Chapter 16: Let the Poisonous Mushroom Be Devoured by the Gu Family
Zhang Xiang chuckled darkly, his voice booming as he cracked his whip a few times and shouted, “If you don’t want to spend another night in the wilderness, then move quickly. Maybe tonight we can find a place with people to stay.”
Hearing this, everyone quickened their pace.
As prisoners, they could forget about inns, but at least being somewhere inhabited would be safer.
No longer would they need to fear venomous snakes. Li Yunzhe from the second family was still unconscious and running a fever. The hot weather and poorly treated wounds meant infection was imminent.
Yet walking so far was a torment for the pampered women; many had already developed blisters on their feet yesterday, and today’s journey caused those blisters to burst.
The Gu family fared better—they had applied ointments when feeling unwell, so though it still hurt, it was less agonizing.
The Li family, however, suffered greatly. Even Lin Siyang’s embroidered shoes were stained with blood, which made Li Yuan ache with pity, wishing he could bear her pain himself.
Their worthless father repeatedly promised he would never let her suffer again.
Li Mumu scoffed. Suffering? Impossible. With her around, the Li family’s misery was endless.
As she walked, she pieced together the situation: tonight they would stay in a small town. Though the sun blazed today, tomorrow would bring a torrential downpour.
Catching a cold after being drenched could be fatal in an era starved of medicine.
Li Mumu resolved that once they reached the market, she would persuade her grandmother to buy some windproof and warm clothing—they had passed the start of autumn, and the further north they went, the colder it became. They must not freeze.
Since they had silver, better to spend it along the way to ease their journey than hoard it until exile.
The meals provided by the officials were horrible; they might as well buy their own food.
At noon, despite the Li family’s grumbling, experience had taught them not to complain about the officials’ food, no matter how bad.
For complaining meant going hungry.
The heat spoiled many of the Gu family’s provisions, so it was better to eat what could go bad than waste it.
Gu Yu invited her three times, but Gu Yuru was too embarrassed to return.
They invited rather than took because the Gu family knew that if Gu Yuru’s mother and sisters came over, they might not get to eat.
No matter how depraved the Li family was, they dared not snatch food from their side.
She was already married; how could she keep returning to mooch off her family? Especially now, when her natal home had so many mouths to feed.
Yet before, when she did return, the Li family complained; now that she didn’t, they were unhappy as well.
Old Madam Li glanced at Li Yuan, though even if she hadn’t, he would have come over anyway.
“Yuru, I see Yu’er has called for you several times. Your parents must have prepared your share. If you don’t eat it... don’t waste it—give it to Siyang. She’s unwell and has vomited several times; her stomach is empty.”
Gu Yuru frowned slightly and looked at Lin Siyang’s pale face. Even an ordinary person would find it hard to bear, let alone a pregnant woman.
Li Mumu watched her mother’s expression and thought, “Oh no, she’s softening again.”
That wouldn’t do. Just as she was about to say something, Gu Yuru spoke: “Li Yuan, Yun Chao is covered in wounds from your punishment. Have you asked him how he feels?”
“Mumu is young and nearly got bitten by a snake. Have you asked her?”
Li Mumu breathed a sigh of relief, then turned and walked away.
Still, she could hear their worthless father turning guilt into anger as he retorted, “Gu Yuru, I thought you were a virtuous woman. Why do you always pick on Siyang and make things difficult for her?”
Li Yun Chao clenched his fists; his back wounds had improved today, though the scabs still itched.
Li Yunye frowned. “Why does Dad always scold Mom? Since that woman came back, Dad hasn’t spoken a kind word to her.”
“Bad woman! Let’s go beat the bad woman.”
Li Mumu was terrified. If her two brothers hurt Lin Siyang, their worthless father would surely take their lives.
In this era, a father killing his son wasn’t considered a grave crime.
She hurriedly grabbed her second and third brothers’ hands. “Brother, there are mushrooms over there. Let’s go pick some.”
“Mushrooms?” Li Yunye’s face lit up. “Then we can cook and eat them.”
Li Yun Chao pondered. “Could they be poisonous? We don’t want to get sick.”
But seeing their sister’s pitiful look, the brothers decided to accompany her to have a look. After all, the officials’ meal was not ready yet.
“How strange, we all came together, yet only our sister found mushrooms,” said Li Yunjue helplessly. “Do mushrooms recognize people?”
Li Yunye looked at his sister-in-law and felt his mood lift. “You probably didn’t search well enough.”
“Second brother, don’t just blame me. How about you?”
Li Yunye shrugged and looked at the mushrooms in his sister’s arms. “I hope they’re not poisonous. Then we can have a better lunch.”
Li Mumu returned with the mushrooms, and the Li family’s eyes brightened—they thought they would have something to eat at noon.
But Old Madam Li, having spent most of her life as a villager, immediately scolded.
“You little bringer of bad luck, you want to kill us all! These mushrooms are poisonous. Look at them, all green and slimy. If you eat them, you’ll die. Throw them away at once.”
Li Mumu wanted to say that they weren’t foolish—she knew about the greenish color.
But they didn’t know that greenish mushrooms could also be harmless.
“Why are you bringing poisonous things here? Just throw them away,” Li Yuan growled fiercely.
Li Mumu shook her head. “We’re going to eat the mushrooms.”
“Eat? You’ll see the King of Hell. Someone in our hometown, Zhou Village, ate these and died,” Zhao said, her face pale.
Lin Siyang rolled her eyes and tugged Old Madam Li’s sleeve. “Madam, are you sure you’re not mistaken? These mushrooms look quite tempting to me.”
“I wouldn’t...”
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