The elderly lady lived in the main room of the inner courtyard, and at this ti, the mistress should be waiting there. After all, he was the master’s junior brother, and with no n in the family, only these elders could co forward to entertain.
Once the maid lifted the curtain, Gu Chengyu followed the old woman into the room. He quickly glanced at the people inside and then respectfully saluted.
"Junior Gu Chengyu greets the elderly lady, greets the sister-in-law!" Although Gu Chengyu was young, Wu An was his senior brother, so by rights, he should call her sister-in-law.
The elderly lady was wearing a royal blue jacket with wide sleeves adorned with endless swastika patterns, and a red gemstone-inlaid forehead band on her head, with a cyan blue horse-faced skirt below.
The elderly lady seed very kind, speaking to him with a constant smile, clearly a cheerful personality.
"No need for so much formality, we’re all family! Sit down quickly!" The elderly lady quickly called out. She had a good impression of this young man, polite and elegant, and heard he was the top scorer in the recent Provincial Examination. She liked polite and talented young people.
Afterward, the mistress, Mrs. Tan, also exchanged a few courteous words. Mrs. Tan generally did not speak much, with a long face, appearing to have a calm personality.
"How has the elderly lady been recently? You seem glowing and younger each day, have you found so secret to preserving your youth?"
Gu Chengyu had been here once before. The elderly lady was fond of lively conversations, especially sweet-talking juniors; Gu Chengyu just said what would make the elder happy.
Indeed, the elderly lady burst into laughter, pointing at Gu Chengyu and saying, "Oh my! You little monkey, always making happy. Did you swallow honey today?"
Just as Gu Chengyu was about to respond, he heard a snicker from behind the screen behind the elderly lady.
Gu Chengyu caught a glimpse and saw a bit of vermilion red skirt hem beneath the screen.
This color certainly belonged to a young girl, and the only one behind the screen avoiding eting strangers would be Senior Brother Wu’s daughter.
Gu Chengyu quickly withdrew his gaze, pretending not to have heard, and smiled at the elderly lady, "What I said is the absolute truth! You have wronged . I ca here with a belly full of bitter tea from the third senior brother’s place!"
The elderly lady and Mrs. Tan heard the laughter but did not change their expression, though in their hearts they indeed blad the young girl for being unreserved, making such a sound. It seed the rules needed to be enforced more strictly.
"Oh? That’s your third senior brother being stingy! Not even willing to give you a piece of sweet cake! Next ti I see him, I’ll scold him!" The elderly lady continued joking with Gu Chengyu with a smile.
Although the Wu Mansion was initially a military family, the elderly lady was straightforward. Yet since Wu An had now beco a scholar, the household rules had naturally to be established, lest people laugh at them as rude martial artists untaught in etiquette.
Therefore, the elderly lady herself upheld strict rules, and even the grandchildren had been tutored by a governess to learn proper etiquette.
Gu Chengyu, upon hearing this, imdiately put on a bitter face, "Then the third senior brother will surely bla for speaking ill of him behind his back!"
With a few words, Gu Chengyu amused the elderly lady and made all the maids and old won in the room laugh, even Mrs. Tan couldn’t hold it anymore and pursed her lips, smiling several tis.
After about an hour and a half, Gu Chengyu decided to leave. The elderly lady tried to persuade him to stay for a al, but Gu Chengyu declined.
Since neither the master nor the young master of the Wu Mansion were present, it would be inconvenient for Gu Chengyu to stay for a al. So, before alti, he asked to take his leave.
After Gu Chengyu left, the elderly lady called her granddaughter out from behind the screen, certainly intending a rebuke.
Wu Jinyan knew she was in trouble today, so she obediently returned to her room to copy the Won’s Rules.
Walking down the road, she thought of Gu Chengyu and smiled again. Her father’s junior brother was indeed interesting, and her grandmother hadn’t been this happy in a long ti.
"What do you think of AnAn’s little junior brother?" the elderly lady asked Mrs. Tan.
"His talent is certainly undeniable, but as a daughter-in-law, I feel he is too glib," Mrs. Tan, being calm by nature, thought Gu Chengyu talked too much.
The elderly lady’s expression turned slightly somber at these words, "I find him quite good. Young people should have such vitality. You’re responsible for Yan’s etiquette; keep a closer watch."
The elderly lady wasn’t too upset, knowing this daughter-in-law was like a blockhead, with the eldest not ho, and the other illegitimate children not worth ntioning!
Among the grandchildren, the grandson needed to study; the legitimate eldest granddaughter, raised by Mrs. Tan, shared her personality, so only Yan was lively, often coming to amuse her!
However, lively as she might be, she still needed to understand the rules, and today Yan broke them.
Mrs. Tan had so affection for her youngest daughter and, upon hearing her mother-in-law’s dissatisfaction with Yan’s etiquette, retorted, "Gu Chengyu is Yan’s elder too, so seeing him with our elders present is no big deal."
The elderly lady, upon hearing this, glanced at her daughter-in-law, "Gu Chengyu might be an elder, but he’s of a similar age to Yan, which is not appropriate. I’m reprimanding her today as I fear she might be equally indiscreet elsewhere, bringing sha as a guest. As her mother, you should pay more attention! I’m tired now, I’ll rest; you should go."
The elderly lady didn’t want to speak any more, waved her hand, and let Mrs. Tan leave.
After leaving the Wu Mansion, Gu Chengyu wandered the street, thinking about what dowry to prepare for Gu Wan.
Part of the jewelry from the space could be taken out, and so precious woods for furniture had already been ordered in the Prefecture. This ti back, it should be ready to bring.
No matter whether Sun Xian intends to take the exam in three years, studying in the Capital is certain. So what of Gu Wan? She can’t stay in Jingyuan Prefecture, so she must be taken to the Capital.
Gu Chengyu planned to buy so land in the Capital for Gu Wan. Moreover, Gu Wan had her own silver; purchasing a house wouldn’t be an issue.
"Young master, ahead is the brokerage, let’s go inside and take a look!" Although the Capital was large, buying land in the suburbs wasn’t easy.
With many officials and nobility, most land in the Capital was enclosed as estates by wealthier families, so buying a good estate required opportunity.
Ming Mo had connections with a certain broker at this brokerage, and it was through this person that they bought a shop before.
"Oh my! What wind blew Ming Mo here?" Jiang Yazi, upon seeing Gu Chengyu and Ming Mo entering, imdiately ca forward to greet them.
He certainly rembered Ming Mo, a major client, although later prices were not negotiated by the two of them, the shop was still selected by Ming Mo.
Moreover, such people were working for their master; if this person ca, it ant the master had a need.
"This is my master! My master wants to buy so land, what good plots do you have? Let’s hear it."
Ming Mo stated the purpose and retreated behind Gu Chengyu. With the master here, it wasn’t his place to speak, and his master was more adept at bargaining.
Jiang Yazi had long noticed Gu Chengyu; seeing his extraordinary deanor, he assud he was the young master of a prominent family and quickly ca forward to greet.
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