Chapter 271: Chapter 107: The House is Piled with Cow Dung
Originally, everyone coming to a family gathering is quite normal. But arriving a day early, and with all that luggage, it doesnât feel as pleasant. Gu Chengyu thought to himself silently, his house definitely couldnât accommodate everyone.
No matter how much he was complaining inside, he couldnât skimp on etiquette. Gu Chengyu smiled and stepped forward to greet them, "Aunt, Uncle!" and called the rest of his cousins over.
"Oh! Isnât this our familyâs little scholar? Wow! Xiao Bao is growing up so well! Heâs really making our Gu Family proud! Since you were little, Aunt always thought youâd make something of yourself, and indeed, here you are!"
Gu Xiuâs eyes lit up upon seeing Gu Chengyu and quickly made her way over, pulling his hands and praising him, while giggling with delight! Occasionally, spittle flew from her mouth, testing Gu Chengyuâs patience.
Gu Chengyu hurriedly pulled his hand back, turning sideways, "Aunt! Let me help you with your luggage? After riding the ox cart for several hours, you must be tired!" He said, promptly taking the bundles from Aunt Guâs shoulders.
"How could I let a scholar carry this? Donât, I know you care about your aunt!" Aunt Gu patted Gu Chengyuâs hand, refusing to let him carry the bundles, and naturally, Gu Chengyu was happy to be relieved. At least, he wouldnât have to worry about having his face washed.
Nonetheless, he found Aunt Guâs enthusiastic chatter quite uncomfortable. He couldnât help reflecting on how, when he was a child, Aunt Gu would always have her nose in the air and look at him sideways.
The conversation between them now seemed perfectly harmonious, as though Aunt Gu had always been like this towards Gu Chengyu; her expressions and gestures seemed natural, prompting a feeling from Gu Chengyu that she might be quite the drama expert too!
"Brother Dong, Brother Xi, arenât you going to call your uncle? This is your scholar uncle! Havenât you been clamoring at home just to meet him? Now here you are!" Gu Xiu pointed at Gu Chengyu and spoke to the two children behind him, who were about the same age as Gu Chengyu.
Brother Dong glanced at Gu Chengyu, "Is this the same kid you said used to fight with me when I was little? Or is he the so-called poor scholar Iâve heard people mention?" Liao Dong, being uneducated, was quite vague on the concept of a scholar, only remembering some sour words heâd heard, like poor scholar.
Brother Xi simply smiled at Gu Chengyu without saying a word, seemingly a shy boy.
"You rascal, how could you say that about your uncle?" Gu Xiu tapped Liao Dongâs shoulder, scolding him with a tone of affection.
Gu Chengyu observed coldly, Aunt still hasnât changed a bit. Children shouldnât be spoiled like this; if not properly taught, theyâll inevitably face trouble sooner or later.
"No worries, the nephews are still small! Theyâll learn over time!" Gu Chengyu made up his mind to gross them out a bit; it was uncomfortable for him otherwise. Nine-year-old kids, yet still so clueless.
The women working in the yard laughed at Gu Chengyuâs words. Their curiosity had been piqued by the premature arrival of Gu Xiuâs family, so they had been watching. The incident was witnessed by everyone, and the boy looked just about as old as Gu Chengyu!
Gu Xiu was oblivious to the laughter and continued, "Whereâs your mother? Itâs such a long time now, yet sheâs nowhere in sight. Is she not home?"
Gu Xiu kept in mind to add trouble for Mrs. Lv, as the aunt had arrived, but Mrs. Lv remained hidden, neglecting manners.
Mrs. Lv arrived at the door just in time to hear this, "Oh! Itâs Aunt arrived! Xiao Bao, didnât you say youâd go fetch your aunt tomorrow? Why did you bring her so early today? Bringing her over without giving a heads up! Aunt, please come inside and take a seat!"
Trying to embarrass me in front of the villagers, are you? Well, Iâll give you just enough trouble back. Canât wait to join the feast, it seems? You couldnât wait and came over even before fetching you or even with plans to fetch being mentioned; thatâs insignificant now.
Gu Xiu was livid, stuck with phlegm in her throat, neither spitting nor swallowing!
Mrs. Lv was thankful that Gu Chengyu shielded things a bit in the courtyard; otherwise, the familyâs etiquette might have been trampled by Gu Xiu.
"Itâs because Iâve been missing you and my third brother, came early to see you all."
Gu Chengyu sighed, well, just entered the door and theyâre already clashing; imagine how turbulent itâll be with Gu Xiu around. All drama experts!
Mr. Gu entered carrying a basket from outside; he had been up the mountain gathering pigweed for the pig he was raising.
Seeing Gu Xiu surprised him too, "Sister, Brother-in-law! Why are you here? I expected you tomorrow!"
Mr. Gu couldnât more tactless, with Gu Xiuâs smile faltering.
Seeing so many people made Mr. Gu uneasy as well; their house couldnât accommodate them all, especially given the large baggage, two or three days stay wouldnât need all that.
"What? Donât want me visiting?" Aunt spoke casually with her brother.
"How could it be? But if youâre here, how about the shop?" Gu Xiu often used the busy shop as an excuse; Mr. Gu only asked casually, not expecting such a big reaction from Gu Xiu.
"Xiao Bao has become a scholar; shouldnât we hurry here? Whatâs the shop? After over two hours by ox cart, our bones are about to fall apart without knowing to let us in for a rest." Gu Xiu said, pulling Liao Dong and Liao Xi towards the main room.
"Oh! Is it really sister returned?" Uncle Gu walked in from outside, having heard from the villagers about Gu Xiuâs return, doubting it was early; indeed, she returned, bringing the whole family.
"Brother-in-law, Changqingâs family probably canât fit everyone, you take some to stay at ours." The Gu Family wasnât divided before and could still squeeze in, but after the family split, such numbers couldnât fit. The yard was partitioned, some filled with clutter.
"I see many empty rooms in Changqingâs house though! No worries, a little crowded is just fine." The first brotherâs home isnât as comfortable as Changqingâs, not to mention better food there; theyâd be foolish to go.
Uncle Gu meant well, didnât anticipate Gu Xiuâs prompt refusal, creating awkwardness for him.
Gu Chengyu sensed an unease, hoping not to have to share with those unruly kids. That wouldnât do; he didnât want to share a room with troublemakers.
"Aunt, you see our house is piled with clutter, how about having some stay at Uncleâs place today and move over when itâs tidied up; the inside is quite messy, still getting sorted, wouldnât want to inconvenience the cousins." Direct refusal isnât an option, but saying itâs being tidied makes apparently forceful staying unreasonable, right?
Aunt Wang, helping in the yard, immediately grasped the situation, her eyes spinning.
"Xiao Bao, your dad mentioned the rooms being piled with cow dung for field fertilizing, cleaned up yet?"
"Huh?" Gu Chengyu almost wanted to give Aunt Wang a thumbs up, so viciously clever!
Ultimately, Gu Xiuâs eldest, Liao Jinâs family, stayed at Uncle Guâs house, while daughter Liao Fen with mother and second Liao Yinâs family stayed at Mr. Guâs house, which made Gu Wan relieved.