Chapter 121: Chapter 122: Expelled from the Clan
"Our clan has no precedent for this. I donāt approve of you marrying into their family," Li Cuicui said resentfully. "Whatever silver they gave you, you go and return it.
If their daughter is willing to marry into our village, then Iāll accept it."
Gu Shulin said, "As the Old Clan Leader, while our clan doesnāt have a specific rule against this, your actions are equivalent to joining another family. Our clanās authority may no longer hold any sway over you.
If you insist on this path, then for the sake of the entire family, Iāll have no choice but to strike your name from the family registry. Do you still think this is worth it?"
Gu Yuanleiās legs felt weak, and he leaned against the wall for support. "It canāt be that serious, can it? They promised me that if we have several children, one of them would carry my surname."
Gu Shulin shook his head. "That will only lead to endless complications later on. You should think it over carefully."
Gu Dashishi added, "You are not marrying into their family. Itās not as if I, your father, canāt find you a wife. Why would you choose to go through such an ordeal?
Donāt let them sweet-talk you into not seeing the serious consequences."
Gu Yuanlei retorted, "I never wanted to marry into their family in the first place. If you people could just give me the silver taels, I could negotiate properly with the Lan Family. I could buy a small house next to theirs, and we could build a life.
Why canāt any of you just support me?"
Gu Wenheng shook his head. āThis manās selfishness is bone-deep. Heāll never change.ā
"Thatās unacceptable," the other clan elders all stepped forward and said. They too could see Gu Yuanleiās selfish natureāhe would even scheme against his own parents and brothers, so the rest of the clan meant even less to him. "If you choose to marry into their family, you must renounce your identity as a member of the Gu Family."
āGu Wenheng had been studying the law recently, so he knew many crimes could implicate oneās entire family and clan. If this man wasnāt bound by our rules, the standard clan procedure was to sever all ties preemptively to avoid future liability.ā
Gu Yuanlei glared at them resentfully. "I know youāve all always looked down on me, but what have I done wrong? If you strike me from the family registry today, all bonds between us will be gone. Are you sure about this?"
Hearing his resentful and threatening tone, even Gu Shulin, the acting village head, couldnāt stand it anymore. "You have a choice. Donāt marry into their family, and we can all pretend today never happened. Of course, you must immediately return the settlement money they gave you. Then, your father and mother will be sure to arrange a good match for you.
But if you insist on going your own way, then whether your future is good or bad will have nothing to do with any of us."
Gu Dashishi walked over and grabbed his arm. "My son, you once told me that you would support me in my old age and give me a good life. But I donāt want you to marry into their family. You donāt know what kind of life that is. Itās even worse than the life of a daughter-in-law who marries into a new family.
Listen to me. Iāll find you a good wife, and weāll build a good life right here."
"Thatās because you donāt know how kind the Lan Family is! They would never treat me the way you all say. Since youāve found out, just do whatever you want."
As he said this, Gu Yuanlei turned to look at Li Cuicui. "Mother, are you satisfied now? Youāve never liked Yingying. Well, from now on, we wonāt be around to be an eyesore. You can just live your wonderful life in the village with your other precious, āfilialā sons."
Those words went too far. Gu Wenheng stepped in front of Li Cuicui to shield her. "Donāt you worry. With us here, Motherās life will only get better. As for you... you should look after yourself."
Gu Yuanleiās eyes, filled with hatred, locked onto Gu Wenheng. "This is all your fault. I bet youāre satisfied now. Iām telling you, as of today, we are no longer brothers."
"As you wish," Gu Wenheng replied, completely unconcerned. āThis was exactly the outcome I wanted, anyway. Rather than watch him stir up trouble day after day, itās better to make a clean break now. Wonāt this save me from endless problems later on?ā
"..."
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"So, is that it? Are we completely done with him now?" Jin Qianqian finally found a chance to ask on their way back.
"His name has been completely wiped from the family registry. Even if he gets himself into trouble, it wonāt have a single thing to do with us." Thinking of his motherās devastated expression moments before, Gu Wenhengās resentment toward Gu Yuanlei deepened.
Jin Qianqian said, "Itās good that weāve drawn a clear line. Thereās something wrong with the way that manās brain works. He canāt even tell friend from foe.
Besides, the members of the Lan Family we met on the road didnāt seem like good people. If he really got mixed up with them, I was worried it would end up affecting us.
Itās not that Iām selfish, but that guy has just made one outrageous scene after another."
"Back at Third Great-Uncleās house, I told them about my plans to go to Leping Academy," Gu Wenheng said, glancing at Jin Qianqian. "But thereās one thing I did without discussing it with you first. Promise you wonāt get mad?"
"...," Jin Qianqian paused. "That depends on what it is."
Gu Wenheng said, "Itās about our few acres of land. Iāve entrusted them to the Clan Leader, and from now on, the harvest will be used to cover the clanās miscellaneous expenses."
āHe had considered giving the land to Gu Dashishi or one of his other brothers, but no matter who he chose, it would have offended the others.ā
āIt was better just to give it to the clan. That way, if anyone dared to complain, others would naturally step in to silence them.ā
Jin Qianqian said, "Oh, I thought it was something serious. Weāll be coming back here less and less in the future, so itās only right to entrust the land to someone.
But letās not make a habit of it. When we get the chance, I want to buy a small farmstead so we can plant the vegetables we want, like chili peppers."
Gu Wenheng said, "Iāve already asked someone to look into it. But thereās no rush. There are some things itās not yet appropriate for us to bring out."
āEven if he brought those things out, heād need a plausible excuse. It wasnāt easy getting a second chance at life, and all he wanted was for the two of them to live long, peaceful lives together.ā
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There are no airtight secrets in this world. In just half a day, the entire Gaoling Village had heard about the Gu familyās business.
Fortunately, Gu Yuanlei had rushed off immediately after witnessing his name being struck from the family registry. Otherwise, thereās no telling how much scolding he would have endured from the village elders.
Gu Wenheng wasnāt so lucky. He was currently cornered in his own home, listening to his brothers and sisters-in-law all blaming him at once.
"I do believe thatās our land. Shouldnāt we be the ones to decide whatās done with it?" Gu Wenheng said, finally understanding. These people were driven entirely by their own self-interest.
Gu Yuanhuo chimed in, "And you call yourself our brother? Why didnāt you think of us? Did you think we couldnāt have managed a few measly acres of land?"
Gu Wenheng was unapologetic. "The land has already been given away. Why donāt you go talk to the Old Clan Leader about it?"
The Gu family members were speechless. "..."
Gu Wenheng continued, "Whatās done is done. Thereās no point in wasting your time here. If thereās nothing else, you should all go home.
Itās been a long day, and we need to rest."
Hearing Gu Wenheng so bluntly shooing them away, Gu Yuanjin quickly changed the subject. "What really happened with our youngest brother? How could something so important be decided by just a handful of people?"
Gu Wenheng looked up at Gu Yuanjin. "What happened? I thought everyone already knew."