novelraw Chapter 675: Throwing a Tantrum
Chapter 675: Throwing a Tantrum
"But now, when I think about it, my nephew’s actions were indeed annoying... any decent family’s daughter would dislike him."
Second Miss Gu is right, he feels that the Gu family is from a rural countryside, and by marrying their daughter, their family is reaching above their station, which is why he acted so fearlessly and presumptuously.
Would he dare to pester the noble ladies in the residences of nobles and high-ranking officials in the Capital?
Of course not.
Although he looked down upon the Gu family as common folk, he was certain that he liked Gu Jinxiu. He didn’t mind that she was a farmer’s daughter and was willing to marry her as his official wife and have her manage resources for him.
Old Master Zhan San saw his nephew shedding continuous tears and comforted him: "Not at all, not at all. Our Xiao’er is talented and charming, handsome and the legitimate son of the Zhan family’s main branch. As long as a girl is sane, she wouldn’t dislike you, but rather, she would fall in love with you."
Had these words been said half a month earlier, Zhan Er would have believed them, but after such a big blow, he no longer believed.
He stopped talking and just opened his eyes, looking through the carriage window at the scenery outside. If he saw something that resonated with him, he would recite a line or two of poetry.
Tired from looking, he would fall into a deep sleep, drowsy and awake intermittently, and did not make a fuss again, but his mood became increasingly gloomy, as if he had lost his soul.
Seeing him like this, Old Master Zhan San was very worried and couldn’t help asking: "Does Xiao’er really like Eldest Miss Gu?"
Zhan Er turned to look at his uncle: "I do like her... from the first moment I saw her... I wanted to love her all my life... but she does not like me."
And even threw a brick at him.
He was sick and still went to see her, but her younger siblings wouldn’t let him see her.
Old Master Zhan San felt helpless; he had watched Xiao’er grow up, and this boy has liked many girls since he started dating at fifteen; he would dramatically fall in and out of love with each.
Thus, when Xiao’er said he liked Gu Jinxiu, he didn’t take it seriously.
But now, Xiao’er was almost dying yet still thinking about Gu Jinxiu despite no longer talking; Old Master Zhan San had never seen his nephew like this before.
Perhaps Xiao’er had indeed taken Eldest Miss Gu to heart.
"Don’t worry, Xiao’er, your uncle will definitely help you marry Eldest Miss Gu. The girl Xiao’er likes must enter the Zhan family."
However, Zhan Er had a change of heart, pleading with Old Master Zhan San: "Uncle, please don’t force her... If she is willing, I will marry her, but if not, let it be."
Having said that, he began to sob again, experiencing for the first time the pain of not being liked.
Old Master Zhan San scoffed at this, considering Gu Jinxiu’s social status; even if she was brought in just for show, the Zhan family would still profit. "You need not worry about this matter; since your uncle has promised you, he will make it happen. Our Xiao’er is the youngest Madman of Great Chu, just wanting a woman, there’s no reason he couldn’t have her."
Zhan Er frowned upon hearing this; he didn’t want to force Gu Jinxiu anymore, but in his heart, he still harbored some hope... perhaps once she married him and became his woman, she would start to like him.
Zhan San rode a horse beside the mule cart, listening to his uncle and older brother’s conversation, feeling somewhat speechless; it’s just a farmer’s girl, even if she’s pretty she’s not worth the position of an official wife.
But this was the main branch’s affair, and it had nothing to do with his second branch, as long as the uncle didn’t make their second branch men marry farmer girls.
...
Gu Jinxiu was very happy and completely relieved after hearing that the Zhan family’s uncle and nephew had left, but then she became nervous again and asked Gu Jinli: "Xiao Yu, are we really going to have dinner at our house on Dongzhi?"
Gu Jinli nodded: "Yes, during the day I’ll be busy with the Yanfu Building anniversary, and in the evening, we will host a banquet at our house to celebrate Dongzhi. All the families will come."
Luo Wu has not visited her home for three months, and all the families will come to her house for dinner on Dongzhi—where could Luo Wu possibly escape to?
Gu Jinxiu knew that Gu Jinli had arranged this in order to get Luo Wu to come to their house, but she hesitated: "Forcing him like this, wouldn’t it be inappropriate? There must be a reason why Brother Luo Wu suddenly refused to see me. I want to understand the reason before confronting him face to face."
"Eldest sister, we can look for the reason while inviting Luo Wu to join the festival; these two are not conflicting," Gu Jinli knew Gu Jinxiu was scared and comforted her by holding her hand: "Don’t be afraid, sister. Whether you bow your head or not, you’re facing the same outcome. We can’t continue like this indefinitely."
We have to confront this directly.
Gu Jinxiu was internally strong but appeared gentle. Seeing Luo Wu change so suddenly made her anxious, and she clenched her teeth and said: "Alright, I’ll listen to you."
Regardless, continuing like this is inappropriate. Whether it works or not, I need Brother Luo Wu to give us an answer.
Gu Jinli laughed: "That’s right, we can’t let him do as he pleases; otherwise, this matter will drag on forever."
She looked at the weather, then took away the leather palm guards and knee guards that Gu Jinxiu was making: "Luo Wu won’t be back for a few more days, there’s no need to rush, sister. You can continue tomorrow when it’s bright."
Although Luo Wu had not come to the Gu family to see Gu Jinxiu, Gu Jinxiu kept making things for him, hoping to give them to him when he returned on Dongzhi. Moreover, she stayed within the bounds of propriety, only making palm guards and knee guards.
Seeing her eldest sister staying up late night after night making these things for Luo Wu, Gu Jinli felt extremely distressed. Her big sister was eagerly waiting for Luo Wu; if he dared not to come, she would go and demolish the Luo family!
Gu Jinli was furious, cursing Luo Wu and Qin San Lang while preparing for the Yanfu Building’s anniversary. She had transported a hundred hams from Songzi Manor to Yanfu Building a day earlier.
On the eighth of the Dongyue, she was busy until dark before going home and slept until midnight when she suddenly heard a familiar bird call.
The bird call was quite loud, cooing and occasionally chirping twice, which was very annoying.
Xiao Ji was very familiar with this series of bird calls, hearing them once every month. Thus, upon hearing the bird calls again, she got up and knocked on Gu Jinli’s door: "Young Master, that damn bird is calling again. Why aren’t you getting up to kill it?"
Usually, whenever this bird called, the young master would quickly get up and leave the house to hunt the bird, only returning to continue sleeping after killing the annoying bird.
Gu Jinli said: "I’m in a good mood today and want to be kind, to spare its life. Let it be, go back to sleep quickly, we need to wake up early tomorrow."
"Oh, then I’ll go back to sleep," Xiao Ji returned to the next room and continued to sleep.
However, the bird seemed very excited tonight, cooing for half an hour, which even disturbed Gu Jin’an, who took up his bow and arrows to shoot the bird.
With a whoosh, it was unclear whether he hit the target, but the annoying bird call stopped.
Qin San Lang was holding a bag of still warm Fried Fruit Strips, frowning and puzzled as he returned home: why didn’t Xiao Yu come out quickly when he mimicked the bird call like she always does? Why did she not show up this time?
Elder Qin was also woken up by Qin San Lang’s cooing and said while putting on clothes: "Go back to sleep quickly. If you have any doubts, ask her face to face tomorrow."
But Qin San Lang had no intention of sleeping and asked Elder Qin: "Grandfather, who recently upset Xiao Yu?"