After having breakfast, Lu Yanzhao hurriedly headed to the academy.
Gu Nanjiao loaded the ice onto the cart, then loaded the ingredients for making snacks onto it as well. Lu's mother urged Lu Xiaomei to help, afraid that they would be late and miss the oxcart to the county town.
Gu Nanjiao looked at the truck full of things, lost in thought.
"Jiaojiao, what are you thinking about?" Lu's mother asked.
"Mother, I'm thinking, now that we're a bit better off financially, when should we buy an oxcart?"
“I was thinking, it’s so troublesome to travel back and forth between our county town and village, and we’re even worried about missing the oxcart to the county town! We can’t keep doing this. Luckily, I’ve made a lot of money from kudzu root recently, so I’m thinking of buying an oxcart to save time and effort.”
Upon hearing this, Lu's mother was taken aback and said, "The oxcart is a bit expensive. In the long run, buying one is indeed feasible. However, apart from a dozen or so pear trees, we don't have any fields to cultivate, so buying one would be a waste."
Lu's mother then said, "Why don't we rent a house in the county town? It doesn't have to be too nice, just one that won't get wet or cold in the wind and rain. That way we won't have to travel back and forth, and Yanzhao can go back to live there."
Lu's mother had her own selfish motives. She wasn't afraid to spend money; she just wanted her family to be happy. Her recent encounter with Bai Luochen had made her very uneasy. It would be better to rent a house in the county town so the family could be together. Crucially, Yanzhao could come home anytime, and the longer they spent together, the stronger their feelings for each other became, their bond stronger than gold, as solid as a rock.
Gu Nanjiao thought about it and agreed! Hama Village is not close to the county town. Even if you buy an oxcart, you still have to travel back and forth. If you run into fellow villagers or acquaintances, it wouldn't be right not to take them along.
"Yes, Mom, you can leave the renting to me. You don't need to worry about it."
“That won’t do!” Although Lu’s mother was used to a hard life, she had her own principles. She didn’t want to use Gu Nanjiao’s money, whether it was building a house, buying an oxcart, or renting a house.
Back then, their family couldn't afford the bride price and could only bring a few boxes of pastries, which was already unreasonable. Now that they had the means, they were even less willing to spend Gu Nanjiao's money.
“Mom, I’m going to get angry if you keep making excuses. Renting a house won’t cost much, so you don’t need to worry about it.”
Seeing that Gu Nanjiao was very stubborn, Lu's mother did not bring up the matter of money again.
After finishing her work at the stall, Gu Nanjiao went to the Mute Alley. When she opened the door of the Gu family's house, the small courtyard was no longer as tidy as before, and Gu's father had not yet returned from school.
Gu Nanjiao picked up a broom and helped sweep. Seeing her father's clothes piled up to the side, she washed them as well.
Not long after, Gu's father returned, carrying a long ruler and a thick book.
Seeing the clean and tidy courtyard and the clothes hanging out to dry, Mr. Gu was stunned for a moment.
"Dad, you're back?" Gu Nanjiao wiped her hands on her apron, took the ruler and book from her father's hands, and asked with a smile.
"Hmm, it's rare to see you so diligent," Mr. Gu teased.
"Hehe, isn't it good that our daughter is diligent?" Gu Nanjiao said with a playful smile, coaxing her father.
"Come with me." Father Gu gestured to Gu Nanjiao and then walked into the study.
What comes into view is a small study, only about four square meters in size. Inside, there is a locust wood table with the writing implements and an oil lamp that Gu Nanjiao had given him last time. On both sides of the table are bookshelves, about two meters high, each filled with books.
Gu Nanjiao looked down at the desk, where a calligraphy scroll read: "There is a beauty, whom I cannot forget once I see her; if I do not see her for a day, I am driven mad with longing." The handwriting was slender yet vigorous, the strokes delicate and powerful, comparable to the three large characters on the plaque above the entrance to Jiaoniang Pavilion.
