Chapter 108: Housewarming Banquet
“I think you are truly considerate, A’Yu. Not only do you earn money to support the family, but you also let Qingheng and me study together. Most girls in the village can’t even recognize a single character, as they believe that besides marrying and serving men, studying is useless for them.”
“I don’t actually believe women are inherently weaker than men. Look at the concubines in the Emperor’s harem; their schemes for favor are endless. If they were men, they probably would have become officials long ago. Now, just because they’ve changed their bodies, why do people presume their studies are useless!”
Seeing Mengyao’s little face suddenly flush crimson, Gu Yu became even more bewildered.
But fortunately, when Gu Yu presented the martial arts manual, Mengyao quickly recovered and then said something that Gu Yu did not agree with.
It’s just that in this feudal society of ancient times, women were considered inferior to men. If Gu Yu were in modern times before his transmigration, female prodigies and female tycoons would have been common… So, gender discrimination is completely unnecessary.
Everyone is an independent individual with their own strengths.
“Mmm, A’Yu, I won’t disappoint you! I will definitely study hard!”
“Don’t overwork yourself. I didn’t expect you to become a top scholar. Just read if you feel bored; it can also be a pastime.”
After discussing some matters of gender equality with Mengyao, Gu Yu found that his little wife was actually quite receptive.
If it were another ancient person, upon hearing Gu Yu’s ‘heretical’ words, they would definitely consider him an anomaly.
After all, in a patriarchal society, speaking of gender equality would surely be met with ridicule.
If men and women are equal, why are only men needed for fighting wars, while women stay in the back courtyards to cook…
Under habitual thinking, most people think this way, and there are always contrarians who cling to this point.
In reality, managing an entire household is not easy for women, and both sides have their own difficulties. That’s why it’s said that yin and yang are in harmony, and both sides complement each other.
In this regard, Gu Yu doesn’t care what others think; he mindfully manages his own household.
He just loves to dote on Gu Mengyao!
As for why Mengyao accepted so quickly, it’s because she had hunted in the mountains for a few years, and she knew that her abilities surpassed even adult men, which is why she didn’t object to what Gu Yu said.
However, when it comes to other matters, Mengyao would revert to being a stubborn ancient person. This is unlike Gu Qingheng, who has a flexible mind and is more receptive to new things.
Later, regarding the manual… Gu Yu didn’t need to explain much; he just said that a passing hero, because he liked white sugar, had casually given him a manual after reserving a jar.
He also included a long sword.
When Gu Yu took out the sword hidden at the bottom of the chest, Mengyao, upon seeing the sword ‘gifted’ by the man in black, immediately became excited, hugged it, and looked at it for a long time with surprise.
Her cheeks also turned rosy, making her look very cute.
Unlike other women who liked embroidery and flower viewing, Mengyao, having hunted in the mountains frequently before, always loved sharp weapons.
With these weapons, she would have the ability to protect herself even when encountering fierce wild beasts.
It was just a pity that, at that time, Mengyao didn’t even have the spare money to buy iron weapons.
Now, even though she didn’t need to hunt in the mountains anymore, her personality of liking weapons couldn’t be changed overnight.
Gu Yu was different from ordinary ancient men who demanded women abide by the three obediences and four virtues. Seeing Mengyao so infatuated with weapons, he didn’t find anything wrong with it… It was like his liking for Gundam models in modern times, just a hobby.
However, Mengyao couldn’t neglect the lightness skill!
Learning the lightness skill well would be much more useful than holding a sword and swinging it around… If Gu Yu couldn’t learn it, he would truly wish to learn the lightness skill and then rob the rich to help the poor.
Robbing the rich referred to the wealthy merchants in town, and helping the poor referred to the Gu family.
After Mengyao repeatedly nodded, promising to study the lightness skill diligently, Gu Yu then satisfiedly unlocked the door and walked out of the room.
The villagers who were coming for dinner soon would arrive, and Gu Yu had to go to the courtyard to check the table arrangements and ensure everything was in order.
Mengyao, on the other hand, happily put away the lightness skill manual, then humming a tune in a good mood, carefully hung the long sword on the wall, her smile growing brighter as she looked at it.
…
“Gou Dan, your house is truly magnificent! In our Yang Family Village, only the village chief’s family has built a blue brick and tile house. Now, you are the second family to do so.”
“It’s great to have a wife who can hunt and earn money!”
“Heeheehee, what can we eat today!”
“Old Man Yang must be regretting it to death now. Gou Dan is such a good child. If he hadn’t written the deed of severance, perhaps his father would have enjoyed some comfort in his old age and lived in this blue brick and tile house. Just thinking about it is wonderful!”
“Tch, tch, but you also have to consider that Gou Dan is a son-in-law who lives with his wife. No matter how good this house is, it belongs to the Gu family and has nothing to do with him.”
“Let’s start eating quickly. I still have work to do when I get home!”
The village chief and Auntie Wang Er had impeccable social skills. As the banquet was about to begin, the villagers one by one came and stepped into the Gu family’s courtyard.
Then, they pooled together a few eggs and a foot of cloth as housewarming gifts.
The housewarming banquet for moving into a new house was all about liveliness.
Therefore, guests didn’t need to give overly generous gifts; their sincerity was sufficient… The most important thing was to add popularity to the new house, symbolizing a prosperous and lucky future.
