"Keep your voice down, Old Jue is grieving! Wasn’t there a daughter? The one who married a peddler, why hasn’t she co back to see him?"
"That peddler son-in-law got rich later, didn’t he? He took the whole family to Yingnan Mansion ages ago! There’s been no news since, it’s been twenty or thirty years, and they haven’t returned. How can Old Jue still count on her?"
Gu Chengyu, upon hearing this, couldn’t help but sigh at Old Jue’s unfortunate fate. Yet, he didn’t know what had happened to the man’s family for all five mbers to die.
Then suddenly, an idea struck him. Guo Moruo had lost his close family and was looking for a place to settle down. Perhaps he could find a solution with Old Jue.
As those people said, the old man had only one son and one daughter. The son’s entire family of five perished, and the old man seed lifeless, with no will to live. Isn’t this just like a pillow when you’re sleepy?
Anyway, Guo Moruo and his group needed to establish a household registration. If they registered under the old man’s na and then left the Capital to live in a place where no one knew them, wouldn’t that be perfect?
Although it was possible to set up a different registration, it wasn’t easy. Gu Chengyu’s previous household registration was processed by Mr. Wang, after pulling significant strings. That registration wasn’t fake; it belonged to a household that had just suffered a death and could withstand scrutiny. Finding such a match was rare.
This current situation was ready-made. As long as the old man agreed to let Guo Moruo’s family register, and then they left the Capital for a place where no one knew them, wouldn’t it be a win-win?
However, it was necessary for Guo Moruo’s group to agree. After all, taking care of the elderly and burying them properly wasn’t a trivial matter. Gu Chengyu wasn’t sure Guo Moruo would agree. Once he had the idea, he gestured to Ming Mo to gather information from those chatting coachn.
Ming Mo understood and approached them, "Uncles, what were you talking about just now?"
Gu Chengyu glanced at Old Jue, noticing he was still imrsed in his sorrow, oblivious to the surrounding happenings.
After a brief look, Gu Chengyu turned his attention elsewhere. Once Ming Mo discerned the story, he would report back.
As the approaching boat ca closer, Gu Chengyu instructed Ming Yan to bring the two back carriages forward. Though his group didn’t have many people, they had a lot of luggage. Returning to the Capital permanently ant they had to bring back all the essentials.
Gu Chengyu had brought three carriages, and if they weren’t enough, they would have to hire two more.
The crowd was edging closer to the inner side of the dock as the boat slowly approached the shore. The boat’s steward shouted orders for people on board to disembark. Gu Chengyu had already noticed Steward Liang from the Liang Mansion in line to disembark.
He brought two servants down, glancing at the dock, seemingly searching for soone to receive them.
Ming Yan quickly waved, "Steward Liang, over here!"
Seeing Ming Yan, Steward Liang’s eyes lit up, and he led the two attendants towards Gu Chengyu.
"Greetings to Mr. Gu, I didn’t expect you to co personally." Steward Liang, with the two attendants, bowed respectfully, peering into the carriage behind Gu Chengyu.
"No need for formalities, Steward Liang. Was the journey smooth for the teacher?" Gu Chengyu watched as the passengers disembarked, expecting the teacher to co out the last.
"It was relatively smooth, young master."
"Xian, now that we’re in the Capital, you may have to return to the Duke Mansion. I’m not sure if anyone from the Duke Mansion ca to pick you up." Mrs. Ning held her granddaughter’s hand, feeling reluctant.
Returning to the Duke Mansion might make it difficult to leave again. After living together for three years, she had gotten used to having her granddaughter near her knee. Now that she was going to the Duke Mansion, she wondered if those people would treat Xian well.
Thinking this, Mrs. Ning began to cry.
Yao ngxian quickly held her grandmother’s hand, using a handkerchief to wipe her tears. She was also reluctant to leave her grandparents. She knew that once she returned to the mansion, the peaceful days at her maternal grandparents’ house in the Prefecture were gone forever.
However, as the daughter of the Duke Mansion’s main branch, she couldn’t continue staying at her grandparents’. Her cunning stepmother was mindful of appearances, not leaving any room for gossip.
"Even after returning to the mansion, I’ll co out often to visit you, so don’t worry." She spoke with tearful eyes, sniffing as she suppressed her tears to avoid making her grandmother sadder.
"Yes, madam, the Duke Mansion is in the Capital, not far from our ho. You must relax and take care of your health. If you miss her too much, you can bring Miss back for a long stay." Mrs. Yan hurried forward to comfort the two, seeing their reluctance. The madam’s health couldn’t take too much grief.
"Enough of this display! Is the Duke Mansion a lair of wolves and tigers? Stop your lanting." Liang Zhirui couldn’t watch any longer and ca forward to stop them.
He also didn’t want to part with his granddaughter, but after all, Xian was the daughter of the Duke Mansion. No matter how much he wished otherwise, he had to send her back. Suddenly thinking of Xian’s marriage, Liang Zhirui sighed, realizing it needed to be settled soon.
"Sir, Mr. Gu has co to receive us." Steward Liang boarded the boat to report to Liang Zhirui.
Liang Zhirui didn’t expect Gu Chengyu to co personally, assuming he would send soone instead.
"Well! Let’s pack up and disembark," Liang Zhirui kept a straight face, though in reality, he was very pleased with Gu Chengyu, his favorite younger disciple.
The passengers had mostly disembarked, and Ming Mo and the others went to help Liang Zhirui move their luggage. Seeing the teacher wasn’t off yet, Gu Chengyu figured it was because of the luggage and prepared to board the boat to help.
Mrs. Gao led Qing Dai and the others with their belongings ready, carrying two large bundles to Mrs. Ning’s room, preparing to disembark together.
"Teacher!" The last ti Gu Chengyu returned to Jingyuan Prefecture was over a year ago, and seeing his teacher again made him very excited.
Gu Chengyu boarded the boat, just in ti to encounter Liang Zhirui and his group about to disembark.
Liang Zhirui looked at the young man in front of him, tall and elegant, and felt deeply moved. When he first accepted him as a disciple, he was just a kid. Who would’ve thought he’d grow up like this?
Standing in front of Liang Zhirui, Gu Chengyu was even taller than him.
Looking past Liang Zhirui, he saw his teacher’s wife, Mrs. Ning, and Yao ngxian wearing a veil hat.
"Greetings to teacher’s wife, greetings to Miss Yao!" Gu Chengyu paid his respects to both, with Mrs. Ning responding with a smile.
Yao ngxian nodded slightly towards Gu Chengyu, "Greetings, Mr. Gu!"
Qing Dai stood behind Yao ngxian, secretly observing Gu Chengyu. In the past year and more, Mr. Gu had grown even more outstanding.
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