novelraw Chapter 135 "Glorious Deeds"
Chapter 135 "Glorious Deeds"
Chapter 135 "Glorious Deeds"
Gu Lianshan swallowed hard and tried to reason with his daughter, "Of your three hundred and fifty taels of silver, two hundred taels were used to buy the yard. It has nothing to do with incense making. How can it be counted as part of the cost of making incense?"
"I bought the yard earlier to avoid my family from making incense, so why can't it be included in this?" Gu Tang said as if it was a matter of course.
Gu Lianshan was speechless after hearing this. After a while, he said, "Okay! Then let's put it in there, but can you please make the incense properly and not play tricks on people? With your shabby flower, let alone fooling the rich, even us country folk wouldn't be fooled by you!"
This is our first time learning how to do business. We don't care about how much money we make, we just want to avoid losses. You'd better give up the idea of making ten times the profit as soon as possible. Even experienced businessmen with many years of experience don't dare to say that they can make ten times the profit, so we don't dare to think like that..."
Gu Lianshan kept chattering, determined to guide his daughter back onto the right path.
But Gu Tang didn't listen to him. She scratched her ears and felt that there was no need to argue with her father.
When she gets back, she will just light the incense and let her father see it with his own eyes. Then, she won't have to say anything, her father will believe it.
Covering himself with a rabbit skin blanket, Gu Tang lay on the herbs and planned to take a nap. He was exhausted after running to so many stores.
Gu Lianshan didn't know that his daughter was lying down behind him and preparing to sleep, he was still chattering to himself.
After a long while, Gu Ping'an gently lifted a corner of the rabbit skin blanket and saw that Gu Tang was really asleep. He didn't care about his father's nagging at all.
Putting the blanket down, he reached out and tugged at his father's clothes: "Shut up, my second sister is asleep. I guess she didn't hear what you said."
Gu Lianshan glanced back, his face full of helplessness: "You don't even want to listen to what Dad has to say. It seems your second sister has really made up her mind."
"Just follow Second Sister's wishes. Why argue with her? After all, all that money was earned by Second Sister herself. Whether it's a profit or a loss depends entirely on Second Sister's wishes. Don't worry about it." Gu Ping'an stood on Gu Tang's side.
Gu Lianshan stopped talking and glanced at his son. He was a man of integrity and selfless intentions.
……
Considering that Gu Tang had fallen asleep, Gu Lianshan drove slowly, at about the same speed as when he came yesterday. When he got home, it was time for the villagers to have dinner.
Thinking that everyone in the village was at home at the moment, Gu Lianshan drove the ox cart towards Gu Liu's house.
Gu Ping'an was puzzled: "The things on the cart haven't been unloaded yet, and you're returning the cart to Sixth Uncle now?"
"Dad is returning the ox cart. Don't ask, just watch." Gu Lianshan replied in a low voice.
Hearing this, Gu Ping'an's heart skipped a beat and he quickly woke up Gu Tang who was still sleeping: "Second sister!"
"Hmm?" Gu Tang peeked out from under the rabbit fur blanket, looking around. "Are we home yet?" he asked sleepily.
Gu Ping'an leaned close to her ear and said, "We've arrived at the village. Dad is driving the ox cart to his sixth cousin's house. He's not returning the cart. I asked him what he wanted to do, but he didn't say anything. He just let me watch."
Gu Tang's brain, which had just woken up, was a little slow to react. It took him a while to come back to his senses and he instantly became alert.
Why don't you return the ox cart and go to your sixth uncle's house?
Gu Tang's eyes fell on the medicine bag beside him. He couldn't possibly let his sixth cousin take a look at the medicine bag in the car, right?
The sixth cousin is not in charge of the matter, and has no connection with the clan leader or the elders. It doesn't matter whether he knows about Feng's medicine preparation or not. It has no impact on the division of the Gu family.
So, what is her father trying to do again?
Gu Tang couldn't guess what her father was thinking. She lifted the blanket and sat up straight with curiosity in her eyes, motioning Gu Ping'an not to say anything and watching her father calmly to see what he was trying to do.
The ox cart slowly arrived outside the fenced yard of Gu Liu's house. Gu Lianshan stopped the cart, glanced around, and without even getting off the cart, he shouted into the yard at the top of his voice: "Old Six! Old Six! Are you home?"
The shout was so loud that every household living around Gu Liu's house could hear it.
A few people who like to watch the fun have already opened their doors and walked out.
It was getting dark, but people could still be seen clearly at this time. Those who came out to watch the fun recognized at a glance that the person sitting on the ox cart was Gu Lianshan.
In view of the various rumors that have emerged about the Gu family recently, any member of the Gu family who shows up in the village is now a rare figure, and everyone who sees them will talk to them.
