Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity-Chapter 225 - 61: Redeem Her Back

"Oh? There is still an embroideress? You keep an eye on everyone, and when I get back, I’ll take them all back! You can use them and keep the ones you need, but don’t complain about a lack of hands when I’ve taken them away! By the way, there’s a lot going on now. I’ll increase your pay to five taels of silver a month. If you do well, there will be rewards at the end of the year. But, if I find out you are betraying me, you know what I’m capable of."

Gu Chengyu looked sharply at Yu Tuanzi, putting his words at the forefront. As the business expanded, he feared Yu Tuanzi might develop untoward ideas, particularly because everything Gu Chengyu was handling was managed by Yu Tuanzi.

"Young master still doesn’t trust me? I really wouldn’t dare!" Yu Tuanzi was somewhat aggrieved. He indeed had no other thoughts; his life was still in Gu Chengyu’s hands. Besides, Gu Chengyu had a ruthless heart, and Yu Tuanzi didn’t dare hope that Gu Chengyu would be lenient if he did something to betray him.

"It’s best if there isn’t!" Gu Chengyu was still a bit uneasy. Money could tempt people; just because there was no betrayal now didn’t mean there wouldn’t be in the future. It seemed he needed to hasten the training of Gu Wanqian.

"Is Wan Qian going back with you?" Lately, Yu Tuanzi had been spending a lot of time with Gu Wanqian and found him smart and eager to learn, which made him feel a sense of crisis.

"Of course, I want him to go back and learn well so that in the future, he can help ease some of your workload. Then you’ll hire a carriage to take him and those people back together, and for now, stay in the town!"

Gu Wanhua held two hundred taels of silver in his arms, feeling extremely nervous. He often wanted to reach into his pocket and touch the silver, but was pulled along by Huang Ming, quickly walking towards the inn where Huang Ming lived.

"Wanhua! This time, you have to help me no matter what! I’ve also left my fingerprint on the two hundred taels of silver I.O.U. Now, we can only do as I’ve said. If we succeed, it will all be joyous, and you won’t even need to repay the silver. But if you don’t help me, you won’t be able to repay that silver either. At that time, Gou, seeing we’re from the same village, might not be too harsh, but it will be different for you—losing a limb would be the mildest punishment."

Huang Ming was afraid Gu Wanhua wouldn’t help him, so he deliberately used this matter to scare him.

"Of course I want to help you, but the interest is too high—one tael of silver a day!" Gu Wanhua planned to borrow for two months. One tael of silver a day meant sixty taels, doubling if overdue. The specifics were determined by the Money Shop, no wonder they said loan sharking was a huge profit!

Those people claimed to run a Money Shop, but it was just an excuse to lend at usurious rates.

"As long as I can marry Gu Wan, are you afraid you won’t be able to repay?" As for Gu Wan being only twelve, he didn’t care at all; at worst, they would get engaged first or marry and keep her at home.

Gu Wanhua left Huang Ming’s inn and did not return to his residence but went to Yan Bi’s place instead.

"Why are you here in broad daylight? Isn’t your little uncle managing you?" Yan Bi opened the courtyard gate and saw Gu Wanhua standing outside, quickly pulling him inside.

"Little Uncle told me to go back today, but I can’t bear to leave you!" Gu Wanhua held Yan Bi in his arms, feeling extremely reluctant at the thought of leaving her.

"So, are you leaving? Won’t you come to see me anymore?" Yan Bi held onto Gu Wanhua, coldness glinting in her eyes. She had initially hoped Gu Wanhua could take her away, but it turned out he couldn’t.

She must leave this place—the people would find her eventually. But the old hag had caught her and forced her to sign a contract of sale, making it impossible for her to leave.

The other day she met the scholar; his family was well-off, and she wanted him to help redeem her, but he turned out to be a heartless man. Now she met Gu Wanhua, who was easy to deceive, but he had no money.

"Silly girl! How could I bear to leave you here? Don’t worry; I’ve already gathered the silver. Where’s your godmother? Once we give her the silver, you can pack up, and we’ll leave here together; you can come home with me!" Gu Wanhua stroked Yan Bi’s smooth hair, feeling a great sense of satisfaction—it was worth it!

"Really? You’re not lying to me? That’s wonderful! Godmother will be here today; it’s the third day now. Once she arrives, we can leave!"

When Yan Bi mentioned her godmother, her body reflexively shuddered. This godmother was ruthless, with henchmen at her command. She didn’t only have Yan Bi; there were many other pitiful people. If anyone got caught trying to escape, they would pray for death as a relief!

"That old hag, don’t be afraid. I’ll rescue you out!"

When Gu Chengyu returned to the inn, it was already afternoon, and Ming Mo had arrived long ago.

"Go and bring Gu Wanhua back. Did you see outside the window? If he’s not at this inn, he’s with Huang Ming. I’ll be relieved only when he’s brought back!" Gu Chengyu rubbed his temples, growing annoyed just thinking of Gu Wanhua.

"Young Master, what if he refuses to come back?" Ming Mo found it a bit tricky, as he was just a servant and couldn’t go too far.

"Then knock him out and carry him back. I don’t care what methods you use, as long as you can safely bring him back!"

"Little Uncle! No need to look for me, I’ve already returned!" Gu Wanhua helped Yan Bi up to the third floor and happened to hear Gu Chengyu ordering him to be knocked out and brought back.

Gu Chengyu was taken aback to hear Gu Wanhua’s voice and turned to look, utterly shocked.

He saw Gu Wanhua supporting a woman. This woman was delicate and charming, evoking a sense of pity. Wasn’t this Yan Bi?

"Why did you bring her back?" Gu Chengyu found it a bit odd—wasn’t it said that there was a need for ransom silver? Where did Gu Wanhua get the money? Did Huang Ming lend it to him?

"Didn’t Little Uncle tell me to go back? Just in time, I want to go home too! Let Ming Mo send us off this afternoon!" Gu Wanhua, seeing Gu Chengyu’s look of surprise, felt uneasy. He was helping Huang Ming to scheme against his little uncle’s family.

Yan Bi looked at the one Gu Wanhua called Little Uncle and realized Gu Wanhua wasn’t lying—he was indeed a young lad, but not a simple one. From Gu Wanhua’s descriptions, it seemed that this young lad was the real head of the Gu Family’s third branch.

Yan Bi softly bowed and addressed him, "Little Uncle!"

"I have no acquaintance with the young lady, and this term ’Little Uncle’ is something I can’t afford to bear." Gu Chengyu naturally couldn’t acknowledge it, or else what would Mrs. Xiao from Shangling Village think?

"Hua, where did you get the silver from? Do you really plan to take her back to the village? Don’t say I didn’t warn you; you are already married. Besides, you still have to take the imperial exams in the future. If word of this gets out, won’t it affect your reputation?"

In any case, Gu Chengyu hoped Gu Wanhua would think it over carefully. When he mentioned Yang, Gu Wanhua was unmoved. So, he brought up future fame and fortune, not believing Gu Wanhua wouldn’t be concerned. That woman was no different from a brothel girl; no family would have a brothel girl as a concubine, let alone a wife, which was impossible.