Chapter 189: Chapter 23: Lv Yang’s Purpose
The old lady saw Gu Chengyu looking at them with a smile, and only then did she muster the courage to hand a piece to the old man. They hadn’t eaten since yesterday, and seeing the food now made their mouths water uncontrollably.
The old lady took a careful bite, her mouth filled with the refreshing taste of mung beans. The cake was sweet, with perhaps some oil on it, making it slightly greasy to hold, but not greasy at all to eat. Extremely hungry, the old man couldn’t savor the taste and took two quick bites.
The plate of cakes was made from Gu Chengyu’s own shop, much tastier than those outside, with added salted egg yolk.
"Take it slow, watch out for choking!" Gu Chengyu’s words made the old lady shrink back, her chewing paused. Possibly startled, she looked up to see it was Gu Chengyu sitting opposite her, and resumed eating as his face showed no displeasure.
Gu Chengyu was slightly taken aback; this was a conditioned reflex, possibly from being scolded too much while eating, leading to such a reaction. That Lv Yang was simply out of his mind, treating his parents with nothing but beatings and scoldings. It’s just not human!
The two of them didn’t reach for another after eating one piece. Gu Chengyu guessed that they were still hungry but were too embarrassed to eat more. They would have dinner later, so Gu Chengyu didn’t press further. Besides, they usually ate little, and too many pastries at once could harm their stomachs.
"Grandmother! Why would Uncle think to come home for Silver? Is the family’s situation difficult?" Regardless of willingness, on the surface, one had to call him Uncle.
"The family’s situation isn’t good, but it’s not unlivable. We still have three acres of land! If we’re frugal, we can make do."
Gu Chengyu was quite surprised; this time it was the old man, who didn’t like to talk, who had spoken instead of the old lady.
"Then did they encounter some trouble? Otherwise, why would they need so much Silver?" Gu Chengyu was actually trying to get the elderly couple to talk. They weren’t familiar with each other yet, and he was afraid they wouldn’t speak to him.
"That beast! He just loves to hang around the gambling halls in town. Sometimes, he doesn’t come back for several days, and the family’s Silver is all taken by him to gamble. What Silver could there be left?"
The old man took a breath and continued, "Previously, when he lost and had no Silver, he’d come back. But last month, for some reason, after losing, he even borrowed Silver at the gambling hall, hoping to turn the tables. He must have been set up, borrowing for gambling, losing more and more, already owing over fifty taels. Didn’t the people from the gambling hall come to collect the debt, asking for the Silver to be returned? But where does our family have that much Silver? They only gave a few days’ grace. If we can’t gather the Silver, they’ll cut off his hand."
"Didn’t you hear about our family’s situation earlier?" Gu Chengyu was a bit puzzled. It’s been three years, so how could the Lv Family not know that the Gu Family had risen?
"The missus and I know, but we’ve kept it to ourselves. He’s always at the gambling hall, and his wife is always running back to her parents, so naturally, they don’t know. Once, he seemed to catch wind of something from somewhere, came back to ask us, and I said it was your Big Uncle’s family, and he believed it. He even wondered how your family could be so lucky?" The old man knew what kind of person his son was and definitely couldn’t let him disturb his daughter’s life. They owe their daughter far too much!
"So how did he find out later?"
"We aren’t sure about that!" The old man was also puzzled, guessing he got the news from outside.
Gu Chengyu didn’t dwell on it; there’s no wall that doesn’t let in wind, and sooner or later, it would be known, even in the less communicative ancient times. Little did Gu Chengyu know, he was the one who had indirectly caused this revelation.
"Well! Stay home tonight. There’s a guest room in the outer courtyard, and you can settle there for a while!" The inner courtyard had a few vacant rooms, but Gu Chengyu still needed to get his parents’ opinion on how to settle the old couple.
The elderly couple looked quite pitiful; he guessed his mother had already softened, just unable to bring herself to say it. When he left the main house, his mother still looked like she was hesitating to speak, probably intending to settle them in.
He noticed that Grandma had a worn-out bundle with hardly any clothes inside, brought along probably because Lv Yang told them to stay at the Gu Family.
"We should leave! If we stay here, that beast is certain to come, and as his parents, we can’t just stop him and not let him in, right?"
The old man was very clear about it. Their staying here would only be a burden. Their daughter was a second wife, and he had just coldly observed that the eldest son seemed alright, but the second son seemed to have some considerable thoughts.
"Just stay for the night today, and we’ll talk about tomorrow then. Let me take you to settle into the guest room!" He picked up the bundle placed by the old lady’s feet and led them to the guest room.
"Xiao Bao! Your grandmother and grandfather?" Mrs. Lv had also snapped out of her daze and asked Gu Chengyu as he was entering the house.
"I’ve settled them in the guest room. We’ll see how to plan for future days." Gu Chengyu pulled up his robe and sat on the heated brick bed.
Mrs. Lv was relieved to hear this. Whatever comes after can be dealt with later!
"Your father just mentioned that you topped the examination, called a county champion?" Mrs. Lv spoke of Gu Chengyu’s exam with a beaming smile, proud of her capable son.
"Is that true? Little brother, is it real? I didn’t expect you to be so amazing!" Gu Wan excitedly chimed in, while sewing a silk round-collar robe for Gu Chengyu. Gu Chengyu still had the provincial exam to take in April, and Gu Wan wanted to make a couple of outfits for him to wear for the exam.
"Look! I made you this robe, try it on? See if the size fits? If not, it needs adjusting!" Gu Wan bit off the thread in her hand, spread the robe out, and said to Gu Chengyu.
"Huh? Second sister, you made this for me?" Gu Wan, who had become more composed over the years, possibly due to maturing, had managed to sew a robe on her own since last year, including the cutting.
It was a pale blue silk round-collar robe. Gu Chengyu cheerfully took the robe and compared it to his body; this was the first time his second sister had made him clothes!
"Quick, try it on. This quality fabric – I wouldn’t even dare use it! It’s my first time making it, afraid of wasting the fabric." Previously, Gu Chengyu’s clothes were made by Mrs. Lv, and she only let Gu Wan start making clothes recently, concerned about whether she’d do well.
Gu Chengyu put on the robe; Gu Wan looked at the length and found it spot-on, with the sleeve length perfect too. The color suited Gu Chengyu very well, making him appear somewhat dignified.
"It was tailored according to the measurements I gave; how could it not fit? But the color does suit Xiao Bao. Wan’er’s taste is impressive, making him look like a young master from a wealthy family!" Mrs. Lv said with a laugh.
"Little brother’s fair skin makes everything look good! This fabric is really high-grade, take a closer look and you’ll notice the dark patterns! I’ll add another border at the collar and cuffs. Bamboo embroidery would look great, you scholars really like those pines and bamboos, don’t you!"
Gu Chengyu smiled, letting her have her way, when he glanced over and noticed a half-finished embroidered pocket in the sewing basket.