Chapter 13: Li Yun Zhe Has Yet to Wake Up

On the Gu family’s side, people were eating greedily, their mouths dripping with grease, while on the Li family’s side, the stomachs were growling with hunger. Especially at noon, when they had refused to eat because they disliked the food, they could barely imagine how they would survive until the next midday.

Li Rong was the first to start complaining; she was different from the others and got hungry quickly. “Third Brother, I want to eat too.”

Li Fenghua, the youngest daughter of the second branch, was also clamoring for food, which the adults found unbearable, let alone the children.

“Eat, eat, eat, all you ever think about is eating,” Mrs. Sun scowled at her daughter. “Your brother hasn’t woken up yet.”

No one had noticed this before; although bitten by a venomous snake, the antidote had been administered in time. Why was he still unconscious?

Mrs. Sun looked longingly toward Gu Yu, who had also been bitten by a snake not far away. A flash of resentment crossed her eyes.

How was he perfectly fine?

“Is there something wrong with the medicine?” Li Ye asked.

Li Yuan furrowed his brow, then his eyes brightened. This was a perfect excuse not to go over to the Gu family’s side.

“I’ll go ask what’s really going on,” Li Yuan said, striding toward the Gu family’s side. It wasn’t far; just a few steps brought him there.

“Well, well, who’s come? Here to see if our Yu’er is dead? What a pity, our Yu’er is blessed and lucky—he’s perfectly fine,” Song Qiang said sarcastically.

Li Mumu loved her second aunt’s sharp tongue. The Gu family were always good-natured, which was why the Li family kept pushing their luck, and it took someone like Song Qiang to teach them a lesson.

Poorly, after Gu Yu’s death in the story, Song Qiang lost her spirit and soon passed away from illness. Had she lived, perhaps the Gu family wouldn’t have suffered so many losses later.

In the past, without the elderly couple, Gu Mingtang himself would have told his wife to stop, but after what happened to their son, he absolutely would not advise her, even looking at Li Yuan with hatred.

Li Yuan was a bit sullen. “Second Sister-in-law, what do you mean by that? How could I wish for Yu’er’s death?”

“Hmph? Li family, do you really believe your own words?” Song Qiang retorted.

Li Mumu, chomping on a big chicken leg, shook her head. “No, I don’t believe it.”

Song Qiang gave Li Mumu an approving glance. “Exactly. Do you think we’re fools? I really doubt if the child in that woman’s belly is even yours. Otherwise, why would you treat her so well? Sister, you really need to find out for sure.”

“Exactly,” Li Mumu said with a double meaning, hoping to warn her mother.

She couldn’t say much now; even if she did, no one might believe her since she was just a child, a fool in their eyes. They would have to figure it out themselves.

Song Qiang and Li Mumu’s back-and-forth made Li Yuan’s face flush from blue to red. Even the thickest skin could only take so much. He glared angrily at Li Mumu.

Li Mumu immediately wilted to the ground, mumbling, “Daddy, don’t hit Mumu, don’t hit Mumu.”

Old Madam Gu was quick and gentle, scooping her up and sharply reprimanding Li Yuan, “Li Yuan, do you want to hit a child in front of us? Do you think we’re dead?”

Gu Jian snorted. Though silent, his stance was clear.

Li Yuan clenched his fists tighter, recalling the purpose of his visit. “Mother, I am her father. If she did something wrong, am I not allowed to discipline her?”

“Then I want to ask, what wrong did she do?”

Li Yuan glanced at Gu Yuru, suppressing the disdain in his eyes, and took a deep breath. “Enough. Let’s not trouble the elders with our matters.”

He didn’t want to continue; Li Mumu understood well he feared being attacked by everyone if he did.

“I came to ask if there really is a problem with the medicine. Why has Yun Zhe been unconscious so long?” Li Yuan asked.

Mrs. Sun also came over, throwing a tantrum. “I think you all have bad intentions. What kind of lousy medicine did you give us? Why hasn’t he woken up after taking it?”

The Gu family couldn’t believe anyone could be so shameless as to accuse them of giving faulty medicine when they had kindly offered it.

“My father got the medicine,” Li Mumu said, hiding in her grandmother’s warm embrace and pointing at Li Yuan.

She had been worried it would be hard to explain if things went wrong, so when her mother went to get the medicine, she stopped her.

The real antidote had been swapped out earlier when she rummaged through the baggage.

Li Yun Zhe was so young but already so malicious. If she hadn’t prepared a backup plan, she would have been the one poisoned.

The apocalypse had taught her one vital lesson: never be a martyr.

Gu Mingyu nodded. “Right, the medicine was all there. Didn’t brother-in-law choose it yourself? If you thought it was problematic, you could have refused. We had no idea what kind of medicine it was.”

“I…” Li Yuan was at a loss for words.

Mrs. Sun saw her tantrum was useless. The Gu family was not afraid of her at all. “Third Brother, what now? Yun Zhe still hasn’t woken up.”

Li Yuan frowned. “Big Brother, maybe the medicine wasn’t chosen correctly. Why don’t you bring the medicine here and let me take another look? After all, it’s a life.”

Li Mumu looked up at him anxiously. “Daddy, will this time be a loss?”

“If Brother Yun Zhe still doesn’t wake up, then it must be that Uncle didn’t bring the right medicine, right?”

After saying this, Li Mumu laughed softly. “Grandma, eat the chicken leg—it smells so delicious.”

Old Madam Gu shook her head. “Mumu, you eat. I’m full.”

Li Mumu’s seemingly random words reminded the Gu family to stay vigilant. They had almost softened their hearts.

Seeing everyone silent, Li Mumu said, “Brother Yu, be careful. Don’t get bitten by a snake or you won’t wake up, and no one will play with Mumu.”

Song Qiang immediately recalled the helplessness when her own son’s life hung by a thread. “Even if we had some, we wouldn’t dare give it. Otherwise, if he still didn’t wake up, wouldn’t that make it our poison? What do you say, brother-in-law?”

After speaking, Song Qiang smiled at Li Mumu. “Mumu, come eat a bowl of snake soup. You all needn’t be afraid. Next time there’s a snake, I’ll chop it up.”

Seeing the Gu family unmoved, Li Yuan turned to his wife. “Yuru, say something. Yun Zhe was raised by you.”

This time Li Mumu didn’t interrupt; she wanted to hear what her mother had to say. After all, if her mother truly was helpless, then no effort on her part would matter.

“Yuru!” Li Yuan grew anxious.

Gu Yuru looked at her daughter. “Li Yuan, didn’t you hear what Mumu said? It was Yun Zhe who wanted her to be bitten by the snake. If it had bitten Mumu, how would you have dealt with Li Yun Zhe?”

“What does that have to do with my son? Don’t say nonsense. Who would believe a fool’s words?” Mrs. Sun shouted in rebuttal.

Gu Yuru ignored her and looked at Li Yuan. “I said I want to avenge my daughter. Can you do that?”

Li Yuan pressed his lips together. “Yuru, they’re just kids, playing around. How could it be as serious as you say?”

Li Mumu’s eyes brightened. She knew her mother’s heart was half broken at this moment.