Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity-Chapter 757 - 593: Yu Tuanzi Returns Home

Gu Chengyu gave the third son a surprised look. The third son had matured quite well over the years in the county. Perhaps because he had encountered many people, he seemed more reliable than the second son.

Mr. Gu pondered for a moment before replying, "If Mrs. Li has become part of the Gu Family, then she is no longer a member of the Li Family. For the Li Family to come asking for silver, there is no justification."

Mr. Gu didn’t mince his words; the Li Family’s intentions were clear to anyone who wasn’t foolish.

The words left Old Li and his family disappointed; was the Gu Family really so stingy as not to want to part with even a single penny?

"However, after all, the Li Family is Mrs. Li’s maiden family. They may not be proper relatives, but there are still ties. How about this? Your branch will give the Li Family one hundred taels of silver, and that should settle things for everyone. But let me say this bluntly, after Mrs. Li is gone, you must not come under the guise of the daughter’s name to ask for silver again."

Mr. Gu thought about it and felt that giving the Li Family one hundred taels of silver would be enough to clear his conscience.

When Gu Chengyi brought Mrs. Li into the family, not only did he pay three hundred taels of silver to the family who lost a son, but he also gave Old Li and his family two hundred taels.

No farming family gives so much when marrying off a daughter, let alone taking a concubine.

It was clearly stated back then that Mrs. Li had no relationship with her maiden family, as the Li Family had essentially sold Mrs. Li.

Now the Li Family coming to ask for silver is unreasonable; he is offering one hundred taels to dismiss them.

Although the second son was not filial to him, he did not want others to mock him after the second son’s death; he did not want to leave such a reputation for the second son.

The third son, upon hearing it was only one hundred taels, found it acceptable.

Although the second son was somewhat unwilling, for just one hundred taels, he could not go against Mr. Gu’s will.

Besides, what mattered now was the division of property in the second branch; as long as the profits from soap were retained, one hundred taels was not significant.

The second son agreed, but the Li Family was dissatisfied!

Was the Gu Family giving one hundred taels just to dismiss them? Was a living person in their family worth only one hundred taels of silver?

"This isn’t enough! One hundred taels of silver aren’t even enough to buy ten acres of land. What do you say?" Old Li asked Mr. Gu with a bitter face.

Ming Yan came into the main hall from outside, "Sir! The county magistrate is here!"

Gu Chengyu nodded. Since his family was having a funeral, the county magistrate naturally had to come to offer condolences.

"Please have him wait in the side hall for a moment. I will go over right away."

Gu Chengyu stood up, preparing to go to the side hall.

"I didn’t know when your Li Family became so wealthy that ten acres of land were beneath you? The Gu Family’s silver isn’t blown in by the wind. If you think one hundred taels is too little, then the Gu Family cannot help any further. Even the wealthiest family cannot support freeloaders, can they?"

Before leaving, Gu Chengyu threw down these words. Take the one hundred taels of silver if you want them; if not, the Gu Family would not give any more.

Mrs. Li brought this upon herself. Out of kindness, the Gu Family is giving the Li Family one hundred taels of silver, which is already quite generous.

A commoner family might only spend two or three taels of silver in a year; his Gu Family’s silver couldn’t support such greed.

Old Li realized that the Gu Family wanted to cut ties with the Li Family with one hundred taels, and thereafter, the Li Family would have no pretext to ask for silver from the Gu Family.

The Li Family initially intended to ask for more, but hearing that the county magistrate was visiting, it indicated that the official rank of the fifth in the Gu Family was indeed higher than that of the county magistrate.

If they angered Mr. Gu, they might not even get the one hundred taels, leaving Old Li in a dilemma.

After Gu Chengyu finished speaking, he turned and left; as for Mrs. Wang, it was none of his business.

Mrs. Wang indeed suffered a loss, but it was like Zhou Yu’s beating of Huang Gai—both parties were willing.

What the third son and the others gave or didn’t give was the second branch’s business, and he couldn’t be bothered with it.

On his way, Gu Chengyu thought for a moment and then instructed.

"Ming Mo! Go over there and keep an eye on things, and warn the Wang Family and the Li Family to behave themselves and not spread rumors about the Gu Family outside."

"Yes, sir!" Ming Mo accepted the order and went off.

...

After Gu Chengyu met with County Magistrate Li, the people from the Li and Wang Families had already left.

"I heard the third young master gave the Wang Family fifty taels of silver, which they naturally were not satisfied with. Later, the third young master said if they didn’t want it, they wouldn’t even get a single penny. Anyway, our family wasn’t at a loss. If outsiders learned that the Wang Family’s daughter was involved with a man before marriage, it wouldn’t be good for Miss Wang’s reputation."

Ming Mo explained what had happened to Gu Chengyu, who grimaced at the explanation.

Was fifty taels of silver all it took to settle things? But it made sense; after all, the Li Family only got one hundred taels; for a family like the Wang’s, getting nothing would mean swallowing a silent loss.

Moreover, Gu Chengyi probably gave the Wang Family plenty of benefits before. When he saw Mrs. Wang, she was wearing silk clothes.

Given the Wang Family’s situation, could they afford silk clothes? It was obvious that Gu Chengyi had given them silver.

"Has everything been explained clearly?" Gu Chengyu didn’t concern himself with these matters; he only needed to know that those two families wouldn’t spread rumors.

Ming Mo smiled and nodded, "As long as the sword is brandished and a few harsh words are spoken, they will be obedient for sure. But the Li Family is truly heartless; they didn’t even glance at Mrs. Li when leaving and took the silver right away."

"They came just for the silver; can you expect a family that sells their daughter to have much affection for her?"

Gu Chengyu sneered, saying it was already good fortune that she wasn’t sold to a brothel.

"Sir, Steward Yu has returned!" Ming Yan reported as he entered the room.

"Oh? Let him in." Gu Chengyu squinted. Yu Tuanzi was back without any delay this time.

Yu Tuanzi had already heard about the incidents in Jingyuan Prefecture, and the punishment of the shopkeeper there was known to the nearby states; Manager Xing had already been sent to the coal mines.

Initially puzzled by Gu Chengyu’s hurried summons, he now understood and was quite anxious.

Upon entering the room, he saw Gu Chengyu, dressed in mourning clothes, sitting at the head drinking tea.

He immediately knelt down, "A humble servant greets you, sir!"

Being constantly on the move for Gu Chengyu, he hadn’t had many opportunities to meet him in recent years.

The last time he met Gu Chengyu was five months ago.

"Hmm! Why such a formal greeting? Please, rise!" Gu Chengyu put down his teacup on the table, speaking in a gentle tone.

The gentler Gu Chengyu appeared, the more Yu Tuanzi became uneasy.

"I only just returned and heard that the second master has passed; it was truly unexpected."

Yu Tuanzi had indeed made progress in recent years while traveling outside.

After all, dealing with merchants requires some skill, or else one is bound to suffer significant losses.

Yu Tuanzi had not only become a smooth talker but had also developed a more stable temperament.

He was truly surprised by Gu Chengyi’s death and actually suspected that it was at the hands of Gu Chengyu.

After all, it seemed too coincidental that Gu Chengyu had just returned, and shortly thereafter, Gu Chengyi passed away.

However, he knew better than to ask such questions; his relationship with Gu Chengyu was not close enough for such inquiries.