Chapter 349: Chapter 349

Why is it so hot? Gong Ruini felt like she was in the Flaming Mountains; all she could feel was sweat continuously pouring from her body.

Before Gong Ruini could voice any protests, she suddenly didn’t feel so hot, and just as she was starting to feel a bit more comfortable, she abruptly felt as if she’d entered an ice cave.

Oh my gosh, where on earth was she? Could she be dreaming? But this dream felt too real.

Gong Ruini kept shaking her head, trying to wake herself from this nightmare.

"Water, water." No matter how hard Gong Ruini tried to escape from this nightmare, she just felt exhausted.

This wasn’t just any ordinary exhaustion; it was the kind of fatigue that made walking two steps seem unbearably tiring.

Gong Ruini really couldn’t understand what was happening, but fortunately, she hadn’t dreamed of Gong Dajiang. Otherwise, she would definitely believe that perhaps, after Gong Dajiang had gone below, he discovered she wasn’t a descent of the Gong Family and was planning to claim her soul.

Gong Ruini alternated between feeling hot and cold, really frightening Cai Meina.

"It’s all my fault. I knew she would catch a cold riding on the ox cart, but I just didn’t wake Ni Zi."

"I really shouldn’t have let Ni Zi sleep."

At this moment, Cai Meina was filled with regret. "If Ni Zi hadn’t slept, nothing would have happened."

Gong Tao held his sobbing wife tightly.

Gong Tao truly worried that if he didn’t do so, not only would his own daughter collapse, but his wife might not be far behind.

"Ni Zi will be fine."

"This isn’t your fault." Although Gong Tao was somewhat resentful, anyone would know that sleeping in the cold wind is bound to catch a cold, yet seeing his wife steeped in tears, what else could he say?

One can’t fall after another, "It’s alright, Ni Zi is just tired."

Gong Tao truly regretted deciding to bring Ni Zi and them back with him. If he’d known they’d be treated with such coldness, it would have been better not to return, saving his wife and children from this indignity.

Gong Ruwen peeked in with a pale face, "Is Ni Zi feeling any better?"

Gong Ruwen, although not sick, was also extremely tired, showing signs of exhaustion, which really frightened Gong Tao. After all, Zhan Jing said if they didn’t take care, these two children could sustain long-term damage.

Minor illnesses might pass with time, but once a foundation is damaged, that’s no joke. Gong Tao was filled with regret at that moment; how could he have made such an error?

"Still the same," Gong Tao was hoping to tell his eldest son some good news, but anyone could see from his daughter’s condition that something was amiss.

Gong Ruwen watched his sister oscillate between hot and cold, his fists clenched tightly.

Last time they came to the Northeast, his sister’s health wasn’t so good, yet his sister managed to pull through. There was no reason she couldn’t handle it this time or have such a severe illness.

Hmph, it must be because of that matter, "It’s because her name isn’t on the monument. She’s unhappy."

Gong Ruwen was furious, "If they weren’t willing to write Ni Zi’s name, then they’d better leave mine off too."

The names on the monument, Zhan Jing was holding a bowl of medicine, ready to enter, when she heard the news abruptly and was taken aback.

Could it be that there was more to Ni Zi’s illness than met the eye? Zhan Jing really thought it was because of the long journey that her illness became so severe, "What monument." Thıs text ıs hosted at NoveI~Fire.net

Could it be Gong Dajiang’s tombstone, with no Gong Ruini’s name on it?

But surely Ni Zi wouldn’t be that petty. Many omit the names of daughters or granddaughters on inscriptions to save money, which isn’t unusual. Ni Zi couldn’t possibly be so upset over such a trivial matter.

Looking at her friend’s surprised expression, Cai Meina explained the monument matter with helpless anger, "There’s no Ni Zi’s name; is this looking down on Ni Zi, or looking down on us?"

"And they said they forgot; is that forgetting?"

"It’s not like Ni Zi was just born; they’ve practically watched her grow up." If Ni Zi had been born in the Northeast and never laid eyes on the Gong Family after, them forgetting could be somewhat understandable.

Zhan Jing was speechless. Was this a brewing conflict, "When was the monument inscribed?"

"Before the old man passed away, I suppose, Gong Qiang was responsible for it." Gong Tao didn’t investigate these matters in detail.

But significant affairs such as this, beyond the self-proclaimed eldest Gong Qiang, who else would do it?

Furthermore, Gong Zhuang and the others aren’t foolish enough to commit such obvious errors that would clearly offend Gong Tao.

"Your eldest son’s capacity is just so shallow; besides complaining about fate, what else can he do?" Zhao Gang was also quite angry.

This wasn’t just a disregard towards Gong Ruini; it was more importantly a blatant disregard for Gong Tao, meant to simply sicken someone.

"As long as he’s happy." What could Gong Tao say, except that as long as Gong Qiang was happy, everything he did was permissible?

"Anyway, his good days are numbered; he’s going to have big trouble."

"They’re all counting on the old man’s little inheritance." Recalling Gong Zhuang mentioning on the road that Gong Zheng intended to reach out to the old man’s former leaders, colleagues, and friends, Gong Tao understood Gong Zheng’s plans.

Gong Tao felt that even if he did not get promoted in these five years, so what? How many people can continuously rise up the ranks?

Even those who seem to rise smoothly, like a lucky young man, have simply met the right opportunity and seized it; otherwise, they wouldn’t have been promoted,

But even so, what does it matter? He still ended up being taken down because he was perceived as a threat.

Gong Tao could only say that Gong Zheng’s mindset had been spoiled; to him, promotion was everything, and failing to get one equated to failure.

Zhao Gang thought Gong Tao was referring to the money Gong Dajiang had loaned out. Frankly, Zhao Gang was quite surprised; he never expected Gong Dajiang would have so much money.

"They’re making a fuss there, let them carry on. You’re out of it now, let them rage if they must." Zhao Gang assumed his friend was worried the Gong Family would argue endlessly over money.

Zhao Gang really thought Gong Tao meddled far too much; these times are filled with people falling out over money, aren’t they?

"If it were about money, I’d let it be. Gong Zheng intends to visit the old man’s friends." Gong Tao truly didn’t understand what Gong Zheng was thinking; maybe while the old man was alive, people might have given such courtesies.

Now the key issue was that the old man had already passed, and died due to the neglect of his children. Although Gong Zhuang had placed the blame on Gong Qiang, wouldn’t those around think if Gong Zheng and the others had been more attentive, Gong Dajiang wouldn’t have ended up this way?

Gong Dajiang had just passed, and Gong Zheng’s actions only made people disdainful, "Truly ignoring everything for the sake of promotion."

He recalled that Gong Zheng used to have some backbone, but now it seemed he was so because previously he hadn’t needed to maintain this facade, with others taking care of his promotion matters for him.