Chapter 1030: Dreams Come True

The master of the house is absent, so Gu Jinli let Nanny Tao move in to watch over the house and oversee everything. Being a meticulous person, Nanny Tao prepared everything for welcoming Master Tongsheng according to custom bright and early.

As soon as Gu Jin’an got off the mule cart, he was adorned with red silk flowers and had a measure filled with rice thrust into his hands.

Gu Jin’an: "..."

Why is it happening again? He felt he was almost becoming like a monkey, dressed up this way every day for amusement.

"Good Brother An, this is a custom, it’s auspicious, so just go along," Nanny Tao explained, and then started singing auspicious rhymes for academic achievement, singing a total of nine lines.

After she finished singing, Gu Jin’an walked from the gate to his family’s courtyard, where he knelt at the incense table that had long been prepared, bowing in thanks to heaven and earth.

When he stood up again, Nanny Tao handed a fabric-made osmanthus flower branch to Gu Dashan: "Please, Master Dong, pin the flower for Good Brother An, so he may win laurels and come out as the top scorer."

Gu Jin’an looked at that osmanthus flower and then at the big red silk flower on his chest, his expression was beyond words.

Brother Cheng covered his mouth, sneaking a laugh. Big Brother despises wearing flowers on his head, yet ever since he started taking exams, he has been adorned with flowers many times, and each time his expression was quite unsightly.

Gu Jinli also held back laughter and deliberately asked Nanny Tao: "Nanny Tao, when thanking ancestors, should there be another pinning of flowers?"

According to Great Chu’s customs, every major event requires a bow of thanks to heaven and earth first, then to the ancestors; as of now, only heaven and earth have been thanked, the ancestors have yet to be thanked.

Knowing that Gu Jinli’s question was intentional, Nanny Tao, adhering firmly to customs, replied: "Yes, Young Master is right, but since the Gu Family’s children have had two successes this time, it’s proper for both families to jointly worship the ancestors, so the ancestor worship is scheduled for tomorrow."

Gu Jin’an was quite helpless; indeed, another round comes tomorrow.

Gu Dashan, however, was pleased, and after receiving the osmanthus branch, carefully pinned it on Gu Jin’an’s head, sighing: "My eldest has made me proud."

Mrs. Cui’s eyes turned red, choking with emotion as she nodded: "Mother just knew, Good Brother An would surely stand out."

Back when they were with the Old Gu Family, even when his hands were nearly broken from beatings, he still secretly practiced calligraphy on the ground, and at that time she just knew as long as Good Brother An persisted, he would surely rise.

Gu Jin’an laughed: "Father, Mother, no more tears, your son will bring even more honor, allowing you to live an even better life."

"Yes, yes." Gu Dashan and Mrs. Cui responded, brimming with joy.

Then they knelt again, giving thanks to heaven and earth, praying for God to bless Gu Jin’an in the college exam.

After more than a quarter of an hour of rituals, they finally finished thanking.

Gu Jin’an removed the red silk flower from his body and the osmanthus branch from his head, tying them all onto Brother Cheng: "Wear them well, may they bless you to succeed too."

Third Grandma was delighted to hear this, laughing: "Yes, yes, Brother Cheng should wear them well, they bring your brother’s good fortune, it can bless you with success."

She helped Gu Jin’an tie the red silk flower and osmanthus branch nicely onto Brother Cheng.

Brother Cheng wore a miserable expression, greatly regretting it; had he known, he wouldn’t have laughed at Big Brother.

Gu Jin’an laughed heartily, teasing, "You added trouble by laughing at me, can’t beat Xiao Yu, but I can certainly beat you, can’t I?"

After finishing the rituals of thanking heaven, Gu Dashan said: "It’s late, Third Uncle, Third Aunt, you two should rest now."

It was already midnight, and having traveled back home over three days, the elders were truly exhausted.

Third Grandpa was already struggling to keep his eyes open, hearing this he didn’t insist on staying, yawning, "Alright, we two elders will rest first, you should sleep early too; tomorrow will be busy."

"Yes." Gu Dashan agreed, instructing Ah Jiang to escort Third Grandpa and Third Grandma back to their quarters.

Gu Dashan said: "You all go back to sleep too, tidy up the items tomorrow."

Then he said to San Lang: "San Lang, as you’re young, you might get hungry easily, take some food back and eat before you go."

Knowing Qin San Lang needed to head to the Military Office tonight, they advised him to be cautious on the road since riding at night is unsafe.

"Yes, got it, Uncle Dashan." Qin San Lang agreed one by one, then smiled: "You all rest first; I’ll take what I want myself, no need to wait on me."

Gu Dashan and the others were indeed exhausted, hearing this, they didn’t continue speaking, instructed Da Tuan to guard the gate well, then handed Brother Cheng over to Gu Jin’an, and went to sleep with Mrs. Cui.

Gu Jin’an took Brother Cheng to bathe.

Nanny Tao said: "Young Master, Sister Xiu, let this old servant escort you back for rest."

Saying this, she glanced at Qin San Lang, causing Gu Jinli to laugh, seeing Nanny Tao being cautious of Qin San Lang.

"Alright, we’re going back now." Gu Jinli held Gu Jinxiu’s hand, and with Xiao Ji, Erqing, and Sister Li headed towards their living quarters, glancing back halfway to wink at Qin San Lang.

Seeing this, Qin San Lang smiled, nodded back at her, received the food from Zezi, and led his horse back to the Qin family.

"You’re back." Elder Qin, wearing an outer robe, stood in the upper courtyard watching him.

Qin San Lang nodded, handing the food over to Elder Qin: "Grandfather, eat a bit before sleeping."

Then said: "Weren’t you at Songzi Manor? How come you returned suddenly?"

Elder Qin received the food handed to him, saying: "I learned you’re back, so I returned to take a look; I’ve stayed away too long, it’s not good not being in the village often."

Since Gu Jinli and the others started buying iron, Elder Qin had spent considerable time over the last three years making ironware in Songzi Manor, yet he also regularly returned to the village for fear of raising suspicion.

This time he returned specially, one reason being to discuss engagement dates with the Gu family, the other to see Qin San Lang.

This lad was either in the Military Office or visiting Xiao Yu, or going into the mountains to train people, occasionally running to the Prefecture garrison camp and the fishing village sides, rarely seeing him.

"You go ahead inside, I’ll feed the horse and come." Qin San Lang quickly led the horse to the backyard stable, gave the horse some fodder, then returned to the upper house hall to dine with Elder Qin.

"Salty meat cakes, your favorite, along with Songhua Wine."

Futai Building has many famous dishes, but grandfather’s favorite was still the salty meat cake, back then while marching and battling, having a bite of salty meat cake was more delightful than New Year celebrations.

However, southern salty meat cakes weren’t as authentic as those in the Northwest; grandfather could only satisfy his cravings, unable to savor the taste of old times.

Elder Qin accepted the salted meat cake, somewhat dismissively eyeing the Songhua Wine: "Burning Knife liquor is more gratifying, this Songhua Wine isn’t strong enough."

Qin San Lang: "Grandfather’s getting on in age, can’t drink anything too strong, Songhua Wine suits you well."

The implication being that this was all he could drink, don’t even think about anything else.

Elder Qin snorted: "You’re so pleased lately, yet still stingy."

Originally thought this kid having his dreams come true would be happy enough to buy him some strong liquor, but it’s still this Songhua Wine.

Qin San Lang laughed: "During my wedding with Xiao Yu, I’ll surely give you a jug of Burning Knife, for now just make do with this."