Archives: FS

Aunt Liu came over and smiled: “Old Lady, Gu Laoer is filial. He fed you fine food and made you a sheepskin coat along the way. When you get here, he gives you the best house to live in.”

“What else do you want?”

“Let me advise you. As the old saying goes, it’s difficult to be the head of a family unless you appear to be stupid and deaf. They are parents themselves. Who can stand your scolding? You should stop interfering in their affairs in the future.”

Old Lady Gu was unhappy and glared: “Sixth brother’s wife, are you teaching me a lesson?”

Aunt Liu smiled and said: “How dare I? I’m just saying something fair.”

The eldest aunt smiled gratefully at Aunt Liu: “Sixth aunt is right.”

She turned around and glared at Mrs. Qian, “It’s all because of you who talk too much. You always instigate the old lady to make trouble. I don’t think you’ll live a good life in the future!”

How can she be blamed for this? Mrs. Qian felt that she was wronged: “What’s wrong with me?”

“Is it right for my second brother-in-law to make money by himself and not take my mother to enjoy the good life?”

“No matter how hard you try, it doesn’t make sense!”

The Eldest Aunt snorted: “It’s very clear that you don’t think about your mother-in-law, you just want to make a fuss and make people hate you. Your family will be lonely sooner or later!”

Why am I hated by people?

Mrs. Qian opened her mouth to refute, but the eldest aunt had already helped the old lady into the room.

Aunt Liu rolled her eyes at Mrs. Qian, glanced at Mrs. Chen’s room, and turned away.

At dinner time, the men from each household came back one after another.

Except for Zhang Laoda. After all, his injury was not fully healed, so he didn’t go out at all.

His wife took Xiao Cui to the city to find a job as a laundry worker and didn’t come home until it was dark.

The men from each family learned this shocking news as soon as they got home.

Gu Laoer’s family bought land and a house, and they were moving.

Everyone had a feeling of being abandoned. Some felt nothing, while some felt heavy.

They had come together all this way, and they lived and ate together, so their feelings were deeper than before in the village.

Gu Laoer was about to move out, so what should they do?

Continue to live there?

It was obvious that the young master lent them the house for Gu Laoer’s sake.

No, they didn’t lend it to them at all, they just stuck with it!

They went to the city to find work these days, and they almost figured out the market in the city. Renting a house in the city, just a single room, ranged from one hundred to several hundred coins a month.

How many taels of silver would it cost a year?

Who could afford it?

The village chief got the news and hurried to find Gu Zhang: “Zhang’er, are you planning to move now?”

Gu Zhang nodded.

“You bought the land?”

Gu Zhang nodded again.

As they were talking, the Eldest Uncle and Gu Rong also came. They didn’t say anything, just stood in the main room and looked at Gu Zhang silently.

Gu Zhang felt uneasy: “Why are you all looking at me?”

A figure flashed at the door, and Zhang Laoda covered his chest and Gu Zhong came in one after another, both looking at Gu Zhang eagerly.

Aunt Huang had been watching the movement here for a long time. She thought that Gu Laoer’s family had made such a fortune in an instant, and it was estimated that everyone wanted to ask about the way to make money.

At this time, seeing that the men in charge of each household had gone there, she panicked and quickly turned back to call Shanzi: “Shanzi, you also go to Uncle Gu’s house to see what everyone is talking about.”

Shanzi said in a muffled voice: “I won’t go, you go if you want to go.”

 

Gu Zhang blinked: “Mom, what are you packing? Isn’t the eldest still living here? You have been living with the eldest family.”

“Do you mean to say, the eldest brother is unfilial, and you don’t want to follow him?”

Old Lady Gu couldn’t say the eldest was unfilial. She didn’t know how to refute for a moment. Mrs. Qian said: “Second Brother-in-law, you are wrong. Your family has made a fortune now. You have bought a house and land. Naturally, you should take your mother to enjoy the good life. Mother will only suffer hardships if she follows us. It would be unfilial if you don’t take Mother with you!”

Old Lady Gu felt that Mrs. Qian was right. Her son was promising, so she should naturally follow him to enjoy the good life.

Gu Zhang glanced at Mrs. Qian and snorted: “I’m doing this for Mother’s sake.”

“The eldest son is your most valued son. How can I separate you and your son from enjoying the happiness of family life?”

“Besides, Xiao Fei earned the yard with her ability. I don’t think you like Xiao Fei either. I’m just worried that you will feel uncomfortable living there, right?”