While waiting for the banquet to start, some women who were good friends with Mengyao went to help with the cooking in the back, while the remaining people formed tables and chatted away noisily.
Some spoke with sour words, their envy so thick it seemed about to overflow like water in a vat.
Because, from some unknown time, the formerly pitiable Gu family orphan had become wealthy enough to build a blue brick and tile house! They had worked hard for half their lives and still couldn’t afford to build one, as the required silver was not a small sum.
Not to mention, the red brick wall enclosing their two mu of land probably cost even more silver than the blue brick and tile house.
The Gu family had truly prospered!
Others mocked the Old Yang family for shooting themselves in the foot. If Old Man Yang hadn’t written the deed of severance back then, given Gou Dan’s filial nature, he would surely have invited him to stay for a few days after the blue brick and tile house was built.
As he stayed, wouldn’t it have eventually become his own?
Mengyao was just a woman, and even if Gou Dan was merely a son-in-law who lived with the wife, in the absence of any adults in the Gu family, or even any formidable relatives, Gou Dan had the final say!
As for that boy Gu Qingheng, he was too young and should go play in the mud!
Of course, there were also those who were indifferent and just wanted to come for a free meal.
Everyone had their own thoughts, but Gu Yu didn’t have the time to deal with their inner monologues. As long as the housewarming banquet didn’t cause any trouble today, that was enough.
Whether his own life was good or bad couldn’t be changed by others’ casual remarks; even if they thought more in their hearts, it would be in vain.
However, no one from the Old Yang family showed up today.
Whether it was because they were too embarrassed to come or because Old Man Yang had strictly forbidden it, even Madam Li, that sharp-tongued old lady, didn’t come, which relieved Gu Yu by half.
On the other hand, Widow Lin and her daughter, as if nothing had happened, were sitting at the dining table, not even budging from their seats, waiting to be served like royalty.
And the housewarming gift they gave was just a few casually placed red dates, their perfunctory attitude being quite obvious.
Because today was a joyous housewarming banquet, Gu Yu didn’t bother to argue with them too much, so as not to spoil the mood.
However, Gu Yu had already written down the names of Widow Lin and her daughter in his little black book.
There will be a day…
The banquet then commenced. As people waited for the dishes to be served, and the aroma of meat-filled dishes wafted to the table, everyone’s eyes were practically glued to the table.
It wasn’t that they were deliberately exaggerating or putting on a show of being unsophisticated, but it was difficult for people in the village to eat meat; a few times a year was already good.
Typically, they could only eat a few mouthfuls of meat when pigs were slaughtered for the Lunar New Year; usually, they would satisfy their cravings with lard.
But now, the Gu family’s housewarming banquet was so generous, the meat in the dishes was truly substantial!
Good heavens! The Gu family must be incredibly wealthy!
There were more meat dishes than vegetarian dishes; how much would this housewarming banquet cost!
Even the son of the village’s rich merchant Song, when getting married, hadn’t been so extravagant with the banquet. The villagers had only intended to come and see the excitement, but they didn’t expect this trip to be truly worthwhile!
A housewarming banquet was meant to be a lively affair. Seeing that all the dishes were substantial, people ate with even more gusto, their chopsticks moving ceaselessly, their mouths covered in oil. They even packed up the leftover meat dishes from the table to take home.
As the villagers left, they showered Gu Yu with endless good words, wishing they could speak with such eloquence as to praise Gu Yu as the greatest person under the heavens.
Upon hearing these words, Gu Yu didn’t puffed up with pride. He simply nodded with a gentle smile at everyone who congratulated him.
And in his heart, he was thinking… Their house was finally built; it was truly a cause for celebration!
Gu Yu hadn’t forgotten his first day after transmigrating, when he opened his eyes to see a bare thatched hut. He truly felt that even if a mouse moved in, it would eventually starve to death.
Especially since he had transmigrated into a sickly young boy, along with the two little ones, Mengyao and Qingheng, living a life where they didn’t know where their next meal would come from.
Moreover, this body had a habit of overspending before, which made the Gu family’s life even more difficult.
Fortunately, Gu Yu had transmigrated from modern times and had his spatial ability as a golden finger…
Thinking about it, it felt like it was just yesterday. But looking up at Mengyao, who was chatting with the women, her once gaunt little face had become plump, and her patched and worn-out clothes had been replaced by beautiful new ones.
Especially with the silver hairpin adorned with peach blossoms in her hair, swaying from side to side, her smiling face like a blooming flower made Gu Yu feel very content.
On the other side, his younger brother-in-law, who was eavesdropping on gossip among the crowd, was also looking brand new. His cute little face was rosy, and with a mischievous look on his face, he was clearly a clever little rascal.
Gu Yu, now with no one around him, patted his cheeks to get rid of the awkward expression of smiling so hard his face hurt, and resumed his normal expression.
He couldn’t get too proud; this was just the beginning, and their future lives awaited them.
If nothing else, Mengyao’s father, Gu Qing, was a big trouble.
After so many years, why was he still sending people to look for Mengyao? He had already become a vice general in the military camp. Could it be that he wanted Mengyao to follow in his footsteps and join the army?
Hmph, he, her official husband, was still here. Even her father would have to step aside.
Slightly Affluent
