In the late afternoon, Miao finished her share of the work. Since she had to go shopping on a sudden errand, she got up and left home. Over the years, having been accustomed to assigning most of the work to Gu Liyue and Yunniang, she felt a bit rusty. There wasn't much embroidery work these days, and she didn't expect it to fetch a high price.
Yunniang... Well, she'd have Yunniang do a bit more in the evening. They had to get through the next few days somehow.
Not long after Miao left, Gu Liyue put down her embroidery. She embroidered slowly and had only managed to finish two leaves in the whole afternoon.
Gu Liyue stood up and walked out of the door slowly, heading towards the alley next to their house. The women on this street liked to sit in the alley, doing some vegetable - picking, embroidery, and chatting when they were free.
A sharp - eyed Aunt Cao saw Gu Liyue and immediately greeted her, "Liyue, you're out! Come, sit here with Auntie."
Gu Liyue's eyes were a bit unfocused and her voice was low. "Aunt Cao, can you... help me?"
Aunt Cao was taken aback. She got up and came over to support Gu Liyue, who seemed about to fall apart at any moment. She asked with concern, "What's going on? Liyue, what's wrong with you?"
Gu Liyue covered her lips and coughed. Pointing at the house, she said, "I've boiled the medicine, but the medicine pot is too heavy. I... can't lift it."
Aunt Cao felt so bad for her. "Where are your family members? Yunniang... Oh, she's doing some work. Isn't your aunt at home?"
Gu Liyue forced a bitter smile. "Yunniang was too busy and forgot today."
She didn't mention Miao. Aunt Cao understood that if Miao was willing to help her, she wouldn't have to come out and ask others for help.
Without hesitation, Aunt Cao followed Gu Liyue back home, planning to pour the medicine for her. But Gu Liyue leaned against the kitchen door, looking as if she could hardly catch her breath.
"Oh dear, you look even worse! Come on, Auntie will help you back to your room first. I'll pour the medicine for you later."
Gu Liyue grew even weaker. She managed to pull out a smile. "Aunt Cao, thank you."
Aunt Cao waved her hand. "We're neighbors. You don't have to be so polite. You're just too soft - hearted. Tiedan told me that you've suffered so much at home."
Gu Liyue perked up a bit. "Tiedan saved me. I haven't even thanked him..."
Aunt Cao was dissatisfied, but not with Gu Liyue. How could Gu Liyue thank Tiedan in her current state? But still, her son had saved someone, and apart from Gu Liyue, no one in the Liu family even said a word of thanks.
Thinking of what happened that day, Aunt Cao felt disdainful. No wonder they didn't say thank you. They clearly wished this niece of theirs was dead.
Gu Liyue lay in bed. Aunt Cao immediately fetched the medicine and fed it to her. Meanwhile, she sized up the room. The small storage room was a bit messy with two beds. She was sure that the other bed wasn't Liu Qinting's. It was probably Yunniang's.
The Liu family seemed so decent on the outside, yet they let their niece live in such a place?
The medicine was so bitter that Gu Liyue's eyes turned red, but she didn't even frown. After drinking the medicine, she immediately tried to get up.
Aunt Cao held her down. "What are you getting up for? Just rest."
Gu Liyue shook her head anxiously. "I have to... do some work..."
Aunt Cao frowned sternly. "You're in this state. What kind of work can you do? When your aunt comes back, I'll talk to her."
Gu Liyue quickly said, "Auntie, thank you for protecting me... But it's better not to cause any more trouble. I'm feeling better. It's just some embroidery work. I can do it."
Aunt Cao was even more unhappy. "Embroidery? Embroidery is so tiring on the mind. How can your body handle it?"
"Not much, not much..."
Looking at Gu Liyue's panicked face, Aunt Cao knew exactly that it was Miao who had assigned her this work.
Although she couldn't interfere in other people's affairs, Aunt Cao was a kind - hearted person. She just couldn't bear to see this little girl so pitiful. "Alright, you rest. I'll do a bit of the embroidery for you."
Gu Liyue looked at her gratefully. "Auntie, I... When I get better, I will definitely... cough, cough, cough..."
Aunt Cao held her down. "Silly girl, you should start taking good care of yourself."
Gu Liyue lay in bed for a while and felt much better. She got up and saw that Aunt Cao was almost done with the embroidery. Then she went out to pour some hot water for Aunt Cao.
Just as she reached the main hall, she ran into Liu Qinting, who had just come back.
Liu Qinting frowned. "What are you doing out? Have you finished the embroidery work my mother assigned you?"
Gu Liyue stammered, "I... I'm just going to pour some water..."
Liu Qinting rolled her eyes. Just as she was about to leave, she thought of something and called Gu Liyue back. "Gu Liyue, when are you going to break off the engagement?"
A flash of something passed across Gu Liyue's eyebrows. Originally, she just wanted Aunt Cao to see what kind of life she was living. Aunt Cao had a good relationship with the neighbors, and soon everyone would know how the Liu family had treated their niece harshly. By then, when she left, no one would point fingers at her.
In the past, she had always valued her family too much and thought that she should just endure small things.
She never expected Liu Qinting to show up at this moment.
There was no one around, so Gu Liyue didn't pretend anymore. She looked up at Liu Qinting with a hint of sarcasm on her face. But her voice was low. "Cousin, I've told Auntie that when the Feng family comes to break off the engagement, I'll agree..."
Liu Qinting was used to being domineering towards this cousin. Seeing her expression, she immediately got angry and scolded, "What do you mean by waiting for the Feng family to break off the engagement? I'm telling you to break it off. Do you understand! Who do you think you are? You're just an orphan who killed your parents. Do you think you're worthy of Brother Feng?"
Gu Liyue took a step back. "Cousin, no matter what, this isn't my fault. How can I take the initiative to break off the engagement? If you really want me to do so, it's not impossible. I'll make everything clear. It was the Feng family who wronged me, so I decided to break off the engagement."
Liu Qinting couldn't believe that Gu Liyue dared to resist her. She immediately raised her hand and tried to slap her.
Gu Liyue dodged nimbly. Liu Qinting couldn't control her strength and bumped into the table. She grimaced in pain.
"Cousin, how can you hit people? I didn't hold you accountable for pushing me into the water that day, but now you..."
Liu Qinting was furious. "What are you talking nonsense about? Gu Liyue, if you keep talking nonsense, I'll tear your mouth apart. You have to break off the engagement with the Feng family, whether you like it or not. Do you think I can't find the keepsake just because you've hidden it? When I do, I'll make you pay! You, dreaming of Brother Feng?"
Gu Liyue raised her eyebrows, her tone as soft as ever. "But cousin, if Feng Lanqing really likes you, he should have taken the initiative to break off the engagement and propose to you despite all the difficulties. Why didn't he do it? Instead, he sent you to force me. Don't you know the answer in your heart?"
Such a provocative remark was more than Liu Qinting could bear. "You're talking nonsense! You! Gu Liyue, you bitch. I'll beat you up today until you can't even find your teeth!"
Just then, Liu Anping's voice came from the door. "What are you doing?"
Liu Anping had just returned from work. He met Miao at the door, and the two of them entered the house together. They heard Liu Qinting shouting at the door of the main hall that she was going to beat Gu Liyue.
The alley where they lived was narrow, and such a commotion was clearly heard by the neighbors. Many curious people were peeping out of their doors.