Old Lady Gu was so angry that her tongue was tied: “I, I——”

At this time, Mrs. Chen came over with a bunch of green vegetables. She had just asked Liu Zhuangtou’s wife to buy some green vegetables from the vegetable garden for lunch.

When Old Lady Gu saw Mrs. Chen, she finally found an object to vent her anger on: “It’s all your fault! I knew it was you who instigated my second son to break up with his eldest brother and even disliked me as his biological mother.”

“You didn’t even tell me, your mother-in-law, about such a big thing as buying a house and moving. Do you still have me in your eyes?”

“I shouldn’t have let my second son marry you!”

Mrs. Chen was so angry that her whole body trembled. She pursed her lips and walked past the old lady without saying a word and went straight into the room.

Gu Fei held Xiao Cao in her arms, and the two of them sat in the room eating candy.

Seeing Mrs. Chen come in, Gu Fei hurriedly put down the grass and touched her mother’s chest to relieve her breath: “Mom, don’t pay attention to her, just pretend you didn’t hear what she said.”

Mrs. Chen was so angry that she uttered a sentence after a long time: “If I knew, I shouldn’t have given her the sheepskin coat!”

“No matter how filial you are to her, you won’t get a single good word from her!”

Gu Fei winked at her and whispered: “Then don’t give her anything except the pension money you should give. Let’s keep it for ourselves!”

Mrs. Chen forced a bitter smile. She said so, but it was impossible. She had to pay attention to her at all times and on festivals, and she had to visit her more often at ordinary times. The word filial piety was so depressing!

The old lady outside was almost angry to death. What did Mrs. Chen mean?

She ignored her and didn’t even call her “Mom”. She just walked in without paying any attention?

Some people say that the greatest contempt was ignoring.

Especially when every household was in the yard at this time, those who were not in the yard stood at the door. This was simply a joke for everyone to see her.

Old Lady Gu couldn’t hold back her face. She threw away her crutches, sat on the ground, and cried: “My life is so miserable. My husband died early. I raised you with great difficulty. Who knew that you would forget your mother after getting married——”

She squinted her eyes and tried to squeeze out a few tears, but she couldn’t squeeze them out.

While crying, she suddenly saw Gu Zhang with a sullen face and walked towards the front yard.

Old Lady Gu’s dry cry was stuck in her throat, and she stared at Gu Zhang’s back in a daze.

The eldest aunt walked over, helped the old lady up, and whispered: “Mom, don’t do this. Even if you do this again, you can’t control the second brother. Why bother?”

“You are so old, you should just enjoy eating and drinking, stop scolding people for this and that for no reason. If it were me, I wouldn’t want you to live with me. Who wants to have more ancestors stepping on their heads!”

Old Lady Gu was a little confused.

Am I wrong?

I am the biological mother of Gu Laoer, but can’t I even say a word?

 

There were quite a few people in the yard at this time. Aunt Liu, her two daughters-in-law, and Aunt Huang were all doing needlework at the door.

The eldest sister-in-law and her two daughters-in-law were squatting in the yard washing leather.

The leather can only be nitrated after the scraps of meat and other things are cleaned.

Mrs. Li sat by a wooden basin, washing clothes with a washboard.

Mrs. Qian and Xing’er pulled a rope in the yard to dry the quilt.

After hearing what Liu Zhuangtou said, everyone was stunned for a while, and they couldn’t fully digest the information in Liu Zhuangtou’s words.

Gu Zhang bowed to Liu Zhuangtou repeatedly: “No, no, thank you for passing me the letter. When the house is ready, come to my house for a drink next time.”

Liu Zhuangtou laughed: “I just mentioned it, but Master Gu is capable. From now on, we are neighbors. Please take care of me, take care of me.”

People with abilities should naturally make friends well. Liu Zhuangtou bowed and left.

Mrs. Qian finally realized that the second son of the Gu Family had secretly bought a house and land!

Seeing that Gu Zhang had already entered the door, she hurriedly threw down the clothes and rushed into the main room. As soon as she entered the door, she bumped into Mrs. Chen, who was coming out.

Mrs. Qian grabbed her and asked hurriedly: “Sister-in-law, why did Liu Zhuangtou say that your family bought land and a house? What’s going on?”

Everyone in the yard pricked up their ears to listen at this time.

Mrs. Chen frowned and said lightly: “It’s nothing, it’s just that Xiao Fei bought the yard next door, and we plan to move there.”

