Chapter 242: Chapter 242: Preaching
An Tong carefully considered this possibility, but ultimately shook her head, "No matter how it’s done, it will be obvious, and Fan Mei Lin won’t let us manipulate her."
Liu Yun, "Of course, we can’t use obvious means, and we really can only start with Fan Mei Lin."
"..." An Tong couldn’t understand how Liu Yun could speak so confidently. Did he have plans all along?
"Silly child, haven’t you noticed these days that whenever your third uncle appears, the sisters’ eyes almost stick to him?"
An Tong shook her head; she really hadn’t noticed, "Everything seemed normal, after all, they haven’t met my third uncle before and were curious, so they looked a bit more."
"That gaze isn’t quite right, and we must admit, your third uncle is the most handsome among the entire Gu Family. He has been suppressed by the family all these years; otherwise, with his looks and skills, he would have a place on Shangjing’s Power Ranking.
Next up, you cooperate with me, I’ll find a way to forge a beautiful affair."
The mother and daughter exchanged a smile, determined to divert the trouble to the east.
As for the conflict between the second family and the Xu family’s mother and daughters, they chose to sit aside and watch the drama unfold.
Gu Baijiang heard the noise from the carriage with some impatience and jumped down from the shaft of the car, walking alongside the listless Gu Kaichen.
"Dad, why don’t you take a break in the carriage and let the two kids come out for a walk?"
Gu Baijiang had not felt his son’s thoughtfulness in recent days, what’s going on today? Has he got a fever?
The second son who had never cared for anyone suddenly showing concern for his old father, it was indeed rare.
"The inside is noisy to death, these women need to be knocked a bit, or else they’ll become unruly."
"Dad, weren’t they all managed by mom before, how would I understand the inner quarters’ affairs?"
"Don’t understand? Yet you know how to take a concubine, our family’s reputation has been ruined by you."
Gu Kaichen was speechless; it was indeed Xu Yulan who said those words, placing the blame squarely on his head.
"Dad, what are you talking about? If it weren’t for your permission, would I dare to take a concubine?
That is their battlefield as women; if I were to squeeze in now, I’d be kicked out."
"And I’m really innocent. At the time I just wanted to rescue someone, but ended up being blamed for it instead, you should talk to Mrs. Xu properly. I have a lifesaving grace towards Fan Mei Bao, can’t she stop glaring at me?"
Gu Kaichen increasingly felt Xu Yulan’s analysis was correct; he should have been more assertive back then, and not let Fan Mei Bao become a concubine; keeping her as a secondary wife would have been fine. Now, this crime is pinned on him, so he might as well get some benefit.
"You’re lucky enough to have raised such a big daughter as a concubine; what more do you want?" Gu Baijiang thought inwardly, having Fan Mei Bao as a second son’s concubine was actually not bad; those two girls clearly aren’t honest people. If they really find a way to climb higher, it is feared the Gu Family might end up suffering."
"Dad, you really wrong me. I previously said to let her follow Yulan as a maid first, her status could be determined later.
It’s you all who feared Fan Mei Bao would suffer and insisted on pressuring me to marry her. Look at this ghost of a place, what’s the use of taking a beautiful concubine here?"
Everyone was sleeping on the floor; he would need a thick skin to take Fan Mei Bao at this time.
Looking but not touching, hanging a name while carrying a blame, even thinking about it wasn’t worthwhile or as exciting as before.
"..." Gu Baijiang took a deep breath and finally said, "When we arrive at the next post station, I’ll get you a room."
Gu Kaichen’s eyes lit up, indeed, how could he have forgotten about this?
Never mind, bearing a blame is bearing a blame. If there’s one, there’ll be a two; from now on he can avoid feeling so aggrieved.
"Dad, you said so..."
"Look at you, so unworthy. Since she is yours, remember to teach her the rules, distinguish the legitimate from the secondary, and can’t let Mrs. Xu mother and son be wronged."
After all, he remembered Xu Huizhen who died because of him, knowing fully well how biased he was before. Still, it was the last little bit he could do for her.
"Don’t worry, Dad, I understand," Gu Kaichen agreed delightfully and started thinking about asking around when they might reach the post station.
When Gu Baijiang saw him fall into a daydream, he could only shake his head and walk ahead, where Gu Kaiping was leading an ox, his face scarily somber.
"With a face so tense, who are you showing it to?" Gu Baijiang felt that these sons were debtors, not one was easy to handle.
"Dad, I’m thinking," Gu Kaiping said, somewhat surprised, "How come you’re here? Outside’s so cold."
"The inside is noisy to death, so we can talk as father and son."
"If there’s something, Dad, you can make the decision."
Upon hearing his eldest son’s sulking words, Gu Baijiang was unconcerned, "Are you mad at me for allowing the second son to take a concubine?"
"That’s not the problem; anyway, even if our family returns to Shangjing, things can never be like before, wanting a concubine or not, that’s up to you.
But the Fan family sisters aren’t right; I don’t understand why Dad wants to do this?"
Even knowing they have hidden intentions, yet desperately bringing them home.
"It’s not exactly going to this; if the second son hadn’t rolled around with the Fan girl in public, a door could have been closed to negotiate.
But since it happened, I can only push it along, letting the second son have his wish."
"Son still doesn’t understand..."
"We suspect their mother and daughter were sent by someone else, but who it is, we are unclear.
Xu Shuanghong is not to worry about, but her pair of daughters surely don’t care for you brothers."
Though Gu Kaiping was indifferent to the Fan sisters, hearing his father demean them made him uncomfortable.
"Even though they keep making moves in private, there’s no secret within this group.
The sisters must be here for the Third Prince, wanting to use An Tong as a stepping stone. Liu family and your daughter should know about this, they’ve arranged tasks for them frequently and might be planning to train them in case they can be kept handy; if not, finding a way to solve it."
Gu Baijiang knew this eldest son had read books till stupidity, yet didn’t realize even his wife and daughter were not up to par.
Gu Kaiping’s expression finally changed, slightly embarrassed, while inwardly blaming himself; why hadn’t his wife and daughter kept him informed about such a big matter?
"You can’t blame them either, for it’s just their speculation.
Bringing it to light would truly be disadvantageous for our family."
"Since when do we fear the three of them?" Gu Kaiping didn’t understand his father’s reasoning, "You could clearly drive them away."
"Why drive them away? Anyway, since we’re idle now, having them as grindstones for An Tong is the best choice."
