Chapter 1392: Chapter 1392: Heart Set on Someone

Brother Cheng listened and nodded repeatedly: "That’s right, my brother is correct, so you shouldn’t take it out on me anymore. I’m not your brother and I have never harmed you."

Brother Cheng felt terribly wronged. Because Young Master Dou had been wronged by his brother and stepmother, he was disliked by Young Master Dou, who often reprimanded and pinched him. Thinking about it made him feel aggrieved.

Hmph, Young Master Dou snorted coldly, turning his head towards the window. He was indeed venting his anger on Gu Jincheng, but couldn’t help it. Who asked his brother to be so vicious while the Gu Family Brothers were so close? It was irritating to watch!

Seeing this, Brother Cheng no longer bothered with Young Master Dou, continuing to eat his pastry. After finishing, he said, "Brother, I need water."

Gu Jin’an handed him a jug of water, which was kept warm on the stove, making it still hot when served. After drinking half a bowl, he felt quite comfortable.

Young Master Dou turned back, seeing Brother Cheng holding the bowl of water, frowned, and suddenly said: "Call me brother and let me hear."

Pfft, cough cough cough!

Brother Cheng was startled and choked on the water, coughing violently, and after he finished, he looked at Young Master Dou in horror: "You, are you crazy?"

He immediately put down the bowl, grabbed Gu Jin’an’s arm, afraid that the mad Young Master Dou might pounce on him and strangle him to death.

Young Master Dou’s face sank: "What do you mean? Do you know who I am? I’m one of Great Chu’s Imperial Merchants, the current head of the Dou Family. Allowing you to call me brother is showing you face, so don’t be disrespectful."

Brother Cheng: "I already have a brother, why should I call you brother? I won’t call you that."

Young Master Dou heard this and his face turned so dark it was unwatchable: "I finally wanted someone to call me brother, and you, this little brat, are unwilling. Do you know how many people wish to kneel and call me brother?!"

Brother Cheng: "Others are others, but I’m unwilling to call you that."

"You!" Young Master Dou was so angry, if it weren’t for Gu Jin’an and the Young Marquis, he would definitely have slapped Gu Jincheng.

Pointing at Brother Cheng, Young Master Dou said to Gu Jin’an: "Your brother wasn’t taught well, has no sense. Talking back to me at a time like this, you should be very aware of the losses you might suffer."

Gu Jin’an smiled and shook his head, pressing one hand on Brother Cheng’s head, said: "Go, call him brother."

Brother Cheng frowned and looked up at Gu Jin’an: "Why should I call him brother? ’Brother’ is a term for close kin, how can we randomly call outsiders brother? That makes it seem like randomly recognizing family."

Young Master Dou listened and felt a bit comforted... Gu Jincheng cared a lot about the term ’brother,’ showing that he valued family deeply and wasn’t someone who randomly claims kin for flattery.

Gu Jin’an saw Young Master Dou’s expression, leaned down and said to Brother Cheng: "Young Master Dou has helped our family a lot, his favor exceeds that of a business partner. Plus, he gets along well with big brother and your second brother-in-law, as his younger brother, you can call him brother."

As he spoke, he winked at Brother Cheng.

Brother Cheng saw it, pondered for a moment, then looked at Young Master Dou, and called: "Brother!"

Young Master Dou, estranged from Mrs. Dou Meng’s son, had never been called brother in all his years... And truth be told, it felt quite nice inside.

However, he maintained his composure, not even making a sound.

Gu Jin’an nudged Brother Cheng, and Brother Cheng called again: "Brother!"

The voice was childishly clear and happy, sounding very sincere, not perfunctory.

Young Master Dou then turned to look at Brother Cheng: "Hmm, you have good sense."

Brother Cheng scoffed internally; this Young Master Dou was really hard to please, even after calling him brother, he still had criticisms.

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However...

"Pay up!" Brother Cheng extended his hand, asking Young Master Dou for money.

Young Master Dou’s face darkened with anger: "You little rascal, you charge for calling someone brother!"

Brother Cheng chuckled: "It’s not me wanting to charge, it’s the custom. You always have to give a red envelope when someone calls, otherwise the custom is broken."

This made Young Master Dou speechless, glaring at Brother Cheng. After venting his anger for a while, he took out a silver note, placed it inside a red paper envelope, and handed it to Brother Cheng: "Be obedient in the future."

"Thank you, brother." Brother Cheng swiftly accepted the red envelope, his keen eye catching the thousand-tael silver note, quite a profit!

Young Master Dou watched Brother Cheng’s gleaming expression, both annoyed and amused, pointing at him, saying: "Gu Jin’an, you mentioned wanting him to pass official exams. See how he looks at silver like a little schemer."

Gu Jin’an laughed: "Passing exams doesn’t necessarily mean becoming an official, just giving him a title for protection. In the future, whatever he wants to do is up to him."

"Tsk, you really indulge him." Young Master Dou was speechless, but considering Gu Jincheng is the youngest son, having a talented brother like Gu Jin’an and a brother-in-law like the Young Marquis, whether he chooses to be an official or merchant, it would be feasible, so he remained silent and started discussing another matter with Gu Jin’an.

"Magistrate Xi will help catch Assistant Judge Jia because of Ming Shaoqing... He’s taken an interest in you, wanting to bring you into the Ming Family Party." Young Master Dou looked at Gu Jin’an, asking: "Have you heard of the Ming Family Party?"

Gu Jin’an nodded: "I’ve heard of it. From the Zhou Dynasty onwards, the Ming Family Party existed. When the situation looked bad at the end of the former dynasty, they began to retreat. But when Emperor Jingwu showed imperial potential, they emerged again, helping him to conquer."

The Ming Family had sent members to support Emperor Jingwu even before Great Chu was established, which is why they were highly valued by the Great Chu Royal Family.

The Ming Family Party refers to the collective term for officials appointed by the Ming Family.

"It’s good you know about the Ming Family Party. If you join, the party conflict is one thing, but more critically..." Young Master Dou gravely warned Gu Jin’an: "Ming Cong is not a good type. He is very ambitious, won’t always be content as a follower; you must be careful to avoid disaster for your family."

Not wanting to remain a follower means he desires to be a leader.

Young Master Dou had subtly told Gu Jin’an what Ming Cong wanted.

Gu Jin’an understood, nodding: "Rest assured, my greatest wish in life is to ensure my family’s safety and prosperity, secondly to marry my beloved, and thirdly to serve as an official for the people. Leaving a name in history or earning nobility for descendants do not matter to me much."

So he wouldn’t assist Ming Shaoqing to become the leader just for a title.

However...

"Sometimes being in this world means negotiating with the tiger."

Young Master Dou raised an eyebrow: "What do you mean? Are you trying to take advantage of him?"

That person is Ming Cong!

Gu Jin’an looked at Young Master Dou, smiled: "Our family has benefited from him this time."

Indeed, the advantage was already gained.

He further asked: "What about yourself? It’s said he’s found several noble ladies for you. Let me congratulate you in advance, you might soon achieve your dream."

Ming Shaoqing admired both him and Young Master Dou, knowing Young Master Dou wanted a noble lady as his official wife, he found several for him.

However...

"Why haven’t you agreed? Those families are prestigious, meeting your requirements. Could it be you already have feelings for someone?" Gu Jin’an asked, puzzled.

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