Chapter 800 - 802: Gu Yuanlei’s Side Story
Chapter 800: Chapter 802: Gu Yuanlei’s Side Story
Gu Yuanlei sat alone in the alley, reflecting on the past few years. He couldn’t understand why his perfectly good life had ended up like this.
On the road as refugees, he had merely taken a liking to Lan Ying. What was wrong with wanting to marry a wife?
His older brothers all had their own wives and children. They also argued with their parents, yet they still lived their lives just fine.
The Lan Family’s demands were a bit much, but it wasn’t as if his family lacked the means. Why couldn’t they just help him out?
If they wouldn’t help, so be it. At least cutting ties with his family didn’t do him any harm.
But he never expected that his previously quiet Brother Qi would suddenly achieve such massive success.
Passing the exams to become a Scholar, then a scholar, then the top scorer in the imperial examination, and constantly receiving promotions—these back-to-back pieces of news made his head spin.
The brothers of the Gu family were living better and better lives, but everyone seemed to have forgotten about him, their youngest brother.
"You’re sitting here slacking off again," Lan Ying scolded. She was carrying a basket, about to enter the door, when she saw his figure crouching at the entrance of the alley.
"I really don’t know what kind of bad luck I had to end up with a useless guy like you.
"You’re also a member of the Gu Family, but while they live vibrantly, we still have to rely on my maiden family to support us.
"It’s bad enough that you’re useless, but you could at least lend a hand around the house. I have to manage everything inside and out..."
Gu Yuanlei remained silent.
"Every time I scold you, you look like you’re dead! What kind of attitude is that? If you’re so capable, go to the Gu family!
"Their entire family is wealthy and influential, yet they left you out all by yourself. The more I look at you, the angrier I get."
After speaking, Lan Ying ignored him, pushed the door open, and carried her basket inside.
Gu Yuanlei stood frozen in place, his inner thoughts a mystery to anyone passing by. A moment later, a head poked out from the door and spoke to him rudely, "My mother told you to hurry up and fetch water. The vat is almost empty, can’t you see?"
Looking at the child who bore a striking resemblance to Lan Yun, Gu Yuanlei immediately put on an apologetic smile and said, "Tell your mother that Dad is going to fetch water right now."
The boy gave him a cold glance, turned around, and went back inside.
Gu Yuanlei was speechless.
After finally filling the water vat, Gu Yuanlei hadn’t even had time to rest before Lan Yongnan and Lan Yun came over.
After serving them tea and finally getting a moment to stop, Lan Yongnan, who hadn’t spoken to him in a long time, pointed to the stool opposite him and said, "Sit down. I have something to say to you."
Gu Yuanlei was extremely flattered. After all, Lan Yongnan hadn’t spoken to him in years.
"Mr. Lan, if you have any instructions, please don’t hesitate to ask. I have plenty of strength."
Usually, he handled all the heavy lifting for the Yue Family. Being called over this time meant he was definitely needed for some task.
Lan Yongnan stared at him for a long time before finally saying, "Did you know that your Brother Qi has returned?"
Lan Yongnan had always been dissatisfied with this son-in-law.
Back then, if they hadn’t been desperate to find a way out while fleeing famine, he would never have let his daughter end up with a man like this.
Moreover, this man was foolish enough not to maintain a good relationship with the Gu Family.
Otherwise, backed by the Gu family, the Lan Family would have long since become a prominent, wealthy household.
Gu Yuanlei was slightly dazed. Living in the same city, the most frequent discussion he heard was about what new promotion Old Seventh had received.
In the past, he used to tell others that he and Old Seventh were biological brothers, but it only earned him everyone’s mockery.
They would say that if he really was Mr. Gu’s brother, he would have long been a great lord. Why would he be here fighting with them over manual labor?
"Don’t just sit there zoning out," Lan Yongnan continued. "Even if you did something wrong in the past, so many years have gone by. No amount of resentment can completely sever the bond of brotherhood.
"When you go back, don’t just start demanding this and that. Just catch up with your older brothers, talk about the past. Relationships are built through interaction. If you visit a few more times, could they really shut you out every single time?"
Gu Yuanlei smiled bitterly. "Mr. Lan, didn’t you and Lan Yun go with me before? They didn’t acknowledge me at all. No matter how many times I go, I’d just be asking for humiliation."
"That’s exactly why you’re at fault," Lan Yun chimed in. "Old people always dote on their grandsons. Why don’t you bring Ping’an back with you? The child has grown so big, he can’t possibly have never met his grandparents, right?
"Even if it’s just for the child’s sake, would your brothers really throw him out?"
Gu Yuanlei thought, "Ping’an’s surname is Lan. Why would the Gu Family ever care about him?"
As if guessing what Gu Yuanlei was thinking, Lan Yun patted his shoulder and said, "Ping’an is recorded in the Lan Family’s genealogy book. But if you don’t say anything, are they really going to investigate it?
"Besides, if the Gu Family minds, the worst-case scenario is that we change the child’s surname and let him return to his ancestors’ roots.
"The reason we put the child in our genealogy book back then was because you were expelled from the Gu family. We couldn’t let the child be like you, a rootless wanderer!"
Gu Yuanlei was rendered speechless again.
"Don’t you want to think about your child’s future?" Lan Yun continued to persuade him when he saw Gu Yuanlei remain silent. "We’ve been sending Ping’an to school all these years, but he couldn’t even pass the exam to become a child student. It seems the child just isn’t cut out for the imperial exams.
"You can’t possibly want him to do manual labor with you in the future, right? Look at how many people in the Gu family have entered the government office to work as a small official. They even lift up their distant relatives, so they surely wouldn’t treat a biological nephew poorly, right?"
Hearing this, Gu Yuanlei was somewhat moved. It didn’t matter if his own life remained like this forever, but what about his child? He couldn’t let his son follow in his footsteps.
"As his grandfather and uncle, we can’t support you all for a lifetime," Lan Yongnan added, seeing that Gu Yuanlei was still hesitating. "We’re getting old now, and our income is gradually decreasing. It’s time for you to find a backup plan for yourselves."
Gu Yuanlei lowered his head deeply. Although he had also worked hard to earn Silver over the years, the amount he could bring in was ultimately limited. Most of their expenses were still subsidized by the Yue Family, making it truly impossible for him to hold his head high.
Lan Ying had brought Lan Ping’an over and sat down nearby at some unknown point. "You are the child’s father. Do you really want your son to suffer the same hardships as you in the future?"
Gu Yuanlei gritted his teeth and said, "I’ll go to Gaoling Village in a bit."
"Take the child with you too." Lan Ying pushed her son over to his side.
Lan Ping’an must have been instructed by his mother beforehand. He no longer looked at Gu Yuanlei with disdain like he usually did, but simply stood there unwillingly.
Seeing him like this, Lan Yun spoke up to correct him, "When the time comes, remember not to pull a long face. When you see your elders, you have to greet them with a smile and be sweet-tongued. Whether you can live a good life in the future all depends on this one visit."
"Uncle Yun, are you sure they’ll accept me just because I greet them with a smile?" Lan Ping’an asked.
"I ran into the Gu Family on the street once, and I even introduced myself to them, but those people immediately walked away to avoid me.
"Wouldn’t it be a huge loss of face if we try to cling to them again now?"
"How much is your face worth?" Lan Yongnan slapped the table and said. "If you can really return to the Gu family, you won’t have to worry about food or clothing for the rest of your life.
"Just look at your father’s cowardly state. He only earns a few copper coins a day and can’t even afford to put food on the table for our family, let alone pay for your future bride price when you get married."