Chapter 140 Checking the Papermaking Workshop
Gu Jiayue taught classes for several days and finally had a day off after a busy week.
It was still early, the soft sunlight just beginning to cast its shadow over the courtyard, but the village chief was already waiting outside the door.
Fortunately, Gu Jiayue has always been used to getting up early, otherwise it would be really rude to keep the elders waiting for a long time, and it would only add to the embarrassment.
Gu Jiayue walked up to the village chief, bowed slightly and asked, "Good morning, village chief uncle." She didn't think much about it and thought the village chief was here to see her grandfather.
The village chief smiled immediately upon seeing her emerge. He rubbed his hands nervously in front of him and asked expectantly, "Jiayue, you mentioned papermaking to me last time. I've already arranged for someone to gather all the tools and other supplies. Do you have some free time today to go and take a look?"
Gu Jiayue couldn't help but slap her forehead when she heard this. She had completely forgotten about this matter because of her busy schedule.
Then he smiled. "Okay, let's go now, shall we?"
Just as the two were about to leave, Grandma Gu hurried out of the house and said with concern, "What's the rush? It won't be too late to go after breakfast."
As he spoke, he frowned slightly and glanced at the village chief with a hint of resentment.
Gu Huangping is really something. No matter how anxious he is, why would he come to disturb me at dawn?
The village chief sensed Grandma Gu's dissatisfaction and immediately realized his abruptness. A trace of embarrassment flashed across his face, and he quickly said with a smile, "Look at my impatience. Jiayue, you eat first. I'll wait for you outside."
If I don't leave now, Aunt Gu might really eat me alive.
Grandma Gu rolled her eyes at him. "Now that you're here, why are you leaving? Don't let people think my family is so poor that we can't even spare a bowl of porridge. Sit down and eat together!"
The village chief touched his nose and dared not say a word. He could only smile awkwardly and sit down to eat obediently.
Breakfast is simple, just a bowl of porridge and a pancake.
Gu Jiayue ate very quickly and finished the meal in just two minutes.
She stood up, looked at her eldest brother Gu Yushan, and asked, "Brother, what have you thought about what I told you last time? If you have made up your mind, come with me."
Gu Yushan slowly put down his bowl and chopsticks, looking a little nervous. He first looked cautiously at his parents, then at his grandparents, as if seeking their support and encouragement.
After hesitating for a moment, he finally mustered up the courage to speak his mind. "Second sister, I still think farming is more suitable for me. Being a manager is really beyond my ability."
He lowered his head slightly, a hint of apology in his voice.
Seeing this, Gu Jiayue already understood the outcome. She sighed softly. "Okay, then I'll think of another way."
It seems that it is not easy to guide the Gu family in the direction of business, as the whole family is only interested in farming.
Well, if this road doesn’t work, then I’ll just be a landlord.
However, the paddy fields in Taohua Village are limited, and with the current productivity, it is impossible to flatten the mountain to create farmland.
She shook her head. "Forget it, let's talk about it later. If all else fails, planting fruit trees or tea trees might be a good idea."
In an instant, her eyes lit up and her mind suddenly became clear.
Yes! Tea planting! And silkworm breeding, that's also a good way to make a living.
She nodded secretly, made up her mind, and decided to discuss it with the village chief later.
"Village chief, let's go."
"Okay." The village chief responded, and the two of them were about to walk out.
At this moment, the second uncle, who had been bowing his head in deep thought, suddenly stepped forward and shouted, "Jiayue, wait a minute."
Gu Jiayue stopped walking when she heard the voice, looked at her uncle with a puzzled look and asked, "Uncle, what's wrong?"
Second Uncle looked serious. "I'll go with you. Yushan is still young, what does he know? We elders have to rely on us for this kind of important matter. Right, Brother Huang Ping?"
He knew that Gu Jiayue was trying her best to revitalize the Gu family. But the Gu family had been farmers for generations, so how could they know how to manage things? How could they run a business?
It is normal for Gu Yushan to feel fear.
Although Second Uncle appeared calm on the surface, he was incredibly nervous inside. He was also worried that he wouldn't do well and cause trouble for Gu Jiayue. But no matter how scared he was, someone had to step up, right?
My father is old, my eldest brother is honest and simple, my third brother has a broken leg, Yushan is honest and straightforward, Yuchuan is mentally retarded, and Yuhe is still a child... When you count them all, in the entire Gu family, it seems that I am the only one who can barely be considered as having some ideas.
The village chief nodded quickly in agreement, "Of course, Huang Mo has been intelligent since he was young. Leave this matter to him, Jiayue, you can rest assured."
He wholeheartedly approved and supported the idea of someone coming out to take charge of the Gu family.
After all, Gu Jiayue was too busy on weekdays and was nowhere to be seen all day. Once the workshop officially opened, there would definitely be many things to deal with. As a grown man, it wouldn't be right for him to run around to other people's homes every day to find a little girl, right?
Gu Jiayue smiled slightly upon hearing this and said, "Okay, let's go together. If anyone else wants to go, let's go too. But Gu Yuhe, don't go, you haven't finished your homework yet."
