Chapter 193: Chapter 193: Return
"Dad, what are you thinking about?" Gu Kaiping, who had just changed his bandages, sat beside Gu Baijiang, somewhat relieved that now, because of the cold weather, he didn’t have to worry about his wound worsening.
"I’m thinking about your third brother," Gu Baijiang frowned, "Did your mother ever hire a Master Wu for you?"
Gu Kaiping shook his head, "Dad, you know I’ve been studying at the academy since I was a child, and there have always been teachers instructing me there.
I’ve never heard of mother hiring a Master Wu."
"Then where did your brother get his hunting skills from?"
Six wild boars, you know, it’s not just about being good at hunting to leave unscathed in front of them, let alone taking them down."
"That’s something I truly don’t know, Dad. You know, apart from studying at the academy, I’ve rarely been home since taking my official position. I really don’t know about the inner household matters."
Realizing there might be things he was unaware of at home, he hurriedly called Liu Yun over.
Liu Yun was equally perplexed, "No, Mother has always been in the inner chambers, and we’re not familiar with those military generals, so where would she hire a Master Wu?
Moreover, the Third Brother matured outside, and we don’t even know what he’s been up to out there. Could it be the Bai Family hired a prestigious teacher?"
After all, the family finances are accounted for; how much silver is spent and returned each time is recorded, and I keep track of it. Gu Kaiyuan, apart from food, lodging, and travel, never uses any other silver.
Upon hearing he had hunted a few wild boars, Liu Yun and the others were also surprised. But the women think more intricately; with such skills, why would Gu Kaiyuan hide them?
When they were attacked, Gu Kaiyuan behaved quite normally.
She thought of the problem, and naturally, the others did too. "If it weren’t for him, your mother wouldn’t..."
Gu Baijiang casually said, not realizing anything wrong with his words and ignoring the strange looks from the two sons and two daughters-in-law.
Everyone knew the gist of it all deep down, but no one stood up to defend Gu Kaiyuan.
"Should we call Third Brother back?" Gu Kaiping’s eyes shifted; in just two days, they had encountered several groups, indicating the road ahead would be tumultuous.
If Gu Kaiyuan stayed with them, he certainly wouldn’t stand by while they faced robbers without helping.
He thought of what his hand wouldn’t have been hurt if Gu Kaiyuan had been there yesterday.
"Big Brother, do you think he cares about coming back now?" Gu Kaichen snorted, having suffered from those two before.
Gu Kaiping ignored him and instead steadily looked at Gu Baijiang, "We don’t know how challenging the road ahead is, whether the Third Prince has sent anyone to protect us is also uncertain. As a family, we need someone to depend on."
Gu Baijiang, "You’re right, after all, we are a family. It’s not right to separate and let others laugh at us.
Go tell that unfilial son, we can make room for them in the cart. Ms. Bai as a daughter-in-law is truly out of line, how can she disregard her husband’s family?"
Gu Kaiping got the go-ahead and happily replied, "Dad, you’re still considerate of your children and grandchildren."
"But this cart is so small, who will get off to leave a place for Third Sister-in-law?" Xu Yulan didn’t care about this because she knew she would be the one making concessions.
"Is this the time to argue over such things? Our family should be united now and not provide fodder for others’ ridicule." Gu Baijiang spoke with righteousness and, seeing Gu Kaiping get up to leave, added, "Have your third brother send over some of the meat he’s caught."
Gu Kaiping laughed merrily, nodded, and began to look for Gu Kaiyuan, while covering his injured arm.
"Sis, do you think Third Uncle will come back?" Gu Anliang quietly asked Gu Antong.
Gu Antong shook her head, "If you were Third Aunt, would you come back?"
Gu Anliang thought about it, "Probably not, there are people serving him there, he doesn’t have to do anything at all. If he came back, he’d have to work with mom and aunt."
"That’s why both Grandpa and Dad are thinking too simply."
"Then why didn’t you just remind them?" Gu Anliang was somewhat puzzled, wasn’t this just sending Dad off to be deflated?
"Even if I said something, would they listen?" Gu Antong pouted; she wasn’t willing to embarrass herself.
Besides, she had her own plans; what if Third Uncle softened?
After all, it was Grandpa speaking. If they could convince Third Uncle and Third Aunt to come back, their lives would surely be better.
With the Bai Family’s support and those two maidservants and retainers doing some hard work, their family would certainly be the most comfortable among the group.
"Sis, should we go with Dad to check it out?"
Gu Antong thought for a moment and agreed, "Then let’s go over and see. If Third Uncle agrees, we can help move things."
The siblings spoke, then quietly followed Gu Kaiping.
Seeing this, Gu Anwei also quickly caught up, loudly calling from behind, "Sis, Cousin, wait for me."
"In such cold weather, where are they going?" Xu Yulan stood up, unable to stop Gu Anwei, so she followed, calling anxiously.
"They’re connecting with their siblings, don’t intervene," Gu Kaichen glanced over and said to Xu Yulan, "You and Sister-in-law hurry and make the meal, we’ve been walking all day and we’re starving."
"You only know to open your mouth for food, never thinking to help?
There’s just enough water to wash rice."
"How much water can I carry alone?" Gu Kaichen looked at Gu Baijiang, "Dad, could you also tell Big Brother to help out a bit?
His left arm is injured, not the right hand, he can still carry water.
I’ve been tending the ox cart and moving things all day; even an old ox wouldn’t be used so much."
"Fine, go fetch some water now, and once Kaiyuan comes back, you can lighten your load."
Gu Kaichen pouted, muttering under his breath, "Gu Kaiyuan isn’t a fool, leaving a good life to come here and suffer.
Big Brother is just using this opportunity to be lazy, surely he’s aware of that, isn’t he?"
"Why so many complaints when asked to do something?" Gu Baijiang, somewhat impatient, said his voice was loud enough for nearby households to hear; doesn’t he understand the saying about not airing dirty laundry?
Meanwhile, Gu Kaiping asked many people before finding the Bai Family’s ox cart among the escort agency’s group.
Seeing it surrounded by escort agency’s transport carts, Gu Kaiping was puzzled, "Weren’t the rear carriages supposed to be stable? How did their ox cart end up here?"
Before he could approach, he was stopped, "This is an area designated for secured cargo, unrelated personnel cannot approach."
"Brother, you’ve misunderstood, I’m here to find my brother, sister-in-law." Gu Kaiping saw the two strong men blocking him and softened his tone significantly.