“What?” Mrs. Qian screamed, and couldn’t believe what she heard.

Mrs. Chen smiled slightly: “Actually, it’s not a purchase. My family didn’t pay any money. It’s Xiao Fei’s ability. She traded peppers and recipes with others.”

Mrs. Qian’s eyes widened: “How is it possible!”

Mrs. Chen walked over sideways and pushed her away: “How is it impossible? My Xiao Fei has this ability!”

“Sister-in-law, I won’t chat with you anymore. I have to go to the front yard to get something.”

Mrs. Qian ran to the main house in a panic, shouting as she ran: “Mom, Mom, it’s terrible, my second brother-in-law and his family are moving!”

Old Lady Gu was old, and her ears were a little bad. She couldn’t hear it from a distance. Only then did she hear the noise and walk to the door of the room: “Where are they moving to?”

“I heard Xiao Fei bought a yard next door.” Mrs. Qian stared at the old lady anxiously.

Old Lady Gu hadn’t figured out the situation yet: “Buy a yard? How much money does that cost? Where does she get so much money?”

Mrs. Qian stamped her feet anxiously: “Mom, this is not the point, the point is that they are about to move, don’t you know yet?”

Old Lady Gu’s hand on the cane trembled, and she suddenly felt a little panicked: “No one told me.”

Mrs. Qian hurriedly supported the old lady: “Mom, the second brother-in-law’s family is going to enjoy their lives, but they didn’t even tell you. They are determined to abandon you.”

Old Lady Gu opened her mouth but didn’t say anything for a long time. Suddenly, she shouted in a hoarse voice: “Second son, second son – come here!”

Gu Zhang walked out of the room as if with an innocent face: “Mom, you called me?”

Who can’t hear Mrs. Qian’s shouting, but he has to play dumb when he should. He was also very troubled by his mother, so let his mother torture the eldest son.

Old Lady Gu poked the ground with her cane a few times: “Are you moving?”

Gu Zhang nodded, “Xiao Fei is a good girl. She earned a yard for herself and let us all live there.”

Old Lady Gu was furious when she saw Gu Zhang’s nonchalant look: “Why didn’t you tell me to pack my things?”

 

Gu Zhang insisted that the house and land should be under Gu Fei’s name, but Gu Fei refused and wanted to put them under her father’s name. The two argued for a while, and finally, Gu Fei had no choice but to obey her father.

The three of them were eager to tell their families the good news and drove the mule cart back to the village in a hurry.

The family was waiting in the hall with their necks stretched out. When they saw the father and son coming in from the door, Mrs. Chen ran out to greet them, looking at Gu Zhang eagerly: “Is it done?”

Gu Zhang smiled and nodded: “It’s done!”

“Really?!” Mrs. Chen jumped three feet high.

Gu Fei had never seen her mother so happy in her memory.

Aunt Liu was doing needlework in the yard, and asked with a smile: “Second Son, what good news is this? You are so happy.”

Mrs. Chen tried her best to suppress the corners of her mouth that turned up: “Nothing, it’s nothing.”

Gu Erlang, Gu Sanlang, and Li Chunhua stood at the door, looking at their parents with happy faces, and they were also overjoyed in their hearts. It was done, it must be done!

After entering the house, Gu Sanlang quickly closed the door and turned back to ask: “Sister, is it done?”

Gu Fei smiled and took out the land deed and house deed: “Here, this is fake.”

Gu Qing laughed beside him and said: “I went to the government to get the deed, and I spent 2 silver coins!”

Everyone laughed, even Xiao Cao, who was in her mother’s arms, and no one knew why everyone was so happy.

Mrs. Chen, who was illiterate, touched the deed again and again, and suddenly burst into tears: “I raised a good daughter. I am only 40 years old, but I have already started to enjoy my daughter’s happiness.”

Gu Fei wiped her mother’s tears: “Mom, don’t cry, this is nothing, it’s just a house to live in, and your daughter will let you enjoy greater happiness in the future.”

Xiao Cao said in a crisp voice: “Grandma, don’t cry, Xiao Cao will let you enjoy happiness in the future.”

Everyone laughed, and Mrs. Chen reached out and touched Xiao Cao’s nose: “Your little mouth is used to coaxing people.”

Li Chunhua couldn’t help but say: “Dad, when will we move there?”

She couldn’t wait to live in the new house. She heard that the yard over there was similar to this one.

The main point was that was their own house, while this one was someone else’s!

