Chapter 218: Chapter 219: Raking Up the Past

Early the next morning, the Gu brothers clearly noticed that Gu Dashishi was treating them with hostility, his face a mask of displeasure.

Gu Yuanshui walked over to help Ancient Wen Heng lead the donkey. "Is he still thinking about going to find the youngest?"

Ancient Wen Heng shook his head. "Don’t bring it up. It’s not often we get to the Prefecture City. Is there anything you all want to buy?"

The brothers all shook their heads. With money only going out and none coming in, how could they have the nerve to buy anything?

Just then, Gu Dashishi spoke up. "Take a detour to the street up ahead. I’m going to ask Gu Yuanlei just what I, his father, ever did to him that he would treat me this way."

Gu Yuanhuo gritted his teeth. "Dad, that person is no longer part of this family. Can you please stop bringing him up? You’ve put us brothers through so much for his sake. Aren’t you just taking your anger out on us?"

Gu Dashishi’s gaze flickered away, which only told Gu Yuanhuo that he had hit upon the truth.

He jumped right off the donkey cart, truly afraid he wouldn’t be able to stop himself from kicking his father off—a crime for which he’d be branded unfilial.

"Seventh, are you going to be unfilial as well?" Gu Dashishi, knowing that a good reputation was essential for passing the imperial exams, let the threat slip out.

Ancient Wen Heng turned his head and gave him a wide grin. "Dad, if you think I’m being unfilial, feel free to report me to the clan elders. If I’ve genuinely done something wrong, I will accept the full consequences.

You are ill. If I were to take you to see Gu Yuanlei, only for you to get upset and worsen your condition, then everyone would truly call me unfilial."

"He’s the one who put your father in this state, and he’s made all of you suffer for so long. Don’t you want to settle the score with him?" Seeing his first ploy fail, Gu Dashishi decided to fan the flames.

"Dad, and how exactly did we come to suffer all this?" Gu Yuanhuo retorted. ’The real culprit is sitting on this very cart, enjoying being waited on by us brothers, and we can’t even touch him. It’s so infuriating.’

Taking a deep breath, Gu Yuanhuo took the lead rope from Ancient Wen Heng. With a subtle shift of his hand, he steered the cart off course. The wheel immediately ran over a rock on the side of the road, jolting Gu Dashishi, who had been reclining on the cart, into the air before he landed hard.

"Ouch! Do you people even know how to drive a cart?" Gu Dashishi clutched his behind with one hand and his head with the other. "Can’t you watch where you’re going?"

Gu Yuanhuo pointed at the donkey and began to curse it. "This stupid beast! It can’t tell a good path from a bad one. It knew the road was rough over there but insisted on going that way anyway.

Seventh, have you been feeding it too well? It’s gotten all cocky and forgotten its place."

Ancient Wen Heng played along. "This donkey is both stupid and stubborn. When we first bought it, it wouldn’t move no matter how I pulled. Your sister-in-law just dangled some grain in front of it, and for a bite to eat, it would do the heaviest work without another fuss."

"So why didn’t you have to dangle anything for it today? It was behaving perfectly fine," Gu Yuanshui asked, also a little curious.

Ancient Wen Heng smiled. "Xiao Dongzi, from your sister-in-law’s shop, broke it of that bad habit on our way south.

The stubborn beast tried to act up then, but Xiao Dongzi didn’t have our patience for coddling it. He went to Chief Li and borrowed a horsewhip. After a few lashes, it learned its lesson and started behaving."

"That’s how it should be done. You and your wife are just too soft-hearted. Sometimes, a thrashing is necessary."

Gu Dashishi was silent. ’Why does this conversation sound... off?’

***

「Gaoling Village」

"Mother, it’s past noon. Why aren’t they back yet?" Gu Yuanfeng cradled her belly as she paced restlessly around the courtyard.

"You can never be sure when it comes to travel. Besides, your father and the others went to the Prefecture City to see a doctor, not to have fun. Stop pacing in front of me. You’re making me dizzy," Li Cuicui said irritably.

Gu Yuanfeng asked, "How much do you think Seventh and his family are worth now? When our family was in such dire straits before, they never revealed a thing."

Li Cuicui replied, "And that’s as it should be. The households have been split. Not everyone is a fool like you, getting swindled the moment you married into a new family.

Why have I been hearing that you’re still meeting with someone from the He Family?"

"Who told you that?" Gu Yuanfeng lowered her head, stroking her belly. "He’s only come looking for me a few times to ask about the baby."

"And what does the He Family have to say about the baby?" Hearing it was about this, Li Cuicui’s expression softened slightly. "If they really want the child, then give it to them after it’s born."

If she weren’t afraid of it ruining Gu Yuanfeng’s health, Li Cuicui wouldn’t want to be raising another family’s child for nothing all this time.

"Mother, Seventh and his wife don’t have any children right now..."

Li Cuicui cut her off. "I’ve told you not to bring this up again. Never mind that Seventh is still young; even if it came to that, they would only choose a child from one of your brothers. The clan would never allow an heir from an outside bloodline to be adopted in."

"What’s the difference? Besides, I’ve already divorced Tuping. This child is part of our family now."

Li Cuicui snorted. "Who’s been feeding you this twisted logic? The Gu bloodline is the Gu bloodline. Even if that child in your belly is born here, you can’t erase the fact that he’s a descendant of the He Family.

I’m warning you one last time. If you bring this up again, then pack your things and get out. Go run to the He Family."

Gu Yuanfeng pouted, then went and sat next to Li Cuicui. "Mother, didn’t Jin Family give you a set of jewelry? I heard it’s gorgeous. Take it out and let me see!"

Knowing her daughter all too well, Li Cuicui’s tone sharpened. "What’s there to see? I’m afraid if you look, you won’t be able to tear your eyes away. Besides, that was a gift from your sister-in-law to show her filial respect. Don’t you get any funny ideas."

"I wasn’t home the last time Seventh and the others came back. How come I didn’t get anything?"

Now Li Cuicui finally understood. "So that’s why you’ve been hanging around the house these past few days. You were waiting for this.

It’s a kindness when people give you something; if they don’t, you can’t demand it. Have you forgotten what I taught you?"

Gu Yuanfeng retorted, "But why did everyone in the family get something but me? I was left out! Even if I wasn’t home, he could have asked you to pass it along. It’s clear he has no regard for me as his older sister."

Li Cuicui said, "...The He Family has really been a bad influence on you, always coveting things that don’t belong to you."

"..."

"Grandma, Grandpa and the others are back!" Gu Le Ping, who had been standing watch at the village entrance, shouted as he ran toward them.

"Back already?" Li Cuicui stood up quickly and looked at Gu Le Ping. "Was your grandpa riding in the cart or walking?"

Gu Le Ping scratched his head. "I forgot."

He had only been focused on rushing back to give his grandma the news; he hadn’t noticed who was in the cart and who was walking.

"Never mind. They’ll be here any moment. Yuan Feng, go and add some firewood to the stove. They must not have eaten the whole way here." Li Cuicui pulled open the courtyard gate so the donkey cart could come in.