Chapter 714: Chapter 550: Taking Advantage

After Gu Chengyu had properly settled Zhu Pang, he returned to the old residence.

Mrs. Lv sat on a bench in the main room, sneaking glances at Mrs. Liu, who was sitting on the kang.

Previously, she found it strange that Gu Chengyu was so good-looking. Based on Miss He’s appearance, even if combined with the decent looks of Gu Changqing, how could they have produced such a handsome son?

Listening to the conversation among the three Gu brothers, Mrs. Lv felt somewhat uncomfortable.

She had never met Mrs. Liu, so naturally, they had nothing to talk about. What’s more, Mrs. Liu kept glancing at her gold and silver gemstone hairpins, and that appraising gaze made her displeased.

From Gu Changbai’s description, she could confirm that this was a visit to take advantage of, and maybe they’d want to linger until death.

“It was quite a coincidence. We stayed in the Capital for quite some time, and happened to meet our nephew. These days, thanks to his care, life has been more manageable. This time he returned home for a visit, and I thought it had been so many years since we’d seen each other, so I came along to visit.”

Gu Changbai took a sip of tea from his cup, noticing that its clear and fragrant taste indicated it wasn’t cheap.

The Gu Family serves their guests such good tea? He was quite curious about the sudden prosperity of the Gu Family. What kind of business had his third brother got into that made them so wealthy?

“Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law should have come back to visit long ago. It’s been so many years since we parted, and now we’re all old. If you don’t come back soon, who knows if we’ll ever see each other again.”

Mr. Gu sighed, feeling the unpredictability of life.

He observed that the clothes of Gu Changbai and his wife did not seem indicative of wealth. They had gone south all those years back, thinking they were going to enjoy life with their older sister’s husband.

If they had truly become wealthy, they surely would have returned long ago. Why else would they stay away for so many years? Who doesn’t want to return home in glory?

Unexpectedly, the tables had turned, and life became better for him, who stayed in Jingyuan Prefecture.

“What a coincidence indeed. Why did you go to the Capital? And why did only the two of you come back this time? What about the rest of your family?”

Uncle Gu was puzzled by this, since Second Brother only mentioned the family’s life in Yingnan Mansion and spoke of his late eldest son. But what about the others? The second son was in Yingnan Mansion, but what about the grandchildren left by the eldest son?

When Uncle Gu brought this up, Gu Changbai’s face showed a momentary discomfort.

“The eldest grandson is now studying in the Capital, for which we have to thank Xiao Bao. It was Xiao Bao who helped find that school, otherwise Fang couldn’t have entered that academy. The eldest granddaughter has a weak constitution and has been ill ever since arriving in the Capital, so she didn’t come.”

Gu Changbai paused his speech at this point.

After glancing at the activity in the courtyard, he continued, “The eldest granddaughter was kidnapped when she was young and has not been found yet. The youngest grandson passed away from a sudden illness the other day.”

Gu Changbai’s expression darkened, and when he thought of Xiao Yao in the Capital, tears of anguish fell.

He wondered if he would ever see Xiao Yao again in his lifetime. Would those people really allow him to see Xiao Yao again? At the moment, he felt a sudden uncertainty.

Uncle Gu and Mr. Gu sighed upon hearing this, lamenting how Second Brother’s life in Yingnan Mansion was unexpectedly so tragic.

“Alas! Life has certainly been hard on you all these years. Why didn’t you come back sooner?” Uncle Gu sighed.

Mrs. Lv pursed her lips in response to the comment about hardship. Without Xiao Bao, the Gu Family might have had an even harder time than Gu Changbai’s family!

“Sister-in-law, what kind of material is this dress you’re wearing? How is it shining like that?”

Mrs. Liu couldn’t hold back any longer. The men had their discussions, but when women gathered, wasn’t it natural to talk about cosmetics and clothing?

Mrs. Lv glanced at her dress, which was made from the fabric Xiao Bao had brought back, said to be some kind of expensive Shu Brocade.

The brocade was a cut silk with gold and silver in a cloud pattern, and indeed, the golden and silver threads shone under the sunlight.

“Second Sister-in-law, this fabric was brought back by Xiao Bao, and I can’t quite explain it.”

At this point, Mrs. Lv already regretted wearing this dress, her golden hairpins and gemstones even more so.

Initially, she didn’t want to embarrass Xiao Bao in front of his friends, but who knew relatives looking to take advantage of them would show up?

She realized that once Mrs. Liu saw this wealth, she wouldn’t let it go, and might even want to stay and eat off them.

“Oh! Xiao Bao is really accomplished, and so very filial to you.”

Mrs. Liu offered a couple of perfunctory compliments, but in her heart, she thought even with wealth, he was still a stepchild, so why get too proud?

The moment she turned away, seeing Mrs. Lv’s smooth, youthful skin, Mrs. Liu felt bitter.

Thinking of her own rough, sallow complexion, she couldn’t help but envy Mrs. Lv’s good fortune.

“It’s been nearly twenty years in Yingnan Mansion, and we’ve grown accustomed to life there. Third Brother, the Gu Family has indeed risen. What sort of business are you and Eldest Brother into these days?”

Gu Chengyu entered the courtyard, noticing that the clansmen and village people had dispersed, which made him breathe a sigh of relief.

“Uncle! Second Uncle! Father!”

Gu Chengyu entered the main room, called out to the three people inside.

Seeing two more people sitting aside, “Second Aunt! Mother!”

“Xiao Bao! Come over here.”

Mrs. Lv was overjoyed to see her son. He had just returned, and she hadn’t had the chance to properly talk to him.

Unlike Gu Changqing, Mrs. Lv felt no joy for uninvited guests like Gu Changbai and his wife. Instead, their presence disturbed her time with Xiao Bao.

Gu Chengyu smiled; in fact, he also had much to say to his parents. However, with his uncles present, some things wouldn’t be appropriate to discuss at the moment.

As Mrs. Lv appraised her son once more, she found that Xiao Bao looked immensely pleasing—surely there was no one better-looking in this world.

Wrapped in Mrs. Lv’s affectionate gaze, Gu Chengyu felt all warm inside.

“Mother! It’s been more than a year since we last saw each other. How have you and Father been? Did you miss me?”

Gu Chengyu stepped forward to let Mrs. Lv take a closer look, all the while contemplating how he must take his parents to the Capital this time.

“We’re good! Very well indeed! Your father often goes to work in the fields, and he’s very healthy. We’ve just missed you, but you never came back.” At this moment, Mrs. Lv was only focused on her son, forgetting about Mrs. Liu entirely.

“Mother! I must take you and Father with me to the Capital this time. Now that I’m an official, it’s not easy to come home again. Our Jingyuan Prefecture is quite far from the Capital, and we can only apply for a family visit once every three years; that’s too long.”

“What? Three years? That’s indeed too long.” Mrs. Lv exclaimed, initially hesitant about following Xiao Bao to the Capital, but now determined to go with him.

“What? Changqing, are you and Xiao Bao going to the Capital together?” Uncle Gu also exclaimed, surprised that the third brother’s family had such plans.

Mr. Gu took out his smoking pipe, “Big Brother! It’s not settled yet. We’ve been discussing it these past few days!”

Upon hearing Mr. Gu’s mention of going to the Capital, Gu Changbai felt a stirring in his heart.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep