Chapter 39: He Can’t Fool the Clever Him +
By the afternoon, when Gu Qingheng was picked up from the academy, no one from the Old Yang family had shown up. This abnormal situation clearly piqued Gu Qingheng’s intense curiosity. So, shortly after returning home, he snuck out of the house to inquire about the specific details in the village. He also took the opportunity to announce his return as a gossip expert, reminding everyone not to forget to inform him of any village news.
Gu Yu and Mengyao found it difficult to do anything about Gu Qingheng’s love for gossip. Since Gu Qingheng could distinguish between what was important and what wasn’t, and his pursuit of gossip didn’t affect his studies, they didn’t impose any strict rules on him. However, Gu Yu was also quite curious about the Old Yang family’s situation, especially who Jiaojiao Yang’s fiancé was. He expected to know the specifics by the time Gu Qingheng returned before dinner. After all, given Madam Li’s personality, if Jiaojiao Yang had really married into a prominent family in town, she would have likely spread the news throughout the entire village, and even to neighboring villages.
“Sister, brother-in-law, I’ve found out! It’s… cough, cough, cough!”
As Gu Yu was pondering these things, Gu Qingheng’s slightly excited voice echoed from the courtyard gate. He then ran over like a gust of wind. Upon reaching them, his small face was flushed, and he was about to speak when he broke into a rapid cough, preventing him from speaking for a moment. He must have coughed so severely because he ran too fast.
“Slow down, slow down. No one is chasing you from behind. Take a moment to catch your breath.”
“Cough… I was in a hurry! I really had a great harvest this time! I finally know what’s going on with Jiaojiao Yang’s engagement.”
Seeing her brother coughing uncontrollably, Mengyao quickly went over and patted his back. Gu Qingheng’s small face was full of excitement, and he was eager to share the news he had learned with Gu Yu and Mengyao after he had recovered.
Gu Yu and Mengyao naturally had nothing more to say, urging Gu Qingheng to speak. They were indifferent to hearing it as an amusing anecdote.
“I heard from the villagers that Jiaojiao Yang accidentally dropped her purchases while shopping in town. Then, a wealthy young gentleman with handsome looks happened to pass by, picked up her belongings, and returned them to her… Afterwards, the wealthy young gentleman fell in love with Jiaojiao Yang at first sight. Without knowing how, he got her family address and began a relentless pursuit. Jiaojiao Yang didn’t directly refuse, and they developed a relationship, leading to their engagement.”
“According to you, Jiaojiao Yang has also found a good match. I hope everything will be better after she gets married!”
“Heh heh, I don’t think it’s that simple! There are so many people in Lian Town, how could Jiaojiao Yang encounter such good fortune! It’s just like the plot in the storybooks you buy… Moreover, according to Madam Li in the village, the betrothal gift alone was a hundred taels of silver.”
“Pfft… cough cough.”
As Gu Qingheng and Mengyao were talking, Gu Yu almost spat out the water he was drinking when he heard about the hundred taels of silver as a betrothal gift. He wondered if it was such a coincidence! He had just heard from someone this morning that Old An’s grocery store was involved in a fraudulent marriage, giving the woman a hundred taels of silver as a betrothal gift. Now, the Old Yang family had received the same amount as a gift?
A hundred taels of silver, although it wasn’t much for the Gu family now. However, for ordinary families, it was a huge sum of money. At least, for families who worked the land, it was like that. Especially in Lian Town, families who could afford a hundred taels of silver as a betrothal gift were very few. But now, connecting the Old Yang family with the gossip Gu Yu heard this morning made people more and more convinced that it was the same incident. Jiaojiao Yang’s husband wouldn’t be the eldest son of Old An’s grocery store, would he!
“Yu, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing, I was just a little surprised by what Qingheng said.”
After Gu Yu almost spat out his water, Mengyao quickly asked him if he was alright. Gu Yu then waved his hand at his little wife, indicating that he was fine and just too surprised. Hearing Gu Yu say this, Mengyao was relieved, but she was still a bit puzzled. Ever since Gu Yu returned this morning, his mood had been a little down. He kept looking at her and then at himself unconsciously, then suddenly jumped up, and finally ran to the big tree by the door, placed a stone on his head, and marked the tree. This series of actions confused Mengyao, and she decided to find some time tonight to ask her brother if anything had happened this morning.
Just as Mengyao was thinking about asking her brother tonight, Gu Qingheng’s suspicious eyes looked over. After scanning Gu Yu’s face, the suspicion in his eyes grew stronger. His brother-in-law must know something, otherwise, his reaction wouldn’t be so intense! His brother-in-law could fool his foolish sister, but not him, the clever one!
