"I'm ashamed to say that!"
Su Zheng was a little embarrassed, "This time I went out, I was supposed to go to the capital to prepare for next year's imperial examination.
We had an accident on the way and fell into the water. Our luggage was lost, and our books and notes were also lost.
There is really no other way, I can only go to your house and nag you.
I have long heard that my uncle is very knowledgeable. If I could get some guidance from him and allow me to copy the books in your mansion, I would be very grateful. "
I see!
Gu Jiu asked worriedly, "Is my cousin okay?"
Su Zheng shook his head. "Thank you for your concern, cousin. I just fell into the water, it's nothing serious."
Gu Jiu breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile, "It's good that he's okay! Just stay here and don't worry about anything else.
If you have any difficulties, just send someone to tell your brother. Brother, am I right?
Gu Ting had no objection and nodded repeatedly, "Sister, you are right. If cousin Su has any difficulties, just tell me."
Su Zheng said with gratitude, "Thank you, cousin."
Gu Jiu said, "My cousin is so polite. I just didn't expect it to be such a coincidence that my cousin would actually run into the Xie family father and son at the city gate."
Su Zheng nodded and said, "I was also surprised when I ran into the Xie family father and son at the city gate. It wasn't a festival, but they came to visit at this time."
Obviously, Su Zheng also cared about the purpose of Xie's father and son's visit.
"I know this." Gu Ting said loudly, "The second master Xie who came today is said to have been in charge of the Xie family's assets.
The Xie family's ancestral home is in Xizhou, Jiangnan Province. I heard from the steward in the palace that the Xie family has invested a lot of money in Xizhou over the years, and the second master Xie spends half of the year in Xizhou.
This time, I should be returning to the capital, passing through Jinzhou."
Gu Jiu raised his eyebrows and smiled, adding a hint of meaning: "From Xizhou to Jinzhou, and then to the capital, it's quite a long way to go. Thank you, Second Master, for your wife's sake. You are so thoughtful."
Su Zheng smiled, realizing that his cousin Gu Jiu had also noticed the abnormality of the Xie family's father and son.
Cousin Gu Jiu must be worried that her stepmother Xie will take the opportunity to cause trouble.
He looked at Gu Ting and Gu Jiu with some worry, "Cousin, cousin, are you guys okay?"
Gu Ting patted his chest and said, "Don't worry, cousin, we will be fine."
Gu Jiu smiled without saying anything. Silly brother, you almost fell into Madam’s trap today, and you still have the nerve to say that nothing happened.
Second Master Xie traveled thousands of miles and made a big detour to come to Jinzhou, definitely not just to visit the Xie family.
Gu Jiu's eyebrows moved slightly. Cousin Su was indeed very insightful and understood her concerns in just one sentence.
She looked at Su Zheng and said, "Thank you for your concern, cousin. My brother is doing well in the mansion and can go out often.
As for me, I was like a blind man, knowing nothing about the big or small things going on in the mansion.
Even if my wife has any plans, I won’t know unless she tells me about them.”
Su Zheng frowned when he heard this, "My cousin has been wronged over the years."
Gu Jiu shook his head slightly, "I don't feel wronged. Being able to grow up safely is also a blessing."
Gu Jiu had a smile on his face, a bright and generous smile.
She didn't complain at all, but Su Zheng could hear the sadness and helplessness in her voice.
How can I not feel sad and helpless when living under my stepmother?
To be able to grow up safely, I wonder how many invisible swords and rains of swords he had to go through during this period.
Su Zheng opened his mouth, wanting to do something for Gu Ting and Gu Jiu.
"If you have any difficulties, please feel free to ask me if I can help you."
Gu Jiu laughed, "Thank you for your concern, cousin. With the Xie family father and son coming to visit, the mansion will definitely be busy for a while. If anything happens, please send someone to let me know."
Su Zheng nodded, his mind as clear as a mirror, "Don't worry, cousin Xiaojiu, I understand everything."
The servant Li Chuan came in and said, "Master, Miss, accommodation for our cousin has been arranged."
Gu Jiu said, "Since the accommodation has been arranged, cousin, please go there and settle down first. If you need anything, just send someone to tell me."
Gu Ting nodded repeatedly, "Cousin Su, you don't have to be polite with me."
Su Zheng nodded and stood up. "Thank you, cousin. I'll go over and settle them first."
