Chapter 2: Soft-hearted and Easily Swayed by Flattery

Gu Tang cast a sidelong glance at her father, having absolutely no desire to engage with him.

He was a man without a shred of propriety, never once shying away from bad-mouthing his own parents in front of his daughter, and the more he talked, the more spirited he became.

She glanced at the bamboo tube holding the wine, estimating that it would be empty before they even reached home.

This was an old habit of his; as soon as he touched alcohol, her father would start nagging about her grandparents' favoritism and her uncle's arrogance.

He showed no respect for the two elders or his brother, often making them so angry their livers ached.

He had been beaten and scolded for it, but her father was a shameless rogue; he felt neither pain nor shame.

Once sober, he would claim he had just been drunk and joking, but come the next time, it was always the same old story.

In the month since she had transmigrated here, her father had pulled this stunt every few days. By now, she was long used to it; she just listened and let it be.

……

The ox cart rattled all the way back to Shanghe Village.

As soon as they entered the village, Gu Lianshan, his face already slightly flushed, began greeting the neighbors and villagers along the road.

He swung the bamboo tube in his hand so close to people’s faces that it was as if he were afraid they wouldn't see it.

Everyone’s eyes were fixed on the bamboo tube; it was hard not to notice.

Those who didn't recognize the tube were puzzled. Why did he keep swinging a bamboo tube around?

He was a grown man, yet he was still playing with bamboo tubes?!

Finally, someone who had seen Qing wine before exclaimed in surprise, recognizing that the tube was specifically used for holding Qing wine. Only then did everyone realize what was going on.

Good heavens! So he wasn't playing with a bamboo tube; he had bought Qing wine from Bei'an City!

"Oh my! Has Lianshan struck it rich? He’s actually willing to buy Qing wine from Bei'an City!"

"Brother Lianshan, where did you make your fortune? You’ve become quite wealthy lately!"

"Good brother, this wine must cost a hundred or two hundred wen, right? Have you turned your luck around?"

……

The envious voices of the crowd kept Gu Lianshan laughing, though he feigned helplessness as he said

"My daughter sold some bupleurum roots to get it. It cost a hundred wen a jin! I told her it was too expensive, that it wasn't something I could afford, but my daughter wouldn't listen. She insisted on buying it for me to taste."

Everyone’s eyes shifted to Gu Tang.

Gu Tang smiled slightly: "My father’s birthday is in a few days, so I bought it early to show my filial piety."

This wasn't a lie; those in the village who were close to Gu Lianshan remembered that his birthday was indeed in about ten days.

Thinking of this, those few men, relying on their close relationship, shamelessly asked for a drink.

"Good brother, keep this Qing wine safe. On your birthday, we brothers will head into the mountains to catch a rock chicken and come over to drink with you!"

"That’s right! You must save this wine. When the day comes, let us brothers have a taste too!"

"You keep the wine, and I’ll bring you a carp when the time comes!"

……

Gu Lianshan was so flattered he didn't know north from south, and he subconsciously agreed.

"Just come when the time comes! There will be plenty of wine for you all!"

Having received this promise, the crowd’s smiles grew even brighter, and they showered him with more praise, coaxing him until his eyes disappeared into his grin.

Gu Tang took a deep breath, secretly steadying herself, constantly soothing her heart: *Don't be angry, don't be angry. Why bother arguing with a drunkard?*

But in the end, she couldn't help it; she reached out and pinched her father hard on the lower back.

Why are you making blind promises!

The wine in the tube is already hitting the bottom; what will you use to treat them when the time comes?!

Gu Tang was small and didn't have much strength, so it didn't hurt much, but Gu Lianshan turned back and looked at her, confused.

Why pinch your father for no reason?

Gu Tang was so angry she closed her eyes and spat out four words: "I'm tired, let's go home!"

Gu Lianshan, finally sobering up amidst the flattery, felt a jolt in his heart, realizing he had said the wrong thing again.

He peeked cautiously at his daughter, not daring to mention the Qing wine again.

He gave a few perfunctory replies to the crowd, forced a smile, and drove the ox cart toward home.

Once they were far from the crowd, seeing his daughter still wearing a dark expression, Gu Lianshan had to bite the bullet and try to soothe her.

"There’s still some left in the tube. When my birthday comes, I’ll go buy some other wine to put in it. Besides, none of those people have ever had Qing wine, so they surely won't be able to tell the difference..."

Gu Tang’s face turned green!

"Is this something you can fool people with? If you get exposed, do you still want your reputation?"

"I don't want it!" Gu Lianshan didn't hesitate at all.

Gu Tang: …………

"Your father’s reputation was gone long ago. Who in this village doesn't know your father is thick-skinned? I spend my days idling about without a proper trade, and I don't even want to do the farm work. If I were the type to care about face, would I let people talk about me like this?"

Gu Lianshan spoke with righteous indignation, sounding quite like a man who had given up on himself.

Gu Tang felt a pang in her heart and pursed her lips: "What kind of talk is that? Our whole family is supported by you; how are you idling about all day? Those gossips outside don't have good intentions; why do you listen to them?"

"I don't listen to them. I just want to tell you that I’m not a man who cares about face. I can promise something one second and go back on it the next."

Gu Tang held her forehead. Why did that tone sound so proud? So, it wasn't entirely other people's fault that his reputation was so bad.

"Let's not talk about the past, but you must change in the future. When your birthday comes, just buy another jin of Qing wine. You are not allowed to do this deceptive stuff again!"

Gu Lianshan was unhappy: "A jin of Qing wine costs a hundred wen! How can I just buy it like that? Just listen to your father and let me get some cheap wine to put in it..."

"You know Qing wine isn't cheap?" Gu Tang interrupted him, casting him a sidelong glance.

"If it weren't for your loose tongue and your soft ears that can't resist flattery, today’s incident wouldn't have happened."

Gu Lianshan looked annoyed, smiled ingratiatingly at his daughter, and slapped his own mouth repeatedly: "Today was all my fault, but there's really no need to buy that wine..."

Gu Tang ignored him and said to herself: "After the New Year, when spring comes, I plan to send Ping'an to Bei'an City to study."

Gu Lianshan’s heart trembled, and the words on his lips died away.

"If it works out, you must change your temper and character. If nothing else, you must be mindful of your conduct when you're out."

Gu Tang glanced at him and added: "Take today for example. You must use your brain before doing anything. You can't just agree to things blindly because you heard a few nice words."

"This jin of Qing wine is fine; our family can afford a hundred copper coins. But what about other things? If you agree to something our family can't afford, and then try to back out later, do you think people will be happy? Sooner or later, you'll cause trouble."

Her father was good in every way, except for one thing: he had soft ears and couldn't resist flattery. Once he heard those words, he immediately thought he was the king of the world!

Especially when drinking; as long as someone flattered him, he would agree to anything.

The key was that after agreeing, once he sobered up the next day, he would regret it whenever the other party became unhappy.

They say a man's word is his bond, but with her father, ten words wouldn't even make a single nail!