Gu Wan had suffered losses before; this cousin had co over, but that was three years ago.
Back then, the cousin was not yet married and stayed at the Gu Family, sharing a room with her. But staying together was one thing! The cousin liked to take her jewelry. At that ti, the Gu Family had just begun to improve, and Gu Wan didn’t have much jewelry, which was bought by Gu Chengyu for her—of course, she couldn’t bear to lose it.
After Gu Wan cried and made a fuss a few tis, the cousin learned to restrain herself, so Gu Wan was unwilling to share a room with her cousin again.
The next morning, the Gu family’s courtyard was lively. At Gu Chengyu’s request, only close people were invited, but even so, there were still about twenty tables. The rooms of the first and second houses were cleared out for the banquet.
The most celebrated person today was not Gu Chengyu but Mr. Gu. Who among those familiar with the Gu family did not envy Mr. Gu for having such a good son?
The second son sat in the corner, watching Gu Chengyu being flattered, feeling a burning fire in his chest. If only he were the one who passed the Scholar exam! He glanced at his parents, seeing them focused only on eating and drinking, and his face darkened.
His mother was out all day and didn’t know what she was doing at her mother’s place! As for his father, there was no need to ntion it, he was never around, and once when he ca ho at night, there was still the sll of makeup on his collar. Both of them didn’t care about him; when he ca back from school, he still had to go to the first house to scrounge for food and drink.
"Daughter! Your father-in-law is really generous, such a table of at dishes must have cost quite a bit of Silver, right?" He’s mother Wang’s mouth was stuffed with pork; she chewed a couple of tis and then swallowed, reaching for other dishes on the table. Even He’s brothers and sisters-in-law ate with greasy mouths.
The second son looked at such a family and only felt embarrassed, as if they’d never eaten before. His mother already sent quite a bit of Silver Coin to her family every month, so why do they still look so greedy?
"That’s his precious son, wouldn’t he be willing to spend?" He opened her mouth, and the at on her chopsticks dripped with juice from her mouth. She carelessly wiped it with her sleeve and went for more food on the table.
"Can’t you stop talking even while eating?" Gu Chengyi felt extrely uncomfortable hearing this, and seeing He’s sloppy appearance made him feel nauseous.
Gu Chengyu looked at the third sister-in-law Mrs. Zhang, wearing a large gown and rubbing her slightly bulging belly, interacting smoothly with everyone. He hadn’t realized before, but Mrs. Zhang was quite skillful in socializing.
Mr. Gu’s face was full of smiles until the banquet ended. Gu Chengyu sent off Manager Zhou and others, then busied himself with taking Mr. Gu back to the main house, while the won who ca to help cleaned up the dishes on the table.
In a farming family, whenever a banquet is held, familiar households co to help, not requiring paynt. Just letting the won who helped bring back uneaten at and dishes is enough. However, usually after the banquet, there’s not much at and dishes left over.
But the Gu family was generous, slaughtering four whole pigs and other chickens, ducks, and fish, which couldn’t be finished, so many won ca to help clean the tables, and they could take so back ho.
After sending Mr. Gu back to the main house, Gu Chengyu called Gu Wan in, "Second sister, tell mom that those aunts worked hard, let mom divide the dishes, don’t keep any, and let the eldest sister-in-law’s family take back so food, as her family mber Huai Shan didn’t co this ti."
The Gu family now didn’t lack at, and those big fish and at dishes looked greasy, but the aunts would definitely like them, bringing them back for the kids and n at ho to try. There’s too much, and if it’s kept at ho, it can’t be finished, and in this weather, it might spoil easily.
Mrs. Fang’s mother ca, but Mrs. Fang’s brother didn’t, as it’s said he’s working in town.
"Then I’ll go tell mom. If you’re not busy, I’ll head out; Chunhua is here." Chunhua could only co out after finishing the chores at ho. Chunhua’s grandmother knew Chunhua was called by Gu Wan to eat at, so when going back, she must bring so, or else her grandmother would scold her to death, maybe even start hitting her.
Gu Chengyu felt pity for Chunhua upon hearing her na. He suddenly thought of setting up an embroidery workshop for Gu Wan, which could allow Chunhua to learn embroidery and help her out.
"Xiao Bao! Go call your second brother, I have sothing to discuss with him." Mr. Gu stopped Gu Chengyu and asked him to imdiately call Gu Chengyi, fearing he might leave again if it were delayed.
"Alright!" Gu Chengyu was actually puzzled why the second brother was never ho recently, but the family never discussed it in front of him, only saying he went to He’s mother’s place.
Gu Chengyi had said he would pick up He, but he didn’t return that day, and several days passed without any trace of him.
Mr. Gu wanted Ming Mo and others to drive the cart to He’s mother’s place to pick them up yesterday since the sixteenth was such an important day. Missing one from the second house was manageable, but today was a huge day; if they didn’t return, it would be too much.
But fortunately, Gu Chengyi did return with He. The house was chaotic yesterday with many people, so it couldn’t be discussed, but today was a perfect opportunity.
Once Gu Chengyi entered the main house, Mr. Gu sent Gu Chengyu out. Such disgraceful matters were better kept away from the kids.
"Second son, what have you been up to lately? Why are you never around?" Mr. Gu wanted to see how Gu Chengyi would respond.
"I’ve been ho, what could I be up to? Working in the fields, and visiting my mother-in-law’s house!" Gu Chengyi sat on the stool, speaking nonchalantly.
"But your wife hasn’t returned, and I noticed your house hasn’t been cooking for days. Where have you been eating?" Mr. Gu knew his son well; he wouldn’t confess until the last mont.
"Sotis I eat at the eldest brother’s ho, sotis at so house in the village!" Gu Chengyi had already thought of his excuse, so he wasn’t flustered at all.
Mr. Gu was furious hearing this; he slapped the table, "Nonsense! Who would let you eat at their place every day? Do you think I’m an idiot?"
Mr. Gu didn’t want to beat around the bush with Gu Chengyi anymore; after all, soone had already seen what happened, and no matter how much he denied it, it was useless.
"Spit it out! What’s your relationship with that Wang Yue? Have you gotten involved with her?"
Upon hearing this, Gu Chengyi abruptly looked up, his eyes flashing with shock. He looked at Mr. Gu’s fiery gaze and, after a mont, replied, "So, Dad already knows? Then why are you still asking?"
"You fool! What do you think Wang Yue is? She’s a widow. Aren’t you afraid of ruining yourself? How long have you been with her?" Mr. Gu saw that Gu Chengyi didn’t seem remorseful at all and was furious.
"Not long, just over half a year." Gu Chengyi seed to provoke Mr. Gu further, casually dismissing it as over a year.
"What? Over half a year?" Mr. Gu pointed at Gu Chengyi, too angry for words.
"Anyway, she’s just a widow. Her husband died, dead for over two years now, what’s the deal?" In Gu Chengyi’s mind, Wang Yue being a widow ant it wasn’t considered an affair.
"What do you know? She still lives in Shangling Village, and her mother-in-law hasn’t disowned her. She’s still part of the Yang Family. Now that you’re involved with her, it’s adultery. If found out, you could be drowned in a pig cage!"
Mr. Gu saw that Gu Chengyi didn’t take it seriously at all and deliberately made the situation sound severe. If the Yang Family really took it seriously, they might actually do it.
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