Chapter 246: Hidden Return
Gu Lianshan had no plan to drink too much this time, he just went over to keep the party company, and he certainly wouldn't drink too much.
He assured Gu Tang: "Dad will come over later and just pick up some food to eat. No more than ten cups of wine will be consumed!"
"Ten cups is not enough?" Gu Tang's eyes widened. "Those who can't drink well will be exhausted after two or three cups. Even those who can drink well will feel dizzy after four or five cups. If you drink ten cups, can you still come back in the evening?"
Gu Lianshan paused and asked, "Ten cups are too much?"
He looked at Gu Tang: "How about halving it, five cups?"
"Five cups is fine. It shouldn't be a problem if you drink this amount." Gu Tang nodded. It would be fine if the amount was halved.
Seeing that his daughter agreed to five bowls, Gu Lianshan breathed a sigh of relief and continued to eat the mutton and drink the mutton soup.
By the time we finished eating, it was already dark outside.
Gu Lianshan took out a torch and wanted to light it to illuminate the way.
Seeing this, Gu Tang hurriedly asked him to put it down, called Gu Ping'an, and asked him to go to the empty room in the west wing and get a lantern.
"We have lanterns at home. You can go over with them. It will be both more dignified and more convenient. Isn't it much better than a torch?"
Gu Lianshan knew that his family had bought a lantern, but he was reluctant to use it. He was afraid that if he didn't hold the lantern properly, the candle inside would burn the lampshade.
"Dad can just use a torch. I'm not used to your lantern. What if it catches fire?"
"If it burns, it burns. It's just a lantern. Just use it. It's meant to be used and burned."
While the father and daughter were talking, Gu Ping'an had already brought the lantern over.
Taking off the lampshade, Gu Tang found a white candle as thin as a finger, inserted it into the base of the lantern, lit it, and then put the lampshade on.
She handed the small stick on top of the lantern to Gu Lianshan: "Hold it and have a look first. This lantern is different from those fancy lanterns. It's just a layer of rice paper pasted on the lamp stand. There's nothing else. It's perfect for lighting and guiding the way."
This was the first time that Gu Lianshan carried a lantern. Although he said that a torch would be fine, when Gu Tang handed him the lantern, he still took it with a curious look on his face and walked back and forth twice with the lantern in his hand.
"How is it? Much more convenient than a torch, right?" Gu Tang asked with a smile.
Gu Lianshan nodded: "Indeed, this is much more practical than a torch."
"Okay, then take it with you. Don't drink too much. Remember, five cups of wine at most, no more! After drinking, don't talk too much. There are some things in our family that cannot be told to others for the time being."
Gu Tang was worried and reminded him again and again, fearing that after a few drinks, he would be flattered and forget his own limitations, and would talk about some family matters without thinking.
Gu Lianshan nodded continuously, telling Gu Tang not to worry, as he had remembered every word she said in his heart.
After comforting Gu Tang, Gu Lianshan happily walked towards the courtyard gate holding the lantern.
Gu Ping'an followed him holding an oil lamp and walked him to the distant door.
After everyone left, he closed the door again.
Returning to the second courtyard, he lit two lanterns in the corridor, hung one at the entrance of the main room and the other on the second door of the second courtyard.
When his father came back later, the person who got up to open the door could just pick up the lantern to light the room without having to use the flint to light it.
Gu Tang stood in the corridor for a while, watching Gu Ping'an busy with the lanterns, and felt that he was more thoughtful.
"It's cold outside. What are you doing standing outside? Come inside and warm yourself by the fire."
The third uncle in the room urged Gu Tang to come in quickly.
Gu Tang responded subconsciously, turned around, lifted the curtain, and put one foot into the main room.
At this moment, Gu Tang suddenly remembered something and looked up and asked his uncle, "Grandpa, where are the two dogs I bought during the day?"
"Dog?" Third Uncle looked confused.
"Yes, and the dog?"
The third uncle slapped his thigh and said, "If you hadn't mentioned it, I really couldn't remember it for a moment. Those two dogs were safely settled. Why don't you ask him?"
Gu Tang withdrew the foot that had stepped into the house, turned around and asked Gu Ping'an.
The two dogs were indeed placed there by Gu Ping'an. He pointed to the east wing and said, "The two puppies are in my room. I saw that they were small and I was afraid that they would get cold, so I didn't dare to put them outside."
"Did you leave any food for them tonight?"
"Ah?" Gu Pingan was stunned for a moment, then angrily said, "I forgot to leave some! I'll go cook them now!"
