Chapter 980: Stay

Gu Jin’an’s face turned grim, his voice icy, and after speaking, he stepped back two steps. Any reasonable person would know he’s displeased, and those with tact would stop here.

But Tian Hui’er is someone with purpose and ambition. Her reluctance to become Elder Dai’s concubine was due to the Dai Family’s decline, now relying on relatives for survival. Elder Dai is old, with many grown sons; even if she married him and bore a son immediately, she wouldn’t share much inheritance.

However, the Gu Family is different. They have a huge business, earning millions of taels of silver a year, and Gu Jin’an is young, handsome, and the top of the county, even favored by the Lord Magistrate. He is sure to pass the college examination in June and become a scholar.

A nineteen-year-old scholar is a rare talent; having encountered such a person, how could she miss this opportunity?

After telling her parents about her plan, today’s event took place. Gu Jin’an’s indifferent reaction was within her expectations; after all, with her family’s poor situation, any ambitious young man wouldn’t be eager to marry her.

Hence, Tian Hui’er didn’t rush, just momentarily stunned, felt slightly aggrieved, and then saluted again, saying, "Hui’er pays respects to Big Brother Gu."

She then looked at Brother Cheng and laughed, "You must be Brother Cheng. You really look blessed, like the money-spender from the New Year paintings. I’m your Sister Tian, here to thank you with my parents. You can call me Sister Tian."

Brother Cheng blinked, looked at his big brother, then smiled back at Tian Hui’er, showing his teeth, saying, "Hello, Sister Tian. Sister Tian, it’s getting dark; if you don’t return home soon, you’ll be late. If you encounter patrolling soldiers, it could hurt your reputation."

He spoke to send them away, which infuriated Tian Hui’er.

But who is Tian Hui’er? She came prepared today. Hearing this, she smiled, "Brother Cheng is right, then we won’t disturb you further."

With that, she really bid farewell to the Gu Family people, saying to Third Grandpa, Gu Dashan, Gu Dafu, Gu Dagui, and others, "Third Grandpa Gu, Uncle Gu, it’s too late today; we’ll take our leave now."

Gu Dashan sighed in relief and quickly said, "Hey, take care, let me see you off."

He didn’t like the Tian Family, always feeling they came with a purpose, which seemed to want to form a marital alliance... Frankly, he didn’t expect Brother An to marry into rich families, but with An being so learned, his bride should at least be literate, able to understand articles. Otherwise, if An wrote something but his wife couldn’t read it, what was there to talk about?

Yuan Jiagui sighed in relief too; the Tian Family’s audacity was immense, using the excuse of thanking them to propose a match between Tian Hui’er and Brother Gu Jia’an.

Brother Gu Jia’an is the top of the county with a boundless future. The Tian Family can dream, but before dreaming, can they weigh their own worth?

Fortunately, the Tian Family was willing to leave, not causing any more fuss, letting Yuan Jiagui relax, as he took his grandson and followed Third Grandpa to the door.

But they underestimated Tian Hui’er’s brazenness; before reaching the Gu Family’s door, Tian Hui’er suddenly fainted.

With a thud, she solidly fell onto the courtyard ground.

"Hui’er, Hui’er, what’s wrong? Wake up, don’t scare your mother," Tian Xiwang’s wife cried while holding Tian Hui’er: "Your cold hasn’t recovered, and you’ve been startled by the Dai Family matters. I told you to stay home and not insist on coming to thank the Gu Family, but you didn’t listen, saying we owed the Gu Family kindness and had to thank them personally before they return to the countryside. Now it’s too much for you, making you faint."

Tian Xiwang’s wife explained why Tian Hui’er fainted as if singing an opera, reasoning thoroughly, making it hard to doubt.

Yuan Jiagui’s expression turned sour; what is the Tian Family planning? What does Tian Hui’er want? It better not be what he feared, or it would be terribly shameless.

Third Grandpa was also displeased; they, being older, experienced many things and knew this sudden fainting wasn’t simple.

All those present were men, inappropriate to attend to Tian Hui’er, so Third Grandpa was about to call Xiao Ji and the others when Tian Xiwang’s wife lifted Tian Hui’er and headed to the guest hall.

Tian Xiwang’s wife was robust, having received a sum of silver after being freed by the Gu Family, recently eating well, very strong, carrying Tian Hui’er all the way to the guest hall, turning to Gu Jin’an still inside, saying, "Brother An, come help. Your sister Hui’er fainted."

Saying this, she staggered, falling towards Gu Jin’an.

Gu Jin’an coldly laughed, grabbed Brother Cheng, spun, and in two steps reached outside the guest hall.

With a thud, Tian Xiwang’s wife and Tian Hui’er fell to the ground, grimacing in pain.

Gu Jinli, hiding behind the small door of the guest hall, seeing this, fearing the Tian Family might cling to Gu Jin’an, quickly emerged, saying, "Aunt Tian, what happened to you? How did you fall so hard? Hurry and get up; let me assist you."

As a result, Gu Jinli slipped, pulling Tian Xiwang’s wife and Tian Hui’er to the ground too. But Gu Jinli could roll, cleverly rolling aside, avoiding Tian Xiwang’s wife’s body, letting her hit the table leg with a thud, raising a bump.

Tian Xiwang’s wife’s tears fell, crying, "Gu Family’s daughter, can you even help people? You’ve crashed into us, nearly breaking our heads!"

"Aunt Tian, sorry about that. Should I help you up again?" Gu Jinli said.

Tian Xiwang’s wife quickly replied, "No, no, just stand there; I’ll manage myself. You’re not skilled at this; if you help again, we’ll fall another time!"

Gu Jinli sneered; since you’re aware, why don’t you leave quickly? If you don’t go now, later it won’t just be a fall.

"Xiwang’s wife, are you alright? Why did you run so fast? We nearly couldn’t catch up." Yuan Jiagui and Gu Dashan entered first, seeing Tian Xiwang’s wife, displeased, saying.

Third Grandpa also hurriedly entered, seeing Tian Xiwang’s wife and Tian Hui’er, and Gu Jin’an standing outside, his face turning unpleasant, saying to Tian Xiwang’s wife, "Wait here a bit; the old man has instructed the servants to prepare the cart and will soon send you back."

Tian Xiwang’s wife cried upon hearing this, "Oh dear, what’s the point of sending us? My daughter Hui’er fainted; please don’t send the mule cart for us, quickly send it to fetch a doctor."

She generously added, "We’ll pay for the medicine; just bother your family’s mule cart to fetch the doctor."

After saying this, not waiting for Third Grandpa’s response, she added, "This is the guest hall; Hui’er is a grown girl, inappropriate to be examined here. I’ll take her to the inner courtyard, asking Dashan’s wife to prepare a room."

Previously, Gu Dashan felt the Tian Family was suspicious; now he’s completely disgusted by them. What do they intend? Forcing themselves into the house?