Chapter 245: Chapter 246: Being Wary
Gu Yuanshui was considered the smartest of the brothers, and he had been mulling over this very problem for the past few days.
"Let’s wait a bit longer. With our current setup, it’s useless to think about these things now.
I asked Seventh before. We can hire people to help with manual labor, like moving and carrying things, but the critical steps, like adding the brine, can only be handled by us brothers.
If we get too busy, we can just stop and rest for a few days.
The longer we keep this recipe a secret, the more Silver Taels we can earn."
"That’s why Seventh specifically told us not to say a word, even if Mom and Dad ask." Gu Yuanhuo now had complete faith in Ancient Wen Heng. ’He must have his reasons for saying so.’
"Heh, Seventh is guarding against Dad," Gu Yuanshui said, lifting another sheet of tofu skin. "Don’t forget how biased Dad used to be, always wanting to give the best of everything to the youngest.
Just think, if he really found out, would the youngest not find out too?"
Gu Dashishi sat in the courtyard, cursing endlessly. "These are the fine sons you raised! Not a single one of them respects their own father!
I was just curious and asked a few questions, and even the fifth brother was hemming and hawing. Who is he guarding against? I’m their father! Would I actually harm them?"
Li Cuicui hadn’t wanted to pay him any mind. It wasn’t the first time he’d thrown a tantrum like this.
But now he was going too far, so she asked coldly, "Have our sons ever let you go hungry or without clothes?
You can search all the villages around here, who has it as easy as you?
Besides, aren’t all our sons working to build a family fortune for our descendants? Why can’t you just relax and enjoy your life as a rich old man?"
"So I can’t even ask a question now?" Gu Dashishi craned his neck. "You should have seen that little brat. The moment I started to ask, he ran off faster than a rabbit. I’m his father, not the plague."
"You’re only slightly better than the plague," Li Cuicui said with a sneer. "If you’re so bored sitting at home, then go take a look at the fields."
"I’ve worked the fields my whole life, what’s there to see? Where’s Old Six? How come I don’t see her again?"
"I sent her to give Dafa’s wife some salt," Li Cuicui replied.
"What’s wrong with Dafa? Does he even have to borrow salt?"
Li Cuicui shot him a look. "Or would you rather keep your daughter at home every day?"
Gu Dashishi finally understood. "Well, that’s good enough. Tell her to stop being so picky. Keeping a grown daughter at home all day... people laugh at me when I go out."
"Many of them are just after Seventh. I’ve turned them all down."
"Don’t turn them down anymore," Gu Dashishi said. "They all have the same idea. If you keep thinking like that, you’ll be keeping Old Six until she’s an old maid."
Li Cuicui sighed. "Let her be! As long as Old Six finds someone she likes, I won’t interfere anymore."
"Mother, you really won’t interfere?" Gu Yuanfeng walked in carrying a basket with two cucumbers on top, apparently a return gift from Dafa’s wife.
"Anyone but someone with the surname He. Marry whoever else you want," Li Cuicui said irritably.
Recently, that He fellow had been coming around even more often. A few times, his old mother even tried to come over to propose a match, but Li Cuicui had chased her away with a broom.
"I already told you, things were only bad before because we were poor."
"So they’re not poor now?" No longer wanting to deal with her brainless daughter, Li Cuicui turned and walked straight into the kitchen to help Granny Song with the fire.
"Dad, look at Mom!" Gu Yuanfeng turned to complain.
"Your mother is right," Gu Dashishi said. "Anyone is better than that He fellow.
If you don’t get married by the end of this month, I’ll arrange one for you myself.
It’ll save me the headache you cause me day in and day out."
But Gu Yuanfeng stomped her foot. "This is all Seventh’s fault! They said that if I marry into their family, I have to bring the tofu recipe with me.
I can’t even ask my brothers about it now, let alone get them to give me the recipe."
Gu Dashishi shot to his feet and, before Gu Yuanfeng could react, slapped her squarely across the face.
"Is that something you should be scheming for? They say a married daughter is like water splashed away. Are you trying to dig up the Gu family’s foundation just to curry favor for a few days?"
Gu Yuanfeng clutched her face as tears streamed down. "Why not? They are Seventh’s brothers, and I’m his own sister.
But ever since I came back from my divorce, has Seventh ever given me a kind look?
Now that something good has come along, he only thinks of them. What’s wrong with including me?
This is all because of you and Mom! If you had said something, Seventh wouldn’t dare to ignore me like this."
Li Cuicui listened quietly from the kitchen. She was sick of these days filled with endless drama.
She knew Gu Yuanfeng was still secretly entangled with the He Family, and this whole scene was undoubtedly connected to them.
"If you don’t want to stay here, then get out. I’m giving you two choices: either I pick someone for you to marry immediately, or you go back to the He Family and never set foot in this house again."
Gu Dashishi immediately nodded in agreement with Li Cuicui’s words. "Do it."
Gu Yuanfeng panicked. She didn’t want to choose either path. She couldn’t even imagine going back to the He Family empty-handed.
Sometimes, Li Cuicui really wanted to crack open her daughter’s head to see what was inside. Her sons were all smart; how did her daughter turn out like this?
This time, Li Cuicui didn’t give Gu Yuanfeng much time. The next day, seeing her still sitting complacently at home, she went out and settled the marriage arrangements just like that.
With his own sister remarrying, all the formalities were simplified, but as her brother, he still had to be notified.
When Ancient Wen Heng received the news, his first reaction wasn’t joy. Instead, he thought, ’Which unlucky fellow has taken on such a burden?
Taking a menace like that into their family... Is Mom sure she doesn’t hold a grudge against them?’
Jin Qianqian had the same thought. She was quite curious who the unlucky person was. Unfortunately, she was not yet three months pregnant, and Ancient Wen Heng didn’t want her to exhaust herself by going back.
"Are you sure she won’t cause a scene when she sees this gift?" Jin Qianqian glanced at it—just a few pieces of ordinary cotton cloth that someone had given them last time, and nothing else.
"I can’t exactly outdo my older brothers," Ancient Wen Heng said. "Besides, if I brought anything more lavish, I’d have to leave it for Mom."
"..."
「Two days later」
The moment Ancient Wen Heng walked through the door, Jin Qianqian blinked, staring at him intently.
"Is your curiosity really that strong?" Ancient Wen Heng took the water Qingzhu offered to wash his hands, then looked at Jin Qianqian with amusement.
"I’m not that interested in other people’s business. I just want to know which warrior had such courage.
Also, did Gu Yuanfeng cause any trouble? Or did she get married happily?"
Ancient Wen Heng shook his head. "So many questions. Which one should I answer first?"
Jin Qianqian actually gave it serious thought. "I’m still most curious about who had the courage to marry Gu Yuanfeng. Did the He Family not show up?"
