She really couldn’t understand, for what reason did the original host watch as members of the Ruan Family died one by one in front of her?
"Nanny, let sister have some ginger sugar water first." On the other side, Ruan Hao handed over the freshly boiled ginger sugar water.
The Ruanlin Family took it and fed it to Ruan Jiaojiao, sip by sip.
Ruan Jiaojiao obediently swallowed, perhaps it was the caring gaze of the Ruan family members, or maybe it was the bowl of ginger sugar water, but the trembling of her body had greatly subsided, and her emotions gradually returned to calm. Her pale face also started to regain a touch of rosiness.
Seeing this, Doctor Lu also breathed a sigh of relief.
He had indeed been startled by Ruan Jiaojiao’s symptoms just now.
Once he was sure that there was nothing wrong, Doctor Lu left, and Aunt Niu also said goodbye before leaving.
With no outsiders in the Ruan household, Ruan Jiaojiao returned to normal, and the countenance of the Ruanlin Family darkened completely.
Ruan Jiaojiao was unwell, so she was reluctant to punish her, but those outside were not so lucky!
"You three, stand in the courtyard, and you six, kneel! And you, stand with them!"
Facing three older and six younger ones, the Ruanlin Family said with a grim face, and even Xiu Xi wasn’t spared, being called to stand in the courtyard as well.
Meat Meat thought this was a game, bouncing around with her now much taller body, toddling around them.
Ruan Jiaojiao heard this from inside and hurriedly chased after them with a blanket wrapped around her. Seeing several older brothers also punished to stand under the sun, she felt a twinge of heartache and pleaded, "Nanny, it’s not the brothers’ fault, it was Jiaojiao who went by herself."
On hearing this, the Ruanlin Family turned and asked her, "Are you feeling better?"
Ruan Jiaojiao nodded her head.
"Good, then you come here and stand as well!" the Ruanlin Family pointed to the spot next to Xiu Xi.
Seeing that the Ruanlin Family was even going to punish her sister this time, the younger boys became anxious and all started to plead.
"Nanny, it’s our fault, not sister’s. Let’s not have her stand, the sun is too strong."
"Yes, Nanny, it’s our fault, we don’t blame sister!"
"Nanny, sister is fair and plump..."
"If you utter one more word, she will have to kneel too!" Ruanlin Family snapped coldly, staring sternly at Ruan Jiaojiao, "You, come here and stand properly!" There was not a trace of the usual affection or doting in her eyes.
Ruan Jiaojiao had never seen the Ruanlin Family before and was momentarily stunned. Then, an endless sorrow began to spread in her heart. With her little head hanging down, she slowly walked over and stood next to Xiu Xi.
The Ruanlin Family was truly angered this time. Heaven knew how terrified she had been on the way back upon hearing that Ruan Jiaojiao had fallen into the water, her legs trembling the whole journey.
If she didn’t severely punish them now, they would never realize how grave their mistake was!
The three older ones hadn’t been punished since junior high school.
But today, the three of them felt they were in the wrong. Even though they hadn’t entered the water, taking their younger siblings out without bringing their sister back safely was indeed a dereliction of their duty as older brothers.
Without a word, the three older ones stood under the sun, purposely keeping the two younger ones in the shade.
Especially for Ruan Jiaojiao, Xiu Xi swapped places with her to prevent her from being in the sun. She was almost entirely hidden in their shadows.
The Ruanlin Family, seeing this, didn’t say anything. Punishing Ruan Jiaojiao was one thing, but she truly did care about her and so pretended not to see, turning back and going into the inner room.