Chapter 5: Gu Qingheng’s Request
In the end, Gu Qingheng’s request surprised everyone present.
Instead of asking for gold and jewelry, he asked Shan Chengfeng to pack up his collection of rare books for him to study at home.
This led Shan Chengfeng, who thought he would have to pay a monetary price, to miscalculate Gu Qingheng’s intentions.
Even Gu Yu was a little surprised, wondering when his brother-in-law had a change of heart. Before, when buying books at the bookstore, he had a reluctant look, but now he had become a good student.
Gu Qingheng had actually intended to ask for a huge sum, thousands of taels of silver, since Shan Chengfeng had readily agreed. If he wanted silver, he should also be extremely direct.
However, after his newly built blue brick and tile house attracted the envy of some villagers, who spoke sourly behind his back, he realized that if he took home thousands of taels this time, it would surely cause an uproar!
Just thinking about constantly being on guard against thieves, Gu Qingheng obediently decided he wanted books!
Although Gu Qingheng was happy to receive these rare books, he felt a headache coming on at the thought of having to read them all in the future.
Because for a long time, he wouldn’t be able to go to the village to listen to gossip anymore!
The joy of life was all in listening to gossip!
Because of Gu Qingheng’s sudden change of decision, all of Shan Chengfeng’s rare books, collected over many years, were gone. In terms of value, ten thousand taels of silver wouldn’t be enough to buy these books now!
He had lost a fortune!
With so many books obtained at once, plus the previous purchases in town, Gu Yu and the other two couldn’t possibly carry them back.
Fortunately, Shan Chengfeng was very accommodating and had a carriage waiting for the three of them outside, escorting them all the way home.
The shiny, fat, and strong black horse neighed uncontrollably when it saw the three of them.
It raised its strong front hooves and took a few steps forward with great spirit, looking divine and heroic, completely different from the oxen and horses they had seen before.
Anyone who saw it would immediately like it, as evidenced by Gu Qingheng’s inability to take his eyes off it.
Upon seeing such a majestic carriage, Gu Yu also thought about the commotion it would cause when they returned to Yang Family Village.
But, so what!
Now, their family was no longer a pitiable existence but stood tall and proud like other villagers.
Moreover, their lives were even better than others.
Just by trading ten jars of white sugar and the recipe for white sugar, they could get thirty-two thousand taels of silver. Gu Yu could now rank among the rich in Lian Town and become a wealthy person.
Of course, Gu Yu didn’t find the money excessive.
It wasn’t that after completing this deal, he would just live by eating and waiting for death at home.
One must have ambitions. A mere thirty thousand taels was just the beginning!
As for why the white sugar recipe was sold directly without trying to raise the price or earn more profit through dividends, it was because Gu Yu felt that although white sugar had high value, he couldn’t protect it.
Gu Yu was, to put it bluntly, still a commoner. Even if he made money from white sugar in the future, if a local tyrant came one day and directly demanded the recipe, threatening to smash everything if he refused, Gu Yu could put the person into his space and then throw them into the deep mountains and old forests?
Once or twice might be okay, but what about multiple times! As long as people saw the value of white sugar, anyone would be tempted.
Therefore, it required someone with the capability to protect it.
It was for this reason that Gu Yu chose Shan Chengfeng, who came from an imperial merchant family.
However, due to their status difference, they were not on the same level, so there was no need to negotiate too many terms. Thirty thousand taels was just right.
With the white sugar recipe as a “thrown brick to attract jade,” it would attract more opportunities in the future. At least, it would make Shan Chengfeng value Gu Yu more. If Gu Yu developed something else later, it could be sold more smoothly.
As for the use of this thirty thousand taels, he would have to consider it more in the future, ideally buying a shop in town… If it were in the past, Gu Yu would definitely think this way, but after his cheap father-in-law suddenly appeared, everything became uncertain.
What if Gu Qing really came later.
After he gave all sorts of reasons and had a tearful reunion with Gu Mengyao and her brother, Gu Yu would have to follow his wife.
In that case, buying assets in Lian Town would be unnecessary. It would be better to save the money and go to the capital to see.
Gu Yu’s analysis was very rational. Even if he estimated that Gu Mengyao wouldn’t forgive her father who hadn’t returned for years, it didn’t eliminate the possibility of going to the capital.
“A’yu, if we go back like this, the villagers will definitely talk about it again.”
“It’s fine. Their mouths are their own. Let them say whatever they want. Anyway, we won’t lose a piece of flesh.”
“That’s right! Sister, why do you worry so much? We haven’t committed any heinous crimes. We’re just going home by carriage. We should feel proud! Especially since your own brother fought for it.”
“Oh, come on! I know exactly how much intelligence is in your head!”
Gu Yu was smiling and watching the brother and sister bicker, but when the conversation became more and more alarming to him, he felt he had to stop it.
Gu Mengyao seemed to know everything, which made Gu Yu a little nervous.
Although he didn’t intentionally hide it, the thought of Gu Mengyao having a different, unpleasant expression because he wasn’t from this era made him feel uncomfortable.
