Chapter 4: Suing the First Branch of the Gu Family

Before she could even speak, she saw her father wipe his face and suddenly turn fierce: "A son's education is a father's responsibility. How could I let a girl like you pay for it?"

Gu Tang’s heart skipped a beat. Why did his tone sound so murderous?

"For these past few years, because your eldest brother failed his studies, I’ve always had to lower my head before your grandparents and never dared to bring up the subject of schooling again.

Now that you’ve brought it up, I’ll fight for it once more. There’s no reason for our family to keep suffering losses, letting all the money we earn be spent by your eldest uncle and his son!"

Gu Tang nodded. That was the truth. Most of the Gu family’s livelihood was supported by their branch, the second house; there was no reason for the first house to reap all the benefits.

"That may be true, but you must be careful in how you act. No matter what, Grandpa and Grandma are our elders. If they pin a charge of unfilial behavior on us, don't expect our family to come out unscathed."

"Don't you worry, I know what I'm doing."

Gu Lian Shan looked determined, though his expression was far from kind.

How could Gu Tang be at ease with him looking like that? She could only resolve to keep a close eye on him.

Perhaps because he had something on his mind, Gu Lian Shan cracked his whip over the old ox, urging it to speed up.

Before long, the ox cart stopped in front of a north-facing, three-sided courtyard.

This courtyard was the Gu family home.

The perimeter wall was made of bamboo fencing, about the height of a person, and the gate was also bamboo. It looked pleasant enough, but it wouldn't stop any thieves.

According to her father, these bamboo walls were a recent addition; in earlier years, the Gu family’s walls were all made of adobe.

But adobe couldn't withstand the wind and rain, and it had to be patched up every few years.

All that repair work had been done by her father.

Later, as her grandparents grew increasingly biased, her father became resentful and refused to touch the walls anymore. In the end, her eldest uncle made the final call and hired someone to put up a bamboo fence, calling it "elegant."

Gu Tang glanced at the bamboo fence and curled her lip.

The copper coins used to pay the workers were earned by her father, yet the reputation for it went to her eldest uncle.

After getting off the ox cart, Gu Tang slung her bundle over her arm. She waited for her father to tie up the ox, then followed him into the courtyard.

The Gu family must have heard the commotion. By now, everyone except the two elders had come out of their rooms. Their gazes were burning, all fixed on the bundle on Gu Tang’s arm, wishing they could immediately reach out, untie it, and see what treasures were hidden inside!

Gu Tang brushed the dust off her bundle, ignoring their stares entirely.

Everyone in the Gu family, young and old, knew she had money, but they wouldn't dare try to snatch it even if they were given ten times the courage.

The reason was simple: the Gu family had been terrified by what her father did two years ago. Even now, no matter how greedy they felt, they didn't dare make a move.

Two years ago, the old master who taught the original owner how to gather herbs passed away. The original owner took over her master’s herb-gathering spots, and she began earning more and more money.

The Gu family had long had their eyes on it, burning with envy.

Before long, the first house of the Gu family incited Grandmother Gu, née Feng, to ransack the bed where the original owner slept, taking every single copper and silver coin she had saved.

When the original owner returned from the mountains to find her bed in shambles, and saw her own mother standing by, watching indifferently, she was so distraught that she tried to hang herself!

That terrified her father, Gu Lian Shan. He rushed to save her, settled her at a friend’s house, and then went into town to report it to the authorities!

That’s right, her father, Gu Lian Shan, went to report it to the officials!

Feng was Gu Lian Shan’s own mother, so he couldn't sue her—he knew that much—so he sued the entire first house of the Gu family instead!

Especially the eldest uncle. Gu Lian Shan knew exactly what the first house and his parents cared about most, so he focused all his efforts on tormenting the eldest uncle.

First, he accused him of inciting his wife to ransack his niece’s room; second, he accused him of seizing the money his niece had earned by risking her life in the mountains; third, he accused him of being unworthy of the title of "government student," begging the magistrate to revoke it!

This lawsuit turned the Gu family upside down.

At first, the first house and the two elders didn't take it seriously. The hot-tempered ones cursed and beat him, threatening to sever ties with Gu Lian Shan and kick him out of the family.

They hoped to scare Gu Lian Shan into withdrawing the complaint.

But Gu Lian Shan wasn't afraid at all. He took Gu Tang and moved out, making it impossible for the elders to find them, declaring that the matter wouldn't be over until the stolen money was returned twofold!

Seeing that the yamen runners were about to come and make arrests, the first house and the two elders finally realized that the second son was serious!

In an instant, the whole family was trembling with fear. They immediately gave in to Gu Lian Shan, returned the stolen money twofold to the original owner, and then spent their remaining savings to bribe the yamen to make the lawsuit go away, barely managing to keep the eldest uncle’s title.

After that incident, the Gu family never dared to snatch the original owner’s money again. Even if they were burning with greed, no one dared to reach out.

That was why Gu Tang wasn't afraid of their stares.

After dusting off her bundle, Gu Tang headed toward the west wing.

The second house of the Gu family lived in the west wing.

Just as she took a step, Aunt Wei from the main room called out to her in a sharp, biting tone.

"Fourth Girl is back? How come you didn't even greet me when you saw me? Look at that bulging bundle—did you really go to get medicine?"

"If you ask me, why spend good copper on medicine? You’re a farm girl, and farm girls have tough lives. Just endure it and it’ll pass. If you really have copper, you should buy some meat or something to nourish your grandfather and grandmother."

After saying this, Aunt Wei covered her mouth with a handkerchief and giggled, a "cackle-cackle" sound like a hen that had just laid an egg.

Gu Tang stopped and turned to glance at her.

Seeing Gu Tang look over, Aunt Wei curled her thick, short fingers into an "orchid gesture" and preened, smoothing her clothes with affected grace.

Aunt Wei was wearing a lotus-green, narrow-sleeved jacket today, paired with a brown pleated skirt. Standing under the eaves of the main room, her eyes were glued to the bundle on Gu Tang’s arm, the greed in them impossible to hide.

Gu Tang knew at a glance that Aunt Wei had been wandering around the village again.

Farm women, regardless of age, never used handkerchiefs or wore long skirts, except on their wedding day.

They didn't use handkerchiefs because even the cheapest ones were made of fine cloth.

The cloth used by farm families was coarse, stiff hemp or rough fabric, which couldn't be made into handkerchiefs; everyone just used the aprons at their waists to wipe their hands.

If any girl or daughter-in-law dared to use fine cloth for a handkerchief, she could expect three beatings a day.

And they didn't wear long skirts because they used too much fabric; most farm families couldn't afford to buy or weave that much.

Most farm women wore short jackets over knee-length vests, paired with long trousers, and finished with an apron to keep clean and wipe their hands.

This attire was very suitable for farm women who had to work in the fields.

But Aunt Wei, the eldest aunt, was different. The man she married was a scholar who had passed the government exam; in this rural village, everyone had to respectfully address him as "Master Scholar."

Therefore, Aunt Wei felt she was a cut above other women. She insisted on her handkerchiefs and long skirts, dressing up every day to parade around the village, terrified that someone might forget her husband was a "Master Scholar."

Aunt Wei was an elder. In the past, Gu Tang wouldn't have confronted her directly; her father would have always taken the lead.

(End of chapter)