Chapter 346 Out with the Old, In with the New
"Oh well, at worst we'll just have to support another idle person from now on."
Gu Jin ultimately gave up the idea of trying to persuade him, but Gu Renjie did not think so.
In his view, this father and son were bound to cause trouble sooner or later.
Gu Renjie was just thinking this way, but who could have imagined that the trouble he spoke of would actually come knocking on his door soon after.
After several games of chess, it was almost time for dinner. They tidied their clothes and the group of five went to Yunxiang Courtyard together.
Upon entering the house, Gu Zongjie first looked for Aunt Qiao, but after scanning the room, he couldn't find her.
"Father, where is Mother?"
Gu Zongjie looked at Second Master Gu, who, having received the news, quickly lowered his head and whispered, "Your mother made a mistake and went back to the courtyard. Today is New Year's Eve, so don't mention this in front of Grandmother later."
Although Gu Zongjie was unhappy, he still had to listen to his father, and since he hadn't received his New Year's money yet, he couldn't act recklessly.
Nodding in agreement to Second Master Gu's words, the father and son then walked to the middle to pay their respects to the old lady.
As the old year gave way to the new, the family enjoyed their New Year's Eve dinner. Since Master Gu had been away from home for many years, he had to offer a few toasts to the elderly lady and Gu Jin and his wife. The newlywed Gu Yingjie and his wife also joined in, creating a joyful and harmonious family reunion.
As Gu Shuyan chatted and laughed with her sisters, she occasionally drifted off into thought about Yun Yichen and Ji Wenxuan, who hadn't returned yet. But when she looked up, she saw Gu Zongjie staring at her with resentful eyes.
When Gu Zongjie noticed Gu Shuyan looking over, he was startled and quickly lowered his head to eat the rice in his bowl.
Gu Shuyan's gaze lingered on him for a second before she casually looked away. She had disliked this cousin from the first time she met him, and even now, after moving to the outer courtyard and seemingly changing quite a bit, Gu Shuyan still couldn't bring herself to like him.
It is said that it is easier to change mountains and rivers than to change one's nature. This Gu Zongjie, like his mother, always has greed in his eyes. He is completely different from the somewhat timid Gu Yuxin and Gu Yuhe.
"Yuxin, Yuhe, eat less. There will be good things in the North Courtyard later."
Gu Shuyan whispered something to the two of them, then winked at them. Seeing this, the two nodded and slowed down their eating.
After a few rounds of drinks, seeing that the children had nothing to do, the old lady spoke up and told Gu Shuyan and the others to leave the courtyard first.
Gu Zongjie lived in the front yard, so he naturally went in that direction. Gu Shuyan, on the other hand, led Gu Yuxin and Gu Yuhe directly to the north yard.
In the courtyard, the maid had already lit a large stove. As soon as the three arrived, the quick-witted maid immediately brought over the prepared items.
"Big sister, what are you doing?"
The two looked at Gu Shuyan with confusion. Gu Shuyan pointed to the meat on the tray, "Roasted lamb, you've never had it before, have you?"
Upon hearing this, the two shook their heads in unison. Gu Shuyan did not offer any explanation, but instead instructed the maid to place the mutton on the fire and poured two cups of fruit wine for them.
"I've had this roasted lamb before, you should try it too."
Gu Shuyan told the two to sit down, then picked up a dagger and made two cuts in the large piece of meat, placing the two pieces in their hands.
"This mutton tastes best when eaten with your hands."
Seeing that the two were at a loss, Gu Shuyan grabbed a piece herself and took the lead in demonstrating.
In her past life, Gu Shuyan had personally traveled to a tribe thousands of miles away for Lu Youming's sake, and it was there that she ate this roasted mutton.
Although the way she ate was considered somewhat unrefined by people in the capital, Gu Shuyan genuinely enjoyed the pleasure of eating meat with gusto.
Following Gu Shuyan's example, the two sisters looked at the meat in their hands, and finally took a small bite.
The aroma and the springy texture of the meat made them unable to resist taking another bite. In the end, they were swayed by Gu Shuyan and began to eat heartily, even taking a sip of fruit wine at the end.
The three of them sat around the stove, munching on mutton until they were all stuffed. Only then did Gu Yuxin and Gu Yuhe say goodbye.
After leaving the North Courtyard, Gu Yuxin did not go directly back to Yunxiang Courtyard, but instead went to the Second Branch with Gu Yuhe.
In Aunt Qiao's courtyard, the maids were all huddled together in one room eating their New Year's Eve dinner. Aunt Qiao, having angered the old lady, was alone in the main room.
"Mother, don't worry, when your son becomes successful, I will definitely let you be your father's wife again."
The voice of a little child was somewhat childish but firm.
"Mother knows that my Zong'er is the best in this Marquis's mansion, unlike your ungrateful sisters who go to enjoy their retirement in the old lady's courtyard and then abandon their mother. They not only don't help others when they see them bullying me, but they also help the eldest son's family bully me."
Aunt Qiao spoke angrily, her eyes filled with rage.
"Mother, don't mention those two wretches. Now they're not only trying to please the old lady every day, but they're also getting closer and closer to the eldest son's family. Even if they marry into a higher social class in the future, what difference will it make? They won't care about the life or death of us, mother and son."
Gu Zongjie's words were completely out of character for someone his age, especially the way he was trying to sow discord between Gu Yuxin and Gu Yuhe. If someone didn't know the situation, they would think he was deliberately trying to drive a wedge between them.
“That’s why Mother was so afraid of this happening, and that’s why she absolutely refused to let them go to the old lady’s courtyard.”
Aunt Qiao was still angry when she talked about this. She had clearly taken control of the situation, but her two daughters still managed to outmaneuver her.
Seeing Aunt Qiao's indignant expression, Gu Zongjie didn't feel anything was wrong. On the contrary, he was happy to see his two older sisters being resented by their mother.
"If you ask me, I should have beaten them to death before we even returned to the Marquis's mansion. They were just two good-for-nothings; their deaths wouldn't matter. Maybe Grandmother would have felt a little more pity for you after losing your two daughters!"
Gu Zongjie never had any affection for his two older sisters. In his memory, from the very beginning, the two of them were often secretly beaten and scolded by their mother.
Whenever their father was away, all the housework fell to their two older sisters and Niao Cui. If they displeased their mother, they would be beaten very badly that very day.
Therefore, in her eyes, her older sister was destined to be a beaten maid, the kind of maid who would have to pay money to get married.
"Back then, I was thinking that once I returned to the Marquis's mansion, I could arrange marriages for them with families of higher social standing, which would be helpful to you in the future! If I had known things would turn out like this, I would have strangled them the moment they were born."
When her son said he wanted to beat his daughter to death, Aunt Qiao not only didn't scold him, but even agreed with him.
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