Chapter 43: This is the Price of Underestimating Her

However, Li Zuo and Old Madam Li simply could not wait for Lin Siyan's stammering response, as the urge to relieve themselves struck once more. They had no choice but to sprint off to take care of it.

Lin Siyan gained a momentary respite, but she knew very well that the matter would not end here.

Sensing Lin Siyan's venomous gaze fixed upon her, Li Mumu remained all smiles, though that smile undoubtedly appeared deeply sarcastic.

"It was you, it was you, wasn't it?" Lin Siyan rushed over to Li Mumu's side. "You're the one behind this, aren't you?"

Li Mumu feigned a look of terror. "Aunt Lin, what are you talking about?"

"It was you, it definitely was you! You really are a monster." Lin Siyan was being driven out of her mind by the torment.

Seeing Lin Siyan make a move toward Li Mumu, Gu Yuru lunged forward in a flash. She had trained in martial arts in her youth, only laying aside her sword to willingly prepare meals after becoming a married woman.

However, that did not mean she could no longer pick up a blade.

"Lin Siyan, what do you think you're doing?" Gu Yuru demanded coldly, her momentum overwhelming.

Lin Siyan swallowed hard. "She... she's a monster. She really is a monster."

"You're the monster!" roared Gu Yu, before taking Li Mumu's hand. "My little cousin is just fine."

"It was her... she's the one who poisoned everyone, not me!"

"What nonsense are you spouting?" Gu Mingjing strode over, his tall and straight posture casting a shadow over Lin Siyan. "It is entirely clear that you played dirty tricks, framed Mumu, and forced Yunchao and his brothers away. Now that your deeds have been exposed, you still try to pin the blame on Mumu. Listen to me, you surnamed Lin, the brainless fools of the Li family may be hoodwinked by you, but we of the Gu family are not stupid. If you dare utter another word of nonsense, I won't be so polite."

Young, vigorous, and radiating murderous intent, Gu Mingjing's cold warning hit its mark. Lin Siyan was ultimately terrified and dared not speak another word.

Gu Yuru also had no desire to make a huge scene—not out of fear of the Li family, but rather to avoid bringing unwanted scrutiny upon her younger brother from the constables.

Before leaving, however, she issued a cold warning: "Listen well, Lin Siyan. I can let go of a man, but as for my children—whoever dares to harm a single hair on their heads, I, Gu Yuru, will make them pay it back tenfold."

Li Mumu's jaw dropped in exaggerated astonishment. "Mother is mighty! Mother is so awesome!"

Gu Yuru knew that Li Zuo preferred gentle and yielding women, so she had previously kept her sharpness under wraps, only to receive betrayal and deceit in return.

Therefore, she decided to rediscover her true self from this day forward.

Because the entire Li family was suffering from diarrhea—having to dash off to relieve themselves every short while—their pace was drastically slowed down. Zhang Xiang had no desire to wait around for them here, nor did he care to endure the stench of excrement.

Consequently, he left behind only a small detail to watch them, while he proceeded ahead with a few constables and the Gu family to rest at the next stopover.

By evening, the Li family was nowhere to be seen. They had shriveled from dehydration and were too exhausted to walk another step.

Despite rushing frantically, they still failed to find an inn and were forced to camp out in the wilderness once more.

Zhang Xiang and his men carried roasted chicken and braised meat, eating with great relish. At the same time, Zhang Xiang's greedy gaze kept drifting toward the women of the Gu family, though he did not yet dare to actually make a move.

Li Mumu observed everything in silence. The last reservations in Zhang Xiang's heart were wearing thin; before long, her aunt and mother would likely fall victim to his vicious intentions. This man could not be allowed to live.

Zhang Yi and Song Qiang prepared to boil some rice and cook a simple vegetable dish. At a time like this, having anything to eat at all was a blessing, and they could not afford to be picky.

The Li children were all sensible and proactively offered to look around nearby for any edible wild fruits.

Naturally, Li Mumu trotted along right behind them, and her older cousins were more than happy to have her along.

This time, however, Gu Yuru also intended to go.

"Can Mother come with you all?" Gu Yuru asked with a smile.

Li Mumu could sense that her mother was genuinely happy. Sure enough, once separated from scum and villains, well-fed, and radiant with a glowing complexion, who could possibly tell this was a fallen noble lady just by changing her clothes?

Looking back at Lin Siyan and her sallow, sickly face, it was no wonder the scum of a father had looked at Mother with entirely different eyes today.

Hmph! Men!

"Of course you can!" Li Mumu declared loudly.

With Mother around, it wouldn't be too excessive to hunt some wild game to eat, right?

Gu Yuru spotted some wild berries. Although Li Mumu had never eaten them before, she had seen them in books and confirmed they were non-toxic, albeit unusually sour and astringent. She didn't stop her mother from picking them; later on, they could be made into dried fruit and dipped in white sugar to create a sweet and sour treat.

"Mumu, the grass is very deep here and it's easy to trip. Just sit right there, and Mother will come pick you up as soon as I'm done."

Li Mumu nodded. She had originally planned to conjure some rabbits or pheasants out of her spatial dimension.

Unexpectedly, she found herself targeted by a wild boar. Human and beast locked eyes. Li Mumu's gaze turned sharp, but the wild boar likely deemed her nothing more than a human toddler not worth fearing, baring its tusks in a mocking sneer.

Flesh and blood could only endure so much; whoever wanted to tolerate this could go ahead, but Li Mumu was done playing human.

Picking up a rock, she channeled her strength into her hands. Although this body was far too small and lacked sufficient leverage, Li Mumu could already sense that her physique was extraordinary compared to ordinary people.

Her physical strength was immense; she had already discovered this the day she tossed the sack of rice into the dry well. Normally, a child of her age had no business lifting over thirty pounds of rice, yet she had not only lifted it, but carried it some distance.

Though inferior to an adult's raw power, her accuracy was top-notch. A fist-sized stone struck dead center just above the wild boar's eyes—its most vulnerable spot.

Propelled by a stone of that size and imbued with Li Mumu's gathered strength, the wild boar didn't even have time to squeal before dropping dead on the spot.

Li Mumu dusted off her hands. That was the price of underestimating her.

Gu Yuru also heard the commotion. Out in the wilderness, she maintained constant vigilance.

"Mumu, what was that sound?" Gu Yuru called out, turning around.

Li Mumu smiled. "Mother, something just crashed into a tree."

"Crashed into a tree?" Gu Yuru looked skeptical. She quickly hurried over to her daughter's side to ensure there was no danger.

"Stay right here, Mother will go take a look."

"Be careful, Mother," Li Mumu said with a smile.

Gu Yuru found her daughter increasingly endearing. She picked up a sturdy branch, parted the tall grass, and saw a massive wild boar lying motionless on the ground. She cautiously tested its breathing with her hand.

She wasn't frightened, only astonished.

Feigning ignorance, Li Mumu asked, "Mother, what is it?"

"Mumu, it's a wild boar! Did it really die from running into a tree?"

Li Mumu nodded. "It just ran like that and slammed right into it."

Gu Yuru chuckled softly. "My Mumu really is a blessed child. Earlier when your second aunt said you were the one who found the ginseng, I hardly dared to believe it. Now, I truly believe it. A wild boar delivering itself to our doorstep—this is the first time I've ever seen such a thing."

Gu Yuru hurriedly called her sons over, yet the little rascals didn't find it the least bit strange upon hearing that the wild boar had collided with a tree.