huan Ni said, 'Where money is, there is love.'"
"The things Grandpa gave me are the cheapest among his grandchildren, sob sob sob~" He burst into tears. "Huan Ni said that according to scientific laws, the love Grandpa gave me is also the cheapest!" After saying this, Gu Linfeng broke down and cried loudly.
It felt like hundreds of ducks were quacking in Gu Linyuan's head. His expression was both painful and funny. He never expected that the truth he had carefully concealed, unwilling to shatter Gu Linfeng's fantasy, would be exposed by Huanni.
What was even more unexpected was that Gu Linfeng remained silent for so many days after learning the truth, only speaking up when asked.
Most surprisingly, Gu Linfeng seemed to accept it well. Although he cried like a flock of ducks quacking, Gu Linyuan knew that he was just breaking down, not in pain.
"Brother, Huan Ni has already avenged me."
"Um?"
Thinking of something, Gu Linfeng burst into laughter through his tears: "Huan Ni attracted a flock of birds, and they poop on Grandpa's head every time he goes out, hahaha!" He couldn't help but laugh at the thought of that scene, "Once, when Grandpa came home from get off work, he found his car covered in bird droppings, and his expression was... hahaha!"
After crying and laughing for a while, Gu Linfeng said in a muffled voice, "Brother, I don't like Grandpa anymore. Go do what you've always wanted to do."
"Brother, I'm sorry!"
"Lin Feng, you never need to apologize to me. You saved me back then!" Otherwise, he would be the one who turned into a monster!
Gu Linfeng stopped trying to stop him, and that very night Gu Linyuan and Shi Yuan appeared on the road that Gu Zhao would inevitably take home.
Huan Ni muttered under her breath, "Gu Zhao can be considered a modern-day Casanova, right? Last time I saw him so scared, yet he still dared to come out and personally get cosmetics for his wife."
Gu Linyuan cleared his throat and replied in a low voice, "His mind seems to be different from ordinary people."
“Oh, right.” Huan Ni suddenly realized, “He seems to look down on the Seventh Division, thinking that we’re all involved in feudal superstition, just with more sophisticated methods.”
Shi Meili then asked, "After what happened last time, has he realized that everyone in the Seventh Division is a master?"
"I'm afraid not!" Huan Ni replied, "Because the Seventh Division couldn't find any information about the strange demons that caused trouble last time, he looks down on the Seventh Division even more!"
Oh, I see...
Now it is completely silent.
"Beep!" The sound of a car horn came from not far away. Shi Meili perked up. Friends, her moment of glory was about to arrive again!
For tonight, she took quite a few flower petals and leaves from the eye of the storm to disguise her identity!
As they got closer to the place where they had last encountered the strange demon, Gu Zhao became increasingly nervous, and the car sped up. Cold sweat even began to appear on his forehead.
However, as expected of the "ladies' man" certified by Huan Ni, he did not regret going to get his wife cosmetics late at night.
However, seeing the cosmetics with the exact same packaging as last time, and even seemingly placed in the same spot, Gu Zhao suddenly had a bad feeling.
Instinctively, he wanted to press the accelerator harder, but in fact, he pressed the brake harder!
He stared wide-eyed ahead, his face deathly pale!
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