“Yu Lanying! You dared to ruin my daughter’s reputation! Come on, we’re going to settle this clearly in court today!”
As she spoke, Zhao Shi stepped forward to grab Yu Lanying, looking absolutely determined to drag her to the magistrate’s court.
Yu Lanying’s face turned pale with rage, yet knowing she was in the wrong, she couldn’t utter a single word in retort.
She prided herself on never losing an argument, but facing Zhao Shi left her uncertain. Zhao Shi could curse without using a single vulgar word, presenting her arguments logically and convincingly, much like a well-bred young lady from a wealthy family.
Moreover, especially that wretched girl Gu Yanxi—when she had seen her three years ago, she was just a crybaby who knew nothing but tears. How had she become so eloquent now?
She had originally hoped to seize the opportunity to extort some money, but that plan was ruined now. She might even end up implicating herself.
Shaking off Zhao Shi’s arm, she snapped, “Go where? I just remembered I have matters to attend to at home. I can’t be bothered to argue with you. I’m leaving!”
Fearing that Zhao Shi might chase after her, Yu Lanying dashed away as if carried by the wind, disappearing in an instant.
Those who had earlier spoken in Yu Lanying’s defense now understood the situation clearly, feeling nothing but shame, and they too slipped away quietly.
The remaining people were either those who had supported Gu Yanxi earlier or those who had remained neutral.
Zhao Shi brought out several cups of chilled tea from the house and greeted everyone with a smile. “Thank you all for speaking up for Ayan earlier. My daughter earns a living with her culinary skills, running a small stall on the back street of Yunchang Academy. If you have time, please come by to support her. I’ll make sure you get a good deal.”
Gu Yanxi added, “What my mother says counts. From now on, uncles and aunties, whenever you come to our stall to buy anything, we’ll give you a discount. It’s hot today, so please be careful not to get heatstroke. You should all head back and rest soon.”
They were all neighbors, and as the saying goes, “A near neighbor is better than a distant relative.” Even if they didn’t rely on each other for anything, it was important to maintain good relations.
The cost of making food wasn’t high, and offering a small discount now would make future interactions smoother.
Everyone praised Gu Yanxi as a good girl, exchanged a few more compliments, and then dispersed.
One curious person pulled Gu Guosheng aside and asked, “Who exactly is that young man to your family? Could it be that the Gu Family is about to have a happy event soon?”
“Don’t talk nonsense. His name is Niu Qi. He’s my nephew, not what you’re thinking,” Gu Guosheng replied.
Worried that people might stir up trouble for his daughter, Gu Guosheng explained to everyone the history between him and Niu Qi’s father, as well as how he and Niu Qi had come to know each other.
Everyone congratulated Gu Guosheng, saying that his nephew looked capable and, since he had lost his father, would likely treat him as half a father and show him filial respect in the future.
After exchanging a few polite words, Gu Guosheng returned home.
Gu Yanxi sat in the main hall, drinking chilled tea and resting, when her father handed her a bulging bag with a beaming smile.
“Today’s earnings are all in there. It looks like quite a lot,” Gu Guosheng said, nervously rubbing his hands together. He had never earned so much silver money before.
Without hesitation, Gu Yanxi poured all the silver out in front of everyone and counted it.
As usual, they had sold a total of 500 servings of potatoes and liangmian. After deducting the costs, the profit was about four taels of silver.
They had also sold 600 chicken feet, earning one tael and two hundred wen.
She gave her father the agreed-upon seventy wen and handed Niu Qi forty wen.
The family’s personnel were rearranged: Father took over Gu Yu’s position, handling packaging and collecting silver money at the stall. Mother’s health had improved significantly compared to before, so she took charge of household management and provided logistical support.
Niu Qi helped with collecting chicken feet and other miscellaneous tasks. From now on, whenever they set up the stall, he would receive a daily wage of forty wen.
Upon hearing this, Niu Qi was once again deeply moved, silently vowing to work hard! It wasn’t just for the wages but also to repay the Gu Family for taking him in.
From the first day of setting up the stall to today, half a month had passed unnoticed. Gu Yanxi remembered that Gu Yu would soon be attending the Academy, so she decided to settle his wages and share of the profits today.
Over the past half month, the small stall had earned over forty taels of silver in total. Gu Yu’s wages for fifteen days amounted to three hundred wen, and his ten percent share of the profits was rounded up to four taels of silver.
She pushed a total of four taels and three hundred wen toward her younger brother. “This is your wages and share of the profits. Starting tomorrow, you’ll be attending the Academy, so you won’t receive any more silver money from now on.”
“Sis, you already paid my Tuition Offering today. I can’t take any more silver money from you,” Gu Yu replied without even glancing at the money, pushing it back toward her.
“Take it. You still owe Caiyun Guan a hundred taels. This mistake was yours to make, so you must bear the responsibility yourself. For the rest, you’ll have to figure it out on your own.”
Although her younger brother had become much more sensible lately, she wasn’t a “brother-enabling fool” who would clean up every mess he made. Letting him learn a lesson from this experience would do him good.
“I understand. I’ll go back to my room to review my books now.”
Gu Yu left without taking the money. Gu Yanxi knew he had his own ideas now and didn’t press further. She put the silver away, thinking she’d save it for him and give it to him when he needed it later.
After these calculations, she had just over eight taels left on her.
Earning money was as difficult as constipation, while spending it flowed like a flood!
As for the house in Dong Shi, it would have to wait a little longer—but she was determined to acquire it as soon as possible!
“Ah Yan, should we stew this lean meat? It’ll be softer that way.”
Zhao Shi was tidying up the stall cart when she noticed a fairly large portion of lean meat and couldn’t decide what to do with it, so she brought it in to ask her daughter.
“Mom, stop fussing and come see the clothes I bought for you.”
“Dad has a set too, and so does Niu Qi.”
Gu Yanxi sorted out the clothes, setting aside Gu Yu’s portion separately.
“I don’t need new clothes. Why waste money like this? Which shop did you buy them from? I’ll return them this afternoon.”
Zhao Shi held the clothes, her eyes crinkling into happy slits. Though she loved them, she still felt it was an unnecessary expense—after all, everyone knew how hard it was to earn money these days.
“Mom, what’s the point of saying that? We earn money precisely to eat well and dress well. If we only save without spending, what’s the meaning of earning money anyway?”
Gu Yanxi understood the principle of increasing income and reducing expenditure, but if one only focused on cutting costs, life would lose its joy, and there would be no motivation to earn more. As the saying goes, you have to know how to spend money to know how to make it.
Gu Guosheng hadn’t expected to receive a set of clothes too and was inwardly delighted.
He wrapped an arm around his wife’s shoulders and said gently, “Ah Yan is right. We earn money to spend it. Once it’s gone, we’ll just earn more. We mustn’t hardship ourselves. Come on, let’s go try these on.”
If there was any regret in his life, it was that despite working hard all his years, he hadn’t been able to provide a comfortable life for his wife and children.
Now that his daughter was so capable, as long as the family worked together with one heart and one mind, there was hope for better days ahead!
Watching her parents’ retreating figures, Gu Yanxi remarked, “Well, I’m already full from all that affection—won’t be able to eat lunch.”
Niu Qi held the set of clothes meant for him, his nose tingling with emotion as tears streamed down his face.
Seeing this, Gu Yanxi got goosebumps all over; she rarely saw a man cry so pitifully. “What’s wrong? Don’t you like them? It’s fine—after lunch, we can exchange them. Pick a set you do like.”