novelraw Chapter 294 Plundering Fortune?
Chapter 294 Plundering Fortune?
Chapter 294 Plundering Fortune?
Gu Lianshan knew that his daughter was pleading for Da Ni.
"There's nothing we can do about it. These are the rules passed down from our ancestors. If you don't follow the rules, you won't even be able to be buried in your ancestral grave after you die."
Gu Tang rolled her eyes: "The ancestral graves have been poor for countless generations, and the feng shui is obviously bad. Why are you rushing to squeeze in?"
If they won't let us in, then let's choose another auspicious location. Perhaps it will bring blessings upon our descendants, ensuring they achieve success in officialdom and business, and even change their fortunes!
"What nonsense are you spouting!" Gu Lianshan glared at her, not too hard, not too soft. "Being buried in the ancestral grave isn't just a matter of feng shui; it's a kind of final resting place..."
"What do you mean by 'where to go'? After death, everyone has to report to the underworld! Do you really think those ancestors are always staying in the ancestral graveyard to protect their descendants?"
Just then, Ah Gou came over with a bowl of soup noodles and happened to hear what was said.
He subconsciously agreed, saying, "That's right. After people die, they have to go to the underworld to report. Once they're in the underworld, they can't come out easily, and they're not allowed to participate in human affairs."
Gu Lianshan looked at him and Gu Tang with a puzzled expression. "You two are talking like it's true. Anyone who didn't know better would think you'd seen it with your own eyes!"
Gu Tang: ...
Ah Gou: ……
What a coincidence! They have indeed met before.
"We don't have the final say on this matter; it all depends on the Guan family. If they insist on not allowing the burning, I reckon the clan leader will eventually give in."
After saying this, Gu Lianshan buried his head in his noodles, clearly starving.
After finishing his meal, Gu Lianshan put on his straw hat and went to Gu Baoshan's house.
Third Uncle didn't go; he stayed home making incense with Gu Ping'an.
Gu Tang didn't disturb the grandfather and grandson, and went back to her room to catch up on sleep.
Ah Gou followed him in and whispered in Gu Tang's ear, "I went out just now and happened to see Gu Liansheng and Li Shunzi leaving the village in an oxcart."
"Leave the village?" Gu Tang raised an eyebrow. "Why would they leave the village now? The snow is so thick outside, aren't they afraid the oxcart will get stuck in the snow and won't be able to get out?"
"It's not a wheeled oxcart, it's one without wheels..." Ah Gou couldn't say what it was, so he drew it on the snow with his finger.
Gu Tang glanced at it and immediately knew what it was: "Sled, you mean this is a sled."
After saying that, she became curious again: "Gu Liansheng is getting married today. Instead of staying home with his new bride, why did he decide to leave the village with Li Shunzi?"
"I don't know about that. How about I go over there and ask around?" Ah Gou pointed to the end of the village.
Gu Tang's heart skipped a beat. Gu Liansheng was not at home, so Qian Shi must be staying at home and not coming out. Wasn't this the perfect time to administer the drug?
She waved to Ah Gou, signaling him to follow her into the inner room.
Once inside, she took the crushed aconite from her system inventory and handed it to Ah Gou.
"Isn't Gu Liansheng thinking about the imperial examination next year? Let's send Feng Shi down first and make her observe three years of mourning."
Taking the medicine packet, Ah Gou asked, "Where's Old Master Gu? What's the point of keeping him around? Why don't we take him down with us?"
"Grandpa Gu, don't move him for now. See how long he can live. If he can survive for three years, then send him down and let Gu Liansheng continue to observe mourning."
If this filial piety continues for six years, by then, Gu Liansheng, who is over forty years old, will not know whether to continue taking the imperial examination or give up.
Gu Tang was really looking forward to it!
Ah Gou understood what she meant and turned to do it.
"Wait!" Gu Tang called out to him, "Don't poison him to death all at once. Keep him hanging, let Gu Liansheng live in fear for a while, and then send Feng down when the imperial examination is approaching."
The county examination will begin in February after the new year, followed by the prefectural examination in April and the provincial examination in August.
February is almost here, and the Feng family should be able to hold out until then.
Ah Gou nodded and then left.
Gu Tang waited at home, her mind preoccupied with the thought, tossing and turning in bed unable to fall asleep.
Not long after, Ah Gou actually came back.
Gu Tang sat up abruptly: "It's done? How did it happen so quickly?"
"It's done. Thanks to that Qian family, the two elders of the Gu family kept shouting for water, but Qian, finding them annoying, deliberately put the teacup outside, letting the warm tea cool down."
Her actions conveniently benefited me, so I took the opportunity to add some aconite to the tea, and watched as Madam Qian forced Madam Feng to drink it.
"Forced down her throat?" Gu Tang blinked. "Impressive! She just married into the family and dares to treat Madam Feng like this. Doesn't Old Master Gu question her?"
