Chapter 973: Chapter 973: Choice
By evening, Jiang Youzhi came to pick up Yun Jiao to go home and stayed for dinner at the Gu Family.
During dinner, Jiang Youzhi asked Gu Chuan, "You mentioned you wanted an outpost role; you have two places to choose from: Yongshun County in Jiangnan or Jinyang County in the southern borderlands."
Gu Chuan almost instantly replied, "I choose Jinyang County in the southern borderlands."
Jiang Youzhi raised an eyebrow, "Why? The conditions in the southern borderlands are very tough. The people there are not as civilized as here and it’s far less prosperous than Jiangnan. It’s certainly not a good place to be."
Gu Chuan thought for a moment, "Precisely because of that, I want to go there."
"I know Jiangnan is prosperous. Spending a few years there, it’s easy to gain some achievements. With my brother-in-law in the court, I can quickly ascend from magistrate to higher positions, later returning to the Capital City to continue my career."
He paused and continued, "But I find no meaning in that."
"I’ve traveled extensively for two years and seen too much of the people’s suffering. I want to go to harsh places, firstly to truly do something for the people, and secondly as a form of self-training."
He added with some embarrassment, "I also don’t want to rely on my brother-in-law for everything."
Jiang Youzhi slowly smiled, "Not bad. It’s commendable that you have such thoughts. Your brother-in-law supports you."
Gu Chuan looked at Gu Yuheng, "Father, will you oppose my going to the southern borderlands?"
Gu Yuheng knew something of the harsh conditions in the southern borderlands. He wasn’t without concern. However, despite his worries, he was willing to support his son’s aspirations.
Gu Yuheng nodded, "Father supports you too. With Aunt Hua and your sister at home, you can go and pursue what you wish to do without worry."
Although Jiang Youzhi had told Gu Chuan in advance, the arrangement from the Ministry of Personnel had not yet been finalized. Gu Yuheng decided to take Aunt Hua and Gu Chuan back home to pay respects to the ancestors and add Aunt Hua’s name to the family registry.
Yun Jiao did not go with them this time. Ancestor worship had nothing to do with her as a married daughter.
After ten days, Gu Yuheng and the others returned from the countryside.
On the second day back, Gu Chuan pulled Yun Jiao aside and, after holding back for a while, suddenly blurted out, "I saw her when I went back."
"Who?" Yun Jiao realized as soon as she spoke; "she" was definitely their mother.
Gu Chuan lowered his head, "She’s not living well now."
"For some reason, seeing her like that both relieved my resentment and made me feel deeply uncomfortable."
During this trip back, Gu Chuan overheard Second Aunt mentioning that Li was not doing well.
Gu Chuan kept this from his father, sneaked to Er Gui’s house, and watched from outside the courtyard for a long time.
He saw Li wearing a cloth robe of indistinguishable color, with an apron tied around her waist, her hair in disarray, her face sallow and thin, with wrinkles across her brows and mouth, no longer the beauty of the past.
Li was in her forties now. After leaving a life of comfort, she quickly aged beyond recognition due to daily toil.
Gu Chuan saw her skillfully feeding chickens with a food basin.
After feeding the chickens, she brought out a wooden basin and sat at the door to wash clothes.
Meanwhile, her two sons, sired by Li, were running around in the courtyard with runny noses, playing and bickering.
Soon after, Er Gui finished his farm work and returned home. Gu Chuan ducked behind a large tree and heard Er Gui’s scolds, "Why haven’t you cooked yet? Do you want to starve me to death?"
The daughter Er Gui had before was already married off, leaving all the housework to Li now.
Cooking, washing clothes, feeding pigs and chickens, all of it was her responsibility.
