Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity
Chapter 127 - 52: Failed

Chapter 127: Chapter 52: Failed

At dusk, Mr. Gu finally brought Gu Chengli and the others back. Along with them came Uncle Gu and Gu Wanhua.

The county examination had only started yesterday, and if passed, one could participate in the prefecture examination. But Gu Chengyu noticed that everyone’s expressions were not good, guessing they had failed.

"Alright! We don’t have much luggage, no need to bring it to the door, we’ll walk back ourselves, it’s just a few steps." Uncle Gu said as he carried the luggage off the ox cart, and Mr. Gu didn’t stand on ceremony. The eldest brother’s family was in a bad mood, so he wouldn’t go out of his way to bother them.

Gu Wanhua, hanging his head, was the last to get off the ox cart, following behind Uncle Gu silently.

"Hua, don’t think too much. Look, those who pass are usually in their forties! You’re still young! Next time, work harder! You’ll succeed." Mr. Gu offered a few simple words of comfort, as bringing up the matter more would only hurt feelings.

"Humph! You study without ambition, sleeping in until midday, how could you possibly pass? Sigh! Let’s go back! Third brother, let’s head home too!"

Uncle Gu was truly disappointed in his grandson; it’s a lie to say otherwise. Hua always claimed that his teacher valued him highly, as if the county exam was a sure thing. But, seeing Hua impatient and never calm enough to study, he figured those claims were just talk.

To take the exam again, it would be another three years; Hua was fifteen this year. He had planned for Hua to become a scholar first before getting married. Then he could choose among good girls from miles around, but now that plan was off the table. Perhaps it’s better to find a granddaughter-in-law sooner, to manage Hua. After three years, who knows if he can pass? Can’t delay passing on the family line.

Everyone returned to the house, and Gu Chengyi took out the scar removal ointment, placing it on the table.

"Dad! This time the honeysuckle wasn’t as good as last time, though Manager Liu still offered a hundred copper coins per jin. But next time we pick, it might not fetch as much. A total of two taels of silver for twenty jin, and the scar removal ointment was exactly two taels, so this time we’re actually down the cost of the transport! Back and forth, it cost seventy copper coins. Here’s the leftover copper coins Dad gave, there’s this much left."

Gu Chengyi finished speaking, coughing lightly, "My elder brother and I had lunch in the county, spending sixteen copper coins!"

As he spoke, Gu Chengyi’s voice lowered, glancing at Mr. Gu without expression.

After speaking, Gu Chengyu glanced over at Gu Chengli, noticing him quickly casting a furtive look at Gu Chengyi, his grip on some items tightening unconsciously. Gu Chengyu looked at the copper coins on the table, estimating around ten. Some things, if not too excessive, might let one see but choose to ignore. Everyone has their little calculations, and as long as the overall direction is maintained by his father, he, as a younger brother, shouldn’t meddle with his brother’s expense right? If truly constrained with no personal money, life wouldn’t have much excitement.

Mr. Gu was still immersed in the regret over Gu Wanhua’s failure, not mindful of these things. It was only now he remembered he forgot to ask if the two sons had eaten lunch, though he had instructed them to eat in the county earlier, so they wouldn’t starve. At this moment, his thoughts didn’t extend that far.

"I gave you a hundred copper coins, for you to eat in the county. How come you didn’t buy any snacks for the children? Use these copper coins to buy them some candy, sweeten their mouths." Mr. Gu thought of the day spent earning dozens of taels of silver, his mood joyous. The children worked hard daily, a rare opportunity to make them happy.

Mrs. Lv reached out for the copper coins on the table, but Mr. Gu spoke, handing the copper coins to the eldest son and their group, this spendthrift elder I bought so much fabric today, even giving money? Are we not living at home anymore?

"Elderly, we need to build a house at home, the places needing money are endless; don’t we wish each copper coin could be split in half?"

"Isn’t this rare? Let’s buy some candy for the children; they haven’t had any before!" Mr. Gu explained, somewhat embarrassed.

Mrs. Lv was indifferent to these reasons; the lunch scandal was already distressing her, spending so much copper coins couldn’t be given again. Moreover, who knows if eldest and second brothers had hidden some personal money? Even buying white flour buns wouldn’t require that much, perhaps even adding meat buns?

"Girls shouldn’t be spoiled; lest they become gluttonous jokes, wait until the house is built first. The silver isn’t enough to cover the house yet! These copper coins could provide a meal for the builders!" As she spoke, she took the copper coins back, pocketing them.

Gu Chengyu looked at Mr. Gu’s helpless expression from the side, sigh! Mom! You truly gave Dad no face.

"Dad! Mom! We’ll head back to our room first! Later, still need to head to the fields." Today, with the men not home, they could only let the women go to the fields.

"Ah! Then off you go!" Mr. Gu, still embarrassed, wasn’t quite sure how to face the two sons. He couldn’t grab back the copper coins in front of the third brother’s son, could he?

After the two left, Mr. Gu started complaining to Mrs. Lv, "What are you doing? I said I gave it, and you took it back, deliberately embarrassing me in front of the eldest and second brother, how would they see me?" Mr. Gu spoke angrily, picking up his tobacco pipe ready to smoke.

"What? You think you’re reasonable? See today, how much silver was spent? The fabric you asked to buy, right? And the dry wood ear mushrooms sold at the town today? Why not hand in the money made? Still wasted silver with Xiao Bao. So those copper coins aren’t money is that it? Good! You Gu Changqing, you’ve become so capable, not counting copper coins as money!" Mrs. Lv grew angrier as she spoke, scolding Mr. Gu thoroughly.

"Oh! Mom! I asked to buy the cloth, don’t blame Dad. I wanted everyone in the family to dress decently. As someone who reads, if classmates see our whole family dressed poorly while I’m dressed well, they’d gossip about me! This could affect my reputation, considering I need to take the imperial exams, can’t let bad rumors spread!" Gu Chengyu exclaimed, presenting this excuse, knowing Mrs. Lv would be concerned with study-related matters.

Sure enough, Mrs. Lv stopped her scolding but was still displeased. "Didn’t need to buy so much!"

Observing Gu Chengyu managed to calm down the mother of his children, Mr. Gu couldn’t help but sigh; only Xiao Bao could appease his mother in the Gu family. He handed the fifty taels of silver over to Mrs. Lv, her expression brightening at the sight.

With Mrs. Lv pacified, everyone grew curious about what kind of ointment was worth two taels of silver. Mrs. Lv opened the small porcelain container, revealing a black ointment emitting a strong medicinal scent. The three, finding nothing significant, handed it back to Mrs. Lv to put away.

"Dad! How did you return with Uncle and them?" Gu Chengyu suddenly remembered, curious how Uncle Gu’s family caught the Gu Family’s ox cart.

"Your elder brother bumped into them in the county town; Hua was waiting for the results to be released but ended up failing. Your uncle packed up and returned with the eldest, coincidentally I arranged the time to pick them up, so why not bring them back together?"