After waking up, Old Mrs. Jiang held her daughter's hand and cried.
However, she was an optimistic old lady. After inquiring about Jiang Lanling's life over the years, she learned that there was a young daughter who had not come with her. She also looked at her eldest grandson.
"What does a bayberry look like? Does it look like your brother?"
Jiang Lanling smiled and said, "You do look somewhat like me. Both of you are good siblings."
"Why didn't Meizi come?"
“She just got married, so we didn’t invite her on this trip.” Then he pointed to Yang Liu, “This one was also arranged last year, but the girl’s family has to wait three years, so we’ll have to wait.”
"Okay, I understand, I understand." The old lady held her grandson's hand, looking at him no matter how long she looked at him, she loved him dearly!
Jiang's brother and sister-in-law returned from town. After arriving home, they chatted for a while, and then the two of them hurriedly went out to slaughter chickens and ducks.
She then sent Jiang Lanling's two nephews to the vendor selling fried sausages at the village entrance to cut a bowl of sheep intestines.
Their family used to be well-off; when they lived in Jiangnan, the father worked as an accountant in the county.
My husband goes with people to sell coarse cloth in remote villages, and he can earn a few dozen taels a year.
The family's paddy fields were also rented out to others, and they only needed to harvest a portion of the grain each year, not much, just enough for the family to eat.
Therefore, neither Old Mrs. Jiang nor her sister-in-law Wei Xiang were very good at cooking or slaughtering ducks at home. They would just buy a basket and bring back a couple of bowls of vegetables for the family.
She was good at catching fish; back then, she was most proud of going to the fields to catch fish with her sister-in-law. They would come back, chop the fish into small pieces, fry them in oil, and then make soup.
Over the years, I've become incredibly skilled at cooking other meals at home. To save money, I rarely buy food or drinks outside; I cook everything myself.
Since Jiang Lanling's brother, Jiang Yuji, reunited with his parents after the flood, he had no intention of going out to do business again.
Those years were indeed tough for my family, not only because our savings were washed away by the flood, but also because we had no way to go out and earn money.
After his parents suffered such a great calamity, Jiang Yuji dared not abandon them to go out and do business. Moreover, why did the family settle here? It was because they wanted to look for Jiang Lanling along the way.
According to my fellow villagers, they seemed to have seen Jiang Lanling running this way. Indeed, many families fled to the capital to take refuge after the flood that year.
The prices in the capital are too high to afford, so I can only use the little money I have to buy a house here.
Over the years, I've gone to the capital every year to inquire, but each time I've come back by some twist of fate and haven't found any information.
"Now that I've finally found my little sister," Jiang Yuji chuckled as he helped his wife kill the chicken and chop the duck.
The carpenter's wife, however, had this unexpected connection. Feeling that she had done a good deed, she went home with her hands tucked in her sleeves, quite pleased with herself.
When they got home, they saw Gu Ting there, bossing his son around, telling him to catch a chicken for him and cook it.
She stood by her own door and frowned upon seeing this scene. But then she remembered that this was Aunt Jiang's relative, so she decided to just bear with it.
Gu Ting turned his head and saw her coming back. "Perfect timing. Hurry up and prepare some food for me."
He tossed a purse over, saying, "Kill a chicken, cook two dishes, and do you have rice? Your family."
Gu Ting's attitude was too arrogant. People could suppress their anger and hold back, but they couldn't.
"Young master, why do you need to eat at our house? Hasn't your aunt already gone to her family home?"
Why don't you go and get a meal yourself? We don't cook at home until it's mealtime!
"What do you mean? What family of origin?" Gu Ting asked in confusion. Jiang Lanling has a family of origin? Didn't Aunt Yang say that she fled here when she was a refugee? Where would she have any family?
With doubts arising, Gu Ting didn't bother to ask the farmer to cook for him anymore and headed straight for Yang Liu!
When I arrived at their house, it really was like that, and I immediately felt resentful.
They had agreed to come and see Aunt Yang and deliver a message, so why were they so lucky?
Even Aunt Yang can't return to the capital, but this family of peasants has run into each other. What bad luck!
Jiang Lanling noticed his expression darken. "I won't travel with you on the way back. The carriage is fixed, so you can go back by yourself."
Without even offering an explanation, he waved Gu Ting away.
Gu Ting felt terrible. Why? He had missed the chance to make friends at the old lady's birthday banquet, only to end up doing all the work for Jiang Lanling. He was absolutely furious!
Then Jiang Lanling stayed in the village for two more days instead of leaving with Gu Ting.
However, Yang Liu chased after her, partly because she needed to go home and pack her things, as her maternal grandparents would be arriving in a couple of days, and partly because she wanted to share this joyous occasion with Yang Mei as soon as possible.
Gu Ting could only let him continue to return by carriage.
"Your uncle's body is barely cold, and you can't hide your joy, your eyes crinkling with laughter! Humph! If your uncle could know this from beyond the grave, I wonder if he would feel a chill run down his spine upon seeing you like this?"
Gu Ting glanced at Yang Liu, unable to bear his relaxed and happy appearance, and said something hurtful to him.
"I am naturally happy that my mother has been reunited with her family. But if we're talking about heartbreak, it's probably my aunt and you who truly chilled my father's heart!"
