Thump thump thump!
Gu Jin’an showed no rcy with his punches, specifically targeting Zhan Er’s fair face. In no ti, he left Zhan Er with a bloody nose and a swollen face, screaming incessantly.
"Good Brother An, stop hitting , stop... Is there so kind of misunderstanding? Let’s not fight anymore." While dodging Gu Jin’an’s punches, Zhan Er earnestly asked.
Gu Jin’an was infuriated upon hearing that, his fist aid straight for Zhan Er’s nose: "Shut up, what are you yelling about, who is your Good Brother An!"
Indeed, Gu Jin’an was trendously angered. He had already known that Zhan Er was insensible before he ca. Unexpectedly, he was shaless to such an extent; he had just t his sister yesterday, and today he called him Good Brother An. Was he trying to bully soone? Bullying the Gu Family for having no one?
Gu Jinli was also sickened by what he heard, but seeing Gu Jin’an beating so vigorously, he rushed forward and kicked Zhan Er several tis in midst of the chaos, and also swiftly stabbed a needle into Zhan Er’s leg amidst the confusion.
The needle was poisoned, enough to give Zhan Er a taste of his own dicine.
Just after poisoning Zhan Er, Master Xia and Old Master Zhan San rushed in with servants. Seeing Zhan Er beaten down on the ground, Old Master Zhan San was distressed and quickly pointed at Gu Jin’an, angrily shouting: "Stop, stop now, you lad, breaking into soone else’s house to assault them, it’s utterly lawless!"
And scolded Zhan Er’s two servants: "Are you made of wood? You see the young master being beaten and you don’t help, co and pull this brat away!"
Zhan Er’s two servants hurriedly rushed over to intervene.
When they pounced, Gu Jin’an pulled Gu Jinli back. The siblings, in a tacit understanding, each gave Zhan Er another kick, knocking down Zhan Er who had just managed to stand up.
Gu Jin’an swept his robes, turned his head elegantly towards Old Master Zhan San and said with a smile, "Lawless? Isn’t that exactly what your Madn promote? Ignoring all rules, doing whatever you want. Why now that I’ve rely learned from your arrogance and given your nephew a beating, are you angry?"
Then didn’t you teach your nephew before, not to run around climbing into other people’s houses?
Old Master Zhan San, rebuffed, turned ashen, pointing at Gu Jin’an and spoke: "Previously, when Brother Changyuan ntioned you, I thought you were a talented young man. Now that I’ve t you, it seems not so much!"
"Hah," Gu Jin’an laughed, pointing at Old Master Zhan San, "Previously, when Master Xia ntioned you, I thought you were truly knowledgeable. Upon eting today, I do not know about great knowledge, but you indeed are a madman, full of yourself yet lacking the ability to reflect, not even comparable to ordinary scholars."
"What did you say?!" Old Master Zhan San, who prided himself as a Madman, deed himself much more precious than scholars, was now furious hearing Gu Jin’an dare to say he was not even as good as ordinary scholars, a profound insult.
Gu Jin’an said with a smile, "Didn’t hear clearly? I said you have no scholarship at all, left only with your arrogance, a seeker of fa and complints."
"Good Brother An, hold your tongue!" Master Xia finally could not stand it and rebuked Gu Jin’an: "As a junior, how can you speak to Master Zhan in such a manner, if word spreads, how will the scholars of Great Chu think of you?"
"How will they think of ?" Gu Jin’an looked at Master Xia, still smiling, "Naturally, they will praise , rejoice that Great Chu has seen the rise of another Madman, and one who is only eighteen years old at that."
"You..." Master Xia was shocked and was at a loss for words looking at Gu Jin’an."
Gu Jin’an looked at Master Xia and asked, "Master Xia, a long ti ago I asked you a question; what defines a Madman? Back then you said, those with true capabilities who are admired by scholars are considered Madn. But if you look at the Zhan nephews, do they qualify as madn? They are nothing but a bunch of eccentric individuals who use their peculiar behaviors to attract attention, recite so sour poems, and play so tunes. By showing their faces at a literature event, they then self-proclaim as Madn. I truly find it disgraceful!"
Gu Jin’an disdainfully said, "Do you know what your so-called ’Madn’ appear as in my eyes? Nothing but a group of selfish lunatics making a fool of themselves for the sake of fa!"
Selfish? Lunatics?
Old Master Zhan San, upon hearing these words, was so infuriated that he felt a pain in his chest and, clutching at his chest, pointed at Gu Jin’an and said, "You impudent boy, how dare you spout such madness!"
Gu Jin’an retorted, "Even if I speak madness, by your Madn’s standards, you should be applauding and marveling at my eloquence. Just like Master Zhan beca famous overnight in the Capital by berating Master Ouyang for being old-fashioned, what’s wrong with criticizing you for your delusional madness today?"
Old Master Zhan San, having heard this, was truly so angry he almost spat out a mouthful of blood. But, having self-considered himself a Madman and having done quite a few odd things, including berating an elder - sothing he actually did and even took pride in for managing to infuriate Old Man Ouyang at the ti - now if he were to retort to Gu Jin’an, he would probably be accused of practicing double standards, allowing officials to set fires, yet prohibiting commoners from lighting lamps.
Gu Jinli could hardly contain himself and almost burst into laughter, "Big brother, did you learn your eloquence from the old won in our village? Brilliant!"
Brother Cheng’s eyes sparkled as he looked admiringly at his older brother... wow, big brother is amazing, he silenced Old Master Zhan San and now he wants to emulate his big brother.
Dashan had run over to Gu Jin’an’s side, thinking that if his elder brother was struck, he would rush forward to shield him.
Master Xia, stunned by Gu Jin’an’s fiery words, regained his senses and quickly stepped forward to diate, "Brother Zhan, don’t be angry. Good Brother An is just spirited because his eldest sister was wronged by Xiao’er, and it’s only natural for him to co and discipline Xiao’er."
If there were no reprimand, Master Xia would actually think less of Gu Jin’an for lacking spine.
Zhan Er, who genuinely liked Jinxiu, had already been helped up by two servants, enduring the pain, and saluted Gu Jin’an, "Young uncle... Good Brother An, it was my fault for intruding into your ho. Zhan Hengzhi here apologizes to you, to Sister Xiu, and to Uncle Gu, hoping you can forgive considering my sincere love."
"Sincere love?" Gu Jin’an almost threw up, "Zhan Hengzhi, do you even know what ’sincere love’ is? Stop disgusting people. Lady Xia ntioned that you have quite a few concubine maids."
Zhan Er was a bit stunned and nodded, "There are five, all given by elders when they ca of age... How does that conflict with my love for Sister Xiu?"
It wasn’t unusual for rich and noble families in Great Chu to have three wives and four concubines along with many concubine maids; in Zhan Er’s view, sleeping with maids didn’t conflict with his affection for Sister Xiu, and it seed harmonious.
Gu Jin’an looked at Zhan Er’s naively asked questions and felt an urge to slap him several tis. He spoke sternly, "Whoever marries a Gu Family’s daughter must remain faithful to her alone for life. Our family’s won will not share a husband with others."
He continued, "And stop calling my sister ’Sister Xiu.’ You are not worthy."
Being the eldest, Gu Jin’an had always hoped he could grow up quickly to take on the responsibility of protecting his family, which is why he was particularly protective of his sisters.
Especially Jinxiu, who was only older by an hour, but during their childhood, whenever Granny Gu hit him, his sister would hold him and use her little body to shield him from Granny Gu’s beatings.
He was determined not to let his eldest sister suffer any further hardship after marriage, especially not from the concubines of her husband’s household.
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