Chapter 724 - 726: To Enjoy the Good Life
Chapter 724: Chapter 726: To Enjoy the Good Life
"You’re the only one playing the saint," He Lu said resentfully. "Yu Laoda takes that kid into the city every time. I refuse to believe he hasn’t been given some under-the-table perks."
This was exactly what they found most grating. Even though they didn’t go into the city themselves, they knew there had to be some private benefits involved. Even if he wasn’t given any silver coins, going to the city would at least improve his meals sometimes—maybe by buying a couple of steamed buns or flatbreads. Just this alone was enough to make them green with envy. How could they possibly feel it was fair?
"You can’t just spout nonsense like that," Mu Xi said, looking at Yu Laoda as he walked ahead of them. "Why does Yu Laoda take Le Tian into the city? Do you guys really have no idea? If you all just focused on working and kept your mouths shut like Le Tian, Yu Laoda would take you too."
"You’re always playing the good guy," Tian Laimi sneered, not wanting to let the matter drop. He shouted toward the front of the group, "Yu Laoda, how come we haven’t seen Le Tian? Did that brat find an excuse to slack off?"
Yu Laoda was already in a bad mood, and being asked this question only made him more impatient. He turned his head and shouted back, "Le Tian won’t be coming up the mountain with us anymore. He’s gone off to live a good life."
As soon as these words came out, the entire group erupted in a frenzy.
"Yu Laoda, what do you mean by that?"
"Didn’t he follow you down the mountain the other day to boil water? Was he favored by those noblemen from the city and taken away?"
"I bet that’s it. It’s only been an hour or so. Who else but those noblemen could take him away to live a good life?"
"Stop making blind guesses. He found his family," Yu Laoda said. "His biological uncle is a high-ranking official. Why would he still mix around with the likes of us?" After he finished speaking, even he realized his words sounded a bit sour.
"Is that true?"
"When have I ever lied to you?" Yu Laoda glared at the man who spoke. "His biological uncle is a third-rank official! The only reason we even have land to farm right now is all thanks to him. From now on, we are from two entirely different worlds."
"So he just left like that?" He Lu ran forward a few steps. "That’s completely heartless. For better or worse, we’ve lived together for so long. Yet here he is, dusting off his hands and leaving to enjoy a life of luxury while tossing the rest of us aside."
"What else was he supposed to do? Take you with him? Take you to do what? Force him to keep doing your chores for you?
"He just reunited with his uncle, not his biological father. Who knows what his situation will be like when he goes back? It’s one thing that you can’t help him out, but you actually expect to reap benefits from him? Who do you think you are?" Yu Laoda vented all his pent-up frustration right in He Lu’s face.
"Even if he ignores the rest of us, Yu Laoda, you were the one who brought him back years ago," He Lu argued. "Otherwise, who knows what miserable state he’d be in right now. Did he really not show you any token of appreciation?"
Seeing the suspicious looks from his subordinates, how could Yu Laoda not know what they were thinking?
"He was just recognized by his family. Don’t you guys know exactly how many copper coins he has on him?
"If you don’t believe me, feel free to go ask Boss Wu and Boss Xie. They were both there at the time."
Mu Xi chimed in, "Honestly, this isn’t a bad thing. Haven’t you guys always disliked Le Tian? Now that he’s gone, you won’t have to constantly keep an eye on him..."
"You really are a Mudou. You helped him out so much in the past, yet he just dusted off his hands and left without even saying goodbye to you. And here you are, still speaking up for him." He Lu turned to Mu Xi. "Why don’t you chase after him right now? You might just be able to squeeze some benefits out of him."
Yu Laoda reached out and grabbed Mu Xi’s clenched fist.
"Stop arguing. It’s completely normal for Le Tian to leave after finding his family. If you guys want to go back to your own homes, you’re free to go too!
"I remember some of you actually have relatives in the neighboring villages. If you want to leave, I won’t stop you."
At this, everyone fell silent. If those relatives had been willing to take them in, they wouldn’t have been reduced to this state in the first place.
Seeing that he had finally suppressed their complaints, Yu Laoda sighed. "Let’s hurry up and check the traps. Those noblemen won’t be staying here for long. We need to seize this opportunity to earn more silver. That’s what really matters."
The crowd stopped talking, but their hearts were still filled with a lingering sense of unfairness. Their footsteps felt especially heavy as they trudged along the mountain path.
Mu Xi looked down at the straw sandals on his feet, which were on the verge of falling apart. Shaking his head, he quickened his pace to catch up.
「Meanwhile.」
After Gu Wenheng finished dealing with the matters at the government office, he finally had someone call for Gu Letian.
Gu Letian had felt like his head was in the clouds all day. He never expected that his family would undergo such massive changes in the few years he had been away.
Fortunately, his younger cousins had great personalities. They had taken him to buy new clothes, completely outfitting him from head to toe. Standing among them, he no longer stuck out like a sore thumb.
Upon seeing Gu Wenheng, he nervously called out, "Seventh Uncle," and stood obediently to the side.
Gu Wenheng pointed to the seat next to him and said, "Sit down and talk."
Gu Letian carefully sat down beside him, feeling his back stiffen completely straight.
"You’ve suffered out there these past few years," Gu Wenheng said. Even without asking around, he knew that falling in with mountain bandits was an absolute last resort when one could no longer survive otherwise. "For the next few days, just stay by your brothers’ sides. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to tell them."
Gu Letian nodded. "Seventh Uncle, can I make one more trip back to the village?"
Gu Wenheng looked at him without asking why.
Gu Letian spoke with a look of shame. "I’d like to borrow some silver from you, Seventh Uncle."
"Is it to pay off an outside debt?" Gu Wenheng paused.
Gu Letian quickly waved his hands to explain.
"No, no. I was brought back by Yu Laoda, and he’s taken care of me all these years. Plus, a few of the brothers under him are pretty decent and have always helped me out.
"Since I’m leaving, I want to leave some silver for them as a way to repay their kindness for looking after me all these years."
Gu Letian had already recovered his calm from the initial excitement of reuniting with his family. He felt that his departure had been too hasty. After spending years together, he wasn’t completely devoid of emotion toward them. Now that he was about to face a better life, he wanted to give those men a helping hand.
Gu Wenheng traced the rim of the teacup on the table and asked, "How much do you need?"
"Would five taels of silver be alright?" Gu Letian said cautiously. "I want to buy some grain to take back to them so they can hold out a bit longer."
He had asked his other cousins about it and knew that their family was now considered wealthy in the village. That was the only reason he dared to make such a request.
Gu Wenheng shook his head. Gu Letian felt a bit disappointed but still opened his mouth to say, "It’s fine..."
"Five taels of silver is too little. It won’t buy much grain.
"Since they showed you kindness, our family cannot leave it unrequited.
"I’ll have someone prepare fifty taels of silver for you later. Although it’s not a lot, it will be enough for them to safely make it through until next year’s autumn harvest."
To Gu Letian, this seemed like an astronomical sum of silver. He immediately waved his hands in panic. "No, you don’t need to give that much. They usually hunt, so they can subsidize their food somewhat."