This single word was shouted particularly clearly. The originally noisy environment instantly quieted down a bit.
The middle - aged woman at the center of the gambling table was staring intently at the card - dealing machine and didn't realize at all that someone was calling her.
Wen Baozhu stared at her for a few seconds, then suddenly took a step forward and grabbed Zhang Sumei's wrist. "Mom, stop gambling."
Only then did the middle - aged woman react. She looked up, squinting to make out the face of the person in front of her.
Perhaps the life of debauchery had really clouded her vision. It took her a long time of squinting to recognize the person. "… Baozhu?"
After confirming, Zhang Sumei became extremely excited. She broke free from Wen Baozhu's grip and grabbed her hand instead. "You've come just in time!"
She happily pulled Wen Baozhu's hand. "Quickly help mom take a look. How's my luck this time!"
Immersed in the excitement of the upcoming reveal of the card game, she completely failed to notice Wen Baozhu's angry and wide - open eyes.
Wen Baozhu flung Zhang Sumei's hand away and raised her voice. "Who allowed you to come here and gamble? Was the ten million that Master Fu gave you meant for you to squander like this?"
She tried to control her emotions, but her voice became sharp involuntarily because of her anger. "You've spent all the money and are even going to sell the old house. Do you not want to live anymore?!"
Zhang Sumei had never seen Wen Baozhu like this before.
Her daughter, who had been gentle and obedient since childhood, was now so emotional and even accusing her of her wrongdoings.
Zhang Sumei paused for a moment, then quickly became disdainful. "Who am I? I'm your mom! I can spend the money however I want. It's not up to my daughter to criticize and lecture me!"
"What about grandma?" Wen Baozhu stared at Zhang Sumei.
Sure enough, the other woman's eyes instantly flickered. It was a look of evasion and also timidity.
"What about grandma!" Wen Baozhu looked at Zhang Sumei in front of her. Her hands and feet turned cold again, and she was so angry that her shoulders trembled. "You said on the phone that you would take good care of grandma for me. So how is she now!"
"Your grandma…" Zhang Sumei's eyes darted. "I found the best hospital and nurses for her. Someone is taking good care of her with delicious food and drinks."
As if to make her lie more convincing, she puffed out her chest. "She's my mom. Would I treat her badly? But you, my own daughter, how dare you question me?"
The best hospital? Being taken good care of with delicious food and drinks?
Wen Baozhu closed her eyes.
Two days ago, she had met A Yan alone.
A Yan probably knew that her relationship with Fu Lian had been quite strained recently. He thought she was taking out her anger on him because of her grandma's passing.
A man as noble and proud as Master Fu would never lower his head to explain things to Wen Baozhu.
So, as an assistant who had just received triple the bonus and felt a bit of pity for Wen Baozhu in his heart, Mr. A Yan took the initiative to try to speak up for Fu Lian.
A Yan said, "Miss Wen, actually, before the New Year, Master Fu asked me to go to Fucheng to visit your grandma on your behalf. That's when we just found out that the old lady's condition was not looking good."
"At that time, Master Fu immediately asked me to transfer the old lady to the Fucheng Central Hospital, just to ensure that she could receive the best treatment."
Wen Baozhu unconsciously curled her fingers tightly. "Where was she before? Didn't my mom arrange a hospital for her?"
Ten million. Even if they flew to Jingbei for treatment, it should have been more than enough.
A Yan hesitated, as if he couldn't bear to say it. "The old lady was… in the local health center at that time. Only the nurses on duty took turns to take care of her."
Wen Baozhu's head exploded.
It was like water droplets splashing into hot oil, exploding with a crackling sound and unexpectedly burning a large area, leaving a shocking red mark.
The health center, a simple medical place that could only do emergency wound dressing and treat common colds and fevers, and grandma had been lying there alone, ignored!
At that time, it was as if Wen Baozhu's blood had flowed backwards. She couldn't feel her body temperature or pain. It wasn't until A Yan called her several times that she realized she had bitten her lips.
The feeling at this moment was exactly the same as when she had learned the truth back then.
Only then did she realize why Zhang Sumei had always avoided talking about grandma when she called her so many times.
It wasn't that she didn't let her talk to grandma. It was because grandma wasn't in Fucheng at all.
She was in Macau, squandering the money she had gotten from selling her daughter, hoping to win even more.
How stupid and ignorant.
Wen Baozhu stared intently at Zhang Sumei, and her fingers trembled uncontrollably. "I've seen grandma."
"You… You went back to Fucheng?" Zhang Sumei's face immediately changed. "How could that be? Master Fu and we had an agreement that you couldn't go back to Fucheng without permission!"
Wen Baozhu remained silent and just quietly looked at her.
Until Zhang Sumei finally became speechless. She opened her mouth, looking like a deflated balloon.
But soon, her eyes lit up again.
Because she saw -
The man standing behind Wen Baozhu. It was Fu Lian.
From the very beginning, Fu Lian hadn't intended to hide himself in the crowd. He was standing not too far or too close to Wen Baozhu.
He always maintained the gentlemanly grace of a noble young master, as well as his cold and unapproachable aura.
It was as if he was observing her and also protecting her.
Zhang Sumei's gaze passed over Wen Baozhu's shoulder and landed directly on Fu Lian's face.
She soon showed a happy expression and grabbed Wen Baozhu's arm again. "I won't hide it from you anymore. Your grandma needs a kidney transplant, but the cost is too high. That's why I came here to gamble."
"Did you see just now? The dealer won so much money. All those clattering plastic chips. Guess how much it is? It's enough to keep your grandma alive until she's a hundred!"
Wen Baozhu pushed her hand away again. "What about the ten million? Isn't it enough for grandma's kidney transplant?"
"I've spent it all."
Since things had come to this, Zhang Sumei didn't hide it anymore. She simply shrugged and said, "I won a bit the other day, but I guess I was just unlucky and lost it all again."
She said it so casually, as if she hadn't spent ten million but just one yuan.
This frank attitude made Wen Baozhu feel dizzy for a moment.
Ten million.
It was ten million, the ten million that had bought away her freedom of her womb and her life!
When a person is extremely angry, they really do want to laugh.
Laugh at the other person's absurdity and at their own stupidity.
But Zhang Sumei was completely unaware. Seeing Wen Baozhu curl her lips, she thought the atmosphere was getting better. So she lowered her voice and said earnestly, "Good Baozhu, help mom. Ask Master Fu for another million, okay?"
Wen Baozhu couldn't believe it. "Are you crazy?"
"Crazy? No way. I've been reading the Hong Kong tabloids recently."
Her voice was full of pride. "Master Fu treasures you so much. Even a piece of jewelry is a non - sellable item. A mere million? It's just a drop in the bucket."
She grabbed Wen Baozhu's arm again. "Even if you don't want to help mom, think about helping grandma. I know it's very easy for you. All you need to do is open your mouth, right?"
"As long as we have this million, your grandma's kidney can be won back right away!"