Gu Zhang said: “It’s agreed that the village head over there will move out today. He will send the key over later. After dinner, when everyone in the yard comes back, we’ll say a word to them before moving.”

Men in every household have been driving mule carts to the city to find work these days, helping people to move things and earn some money.

Gu Erlang hesitated at this time: “What about my grandma? Should she move with us?”

As soon as these words came out, the room suddenly became quiet.

When the family was divided, the documents were written, and Grandma lived with the eldest son’s family.

There was no way when they were escaping from the famine. The eldest son only had one cart, and there were things on it, so no one could sit on it. But they couldn’t just ignore the old lady.

It was not that they didn’t want to take care of my old lady at the moment, but the old lady was a bit of a nag and liked to scold people. Besides, some things were not convenient for her to know.

Gu Qing also said: “It’s good for us to move over, but what about the other families?”

“After all, Young Master Su lent us the house for our father. If we leave, what about them?”

Gu Zhang was silent for a moment.

At this time, the voice of Liu Zhuangtou came from outside, “Second Master Gu, the head of the next door, has sent the key.”

Everyone in the yard stared at Liu Zhuangtou.

Gu Zhang hurried out, walked to the door, and took the key.

Liu Zhuangtou didn’t expect this to be done. He looked at the key and said with a thumbs up: “Second Master Gu is so capable. Not only did you buy the land, you also bought a house!”

 

After coming out of the restaurant, Gu Zhang and Gu Qing looked at each other with joy on their faces.

The four of them got on the carriage, Gu Qing drove the carriage, while Gu Zhang, Gu Fei, and Lian’er sat in the carriage.

Gu Zhang was so excited that he rubbed his hands and said repeatedly: “My daughter is really capable. She just made a few dishes and got a yard and 20 acres of land!”

Gu Fei smiled. There was nothing special about cooking. The main point was that chili was a new thing, and the recipe was just an instruction manual for chili.

“Dad, I’ll trouble you to copy the recipes these days.”

Gu Zhang nodded repeatedly: “Of course, of course.” He stretched his head out: “By the way, Dalang, see if there is a bookstore on the street and buy some good paper.”

Gu Qing quickly found a shop selling paper and pens on the street. He bought a set of the four treasures and papers and then returned to the manor.

The carriage drove in, and several people got off. Village Head Liu came out and asked with a smile: “Second Master Gu is full of joy. Did you buy the land?”

Gu Zhang smiled and said vaguely: “It may be possible, but we have to wait a few days to see.”

Village Head Liu nodded and went to work. He just listened to Gu Zhang’s words. The land around Ping’an City was in great demand. He didn’t believe that Young Master Zhu would be willing to give some to Gu Zhang.

Mrs. Chen was cooking in the front yard. When she heard the sound, she ran out: “You’re back? The meal is ready. Let’s eat quickly.”

Old Lady Gu was there during the meal, so Gu Zhang and Gu Qing didn’t talk about the matter.

After the old lady finished eating and went back to her room, Gu Qing’s face was full of joy. She lowered her voice and said: “Mom, you don’t know yet, my sister just negotiated with someone to teach him how to cook with peppers. He gave us 20 acres of land and a yard, which is worth about 300 taels of silver.”

Mrs. Chen was so shocked that she dropped the chopsticks in her hand: “Really, just a few dishes?”

Gu Qing shook her head: “More than a few, my sister said there are 20 to 30 dishes.”

“That’s not worth that much, isn’t it? It’s just a few dishes?” Mrs. Chen picked up the chopsticks on the table, still unable to believe that such a big pie had fallen from the sky.

Gu Fei was eating, “Mom, this little money is nothing. Those high-end restaurants can sell any dish for 1 or half a tael. This little money will be back in a few days.”

Li Chunhua suddenly said beside her: “Why don’t you open a restaurant yourself? Your cooking is so delicious.”

Gu Fei shook her head: “Opening a restaurant requires a lot of capital, and you need some connections. Besides, the dishes I know are all home-cooked. They are not presentable, but they are new.”

“A real chef needs many years to practice knife skills. What I can do is nothing.”

In the next few days, the whole family suppressed their secret joy and peeled the pepper seeds together behind closed doors. Everyone’s hands were swollen from the spiciness, and finally, all the pepper seeds were peeled out.

Gu Fei saw that the peppers did not look good after the seeds were peeled, so she asked Lian’er to make them into pepper powder.

