Chapter 307 - 308: Revising the Clan Rules

Chapter 307: Chapter 308: Revising the Clan Rules

As his wife, Jin Qianqian naturally followed suit. Cradling Gu Ben Can in her arms and holding Gu Benluo by the hand, she trailed behind him and also performed three firm kowtows.

Li Cuicui saw that her son’s forehead was already red. She glanced at her daughter-in-law and grandsons behind him and quickly helped him up. "We’re all family. There’s no need for such formalities.

It’s good to be home. Let’s save our conversations for inside."

Gu Dashishi also watched Gu Wenheng with a complicated expression. ’When did this boy grow up to be the man he is today?’

Gu Wenheng gave Li Cuicui’s hand a reassuring pat before turning to greet the various elders. His tone was as if he were still the same old farm boy.

After the pleasantries were exchanged, the crowd enthusiastically escorted him back to the village on foot.

The boisterous first day came to an end. On the second day, Gu Wenheng went to Leping Academy to thank his respected teacher. After several more days of social obligations in the county town, he finally had a moment of leisure.

He took out the draft manuscript he had prepared earlier and went directly to find Gu Sanbu.

Gu Sanbu was already expecting him. "Are these your revised family rules?"

Gu Wenheng replied, "I haven’t changed much, but I did add a few new articles. I hope Third Grand-uncle will look them over and see if anything is amiss."

Gu Sanbu was stunned for a long while after reading it. He grabbed his cup, gulped down some water, and pointed to one of the articles: a man may only take a concubine if he is forty and without a son, and the Gu Family will not recognize equal-status co-wives.

Then he saw the punishment below: Those who do not comply shall be expelled from the family, with all their assets given to their legitimate wife and legitimate son.

’Is this boy setting up this rule to get justice for Mrs. Li? Is he deliberately targeting Gu Dashishi?’

"Isn’t this a bit improper?" It was perfectly normal for a man to have multiple wives and concubines. It was only because everyone was used to being poor that they didn’t entertain such thoughts.

"Now that the Gu family is prosperous—especially you and your brothers—isn’t this just tying your own hands?"

Gu Wenheng said, "I believe this article is the most crucial of all our family rules. If the inner household is not at peace, it becomes the source of the family’s ruin..."

Gu Wenheng stayed with Gu Sanbu for the entire day, painstakingly explaining every article he had established or amended. Once he received his approval, he finally strolled home, hands clasped behind his back.

The new family rules were announced swiftly. By the third day, everyone in the village, young and old, had heard about them.

The villagers didn’t have much of a reaction. As for the rule about taking concubines, it was a moot point for most. They could barely afford to feed their own families, so how could they possibly take on more mouths?

Jin Qianqian, however, was surrounded by her sisters-in-law and spent the entire morning receiving their effusive thanks.

"Seventh Sister-in-law, now we can finally sleep peacefully at night." Liu Liu’s lips were curled into a permanent smile. "You have no idea. Those maids at home... I’ve seen them deliberately throwing themselves at your Fourth Brother several times. If I hadn’t been watching them like a hawk, we might have had a few new ’sisters’ in the family by now.

Your Fourth Sister-in-law really has you to thank. How did you ever convince Seventh Brother to add this rule?"

Jin Qianqian’s eyes widened as she looked at her innocently. "Fourth Sister-in-law, you’re blaming the wrong person. I never meddle in these affairs. Besides, for something this significant, my husband would surely accuse me of being a jealous wife."

Jin Qianqian: "..." ’I didn’t exactly meddle,’ she thought. ’I just helped write a few lines.’

Li Xiaohua pulled Liu Liu aside. "Seventh Sister-in-law is right. This must mean Seventh Brother has no such intentions himself. Otherwise, why would he let a rule like this pass? Isn’t he just tying his own hands?"

Hong Daya covered her mouth and whispered, "Is it because of that incident with Father-in-law?"

Jin Qianqian shot her a look. "Fifth Sister-in-law, you absolutely cannot say things like that.

That business with Father-in-law happened so long ago. Even if my husband feels for Mother, he wouldn’t establish such a major family rule just because of it.

All of us women have benefited from this, so let’s just enjoy it peacefully. Don’t spend all day speculating. Isn’t life pleasant enough as it is?

When the home is stable, the men have the energy to go out and strive. I actually think this rule is for the good of the entire family."

Liu Liu and the others nodded, deeply moved. In any case, they were the clear beneficiaries. With such a restrictive rule in place, even if their husbands had wandering eyes, they would now have to think twice about the consequences.

"This is wonderful. All our families have legitimate sons, so this basically blocks off any other path for them. Even if they had ideas before, they’ll have to suppress them now." Li Xiaohua’s opinion of Gu Wenheng improved even more.

In her eyes, this rule was aimed squarely at their father-in-law; they were just the indirect beneficiaries.

Gu Dashishi, who had the very same thought, had already stormed over to Gu Sanbu’s house and slammed his hand on the table.

"What is this attitude? You may have raised a good son, but is this how you treat your elders?" Gu Sanbu smashed his teacup on the table. He hadn’t expected Gu Dashishi to be the first one to object.

"You’re deliberately targeting me! That unfilial son came up with this scheme just to slap me in the face.

Now the whole village is probably laughing at my expense. You’ve gone too far!"

Gu Sanbu looked at him and asked, "I asked you the other day, didn’t you say you were no longer involved with that He Guwu?

Since that’s all in the past, why are you so worked up about this?"

"Those are two completely different things!" Gu Dashishi’s gaze faltered. "I just feel like you’re all targeting me."

Gu Sanbu retorted, "Do you think you’re that important? That the family rules would be changed just for you?

This isn’t just about you. The entire Gu Family, from top to bottom, must abide by it. That includes Wenheng himself.

He’s a Sixth-rank Capital Official now. In the future, he’ll encounter all sorts of women who will want to throw themselves at him. This rule constrains everyone, and it’s also a constraint on himself."

’There was another point that had truly convinced Gu Sanbu. If the family consistently followed this rule, any family that doted on its daughters would hold them in higher esteem. This would lead to better marriage prospects for the Gu Family’s children in the future.’

’Putting himself in their shoes, wouldn’t he want his own daughters to marry into a family like this?’

Gu Dashishi was left speechless, but the anger in his heart still raged. He flung his sleeves and stormed home.

Li Cuicui clutched her chest. ’Of all the sons I’ve raised, Seventh has done the most for me.’

"Tell me, did you put Seventh up to making a rule like this?" Gu Dashishi shouted, pointing at Li Cuicui the moment he burst in.

Li Cuicui cracked her knuckles, flexing her fingers. The sight sent Gu Dashishi scrambling back into a corner.

"Do I need to put Seventh up to it? I’m more than enough to handle you myself. You’re not worth my son wasting his thoughts on." Li Cuicui shot him a contemptuous glance. ’He’s getting more cowardly in his old age. Where did all that bluster from before go?’

"Now I’m the laughingstock of the whole village! Are you satisfied?"

Li Cuicui nodded. "Now that you mention it, I suppose I am.

But you’re in such a rush... let me guess. It seems you still haven’t broken things off with that widow."