Chapter 264 - 265: Discussing the Matter

Chapter 264: Chapter 265: Discussing the Matter

Ancient Wen Heng’s face darkened as he listened. He looked up at his older brothers. "You gave Father silver."

Gu Yuanjin cleared his throat. "Father said he wanted to have a few drinks with someone, so he asked me for some silver taels. It wasn’t much, so I gave him some a few times."

Gu Yuantu scratched his head. "I gave him some too."

Gu Yuanshui and Gu Yuanhuo looked at each other and said in unison, "He asked us too."

’All right, looks like we’ve found the answer. That old man is probably really up to no good.’

"I mean, Father’s already so old..." Xie Ruyi said, then immediately covered her mouth. It seemed it wasn’t their place as daughters-in-law to speak about their father-in-law’s affairs, and besides, what she said was inappropriate.

Jin Qianqian pursed her lips, lowering her head to fiddle with the jade bracelet on her wrist. Inwardly, however, a wave of impatience washed over her.

Ancient Wen Heng asked, "What do you all think about this?"

Gu Yuanlei said, "We were thinking that since this matter hasn’t spread yet, we should have a good, private talk with Father."

"And what if he just admits it outright?" Ancient Wen Heng didn’t think the old man’s head was clear. He might even use this as an opportunity to lay everything out in the open.

"Are we just going to ignore it then? If Mother finds out, who knows how heartbroken she’ll be." Gu Yuanhuo clenched his fists. ’If that wasn’t my own father, I’d be the first to charge over and give him a beating.’

Gu Yuanjin said, "Seventh, you’ve always been full of ideas. Can you think of a solution?"

Ancient Wen Heng, "..." ’This is really tricky.’

The room fell silent. Everyone racked their brains, but no one could think of a foolproof plan.

At this moment, Liu Liu secretly tugged on Jin Qianqian’s sleeve. "Seventh Sister-in-law, right now it’s our father-in-law. Do you think our husbands might get the same idea later on?

After all, those rich landlords back in our hometown all have more than just one concubine in their back courtyards."

Jin Qianqian glanced at her. ’How am I supposed to answer that?’

Seeing Jin Qianqian fall silent as well, Liu Liu felt even more unnerved. ’Don’t tell me even Qianqian doesn’t know what to say!’

When they were poor, she’d wished for more silver. But now that they had plenty of it, Liu Liu was starting to think it wasn’t so wonderful after all.

"Why don’t we go talk to that widow?" Gu Yuantu finally blurted out after holding it in for a long time.

"And how would that talk go? This is something that’s still being hidden. If we bring it out into the open, won’t we just have to welcome her into the family?" Gu Yuanshui snapped, exasperated. ’This fifth brother of mine is always coming up with rotten ideas.’

"Why don’t we call that old man over? Some things just have to be laid out on the table," said Ancient Wen Heng. He didn’t even want to call him ’Father’ anymore. In Gu Dashishi, he saw far too many character flaws.

"I think that’ll work. Let’s call him over quietly. I refuse to believe that the few of us brothers can’t outweigh one widow," Gu Yuanhuo said, about to get up and take action.

"Wait," Gu Yuanjin called out. "I saw him when I came over earlier. He’s already drunk. It’ll be useless to go get him now."

"Then what do we do if the old man gets stubborn and insists on marrying that widow?" Gu Yuanshui asked in a muffled voice.

"Then he can get the hell out of this family." Li Cuicui strode in just then, startling everyone so much that they immediately jumped to their feet.

"Mother, what are you doing here?" Gu Yuanjin glanced outside and only then realized that the servants in the courtyard had all been sent away. ’These people are a bit stupid, though. They didn’t even come in to announce her.’

"Stop looking. I told them not to come in.

Dinner just ended and you brothers were already being all secretive. I thought some earth-shattering event had happened. Turns out it’s that old degenerate causing trouble for you again."

Gu Yuanshui went over to support her. "Mother, let’s not get angry with him. In any case, I, your son, am on your side."

’I’ve built such a large courtyard anyway. Worst case, I’ll just bring Mother over and take care of her.’

Gu Yuanhuo went over and pushed him aside. "Mother, you have me too!"

Li Cuicui shot them a glance. Seeing the worry on their faces, she unexpectedly started to laugh. "I’m just an old bag of bones. Your mother here figured things out long ago.

If your father really dares to get a wandering eye, I dare to give him a good thrashing."

When she was young, if it hadn’t been for that feisty spirit of hers, Li Cuicui would never have been able to raise so many children.

"Mother, we’ve only heard a rumor. This might not be true," Gu Yuanjin said softly.

But Li Cuicui waved her hand. "Whether it’s true or not doesn’t matter. I’ve shared a bed with him for so many years; I know his temperament better than any of you. Add to that how strange he’s been lately, and I’m pretty sure I know what’s going on.

You brothers shouldn’t agonize over it here. Send someone to bring him over. It’s better to get this cleared up sooner rather than later."

Everyone remembered it was the old matriarch’s birthday. "Why don’t we ask tomorrow? We saw that Father was already drunk earlier."

"Forget it. A moment sooner or a moment later, it’s all the same. You’ve all had a long day, so go back and get some rest." Seeing the exhaustion on their faces, Li Cuicui’s heart ultimately ached more for her sons, and she relented.

Xie Ruyi and Li Xiaohua walked over, each supporting one of her arms. "Mother, why don’t you rest here with us tonight? Don’t trouble yourself walking back and forth."

Li Cuicui appreciated her two daughters-in-law’s kind intentions, but she didn’t feel she needed to yield to that Gu Dashishi. "Don’t worry! Your mother isn’t that old yet. A short walk like this is nothing to me!"

At the same time, she turned to her sons. "Even though you’re your father’s sons, don’t you dare get a wandering eye like him. If your old mother ever finds out you’re fooling around, don’t blame me for getting rough."

She then turned specifically to look at Ancient Wen Heng. "Especially you, Seventh. Even if you’ve become an official, if your mother here wants to beat you, everyone will just clap and cheer."

Ancient Wen Heng immediately put on a wronged expression. "Mother, you can’t wrong your own son.

Look at all my brothers—I’m the one who looks the most like you, not to mention my personality! We’re cut from the same cloth. We walk the path of righteousness; we’d never have such filthy thoughts.

As for my other brothers, though... Mother, you really should knock them on the head from time to time, lest one day their brains get muddled and they cause trouble in their own households."

The Gu Family Brothers, "..." ’Seventh, always the same old Seventh. He’s throwing his brothers under the bus again.’

Li Cuicui was amused by him. She reached out and poked his forehead. "Your old mother doesn’t have a silver tongue like you. But if you turned around and looked at your brothers’ expressions, you probably wouldn’t be so cheerful."

But Ancient Wen Heng just laughed. "That’s because they’re angry from embarrassment. They’re probably afraid I’ve hit the nail on the head. Mother, you should hurry over and give them a good lecture. Tan their hides for my sisters-in-law while you’re at it."

The Gu Family Brothers, "..." ’Why are our wives glaring at us with their eyes wide open? Seventh is just spouting nonsense!’

Jin Qianqian, however, was covering her mouth and laughing at the side. "Mother, you and my husband should stop talking. If you keep going, my brothers-in-law will have to kneel on the washboard when they get home."

The Gu sisters-in-law’s eyes simultaneously lit up. "..." ’Qianqian’s idea is actually pretty good.’

The Gu Family Brothers, "..." ’That Seventh and his wife are just alike, always setting traps for us. They shouldn’t be giving out ideas like that!’