novelraw Chapter 296 You'd better have amazing luck
Chapter 296 You'd better have amazing luck
Chapter 296 You'd better have amazing luck
"You're just too focused on comparing sizes." Gu Tang rolled her eyes at him, then squeezed forward to ask them, "What are you two doing?"
“Dad told me to catch two big roosters, saying they would be needed for the funeral, and he specifically told me to catch the two biggest ones. I called my cousin to help me compare all the roosters and pick out the two biggest ones.”
Gu Tang raised an eyebrow in surprise: "Holding a funeral? What? Have you finished discussing Da Ni's matter?"
"It's been agreed that the Guan family is sticking to their guns and insists that Da Ni be buried in Uncle Baoshan's family cemetery. Otherwise, they'll go to the yamen to file a complaint, saying that Uncle Baoshan conspired with his mother and sister to deliberately kill Aunt Guan and her daughter. They also said they'd have a coroner examine the bodies and say that the injuries on Aunt Guan and her daughter were definitely not caused by the roof beam."
Gu Ping'an pointed south and said, "Uncle Baoshan's family was terrified and agreed to the Guan family's request to bury Aunt Guan and her daughter in Uncle Baoshan's family's cemetery in the south."
Right now, the clan chief and the others are looking for people to dig a grave, saying they want to bury the mother and daughter together, and they need to dig a large grave. Father and grandfather are over there; Father will go to the field to dig the grave later. Many hands make light work, and hopefully they can dig it today.”
"It's freezing cold, so it will probably take a lot of effort to break ground."
"That's what Father said too. Everything needed for the funeral should be prepared in advance, and the burial will begin as soon as the grave is dug."
With the heavy snow blocking the roads, it's not convenient for a geomancer to inspect the tomb. So, we had the village's quack shaman take a quick look; as long as it wasn't considered inauspicious, it would be fine.
Gu Tang didn't understand these things, so she didn't discuss it. Instead, she pointed to the two roosters closest to Gu Ping'an and told him to catch those two.
"These two are the biggest, and they're red roosters, so let's grab these two."
"Hey!" Gu Ping'an rolled up his sleeves and called out to Ah Gou, "Cousin, help me catch a chicken!"
Ah Gou was incredibly fast; he made his move the moment Gu Ping'an finished speaking.
Before the roosters that were eating millet around Gu Ping'an could react, their necks were grabbed!
Gu Tang's eyelids twitched, and she couldn't help but remind him, "These are chickens, not ducks. Be gentle when you grab their necks."
"Don't worry, I didn't use any force." Ah Gou held a chicken in each hand, letting them squawk and flap around wildly.
Gu Pingan hurriedly opened the burlap sack: "Put it in the sack!"
Two plump roosters were thrown into the bag one after the other, and Gu Ping'an hurriedly tied the bag opening with a rope.
This is a bag made of coarse linen with large gaps, so it doesn't affect the rooster's breathing.
After tying the bag shut, Gu Pingan carried it on his back, saying he was going to deliver it to someone.
"Oh, right, Second Sister, there's a small cloth bag on the table in the main room. It contains three hundred copper coins, given to us by the Guan family. They said it's for buying chickens."
"Why did you give them money? Take it back and return it to the Guan family. Just say that this chicken is a small token of our appreciation and we won't accept their money."
"Father told us to accept it. He said that all the money spent on the funeral arrangements came from Uncle Baoshan's family. He said that if it were from the Guan family, we wouldn't accept it, but since it's from Uncle Baoshan's family, we'll accept it."
Gu Tang paused for a moment, then quickly understood what her father meant.
I reckon the other families in the village are the same; as long as the Guan family gives them copper coins, they will definitely accept them all.
Since this silver didn't belong to the Guan family, if Gu Baoshan wanted the remaining silver after they took it, he would have a reason to say that the money had been spent on funeral expenses.
"Second sister, do you want to come along?" Gu Ping'an, carrying the chicken, took a few steps and suddenly stopped to ask Gu Tang if she wanted to come along.
He knew Gu Tang loved to join in the fun.
Surprisingly, Gu Tang shook her head: "I'm not going, so I don't get angry if I see it."
Gu Ping'an nodded. Indeed, anyone who saw Uncle Baoshan's family would be angry.
"I'm leaving."
He told Gu Tang and carried the two chickens to the front yard.
Gu Tang escorted him to the courtyard gate. The snow had stopped today, and the view was wide and clear. She could see the figures of people on the road at the end of the village from outside the courtyard gate.
She stood outside the courtyard gate, watching Gu Ping'an's figure until he entered Gu Baoshan's courtyard, and only then did she go back inside.
Ah Gou was waiting for her nearby. When she returned, he went up to her and told her about the things she had told him yesterday.
"The matter you instructed me about yesterday has made progress; there is such a fortunate person right before our eyes..."