"Okay, stop busying yourself." Gu Tang stopped him and suggested, "There's still a lot of mutton soup in the pot. Go get a bowl of it. Then take out two pieces of biscuits from the jar, break them into pieces and soak them in the soup bowl. After soaking for a while, you can serve it to the puppy."
Feeding dogs with pancakes soaked in mutton soup is really a luxury!
You know, mutton soup with pancakes is such a simple food that many people cannot afford it.
If Gu Ping'an were allowed to choose, he would never be willing to feed the puppies with pancakes soaked in mutton soup.
Unfortunately, this matter was proposed by Gu Tang, and he could not have any opinion on it.
Handing the oil lamp to Gu Tang, Gu Ping'an obediently went to the kitchen and served the soup as Gu Tang asked.
Gu Tang did not follow him, but stayed in the east wing. He pushed open the door of the room where Gu Ping'an lived and made a "slurp, slurp..." sound towards the dark room.
Soon, the childish humming sounds of puppies were heard from the house.
Gu Tang's eyes lit up and he continued to call out: "Suck, suck..."
After a while, two dogs came out of the house one after another.
Putting the oil lamp on the ground, Gu Tang took advantage of the two dogs' unpreparedness, grabbed one with each hand, and held them both tightly in his arms.
He picked up the oil lamp and took the dogs straight to the main room.
Third Uncle didn't expect Gu Tang to bring the puppy in, so he quickly stood up, took the oil lamp from her hand and put it on the table.
"Why did you bring them to the main room? I just heard Ping An say outside that the two dogs have been staying in his room. I think you should give them to Ping An tonight."
"I thought so too, but we have to feed them first." Gu Tang put the two next to the stove where it was warm.
They moved to a strange place again. The two puppies huddled together, whimpering timidly at the surroundings and not daring to move.
Fortunately, at this time, Gu Ping'an came in with a bowl of mutton soup and pancakes.
The two puppies, who had been hungry for half a day, became restless when they smelled the fragrance, sniffing everywhere, and soon came to Gu Ping'an's feet.
"Don't worry, don't worry. I'll give it to you right away." Gu Ping'an put the bowl in front of them with a doting look on his face.
The two puppies immediately went crazy. They buried their heads in the bowls and devoured the biscuits soaked in mutton soup in big mouthfuls.
The third uncle on the side took a look and said, hmm... mutton soup with pancakes, no need to worry now, these two dogs will definitely survive.
"Watch them. Once they've finished eating, let them go to your room to sleep. I'm going back to my room first."
Gu Tang said something to Gu Ping'an, said hello to his third uncle, and then left.
"There's a lantern hanging at the door. It's dark outside. Second sister, take the lantern to the backyard. I'll light another one later."
Gu Ping'an helped her lift the curtain at the door so that she could see the lanterns in the corridor outside.
Gu Tang responded, went out of the house, took down the lantern hanging on the wall, held it in his hand and walked towards the backyard.
As soon as I stepped into the backyard, a small stone suddenly fell from the sky not far ahead and hit the ground with a loud bang.
Gu Tang paused and immediately stopped.
Is this...Agou?
Stones don't fall from the sky, they must be man-made.
As for who this person is?
The first person Gu Tang thought of was Agou.
He continued walking forward calmly, and soon, another stone fell in front of him.
This time Gu Tang rolled his eyes.
She glanced around, it was pitch black and she couldn't see anything, but she knew that Agou was definitely watching her in the dark.
Gu Tang threatened in a low voice: "That's enough. If you really scare me in the middle of the night, you'll have to watch out for me!"
As soon as these words came out, there was a moment of dead silence all around.
After a while, Ah Gou's voice sounded in front: "I didn't scare you. I threw the stone so that you can be mentally prepared. Otherwise, if I suddenly appear, I'm afraid you will be frightened."
As Agou spoke, he walked out of the darkness and came to Gu Tang in a few steps.
With the help of candlelight, Gu Tang looked at him carefully, and seeing that he looked energetic and in good spirits, he asked him if his trip was going well.
Her father only reported good news and not bad news. When asked if everything was going well, she would immediately reply "everything was going well" without even thinking.
Gu Tang didn't quite believe it.
Fortunately, Agou was following them in the dark.
"The trip was extremely smooth. Everything went smoothly both ways, without any surprises." Agou spoke in a normal tone, without hesitation or evasion.
"That's good." It seems that this is really going well.
Gu Tang breathed a sigh of relief and led everyone back to the house.
When they got into the house, Gu Tang asked him about the yard again.
