Chapter 431: Chapter 432: A Rotten Conscience

Gu Datian had been bottling up his anger the entire journey. He hadn’t wanted others on the road to laugh at them, but now that it was just their own family in the inn, it was the perfect opportunity to set things straight.

"Your two older brothers-in-law, every busy farming season, they would drop their own work to come over and bustle about helping you.

For every little thing at home, whenever you ran into trouble, didn’t you always go to them for help?

By rights, you should have personally made a trip to their home today to offer your condolences.

Now, upon hearing this terrible news, it’s one thing not to be sad, but to actually speak such vicious words... When did your character become so rotten?"

The Gu family members exchanged glances. ’Actually, he’s never been a good person.’

"It just slipped out," Gu Dashishi said, but seeing so many disapproving gazes, he changed what he was about to say.

"Slipped out? I’d say you have a rotten conscience! With a character like yours, I’ll be sure to report this to the clan when we get back. We can’t keep blindly indulging you just because you’re Seventh’s biological father." To Gu Datian, such vicious words could not simply ’slip out’.

"Mrs. Li has never treated you poorly since the day she married you. On the contrary, what have you done these past few years? Don’t you know full well yourself?

Now her brothers have passed away, and instead of thinking of going to offer your condolences, you’re here making snide remarks.

I see you’ve rested well enough at the inn today. Hurry up and finish your meal, then go to Li Family Village at once to stand vigil."

Fearing Gu Dashishi would cause trouble there, he added, speaking to Luo Gang, "You will accompany him the entire time. If he does or says anything else out of line, write it all down.

When we return to Fu County, we’ll settle this with him according to the clan rules."

The moment Gu Dashishi thought of his youngest son being expelled from the clan, he could only grit his teeth and swallow his dissatisfaction, no matter how much of it he felt.

He couldn’t be sure about other things, but if he dared to cause trouble at his brothers-in-law’s home, that madwoman Li Cuicui would surely make him pay for it a hundred, even a thousand times over when he returned.

Thinking of the Silver Taels he had spent on this journey, he felt the last few copper coins in his pouch and actually held his hand out to Gu Yi. "Nephew, your uncle has run out of Silver. I won’t be able to offer a gift when I go over later. How about you give me some?"

Gu Yi replied, "I can make the decision to lend you some, Uncle. How much do you plan to give for the condolences? I’ll give it to Luo Gang for you later."

The moment he said this, Gu Dashishi’s expression changed.

How could Gu Datian and the others not know what Gu Dashishi was thinking? He had asked Gu Yi to "give" him the money, completely treating the Silver in Gu Yi’s hands as his own property.

Gu Yi’s use of the word "lend," and his refusal to let the Silver pass through his uncle’s hands, made his stance perfectly clear.

"Hurry up and get ready. You won’t need to worry about our affairs here for the next few days. We’ll pick an auspicious day for travel and inform you then." Gu Datian gave Gu Dashishi no chance to speak, immediately sending him away.

Gu Dashishi knew all along this journey that these family members had no respect for him. He was furious, but he was also helpless against them. After all, whose fault was it that his own unfilial sons never took his side?

***

Jin Qianqian packed her bags, bid farewell to several families she knew well, and finally returned to Fu County just before the first snow.

Sitting in her familiar courtyard, Jin Qianqian felt an unprecedented sense of relaxation. This was the home she had built from the ground up, and every single part of it was perfectly to her liking.

"Madam, the County Magistrate’s Wife and the wives of several other prominent families have sent over their calling cards. Which day should we schedule to invite them over?" Liu Qingmei asked, walking in with a thick stack of said cards.

"Let’s make it the day after tomorrow," Jin Qianqian said. "Tomorrow, I’ll make a trip back to Gaoling Village first."

’This return trip was rather sudden, so the family probably hasn’t received word yet. However, we made such a grand entrance into the city today that the Gu Family members who deliver goods here every day have likely already heard the news.’

She guessed exactly right. At that very moment in Gaoling Village, the entire Gu Family had gathered at Li Cuicui’s home.

"Why did Seventh’s wife come back so suddenly? Mother, did you hear her mention anything about it when you were in Shangjing?" Gu Yuanjin asked worriedly. ’It hasn’t been that long... could something have gone wrong?’

Li Cuicui was worried as well. "I didn’t hear a thing while I was there, aside from some harmless gossip. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

It’s late now, and the city gates are probably closed. First thing tomorrow morning, you all need to send someone to find out what’s going on."

Wang Caiyue covered her mouth. "Seventh and the others didn’t offend someone they shouldn’t have, did they? I’ve heard that Capital Officials are easily demoted.

Seventh is just a boy from a farming family; people don’t take him seriously. Getting rid of him would be as easy as lifting a finger for someone powerful.

Right, and what about that... guilt by association thing? We won’t be implicated because of him, will we?"

Li Cuicui slapped her right then and there. "You really need to wash that filthy mouth out! If you can’t say anything nice, then don’t say anything at all!"

Seeing the color drain from her daughters-in-law’s faces, Li Cuicui said through gritted teeth, "If you’re so scared, I’ll go find Scholar Zhou right now and get a bill of divorcement for each of you. It’ll save you the trouble of stirring things up here."

Xie Ruyi quickly steadied Li Cuicui. "Mother, we didn’t mean that at all. Besides, we don’t even know why she’s back yet. We’re just making ourselves anxious for no reason.

I’ll have one of our servants run to the city gate and wait. The moment the gates open tomorrow morning, I’ll have him ask what’s going on. Please don’t get so worked up."

Biting her lip, Liu Liu took Li Cuicui’s other arm. "Maybe our sister-in-law just came back temporarily because of some business at the workshops. We shouldn’t make wild guesses and scare ourselves."

As she said this, she was trying not only to convince the others, but herself as well.

Having been slapped in front of so many people, Wang Caiyue felt incredibly wronged. "Go on, keep deluding yourselves! Do you really think being a Capital Official is so easy?

During our time in Shangjing, we constantly heard about officials being demoted. Even the great Prime Minister himself was demoted to a minor post as a small official at the city gate.

I was just giving you a well-intentioned warning so you could prepare yourselves, but I see you’d rather just keep daydreaming. You’ll all be crying soon enough!"

Gu Yuanmu dragged her straight out the door. "If you don’t know how to talk, then just stay at home! Do you enjoy coming here and stirring up trouble all day?"

"You useless bum! Who do you think I’m doing all this for?"

"Aren’t you just doing it for yourself?" Gu Yuanmu shot back. "You just want something bad to happen to Seventh and the others. Have you forgotten that your own eldest son is still in Shangjing? If something happens to them, do you really think your son will be able to get away unscathed?

But you? Have you given him a single thought?"

Wang Caiyue faltered. "...It’s not like I’m the one who made him go. He’s completely bewitched by that orphan girl from the Xu Family. He’s already forgotten all about us, his parents, so why should I worry about him?"

Gu Yuanmu stared at her for a long time. "You truly are a heartless woman. Get out."

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