Chapter 263: Chapter 263: Visiting in Person
In a previous life, it was Lord Tian Zhuang who helped Gu Kaiyuan with the paperwork, but he was not so accommodating then, and all was haphazardly allocated. Gu Kaiyuan and the Gu Family were assigned to the most remote and impoverished village.
However, thinking back, it seems every village here is poor. There are not many places to settle them, no matter which village, they need to clear land and plant crops themselves.
"I know nothing about this area, so I’ll have to rely on Lord Tian." After thinking for a bit and seeing nobody was paying attention around him, Gu Kaiyuan slipped a silver note to each of them, "Brother Liu, you know about the conflict within my family. I’m not sure if there is a way for someone in my situation to separate households?"
Liu Pingkang was already accustomed to this. Tian Zhuang hesitated for a moment, then tucked the silver note into his chest, but his gaze towards Gu Kaiyuan softened considerably.
Liu Pingkang glanced at Tian Zhuang, seeing him nod slightly before he spoke, "This likely isn’t possible unless, before this, the Gu Family agrees to separate branches, then we can smoothly help you settle it."
"Can we handle our registration last? I’ll try to find a way." The first person Gu Kaiyuan thought of was Gu Li, who had promised him earlier.
"That’s not a problem," Tian Zhuang, having received his first payment today, was keen to sell a little more favor due to the handsome gesture and Liu Pingkang’s influence, "If there’s anything unresolved, I’ll step in and help you."
Why would a family want to split apart? These matters don’t concern him; he’s seen too many turn against each other, this separation is just the beginning.
After Gu Kaiyuan left, Tian Zhuang finally inquired about the reason. There was nothing much to hide, so Liu Pingkang explained briefly, of course, his words leaned towards Gu Kaiyuan’s side, while as for Gu Baijiang and others, who’ve caused nothing but trouble along the way, he didn’t hold back in discussing them.
For such disruptive types, Tian Zhuang is most averse, determined to allocate them far apart.
Meanwhile, Gu Kaiyuan quickly found them.
Upon seeing his arrival, Gu Li knew exactly what he was about to do, and immediately stood up without a word, leading his sons to find Gu Baijiang.
"Uncle," Gu Baijiang stepped down from the carriage, respectfully saying, "Is there any task you need?"
Gu Li surveyed their setup, "Your days seem to be getting better, perhaps now’s the time to consider the clan members. If it’s convenient, it might ease everyone’s losses; otherwise, setting up households, everyone is heartbroken yet powerless."
"Uncle, you’re aware of my current situation, I truly can’t produce funds right away. Folks, please wait a little, after some days, I’ll surely respond satisfactorily."
"Then I’ll trust you this time. I’ve come today with something to discuss, don’t you remember, your father mentioned to you, you had an uncle?"
Gu Baijiang pondered for a while before recalling that uncle who passed young, his mother often lamented saying if uncle were present, the Gu Family would have moved up in the social ranks long ago.
"I’ve heard about it, why would Uncle bring him up now?"
"Lately, in my dreams, I see your grandparents. They say your uncle has no descendants to inherit the incense, enduring hardships below, and wishes for me to arrange for a child to be adopted in his name."
Gu Baijiang glanced at Gu Kaiyuan behind him and instantly guessed roughly.
This damned ingrate actually wants to establish his own lineage.
"Uncle, sometimes dreams aren’t reliable. If there was genuinely such a wish, my grandparents would have appeared in my dreams too." Gu Baijiang found the reasoning incredibly flimsy and wondered what deal had been made between the two for the old, indomitable Gu Li to aid Gu Kaiyuan so openly.
"Regardless, you should also know of your uncle’s existence; you have three sons, adopting one as his child is only rightful and fitting.
Can you truly bear to see your uncle without a descendant offering incense during the holidays?"
Gu Baijiang wanted to retort fiercely; no one remembers Uncle anymore, who can bother with so much?
But he didn’t dare speak so bluntly. Truly speaking, as long as someone among the clan proposes, he has several sons, yet not adopting one would disrespect his ancestors.
"But, raising a son to this age..."
"Didn’t your grandparents and your parents raise you this way? Have you shown them any filial piety?
Furthermore, these years you’ve neither returned for tomb-sweeping nor for festivals, is that different from severing the offering of incense?
Now, adopting a son back ensures that even if your branch doesn’t return, your uncle’s descendant can hold up your branch’s incense flame."
Gu Baijiang was somewhat tempted; if adopting Gu Kaiyuan out now, he could remain within the clan handling these old matters, fulfilling filial duties. This way, nobody could use the topic against him later.
But he feigned difficulty, "I’ll have to think about it."
Gu Kaiyuan wouldn’t give him time to ponder, nodding slightly towards the Gu Family Brothers, Gu Li immediately caught the hint.
"Indeed, take some time to think. I feel your eldest and second sons are both suitable. They both have sons now, so the inheritance of incense shouldn’t be a concern."
"Not the eldest, he is my firstborn son," Gu Baijiang responded instantly, not even considering it, as he was the last hope for the Gu Family; how could he change fathers?
"Then the second..."
"Not me," Gu Kaichen blurted out "I am my father’s son, not going to serve another. I think the third is quite suitable."
Gu Kaiyuan looked at them mockingly, "It doesn’t have to necessarily be someone from our generation, anyway both you and elder brother are still young, surely there’ll be many more sons in the future, why not choose from among your two nephews."
Liu Yun nervously pulled her son to her side, "I have only this one son, there’s no way I’m letting him be adopted."
Xu Yulan, too, clutched her child protectively, "My son’s even less possible, he’s our one and only."
Gu Kaiyuan sneered at Xu Yulan, remembering their previous grudges, "Second sister-in-law, no need to be so tense. Second brother’s still robust, adding on he’s taken a concubine, who knows how many children will pay you filial respect. You and sister-in-law are so kind and generous, and most filial. Wouldn’t you be unwilling to let Uncle Grandfather be restless below?"
"Father, look at the third," the sisters-in-law, unable to refute further, pleaded looking towards Gu Baijiang.
Gu Baijiang was now at his wits’ end; none of his sons felt right to adopt out, "Uncle, maybe we also offer Uncle a memorial..."
"Is that the same?" Gu Li was quite angry, when you’re around, people can still care, but generations later, who’ll remember your uncle?
Gu Baijiang grew impatient, a name forgotten unless brought up early would be completely erased.
"We’re about to update the registers, hurry and decide. I can rewrite the genealogy on my end."
