Chapter 395 - 396: Don’t Be Polite
Chapter 395: Chapter 396: Don’t Be Polite
Shan Ke’an beamed until his eyes nearly disappeared. "You really get me, Sister-in-law. Well then, don’t mind if I do."
Ancient Wen Heng, "..." ’You could at least pretend to be polite.’
Jin Qianqian was long accustomed to his habit of not only eating his fill but taking some to go. She just smiled, unfazed. "If you want more next time, just send someone over. I’ll have the kitchen prepare it for you."
’As for giving him the recipe, Jin Qianqian had no such intention. After all, this hotpot base alone could be the foundation for an entire business.’
Gu Yuanshui, however, quietly breathed a sigh of relief. Having already reaped the rewards from the tofu recipe, he understood the importance of such things better than anyone.
Even if he had no designs on it himself, he didn’t want to see Seventh and his family lose out.
Shan Ke’an patted his stomach in satisfaction, causing his nearby Attendant Student to look like he wanted to say something but held back. "Thank you, Sister-in-law. I won’t stand on ceremony, then. A delicacy this delicious... I want my family to try it too, so I’ll shamelessly accept your offer."
Ancient Wen Heng walked over and hauled him up, a look of disgust on his face. "You’ve eaten and drunk your fill, so why aren’t you leaving? Remember to walk around a lot when you get back, or you’ll get indigestion."
Shan Ke’an wasn’t offended at all. He just grinned and said, "It’s fine. I’ll just take a stroll back to my estate. It’ll get me ready for the next meal."
"You’d better show some restraint. You’re starting to look like a ball." Ancient Wen Heng glanced at his friend’s stomach. ’How did the handsome, dashing young heir from before end up like this?’
"A good appetite is a blessing! I’m cooped up in the study all day with no exercise. It’s impossible *not* to get fat.
"Besides, my parents are already wondering if they should keep me cooped up. I reckon that once I pass the Scholar exam, I’ll finally be freed from the study."
Ancient Wen Heng just smiled without a word. ’This kid is still a bit naive. Even if he passes the Scholar exam, the scholar and Advanced Scholar exams are still waiting for him. I doubt the Shan Family’s parents have no further ambitions for him.’
Just as he reached the door, Shan Ke’an started to turn back. "I almost forgot the important reason I came! I was wondering, do you have any of Sister-in-law’s sulfur soap left in the house?"
"You ask for things so matter-of-factly now," Ancient Wen Heng said, pushing him out the door. "Don’t bother your sister-in-law. I’ll ask for you later. If we have any, I’ll have someone deliver it to your estate."
’Making such a fuss over a small thing. Besides, my wife is helping the family digest their food in the rear courtyard right now. Does he really want to go running all over the estate?’
’The kid is so shameless, if he spots something else he fancies, he’ll actually dare to ask for it.’
Shan Ke’an let himself be pushed along. "I’ll have to trouble you, then. I’ll have my mother prepare a thank-you gift. After all, it’s for her most precious niece."
Ancient Wen Heng, "..." ’Looks like this mooch doesn’t just scam others, he scams his own mother too.’
* * *
Gu Yuanshui dragged Gu Lehuan into a side room. "You’ve had a long face all day. Do you feel like your Seventh Uncle and his family haven’t treated you well?"
Gu Lehuan quickly waved his hands. "No, Fourth Uncle, you’ve misunderstood. I just have something on my mind."
"What could a young brat like you have on his mind? It can only be that the girl you like doesn’t like you back."
Hearing the gloating in Gu Yuanshui’s tone, Gu Lehuan puffed out his chest and said smugly, "Who says? Mr. Xu..."
But his bravado quickly deflated. He drooped and said dejectedly, "It’s not that she doesn’t like me. It’s that I don’t have what it takes to meet her condition."
Gu Yuanshui looked at his nephew with new appreciation. ’It seems all those days of leaving early and coming home late weren’t for nothing.’
As a man of experience, Gu Yuanshui gave Gu Lehuan a knowing look. "Is the betrothal gift she’s asking for a bit high? Don’t worry. You have so many uncles. If each family chips in, how could my dear nephew not be able to afford a wife?"
Now that his own pockets were full, Gu Yuanshui spoke with more confidence. Besides, having spent so much time with the Old Clan Leader recently, even his once-selfish thoughts had begun to change, and he now knew to think of the family’s interests.
"If that were the case, I wouldn’t be worried," Gu Lehuan said. He had kept this bottled up for so long. Now that Gu Yuanshui had brought it up, it was like he’d been thrown a lifeline, and he stared at his uncle with shining eyes.
Gu Yuanshui, "..." ’Is it too late to take back what I just said?’
It was definitely too late. Gu Lehuan had already grabbed his sleeve. "Fourth Uncle, do you think my parents will agree to let me separate from the family and live on my own?"
"She’s demanding you separate from the family?" Gu Yuanshui stared at his nephew in shock. ’What is it with the men of the Gu family? Are we all destined to live separately as soon as we get married?’
"No," Gu Lehuan said, not wanting his uncle to get the wrong idea about Xu Nuo. "It’s just that she wants to keep running her brokerage in Shangjing. That’s the only condition she’s made."
"And what about you?" Gu Yuanshui’s mind worked quickly. "You’ll just live off of her in the future."
At this thought, displeasure welled up in Gu Yuanshui. ’How is that any different from marrying into her family? He’s a grown man. Is he supposed to just live cooped up in the rear courtyard for the rest of his life?’
"Don’t even think about it, and don’t you dare mention it. I wouldn’t approve, let alone your parents."
"Fourth Uncle, I can work odd jobs."
Gu Yuanshui scoffed. "And then what? You’ll work odd jobs every day, collecting a few copper coins, while you watch your own wife order servants around as the high-and-mighty boss?
"I don’t believe for a second you could stand that kind of life for long.
"And even if you grit your teeth and endure it, would you truly be happy?"
Gu Lehuan said, "...If it comes to it, I can run errands for her, just like I used to."
Gu Yuanshui poked him in the head. "You’re a blockhead, just like your father. She may have some wealth, but she’s not after you for no reason.
"For a lone woman to run her own business in Shangjing is incredibly difficult. She must have run into trouble, which is why she had no choice but to turn to you, don’t you think?"
Seeing his nephew’s dumbfounded expression, Gu Yuanshui shook his head again. ’It seems all the Gu family’s brains went to me and Seventh.’
"Now, listen to your uncle. Right now, she’s like a piece of fat on a chopping block, and everyone wants to carve off a slice.
"To protect herself, she has to find a powerful backer.
"The prominent, aristocratic families wouldn’t give a second glance to a low-level brokerage like hers. So, she must have set her sights on your Seventh Uncle.
"You silly boy, you’re just a stepping stone for her. There’s no way she has genuine feelings for you.
"Take a piece of advice from your uncle: all women are the same. Once you get over this infatuation and look back, you’ll realize just how foolish you were."
Gu Lehuan asked, "So, Fourth Uncle... do you have any regrets?"
Gu Yuanshui quickly glanced left and right, only then remembering that his attendant hadn’t followed him this time.
He rapped Gu Lehuan on the head. "Whether I regret it or not, I can’t say for sure right now. But this is the path I chose. Even if it’s filled with thorns, I have to walk it."