Chapter 27: Fight It Out

Gao Guoqiang couldn't help but look at Gao Guofu, as the money was lent to Gao Guofu, and by then, it had already been loaned out, so it was impossible to get it back. Yet, his son's injury indeed needed urgent care.

At this moment, Gao Guofu felt embarrassed and pulled out money from his pocket to give to Gao Guoqiang, "Brother, I won't borrow this money, I'll give it back to you. Hurry and get medical treatment for Jiaxing."

Old Lady Gao immediately snatched the money discontentedly, glaring at Zheng Xianghong, "How could it be such a little amount of money? Where did you squander all the family's money?"

"Mom, the household finances have always been managed by Guoqiang. This is all that's left, it used to be with you before, I never touched the money."

Zheng Xianghong spoke with a sense of grievance. The household money had always been controlled by Old Lady Gao and later handed to Gao Guoqiang. He was unwilling to let Zheng Xianghong handle it. If Zheng Xianghong was found to have extra money and spent it frivolously, Old Lady Gao would always come to make a fuss.

"You unlucky star, get out." Old Lady Gao was about to strike with her broom again but Gao Guoqiang stopped her, "Enough, Mom, I'll take Xianghong to the city to see Jiaxing. You don't need to come."

Old Lady Gao then handed the money to Gao Guoqiang, instructing, "Quickly take this money and get medical treatment for Jiaxing. Don't let her get near Jiaxing. I've always said she's an unlucky star, brings misfortune on others, you didn't believe me, you'll regret it later."

After Old Lady Gao finished speaking, she also warned Zheng Xianghong, "You must not come near my grandson, or you'll see what I'll do to you."

"Sister-in-law, Mom doesn't like you coming over. From now on, just call from the door; you don't need to barge in. Look how upset you've made Mom," Lin Xuebi spoke up then, her voice laden with sarcasm.

"Talk less," Gao Guofu pulled at Lin Xuebi.

Lin Xuebi glared at Gao Guofu and retorted, "Did I say anything wrong? It's the new year, and sister-in-law knows Mom doesn't like her to come over, yet she still barges in. Isn't that making everyone unhappy?"

Zheng Xianghong looked at Old Lady Gao and saw Lin Xuebi's unwelcoming demeanor, choosing not to say anything further. She didn't wish to step into this household, but with her son in trouble and her husband here, she was utterly distressed.

Thinking of her son, whose life and death were unknown, Zheng Xianghong sighed deeply, feeling that if anything happened to Jiaxing, she would be letting down the Gao family.

"You all rest assured, I will never enter this house again." With those words, Zheng Xianghong left.

Gao Guoqiang looked at his wife, then at his mother and siblings, and sighed deeply.

"Quickly bring some chicken blood here from the kitchen to ward off the bad luck."

Xia Xiao had already walked several steps away, but then heard Old Lady Gao's voice followed by Lin Xuebi's, "Mom, this broom also caught the bad luck, we better get rid of it."

"Burn it," Old Lady Gao ordered.

By this time, Gao Guoqiang had already led Zheng Xianghong out of Gao Guofu's house door, not knowing whether they had heard Old Lady Gao and Lin Xuebi's words.

Xia Xiao felt some sympathy for Zheng Xianghong, facing such a terrible mother-in-law and sister-in-law was frightening. It was also because Zheng Xianghong wasn't close to her own family; otherwise, Old Lady Gao might still believe Zheng Xianghong was sending money back to her parental home.

When they arrived at the team leader's house, the team leader had already prepared the bullock cart, and Zheng Xianghong was sitting on it. Xia Xiao said, "Aunt, let me come with you."

"Xia Xiao, I really thank you today," Zheng Xianghong said to Xia Xiao.

"Aunt, why be so formal with me? Brother Gao once saved my life, don't worry, he will be alright."

"I'll leave Jiaxing in your care then when we get there," Zheng Xianghong didn't finish her sentence, but the sadness in her eyes was clearly visible, clearly afraid that she might indeed bring misfortune to her son.

"Aunt, superstitions can't be fully believed. You've had three daughters and two sonsExpand, all your daughters are married off, and Brother Gao and Gao Er are grown up now, in a few years they can get married and have children, then you'll be able to hold your grandchildren. So, your blessing is still to come," Xia Xiao consoled her.

Xia Xiao had not believed in fate before, but after being reborn and possessing a magical stone space, Xia Xiao had come to believe in fate, though she didn't believe the talk about Zheng Xianghong bringing misfortune to her relatives.

"You don't understand," Zheng Xianghong didn't share too much with Xia Xiao, and she didn't want to believe in fate either, but with people leaving her one by one, Zheng Xianghong was still frightened.

Xia Xiao couldn't say much either, riding in the bullock cart with the team leader and Zheng Xianghong into the city, heading straight for the hospital.

By then, people from two production teams were present. Jiaxing was already receiving treatment, funded collectively by everyone. None of them was wealthy, and they didn't have much money, but Luo Mingzhe and Liu Yue contributed the most. Although people still harbored some resentment towards them, seeing them spend all their money on Jiaxing's treatment silenced any complaints.

However, with such an incident, everyone was unhappy, He Xuegang and He Xuebing had stern expressions, as did Liu Haihua and Liu Haiguo, who remained silent QDomDocument and QJsonDocument QDomDocument.

"Uncle, Aunt, Gao Er got hurt while saving me, beat or scold me instead," Ge Lai knelt before the team leader and Zheng Xianghong, his expression full of guilt.

"Child, it's not your fault. Jiaxing did a good deed by saving someone; he had to face this ordeal. That you remember Jiaxing's kindness proves you have a conscience, and I don't blame you. But avoid dangerously places in the future to spare your family the worry."

"Aunt, I understand, I won't go to dangerous places anymore, I will protect Gao Er hereafter," Ge Lai promised.

Xia Xiao thought Ge Lai was a decent person, showing loyalty, and seemed agile and capable.

By now, Xia Xiao had also learned about the incident—Luo Mingzhe and Liu Yue had gone to Black Bear Cave and were chased by two black bears, while Liu Haiguo and others armed with guns and weapons ran first. Jiaxing and Ge Lai, unarmed, were no match for the two black bears. Ge Lai wrestled with one bear when Jiaxing stepped in to help, only to be severely injured internally by the other bear. That they managed to escape from the bears was an extremely close call, a fortunate escape.

Jiazhi also felt very guilty. By now, Jiaxing's life was no longer in danger, but the internal damage caused by the bear's attack was not minor, and he needed proper care to avoid future health issues.

Aside from Jiaxing's severe injury, Jiazhi, He Xuegang, He Xuebing, and a few others had minor injuries and were also at the hospital getting ointments.

Zheng Xianghong silently wiped her tears outside the hospital room, Gao Guoqiang remained silent, doing nothing but handing the money to Jiazhi, telling him to reimburse everyone who had contributed.