Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity
Chapter 72 - 68: Initial Discussion on Family Separation

Chapter 72: Chapter 68: Initial Discussion on Family Separation

"Really? Is our Xiao Bao a child in front of the Immortals? Otherwise, why do the Immortals always come looking for Xiao Bao? Daughter, you must not let this spread outside." Mrs. Lv was a bit worried that Gu Wan might speak carelessly outside and let it slip.

"Mom, I know what’s important and what’s not, of course, I won’t go around saying it! But Xiao Bao is so young, who knows if he might show off outside!" Gu Wan was somewhat displeased by her mom’s lack of trust in her, always reminding and advising repeatedly.

"Second Sister, if you keep talking nonsense, you won’t get any good stuff." Gu Chengyuzi took out the jewelry he had just put away from the space and placed it on the table.

Gu Wan’s attention had already been drawn to the item wrapped in red cloth.

"Mom, take a look at this! Dad bought it for you!" Gu Chengyu picked up the wooden box that held the hairpin. The exterior of the wooden box was simply coated in a layer of brown lacquer. Upon opening, it revealed a lining of cotton fabric inside, where the hairpin lay quietly.

"Hehe! It’s something Xiao Bao and I bought together for you, why not try it on? It’s sure to look good." Mr. Gu wasn’t foolish enough to say it was picked by Xiao Bao.

"What are you spending all that Silver for? Didn’t that cost quite a bit?" Mrs. Lv said it was a waste, but her eyes were brimming with joy as she hadn’t worn a silver hairpin in years. Xiao Bao, ever so capable, slanted it in her hair, "Does it look good?"

"It wasn’t expensive, just four ounces of silver, and you look quite good wearing it." Mr. Gu looked at Mrs. Lv with the hairpin on, feeling a mix of emotions flooding him. The youthful girl dressed in satin with her hair adorned in jewels that he once knew flashed before his eyes. Time really flies; in the blink of an eye, fifteen years had passed, and Mrs. Lv still looks so beautiful, not aging a bit, but he had aged.

"So expensive?"

"Oh! It’s really pretty, is this really for me?" Over there, Gu Wan was looking at the shrimp须bracelet within the red cloth, her eyes filled with joy. Finally having a piece of silver jewelry, she eagerly put the bracelet on her wrist, glancing left and right, loving it more and more.

Mr. Gu was brought back by Gu Wan’s exclamation. Mrs. Lv also removed the hairpin from her head and placed it back into the box.

"Mom, why take it off? Just keep wearing it!" Gu Chengyu found it a bit strange.

"It’s not the time yet. Daughter, give me the bracelet, I’ll keep it for you and you can wear it a few days later." Mrs. Lv said as she stepped forward to retrieve Gu Wan’s bracelet.

"Mom! Why can’t I wear it now? I just won’t, it’s mine since it was given to me." Gu Wan finally got a pair of silver bracelets, and her mom wouldn’t let her wear them, what were they going to do, sit and collect dust?

"Mom, forget it! Since Second Sister likes it, let her wear it!" His Second Sister still has a childlike nature!

"By the way, Mom, I also have four pearl flowers and five red ribbons, all for the nieces. Second Sister already has a pair of bracelets, so just take a red ribbon, and I’ll get better ones for you later. The others are gifts from me, their Little Uncle, to the nieces."

"Do they even need these things? You’re just wasting money. You must have spent quite a bit this time, didn’t get a chance to count." Mrs. Lv was a bit displeased when she heard those girls were getting things too.

"Mom, actually they were gifts with the purchase of the bracelets and hairpin, didn’t cost money. Besides, in the future, there will be more money-earning ventures at home, no need to worry about such small amounts." Gu Chengyu felt a bit helpless, it was hard for Mrs. Lv to care for the grandchildren born from the woman before him, let alone all being girls, which made it even harder for her to look favorably upon them. It was something he needed to find ways to make up for.

"Look, Mom, you and Second Sister have jewelry, if they have nothing, won’t it cause trouble? Moreover, these didn’t cost anything!"

"Humph! What’s this? Am I even afraid of them? Giving them is just a waste, as if they’d appreciate what we’d done for them? I’m not their real grandmother, who knows how much they resent me in their hearts! Just a bunch of ungrateful wretches." Mrs. Lv got angry at the mention of this, years ago, she was also a youthful beauty, yet ended up with a widower with children, something she never wanted.

"Mom, no matter how you phrase it, I’m at least an elder, gotta keep up appearances, right? Mom, when’s dinner? I’m starving." Gu Chengyu didn’t want to continue this topic, as his mother’s thoughts weren’t something that would change overnight.

"Oh dear! I forgot, but we haven’t even had lunch, let me go check in the kitchen." Mrs. Lv put the silver hairpin she removed back into the box, and placed the box into a small cabinet on the couch.

"Wanwan, since you won’t let Mom keep the bracelet, you have to hide it well yourself. Anyway, you’re not allowed to wear it tonight so that those shallow-eyed people won’t get envious. After everything’s settled today, you can wear it tomorrow and I won’t care." Mrs. Lv thought for a moment and turned back to tell Gu Wan.

"Got it, Mom!" Seeing that the bracelet wouldn’t be confiscated, Gu Wan was happy, holding the bracelet ready to go back to her room.

"You silly girl, this was your brother who specifically picked it for you! He wouldn’t have settled for less, this bracelet was under three ounces but cost three ounces of silver anyway! Your mom’s was just heavier because of the design, this bracelet is no small thing. If it were Dad, he probably wouldn’t have been so willing." Mr. Gu spoke some truth, knowing that even if he worried about his daughter, she’d eventually be someone else’s, so making sure she eats and dresses nicely, preparing a decent dowry, and getting her married off was the plan; there was no talk of dividing the family wealth here, they weren’t a wealthy family that could afford to raise girls like that, with any available silver, it was better to buy more land, all of which would be left to the son to carry on the family line in the future.

Gu Chengyu saw Gu Wan stop mid-step to the door, turned around to look at him, her eyes a bit misty but with a sudden grin, "Thank you what? Anyway, it’s all Second Sister’s dowry."

"Oh my! What do you, little kid, know about dowries? So embarrassing!" Stomping her foot in embarrassment, Gu Wan dashed back inside.

Sitting on the bed by the window, she rubbed the silver bracelet in her hands, stared at it for a while before picking up the red cloth again, wrapping it up, and placing it at the back of the wooden box meant for clothes.

"Dad, what are you planning? Are you really not planning to tell Second Brother?" With no one left in the main house, Gu Chengyu saw it was a good opportunity to ask his dad.

Mr. Gu didn’t say anything, picked up the smoking pipe from around his waist, took a puff, his brows furrowing.

After hesitating for a moment, Mr. Gu spoke up: "Xiao Bao, Dad knows you’re bright and understand everything. As for your Second Brother’s character, you’re clear on that too. Dad isn’t worried about him being devious, just worried he might stray in the future, holding you back, and dragging down the whole Gu Family. Tonight’s dinner, Dad just wants to test him, see what he’s thinking. If he wants to live his own life, Dad won’t stop him, the money that’s due to him won’t be withheld."

"Dad means Second Brother wants to separate from the family?" Gu Chengyu had actually long surmised Second Brother’s intentions. To say nothing else, just from Second Brother wanting to join them in selling honeysuckles in the county town, it’s clear he didn’t trust Dad. When rejected by Dad, Second Brother’s attitude turned sour, probably feeling Dad was suspicious of him. In short, the two are now mutually suspicious of one another.