Gu Tang stopped in her tracks, looking surprised. "There it is right in front of you? Who is it?"
"Gu Ping'an."
"Huh? Ping An?" Gu Tang exclaimed in surprise, "You're not mistaken? Ping An doesn't seem like someone with great fortune at all. He and the original owner are both pitiful."
"You're not mistaken, it really is him. If you hadn't transmigrated, he would have been the next one to die after the original owner of this body."
His luck is rather unusual; the more hardship he encounters, the more auspicious things seem to turn for the better, and his momentum soars to new heights. Judging from the aura surrounding him, which is reddish with a hint of purple, he is destined for high office and great wealth in the future.
"really?"
"really."
Gu Tang laughed: "This is truly a case of finding something you've been searching for without even looking for it. I never expected to find such a lucky person right in front of me... No! I spend every day with him, and I haven't had any good luck opening blind boxes!"
"His good fortune is rather special. When things are peaceful and there are no difficulties, this good fortune is hidden deep within him, and you can't get a glimpse of it. It only manifests when he encounters hardships."
"Then it's no use. I can't just let people suffer for no reason just to get some luck, can I?"
Ping An is living a smooth and successful life now, studying and taking the imperial examinations step by step. He will surely be able to secure a high-ranking official position and a generous salary in the future. This is a good thing.
If you insist on subjecting someone to hardship, what kind of deep-seated hatred must they harbor? Find someone else for this; let's just leave it at that.
"I know you're reluctant, but there's another way."
Ah Gou approached Gu Tang and whispered, "Take out your gift box and let Gu Ping'an open it himself."
"Take out the gift box?" Gu Tang was startled for a moment, her gaze fixed on Ah Gou: "Have you considered what if it gets exposed?"
"No." Ah Gou said with certainty, "I do know a bit about your system. If someone other than the host opens the gift box, the box will only be empty. The rewards that are opened cannot be seen by outsiders. The system will drop the rewards into the system's inventory."
To an outsider, it's just a strangely shaped, fancy little box that's empty when you open it. He'll think you're teasing him and won't notice anything amiss.
Gu Tang breathed a sigh of relief and headed towards the west wing: "If that's the case, then we can give it a try! When he comes back later, we'll have him help open the chest!"
She has received five gift boxes in total from her check-ins these past few days.
One skill gift box, two life skill gift boxes, one spice gift box, and one winter gift box.
There's also the lottery. She's been saving up for a long time and finally collected enough for a ten-pull... Wait a minute! I forgot to ask Ah Gou how to get Ping An to help with the lottery?
Gu Tang returned and asked Ah Gou how to draw the lottery.
"Then there's nothing we can do. If you're unwilling to let Gu Ping'an go through hardships to unleash the good fortune within him, then you'll have to rely on yourself to handle the lottery."
Or, you could wait a little longer, let me look around and see if I can find another lucky person, then you can try your luck in the lottery.
"How long will it take? I've collected all ten pulls, just waiting to open the blind boxes all at once. If it's done separately, the joy will only be half."
Agou couldn't understand Gu Tang's idea: combining lottery draws with blind box openings would double the fun.
If you have to choose one of the two, then you'll lose half the happiness.
He couldn't understand the difference, so he could only continue to coax her: "Why don't you draw first, and then we can slowly accumulate more. Maybe when you've accumulated enough for ten draws next time, the lucky one will fall into our hands."
The world is full of unpredictable changes; no one can foresee them. Only the happiness we have right now is real.
Ah Gou's words made some sense. "Then let's do it your way. Ping An will open the blind boxes, and I'll personally draw the prizes. We'll do both together, and double the happiness will be real."
After saying that, Gu Tang rushed back into the house.
Ah Gou didn't disturb her. He estimated that it was about time and went to the kitchen to cook rice.
After she has eaten breakfast, let her draw a prize and open a blind box.
If she wins nothing in the lottery, knowing her personality, she'll definitely be both angry and heartbroken, and she certainly won't eat.
Gu Ping'an, who was delivering the roosters, was unaware that Gu Tang was waiting for him to return and open the blind box. After arriving at Gu Baoshan's house, he handed the two chickens to the Guan family and then turned around and went home, not wanting to stay any longer.
However, he did not return alone; his third uncle came back with him.
The house of Gu Baoshan was in a mess, with people all over the yard. The old man had a headache from the noise. After asking the clan leader and confirming that there was nothing wrong for the time being, the third uncle left the house with Gu Ping'an.
Gu Tang had already taken out the five blind boxes and placed them one by one on the table. Then she stood at the gate of the courtyard, looking westward with longing eyes, hoping that Gu Ping'an would return soon.
She has excellent eyesight; she recognized Gu Ping'an shortly after he left Gu Baoshan's house.
She also recognized her third uncle.
