That night, a frantic Li Cuicui and her sons had begged their fellow villagers for help, but after searching all night, they couldn’t find him.

Many people thought he had gone off drinking somewhere, fallen into a deep mountain pit, and been covered by the snow. This forced everyone to brave the cold winter night, shoveling snow everywhere. They toiled all night long but found nothing.

Meanwhile, Gu Dashishi, who had secretly run off to the city, actually managed to find Gu Yuanlei, the son he had always doted on.

Seeing the old man arrive, Gu Yuanlei felt only shock, not joy. "What are you doing here? I’m not part of the Gu Family anymore."

Looking at his hate-filled son, Gu Dashishi forced a smile. "That was the decision of those old fools. Your father never wanted to abandon you, not for a second."

"Hah. But I didn’t see you say a single word for me. Because you all kicked me out, my situation is even more difficult now. Are you satisfied? Are you here now to gloat?"

Gu Dashishi looked at his son’s silk clothes and cautiously stroked the fabric. "I’m your father. How could I possibly gloat over your misfortune? Besides, didn’t you say you would take care of me in my old age? Well, now I’ve come to rely on you.

Where’s our home? Take me home to wash up first. I’m about to freeze to death."

Gu Dashishi had been wandering the streets for two days. If he hadn’t hidden a little Silver Tael from his old woman beforehand, he probably wouldn’t have made it.

"Home?" Gu Yuanlei’s face was cold. "You want me to take you to the Lan Family’s residence?

Thanks to you all, I’m living under someone else’s roof now. What home is there to speak of?"

"But she’s our family’s daughter-in-law, after all. She can’t just ignore me, her father-in-law, can she?"

Hearing Gu Dashishi’s naive words, Gu Yuanlei felt a surge of annoyance. "I’m not even a member of the Gu Family anymore. What daughter-in-law are you talking about?

Just leave! And don’t come looking for me again."

How could Gu Dashishi accept his son’s heartless words? He grabbed his son’s clothes directly. "No matter what, I’m the one who worked my fingers to the bone to raise you! You unfilial child! You leave home, live the good life, and forget all about your parents. Have you even looked at what your father is eating and where he’s sleeping now?"

Gu Yuanlei looked at the old man’s brand-new cotton coat. "The clothes you’re wearing are warmer than mine, and you look better-fed than I am. Anyone with eyes can see who’s better off.

Don’t you have several other filial sons? Why do you have to keep pestering me?"

"Youngest son, have you forgotten how your father has treated you your whole life?" 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

"Yuanlei, what are you still standing here for? Didn’t my little sister say she wanted wontons from the street vendor? Hurry up and go buy them." Lan Yun stood at the gate, his face dark as he watched them.

Gu Yuanlei put on a placating smile and turned back. "I’ll go right now."

"This must be my son’s brother-in-law, right?" Gu Dashishi squinted, barely recognizing him. Could this elegantly dressed, noble-looking man really be the same down-and-out son of the Lan Family from the refugee group?

"I wouldn’t dare claim such a thing. Our two families have no formal ties. If I recall correctly, your family accepted the silver for selling Gu Yuanlei, didn’t you? If you know what’s good for you, don’t come back." To this day, Lan Yun couldn’t forget how the Gu Family had never offered a helping hand when his own family was in dire straits.

At this moment, he completely forgot that the life-saving water they had depended on for survival back then had long since been brought before them by Gu Yuanlei, currying favor.

"My son married your family’s young lady, so of course we’re relatives. Aren’t you going to invite me in for a seat?" Staring at the massive courtyard, Gu Dashishi’s eyes darted around. ’If the entrance is this grand, what must it be like inside?’

"Gu Yuanlei, it seems your family’s thick skin is hereditary. This old coot is just as shameless as you are, trying to leech off our family no matter what.

But let me make one thing clear. We can tolerate you, but that doesn’t mean we’ll tolerate this decrepit old man. If you have any sense, you’ll get him out of here. Don’t cause trouble for us."

After speaking, Lan Yun shot the father and son at the gate a contemptuous glance, snorted coldly, and turned to order the gatekeeper to shut the doors.

"Father, aren’t you just trying to make things difficult for me?" Gu Yuanlei’s face was grim. "I’ve already been struck from the Gu family’s registry. This is the last refuge I have. Do you want me to end up sleeping on the streets, becoming some kind of hoodlum or a beggar?"

"How can it be that serious? No matter what, you’re the son-in-law of this family, aren’t you? Shouldn’t they welcome your relatives when they visit?"

"Relatives? Did you give me a betrothal gift, or did I give you a dowry?" Gu Yuanlei dragged the man toward the edge of the city. "If you really still consider me your son, then don’t come and bother me anymore. I’ve finally had a couple of days where I don’t have to go hungry. Can you please just stop making a scene?"

Gu Dashishi’s face was filled with disbelief. ’Is this really the same son who, since he was little, promised to take care of me in my old age?’

The same face, but speaking such completely different words. Gu Dashishi couldn’t accept it. He clutched his chest, gasping for breath.

"Don’t you try to pin this on me. I didn’t do anything." Gu Yuanlei watched Gu Dashishi with concern. No matter how cold-hearted he was, this was the father who had doted on and favored him his entire life.

Gu Dashishi felt a wave of dull pain in his chest, and his mind went blank. He staggered, nearly collapsing to the ground, but at the last second, Gu Yuanlei caught him.

"Father, don’t scare me!" Gu Yuanlei carefully patted his chest. Seeing his pale face, he knew this was serious. "Where does it hurt?"

"Young man, you need to get your father to the medical hall up ahead," a passerby who couldn’t bear to watch any longer called out.

Gu Yuanlei snapped back to his senses and quickly hoisted the man onto his back. "Father, just hang on a little longer. I’ll get you to the medical hall right away."

By this point, Gu Dashishi had already lost consciousness, allowing Gu Yuanlei to carry him as he ran.

When he next awoke, an attendant from the medical hall brought over a bowl of medicine for him to drink. "Since you’re awake, gather your things and get going."

Gu Dashishi looked at him blankly. "Go where?"

The attendant pointed to an ox-cart parked at the entrance. "The person who brought you here only paid for the consultation fee and this dose of medicine. He also hired that ox-cart at the door for you and said you should leave as soon as you wake up."

Gu Dashishi then realized his limbs felt weak. "What’s wrong with me?"

"Our physician said you had a minor stroke. You were lucky he was here at the hall to give you a few needles. But you’ll need to find a physician when you get back home and have them prescribe some medicine to help you recover. Otherwise, if you have another stroke, you probably won’t be able to get up again."

Hearing the attendant’s words, Gu Dashishi finally remembered the scene before he fainted. "What about the person who brought me here?"

"How would we know? He paid the Silver and left.

You sure ask a lot of questions for an old man. I’ll call the cart driver in to help you to the cart. I haven’t even eaten yet because I’ve been watching over you."