Mr. Gu actually understood the thoughts of the second son; he just felt that his dealings were unfair! But after all these years, when life was tough, he did indeed wrong the eldest and the second son. However, ever since life at ho improved, he hasn’t treated the eldest and second house poorly.
Gu Chenglian and Gu Chengchi also felt this way; the second brother seed particularly antagonistic toward Xiao Bao. It was said that Xiao Bao was nice to everyone at ho and even earned silver for the family, which was quite good for them. Alas! In truth, the second brother didn’t show much brotherly affection toward them either.
Gu Wan rolled her eyes secretly. Apart from his two sons, the second brother seed to be a little nicer to the eldest brother at ho, and as for those who joined the family later, even getting a smile from him was fortunate.
Actually, it wasn’t evident that the second brother was like this before, but after that matter with the corvée a few years ago, he started having criticisms about the family. Indeed, that corvée was so dangerous, Father would definitely not let the second brother go, even if it ant borrowing silver everywhere, he would find a way.
Although her mother would certainly not provide the silver, with all the matters, big and small at ho, as long as Father made up his mind, were there any instances when her mother didn’t comply? The man has authority outside, and the woman inside; Father is decisive!
Over the past two years, Gu Wan had been nurturing her temperant and began to enjoy thinking. Who was the most reliable at ho? Xiao Bao! Xiao Bao valued loyalty. If the family wasn’t divided, and if Xiao Bao succeeded in the future, would they be afraid of not sharing in the benefits? Only those short-sighted ones thought about dividing the family!
"Alright! Even if we decide to split the family, brothers shouldn’t beco estranged. That’s settled for the division! Xiao Bao, you draft a family division docunt, and later have Da Lang call the village chief and your uncle, and also invite a few elders from the village!" Mr. Gu glanced outside; the sky wasn’t late yet, still bright!
"Father! We’ve already had the evening al; why not wait until tomorrow to split?" Gu Chengli suggested.
Mr. Gu looked up at Gu Chengyi, who remained silent, as if he hadn’t heard, pursing his lips.
"Go on, have Da Lang call. Xiao Bao! Make sure to clarify the division of the soap proceeds, and include the items we just divided!"
"Okay!"
Mrs. Lv sat on the kang, looking at the stack of silver notes on the table. The old man was eager to split the family, afraid she would drag down the eldest and second house, right? By dividing now, if Lv Yang causes trouble tomorrow, it naturally won’t concern the sons from the divided families; will the eldest and second house still think about helping?
It’s better! It’s better to divide! Enough! Everyone has selfish thoughts; the old man’s planning ahead is also rightful since they are his sons, after all.
Gu Chengyu felt that tonight, Mrs. Lv seed quite off; during the entire process of the family division, she hardly spoke a word, possibly due to being affected by Lv Yang’s issues? Once the division is settled, he’ll go solve them.
The three daughters-in-law were still sowhat bewildered; were they really going to divide the family? Could they divide so much silver? Imagining the days to co, they would take charge of their households, no longer having to fret over Mrs. Lv’s mood, eating whatever they want as a family. Envisioning the future happy days, big smiles rose on their faces, impossible to conceal!
Gu Chengyi, however, thought inwardly that though the family was divided, but when Lv Yang causes trouble, he won’t be reasonable. If Father can’t provide silver, would he target them? Suddenly, he thought of possibly reporting to the governnt to formally divide the family, so when Lv Yang causes trouble, it wouldn’t affect the second son’s reputation, since they would officially be divided! Even their household registration wouldn’t be together anymore; he considered this possibility.
"Brother Gu, I heard you plan to divide the family?" Lin Lize crossed the main house’s threshold and saw Mr. Gu sitting by the kang, smoking a pipe.
"Yes indeed! The sons are all grown up; it’s just a matter of ti to divide the family, might as well do it early! It’s so late now, sorry for troubling you!" Mr. Gu clasped his hands toward Lin Zheng.
"Changqing! I heard you’re going to divide the family? Why the suddenness?" Uncle Gu hurriedly rushed over, thinking sothing had happened with the Gu Family, not even enjoying his evening al properly. As he thought, having the front and back squeezed together, dividing the family is just a matter of ti.
"Brother! You help look after Lin Lize! I’ve also invited Third Uncle-grandfather and Uncle Lin, they should be arriving soon!" Mr. Gu planned to go to the yard gate to greet them; these two were highly respected, already eighty or ninety years old, yet still robust! Their status was high; any family having a celebration or an important matter would invite these two to have a seat.
Uncle Gu then realized that Gu Changqing was serious about the division, and he greeted the seated Lin Lize!
When the two elders arrived, Gu Chengyu had already drafted the family division docunt, which was very detailed, filling up two pages; he copied two copies himself and had the second son copy two more.
One was to be kept by Lin Lize for safekeeping; the others to be given to the various branches of the Gu Family. He and his fourth brother didn’t need them; they weren’t married, Mr. Gu having one was enough!
"Gu Family’s fifth one! Heard you went for exams so ti ago. How was it? Did you pass?" Lin Lize saw Gu Chengyu sitting by the table writing, recalling that he heard about Gu Chengyu going for exams a few days prior, wondering how he fared.
This ti coming back without making a sound, was afraid of not passing, perhaps, Lin Zheng thought gloatingly.
Gu Chengyu was about to respond but was interrupted by Uncle Gu, "Xiao Bao passed and even beca the county champion! Not only did Xiao Bao pass, but my Hua also passed."
Uncle Gu ntioned this with growing pride; the Gu Family was about to rise, having soone pass as a scholar ant doing right by the ancestors! Not to ntion, this day would bring more influence in the village; how could Lin Lize dare be discourteous to the Gu Family?
"Oh? Is this true?" Lin Lize looked clearly surprised, evidently in disbelief.
"Of course, the governnt docunts from the county would reach Shanhe Town, and our Xiao Bao is the first in Qinghe County!"
Uncle Gu was sowhat displeased by Lin Lize’s doubt; could such matters be lied about?
Lin Lize was too shocked earlier, which led to speaking out of turn; by now, he had regained his composure. Glancing complexly at Gu Chengyu, he then addressed Uncle Gu, "Just too astonishing! Brother Gu, please don’t mind! Didn’t expect Xiao Bao to succeed so well; truly deserving of congratulations!"
Gu Chengyu noted how Lin Lize swiftly changed from calling him the fifth of the Gu Family to Xiao Bao, pondering inwardly how this Lin Lize was indeed a person who recognized situations. As long as he didn’t trouble the Gu Family, whoever the village chief was didn’t matter; but if there was ever any scheming against them, they would not be polite!
"Only, having just had such good fortune, why are you dividing the family? Seems too rushed! In the future, what if?"
The village chief, seeing Gu Chengyu’s success, didn’t want to offend them, subtly giving the Gu Family a reminder. Having the fifth in the family just winning the county championship, seemingly poised for greater success, yet coming back to imdiately divide the family, how would outsiders perceive this? Might they think Gu Chengyu, seeing success, planned to leave his brothers behind?
User Comments
0 comments from readers