Free Web NovelChapter 662: Chapter 662: News of the Achievement Spreads Everywhere
"Who? Who did you say accomplished a great achievement?"
Tong Fusheng’s eyebrows twitched as he stopped the clerk.
Watching the clerk run towards Jufu Supermarket, he realized Jufu was owned by his sister, and the young master would thus be his nephew?
Gu Dashu and Gu Jingzhe, neither seemed like the type to accomplish anything at the border.
The clerk, beaming with excitement, said, "It was our young master who accomplished it."
Tong Fusheng asked, "Who is your young master?"
The clerk proclaimed, "Our young master, Gu Dashu, from Jufu Supermarket."
Tong Zhijie exclaimed, "How could Gu Dashu achieve something? Isn’t he dead in Mo Bei?"
The clerk, in anger, slapped him.
Without any enmity, he cursed their young master.
It’s true Jufu had quite a few competitors in Pingchuan, but none dared to curse the young master openly.
Thus, this slap was not unjustified.
Tong Zhijie’s tooth was loosened, and he clutched his face, crying in pain.
Mrs. Wang stepped forward, distressed, supporting Tong Zhijie and questioning the clerk, "Why resort to violence instead of speaking properly? Be careful, or I’ll report you to the authorities."
The clerk retorted angrily, "Ma’am, do you have any decency? Didn’t you hear your son cursing our young master just now? That slap was too light; go ahead, report it. The government office is right ahead. If anything, County Magistrate Liu might charge you with slandering someone who served the court."
Just then, a few government officers were passing by, having just posted the announcement. Hearing someone slandering a person who served the court, they glared at Mrs. Wang.
Mrs. Wang was too frightened to speak.
Tong Fusheng, being worldly-wise, asked, "Young man, I am Dashu’s uncle. What accomplishments did my nephew achieve? Where did the news come from?"
The clerk sized up Tong Fusheng, never having seen such an uncle who remained like a statue when his son cursed his nephew.
He doubted if this man was indeed Gu Dashu’s real uncle.
He suspected this uncle wasn’t well-intentioned, hoping for the family’s misfortune, but that wouldn’t go as he wished.
The clerk switched to a smile, clapping his hands, and said, "The announcement came from Shengjing, posted right on that wall. It clearly states that our young master, Gu Dashu, since going to the border, has made significant contributions to the Dasheng border army’s victory under the guise of doing business in Mo Bei. The text is still fresh. If you don’t believe me, why not go and see for yourself?"
After speaking, the clerk dashed off to Jufu Supermarket, eager to spread the good news to everyone there.
Not only to inform Liu Yueer but also Gu Baishuang as the announcement also highlighted Nie Xiaofeng’s contribution.
After hearing the clerk, Tong Fusheng jogged to the place where the announcement was posted.
A crowd had gathered, and Tong Fusheng pushed through to stand under the bulletin, looking up.
Mrs. Wang and Tong Zhijie followed closely.
Both Tong Fusheng and Tong Zhijie were literate, and indeed, Gu Dashu’s achievements were listed on the bulletin.
Mrs. Wang asked, "Is it true? Has Gu Dashu really achieved something?"
Tong Fusheng nodded, his expression turning sour.
Tong Zhijie discontentedly said, "Gu Dashu is really lucky. Someone like him can achieve something, proving that even heaven has closed its eyes."
Mrs. Wang sneered, "It just says he accomplished something; it doesn’t say if he’s alive or dead. By going to Mo Bei as a spy, he’s probably already been killed by Mo Bei people, and the court merely gave him credit to appease the Gu Family."
Once Mrs. Wang finished speaking, the surrounding crowd shot daggers at her with their eyes, wishing they could devour her alive.
"This aunt must have a mouth full of crap, for her words are so vile."
"It’s clearly stated here that in March, he is to go to the capital for commendation. Isn’t that he is still alive?"
"Who are you to wish ill on others instead of hoping for their wellbeing? You have a son too; how can you curse someone else’s son? Be careful it doesn’t backfire on you."
The crowd criticized Mrs. Wang one after another, and some even pushed her.
Someone recognized them and said, "This is the young master’s maternal family from Jufu."
The crowd became even angrier.
Tong Fusheng and Mrs. Wang slipped out of the crowd under the attack of accusations.
Looking up, they saw Liu Yueer and Gu Baishuang walking hand in hand.
Tong Fusheng gritted his teeth, resenting Tong Huaqiong deeply.
How could his sister be so heartless? He thought he had treated her fairly since childhood, yet she seemed bewitched, severing ties with the Tong Family.
This resulted in him, as an uncle, being unable to share in the glory of his nephew’s accomplishments.
Jufu Supermarket was buzzing with excitement as if it were the New Year.
Liu Yueer had long known that her husband had achieved something, but news was kept under wraps, and she couldn’t flaunt it.
Otherwise, Tong Huaqiong would be the first not to spare her.
Now, with the news publicized and the court sending out official bulletins nationwide, Liu Yueer was thrilled.
She grabbed Gu Baishuang, heading to the place where the bulletin was posted.
Gu Baishuang was equally excited, seeing her brother’s and son’s achievements documented in black and white was a different feeling from just hearing the news at New Year’s.
The news of Gu Dashu’s achievements spread rapidly.
The news reached Qinghe Bay half a day later than Pingchuan County.
During this era, bulletins usually only reached the county government, with messengers passing news to the village chief, who then relayed it to all village heads.
If a county magistrate was irresponsible, the news might be suppressed and not disseminated.
This was why distant villages often remained unaware when an emperor changed or the country’s regime shifted.
County Magistrate Liu was a responsible official. As soon as the bulletin arrived, he sent people to relay the news to towns and villages, especially Yan Guan Town and Qinghe Bay.
After all, Gu Dashu and Nie Xiaofeng both achieved something and needed to notify their families promptly.
"Our Dasheng has won the war at the border."
The village chief announced excitedly to the entire village after receiving the news, beating the gong.
Villagers paid little attention to court matters since Shengjing felt distant from their everyday lives.
Though happy about the victory, villagers were mainly glad it meant no conscription or corvee, nor an extra grain tax.
"Our village’s Gu Dashu and Manager He achieved great merit in the war against Mo Bei."
The second piece of news from the village chief exploded in the hearts of Qinghe Bay villagers.
"What? My grandson achieved something? What did he achieve?" Mr. Gu, hands on hips, asked eagerly.
The village chief looked at Mr. Gu, thinking how close he called him "grandson", yet the elder didn’t often show much affection towards Gu Dashu.
Villagers, in unison, looked at the village chief, wanting to know what Gu Dashu and Manager He accomplished.
After all, rumors had been circulating in the village that both were caught and killed by Mo Bei people during business trips to the border.
Once the rumors were quashed by Liu Yueer and Mrs. Zhao working together, people dared not talk openly, but there were still whispers in private.
People couldn’t fathom how Gu Dashu and Manager He could achieve military accomplishments, speculating if they perhaps enlisted somewhere. Neither seemed like warriors.
At this moment, Boss Qian rubbed his hands and approached with a mysterious smile, heightening the villagers’ curiosity about the merits earned.
