Chapter 16 Chapter 16 Placement
After seeing off the three doctors, the Gu family's mood could only be described as gloomy and desolate.
But remembering her granddaughter who had just returned home, Grandma Gu forced herself to cheer up. "Well, now that things have come to this, it's useless to think too much. Let's eat first. Xing'er!"
Grandma Gu is almost sixty years old. What hasn't she seen? It's just a broken leg by a quack doctor. It's a small matter, a small matter. The third child also has a son, and Yuhe looks smart. He will definitely be able to revive the family in the future.
If all else fails, let the two girls find a son-in-law?
There was no expression on Grandma Gu's face, but her mind was in turmoil.
"Grandma, the meal is almost ready." The eldest cousin's wife came out from the kitchen and answered.
"Okay, those from the eldest family, go help your daughter-in-law cook. Those from the second and third families, help Jiayue pack up the things she brought. There's no room left in this house."
Everyone in the family was confused by Grandma Gu's instructions, but no one dared to say anything. They all helped to put away the things Gu Jiayue brought.
The accompanying servants moved the items out of the room and piled them in the yard.
Seeing this, Gu Jiayue felt a headache. She wanted to put it aside for the time being and clean it up tomorrow, but every room in the Gu family was full of people, and she really couldn't put it in someone else's room.
"How can I trouble you ladies? The people I bring can do it." Gu Jiayue quickly stopped him.
"That's right, ladies, please take a seat. We servants will take care of these matters." Before she could even begin, Hua Chao had already ordered the servants to take action. "Put the gifts prepared for the guests on the carriage for the time being, and then move them to this room."
"Give this to me and I'll take care of it."
"This box contains the young lady's unworn clothes. Place them there for easy access."
"These boxes are full of books. You can't just leave them on the ground. Find some wooden planks to pad them."
When Hua Chao was in the Marquis's residence, she was Gu Jiayue's head maid, and she and Madam Cai were in charge of Gu Jiayue's courtyard. Over the years, she had learned a lot from Madam Cai's methods. So she did a good job in settling and gathering people.
In less than a quarter of an hour, everything was put away neatly.
"Miss, everything has been put in place. Now only these servants are left." Hua Chao wiped the sweat from her face and replied with a smile.
Gu Jiayue took out a handkerchief and handed it to Hua Chao, praising him sincerely, "Hua Chao is really great and amazing."
Turning back, he saw about twenty people standing in the courtyard. After a moment's contemplation, he said, "There's no room for so many people at home. Huzi, take them to the county town to find Madam Cai to settle them down. Give each of them a reward of ten taels of silver and let them relax in the county town for a few days before returning to the capital."
"You don't have to rush back. You should go and relax after all your hard work. Come back and help in a couple of days."
The Gu family’s house is not small, but it cannot accommodate so many people.
There are five thatched houses, one of which is the main room, usually used for entertaining guests and dining.
The room with the best lighting is where my grandparents live.
The remaining three rooms were divided among the three brothers. My uncle's eldest son got married last year, so he built a small room behind the house next to the kitchen as his new home.
Six people from three families lived together in one room, with their parents separating the rooms in the middle with a thatched mat. They lived on the outer side with their mentally retarded older brother and younger brother. Originally, Gu Wangshu lived with his younger sister in a smaller place on the inner side.
Fortunately, my family was poor and there was no furniture in the room except a table and two cabinets. Otherwise, I would have no place to stay.
After the servants moved the things into the room, the already narrow room became even more crowded, with almost no room to step.
But there is no other way at the moment. I can't create a house out of thin air at the moment. I can only make do with it for the time being. I have to find the village chief as soon as possible tomorrow to buy land and build a house.
Seeing Gu Jiayue frowning as she surveyed the room, Li Juhua rubbed her hands awkwardly, "It's a small place. You...just make do with it for now. Your father will figure out a solution tomorrow."
"It's okay, I can get used to it." Gu Jiayue did not reveal her true thoughts.
After all, she didn't plan to live with the Gu family for a long time.
Firstly, she doesn’t really like being in the same room with other people;
Besides, her soul was that of an adult, and it was always a bit awkward for her to sleep in the same room with her parents.
Third, as my younger brothers and sisters grow up, it is inconvenient for boys and girls to live together. They can hear every little movement clearly, which is not good for their physical and mental health.
Looking at her mother who was trying her best to help her pack her luggage, Gu Jiayue pretended to be casual and asked, "Dad and Mom, have you ever thought about dividing the family?"
Li Juhua and his wife were caught off guard and didn't know how to respond. They didn't dare to speak casually. They just wondered to themselves, could it be that Jiayue didn't like these people in the family?
After a long moment, Li Juhua finally managed to organize her words: "You're new here, so you might not understand. Your father's legs are broken, so he can't work. Your eldest brother is mentally retarded and needs care. Your younger siblings are still young. Although everyone in this family has their own concerns, they can really help me share a lot of the burden."
Gu Jiayue understood that it was not that they did not want to split up, but that they could not split up.
After all, the third wife is sick and disabled. If the family is divided, she will only wait for death.
What they said was true. With the whole family living together, the third branch did have an advantage.
There were many people in the family, but the family was poor. Every day everyone was calculating who had drunk an extra bowl of porridge and who had done less work, but there was no one who was particularly evil.
According to Wangshu's story, apart from the occasional ridicule from his aunt, no one had ever deliberately bullied his stupid second brother.
But if my second brother was bullied outside, even my mean and calculating aunt would stand up to protect him and scold the children who bullied him.
Although this family has their own little thoughts, they are not the best.
"This house is too small to accommodate so many of us. My sister and brother are growing up and they deserve their own rooms. My brother will get married soon, so moving is inevitable."
Li Juhua and Gu Huangtai exchanged glances, looking extremely embarrassed. "Child, I know our family's financial situation is poor, and I'm sorry to have wronged you. Please wait a little longer. When your brother is older and can find work, we'll have some extra money and we'll build you a room of our own."
She said these words hurriedly, fearing that Gu Jiayue would despise her family's poverty and create a rift with her family.
There were some things Li Juhua couldn't bring herself to say. Gu Jiayue had already reached marriageable age and would likely be married in a year or two. And Gu Zhixia, already ten years old, wouldn't stay in this house for many more years. Once they were married, the room wouldn't be so crowded anymore.
Gu Jiayue turned around and glanced at her seven-year-old brother, thinking that it would take at least another seven or eight years for him to be able to go to town to work. She couldn't wait that long. "Okay, Mom, don't worry, I have my own plans."
Li Juhua and Gu Huangtai nodded and said nothing more.
Although their daughter just came back today, after spending a few hours with her, they already knew that she had her own ideas.
The nobleman in Kyoto had brought her up very well. Her ideas and insights were beyond the reach of these country folks who had never left their hometowns.
In that case, let her do it. Although she can't provide any help, at least she won't hold the child back.
After the discussion, it was already late. "You take a rest first. I'll go out and help your aunt cook."
Li Juhua turned and walked out. Gu Huangtai didn't know how to get along with his daughter, so he also turned and left with his stick.
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