Free Web NovelChapter 291: Chapter 291: Entering the Mountains
Bai Suihe touched her belly and didn’t feel that raising a baby was anything difficult; it’s something she should do as a mother.
"I don’t feel comfortable leaving the baby to others," Bai Suihe said firmly, "Mother has arranged for people to come over, so when they’re here to help take care of things, I won’t find it too hard."
Gu Kaiyuan naturally agreed with Bai Suihe, and in his heart, he decided he would also help take care of the baby when the time came.
Just as the dishes were set on the table, there was a knock at the door.
Gu Kaiyuan frowned with tension, not knowing who would choose this time to visit.
"Sir, Miss," Dongmei quickly returned, "the village chief is here."
The two went to the guest hall and saw the village chief standing there anxiously with two villagers.
"Young Master Gu," Zhu Ziqiang said with urgency, "we’ve come this time to ask for your help."
Zhu Ziqiang didn’t dare to treat Gu Kaiyuan and the others as exiles, showing much respect in his demeanor.
"What’s happened?"
"Young Master Gu, Madam, please save my son," Tian Laogen and Xiao Dashan rushed to speak before the village chief, kneeling directly in front of Gu Kaiyuan and his wife.
Gu Kaiyuan quickly supported Bai Suihe to avoid them, "Let’s talk things through calmly; I’m not a doctor and can’t save people."
"You two don’t cause trouble, let me speak," Zhu Ziqiang looked at the two men with some frustration, given the situation, yet they were adding to it.
Though they didn’t speak again, the two remained kneeling there.
"Here’s the situation: early yesterday, boys from both their families agreed to go into the mountains to hunt, but then it suddenly started snowing yesterday, and those two boys still haven’t returned.
We’ve searched the nearby mountains thoroughly, but haven’t seen any sign of them."
Zhu Ziqiang thought of the snow-covered mountains; any traces would have been long covered.
"You could try going farther," Gu Kaiyuan suggested, thinking of the endless mountains, where finding them would be as daunting as finding a fish in the ocean.
"We know that, but heading deeper into the mountains, the villagers are unwilling..." Zhu Ziqiang was a bit embarrassed, since the villagers weren’t willing to go, yet they had come asking Gu Kaiyuan for help.
"We’ve only just settled here; we’re not familiar with these mountains either," Gu Kaiyuan shook his head directly, "you locals know the terrain better and can search more efficiently than we could."
"We understand, we heard you have skills, so entering the mountains with you would add an extra layer of security."
Bai Suihe, "Who told you that?"
Zhu Ziqiang, "It was your cousin Gu Kaichen’s wife who said it; she said you have many experts here and you’re experienced in hunting deep in the mountains..."
Seems the Gu Family was bent on setting them up, as though their role as cannon fodder and antagonists was clear?
"We can help by going into the mountains, but you know we’re not familiar with them here, and they’re surrounded by forest, so we can’t guarantee we’ll find them."
The conversation led to this point where Gu Kaiyuan couldn’t ignore it. If he recalled correctly, Tian Laogen and Xiao Dashan had previously helped him with work, both hardworking men who didn’t talk much and showed gratitude when they got paid.
Now, they were kneeling for their sons, pleading desperately, making it hard for him to refuse.
Living long-term in the village requires integration through mutual aid.
"We’ll go into the mountains with you," Tian Laogen and Xiao Dashan said in unison, "even if we can’t find them, it’s their fate—we’ve done our utmost."
Thinking those two foolish boys dared such danger for a bite of meat, they knew the villagers already helped; asking others to go deeper meant risking their lives.
If not for hearing by the river that Young Master Gu could hunt and had experts around, they wouldn’t have had the nerve to ask.
Both men were also ready should danger arise, they’d sacrifice their worthless lives to shield others.
Bai Suihe stood and silently placed all the freshly made steamed buns into a cloth bag, "Who are you taking into the mountains?"
"I’ll take Lin Hua, Zhuang Datou and the others," Gu Kaiyuan squeezed Bai Suihe’s hand, "I’ll have Huang Pingguo keep the gate shut; don’t open it for anyone."
Things settled down here, and after Yun Ni went with other brothers to help Gu Kaiyuan with some work, he kept Lin Wei behind.
"You all stay safe," Bai Suihe didn’t say more or ask further, but mentally noted Xu Yulan.
As they went out, Huang Pingguo immediately locked the gate.
"While the food’s hot, let’s eat first." Bai Suihe looked at the steaming sweet and sour ribs and immediately lost her appetite, eating a few bites before going to rest.
Dongmei and Chunxiang returned to the kitchen to tidy up and said resentfully, "What’s with the Second Young Madam, dragging us into everything even though we’re so far from them?"
"That family truly has no shame," Chunxiang sighed, "there’s no choice, since they’re the master’s family, even if the master transitions and establishes separately, we can’t openly resist."
"You two stop worrying," Huang Pingguo finished her last sip of soup, wiped her mouth, and said, "All we need to do is support the Miss and Master in living well; that’s the best revenge against them.
Those people trying to take advantage of Miss—can they even handle their fate?"
Only then did Dongmei and the others fall silent, seeming to realize it was true; the Gu Family now only had some petty means.
"You tidy up; I’ll go to the backyard to do some more work," Huang Pingguo felt she should get active after eating.
Meanwhile, Xu Yulan was humming as she finished laundry, puzzling the Gu Family—had she found Silver on the way?
"Second Aunt, why are you so happy?" Gu An Tong put down her embroidery, which was brought by her grandfather from the city saying it would help with household expenses.
Everyone in the Gu Family knew Liu Yun and Gu An Tong were skilled in embroidery. When Liu Yun’s concubine was favored, the old Marquis didn’t treat this illegitimate daughter poorly; he even hired a master for her embroidery instruction.
Though not completely mastering it, she was quite adept, and the Gu Family maintained a facade of honesty, avoiding extravagance like hiring tutors, so Liu Yun wanted her daughter to excel, hence teaching Gu An Tong personally.
Sometimes pleasing a man involves paying attention to small details.
With good embroidery skills, one can show filial piety to elders and flatter a husband, a must-have talent for household women.
