Gu Kaichen, "Dad, you saw it yourself. They’re all dressed in rags, without even a livestock for transport, each just carrying a shabby bundle. It’s like they’ve gone mad with poverty.

At this time, they’re causing trouble with us. For what? Isn’t it just for silver?

Dad, I believe that any issue that can be solved with silver isn’t really an issue. You should just give them some, and they’ll stop talking."

Gu Baijiang quickly clutched his chest. If he hadn’t lost the silver, he’d be more than willing to give more, since giving to them would be like a drop in the bucket. But now he doesn’t have any silver, and letting that information out would be ruinous.

Gu Kaiping, "Kaichen, how much silver do you think is appropriate?"

Gu Kaichen, "Those impoverished folks, give them a few dozen taels and they’ll be satisfied."

"There are dozens of them, and we’ve been exiled from our homeland. Do you think a few dozen taels can satisfy them?" Gu Kaiping felt it necessary to correct Gu Kaichen’s thinking now to prevent further escalation.

"What can we do? If our family hadn’t been exiled, giving them several hundred or even a thousand taels wouldn’t have been a problem."

Gu Baijiang, "Shut up, several hundred, a thousand. Do you think...?"

Looking at Rong Ruiyuan who had already walked far away, Gu Baijiang whispered angrily, "Do you want to sell your own family?"

"Dad, don’t scold me. Am I wrong? Even if the public treasury is empty, doesn’t Bai Suihe have silver?

To be honest, it was a mistake from both you and my brother. Back then, the family could afford it. There was no need to let relations become this strained." Gu Kaichen initially wanted to mention Gu Baijiang supporting a mistress with his silver, but changed to Bai Suihe instead.

Bai Suihe sneezed at that moment, and Chun Xiang quickly put down what she was doing, took out a cloak from the cart, and draped it over Bai Suihe.

Gu Kaiyuan also quickly stirred up the fire beside them, "Are you cold? Why not rest in the carriage first?"

Bai Suihe, "It’s nothing, probably someone badmouthing me behind my back."

Gu Kaiyuan looked towards the direction of the Gu Family, thinking Bai Suihe might be right and they were plotting again.

Just then, his fishing rod moved, and the line straightened.

"Quick, a fish is biting," Bai Suihe’s eyes sparkled, indicating a good catch.

"Hold on, take it slow. It looks quite big, you need to tire it out first before..."

Not finishing his sentence, Gu Kaiyuan gave a flick of his wrist, and a three-pound green fish was already flopping on the shore.

Bai Suihe, "..."

"Madam, what did you just say?"

Bai Suihe forced a smile, "My dear, you’re amazing. We have fish to eat today."

Gu Kaiyuan’s successful catch boosted his enthusiasm, "I’ll catch a few more today. I’ll make grilled fish."

Bai Suihe, remembering the grilled fish she’d had before, licked her lips, "I’ll go prepare the ingredients."

Gu Kaiyuan, "..." If he didn’t catch a few more, he’d be letting Bai Suihe down.

He turned around to tidy up his fishing hooks, re-baited, and kept an eye on Bai Suihe’s two rods.

Meanwhile, the fish that had landed on the ground had already been taken away by Zhuang Datou’s group for processing.

The successful catch made others envious, seeing it as a source of meat without spending silver. Opportunities like this were rare.

Those who had spoken with Gu Kaiyuan now approached, wanting to know how to obtain and use fishing gear.

Chen Dafu, observing from a distance, felt assured, pleased with his foresight. If he hadn’t acted first, Gu Kaiyuan’s limited hooks wouldn’t suffice for everyone.

Gu Kaiyuan, unable to distribute more hooks, offered an explanation and tactfully informed them that he’d now run out. They’d have to find ways on the journey ahead.

However, some resourceful ones planned to modify their wives’ sewing needles at home.

During the conversation, Gu Kaiyuan reeled in a few more fish, though they were small—mostly palm-sized crucian carp and some small stone loaches.

Bai Suihe returned with seasonings and managed to catch a few as well, satisfying her craving for fishing.

Not far away, Chen Dafu’s fortune surged as he landed a five or six-pound catfish. Excitement spread through the Chen Family, resembling a festive celebration.

Knowing the Chen Family, it’s clear that from the time of exile till now, they hadn’t indulged in meat. Such a large fish would mean a big pot of fish soup, enough for everyone to indulge in.

The commotion expanded everyone’s shopping lists.

The escort found this agreeable as it allowed prisoners to solve their own food issues, making his work smoother. Such harmony was indeed welcomed.

Therefore, they didn’t object to picking vegetables. Anyone adept at hunting, like Gu Kaiyuan, would find tools lent to him.

But, like always, some people disrupt the atmosphere, like Gu Family and Gu Baijiang.

At nightfall, as everyone prepared to rest, Gu Baijiang led his family in confronting Gu Li’s group.

Recalling today’s events, Ma Zhi dared not delay and hurried to find Liu Pingkang.

Gu Kaiyuan, still preparing grilled fish for Bai Suihe, assumed Gu Kaiping would at least inform him, unaware of their exclusion.

The reason was clear: his exposure of their plot led to angry slander, aiming to tarnish reputations.

Gu Kaiyuan, unhurried, set the grilled fish on a plate and told Bai Suihe, "I’ll go listen. You may rest if you’re tired."

Bai Suihe, having heard the same advice repeatedly, was almost tired of it.

"We’ve caught enough fish to eat today," Bai Suihe noted. They gave two fish weighing about a pound each to Liu Pingkang. Whether that’s sufficient couldn’t be helped. "Granduncle might not accept your goodwill, but gifting fishing hooks could enhance relations."

Gu Kaiyuan saw the neat hooks and lines, nodded, took them, and casually slung the rods over his shoulder, "My dear is indeed thoughtful."

Bai Suihe waved him off, "Don’t sweet talk me. Go see how things unfold and remember to relay the story back to me."

Gu Kaiyuan, "Rest assured, I’ll be a good storyteller."

He instructed Chun Xiang to take care of Bai Suihe and followed the crowd forward.

Gu Kaiyuan couldn’t help but shake his head, seemingly everyone had energy left for excitement today.