Carrying a Lucky Charm, I Thrive with My Husband on the Road to Exile

Chapter 296: Chapter 296: The Past

Now, looking back, Gu Kaiyuan realizes this is Nanny Pang’s strategy to affect the mind, and it indeed deepened his guilt towards Bai Suihe, making him more determined to seek justice for him.

He knows that Bai Suihe’s premature death along the way was largely due to his own inaction, so even afterwards when conditions allowed for medical treatment and care, he let it be.

Bai Suihe, seeing that he didn’t continue speaking and instead fell into deep thought, looked at his painful expression, sighed, and didn’t press further. Instead, he quietly reorganized the items in the package and put them back into the space.

"These people are quite nice," Gu Kaiyuan considered these few households, listening to Nanny Pang’s orders, and even dared to go against Ming Peifeng, which made him internally acknowledge them.

"Then I’ll leave the matters of the inner residence to Nanny Pang," Bai Suihe still respected Gu Kaiyuan, "What do you think?"

"That’s good. With Nanny Pang by your side, I can be more at ease."

Having diagnosed so many problems just by feeling the pulse, it’s clear that Nanny Pang has truly learned some real skills. Someone who understands medicine next to Bai Suihe adds an extra layer of security.

Although everyone is in seclusion for the winter, so many people coming into the village couldn’t help but attract a lot of attention.

Upon inquiring, finding it was once again the Gu Family at the edge of the village, the natives could only feel envy, while those exiled together had mixed emotions.

Throughout this journey, even if Liu Pingkang hadn’t overly troubled them, they all endured some hardships to varying degrees; the only one who didn’t was this Bai Family lady. Apart from the segment of the journey leaving Beijing, she was served along the way, and now they’re making such a grand arrangement, possibly even more comfortable than when she stayed in the inner residence of the Gu Family.

"Gu Baijiang’s intestines must be turning green with regret by now," Chen Dafu said gleefully, "If his family had treated Ms. Bai well, they could also be living in that big house now and commanding servants."

"This Bai Family really cherishes their daughter," Mrs. Chen was also somewhat envious. Her maternal family gave her dozens of taels of silver after she married and made no further gestures.

Originally of a family background emphasizing farming and reading, her family was reasonably wealthy, which made it easy to see how much heart was put into such matters when compared.

"Yes, Gu Kaiyuan indeed lucked out; even if he spends his life here, he won’t have to endure hardship."

Chen Dafu looked at the mixed grain porridge in his bowl, somewhat lost in thought. He entered officialdom thanks to the support of his entire family and lived a few good years.

But despite receiving a salary, it was just barely enough to support the whole family. The idea of eating well and enjoying luxuries seemed impossible.

He worked hard all his life, yet in the end, he still eats this mixed grain porridge, barely full.

Indeed, people’s fate is predetermined; his full efforts are no match for someone else’s slight luck.

"Seems like merchants aren’t as profit-driven as you said, sir." Mrs. Chen was contemplative, "Why don’t we consider establishing connections for our children with merchant families in the future..."

Chen Dafu, "We’ll see how it goes in the future. Even if we want to marry into these merchant families, we need to inquire carefully; not all are as considerate of daughters as the Bai Family."

However, when marrying, these daughter-in-laws’ families boast to no end. They claim they’re marrying their most treasured daughters to the Chen Family, lamenting how reluctant they are. If the Chen Family dares to bully them, they would surely visit to demand justice.

But when real help is needed, these in-laws who once spoke louder than singing, simply drop off some silver before hurriedly leaving, afraid of being burdened.

Everyone understands the principle, but when it’s about their daughters, they probably wouldn’t be so generous either.

"Sir, do you think that Master Gu will still go looking for Gu Kaiyuan..." Mrs. Chen asked with a sense of amusement.

"Rest assured, he won’t show his face himself. Gu Baijiang, someone who values appearances most, probably knows well enough that if he sends his other two sons, Gu Kaiyuan won’t give them any due respect.

He might be most of all feeling impotent rage, just venting at home."

Not far from the Gu Family, it truly was as Chen Dafu had speculated. Gu Baijiang’s face turned frighteningly grim upon receiving the news, and Xu Shuanghong, who had been carefully comforting him, made an excuse about fetching firewood to stay far away.

Gu Antong’s face showed discontent, feeling that this kind of life should belong to her; all because of Bai Suihe’s selfishness, making them all squeeze into this small house.

But seeing her grandfather’s face, no matter how much dissatisfaction, she didn’t dare voice it at the moment, only quietly hiding in a corner.

Since the day before yesterday, when her grandfather returned from the town, his attitude towards her seemed to change; mixed with regret and disdain. She didn’t understand why these emotions appeared, but instinctively kept a distance.

Gu Kaiping and Gu Kaichen, under such high pressure, still sat honestly across from Gu Baijiang.

The atmosphere was too oppressive, and Gu Kaichen couldn’t help but burst out, "Dad, the Bai Family is really outrageous; are they not planning to acknowledge us as relatives?"

"Second Brother," Gu Kaiping frowned, being cautious at such a moment, afraid of irritating the old man into trouble.

"Big Brother, am I wrong? I heard that more than twenty people came this time, and they brought several carts of goods. They represent the Bai Family, shouldn’t they first visit Father?"

"Then why don’t you go and talk to them?" Gu Kaiping saw the other was truly incorrigible and moved aside to avoid getting implicated later.

"I’ll go speak up; I genuinely want to ask if the Bai Family is lacking in manners?"

"How do you plan to speak?" Gu Baijiang’s voice came out sinisterly, "Gu Kaiyuan has been adopted out, he’s not very connected to us, at most just a distant relative in the future."

"Even though he’s been adopted out, Father did raise him, he’s clearly ungrateful."

Xu Yulan nodded along, she had just seen those carts filled with goods and so many people outside, itching to rush out and bring them all to her place.

Unfortunately, the Gu Family at the village entrance had such a fine sense of leisure, even in the cold weather, they guided them, preventing her from deceiving them to visit first.

"Don’t mention that unfilial child again; now that he’s adopted by your uncle, he’s left to fend for himself.

He’s wealthy now, we won’t attach ourselves to him, but if we regain power, no one’s allowed to bring him up again."

Gu Baijiang didn’t care about these extra possessions that much; he only seeks to return to Beijing. With his family fortune and soon-to-return influence, what is a merchant but nothing?

"Father’s reasoning is sound," Gu Kaiping quickly flattered, "But they’re so ostentatious, will the local officials hold them accountable?

If they implicate us in trouble, wouldn’t it be even more unjust?"

As exiled convicts, living so well is not allowed.

"How about we report him to the authorities?" Gu Kaichen’s eyes lit up, thinking if he can’t live well, then neither can Gu Kaiyuan.