CHAPTER 764: CHAPTER 764: ACCEPT CONCUBINE

Slap!

Gu Youfu angrily slapped Mrs. Gu Zhang across the face, scolding: "Mrs. Gu Zhang, who are you calling less of a man? Lord Lai’s disinterest in our branch of the family is all your fault! If you could bear another healthy son, wouldn’t Lord Lai support us?"

Mrs. Gu Zhang, startled and fearing Gu Youfu would take a concubine to bear a son, immediately cried and admitted her mistake: "My husband, I was wrong. I misspoke in haste. Please don’t be angry."

She added, "Our Chengli isn’t bad either. As long as he studies hard, he will certainly make something of himself."

Gu Chengli immediately puffed up his chest and proclaimed, "Father, mother is right. I will diligently study and achieve great things to make you proud."

Gu Chengli was no fool. He knew his father despised his lame leg and had always wanted to take a concubine to bear a healthy son. His mother had spoken, and he had to listen, ensuring his father had no excuse to seek a concubine.

Mrs. Gu Zhang, very satisfied with the conversation, pulled Gu Rong over and said: "Our Sister Rong is also good-looking. Maybe she could marry into a good family in the future, and our family will finally be able to hold our heads high."

Gu Youfu looked at Gu Rong, and felt somewhat reassured. This daughter had always been sensible and intelligent. Even at the age of eight, during the famine, she had managed to deceive Gu Jinxiu with her acting. She would surely be successful in the future.

But as a man, Gu Youfu couldn’t help feeling bitter about Gu Chengxian’s complete and accomplished demeanor. He was extremely eager to take a concubine and father a son.

Thus he waved his hand, ignoring Mrs. Gu Zhang, stood up, and went to Elder Gu’s courtyard to state his intentions directly: "Father, after the New Year, the Lai Family plans to buy some servants for our family. I wish to ask for a young and healthy girl..."

He covered his face and tears fell as he spoke: "Cheng Hua is dead, and Chengli is lame. This is why Lord Lai looks down on our branch of the family. You don’t know how coldly he treated us today, he even shook his head looking at Chengli’s legs... Father, our branch can only turn its fortunes around if I have a healthy son. Please help me, let me take a concubine to father a son."

Having spoken, he thudded to the ground, kneeling directly in front of Elder Gu.

Elder Gu, heart aching, quickly helped Gu Youfu up: "Alright, alright. I will talk to your mother and ask the Lai Family to buy not one, but two stout maids who can serve as your concubines to bear you a son."

Although Elder Gu loved Gu Chengli, he was only the grandson; Gu Youfu, who greatly resembled him, was his son. Seeing his son begging like this, how could he as a father not grant his wish?

However, Granny Gu disagreed. Hearing that Gu Youfu had secretly asked Elder Gu to let him take a concubine, she was greatly upset, kicked open the door, and walked in saying: "Absolutely not! You are of such age and still talking about taking concubines. Aren’t you afraid of becoming a laughingstock?"

Hearing Granny Gu’s refusal, Gu Youfu protested: "Mother, our branch doesn’t even have a single able-bodied man. Is it wrong for me to take a concubine to bear a healthy son?"

"Besides, it’s just taking a concubine. I’m not divorcing Mrs. Gu Zhang. What’s wrong with that?" Gu Youfu, knowing his father favored him, immediately looked at Elder Gu: "Father, isn’t what your son is saying reasonable?"

Elder Gu nodded, turning to Granny Gu and said: "Youfu is right, lacking a healthy son would make us look bad. Let Youfu take a concubine to father a son."

How could Granny Gu possibly agree? For the past two years, she’s been suppressing Gu Youfu, not wanting him to father a healthy son. Otherwise, why would she care to withhold a few taels of silver and not let him take a concubine to bear children?

"No." Granny Gu said, "Although Mrs. Gu Zhang is not good, she fled the famine with our family, sharing life and death with us. Just as things are getting better, how would Lord Lai think if Youfu takes a concubine now?"

Granny Gu brought up Lord Lai: "Why is Lord Lai so good to our family? It’s because my parents saved him. He has remembered this kindness all his life, he is a person who values gratitude immensely and dislikes those who are ungrateful. If Youfu, you take a concubine and father a son, it would be ungrateful towards Mrs. Gu Zhang. If you do that, you will definitely displease Lord Lai. Even if you have ten healthy sons, Lord Lai won’t look up to you, he will only see you as an untrustworthy villain!"

Granny Gu’s acting was superb, she could shed tears in the blink of an eye. Holding Gu Youfu’s hand, she said, "Youfu, you must not offend Lord Lai by taking a concubine. Our family relies on Lord Lai to live well... Mother knows you have been suffocated these two years, but what can Mother do? This is your fate. If you want to change your fate, then you should propose marriage for Cheng Li early, wait until he has a son, and then nurture him well, so he can pursue an official position in the future. Then this branch of the family can also have hope."

"Wait for Cheng Li’s son to grow up? When will that be, the Year of the Monkey?" Gu Youfu wanted to make a name for himself now; he was tired of being treated differently by his own mother and Lord Lai.

He finally understood the situation of Gu Dashan’s family; he used to laugh at Gu Dashan’s family behind their backs with Mrs. Gu Zhang, now the retribution has come upon his own family.

"Even if you can’t wait, you must wait. Do you want to take a concubine and displease Lord Lai, eventually not gaining any benefits?" Granny Gu finished speaking and then said to Elder Gu: "Old man, if Youfu does something to betray Mrs. Gu Zhang, it’s not only his branch that will suffer. Lord Lai might think our whole family is ungrateful, and then how will he support or give silver to Youwen and his son?"

Elder Gu was troubled; although he loved Youfu the most, Youwen and Youlu were also his sons, especially Youwen, who already held an official position, a great contributor to changing the fortune of the Old Gu Family. He could not let Lord Lai be displeased because of Youfu taking a concubine.

Elder Gu was essentially selfish, caring most about his own family prestige. Upon hearing this, he said, "Youfu, just wait a bit longer, see if your wife can still bear a child. If not, then properly nurture your grandson."

He also promised Gu Youfu, "Don’t worry, with father here, you won’t have a poor life."

Gu Youfu felt like knocking Elder Gu dead. Don’t worry? What a load of nonsense! You’ve always listened to this old hag. From the capital to He’an Prefecture, you haven’t even fought for a single mule cart for my branch!

Gu Youfu was fuming with rage, remembering when Gu Dashan’s family was still around, his branch wasn’t as suffocated as now.

Angry, Gu Youfu stopped arguing with Elder Gu and stormed off, directly leaving the Vice Magistrate’s residence and went to the brothel to find a prostitute to vent his frustrations of being the big boss.

While Gu Youfu was sulking, Gu Youwen and Gu Youlu were thriving.

Many households in the prefecture knew about the new Vice Magistrate’s arrival, and almost all rich families visited the Vice Magistrate’s residence.

Noble families also sent servants with gifts to offer New Year greetings.

Now, Gu Youwen and Gu Youlu were being taken by Lord Lai to meet guests, all influential families in He’an Prefecture. Gu Youlu was so thrilled he almost floated.