It turns out that the inscription on Jiaoniang Pavilion was written by her father.
"Wow, Dad's calligraphy is so beautiful! 'There is a beauty, whom I cannot forget once I see her; if I do not see her for a day, I am driven mad with longing.' Dad, who are you missing?" Gu Nanjiao couldn't help but tease.
Mr. Gu hurriedly walked over, turned the paper over, and pretended to scold him angrily: "How dare you make fun of your father!"
"How could I dare, Father? I was simply captivated by your calligraphy; it's so beautiful! You know, the Slender Gold style is very difficult to master."
Father Gu was flattered by Gu Nanjiao's praise: "That's right, my calligraphy has been praised by the Minister."
Even the Minister praised her? Her father is really amazing. But the Minister should be a high-ranking official in the capital. How did her father, a poor scholar, have the opportunity to meet him?
Gu Nanjiao asked incredulously, "Father, you've been to the capital? And you even met the Minister!"
Mr. Gu paused for a moment, then replied, "Yes!"
"Father, is the capital city big? Is it prosperous? Is it very lively?"
Faced with his daughter's question, Mr. Gu remained silent. He did not want to mention the capital or anything related to that person.
But if it's for the imperial examinations, he'll inevitably have to go there. If his son-in-law passes with flying colors, his daughter will definitely go to the capital with him.
Father Gu stared intently at Gu Nanjiao, sighing. Aside from a slight resemblance in her features, she bore no resemblance to him whatsoever. He wondered if going to the capital would be a blessing or a curse.
Sigh, I don't want to think about it anymore. Good fortune may be a harbinger of misfortune, and misfortune may be a harbinger of good fortune!
"This is the land purchase document that your Uncle Zhang arranged for your father to handle. Keep it safe." Father Gu changed the subject and handed a light red envelope to Gu Nanjiao.
Upon hearing that the paperwork for purchasing the mountain had been completed, Gu Nanjiao was overjoyed: "Dad, you're amazing! You got it done so quickly!"
"That's right, don't you know who your father is? I'm not some useless scholar, your father is very capable!" Father Gu couldn't stand his daughter praising him, because she would get a little smug when she did.
"Dad, are you hungry? I'll make some good dishes to go with your drinks and treat you!"
"Go ahead, go ahead!"
...
The next day, Gu Nanjiao went to the county town to look for a house to rent. After looking all morning, she finally found one.
The courtyard wasn't large, with only four rooms in total. It belonged to an elderly couple who wanted to rent out their property. Their son's business had expanded to Yuzhou City, and they were moving there with him. The rent wasn't high; the elderly couple simply wanted someone to look after the house.
The two elderly people had very kind faces, and they quickly agreed on a price: three hundred coins a month, or three taels of silver if they paid for a full year.
Unexpectedly, the housing prices in the county town were very low. Gu Nanjiao happily signed the documents and paid the deposit.
After receiving the key, Gu Nanjiao went inside to take a look. Although the house was a bit small, it was enough for people to live in. There were high walls around it, so it was quiet. They could come here to rest when they were tired from doing business or when it rained heavily. It could also serve as a place for them to stay, and it was fine for them to do business.
The house was fully equipped with kitchenware and cabinets, so they could move in with just their bags.
Gu Nanjiao was very satisfied. When she got home, she told Lu's mother about it. Lu's mother felt the same way as Gu Nanjiao, thinking that she had gotten a great deal.
Lu Yanzhao happened to have a two-day break from the wheat harvest, as his second aunt had taken over the Lu family's fields, leaving them with no wheat to harvest. So Gu Nanjiao took Lu Yanzhao to the county town to look at the newly rented house and to buy some necessary items.
Opening the gate to the courtyard, Gu Nanjiao pointed to the rooms in front and said, "This room is for Mother, this bigger one is for you, the smallest one is for my little sister, and the last one is for me!"
Gu Nanjiao felt that her arrangement was very reasonable.
Lu Yanzhao's expression changed: "You and I should live separately?"
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