Free Web NovelChapter 634: Chapter 634: Gu Dashu’s Exploits
Mr. Gu quickly came out to smooth things over.
"You’ve always held a grudge about the eldest’s death. You always blame us for favoring the second son. Both palm and back of the hand are flesh, we had no choice, it’s all because of poverty. You Tian has been weak since he was a child and couldn’t do farm work, so we had to give him all the family’s money to do business, hoping he would become successful and support you... Even after the eldest passed, I still planned this. But You Tian had bad luck, and the business failed. After all, we’re all one family, there’s nothing that can’t be resolved, just talk it out."
"We’re also worried about Dashi, so we came to ask about the situation. Your mother-in-law speaks harshly, she means no harm, she truly cares about Dashi’s safety."
Mr. Gu originally wanted to stand on the moral high ground, chastise Tong Huaqiong for pushing Gu Dashu into a dangerous situation at the border, and then generously soothe matters.
But Tong Huaqiong wouldn’t let him speak and also chased Mrs. Gu down.
Tong Huaqiong is most impatient with sayings like we’re all family, there’s nothing that can’t be resolved; those are moral coercions used by people who’ve caused real harm yet don’t sincerely repent.
Mr. Gu and Mrs. Gu still don’t realize their own bias even now.
Who is really family with them?
Tong Huaqiong said, "I have nothing to say to you."
After speaking, she had the maid Xiao Xi see them off.
Mr. and Mrs. Gu were escorted out of the courtyard, nearly losing their balance and falling into the snow.
Their eldest daughter-in-law was too much, they were concerned about Gu Dashi and that was wrong?
They genuinely wanted to use this care for Gu Dashi to repair relations with the eldest branch, after all, they still relied on the eldest’s branch for their old age, but the eldest daughter-in-law was cold and unaccepting.
Not even a bowl of water was offered.
"Didn’t I tell you, yet you wouldn’t listen," said Gu Youtian, "You just think I have no money or business now, so you despise me and want to win back the eldest’s heart? Do you even consider if Tong Dajiao would accept it?"
Gu Youtian was used to favoritism and seeing Mr. and Mrs. Gu concern over the eldest son’s descendants, he spoke sourly.
"You scoundrel, how have you learned to be so petty," Mr. Gu scolded Gu Youtian, "You do nothing all day, can’t work in the fields, and fail to find ways to make money. Eldest gone but still relying on us, you’ll tire us to death sooner or later."
Gu Youtian sneered, "You can’t suppress the truth, can you? I can’t work the fields—isn’t it because you and mom always said I wasn’t meant to farm? If you’d taught me to tend to crops like you taught big brother, I wouldn’t be freeloading at home."
Mr. and Mrs. Gu’s eyes widened.
Their precious little son, whom they couldn’t bear to let work in the fields and sent to private school, whom they gave up all family wealth to support in business... is complaining they favored the eldest?
Is there any justice?
Mrs. Gu was too angry to speak, and sobbed.
After crying, she still made two eggs for Gu Youtian and cooked him a bowl of noodles. Wu Na pursed her lips, telling Gu Ruinian privately that Mrs. Gu was just being servile.
Even after being pushed around by her son, she still cared for him.
Wu Na forgot that Mrs. Jia treats Gu Ruinian the same, no matter how useless he might be, Mrs. Jia values him like a treasure.
...
Two more snowfalls came at the end of the twelfth month.
Aunt Tang brought news to Tong Huaqiong at dusk after the snow, saying that the year-long war between Dasheng and Mo Bei ended with Dasheng’s victory and Mo Bei’s surrender.
Magistrate Yao had just received the report, and Lian Hengruo sent someone to tell Aunt Tang, who hurried to Qinghe Bay to deliver the news.
Of course, Aunt Tang didn’t just come to talk about the victory but also about Gu Dashi’s achievements for Dasheng in sweeping through Mo Bei.
Tong Huaqiong: "..."
Gu Dashi, a mere businessman, could achieve merit in a war between two nations?
This was practically like something out of a male-oriented web novel.
"...Why that face? Shouldn’t you be happy your son achieved merit?" Aunt Tang said, holding a hand-warmer, "I heard this time Dashi achieved major merit. He even became sworn brothers with the Prince of Mo Bei..."
How can it be such a great merit, Tong Huaqiong didn’t believe it.
No matter how unbelievable, Gu Dashi indeed achieved merit in the war.
Originally, he went to the border purely hoping to make a fortune off the war, and to help Tong Huaqiong establish trade routes at the border.
But upon arrival, he discovered that due to the war, many businessmen had left the border.
The local people on Dasheng’s side could still survive, at least they didn’t lack essentials.
But the people of Mo Bei were miserable.
They didn’t know how to farm; they usually relied on trading cattle, sheep, and furs with Dasheng merchants for grain and supplies, but the war cut off border trade, severing these resources.
Gu Dashi saw a business opportunity in Mo Bei.
He Chao advised him to lay low at the border until the fires of war ceased before trading with Mo Bei. But Gu Dashi thought differently; if every merchant thought the same, he’d have no place.
He had to seize the opportunity amidst the flames of war.
So he gritted his teeth and traded with the people of Mo Bei amidst the fire.
Though the two nations were at war and the border residents were initially hostile to each other, Gu Dashi, arriving with supplies, was welcomed by the people of Mo Bei.
Gu Dashi traveled in Mo Bei for three months, making a huge profit, but just as he was feeling smug, he was caught by the people of Mo Bei and other daring merchants as a spy.
Gu Dashi was indeed resilient and withstood a round of torture.
Then, pursuing profit, he infiltrated Mo Bei’s upper echelons, helping them source grain and supplies from Dasheng, earning the Prince of Mo Bei’s trust.
It wasn’t until Mo Bei’s defeat that they discovered this elusive merchant was also acting as a double agent, providing intelligence that allowed Dasheng’s army to counterattack all the way to the Mo Bei capital.
This battle almost shattered Mo Bei’s backbone.
Mo Bei surrendered.
Aunt Tang recounted Gu Dashi’s accomplishments like a storyteller.
Tong Huaqiong listened, her heart pounding; Gu Dashi was truly a talent, being a double agent for so long without detection by Mo Bei.
But it was clear that he must have suffered greatly to gain Mo Bei’s trust.
"Amitabha, you were always worried that Dashi might be caught as a spy at the border. Didn’t I say that Dashi was clever since childhood, even if caught, he’d fool Mo Bei? And now he’s fooled the Prince of Mo Bei."
Liu Yueer had just returned home, and her mother, Mrs. Zhao, rushed over to see her daughter, just in time to hear Aunt Tang narrate Gu Dashi’s legendary exploits.
The more she heard, the prouder she became of her son-in-law, smiling brightly while holding her daughter’s hand.
Liu Yueer choked up, tearing up, "He’s just showing off. What do accomplishments matter when being caught as a spy meant unknown suffering before being cleared... sob sob..."
Liu Yueer was truly the most romantic at Qinghe Bay, despite always complaining about Gu Dashi, when it mattered, she cared more for his pain than for his achievements.
This time, Tong Huaqiong did not scold her; instead, she had Xiao Xi bring a handkerchief to wipe her face.
