Chapter 116 - 117: Asking for Silver

Chapter 116: Chapter 117: Asking for Silver

Ancient Wen Heng, "You don’t think Eldest Brother said nothing, do you? You left with that Miss Lan, so why are you so concerned about coming back to see Mom and Dad now?"

Gu Yuanlei, "..." ’If I didn’t need my household registration to prove my identity, who would want to come back?’

Gu Dashishi came out with his hands behind his back. "Your youngest brother is much more devoted to his parents than any of you. He’s here to take us away to live a good life. We won’t be needing this house you built."

The sheer audacity of his claim startled both Jin Qianqian and Ancient Wen Heng.

"Mom, what’s going on?" Ancient Wen Heng asked, turning directly to Li Cuicui.

"Don’t listen to your father’s nonsense. I’m not going anywhere. Our lives have finally settled down, and I refuse to get dragged into their foolish shenanigans."

Gu Yuanlei, "Mom, how is this ’shenanigans’? Besides, Brother Qi isn’t using this courtyard. We might as well sell it for some Silver. You could even consider it a display of filial piety from Brother Qi."

"Hah! You don’t get a say in what happens to this courtyard. As for your other demands, there’s nothing we can do. When your Brother Qi got married, all we gave him were two taels of Silver and two acres of poor farmland.

In any case, your father and I are treating you the same as your brothers. Take it or leave it."

Hearing this, Ancient Wen Heng started to form a theory. ’I knew it. This kid didn’t come back for anything good.’

"By the way, Youngest, how did you find this place?"

Gu Yuanlei, "I didn’t have my household registration with me. When the officials found me, they were going to send me right back where I came from. Luckily, I made some inquiries and learned that most people from our entire village of Bainiao had stayed behind. It was a huge ordeal, but I finally managed to track down our family.

Really, you people... so many of you, and not a single one thought to leave any information for me."

Ancient Wen Heng had no patience for this whining. "Since you’re back, go register with the village chief. The family can get an extra two acres of land and a housing plot that way."

"Brother Qi, what’s that supposed to mean? Are you trying to kick me out of the family? I don’t think that’s your call to make."

Li Cuicui immediately shielded Ancient Wen Heng behind her. "Is that any way to talk to your brother? Don’t forget, your Brother Qi built this house. If you don’t like it here, you can get out right now."

"Mom, that’s incredibly biased. Besides, I have no intention of staying in this remote place. Just help me arrange my marriage, and I promise I’ll never show up to bother you again."

Ancient Wen Heng, "You’re getting married?"

"That’s right, Brother Qi. Your little brother’s fortunes are about to turn. If you give me a hand now, you can come to me for help with anything in the future." Gu Yuanlei declared, puffing out his chest with a smug look on his face.

Seeing his brother’s idiotic expression, Ancient Wen Heng simply turned and gave Li Cuicui a silent, questioning look.

"What a disaster," Li Cuicui muttered. "It’s because of that girl from the Lan Family. Apparently, her family bought a house in Dao City, and now they’re claiming your brother has ruined their daughter’s reputation and must marry her.

They’re demanding a betrothal gift of at least one hundred taels or a house. Where are we two old folks supposed to get that for him?"

"..." Ancient Wen Heng said, "This is your fortune turning around? Are you out of your mind? They clearly don’t want to marry their daughter to you. That’s why they’re setting such an impossibly high price."

"How is that possible?" Gu Yuanlei looked completely confident. "Yingying might already be carrying the Gu family’s eldest grandson. How could she not marry me?"

Ancient Wen Heng, "..." ’He’s a lost cause.’

Jin Qianqian, "..." ’Utterly shameless.’

Li Cuicui repeated her point. "In any case, we don’t have what you’re asking for. You know what our family’s finances were like. Even if it means being unfair to your brothers, five taels of Silver is the absolute most I can give you. But after that, you will have no more ties to this family. We’ll consider you to have formally split off to live on your own."

Gu Dashishi, "You old woman! That’s the Prefecture City we’re talking about! If our son establishes himself there, we could go and enjoy a comfortable life with him later on."

Li Cuicui, "The price is too high. This old woman isn’t blessed with that kind of fortune.

Since you and that Miss Lan have already taken things that far, for better or worse, the decision is yours. If you’re truly determined, I’ll swallow my pride and ask your brothers to chip in. We should be able to get those five taels of Silver for you."

Gu Yuanlei, "But didn’t every household get ten taels for a resettlement allowance? Mom, the math isn’t adding up."

Li Cuicui, "Do your father and I not have to live? All the things in this house—did they just magically appear here?

If you agree, then take the Silver Taels and go. Stop bragging all over the village; your father and I can’t afford the humiliation."

Gu Yuanlei threw his hands up. "Well, I can’t agree to that. Give me one hundred taels of Silver. You wouldn’t want to lose both a daughter-in-law and a grandson, would you?"

Li Cuicui, "Then they’re gone. She was always out of our league anyway. If you’d just listen to me, we can find you another girl around here later, one who knows how to run a household far better than that Miss Lan."

"That’s not happening. I already promised Yingying I’d bring back the Silver to marry her. Are you telling me that Mom and my brothers are all unwilling to help me?"

As he spoke, Gu Yuanlei’s gaze suddenly shifted to Jin Qianqian. "Seventh Sister-in-law, since you were able to come up with the Silver to build two houses, I’m sure you can help me through this difficult spot, can’t you?

Don’t worry. Once we’ve established our own little home, I’ll definitely pay you back as soon as I’m able."

Jin Qianqian sneered inwardly. ’He’s a smooth talker, I’ll give him that. He’s certainly got a talent for trying to get something for nothing.’

Ancient Wen Heng, "Don’t ask your Seventh Sister-in-law. I can tell you right now, that’s not going to happen."

"Are you even my own brother? My sister-in-law hasn’t said a word yet."

"By what right?" Ancient Wen Heng asked, crossing his arms as he stared at him. "Let’s not even talk about how we’ve already split from the main family. You have the nerve to target your sister-in-law’s dowry? Following that logic, does that mean after your wife joins the family, we can go to her and demand things too?"

"By what right?" Gu Yuanlei echoed, then clamped his mouth shut and shot a pleading look at Gu Dashishi.

Gu Dashishi, "Seventh..."

"You two have had a long trip back and must be tired. Go get some rest. Don’t worry about any of this." Li Cuicui cut him off, giving him no chance to speak as she pushed Ancient Wen Heng and Jin Qianqian toward the door.

She didn’t forget to turn and shoot a fierce glare at the father and son. "Both of you, get inside now!"

"Don’t pay them any mind. If they can’t stir up any trouble, they’ll eventually give up."

Staring at the closed gate, Ancient Wen Heng gave a bitter smile. ’Guess you can find people with messed-up wiring everywhere. It’s just a matter of luck whether you happen to run into them.’

"Tsk, tsk. Looks like Mom still plays favorites with you," Gu Yuanshui remarked from the side of the road. Gu Yuanhuo was standing right next to him.

Ancient Wen Heng and Jin Qianqian exchanged greetings with them. "Mom and Dad are inside. Aren’t you two going in?"

Gu Yuanshui, "We wouldn’t dare set foot in there. Youngest has been pestering us nonstop these last few days. He’s practically demanding we sell everything we own just to fund his comfortable life."

Gu Yuanhuo shot Ancient Wen Heng a malicious look. "Did Dad hit you up for money? You’re such a filial son, after all. You even built a house for Mom and Dad. I’m sure you wouldn’t mind helping out our youngest brother a bit more."

Ancient Wen Heng, "..." ’So, they’re just here to watch the drama unfold?’