Ah Gou came out of the yard, followed her gaze to the west, and recognized the grandmother and grandson.
He glanced at Gu Tang and saw how excited she was, which made him even more convinced that having breakfast before the lottery was the best decision.
"The food is almost ready. Let's eat first and then do the lucky draw and open the blind box. When you're full and satisfied, your energy is at its best, making it the perfect time for a lucky draw."
"Really?" Gu Tang was extremely superstitious at this moment. She was willing to try any method that could increase her luck, whether it was true or false.
"Really." Ah Gou said firmly.
Gu Tang believed him: "Okay, I'll do as you say, I'll smoke after breakfast!"
When Gu Ping'an helped his third uncle to the front door, the first thing they saw was Gu Tang's bright smile.
For some reason, looking at Gu Tang like this, Gu Ping'an's heart trembled and his scalp tingled.
"Second, second sister? What...what happy thing happened? You're laughing...laughing like a trumpet flower."
Is this a compliment?
Gu Tang's smile faltered for a moment.
Third Uncle smiled and tried to smooth things over for Gu Ping'an: "There are no morning glories in winter, only plum blossoms. They are the most resilient. If a young lady has this quality, that would be excellent."
That's what you call complimenting someone.
Gu Tang's smile deepened as she stepped forward, pushing aside Gu Ping'an, and took his place to support her third uncle.
"Grandpa is the best at praising people. When the weather gets warmer tomorrow, I'll have my dad find a plum tree and plant it in the yard. When it blooms next year, we can go out in the snow to admire the plum blossoms."
"That's a great idea! We should find a red plum tree..."
The grandfather and grandson chatted and laughed as they entered the courtyard, leaving Ah Gou and Gu Ping'an behind.
Gu Ping'an leaned closer to Ah Gou and whispered, "I'm not going out for long. What's wrong with my second sister? Did something happen to her? That smile... it looks like a smile, but for some reason, it sends chills down my spine!"
A hint of surprise flashed in Ah Gou's eyes.
This kid has pretty sharp senses.
"Something did happen..." Ah Gou said only half of what he meant, his smile strange.
You'd better have incredible luck opening blind boxes and get what she wants. If you fail, you're finished!
"What happened? Tell me more!" Gu Ping'an stamped his foot. This guy doesn't even finish his sentence!
"I wouldn't dare tell anyone this in private. Your second sister will tell you after we finish eating."
Gu Pingan: ...Then you shouldn't have brought this up earlier!
He started this story, but then abruptly stopped, and he didn't know whether it was a good thing or a bad thing, which made him even more anxious!
Ah Gou ignored him and went back to the kitchen to cook two dishes, and breakfast was ready.
With something on her mind, Gu Tang ate much faster today, and was the first to put down her chopsticks.
Both Gu Ping'an and Gu Tang were preoccupied with their own thoughts, and Gu Ping'an dawdled over his meal today, which gradually made Gu Tang impatient.
"You usually eat very quickly, why are you eating so slowly today? Hurry up and eat, I'm getting impatient."
Gu Ping'an shuddered: "...Second sister was waiting for me?"
"Nonsense, I would have left the table long ago if I hadn't waited for you!"
Gu Ping'an's scalp began to tingle again: "...Did you need something from me?"
That's just nonsense.
Gu Tang rolled her eyes at him and asked directly, "Are you full?"
Damn it, something's definitely wrong...
Under Gu Tang's gaze, Gu Ping'an couldn't eat anymore.
“I’m full…”
These two words invigorated Gu Tang, and she stood up: "Since you're full, come with me to the west wing. I need your help with something."
She hurried out, and when she lifted the curtain, she glanced back and saw that Gu Ping'an was still sitting there dumbfounded, not following her at all.
"Didn't you hear what I just said? Come with me to the west wing, I need your help with something."
"Ah? Oh, oh, oh, I'm coming right now." Gu Ping'an hurriedly got up and followed, his heart filled with trepidation.
Gu Ping'an's third uncle noticed his unusual behavior and was puzzled: "What's wrong with Ping'an? He seems a bit absent-minded."
Ah Gou blinked, then casually opened his mouth and said nonsense, "I guess it's because it's cold. When people are cold, their reactions are slower, and they look like they're absent-minded."
cold?
Third Uncle thought about how Gu Ping'an had just delivered the chickens. In such cold weather, it was easy for a child to catch a cold while walking back and forth outside.
"Is the stove in Tang's room still burning? If it is, Ping An can warm herself by the fire."
"It's burning. Don't worry, Ping An isn't stupid. He'll definitely warm himself by the fire once he sees it."
Ah Gou continued to deceive, successfully getting away with the matter.
West Wing.
Gu Ping'an was unusually reserved.
"Second sister, what do you want me to do for you?"
Please, please don't let it be something he can't do!