It was just a conversation, which was nothing, but after just a few words, he started talking about the Gu family and asked all kinds of questions. If you dare to answer one question, I guarantee there will be ten or a hundred more questions waiting to be asked to you!
Seeing Gu Lianshan, the onlookers were overjoyed and hurried over to chat with him: "Hey! Isn't this Lianshan? Where did you drive to? Why did you come back at this time?"
Several people gathered in front of the car and saw Gu Tang and Gu Ping'an, a brother and sister, sitting in the car. Before they could ask any questions, their eyes were attracted by the paper packages and bags in the car.
One of the unpretentious people just leaned over the bag and sniffed a few times. Then he looked up in surprise and asked, "Is this filled with medicinal herbs? It smells so strong!"
"You have a sharp nose, but don't sniff randomly. These medicines are for my mother's treatment. You are a healthy person, why are you sniffing them for no reason? Don't you think it's unlucky?" Gu Lianshan said unhappily.
When several people heard this, they hurriedly took two steps back, slapping their hands and bodies with fear on their faces, especially the one who was lying on the ground and smelling the herbs. He slapped his hands and bodies the most vigorously, fearing that he would be contaminated with bad luck.
At this time, Gu Liu opened the door and came out wearing clothes.
Gu Lianshan ignored them and smiled as he discussed with Gu Liu, "Brother, I can't return this ox cart to you for now. I'm afraid you'll need it in the next few days. I sent my mother to Bei'an City for treatment today. I'm afraid I'll have to run back and forth between my family's clinic and the hospital."
Gu Liu and Gu Lianshan were close friends, so when he heard that Gu Lianshan still wanted to use the ox cart, he agreed without hesitation: "There's nothing going on at home these days, so we won't need the ox cart. Just take it and use it. Just take good care of the old ox every day."
There was no need to specifically remind him of this. Gu Lianshan told Gu Liu about the food and drink he prepared for Lao Niu every day. Gu Liu nodded continuously, looking very satisfied.
After discussing the oxcart, Gu Liu pressed on with Feng's affairs. "A few days ago, I heard your mother was ill. Your daughter even went to the clan leader's house and bought two chickens to take back to nourish your mother. What's going on? Has her illness not improved?"
If the illness is cured, it is impossible to send him back to Bei'an City.
Gu Lianshan sighed pretentiously, "This is a 'stroke' that can't be cured. Now the left side of my body and my limbs are no longer under my control. I've been paralyzed in bed for several days, and I'm dying every day at home.
I was at my wit's end, so I had to send her to Bei'an City to find a good doctor, hoping to see if she could be cured. But after seeing several doctors, they all said there was no cure, and all they could do was take some good medicine to alleviate the pain. If my family was wealthy and had plenty of money, she could take it year-round. You know my mother's temper. After hearing this, she knelt down and kowtowed to me, forcing me to pay for her medicine in public..."
At this point, Gu Lianshan pointed to the dozens of bundles of medicinal herbs tied up on the ox cart, his face full of forlornness: "One bundle of medicine costs fifty copper coins. Take one bundle a day for at least a year. After a year, if you're lucky, you can stand up and walk a few steps with a cane. If you're unlucky, you'll be like now, paralyzed in bed, and have to take medicine for another year."
My mother didn't care and insisted on taking the medicine. She forced me to borrow money to buy a year's supply of medicine, but that cost eighteen taels of silver! In addition to the medicine, the doctor said I had to eat good meals every day to stay healthy, and there were also some nourishing soups and herbs that had to be taken together. These three things combined would cost at least twenty or thirty taels of silver a year!
I can't even sell myself for this much money! My father has chest pain and needs medicine every day. My eldest brother and nephew need to go to school, and the girls and boys in the family are all looking for marriages, and they need money everywhere! Where can I borrow this?
In the end, there was no other way, so my daughter took out the two or three taels of silver she got from selling the sheep last time and bought these dozens of packets of medicine first. I don’t know where to borrow money for the subsequent medicine..."
At the end of the story, Gu Lianshan actually covered his face and burst into tears in public, which made people feel very sad and their eyes turned red.
Gu Tang in the car quickly pulled Gu Ping'an to cover their faces so that no one could see the dazed looks on the siblings' faces. In her heart, she was screaming and applauding her father.
Gu Liu wiped his eyes, stepped forward, patted Gu Lianshan's leg and said soothingly: "Don't be sad, I know that you are the only one in your family who can support the family. If you have any difficulties, just speak up!"
The people beside the oxcart also said, "Old Six is right. If you have any difficulties, just ask. We don't have much money, but we can still squeeze out a few copper coins to help you!"
"Yes, yes, yes! You can still get a few dozen copper coins when you come over later."
