CHAPTER 768: CHAPTER 768: HITTING A SORE SPOT

The Gu Youwen family was very unhappy with Little Sister Gu, as Qian Guangzong, this good-for-nothing, lived off the Old Gu Family and used what was theirs, and now that he saw the Old Gu Family had a profitable business, he actually wanted a share of the pie.

Little Sister Gu said indifferently, "Brother-in-law, this is my Old Gu Family’s business, it has nothing to do with the Qian Family. You should go back to your own house. It’s late at night and you’re still in your mother-in-law’s house, it won’t sound good if word gets out."

Qian Guangzong sneered and directly poked at Little Sister Gu’s sore spot, "Would it sound better if word gets out about you being a widow?"

Little Sister Gu was stunned, her face turned instantly ashen, she covered her face, crying and cursing, "Qian Guangzong, you bastard, dare to talk about this, Mother will never spare you!"

When Little Sister Gu was still in her hometown, she had married Ma Qingwen, and was no longer a maiden, but Ma Qingwen was unlucky and was killed by a group of Evil Men while escaping from famine, and thus Little Sister Gu became a widow.

But she was ambitious; after getting connected with the Lai Family, she discussed with Granny Gu about keeping her widowhood a secret, claiming she was still a virgin, merely delayed by escaping the famine, and asked the Lai Family to find her another marriage. It would be best if she could marry the son of an official and become a young Madam Gu directly.

Granny Gu, who doted on her youngest daughter the most, agreed immediately, and ordered everyone in the Old Gu Family not to mention Little Sister Gu’s marriage, and as for Ma Qingwen, he was said to be her betrothed fiancé.

Qian Guangzong was not afraid of Little Sister Gu and continued, "What I said is true, if you don’t like to hear it, then you should not have married in the first place."

Having that leverage, how dare the Old Gu Family not let their Qian Family meddle in this business?

Qian Chengcai also said, "Yes, my little aunt, my dad didn’t lie."

It’s all because you’re shamelessly trying to kick our Qian Family out of this business. If we shared this business happily, would my dad expose your scandal?

Little Sister Gu was crying miserably, and immediately went to tell Granny Gu.

Granny Gu scolded Qian Guangzong, "If you dare mention this again and ruin Little Sister’s marriage prospects, I will not forgive you."

Then she reprimanded Little Sister Gu, "Stop crying, listen to what your third brother has to say about the Gu Family’s business, and just how much Silver can be made."

Granny Gu was also extremely envious of the Gu Family’s business, wishing that it belonged to her Old Gu Family... no, to her own children.

Other people from the Old Gu Family urged Gu Youlu to quickly talk about the Gu Family’s business.

Gu Youlu was smug, walking into the main room of the courtyard with the stride of a master, sipping the small wine that Ms. Zheng handed him, and started talking about the Gu Family’s business.

But he had only heard bits and pieces today, not knowing how big the Gu Family’s business really was, yet he boasted, making the Gu Family’s business sound like it was the number one in Great Chu.

"The Qi Family of Prefecture City earned a hundred thousand taels of Silver a year just by selling spices in Jianghuai, and the Eldest Young Master Qi got his promotion thanks to the spices; Futai Building’s food tastes so good also all thanks to the Gu Family. And Futai Building, with the spice recipes and various dish recipes provided by the Gu Family, can make thousands of taels of Silver a day."

"Wow, how come the Gu Family is so wealthy?" Ms. Zheng covered her chest, almost fainting with excitement, "If our family joins the Gu Family in this business, wouldn’t we also earn a hundred thousand taels of silver a year?"

Qian Chengcai, shaking his legs, said, "Third Aunt, if we could take over the Gu Family’s business, we could earn not just a hundred thousand, but at least a million taels a year!"

"What? A million taels!" Ms. Zheng was so excited she felt her blood rush to her head, counting on her fingers, "How much Silver would that be?"

Doubtfully, she asked, "Can we really earn that much?"

Gu Youlu cursed, "Ms. Zheng, do you not believe that the business I’ve brought back can make a fortune? Once we get this business, the spices will be sold to the Capital. What kind of place is the Capital? There are nobles everywhere, they would buy our spices for ten taels of gold per pound, and you think we can’t earn a million silver a year?"

Ms. Zheng, who was very afraid of being divorced by Gu Youlu, immediately flattered him, "Husband, you are so capable, finding such a great business for our family."

She then asked, "With so much money earned, how should we spend it? A million silver a year, how can one spend all that?"

Gu Youlu said, "Having silver and not knowing how to spend it? Naturally, we’d buy houses, land, shops, and then bring back a box of jade. We should learn from the rich families and carve something with jade seals."

Ms. Zheng said, "I want to buy quilted jackets and a full set of golden headpieces."

Little Sister Gu scoffed, "Third sister-in-law, with our family being so rich and you’re still fixated on golden headpieces? We should buy rubies to wear; that’s what truly fits our status."

Granny Gu laughed and said, "Little Sister is right. Once we are not lacking silver, we should indeed buy gems to wear. The noble ladies in the Capital all wear gemstones and eastern pearls. Wearing golden headpieces is what the poor wear, it’s a tacky thing."

The Old Gu Family was quite shameless; they haven’t even found a place for the Gu Family yet, but they already treated the Gu Family’s business as their own, excitedly discussing what they would buy with the money.

As they were happily chatting, Elder Gu and Gu Youfu from the inner room were woken up by the noise and shouted, "What are you all talking about this late at night?"

Granny Gu hurriedly said, "Nothing much, just that Youlu and the others have come back."

Then she waved at Gu Youlu and the others, "Go back and rest. Come see your father tomorrow."

After speaking, she went into the inner room and smilingly said to Old Man Gu, "Old man, how are you feeling?"

Elder Gu became angry when it was mentioned; ever since he started living with the Lai Family, he would fall ill every year around New Year’s.

Last year, he felt something was wrong and had his wife ask someone to calculate, and they said that the Lai Family’s fortune was too great and that, being born a peasant, he couldn’t enjoy such fortune, which is why he fell ill every year.

Granny Gu said at the time, "There is no way to resolve it; the master said that if our family wants to enjoy this fortune, you, as the head of the family, need to bear the misfortunes. Old man, it’s hard on you, but you’ll have to endure the hardship."

Great Chu people believe in this, and after hearing this, Elder Gu put aside his doubts. But falling ill every New Year really made him angry.

However, after Granny Gu sent Gu Youfu away, she told him about the Gu Family’s business.

Elder Gu’s mood lifted, and he laughed, "Youlu is capable now, bringing such a good business to our family. Remember to tell Youlu that he doesn’t need to come over tomorrow to pay respects; he should hurry and find those from the Gu Family and get the business started."

Granny Gu said, "Do you really need to tell me that? Our Youlu is sensible now, don’t you worry."

Elder Gu laughed and nodded, "If our family can secure this business, we won’t need to live off the Lai Family anymore."

Although living with the Lai Family was good, he always felt rejected by them. He had his pride; if his own family could prosper on its own, why would he need to put up with the Lai Family’s attitude?