Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside-Chapter 833: Expelled from the Tong Vice Magistrate’s Residence
Master Yue saw the Second Young Master Lai return, and Lady Lai also arrived. His heart was relieved, and he continued standing silently.
"Old Master." Lady Lai called out to Lord Lai, startling him.
He looked at Lady Lai, finally willing to approach him.
"Why has the lady come?" Lord Lai asked, his voice softer than before.
Lady Lai said, "I have a few words to say to the Old Master today. Can the Old Master listen to me?"
Lord Lai slightly furrowed his brow, fearing Lady Lai might speak unpleasant words. But since she rarely sought him out, he pondered for a moment and eventually nodded in agreement: "Please speak, Lady."
Lady Lai said, "The Old Master repays kindness and wants to look after the benefactor’s descendants, which is correct. However, everything requires timing. At this moment, keeping the Old Gu Family at the residence does not help them but harms them."
"Lady, what do you mean by this?" asked Lord Lai.
Lady Lai replied, "In the midst of widespread criticism, it’s best to avoid the storm temporarily. Old Master, at this point, letting the Old Gu Family leave the residence temporarily is the right practice. This way, you can avoid being attacked by courtiers. Only if you are well, can you look after the Old Gu Family."
Lord Lai knew that continuing to keep the Old Gu Family at the Vice Magistrate’s residence would bring trouble to himself, but the Second Young Master’s actions were too extreme. He had to curb them; otherwise, who would hold authority in this household in the future?
Hearing Lady Lai’s words, he nodded in agreement: "The lady is right; letting Youwen and the others avoid the spotlight is good."
Lady Lai came for two purposes: To let the Old Gu Family move and for Lord Lai to exempt the Second Young Master Lai from punishment. Therefore, she continued, "Old Master, people often say that when children wish to care, the parents won’t wait. But when children are filial, the parents should also show compassion. The Second Young Master made a mistake today because he was angry that the Old Gu Family tarnished the reputation of both Old Master and the Lai Family. You may punish him lightly and leave it at that."
These were the words Lady Lai said most often to Lord Lai since her son’s death, and they were reasonable. It was impossible for Lord Lai not to listen.
"You are the mother of the Second Young Master. Since you speak like this, let’s forget today’s matter, but..." Lord Lai looked at the Second Young Master Lai and said, "Never again. They are the descendants of my benefactor; you should treat them as kin, not enemies. Do you understand?!"
The Second Young Master Lai remained silent. Treat Gu Youwen and the others as kin? Are they worthy?!
But his wife saw him not speaking and became anxious, urging their two daughters.
With sobs, the two daughters shouted, "Daddy~"
The Second Young Master Lai felt pained. To avoid worrying his daughters further, he reluctantly said, "Yes, I remember, Father."
Lord Lai knew he was unwilling, but this was the best way to end today’s uproar; he had to take this step down.
Gu Youwen was crying terribly. Uncle Lai was actually going to drive them out of the residence: "Ah ah ah~"
Gu Youwen could not speak, only pleading "ah ah ah" to Lord Lai.
But Lord Lai had already made up his mind and would not change it, so he could only comfort him: "Don’t cry, Youwen. It’s just a temporary leave from the residence. I will invite you back again in the future."
The Second Young Master Lai almost spat blood at these words and left with his wife and daughters.
The servants who were wrecking the courtyard quickly followed, fearing they would be caught by Lord Lai and punished.
Lady Lai didn’t want to see Lord Lai, so she turned to leave.
The Second Young Master Lai’s household was grateful to Lady Lai and escorted her to the main courtyard’s door but did not enter. After all, Lady Lai and the Second Young Master Lai were about the same age and needed to avoid suspicion.
However, the Second Young Master Lai was still unwilling and said, "Lady, is it alright for Father to indulge the Old Gu Family like this? Our Lai Family will be dragged down by them."
Lady Lai said, "Your father is the one in charge. If he insists this way, there is nothing I can do... Your younger brother has passed away; I am emotionally unattached in this household. You all... endure; once you get through this, it will be fine."
Lord Lai is nearing sixty; how many more years can he live?
Lady Lai hinted subtly and said no more, taking her maidservants and nanny into her courtyard, closing the gate, and living her own little life.
The Second Young Master Lai had no choice but to return to his residence with his wife and daughters, still worried that his father might change his mind, sending the servant to keep an eye on the courtyard where the Old Gu Family lived. Any situation would be immediately reported to him.
...
Granny Gu, like Gu Youwen, was dragged into the courtyard by the servants and old women wrecking the place, watching helplessly as the residence was destroyed. She cursed furiously, word by word, but no one paid her any attention.
Elder Gu was even more useless. After attempting to stop them twice and being scolded by the sharp-tongued old women as shameless, unable to teach his son, and freeloaders, he immediately retreated. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺
Granny Gu was so furious that she was internally cursing Elder Gu thoroughly, knowing that this incompetent man couldn’t be relied upon, she could only look at the courtyard gate, waiting for Lord Lai to rescue them.
But she didn’t see Lord Lai come to save them; instead, she received the news that he wanted their whole family to move out.
"No... no..." Granny Gu wanted to say it was impossible, but, being paralyzed, couldn’t speak much. She could only cry out, while shouting a new word from her mouth: "Wise... wise..."
Elder Gu did not know what she was shouting, and he had no time to attend to Granny Gu, rushing inside to grab the family’s silver savings.
Just as he took out the silver, Little Sister Gu and Gu Ya rushed in, disheveled and crying.
"Father, Mother, the Lai Family’s Protector wants to drive us out. What should we do? We must hurry and plead with Uncle Lai to uphold justice for us." Little Sister Gu cried bitterly. If they moved out of the Vice Magistrate’s residence, how could she secure a good marriage proposal?
Getting married from the Vice Magistrate’s residence holds a much higher status than marrying from any other civilian residence.
Gu Ya also shed tears like Xi Zi and said to Elder Gu, "Grandfather, let’s support Grandma to plea with Lord Lai."
She didn’t want to leave either; living in the Vice Magistrate’s residence gave her the feeling of being an official’s daughter. If she left, she’d return to being a farmer’s daughter from a family seeking refuge.
She despised being a farmer’s daughter the most!
But Elder Gu had just been publicly scolded by Lord Lai and couldn’t bear to lose face to plead with him, saying, "Your grandma’s parents saved Lord Lai, and if he doesn’t want to be accused of ingratitude, he wouldn’t dare to truly drive us out."
However, he was swiftly proven wrong.
Zhu Wu understood that Granny Gu was troublesome, so he personally led a group of Protectors and pointed at them: "Have you packed your things? Once packed, quickly leave. It’s already dark; if you don’t move quickly, you’ll only find somewhere to rest by late night."
Little Sister Gu was shocked, exclaiming, "Wha-what did you say? Uncle Lai really wants us out? My grandparents are his lifesaver!"
"That’s Lord Lai’s intention," Zhu Wu replied, then questioned Little Sister Gu: "Your family has four men infected with venereal disease. Ask your conscience, is it still appropriate to continue living in the Vice Magistrate’s residence?"
After saying that, without waiting for Little Sister Gu to respond, he immediately instructed the Protectors to start moving things and people.
Little Sister Gu was only bold at home, not daring to confront the Protectors, so she tearfully was driven out of the courtyard.