"Don't get anxious. There are hundreds of families in our village. If everyone contributes a little, it will be enough to tide you over."
"Yes, stop crying. Oh, where's your mom? Why are only you and your son back?"
Before Gu Lianshan could speak, Gu Tang spoke first, "My grandma doesn't want to come back. She said she's afraid we'll run out of her medicine if she comes back. She insisted that we buy a whole year's worth of medicine at once, and then she'll come back with the medicine.
My grandma's illness doesn't allow for anger, so my father had to give in to her for the time being. He paid for her to stay in an inn and hired two maids to take care of her. We're coming back with these dozens of packets of medicine. I want to discuss with my grandfather how much money we have left at home to see if we can scrape together enough money for a year's worth of medicine..."
Hearing this, people frowned and started cursing inwardly.
Feng is just as the villagers said, not kind-hearted and lonely at heart.
To put it bluntly, Feng is already in her early fifties, and it is already a relief to have lived to this age!
Now that you have this disease, if you just stay quiet and be obedient, there would be nothing wrong with the younger generation in your family raising you, but you just ignore it and make a fuss!
The doctors in Bei'an City all said that this disease cannot be cured. Even if you take medicine for a year, you will still have to rely on luck in the end. If your family has money, it's okay. It's no big deal to take a year's gamble.
But everyone in the village basically knows the situation of the Gu family.
The family has two scholars, but no way to make money. They rely entirely on the dozens of acres of land rented by the family to make a living. Their life is probably much harder than that of ordinary people.
Just look at me, life has become like this, but Feng still dares to force her son to borrow money to buy medicine!
Humph! She only dares to force her second son. If her eldest son were here, I'm afraid he wouldn't dare to say a word!
"Don't be sad. It's getting dark. Hurry home. Tomorrow morning, talk to the clan leader and ask him to contribute some money. The villagers can also help you with some more. Buy the medicine first and bring your mother back."
Gu Lianshan wiped away his "tears", sobbed and responded, then thanked everyone, and then drove the ox cart home.
After they had gone far away, several more families came out.
Gu Lianshan had been crying so sadly just now, so they didn't want to come over at this time, for fear that Gu Lianshan would think they were there to make fun of him.
"What is Feng thinking? She's dragging her whole family down to death because of this incurable disease of hers?"
"Yeah, I've never seen her act like a mother like this! Hasn't she always favored her eldest brother? If Lian Shan lends her money to buy medicine, the debt will have to be shared equally by the brothers. Does she think her eldest brother can get away with it?"
"Didn't someone in the village say that the two brothers were arguing about splitting up the family business? Maybe Feng is planning to give the debt to the second brother!"
"She shouldn't even think about it! You don't know Lian Shan's temper. Expecting him to shoulder the debt alone is impossible, even in his dreams!"
Yes, the second son of the Gu family has a temper that not everyone can handle. Lending money to save my mother is no problem, but if he is asked to bear the debt alone afterwards, he will make the whole family uneasy!
Everyone gathered together and talked for a while. As night fell, the temperature grew colder, and soon they all dispersed shivering.
Gu Liu did not go back to the house. He walked towards the village head with his hands behind his back, and soon entered the clan leader's house.
Gu Lianshan was enjoying the whispered compliments from his daughter and son. He looked very proud, and the sadness and desolation he had just felt was completely gone.
Gu Tang really admired her father. This move was completely beyond her expectations, but the effect was absolutely amazing!
By tomorrow afternoon at the latest, the whole village will know about Feng’s “glorious deeds”.
When we returned to the Gu family's house, the main hall and the east and west wings were brightly lit.
Hearing the sound of the ox cart entering the yard, Gu Liansheng came out of the main room and stood at the door with his back to the light, making it impossible to see the expression on his face.
Gu Lianshan ignored him. After getting out of the car, he told his son to unload the herbs from the car.
There were no torches in the yard, so the father and son could barely see each other, but Gu Liansheng, who was standing at the door, could not be seen clearly.
He stared at the ox cart for a while, then suddenly strode towards this side.
When they got closer, Gu Liansheng finally saw everything on the ox cart clearly.
Apart from the second wife's father and son, the rest were bags filled with unknown contents. As for my mother Feng, she was nowhere to be seen!
"Second brother! Where's mother? Where did you take her? Didn't you say you were taking her to Bei'an City to see a doctor? Now the three of you, the second son and his wife, are back, but why is mother nowhere to be seen?!"
Gu Liansheng looked flustered and questioned in an extremely harsh tone.
Gu Lianshan rolled his eyes at him. "Now you think of mother. She's staying in Bei'an City to get treatment. What do you think I can do to her? Abandon her or sell her? With mother like this, I'll sell her to you. Do you want her?"