A jinx, me? But I bring good fortune to my whole family!

After Grandma Gu and the other two returned home, they had to fill five or six basins with water to wash the bird droppings off their heads and faces.

They all grimaced while being washed; it was so damn painful.

The birds' claws were like sharp, razor-sharp knives; each claw left a deep gash, drawing blood.

This wasn't the first time Grandma Gu had been scratched by a bird, and this time the pain was excruciating.

Zhang Aidi was also severely arrested, and the resentment in her heart was so strong that she couldn't get it out of her chest and felt extremely uncomfortable.

He initially thought that simply taking the child away would solve the problem; given Su Xiulan's incredibly slow and unyielding nature, she'd be completely at his mercy. But...

The most wronged person is Matchmaker Li. As the most popular matchmaker in town, she is always addressed as "Auntie" wherever she goes. But today she has ended up in such a sorry state.

The matchmaker looked at her blurry face in the mirror, seeing several bloody marks, and felt a real pain.

"Besides refunding my deposit, you should also give me some compensation for what happened today."

"I, Li Dazui, have lived to such an old age, and this is the first time I've ever suffered like this."

When Grandma Gu heard that the money she had in her hand was going to be returned, how could she be happy?

"Don't worry, I'll get that brat out of there sooner or later."

Zhang Aidi was even more furious. "Aunt Li, the money is not going to be refunded. We will definitely send the child to you."

The matchmaker, Li, retorted angrily, "So all the injury I suffered was for nothing?"

Zhang Aidi quickly tried to persuade her, "How could I let you suffer for nothing? Once I get that little slut, I'll go to her house and ask for some money, as a way to pay for your medical expenses."

Matchmaker Li scoffed, "That family is a bit eerie!"

Having traveled through villages and alleys for so long, this is the first time I've been chased and attacked by crows.

"What's so strange about it? To me, it's just luck."

"That bitch Su Xiulan is protecting that little jinx like he's her own eyes. It seems like we can't just take him by force. We'll have to think of another way."

"What method?"

The old ladies asked in unison.

"Just sneak them out tonight!"

Matchmaker Li nodded, "Then I'll trust you one more time."

"But that little girl is indeed very pretty; she'll grow up to be a beauty. Are you sure you want to marry her off to Wang Laizi?"

The old woman curled her lip in disdain. "I'll marry anyone, as long as I can get money!"

Matchmaker Li's triangular eyes darted around, and she waved to the two of them.

The two people huddled together, and they heard the matchmaker whisper, "I do have a different way. There are people in the city who like pretty children, and the more exquisite they are, the higher the price they'll pay."

"Judging by that girl's looks, I'd be willing to exchange her for anything, even just this much, let alone 200 yuan."

Matchmaker Li held out her hand, and Zhang Aidi was so excited she didn't dare breathe. "500?"

"No way? That little jinx is worth that much?"

The old lady couldn't believe it either.

"That's too little! Being conservative is a slap in the face!"

"But you'd better think it through. If you give it to those people, you might never see your child again in your life."

Grandma Gu nodded quickly, "Then give it to them! She's just a little girl, five hundred yuan is enough to send Jinbao to school in town after the New Year."

Zhang Aidi's eyes lit up. "Aunt Li, is it really worth that much money?"

Why are babies so expensive now? I remember before, a baby would only cost a few dozen yuan. And how much would the bride price be when the child got married?

Could those people be human traffickers?

So what if she's abducted? She's not her own daughter anyway, so what does her life or death have to do with her?

……

The two children decided to make two kinds of dumplings: cabbage, radish, and some chopped pork belly.

Su Xiulan quickly got to work, and Nuannuan went over to help.

In the end, the more he tried to help, the more trouble he caused. He didn't help at all, and ended up getting himself all messed up.

Su Xiulan tapped her little nose, "Go warm up on the kang and help out, otherwise we won't have any dinner tonight."

Nuannuan's face turned red. "Mommy, has Nuannuan not used it yet?"

She had never made dumplings before. When her parents were alive, they wouldn't let her do it. After they passed away, she never touched the food in the house, because they were afraid she would steal it.

"How about Nuannuan goes to stay with Daddy?"

Su Xiulan smiled and comforted her, "Nuannuan is the best! Mommy is entrusting you with the most difficult task!"

Nuannuan then wiped her hands and strode into the inner room with her short legs.

Xiao An is helping to start the fire. He's a grown man now and can do most of the chores around the house.

Nuannuan climbed onto the kang (a heated brick bed), saw the basin next to her father, and suddenly spoke.

"Cao Cao, be a good girl, can you give Daddy a sip of water?"

Nuannuan stretched out her little carrot-like finger and poked the red berries in the middle of the ginseng leaves.

【Oh no! Absolutely not good!】

The ginseng refused to comply, even at the cost of its life.

"Why? If you don't give my dad water, I won't feed you anymore!"

The ginseng wilted instantly, and its leaves looked listless.

[What water do I have now? I...]

Nuannuan pouted, and her big eyes instantly filled with tears, which seemed about to fall but didn't, making her look incredibly pitiful.

"Cao Cao is a bad Cao Cao, she doesn't help Nuan Nuan..."

Stop! Hold it in! Don't cry!

Ginseng is most susceptible to this.

This human cub possessed an irresistible charm that it could not resist; when she cried, it felt as if it were withering away.

【Here you go! I'll give it to you, okay? I really owe you one!】

But you have to give me a sip of saliva too!

The ginseng shook itself resignedly, still trying to bargain.

Nuannuan stared intently as a crystal-clear droplet of water slowly condensed on the bright red fruit at the top.

Although it is only the size of a grain of rice, as soon as it appears, the whole room can smell a fresh fragrance.

Nuannuan stopped crying and smiled, carefully bringing the earthenware pot to Gu Jianguo's lips.

That precious drop of "ginseng essence" flowed down Gu Jianguo's chapped lips.

It melts at the entrance.

[Oh dear, my cultivation level! How many days of sun exposure would it take to get this one drop?!]

Don't forget your drool!

Ren Shen was heartbroken and twitched.

Nuannuan stared nervously at Gu Jianguo.

A minute passed.

Two minutes passed.

Still nothing.

"Cao Cao, you're lying." Nuan Nuan pouted.

"How could that be! Anything I make is guaranteed to be top-notch! Just wait a bit longer!" the ginseng retorted defiantly.

Just then, Su Xiulan came in, carrying a basin of water and lifting the curtain.

"Nuan Nuan, stay away from Daddy, don't catch his illness."

She put down the basin of water and picked up a towel to wipe her husband's face.

For the past six months, she has been washing her husband's body every day to prevent bedsores.

When the warm towel touched Gu Jianguo's palm, his fingers twitched almost imperceptibly.

Su Xiulan didn't notice at first, until she heard Nuannuan's surprised shout.

"Mom, Dad's eyelids moved!"

"What?"

The cloth in Su Xiulan's hand fell to the ground with a snap. She looked up in disbelief and saw Gu Jianguo's eyelids trembling incessantly, as if he were about to wake up at any moment.

"Build a nation!"

She cried out in surprise, and Xiao An, who was tending the fire in the outer room, ran in upon hearing the commotion. "Mommy, what happened to Daddy?"

"Your dad, your dad, he's waking up!"