"We asked, but Madam Qian was very shrewish. She immediately smashed the bowl, pointed at Old Master Gu, and started cursing him. She almost made the two old people die of anger."
Hearing this, Gu Tang laughed: "It seems that it doesn't matter whether we use this aconite or not. With Qian Shi around, why worry about Feng Shi not dying?"
Ah Gou agreed with this statement. That Qian woman was really good with words; when she started cursing, she didn't care about anyone, and she would go through all eighteen generations of ancestors.
"Evil people will be punished by evil people. Heaven has eyes, and it turns out that Gu Liansheng married such a wife."
Gu Tang felt smug and extremely pleased.
After joking around, Gu Tang remembered something else: "Do you know if there's any way to turn bad luck into good luck?"
"You want to change your luck?"
"Who doesn't want a change of luck? Especially you unlucky guy who keeps sharing my good fortune. All the gift boxes I've gotten from checking in these days are still sitting there, and I haven't opened a single one. I don't even dare to participate in the lottery, afraid of missing out!"
This is indeed a problem.
Ah Gou pondered for a moment: "If I encounter someone with great fortune, I will be able to sense it when I am close enough. At that time, I will be able to seize that fortune and then inject it into your body, which will definitely change your luck."
Gu Tang: ...? ? ?
"What are you talking about? I'm talking about changing your luck; I mean whether you can use certain items or methods to improve your own fortune, not about robbing other people's fortune!!!"
“I see…” Ah Gou frowned. “If that’s the case, then the increase in fortune is limited…”
"Limited, but it won't harm the heavens or commit any great evil!" Gu Tang glared at him. How come this person's mind is full of such evil cultivation stuff?
Ah Gou understood: "It's very difficult for you to improve your fortune in this way. Besides, anything that can improve your fortune is a treasure, and you can't buy it even if you have money."
Gu Tang persisted: "Aren't there any we missed?"
"Yes! Everything can be missed."
Gu Tang perked up again: "Let's find the ones we missed!"
Ah Gou looked at her strangely: "To find something like this, you have to travel all over the world, and you might only find one or two. But the most likely outcome is that you'll find nothing. The world is too big, and human lifespan is limited. To explore every place in the world is a pipe dream."
These words chilled Gu Tang to the bone: "That's it, I definitely can't do it."
“So, plundering is still the fastest way,” Ah Gou suggested again.
"Aren't you afraid of the consequences?" Gu Tang glared at him.
"I'll take responsibility for the consequences; you just need to enjoy the good fortune." Gu Tang's heart trembled; she couldn't deny that she was momentarily moved.
But she quickly made up her mind and refused Ah Gou's suggestion with a serious expression: "This matter is not to be mentioned again. I do not agree, and you are not allowed to think about it again."
Ah Gou stared intently at her, releasing his senses to perceive Gu Tang's mind inch by inch.
He sensed that fleeting moment of attraction, but he also sensed the quick resolute determination in her heart.
A glittering light flashed in Ah Gou's eyes, like a brilliant galaxy, and his heart pounded faster, his eyes and brows filled with joy.
He sat down on the edge of the bed and gently massaged Gu Tang's legs. "If you don't want to plunder, I have another plan that will neither offend the heavens nor lack virtue, and will not cause any karmic consequences."
Gu Tang didn't really believe him anymore: "Really? You're never reliable, all your ideas are terrible!"
"Get close to people with great fortune. Being close to them will affect your own luck to some extent. Although it won't be much, it should be enough if you're using it to open blind boxes."
"That's great!" Gu Tang's eyes lit up, then she glared at Ah Gou: "Why didn't you mention this method earlier?"
"Just now I was only thinking of getting it done in one step, so I didn't think of this method."
Gu Tang rolled her eyes: "You're a ghost messenger, so you should understand better than anyone that there's no such thing as a free lunch. Even if you help me bear the consequences, I have a feeling that if I agree to your proposal, I'll have to pay the same price sooner or later."
Ah Gou's face lit up with increasing joy.
He understood, of course he understood, but unfortunately some people still choose this path, unable to see through the traps involved.
With things starting to look promising, Gu Tang waved to Ah Gou: "I'll leave the search for the person with good fortune to you. Start by looking in the village. If you can't find them there, wait until the weather gets warmer, then go to Beian City to look for them."
There's no rush. I've already collected several blind boxes, so a few more won't hurt. A lot of trouble won't bother me, and a lot of debt won't make me worry.
After saying this, she lay down again, turned over to face inward, and quickly fell asleep.
Ah Gou glanced at the sky. If he slept at this hour, would he be able to sleep at night?
Although he didn't approve of Gu Tang taking a nap, Ah Gou didn't dare to disturb her.
He quietly closed the door and went out of the west wing to the kitchen.
