Free Web NovelChapter 274: Chapter 275: The Yu Father and Son
"Your father wants to return and request an imperial favor," Mrs. Deng Cai sighed. "He wants to get your brother a sinecure in Shangjing, and just let him live out his life that way.
As for your younger brother, your father said to let him try his hand in the army barracks for a couple of years. If he really can’t make it, your father and I will set aside a portion of the family’s assets for him, and he’ll just have to make do."
Even though Deng Zhiyi had spent his life in the military, both of his sons were disappointments. He figured it was better to relinquish his military authority, return to his hometown, and live out his twilight years in peace.
As for the boy who had just caused trouble, she could only pray the other party wasn’t from some powerful, noble family, which would needlessly complicate things for them.
Furthermore, with her husband about to retire, they would have to find a position for Li Ping. It was the least they could do to repay his father for saving her husband’s life.
Deng Meimei asked, "...Mother, why didn’t you tell me any of this before?"
"This is all something your father and I discussed in private. I’m telling you now just to give you a heads-up. This time, you must behave yourself. I’ve already had someone ask around about young men from families with good standing. I’m not looking for great wealth or nobility for you, just a safe and peaceful life."
Deng Meimei hugged Mrs. Deng Cai’s arm, gently rested her head on her shoulder, and fell into deep thought.
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Yu Yue had just stepped into the residence, box in hand, when the gatekeeper rushed to tell him his father was waiting in the study.
Yu Yue had no choice but to change direction and head to the study first.
"Dad, you were looking for me." The moment he walked in, Yu Yue plopped down in a chair, crossed his legs, and looked at Yu Ligao.
"Look at yourself! Is that any way to sit?" Yu Ligao demanded. "Where did you sneak off to all day?" frёeweɓηovel.coɱ
"I was out righting wrongs," Yu Yue declared.
"You should be spending your time reading and practicing your calligraphy!" Yu Ligao said, slamming a book onto his desk. "Instead you’re out all day playing with weapons. Righting wrongs? With your pathetic skills? Don’t tell me you were just spending silver to buy meals for those little beggars again."
"Can’t you have a little more faith in me?" Yu Yue said, patting the box at his side. "This is a thank-you gift. Someone insisted I take it after I helped them out."
"A thank-you gift?" Yu Ligao’s brow furrowed instantly. "Don’t you go causing trouble for your father. I was just appointed Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. This isn’t some kind of trap, is it?"
Yu Yue immediately sprang to his feet, distancing himself from the box. "That’s impossible! They were complete strangers. I’d never seen them before. And they were dressed so richly..."
The more he spoke, the less certain Yu Yue became. ’Considering that man’s commanding presence... could he really have been targeting Dad?’
He looked guiltily at Yu Ligao. "I was really just being kindhearted. I couldn’t just watch a carriage run wild through the market. Besides, I haven’t even seen what’s inside. It’s probably nothing valuable."
"You dared to bring something into this house without even looking inside?" Yu Ligao raged, thinking that if he had a cane, he would beat the boy senseless.
Yu Yue was speechless. ’You want me to have a different surname, old man?’ The thought flashed through his mind, but he didn’t dare say it aloud.
"Why don’t we open it and take a look?" Yu Yue suggested weakly. "Maybe it’s just some ordinary pastries?" Even as he spoke, he didn’t believe his own words. He had jostled the box on the way back, and it definitely didn’t feel as light as pastries.
The troublesome boy had already brought the item home; all he could do was hope it wasn’t something valuable.
Just as Yu Ligao was about to walk over and lift the lid, Yu Yue beat him to it. He quickly opened the box, then scurried to the side.
"So now you know fear..." Yu Ligao started to say, but his voice trailed off as soon as he saw the ginseng in the box.
Although Yu Yue didn’t know much about medicinal herbs, he recognized what it was. "Is this worth a lot?"
Yu Ligao walked over for a closer look. "Your mother had a ginseng root in her dowry, said to be fifty years old," he murmured, "but this one is clearly a full size larger than hers."
Yu Ligao looked up at his son. This was the kind of thing that could save a life. ’What sort of person did this foolish kid run into to receive such a generous gift?’
If it had been silver notes, he would have had to be cautious. But a piece of untraceable ginseng... it seemed he had misjudged his son.
Yu Yue frowned. "To be honest, I could tell the people in the carriage I rescued were all just servants from that master’s household. That’s why I felt the gift was so precious. But they seemed so truly grateful that I accepted it.
So generous just for a few servants? Dad, we’re not going to get entangled in something, are we?"
Seizing the moment while his son was distracted, Yu Ligao kicked him. He was right; once they grow up, you have to hit them when they least expect it.
"What’s wrong with them being servants?" he demanded. "If it were your own nanny, wouldn’t you protect her?"
Yu Yue rubbed his nose. He put himself in the master’s shoes for a moment and had to concede that yes, some servants were different from the rest.
"So... can we keep it?"
Yu Ligao thought of his own mother, whose health had been failing lately. This was just what she needed; he could have a doctor prepare a tonic for her. Gritting his teeth, he said, "You said it yourself, didn’t you? It’s their payment for saving them. We’ll consider the matter settled. Don’t ever bring this up again."
Yu Yue gave him a thumbs-up. "They always say an official can talk out of both sides of his mouth. Now I finally see what they mean."
"You brat," Yu Ligao scolded. "Always running your mouth. To teach you a lesson, I’m confiscating this."
He then swiftly shut the lid, picked up the box, and carried it around to his side of the desk.
"Dad, that’s the first thank-you gift I’ve ever received! At least let me keep it as a memento," Yu Yue pleaded. He didn’t dare try to snatch it back, but his eyes were fixed longingly on the box.
"Your grandmother’s health has been poor," Yu Ligao said. "I’m going to show this to a doctor, and if it’s suitable, we’ll have it prepared as medicine for her. What’s the matter? Can’t you show a little filial piety toward your grandmother?"
Yu Yue was speechless. ’You’ve made all the arguments, both good and bad. You even played the grandma card. How could I possibly object?’
...
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Jin Qianqian stood outside the main gate, gazing at her new home. The exterior walls were all quite uniform; if it weren’t for the "Gu Mansion" plaque hanging over the entrance, it would be difficult to tell it apart from the other gates along the road.
"Mama, is this our new home?" Gu Benluo asked, staring curiously at the gate before him. For some reason, it just didn’t feel right to him.
Jin Qianqian stroked his head. "Let’s go inside and see, shall we? Mama is curious too."
Gu Benluo still looked a bit lost, but he didn’t forget to point to Gu Ben Can, held in the arms of the wet nurse. "Let’s bring little brother inside with us."
Ancient Wen Heng came over just then and took his other hand. "We’ll all go in together."
The moment they stepped through the main gate, a feeling of familiarity washed over Gu Benluo. "This place is like our old home," he said.
He couldn’t say exactly how it was similar, but it was his immediate, childlike instinct.
Jin Qianqian smiled, her lips pressed together. It was just as she had hoped; her earlier ideas hadn’t been wrong. The child would be able to settle in more quickly after seeing a familiar environment.
When she was drawing up the plans, she had made some modifications to this courtyard. The main structure couldn’t be altered, but Jin Qianqian had done her best to replicate the details of their courtyard in Fu County. That was why it felt so familiar the moment one stepped inside.
