novelraw Chapter 223 What are you doing? Are you stupid?!
Chapter 223 What are you doing? Are you stupid?!
Chapter 220 What are you doing? Are you stupid?!
After Gu Lianshan left with the silver, Gu Ping'an approached Gu Tang with a look of great interest.
"Second sister, did your incense really sell for ten thousand taels of silver?"
Gu Tang glanced at him sideways: "What are you dreaming about? That's the reward money the Cheng family is talking about. The Cheng family is dishonest. No matter how high the price they offer, it's all just empty talk. If they turn their backs on you later, you'll be left with neither money nor goods, and you might even lose your life."
Gu Ping'an's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly asked, "If that's the case, then why did Father say you were going to sell the incense to the Cheng family?"
"We did have this plan before, and wanted to find a middleman to help us do this business with the Cheng family. But now it's not necessary."
"If we can't do this business, then we can. I'd rather earn less than attract trouble from petty people." Gu Ping'an breathed a sigh of relief.
"No matter how despicable the Cheng family is, they'll still cower when facing someone they can't afford to offend. The reason they're abandoning this deal right now is because something's happened to the Cheng family!"
"Something happened? What happened?" Gu Ping'an's eyes lit up with curiosity.
Gu Tang said, "I heard that something important was stolen from the Cheng family. All the guards employed by the Cheng family were mobilized, and the constables from the yamen were also invited to go out into the streets to search for people! The city has been in a state of panic these past two days."
Even this couldn't hide the intense search for the three Ma brothers by people from all walks of life in the city.
The reward notice from the Cheng family hasn't been taken down yet. Although everyone knows the Cheng family isn't a good family, anyone involved in this matter has powerful backers.
Once the person is found, we can obtain the divine incense and earn the Cheng family's reward of ten thousand taels of silver—a win-win situation.
Anyone with the ability is secretly searching everywhere.
As the city gradually descended into chaos, Gu Tang was more than once grateful that he had disguised the three Ma brothers and sent them out of the city at the first opportunity.
"This is outrageous!" Gu Ping'an clicked his tongue. "The law states that anyone who condones their household guards causing trouble and disturbing the peace shall be punished with eighty strokes of the cane for the first offense!"
“They’re not afraid of that.” Gu Tang pointed to the east. “The Cheng family has a daughter who entered the palace early on, gave birth to a prince, and is now a concubine.”
Putting everything else aside, just considering the Empress and that prince in the palace, none of the officials in Beian City, high or low, would make things difficult for the Cheng family.
Gu Ping'an was unaware of this, and he sighed dramatically, "Officials protect each other..."
Gu Tang rolled her eyes at him: "You can say that at home, but you can't say it to outsiders."
With Gu Mei and Gu Lai'an gone, there are only the four of them left in the house. No matter what happens, it won't get out to outsiders.
You can vent your frustrations at home, but when you're out in the world, you have to learn to pretend you don't hear or hear.
"If you really can't stand this bureaucratic style, then study hard and take the imperial examination. When you reach a high position, you might be able to put an end to this bureaucratic arrogance."
That's just a way to fool people.
Gu Tang couldn't bear to tell him the truth. If even the emperor couldn't stop this bureaucratic corruption, how could his subjects possibly control it?
In order not to discourage the young man's ambition, Gu Tang felt that rather than telling him the truth, it would be better to let him discover the truth step by step on his own.
"I'll only say this at home. I would never say it outside, even if you killed me. As for studying and taking the imperial examinations, I will definitely work hard!" Gu Ping'an's tone was firm, and his eyes were burning.
Gu Tang glanced at him, hoping that he could withstand the corruption of power and wealth in the future and stay true to himself.
"Alright, you don't need to worry about the incense. Keep dismantling your chicken coop. I'm going to make the bed for Grandpa."
"Sigh!" Gu Ping'an obediently responded and squatted down to continue dismantling the chicken coop.
Gu Tang returned to the main room and told his third uncle that he had arranged for him to stay in the east inner room of the main room.
When they bought this courtyard, their second branch of the family had not yet been adopted. Gu Tang completely ignored Madam Feng and Old Master Gu and arranged for her father's room to be in the east wing.
Now that he has been adopted, and the elders in the family are still alive, it is no longer appropriate for Gu Lianshan to live in the east wing.
The bedding in the east room was all new; her father, Gu Lianshan, only slept there for a few nights.
Gu Tang lifted the covers and looked inside; everything was clean.
She went out and asked her third uncle if he disliked the bedding and asked him to change it.
There's nothing to complain about about sleeping in your son's bed. Third Uncle told Gu Tang not to change, he'd sleep in this room tonight.
