Chapter 19: Cutting Off the Scum Father's Path of Retreat

The Gu family was not foolish; they quickly came back to their senses.

Song Qiang, quick-witted, said with a fearful expression, “They must think it’s poisonous and deliberately sent it to us. I was wondering, those who usually ask us for things suddenly being so kind— I thought it was true friendship in hardship…”

“Enough.” Gu Mingyu shook his head coldly. “Sister, maybe it’s a misunderstanding. Perhaps they really meant well.”

Song Qiang wanted to say her husband was too naive, but before she could, her son tugged at her hand.

Well, the two men were good people; she was the only troublemaker.

But Gu Yuru already shook her head. “Second Brother, you don’t have to worry that I’ll stop Second Sister from speaking. I’m not stupid.”

“Sister!” Gu Mingyu looked at her with pain in his eyes.

“That person’s heart is truly dark. Fortunately, we ate the mushrooms and nothing happened. They must have been mistaken,” Gu Jian said in a deep voice, glancing at his daughter but suppressing his harsh words.

Gu Mingjing clenched his fists, looking ready to confront them. Those scoundrels nearly killed their entire family.

“This matter absolutely cannot end like this,” Gu Mingjing said solemnly.

Li Mumu really feared that Third Uncle would rush over, which was out of the question.

Of course, the Li family had to settle the score, but not now. If the culprit misbehaved on the way, they would surely get beaten. There was no need to involve Third Uncle to deal with a bunch of scoundrels.

Everyone looked at Gu Yuru; if not for her, the Gu family wouldn’t be so easily bullied.

Gu Yuru bit her lip, a sharp glint flashing in her eyes. “Indeed, this cannot just be let go.”

“Yuru, what do you intend to do?” asked the matriarch.

But before they could discuss further, the constables hurried them away.

“Don’t go back,” the matriarch said.

Gu Yuru looked gentle but was stubborn by nature. “Mother, I know what I’m doing.”

The Li family saw Gu Yuru and her mother striding back and couldn’t help but feel suspicious.

Zhang Xiang sneaked a glance and noticed the Gu family’s spirits were high, showing no sign of illness or poisoning, unlike what Li Rong had said.

Li Rong dared not claim the mushrooms were deadly—otherwise the constables would be in trouble—so she only said they would cause diarrhea.

After more than an hour, Zhang Xiang’s face grew darker, his heart pounding.

“Mother, why is the Gu family fine? Didn’t you say the mushrooms would kill them? You nearly caused my death.”

Old Lady Li was anxious but not as panicked as Li Rong. “Don’t rush. It’s probably not time yet.”

But as night fell, the Gu family remained vibrant, showing no sign of poisoning.

Thinking of that fragrant fish dish, Zhang Xiang’s anger flared, and his gaze swept to the culprit, Li Rong.

Li Rong trembled all over, only wanting to work hard at night to appease him.

However, she did not know what torment awaited her that night.

The town was small, but in the elders’ words, Li Mumu knew it was considered a fairly large town in this era.

On the other side, her mother was talking with her worthless father about something unpleasant. Fearful her mother would suffer losses, she hurried over.

“Yuru, didn’t Ling Yunhe give you many things? Take them and sell them to buy food. Everyone is starving.”

Hearing this, Li Mumu realized that worthless father was not stupid and had thought of buying food.

“Li Yuan, do you know those mushrooms are poisonous?”

“What… what mushrooms are poisonous? I thought everything was fine,” Li Yuan’s voice trembled faintly.

Gu Yuru looked at him and suddenly laughed. “Before, I only thought you were filial, not a big mistake. But Li Yuan, your heart is so black. I wondered why you didn’t eat those mushrooms—it was to poison us. Ten years of marriage—have I treated you badly? Have my parents, brothers, and sisters-in-law treated you badly?”

“What nonsense are you talking about?” Li Yuan angrily masked his guilt. “I was talking seriously, and you’re twisting everything. It was mother’s good intention. Aren’t you all standing here fine?”

“Li Yuan!” Gu Yuru’s voice turned icy. “I, Gu Yuru, never regret what I do — but now, I regret marrying a wolf-hearted scoundrel like you.”

“Madam, you really misunderstood Brother Yuan!”

“Shut up!” Gu Yuru pointed at her nose. “We’re talking. You have no right to interrupt.”

“I…” Lin Siyun looked at Li Yuan with red eyes, appearing deeply aggrieved.

Li Mumu felt disgusted, the same old story.

But she believed her mother would soon cast off the worthless father.

“Stop arguing. Blame me if you must. I, this old woman, kindly sent food to the in-laws, but you misunderstood everything. Third sister-in-law, all the faults lie with me. Should I kneel to you?” Old Lady Li shouted like a shrew but was skilled at appearing weak.

Though they had no chance to stay in the inn’s rooms, they still remained inside. Other guests heard the noise and glanced over, whispering.

“Mother, don’t blame grandma. Grandma wanted us to eat poisonous mushrooms to kill us, but we didn’t die.”

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately averted their eyes from Gu Yuru.

“Father knew it was poisonous but didn’t tell us not to eat.”

But he didn’t tell them not to eat, either. Hearing this, the crowd sneered. Seeing their prison clothes and shackles, some whispered about what crimes they had committed, wondering why even the children were treated this way.

“How could your hearts be so dark?”

“Yes, giving poisonous mushrooms to eat—that’s trying to kill people!”

Li Mumu looked at them with a faint smile. Lin Siyun had revealed that she was hungry in the middle of the night and asked her mother to get something to eat, then disclosed their identities to the guests here.

Unbeknownst to her, some people’s relatives were soldiers under the worthless father, and one of them, angered by their relative’s death, beat her mother badly.

This time, no one knew who would get beaten.

Li Mumu noticed a window on the second floor was slightly open, just a small crack.

No wonder they said transmigration stories were good. Others might not know, but she did — the person behind that window was an important figure.

Now, the worthless father could only dream of rising again.

When the time was right, she addressed the guests: “Uncle, don’t say that. My father is a good man. He’s a great general, very powerful. My surname is Li, and my name is Mumu. My father is Li Yuan. Uncle, do you know my father?”

Upon hearing this, the man’s face filled with rage, and he spat at Li Yuan. “Pah, so you’re that useless general. You killed my two brothers who hadn’t even married. You’re no soldier—just a worthless general. You deserve to die. Why don’t you just die?”

“What are you doing? Victory and defeat are common in war. How can you blame Brother Yuan?” Lin Siyun said.

Li Mumu watched the worthless father, furious and wanting to fight but unable to move his arms, and laughed: “Uncle, Aunt Lin is also in the army.”

If they were going to fight, it shouldn’t be only the worthless father.

“What? Are there women in the army?”

Li Mumu shouted, “Uncle, don’t hit Aunt Lin’s belly — there’s a baby in there!”

“Still a child?” The man’s eyes turned bloodshot. “My two brothers didn’t even marry, and you’re already sleeping with women in the army? I’ll fight you!”

Li Mumu raised an eyebrow. Just then, Second Aunt had bribed Zhang Xiang, who agreed to let them go out, but only three women at a time, and one constable had to accompany them.

Everyone was exhausted and reluctant to move, so the duty fell to a young constable named Liuzi.