Chapter 222 - 221: Exposed (Second Update)
Xiao Xue’s words came abruptly, and Gu Ruhe was also shocked.
Turning his head to Gu Ruhai, he said, "Big brother, is this how you treat your brother? I am your own brother, and you let your daughter humiliate me like this. Are you really heartless enough to see me die without helping? Do you want to see me go to jail?"
Every word was an accusation, as if he couldn’t wait to pounce.
Gu Ruhai calmly looked at Gu Ruhe and said, "Do you have the nerve to question me like that? Is this the attitude of someone asking for help? Yes, you are my brother, but I’m not here to be a sucker handing out money just because I’m the eldest brother, so Xiaoqing is not wrong. It’s not like we came begging you for this.
You haven’t even dealt with your own mess, and you boldly come to us for what? This isn’t how you ask for a loan. Xiaoqing asked you where the money went, and you keep stuttering and dodging, not explaining clearly how the money was spent. You only think about making me pay.
My money doesn’t come from the wind. If you want me to help you, then you need to explain clearly what’s going on. Who is Rose? What’s your relationship with her? What’s her connection to this money? Otherwise, take your people and leave right now. It’s not so easy to take money without any clarity."
These words blocked all of Gu Ruhe’s thoughts and completely blocked his way.
Gu Ruhe was anxious.
What should he do?
The situation now seemed far from ideal, making him feel increasingly out of control. His well-thought-out plans and excuses seemed to fail instantly here.
He glanced at Gu Xiaoqing, who was calm with an indifferent expression. This niece seemed unfathomable, and his pre-planned answers and excuses were exposed plainly by this eighteen-year-old girl.
Looking at Xiao Xue glaring at him, he wasn’t unwilling to speak; it’s just that once he spoke, the disgrace wouldn’t just be his—this family’s survival seemed at stake.
But if he didn’t speak, Gu Ruhai’s attitude was clear: if you don’t tell the truth, you won’t get the money.
The deficit on his account was real, not a lie. If he hadn’t missed out on several promised kickbacks and couldn’t make up this deficit, Gu Ruhe wouldn’t have been driven by Rose to concoct this excuse to get money.
He truly felt stuck between a rock and a hard place.
He couldn’t help but secretly admire Gu Xiaoqing. Look at her, the intelligence of big brother’s daughter couldn’t be matched by the Gu Xiaomin in his family.
Ah, timing really isn’t on my side.
How did Gu Xiaoqing see through him like that?
Gu Ruhe felt his niece was like a troublesome spirit.
"Big brother, big brother, I’ll speak, I’ll speak, but this can only be said to you alone."
Gu Ruhe knew he couldn’t avoid it.
So he had to speak to Gu Ruhai.
Gu Ruhai was dismissive. It wasn’t that he looked down on Gu Ruhe; even a scholar should understand such simple logic. Who wouldn’t see through this?
Isn’t it just that little thing?
Even someone as dull as him understood; surely, everyone else in this room wasn’t stupid.
Xiao Xue slapped him.
A loud slap made Gu Ruhe completely deflated.
"Tell me, do you take me for a fool? Who doesn’t know what’s going on here? Explain clearly to me."
Gu Ruhe steeled himself, thinking things were already this way—how much worse could it get?
"I spent all the remaining money on Li Mei."
After speaking, he looked at no one, just staring at the cement ground.
He had the demeanor of a dead pig not fearing boiling water.
Gu Ruhai felt a deep pain in his heart.
This was his own brother, the one he invested a lifetime of effort to support, a man with a high education and a position others respected, but privately so shabby and disgraceful.
Taking public money to indulge with women, while concocting flimsy excuses to scam money from him—this was his brother.
Gu Xiaoqing tugged at Gu Ruhai’s hand, soothingly brushing over her father’s palm. The hard calluses seemed to record the toil of the past years.
Mr. Gu sat up suddenly, the wrinkles on his face deepening significantly, with eyes flickering with angry, shameful light, lips trembling, pointing at Gu Ruhe saying, "You, you... get out, I have no such son."
This nearly exhausted all of Mr. Gu’s energy, before he slumped back onto the k’ang.
Gu Ruhai helped up Mr. Gu, whose eyes were tightly shut, his breathing already very weak.
Gu Xiaoqing was also taken aback.
She hurried out, shouting, "Sister, start the car, grandpa fainted, quickly take him to the town hospital."
The nearest place was the town hospital, but this was the only option now.
No time to get to the county.
Gu Ruhai carried Mr. Gu and ran outside. Gu Ruhe got up from the ground, hesitantly paused, then immediately rushed up, closely following Gu Ruhai.
A vehicle departed, with Gu Ruhai and Gu Ruhe taking Mr. Gu to the hospital.
At home, only Mrs. Gu, Li Xuemei, and Xiao Xue were left with Gu Xiaoqing and the other three children.
Li Xuemei was okay, but Xiao Xue was not. This incident with Mr. Gu was caused by Gu Ruhe. If Mr. Gu really died from this, they’d be finished.
Villagers were abuzz, many having seen Gu Ruhai’s car leave, with Mr. Gu and Gu Ruhe inside, and Mr. Gu really didn’t look good.
Nobody knew what had happened to the Gu Family.
Gu Xiaoqing pulled Li Xuemei aside to talk, "Mom, grandpa doesn’t look well."
Li Xuemei was also frustrated; coming back once brought so many issues.
Although Li Xuemei wasn’t in the room earlier, with the noise so loud, she wasn’t deaf, clearly hearing that the third brother was playing with women and embezzling public funds, feeling immensely angry.
Wasn’t this clearly seeing their own wealth and coming to swindle?
Li Xuemei was genuinely fed up. Her in-laws’ family affairs seemed never-ending, finally having stopped Gu Rushan with Gu Ruhai effectively closing the door on him, but now there was Gu Ruhe. Other families’ brothers and sisters-in-law lived harmoniously, helping each other, full of love.
In families with three brothers, if they’re good, they support each other for good living. This is the Chinese family philosophy; brotherly support fosters family prosperity.
But look at the Gu Family, it’s a pace of self-destruction that can’t be quick enough. (To be continued. If you like this work, feel free to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)