"Take care, cousin. Li Chuan, serve the young master well."
"I understand."
…
After everyone left, Gu Jiu sat down again, "Brother, please sit down. I have something to tell you."
Gu Ting obeyed and sat down obediently, "What do you want to say, sister?"
Gu Jiu waved his hand and asked Qingmei and the others to leave.
Then she asked, "Brother, what do you think of Cousin Su?"
"fine!"
Gu Jiu looked at Gu Ting with a half-smile, "Just fine, right?"
Gu Ting chuckled, "Sister, you know I'm not very smart. Stop playing tricks on me and just say what you want to say. If you want me to guess, I can't figure it out."
Gu Jiu laughed, "Brother, you should read more books."
"You'd better kill me than let me study. You know my head hurts when I read."
Gu Ting had a look of pain on his face. Studying was torture for him.
Gu Jiu pursed his lips and smiled, "Okay, I won't force you to read. Did you notice what cousin Su is wearing today?"
Gu Ting blinked, "Since my sister mentioned it, I remembered that his clothes are too old."
Gu Jiu said, "Cousin Su would definitely not want to come to our house wearing such old clothes. But, that's already his most respectable clothes."
"Ah?" Gu Ting was obviously shocked.
Gu Jiu continued, “It should be true that cousin Su accidentally fell into the water.
Not only the luggage and books were lost, but I think all the belongings were lost as well.
The Su family must be having a hard time now. In order to send cousin Su to study in the capital, they have probably spent all the money in the family.
So, after the accident, cousin Su had no way to ask his family for help and could only shamelessly go to their house to seek help.
But Cousin Su had a strong sense of pride and was too embarrassed to complain or to speak of his difficulties, so he simply said he was borrowing books to copy.
Gu Ting came to his senses and asked, "So, Cousin Su is broke and doesn't even have a decent piece of clothing?"
Gu Jiu nodded, "So we have to help cousin Su get through this difficult time. Cousin Su is the hope of the Su family. If he becomes successful in the future, my uncle and his family will be able to take advantage of the opportunity to rise again."
As long as the Su family prospers, my brother and I will be able to improve our situation in the mansion. In the future, when my brother gets married and starts a family, he will have a relative to help him.
Gu Ting said, "I didn't think that far ahead. Whether my uncles help me or not is their business. I certainly can't sit idly by when cousin Su is in trouble.
Sister, tell me how you can help me. Money or things?"
Gu Jiu laughed, with a smile in his eyes, "I knew that my brother was loyal and righteous."
Gu Ting looked very proud, "That's right! Sister, you know, outside, people call me Zhongyi Sanlang. Unlike my sixth brother, who is cunning and shrewd."
Gu Jiu was at a loss whether to laugh or cry. Gu Ting was the typical guy who could open a dyeing factory if given a little favor. Look how cocky he was.
She smiled and asked, "How much money have you saved over the years, brother?"
Gu Ting was speechless, then he chuckled, feeling a little guilty, "Not much, not much."
"Not much, not much. My brother gets fifteen taels a month, plus bonuses during festivals. Don't tell me you don't have a penny saved."
According to the rules of the Gu family, when a man reaches the age of fourteen, his monthly allowance will be increased from five taels to fifteen taels.
The reason is that as boys grow up, they inevitably have to go out and socialize.
Gu Ting smiled awkwardly, "Sister, please don't laugh at me. I'm short of money right now. I only have less than ten taels of silver left."
Gu Jiu's eyebrows turned and he smiled, "Ten taels is not a small amount. In a few days, the monthly allowance will be distributed. By then, brother will have 25 taels in hand. I will add a little more, and then brother will find a way to send it to cousin Su."
Gu Ting asked, "Cousin Su has such a strong sense of self-esteem, would he accept the money?"
Gu Jiu said, "Just say you're lending it to him, and he'll pay it back to you when he has money.
Also, do you have any new, plain clothes here that you haven't worn yet? Find a chance to send them to Cousin Su."
Gu Ting nodded, "Don't worry, sister, I will definitely take care of this matter."
"Also, please remember Cousin Su's borrowing of books to copy. For a scholar, books are the most important thing."
Gu Ting suddenly felt a headache. It would be better to kill him than to ask him to go to the study.
Gu Jiu smiled secretly, wanting to see his brother being humiliated.
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