Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity-Chapter 233 - 69: Eavesdropping

"This is just a small token of my appreciation, Uncle Gu. Please accept it!" Huang Ming secretly felt resentful. What did this Gu Chengyu’s father mean by this? Did he look down on the gift he brought? The way he scrutinized him earlier also made him uncomfortable, as if his inner thoughts were laid bare before Mr. Gu.

"Yes, Uncle San. Senior Brother Huang is a good friend of ours, you should just accept it!"

Gu Chengyu heard the conversation in the courtyard and sighed. It seemed that he wouldn’t be able to practice his calligraphy today.

He put down the brush and left the room, only to see Gu Wanhua and Huang Ming standing in the courtyard. Huang Ming was holding some pastries and cloth, looking quite awkward.

"Senior Brother Huang!" Gu Chengyu called out. No matter the situation, since things hadn’t been completely spoiled, he had to maintain appearances.

"Junior Brother! You’re really a busy person! Did you return yesterday?" Huang Ming was somewhat pleased upon seeing Gu Chengyu. It’s easier to handle things when Gu Chengyu is at home! He planned to seize an opportunity to act quickly, fearing that delaying would lead to unforeseen changes.

He glanced around the Gu Family’s residence and noted that, although the two-yard complex was smaller than those in the county, it stood out in the village. Not to mention Gu Chengyu’s businesses and shops outside. Even though he didn’t know where the shops were or what business they did, he had observed that Gu Chengyu always chose to buy expensive things.

Gu Chengyu led the two into the room. The Gu Family usually entertained guests in the front study or the outer hall, but since Gu Wanhua had brought them directly into the inner courtyard, he couldn’t take them back out.

Luckily, Gu Wan wasn’t around. Dumb Granny would be teaching Gu Wan etiquette today, and since there was a man in the courtyard, Gu Wan obviously wouldn’t make an appearance.

He was planning to return to his room for a nap. She had been dragged out of bed early in the morning by Gu Chengyi and was still very tired. Just as she was about to fall asleep, she heard the conversation in the courtyard.

Lying in bed, she listened for a while and was curious about Huang Ming. Upon realizing he came to visit Gu Chengyu, she turned over with a huff and pulled the quilt over her head, intending to continue sleeping.

Huang Ming hadn’t seen any young women in the courtyard, which made him anxious. Weren’t there supposed to be many daughters in the Gu Family? Why hadn’t he seen even one?

"Junior Brother! I’ve heard you have quite a family. Why haven’t I seen anyone today?" Huang Ming wanted to make sure to meet Gu Wan once before implementing his plan, lest there be any mix-up, so he couldn’t help but ask.

"Our Gu Family does have many members, but we’ve divided the family. Everyone has their own tasks; they can’t all stay at home."

Gu Chengyu and Huang Ming chatted about various topics for more than an hour and a half, but they saw none of the Gu Family’s women, not even Mrs. Gu. Huang Ming left frustrated, scarcely maintaining his smile as he departed.

Gu Chengyu watched Huang Ming’s distant figure and snorted coldly. Who did he think was a fool?

He had told his nieces the previous day to avoid Huang Ming. Anyway, he came early, and his nieces had long gone to the hills to herd cows and gather firewood.

Recently, the village had found a new topic of gossip, as rumors spread about Gu Wanhua taking a concubine.

Gu Chengyu hadn’t paid much attention to this. He only heard from Mr. Gu that Mrs. Xiao eventually compromised and didn’t insist on returning to her parents’ home. But the issue with Yan Bi remained unresolved, with Gu Wanhua yet to take her as a concubine. Yan Bi stayed at Uncle Gu’s house in a manner resembling a concubine without a formal contract and certainly not recorded with the government.

To Gu Chengyu’s surprise, Yan Bi seemed indifferent to the matter, remaining calm and undemanding despite her lack of status. Her quietness gradually brought peace back to the village.

In the coming days, Gu Chengyu planned to attend the private school. At this point, whether or not he attended didn’t matter much since Mr. Wen had taught them everything they needed. There were still more than three months until the academy exam in August.

But before returning to school, he had to deal with Huang Ming. Judging from Huang Ming’s frequent visits over the past few days, Gu Chengyu anticipated that something would happen soon.

"Wanhua! Think of another way to arrange a meeting with Gu Wan!" Huang Ming was growing anxious after visiting several times and still not seeing Gu Wan.

Huang Ming and Gu Wanhua spoke in hushed tones inside the house. Since Uncle Gu’s courtyard was small, any loud conversation could easily be overheard.

"What can I do? I’ve been taking you to see Little Uncle these days, but I have a feeling he might be aware of something!" Gu Wanhua felt uneasy at this point, and he had been regretting his decisions.

"There’s no turning back now. We have to press on. Don’t you want to repay those two hundred taels? If your grandfather finds out, he’ll surely break your legs. Even Yan Bi won’t be spared. Besides, think about it, what are those two hundred taels to your Little Uncle? Yet he refuses to take out the silver to help you. Wanhua, we’re in the same boat now, and anyone trying to get off will end up sinking!"

Afraid that Gu Wanhua might back out at the last moment, Huang Ming resorted to persuasion again.

"But..." Gu Wanhua thought about the consequences if his grandfather found out. No! It couldn’t happen! His grandfather must never know, not to mention the shame it would bring if word got out that he borrowed money to redeem a brothel girl.

"We can’t wait any longer. Here’s what we’ll do..." Huang Ming whispered closely into Gu Wanhua’s ear.

Early in the morning, Mrs. Xiao had been up collecting pig feed. As she stepped over the threshold, she saw Huang Ming and Gu Wanhua slyly entering Huang Ming’s room.

The events of recent days had deeply shaken her, and she was still full of resentment toward Gu Wanhua. Having to rise early to work while that wretched woman lay in bed was intolerable, and yet Gu Wanhua forbade that woman from doing any chores.

The day Gu Wanhua returned, her mother-in-law went back to her family home. At first, the mother-in-law rebuked Gu Wanhua and comforted her. But when the wretched woman offered ten taels of silver to supplement the household, the mother-in-law began to show concern for her, even silencing any objections from the older women.

Ugh! Where did that wretched woman’s silver come from? Wasn’t it earned by serving men? Perhaps Gu Wanhua had a share too! Shameless slut!

Poor her, as her family had no one left. Her father was critically ill and bedridden, unable even to get down from bed; her mother’s health had deteriorated from overwork. She had only one brother, who hadn’t even managed to marry, and she had to help out whenever she could.

When she mentioned returning to her parents’ home, it was mostly talk. If she really left, what future would there be for her family? Thinking about this brought tears to her eyes again. Her life was so bitter!

She recalled seeing those two acting suspiciously earlier and wondered what they were plotting! She set the pig feed down in the courtyard and stealthily followed them. Hearing their conversation, she hid below the window to eavesdrop.