Chapter 503 - 441: Who Is It?
Chapter 503: Chapter 441: Who Is It?
Gu Shaoqin walked over to Tang Haocheng. "So this is where you were. I’ve been looking all over for you. There’s plenty of food in the living room, so what are you doing in the kitchen?"
"I don’t want any of that. I want the beef noodle soup and fresh rice noodle soup my sister is making."
"Manman’s in the kitchen? Then I want some too!"
Tang Haocheng grabbed him. "Don’t go. Your big brother is in there too. Let’s just wait here for the food, so we don’t get kicked out by him again."
Gu Shaoqin laughed. "No wonder you look so pissed. It’s because my big brother is with Manman. But why do you have to be like this? My brother doesn’t want anyone but Manman in this lifetime, and Manman is set on marrying him. Isn’t it a good thing they’re so in love? Why don’t you like it?"
"Just wait until Shaoying grows up and gets married. When she’s inseparable from her husband and ignores you completely, we’ll see how you like it."
Gu Shaoqin chuckled. "Shaoying is only two years old. What’s this about getting married?"
Tang Haocheng shot Gu Shaoqin an inscrutable look. "Of course *you* don’t have to worry. Your third uncle and aunt are doing just fine. But my parents are divorced. When they get remarried in the future, neither of them will want me. I only have my sister! I can’t let Brother Shaojun sweet-talk her into being completely obedient and abandoning me! Do you remember that dream I told you about? The one where Tang Yaxuan takes my sister’s place, grows up in the Tang family, and ends up marrying a great guy. Meanwhile, my sister becomes hideous, and Brother Shaojun takes her away and won’t let me see her. I try to force my way into that building, but he has people throw me out again and again. No matter how much I beg, even on my knees, he won’t give in... In that dream, he treats my sister like his personal property, and after she marries him, she listens to his every word and refuses to see me! If that dream isn’t real, why does it keep happening? Tell me, if I don’t stay on my guard now, what am I going to do if... if it really happens?"
Gu Shaoqin shook his head. "That won’t happen. My brother isn’t that kind of person, and Manman wouldn’t do that either!"
"Of course my sister wouldn’t. I’m just worried your brother will bewitch her and make her change."
"..." Gu Shaoqin didn’t know how to reply. He blinked and thought to himself, ’Hao Hao sure has it out for my brother. It’s always women bewitching men, how come it’s the other way around in his story? Poor Brother... his image as a stoic, righteous, lone hero is probably ruined!’
The two boys leaned against a table, a mutual silence between them. Gu Shaojun emerged from the kitchen carrying a tray with two bowls of freshly cooked beef noodle soup, steaming hot and wonderfully fragrant. Gu Shaojun beckoned the two younger boys to take the bowls and eat, and while he was at it, sent them on an errand to ask if anyone else in the living room wanted beef or rice noodles.
「The next day」
On the second day of the Lunar New Year, Tang Qingshan had to return to Liaozhou for work. Before leaving, he had a private talk with Tang Haocheng, reminding him about things to look out for while abroad. Grandma Tang and Manman helped Ai Wenli pack. The grandparents had originally wanted Ai Wenli to stay in Beijing to be looked after during her pregnancy, but Tang Qingshan explained what the doctor had told him: it was very important for the baby’s development for both parents to be present during the early stages of pregnancy. Everyone agreed this made sense, so they let the couple go.
This also meant she didn’t need to make the traditional visit to her maiden family. Ai Wenli’s aunt and sister had already come to the Tang Mansion for dinner the day before to exchange New Year’s greetings. As for her mother, she had gone on a group tour to Hainan with some old friends before the holiday and wasn’t in Beijing.
As for Ai Wenli’s father, Tang Qingshan only needed to maintain a superficial relationship with the man. The story there was another one of life’s messy dramas. For Ai Wenli and her sister, their family consisted only of their mother; their father had ceased to be a part of their lives over a decade ago. They didn’t need him now and had no contact with him.
