“This is…” Gu Yunzhou frowned in deep thought.
Wen Zhuqing had brought back this package from the county town, and aside from the two banned books inside, there was this medicinal pouch.
The books were meant to deal with his father, to target the Gu family—so what about this medicine…
Gu Yunzhou carefully opened the pouch and soon saw the powdery substance inside.
He knew nothing about medicine or herbs, nor could he identify what this powder was.
However…
He took out a handkerchief, meticulously scooped some of the powder onto it, then carefully restored the pouch and books to their original state before putting them back in place.
After tucking the handkerchief into his pocket, Gu Yunzhou didn’t dare linger. Just as stealthily as he had arrived, he slipped out through the window, leaving it slightly ajar as it had been before.
Outside, Wen Zhuqing and Bao Shanyan remained completely unaware.
Meanwhile, Gu Yunzhou quietly returned home.
The Gu family’s living room was brightly lit. Earlier that day, after returning from the county town, Gu Yunzhou had reported everything—how he had tailed Wen Zhuqing, what Wen Zhuqing had done, and the phone call he’d made to Gu Jianing, along with her plan.
That night, since Gu Yunzhou had mentioned his intention to investigate the package Wen Zhuqing had brought back, the entire Gu family—except for baby Zhuangzhuang, who was just a few months old—had stayed up late to wait for him. Even Yang Manman, heavily pregnant, had gotten up with her husband.
After all, one of Wen Zhuqing’s targets was her.
Yang Manman wasn’t afraid for herself, but she was a mother now.
This child was one she had longed for, finally conceived after so much waiting. She had to protect it.
As Gu Yunzhou returned, the Gu family perked up, their eyes fixed on him.
“Third Son, how did it go?” Yao Chunhua asked in a hushed voice, handing him a cup of warm water.
Gu Yunzhou took it and drank it all in one go.
After sitting down, he quickly recounted everything—how he had sneaked into Wen Zhuqing’s room, opened the package, and what he had found inside.
“Those banned books are definitely meant to frame Dad,” Gu Yunting said firmly. “It seems Wen Zhuqing has held a grudge for a long time about Dad being the village chief.”
“What should we do then?” Yang Manman and Su Miao, the two women, grew anxious upon hearing this.
“Don’t worry,” Old Man Gu reassured them calmly, his eyes narrowing slightly. “If Wen Zhuqing really dares to act, we’ll give him a taste of his own medicine.”
The three brothers exchanged glances—sure enough, their father’s thoughts aligned with theirs.
No wonder he had become the village chief.
Then, Gu Yunzhou took out the handkerchief, unfolded it to reveal the powder inside, and shared his suspicions.
When Yang Manman heard that the powder might be intended to harm her and her unborn child, her heart clenched in fear.
Gu Yunting gripped his wife’s hand reassuringly, though his expression darkened as he stared at the powder.
“We need to figure out what this powder is. I have a friend who knows about medicinal herbs—I’ll take it to him tomorrow and ask.” With that, Gu Yunting carefully folded the handkerchief back up.
“Good, that’s the plan,” Old Man Gu nodded, then turned to Gu Yunzhou. “Third Son, you keep tailing Wen Zhuqing. The rest of us need to stay vigilant too.”
“Understood, Dad.”
Since it was already late and everyone had work the next day, they dispersed to their rooms to sleep after finalizing their strategy.
The next morning, Gu Yunting got up early and went to see his friend before heading to work.
Meanwhile, Gu Yunzhou, after disguising himself, spent a coin to hire a stranger on the street to deliver the letter to Liu Ruzhi.
Liu Ruzhi, busy working in his office, was suddenly informed that someone was asking for him.
When the person entered, he saw an unfamiliar elderly woman.
She explained that someone had asked her to deliver a letter to him, handing it over as she spoke.
Liu Ruzhi frowned. What was this about?
Was it some kind of anonymous report? Why all the secrecy?
Curious, he immediately opened and read it. The moment his eyes scanned the contents, they widened in shock.
“No… this can’t be! How could Yuanyuan do something like this?”
But then, he recalled his daughter’s recent strange behavior.
Could the letter actually be telling the truth?
Liu Ruzhi quickly questioned the elderly woman, demanding to know who had sent her.
However, the woman couldn’t provide any useful details. The letter itself stated that the sender had stumbled upon this information and, believing Liu Ruzhi to be a good county magistrate, couldn’t bear to see his daughter deceived. Hence, they had written this letter as a warning.
Whether he believed it or not was up to him—he could always confront his daughter directly.
Liu Ruzhi could no longer sit still. He immediately rushed to his wife Du Juan’s office at the Women’s Federation and showed her the letter.
After reading the letter, Du Juan was equally shocked.
“We’ve both noticed Yuanyuan’s strange behavior lately. Perhaps… perhaps…”
“Tonight, we’ll question Yuanyuan when we get home. If it’s not true, that’s fine. But if it is…”
“We must expose that educated youth’s true nature. We can’t let Yuanyuan be deceived by him.”
“Old Liu, you know how sheltered Yuanyuan has been. She’s too naive, too easily fooled—but she’s a good girl.”
“If this is true, it’s that educated youth who tricked our Yuanyuan. We absolutely cannot let him get away with it.”
“Yes, I know.”
At the thought of that educated youth named Wen Zhuqing, a cold glint flashed in Liu Ruzhi’s eyes. How dare he seduce his precious daughter!
“I’ll investigate his background immediately.”
…
At noon, the dining table was set with food, but the Gu family had no appetite.
Gu Yunzhou was the first to speak. “This morning, when none of us were home, Wen Zhuqing did sneak into our house. He hid those two books in Dad’s bedside drawer.”
“But after he left, I took them out. I’ll find an opportunity to return them to Wen Zhuqing’s room.” *An eye for an eye.*
Gu Yunzhou already had a plan in mind.
Since Wen Zhuqing had planted those banned books in their home, he wouldn’t just leave them there—he would surely expose them later.
When the time came, they would redirect the blame back onto Wen Zhuqing.
The family nodded, then turned their attention to Gu Yunting.
Understanding their unspoken question, Gu Yunting said grimly, “I had a friend examine the powder on the handkerchief.”
“It’s a drug that excites and enrages animals. Anyone who comes into contact with it will be targeted—the animals will go wild and see them as prey.”
The moment these words were spoken, the Gu family’s expressions darkened.
Yang Manman’s face turned deathly pale.
They all knew Wen Zhuqing had two targets: Old Man Gu, who was to be framed with the banned books, and Yang Manman, who was clearly meant to be attacked with this powder.
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