Chapter 216 - 215: Consideration (First Update)
Gu Ruhai kicked Gu Ruhe hard, then sat down and gulped down a glass of liquor.
His throat burned painfully.
His heart and eyes were filled with flames.
Gu Ruhe fell to the ground, sitting silently.
Xiao Xue also remained silent, being scolded so directly by the old lady was a first for her.
The curtain was suddenly lifted, and Gu Xiaofeng and Gu Xiaomin rushed in. One hugged Gu Ruhe from the ground, the other hugged Xiao Xue. Gu Xiaomin glared at the old lady and said, "Grandma, why are you scolding my mom? What did my mom do wrong?"
The two children didn’t know what was going on inside.
The old lady was just about to start scolding. She had never scolded Gu Xiaomin before, only because of Xiao Xue’s father’s influence. Now, Gu Ruhe needed Gu Ruhai’s help, so how could Mrs. Gu continue to protect Gu Xiaomin?
However, Gu Ruhai first thought that this matter must be covered, not made public. The kids couldn’t know, their mouths weren’t reliable. Who knows what consequences might arise later.
He sternly ordered, "Mother, can you stop talking? Go to the inner room and rest for a while."
This was absolute authority.
Mrs. Gu immediately quieted down. She knew that the current Gu Ruhai was different from before. She knew this son meant what he said. If she continued to speak, her eldest son might truly do something drastic.
Besides, the two old folks were now relying on Gu Ruhai for support. This son was now wealthy and influential, unlike the Gu Ruhai of the past. Mrs. Gu wisely chose to stay silent.
She could only pace slowly on her small feet as she left.
Gu Ruhai said to Li Xuemei, "Take the two children outside. We adults need to talk for a bit."
Li Xuemei nodded. The situation had escalated so greatly, no one expected it to turn out this way. She took the reluctant Gu Xiaofeng and Gu Xiaomin and left.
Xiao Xue remained seated, unable to leave even if she wanted to.
Gu Ruhe could only lower his head and cry.
Mr. Gu sat heavily on a stool, sighing.
For the first time, he felt he was wrong. The sons he doted on always caused trouble. He treated Gu Rushan well, and Gu Rushan nearly cost him his life. He treated Gu Ruhe well, and now Gu Ruhe was facing imprisonment.
Embezzlement was a serious crime during this time.
But embezzlement has always been a serious crime, hasn’t it?
Gu Ruhai knew that he had no choice but to help with this matter.
Yet offering help wasn’t easy either.
If Gu Ruhe didn’t learn a lesson this time, he’d be emboldened next time, believing someone was there to bail him out financially.
This was not a good thing.
"Tell me, what do you plan to do?"
Gu Ruhai asked Gu Ruhe, who was seated on the ground.
Gu Ruhe immediately got up and said, "Big brother, lend me ten thousand yuan to plug this hole first. Once the inspection is over, the issue will blow over, and I’ll repay you slowly, month by month."
Gu Ruhe was truly at a dead end, which is why he spoke this way.
No one around could come up with such an amount, and he didn’t have the means either. Xiao Xue’s family also refused to provide the money. Without Gu Ruhai, imprisonment was the only path left for Gu Ruhe.
This time, Gu Ruhe was genuinely in a bind. Originally, he thought he was doing well. Although he misappropriated public funds, it was also for Gu Xiaomin, as the two children were valued in Xiao Xue’s father’s eyes.
Even for the sake of these two children, his father-in-law ought to help him. Xiao Xue’s father had money, but who would have thought he’d stubbornly refuse to lend a hand this time?
This made Gu Ruhe anxious. Not only was the money meant for Gu Xiaomin’s school sponsorship, but Gu Ruhe also used part of it to bribe his superiors, hoping to transfer from the supply and marketing cooperative to the tobacco company.
That was a lucrative position, one many were desperately trying to secure. Gu Ruhe wanted to get in too, so he sent some gifts, which all cost money.
Who would have thought after taking his money, Gu Ruhe wasn’t among those selected for the transfer? All hopes were dashed. The anticipated income from moving to the tobacco and alcohol company, the gift money for the agreed relationships — all gone. A total loss. Gu Ruhe was genuinely out of options.
Paying back the money was something Gu Ruhe hadn’t considered. He knew that Gu Ruhai had spent thirty thousand yuan just for road construction in the village. As his own brother, wasn’t this ten thousand yuan justified?
The words about repayment were just for show.
Of course, Gu Ruhe would never voice these thoughts. No matter how he felt, he wouldn’t foolishly say it out loud.
Gu Ruhai smoked heavily, his emotions churning.
This sum wasn’t significant to him, just a matter of lifting a finger.
But the nature of Gu Ruhe’s actions was unsettling. It was a crime warranting imprisonment. Gu Ruhe relied on the bond of blood to act so boldly.
It was a matter of imprisonment.
"Gu Ruhe, where did all your years of education go? You’re a university graduate, and you understand less than I, a farmer who can’t read, about what’s right or wrong. Don’t you know which money can be taken and which cannot?
One should only undertake what they can handle. Everyone understands this. Do you need me to teach you how to act? You dared to misappropriate public funds today, who gave you the courage? Are you courting death? If you want to die, die far away without dragging the family down with you."
Gu Ruhai didn’t want to relent now. Once he gave in, the subsequent matters would become difficult.
Besides, for such a significant issue, a plan was needed. Gu Ruhai wanted to discuss it with Gu Xiaoqing.
Gu Ruhe, hanging his head low, finally mumbled, "Big brother, I know I was wrong. I’m out of options. If I don’t cover the money by this week, when the investigation team arrives, they’ll discover it immediately.
Big brother, help me. I don’t want to go to jail."
Gu Ruhai shouted angrily, "Do you think I’m running a bank, that you can take out money whenever you want? Have you ever thought this through? Is this something a person should do? I tell you, I don’t have the money. Figure it out yourself."
Gu Ruhai was truly angry. Regardless of how his brother had treated him over the years, someone educated resorting to such actions was unsettling.
If the family produced an embezzler, it would make the Gu Family Village notorious.
Not just in the village, but in the neighboring areas too.
An embezzler.
The words from Gu Ruhai were mostly out of anger; he wouldn’t really ignore the issue.
Seeing Mr. Gu’s demeanor, Gu Ruhai knew he would end up being the scapegoat.
Sometimes Gu Ruhai felt lost. Are all families like this? (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)