Chapter 6: Theft

Her father's voice rose another notch in volume. "Sister-in-law? I wouldn't dare recognize someone like her as my sister-in-law! What kind of sister-in-law prays for her brother-in-law's family to die every single day?"

Madam Feng was fuming. "I only said a few words about your daughter! Who is praying for your whole family to die? What? Is she not even allowed to speak to her niece?"

"Not allowed!" Her father was just as stubborn when facing his own mother, Madam Feng.

That single "not allowed" infuriated Madam Feng so much she wanted to grab a broom and hit him with it.

"I'm not here to bicker with you! I'm only here to settle scores with the troublemaker!" Her father waved his hand impatiently at Madam Feng and strode into the main hall.

Immediately following his entry, a series of curses, shrill wails, and continuous reprimands erupted from the main hall.

The cursing belonged to her father, the wailing to Madam Wei, and the reprimanding to Old Master Gu.

Gu Tang listened intently for a while. She could tell that although her father was facing two against one, he was completely suppressing the opposition.

As long as he didn't lose out, it was fine.

Gu Tang breathed a sigh of relief.

She pulled her bundle over from the bamboo couch and began to unpack it.

She had only unpacked halfway when a sudden "bang" echoed through the room as the closed door was pushed open, startling her.

Glancing at the newcomer, Gu Tang's small face instantly darkened.

The ones pushing through the door were the original owner's eldest sister, Gu Mei, followed by her eldest brother, Gu Laian.

Gu Mei and Gu Laian were the children of Gu Lianshan's first wife, Madam Zhu. The siblings were one year apart—one fifteen, the other fourteen.

Gu Tang had no affection for this pair and couldn't be bothered to deal with them. She spoke directly to drive them away: "Get out!"

Gu Mei had grown accustomed to Gu Tang's foul temper lately. She took a deep breath, suppressing her rising anger to prevent a full-blown confrontation.

Gu Laian, however, could not stand it.

At fourteen, he was at an age where pride was everything. He snapped back at Gu Tang, "You ungrateful brat! I am your brother! You dare tell me to get out? I think you need a lesson... AHH!!!"

Before he could finish his profanity, a flying piece of dried mud struck Gu Laian squarely in the head, causing him to scream in pain.

Startled, Gu Mei instinctively stepped back a few paces.

Gu Tang sneered. "I haven't even come to settle scores with you for what happened last time! And yet, here you are, running right to my face! When Father comes back, I'll tell him about your theft, and he'll skin you alive!"

The screaming stopped abruptly.

Gu Laian's face turned pale. He cursed inwardly; had that dead girl actually seen him?!

"What do you mean by that?!" Gu Mei, having regained her senses, also turned pale.

She questioned Gu Tang with an unfriendly tone, "How can you spout such nonsense at such a young age? Who stole what? If you don't explain yourself clearly, I won't let you off even if it costs me my life!"

Gu Tang's smile grew even more mocking. "You're asking me? Just look at your brother's guilty face!"

Gu Mei froze, immediately turning to glare intensely at Gu Laian.

But Gu Laian's eyes darted away; he kept his head down, refusing to meet her gaze.

Knowing her brother's character, Gu Mei understood perfectly now.

Her brother really had stolen something.

And worse, that dead girl Gu Tang knew about it!

Gu Mei felt her vision go dark.

Gu Tang took the opportunity to add fuel to the fire. "Bah! You're the one who's ungrateful and ill-bred, yet you dare criticize others! Look at those dirty hands of yours—it's exactly as they say: 'born of a father but not raised by a mother'!"

"You..." Gu Mei trembled with rage, her eyes glaring at Gu Tang as if she wanted to devour her alive.

Unable to handle Gu Tang's sarcasm and too afraid to face her accusing gaze, Gu Laian simply clutched his head and ran off!

"Aren't you going after him?" Gu Tang asked playfully.

Gu Mei shot her a vicious glare and reluctantly chased after him.

Having driven the siblings away, Gu Tang's mood improved slightly. She took the items out of her bundle and placed them all into the inventory of her Sign-in System.

With the entire Gu household acting like thieves, any good item left out in the open would be gone in no time.

Pulling a wooden basin from under the bamboo couch, Gu Tang intended to get some water to wash her hands and then light some incense to pray to the gods. She hoped that when she drew her prize later, some good luck would visit her.

She wasn't greedy; just one good prize would do!

Walking to the door, she heard the shouting continuing in the main hall.

Gu Tang poked her head out to look. She saw Madam Feng sitting at the entrance of the main hall, shouting at her father at the top of her lungs.

If she went out now, she would surely run straight into Madam Feng's path.

Gu Tang hesitated. Should she wait a bit before going to fetch water?

After waiting in her room for a while and peeking out again, Madam Feng still hadn't left the entrance.

Gu Tang was getting anxious; this was delaying her good fortune!

Fortunately, it wasn't long before Gu Pingan returned from gathering firewood.

A look of joy crossed Gu Tang's face. She picked up a piece of dried mud from the ground, pried a chunk off, and tossed it toward Gu Pingan.

The chunk landed accurately at his feet.

Having just set down the firewood, Gu Pingan knew immediately that the piece had been pried from a dried mud brick.

And as for the person who threw it, he didn't even have to think to know who it was.

Gu Pingan looked toward the western wing. Sure enough, he saw his sister hopping around and waving to him, with one finger pressed to her lips to signal him to be quiet.

Then she pointed toward the chaotic main hall and then at herself, implying it was related to her?

Gu Pingan glanced at Madam Feng. Taking advantage of the fact that her back was turned to the main hall, he crept quietly toward the western wing.

"What did you do today?" As soon as he entered the room, Gu Pingan couldn't contain his curiosity.

"I'll tell you in a bit. Go fetch some water for me first; I need to wash my hands."

Gu Tang shoved the wooden basin at Gu Pingan, her command extremely practiced.

In the month since she had transmigrated, Gu Pingan had been thoroughly "brainwashed" and exploited by her.

The boy was a total "sister-con"; he had been obedient to the original owner since childhood.

After a month of her "training," the current Gu Pingan prioritized her in everything.

After all, she was his self-chosen "investment stock." If he wasn't obedient or didn't treat her well, her investment would be a waste!

Taking the basin, Gu Pingan obediently went to fetch water. He even asked if she was in a hurry, offering to boil hot water if she wasn't.

In this weather, washing hands with cold water was a misery, especially for a girl.

"Don't! Cold water is fine," Gu Tang waved him off.

Pointing toward the main hall, she added, "They're fighting in the hall right now. If you start boiling water, won't you attract the attention of Grandpa and Grandma? They'll definitely give you a beating!"

Gu Pingan paused. Thinking of his grandmother's face when she was angry, he immediately shuddered.

He rushed out to fetch water, making no mention of boiling it again.

The Gu family kitchen was also in the western wing; it was just a short walk to the left once he stepped out.

Gu Pingan moved with light, small steps, hurrying back after getting the water.

On the porch of the eastern wing stood the children of the first branch, all watching the main hall with anxious expressions, fearing Madam Wei would be wronged.

Seeing Gu Pingan's suspicious, sneaking movements, none of the children from the first branch gave him a friendly look.

Gu Qing, the eldest daughter of Madam Wei, kept her eyes fixed on Gu Pingan and suddenly shouted, "Sanlang! What did you get from the kitchen?! Why are you acting so secretive!"

(End of Chapter)