Chapter 1313. Borrowing Money
The Gu family had long noticed that the seventh brother and his wife were mumbling something in the corner. Now seeing them walking towards them, the brothers and their wives quickly pulled their husbands and children to hide aside.
Gu Wenheng ignored them and brought Jin Qianqian directly to Gu Dashi and the others.
Li Cuicui looked at them defensively, "Seventh Brother, we don't have any food to give you. Why don't you ask your brothers?"
I guess the couple should have finished making food for them. They wouldn't be planning to take advantage of their old age now, right?
Gu Wenheng glanced at Gu Dashi, grabbed Li Cuicui's hand and came to the side, "Mom, lend me 200 coins."
"What?" Li Cuicui stared at him with eyes wide open, "Why don't you eat your mother? And you asked for 200 coins right away. I don't have that."
She immediately understood the number again, "What do you want to do? Do you want to bring your wife to the county?
I'm telling you, don't think you can stay there once you're in. There are curfews everywhere, and they'll pull you out when the time comes. Haven't these old scholars taught you that?"
Hearing Li Cuicui's ridicule, Gu Wenheng already had an idea in his mind, "I don't want to stay in there, I just want to go in and exchange some money."
Li Cuicui looked him up and down and said, "You were born by me, and I don't even know how much you weigh. Apart from your skin, you don't have anything valuable on you.
Okay, quickly find a place to stay. I have a lot of things to pack and I don’t have time to waste here talking to you.
Since borrowing money is impossible anyway, you might as well take advantage of this time to go out and look for some wild vegetables, maybe you can even have an extra meal."
Gu Wenheng had long guessed that Li Cuicui would not lend him money easily, so he revealed his trump card directly, "Mom, do you think this thing is rare?"
Li Cuicui looked down disapprovingly, but she only saw a weather-beaten face appearing in her pupils, which frightened her so much that she stepped back repeatedly, "......?"
Gu Wenheng quickly freed one hand to support her, "Don't be afraid, this is a mirror. You know the bronze mirror, right?"
Li Cuicui then looked at him hesitantly, "This can't be a bronze mirror. I have seen bronze mirrors before. Don't lie to me."
The bronze mirror will only show a vague facial outline, so how could such a clear human face appear?
"Then look at me. Is that me in the mirror now?" Gu Wenheng could only hold the palm-sized mirror facing himself so that Li Cuicui could see more clearly.
"Where did you get this?" Li Cuicui panicked. "We won't do anything that would harm the world. We can't afford to offend anyone who has something like this. Return it quickly."
Only the rich and powerful can own such a valuable item. It would only bring disaster if they hold it in their hands.
Gu Wenheng lowered his voice and said mysteriously, "This is your daughter-in-law's dowry, and we are reluctant to touch it until the last moment.
Besides, we are all honest and upright under your nose, where can we get such valuable things?"
Li Cuicui looked skeptical, "How could your daughter-in-law have such a foundation? Don't try to deceive me. If this thing existed, would her grandmother still be lying in bed for more than half a year without any treatment?"
Gu Wenheng also knew that this was unacceptable, but this was the best excuse they could find.
Jin Qianqian originally lived with her widowed grandmother. Two years ago, Grandma Jin calculated that her health would not last long, so she hurriedly arranged a marriage for her granddaughter.
The conditions offered were very tempting. As long as she took care of her funeral, she would not ask for a betrothal gift and would even give her belongings as a dowry.
At that time, Li Cuicui really put a lot of thought into marrying a daughter-in-law who would not be burdened by her parents' family in the future.
You have to know that marrying a wife would cost nearly ten taels of silver from beginning to end, but burying an old woman is a simple matter of two or three taels. Such a cost-effective deal has many people eyeing it.
She tempted Grandma Jin with the conditions that she had many brothers and people to help her, and that the family property would be divided once she got married. Grandma Jin loved her granddaughter, and even though she knew that she would have to live a hard life with Gu Yuanyu for a long time, she still gritted her teeth and agreed.
Not long after they got married, Grandma Jin passed away soon after fulfilling her wish.
Li Cuicui kept her promise and asked Gu Yuanyu and Jin Qianqian to bury the old man properly.
Gu Wenheng also saw this scene from his memory and knew that although the Gu family had a lot of faults, at least their character was acceptable.
Otherwise, he would rather give more benefits to the yamen runners guarding the city instead of trying to persuade Li Cuicui here.
Besides, he cannot abandon his current identity. If he and Jin Qianqian want to survive in this era, it is their responsibility to be filial to the Gu family’s parents.
“It was not that she was timid at the time, and besides, this was passed down from their ancestors, and she was reluctant to exchange it for money.
Now your son and your wife are at the end of their rope. If you don't pawn this thing, your daughter-in-law and I will be out of food." Gu Wenheng came up with an excuse he had thought of long ago.
Seeing that Li Cuicui's face was somewhat relaxed, he added fuel to the fire, "I didn't borrow it from you for nothing. When I come back, I will pay you back double."
"But this is someone's heirloom after all. If you pawn it like this, you'll be letting your wife down in the future." Li Cuicui knew how important a dowry was to a woman. If such a precious thing was exchanged for money, it would be difficult to buy it back in the future.
Gu Wenheng, however, did not care, "This thing is dead, but humans are alive. We can't carry this dead thing around and starve ourselves to death!
Just one word for you now, do you want to lend it or not?"
Li Cuicui slapped him hard twice, "I really gave birth to you debt collectors, but I have to say this, your life is given by your wife, so you can't treat others badly in the future."
Gu Wenheng's expression softened. Although this old lady usually looked sarcastic and mean, she was a really soft-hearted person.
"I understand." He also knew that the key to the relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law lies in the man, so he naturally would not show his appreciation for Jin Qianqian in front of Li Cuicui. Otherwise, he would have to suppress Jin Qianqian with the word "filial piety".
Sure enough, the method was effective. Li Cuicui looked at Jin Qianqian not far away with sympathy and said, "I can't control you anyway, but we must not lose our conscience in what we do."
Gu Wenheng urged impatiently, "Lend me the money quickly, or the city gate will be closed soon."
It's already afternoon, and they don't have much time left.
Li Cuicui, "..." This is the first time I've seen someone borrow money so confidently.
He turned his back to Gu Wenheng and fumbled around for a long time before he counted 200 copper coins with trembling hands.
"Remember to pay me back. I'm not asking you to double it, but you can't let me get even a penny less. Otherwise, I won't be able to explain to your father and your brother."
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
