Chapter 121 - 122: Expelled from the Clan
"Our clan has no precedent for this. I don’t approve of you marrying into their family," Li Cuicui said resentfully. "Whatever silver they gave you, you go and return it.
If their daughter is willing to marry into our village, then I’ll accept it."
Gu Shulin said, "As the Old Clan Leader, while our clan doesn’t have a specific rule against this, your actions are equivalent to joining another family. Our clan’s authority may no longer hold any sway over you.
If you insist on this path, then for the sake of the entire family, I’ll have no choice but to strike your name from the family registry. Do you still think this is worth it?"
Gu Yuanlei’s legs felt weak, and he leaned against the wall for support. "It can’t be that serious, can it? They promised me that if we have several children, one of them would carry my surname."
Gu Shulin shook his head. "That will only lead to endless complications later on. You should think it over carefully."
Gu Dashishi added, "You are not marrying into their family. It’s not as if I, your father, can’t find you a wife. Why would you choose to go through such an ordeal?
Don’t let them sweet-talk you into not seeing the serious consequences."
Gu Yuanlei retorted, "I never wanted to marry into their family in the first place. If you people could just give me the silver taels, I could negotiate properly with the Lan Family. I could buy a small house next to theirs, and we could build a life.
Why can’t any of you just support me?"
Gu Wenheng shook his head. ’This man’s selfishness is bone-deep. He’ll never change.’
"That’s unacceptable," the other clan elders all stepped forward and said. They too could see Gu Yuanlei’s selfish nature—he would even scheme against his own parents and brothers, so the rest of the clan meant even less to him. "If you choose to marry into their family, you must renounce your identity as a member of the Gu Family."
’Gu Wenheng had been studying the law recently, so he knew many crimes could implicate one’s entire family and clan. If this man wasn’t bound by our rules, the standard clan procedure was to sever all ties preemptively to avoid future liability.’
Gu Yuanlei glared at them resentfully. "I know you’ve all always looked down on me, but what have I done wrong? If you strike me from the family registry today, all bonds between us will be gone. Are you sure about this?"
Hearing his resentful and threatening tone, even Gu Shulin, the acting village head, couldn’t stand it anymore. "You have a choice. Don’t marry into their family, and we can all pretend today never happened. Of course, you must immediately return the settlement money they gave you. Then, your father and mother will be sure to arrange a good match for you.
But if you insist on going your own way, then whether your future is good or bad will have nothing to do with any of us."
Gu Dashishi walked over and grabbed his arm. "My son, you once told me that you would support me in my old age and give me a good life. But I don’t want you to marry into their family. You don’t know what kind of life that is. It’s even worse than the life of a daughter-in-law who marries into a new family.
Listen to me. I’ll find you a good wife, and we’ll build a good life right here."
"That’s because you don’t know how kind the Lan Family is! They would never treat me the way you all say. Since you’ve found out, just do whatever you want."
As he said this, Gu Yuanlei turned to look at Li Cuicui. "Mother, are you satisfied now? You’ve never liked Yingying. Well, from now on, we won’t be around to be an eyesore. You can just live your wonderful life in the village with your other precious, ’filial’ sons."
Those words went too far. Gu Wenheng stepped in front of Li Cuicui to shield her. "Don’t you worry. With us here, Mother’s life will only get better. As for you... you should look after yourself."
Gu Yuanlei’s eyes, filled with hatred, locked onto Gu Wenheng. "This is all your fault. I bet you’re satisfied now. I’m telling you, as of today, we are no longer brothers."
"As you wish," Gu Wenheng replied, completely unconcerned. ’This was exactly the outcome I wanted, anyway. Rather than watch him stir up trouble day after day, it’s better to make a clean break now. Won’t this save me from endless problems later on?’
"..."
「 」
"So, is that it? Are we completely done with him now?" Jin Qianqian finally found a chance to ask on their way back.
"His name has been completely wiped from the family registry. Even if he gets himself into trouble, it won’t have a single thing to do with us." Thinking of his mother’s devastated expression moments before, Gu Wenheng’s resentment toward Gu Yuanlei deepened.
Jin Qianqian said, "It’s good that we’ve drawn a clear line. There’s something wrong with the way that man’s brain works. He can’t even tell friend from foe.
Besides, the members of the Lan Family we met on the road didn’t seem like good people. If he really got mixed up with them, I was worried it would end up affecting us.
It’s not that I’m selfish, but that guy has just made one outrageous scene after another."
"Back at Third Great-Uncle’s house, I told them about my plans to go to Leping Academy," Gu Wenheng said, glancing at Jin Qianqian. "But there’s one thing I did without discussing it with you first. Promise you won’t get mad?"
"...," Jin Qianqian paused. "That depends on what it is."
Gu Wenheng said, "It’s about our few acres of land. I’ve entrusted them to the Clan Leader, and from now on, the harvest will be used to cover the clan’s miscellaneous expenses."
’He had considered giving the land to Gu Dashishi or one of his other brothers, but no matter who he chose, it would have offended the others.’
’It was better just to give it to the clan. That way, if anyone dared to complain, others would naturally step in to silence them.’
Jin Qianqian said, "Oh, I thought it was something serious. We’ll be coming back here less and less in the future, so it’s only right to entrust the land to someone.
But let’s not make a habit of it. When we get the chance, I want to buy a small farmstead so we can plant the vegetables we want, like chili peppers."
Gu Wenheng said, "I’ve already asked someone to look into it. But there’s no rush. There are some things it’s not yet appropriate for us to bring out."
’Even if he brought those things out, he’d need a plausible excuse. It wasn’t easy getting a second chance at life, and all he wanted was for the two of them to live long, peaceful lives together.’
「 」
There are no airtight secrets in this world. In just half a day, the entire Gaoling Village had heard about the Gu family’s business.
Fortunately, Gu Yuanlei had rushed off immediately after witnessing his name being struck from the family registry. Otherwise, there’s no telling how much scolding he would have endured from the village elders.
Gu Wenheng wasn’t so lucky. He was currently cornered in his own home, listening to his brothers and sisters-in-law all blaming him at once.
"I do believe that’s our land. Shouldn’t we be the ones to decide what’s done with it?" Gu Wenheng said, finally understanding. These people were driven entirely by their own self-interest.
Gu Yuanhuo chimed in, "And you call yourself our brother? Why didn’t you think of us? Did you think we couldn’t have managed a few measly acres of land?"
Gu Wenheng was unapologetic. "The land has already been given away. Why don’t you go talk to the Old Clan Leader about it?"
The Gu family members were speechless. "..."
Gu Wenheng continued, "What’s done is done. There’s no point in wasting your time here. If there’s nothing else, you should all go home.
It’s been a long day, and we need to rest."
Hearing Gu Wenheng so bluntly shooing them away, Gu Yuanjin quickly changed the subject. "What really happened with our youngest brother? How could something so important be decided by just a handful of people?"
Gu Wenheng looked up at Gu Yuanjin. "What happened? I thought everyone already knew."