Chapter 187: Chapter 187: Filing a Complaint
The arrival of Kai Yuan made the father and two sons instantly unite as one against a common enemy. Those three pairs of somewhat similar eyes were staring fiercely at him.
Nearby, there was a crowd eagerly waiting to watch the drama. While they were busy, their ears and eyes were all focused in this direction.
"Father, what is the reason you’ve called me here?"
"Did you hit your second brother yesterday?"
Kai Yuan freely nodded in acknowledgment. "Yes, that’s correct. I didn’t expect Second Brother to wait several hours before telling you. It’s been hard on him."
Laughter erupted around them, and everyone looked even more down on Gu Kai Chen.
Being beaten up by a younger brother was bad enough, but to actually report it?
"He’s your elder brother. How could you hit him?"
"Father doesn’t want to know the reason?" Kai Yuan looked at Gu Kai Chen mockingly. "Second Brother wouldn’t tell half the story and keep the rest hidden. That’s not what a real man, a gentleman, would do."
Gu Kai Chen said, "Regardless of the reason, it’s wrong for you to hit me."
"So in our family, this is the rule? Is this a new rule set by Father?"
The laughter around got louder. Everyone knew that since Gu Bai Jiang became an official, he never stopped setting rules for the Gu Family, making each one known in the capital, as if to show that he valued rules the most and had the greatest vision.
Which family here wasn’t taken out for comparison?
They have long looked down on the Gu Family climbing up by stepping on others. Now, seeing their internal conflicts is truly satisfying.
"You unfilial son, no matter what, your second brother was doing it for your own good..."
"Second Brother sure was good to me, trying to sow discord between me and my wife and wanting to take control of her private resources. I don’t know if this is a moral decay or if it’s due to your excellent teaching, Father..."
"Shut up!" The ruinous words from Kai Yuan’s mouth made it hard for him to command respect in the future.
"I’m just speaking the truth. Wasn’t that Second Brother’s intention yesterday?" Kai Yuan wasn’t intimidated. Anyway, he was always labeled as rebellious, so he might as well be rebellious once. "Yesterday, there were many people watching when Second Brother came over. If Father doesn’t believe me, I can help find some witnesses."
"Kai Yuan, I didn’t expect you to be so artful with words. I was just hoping you and your wife could show more filial piety to Father..."
"Second Brother, do you know what being artful with words means?"
Kai Yuan instantly felt that Bai Suihe’s tactic to deal with Gu Kai Chen was excellent. Just when he started, Gu Kai Chen’s face immediately darkened.
That’s the effect he wanted. "Being artful with words is a compliment. It means I’m eloquent and persuasive. It’s rare to receive such praise from Second Brother, and I truly don’t deserve it.
I’m clearly stating the facts and have no need to argue for myself. Using such words in this context is clearly inappropriate."
"Father, you see, he’s clearly been led astray by Ms. Bai. Even his way of speaking is just like hers." Unable to win the argument, Gu Kai Chen directly sought help.
Gu Bai Jiang felt a great disappointment, thinking that all the years of education couldn’t enable him to even outwit Kai Yuan.
"Enough, you two brothers stop arguing. If this matter gets out, it will damage our family’s reputation.
No matter what, you shouldn’t resort to violence. That is your fault, Kai Yuan. Now apologize sincerely to your second brother, give him some medicine, and let this matter pass."
Gu Bai Jiang intended to make peace, but clearly no one was giving him face this time.
The two brothers shouted simultaneously,
"No way..."
"Impossible..."
Kai Yuan, "Father, you really are biased. Second Brother’s actions yesterday were inappropriate in many ways, and you’re not going to hold him accountable?
Or is it that once a woman joins the Gu Family, she no longer has any private property?"
Upon hearing this, Liu Yun and others got nervous, as this matter was also closely related to them.
Even the young Gu Anliang looked serious, as Grandfather’s decision could affect his future marriage prospects.
If things were really as Third Uncle said, this issue couldn’t be hidden. In the future, he wouldn’t even think about marrying a girl from a reputable family, or even from a good ordinary family.
Even a child could understand this. Gu Baijiang also realized immediately. Damn Kai Yuan, once again putting him in a difficult position.
"Forget it. I won’t interfere in matters between you brothers. Anyway, quarrels are common among siblings. Hurry up and get ready, we are about to set off."
Kai Yuan knew he had won again this time. As long as he grasped the family’s weakness, they couldn’t do anything to him.
Every time they fought, they couldn’t defeat him but still sought trouble, not knowing what they were really after.
"Father, since there’s nothing more, I’ll head back. But you should really talk to Second Brother about this. Even if he likes to meddle in others’ business, he shouldn’t meddle with my wife’s finances, and he certainly shouldn’t act like a market woman, trying to sow discord."
After saying this, he didn’t care about the Gu Family’s expressions. Sighing as he left, as if he had suffered a great grievance.
Watching this, Gu Baijiang held his chest. He felt that if this kind of thing happened a few more times, he’d get sick from anger.
"Unfilial son, who told you to mess with him unnecessarily?" Unable to find trouble with Kai Yuan, he had to vent his fury, landing a palm on Gu Kai Chen’s face.
Gu Kai Chen covered his face, looking at Gu Baijiang in disbelief, "Father, you hit me..."
"So what if I hit you? Your brother could hit you, but I, as your father, can’t?"
Gu Kai Chen, "..."
Kai Ping, who had remained silent, finally spoke, "Father, I told you long ago, Gu Kaiyuan is different now and doesn’t feel any family ties towards us. It’s better not to seek him out in the future."
"But he’s my son..."
"Does Father hope he’ll be filial to you?"
Gu Baijiang was choked by these words. He wasn’t stupid; he could see that Kai Yuan was already distanced from them, but he was just unwilling to admit it. Only he, as the father, could abandon his son. Since when did a son reverse the roles and abandon the father?
"Father, since Kai Yuan is so rebellious, why don’t you kick him out?" Gu Kai Chen, still holding grudges against Kai Yuan and his wife, suggested impulsively.
"Don’t even think about it. If I kick my son out without reason, do I not want my reputation? You both still want to have a standing in the court, don’t you?"
"Father, you really believe you can get me back into the court?" Kai Ping had already forgotten how to separate Kai Yuan from the family, focusing solely on his career prospects.
"Rest assured, that day will come," he said, thinking of the rebellious Kai Yuan, adding with a sigh, "Later on, Kai Yuan will regret what he did today.
Then I, as the father, will definitely teach him how to be a decent person. You two, as elder brothers, remember to bear your responsibilities as well."
Kai Ping lowered his eyelids, having a general sense of Kai Yuan’s intentions. He simply wanted to separate from the family. As an elder brother, he would naturally fulfill his wishes.
But Gu Kai Chen hadn’t considered this layer, foolishly indulging in fantasies of Kai Yuan and his wife groveling before them one day.
