Free Web NovelChapter 64: Chapter 64: Trouble
Gu’er was completely unaware of what was happening at home.
She didn’t know Aunt Sun from Liu Shu Village had her eye on her, nor did she know that her third aunt, Cui Mei, had paid them a visit.
She didn’t know Zhou Mazi was already on the verge of agreeing, with only the price left to be settled.
She had even less of an idea that Zhou Feng’er, believing Gu’er had stolen a golden opportunity from her, had gone to find Zhou Mei. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com
Gu’er knew none of this;
she was preoccupied with finding someone to build her a wooden box.
Her third maternal uncle was a carpenter and a relative, which should have made him the perfect person for the job. But thinking about what kind of person her third aunt was, Gu’er decided against it. If she asked her uncle, even if she paid him, it would look like she was trying to take advantage. And who knew how her aunt would bad-mouth her then.
There didn’t seem to be any carpenters in their village, and she didn’t know any personally.
Gu’er thought of Sun Jiaming and Liu Yuan.
Sun Jiaming knew a lot of people, so she could ask him. Liu Yuan was from the city, so he would probably know someone too and could help her ask around.
As for the small quilt, she could make one herself in the next couple of days.
The wheelbarrow was just too inconvenient. ’If only I had a bicycle,’ she thought, ’it would be so much easier to get to and from the city.’ At that moment, Gu’er yearned for a bicycle like never before.
’When I get back, I’ll have to ask my adoptive father, Zhou Mazi, for some money. Building the box and buying popsicles wholesale both cost money.’ She wondered if he would even give her any. The little money she’d given him before seemed to have been completely squandered. Although she had earned a bit, the family’s living conditions hadn’t improved in the slightest. Gu’er’s expression dimmed at the thought. ’I have to leave the Zhou family. When I do, I’ll buy all sorts of delicious food and invite my adoptive mother over to eat with me. As for everyone else, I couldn’t care less.’
’I’ll buy her canned goods and sponge cakes. I’ll cook fish and meat, all sorts of delicious things for her. She’d never guess I know how to make so many different dishes.’ Thinking about it, Gu’er started to feel happy again.
Gu’er entered the courtyard and called for her mother twice, but no one answered.
Gu’er found this strange. Li Hua rarely went out visiting, so why wasn’t she home?
She called out twice more, then went to the kitchen. It was empty. She went to the main room, but it was empty too.
Gu’er frowned. It was almost dark; why wasn’t anyone home? ’This isn’t right,’ she thought.
Gu’er came out of the main room and went back to the kitchen.
The cutting board was clean and the pot was empty. Dinner was usually ready by this time. Where could her adoptive mother have gone today?
Gu’er was perplexed, and a faint sense of panic began to set in.
"Dad! Dad! Dad, where are you? Come out!"
A shout suddenly echoed from the courtyard.
It was Zhou Feng’er. Hearing her voice, Gu’er walked outside.
"Where’s Dad?"
Zhou Feng’er looked frantic, questioning Gu’er anxiously the moment she saw her.
"I haven’t seen him since I got back. What’s wrong?"
Although Gu’er disliked her adoptive family, she wasn’t heartless. Besides, with her adoptive mother also missing, she had a gut feeling something was terribly wrong.
"What’s the use in telling you!"
Zhou Feng’er glared at Zhou Gu’er, looking as if she didn’t want to speak to her at all.
Gu’er grew anxious. Her adoptive father, Zhou Mazi, wasn’t home, and Zhou Feng’er had come back shouting for him. That meant he wasn’t the one in trouble. Thinking about how her adoptive mother still wasn’t back, she wondered, ’Could something have happened to Mom?’
’But nothing like this happened in my past life.’
But a lot of things were different in this life. Had something really happened to her adoptive mother? Gu’er’s heart felt like it was on fire. freēwēbnovel.com
"What on earth happened! Where’s Mom?"
