Free Web NovelChapter 231: Chapter 231: Paying Respects
Gu Kaiyuan indulgently looked at the person in front of him. Bai Suihe’s mind was quick, and he had already thought of a way to counter the Gu Family.
"Madam is right. The pot from before wasn’t brought back, so there’s no need to take an extra trip."
"The weather is so cold, go early and return early."
Gu Kaiyuan, carrying a book, appeared once again in front of Gu Li. frёeωebɳovel.com
Gu Li couldn’t help but frown. How long had it been since Gu Kaiyuan left? Could there be something unclear in the family genealogy?
"Great Uncle," Gu Kaiyuan held the book with both hands, respectfully handing it over to Gu Li, "the family genealogy has been copied. I am returning it intact, and I request you to check it, Great Uncle."
Gu Li took it with both hands, somewhat surprised, "Finished copying it so quickly? Has it been verified?"
This is the family genealogy; this brat couldn’t have treated it carelessly, right?
Gu Kaiyuan replied, "It has been checked. I write quickly.
Mainly because I feared you would worry since it’s such a precious item."
Gu Li carefully checked it, still seeing the old creases but nothing else, feeling satisfied with how Gu Kaiyuan cherished the genealogy, "No issues, but when you establish your own branch, do not forget your roots and from where you originated."
Gu Kaiyuan listened earnestly to the teaching, waited for Gu Li to stop, then said, "It’s getting late, and I won’t disturb your rest, I still need to pay respects to my father."
Gu Li, "..." You know it’s getting late, and you’re paying respects now? Something doesn’t sound right here.
But he didn’t say much, nodding, "That’s how it should be."
Gu Kaiyuan turned to Gu Baihe, "Uncle, what about the pot I brought over earlier? I’ll need it for cooking tomorrow, so I’ll just take it back with me."
Gu Baihe, "I was thinking of having your brother deliver it to you later, but since you’re here, you can just take it back."
Gu Li’s eyes flashed, "Did you not send meat buns to your father previously?"
Gu Kaiyuan looked innocent, "It’s just that not many were made, and I thought there were more elders here, so I prioritized you."
Gu Li knew this was a conflict between father and son, but between them, he still sided with Gu Kaiyuan.
"Your father is becoming more unreasonable, not even saving face now. I guess they might be trying to make it difficult for you, so don’t go alone. Let your uncle explain to them."
Gu Kaiyuan raised his eyebrow, genuinely surprised and delighted, hurriedly saying respectfully, "It’s still Great Uncle who is considerate towards the younger generation, sorry to trouble Uncle."
Gu Baihe, the errand man, "... It’s just as well that the other juniors haven’t gotten to know their Uncle Bai Jiang properly yet. They should go with Kaiyuan to pay their respects."
Gu Kaishan and others immediately stood up, not just the dozen or so brothers, but quite a few children too.
Gu Kaiyuan suppressed a smile, and then said, "Let’s go quickly and return quickly. As a senior, my father’s bound to be thrilled to see so many coming to pay respects."
Whether thrilled or not isn’t clear, but Gu Baijiang felt his head buzzing with all the people greeting him.
He and the Gu Family were just shy of tearing the last layer of cover, and here they were causing a scene? freewёbnoνel.com
And there stood Gu Kaiyuan, holding a pot and looking schadenfreude, what kind of expression was that?
"Gu Kaiyuan, what is going on here?"
"Father, here are all your nephews and grandnephews.
Seeing how prosperous our family is, isn’t it delightful?
Oh, this is the first time you’re meeting my cousins and nephews, right? Shouldn’t you give a meeting gift?"
Gift, my foot, Gu Baijiang nearly cursed; with so many people, wasn’t this asking for his life!
But with so many eyes watching, it’s really not respectable to skip giving a gift, so he could only reluctantly take out a 50-tael silver note from his pouch and hand it to Gu Baihe, "Big Brother, there’s nowhere to shop right now, so take this token, and buy the kids something nice when you reach the next post station."
Gu Baihe previously felt like he was being used as a tool by Gu Kaiyuan, but unexpectedly there was a reward. If only this could happen more often, he’d bring the kids for greetings thrice a day.
Taking advantage, it’s not decent to just continue watching, so Gu Baihe regretfully led the kids away.
But he didn’t go too far, letting the kids return first, and hid amongst the crowd to see the spectacle. Though further away, it didn’t diminish his interest.
Before Gu Baijiang could say anything, Gu Kaiyuan spotted Xu Shuanghong, smilingly clasped his hands in a salute, "You must be Mrs. Xu? Greetings from Gu Kaiyuan."
Xu Shuanghong was confused, wondering if something was wrong with Gu Kaiyuan’s mind.
Bai Jiang hadn’t even introduced her yet, what was this about?
"This is my third son," Gu Baijiang, looking at the empty pot in Gu Kaiyuan’s hands, said with some exasperation, "Is this how you visit your elders?"
Gu Kaiyuan, "What’s wrong with that?"
"Don’t you know to show filial respect to your elders?"
Gu Kaiyuan looked surprised, "So father is saying I should mention to Great Uncle that when they came to meet you, they also didn’t show filial piety.
Dad, really, you should’ve said so earlier. You even gave a meeting gift; do you feel shortchanged?"
Having said that, Gu Kaiyuan turned to leave, but Gu Baijiang, with a livid face, barked, "You hold it right there, these are two different things."
"How’s that different?" Gu Kaiyuan looked puzzled, then seemed to have a sudden realization, "Ah, so you’re saying Aunt Xu didn’t give me a meeting gift, I’m such a grownup, and I’m a bit embarrassed about it.
So, Aunt Xu, whatever you think is fine."
Xu Shuanghong, "..." I just wanted to have a taste of fine grains, and you come for my blood.
Liu Yun and the others regretted not thinking of this earlier, but given their miserly situation, what could they offer?
At these words, even with her thick skin, Xu Shuanghong couldn’t pretend not to hear, so she reluctantly opened her purse, took out a piece of gold leaf for self-defense, and painfully handed it to Gu Kaiyuan, "I came out in a hurry and didn’t bring much. This gold leaf was for self-defense, but you can use it to buy something nice."
Gu Kaiyuan happily accepted, repeatedly thanking, "Mrs. Xu, you’re very generous. Thank you, Mrs. Xu."
Xu Shuanghong thought this affair was over, but Gu Kaiyuan shamelessly called, "Elder Brother, Second Brother, what are you dawdling for? Quickly bring the nephews and nieces over to greet the elder!"
Gu Kaiping couldn’t lose face, but Gu Kaichen, already itching, seized the opportunity when Gu Kaiyuan extended a handkerchief, and brought Gu Anwei, "Mrs. Xu, I’m bringing my boy over to pay respects."
"..."
Gu Antong, glancing around, nudged Gu Anliang, "Pay respects to Mrs. Xu, may you enjoy good health."
"..."
