Chapter 139 Gossip about the Li Family
Gu Jiayue had no classes in the afternoon, so she rested at home.
She walked slowly to the soft bed and lay down on it gently, only to smell the warm scent of sunshine emanating from the quilt, lingering around her nose.
She closed her eyes slightly and soon fell into a deep sleep.
When she slowly woke up, it was already dusk. The sky was dyed a gorgeous orange-red by the sunset.
She was startled and sat up suddenly, her cheeks flushed slightly with a hint of embarrassment.
I have been too tired recently. When I relaxed a little, I fell into such a deep sleep. I didn't even help with dinner. This is really wrong.
She straightened her clothes and walked out of the room with light steps.
Grandma Gu was in the courtyard, chopping grass for the pigs and feeding the chickens with a sharp knife. My eldest sister-in-law and my second aunt were cooking in the kitchen, while my sisters were putting away their needlework. My eldest and second uncles were mending farm tools under the eaves, while Father Li was weaving beautiful flower baskets for the children to place the flowers they had picked that afternoon.
Grandma Gu noticed her presence, looked up and smiled, "Are you awake? Why don't you sleep a little longer? Are you hungry? Your second aunt's meal is almost ready."
Gu Jiayue smiled and walked over to squat beside Grandma Gu. She straightened the pig grass one by one and handed it to her grandmother, then said softly, "I'm not hungry. I was too sleepy and didn't help with the cooking."
Grandma Gu took the straightened pig grass and started chopping it. Then she chuckled, her face full of kindness. "There are so many people at home, how can I rely on you for everything? I heard from Yuhe that your foot is injured? Does it still hurt? Your grandfather has dug some herbs and will apply them to you after dinner."
At this moment, Grandpa Gu came over steadily, holding the cleaned herbs. After hearing what Grandma Gu said, he smiled and shook the herbs in his hand and said, "Yes, Grandpa, these herbs are very effective. You can try them later."
A touch of emotion flashed in Gu Jiayue's eyes. She didn't refuse, nor did she mention that she had a better ointment. She knew in her heart that not rejecting the kindness of the elders was also a way of loving them.
Gu Jiayue changed the subject. "By the way, Fusheng is going to send something to Yunxi in the capital tomorrow. Last time, I mentioned treating my second brother. What are your thoughts? Do you want to treat him?"
The last time he returned from the provincial capital, he informed his family about his second brother Gu Yuchuan's condition and treatment. Everyone fell silent at that time.
Who wouldn't wish for a brilliant grandson? They naturally had high hopes, after all, Yuchuan had been predicted by a high monk to be a top scholar. But the treatment was too dangerous. A single mistake could mean the death of not only his intelligence but also his now foolish grandson. The Gu family had always been short on offspring...
Upon hearing this, Li's mother couldn't help but sigh, looking worried. "Please let me think about it again, think about it again."
Father Li was also unable to make a decision, he looked up at Grandpa Gu.
Grandpa Gu stared at him, what was he doing? Could he make the decision?
Gu Jiayue knew her family was in a difficult situation; if it were her, she would be hesitant as well. She patted Mother Li's hand soothingly. "Don't worry," she said, reassuringly. "I've also spoken to Yunxi. When she returns to Kyoto, she'll inquire with the Imperial Hospital for me. If he can be cured, I'll bring my second brother back to the capital."
Mother Li hesitated, wanting to say that there was no need to go to all this trouble. But she swallowed the words back. He was her son; how could she not hope that he could be a normal person?
She hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Will this be too much trouble for your friend?"
"No, it's just a casual thing for her." Gu Jiayue had confirmed again and again that this matter would not cause trouble to Zheng Yunxi, so she felt at ease to entrust it to him.
"That's good, that's good. We should thank him well then." After saying this, Mother Li began to think about how to thank Zheng Yunxi.
Seeing this, Gu Jiayue did not disturb him any further and moved to the side of Gu Yuhe who was writing.
Gu Yuhe saw his second sister and said aggrievedly, "Second sister, Master Jiang is so strict. He assigns so much homework."
Now they are no longer children receiving enlightenment, but students who have officially embarked on the road to imperial examinations. The content of their studies and the knowledge they need to receive are naturally different.
Gu Jiayue felt she couldn't match Jiang Luli and Master Du in this regard, so she didn't let the layman guide the experts. Instead, she asked them to follow the previous model and teach Gu Yuhe and Zhang Chuyan from the Imperial Examination Class 1.
"A strict teacher produces excellent students. You must work hard. If you fall too far behind the first banquet, it will not be good."
Gu Yuhe felt aggrieved and wondered if this was a consolation from his second sister.
But he really didn't want to take the imperial examination, and he was thinking about doing business with Kang Zige.
He opened his mouth, wanting to speak out what was on his mind, but when he thought of the earnest expectations of his elders at home, he couldn't help but sigh and swallowed his words back.
Grandpa and grandma's greatest wish was that he could pass the imperial examination. That way, the Gu family's ancestral graves would be filled with prosperity, the family would be exempt from taxes, and grandpa and grandma and his uncles would have a easier time.
Forget it, forget it. I’ll take the imperial examination first and then talk about doing business.
