Chapter 338 - 339: Life-saving Benefactor

Chapter 338: Chapter 339: Life-saving Benefactor

Jin Qianqian knew that saltpeter could be used to make ice, but they already had so much stored up. ’It’s best if we just lay low for now.’

Gu Wenheng stood behind Jin Qianqian, watching the characters flow from her brush. "Your calligraphy is getting better and better."

"Of course. I’ve put in a lot of effort." ’Deep down, Jin Qianqian still held out hope. If she and her senior were to have a next life, it wouldn’t hurt to have a few skills under her belt.’

Gu Wenheng glanced at the letters on the desk. "You still haven’t replied to our sister-in-law’s letter?"

Jin Qianqian replied, "I still haven’t figured out how to respond. This has nothing to do with us, really. Why not just let them do whatever they want?"

"When we sent Second Brother’s family home, I knew they would cause a scene. Especially with Second Sister-in-law’s personality—her eyes are always fixed on what others have. She never considers how much effort other people put in. She just wants to swoop in and reap the rewards."

"If you don’t want to reply, then don’t. I’ll write a letter back later and let Eldest Brother handle it himself."

Jin Qianqian said, "That works. But I do feel for Le Ping. An entire letter without a single mistake... I can’t imagine how long he must have practiced, especially with so many difficult phrases."

"It’s never a bad thing for a a child to practice his calligraphy. I was thinking that after a while, we should have Luo Luo begin his formal education as well."

Jin Qianqian put down her brush and looked at him. "Isn’t it a bit too early? Luo Luo isn’t even four yet."

"We can ease him into it. Back in our day, he’d already be in kindergarten reciting lots of classic poems."

"Besides, the boy is so energetic. It’s time for him to learn how to focus so he can settle down and study in the future."

Jin Qianqian asked, "So, should we hire a tutor?"

’She knew her own limits and didn’t dare take on the responsibility of his early education. The Four Books and Five Classics? She was completely clueless about them; they just didn’t compute.’

"I’ve been quietly making inquiries these past few days. If you have time, you can have someone prepare a courtyard." Although Gu Wenheng knew that some of the great clans had their own schools, he had no intention of pulling strings to get his son in.

Jin Qianqian asked, "Does that mean you have someone in mind?"

Gu Wenheng replied, "I heard about a scholar who failed the recent imperial examination. There’s nothing wrong with his scholarship; he just had a bit of bad luck. During the exam, the roof of his cell was leaking severely. Even though he did his utmost to protect his exam paper, it still got soaked and damaged."

"Somehow, he found out we have a young son and asked He Nan to act as an intermediary. He’s offering to come to our home and provide our son’s early education for free."

Jin Qianqian put down her brush, her concentration for practice now broken. "He’s certainly played his cards right. His real goal is to discuss academic matters with you, isn’t it?"

Gu Wenheng nodded in approval. "That’s his plan. He’ll handle Luo Luo’s early education during the day, and when I get home, he can discuss any concepts he doesn’t understand or has differing views on with me."

Jin Qianqian remarked, "Sounds like he’s the one getting the better end of the deal. Still, he’s a clever one, knowing how to find an unconventional path."

Gu Wenheng said, "To be honest, I’m tempted, which is why I wanted to discuss it with you. If you agree, we can make a decision after Mili reports back from their inquiries."

After all, this was the tutor who would be spending a great deal of time with Luo Luo. Gu Wenheng needed to investigate the man’s character to see if he was worthy of receiving his help.

...

"Madam, Housekeeper Fu is outside asking to see the Master," Lichun said softly from outside the door.

"Alright." Gu Wenheng stood up. "I’ll go see what this is about."

Jin Qianqian waved a hand. ’If they were asking for Wenheng by name, then it had nothing to do with the inner household.’

When Gu Wenheng stepped into the courtyard, Jiang Zhongfu was already waiting. "Master, the Chengen Marquis Mansion just delivered a calling card. It says their Marquis will be paying a personal visit shortly."

"Marquis Cheng’en?" Gu Wenheng couldn’t immediately recall who that was. "Which residence is that?"

"He’s from the Empress’s maternal family. The First-Grade General, General Zhou." Jiang Zhongfu also had to think for a moment to place the man. "I believe he was recalled to the capital a short time ago, only to be sent away again on a mission by the Holy Emperor!"

Gu Wenheng took the calling card. "Send a few sharp-witted men to wait out front. Have them report to me the moment there is any news."

In any case, Gu Wenheng decided to play it by ear. ’The Empress’s maternal family...’

Watching General Zhou stride into the residence, Gu Wenheng felt the man looked familiar, but he couldn’t quite place him.

"Marquis Zhou, please come in." After a formal greeting, Gu Wenheng led his guest into the main hall.

"Mr. Gu, you don’t recognize me?" Zhou Shixiong couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement upon seeing that familiar face again.

"I did think you looked familiar, Marquis, I just couldn’t recall where we might have met."

"On the nameless mountain outside Dao City."

It all came back to Gu Wenheng in a flash. He remembered rescuing a man on that mountain. The man back then didn’t have such a vicious scar, but thinking about it now, everything else matched.

Seeing the look of realization on Gu Wenheng’s face, Zhou Shixiong knew he remembered.

He clapped his hands, and a dozen or so soldiers promptly filed in, each carrying a box.

"Mr. Gu, I have never forgotten the debt I owe you for saving my life. I saw you in the Upper Study Room that day and wanted to find an opportunity to repay you, but I was unexpectedly delayed by other matters. That’s why it has taken me until now to visit."

"These are just some simple trinkets I found along the border, a little something for you to enjoy, Mr. Gu."

After speaking, Zhou Shixiong looked around and added, "I recall Mrs. Zhou also lent a hand back then. Two of the boxes are for her, a small token of my appreciation."

He then remembered that this wasn’t the frontier; it was customary for the women of the household not to receive male guests. He would have to ask Gu Wenheng to pass the gifts along.

Gu Wenheng quickly waved his hands in refusal. "It was truly nothing. Anyone would have lent a hand in that situation. General Zhou, you are being too kind!"

"It may have been a small effort for you, but for me, it was the gift of a new life. You are my saviors." With a wave of his hand, Zhou Shixiong had his men place the boxes on the tables in the hall and then withdraw in an orderly fashion, giving Gu Wenheng no opportunity to refuse.

Gu Wenheng had no choice but to invite the man to sit for tea. "Marquis, you have worked tirelessly guarding the border, allowing us to live these peaceful days. You have our deepest gratitude for your hardship. For common people like us, being able to do something for you is a great honor. We would never dare to call ourselves your saviors. Please, Marquis, do not mention this matter again."

These words put Zhou Shixiong completely at ease. He thought to himself, ’These scholars really have a way with words. This is more gratifying than any praise for my military achievements.’

"In that case, I’ll stop being formal and just call you Brother Gu. And you should stop with all the ’Marquis’ and ’General’ this and that. I’m a few years your senior, so you can just call me Brother Zhou."

Before coming to the Gu residence, his sister had already conducted a thorough investigation of the family. He knew that Brother Gu came from a long line of honest, upstanding people. The fact that they had saved his life under such dire circumstances was proof enough that the couple were genuinely good-hearted.