Chapter 516 - 517: Settling Accounts
Chapter 516: Chapter 517: Settling Accounts
"Mr. He, this is a misunderstanding," Gu Baimu said, bracing himself as he stepped forward. "I am the Clan Leader of the Gu family, and also Gu Kaiping’s elder.
"Because of some trivial matters within the clan, we want Gu Kaiping to come back and clarify things. I hope you can do us a favor and allow this."
He Guangtian raised an eyebrow at them, then turned to ask Gu Kaiping, "Is what he says true?"
Gu Kaiping felt a wave of bitterness. "What the Clan Leader said is entirely true." Many of the people here were his elders. He couldn’t refute them; otherwise, if they piled accusations of unfilial behavior on him, he probably wouldn’t even be able to keep this minor clerk position.
"Since it’s your private matter, find a place to sit down and talk it out properly. You must not resort to violence." He Guangtian couldn’t intervene in clan affairs, but he also needed to protect Gu Kaiping, so he could only instruct, "Gu Kaiping, we still have to travel tomorrow. Explain things quickly and come back early. Don’t delay our schedule, or none of you will be able to bear the consequences."
Gu Kaiping was incredibly grateful to He Guangtian. With that last sentence, no matter how much the Gu family hated him, they wouldn’t dare do anything drastic.
He was truly terrified now. His father had just dumped this mess on him. Knowing he came here for a livelihood and a future, his father still made him bring a few clansmen back. The place where he was taking up his post was not far from Zhang County either; this was purely asking for trouble. He didn’t even dare to imagine what he would face in the future. He only wanted to escape his current predicament as soon as possible.
Knowing that his life wasn’t in danger and he would at most face some harassment, Gu Kaiping simply followed them toward the city gates.
Just outside the city gates, after walking a fair distance, the Gu family finally came to a halt. Back in the county town, they were afraid of drawing the attention of noblemen or causing a bad scene, but it was different out here. They completely surrounded Gu Kaiping. Their intentions were obvious: they demanded an explanation today.
Gu Kaiping let out a long sigh. He had neither money nor land—what kind of explanation could he possibly give? He had told them to go find Gu Kaiyuan, but they refused. Well, then they could all continue to be poor together. Facing so many hostile glares, he knew that if he didn’t speak up, he might not lose his life, but he would definitely suffer a harsh beating.
"Elders and clansmen, it’s really not that I don’t want to help you, but my current circumstances simply don’t allow it.
"What do you think about this? How about you go look for Kaiyuan..."
"Kaiyuan?" a clansman sneered. "Things ended so bitterly back then. Do you think we’re idiots? If we go to him now, we’d just be inviting humiliation. Don’t ever bring this up again."
Gu Kaiyuan had so many servants and guards around him now, and he knew so many nobles in the county town. Was he someone they could afford to offend?
"Then how about you go to Shangjing? You all know my father is the one who calls the shots in the family."
Gu Kaiping actually preferred this option. Anyway, his father and the others didn’t have to worry about food or drink in Shangjing, as the Third Prince was covering all the expenses for the Gu Mansion. Didn’t these people always want to live like the upper crust? If they went there, it would be perfect. They could just be kept in the back courtyard and wouldn’t be staring him down for money anymore.
"Heh, go back to Shangjing?" A few young men who had just returned from Shangjing snorted coldly. "We have no desire to be locked up in that back courtyard again. They tossed us table scraps every day, and we still had to act eternally grateful."
Although this was a bit of an exaggeration, the Gu Mansion hadn’t treated them well at all. Their meals were probably worse than what the servants ate.
"Then there is only a third option left," Gu Kaiping sighed. "Everyone is struggling right now, and my family truly has no way to compensate so many people. Why don’t you just settle down and live here for now? Rest assured, as soon as I gain some power, I’ll figure out a way to open up some positions for you in the neighboring county."
"Listen, Gu Kaiping, do you really take us for fools?
"You’re only going to be a petty clerk, yet you dare to make such promises." Among the crowd, there were bound to be a few quick-witted ones who immediately caught his loophole. "There are so many households here. Who will you arrange jobs for, and who will you leave out?
"Besides, we traveled all the way back together and saw that Mr. He doesn’t seem very satisfied with you either. Where do you get the ability to make such bold claims? You’re going to lift us all up?"
"Yeah! We’ve already been burned once. You want us to fall for it again?"
"You and your father are cut from the same cloth! You feed us pipe dreams every day. If you’re so capable, arrange jobs for us right now. Otherwise, save your empty talk!"
Upon hearing this, the crowd became rowdy again. They pointed fingers in Gu Kaiping’s face and cursed him, calling him a scoundrel for daring to scam his own clansmen so terribly.
Gu Kaiping brazenly threw his hands up. "This won’t work, that won’t work, so what do you want me to do? Even if you skin me alive, I still can’t produce any silver right now."
He now felt that the helpless attitude the second son usually adopted was pretty great. Seeing the flustered, at-a-loss expressions on these people’s faces gave him an instant rush of satisfaction.
The Gu family truly didn’t know what to do, but they were unwilling to swallow such a massive loss. If Gu Baijiang hadn’t made that promise earlier, they might have honestly stuck to farming, and they’d be having a harvest soon. But so much time had already been wasted. Even if they wanted to plant crops now, they would have to wait until the next season. How were they supposed to survive until then? Keep living off wild herbs?
"How much silver do you have on you right now?" Gu Baimu had no choice but to settle for the next best thing and secure some immediate benefits first.
Gu Kaiping replied, "I only have five taels of silver. Plus, I have to settle in as soon as I arrive at my post, so I can’t spare a single copper coin."
"You’re lying! When you came out, Gu Baijiang clearly gave you a one-hundred-tael silver note." A few of the clansmen who had traveled with him started doing the math on the spot. They quickly reached a conclusion. "You must have at least fifty taels of silver left on you! You dare lie to our faces? Do you really think we’re that easy to bully?"
One of the clansmen couldn’t hold back and stepped forward to kick him. This instantly uncorked the resentment in everyone’s hearts. Those nearby began throwing punches and kicks. Before Gu Kaiping could even react, a severe beating rained down on him. He could only squat in the center, helplessly clutching his head.
In the end, it was Gu Baimu who intervened and stopped them, fearing things would get out of hand. "If beating people up could solve the problem, I would have led you to thrash their entire family long ago. Don’t forget, I promised Mr. He earlier that we wouldn’t cause trouble for ourselves."
Only then did the crowd stop, but they all continued to glare at Gu Kaiping with hostility. They absolutely had to get an answer today. At the same time, they figured fifty taels would do. Every little bit counts; if divided among the households, it would help them hold out for another month or so.
"Hand over the silver!" someone shouted, and everyone immediately joined in the chant.
Aching all over, Gu Kaiping no longer had the courage to butt heads with these furious clansmen. Trembling, he pulled the silver note from his chest. "It’s all here."