novelraw Chapter 225 Is Heaven Blind? No, Heaven knows right from wrong!
Chapter 225 Is Heaven Blind? No, Heaven knows right from wrong!
Chapter 225 Is Heaven Blind? No, Heaven knows right from wrong!
Having been in this world for so long, Gu Tang has developed very good sleeping habits, and she can fall asleep almost every night as soon as her head hits the pillow.
But tonight I tossed and turned, and didn't fall asleep until late at night.
Because she went to bed late, Gu Tang lingered in bed again when she woke up in the morning.
Gu Pingan called her, and after vaguely hearing it, she subconsciously responded, but then turned over and fell asleep again in the blink of an eye.
The rice was already cooked in the kitchen, but Gu Tang hadn't come over yet, so Gu Ping'an got up to call her again.
Gu Lianshan stopped him and told him to sit down and eat: "Stop shouting, let your sister continue sleeping. It's very cloudy today, and it's cold outside, so it's not good to go too early. It's better to go later."
Gu Ping'an paused, went outside and looked at the sky; it was indeed very overcast.
Alright, then let Second Sister continue sleeping.
He sat back down in his seat and continued eating.
As for Gu Tang, she slept until the end of Chen Shi (7-9 AM) before waking up.
After getting up, dressing, washing up, and having breakfast, more than half an hour had passed.
By the time they locked the courtyard gate and set off for the street, it was already late morning.
It's not too late to go out at this hour. Most people in Bei'an City eat only two meals a day. Because of the cold weather, there are quite a few like Gu Tang who have just finished breakfast and come out to stroll around the streets.
Today, the whole family walked; the family's oxcart was not used.
Uncle San said that every year the winter market is crowded with people. The constables from the yamen all come out, and many streets with many people are temporarily closed to oxcarts and horse-drawn carriages to prevent congestion and stampedes.
Not being allowed to take the cart made Gu Tang a little worried. "We have quite a lot of things to buy. Without an oxcart to help transport them, how are we going to get them back?"
Her third uncle reassured her: "It's alright. At this time of year, there are laborers everywhere on the streets. You can hire one to help carry things for just one or two copper coins."
If we really buy too much, we'll hire a few laborers and have your dad lead them to carry it all home for us.
That's good!
Gu Tang breathed a sigh of relief; at least she didn't have to carry it herself.
As soon as she stepped off the street, Gu Tang instinctively headed east, but her father called out to her, "We're not going to East Street today, we're going to West Street."
The city of Bei'an is divided into four areas—east, west, south, and north—based on a central cross axis.
The street on the east side is commonly called East Street by the locals, and the street on the west side is called West Street. The same applies to the remaining streets on the north and south sides; one is called South Street, and the other is called North Street.
If you're going shopping, East Street and South Street are frequented by high-ranking officials or wealthy families, as they sell a wide variety of exquisite items.
Similarly, the price is not cheap.
West Street and North Street are frequented by ordinary people. The items sold there are inexpensive and practical, making them suitable for people from farming backgrounds.
Gu Tang had never been to West Street. She always went to East Street to buy things, since it was so close to East Street.
Even the horse market, where poultry and livestock are sold, is located on East Street. Occasionally, you can buy a chicken to make soup, which is very convenient.
Gu Tang was puzzled by her father's suggestion: "Why go to West Street? East Street has more and better products, we should go to East Street."
"We'll go to East Street tomorrow; let's go to West Street first today."
Gu Lianshan explained the reason to Gu Tang: "When we came yesterday, we met the clan chief and elders. They said that they and the villagers would be on West Street today. They said that if we were going, we could go to West Street to find them and buy things together."
Upon hearing this, Gu Tang didn't react: "Why do we have to buy one thing at a time?"
"It's cheap! Take rabbit pelts for keeping warm, for example. The price of buying ten pelts is different from the price of buying a hundred."
If anyone in the village wants to buy rabbit pelts, they go to the clan chief or elders to determine the quantity. The clan chief then goes to buy them. Once the pelts are returned, payment is collected according to the quantity purchased.
It turned out to be the case.
Gu Tang understood; this was an ancient version of group buying.
The more you buy, the cheaper the selling price becomes.
"Let's hurry over there and ask if anyone in the village needs to buy bedding, so we can buy it together!"
Gu Tang calculated that her family would need to buy six sets of bedding to have some money left over. If about ten households in the village bought them together, the price would probably be much lower.
……
As we arrived at the main street, it was already packed with people.
After walking south for a while, we turned west.
If you walk west for about fifteen minutes, you will arrive at West Street, where the crowds are so large that you can't even move.
