Chapter 324: Visiting the House
Chapter 324: Chapter 324: Visiting the House
"What did you say?" Kai Yuan laughed angrily, "Asking me for support money?"
"Shouldn’t that be expected?" Kai Chen puffed up his chest confidently, not expecting his luck to be so good today—he hadn’t even reached the village’s edge when he bumped into Gu Kai Yuan coming down the mountain.
He looked disdainfully at him, covered in mud. The Bai Family is so wealthy, yet even having so many servants sent over, Gu Kai Yuan still has to do these menial tasks himself. It seems that living off someone else isn’t so easy after all.
"No matter how wrong our parents were, they did give birth to and raise you. Even though you were adopted elsewhere, you can’t sever that bond, can you?"
Gu Kai Yuan didn’t expect after all this time that the Gu Family would finally bring up this issue.
"It’s only right. I’ll arrange for someone to send over the support money later."
"You can just give it to me now," Kai Chen, not expecting to actually get something, became a little excited. The Bai Family is so wealthy; it seems this trip will be profitable.
Gu Kai Yuan took out half a tael of broken silver from his pocket. "I asked around the village before; a son who has separated from the family has to show respect and give annual gifts. I’m adopted out, but I’m not quibbling with you about this. Like you said, I was raised by our parents, so let’s count me as a son who has left the family home."
"Just this half tael of broken silver?" Kai Chen found it unbelievable, "Are you giving this to beggars?"
Gu Kai Yuan looked shocked, "Do you give beggars such large sums?
When did this start happening? I’ll have to talk to Big Brother about how generous you’ve become."
"Stop casting dirt on me," Kai Chen took a deep breath. Gu Kai Yuan was becoming more and more outrageous. "What do I mean? Don’t you get it? This amount is too little."
"Is that what you mean," Gu Kai Yuan fiddled with the silver piece in his hand, "but that’s really not little. Why don’t you ask around? Ordinary families at most give copper coins or a small chunk of meat. I’ve already been quite generous."
"Third Brother, you didn’t used to be so cunning. Did you learn this from the Bai Family?
Don’t forget, no matter what, you’re still a Gu Family descendant. Don’t be fooled by a woman.
If you’re willing to help us now, help us get through this difficult time, our family won’t treat you poorly in the future."
Gu Kai Yuan looked up at the sky; it was gray, probably about to rain again, "This is it. Take it or leave it."
Just as self-assured as ever. When has the Gu Family ever favored him?
"Aren’t you afraid of being criticized by others?" Saying this, he quickly snatched the silver with his hand.
Gu Kai Yuan turned and left immediately. The Gu Family was becoming more and more disappointing...
Gu An Tong, who chased after him, "..." did Second Uncle just get brushed off like that?
Kai Chen was just thinking about how to complain upon returning when he noticed the family’s three children standing there staring at him.
He forced an awkward smile, "You three, why are you here?"
"Dad, I just saw Third Uncle give you some silver."
"Well, just this little bit of broken silver," Kai Chen opened his hand, they had arrived just in time to serve as witnesses, "In your Third Uncle’s eyes, this is all we’re worth."
"..." Are they really worth so little?
Gu An Tong, "Second Uncle, you’ll surely get scolded when you get back."
Kai Chen stiffened his neck, "Why should I get scolded again?"
"For such a bit of silver, Third Uncle is disrespecting us. You shouldn’t have taken it. Wait and see if Grandfather scolds you."
Kai Chen, "I just thought that even mosquitoes are meat, and besides, with this half tael of silver, one can buy some pastries and snacks..."
He regretted it, looking helplessly at Gu An Tong and the others for support, "You have to testify for me in this matter. This was forced on me by your Third Uncle; I couldn’t exactly refuse it."
Gu An Tong and her siblings, "..."
The four of them returned home downhearted, noticing that no one paid them any attention, each attending to their affairs.
Kai Chen was the first who couldn’t hold it in, bringing up the matter of Gu Kai Yuan giving him silver. Everyone only looked at him coldly; it was expected, yet also unexpected.
They thought this time Kai Chen would return empty-handed again, but he did manage to get some silver. Still, compared to his wealth, what is this?
Gu Baijiang remained silent, went to the kitchen, picked up a jug of wine, and headed straight for the village entrance.
People assumed he was going to find Ming Peifeng, not much thought was given until he turned into Gu Li’s house instead.
That day, Gu Baijiang came home drunk, followed by a long silence.
Even Xu Shuanghong’s attempts to please him were ignored.
Early the next morning, he went out again.
This time, he didn’t hide anything. Everyone knew he went to the Clan Leader’s house, out after about fifteen minutes.
The Gu Family tried to find out what he was doing, but no one got any information from him.
Everyone knew about the relationship between the clan members and their family, so no one wanted to invite trouble. The matter was treated as a mere episode.
Yet that afternoon, Gu Li came with a few sons to find Gu Kai Yuan, directly handing him a document.
Gu Kai Yuan glanced at it, somewhat shocked, "Grandfather, how did this come about?"
Gu Li, "Your father may have many faults, but he at least listens to reason."
Gu Kai Yuan didn’t interrupt, quietly listening.
Gu Li was pleased with his attitude, finding him steady enough, "Yesterday he came over, first venting angrily, accusing you of all sorts of unfilial behaviors."
Gu Kai Yuan’s lips curled in a mocking smile, but he said nothing. Being unfilial is unfilial. He felt he repaid his debt, and in his past life, it was already cleared.
In this life, he’s here to repay; what he owes is to his wife and children.
"I didn’t really want to pay him any attention, but he clung to me persistently, in the end, I couldn’t bear it and scolded him a few times.
For some reason, at one point he broke down crying.
I took the opportunity to ask him if he had aligned with the Third Prince. He didn’t hide it, admitting it straight away.
At the time, I hit him a few times with a stick; he didn’t resist, saying he did nothing wrong, insisting this was for earning the family a future.
I asked him what if he failed, would he drag everyone to hell?"
Thinking of yesterday, Gu Li still felt he had a narrow escape, witnessing such ugly sobbing faces—disgraceful to behold.
With his expression, Gu Li had no appetite for dinner, missing mealtime and genuinely feeling unable to eat.
Gu Kai Yuan thought it’s truly puzzling; did Gu Baijiang become so honest?
His aim surely was to first win sympathy, hoping to garner favors from Grandfather and the clan.
"After a long silence, he finally sighed, saying that wealth is sought amid risks; he thought he was doing it for the descendants."
Gu Kai Yuan, "..." So well-spoken.
Gu Li, "Then I asked him if he had considered preserving the family’s legacy."