FID – Chapter 616

Chapter 616: I Am Heavily in Debt

“Anyway, I’m going with you.” Liu Muqiu lowered her head, her fingers twisting so tightly that they turned pale. She was trying to ease the overwhelming rush of her heartbeat as she stood before him.

Leaning against the carriage, Liu Zhiqiu crossed his arms and tilted his head, his gaze fixed on the woman with a half-smile. “Are you afraid that if I go alone, my chastity won’t be safe?”

“……” Her mouth twitched, then she finally gritted her teeth and nodded.

She knew all too well the tricks of those delicate white lotuses. If Liu Zhiqiu were to escort those people home alone, countless complications would arise along the way.

Just the word reputation alone would be enough for Yang Shuqing and Yang Shuyu to tie Zhiqiu down.

She couldn’t let him suffer such a loss.

If he was going to marry, it had to be someone he truly liked—even if that person wasn’t her.

“Alright then, if you insist on coming along, I’ll leave my reputation in your hands.” The man spoke playfully, secured the carriage, and then headed into the main hall.

Only then did Liu Muqiu lift her head, watching his retreating figure before covering her mouth to stifle a laugh.

This side of Liu Zhiqiu was something different.

A side rarely shown in front of family.

He was actually quite shrewd.

The thought that she might be the only one to have seen this side of him made her heart bubble with delight.

However, before the two of them could see Wang-shi and the others come out, only Wang-shi appeared alone.

“In-laws, in-laws,” Wang-shi rushed into the main hall, anxious and flustered. She turned to the elderly couple who had just stepped out of their room and said, “Shuqing suddenly developed a high fever! She’s burning up badly. Can we have Nannan check on her again?”

“That child was already lying in bed when we got back. Nannan had checked her pulse earlier and said it was nothing serious. We had even packed our things, ready to return to the village this afternoon, but out of nowhere, she suddenly spiked a fever and became delirious!”

Grandpa Liu and Grandma Liu exchanged glances, frowning. He then instructed, “Muqiu, go call Nannan. Wife, you go along as well and take a look—don’t let her burn into confusion.”

His wife nodded and followed Wang-shi toward the guest courtyard, while Liu Muqiu headed back to the inner courtyard to bring Liu Yusheng.

As they walked, Liu Muqiu asked, “Nannan, you checked her pulse before and said she was fine. How did she suddenly develop a fever?”

She trusted Nannan’s medical skills completely.

She was more inclined to believe that someone simply didn’t want to leave and was causing trouble again.

“A high fever doesn’t necessarily come from falling into water,” Liu Yusheng replied calmly, indirectly confirming her suspicions.

“What a white lotus!” Liu Muqiu gritted her teeth in frustration, making Liu Yusheng chuckle.

“Are you just talking about others? Back in the day, your tricks were way ahead of hers.”

“I’ve reformed now.”

“Yes, yes, a reformed black-hearted white lotus who doesn’t even bother pretending anymore.”

“Nannan!”

“Pfft! Alright, let’s go quickly before she actually burns out.”

When they arrived at the guest courtyard, Wang-shi and Yang Xiuying were already there. The moment they saw Liu Yusheng, their expressions turned unpleasant.

“Nannan, hurry and take a look! How did she suddenly become like this? You already checked her pulse earlier! We were the ones who brought her here—if something happens to her while she’s away from home, how are we supposed to explain it to her family?”

“In-law, what do you mean by that?” Grandma Liu immediately frowned in displeasure. “Are you saying that our Nannan is malicious? That she deliberately refused to treat Miss Yang and caused her to fall ill?”

She could tolerate anything, but falsely accusing her Nannan was unacceptable!

Wang-shi quickly changed her tone, “In-law, that’s not what I meant! I was just speaking too hastily out of worry. Of course, I trust Nannan’s medical skills—who in the entire area doesn’t know that no doctor around here is better than her? But Shuqing’s fever is just too strange.”

“It’s not strange at all. She soaked in cold water for so long—it would be harder not to get a fever.” Liu Yusheng walked to the bedside, picked up a strand of Yang Shuqing’s still slightly damp hair, then let it go.

