Chapter 766 - 768: A Little Less Worry
Chapter 766: Chapter 768: A Little Less Worry
"Those boys are all pretty good," Gu Wenheng praised. "They are not afraid of hardship or exhaustion, and they have quite good temperaments. I suppose you already know that they all have their own prospects now.
"Since Gu Yi has now passed the imperial examination and become a Scholar, I want him to work by my side as a clerk."
Gu Shulin suddenly sat up straight. This was undoubtedly a great thing. "Will it have a negative impact on you?"
"I have many clerks around me. Gu Yi will have time to slowly adapt," Gu Wenheng said.
"But let me be blunt upfront. I have always been strict with my subordinates, and I won’t give him any special treatment."
"As you should be," Gu Shulin rubbed his hands together excitedly. Being able to follow Gu Wenheng, no matter what the tasks entailed, was an excellent opportunity for Gu Yi. If he could truly learn more skills, he would benefit endlessly in the future.
"However, my father has said that Gu Yi will have to go back and take over his position in the future. It’s fine for him to follow you and learn for a couple of years while he’s young, but after a long time, he still needs to be sent back to the family."
Gu Wenheng looked at Gu Shulin thoughtfully. "Uncle Shulin, haven’t you ever considered becoming the Clan Leader yourself?"
"That wouldn’t be appropriate. I’m already the Village Chief. Besides, we can’t yield the position of Village Chief of Gaoling Village to an outsider," Gu Shulin quickly waved his hands. "There are still so many people with different surnames in our village now. The authority to speak must not fall into others’ hands."
Gu Wenheng coughed lightly. "What about holding both positions concurrently?"
"...There is no such precedent..." Gu Shulin trailed off.
"...It doesn’t mean it’s impossible..." Gu Wenheng countered.
Gu Shulin sighed before continuing, "My energy is limited nowadays, after all. I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to manage both responsibilities.
"Gu Yi grew up by my father’s side, so he actually knows more about certain matters than I do.
"He really is the best candidate. Let him broaden his horizons in the outside world, and when the time comes, let him return."
Gu Wenheng smiled at him. "I heard that the Old Clan Leader even tried to persuade my fourth brother before?"
"Your fourth brother is as shrewd as a Monkey Spirit; he refused right on the spot. My father exhausted all his good words, but he still wouldn’t agree." Gu Shulin looked at Gu Wenheng. "However, if you were to persuade him, this might actually work out."
"You misunderstand, Uncle Shulin. My fourth brother really isn’t suitable," Gu Wenheng said. "What I mean is, since my fourth brother could be considered for the position of Clan Leader, why can’t we select someone else from the clan to assist?"
Gu Yi was so young; it would indeed be a pity for him to just go back and guard Gaoling Village. Even if he took over as Village Chief in the future, he could still gain more experience outside for a few years. Once his horizons were broadened, he would be better able to command respect.
Seeing that Gu Shulin was still lost in thought, Gu Wenheng drove the point home. "In the future, more and more scholars and capable individuals will emerge from Kao Mountain Village. With merely the status of a Scholar, Gu Yi might not necessarily be able to keep them in check."
Gu Shulin fell silent. They truly hadn’t thought of this point. The moment he considered the potential upheavals of the future, his expression turned grave.
"If a family wants to develop long-term, it’s impossible to rely solely on me," Gu Wenheng added.
"Many more people will emerge from Gaoling Village, so the person leading them from behind is very important.
"A century-old aristocratic family isn’t built on empty words. There are many things we still have to learn."
Now that Gu Wenheng had laid everything out so clearly, Gu Shulin completely understood. Gu Wenheng was indeed the Champion Scholar; he thought ten steps ahead for every step taken. He was far superior to old folks like them.
"I understand," Gu Shulin said with a rare sense of determination. He didn’t even mention going back to discuss it with the old man, finalizing the decision right then and there.
"I’ll leave Gu Yi in your care for the next few years, Wenheng. When I go back, I’ll scout for a few young men in the village. We’re getting older, so we can have them help out with some tasks."
Perhaps they could discover a few good seedlings among them, which would save Gu Yi a lot of trouble when he eventually returned.
`「Several days later.」`
Gu Yi’s wedding was held with great fanfare.
Jin Qianqian deliberately cleared out a courtyard facing the street in the backyard and opened a separate door there. Whether they wanted to enter and exit from within the estate or live completely independently, it would be very convenient.
Hou Tian’er’s dowry was exceptionally generous, with sixty-eight chests of dowry packed to the brim. When they saw the dowry list, Gu Shulin and his wife almost couldn’t stand steadily. By the time the bride served them tea, they lacked confidence completely.
It was only because Jin Qianqian helped hold the fort for them that they managed not to embarrass themselves in front of their new daughter-in-law.
"Aunt Dai Ling, you two don’t need to be so nervous. Now that the bride has married into the family, we are all one family," Jin Qianqian reassured them.
"As long as she and Gu Yi live well together, even without all that dowry, it’s still our blessing."
"It’s just too much," Dai Ling said. Even though she had mentally prepared herself, she still hadn’t fully recovered by the time her daughter-in-law entered the household. "I’m not afraid of you laughing at me. I’ve been used to poverty my whole life. Suddenly seeing such a massive fortune, it’s inevitable that I feel a bit overwhelmed.
"However, Tian’er is quite nice and doesn’t put on any airs of a young lady from an aristocratic family. We really have you and Wenheng to thank for helping out with this.
"Your Uncle Shulin and I will remember this favor. If there’s ever anything you need in the future, just give the word."
"You flatter me too much by saying that, Aunt Dai Ling." Jin Qianqian knew that the couple was in a hurry to rush back after the wedding. "It’s rare for family to visit, and I really want to keep you here for a while longer. Coming and going in such a rush, it’ll be lonely again once the excitement dies down."
Dai Ling was truly grateful to Gu Wenheng and his wife. "It can’t be helped; we still have the elders waiting at home.
"Gu Yi and his wife are still young, so we’ll have to trouble you to look after them in the future.
"If they do anything inappropriate, just scold them as you see fit. Don’t let them run wild."
"People become more steady after starting a family," Jin Qianqian said with a smile. Even if Dai Ling hadn’t asked, she and Gu Wenheng would still guide the young couple well. Gu Yi would undergo comprehensive learning by Gu Wenheng’s side, and as for Hou Tian’er, Jin Qianqian had already made arrangements.
After finally seeing Gu Shulin and his wife off politely, Jin Qianqian let out a sigh of relief.
"Aunt Dai Ling is too polite; I can barely handle it." Returning to her room, Jin Qianqian abandoned all elegance and collapsed onto the bed, rolling around. "Always thanking us over and over, and doing it every single day."
Gu Wenheng could understand that mindset. "She feels uneasy, always thinking that they owe us too much."
Whether it was arranging this marriage or managing the wedding, Jin Qianqian had invested a lot of effort, so she deserved these thanks.
"But we have our own motives too," Jin Qianqian exhaled a long breath. "At least we’re finally seeing some results. We’ll just have to see what happens in the future."
"In the future, you’ll still need to guide Mrs. Gu Hou more," Gu Wenheng said. "Although she appears composed, I estimate that the things she learned in her maiden home were quite limited."
Jin Qianqian thought of Mrs. Gu Hou’s etiquette, coupled with the complicated inner workings of the Hou Family’s estate, and said seriously, "Tomorrow Gu Yi will go with you to the government office, and I’ll have Mrs. Gu Hou stay by my side."