Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity-Chapter 277 - 113: Returning Home

Ming Mo looked at Ming Yan with a stern face, "I wonder where you learned these manners of yours! Why did you enter the study without announcing yourself? These are the rules we’ve previously learned. If there’s a guest, especially an important one, wouldn’t it disgrace our master if they see our servants behaving so rudely? And why do you question the master’s decisions?"

Ming Mo was a first-class servant under Gu Chengyu, and usually, the outer study was managed by him. The outer manager couldn’t interfere with the study, so Ming Mo’s status was on par with the outer manager.

Ming Yan knew he had made a mistake earlier, and he kept silent, bowing his head as if in contemplation.

"Ming Yan, the Gu Family is no longer the same as before. The Gu Family is not just a simple rural household anymore. If the master can pass the provincial examination this time, then dreaming about the Advanced Scholar title in three years isn’t out of the question. Our Gu Family could become official. If you don’t change your ways, I can’t say if you’ll be able to stay by the master’s side! Don’t think the master can’t do without us; there are plenty of followers ready to take our places!"

Ming Yan softened, feeling a bit more agreeable now. He had always felt a bit of resentment. His qualifications and Ming Mo’s were the same, yet the master promoted Ming Mo to first-class, and he always felt unconvinced. He thought Ming Mo wasn’t as clever as he was, but today’s incident showed him that Ming Mo indeed understood everything. Perhaps what the master needed at his side was a steady person as the steward.

At this moment, he finally understood the master’s intention. It was Ming Mo’s revelation that made him realize he had been too reckless lately!

He took a deep breath and bowed to Ming Mo, "Thanks for enlightening me; otherwise, I might have made a fatal mistake and remained unaware, perhaps that’s why the master didn’t promote me."

"We’ve grown up together since we were young, and of course, I hope that the person standing behind the master will include you. But don’t overthink it. Remember! The Gu Family is not what it used to be!" Ming Mo gave this last piece of advice. After this, he wouldn’t say much more, and it would be up to Ming Yan to see if he could reflect and change.

Ming Mo watched Ming Yan’s departing figure and sighed inwardly, hoping he truly understood this time. After all, they weren’t the only two who could be called Ming Mo and Ming Yan, and these titles could be replaced at any time.

Afterward, Ming Mo walked toward the courtyard ahead. Last night, Mr. Sun and Mr. Ye also stayed in the house, and today they were to return together. He still needed to pay his respects and remind them, as they should be ready to depart.

Gu Chengyu went to his room and saw that the baggage was mostly packed. In fact, he had duplicates of his accustomed items in his space, so he never traveled with much luggage.

"Master!" Ming Yan called out to Gu Chengyu from outside the east chamber.

"Mr. Sun and Mr. Ye are all packed? If so, let’s depart!" Gu Chengyu thought most of their baggage was simple, and it should be ready.

When Gu Chengyu returned to Shangling Village, it was already past lunchtime. The carriage entered Shangling Village, and Gu Chengyu lifted the carriage curtain and smiled at the nearby Gu Family courtyard.

Next door, Mrs. Huang of the Zhang Family was just opening the door to go visiting. As she opened the door, she saw the Gu Family’s carriage passing by her front door.

She pursed her lips, knowing without looking that it was the Gu’s Scholar returning. All the carriages coming and going in the village always headed to the Gu Family, didn’t they? The Gu Family had really risen. Mrs. Huang watched the carriage enter the Gu Family’s gate and sighed with envy.

"Old man, didn’t Xiao Bao write the other day saying he’d be back today? I’ve counted the time; he should be here by now! Why isn’t he back yet?" Mrs. Lv waved her hand, dismissing Nanny Li, who was cooking. With Xiao Bao not back yet, how could she have the heart to eat?

"You know there’s no guarantee with carriages. They might have been delayed on the road. I’ll go check at the village entrance!" Though saying this, deep down, Mr. Gu was a bit anxious too.

"Dad! I’ll go with you!" Gu Wan descended from the heated brick bed, put on her shoes, ready to go to the village entrance together.

"Let your dad go. You’re a grown-up lady now; how can you run about outside?" Mrs. Lv wouldn’t allow Gu Wan to go out. Gu Wan was almost fifteen and in two months would come of age. She dared not let her daughter go outside.

"Hey? It’s the carriage; isn’t it here already?" Just as Gu Wan was about to argue, she looked up and saw the carriage from the window, entering the yard.

Mrs. Lv also took a quick look, "It really is!"

"Quick, tell Nanny Li to prepare some water for Xiao Bao to wash. The dishes can be served; they’ve almost gotten cold after waiting so long." Mrs. Lv hurriedly instructed Gu Wan to pass the message to the kitchen. Xiao Bao probably hadn’t eaten yet!

"Dad! Mom! I’m back." Gu Chengyu jumped off the carriage, and the moment he entered the main house, Mrs. Lv warmly greeted him with concern.

"Why are you so late? Are you tired?" Mrs. Lv patted Gu Chengyu, seeing her son looked well enough, she finally relaxed.

Mr. Gu watched from the side, feeling a bit annoyed. How old was Xiao Bao now? Could Xiao Bao’s mother be spoiling him too much?

"Mom! Dinner is ready!" Gu Wan called from outside.

"You all haven’t eaten yet? Why didn’t you eat first?" Gu Chengyu realized they must have been waiting for him and felt a bit guilty for being late because he was painting in the morning.

"Wasn’t it you who said you’d come back for lunch?" It had always been Gu Chengyu’s habit to eat lunch at home every time he returned.

As they sat around the table, "Second sister! How’s your embroidery shop doing?" Gu Chengyu had bought a shop for Gu Wan in the Prefecture, and the embroidery shop opened the year before last, with two purchased embroideresses, plus Chunhua learning embroidery. Later, Gu Chengyu thought of Ye Zhiqiu’s sister and mother who could embroider, so he had Gu Wan hire the three as embroideresses for the shop. Ye’s mother’s work could still be done at home. Their craftsmanship wasn’t bad, so they were paid more. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

Initially, business was slow, which worried Gu Wan. But later, Gu Chengyu came up with the idea of creating some unique patterns, along with inventing various frog fastenings and tassels, which pushed the business forward. Now, the Gu’s embroidery shop was quite well-known in town.

Gu Wan also came up with different frog fastenings at home, and fortunately, there was a small pier in town, with some merchants coming and going. Those with an eye for opportunity would take some back to sell, which had good feedback.

"It’s doing alright! But we have to frequently update our designs; otherwise, those wholesalers will grumble, saying others are copying our goods." Although the embroidery shop earned less than the soap business annually, it was money she earned herself, which gave her peace of mind.

"Shanhe Town is still a bit small; if you could go to the Prefecture, the business would naturally be on a different level." Unfortunately, Gu Wan, being a young lady, wasn’t quite suitable for developing in the Prefecture. However, if she married Sun Xian, her husband could oversee things, and it wouldn’t be an issue, especially since Gu Wan wouldn’t have to show herself publicly, as there were shopkeepers.

"This time in the Capital, when will you set off?" Mr. Gu calculated the journey to the Capital and thought they’d need to leave a month in advance.