Chapter 12: Time to Feast on Meat—You'll Be Drooling!

“Limu!”
“Liyuan!”

Both roars were filled with anger—one from Liyuan, the other from Elder Gu.

“Is the medicine really on her or not?” Gu Jian’s voice was firm and powerful, his eyes burning with murderous intent.

Liyuan suppressed the murderous glare he’d just had for Limu and weakened his voice considerably. “Father… I’m not sure. It was indeed lost from me. Maybe Siyun picked it up—I was too busy looking to ask her just now.”

He quickly glanced at Lin Siyun. “Siyun, did you really find it?”

“Oh, yes. You were pacing around but never mentioned you were searching for this,” Lin Siyun said with a stiff smile as she approached. “Elder, I did find the medicine, and I was planning to give it to you.”

Lin Siyun dared not withhold it, knowing that even if she didn’t produce it, the Gu family would likely search her, making things harder to explain.

Gu Jian looked at Lin Siyun, then back at Liyuan. The old man had fought countless battles without ever losing—was he really so naive?

“Mingtang, quickly give Yuer the medicine,” Gu Jian glanced at the two. “Liyuan, you figure out how to explain this to me.”

“Father—”

Liyuan stared at his father’s retreating figure, grinding his teeth as he glared at his daughter, “Limu, what nonsense are you talking about?”

Limu silently thought to herself that whether she was lying or not, he knew the truth best of all.

Liyunye and Liyunju, fearing their sister would be beaten, hurriedly took her over to the Gu residence.

Liyunchao lay on the ground motionless, but his heart was colder than the earth beneath him.

Gu Yu, unlike Liyunzhe, did not faint quickly. Instead, he remained awake, his large dark eyes darting around.

Just as Gu Mingtang was about to feed his son the medicine, the three siblings from the Li family ran over cheerfully, holding a thick snake. “Grandpa, grandpa, eat the snake!”

The elderly matriarch of the Gu family had just awakened. Seeing her little granddaughter dragging such a thick snake over, she fainted once again.

Limu felt deeply guilty. “Grandma, I’m sorry.”

“It was this snake! This snake bit me!” Gu Yu pointed at the snake in Limu’s hand.

“Wait!” Gu Jian stopped his second son. “This snake isn’t poisonous.”

Having fought many battles, Gu Jian knew a thing or two about poisons. This was a black-tailed snake, harmless and non-venomous.

Of course it wasn’t poisonous—Limu had already caught all the venomous snakes earlier. They were now safely in her personal space, though she planned to keep them for future use.

---

Song Qiang wiped her tears but still worried. “Father, it’s better to take the antidote, just in case…”

Gu Mingtang shook his head. “Medicine always has some toxicity. Since this snake is harmless, there’s no need.”

Gu Yu was full of energy. “Limu, you’re really brave.”

He was a boy and didn’t dare catch snakes himself.

Limu smiled. “I want to take revenge for my cousin.”

Gu Yu looked at his little cousin with eyes full of affection.

After confirming repeatedly that Gu Yu was not poisoned, the Gu family breathed a sigh of relief.

“A false alarm. Yuer, be more careful next time,” Gu Mingyu advised his young nephew.

The Gu family had only this one child. Gu Mingyu’s daughter was already married off and living with her in-laws. Though his wife worried about her daughter’s life there, the Gu family’s current troubles made it hard to imagine her situation was easy.

“I know, Uncle. I won’t run around like this again. I was wrong to make everyone worry,” Gu Yu bowed his head and admitted his fault obediently.

He was just a child; who could bear to be harsh with him?

Gu Mingtang couldn’t sit still, recalling what had just happened. Gu Mingyu noticed his brother’s unease. “Second brother, where are you going?”

Gu Mingtang grumbled angrily, “I’m going to ask Liyuan what his real intentions are.”

Gu Mingyu gave him a sharp look, signaling him to notice the awkward expression on his sister’s face.

Seeing his sister, Gu Mingtang calmed down a bit but still felt stifled inside.

That was his son, after all, who nearly lost his life. Who wouldn’t be angry?

“What lost? I think Limu was right—he just didn’t want to give it. But the medicine belongs to our family. You’re all good people, only I’m the villain here, and almost my son died.”

Song Qiang sniffled. “Elder, he’s your only grandson. How old is he?”

“Enough!” Gu Mingtang snapped coldly.

“No! Sister, I don’t care if you’re upset or not. I have to say it today—what kind of family is Liyuan’s? How could he do such a thing?”

Gu Yuru lowered her head, her face like she’d been slapped. “Second sister-in-law, I’m sorry.”

Limu chose not to defend her, because if she didn’t lash out, it would be hard to see the truth about that family.

Once disappointment gathers, it turns into complete resignation.

---

“Sorry? My son nearly died!”

“Enough!” Gu Mingtang raised his voice again. “It wasn’t your sister. Besides, if it weren’t for Limu, we wouldn’t have gotten the medicine back.”

Song Qiang used to have little affection for Limu, the foolish girl, but now she felt much closer to her.

This time, Limu thought the second aunt was quite right. The Gu family cared about their reputation and avoided quarreling with the Li family, enduring many silent losses.

They needed someone like the second aunt to put them in their place.

Limu smiled cheerfully and tugged on Song Qiang’s hand. “Second aunt, let’s eat some meat. Limu wants meat.”

Song Qiang got goosebumps looking at the still-wriggling snake, but thinking of the creature that bit her son, she steeled herself. “Alright, second aunt will chop it up.”

Night had fallen. Ahead lay the mountains. The spot they rested was a rare flat clearing, but who knew what dangers lurked in the mountains? Zhang Xiang only warned everyone to be cautious, not suggesting they move elsewhere.

With so many people, one snake wouldn’t be enough.

So Limu, playing nearby, accidentally caught two rabbits with her brothers.

The aroma of roasted rabbit and stewed snake meat soon wafted toward the Li family. The already starving people’s mouths watered even more.

But after the earlier chaos, Liyuan didn’t dare ask for anything. He was still worried about the Gu family retaliating.

Lin Siyun bit her lip, looking hurt. “Brother Yuan, I really didn’t expect this to happen. I only worried about you and the child. Besides, even if Mumu didn’t say anything, the Gu family’s little master wouldn’t be harmed.”

Liyuan frowned, no longer caring how the foolish Limu had overheard. “Yes, it’s all that damned girl’s fault.”

Under the dark, windy night with no one watching, Lin Siyun’s soft hand patted his chest. “Brother Yuan, don’t be mad at Limu. The child is little and didn’t grow up by your side, so naturally, she’s not close to you.”

Liyuan nodded, then glanced at her belly. “Hungry? I’ll get you something to eat.”

“No, Brother Yuan. I don’t want you to have to beg them for me,” Lin Siyun said. “My Brother Yuan is a mighty hero.”

Liyuan was pleased. He glanced at the Gu family coldly and snorted, “I’m not going to beg them. I’ll go catch some myself.”

However, the Gu family was skilled at catching game. After an hour of trying, he hadn’t caught a single thing.