Chapter 301 - 302: Give an Inch, Take a Mile

Chapter 301: Chapter 302: Give an Inch, Take a Mile

Gu Dashishi was feeling quite pleased with himself as everyone called him "Old Master" this and "Old Master" that. Just as he was about to nod and agree, he saw his Third Uncle’s old face.

It scared him so much that he straightened his already stooped back as much as he could. He comforted himself, ’At any rate, I’m the Top Scholar’s father now. Third Uncle should give me some face, right?’

The moment his mind wandered, he felt a sharp pain in his back. He looked up to see his Third Uncle whacking him directly on the back with his cane.

"You old fool! Didn’t I tell you not to meddle in the clan’s or the family’s affairs? Are you just letting my words go in one ear and out the other?"

"Third Uncle, what are you doing?" Gu Dashishi roared. "No matter what, I’m an Old Master now, and a grandfather to boot! Can you not resort to hitting me all the time?"

Gu Sanbu retorted, "So what if you’re a grandfather? I’m still your uncle.

"Before your mother passed, she asked me to watch over you and keep you from acting foolishly. What? You think your wings have hardened now? You dare to be unfilial?"

Gu Dashishi immediately switched to a placating smile. "Well, at least leave me a little dignity. There are so many outsiders here."

Gu Sanbu looked at the old faces before him and snorted. "Didn’t we already let you select some children to enroll in the school? What’s all this commotion about now?"

Village Chief Shi of Xinkeng Village said with a placating smile, "There are too many children in the village, and just a few spots aren’t enough. These people come to my house and raise a fuss every day. I’m at my wit’s end."

"That’s right, we’re all in a tough spot," the chief of Shengdong Village chimed in. "If we don’t solve this problem today, I probably won’t even be able to get back into my own village."

The villages were getting anxious. Rumors were spreading that Gaoling Village occupied an auspicious location, and if their own children could attend the private school here, they would surely benefit from the good fortune.

Besides, Gaoling Village had only been charging a nominal fee for books before. As long as everyone tightened their belts, they could still afford it.

No one wanted to miss such an opportunity, especially after the news that Ancient Wen Heng had become the Top Scholar spread. Everyone went into a frenzy.

Gu Sanbu tapped his cane on the ground. "Easy for you to say. To accommodate the children from your villages, we already hired another Scholar."

"We even had to rearrange the school building we’d already built. How do you expect us to possibly squeeze in any more now?"

Seeing Gu Dashishi open his mouth to plead their case, Gu Sanbu immediately raised his cane. "And you! Use your brain for once. If we open these floodgates, we could give away our entire village and it still wouldn’t be enough for all of them."

His words made the village chiefs flush with shame. After all, he had a point. They were trying to take advantage of the situation and push the burden onto others.

But when they thought of the expectant looks from their own villagers, they couldn’t back down.

"Actually, it’s not like there are no other options," said Gu Yuanshui, who had appeared nearby at some point and was now walking over with his hands clasped behind his back.

"What options?"

Gu Yuanshui looked at them and said, word by word, "It’s simple. We raise the bar. The tuition will be the same as any other private school."

"How can we do that?" Village Chief Shi immediately jumped up. "Our village wouldn’t be able to afford to send even one child!"

Gu Yuanshui looked at him with a faint, unreadable smile. "So our village should be the one to pay for your children’s education?"

Village Chief Shi was speechless. "..."

Seeing that Gu Sanbu was genuinely considering the proposal, the other village chiefs didn’t dare to pester them any further. They exchanged glances, made an excuse, and left in a hurry.

"Give them an inch and they’ll take a mile," Gu Sanbu cursed through gritted teeth.

Then, he turned to Gu Yuanshui. "But what you just said... will it have a negative impact on Wenheng?"

Gu Yuanshui looked seriously at Gu Sanbu and Gu Dashishi. "It’s best that we say it now. Ideally, we let them cause a scene before Seventh returns."

"Otherwise, when the Top Scholar returns home, they’ll show up at our door. Even if it’s just for the sake of his reputation, Seventh will have no choice but to accept their demands."

’It’s a good thing these people were too impatient to hold back for such a small gain. If they had waited a few more days, Gaoling Village would have been completely tied down by them.’

"You did the right thing," Gu Sanbu said, a little shaken in hindsight. "I’ll have someone spread the word about what these villages are demanding. We need to control the narrative."

"Sigh, it’s all my fault for being a muddle-headed old man. I shouldn’t have been so soft-hearted and pleaded their case back then."

"And now look what’s happened. I nearly brought ruin upon ourselves and harmed Wenheng."

Gu Yuanshui walked over to support him. "Third Grand-Uncle, you only had good intentions. They are simply ungrateful."

"Now that Seventh is an official, we can’t do anything to tarnish his reputation."

Gu Sanbu studied Gu Yuanshui. Everyone had always known that the Gu family’s Fourth was clever, but he hadn’t expected that after a few years of tempering, he would become such a force to be reckoned with.

"This Third Grand-Uncle is getting old. I can’t see things as far or as clearly as you young people. When you have time, come and chat with me more." Gu Sanbu glanced at Gu Dashishi again, shook his head, and slowly walked away, leaning on his cane.

"Father, the household has been very busy these days. Why don’t you come with me and see if there’s anything you can help with?" Gu Yuanshui felt that his father simply had too much free time, which was why people were able to corner him here.

Nowadays, Gu Dashishi didn’t dare to easily offend his sons, because for a long time now, they had been giving their Filial Piety Silver directly to Li Cuicui.

When he demanded an explanation, they simply brushed the matter aside by stating that their mother was the Madam in charge of the household.

In their own words, they, as sons, had fulfilled their filial duties. They would not meddle in their parents’ private affairs.

He ground his teeth thinking about it, but there was nothing he could do about them.

As for the servants at home, they had all been hired by his sons. They listened to Li Cuicui’s every command. You could ask them to do work, but if you wanted them to deal with that old woman, they would just play dumb.

The more frustrated he felt, the more he would go find others in the village to complain to. But they would just advise him not to cause trouble and to be content. ’How am I not content?’

What made him even more furious was that ever since the incident with He Guwu, whenever he left the village, everyone from the elderly to children would silently follow him as if by prior arrangement.

In reality, he didn’t know that Li Cuicui had long since secretly put out the word: anyone who saw Gu Dashishi going to see that widow again and kept a close watch on him would be rewarded with one tael of silver.

’Can’t think about it. The more I think, the more irritated I get.’ Gu Dashishi said impatiently, "There are so many people in the village and so many maids and servants at home. What is there for me to do?"

Gu Yuanshui replied, "How is there nothing for you to do? Father, when you go out now, people have to respectfully call you Old Master. The household is extremely busy right now; you need to be at home to entertain the guests."

"Isn’t your mother here for that? She’s so capable, she can definitely handle it." Gu Dashishi’s words were tinged with sourness. It seemed that most people who came to their home were there to see Li Cuicui; when they saw him, they would, at most, just give him a nod.

Gu Yuanshui said, "How can that be the same? Before, it was just people from our clan and the various villages, so there weren’t so many formalities."

"Now, Mother is only suited to entertain the female guests. The officials and gentry can only be attended to by you."