Chapter 185: Chapter 185: Taking Action
Gu Kaichen stared at Bai Suihe with a malicious gaze, feeling that the third child had been led astray by this woman.
Gu Kaiyuan used to be so obedient and filial, but now? His heart and eyes are all filled with this woman.
Back then, their father shouldn’t have let this woman in; look at what she’s done to their family.
If Gu Kaiyuan had stayed with them, perhaps their mother wouldn’t have been injured and died, and their lives wouldn’t be so difficult now.
"You really want to be so stubborn? Even if you don’t consider the third brother, you should consider the little one in your belly. Do you want him to bear a disgraceful reputation from birth?"
Gu Kaiyuan and Bai Suihe’s faces simultaneously turned cold. It’s enough to cause trouble for them—after all, they were waiting for the right moment; one day they would break free from the Gu Family—but he shouldn’t involve the baby.
"Gu Kaichen," Gu Kaiyuan was already standing in front of him, looking unkind, calling him by his full name, "you’re asking for trouble."
"What did you just call me?" Gu Kaichen’s face changed, feeling his authority had been disrespected, "Don’t forget, I’m your second brother."
"Do you act like a brother? What do you want? To threaten and intimidate us at our door?"
"I’m only doing this for your own good," Gu Kaichen looked at his taller brother, feeling a bit timid, but thinking of the purpose of this visit, he braced himself to say, "Third brother, can you touch your conscience and say this wasn’t prepared by the Bai Family?"
"So what?" Gu Kaiyuan sneered, "Have the guts to let the Yue Family prepare for you. Oh, I forgot, they’re just a bunch of leeches, all about taking, none about giving."
"Don’t forget, that’s your maternal family." Even with all the dissatisfaction towards the Yue Family, Gu Kaichen couldn’t afford to lose ground at this moment, "Do your words honor mother?"
"Don’t bring mother into this," Gu Kaiyuan snorted coldly, "During her life and after her death, I fulfilled a son’s duty of filial piety, no less than you two elder brothers.
I owe it to the second brother not to stretch his hand too far. Don’t covet what’s not yours."
"Don’t forget, we haven’t divided the family yet."
Gu Kaiyuan chuckled twice, "Divide the family? My good second brother, you say what’s left of our family?
Oh, you’re talking about father’s..."
Gu Kaichen was frightened and wanted to cover Gu Kaiyuan’s mouth, but the latter avoided him, "If you don’t want me to speak plainly, second brother, it’s best to remember your duty. Don’t meddle in things you shouldn’t.
I thought the three of us had already reached a consensus, but it seems I was being self-indulgent.
Since second brother is so eager to intervene, I’ll make sure to visit father every day and inquire about his well-being..."
"Third brother, do you really have to be so heartless? Is it necessary for a woman?"
Bai Suihe raised her eyebrows at Gu Kaichen, wondering whether to call him brainless or commend his courage for trying to stir trouble in their presence.
Gu Kaiyuan smiled coldly and punched Gu Kaichen right in the stomach.
"Ah..." Gu Kaichen felt a pain in his abdomen, staggered several steps backward, and fell to the ground.
Seeing Gu Kaichen curled into a ball, Gu Kaiyuan walked over, looked down at him, "Second brother, full of bad intentions inside your belly, let me as a brother help treat it well."
Saying this, he kicked him again, a howl mixed with the wind in the night, somewhat eerie.
Those originally hiding under the oilcloth to keep warm, at this moment, forced themselves to endure the cold outside and peeked out their heads.
The escort cursed and came over, "Which bastard caused trouble in such cold weather without hiding..."
When they saw the two causing trouble, they were a bit confused; hadn’t these two brothers been out of touch for a while, so why are they at odds again?
"Late at night, not resting, what’s going on?" Since he was responsible, Ma Zhi approached with a whip but stood beside Gu Kaiyuan, pointing the whip at Gu Kaichen, "Do you want a beating?"
Gu Kaichen never expected Gu Kaiyuan would be so harsh on him, his face ashen, sweat forming on his forehead from the pain, "Sir, it’s not my fault, he hit me."
Gu Kaiyuan, "Sir, this is just a playful scuffle between brothers. Don’t worry, I’ll handle it."
Saying so, Gu Kaiyuan patted Ma Zhi’s shoulder, and immediately in front of Gu Kaichen, handed a silver ingot to Ma Zhi.
Ma Zhi directly slipped it into his chest, "Since it’s a matter between brothers, talk it out nicely, don’t make it too ugly."
Saying this, he led his men away, not forgetting to yell to let everyone rest, not to gather around and make a fuss.
Once they were gone, those who retracted their heads popped out again.
Gu Kaichen watched Gu Kaiyuan bribe the escort, almost grinding his teeth into pieces.
The whole family lived frugally, just making ends meet, but Gu Kaiyuan was so generous. Without the Bai Family’s support, he couldn’t believe it.
"Gu Kaiyuan, you’re really something."
"There’s no choice, I’m just learning from my two elder brothers. You taught me what it means to look out for oneself above all. I’ve already stepped back from competing with you, why do you still cling to me?
Oh, is it because you don’t care for father’s residual assets?"
"Stop talking nonsense, we don’t have any family assets now, do we?" Although not very smart, Gu Kaichen wasn’t stupid; these matters couldn’t be discussed openly.
Gu Kaiyuan nodded with a smile, "Then there’s nothing for us brothers to dispute over. The family has already been seized, even my wife’s dowry was taken away. It’s unreasonable to ask my wife for silver."
The onlookers were in an uproar, although everyone knew what was up with the Bai Family’s two girls, but as the second brother-in-law, reaching out for his sister-in-law wasn’t right.
"Has he gone mad with poverty?"
"Where’s the madness? He’s clever."
"Indeed, back then Gu old man had people currying favor, must have had quite a bit of silver on him. He’s really not letting Gu Kaiyuan and his wife rest until they’re squeezed dry."
"I say, Gu second brother, you should settle for less, if you want silver, let your wife go back to her family to ask, how can you, as a scholar, shamelessly open your mouth..."
Gu Kaichen first understands what the phrase ’ashamed to the brink of despair’ is most aptly used for, nothing fits better than his current state.
"Everyone shut up, what business is it of yours?" Unable to bear it, he finally shouted angrily at the surrounding people, "This is our family’s issue, what does it have to do with you?"
"Then stop making noise here in the middle of the night. You don’t rest, but we all need to rest."
"Indeed, this isn’t your mansion, are we not allowed to speak?"
"We haven’t even given you trouble, we were about to fall asleep, yet you wake us up with a shout..."