Gu Jiayue saw Gu Yuhe sighing, shaking his head, and nodding firmly. She didn't know what he was thinking, but she thought he was having trouble adapting to the pressure. She comforted him, "Just try your best. If you really can't understand, then don't learn. You can also join the technical class next year."
If it really doesn't work out, the Gu family can go into business as long as they can make money.
Unexpectedly, Gu Yuhe suddenly stood up, his expression serious and he said righteously: "No, I must pass the exam and become a scholar."
After saying this, he seemed to feel that Gu Jiayue had disturbed his study, so he put away his book, hurried back to his room, closed the door and continued to study hard.
Gu Jiayue was confused and at a loss by his sudden action.
When everyone saw this, they all burst into laughter.
When the family was having a great time, my aunt came back from outside.
When Grandma Gu saw her, she frowned slightly and asked with an unhappy look on her face, "Where have you been? I remember it was your eldest room's turn to cook today."
The aunt smiled apologetically. "Xing'er is at home, what's the difference between her cooking and mine?"
She walked quickly to Grandma Gu and said with a gossipy look on her face, "Mom, do you know? The Li family has split up."
"Li family? Which Li family? If you continue to talk nonsense like this, I will send you back to your parents' home." Grandma Gu widened her eyes and looked stern.
"Oh, mother, if you hadn't seen it, you wouldn't have known how exciting it was. The Li family's division was quite exciting. Li Ergou actually stole Guawa's book and sold it." She looked at Gu Jiayue. "Jiayue, that thin copy of 'Three Character Classic' actually sold for 200 coins?"
She was shocked when she heard about this. Her children were all reading, and she had seen the book before. How could such a small amount of paper be sold for such a high price?
There are hundreds of students in the school, and if each of them has a copy, how much would that cost? And these books are distributed for free.
She couldn't help but secretly smack her lips, thinking that her niece was richer than she had imagined.
Gu Jiayue nodded. "That's about right."
The price of the Three Character Classic on the market was indeed this much, but her copy was printed by Kangzi's bookshop using movable type, which was cheaper, so it didn't cost that much. But she felt there was no need to explain this to her aunt.
"What's the value of the book to you? Let's talk about the division of the Li family. Grandma Gu is really helpless with this eldest daughter-in-law. She always misses the point when she speaks and does things. Is now the time to worry about the price of the book?
"Oh, oh, oh, that's right. Li Ergou sold the book for two hundred coins and went to the gambling house. Not only did he lose all the two hundred coins, he also owed the gambling house one or two taels of silver. When Li Dagou took the village chief to his house, they happened to see Li Ergou fighting with his mother over the land deed."
Grandma Gu's eyes widened. "He wants to sell the land?"
My aunt slapped her thigh. "Mom is so smart! She wanted to sell the land to pay off her gambling debts. When she refused, he beat her up. When his father tried to stop him, he kicked him under the threshold and he couldn't get up for a long time."
"Oh, it was a huge mess. Later, when the family split up, the couple still protected Li Ergou and wanted to give him the ancestral home and all the paddy fields. They only gave Li Dagou and his family of three two acres of land on Xiaowai Mountain and two broken bowls."
Grandma Gu slammed the table and shouted angrily, "Stupid! Such a prodigal son deserves to be beaten to death. Why are you still protecting him? Are you going to sell the coffin to pay off his debts?"
"That's right. Li Dagou kowtowed and cried bitterly, but the two men refused to give in. They even asked Li Dagou to pay three taels of silver as filial piety every year, otherwise they would not agree to split the family."
"Oh, it's a pity that you didn't go to see it. It was so wonderful." The aunt looked regretful.
Grandma Gu rolled her eyes at her and thought to herself, will anyone be as careless as her in the future, neglecting dinner just to watch the fun?
"Mom, it's time to eat." Second aunt shouted from the kitchen.
Grandma Gu patted her aunt. "What are you still sitting there for? Go and serve the food! Do you want me to bring it to you?"
"Hey, hey, hey, mom, please sit down. I'll be right there." The eldest aunt quickly stood up and walked towards the kitchen. "Second sister-in-law, leave it alone and let me do it."
Everyone sat together and after dinner, Grandpa Gu knocked on the table, and everyone who was about to leave sat back down.
"Today, I'm going to use this matter with the Li family to make a statement. If any of you little brats dare to gamble and ruin the family, I'll beat you to death, but you'll also forget about everything in this family. Do you understand?"
"I heard it clearly." Everyone nodded in assurance.
Grandma Gu then knocked on the table and said, "Let me say this again. From now on, if anyone delays their family affairs by reading gossip, they should go back to their parents' home! Our Gu family can't afford to support such idle people."
Although she did not mention her aunt's name, the whole family understood that what she said was meant for her aunt.
However, after this incident, everyone had a wake-up call, knowing that Grandpa Gu and Grandma Gu were still the masters of the Gu family. They might not care about trivial matters on weekdays, but when faced with a principled issue, they would definitely take action to rectify it.
Seeing this, Gu Jiayue couldn't help but shrug her shoulders. Her grandparents were so strict.
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