The other day she said she wanted to eat steamed buns, so I made some for her today.
As for finding a lucky person, there's no rush. The Gu family has one who's barely qualified, so we can use him for a while.
Upon arriving at the kitchen, Ah Gou first kneaded the dough. After kneading the dough, he placed it in a small bowl, then put the bowl into the pot, and finally covered the pot with the lid.
Pour some hot water into the pot, and place the dough bowl in the hot water. The high temperature will help the dough rise faster.
It's too cold to leave it outside.
The dough is ready; now it's time to chop the meat.
Gu Tang doesn't like pork here, so A Gou chopped up some mutton for mincing.
By the time he finished chopping the meat and seasoning it, it was already dark outside.
Winter days are short and it gets dark early; this time is almost 3:45 PM.
I lifted the lid and glanced at the dough. Hmm, it's risen, but not enough. I'll wait a little longer.
Just then, shouts and curses suddenly came from outside the courtyard gate—
"Gu Lianshan! You heartless bastard! Your parents are seriously ill, and you completely ignore them!!!"
Ah Gou put the pot lid back on, took off the apron from his waist, and left the kitchen.
Lanterns were hanging under the eaves, and the curtain at the entrance of the main room was lifted. Third Uncle led Gu Ping'an out of the house.
Third Uncle didn't look towards the kitchen; instead, with a grim expression, he went along the long corridor to the west wing to open the door.
Gu Pingan hurriedly followed, carrying a lantern.
Ah Gou looked towards the west wing, realizing the commotion must have woken Gu Tang, and then walked towards the west wing.
Behind the gate of the Gu family compound, there were also two lanterns hanging. The third uncle took the lantern from Gu Ping'an's hand, took out the candles from the base of the lantern, and then lit the other two lanterns.
The three lanterns lit up at the same time, illuminating the area behind the door very brightly.
The people outside seemed to see the light behind the door and their cursing intensified.
Third Uncle removed the latch and pulled the door open. Outside were Li Shunzi, Gu Liansheng, and Gu Zhier.
Li Shunzi held a torch, shivering from the cold. Gu Liansheng remained seated on the sled, while Gu Zhier stood with her hands on her hips, her face contorted in a grimace.
The three of them froze for a moment when they saw that it was their third uncle who came out.
Gu Zhier, in particular, had a much softer expression, but her tone was still harsh: "Third Uncle! Where is that coward Gu Lianshan? What does it mean that he sent you out to stand in front? If you have the guts, come out and talk to me face to face!"
"What did you say?" Third Uncle's tone was equally cold and hard. "I said your family has no sense of propriety or shame. You come to my door to make trouble whenever there's a problem, and that I should make my son serve your parents?"
Gu Zhier was somewhat afraid of her third uncle, but after hearing this, she still retorted angrily, "He's not your son! He's my father's son!"
“He was adopted into my family, so legally he is my son. What? You don’t acknowledge the adoption certificate?”
Third Uncle pointed to the west: "The clan elders are all at Baoshan's house. Go and tell them in front of them that the adoption doesn't count. If the clan elders have no objections, I'll immediately send Lianshan back to serve your parents!"
Gu Zhier trembled. How could she possibly have the guts?!
She was just angry about the snowy weather and insisted that she come back to serve her parents.
When her mother-in-law, Madam Fang, heard that her elder brother wanted her to go back and take care of their parents for a few days, her old face instantly darkened.
Although her mother-in-law didn't say anything harsh in front of her elder brother, Gu Zhier knew that her mother-in-law was only letting her go because she was concerned that her elder brother was a scholar and didn't want to lose face in front of scholars.
When she goes back, her mother-in-law will definitely punish her!
On the way back, she kept complaining, "It's already December, almost Chinese New Year, why is there anyone coming to pick me up at this time?"
Her eldest brother said it was all the fault of her second brother's family; the whole family stayed at home doing nothing and refused to go home to take care of the old man and woman.
Tianbao and Lianyatou have also disappeared without a trace. Her older brother is exhausted and heartbroken, having to search for the children and take care of his parents at home all by himself. He has also neglected his studies.
After being scolded by her third uncle, Gu Zhier became obedient and lowered her head to wipe away her tears: "My eldest brother is a man, he can take care of my father, but he can't take care of my mother. These days we have relied on the help of the neighbors."
But Tianbao and Lianya have both disappeared. My older brother has to search for the children and take care of our parents all by himself. How can he possibly manage?
Even if it's an adoption, wouldn't it be reasonable for my second brother and Tang'er to lend a hand and take care of her for a while?
A person?
Third Uncle looked puzzled. Did Gu Zhier not know that Gu Liansheng was married?
Yes, we didn't inform our distant relatives today, so it's understandable that they don't know.
No... Gu Liansheng went to pick her up, but he didn't tell Gu Zhier that he had already married Qian Shi.