Gu Chengyu planned to return to the main house to ask his father about the family’s recent situation.
Wang Yue ca out of the house holding Gu Wanchang and saw that Gu Chengyu was heading to the main house, hurriedly calling out to stop him.
"Little Uncle!"
Gu Chengyu turned to look at Wang Yue, "Is there sothing?"
He knew that Wang Yue definitely couldn’t hold back and would report to him about Gu Chengyi’s recent activities. Since he had finally returned, Wang Yue would of course seize this opportunity.
He just didn’t expect Wang Yue to be so eager, seeking him out the very next day.
Wang Yue was Gu Chengyi’s concubine, and to Gu Chengyu, she didn’t count as a legitimate elder.
"Mother?"
Yang Guo hurriedly entered the courtyard, calling out upon seeing Wang Yue standing there.
Seeing Gu Chengyu as well made him sowhat uneasy.
Yang Guo was not quite considered as Gu Chengyi’s stepson, since Wang Yue was only a concubine. Besides, Mr. Gu and the others always disagreed with Yang Guo changing his surna, so Yang Guo remained part of the Yang Family.
Not being part of the Gu Family ant he couldn’t live there, and besides, Sanya and Gu i were already residing at the family courtyard, which was indeed inconvenient.
Thus, Yang Guo still lived at Wang Yue’s old house, which had been renovated, turning it into a brick house.
Yang Guo was already seventeen years old but still hadn’t been betrothed. It was said Wang Yue had been seeking a match for him a couple of years back, but without success.
Yang Guo’s situation was awkward; although his mother married into the Gu Family, she was only a concubine, and Gu Chengyi was likely very tight with money.
Wealthy families surely looked down on Yang Guo, and the prospective matches were all daughters of poor families, commonly known as selling daughters.
Wang Yue had so silver coins in hand, certainly better than ordinary poor families.
But she couldn’t give all of it to Yang Guo; she had a younger one as well, needing to save so for him.
Gu Chengyu had heard his mother ntion the matter the previous day, knowing Wang Yue might use information about Gu Chengyi as leverage to plan for her eldest son.
After all, Gu Wanchang is part of the Gu Family and will eventually rely on the Gu Family, whereas Yang Guo truly has nowhere to depend on.
Gu Chengyu didn’t mind; it was mutual benefit. Offering minor favors could make Wang Yue work for him, why wouldn’t he?
"Guoguo! Quickly call Little Uncle!" Wang Yue tugged on Yang Guo, who walked over, her face smiling ingratiatingly as she nudged Yang Guo forward.
Yang Guo’s face turned red because he heard that the County Magistrate himself visited Gu Chengyu today, indicating the high office Gu Chengyu held.
However, Gu Chengyu bore the surna Gu, while he bore the surna Yang. Even if he wished to call him Little Uncle, the other party might not acknowledge.
Hesitating, Yang Guo still felt too shy to speak.
"You child, quickly greet him!" Wang Yue, seeing Yang Guo hesitating for quite a while without daring to speak, felt frustrated.
"Little Uncle!" A child’s unclear voice rang out, surprising Gu Chengyu a bit.
Turning around, it was Gu Wanchang calling. The little boy called and then shrank back into his mother’s arms.
"Hmm!" Apparently, the little boy was shy; only having seen him a few tis, he was already familiar with him.
"What exactly do you want from ?" Gu Chengyu was impatient to discuss things with them, and Wang Yue still hadn’t gotten to the point.
Wang Yue originally wanted to explain a few words for Yang Guo but seeing Gu Chengyu’s hint of impatience, she decided to keep silent and hurried to send Yang Guo back.
"Guoguo! Go back first; I have sothing to discuss with your Little Uncle."
Regarding Wang Yue’s attempt to get closer, Gu Chengyu remained indifferent. Even if called that way, the Gu Family wouldn’t accept Yang Guo; otherwise, it would be a laughing stock in the village.
Gu Chengyu turned towards the main house, leaving a word before leaving, "Co to the main house to talk."
"Mother! I have sothing to talk to you about." Yang Guo tugged Wang Yue’s sleeve, wanting to take her back to the west wing to talk.
"Guoguo, I have sothing to do now. We’ll talk about your matter later. Go back first; I’ll co to find you later."
Wang Yue put a lot of thought into finding a good match for Yang Guo, but her reputation wasn’t good, affecting Yang Guo.
She always felt guilty towards Yang Guo; this son suffered a lot following her, and now, she wanted to fight for Yang Guo a little.
Seeing Wang Yue’s urgency, Yang Guo swallowed back his words. He was already seventeen and understood things well.
He had seen the looks from villagers many tis and gradually understood the difficulties his mother faced.
He knew the villagers said she was unchaste, but she was his mother!
"Alright then! Mother, you must co today; I really have sothing urgent." Yang Guo let go of Wang Yue and left the Gu Family’s courtyard.
Wang Yue straightened her clothes and walked to the main courtyard with Gu Wanchang in her arms.
"Xiao Bao! What were you talking about with that Wang Yue in the courtyard? What good is there in having words with soone like her?"
Mrs. Lv was sewing a gown for Gu Chengyu on the bed. She had seen Gu Chengyu conversing with Wang Yue from the window earlier and whispered a few words to him.
"Doesn’t Mother want to know about Second Brother’s affairs? She seems to know quite a lot about his matters."
Gu Chengyu invited Wang Yue to the main courtyard because he was now grown and it wasn’t appropriate to be alone with Wang Yue, considering her awkward status. As for Gu Wanchang, such a young child was naturally overlooked by people.
"Your Second Brother?" Mrs. Lv pondered while looking at Gu Chengyu, but then said no more.
She also wanted to know where Gu Chengyi and that Mrs. Li had been going all day, as those few silver coins would eventually be squandered by the two!
"Fifth Master! Is the Second Aunt’s residence close to ours? The old lady has missed the Second Aunt for a long ti."
The Dumb Granny had just poured tea for Gu Chengyu and suddenly began asking about matters in the Capital.
"Not far, it only takes about half an hour by carriage."
Wang Yue moved carefully into the room, holding Gu Wanchang.
The Dumb Granny, upon seeing them, quickly stepped forward to pay respects.
"Aunt Wang! Fourth Young Master!"
"Mother! Little Uncle!" Wang Yue entered the room and sat on a stool in front of the bed.
Mrs. Lv found Wang Yue’s calling her mother quite disagreeable.
"Ahem! I cannot be regarded as your mother!"
Wang Yue used to envy her beauty and talk bad about her around the village. Now they beca part of one family, and addressing her as mother felt truly odd.
As a re concubine, Wang Yue didn’t actually have the right to call Mrs. Lv mother.
She was only seven years older than Wang Yue, given Wang Yue was two years older than Gu Chengyi!
Though Wang Yue was despised by Mrs. Lv, she didn’t feel embarrassed. She didn’t care, just smiled and continued acting as she pleased.
"Mother, lately the head of the family is always taking Mrs. Li to her mother’s ho, and I haven’t seen them for seven or eight days. Do you think we should have Father intervene?"
Wang Yue sat there with Gu Wanchang on her lap, beginning to criticize Gu Chengyi.
Mrs. Lv, though finding that mothering term awkward, knew she was about to hear about Gu Chengyi’s recent activities, so she didn’t worry about the address anymore.
"Why does my Second Brother keep going to Mrs. Li’s mother’s ho?"
Gu Chengyu found this quite strange upon hearing it.
Originally, Mrs. Li was a watching door widow. Her previous family was sowhat well-off, residing in the town with a small grocery shop.
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