Jisheng Hall not making house calls was no secret, some people in Lotus Village didn’t know, but some did.
Those who knew had ugly expressions, whispering, "There is such a rule."
Upon hearing this, everyone’s faces turned sour again, but then someone added, "Last night was an emergency, with such heavy rain, how could a patient near death endure being moved? Every rule has its exception, and perhaps last night was indeed an exceptional case."
Thinking it made sense, they all nodded in agreement.
However, there was still something puzzling. Gu Feng said, "Since Youyou made an emergency house call, how comes the hunter wasn’t at home either? Don’t tell me he was out on an emergency call too, he’s not a doctor."
Gu Erya hurriedly said, "How could that be impossible? The rain was torrential last night; my brother-in-law might have been worried about my sister’s safety and followed her. It makes sense."
Someone retorted, "Exactly, they almost got sold by their wicked aunt and uncle during the day, naturally, they’d be more cautious."
The arguing didn’t lead to any clear conclusion, and Gu Sanya said with a stern face, "Second brother, regardless of where Youyou is now, the fact that you sold her is true. Bringing Youyou back to confront you is just meant to make you give up hope and prove my innocence, but it doesn’t absolve you of your guilt.
Youyou can prove it today or tomorrow. I am confident in my integrity and ready for her to return anytime. But what about you few, secretly selling someone else’s wife, shouldn’t you be sent to the Governor’s Office and let the honorable lord judge?
Upon Gu Sanya’s grave revelation, they suddenly understood. Why bother quarreling with them? The fact they trafficked people was true, and it was time to act on it instead of letting these parasites loose.
"Right, the rain has stopped; let’s take them to the Governor’s Office," they shouted in unison.
Gu Feng remained silent throughout, seated at the head of the table.
He remembered Youyou telling him not to get angry. Fine, he would listen to Youyou. No matter how fiercely they argued, he kept his composure; he wanted to live, to see Youyou return safely.
Some already started dragging Gu Second and Third toward the door, while Liu Dazhuang’s face was grim. He paid little mind to the half-day’s row, preoccupied instead with the strange words of that man from yesterday.
Huang Xiangwen threw a tantrum, crying and screaming. The men were reluctant to lay hands on a woman, so it was the village women who were dragging her away.
Huang Xiangwen and Gu Second’s children, Dabao, Erbao, and Sanya, were taken to the village chief’s house. It was their parents who had committed the deed; children who were otherwise fine couldn’t be left heartbroken.
Gu Second knocked down one of the people pulling at him, cursed out Gu Sanya, and then knelt in front of Gu Feng, kowtowing profusely.
"Dad, I know I was wrong. Please don’t let them send me to the Governor’s Office. I’ll surely be beaten and have to endure prison. Erbao and Sanya are still young; they can’t be without their parents."
Gu Feng didn’t speak, simply turned his head away, not wishing to look at him.
Gu Sanya stepped forward to pull him away, saying, "Second brother, do you want to kill dad? When you committed these atrocious acts, did you think of how young Erbao and Sanya still are? Hmph, your minds were probably clouded by greed, never considering Sanya’s well-being. To lure Youyou into a trap, even Sanya was drugged by you all. Rest assured, if anything happens to you, I won’t be so merciless. I’ll take care of Erbao and Sanya, I won’t let them suffer."