Since there were no objections, Gu Tang stopped touching the bedding in the room, found an old quilt, and carried it to the west room of the main hall, where her father would live from now on.
After laying out the bedding, Gu Tang felt that the bedding in the house was still inadequate. Not only were there no clean bedding to change into, but there were also no extra bedding available if guests came.
Tomorrow is the winter market day, I can buy some more bedding then.
Each person in the family should have one set, and two more sets should be bought separately and placed in the west wing so that they can be taken out and laid out whenever guests come to visit.
……
In the afternoon, Gu Lianshan, who had gone to see the Ma brothers off, returned.
Almost immediately, just as Gu Tang locked the courtyard gate, Ah Gou suddenly appeared on the high wall.
Gu Lianshan hadn't noticed anyone yet, only Gu Tang saw them. She immediately panicked, baring her teeth in a silent threat, and repeatedly waved her hands to signal him not to jump in!
Ah Gou happened to see Gu Lianshan walking towards the hanging flower gate. He recognized him as his master's father.
If he jumped in in front of the old man, it wouldn't be proper. He had previously said he wanted to pretend to be a rich young master. What rich young master would climb over the wall to enter the courtyard?
Ah Gou silently jumped off the wall, intending to enter the courtyard through the gate.
Gu Tang thought he had left, and her heart was finally at ease when suddenly there were three knocks on the courtyard gate behind her.
Gu Tang's face immediately darkened.
Is the person still here?
Gu Lianshan had already entered the second courtyard when he heard the knocking on the door. He turned around and came out again.
Someone is knocking on our door.
"...I heard you. Please come in first, I'll go open the door." Gu Tang's expression remained unchanged as she tried to coax the person into the courtyard.
“You’re a young lady, I don’t trust you to open the door.” Gu Lianshan looked worried and went to open the door himself, bypassing Gu Tang.
Their relatives and friends didn't know they had bought a yard, and they weren't familiar with the neighbors in the neighborhood. So when someone came to knock on the door, who knew who it was or what it was about?
His daughter is beautiful; we can't let anyone be too forward with her.
Upon opening the door, a richly dressed young man stood outside.
The man was handsome, but... he looked like a fool!
This wasn't the first time Ah Gou had met Gu Lianshan; he had seen him before while following him. But this time was different; this was their first official meeting.
How should one react when meeting their master's biological father?
A wide grin? To show he's kind and harmless?
Ah Gou tried to grin, even showing his two rows of white teeth, looking silly and goofy.
Even her elegant attire and good looks couldn't save her from her sillyness!
Gu Lianshan frowned, looking displeased.
Ah Gou composed himself, looking confused. Something was off about that expression.
He looked down at his clothes and suddenly remembered that he was now a "rich young master," and a rich young master couldn't smile like that. So how should he smile?
He hesitated for a moment, then two words suddenly popped into his mind: reserve.
Yes, as a rich young master, he should smile with restraint.
Hmm... how should I smile in a reserved way?
Ah Gou was puzzled and remained silent.
Then he tried various smiles on Gu Lianshan: a smirk, a smug smile, a soft laugh, a radiant smile...
Gu Lianshan was dumbfounded.
Gu Tang, who was hiding behind Gu Lianshan, could no longer hold back and jumped out to interrupt him.
"What are you doing?!"
With his gritted teeth and furious tone, coupled with Gu Tang's dark face, Ah Gou saw Gu Tang's resentment surge up again, turning her into a fierce ghost, as if she was about to devour him at any moment.
Ah Gou swallowed hard, knowing he had done something wrong again.
He quickly lowered his head and gently coaxed, "Don't be angry, don't be angry. Getting angry will only make you suffer. If I've done something wrong, just punish me as you see fit. Why torture yourself like this..."
He was fine when he didn't speak, but the more he spoke, the more irritable Gu Tang became!
Is this person stupid?!
Saying such things in front of her father, anyone who didn't know better would think they were having an affair!
"You..." Gu Tang wanted to curse him, but before she could utter a single word, her father's large hand landed on her arm and pulled her behind him.
"Whose young master are you? What kind of madman are you, showing up at my doorstep in broad daylight?!"
I got scolded...
Ah Gou looked bewildered and asked Gu Tang behind Gu Lianshan, "Why?"
Gu Tang winked at him, signaling him to shut up!
"Father." Gu Tang tugged at her father's clothes and forced herself to introduce Ah Gou to him.
“Yesterday, when you weren’t here, this man collapsed in front of our house. I happened to see him when I came out to buy something, so I fed him a bowl of hot tea… He came here today, probably because of that bowl of hot tea from yesterday.”
As Gu Tang spoke, she secretly glared at Ah Gou a few times, signaling him to respond according to what she said and not to cause any more trouble!
