Chapter 306: Chapter 306: Days
They had laughed off the stomach ache incident and hid at home for several days, but eventually, the real craving kicked in.
Every day, they had been surviving on bland soup. Forget about meat, even the dried vegetables were gone, leaving their stomachs utterly devoid of any trace of oil. If they returned empty-handed today, they feared they wouldn’t have the strength to make it to the city tomorrow.
As they returned, they kept thinking about where they might have been poisoned. Despite replaying the events, they couldn’t pinpoint anything, and finally concluded it was just bad luck, eating something unclean.
No one anticipated that the inconspicuous old matron sent by the Bai Family would be so adept at hiding her true skills.
"All you think about is eating. Beyond eating, what else can you do?" Gu Baijiang muttered under his breath, yet he turned towards the market. This time, he dared not hand the silver note to his two sons, lest the boys disappear with it. Sometimes, when asked to buy something, they just kept complaining.
Thinking about seeing some enticing food today, he pushed all other thoughts aside and quickly followed along.
"Dad, everyone’s smoking meat in the village. Shall we get some to take back?"
"Do you know how to do it?"
"Even if I don’t, I could learn. If it doesn’t work out, we can hire someone to do it. Last time, Tian Chunmei and her daughters were quite handy. A lot of things can be outsourced, no need to exhaust ourselves." Gu Kaichen tentatively asked, "About that piece of land assigned to us, we shouldn’t need to reclaim it again, right?"
"As long as no edict comes through, no one should mention this."
Gu Baijiang suddenly stopped in his tracks. "Doesn’t that mean that the people exiled this time could return?"
What do the hardships he’s suffered amount to then? While others sit idly and benefit?
But there’s no way he could express gratitude; it was the magnanimity of the Empress Dowager and the Emperor.
The two brothers, "...Gu Kaiyuan, they’re benefitting from our troubles."
Gu Kaiyuan, "...Please, just forget about me..."
"The Third Prince seems truly shrewd," Gu Baijiang speculated, pondering how much interest Rong Ruiyuan might muster within this mess?
These exiled folks, though unable to resume their official posts, had family ties, which might just become a formidable force.
"Dad, does this mean I have no chance to resume my official duties?" Gu Kai Ping took a deep breath and raised the issue he’d been concerned about.
Gu Baijiang, "That would depend on how the Third Prince handles it.
If restoring you is impossible, keeping you as a subordinate could still be beneficial."
"And what about you, Dad?"
Gu Baijiang cracked a smile, his scars looking more sinister, "Me? With my current state, can I return to court?
Right now, the family relies on you two. Best to raise the kids well, and have them prepared for next year’s examination."
No matter what, they couldn’t make it this year, but it makes no difference. It suits them to settle down, and who knows, they might score spectacularly.
Currently, expectations reside entirely with the kids; that’s why they’ve been kept at home, away from chores, engrossed in books and study.
"I’ll do my utmost to guide them," Gu Kai Ping instantly realized the kids might have had it too easy recently. He hadn’t assigned enough homework, and decided to double up once they returned.
As father said, the Gu Family’s future rests on the next generation.
"But your offspring are way too sparse," Gu Baijiang felt a pang. Three brothers had only two boys; more heirs were needed.
"You two brothers should take more concubines and extend the Gu Family lineage, no matter what."
"That’s no problem," Gu Kaichen immediately broke into a grin, "Don’t worry, Dad, I’ll see to it."
"Speaking of which," Gu Kai Ping frowned,"how should we arrange for the Fan sisters?"
Now Xu Shuanghong was their stepmother; the sisters became stepsisters. Fan Mei Bao "took" a sword blow for their father, currently bedridden, and created constant unrest in the house.
"Fan Mei Bao can’t birth anymore and isn’t quite a woman. For shielding Dad from the sword, we’ll keep her at home." Gu Kaichen replied with indifference, "She can help out, ease the burden on everyone."
With Silver, what women can’t be found?
Moreover, Fan Mei Bao was overly dull. Despite his efforts to charm her, she hadn’t shown gratitude. Now, unable to bear children, by being taken care of, she should be thankful.
Such cold words issued from his lips without a blink from the Gu Family men.
☆
Bai Suihe learned about the Gu Family’s situation from Dongmei and others.
"You say lately, they seem quite happy?" Bai Suihe asked Dongmei, "They haven’t been reclaiming land?"
Dongmei shook her head, "It’s odd. Everyone’s out in the fields working, but that family seems unconcerned.
The village chief sent someone to inform them, but they’re unhurried, claiming they’ll handle it later."
"People in the village wonder if they’ll start hiring help after finishing their fieldwork?
Some families say they wouldn’t dare take on Gu Family’s words; who knows if being too close wouldn’t bring trouble?"
Bai Suihe, "These folks are quite smart. That’s the point."
Dongmei giggled, "Miss, you’re mistaken. They’re not particularly smart; it’s the Chen Dafu wives gossiping about this in the village.
Due to this, Chen Family mingled extensively with many households and have integrated into village life first and foremost."
Bai Suihe understood their independent household at the village’s end. With so many from Bai Family arriving, despite being new, neither Tian Village residents nor nearby ruffians dared trouble them.
Gu Family already tightly knit, their population even rivaling original villagers; thus, compared to them, the village feared being overshadowed by Gu Family members over time.
Gu Baijiang’s side had troublemakers. Though Chen Dafu had other motives, he didn’t get too close either, living nearby to keep watch but without intimacy, fearing involvement.
As for Zhou Family and other houses, Chen Dafu didn’t bother with them. Their best move was quickly integrating, using the natives as their shortcut.
Sending family women out to chat could diminish defensiveness; domestic matters became their priority.
Recently, without many events, Gu Family happenings stirred realization in them. Just as they’d hoped, villagers asked endlessly about Gu Family’s affairs.
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