Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity
Chapter 40 - 36 Kneeling Down

Chapter 40: Chapter 36 Kneeling Down

"What? From Second Brother’s family? Our Gu Family hasn’t split yet! The silver is communal, and your father and I aren’t dead yet! What kind of mourning are you wailing here for? I’m your mother-in-law, I say the silver coins for Third’s use will be used, and I don’t need your approval? Who do you think you are? You dare to interfere with your in-laws? Ungrateful thing." Mrs. Lv pointed at He and scolded, this fool, daring to eye the communal silver? This silver is all for Third’s marriage and such, who gave her the guts to act out in front of her in-laws?

On the side, Yu Daitie saw the internal strife in the Gu Family and was pleased to watch the drama unfold, as long as it didn’t cost him any silver!

"Second, what do you say about this?" Mr. Gu just wanted to know what Gu Chengyi thought, he can’t control his daughter-in-law, his sons will sort it out. But Second is his son, he can manage him. Third is still his brother, he wanted to see if there was still any regard in his eyes for him as father and brother.

Gu Chengyi hesitated upon hearing his father call him. Ten taels of silver, how much was that? He had never seen so much silver. After the Gu Family paid their taxes each year, the remaining grain sold could fetch just over two taels of silver, and with the odd jobs he and his elder brother did, they could barely make another two taels of silver, adding up to just over four taels in total. But the Gu Family had many mouths to feed! How could they not spend money throughout the year? In recent years, weddings and childbirths at home brought many expenses, he could calculate how little silver would be left. And there’s a significant matter to consider, he knew from Manager Zhou that they would soon need to render labor services.

Gu Chengyu also focused his attention on Second Brother, wanting to see through his thoughts, fearing that the answer would disappoint him.

"Father, how much silver do we have left in the family?" Gu Chengyi looked up, fixing his gaze on Mr. Gu, seemingly wanting to see something in Mr. Gu’s eyes.

"Don’t worry about that, I say it’s ten taels, that means it’s enough. Just tell me your thoughts. Since I’ve asked, I’ll ask Eldest as well, do you have any objections?" Mr. Gu turned to look at Gu Chengli.

Gu Chengli hurriedly waved his hand, "Father, you make the decision, Third is our real brother, if Third Brother encounters trouble, just use it as you see fit, how could I have any objections?"

Mr. Gu nodded in satisfaction.

Gu Chengyi was frustrated beyond words, Eldest was acting all virtuous, making him seem like he didn’t care about brotherhood. Now he definitely couldn’t refuse, in fact, he wasn’t really disagreeing, he just had some thoughts, so he could only nod under Mr. Gu’s piercing gaze.

"His father?" Seeing Gu Chengyi nod, He had to simmer down, sitting dispiritedly on the stool without saying a word.

Seeing the Second nod, Mr. Gu also breathed a sigh of relief. He knew Second would feel dissatisfied, but Third was also his son, he was afraid that for ten taels of silver, a rift would form between the brothers. Sigh! Isn’t it all because of poverty?

"His mother, go get ten taels of silver." Mr. Gu felt disgusted seeing the way Yu Daitie looked at his wife, better to send him away earlier.

By this time, the courtyard was abuzz with discussion, people couldn’t come in, but just from the sounds they could get the general idea. Some said that bad luck struck Changqing’s family, others said the Gu family’s children were irresponsible, reckless, the noise was chaotic, with all sorts of talk.

Yu Daitie took the ten taels of silver handed by Mr. Gu, unable to hide his greed, grinning widely, he weighed the silver and bit it, confirming it was real, he happily put it into his chest.

Gu Chengyu glanced over when the silver was brought out, seeing two small five-tael silver ingots. He had seen these in his mother’s money box, the largest two pieces of silver in there, the rest were scattered silver and copper coins.

He had already set his eyes on the silver when Mrs. Gu took it out for Mr. Gu, seeing the silver taken by Yu Daitie made her grit her teeth with hatred, this was the first time she had seen a silver ingot, usually, she couldn’t even touch a piece of scattered silver! That damn Yu Daitie!

