Chapter 214: Chapter 215: Buying Land Again

Initially, they had also considered building the soap workshop on the manor they had purchased.

But the thought of the other clans living there gave them pause. Over time, they feared it would lead to a lot of disputes.

Besides, the roads in that area were poor, making transportation a major drawback that would require significant manpower.

If they could build here instead, it would not only solve their current lack of living space but also provide a location for the soap workshop.

"In that case, I’ll make a trip to the government office now. Don’t wait for me for dinner." The more Ancient Wen Heng considered it, the more feasible it seemed. He folded the drawing in half, gave his instructions, and headed out.

Their luck had always been quite good. The plots of land Jin Qianqian had sketched out earlier were mostly unclaimed. When Ancient Wen Heng returned home, the silver notes he had taken with him had been exchanged for a red contract.

"I spoke with Ding Er before I came back. As soon as you finish the blueprints, send them over to him. He doesn’t have much going on right now, so he can get started for us immediately."

Jin Qianqian took the contract, opening it for a look. "Twenty mu of land... isn’t that a bit too much?"

Ancient Wen Heng shook his head. "That’s not all. Steward Mao also included the small hill behind it and the mound to the side. You’ll see when you go to the site tomorrow."

Jin Qianqian gave him a thumbs-up. "My husband gets to work and he’s worth two men! You got it all settled so fast."

"I just can’t go with you tomorrow," Ancient Wen Heng said. "Make sure you take Housekeeper Fu and the others. Have them handle any odd jobs so you don’t wear yourself out."

Jin Qianqian knew Ancient Wen Heng had to return to the village the next day. The brothers had arranged to escort their father, Gu Dashishi, to the Prefecture City together.

"Should we have our carriage meet them by the main road, then?" Jin Qianqian suggested this because the carriage itself certainly couldn’t navigate the narrow village paths.

"No need," Ancient Wen Heng replied. "I’ll drive the donkey cart myself tomorrow. I’m not even bringing Tianbao."

’?’ Jin Qianqian glanced at him sideways. ’What’s this act all about?’

"You silly goose. That carriage is for our private use. Besides, the old man’s reasons for going to the city probably aren’t so simple. I’m not about to make his trip comfortable only to have him try to scheme against us later."

’He might have a point,’ Jin Qianqian thought, and immediately dropped the idea. "But driving the cart all the way there will be tiring for you."

But Ancient Wen Heng already had a plan. He smiled. "I’m not the only one at home who can drive a cart. I remember Third Brother used to work as a farmhand for a while. Handling an ox cart or a donkey cart is child’s play for him. We can take turns."

...

At the crack of dawn, Ancient Wen Heng arrived in Gaoling Village driving the donkey cart. His other brothers were already there waiting. Even Gu Dashishi, who usually refused to get out of bed, was dressed in fresh clothes and sitting in the courtyard.

"Seventh, how come you’re back alone?" shouted Gu Yuanfeng, who had been absent for the past few days, the moment Ancient Wen Heng walked through the gate.

"Father, Mother, I’m back." Ancient Wen Heng ignored her, greeting Li Cuicui and the others in the courtyard first before nodding to his brothers. "Is everyone ready? Let’s get going then."

"Seventh, I’m talking to you! Why didn’t that Jin woman come back with you?"

Seeing her blocking his path, Ancient Wen Heng had no choice but to answer. "She has a ton of things to manage in the county town. Besides, taking Father to the Prefecture City is a matter for us brothers. Why would she come back?"

"Then what about what you owe me? If you brought it back, you can just give it to me."

Ancient Wen Heng looked at her in surprise. "What do we owe you?"

"You gave gifts to everyone else, so what about me? Give me my share." Gu Yuanfeng had been waiting in the courtyard since the crack of dawn, only to find that her seventh brother had arrived with nothing but an empty donkey cart.

"There’s nothing," Ancient Wen Heng said, holding his hands out. He wouldn’t have been so annoyed if she hadn’t been so demanding. "I forgot this time. We’ll see if I remember next time."

"Next time?" Gu Yuanfeng’s voice turned shrill. "You can give Gu Lehua a silver bracelet, but you prepared nothing for me, your own full-blooded sister?"

Li Cuicui had seen enough. She walked over, grabbed her daughter by the ear, and pulled her out of the way. "You boys, hurry up and get your father onto the cart. Remember to leave early and come back early."

"Yes, Mother," the Gu brothers quickly replied. They all pitched in and finally managed to lift Gu Dashishi onto the cart.

The moment Gu Dashishi saw the warm quilt spread on the cart, he tried to lie straight down, but Ancient Wen Heng caught and held him up.

"Father, this cart isn’t very big, so you’ll have to make do with sitting up. Otherwise, your other sons won’t have anywhere to sit. Unless you’d feel safe with just me taking you there alone?"

Gu Dashishi’s face was a mask of disgust. "You come to pick me up and you couldn’t even manage to get a bigger cart? With my body full of ailments, how am I supposed to make it all the way to the Prefecture City?"

Ancient Wen Heng smiled at him. "Father, a cart this size is the largest that can get to our home. If you recall, you took an ox cart on your way back before, and it ended up flipping over."

"You suffered so much from that, you still can’t even stand. Do you really want to go through that again?"

Gu Dashishi gulped. "Then how about two fewer people go?"

"How could we do that?" Ancient Wen Heng countered. "This is a chance for all of us sons to show our filial piety. If any of us backed out now, wouldn’t you go around telling everyone how unfilial we are? That’s a label none of us can afford to bear."

Gu Dashishi glared daggers at Ancient Wen Heng. The boy was finding fault with him at every turn today, yet he couldn’t come up with a single rebuttal.

Ancient Wen Heng didn’t give him much time to dwell on it. He led the donkey straight toward the village entrance, while Gu Yuanjin and his other brothers formed a tight circle around Gu Dashishi like four mighty guardians.

"Look at that! Old man Dashishi sure is lucky. His sons are so filial. He kicks up a fuss about going to the Prefecture City for treatment, and they’re actually taking him," Gu Le Gao remarked sourly, a hoe propped on his shoulder.

"Plenty of people know there’s nothing seriously wrong with him. It’s impressive he’s been able to keep up the act for so long," Liang Mugen said with a scoff. "I’m definitely going to be waiting right here at the village entrance when he gets back. I bet the look on his face will be priceless."

"Listen to you being so nasty. Aren’t you afraid that old coot will hold a grudge?" Gu Daping chimed in, joining the banter. "I bet you’re all just jealous deep down."

...

Wedged between his sons, Gu Dashishi’s expression shifted constantly. "Seventh, do you even know how to drive this thing? You’re going so slow, people on foot could almost pass you."

A small smile played on Ancient Wen Heng’s lips. "Father, we’re still inside the village. If I go any faster, our uncles and neighbors will be eating our dust. This speed is perfect. I’ll pick it up once we’re clear of the village."

The other Gu brothers glanced around. ’...Nicely done.’

Gu Dashishi ground his teeth. "Your third brother knows how to drive. Why don’t you two switch?"

Gu Yuanhuo immediately turned his head and grinned at him. "Father, I’ve actually never driven a donkey cart before. I’d better watch and learn a bit more."

...