Under Gu Qingheng’s intense gaze, Gu Yu knew he had to confess. However, it wouldn’t be now, but privately, telling Gu Qingheng secretly. If Mengyao knew about this, her soft heart might lead her to do something. Although Mengyao disliked the Yang family, she definitely wouldn’t tolerate fraudulent marriage. And regardless of whether this matter was true or not, Gu Yu didn’t want to get entangled with the Old Yang family anymore, so he absolutely wouldn’t let his little wife interfere and cause trouble. Moreover, the Old Yang family was currently immersed in the joy of ‘picking up a bargain.’ Even if Mengyao went and told the truth, she might be considered jealous by the Old Yang family, and then they might spread some gossip in the village. Gu Yu feared he would directly poison them. One dead, one less. Therefore, when Mengyao wasn’t paying attention, Gu Yu secretly winked at Gu Qingheng. After Gu Qingheng nodded understandingly, the two of them immediately shared a little secret.
“No matter what Jiaojiao Yang’s engagement is, it has nothing to do with our Gu family. If the Old Yang family comes to ask for the dowry, I will give the same as Auntie Wang Er and the others. After all, we are all villagers… Not giving it would easily lead to gossip behind our backs.”
“Yes, Mengyao, you do as you wish. Regarding these matters, we men, Qingheng and I, are not good at intervening, so we can only trouble you.”
“It’s alright, I’m just preparing a wedding gift box for Jiaojiao Yang according to the village standards. If the Old Yang family wants more, I won’t be foolish enough to give it to them! I was hesitant before because of your entanglements with the Old Yang family, but after learning that you are not of the Old Yang family’s bloodline, I no longer have any hesitation.”
Afterwards, Mengyao concluded, and the matter was temporarily brought to a close. Even if the Old Yang family called them to give a gift, Mengyao had no intention of refusing. Instead, she planned to bring the same items as Auntie Wang Er, such as a few eggs and a few feet of coarse cloth, which wouldn’t seem too stingy. After all, this was in Yang Family Village, not the capital. Giving a gift was just a token of goodwill! Although Gu Yu thought it would be enough to just send a few handfuls of grass… When the Gu family held their housewarming ceremony, Lin Jiao’e and her daughter brought a handful of dates, which made Gu Yu want to do the same now! However, Gu Yu’s entanglement with the Yang family was too deep, and in reality, he couldn’t do that. Otherwise, even if they were estranged, he would be pointed at by the villagers. It was more prudent to follow the normal course of action.
Gu Yu didn’t have to worry about these matters. Mengyao would ask Auntie Wang Er tomorrow how to prepare. Anyway, Jiaojiao Yang had just gotten engaged, and the villagers hadn’t given her a gift yet. As for why a gift was given, it was due to ancient wedding customs. If a family married off a daughter, people in the village would have to give something as a gesture. Therefore, they wouldn’t give anything too expensive. Of course! If the relationship with the marrying family was good, they could give some valuable items as a dowry.
“Brother-in-law, brother-in-law, do you know something? I just saw you almost spit out water, you must know there’s something fishy going on!”
“You’re so clever! While your sister is cooking, I’ll tell you, but you absolutely mustn’t tell anyone, especially not your sister… because I really don’t want any more entanglement with the Old Yang family.”
“Brother-in-law, just tell me! I promise not to leak it. I’m also very curious about Jiaojiao Yang’s engagement. I don’t know who is unlucky enough to marry her… I think it’s similar to marrying Madam Li, after all, this mother and daughter have a good relationship, and Madam Li will probably go to freeload.”
“It’s not necessarily so, maybe the Old Yang family is the unlucky one.”
While Mengyao went to make dinner, Gu Yu finally had the time to take Gu Qingheng to a secluded place and told him everything he knew. Gu Qingheng listened with a stunned expression, and even after Gu Yu finished speaking, his dazed expression hadn’t recovered. Although Gu Qingheng knew there was something fishy going on, he didn’t expect it to be like this! As for his brother-in-law’s uncertainty, Gu Qingheng felt quite certain that Jiaojiao Yang’s engagement was definitely related to the gossip he heard in town this morning!
“By the way, brother-in-law, after hearing what you said! I suddenly remembered… the gossip Zhuo Fei told me before was also about Old An’s grocery store.”
“You also know Old An’s grocery store?”
“I heard Zhuo Fei always mention this grocery store, so I asked out of curiosity, and found out that their family members are quite eccentric… This family’s surname is An. The head of the family is a stingy miser. His wife is said to have a bad reputation. Then there’s not much news about the eldest son, but the younger son looks good and flirts around… Yesterday, when you came to pick me up, Zhuo Fei was telling me that the youngest son of the grocery store had tricked the butcher’s daughter into marrying him.”
After Gu Yu shared the news he heard this morning, he surprisingly received more information from Gu Qingheng. Especially after learning that the people at the grocery store were also not easy to deal with, the Old Yang family had likely kicked a hornet’s nest. But considering the Old Yang family’s fighting strength, it was truly uncertain who would win. It was likely that the situation would be known soon, so there was no need to rush now.
…
This month is about to end. We are more than two hundred monthly votes short of the agreed number. I don’t know if we can reach it today, but the author wants to announce in advance that the promotional month for being on the shelves has passed. From now on, there will be two updates a day, totaling six thousand words. Although there is one less update, the author is still hardworking compared to most writers (✪ω✪).