Following up on the conversation, Ah Gou quickly bowed deeply to Gu Tang and Gu Lianshan: "Yesterday, I was ambushed by a villain in my family, which is why I fainted in front of your house. Fortunately, you gave me a bowl of tea, which allowed me to insist on returning to the inn and find a doctor to save my life."
Gu Lianshan looked suspicious, clearly not believing it.
If that's really the case, then what was the purpose of what you just said?
Gu Tang tried to salvage the situation, secretly signaling Ah Gou to continue speaking.
Ah Gou paused for a moment, then said, "I've come today for two reasons. First, to express my gratitude to you, young lady. Second, I'd like to inquire about the well-being of your elders. I've prepared some small gifts and would like to find a day to formally visit and express my thanks."
Gu Lianshan remained unmoved, still skeptical, believing that this man was not telling the truth and had something wrong with his head!
It's best to stay as far away as possible from someone with mental problems, especially a rich young master like that.
Gu Lianshan composed himself, suppressing his hostility, and said, "It's just a bowl of tea, no big deal. Since you've come to see me today, let's just let it go..."
"We can't let this go!" Ah Gou quickly interrupted him.
“For you, this is indeed a matter of a bowl of tea, but for me, it is a matter of life and death!”
How can this be left unresolved?
Their original plan was to use this life-saving grace as a pretext to find a way to give silver and launder some of the stolen silver.
If he messes this up, his master will definitely eat him alive!
Gu Lianshan increasingly felt that there was something wrong with this person. Why would someone rush to give gifts as a token of gratitude?
He was about to refuse again when Gu Tang tugged at his clothes from behind and agreed to the matter, bypassing him.
"I have some matters to attend to at home these days, so I'm afraid I can't entertain you. Please wait three days. My father will be waiting for you at home in three days."
Three days... This is different from what they said beforehand.
Ah Gou looked at Gu Tang with a accusing expression, saying, "That's not what you said before!"
Gu Tang glared at him, signaling him to shut up, and quickly nodded in agreement.
That bastard messed everything up today!
How dare he accuse himself!
After being glanced at, Ah Gou became obedient, bowed again to Gu Lianshan and Gu Tang, and said he would visit again in three days.
Then he walked away, turning back every few steps.
Gu Tang glared at him, furious at his behavior!
I kept trying my luck, trying my luck again and again, constantly reassuring myself, "Don't argue with a fool, don't argue with a fool..."
Watching the person leave, Gu Lianshan's face turned ashen, his mind in turmoil. He desperately wanted to call the person back and prevent him from coming to his door.
But his daughter had already agreed to it, so if he, as her father, were to back down now, wouldn't that be slapping his daughter in the face?
Growing increasingly conflicted, Gu Lianshan turned to Gu Tang with a serious expression: "Tell your father the truth! Did you really save this person?"
"I swear!" Gu Tang raised her hand without hesitation, "I really saved this person!"
Ah Gou was the one she saved.
If she doesn't accept the mother talisman, Ah Gou's body will gradually decay and die.
So, in some ways, she did save Ah Gou.
Gu Tang, with his thick skin, thought this way and barely managed to fool Gu Lianshan.
"After you saved him, did you two keep in touch?" What that kid said just now was really unpleasant to hear!
Gu Tang blinked, her mind racing, trying to figure out how many accusations Ah Gou had of being sick.
"This man's mind seems to be different from others. I only gave him a bowl of tea, and he said with red eyes that no one had ever been so good to him in his life, and that his relatives and clansmen all hoped for his death so that they could divide up the silver left to him by his parents."
Gu Lian was stunned: "His parents are gone?"
"Yes, that's it. You don't know, after he sobered up from drinking the hot tea, he was completely unguarded with me and told me all the dirty and messy things about his family. He seems to have no brains at all. The reason he fainted in front of our house this time was because his relatives drugged him."
Sure enough, he was right; the man was indeed a fool.
Gu Lianshan breathed a sigh of relief. It's good that he's a fool; it's easier to fool and get rid of a fool.
Gu Tang had been secretly observing her father's expression. Seeing that his expression had softened, she said, "If we refuse his thanks, he might think we have ulterior motives. We might as well go along with his wishes, accept his gift, and put his mind at ease."
Once he's at peace with himself, he won't think of us again. Once we go back to the village, we'll never see each other again in this lifetime.
Regardless, let's get her father to believe it first and send someone to visit.
If you can't even get through the door, forget about anything else.
Gu Lianshan didn't speak, but closed the door and took Gu Tang back to the courtyard to tell his third uncle about the matter, wanting to ask for his opinion.
(End of this chapter)