Gu’er was extremely worried, and her voice grew stern. If there was one person in the world she couldn’t bear to see hurt, it was Li Hua.
"What are you yelling about! This is all your fault! You’re a jinx! First, your bad luck killed your own father, and now you’re bringing it on our mom! Zhou Gu’er, I’m telling you, if Mom dies, I’ll kill you!"
Zhou Feng’er didn’t explain what had happened, instead lashing out at Gu’er with red-rimmed, furious eyes.
A buzzing filled Gu’er’s head. ’So something really did happen to my adoptive mother?’
She swayed on her feet. She couldn’t bear to lose another loved one. Suddenly, she remembered the little one, remembered that adorable face blurred by blood. She felt her legs about to give out.
"Where’s Mom? Where is she?"
Gu’er barely recognized her own voice.
Seeing Gu’er’s reaction, Zhou Feng’er was momentarily moved; she hadn’t expected Gu’er to care so much about their mother. But then another thought came to her. ’In this family, Mom is the only one who’s genuinely good to her. If Mom were gone, Zhou Gu’er would have no place here at all. Of course she’d pretend to care.’
"Someone came by earlier today and said Grandma Sun wasn’t doing well. Mom heard and said she was going to check on her. When it got late and she still wasn’t back, I went to look for her. She was just coming out of the Sun Family’s house, but I don’t know why... she just collapsed. She wouldn’t wake up no matter what I did. Brother Jia Ming carried her onto the kang. I came back to get Dad... Where is he? What are we going to do if we can’t find him?"
By the end of her explanation, Zhou Feng’er was crying.
Zhou Gu’er registered the words: Grandma Sun was unwell, her adoptive mother had collapsed. ’Collapsed and won’t wake up? What could it be? A heart attack? A stroke?’
The more Gu’er thought about it, the more terrified she became. She couldn’t imagine what would become of her if her adoptive mother really died.
’No, no, no! I haven’t even begun to repay her for raising me. Nothing can happen to her. It can’t.’
"Sister! Sister! Where’s Dad? Did you find him?"
Just then, Zhou Duo’er ran in as well.
Her face was a mask of anxiety, and she was clearly terrified.
"No, I don’t know where Dad went,"
Zhou Feng’er said, sniffling.
"Then what are we going to do!"
Zhou Duo’er asked, completely at a loss.
"I’m going to check on her. You two find Dad,"
Gu’er said, steadying herself. Her first priority was to see her adoptive mother’s condition. If it was serious, she’d ask Sun Jiaming for help. She had to get her mother to a doctor in the city; she couldn’t just wait. As for Zhou Mazi, he probably wouldn’t be much use even if they did find him.
’Wait, I still have the wild ginseng. I wonder if that would help. Maybe I should have her hold a piece in her mouth?’
"Du’er, you go find Dad. I’m going with her."
Seeing Gu’er about to leave, Zhou Feng’er quickly followed her.
Zhou Gu’er didn’t think much of it; she was too worried to think about anything else.
On the way, Zhou Feng’er grabbed Zhou Gu’er’s arm. Gu’er tried to shake her off a couple of times, but when she couldn’t, she just let it be, assuming Zhou Feng’er was simply scared.
Gu’er and Zhou Feng’er headed for the Sun Family’s home. The path there led right past Zhang Da’s front door.
Gu’er was so worried about her adoptive mother that she paid this no mind. But just as they reached Zhang Da’s house, Zhou Feng’er suddenly cried out, "Ouch!" and squatted down, clutching her stomach.
"What’s wrong?"
Gu’er was in a hurry, but since Zhou Feng’er was holding her back, she couldn’t leave and had no choice but to ask.
"My stomach... it hurts. It hurts so much."
Zhou Feng’er’s face was contorted in pain.
Zhou Gu’er frowned but bent down to check on her. She never noticed someone tiptoeing up behind her, taking out a cloth, and clamping it over her mouth.