"Have you decided on the yard you looked at earlier?"
"It's settled. I'll give you ten taels of silver as a deposit first, and the rest will be paid tomorrow or the day after tomorrow when the contract is signed."
Gu Tang yawned and took out a box from his system backpack, which contained five hundred taels of silver.
"Here is five hundred taels. Use it to buy the yard."
Agou was stunned for a moment, then said quickly, "It won't cost that much. The yard is probably worth just over 200 taels."
"In addition to buying the yard, you also need to buy food, firewood, bedding, clothes and other things. All these together are not cheaper than the yard. If you run out of money, you can ask me for more.
It is not a bad thing to prepare more. If there is a snowstorm, there will be more people who become beggars. If the charity wants to save people, they need food, clothing, and shelter. "
"Okay, I'll do it the next day."
"The day after?" Gu Tang looked puzzled. "Why the day after? Wouldn't tomorrow be fine too?"
"Have you forgotten? I made an appointment with you earlier. Tomorrow I will come to thank you as a rich young man you saved. Let's talk about this in advance."
I almost forgot about this.
Gu Tang slapped his forehead. Agou came to express his gratitude as a young master from a wealthy family. This was indeed mentioned in advance.
But she hadn't expected so many things to happen before.
She tried to discuss with Agou and reschedule the time for her visit.
"Here's a kidnapper and a rescuer. My father is in a bad mood. If you come to our house tomorrow, I'm afraid you won't be able to discuss anything. In my opinion, why don't you wait a few days before coming?"
"How many days?" Agou said reluctantly, "If you wait any longer, you should go back to the village."
Gu Tang glanced at him, very surprised: "You knew we were going back to the village?"
Ah Gou's eyes widened: "I'm not stupid, you and your father have been living in a village outside the city, and now you are just temporarily living in Bei'an City.
Besides, there are reports of a snowstorm outside. For the safety of your family, you must return to the village."
"Don't worry, I will definitely not let my father go back to the village before you come." Gu Tang said solemnly.
But when Agou heard this, he didn't quite believe it.
"Can you control your father?"
"That's what I said, my father listens to me the most!"
After hearing this, Agou completely gave up. This man was determined to make him postpone his visit.
Okay, let’s postpone it.
"You are the master and I am the servant. Since you say so, I should obey."
Gu Tang breathed a sigh of relief. Just don't be stubborn.
"In that case, you should go back to Lihua Hutong first and buy a yard tomorrow. Then you can arrange for those little beggars to move in first and buy other things later."
Agou kept nodding his head and wrote down everything Gu Tang said. After a while, he walked out of the house and left the yard.
After seeing the people off, Gu Tang closed the door, washed up with the hot water on the stove in the room, and then slipped into bed.
Go to bed early and leave early, because she has something to ask her father tomorrow.
Not long after lying down on the bed, Gu Tang fell asleep.
On the Wei side, people at the banquet were still drinking and talking, praising each other and chatting about everything, and the atmosphere was extremely lively.
Gu Lianshan followed the agreement with his daughter. After finishing the fifth cup of wine, he sat in his seat and ate his food without saying a word. No matter who toasted him, he refused to eat anymore.
As time passed, all the food on the table had gone cold.
Calculating the time, this meal took almost an hour.
It can be collected now.
Everyone thought it was okay. After all, they had to get up early and go back to the village tomorrow, and no matter how much they drank tonight, they couldn't get drunk.
After everyone left the table and went back to sleep, Wei took her son and daughter to see Gu Lianshan off.
Gu Lianshan carried the lantern and strode out of the inn.
Just as he was about to leave, Wei suddenly called out to him, "Second brother!"
"What's wrong?" Gu Lianshan looked back at her, confused.
Wei pursed her lips and said in a pleading tone: "When you lead the tribesmen back to the village tomorrow, can you tell them not to announce my return for the time being?
Just tell the clan leaders and elders that I have returned safely, and don’t tell anyone else for now, especially the Gu family…”
Gu Lianshan didn't understand why Wei asked for this, but it wasn't a big deal, so he agreed immediately.
"I will come here early tomorrow morning, and I will explain everything to the tribe members then."
Wei looked very happy and bowed to Gu Lianshan.
Gu Lianshan waved his hand and told the three of them to go back: "I'm leaving now. It's getting late outside and very cold. You should go back to the house too."
After saying that, the man strode away.
Wei took her son and daughter to the door of the inn and watched for a while. When the lanterns could no longer be seen, they returned to the inn.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
