Free Web NovelChapter 271: Chapter 271: Niter
House? Xu Shuanghong knew this was just an excuse, probably once the house is built, lack of space and the need to clear land for farming would arise, when would it ever end?
"No need for grand arrangements, we can invite a few elders to bear witness and have the clan leader and clan elders document the event, then it can be settled." Xu Shuanghong pressed on step by step, "Or is it just as you said earlier, nothing but deceiving me?"
As she spoke, she wrapped her arms around Gu Baijiang’s arm, using her softness to persuade him.
Gu Baijiang was slightly dazed, it was indeed time to find a woman, "How could I deceive you? You say we have nothing now, it’s too much of a grievance for you.
This is what I think, once the house is built..."
Gu Kaiping turned away to continue sleeping, the old man with a young heart, even when mother was alive, he never spoke so tenderly.
Yet Xu Shuanghong’s plan might be empty, these days he hasn’t stopped discussing with father, how could an unknown woman compare to those noble ladies?
Father isn’t without insight, he wouldn’t be manipulated by a woman of her age.
After a whole day of fatigue, sighing, such an old age, instead of thinking about health, he’s indulging in romance, truly astonishing.
Gu Antong couldn’t sleep either, just lying on her side, back to Liu Yun, the Third Prince previously had Lord Ming send her a letter, though it said nothing, his concern was evident between the lines.
She knew that several assassination attempts aimed at destroying her were thwarted by Lord Ming’s people, these individuals were truly sinister, she hadn’t even entered the mansion, yet they were out to eliminate her.
This hatred, Gu Antong remembered, she would settle accounts with them when the time was right.
What she must think about now is how to enter the Prince Mansion in style. All hope rested upon her grandfather.
But after so many days, despite their careful care, grandfather hadn’t relented nor revealed anything.
Moreover, grandfather recently placed Fan Meilin by her side, saying she should assist her closely and instructed her on proper manners.
What does it mean being by her side? No one understood better than Gu Antong, grandfather was making dual preparations, anyway, the Xu family mother and daughter depended on the Gu family for survival, even if entering the Prince Mansion, they dared not harbor divided loyalties.
Truly grandfather was muddle-headed, everyone knew the intent of these three women, fear was they would invite a wolf into the house.
Though she did not fear Fan Meilin, she disliked anyone coveting her possessions.
Actually, she now wished Xu Shuanghong would become grandfather’s second wife, at least then Fan Meilin’s status would be higher and being by her side wouldn’t be appropriate.
Hearing Liu Yun tossing behind her, Gu Antong said softly, "Mother, now that we’ve settled in, why don’t you go to the county town to see a doctor tomorrow?"
Liu Yun had the same intention, "Tomorrow I’ll tell your grandfather, besides seeing a doctor, we must purchase many things, you should accompany me to town, then we can pick out a couple of sets of clothes and some jewelry."
Gu Antong’s brows curved with delight, she could finally dress up properly again.
"Mother, I also want to buy some rouge and powder..."
"Buy, and don’t forget to buy some more food..."
The mother and daughter discussed what to buy tomorrow, gradually their voices lowered...
Today, the entire family seldom thought of Gu Kaiyuan and his wife, feeling that the days of hardship had finally ended.
☆
The next day, the village rooster awakened everyone.
Bai Suihe opened her eyes to hear her child excitedly speaking, "Mother, you’re awake."
Bai Suihe touched her belly, these days, her child seemed to wake and speak more frequently, likely due to growth in her womb.
At over eight months pregnant, she was soon to give birth.
"Awake, why so happy today?"
"Mother, you and father chose a good place, this area is picturesque, a treasure land."
"You like it here, don’t you?" Bai Suihe hadn’t decided before, but after walking around yesterday, she already liked it here.
"Mother, have father buy this mountain behind us, it won’t disappoint."
Bai Suihe paused her hand while combing her hair, "Is there something unusual about the mountain?"
"This mountain isn’t simple, the entire mass is saltpeter..."
Bai Suihe, "..." Were they so lucky? Choosing a random place and finding treasure...
"Mother, what are you thinking? Don’t you like saltpeter?
Honestly, a bit further there’s a gold mine..."
Bai Suihe took a deep breath and quickly communicated with her child, "Don’t say it, pretend I never heard."
"Why not? Doesn’t mother like shiny things?" When mother collected things, she was certainly reluctant to part with gold.
"Father and I are just ordinary people, even if there’s a mountain of gold, we wouldn’t be able to protect it.
You better not tell me, I’m afraid I can’t resist temptation."
The child giggled, "Mother, are you sure you don’t want to know now?"
Bai Suihe firmly replied, "Do not speak, mother knows of gold and silver mines with large reserves, but those aren’t for us to covet now."
She had enough self-awareness, Bai Suihe didn’t want to escape the fate of being cannon fodder only to die for a gold mine.
"Rest assured, child, our family’s belongings ensure a lifetime of comfort."
"What about the mountain behind? "
"That’s not much of a problem, I’ll have your father buy it." Saltpeter here is only purchased by pharmacies for medicinal purposes, it’s common in many places.
Compared to using saltpeter to make ice, no one here knows, it’s indeed a way to make money.
However, she wasn’t familiar with such things, nearly missing out on this treasure mountain placed right before her.
Chunxiang and others were busily preparing breakfast, Bai Suihe pulled Gu Kaiyuan aside to relay what her child had said.
Gu Kaiyuan merely raised an eyebrow, "It seems we’ve chosen the right spot, once in town, I’ll buy the mountain."
"Are we still registering it under Zhuang Datou’s name?" Bai Suihe hesitated, she had trusted Zhuang Datou in the past, but no longer dared to gamble.
Gu Kaiyuan thought for a moment, "I want to register it under mother-in-law’s name."
Bai Suihe knew the Bai family’s position, even if her father realized there was such a mine, he wouldn’t care, let alone her mother, "I think it’s feasible, only with mother’s status buying just one mountain isn’t suitable, buy the nearby mountains too, claiming to plant fruit trees."
Gu Kaiyuan, "I think it’s feasible, ideally our surroundings should be free from outsiders, purchasing all nearby lands prevents interference."
