Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity-Chapter 112 - 37: Agree to Go Hiking?

Since Gu Chengyu entered, Ma Junhui had been watching him intently. Hearing Gu was given extra tasks, he bit his lip in frustration. He wasn’t as foolish as Wang Qikai; wasn’t this a sign the teacher favored Gu’s performance even more?

You Siyuan also shook his head. Wang Qikai was so simple-minded, no wonder his father wouldn’t allow him to befriend him. Isn’t it said that proximity to cinnabar makes one red, and proximity to ink makes one black?

"Why are you still not copying? Didn’t the teacher ask you to rewrite yesterday’s work? If you don’t start now, and the teacher comes to check and finds it unfinished, you’ll be punished again!" Seeing Wang Qikai’s desk untouched, Gu Chengyu spread out the paper and, after speaking, began practicing his calligraphy on his own. As he wrote, he thought he must find a way to strengthen his wrist. He remembered a large Black Xuan Iron bow in his possession and planned to use it for practice. The small bow he originally had was too lightweight; though nimble, it wasn’t helpful for wrist training.

As the bell rang, Gu Chengyu had already put away his brush and ink. The day slipped by in memorization and copying.

"Chengyu! Are you done? Let’s go quickly!" Wang Qikai stood in front of the desk, urging persistently. He needed to get back early to finish the homework assigned by the teacher.

"Alright! Don’t rush me. Let’s go!" Gu Chengyu planned to buy an ink wash today. It was inconvenient and uncomfortable to keep borrowing others’.

You Siyuan had already packed his book bag and stood by the door as if waiting for someone.

When Gu Chengyu and the others approached, they heard You Siyuan whisper, "Chengyu! The day after tomorrow is our rest day. Why don’t we invite some classmates to climb Yun Mountain near the town? The scenery on Yun Mountain is quite nice!"

Gu Chengyu was somewhat surprised at You Siyuan’s suggestion. When he first arrived, it seemed You didn’t think much of him, and even now they didn’t talk much. Their only conversation was those couple of sentences yesterday noon, so why invite him to climb a mountain now? And don’t tell him that Yun Mountain near the town is just that small hill?

Compared to the mountain range of Changling Mountain, Yun Mountain could only be described as small. Why would people who spend every day by the mountain want to play on it? Besides, tomorrow, Dashan’s mold should also be finished, and he had to stay home to make soap. There were a lot of things to do at home, and he might not have the time to go out for fun.

"Why are you only inviting Chengyu and not me?" Wang Qikai asked indignantly. Standing together, he found it unfair to only invite one person, which was quite embarrassing for him, though their usual relationship wasn’t that good anyway.

"Are you coming or not?" You Siyuan glanced at Wang Qikai, halfheartedly asking, which nearly caused Wang to lose his temper again.

Gu Chengyu quickly intervened between the two, as he had no time to listen to them bickering. "Thanks for Brother You’s kindness, but I’m afraid I can’t go due to some family matters that day and must decline your invitation. When everyone has some free time, I’ll invite you all to visit Changling Mountain near my home." Gu Chengyu bowed and politely declined. Changling Mountain was well-known in the area, and once his house was built, he planned to invite his classmates to stay overnight, and could bring Wang Qikai to see Doctor Li.

"Chengyu and Wang Qikai, you both should just call me Siyuan! Since Chengyu is unavailable, we’ll reschedule. But, Chengyu’s family lives near Changling Mountain? I’ve heard there’s plenty of game in Changling Mountain. You must take us for a look when the time comes!" You Siyuan was actually trying to get closer to Gu Chengyu. If not this time, there would be another, so there was no rush. Once they became familiar enough to talk, it would be fine. He noticed Gu Chengyu was a bit distant when speaking to him, unlike the casual manner he used with Wang Qikai.

"Then it would be my honor! Yes, Siyuan, my family lives in Shangling Village. I’ll definitely take everyone there when I have the chance." Gu Chengyu secretly griped to himself that while there was indeed plenty of game, there were also many wild animals. If they were to go, he’d only take them around the outer perimeter, and whether or not they caught anything would be up to luck!

"Are you guys done or not? Everyone else has left, and we’re still here?" Wang Qikai, seeing others had already gone, grew impatient.

"It’s getting late! We should head back early, as our families have likely come to the school gate to pick us up, so I’ll take my leave now!" Having said that, Gu Chengyu quickly made his escape. Having delayed long enough, he wasn’t sure why You Siyuan suddenly changed his tune, but he felt that You had ulterior motives.

"Dad!" As Gu Chengyu and Wang Qikai exited the school, Gu saw his father. Meanwhile, Wang Qikai, feeling embarrassed after the morning incident, quickly climbed into the Wang family’s carriage and left after parting from Gu Chengyu.

"Dad! Let’s take a detour to Manager Pan’s place; I forgot to buy an ink wash the day before yesterday." Gu Chengyu climbed into the ox cart and said to his father.

Mr. Gu acknowledged and steered the ox cart onto West Street.

"Manager Pan, we’re here again!" Gu Chengyu called out as soon as he entered the bookstore.

"Here you come, huh? I figured you would. Didn’t you forget to buy the ink wash the day before yesterday?" Actually, Manager Pan didn’t mention it because families with average or poor conditions around here generally didn’t use an ink wash and replaced it with a bowl at home. Last time, seeing Gu Chengyu meticulous about the brush and ink material, he thought to say something but reconsidered, thinking perhaps Gu didn’t intend to buy one, and mentioning it wouldn’t put anyone in a good mood. However, learning that Mr. Gu and his family bought land and consulted him about the deed, he realized the Gu Family had substantial resources, or they wouldn’t buy so much land all at once.

Gu Chengyu also thought it unnecessary to skimp, having been accustomed to using an ink wash in his previous life, especially since he had used it for over two years. Moreover, he had thought of a way to earn money, waiting to be tested. Tomorrow he planned to get up early and try at the restaurant in town.

In the end, Gu Chengyu chose a green rough porcelain ink wash. Since it was only for washing brushes, the material didn’t need to be particularly fine. Gu found the shape, resembling four rolled-up lotus leaves, to be quite amusing.

After a round of haggling, with Manager Pan’s pained expression, Gu Chengyu bought it for more than twenty coins.

The ox cart rumbled along the yellow dirt road, and Gu Chengyu asked his father if today’s land purchase had gone smoothly. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"Dad! Did you complete today’s land purchase? How much did it cost?"

"Yes! A full fifty-five acres, and Housekeeper Qin even gave us a discount of more than two taels, costing us four hundred and ten taels. I didn’t expect our family to be next in Shangling Village, aside from Mr. Zhao’s family!" Mr. Gu happily turned back, gesturing with an upright thumb.

"Dad! Our family will only get better from here. Now, did you have Manager Pan check the deed? Did you get the government deed?" Gu Chengyu thought about it, knowing his father couldn’t read, and still felt a bit uneasy.

"Of course we did! We got a red contract stamped at the government, and paid sixteen taels in taxes! That tax was really expensive!" Originally, they hadn’t accounted for it, and who knew the taxes would cost as much as two acres of land.