Chapter 75 - 76: Troublemaker

Chapter 75: Chapter 76: Troublemaker

"Oh my god, water! So much water!"

Everyone went wild. They threw off their packs and rushed to the lake’s edge in a single wave, greedily scooping up the water and drinking nonstop.

"This place is amazing!" Gu Sanbu said, wiping the water from the corner of his mouth contentedly. "If our hometown had a lake like this, we wouldn’t have had to abandon our homes and livelihoods to live such an inhuman life on the road."

Gu Shulin said, "Dad, look! There are mountains and water here. Why don’t we just settle down here?"

Gu Sanbu’s expression stiffened, but he shook his head. "We’ll wait for the drought to pass. We have to go back to our hometown. That’s where our roots are."

"But you said before that if the Holy Emperor helped us get settled, we could try to make our new home near Shangjing."

Gu Sanbu replied, "That was the old way of thinking. Look how long we’ve been stuck here. The city gates are shut tight, which is even worse than the previous cities. In those places, at least the officials and nobles came outside the gates to give everyone water and congee."

"But look at these officials in Dao City. Not only do they lack a shred of compassion, they even drove out the refugees who had already made it into the city. Forget about them ever taking us in."

"So it’s the same everywhere?"

"That’s why you all must find a way to improve our family’s station. Even if you don’t have a gift for scholarship, our descendants must be sent to private schools. As long as one of them rises up, we can escape this life of being at the mercy of others."

Gu Sanbu pointed to Gu Wenheng and his wife, who were standing far off by the lake. "From now on, you must stay on good terms with those two. You can’t afford to offend them."

"???"

"You don’t get it, do you?" Gu Sanbu squinted at Gu Wenheng in the distance. "I can’t figure that kid out anymore. I used to think he was just lucky, that he only managed to become a child student because he studied under that old scholar. When the old scholar died, I figured his path to success was cut short."

"But if you look closely, you’ll see the boy has an extraordinary air about him. That’s not something an ordinary peasant family can raise."

"I have no idea what that old scholar’s background was, to be able to teach a peasant’s son to be so remarkable."

"If your old man had known he was so capable, I would have done anything to invite him into our home and let our boys learn a thing or two from him."

’The old scholar, taking the blame for all this... ’I’m really just a destitute scholar. You give me too much credit.’’

"Dad, you mean... Gu Wenheng will advance even further?" Gu Shulin was stunned.

"One step?" Gu Sanbu stroked his beard. "Your perception is still lacking. Watch the way that young couple looks at each other. I used to think Gu Wenheng married the Jin Family’s only child just to avoid paying a bride price. Looks like we were all mistaken."

"This entire journey, his wife has been quiet, but she has kept up with his pace without complaint."

"Especially the look in her eyes—that’s not something a village woman from a humble background could possess."

"Now I suspect the Jin Family’s origins aren’t so simple. I just don’t know for what reason they were holed up in our village."

"Gu Wenheng was able to endure everyone’s ridicule to personally handle the funeral for the Jin family’s matriarch. You think there’s nothing more to that story?"

"Dad, now that you mention it, I remember!" Gu Shulin slapped his thigh. "Remember that hundred-wen fee to enter the city? They both went in together. I later overheard that they went to pawn some of Jin Qianqian’s dowry."

"Even though the things they bought weren’t worth much, I’m sure they have more than just that to their name. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have gone to all that trouble."

"You only see what’s on the surface. Haven’t you noticed that their complexions are different from everyone else’s?"

"Before, we were all covered in dust and grime, each looking more wretched than the last. But ever since they emerged from those deep mountains, they’ve been strikingly different from everyone else."

"They’re just a bit paler and cleaner," Gu Shulin said, raising a hand in return as he saw Gu Wenheng wave at them. "That’s perfectly normal. They must have cleaned up here before coming back."

"That’s all you noticed?" Gu Sanbu sighed, not wanting to get any more worked up over his dense son. "Judging by their complexions, they haven’t been lacking for food on this journey."

"And what about their sharp senses just now? We only glanced at them a few extra times from this far away, yet they noticed. Do you think you could do that if it were you?"

"Well, maybe? They might have just looked up at the right moment," Gu Shulin said, though he didn’t sound convinced himself. "So, Dad, you still haven’t said how you think they’ll ’advance’ in the future."

"That will depend on how much ambition Gu Wenheng has. In any case, I can’t figure him out right now. But there is one advantage. No matter what, he’s a member of the Gu family. When the time comes, even if he doesn’t want to, he’ll have to give his clansmen a hand."

As the Clan Leader, Gu Sanbu understood the importance of clan rules better than anyone.

* * *

Gu Wenheng rubbed his arms. "Wife, why do I suddenly feel a bit cold?"

Jin Qianqian looked over his clothes, then reached out to feel the fabric’s thickness. "That can’t be right. I’m starting to sweat a little. Aren’t men supposed to run hotter? Don’t tell me you have a weak constitution?"

Gu Wenheng was speechless. ’This wife of mine will be the death of me,’ he thought. ’Can she really just throw around a term like ’weak constitution’ so casually?’

Jin Qianqian, however, thought she’d discovered the truth. "Oh dear, that won’t do at all! You’re so young, you can’t ruin your health like this. It’s a good thing we gathered all that ginseng. I’ll stew some chicken for you later to build up your strength."

"We’ll have to do it away from the others, though. The smell of ginseng chicken soup is too strong; it’ll attract trouble."

"Or maybe we should find a place to settle down first. Then I can make you nourishing meals three times a day. I promise I’ll get you nursed back to being big and strong..."

"Stop," Gu Wenheng quickly cut her off. "I was just walking all day and sweating heavily. Standing by the lake, the sudden change in temperature just gave me a momentary chill."

’If I let this girl keep talking,’ he thought, ’I’ll be bedridden and undergoing treatment by the end of it.’

Jin Qianqian still looked doubtful. "Are you sure? Do you want me to make you some ginger tea to warm you up? This isn’t the time to be a hero. It’ll be a real problem if you get sick."

Gu Wenheng was speechless. Heh.

"Let me feel your forehead." Jin Qianqian suddenly reached out, placing her hand on his forehead, then on her own to compare. "It’s normal."

Gu Wenheng was speechless. ’Who’s the one who’s not normal here?’ he thought. ’If she keeps this up, I really am going to be unwell.’

"Qianqian, what’s wrong with Seventh? Does he have a fever?" Li Cuicui looked up just in time to see this and was so alarmed she dropped what she was holding and rushed over.

Gu Wenheng was speechless. ’This wife of mine...’

"I don’t think so," said Jin Qianqian. "But my husband just said he was feeling a little cold, so I’m worried he’s caught a chill."

"After all, it’s autumn now, and there’s a big difference in temperature between the mornings and evenings."

"Well, don’t you two just stand here, then," said Li Cuicui. "Hurry and move away from the lake. Go over there and get a fire started so you can warm up a bit."