If Gu Yu had told Gu Mengyao right after he transmigrated… it would have been fine. Because at that time, Gu Yu only saw Gu Mengyao and her brother as a responsibility to survive in ancient times, without any other feelings.
But as they spent more time together and their feelings deepened, he became timid.
Habits and feelings could indeed change a person subtly!
“Hehehe, if you know, don’t say it! This time, brother-in-law sold the white sugar recipe for thirty thousand taels, so our family is considered rich now. If those who speak sourly knew, they would probably be even more sour.”
“Qingheng, I’m telling you beforehand, don’t spread it around that our family is rich, or thieves will come again.”
“I know! I’m not an idiot. Besides, Xiaobai is now very diligently guarding the house. By the way, brother-in-law! Does that rich young master really believe that the white sugar recipe is inherited from ancestors?”
“How is that possible? Merchants don’t always speak the truth. Most of them are trying to increase prices. We all know that. Moreover, I designed it so that Qingheng would lure him out. Shan Chengfeng has probably noticed, but what he needs most now is the white sugar recipe. As for other things, they are not important.”
Fortunately, his younger brother-in-law changed the topic proactively, and Gu Mengyao naturally followed suit, which made Gu Yu heave a sigh of relief.
Then, as Gu Yu showed a hint of smugness, Gu Mengyao pretend not to see it.
It’s better not to make Gu Yu too nervous, otherwise, he would become thin from worrying, and then they would have to eat more meat to make up for it… As for confession, since there was still plenty of time in the future, Gu Mengyao was not worried.
Gu Mengyao was not stupid and could naturally notice some clues from the recent events, but she was not in a hurry to find the answer.
Sometimes, being too eager might be counterproductive.
She remembered her father teaching her this way, so Gu Mengyao pretended to know nothing. It would be best if Gu Yu confessed voluntarily when the time came.
It must be said that Gu Yu discovered Gu Mengyao’s innate divine strength secret, and conversely, Gu Mengyao also discovered his little secret.
However, it wasn’t as detailed as Gu Yu guessed. She just knew that her husband was no ordinary person.
Now that Gu Mengyao’s divine strength was exposed, she was just waiting to see when Gu Yu’s secret would be revealed.
“Oh! Such a handsome horse, which big shot from the town has appeared again! Could it be that they are looking for Yang Shun?”
“Come on! I heard about the young lady who came looking for Yang Shun last time. She’s the magistrate’s niece… With such a powerful background, how could she possibly look at Yang Shun, a mere Tong Sheng.”
“Wow! Really? But if she doesn’t look at Yang Shun, why did she come to Yang Family Village specifically to find him?”
“She’s not looking for Yang Shun! I’ll tell you secretly, the magistrate’s niece came to the village to find Gu Yu.”
“…Did I hear that correctly!”
“You didn’t mishear. I’ve known for a long time that that kid Gu Yu is not an ordinary person. Now that he has Gu Mengyao, such a good wife who can fight wild boars, and even the magistrate’s niece is actively seeking him out. If you ask me… Gu Yu might be a celestial being descended to earth, which is why he’s so lucky and gets all the good things.”
“This carriage isn’t stopping either, it’s making people so curious!”
“Let’s follow behind and see, we’re idle anyway.”
“Alas, Gu Yu has really made it big now, with one woman on each side! It’s so damn enviable, I’m dying of jealousy.”
After entering the village, as the carriage slowed down and moved forward leisurely with the black horse, Gu Yu could hear the lively voices from outside even through the carriage.
Upon hearing someone say he was a celestial being descended to earth, Gu Yu couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
If he were a celestial being, then Gu Mengyao would be a fairy.
However, Gu Mengyao was indeed as beautiful as a little fairy…
While Gu Yu treated it as a joke, when Gu Mengyao heard Bai Lin Yue’s name, her expression gradually became serious.
Especially when she heard others say that Gu Yu had women on both sides, she exerted force with her palm, and the carriage wall cracked, almost dismantling the carriage.
Although the carriage did not fall apart, after a violent tremor, Gu Yu immediately noticed that Gu Mengyao was not right.
[Gu Mengyao’s anger value +2]
When the space sent a reminder, Gu Yu was even more startled.
His little wife’s jealousy was too strong. He had to appease her quickly to prevent it from getting worse!
“Mengyao, don’t be angry. I’ve only ever liked you from beginning to end. There’s no need to argue with others. They’re all making up nonsense.”
“A’yu, I… I also can’t control myself. Miss Bai is too outstanding. Compared to her… I’m just a country bumpkin. Although you’ve married into the Gu family, I always feel I’m letting you down. Letting you be ridiculed by others outside, calling you a gigolo who lives with his wife.”
Gu Mengyao’s learning ability was quite fast. At this moment, she used the term “gigolo” in the same way, which made Gu Yu feel amused and helpless.
The little wife, with a wronged expression on her face, was also looking at him pitifully.
Like a discarded kitten, and when Gu Mengyao stared at him with her big eyes without blinking, Gu Yu felt immense pressure.
It would be foolish to not want such a beautiful wife.
