Chapter 188: Chapter 22: Grandpa and Grandma
"What? Still waiting for the silver? Why don’t you hurry up and scram? Not afraid of dying?" Gu Chengyu shouted at these two shameless people.
Anyone else would have been scared and run off, but who knew these two were still waiting for the silver! Such audacity!
Lv Yang saw the ferocity on the faces of the Gu Family and knew they wouldn’t get the silver today. He needed to come up with a plan to make the Gu Family cough up the silver willingly. Tomorrow was the final deadline, and he had to get the silver.
"I’ll be back tomorrow then. You all discuss it properly and have the silver ready. You know, whoever makes life difficult for us, I’ll make life difficult for them," Lv Yang said with a trembling voice under the fierce eyes of the Gu Family.
"Don’t even think about it! If you have the guts, go out and say it; see who will believe you?" Gu Chengyi saw that Lv Yang still wanted the silver and knew it couldn’t happen. Why should their silver go to this shameless person?
As soon as Gu Chengyi said this, the rest of the Gu Family looked at him. If Lv Yang really went out and said it, people wouldn’t care if it was true or false; they would just treat it as gossip, and it would spread wildly. It might even get distorted beyond recognition.
This would be a big blow to Mrs. Lv. If she were a virtuous and chaste woman, she might even take her own life to preserve her reputation. This matter would also affect the younger generation of the Gu Family. If the upper beam is not straight, the lower beam will be crooked, and the first to be affected would be the studying Gu Chengyu. His promising future would be destroyed in an instant. Having such a mother would be a lifelong stain.
That’s why the Gu Family looked at Gu Chengyi, finding it unbelievable that he said such a thing.
Mr. Gu looked into Gu Chengyi’s eyes, full of disappointment, and his resolve to split the family strengthened.
"You go back first! We need to discuss this and will give you an answer tomorrow!" Gu Chengyu decided to drive them away first, sparing everyone the disgust. He planned to resolve this issue today rather than wait until tomorrow.
"Then we will leave. Make sure to have the silver ready!" Lv Yang didn’t dare to stay any longer and pulled his wife along to leave, believing the Gu Family would act sensibly.
By now, Mrs. Lv had calmed down, but she also didn’t advocate giving the silver. That wouldn’t be a long-term solution. She knew Lv Yang’s nature, a shameless rogue; once given, he’d definitely come back for more.
"Xiao Bao! The silver..."
"Mom! I just got back and am a bit tired. Don’t worry about this; I’ll handle it." Gu Chengyu comforted Mrs. Lv; his mother had suffered a great grievance today, and she must be exhausted both physically and mentally.
"You’re still a child, what way can you have?" Mrs. Lv felt her body weakening and leaned against Mr. Gu, feeling a deep sense of fatigue.
"Jin Niang, let’s discuss this later. Let’s head inside first." Mr. Gu had returned only to this scene and was very tired.
Gu Chengyi felt uneasy. The family’s hard-earned silver, everyone wanted a piece of it, but he felt it was safest in his own hands. He recalled Mr. Gu’s suggestion from last year; he was reluctant before, but now it seemed unwise not to agree.
Gu Wan supported Mrs. Lv into the main house, unusually quiet. As an older girl, she understood the importance of a woman’s reputation. Today’s attempt by Uncle to ruin her mother’s name was pushing her to death! No wonder her mother never returned to her family. She remembered throwing a fit before, asking why her mother’s parents never visited her, not realizing it stabbed at her mother’s heart!
Lv Yang and his wife had left, but the remaining Mrs. Lv’s parents were at a loss. Lv Yang never intended for them to return, saying they should stay with their daughter. Now they’ve left without calling for them. They wanted to follow but feared returning home would anger Lv Yang, and they’d be beaten.
The old woman tugged on the old man, "Let’s go, dear!" she said resignedly.
She didn’t know where to go, but she was too ashamed to ask her daughter to take them in.
"Alright! Let’s not go back. Even begging on the streets is better than returning!" the old man said, pulling his wife to leave.
Gu Chengyu stood by the door inside listening for a while and saw the old couple deciding their next move. Though frustrated at their lack of ambition, he knew they were not greedy and decided to let them stay. Moreover, he had questions for them.
"Are you Grandpa and Grandma?" Gu Chengyu came out and asked them.
"Ah! You’re Tao’er’s eldest son?" The old woman looked at Gu Chengyu, having noticed him the moment he entered the courtyard.
Gu Chengyu resembled Mrs. Lv. Seeing him brought back memories of young Lv Tao being sold. She remembered pleading, asking not to be sold, promising to work hard.
But she couldn’t oppose her eldest son and thought maybe Lv Tao would have a better life in a wealthy family. The main reason was her son’s indecent thoughts towards his sister, too frightening to risk ruining two lives. This she couldn’t mention; such thoughts were unacceptable and against nature.
"You really look alike!" The old man rarely spoke, but he managed a few words.
"I’m Gu Chengyu, and my parents call me Xiao Bao! Let’s go to the front yard; I have questions for you. My mother is tired and should rest; we can call her for dinner." Gu Chengyu wanted to know about Lv Yang’s situation. Despite everything, Lv Yang still demanded silver, seemingly desperate, indicating an issue he could exploit.
"Alright!" The old woman nervously adjusted her shawl.
Did this grandson intend for them to stay for dinner? She feared the Gu Family wouldn’t welcome them, considering they had two strapping sons. She wondered if her daughter’s life was good.
Gu Chengyu invited the two into the study, "Please, have a seat!"
His study was cluttered with items on the desk, prompting him to seat them in the outer room, offering a plate of mung bean pastries and pouring them each a bowl of water.
The old couple felt reserved and didn’t touch the pastries.
"Grandpa and Grandma, please have something to eat. After the journey, you must be hungry," Gu Chengyu observed the old man’s exposed wrist, alarmingly thin, easily encircled by one of his hands.
"How could we? This is a precious treat! You eat; young ones need nourishment!" The old woman waved her hand, having never tasted such a thing and assuming it was expensive.
Gu Chengyu nudged the plate closer, "Please, it’s not expensive, just something to tide you over."