This was the first time Gu Tang had seen so many people on the streets of Bei'an City. He guessed that all the villages, big and small, around Bei'an City had come out to help.
Add to that the merchants who came from other places, and it's no wonder the place is overcrowded.
"There are too many people. Where are we going to find the clan leader and the others?"
Gu Tang isn't very tall these days. When she's squeezed into a crowd, she can only look up and see the heads of people coming and going. She can't see the road at all.
"Hold on to your father's clothes and don't let go!" Gu Lianshan instructed her sternly.
Gu Ping'an also solemnly instructed others: "Ping'an, hold onto your grandfather's clothes, we're going to 'Xu's Cloth Shop'. Remember, if you get separated, don't panic, just keep heading towards Xu's Cloth Shop."
The three generations of the family nodded and followed Gu Lianshan, squeezing forward.
The further forward they pushed, the more people there were. Gu Tang started to regret it; this group-buying deal was just too difficult to get!
Clinging tightly to her father's clothes, unable to see the road ahead, she could only stare at her father's back and grit her teeth to squeeze forward, occasionally turning back to look at her third uncle and Gu Ping'an.
Fortunately, the grandmother and grandson stayed close behind Gu Tang, and she could see them as soon as she turned her head.
She didn't know how long she had been squeezed in, but she felt her father pull her forward with all his might, and the space around her suddenly became much more spacious.
Looking up and taking a closer look, I realized it was a fabric shop.
This must be the Xu's Cloth Shop that her father mentioned earlier.
Peeking out from behind her father, Gu Tang, with her sharp eyes, spotted the clan leader and elders before her father did.
"Father, the eldest uncle (clan chief) and the others are all standing in the corner. The eldest wife (clan chief's wife) is there too!"
Following the direction Gu Tang pointed, Gu Lianshan finally saw the clan leader and the others.
"Let's go."
The family walked over there and saw the clan leader's wife, Yang, leading a group of older women and wives picking kapok.
At this moment, the clan chief and the others also saw Gu Lianshan's family and hurriedly waved to him, "Come quickly! Your aunt and the others have grabbed a big bundle of kapok! Go and see if you want some."
Upon hearing this, Madam Yang looked up and glanced over, her eyes lighting up: "Lianshan's here? Oh! My third cousin (third uncle)'s here too! You haven't been here for years!"
Third Uncle smiled and nodded: "In previous years, I was all alone, which was no fun. I don't like to join in this kind of liveliness."
This year is different, though. With sons and grandsons, I'll be worry-free for life, and the family line will continue. I can laugh myself awake! Madam Yang was also happy for him: "Your hardship has finally come to an end! From now on, your blessings will be endless!"
The clan chief and elders echoed, "That's right! Tang girl is capable, and Ping An boy is very talented in his studies. Your good days are yet to come!"
"I love to hear that! My first half of life has been full of hardships, so it's time for me to enjoy the second half!"
That's absolutely right!
……
As everyone chatted and laughed, someone suddenly interjected, "Heaven is blind! To let these beasts who don't recognize their own parents or grandparents live is truly an injustice!"
These words were sharp, sarcastic, and full of malice.
The crowd quieted down, feeling annoyed. They looked in the direction from which the sound came and were immediately stunned.
Feng was seen standing at the entrance of the cloth shop, leaning on her cane, followed by Old Master Gu, Gu Zhi'er, and Gu Liansheng's family.
They weren't surprised that Grandpa Gu, Gu Zhi'er, and Gu Liansheng's family came, but they didn't expect that Madam Feng would come along with them, leaning on a cane.
Outside, the clan chief couldn't openly reprimand Feng, so he glanced at his wife, signaling her to speak.
Yang received the signal, but before she could speak, her third uncle preemptively rebuked Feng.
"Heaven knows right from wrong. It remembers clearly who does evil and who does good. Putting aside everything else, just look at whether each person's future days are bitter or sweet to make it clear."
Yang's heart stirred, and she began to play the straight man: "No need to wait until later, these wicked people are getting their just desserts right now."
As she spoke, she gestured with her lip toward the left side of Feng's hand and foot.
Ever since she suffered a stroke, Ms. Feng has been extremely concerned about how others perceive her and what they say to her.
Just like now, after being spoken to by Yang, she immediately exploded, her old face contorted with rage, her eyes filled with venom, and she was about to open her mouth and curse.
Fortunately, Grandpa Gu, who was behind her, knew her very well and quickly stepped forward to block her and ease the tension before she could speak.
"My wife has been sick for a long time, and she's become a bit stubborn. Don't take it to heart."
As he spoke, he looked at his son Gu Lianshan with a sad expression: "Second son, your family was raised by your family. When you were adopted, it was done behind your mother's back. She must be heartbroken."