After seeing Tang Qingshan and his wife off, a flurry of calls came from the Gu family, urging the brothers to come back. They had guests over for New Year’s greetings. Gu Shaojun had to go home, and Xiao Man naturally went along. She couldn’t just stay over at another family’s house the way a boy could; she could visit for the entire day, but she had to return to her own home at night.
Tang Qingyun didn’t want Xiao Man going to the Gu family home, but he, her second uncle, couldn’t stop her. Besides, he soon lacked the time and energy to care—Wu Xiaowen had arrived. At just after ten in the morning, she was already posted in front of the Tang Mansion’s large, wrought-iron gate, her face a picture of mournful resentment, her calls sounding like a summons for a lost soul. Before Grandma Tang could lose her temper, Grandpa Tang resolutely pushed Tang Qingyun out to deal with her.
Tang Qingyun refused to let Hao Hao go to the Wu Family for a New Year’s visit, but Wu Xiaowen had come prepared and was not one to be easily sent away. He had no choice but to take one for the team, getting in his car and driving off with her to parts unknown.
Many guests had arrived at the Gu Mansion, a lively mix of men and women. Grandpa Gu, Gu Qiming, and Gu Qifan only made a brief appearance to exchange greetings before making their exit, leaving the guests to be entertained by Granny Gu, her two daughters-in-law, and the younger family members who had time.
Gu Shaojun led Xiao Man toward his grandfather’s study, explaining as they walked, "Most of the guests today are relatives from Grandma’s side of the family, and there might be others later, but we don’t need to bother with them. I need to hurry and get things arranged to teach them the Cultivation Technique and guide them through Energy Introduction. Even though I have a little over ten days of leave, if a mission comes down from my unit, I’ll have to leave at a moment’s notice. Time is of the essence!"
Xiao Man said, "Guiding them in their Cultivation is one thing, but there’s something else that’s also very important. I don’t know if Grandpa Gu and Mr. Gu have talked to you about it? It’s the Protective Array around the residence, the one set up by the Gu Family ancestors that has guarded you for so many years. Normally, it would be expected to loosen and wear down over time, causing the Array to fail. But I’ve observed it closely, and it’s highly unlikely that the Magic Artifacts at the array points loosened and moved naturally. It seems more like a deliberate act of sabotage! My cultivation is too low, so I don’t have the ability to restore it. The Alchemist Grandpa Gu hired also said it would be best for a direct descendant of the Gu Family to handle it, since they wouldn’t have to worry as much about the repercussions of moving certain things. That’s why we had to wait for you to return.
"This Protective Array at the Gu Mansion was probably set up by a Golden Core Stage Cultivator. Apart from other Magic Artifacts and runes, there should be twelve pieces of Ancient Jade within it. Except for the four larger pieces embedded deep in the rockery, which haven’t moved at all, the rest have been tampered with. Four have been displaced, two are missing, and two spherical ones, held in the mouths of the auspicious beasts on the roof of the main courtyard, were shattered long ago with Inner Strength! From a distance, they still look like moss-covered jade orbs, but up close, you can see the fine cracks. If you were to tap one with a stone, it would instantly crumble to dust!"
Xiao Man paused, then continued angrily, "Whoever could identify the Array and sabotage it in such a targeted way must be a Cultivator—and one who holds a deep-seated grudge against the Gu family. Because those two beads in the beasts’ mouths correspond to the Gu family’s descendants. With the beads shattered, how could the future generations possibly prosper? The method is simply too vicious!"
That was why in her past life, the Gu Shaojun of this time had already been crippled, Mr. Gu had become paralyzed and quickly passed away, and Gu Shaofeng had died unexpectedly in the line of duty while in his prime, his body never even found!
The Gu family’s influence plummeted. With no one to succeed them, they gradually faded from the military sphere.
Gu Shaojun’s grip on Xiao Man’s hand tightened. His expression was grim, his gaze cold and sharp. "I know the origin of the Gu family’s Guardian Array. Our ancestors nurtured this Array with their own lifeblood to ensure that their descendants would be safe, successful, and prosperous! Who? Who would dare to make such a vile move? I will find out who did this, and I will show them no mercy! As for making an enemy of my Gu family... I hope they can bear the consequences!"