Chapter 267 - 268: Reinforcements

Chapter 267: Chapter 268: Reinforcements

Ancient Wen Heng certainly wasn’t going to let things develop this way. Since the younger generation couldn’t suppress him, they could only call for outside help.

Gu Sanbu struck Gu Dashishi heavily with his cane. Gu Dashishi wanted to flee, but several of the old men nearby used their seniority to pin him in place, leaving him nowhere to run.

"Dashishi, it’s not that I, your Third Uncle, want to criticize you, but how long has it been since you looked in a copper mirror? Do you have any idea what you look like right now?" Gu Sanbu was so angry his whiskers were practically flying.

Back when he wanted Shulin to pursue the path of the imperial examinations, he had made inquiries everywhere about what was and wasn’t permissible.

Now, just as Ancient Wen Heng was about to take that step the entire family had hoped for, his own father was dragging him down.

It was important to know that family reputation was a detail considered in an official’s evaluation. With a divorced mother, who knew how many obstacles would be placed on his future path.

The more he thought about it, the angrier Gu Sanbu became. He raised his cane again and struck several more harsh blows. "We’ve only had a few good days, and you dare to stir up this kind of trouble! You’ve completely ruined our family’s good reputation."

"It’s not like this is unheard of throughout history! It’s perfectly normal for a man to have three or four wives. This Mrs. Li is petty and intolerant. She has committed one of the Seven Offenses, so why can’t I divorce her?"

The more Gu Dashishi spoke, the smoother his words became, and the more he felt he was in the right. "Besides, the family is large and our enterprise is successful. This is exactly the time when everyone should pull together as one. I don’t think the previous family division should count anymore. Wouldn’t it be much better for the whole family to live together? I’m getting old now, and I just like to see my children and grandchildren around me."

This time, everyone was stunned by his words. ’To actually say something like that... has he lost his mind?’

Gu Yuanjin and the others hadn’t figured out what was going on. Why would they be foolish enough to give up their days of being their own masters and get entangled together again?

But Li Cuicui lunged forward and clawed at his face. Caught off guard, Gu Dashishi was scratched squarely and yelped in pain.

He was about to retaliate when the quick-handed Ancient Wen Heng grabbed him from the side. "Your face is bleeding. Let me take a look."

Li Cuicui seized the opportunity, not only scratching fiercely with both hands but also landing several vicious kicks. One kick nearly hit a critical spot, frightening Gu Dashishi into clutching his crotch.

Gu Yuanshui’s eyes darted, and he immediately guessed Ancient Wen Heng’s intention. He went to support his father’s other arm, asking with a look of naive confusion, "Look, you’re breaking out in a sweat. Are you wearing too many clothes?"

Gu Dashishi was speechless. ’If I hadn’t been wearing this thick cotton-padded jacket, I’d probably be ruined right now.’

But he was too frightened to speak now. He struggled to get away, but with his two sons blocking him on either side, he could only writhe back and forth in the small space.

At this point, he came to his senses and realized his two sons were holding him. "Let go! Both of you, let me go!"

Seeing that was about enough, Wenheng shouted to the side, "Third Brother, Eldest Brother, you should look after Mother! We can talk things out properly. Don’t let her get so angry it harms her health. Otherwise, in the end, it’s us sons who will be heartbroken."

Gu Yuanjin was speechless. ’Great. So now it’s our fault.’

Only Gu Sanbu and his son watched Ancient Wen Heng thoughtfully. ’There was a hidden meaning in the boy’s words. He’s made the stance of the brothers perfectly clear.’

"You shrew! Divorce! I must divorce you today!" Gu Dashishi felt pain all over his body. But just then, his two sons let go, causing him to nearly fall and land on his butt.

He turned to look at them in anger. "Don’t you even know how to hold me steady?"

Wenheng had an innocent look on his face. "You were the one who told us to let go. Fourth Brother and I wouldn’t dare disobey."

Seeing that she had vented enough, Gu Sanbu finally tapped his cane to quiet everyone down. "Now, let’s talk about what to do about this.

Everyone has seen how Mrs. Li has been to this family over the years, so don’t you go shouting about writing a letter of divorce.

Besides, you have all these children and grandchildren who are reaching marriageable age. You can’t create such a scandal."

"The Shi Family is countless times better than this Mrs. Li! She is well-read, sensible, gentle, and charming. She will surely be able to manage my large family properly.

Not like this old woman, who doesn’t know how to enjoy her good fortune. Today she was mingling with the servants and even helping them with their work. She doesn’t have the slightest air of a family’s matriarch.

Third Uncle, I’ve finally had a few good years. What’s wrong with taking another wife of equal standing?

With the Shi Family joining our household, everyone’s burden in managing family affairs will be lightened. Besides, this Mrs. Li is no longer willing to take care of me, so this way she can be free of the responsibility."

Gu Sanbu considered this seriously. Merging the families back into one was impossible, but if Dashishi wanted to take another wife, it was difficult for him to interfere.

But Ancient Wen Heng just smiled at Gu Dashishi. "Earlier, you wanted to give me her daughter as a concubine. Why the change of person now? What’s the story here?"

Gu Sanbu’s expression froze. He also recalled the previous farce. "What’s going on? Is this all about He Guwu and her daughter?"

If this was true, then the matter was not so simple.

What kind of widowed mother and daughter would want to marry a father and son from the same family? Never mind the scheming involved; if word got out, the entire Gu Family would become a laughingstock.

"But it didn’t happen, did it?" Gu Dashishi clutched the scratches on his face and quietly shuffled back a few steps. But that woman’s glare was too terrifying. If she lunged at him again, he worried his old bones would meet their end right here.

"Pah! You fell for her scheme and you don’t even know it," Li Cuicui said, leaning on Gu Yuanjin for support. "It was her idea to merge the families back into one, wasn’t it!

Her ambitions are huge, thinking she can be the master over my sons. Well, I’m telling you, there’s no way! The moment we divided the family, I went to the government to file the papers. Each of my sons has a deed of family division signed by the government.

And you boys listen to your mother. From now on, as long as we two old folks don’t starve to death, that’s enough. After all, we established our own household back then too."

Now, Li Cuicui had changed her mind. Rather than ceding her position and letting someone else torment her own flesh and blood, she would rather use the rest of her life to keep this shameless old man in check.

The elders had originally thought that as long as they could persuade him not to separate or divorce his wife, it was fine if Gu Dashishi wanted to take a concubine.

But now that this had been exposed, everyone looked at Gu Dashishi strangely. ’What on earth is he thinking? Could this really be a case of a femme fatale bringing disaster?’

"And you," Li Cuicui said, staring at Gu Dashishi, "I see you’re causing all this trouble because you’re idle. When the time comes, you can go work those few acres of family land yourself."

Gu Dashishi retorted, "You vicious woman! If you want to work it, you go do it yourself! Don’t drag me into it—"

But when he saw Li Cuicui glaring at a certain part of his body and making a sharp, chopping gesture with her hand, he was instantly scared into silence.

"As for that He Guwu, as long as I am here, she is not welcome to set foot in Gaoling Village."