Chapter 71 - 72: Favoritism
Gu Wenheng wasn’t buying it. He strode over to Jin Qianqian and asked in a low voice, "Are you okay?"
Jin Qianqian shook her head. "They just got here a little while ago."
"Leave this to me." Gu Wenheng turned to the two menacing families. "What was that you were saying just now? I was standing a bit far away. Could you trouble yourselves to say it again?"
Gu Yuanshui held Liu Liu back with his hand. "It’s nothing, really. We just wanted to know how you two have been these past few days. Did you face any hardships out there?"
"Fourth Brother, you’re so concerned about us. Your Seventh Brother thanks you. It’s just that we’ve been traveling for days and are utterly exhausted. When I’m rested up, we brothers can have a proper chat."
...
After the two families had left in a huff, Gu Wenheng scoffed and turned to look at Gu Dashishi.
"Dad, how are your injuries?" The moment Gu Wenheng spoke, the old man couldn’t hold it in any longer.
"You’re all unfilial sons! You haven’t paid me any mind for days. You get your hands on something nice and don’t even think to offer some to your old father. It seems we’ll have to change the rules for my elder care from now on."
Li Cuicui said, "Don’t mind your senile old father. We already treat him like a king all day, and still, he’s not satisfied with this and has to nitpick about that.
Right now, everyone’s just trying to survive. Who has the spare energy to stand around listening to his nagging?"
"Mom, this is for you." Both Gu Wenheng and Jin Qianqian had understood the hidden meaning in Gu Dashishi’s words, but they deliberately went against his wishes, and Gu Wenheng handed the bamboo tube directly to Li Cuicui.
"Then I won’t stand on ceremony." Li Cuicui took the bamboo tube. Ignoring the murderous glare from Gu Dashishi beside her, she unsealed the top and took two large gulps for herself.
"Don’t finish it all! Hurry up and give me a couple of sips." Gu Dashishi swallowed dryly. Heaven knew he’d almost forgotten what water tasted like.
But who knew from where, Li Cuicui pulled out a large porcelain bowl and poured just enough to cover the bottom. "Here. You think I’d forget you?"
"But... this is too little! It’s not even a mouthful." Although Gu Dashishi complained, his hands cupped the bowl very carefully.
"Well, the gaps between your teeth must be massive then. This much water could plug your whole mouth. If you don’t want it, give it back."
As she said this, Li Cuicui motioned to snatch the water back, scaring Gu Dashishi into quickly raising the bowl and downing it in two gulps. GLUG, GLUG.
"And don’t you keep staring at this water. You still haven’t returned the water you borrowed from Datian. This is a good chance to pay it back." As she spoke, Li Cuicui stood up, preparing to take care of the matter right then and there.
"Datian isn’t asking for it back right now! You’re just making trouble."
"Just because someone doesn’t ask, you’re planning not to pay it back? I used to think the youngest was shameless, but now I see he learned it all from you." Li Cuicui ignored him. ’It seems the hardship he’s faced recently hasn’t been enough,’ she thought. ’He needs to be taught a better lesson.’
Gu Wenheng saw the old man staring at them, his eyes gleaming, and immediately shielded Jin Qianqian. "We’ve been walking all day. Let’s go over there and rest. I see Fifth Sister-in-law has already cleared out a spot for us..."
"...Unfilial son!" Gu Dashishi waited until Gu Wenheng and the others were far away before he finally managed to choke out those two words.
Jin Qianqian didn’t even have to turn around to guess how ugly Gu Dashishi’s expression was. She pointed to her own forehead. "Is there something wrong with your dad up here? On this whole trip, besides Gu Yuanlei, he’s caused the most trouble."
Gu Wenheng replied, "It’s fine. As long as the old matriarch is there to keep him in check, he can’t stir up any real trouble.
He has always favored the youngest. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have broken with tradition and kicked each son out of the house like an unwanted package as soon as they got married."
Jin Qianqian said, "So, he sent all his adult sons away just to better care for Gu Yuanlei?"
’They say grandparents dote on the eldest grandson and parents adore their youngest child. I never thought I’d see such a clear-cut example of it here.’
Gu Wenheng nodded. "Anyway, for as long as I can remember, whenever there was any good food in the house, apart from the share Mom distributed fairly, Dad would secretly stuff all the rest into the youngest’s mouth."
Jin Qianqian said, "So it’s that favoritism that’s made Gu Yuanlei so brazen, knowing someone will always be there to clean up his messes.
It’s a good thing Mom is fair, though. Otherwise, life would have been really hard for all you brothers."
Gu Wenheng nodded in agreement and lowered his voice. "So, until we’re strong enough on our own, we have to stay on the old matriarch’s good side. With her keeping things in check, the others can’t cause any trouble."
’Gu Wenheng had done a lot of thinking on the road. To live a better life in this dynasty, you needed more than just Silver in your hands; you needed power and influence.’
’Power was not something you could rely on others for. You had to grasp it in your own hands to hold onto it for good.’
Jin Qianqian asked, "Are you really planning to take the imperial examinations? Are you confident?"
Gu Wenheng said, "If we don’t want to be endlessly exploited, the imperial examinations are really the only path.
But you don’t have to worry, my dear Qianqian. Although your husband studied economics, I’ve got plenty of knowledge up here. With my intelligence and a bit of hard work, passing the exams with flying colors is just a matter of time."
Jin Qianqian pressed her lips together. "The oppression of women in this dynasty is too great."
’All those years of hard work—nine years of compulsory education, plus high school and university—and it had all come to nothing.’
’Now I have to wear the label of an illiterate. It’s depressing just thinking about it.’
"That’s not necessarily true," Gu Wenheng said, trying to find a way to comfort her. "Don’t forget the saying: men and women working together makes the work fly by. I’ll handle the outside world, and you’ll manage the home. And don’t underestimate life in these ancient households. You won’t be able to navigate it without a high IQ."
Under the cover of her cloak, Jin Qianqian’s hand suddenly twisted the flesh on his waist. Unprepared, Gu Wenheng jumped up in pain, quickly clapping a hand over his mouth to keep from crying out.
"HISSS! Are you trying to murder your own husband?"
Jin Qianqian scoffed, gritting her teeth. "Just how many concubines are you planning to marry to make my household life so ’rich and colorful’?"
Gu Wenheng noticed people nearby were watching the spectacle. He straightened up, looking serious, and held his waist, gently rubbing the spot that was probably already bruised.
He quickly put on a placating smile. "My dearest lady, your husband didn’t mean anything else by it! I was just thinking that if our living conditions improve in the future, we’ll have to support a whole bunch of stewards and servants. You’d be the CEO of the whole household! You’d have to engage in a battle of wits with all those people. You wouldn’t have a moment of leisure, would you?"
"Is that so?" Jin Qianqian turned to look at him. "This dynasty is a paradise for you men. Noble concubines, low-ranking concubines, bed-warming maids... they’re all legal."
Inwardly, Gu Wenheng was pleased by her jealousy, but he maintained a serious expression. "We know each other through and through. I’ve received a proper education; my morals and ethics are deeply ingrained. It’s not just that you couldn’t accept it—I’m even less able to accept it."
Jin Qianqian replied, "You have a point. Even in modern marriages, there’s such a thing as divorce. So I suppose a mutual separation wouldn’t be unacceptable here either."