Chapter 534: Bigmouth

Qin Yuan frowned slightly, and Xiao Dong exclaimed, "Sixth Master says one thing but does another. Didn’t he promise to take good care of himself? How come he’s neglecting himself like this, overturning day and night? What’s the point of this?"

Gu Baoshu hurriedly explained, "My Sixth Brother wants to print it quickly so that everyone under heaven knows Miss Dong’s poetry."

"Miss Dong?"

Everyone was surprised.

Qin Yuan wondered, "Why is Sixth Master so concerned about Miss Dong’s poetry?"

Gu Baoshu chuckled a few times and said, "I’m afraid if I talk about it, my Sixth Brother will hit me when he finds out."

Qin Heng said, "Can your Sixth Brother even hit you?"

Gu Baoshu said, "It’s just a saying. It’s not that I can’t say it, but if you all hear it, you must keep it secret and not spread it around, otherwise, my Sixth Brother will be unhappy when he finds out."

"Absolutely, absolutely," Qin Heng nodded immediately, and although the others did not speak, they looked longingly at Gu Baoshu.

Qin Yuan rubbed her forehead.

This time, she truly witnessed how loose-lipped Gu Baoshu could be.

Gu Baoshu said mysteriously, "This matter has to start with my Third Sister-in-law."

"There’s something about me too?"

Qin Yuan was surprised.

Gu Baoshu nodded and said, "Weren’t you asking Shen Changle and Cui Ming to discuss how to make the poetry collection? Shen Changle wanted to create a shocking poetry collection, so he went to my Sixth Brother."

Qin Heng interjected, "Sixth Master Gu was responsible for the illustrations of the last collection too, wasn’t he? What’s the big deal about this?"

"Are you listening or not?"

Gu Baoshu glared disapprovingly.

Fuguo’er quickly said, "Listening, listening, quickly tell us what’s wrong with my dad?"

Gu Baoshu said, "Listen to me as I tell it slowly."

Fuguo’er obediently responded.

Sister Lan quickly brought over the tea in front of her, speaking softly, "Aunt, drink."

Gu Baoshu looked touched.

"Okay, after Aunt finishes drinking, I’ll tell," she said after whispering with Qin Heng for a while, feeling indeed a bit thirsty.

After downing several mouthfuls of tea, Gu Baoshu said, "My Sixth Brother originally didn’t care much, but consider what kind of person Shen Changle is, he’s a smart one under my Third Sister-in-law’s wing. He immediately took out a stack of papers from his pocket in front of my Sixth Brother."

She vividly described it, capturing the listener’s attention including Brother Kang.

Qin Heng said, "I guess it’s the draft poems."

Gu Baoshu was a little displeased at being interrupted and said, "How did you guess?"

Qin Heng said, "What’s difficult about that? Sixth Master loves composing poetry and appreciates talented people; Shen Changle wishes to use this to move Sixth Master’s heart."

"Exactly," Gu Baoshu patting the table, said, "My Sixth Brother took a look and was immediately stunned. He couldn’t believe such a good female poet existed in this world, one much better than himself."

Qin Siyuan almost couldn’t hold back his laughter.

Qin Yuan coughed several times, suppressing her smile.

Qin Heng said nothing but thought to himself, "Really amusing; there are many people who write better poems than Sixth Master Gu. Why the surprise?"

But Gu Baoshu couldn’t easily be offended, so Qin Heng just scratched his nose without saying a word.

Gu Baoshu continued, "Then someone said that the best among them was the close friend of my Third Sister-in-law, Miss Dong. If she gains fame, her marriage would be easy to arrange. They say her parents want to marry her off to a much older, money-loving merchant, which she strongly dislikes. My Sixth Brother felt pity and vowed to get the illustrations done quickly, beautifully, and it’ll be his way of helping Miss Dong."

Fuguo’er sighed in relief upon hearing the end and said, "Oh, turns out my dad was moved by compassion."

Qin Yuan also noticed the child’s worry, and smiled, "Sixth Brother is gentle and soft-hearted, always considerate of others. Should this poetry collection sell well, I definitely must thank him on behalf of Miss Dong."

Gu Baoshu asked, "Third Sister-in-law, if the poetry collection sells well, will Miss Dong be able to choose a good marriage as she wishes?"

Qin Yuan paused, then sighed, "That’s hard to say. Marriage is a serious matter, determined by her parents. Besides, how can one define a suitable match? It may seem good at first but turn sour later. It all depends on what kind of fate the matchmaker has in store."

Gu Baoshu listened to this and fell silent.

Qin Heng laughed, "So that’s what Sixth Master Gu is busy with. This poetry collection will surely sell well. The previous volume was beautifully refined, bought by many for collection or gift-giving. Since Sixth Master Gu is even more devoted, won’t the profits just roll in?"

Everyone joked a few lines and then dispersed.

Xiao Dong returned to Renhe Hall and not long after, the Marquis Mansion sent over a feast.

Doctor Li saw it and said, "Every day, something is sent, another thing is sent, really it’s soft knives cutting people. Eat from someone’s hand, speak softly."

Xiao Dong, being ordered around, spun in circles and upon hearing this, put down the food box in his hand and said, "Master talks like that but still eats without missing a beat."

Doctor Li glared and said, "She sent it to honor me, why wouldn’t I eat? Since I’m her master, a disciple honoring their master is only proper. You should learn from this going forward."

Xiao Dong made a face, lifted the food box lid, and the rich aroma immediately filled the air.

"My goodness, what is this?"

Doctor Li looked at the steaming spicy mutton hoof, clutching his beard with delight.

Xiao Dong said, "This was specially made by Senior Sister for me. Master can enjoy Suzhou Cuisine instead; there’s also a share of sugar-coated pork elbow for you."

Doctor Li scolded, "Just said you should learn from your Senior Sister, yet here you are, planning to eat alone. With such a large serving, how much can you eat with such a small belly?"

Xiao Dong said, "Senior Sister sends you this and that, shows concern everywhere, yet you’re not satisfied. I won’t follow her lead."

"Well, you little brat, waiting to get me here, what do you know?"

Doctor Li looked warmly yet amused at his young apprentice.

This was a child he had nurtured like a son, watching him grow from a wrinkled baby into the sculpted and polished boy before him.

Xiao Dong raised his face and said, "You tell me nothing; what could I know? Senior Sister says perhaps Master overthinks matters, that’s why. Senior Sister also says wealth is determined by fate, life and death by destiny. Over half of life’s affairs depend on Heaven’s will; worrying solves nothing."

Doctor Li sighed and said, "I understand that too, but people have a mind, a heart, how can they not think and worry? Otherwise, they’d be like a wooden puppet. Maybe this overthinking is also Heaven’s arrangement, don’t you think? Come eat quickly; pigging out is simpler."

Unable to outreason each other, the master and apprentice picked up their chopsticks, thoroughly enjoying a feast, and after being full, they brewed herbal medicine to aid digestion.

Qin Jijiu returned home to find his son and nephew waiting by the table for his meal, so he quietly asked, "Did the sun rise from the west today or something? Your mother’s calmed down? Or did your sister finally grow wiser?"