Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity
Chapter 38 - 34: 60 taels

Chapter 38: Chapter 34: 60 taels

"You don’t know, today the master at Third Brother’s place went back to the Yue Family, so he asked Third Brother to watch the shop. In the afternoon, Third Brother was thinking of closing shop early and going home for dinner since no one was around. Unexpectedly, a man came in wanting a sword for escort purposes. Third Brother, being an apprentice and not yet a master, didn’t dare make it. He asked the man to wait for his master, but the man was in a hurry, saying he needed to leave before dawn and asked Third Brother to try."

Gu Chengyi took a breath and continued, "Third Brother has always been sensible. If it were a kitchen knife, he’d feel somewhat confident. But a big sword—he wouldn’t dare, even his master might not know how. Making a big sword requires a lot of wrought iron, and it has to be good iron. But the man was pressing him, and your Third Brother, feeling it was an opportunity, took out a big piece of good iron that’s been in his master’s storage for ages to forge it."

"Didn’t manage to make it?" Gu Chengyu thought, after all, his Third Brother had only been learning for half a year. Maybe his skills weren’t up to par. His Third Brother was sincere but bold, and iron of this era was precious!

"Nope! He made it! It’s done! Otherwise, he wouldn’t be this late getting home!" Second Brother Gu’s tone even had a hint of pride, and then he fell silent, lost in thought.

"Then what happened? Were they not satisfied?" Gu Chengyu was puzzled, seeing that Second Brother wasn’t talking, he got anxious. If it was done, what else could be wrong? Could it be that the sword didn’t meet the man’s expectations and he didn’t want it?

"Ran away! That guy took the sword and ran! Didn’t pay. Just as Third Brother’s master came back for something, found out, and now he won’t let it go! He wants Third Brother to pay up!" Gu Chengyi glared at their Fifth and replied with dismay.

"What? How did he run away? How much is that sword worth? Why didn’t you report to the government?" Gu Chengyu hadn’t expected such a twist, like an ancient version of the ’霸王刀’!

"Sigh! Let’s hurry back! Your Third Brother’s master is still waiting at home!" Mr. Gu quickened his pace, eager to return home.

Gu Chengyu had to sigh: What a case of ’when it rains, it pours’! Anyway, it’s best to head back and understand the situation first.

Gu Chengyu hurried along with Mr. Gu and the others. As they approached the Gu Family courtyard gate, many people were gathered outside, craning their necks to look inside and pointing at the house, talking.

Even from a distance, Gu Chengyu could hear his sister-in-law’s sharp voice, his mother’s, and an unfamiliar rugged male voice.

"Hey! You wonder what bad luck the Gu Family has run into? See, the master of Third Gu came demanding compensation from Third Brother’s house, don’t even know the reason yet!"

"Huh? More trouble? I just came from the Lin Lize’s house; you don’t know, they say Fourth from the Gu Family was bullied at the Lin Family, and look? He was carried back, on the way! The apprenticeship is probably ruined. And now Third Brother has troubles too?" So, after enjoying the spectacle there, you catch it here too? Can’t leave! This great drama unfolds scene by scene. This person, speaking to the previous one, was chatting animatedly.

Over here, the ones supposed to be on the road were already at the gate, and Gu Chengyu frowned. There’s never a lack of busybodies eager for drama, but must they gather at his courtyard door?

Just when Gu Chengyu was about to step forward and knock, he heard his mother’s raised voice, "What? You want sixty taels of silver for a lousy sword? Is it a gold sword? Sixty taels? Why not just rob?" Gu Chengyu got anxious and squeezed through the crowd to knock on the door.

It was Mrs. Fang who opened the door, her eyes red as if she had been crying. Seeing it’s Father-in-law and them, she quickly let them in. When Gu Chengyu and the others entered the courtyard, the villagers outside tried to squeeze in but were blocked by Mr. Gu. Once inside, Mr. Gu asked Gu Chengyi to take Gu Chengchi inside to rest.

Upon entering, Gu Chengyu saw his Third Brother standing in the courtyard, facing an unfamiliar man. The young, thin but strong figure stood straight; his face, similar to Mr. Gu’s, showed no expression, but if you looked closely, his eyes revealed helplessness, regret, and his fists clenched tightly by his side showed his whole body was tense. And the honest eldest brother had long furrowed his brows, helpless.

The unfamiliar man had to be Yu Daitie, somewhat younger than Mr. Gu, not tall, clad in short attire, muscular arms, and a sturdy frame. He was saying, "Chenglian, it’s not that the master wants to make it difficult for you. You know, that large piece of iron, especially such good iron, even the master was reluctant to use it. What are we to do about this? That sword buyer isn’t from any nearby escort agency, and no one recognizes him. You say he promised sixty taels for the sword, but after taking it, he said he’d pay next time. But who knows if there will be a next time? Besides, buying a sword without money, who does that?" Yu Daitie looked at Gu Chenglian with a seemingly regretful expression, blaming him for being rash, but his eyes betrayed him.

Gu Chengyu could see a hint of excitement in Yu Daitie’s eyes, mixed with greed, even occasionally glancing at his mother with a lecherous look. This guy wasn’t a good person, daring to have such improper thoughts about his mother, this scoundrel.

"Master, didn’t you say that iron block was stashed away because nobody needed anything valuable forged?" Gu Chenglian wasn’t stupid; clearly, the iron was unused and would have just gathered dust. Now that it has been used but no silver collected––even so, it wasn’t worth sixty taels, right?

"Pfft! Our kitchen knives are only worth thirty coins each. Who are you trying to swindle? Think Gu Family’s silver grows on trees? You call yourself a master? You’re just trying to freeload!" He rushed forward and unleashed a barrage of words. At times like this, of course, you band together. That was her husband’s hard-earned money, and taking it away, no way!

Gu Chengyu, hearing these words, calculated in his mind. In ’Water Margin,’ there’s a story about Yang Zhi selling a sword for three thousand coins (almost three thousand taels of silver), which was a treasure knife. Yu Daitie claimed the big sword was sixty taels, indicating the iron wasn’t exceptional, just a bit better than average. Furthermore, since the sword was forged by Third Brother, it should only incur some material cost, definitely not worth sixty taels. Just now, Second Sister-in-law said kitchen knives are thirty coins each! That wrought iron might be worth ten taels of silver at most.

With a plan in mind, Gu Chengyu looked up to see He still arguing with Yu Daitie, spittle flying, covering Yu’s face and blocking his glances at Mrs. Lv. Gu Chengyu’s lips curled slightly; at this moment, he found Second Sister-in-law quite adorable.

Gu Chengyu walked up to Mr. Gu and tugged his sleeve. Mr. Gu, seeing Yu Daitie kept eyeing his wife, felt his anger rising. Just as he was about to confront Yu Daitie about the silver, he noticed his youngest son tugging his sleeve, clearly wanting to say something.

"Dad, we can’t let him fool us. After all, it’s Third Brother who forged that sword! We should at most pay for the iron, don’t let him take advantage." Gu Chengyu whispered his thoughts into his father’s ear.

Mr. Gu, already fuming over the sixty taels—the entire family wasn’t worth that much silver—listened to his youngest, and it made sense! The sword was Third Brother’s work; Yu Daitie didn’t contribute. If the man hadn’t run off, Yu wouldn’t get a penny, and Third Brother wouldn’t complain. But now he has, it’s only fair to compensate for the iron cost, plus a little extra.