Chapter 223: Chapter 223: Warning
"Mother, what’s going on?" After Xu Yulan took Fan Mei Lin and others to wash dishes, Gu Antong quietly asked.
She didn’t think Second Uncle was talking nonsense, and judging by Dad’s expression just now, she was certain that everyone tasted something different.
Liu Yun said, "Don’t listen to your Second Uncle’s nonsense. Didn’t everyone eat well today? Do you think it was too salty?"
From the same pot of dumpling soup, only Gu Kaichen tasted something wrong; it must be his own issue.
Gu Kaichen, "..." Am I the only one who dared to speak the truth, or am I the only one getting hurt?
Gu Kaiping, "..." I was covering for you, at the expense of my own stomach.
Xu Yulan, "..." I fought hard so I wouldn’t have to cook.
The mother-daughter trio, "..." No one spoke. Do you wonder why I didn’t say anything?
Gu Antong shook her head.
"Then there’s no problem. Right, you must be careful of those Fan sisters, besides having them do tasks, try not to be alone with them."
Gu Antong obediently responded, "Understood. But if I have them do more work, what about Grandpa over there..."
"You don’t need to worry about your grandfather. He’s not so senile yet," Liu Yun didn’t know what Gu Baijiang was thinking, but she was certain that for the sake of the Gu Family’s interests, Gu Baijiang wouldn’t make things difficult for Gu Antong.
"Do your tasks well, with these two sisters by your side; you can relax a bit more, especially those hands of yours, they are already becoming rough."
Gu Antong raised her hands; even though Liu Yun had taken on most of the tasks, these hands weren’t as delicate as in the boudoir, and there was even a small burn scar on the back of her hand.
Xu Shuanghong and her two daughters also gathered together whispering, Fan Mei Lin said, "Mother, when will these days end? I didn’t do these servitude tasks before, and see how today, whenever they have something, they call us sisters to do it. I feel my hands are getting rough, and look how they’re all red from the cold."
Fan Mei Bao chimed in, "Sister is right. Look at my hands, they’re still red and swollen. Isn’t that old man having ulterior motives with you? Otherwise, tell him not to bully us like this."
"Both of you, have you forgotten what I told you before you came?" Xu Shuanghong felt heartache looking at her daughters’ hands; these were her meticulously raised daughters, yet the Gu Family mistreated them.
"You must bear it. Once this hurdle is over, better days will come for you.
But you two must remember, stay away from the Gu Family Brothers."
Fan Mei Lin grimaced, "Mother, this place is so small. How can we keep our distance?
The look in that person’s eyes is disgusting. I wish I could poke them out."
Fan Mei Bao nodded in agreement, "Exactly, the way he looks at me and sister, like comparing goods, as if he deserves it."
"I know you’re feeling wronged, but hide your expressions, and if you can’t endure it just keep your heads down," Xu Shuanghong warned again, "If you mess things up, our family will face disaster."
The Fan sisters nodded simultaneously, but they still had one question.
Fan Mei Bao asked with doubt, "Mother, didn’t you and sister find the dumpling soup too salty earlier?"
"You thought it was salty too," Fan Mei Ling thought it was just some bowls like this, but now it seemed they were all mistaken.
Fan Mei Bao nodded, and Xu Shuanghong said, "Looks like we’re being targeted."
"But it’s not right either, wasn’t Second Uncle also...," Fan Mei Bao suddenly realized, "This was their act, leaving us no opportunity to speak."
They had said some things, so of course, they couldn’t bring it up again; they had to accept the silent loss.
"Second Uncle was probably genuine, his bowl had the same thing as ours.
I don’t know about the others, but those little ones certainly had no issue," Xu Shuanghong analyzed, knowing that adults could be manipulative, but those two young boys in the Gu Family wouldn’t have such acting skills.
"Mother, let’s tell Gu Baijiang," after talking for a while, Fan Mei Bao felt thirsty again, "this time if they can add salt to our food, who knows if they’ll drug us next?"
Xu Shuanghong didn’t respond but instead gazed forward, thoughtful, then softly said after a while, "Yes, if they can add salt this time, what will they add next? This is a warning to us."
Fan Mei Lin sisters shivered with chilly backs, feeling they saw the truth.
They also felt that their sudden appearance was too reckless, but these decisions weren’t theirs to make.
The leader had said, often when people deem something impossible to succeed, it usually fails by a minor detail.
By going against the norm, unexpected efficacy might occur for them.
Whether there would be efficacy or not, they didn’t know; now they only felt their lives hanging on a thread.
"Heard this young madam is a granddaughter from Marquis Mansion, how could a woman from such a large mansion not have some tricks," Fan Mei Lin looked pale, "she’s warning us that dealing with us would be easy for her."
Fan Mei Bao nodded along, thinking the same, that Liu is indeed hateful, using these methods right after their arrival.
Xu Shuanghong said, "So both of you, better stay cautious these days, and avoid clashes with the main wife temporarily. We three will discuss and plan slowly regarding any matter."
"But do we really have to stay by Gu Antong’s side as servants?" Fan Mei Bao was a bit unwilling; she used to have servants waiting on her and wouldn’t want to be a servant herself.
"There’s no choice in it," Xu Shuanghong suddenly said harshly, "If you want to keep our lives, you must swallow all grievances during this period.
While I can’t promise anything else, I assure you one day you will get it back double."
"Double is too little, I want it back tenfold, hundredfold," Fan Mei Bao said with a malicious expression, already imagining making Gu Antong wash countless clothes and do endless chores to vent her anger.
"As you wish," Xu Shuanghong appeased them, meanwhile pondering that with just such a few people in the Gu Family and so complicated, it seemed she had to endure the disgust and handle Gu Baijiang early.
Over a decade had passed, Gu Baijiang wasn’t the spirited County Magistrate he used to be; a face covered with burn scars walking alongside pressure, yet facing him in a condescending manner.
After coaxing her two daughters and having them willingly help the Gu Family, she tidied her clothes and sat down again by the fire.
"Your two girls are quite diligent," Gu Baijiang remarked to her upon return, attempting complimenting, "These girls are of the age to settle marriage, aren’t they?"