Gu Fei wrote the recipe once, modified some content such as how many grams of something, and then gave it to Gu Zhang to copy.

That morning, the father and his two sons had breakfast and went into the city with chili peppers.

The door of Yipin Pavilion was open. When they entered, the shopkeeper came to greet them: “Second Master Gu is here. My eldest son told me to wait for you.”

He took them into a room and handed a document to Gu Zhang: “Second Master Gu, take a look, is there anything wrong with it?”

Gu Fei came over, and the two read the document and found nothing wrong.

Gu Zhang took the recipe and gave it to the shopkeeper, who pressed his handprint.

Next, the shopkeeper sent someone to go with them to the government office to get the land deed and house deed.

 

Young Master Zhu knocked on the table unconsciously: “So that’s how it is.”

But even if it would be just a one-year monopoly, it was enough for him to make a lot of money.

Young Master Zhu smiled: “You are a good girl, you are willing to tell the truth.”

“Okay, I will buy your 20 kilograms of dried chili peppers and the recipes for 30 dishes. When the chili peppers are grown next year, you must give priority to supplying my restaurant.”

He looked at Gu Fei: “Name a price.”

Gu Fei smiled faintly, “My family has just arrived in Jiangnan, and I don’t know the market in Jiangnan.”

“I heard that Young Master Zhu is a righteous and kind person. Why don’t you tell me a price, and I’ll see if I can sell it.”

Young Master Zhu smiled heartily: “Little girl, you are flattering me, hahaha.”

“Let’s put it this way. Every time the chef of my restaurant develops a new dish, I will reward him with 10 taels of silver.”

“30 dishes, that’s 300 taels of silver.”

“This chili pepper–”

It’s not worth it if it’s expensive, after all, it was just a seasoning. If it’s cheap, it’s an exclusive business, and people won’t sell it.

Gu Fei smiled and said: “Dried chili peppers are only 200 wen per pound. Even if they are not weighed down, 1 pound is not a small amount.”

Young Master Zhu raised an eyebrow. The price of this chili pepper was not high.

This was a good thing, which means that the cost of a dish would not increase much if chili peppers were used.

Gu Fei continued, “Let’s say 300 taels of silver. These 20 kilograms of peppers are my gift to Young Master Zhu.”

“But I have an unwelcome request.”

Master Zhu nodded: “You say.”

Gu Fei then said: “Master Zhu bought the farm today. I wonder if you can give me 10 to 20 acres of land. I plan to plant peppers after the New Year, but I don’t have any land yet.”

Young Master Zhu waved his hand: “A few acres of land is not a big deal.”

Gu Fei said embarrassed: “Also, Young Master Zhu probably doesn’t use the yard on the farm often. My family just arrived and has no place to stay for the time being. I wonder if Master Zhu can rent a few rooms to my family so that it will be convenient for taking care of the farm.”

Young Master Zhu has already confirmed the value of peppers at this moment. He wanted to build a good relationship with the Gu family, so he said straightforwardly: “Since your family has no place to live, you can pay for the yard.”

Gu Fei was overjoyed, “That would be great.”

Gu Zhang and Gu Qing looked at each other and couldn’t believe what they heard.

Will they have land and a house soon?

Both of them were ecstatic, but they suppressed their emotions and did not lose their composure.

Young Master Zhu waved to his attendant: “Let me see the deed to the manor.”

The attendant handed over the deed, and Young Master Zhu took a look and pointed to the pattern of the field on it and said: “Since you want to buy this yard, I want to give you the land near the yard, which is convenient, but there is a pond here, and we need to go around the pond, so the land can’t be connected, which is not very convenient.”

Gu Fei’s eyes lit up: “A pond is also fine, I am planning to raise some fish, if Young Master Zhu is willing to give it up, you can transfer the pond to me.”

Young Master Zhu smiled: “Can you raise fish?”

“Okay, if the fish are well raised, my restaurant will accept them for you.”

Gu Fei bowed again: “Thank you, Young Master Zhu, you are a kind man.”

Young Master Zhu smiled: “That yard is worth more than 100 taels of silver. Let me give you 20 acres of land, plus this pond, a total of 300 taels of silver, to cover the price of the recipe, what do you think?”

Gu Fei was overjoyed and bowed deeply to Young Master Zhu: “Thank you very much, Young Master.”

“My father and I will deliver the peppers and recipes to this restaurant in 3 days. Is that okay?”

Young Master Zhu nodded: “Okay.”

“Then come back to sign the agreement in 3 days.”