Chapter 263 - 99: Clan Fields

Chapter 263: Chapter 99: Clan Fields

Actually, he also wants to buy some land, considering it as clan property, to provide some ink, paper, and brushes for children in the clan who want to go to school.

An acre of land, based on the family’s production over the past two years, can sell for four to five taels of Silver! Ten acres would be forty to fifty taels. That’s quite a lot, and besides, after harvesting rice or wheat, you can still grow some legumes to enrich the soil.

"What? You really are willing to renovate the ancestral hall?" Uncle Gu was incredibly excited. The Gu Family’s ancestral hall should have been renovated long ago, but the Silver was not enough, so it was always delayed. Now that Gu Chengyu brought it up, how could they not be excited?

"Why didn’t I hear you mention it?" Mr. Gu felt very surprised, after all, Gu Chengyu hadn’t discussed it with the family before.

"I only thought of it when mentioning building a memorial arch, the ancestral hall has become quite dilapidated!"

"Thinking of this, Uncle is very pleased. You’re now a scholar, and not renovating the ancestral hall indeed seems inappropriate. Here’s the thing! We won’t let you shoulder it alone; I’ll ask everyone, have everyone contribute some Silver, after all, the ancestral hall belongs to everyone!"

Gu Chengyu having this intention made Uncle Gu very happy. If the Silver Coin is not enough, they can ask Xiao Bao to fill in some.

"Then, Uncle, you handle it! I also plan to add ten acres of clan property, exempt from taxes, under my name which has tax-exempt acreage. Let them remain under my name. The produce from these lands, sold for Silver, will be used for the clan’s children’s education."

Gu Chengyu’s previous words could excite Uncle Gu, and now what he said made Uncle Gu rise in joy.

"Good, good, good, Xiao Bao is kind-hearted, and now can lead the clan. If you’ve really decided, I’ll go tell everyone in the clan, let everyone enjoy the moment together!" Uncle Gu already began imagining the Gu Family’s glorious future, sure that Gu Chengyu will lead the family to brilliance.

The good news made Uncle Gu restless, "I’ll first go talk to the clan, informing them about the clan property matter, the plaque and memorial arch have to go by everyone’s opinions."

Gu Chengyu felt a bit helpless, just a scholar, he truly thought it unnecessary. However, he couldn’t bear to disappoint Mr. Gu and Mrs. Lv, such achievements are usually meant for descendants to admire, it is a glory for the Gu Family.

After speaking, Uncle Gu rushed away; there are many things to do with the ancestral hall renovation!

"Xiao Bao! Why did you think about the clan property? Your exemption only covers eighty acres, and now you’re giving out ten acres, this ten acres you have to pay yourself!" Mrs. Lv thought about it and felt reluctant, the clan had never given her family any benefits before, and they hadn’t been close.

"What do you know? Xiao Bao did right, these lands are not for the clan, but for those children who can’t afford to study." Mr. Gu felt that women are often limited in their understanding.

"Now among the Gu Family, only Brother’s family, our family, and Third Uncle’s family have scholars, currently only Xiao Bao has become a scholar, in the future there won’t be anyone to support them. If fortunate enough to become officials, wouldn’t the successful ones in the clan support each other? Xiao Bao has said it before, this is called a lonely tree can’t stand."

Mr. Gu remembered what Xiao Bao told him years ago, and upon reflection, felt it was very correct!

"Xiao Bao from our family doesn’t need to rely on others, as long as they don’t hold Xiao Bao back." Mrs. Lv pursed her lips, those in the clan, what prospects do they have? Those kids spend their days chasing chickens and dogs, filthy beyond comparison.

Mrs. Lv successfully made Gu Wan laugh, in her mother’s eyes, Xiao Bao was the smartest under heaven and a filial good son.

Gu Chengyu was also amused by Mrs. Lv’s matter-of-fact tone, indeed every child is their parent’s pride.

"Dad’s right, besides our family doesn’t rely on my tax-exempt lands for living, do we? It’s also a way of showing care for the clan. Besides, we have eighty acres of tax-exempt lands. At that time, everyone in the clan will want to register their lands under our name. If we don’t agree, they’ll definitely gossip everywhere."

Gu Chengyu had considered this, but with few tax-exempt lands now, which families should have their lands registered under it? The clan lands can shut their mouths and also do good for the clan, it fulfills both purposes.

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Lv could only mumble, feeling it was a bargain for the clan.

"I need to visit Mr. Wen tomorrow to express gratitude, and with the Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, I’ll take the Mid-Autumn gifts together this time."

"By the way, we’re hosting a banquet, I wonder if Brother Sun is hosting one too?" Gu Chengyu thought of Sun Xian. Sun Xian is now a scholar, too. Moreover, we’ll be family in the future, seems like we should prepare a gift too. And also for Ye Zhiqiu, since we’re classmates, we must give congratulatory gifts.

"Oh! This thing I’ve discussed with your father, whether Brother Xian hosts a banquet or not, our family’s gift shouldn’t be lacking. Their family is living tight, we should offer a little support, Wan’er is truly blessed with fortune, now a scholar, if in three years becomes an official, just when Wan’er gets married, it’ll be grand."

Mrs. Lv was satisfied with this son-in-law, although Sun Xian’s family was poor, he was reliable and capable. Xiao Bao’s judgment in choosing people was commendable.

"When you go to the teacher’s house tomorrow, bring your Brother Sun when you come back, let him come over and play." Mrs. Lv knew unmarried individuals were shy, if not invited, Sun Xian wouldn’t dare to come regularly.

"Got it! If hosting a banquet, I have to invite the teacher and classmates. Dad, how do you feel about the eighteenth?" Hosting a banquet after becoming a scholar was customary, even poor families would hold one; no family would begrudge this Silver.

"Let’s settle on that day! Send a follower to inform your Aunt, have her come on the eighteenth to eat and drink." Mr. Gu thought of Gu Xiu and felt it was necessary to notify in advance so there wouldn’t be anything preventing her from coming.

"Having settled the date, I’ll go write the invitations for the teacher and classmates." Gu Chengyu planned to write them now as he had to leave for town early tomorrow.

After Gu Chengyu left, Mrs. Lv glanced at Mr. Gu, "Every time your eldest sister visits, we can’t see her eyes, this time we’ll let her see, our family has a scholar. What’s she proud of? Her family is just selling tofu."

Mr. Gu felt very helpless, Mrs. Lv and his eldest sister have never gotten along, always disagreeing, every time they met there would be an argument.

"Aren’t those matters all from the past? These years hasn’t she always greeted us with a smile whenever she’s come over? Why bring up the past?"

"That’s only because we’re living well now, when our family was poor, did you see her come over? Each time she comes, she takes something with her from our household, doesn’t she?"

Mrs. Lv would become angry talking about it, feeling Gu Xiu was shallow, yet liked to act. Not a single visit ended without her taking food and materials, as if her face was thick enough to snatch them, looking down on people in the past, now putting on a pitiable show just to gain benefits.

"What can I do? If not given to her, she’d put on a big show, giving everyone headaches!"