Chapter 564: Seeking Justice
This đŹontent is taken from freeweÉnovel.cŃłm.
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Gu Zi observed the crowd, recognizing many faces from Chen Village. Their expressions were cold and sour, giving her an instinctive feeling that their presence spelled trouble. She quickly descended the stairs, the dawn barely breaking, the chill of the early morning not yet dissipated. Pulling her coat tighter around herself, she sought to ward off the cold.
Just as Gu Zi stepped into the courtyard, she hadnât even opened the gate when she was spotted by the crowd outside. Among them was the gossipy woman from Chen Village, a character Gu Zi had become acquainted with during a previous temple ceremony. The womanâs reputation for stirring up trouble and her knack for manipulation had left a deep impression on Gu Zi.
Previously, Gu Zi had asked Aunt Zhang to keep an eye on this woman. Aunt Zhang discovered that the gossipy woman was attempting to manipulate Su Jing in order to secure a partnership with Su Shen. The woman was relentless in her pursuit, but to her dismay, Su Jing had left Daqing Village before they could exploit her, leaving them frustrated.
From Aunt Zhang, Gu Zi had also learned crucial information. The gossipy womanâs husband was one of the key members of the cunning group from Chen Village. They were eager to strike a deal and skim off some profits from the pig farm. The gossipy woman, eager to earn merit with her husband, was left bitterly scolded when Su Jing left, causing her status at home to plummet.
Upon seeing Gu Zi, the woman shouted loudly, drawing everyoneâs attention to her. It seemed as if she believed this confrontation could help her regain some ground. âThe Su family canât hide forever. Someone has finally come out. We must demand an explanation from her. Donât you all agree?â
Several villagers from Chen Village echoed the womanâs sentiment, their gazes fixed on Gu Zi with ill intent. Others simply watched, waiting to see what would unfold. Gu Zi, unsure of what explanation the woman sought, approached the gate to better understand the situation. At that moment, Aunt Zhang burst from the crowd, pointing accusingly at the gossipy woman and defending Gu Zi.
âYou troublesome hag, always picking on others! What does the villageâs power outage have to do with the Su family? Youâre like a wild dog, always barking nonsense. You tried to sow discord between Su Jing and Gu Zi at the temple, and now youâre blaming the power outage on the Su family. What other lies do you have up your sleeve? Now that everyoneâs here, why donât you spill them all at once? Letâs see what kind of wild dog you really are!â
Aunt Zhangâs fierce defense seemed to deflate the gossipy womanâs momentum, but she was merely feigning defeat. She turned to her fellow villagers and said, âLook, theyâre even biting back. Itâs clear that the Su family is using their power to bully others. Their pig farm consumes so much electricity, and now our three villages are without power. We donât even know when weâll have electricity again.
âAll we want is justice, and yet weâre being scolded so harshly. Aunt Zhang, weâve heard from your fellow villagers that you often receive benefits from the Su family, so naturally, youâd defend them. But we three villages are like brothers. How could you insult us like this?â
Many nodded in agreement, feeling that Aunt Zhang was in the wrong. Even some from Daqing Village felt that Aunt Zhangâs scolding was excessive.
However, Gu Zi understood the situation clearly. Aunt Zhang was simply suffering for her straightforwardness. Such people often appeared unlikable, just like now. Aunt Zhang was so angry because she had been closely watching the gossipy woman and her group, aware of their true colors.
But the power outage in the village was news to Gu Zi. She stepped forward, standing beside Aunt Zhang, and asked in a calm voice, âAunt Zhang, what happened with the power?â
Those outside the gate noticed the large yellow dog tied in the courtyard, pacing back and forth within its reach like a guard dog, as if warning them to behave or risk being bitten.
Aunt Zhang, seeing Gu Zi had come out, finally lowered her hands from her hips and pulled Gu Zi aside. âYou just woke up, didnât you? Let me tell you, for some unknown reason, our three villages lost power last night. I came to find you but couldnât wake you. I even ran into Su Shen, who was worried about you. He came to check on you and even went inside your house. He left for the city afterward.â
Listening to Aunt Zhang, Gu Zi finally understood the magnitude of the events that had transpired the previous night. She had rushed out earlier, still clutching the flashlight Su Shen had left for her. The warmth from the flashlight made her realize that he had indeed made a special trip back to leave it for her, probably fearing she would be scared if she woke up in the middle of the night.
A warm feeling spread through Gu Ziâs heart, causing a slight flutter. But on the surface, she maintained her calm demeanor and asked Aunt Zhang, âDid he go to the city to deal with this issue?â