She swept her eyes over everyone and finally landed on Gu Yuhe.
Gu Yuhe had just put down his pen and was about to catch up when he heard this, his face suddenly filled with displeasure and he sat back down angrily. He muttered, "If I don't want to go, then I won't go. What's so fun about the mountains?"
Although others were also tempted, they gave up the idea when they thought about the many farm work waiting to be done in the fields.
The workshop cannot be left alone and can be visited anytime, but the farm work in the fields cannot be delayed.
If you are lazy and don't weed, your harvest will not be as good as others' in two months. Then you will have no choice but to cry, go hungry, and even sell your children.
No, the Gu family won’t buy a child, so the whole family will starve to death.
In the end, only Gu Yuchuan, who had nothing to do, followed them.
The four of them boarded the carriage and headed towards the bamboo forest.
It rained last night. The carriage was speeding and happened to encounter a small puddle, which soaked Jiang Luli, who happened to be standing by the roadside.
Jiang Luli looked down at his mud-stained green coat, his brows furrowed. Confused, he asked the guards behind him, "Can't they see us standing here, two grown men?"
He looked quite dissatisfied, with a hint of anger in his tone.
Seeing this, the guard wanted to laugh but dared not, so he could only suppress his laughter and said, "Maybe it's because this tree is blocking us? How about we cut down this tree now?"
Jiang Luli glared at him fiercely. This bastard was becoming increasingly disrespectful. He actually dared to tease his master. When he returned to Kyoto, he would send him to the palace to be a eunuch.
"Let's go and follow them to see what they are going to do." Jiang Luli flicked his sleeves and said angrily.
The guard looked at the pile of painting tools on the ground with embarrassment. "Master, didn't you come here to paint? Now you're not painting anymore?"
Jiang Luli was too lazy to pay attention to him and just walked in the direction the carriage left.
Gu Jiayue always felt that this bamboo forest had changed a little since the last time she came here.
The originally narrow path has now been widened, and even a new path has been dug out at the place leading up the mountain.
Going further, there is a relatively flat open space. It has been cleaned up and a house has been built.
"This isn't a real workshop, just a sentry post to prevent outsiders from accidentally stumbling upon it," the village chief explained. He still remembered Gu Jiayue's words about keeping a low profile; after all, the mountain didn't belong to them yet, so it was better to be safe than sorry.
After hearing this, Gu Jiayue couldn't help but give a thumbs up and praised: "The village chief is really thoughtful."
"Then, should I not go any further?" At this moment, the voice of an uninvited guest suddenly sounded.
Gu Jiayue looked in the direction of the voice and saw that Jiang Luli had appeared not far away.
She was slightly stunned, and it took a moment for her to come back to her senses and regain control of her expression. "Master Jiang, why are you here?"
Jiang Luli pointed at the mud spots on his green coat and said unhappily, "I'm such a grown-up standing on the roadside, didn't your servants see? Look, I'm all covered in mud." His face was full of disgust, and there was a hint of complaint in his tone.
Gu Jiayue almost couldn't help laughing when she saw this. "Who could notice you standing in this mountain dressed like a blade of grass?"
She suppressed her smile, looked at Jiang Luli uncertainly and asked, "So, you're here to cause trouble?"
It shouldn't be that bad, right? Although this boss's behavior is a bit unpredictable and his mental state is often worrying, he shouldn't be so stingy, right?
Jiang Luli was speechless upon hearing this. How could he, a dignified prince, be so petty? He was simply curious and wanted to know what they were going to do.
"What are you doing here? Going for an outing?" Jiang Luli raised his eyebrows, with a hint of teasing in his tone.
Gu Jiayue secretly complained in her heart, why go outing in the hot summer?
She thought for a moment, mentally weighing whether or not to tell the truth.
In reality, Shanzhang Min had already privately informed Gu Jiayue of Jiang Luli's true identity. He had no other intentions, but simply urged her to be more careful with her words and actions, and to avoid accidentally touching upon any taboos.
Gu Jiayue had previously speculated about Jiang Luli's identity. She had originally thought he was a descendant of a prominent, hidden clan. Otherwise, how could he, at such a young age, be the headmaster of Huaqing Academy? There were many people in the world who were more powerful than him.
But who could have known that his identity was even more astonishing? He was actually the legitimate son of Prince Duan! He was even specially appointed as a Prince by the Emperor at the tender age of twenty. He was truly an incredible figure.
Such a huge Buddha has now fallen into this remote place, how could she dare not worship it?
After a thousand thoughts, Gu Jiayue put on a perfect smile and extended an invitation: "If President Jiang is interested, you can join us."
"Then let's go." Jiang Luli folded his fan and strode forward with his hands behind his back. If you didn't know him, you would think he was the owner of this place.
After they walked about a hundred meters further, they suddenly saw a huge natural cave in front of them.
The moment Second Uncle saw the cave, his eyes widened like bells, and he said in disbelief, "When did such a big cave appear here?"
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