"Shut up," Gu Baijiang was still hoping to return to the court one day, plus the incident with Mrs. Li hadn’t spread yet, so he could find a way to smooth it over in the future.

Who knew this foolish woman would blabber like this, trying to ruin the Gu Family’s reputation? How could he tolerate it?

"That was a misunderstanding. Don’t cling to it." Gu Baijiang continued, lowering his voice, "Don’t you want to think about your children and grandchildren?

Do you really want to cut off your eldest’s path to success?

Do your grandchildren still want to find a good family to marry into?"

"..."

"Do you think ruining my reputation and spreading this incident will benefit you?"

"I’ve worked hard for decades, and just as things were looking bright, now it’s all been ruined by this foolish woman of yours.

I really regret it now. If I had known..."

If I had known what? Although Gu Baijiang didn’t finish, Xu Huizhen sensed the malice in his words, shivering involuntarily.

"Enough resting, enough spectating. Let’s hurry and prepare to set off," Liu Pingkang had delayed some time to watch the scene, but indeed, these civil servants knew how to play, picking apart every word.

No one dared delay, packing up and setting off immediately.

But on the journey ahead, the entire team was no longer as sullen as before, with more laughter, likely discussing the Gu Family’s gossip, which could be considered a good deed by the Gu Family.

Bai Suihe lay on the soft couch prepared by Dongmei and the others, swaying with the ox cart, feeling a bit drowsy.

Suddenly, she opened her eyes, startling Gu Kaiyuan. "What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

"No, I just suddenly thought of something." The two maids also looked at her nervously, but Bai Suihe did not elaborate.

Gu Kaiyuan nodded slightly at her. "Rest assured, I will arrange everything."

Then he lifted the curtain and said to Zhuang Datou, who was driving the cart outside, "See if you can have the ox cart drive at the back. Since we’re not getting along with the Gu Family, let’s not stick too close and give the impression we want to take advantage."

Gu Kaiyuan spoke loudly enough for not only the Gu Family to hear, but everyone, who all exchanged meaningful smiles. It was clear who was taking advantage of whom.

Regarding the Gu Family’s affairs, people just saw it as more gossip; they did not delve into who was right or wrong.

Some thought Gu Kaiyuan was reluctant to pull his brothers and parents along, wanting to use this chance to draw a clear line because he had support on the Bai Family side.

Others, more shrewd, could see the nature of the Gu Family but did not expose them, knowing full well that this family was not one to be trifled with and preferred to keep their distance.

Zhuang Datou wasn’t as simple as his name suggested; he naturally had a reason for the instructions he received from his lordship, and he immediately handed the reins to Huang Pingguo, leaping off the ox cart.

Upon seeing Zhuang Datou approach, Liu Pingkang brightened. Here came another favor presented on a platter.

We are dealing with the Bai Family, after all, and their gestures are indeed more generous than ordinary families. As long as this Bai Family young madam is well-served, the brothers will surely make a tidy sum when they return.

Sure enough, Zhuang Datou handed over a purse, expressed some gratitude, and then moved the ox cart to the back of the team.

"Boss, the Bai Family truly is generous," Guo Baoshu exclaimed, unable to believe it as he watched Liu Pingkang pull fifty taels of silver notes from the purse. They used to consider making such earnings from one trip a good income, but the Bai Family’s generosity was unexpected.

"The Bai Family is extremely wealthy, and this is Mrs. Bai’s only legitimate daughter, naturally lavish in her spending.

Look out for them more on the way, and I’ll put in a good word for you with Mrs. Bai when we return. Benefits for everyone are assured."

Liu Pingkang folded the silver notes back, "Let the brothers know; now is not the time to cash in, but benefits will certainly come."

...

The Gu Family 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Having traveled halfway, Gu Kaichen was running out of stamina.

Furthermore, with Gu Kaiyuan now enjoying himself in the Bai Family’s ox cart, feeling even more resentful, he said, "I can’t walk anymore."

"There’s no space on the cart. What can be done if you can’t walk?" Gu Kaiping, also fatigued, had no choice. As the eldest son, he couldn’t voice this first.

"Brother, the ox seems quite docile, doesn’t need two people to guide it. Shall we take turns resting in the ox cart?"

"Afraid this ox can’t handle it," Gu Kaiping, having lived in the countryside before, knew a thing or two.

The ox, while not old, was on the frail side. With the cart already full, adding another person might be possible, but it would likely exhaust the ox.

"This beast is indeed weak," Gu Kaichen said with disdain and thought of the Bai Family’s well-prepared ox cart, the difference was stark.

"There’s nothing we can do, can’t empty our savings just for a better ox cart.

Second brother, instead of complaining, save your energy, I’m suffering just the same.

We don’t have in-laws like Kaiyuan, better to endure honestly."

Sure enough, Gu Kaichen’s anger was stoked, "To think we once planned to take care of their family, who knew they’d be so ungrateful.

Just look at the scene Gu Kaiyuan made earlier, surely intentional, trying to cut ties with our family.

Elder brother, you really should, despite being busy, remember to guide Gu Kaiyuan, look at how he’s turned out, don’t let him be a burden to us."

"Why don’t you teach him, you’re his second brother?

Didn’t father mention it to you too?"

"Mention what?" Gu Kaichen was puzzled, "Could our family have some secret?"

"No," Gu Kaiping breathed a sigh of relief, "I meant Gu Kaiyuan’s future prospects."

"What prospects could he have? Did father mention making a donation to secure him a position?" Gu Kaichen said sourly, "Even if there were such plans before, now it’s impossible. We’ll likely spend the rest of our lives in Lingnan."

"Not that, father mentioned before that because Gu Kaiyuan wasn’t good at studying, he intended to have him manage family affairs and support us brothers."

"So that’s what it was," Gu Kaichen said with contempt, glancing back at the Bai Family ox cart, "Father arranged his marriage to the Bai Family, I already knew.

Too bad all those dowries from Ms. Bai went to the emperor."

"Shut your mouth, think before you speak," Gu Kaiping quickly checked around, relieved when no one overheard, "Don’t be so reckless, I don’t want to be implicated by you."

"Elder brother, I was just speaking without thinking," Gu Kaichen was now also scared, realizing that his previous words, if overheard by any of the escorts, could lead to immediate execution, with just cause.

"It’s elder brother’s fault for bringing it up in the first place."