Chapter 859: Filing a Lawsuit

Go back?

Zhu Wu understood, it turns out the purpose of Dashan’s family is to prevent the Old Gu Family from seeking them.

Indeed, the Elder Gu going to find Gu Dashan is to seize the property. If they really get to Tianfu County, it would be troublesome for Dashan’s family.

But since they’re nearing Tianfu County, going back would be unsatisfactory for Zhu Wu.

He looked at Elder Gu and said, "Elder Gu, they don’t want us to go to Tianfu County. We’re no match for them. Whether we continue to Tianfu County to find Gu Dashan, it’s up to you."

Upon understanding the opponent’s intention, Zhu Wu no longer worried about being killed and directed other protectors to get on the mule cart to avoid the rain, waiting for Elder Gu’s decision.

Grand Old Master Gu was bewildered, standing in the spring rain, looking at Zhu Wu and then at the deserted surroundings, he shouted: "What do you mean? Why make us go back? I won’t go back, I’m going to find Gu Dashan, I’m his father. He should, rightfully, provide for me with silver!"

Elder Gu was very agitated, cursing with many unpleasant words, but You Xi and his team ignored him.

Instead, Zhu Wu couldn’t stand it and said to Elder Gu, "Decide quickly whether we should go back. Your Gu Youfu is seriously injured, bleeding quite heavily, if it continues, he’ll lose his life."

"What?!" Elder Gu loved Gu Youfu dearly. Upon hearing he might be critical, he quickly stopped cursing and hurried over to check on Gu Youfu. Seeing him still unconscious, showing no signs of waking, and having developed a fever, he finally panicked and promptly begged Zhu Wu: "Go back, quickly find a mule cart, we’re returning to the Prefecture, Youfu can’t hold on."

Upon listening, Zhu Wu took the protectors off the cart, shouting to the surrounding, "Good folk, Elder Gu has decided to return to the Prefecture, but our mule cart is broken, we need to go to town to rent a new one, I hope good folk will show leniency."

Fearing You Xi and his team won’t hear, Zhu Wu shouted it three times, only when You Xi’s team stopped shooting arrows did he send three protectors to rent mule carts from nearby towns.

You Xi’s team didn’t stop them and let them go.

Only more than an hour later the protectors returned driving three mule carts.

Zhu Wu also repaired two mule carts with his team, but the other two were beyond repair as they were too severely damaged, even one mule had died.

In this way, until darkness engulfed the skies, Zhu Wu and his team left by torchlight and mule carts.

However, Gu Youfu was seriously injured, Elder Gu worried he might die, first went to a nearby town to bandage his wounds, not setting off for Prefecture until noon the next day.

How prestigious Elder Gu’s arrival was, was equaled by the disgrace of their return.

People of Old Gu Family were shocked seeing them.

"Father, what happened? Encountered bandits?" Mrs. Gu asked in disbelief; indeed Elder Gu’s condition was disheveled, Gu Youfu was covered in wounds, could it be anything but bandit encounter to be in such a state?

Elder Gu glaringly snapped, "Shut up."

Exhausted and hungry, Elder Gu had no strength to deal with Mrs. Gu beyond this retort, after attending to Gu Youfu he collapsed from weariness.

...

Lord Lai upon receiving news, quickly arrived, seeing Elder Gu and Gu Youfu’s family appear as through a calamity, he couldn’t help but be slightly pleased.

Gu Youfu’s family was redundant, better if they died.

Lord Lai had the doctor give Elder Gu an acupuncture, reviving him, directly stated: "Zhu Wu has briefed me, those people should be Dashan’s family, they knew you were heading to Tianfu County to find him and sent people to stop you."

However, how could mere footman Dashan have such a bunch of subordinates?

Affording servants isn’t strange, but training them like an army is beyond a mere footman’s capability.

Indeed, like an army... Zhu Wu said, those people act swiftly without traces, precisely ruthless yet resolute, if not for Elder Gu compromising they’d watch Gu Youfu bleed to death.

Only an army can achieve such.

But Gu Dashan doesn’t have troops, at most a few servants.

Lord Lai hadn’t figured out how Dashan’s family had such capable men, Elder Gu had started cursing: "Gu Dashan that ungrateful bastard, doesn’t acknowledge his father. I’ve seen through him. Lady Shuang was right, he’s vicious liking to harm Youwen when young, now grown he even wants his father dead."

Lord Lai had no time for his curses, interrupting: "Tianfu County is inaccessible, there’s only one way to gain Dashan’s family livelihood."

Elder Gu was stunned, before he could ask, Gu Dagu interjected: "What way? Uncle Lai, quickly tell, my father dislikes Gu Dashan, any way to deal with him, he’ll agree."

Lai Zhuang, with Lord Lai, facepalmed hearing Gu Dagu; a stepdaughter daring such words demonstrated Old Gu Family’s prior oppression of Gu Family, even the stepmother’s burden is despised.

Though Gu Dagu was improper, Lord Lai adored her, thus didn’t rebuke, instead looking at Elder Gu: "Write a petition, go to the government office to accuse Gu Dashan of disobedience, neglecting father and mistreating brother."

Moreover: "Our Great Chu rules by filial piety, suing him ensures a win. If Gu Dashan doesn’t want to face exile, he must acknowledge you as father. Once he does, you can intervene in his household affairs. I’ll assign people to help you manage his business, you can comfortably remove Dashan’s family without worrying about post-removal business difficulties."

Lord Lai’s advice no rational parent would accept, yet Elder Gu surprisingly agreed.

He slammed the table furiously: "Fine, I’ll go to the government office tomorrow to sue Gu Dashan, drive this disobedient son to ruin!"

Let you prosper without acknowledging father, I’ll show you disobedience’s consequence!

Lord Lai slightly shocked by Elder Gu’s swift agreement, this pertains to his own son!

Suddenly, Lord Lai felt pity for Gu Dashan; having a father like this, even without Lady Shuang’s instigation, Dashan’s family life must be woeful.

Lai Zhuang was also stunned, questioning Elder Gu’s fatherhood, does a father truly treat his son such?

However, their goal was the Old Gu’s intervention to seize Dashan’s business, regardless of Elder Gu’s treatment of Dashan, their pity for him notwithstanding.

Lai Zhuang immediately prepared the petition paper.

Soon, the petition was written.

Lai Zhuang handed the petition to Elder Gu: "The petition is ready, Elder Gu please sign it."