This simple action made Wang-shi and Yang Xiuying’s eyes widen in panic.

“I’ll prescribe her some fever-reducing medicine—have her drink a dose first. Then, let Xiao Jinzi’s driver take her to the county medical clinic and have the senior physician check her pulse.”

“Nannan?” Grandma Liu frowned.

“Grandma, this is the best solution. Otherwise, if she gets worse while staying at our house and people start blaming us, no amount of explanation will clear our name.”

Grandma Liu understood her intention and nodded. “We’ll do as you say. Illnesses can be treated, but human hearts are much harder to heal.”

Their exchange made Wang-shi and Yang Xiuying’s faces turn pale, then flush with embarrassment.

Standing beside Grandma Liu, Liu Muqiu quietly linked her arm through the old lady’s, her eyes curving into an almost imperceptible smile.

The family’s matriarch was truly sharp.

No schemer could hide from her.

If someone was determined to fall ill, even the best doctor couldn’t cure them. Worse yet, the doctor might end up being blamed for it.

Wasn’t that exactly what Grandma had said?

The heart is the hardest thing to heal.

Meanwhile, Yang Shuqing wasn’t doing much better. The fever left her lightheaded, her chest tight, and her stomach nauseous.

Hearing the conversation between Grandma Liu and Liu Yusheng, a wave of frustration surged through her. Her already flushed face burned even redder.

The only thing that gave her a bit of comfort was that, after all this, they wouldn’t be able to leave today.

The Liu family might have wanted to send them away, but there was no way to force them out.

Since Yang Shuqing was being taken to the county medical clinic, Yang Xiuying went along, while Wang-shi stayed behind to keep Yang Shuyu company.

A round trip would take at least two to three hours, by which time it would be dark.

On the way back to the inner courtyard, Liu Muqiu grabbed Liu Yusheng’s arm and asked, “Nannan, did they go back into the water again? I noticed when you picked up her hair—it was damp. And there were water stains all over the floor in their room.”

“You already figured it out, so why ask?” Liu Yusheng rolled her eyes ungracefully. “They really are something else. Do they think staying an extra day or two will change anything? Do they actually take my second brother for a fool?”

Scheming against her second brother was pointless.

Even the delicate little white lotus at his side had failed—did the Yang sisters think they were more skilled than her?

All their scheming would only make things worse for both families.

Just then, a voice suddenly came from above. “Yang Shuyu went to the second courtyard.”

Startled, the two looked up to see Wei Hong standing atop the inner courtyard wall.

“Aunt Hong, what are you doing up there?” Liu Yusheng’s mouth twitched.

“Oh, old habits die hard. When keeping an eye on people, you have to take the high ground.” Wei Hong leaped down from the courtyard wall and looked at Liu Muqiu. “Weren’t you the one determined to protect Liu Zhiqiu’s chastity?”

“……” Liu Muqiu’s face instantly burned red. She stomped her foot and ran toward the second courtyard. “Aunt Hong! Do you have to listen to everything I say?!”

Laughter sounded behind her, making Liu Muqiu even more embarrassed, but she couldn’t dwell on it. The situation in the second courtyard was far more concerning.

As she reached the entrance, before she even stepped inside, she heard a man’s voice from within.

“After all this fuss, what is it that you even like about me? My face? The silver in my pocket?”

“N-no, it’s not like that, Cousin Zhiqiu, I…” A timid, hesitant voice—it was Yang Shuyu.

“Listen up, you’ve really got the wrong person. Sure, I’ve got a decent face, but a good face doesn’t put food on the table. And as for silver? I have absolutely none.

Your family lives far from Xinghua Village, so you probably haven’t heard about my situation—I’m drowning in debt. I owe fifty thousand taels. Based on my current monthly salary, it’ll take me a hundred years to pay it off. Of course, if I marry a wife who can earn money, that timeline would be a little shorter.

As for trying to get a share of the family assets? That’s impossible. The wineries belong to my sister, and the old man in our family has already made it clear—we won’t get a single coin from it. Miss, wake up.”