Chapter 709: Chapter 545 Returning Home
Gu Chengyu looked at the banyan tree getting closer and closer, calculating in his mind whether to expand the old house again.
But he was just the youngest son, and the old house was inherited by the eldest son. It wasnât his place to meddle in this matter.
This house was originally built by him, but as the main branch, if the house were expanded, his elder brother definitely wouldnât look good if he had to provide the silver.
Furthermore, the Jiang Family was next door, so they would need to demolish the Jiang familyâs courtyard for this courtyard to be grand. Otherwise, even if the depth were extended, the entrance wouldnât be impressive.
"There are people living next to our old house, so even if I wanted to expand, thereâs no way. Besides, Iâm not the eldest son, so I shouldnât meddle excessively."
Zhu Pang understood, but he believed Gu Chengyu had the thought of expansion.
After all, for an officialâs old house, this kind of facade was indeed a bit shabby.
Gu Chengyu and his group had seven horse-drawn carriages in total, making quite a commotion as they entered the village.
It was the busy farming season, and it was still very bright out, with many villagers working in the fields.
Gu Chengli was standing on the field ridge with his hands behind his back, watching the laborers transplant seedlings. The Gu Family was wealthy now, so he naturally didnât need to do everything himself. He just couldnât stay idle and often went to the fields to help.
Rolling up his pant legs again, he intended to go down and transplant the seedlings.
Aunt Wangâs family had also gradually bought some fields over the years, accumulating ten acres, and life wasnât bad.
"Dear, once youâve finished with the family work in these two days, quickly go to the Gu Family to help. We took their silver coin and still prioritized our work; how could we feel at ease?"
Aunt Wang said, straightening her back to catch her breath. At home, Mrs. Xiao Huang cooked meals, while she and the two men of the family came to the field.
Casting a casual glance toward the large banyan tree at the village entrance, she suddenly widened her eyes. Whatâs that, a convoy?
She immediately threw the seedlings in her hand into the field, slapped her thigh, and shouted, "Look! Isnât that the Gu Familyâs Xiao Baoâs carriage? It must be Xiao Bao whoâs back!"
Aunt Wangâs husband, Wang Erniu, also straightened up to look toward the banyan tree, "Oh! So many carriages, it really might be that Xiao Bao from the Gu Family is back, werenât we told heâd return these days?"
"Oh my! It must be. I have to go call Gu Familyâs eldest; his Xiao Bao is back!" After saying this, Aunt Wang climbed barefoot onto the field ridge, ready to call Gu Chengli.
Gu Chengli was working the fields with them, and everyone greeted each other along the way. However, Gu Chengliâs fields were a bit further from the village, almost near the Changling Mountain.
"Mom, weâre almost there," Gousheng said from the other end of the field, seeing his mom scrambling up the field ridge, running toward the back.
Gousheng looked at the convoy ahead with a hint of resentment.
His mom had always compared him to Gu Chengyu since he was a child, and he had lived under Gu Chengyuâs shadow.
Everything was about Gu Chengyu passing the scholar exams, Gu Chengyu becoming a scholar, Gu Chengyu finding a profitable business for the family...
There were countless such things, and Gu Chengyu seemed to have cast a spell on his mom, making her happier than anyone else whenever Gu Chengyu returned.
Even when Gu Chengyu was away, his mom would sometimes worry about him suffering outside. When he went to the county for work and returned home every few days, she never worried about him like this.
As if Gu Chengyu was his momâs real son, and he was just picked up.
Gousheng had never experienced the modern world. If he were in Gu Chengyuâs past life, Aunt Wang would have been Gu Chengyuâs loyal fan.
"Gu Familyâs eldest, your Xiao Bao is back!" Aunt Wang ran barefoot on the field ridge, calling out to Gu Chengli who was already at work.
Gu Chengli heard Aunt Wangâs shout from afar, feeling a bit confused, not knowing what the urgency was about.
"Owner, it sounds like your official has returned!"
A laborer nearby heard it clearly, having worked for Gu Chengli for over two years, and knew a bit about the Gu Familyâs situation.
The Gu Family had produced an official, known by people within a dozen miles around.
"Indeed, it sounds like it, he must be saying the official has returned home." Another laborer listened carefully and agreed.
"What? Xiao Bao is back?" Gu Chengli immediately climbed up the field ridge upon hearing, feeling extremely happy.
"Aunt, did you say Xiao Bao is back? Iâll head back now."
Aunt Wang saw that Gu Chengli heard and stopped running this way, then turned around, ready to join the excitement at the Gu Family. But she quickly remembered that her own seedlings were not finished and returned to her plot.
The rice seeds were obtained from the Gu Family; previously, every household planted wheat and sorghum. Now that the Gu Family had rice seeds, more families started planting rice.
However, rice was quite particular; it couldnât be grown in places not near a water source, so people still had to plant wheat.
The village women had already started heading home to prepare dinner, and even from afar, they could hear the sound of carriages, causing them to look up toward the village entrance.
"My goodness! Why are so many carriages coming? Are they heading to the Gu Family again? There seem to be more today than before."
The wife of Big Lazy had just returned from the fields; her family still had those two acres. Big Lazy wouldnât go to the fields, so she had to manage on her own. Even at this hour, she had to return to cook.
She said this because ever since Gu Familyâs fifth child passed the imperial exam and became an official, carriages visiting the Gu Family had been nonstop. But seeing so many carriages at once today made her a bit curious.
Old Wang happened to walk beside Big Lazyâs wife, hearing this, and he too began to speculate.
"The Gu Familyâs days have really come up, people often say a single person ascends, taking the whole family with them. Anyway, it seems the Gu Family is thriving."
Old Wang hadnât driven the ox cart this year since his ox had died, and without it, he couldnât continue his town-bound business.
"Oh! It must be that the Gu Familyâs official has returned." Big Lazyâs wife just thought of this, and her heart filled with excitement.
Since Shangling Village produced an official, no other village has dared to cut off their water supply in the past two years.
Mrs. Lv was sitting at the kang, sorting out clothes in the kangâs quilt. From inside, she pulled out a pair of small tiger-head shoes.
These shoes were worn by Xiao Bao when he was little, just learning to walk. She couldnât help but recall Xiao Baoâs waddling steps.
At that time, she held Xiao Baoâs small hand, teaching him to walk step by step in the once dilapidated courtyard of the Gu Family, while Wanâer clapped her hands nearby, laughing at her little brother for walking like a duck.
Thinking of this, Mrs. Lvâs eyes welled up with tears.
As Gu Chengyuâs carriage arrived at the courtyard gate, he impatiently jumped off the carriage.
He pushed open the ajar courtyard gate without stepping in and shouted inside, "Mom! Iâm back."
Startled by the voice, Mrs. Lv looked out the window with teary eyes, discovering that a young man had already entered the courtyard. That tall figure, who else could it be but her Xiao Bao?
"Xiao Bao?"