Chapter 441: The Uproar Erupts

After earning some silver coins, we’ve wanted to buy a mule cart, but Qingfu Town is a small place and it’s not easy to find one for sale. It’s rare for someone to bring a mule to sell even once every month or two. Our family is busy and has no time to go to the county to buy one, so it’s a real convenience that Doctor Wu is willing to sell his mule cart to us.

After receiving the silver note, in front of Gu Dashan, Doctor Wu gave Gu Jinli a medical book: "There are quite a few prescriptions in this medical book. I’m giving it to you. Take it home and read it slowly; it will be helpful for making medicines."

He added: "If there’s anything you don’t understand, come and ask me. This old man will teach you."

Hearing this, Gu Dashan felt the weight that had been pressing on his heart instantly lifted, and he could not thank Doctor Wu enough.

He had always been somewhat worried about Gu Jinli’s medical knowledge. No matter how smart his daughter was, she could not possibly treat people or make medicines just by reading a medical book.

Now that Doctor Wu is willing to teach Gu Jinli, he is even happier than she is. Once Gu Jinli accepted the medical book, he said, "Doctor Wu, taking on a mentor is a great kindness. I was thinking, should our family bring some generous gifts and have the child formally pay respects to you as her mentor?"

Although he was not planning to let Xiao Yu become a doctor and treat patients, since they had received Doctor Wu’s medical book, it was only right to perform the ritual of acknowledging a mentor.

Doctor Wu said: "No need to go to such trouble; it’s just giving her some guidance. Besides, this old man took an oath twenty years ago never to take on an apprentice again. Don’t think those attendants in Xuanhu Fang call me ’master’; they’re not my apprentices, not even Mu Tong."

Seeing that Doctor Wu had no intention of taking apprentices, Gu Dashan had no choice but to let the matter rest.

Doctor Wu said: "It’s getting late; this old man still has to see patients. You all should head back."

"Ah, we’ll be going now, thank you very much, Doctor Wu." Gu Dashan was very pleased, feeling his second daughter was fortunate and blessed, meeting many nobles who all helped her.

Uncle Xiao Liu said to Gu Jinli: "Young Master, I’ll go bring the mule cart over first."

Gu Jinli nodded: "Okay."

Uncle Xiao Liu left through the corner gate of the backyard and went to another courtyard to bring the mule cart to the front of Xuanhu Fang’s door.

Brother Mu Tong and the others had come prepared with their luggage and were now waiting with Gu Jinli in front of the shop.

Gu Dashan was talking with Doctor Du. The two were from the same village and always had a few words to share whenever they met.

While they were talking, Doctor Du’s grandson Du Xusheng ran over to Gu Dashan and said: "Uncle Dashan, has something happened to your families? I just saw Uncle Dafu and Uncle Da Gui, and Aunt Da Gui looking furious, heading towards Wan’s Private School."

Gu Dashan was startled and asked: "Are you sure you saw clearly?"

The relationship between Da Fu’s family and Scholar Wan’s family was settled through marriage; how could they possibly be rushing angrily towards Wan’s Private School?

Du Xusheng said: "I am certain, it was indeed Uncle Dafu and Uncle Da Gui. Aunt Da Gui was cursing and waving a shovel around, looking like she was ready to fight someone."

Gu Dashan’s heart skipped a beat. He said to Gu Jinli: "Xiao Yu, it must be Scholar Wan’s family that offended Uncle Dafu’s family. You take Brother Mu Tong and go back first, I’ll go see what’s happening."

Gu Jinli stopped Gu Dashan: "Dad, this is Uncle Dafu’s family’s business. Their family and Scholar Wan’s family are connected by marriage; if there’s really an issue, it’s not good for too many people to know about it. Although our families are close enough to stake our lives for each other, some matters we shouldn’t get involved in."

