But Ancient Wen Heng was stubborn. To him, these material possessions were nothing compared to Jin Qianqian and their unborn child. "As long as you’re willing to sell, I’ll buy it at any price. I can even give you two of my carriage compartnts."
If Guo Yurong’s whereabouts hadn’t been so erratic these past two years, Ancient Wen Heng wouldn’t have wasted his breath arguing with Ouyang Bing here.
"You’ve ntioned this to before, but I truly don’t have any left," Ouyang Bing said, looking troubled. The item had been a gift from an elder for self-protection. He already regretted his mont of weakness when he’d given one away before. He hadn’t expected the young man to pull this stunt again.
After a mont of thought, he said, "How about this? I won’t be leaving Dao City for a while. If your wife gives birth safely this ti, we’ll just let the matter drop."
"And I won’t take those two carriage compartnts from you for free. You can na your price."
Ancient Wen Heng asked, "Are you afraid I can’t afford it?"
Ouyang Bing gave a bitter smile. "If it were anything else, it would be negotiable. But I really can’t. I only ever had two of these. Your wife already used one two years ago. Unless it’s absolutely necessary, I cannot part with this dicine."
Ancient Wen Heng stared at him for a long ti before finally nodding in agreent. "I suppose that’s the only way. I said I’d give you two carriage compartnts, and I will. I’ll have Housekeeper Fu deliver them to you."
Seeing Chu Dongnan’s expectant face, Ancient Wen Heng decided to be generous. "I’ll have the housekeeper send one over to you as well."
Chu Dongnan smiled so widely his eyes nearly disappeared. He stood up, patted Ouyang Bing’s shoulder, and grinned at him.
’Looks like I’ll have to tag along with this kid more often,’ he thought. ’I get all the benefits without doing a thing.’
Ouyang Bing looked at him, baffled. "..." That old man’s smile was making him a little uneasy.
&
The next day, Gu Dashishi had just finished getting dressed when he eagerly asked, "So, what birthday gifts did your ’good sons’ give you yesterday?"
Li Cuicui had already asked Granny Song to move the items to the storeroom. "Just so jewelry and clothes. Nothing you would have any use for."
Gu Dashishi said, "Even if I can’t use them, I can at least take a look, can’t I? Since when did you beco so stingy?"
Li Cuicui sneered. "Fine. Stop wasting your breath on . Let’s go over to the eldest’s house together. It’s rare for the family to be all here. There are so things we need to talk about."
Gu Dashishi’s eyes darted away. "How is the whole family here? The second and the youngest sons haven’t returned, have they?"
"Pah! What youngest son? As for the second son and his family, the eldest has already sent people to ask around. They’ll co back one day." After speaking, Li Cuicui finished getting ready and stared Gu Dashishi down as they walked to the adjacent courtyard.
However, to spare Gu Dashishi so face, she hadn’t asked her daughters-in-law to co today. "Everyone’s here now. You should have a good talk with your sons. You’ve been sneaking out so mysteriously lately. What have you been so busy with?"
"Wh-what do you an busy? I just have a few drinks with so friends, gather together, and have a little fun." Gu Dashishi looked at the sky and the ground—anywhere but at Li Cuicui.
"I hardly think anyone has the spare ti to drink with you and pass the day away." Li Cuicui crossed her arms and stared at him. "I didn’t invite the elders over today. That was , saving face for you. And still, you refuse to tell the truth."
"What do you want to say?" Gu Dashishi suddenly roared. "I’m the old master of this family now, for goodness’ sake! What does it look like, being ordered around like this?"
"And you lot! You see your mother acting like this and you don’t even try to talk so sense into her? Did the Li Family not teach her the Three Obediences and Four Virtues?"
Li Cuicui threw her head back and laughed. "I’ve held my tongue for the better part of my life, helping you, Gu Dashishi, continue the family line. What part of this family, inside or out, wasn’t built by my hands?"
"Don’t you dare glare at like that. Am I wrong?"
"Your greatest contribution to this family was quietly doing so farm work."
"And ? I had to manage everything, from the fields to the household. Isn’t that enough to satisfy your ’Three Obediences and Four Virtues’?"
"Stop being so sarcastic," Gu Dashishi said. Seeing the knowing looks in his sons’ eyes, he realized they already knew. He decided to throw caution to the wind. "So what if I’ve been seeing He Guwu? It’s not like I’ve brought her ho."
Li Cuicui clapped a hand over her mouth and ran to a corner, dry heaving. It was one thing to suspect, but hearing him admit it made her feel disgusted to her core.
Gu Yuantu and Ancient Wen Heng went to her side, gently patting her back in silent comfort.
"What? You think you can ddle in my business now?" Seeing his sons glaring at him, Gu Dashishi strode to the head seat and sat down. "I know you’ve all earned so silver these past few years, but you still have to show so filial piety."
"When I wanted to find a concubine for Seventh, what did you brothers say? You said I shouldn’t interfere in your household affairs. Well, the sa goes for you now."
Gu Yuanjin said, "Father, the one you wanted to arrange for Seventh was He Guwu’s daughter, wasn’t it?"
No matter how well you hide things, they always leave a trace.
Besides, the two villages weren’t far apart. If soone was determined enough, they could find out everything about a person, from head to toe.
"So what if it was? Didn’t Seventh refuse? I really don’t know what’s so great about that Jin woman. She’s so frail and sickly, she has to take a doctor with her whenever she goes out."
"She’s not half as healthy as He ili. If Seventh had actually married her, he’d probably have several children by now."
Ancient Wen Heng’s face imdiately darkened. "I am now the father of two children myself. I hope you, old man, won’t say such things again."
"Old man?" Gu Dashishi pointed at himself. "I’m your own father! You won’t even call ’Father’ anymore?"
Ancient Wen Heng replied, "There’s nothing wrong with calling you ’old man’. It’s how many people here refer to their fathers."
’Compared to "Father,"’ Ancient Wen Heng thought, ’he no longer deserves that title. Calling him "old man" is already giving him too much credit.’
Gu Yuanshui added, "Old man, Wenheng is right. Calling you that is just us following local customs. After all, we’ve been living here for several years. Though our accents haven’t changed, we still have to adapt to so of the local ways when we’re out and about."
"So, all of you brothers have decided to stand against today?" Gu Dashishi sneered. "I wasn’t planning on bringing her into the family before, but seeing you all act like this, I see no reason to consider your feelings any longer."
"Eldest, tidy up the courtyard in the coming days. I’ll pick an auspicious date to welco Mistress Shi—He Guwu—into the family as an equal wife."
Li Cuicui, having caught her breath, said, "Forget about an equal wife. I want a divorce."
Gu Dashishi snapped his head up to look at her. "Don’t even think about a divorce. Not unless you accept a letter of repudiation."
Li Cuicui let out a dry laugh. "I et all three of the conditions for ’cannot be divorced.’ Even if we take this to the governnt, the law will be on my side."
Gu Dashishi opened his mouth, but seeing his sons glaring at him from beside her, he didn’t dare say what was on his mind.
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