The old woman was right, Gu Dashan was indeed an unfilial son. Once he made a fortune, he ignored his old father, and though he wasnât very nice to him, that man was still Gu Dashanâs father.
Even if a father grinds you to death, as a son, you still have to honor your own father.
When the Gu Family People heard that Gu Dashan had become the head of the family, the whole family was furious.
Little Sister Gu tearfully said: "How could Big Brother do this? We are one family, and yet he enjoys the good life by himself, leaving us to live on just ten taels of silver each month."
Although Lord Lai did love them and occasionally gave them some silver, the monthly salary that the Lai family provided was only ten taels. Compared to the one hundred thousand taels Gu Dashanâs family made a year, what were these ten taels? They were nothing to be proud of.
Whenever Little Sister Gu thought of Gu Dashanâs family eating and drinking extravagantly, clothed in gold and silver, sleeping amid piles of money, she felt a pain in her liver from anger.
Qian Guangzong was also quite angry, jumping up and cursing: "Gu Dashan, this bastard, this heartless dog, has his own family enjoying life while ours suffers through hardships. No, we must confront Gu Dashan and speak reason, his family canât enjoy all the prosperity by themselves!"
Elder Gu really was a live bastard, Qian Guangzongâs words even cursed him, but he just kept a stern face and didnât speak, still feeling Qian Guangzong was right in his cursing.
Gu Youlu said: "Brother-in-law is right, our family has not divested from the Guâs business, we have a share in it too. We must send a message to Gu Dashan to come and kneel before our parents and return the business of the Gu to its rightful owners."
Upon hearing this, Ms. Zheng was ecstatic, clutching Gu Chengzhi and chiming in: "His dad is right, let Gu Dashanâs family return the business... Right, doesnât his family make one hundred thousand taels of silver a year? They have been running this business for a few years, shouldnât there be about five hundred thousand taels in savings? So much silver, we cannot let Gu Dashanâs family take it all. We must have Gu Dashan hand over these silver."
Since associating with the Lai Family, Gu Youlu has been looking down on Ms. Zheng, but now seeing her in a new light upon hearing this, he quickly praised: "Brother Zhiâs mom is right, we must make Gu Dashanâs family surrender the earned silver, they absolutely canât be allowed to embezzle it."
Gu Chengzhi was foolish, hearing his parents saying this, he immediately clenched his fists, gritted his teeth, and excitedly shouted: "Make Gu Dashan hand over our familyâs silver, hand it over! Thatâs our familyâs silver, it shouldnât go to Gu Dashanâs family!"
Ms. Zheng was very pleased with his words, praising Gu Chengzhi: "Brother Zhi is really smart, that is our familyâs silver."
If Gu Jinli were here, he would surely say: "Hurry and take Gu Chengzhi to a doctor, heâs become so foolish."
Gu Youwenâs family was also here, they never thought that Gu Dashan had become the head of the Gu Family.
Gu Youwen with a stern face said: "Dad, Mom, itâs not that your son is greedy for money, itâs just that Big Brotherâs actions are wrong. Big Brother is dadâs son, once prosperous, he should rightfully share the silver to show filial piety to dad, enjoying it all himself is truly unfilial. If it werenât for dadâs kindness, he would have already reported to the government office for the crime of being unfilial."
Mrs. Gu also said: "Yes, dad, although you are kind-hearted, you canât let Big Brotherâs family act recklessly. You must write to him immediately to come here, and make him hand over both the business and the silver savings, to avoid others saying heâs unfilial, hiding silver without divesting from the family."
Gu Chengxian and Gu Ya both were good at pretending, both sitting upright without saying a word, just letting the family elders decide, since their branch of the family wouldnât lose out.
Gu Youfuâs family listened and were also very excited; if Gu Dashan is the head of the Gu Family, doesnât that mean that the Old Gu Family doesnât have to do any work but still profit massively from this large business?
Gu Youfuâs face was flushed with excitement. As long as the Old Gu Family had silver, he would be a wealthy man and could sleep with the best girls in the brothel.
He had recently taken a liking to a prostitute called Bi Niang in the brothelâoh, her delicate appearance was so alluringâbut sleeping with her just once was too expensive, costing five taels of silver, which was the monthly salary for his entire branch of the family.
Indeed, Lord Lai didnât like Gu Youfuâs family and gave them a different monthly salary compared to Gu Youluâs; each household only received five taels.
Gu Youfu felt aggrieved and had complained to Granny Gu, only to be scolded harshly. She told him he was ungrateful, complaining about receiving five taels of silver a month when that was what farmers struggled a whole year to earn.
In the end, she even said that if he thought five taels of silver was too little, he shouldnât take any at all.
After hearing this, Gu Youfu dared not complain to Granny Gu anymore and had to live on the five taels of silver.
Hmph, once he had silver, he would definitely take Bi Niang for himself, making her serve him all night long, exhausting that little maiden.
The Old Gu Family People were all saying that since they hadnât divided the family, the silver of Gu Dashanâs family belonged to them, and they demanded Gu Dashan come and kneel before them, handing over his earnings and saved silver.
However, Qian Chengcai scratched his head, looking at the Old Gu Family People, and asked perplexedly, "Grandma, Grandpa, didnât we already sever ties with Gu Dashanâs family? Scholar Qi even helped write the severance document. Since weâve severed relations, can Gu Dashanâs family still be expected to hand over their earnings and silver to us?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the room suddenly fell silent.
Qian Chengcai was right. The Old Gu Family had indeed severed ties with Gu Dashanâs family and had even made a severance document, with Scholar Qi as a witness, but could the Old Gu Family People admit that?
Absolutely not.
If they admitted it, Gu Dashanâs familyâs money would have nothing to do with the Old Gu Family.
Slap slap slap!
Qian Guangzong was so angry that he grabbed Qian Chengcai by the collar and violently hit his head, scolding, "You foolish thing, what do you mean by âsevered relationsâ? Thatâs nonsense. We only got separated from Gu Dashanâs family due to the famine, and now that weâve met again, we need to call them back to reunite."
Qian Chengcai, being hit, quickly begged for mercy: "Father, please stop hitting me, I know I was wrong."
"Enough, stop hitting him," Granny Gu slammed the table and said, "Everyone quiet down and listen to what your grandfather has to say."
Granny Gu looked towards Elder Gu, wiping her tears, and said: "Old man, I know I shouldnât have sold off Dashanâs family back then. At that time, we were fleeing from famine, and our food supplies were running low. The Qi Family said they wanted to buy some people, and I thought by selling Dashanâs family, not only could our family get food and water, but Dashanâs family could also have food to eat with the Qi Family... little did I know Dashanâs family wouldnât appreciate it and even resented me for it, causing things to end up at the point of severing relations."
However...
Granny Gu was clever and told Elder Gu, "Lord Lai said that if parents are forced to sever ties with their children, the severance document doesnât count, and it can be nullified by just saying a word in the government office."
Elder Gu, not understanding these matters, furrowed his brow upon hearing this and asked, "Is what you said really true?"