"Second Brother Gu, now that this matter is settled, it’s getting late, I’ll take my leave. But I’m afraid my little temple can’t keep Chenglian anymore, don’t come to the shop from tomorrow." With that, he couldn’t wait to leave.

Yu Daitie was so delighted that he felt like he was floating as he walked, thinking about the ten taels of silver in his pocket, his face flushed with excitement. In fact, that piece of raw iron was only worth three taels of silver, when he bought the iron, no one wanted to make more expensive ironware, and he had been regretting it ever since. For years, it just sat there at home collecting dust, who would have thought he’d make a few taels back today. It’s a pity that the man ran away, otherwise, a big saber would have been worth more than a piece of raw iron! Anyway, having got the silver, he wasn’t interested in exchanging pleasantries, he unlocked the courtyard gate and walked off without looking back.

Mr. Gu instructed Gu Chengli to close the courtyard gate to block out the villagers outside, then invited everyone inside to eat before talking about things. Today, incident after incident happened, and yet they hadn’t eaten.

Mrs. Gu reached the main room and directed the two daughters-in-law and Da Ya to serve the dishes, set the table, and asked Dazhu and Gu Chengli to help Gu Chengchi come out to eat. As for Gu Wan, she still hadn’t come around and was hiding inside, not willing to come out. Mrs. Gu grumbled about saving a meal, but still asked Mrs. Fang to keep some for her.

The Gu Family had many people, usually separating men and women at the table, not only splitting the table, but even the food was prepared by Mrs. Lv. Because Gu Chenglian was coming back today, they especially cooked three eggs and steamed a few extra cornbreads. Mrs. Lv ladled a bowl of wild vegetable and black porridge for each bowl, the three eggs were meant for the men’s table, and Mrs. Lv, being the elder, also ate at the men’s table, the cornbreads were divided the usual way. But today no one touched their chopsticks, the atmosphere at the table was heavy. The adults felt the pain of losing the money, and the kids didn’t dare move seeing the adults not eating.

Gu Chengyu sat beside Mr. Gu, looking at the dejected Third Brother since they came in, sighed. They’ve already compensated, being silent and not eating wouldn’t bring the silver back, hopefully, this incident taught his Third Brother not to be so reckless, at least collect the deposit first? However, he was curious, how did that person run away? Third Brother didn’t catch him? The Gu Family had been drinking the spiritual spring water these last few years, though not much, it was very effective. Otherwise, could Third Brother, who looked so skinny, have the strength to forge metal? Any ordinary man shouldn’t have run so fast, was it possible that they were set up?

As Gu Chengyu puzzled over this, he saw Gu Chenglian suddenly stand up, take a few steps to the side, and kneel before Mr. Gu at the head of the table. Everyone was surprised, what’s happening now?

"Father, this time it was all my fault, I burdened the family with so much compensation, I’m even more sorry to you, Eldest Brother, and Second Brother. I know our family’s main labor force is you three, during the past years when I, Fourth, and Fifth were still young, we couldn’t help much. These years, the food, clothing, and supplies at home were all earned by you, who would have thought this time I would make the family lose your hard-earned money, I will definitely pay you back in the future." Gu Chenglian’s eyes turned red, his gaze especially focused on the Eldest and Second, he felt truly guilty in his heart, and his words were sincere.

"Third Uncle, you know it’s because of your actions that the family lost so much silver? Then why didn’t you think of that before, how could anyone be so foolish as to offer sixty taels for a single saber? I don’t know how much that saber was worth, but why didn’t you even collect a deposit? Even a woman like me knows that, you’ve been in the shop for more than half a year, and you still don’t know?" He was naturally pained over the silver, hearing Gu Chenglian mention it made her grind her teeth in anger, there was at least half the effort of her husband’s in that money! Pretending to apologize, who cares? A mere kneel can’t replace ten taels of silver?