Chapter 16: 016 Wanting a Transfer to a Local Post

Chapter 16: 016. Wanting a Provincial Posting

Gu Kaiping spent his days at the Hanlin Academy. Although the tasks assigned to him were unimportant, the Hanlin Academy was nonetheless composed of officials close to the Emperor, meaning he had access to more timely information.

Even if several of his superiors had their own private agendas, none wanted to drag the entire Hanlin Academy into their schemes; they had been giving him frequent warnings these past few days.

"Father, please rest assured. I will devote more energy to matters at home in the coming days." Having passed the imperial examinations, though his natural talent was mediocre, he was no fool. The recent atmosphere was incredibly strange, giving him the sensation of an approaching storm.

"Once you return home, do not discuss matters of the officialdom," Xu Huizhen snapped. Her feelings had been slighted; she felt that as the matriarch, being rebuked in front of her daughters-in-law made her a laughingstock.

"It is merely attending fewer banquets, which is no great matter. It is just that our Tong'er has a monumental opportunity..."

"Regardless of what the opportunity is, stay obediently within the manor during this period." How could he not know the behavior of his old wife and eldest daughter-in-law? Otherwise, he wouldn't have said these things today.

He had secretly aligned himself with the Third Prince, having already taken a stance in the future struggle for imperial power. He had already made arrangements for his eldest granddaughter's future; if she became entangled with other princes, it would only make things difficult for him.

"Since the Master has spoken so, we shall naturally respect it," the Old Madam lowered her eyes, then looked up at her son and daughter-in-law below. "Your maternal family has encountered difficulties and has turned to me for help. Since everyone is gathered today, I shall explain it clearly to you all."

Hearing this, Gu Baijiang frowned. He didn't bother calculating how much the Xu family had taken from Xu Huizhen, but he had specifically made a trip to the Xu family before to give them a warning. They had only been quiet for a short while before they started causing trouble again.

Although the Xu family was no longer what it used to be, they were still small landlords. His father-in-law still had a hundred acres of fertile land under his name; how could their lives be that difficult?

Right, he had that useless brother-in-law who loved gambling. He had sent someone to give the local casinos a heads-up last time, but had they found a new gambling den?

"Did I not say that we are not to interfere in the Xu family's affairs anymore?" he scolded coldly.

The Old Madam knew exactly how to handle Gu Baijiang. "That is your wife's family, and also the children's maternal family. How can you be so heartless? What kind of reputation would that bring to our Gu Manor? Besides, it is not a major matter. It is just a bit of financial assistance; it is not as if I am asking you to shield a criminal."

After speaking, Xu Huizhen ignored Gu Baijiang and turned to Gu Kaiping. "Kaiping, you tell us. Regarding your uncle's family, will you get involved or not?"

Gu Kaiping: "..." How was he supposed to answer that?

As he was racking his brains, Xu Huizhen turned to Gu Kaichen. "Second son, that is your maternal family and your wife's family. What do you have to say?"

Without waiting for an answer, Xu Huizhen moved directly to her next target.

Since Gu Yuanyuan was not present, she directed her aggression toward Bai Suihe. "The third child is not home. Lady Bai, you tell us—your maternal family is in trouble, will you help or not?"

Bai Suihe: "..." What kind of eyesight did this old woman have? Did she owe the Xu family something?

If you're going to ask the first and second sons, just go through the motions, but why are you staring straight at me?

Bai Suihe feigned deep thought and lowered her head. If she wanted to look, let her look; it wouldn't cost her anything.

But clearly, Xu Huizhen had no intention of letting her off. She spoke again, "Lady Bai, I am asking you. Why do you not answer?"

Bai Suihe raised her head, her face full of trepidation. "Replying to Mother, I do not understand these matters. I shall see how Eldest Brother and Second Brother handle it. I will follow the guidance of my parents and brothers."

Xu Huizhen let out a heavy breath. How had Lady Bai become so slippery, knowing exactly how to deflect the trouble onto others?

"Enough," Gu Baijiang saw through her intention at a glance. "Yuanyuan is not home. She is just a woman; what could she possibly know? Speak then, what is the matter with the Xu family this time?"

"It is like this. The family ancestral hall has fallen into disrepair over the years. With the continuous rainfall recently, the eastern wall collapsed, and the entire hall is teetering on the brink of ruin. You know that the family only has those hundred acres of land now, which is barely enough to sustain the household. They cannot afford the silver for repairs, so they have come to us for help."

"Liu-shi, send ten taels of silver to the Xu family later as a gesture of goodwill from our manor."

"How could ten taels be enough?" Xu Huizhen immediately interjected. "A complete reconstruction will cost at least several hundred taels, and the ancestral tablets are also quite old..."

"Lady Xu," Gu Baijiang barked, "that is not the Gu family's ancestral hall. Although I do not manage the household, I am not ignorant of such worldly matters. I remember when I went back to burn incense and worship the ancestors and renovated the Gu family hall; it only cost a few dozen taels. What is it? Does your Xu family require gold plating?"

Xu Huizhen was left speechless. She had some memory of this matter, but as time had passed, she had pushed it to the back of her mind. It seemed that was indeed how it had happened.

Looking back at Xu Yulan and seeing her eyes darting away, how could he not know?

"The Xu family's ancestral hall is the responsibility of the Xu family's filial descendants; it has nothing to do with our Gu Manor. Do not even send the ten taels. Instead, buy a cartload of gifts to show respect to my father-in-law."

After speaking, Gu Baijiang scanned the room. He did not pay much attention to Bai Suihe; the third child was not home, and what could a woman know? But at least she was a good one, knowing how to follow the opinions of her elders and brothers.

Xu Huizhen's fists were clenched so hard they were sweating. "But they have come to our door begging. If we don't help, my father will come back in a couple of days."

How could Gu Baijiang not hear the threat in her words? He once again regretted marrying into that family so early. Not only was his in-law's family incompetent, but they were also a constant drag. When that old man from the Xu family arrived at the manor, he would surely act like an old patriarch, and driving him away would be no easy task.

Even Liu Yun, who was watching the drama from the side, felt uneasy. If that old fellow from the Xu family came over, this house would never know peace again. He was clearly just a small landlord, yet his demands were both numerous and high; if all else failed, one would have to spend money to avert disaster.

Gu Kaiping felt helpless regarding his mother's rogue behavior. "Mother, there is a movement in the officialdom recently to post a batch of officials to the provinces. I was thinking..."

"Don't even think about it. Your father is here in the capital; could he not protect his own son?" The Old Madam interrupted her eldest son. Previously, when the Master wanted to send Kaiping to a provincial post, it was she who had been preventing it.

As the eldest son of the Vice Minister of War, why should he fear not having a place here in the capital? After a few more years of hard work, he would be a rising star in the court and a confirmed close official to the Emperor.

She was busy dreaming her beautiful dreams, only to find her dear son always wanting to run away. How could this be allowed? Being posted to some far-flung corner of the country meant not knowing where he would end up; there was no peace like being right by her side.

"This matter is non-negotiable. If you father and son dare to hide it from me, I certainly will not tolerate it." The Old Madam was completely unaware that she had been led astray again.

Watching this sudden shift, Bai Suihe couldn't help but cast a sympathetic glance at her.