Especially now, when you see her, you don't even say a word. Her strong-willed nature is becoming even more stubborn; you should be more understanding.
Gu Lianshan was not happy to hear this.
What do you mean by saying that his family was raised by his own family?
He was raised by his grandmother when he was a child, and he also raised all the other children in the family by earning money from various sources.
If he had relied on his family, his four children would have starved to death long ago!
Gu Lianshan wanted to start a fight with his father, but Gu Tang secretly tugged at his clothes, signaling him not to argue with Old Master Gu in public.
Third Uncle also sensed that his adopted son was about to lose his temper, so he imitated Old Master Gu and stood in front of him, confronting Old Master Gu.
"You're already buried at the neck, and you're still talking against your conscience. Aren't you afraid that the King of Hell will summon you down early?"
Old Master Gu's face flushed red, while Madam Feng behind him felt her heart skip a beat and her face turned pale.
Suffering from illness, Ms. Feng is now most afraid of unlucky words like "King Yama" (the King of Hell)!
Third Uncle pointed around and said, "Go ahead and ask. Most of the people in this cloth shop are from our village. Do you really think the village doesn't know that you two are biased and have mistreated the Lian Shan family?"
Grandpa Gu fell silent, his eyes fixed on the ground, not daring to glance around for fear of seeing the villagers' disdainful looks.
Gu Liansheng, in particular, who was always concerned about his image, blushed so deeply that his eyes were practically dripping blood. He glared at Gu Lianshan with a sinister and venomous look.
Madam Feng disagreed and wanted to defend herself, but Gu Zhi'er behind her quietly stopped her: "Mother, please bear with it for now and don't make a scene. If you anger them and they leave, how will my sister-in-law kidnap them?"
There was too much noise in the cloth shop, so only Mrs. Feng heard what was said; no one else heard it.
Thinking that Li might make a move today, Feng immediately stopped being angry and felt enlightened and refreshed.
She stared directly at Gu Tang, her malice undisguised.
Gu Tang sensed Feng's malice and became wary.
Judging from that look in her eyes, could it be that Madam Feng is planning to harm her?
Secretly summon the system inventory and equip the pepper spray and stun gun obtained from the daily check-in.
These two self-defense weapons are just like the equipment in the game; once worn, they will automatically attack enemies when in danger.
Although Ms. Feng had difficulty walking and was unlikely to take action, one can never be too careful.
Therefore, it's best to remain vigilant.
Gu Tang's precautions were correct; she would soon be very pleased with herself for her cleverness and for taking precautions in advance!
The Feng family stopped causing trouble, and everyone stopped paying attention to them.
Madam Yang beckoned to Gu Tang: "Girl, come here, let me teach you how to pick kapok. This stuff is so warm if you use it to make cotton clothes and quilts!"
"Yes!" Gu Tang replied happily and jogged over.
The clan chief and elders continued talking to Third Uncle and Gu Lianshan, asking them what they planned to buy.
During this time, other villagers joined in the discussion, and some formed groups to buy cloth together. They determined the quantities early on and reported them to the clan chief and elders.
The Feng family was subtly excluded, and everyone's faces darkened.
This blatant targeting fueled their competitive spirit. They thought that once Li tied up Gu Tang, the five taels of silver they owed would be immediately in their hands. Gu Liansheng, as if possessed, actually took out the advance payment he received from selling Gu Tang—five taels of silver.
"Father! Mother! Winter is hard to bear, and your health is not as good as before. Today, let's splurge and buy you both a fur coat!"
Upon hearing this, both Old Master Gu and Madam Feng were taken aback, and then their eyes reddened: "You haven't even recovered your own health, yet you still think of us. You should save this money to buy yourself a fur coat."
“Okay, I’ll get one too!” Gu Liansheng looked at Gu Lianshan with a smug expression.
Unfortunately, Gu Lianshan was busy discussing buying things with someone and didn't notice him at all.
Gu Liansheng became even angrier!
With a gloomy face, he went to the shopkeeper, threw out five taels of silver like a lord, and said he wanted to buy three fur coats!
The shopkeeper was busy and was not angry when he was suddenly interrupted. He just wanted to roll his eyes at the five taels of silver on the counter.
Fur coats are already expensive in winter, and with the winter market, the price increases by another ten percent. Three fur coats for five taels of silver...
Well, it's not that you can't buy it, you can if you really want to, it's just that the leather used in this fur coat isn't very good.
"Please wait here, I'll have the waiter bring it to you right away!"
The shopkeeper smiled and turned to instruct his young assistant to find a black wooden box in the storeroom containing three fur coats, and to bring them all back.