Also, I don't know if you'll be able to make it to the old lady's birthday banquet when we return to the capital, since you've been looking forward to it for so long.
You didn't even set foot at your own uncle's funeral! You're afraid people will say you're carrying bad luck, so they won't let you go, right?
"You...!" Gu Ting was also furious, his eyes wide with anger. Yang Liu turned her head away, refusing to look at him.
Although she managed to shut Gu Ting up with her words, Yang Liu still felt uncomfortable.
Yang Liu had been feeling rather dazed lately, and her mood only improved after meeting her family. But what they said disgusted her again.
They walked in silence. Gu Ting had been kicked out by the second wife in a fit of anger, so he didn't bring any servants with him when he left.
Upon arriving in the capital, Gu Ting deliberately had Yang Liu help drive the carriage into the Marquis's residence.
What were they planning? They wanted to humiliate him and force him to enter through the side gate.
But when Yang Liu reached the alley entrance, she abandoned the car and turned to leave.
Gu Ting was so angry he was stunned. In the end, he realized he had forgotten to go back through the main entrance. He took a few big strides and, without realizing it, entered through the side gate.
It wasn't until he returned to Moyuan Courtyard that he realized what was happening. Seeing his anger, Xu Shaoqing quickly poured him a cup of tea.
"My lord, have some tea and calm yourself down. What's wrong?"
Gu Ting forced a smile, "It's nothing! Have you recovered the money owed to the shop?"
Upon hearing this, Xu Shaoqing felt a pang of sadness. "No, I don't know where those two scoundrels have gone!"
Gui Xiang sneered inwardly, "If you ask me, young mistress, don't panic. Who knows when the person our young master went to find will come back and look for him? Then the money will just go back to our third branch of the family."
Gu Ting slammed his teacup down. "That's a strange thing to say. I kindly brought you the finest goods."
Now they're blaming me? How was I supposed to know these two would run off with the money?
"Who is this maidservant referring to indirectly? The money is lost, what does that have to do with me? It wasn't my idea!"
After saying that, he stood up and left. He was really annoyed to see others doing so well, especially since he had benefited others because of him.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have argued with Guixiang so openly and directly.
Seeing Gu Ting leave in anger, Xu Shaoqing also stomped her foot at Gui Xiang.
"You should go down now, and don't come up to serve me for the next couple of days!"
Gui Xiang was unconvinced and rolled her eyes. She gave a respectful curtsy, slowly took a few steps back, and then turned and left.
After leaving, he didn't go back to his room, but instead packed his things and went straight back to the Anbo Mansion for a vacation.
After Gu Ting came out, he went straight to Gu Xiao and asked, "Father, did you get those silver notes back?"
Gu Xiao awkwardly touched his nose. It was really something to have his own son come to him to share the spoils!
He took out eight thousand taels and handed it to Gu Ting, saying, "Take this; is this enough?"
To everyone's surprise, Gu Ting was acting like he was on steroids today, replying bluntly and directly.
"Not enough! Didn't I say that the passage fee is 15,000 taels? Even if we take all the money we got this time, it won't be enough."
However, I met my aunt at the estate, and she said she had over ten thousand taels of silver in savings, which I could use.
After speaking, she stared intently at Gu Xiao, whose eyes flickered away.
"Haven't you been receiving dividends all these years? Don't touch your aunt's money!"
I'll keep that money for her and pay her back when the time is right.
Gu Ting neither spoke nor moved, but stood in front of the table watching him.
"Alright, alright! You can have all ten thousand taels from the rouge shop this time. Your father doesn't want a single penny! Is that alright?"
Gu Ting was finally satisfied. He took the silver note, put it in his sleeve, and left.
After leaving, he didn't return to his own courtyard, but went to the main courtyard to find the second wife.
"Mother, I am in the process of getting a promotion, and I need two thousand taels of silver to prepare gifts for the festival. Could you please issue the order now?"
Zheng Jin frowned. "Is it really settled?"
"Yes! The Director of Studies at the Imperial Academy has been promoted one rank, and the transfer order will be issued soon."
"How did we end up at the Imperial Academy?"
Gu Ting said impatiently, "Mother, could you please approve the note now? I need it urgently, and Father has already agreed."
Zheng Jin sneered, "Say it or don't!" "Go ahead, just have Manager Chen approve it for you, and tell him I agree."
It's just normal social interaction and maintaining relationships. Zheng Jin couldn't stop them from doing that; it was indeed appropriate to give gifts during holidays and festivals.
Besides, this is a promotion, so giving some gifts to colleagues is perfectly normal.
Gu Ting has already received 12,000 taels of silver, which solves the major problem.
He added another three thousand taels of silver himself, then sent the silver notes over, and now he just had to wait for good news.
The thought that he would be able to get a satisfactory position in just a few days made Gu Ting feel much better.
He accepted the nourishing soup that Xu Shaoqing had brought, picked it up, and sipped it slowly.
Gui Xiang finally got to go home, and her nanny Gui also took leave to come back, cook some delicious food for her daughter, and ask about her recent situation.
To her surprise, early the next morning, Jiang Shiyi summoned her to the inner courtyard again. The order was still that Guixiang should be brought in as well.
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