Chapter 75: Chapter 2: The Second Sister-in-law Also Loves Beauty
"Dad, we definitely need to build the house, donât worry about not having enough Silver Coin." Gu Chengyu thought the most important thing now was to get his dad to agree to build the house. He always slept in the main room which was really inconvenient; not only could he not enter his private space, sometimes at night he would hear some adult activities. But he also didnât want to squeeze in with his third and fourth brothers. One small room with just one bed for two people to sleep on, he didnât like the idea of three people squeezing in together. His second sister, Gu Wan, was also getting older and needed her own room. The small side room was too small; once you put in a bed and a cabinet, there was no room left for anything else. Plus, his elder and second brothersâ side rooms were even more cramped.
"Mom, rest assured, Iâve already thought of a way to earn money, weâll try it out in the next few days."
Actually, Mr. Gu had long wanted to add to the house, but his finances had always been tight. Adding more rooms could mean only building some back rooms. With people living around, thereâs no space on the sides, the layout is too small. Sigh!
"Xiao Bao, once your money is used up, you should not regret it. The land sold and the house built, your brothers will get a share in the future. If you donât change your mind, weâll leave eighty liang for you to study, and the rest will be used to buy land and build a house. Do you agree?"
Gu Chengyiâs heart tightened when he saw his father asking the fifth, he was somewhat afraid that Xiao Bao would refuse. After all, such a large amount of Silver, who wouldnât hesitate?
"Dad, since Iâve said it, Iâve already made up my mind, just use it. Our family hasnât separated, so the Silver is also considered communal, I certainly have no objection to using it for the family." Gu Chengyu since having decided, wouldnât go back on his words.
"Xiao Bao, donât be foolish! I donât agree." How could Mrs. Lv agree? That way her Xiao Bao would be at a great loss.
"Alright! Dad knows youâre generous, your elder brother and others will appreciate your kindness too. Mother, since Xiao Bao agrees and promises not to change his mind, Iâll selfishly make some plans for his brothers. Listen, donât let me hear later about Xiao Baoâs study expenses. Thatâs because he brought out his own Silver to support the family finances, you as brothers, donât forget Xiao Baoâs kindness to you." Mr. Gu suppressed Mrs. Lv, choosing to selfishly save something for the eldest sons.
"Xiao Bao, second brother will remember your kindness in the future." Gu Chengyi said awkwardly to Gu Chengyu, understanding his fatherâs intention to use Silver to shut them up. When the time comes for the fifth to use the study funds, it will still have to come from the public money they submitted, wonât it?
"Xiao Bao, you actually donât have to do this; itâs better if you keep the Silver for yourself, studying costs a lot." Gu Chengli didnât really covet Gu Chengyuâs Silver.
"Yeah! Xiao Bao, just keep it yourself!" The third and fourth brothers echoed.
"Alright! No more talking, the matter is settled." Mr. Gu, after finishing speaking, was ready to adjourn. Building a house and buying land isnât something done overnight, it canât be rushed.
"Wait, I brought some pearl flowers and red hair ribbons for the nieces at home when I went to the county this time, let the nieces come in! The styles of the pearl flowers are different, itâs best for them to choose by themselves." Gu Chengyu, while speaking, pretended to take those pearl flowers and red hair ribbons out from under the pillow on the kang, actually taking them out from his private space. As for the peach blossom cake, itâs better to take it out tomorrow, eating it at night isnât easy to digest.
"Yo! This really looks nice, Little Uncle sure is thoughtful! Iâll choose one for my Sanya first." Saying so, she started picking among the pearl flowers, choosing the one with the largest pearl to wear on her own head.
She tilted her head to ask Gu Chengyi if it looked good, making Gu Chengyi blush slightly, "Quickly take it off, these are for little girls to wear, why are you wearing it?"
Gu Chengyu held his forehead, "Second sister-in-law, these are for little girls, let Sanya and the others come in and choose for themselves!" He really couldnât stand it, as it was bought for the nieces and was only suitable for young girls. An already-married woman wearing such a delicate pearl flower just didnât look right! Plus, to be honest, Heâs face with this pearl flower really didnât look good.
"Why not suitable? Do you mean it doesnât look good on your second sister-in-law?" He side-glanced at Gu Chengyu, waiting for his reply; her gaze was as sharp as a blade.
Gu Chengyu shivered seeing Gu Chengyi silently turn away. Second brother, shouldnât you, as her husband, be the one to say something about this?
Youâd better never tell a woman she doesnât look good, or sheâll probably devour you with her gaze.
"Well... second sister-in-law, this is better suited for more exquisite, expensive jewelry, this one is too poor quality to match you."
Mr. Gu simply couldnât bear to look. Which sister-in-law grabs her little brother-in-law and asks if she looks good?
He immediately smiled, possibly feeling satisfied with the answer.
Da Lang went out and called the little girls in. At first, they didnât believe it, because they noticed even the little aunt only took a red hair ribbon. Was this pearl flower really for them? But when they saw the little aunt just sitting on the kang after taking a red hair ribbon, they believed it might be true, and bravely went forward, joyfully picking.
Eventually, Da Ya picked the pearl flower that He had, He was unwilling to take it off, only handing it to her reluctantly after being scolded by Gu Chengyi.
"My Si Ya has one too? Sheâs still so young!" Mrs. Fang was a bit surprised, her Si Ya was only a little over ten months old, with sparse hair, how could she wear a pearl flower?
"Big sister-in-law, I already said itâs for nieces, Si Ya is also my niece! She canât wear it now, but once her hair grows long enough, sheâll be able to. Everyone has a pearl flower; missing just one, Si Ya wonât do, plus itâs said to be a gift. Of course the Silver was calculated within the hairpins and desk costs, so itâs free to have! Even if I have to pay, the cost wouldnât matter to me."
"Ah! Little Uncle ah! Why arenât there any for me and eldest sister-in-law? Didnât you bring any for us?" He got anxious as she saw the kids finish dividing the pearl flowers and red ribbons without any left for her.
"What? Second brotherâs wife? Wasnât it enough to give your Sanya one, do you want one too? Do you have any idea how shameless you are? Have you ever seen a Little Uncle specially buy jewelry for his sister-in-law? If it gets out, wonât it harm our Xiao Baoâs reputation? Useless things." Mrs. Lv was so angry at He that she almost fainted, this lazy woman never had enough of taking advantage.
"Mom, I was just saying." He saw her mother-in-law was mad, and her father-in-lawâs face wasnât good either, so she didnât dare act up. However, she was still a bit unwilling, the pearl flower really was beautiful! Her eyes turned and she glanced at Mrs. Fang beside her.
"Hey! Eldest sister-in-law! Isnât your Si Ya still young? She canât use it now? It would be better for my Sanya to use. Besides, you have three girls in your big family, while our second family only has one. Doesnât that mean weâre at a big loss? So, shouldnât you give this pearl flower to us?" He was speaking with a tone filled with self-satisfaction, the big family had only Da Lang as a boy, while she had given birth to two boys consecutively, just look at the big family with their line of three girls, girls were surely a burden!