Chapter 354: Blocking the Road
Chapter 354: Chapter 354: Blocking the Road
Nanny Pang nodded in agreement. When she first arrived, she thought a few of the Gu Family members were reasonable, but who knew they were just a group of ingrates.
But since they have chosen to betray the master and madam, they no longer have any relationship with them, so this time she could just enjoy watching the commotion from the sidelines.
She even heard the noise and ran over with a few maids to join in the excitement.
"That old clan leader leaned on a cane, and it seemed that in just a few days, he had aged a lot.
At the time, he pointed at Gu Baijiang and asked why the previous promises weren’t fulfilled?"
"Gu Baijiang was a bit impatient at the time, probably also concerned about some reputation, so he got off the carriage and pulled the person aside."
Others might not hear what the two were saying, but Nanny Pang was not an ordinary person, she heard it clearly. "Gu Baijiang’s tone was not as flattering as before; it even carried some threats.
He retorted that if he wasn’t allowed to return to the capital, how could he fulfill the previous promises?
He needed to go back and settle things before he could bring everyone over.
He also mentioned that not everyone in his family had left. His step-wife and youngest son’s family were still here, so the Gu Clan Leader should trust him."
"The Gu Clan Leader was still somewhat hesitant, so Gu Baijiang added that he was serving the Third Prince, and if delayed, accountability would come down and the entire family would be annihilated."
Bai Suihe clicked her tongue, saying, "Having prospered once, he becomes arrogant again. I just hope this time he can fulfill his promises."
Nanny Pang nodded in agreement, indeed, it would be best if he could take all these eyesores away, so they wouldn’t always be staring over here.
It had been made so clear before, and their ties were severed, but as long as Gu Kaiyuan appeared in the village, the Gu Family members would always find ways to get close to him.
Everyone knew what their intentions were, nothing more than trying to hedge their bets and not wanting Gu Kaiyuan, the cash cow, to distance himself from them.
However, unknown to them, some moves once made are irrevocable.
"So are we just going to let them off this time?" Bai Suihe felt the Gu Family members were inherently bullying the weak and fearing the strong.
"What else can we do if we don’t let them off? Those people who came to fetch others looked fierce and threatening. Since ancient times, civilians never fought with officials. This time, I’m afraid the Gu Family members will suffer once more."
Despite saying this, Nanny Pang did not feel the slightest sympathy for them. Instead, there was a hint of schadenfreude in her tone.
After all, Gu Kaiyuan had already changed his household registration, and with the severance documents, even if the Gu Family matters were involved in the future, the impact wouldn’t be significant.
The people the master and servant spoke about were all gathered in Gu Li’s house at the moment.
"Clan Leader, how could you just let him leave like that?"
"He hasn’t even repaid the silver he owes us, has harmed us to such an extent, and without a word, just left like that?"
"Clan Leader, didn’t you say that when Gu Baijiang returned to the capital, he would settle us all? Is this what he calls settling us?"
"..."
Listening to these people criticizing him in various ways, Gu Li’s face grew more and more unsightly until he couldn’t help but slam the table with his stick to quiet them down. "Everyone, be quiet."
Once everyone was quiet, he scanned the room, "Don’t tell me all of this now. Why didn’t you stop him earlier?"
"If each of you is so capable, why didn’t you keep him here?"
"You are the Clan Leader..."
Someone mumbled, and when Gu Li looked over, these people all pretended as if nothing had happened.
Gu Li was angered into laughter, "I’m the Clan Leader? Is it me who decides everything for our entire Gu Family?
Ever since we were exiled, haven’t I been notifying you to discuss any matter?
All decisions were made together, but now you push everything onto me.
Earlier, everyone clearly went to block the road; why were only my boys rushing to the front then?"
As he spoke, Gu Baihe stood with his son and nephews in the front, and each bore whip marks, which made everyone fall silent.
"I believe I have done my utmost for the entire family. Even when you all agreed to be ungrateful and cut ties with Gu Kaiyuan, I went along with you. Now, the consequences we face are our retribution.
I believe my energy is now limited, and I can no longer manage the clan’s affairs. Please find someone more competent to take over as Clan Leader."
The originally indignant people were now somewhat dazed. Everything they had done was to try to make their lives better.
They were just small farmers from a mountain village and had been implicated to this point by Gu Baijiang. Gu Kaiyuan, as his son, was supposed to do more for them. How was it ungrateful?
But seeing the Clan Leader in this state, they dared not argue back. After all, they were attracted to Gu Baijiang’s terms, and in their view, even if Gu Kaiyuan quarreled with Gu Baijiang, they were still father and son.
At this time, some people were annoyed at Gu Kaiyuan’s unkindness. Clearly, he could live better with the Bai Family’s support and could lend a hand to the clan, yet he insisted on settling accounts so rigidly.
So someone proposed, "Why not still go find Gu Kaiyuan? After all, they’re father and son..."
Gu Li’s face turned pale, and he fell back on the ground.
Everyone suddenly panicked. Gu Baihe and his two younger brothers quickly carried him inside, then turned back with a cold expression to drive the crowd out, "Get out, all of you, my father said he can’t be the Clan Leader now, you go find someone more competent."
Then he turned to instruct his son, "Kaishan, hurry and find a doctor."
Gu Kaishan had a bitter expression, "Dad, there aren’t any doctors in the village; we have to send him to the city quickly."
Such a small mountain village? How could there possibly be a doctor?
"Then hurry..." Gu Baihe wanted to say, hurry to prepare the ox cart, but then realized that the ox cart Gu Kaiyuan had given them was also sold by the family, and the silver was split among them.
"Go borrow an ox cart from the village chief," he said, taking out a few copper coins from his pocket. "Fengyu, quickly get the blankets out and also prepare some dry food."
Liu Fengyu didn’t say a word and started working with her two sisters-in-law. Seeing the people still gathered in the courtyard, she also turned cold, "Are you happy now? From now on, you solve the clan’s matters yourselves."
The Gu Family members felt some guilt, knowing this was not fair to the Clan Leader. But they also had no choice; it was about surviving.
How could the Clan Leader not consider them more? After all, they were all one family.
"What should we do now?" Previously, Gu Li made all the decisions, but now they suddenly felt like they had no backbone, feeling particularly uneasy.
"Why don’t we elect another Clan Leader?" Some ambitious families, seeing a great opportunity, began to advocate for this.
And indeed, most people were persuaded.
Gu Li was now quite old, and it was indeed time for him to step down and let someone else lead.