Chapter 580 - 499: You’ve All Been Deceived
Chapter 580: Chapter 499: You’ve All Been Deceived
"Shaoling? Are you okay? Don’t let this get to you," Tian Sisi said with concern when she saw her cousin wasn’t saying anything.
Wu Qin quickly chimed in, "It’s all my fault for running my mouth. But I couldn’t bear to see you kept in the dark, I just wanted to let you know what’s going on."
Gu Shaoling looked up, her beautiful eyes giving Wu Qin a cold, sidelong glance. "Do you think learning Ancient Martial Arts is easy? Do you have any idea how much you have to suffer? Daughters from families like ours don’t have to bear any responsibilities. We’re pampered growing up. As long as we know how to enjoy life, that’s enough. There’s no need to go through all that trouble to learn it."
Wu Qin paused for a moment, then broke into a smile. "You’re right. It is hard for women to practice martial arts. But that was in the past. Now, isn’t there Tang Manman?"
"What does Tang Manman have to do with it?"
"Tang Manman has herbs, you know. Not only is she studying medicine under an Imperial Physician, but that Imperial Physician also taught her how to identify and grow many precious herbs. Among them are a few types that, after being consumed, can make the body’s muscles and bones more flexible. This allows beginners to avoid the agonizing pain of conditioning. That way, women can also learn from the Ancient Martial Secret Manuals and stay beautiful and forever young. And when men use those herbs, they can improve very quickly, becoming more powerful and stronger, and they’ll also stay forever young. Think about the Tang family’s grandfather and eldest uncle. Haven’t they changed? And my dad... uh, I mean, Hao Hao’s dad. He looked so old when he was in G Province, and he wasn’t in good health. Look how young and handsome he is now! It’s because he used those herbs and then started practicing Ancient Martial Arts. You have to understand, my dad is actually very lazy. He doesn’t like to exercise and can’t stand hardship or pain. But now even he is willing to practice. What does that tell you? The Tang family’s Ancient Martial Arts came from the Gu family. Logically, since Tang Manman has those herbs, she should be giving them to the Gu family for free. But she’s petty and holds grudges! Shaoling, Sisi, didn’t you two offend her before? How could she let you enjoy those benefits? She must have made a deal with Grandpa Gu, forbidding you, Shaoling, from learning Ancient Martial Arts. Only then would she agree to provide the Gu family with herbs!"
Listening to Wu Qin’s words, Gu Shaoling’s chest heaved, her face grew darker and darker, and her tightly pressed lips thinned into a line.
Tian Sisi was itching with curiosity as she listened from the side. Having grown a little older, her brain had learned to think more strategically; she wasn’t so impulsive anymore. Seeing Gu Shaoling’s expression, she said in a small voice, "Wow, Gu Manman is really something... If we’d known she was such a treasure and that Grandpa Gu and the others valued her more than you, we should have just swallowed our pride back then. If we’d sucked up to her more, we could be learning that secret manual now. Wouldn’t it be great to make our bodies stronger and become more beautiful? Most importantly, my aunt could learn some too. She’s getting older and has some wrinkles now, and my uncle’s been fighting with her a lot lately. I hope he’s not getting tired of her! If my uncle gets tired of my aunt and finds a younger wife, you’ll be in for it, Shaoling!"
"Shut your damn mouth!" Gu Shaoling shot Tian Sisi a fierce glare.
She then turned to face Wu Qin. "How do you know all this? Tang Manman has given the Gu family quite a few medicinal pills. I’ve seen Shaoyu take them, and I know several others in the family are taking her pills too. But I heard from my third uncle that Tang Manman’s herbs are hard to come by, that she risks her life getting them from deep in the old forests, snatching them from the jaws of venomous snakes and fierce beasts."
Wu Qin snorted with laughter, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Shaoling, you’re so naive. Your whole Gu family has been completely deceived by Tang Manman! You know she grew up in my hometown, right? Over there, the entire village grows herbs. She can have someone send her herbs whenever she wants, and they’re all grown in herb gardens. The gardens are right near the village, and villages are where people live. Would there be venomous snakes and fierce beasts? My hometown is densely populated. It has roads, railways, factories, mines, and schools. Does that sound like some deep, ancient forest? How ridiculous!"
Tian Sisi tugged on Wu Qin’s sleeve. "You’ve been there? You saw it with your own eyes?"
