Jin Qianqian was a little speechless as she watched the furious Gu Lejia storm out. ’What was with that fierce glare he shot right before he left?’
Gu Wenheng had noticed it too. "Don’t mind him. He really thinks everyone owes him sothing."
"It’s the New Year; let’s not get angry with him," Jin Qianqian said, not wanting to fan the flas. She changed the subject. "Uncle Fu and the others are almost done with the preparations. We should head over, too."
This was their first New Year here. Although they didn’t have family with them, the reunion dinner was not to be missed.
Gu Wenheng carefully laid his book flat, then stood up and took her hand. "Let’s go."
Gu Lejia glanced back at the tightly shut main gate, his brows furrowed deeply.
"Your Seventh Uncle is truly cold and heartless. You’re his only nephew here, and he can just ignore you completely."
Hearing Xiuxiang’s words, Gu Lejia felt a fire burning in his stomach. "My Seventh Uncle wasn’t like this before. I rember when I was little, whenever he found wild fruit, he would share it with and my brothers. He must have been bewitched by that woman. Ever since she married into the family, my Seventh Uncle has rarely even smiled at us."
Xiuxiang asked, "Then what do we do? Are we going back to our old courtyard?"
It was already New Year’s Eve, but they hadn’t prepared anything. Even the kitchen was empty. ’How are we supposed to live like this?’
Besides, her father had already formally separated her younger brother’s household to live on his own. Her brother’s family wasn’t well-off, so it wasn’t a good ti for the two of them to impose.
Thinking about all this, Xiuxiang glanced enviously at the large estate behind them. It had everything she wanted. ’Too bad this man in front of is so spineless,’ she thought, ’running out like that after just a few words.’
Gu Lejia recalled his Seventh Uncle’s ridicule and gritted his teeth. "We’re going back. I’ll go to a restaurant later and order a few dishes. We’ll be more comfortable without them anyway."
Xiuxiang was secretly delighted, but her face showed only worry. "Why don’t we go back and beg Aunt Seven?"
"Bah! I’m not going," Gu Lejia said stubbornly, touching the few pieces of broken silver left at his waist. "Let’s go. I just hope the restaurants are even open today."
Only then did Xiuxiang rember what day it was; many shops were already closed. "If the restaurants are closed too, we’ll go to my younger brother’s place. He’s living separately from my stepmother now anyway. We can make do there for a couple of days. At worst, we’ll just give them so money for food."
When Gu Lejia heard this, he felt a little displeased. These past few days, outside of his regular work, he had been working day and night helping his new brother-in-law build walls and set up a stove. ’And now I have to pay for a couple of als at his place?’
But he didn’t have long to agonize over it. When they saw the bolted gates of the restaurant and the deserted vegetable market, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and follow Xiuxiang to ask her brother for help.
It was only the ninth day of the first lunar month. Gu Wenheng was practicing his forms in the courtyard when Housekeeper Fu ca trotting over to inform him that a guest had arrived.
Gu Wenheng was completely surprised. Here, aside from a few of his fellow disciples, he rarely had any visitors.
Moreover, everyone had gathered at Mr. Wang’s place on the first day of the New Year, so no one should have known where he was currently living.
With a hint of doubt, Gu Wenheng had the housekeeper show the person in. When he saw who it was—soone who shouldn’t have been there at this ti—Gu Wenheng froze for a mont.
"What’s this? Not a warm welco, Brother Wen Heng?" Bai Jinglie strode toward him, Ye Yi in tow.
Gu Wenheng replied, "Prince Bai, a happy New Year. I just didn’t expect you to return so soon."
"Happy New Year to you as well," Bai Jinglie said, clasping his hands in a salute. "It was boring in Shangjing, so I left early."
Seeing the lingering exhaustion on their faces, Gu Wenheng didn’t say much more and led them into the main reception hall. "Did Brother Ke An and the others not co with you?"
"They’re tied up for now. They’ll co after the Lantern Festival." Bai Jinglie surveyed his estate. "I didn’t expect you to fix it up so nicely. This estate looks much more refined than before."
Gu Wenheng said, "For that, I have you to thank, Young Master. If you hadn’t pulled the strings, I wouldn’t have such a fine residence."
Just then, Jin Qianqian heard that a guest had arrived and ca over to offer a greeting, followed by Sanqing, who carried in the tea service.
While Qingzhu and Qing Lan were serving the tea, Gu Wenheng took the opportunity to make introductions.
Bai Jinglie had always been curious about Gu Wenheng’s legendary wife. He didn’t dare to stare, but he still got a clear look. She had a delicate, oval face with long lashes and large eyes. Her skin was fair, her features quite beautiful. She had a slender figure, giving her a fragile and delicate appearance. Most notably, her smiling cheeks each bore a small dimple, lending her a hint of playfulness.
He also marveled inwardly. ’There’s an inexplicable similarity in their expressions. It’s as if they were always ant to be a couple.’
Jin Qianqian had t Prince Bai before, so she wasn’t overly curious. After exchanging greetings, she left with Sanqing. ’Given the ti,’ she mused, ’he’ll probably be staying for a al!’
"Brother Wen Heng, how has glass production been lately?"
Gu Wenheng replied, "Everyone worked hard for the past two months, so I gave them a few days off. We’re planning to resu production in a couple of days.
If you need a shipnt, you’ll probably have to wait a while longer."
Bai Jinglie looked at Gu Wenheng, hesitating to speak. Finally, he gritted his teeth and said, "I was wondering, Brother Wen Heng, if you have any thoughts on... expanding production further."
Gu Wenheng’s mind raced. "Well, my energy is limited, after all. We can only take it slow.
Why? Are you in urgent need of a shipnt?"
Bai Jinglie said, "Brother Wen Heng, to be honest, I’m here this ti as a persuader."
Gu Wenheng looked completely astonished. "...What do you an by that?"
Bai Jinglie glanced at Ye Yi beside him. "You are all dismissed."
Seeing Ye Yi withdraw, Gu Wenheng also raised a hand to dismiss everyone else.
"I’ll be straight with you," Bai Jinglie said, his face tinged with guilt. "We previously shipped a batch to Shangjing, and it was completely sold out not long after it arrived.
This New Year, I had just arrived in Shangjing—the goods weren’t even there yet—and several elders were already pressing about it."
"In that case, I’ll have my n stop their break and tell them to rush production," Gu Wenheng said, a flicker in his eyes, his tone nonchalant.
"If only it were that simple. Unfortunately, these people don’t just want the goods. They’ve found ways to bribe every attendant who followed us here to fish for information.
Ye Yi and his n are fine, of course, but the other servants couldn’t hold out.
When I saw the situation was getting out of hand, I sent my card to the palace. As you probably know, I’m distantly related to the current Holy Emperor, so I could only turn to him for help."
At this point, Bai Jinglie paused and looked at Gu Wenheng.
But Gu Wenheng seed to be listening as if it were just a story, even asking curiously, "And then?"
Bai Jinglie replied, "The Holy Emperor and I discussed it. We can’t act without a proper pretext, so we ca up with a solution. But it requires your consent. Of course, you can also refuse."
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