Fortunately, Zhu Pang’s awkwardness didn’t last long, because the voices of Mr. Gu and Uncle Gu were already coming from the courtyard. Mixed with other people’s chatter, it all sounded very chaotic.
"Xiao Bao? Is it Xiao Bao who’s back?" Uncle Gu sounded even more excited than Mr. Gu; the glory of the Gu Family has returned.
Mr. Gu didn’t say a word, just hurried his steps toward the main house.
"The official is back, let’s go take a look too." The villagers outside the Gu Family courtyard also started squeezing into the courtyard.
Mr. Gu entered the house and looked towards the edge of the kang bed. Seeing that his youngest son had indeed returned, a smile broke out on his face.
"Third Brother!" Seeing Gu Changqing, whom he hadn’t seen in years, Gu Changbai was even more overwheld with emotion. After calling out to his third brother, his eyes couldn’t help but fill with tears.
Mr. Gu’s attention was originally all on his youngest son, so he didn’t notice Gu Changbai and his wife standing in the corner of the room.
Upon hearing the call of "Third Brother," Mr. Gu looked aside in surprise.
The only one who could call him "Third Brother" was the Second Brother, but the Second Brother hadn’t returned to the hotown for many years. Who could this be?
"Second Brother?" Mr. Gu called tentatively, taking a closer look at the other’s appearance, discovering that it was indeed Gu Changbai, albeit much older than years ago.
"Second Brother!" This ti, he was quite sure it was indeed his Second Brother.
"Third Brother, it’s !" Gu Changbai saw the look of surprise on Gu Changqing’s face and finally breathed a sigh of relief—thankfully, his Third Brother still recognized him.
"Old Second?" Uncle Gu, listening from outside the door, guessed from the voices that it might indeed be Old Second who had returned.
Gu Chengyu looked a bit helpless, watching the three brothers hugging and crying together, his joy at returning to the hotown sowhat diluted.
If Gu Changbai’s intentions were pure, he naturally wouldn’t feel this way. But since Gu Changbai approached him with a motive, he naturally didn’t have a good impression of him.
"Ahem! Dad, I brought back a friend this ti." Seeing that the three were clinging on, asking about each other’s lives and recent happenings over the years, Gu Chengyu finally interrupted their conversation.
The Gu Family relatives were all standing in the courtyard; they were here to see the official, not to watch familial bonding. However, seeing that Gu Changbai had returned after many years in the Southern Country startled them.
Moreover, looking at Gu Changbai and his wife’s attire, it seed they weren’t doing very well in the Southern Country!
In fact, this was Gu Chengyu’s intention. He didn’t want to give Gu Changbai face. Previously, Gu Changbai got quite a bit of silver from Gu Chengyu; he could afford cotton clothes.
But compared to the brocade and silk of Gu Chengyu and the others, of course, he didn’t stand out.
Upon hearing this, Mr. Gu hurriedly looked towards Gu Chengyu. Seeing a wealthy-looking young man standing beside him, Mr. Gu felt a bit embarrassed.
"Nephew Zhu Pang greets Uncle!" Having watched the brotherly drama unfold for so ti, Zhu Pang was relieved when it was finally his turn to pay his respects.
He thought he might have to wait for another two hours! But since it seed Gu Chengyu still had family matters to handle, he’d better go rest first. It wasn’t appropriate for an outsider like him to be around.
Mr. Gu wiped the tear stains from earlier, "I didn’t know Nephew was here; forgive for being inattentive earlier, how rude of ."
"Uncle, you’re too kind. It is I who should apologize for the intrusion." Hmm! Jinyu really takes after his mother; indeed, he doesn’t look much like Gu’s father...
Zhu Pang’s baggage hadn’t been unpacked yet, and the gift preparations were still in his luggage. But he wasn’t in a rush—after all, he intended to stay in Shangling Village for quite a while.
"No trouble at all! Xiao Bao, quickly arrange a guest room and let our nephew settle his belongings."
Mr. Gu had noticed earlier upon entering that so luggage in the courtyard hadn’t been sorted, prompting him to say this.
"Dad! I’m afraid our courtyard won’t have enough space. I’ll take Brother Zhu to my place; it’s more spacious there." As Gu Chengyu spoke, he planned to first take Zhu Pang over.
Mr. Gu thought it over, considering that there were still two granddaughters living in the courtyard, which indeed wasn’t convenient.
Besides, the courtyard here is quite small, not as spacious as Xiao Bao’s.
"Alright! You take Nephew over first, and we’ll hold a banquet tonight."
Recently, Mr. Gu had seen quite a few local gentry and landlords, and had even t the County Magistrate several tis, so he knew how to say the right things.
"Nephew, please forgive us for now; we’ll have a proper welco banquet tonight."
Zhu Pang already felt uncomfortable; a family reunion was happening, so he felt out of place intruding. He agreed at once.
Gu Chengyu led Zhu Pang out of the house, only to find that many family mbers had already gathered in the courtyard.
"The official is coming out!"
"Oh wow! It really is Xiao Bao! Our Gu Family’s Wenquxing has returned!"
Gu Chengyu was startled, not expecting the family to be so enthusiastic.
"Hello, uncles and aunts!" Gu Chengyu glanced around. With so many people, he didn’t know how long it’d take to greet each one, especially since there were family mbers whose generations he wasn’t even sure of.
"Xiao Bao! I heard you’re now an official in the Capital; is it true?"
A woman around Mrs. Lv’s age asked Gu Chengyu.
Dumb Granny had returned by then and rushed to Gu Chengyu’s side, whispering, "Master! This is the eldest sister-in-law from the fourth branch of the family."
Upon hearing this, Gu Chengyu nodded, not feeling surprised. After all, his seniority was high, and this big sister-in-law might look older than her actual age.
"Big Sister-in-law, I’m just a minor official!" Gu Chengyu felt a bit embarrassed. Farrs didn’t understand official ranks; they just knew he had beco an official.
Zhu Pang felt helpless. Seeing Gu Chengyu surrounded, he, as a guest, was pushed to the corner. He didn’t expect Jinyu’s hotown visit to be so popular, drawing attention from nearly the entire village.
As soon as the big sister-in-law heard him calling her, she bead with joy, feeling thrilled that even an official would call her big sister-in-law.
But the relatives felt a bit disappointed after hearing this—not a high-ranking official?
"Didn’t they say he’s ranked higher than the County Magistrate?"
Gu Chengyu couldn’t help but laugh. They thought that being higher-ranking than the County Magistrate ant being a high official? The County Magistrate was just a minor official.
"I am indeed ranked higher than the County Magistrate." He nodded—this was indeed true.
"Wow! Being higher than the County Magistrate doesn’t count as high-ranking? Xiao Bao just likes to be modest."
"What modest? That’s called humility!"
The crowd started discussing in a lively manner; they hadn’t developed a sense of awe towards Gu Chengyu, who they’d watched grow up.
After all, Gu Chengyu wasn’t wearing an official uniform, and he was friendly and young, so they didn’t think too much about it.
Seeing villagers gradually filling the courtyard, forming layers of crowds, Gu Chengyu felt troubled. It wouldn’t be appropriate to walk away, yet Zhu Pang was still waiting at the side!
He had to interrupt everyone’s chatter, "Everyone! There’s plenty of ti in the future. I’ll be staying for a while this ti. When we hold a feast, I hope you’ll all join us!"
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