"Of course!" Wu Qin said smugly. "I just went a few days ago. I was helping... helping someone bring back a bunch of herbs. I saw it myself. Those villages are covered in herb gardens. Since it doesn’t get cold in the South during winter, the herbs grow lush and green. They look great!"
"Then how do you know the Bai family’s granddaughters are also learning Ancient Martial Arts? Don’t tell me Tang Manman sold the herbs to their family?"
Wu Qin was very patient, her smile never wavering. "Tang Manman isn’t the only person in the world who knows medicine and has good herbs. The Bai family is relying on the Gongsun family. You know Gongsun Ruxue of the Gongsun family, right? Aunt Qingyue has invited my mother and me to dinner more than once. She likes talking to me, so she told me all this. She even invited me to be a guest at the Bai family’s home. When I have some free time, I’ll go take a look and see how Bai Lili and Bai Tingting practice Ancient Martial Arts. Maybe I can even pick up a move or two."
Tian Sisi’s eyes filled with envy. She turned to look at her cousin, her face now full of pity. "Shaoling, you’re so pitiful. Granny Gu dotes on you, but Grandpa Gu..."
"Shut up!" Gu Shaoling’s cheeks puffed out. She ordered Tian Sisi, "Go outside and call for Aunt Huang. I want to be discharged. I want to go home!"
Tian Sisi agreed and ran out.
Wu Qin stood to the side, her expression calm and peaceful, but inwardly she was sneering. ’Tang Manman, you kicked me out of the Tang family. Aren’t you tired of your comfortable, boring life? Let’s add a little spice. It’s going to be very exciting.’
After leaving the hospital, Wu Qin followed Wu Xiaowen’s instructions and went to the market. She bought two large fish, a few pounds of meat, and some fresh fruit, then prepared to take the bus to the Wu Mansion.
After Wu Yuxuan and Lin Aizhen had thrown Wu Xiaowen out that day, they had forbidden her from ever setting foot in their house again. Wu Xiaowen was heartbroken, and Wu Qin had volunteered to help her mother mend this familial rift. There was a manual labor class at school that afternoon, but the graduating class was given special permission to skip it. Since Wu Qin’s grades were upper-middle, getting an excused absence wasn’t difficult. She left school early, but Tian Sisi had caught up with her on the way, delaying her for over an hour. Now, she had to hurry to Grandpa Wu’s house.
’I’m not like Wu Xiaowen. My mind is sharp; if one method doesn’t work, I’ll just think of another. I’m confident I can help Mom coax her way back into my grandparents’ good graces.’
’Normally, this wouldn’t be a huge deal. They could let it slide for a while, since they all live in Beijing. But not right now. Wu Qin was even more anxious and impatient than Wu Xiaowen. Her Grandpa Wu from overseas had passed away. His children had written to say that Grandpa Wu wished for his ashes to be returned to his homeland for burial—a fallen leaf returning to its roots. They also mentioned that he had left a sum of money to Wu Yuxuan. And money from overseas meant US Dollars and British Pounds! Having grown up in the Tang family, Wu Qin knew which currencies were the most valuable. When that inheritance was divided, how could Wu Xiaowen be left out?’
’And if Wu Xiaowen came into a large sum of money, my own quality of life would naturally rise with the tide. I’d be an even better match for my dear Brother Junfan. So, I have to be proactive!’
Wu Qin slung a bulging backpack over her shoulder and carried a heavy bag in her hand. She gritted her teeth and walked to the bus stop, panting and sweating profusely.
Stroking her palms, which were red and sore from the strain, Wu Qin couldn’t help but feel a surge of resentment. ’What a pair of sisters. Wu Xiaorui treats me like a servant girl, and not only does Mom not stop her, she joins in on ordering me around. It’s not like she’s broke right now. Besides her salary, she gets a regular allowance from Tang Qingyun. She’s always buying new sets of clothes, but she never mentions hiring a maid. She doesn’t do any of the laundry, mopping, or cleaning at home—it’s all dumped on me, a girl who’s barely a teenager... No wonder Tang Manman refuses to acknowledge her as her mother, and Tang Haohao keeps his distance from her. Wu Xiaowen has no idea how to genuinely care for a child. Whoever ends up as her kid is just plain unlucky!’