Gu Jinli saw that Gu Dashan was in a difficult position and knew that as an indigenous person from ancient times, he placed great importance on clan solidarity, so he looked over at Du Xusheng and asked, "Have you seen Third Grandpa?"

Du Xusheng shook his head: "I didn’t see him, I only saw people from Uncle Dafu’s family."

Gu Jinli turned to Gu Dashan and said: "Dad, let’s go back first and see what Third Grandpa says. If Third Grandpa decides to stand up for Uncle Dafu’s family, then you can follow."

With no other choice, Gu Dashan nodded: "Okay, let’s go back first and see what your Third Grandpa has to say."

After bidding farewell to Doctor Du, Gu Dashan and his party got on the mule cart and headed home.

As they just got back to the edge of the village, they saw Third Grandpa gathering a few men, ready to rush to town. Seeing Gu Dashan return, he hurriedly said, "Dashan, something terrible has happened to Da Fu’s family. That Wan Lifang is a scoundrel; he got our cousin from an outside family pregnant. Now, Brother Dafu has already gone to the Wan Family to argue the case. We came together as refugees, bound by the same clan, so let’s go together to show our support and not let outsiders bully us."

Gu Dashan was dumbfounded: "What’s going on? Are you sure? How could Wan Lifang, a scholar, do such a thing?"

Village Chief He, who was there with He Jinseng, spoke up: "It was my Jin Sheng who bumped into it in Wan’s backyard... He saw something between Wan Lifang and Miss Ni even before Mid-Autumn Festival. I thought it was not good to upset Da Fu’s family during the festival, so I held off until today. Who would have thought that Da Fu’s family, so angered upon hearing it, would go straight to the Wan Family for an accounting."

"Stop talking, is everyone here? Once everyone is here, let’s hurry up, lest Da Fu does something rash in his anger." Third Grandpa knew Gu Dafu well; ever since Village Chief Gu and Dafu’s wife passed away, Dafu has valued Brother Xing and Sister Mei greatly. Now, having finally found what he thought to be a respectable match for his daughter, this unexpected scandal emerged. Furious, he probably could chop Wan Lifang to pieces.

"Hold on." Gu Jinli spoke, "Third Grandpa, does Gu Yumei know about this? What does she think? If Wan Lifang can do such a thing, it’s clear he’s not a good man. If she agrees, we should call off the engagement today."

Third Grandpa said: "Xiao Yu is right, this marriage won’t do, we must cancel it lest it ruins Sister Mei’s entire life."

But no sooner had he spoken than Third Grandma and Ms.Yan came running over, hurriedly speaking to Third Grandpa: "Old man, it’s not good, Sister Mei is missing."

"How could she be missing? Wasn’t it said that she was crying in her room just earlier?"

Village Chief He and his grandson had gone early to Gu Dafu’s family to reveal the situation between Wan Lifang and Ni Ruiniang. Hearing this, Gu Yumei, in her own room, cried almost to the point of fainting.

Gu Jinli said: "No need to explain, given her temperament, she must have run off to the Wan Family to confront Wan Lifang."

Third Grandma heard this with great anxiety: "Oh dear, that foolish girl, how could she, a young lady, run off to the Wan Family at such a time? No, we must hurry to bring her back."

"Xiao Yu, let everyone take our family’s mule cart there," Gu Dashan said.

Gu Jinli nodded: "Okay."

Gu Dashan hurriedly called several men and Third Grandma aboard, rushing towards the town.

Village Chief He, due to the matter having some connection with his household, also went along, but he did not allow He Jinseng to go. After all, Scholar Wan had taught He Jinseng, and if He Jinseng went, he would inevitably be scolded by Scholar Wan as ungrateful and disloyal.

Several men from Gu Jinli’s newly purchased mule cart rushed frantically to Wan’s Private School.

...

Gu Dafu was so furious he nearly passed out; he didn’t give Scholar Wan any face and went straight into the Wan Family’s backyard, standing at the second door and bellowing, "Wan Lifang, get out here, you bastard!"