Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity
Chapter 79 - 4: Right and Wrong Under the Banyan Tree

Chapter 79: Chapter 4: Right and Wrong Under the Banyan Tree

The next day, Gu Chengyu was still woken up by Mr. Gu. It seemed that after coming to this ancient time, with no entertainment at night, going to bed early had already become a habit. He couldn’t get up since he slept late last night, and when he checked the time in the space, it was half past seven.

"My dear, Xiao Bao and I will first go to Doctor Li’s home. If we go late, I’m afraid he might have gone out. After that, we’ll go to Brother’s home, and it may be late when we return. If we come back late, you all have lunch first," Mr. Gu instructed Mrs. Lv.

Gu Chengyu planned to follow his old man through the village to Doctor Li’s house at the end of the village. Just as they stepped out of the courtyard gate, they heard the loud voice of the Zhang family’s daughter-in-law next door: "Oh! You all don’t know, yesterday the Gu Family was actually sent back by an ox cart! Who knows where they went yesterday. Just a few days ago, they compensated ten taels of silver, and both apprentices of the third and fourth sons were lost. How can they still afford to call an ox cart? I reckon, from what Old Wang who drove the cart said, they went to Gu Xiu’s place in Huaihe Town, maybe to borrow silver coins? Also, when they came back last night to have dinner, it seemed like they were arguing, and it was quite loud."

"I also heard Old Wang say it was indeed to Gu Xiu’s house. You know, the Gu Family still has some family assets! Saying they compensated ten taels of silver just like that," the wife from the west end of the village, known as Big Lazy’s wife, was extremely envious. Her husband was lazy, hardly doing any odd jobs in town throughout the year, and they couldn’t save any silver. Ten taels of silver was a lot for her.

"Big Lazy’s wife, you can be envious all you want, but who asked your man to be truly lazy? With just those two acres of land, not starving to death is already a blessing from heaven, yet you still want silver!"

"Hey? Wang Yue, my family is poor, but it hasn’t bothered you in any way! It’s not your place to talk about my husband. Your family has silver, if you’re so capable, show it to everyone," Big Lazy’s wife was also unhappy. She may have complaints about her husband, but it wasn’t for Wang Yue to say. Did she not know? She was no longer young, wore flashy clothes every day, and had hooks in her eyes when looking at men, ugh, she’s nothing.

"Oh! What’s going on? Let’s all speak nicely, we’re all from the same village. Big Lazy’s wife, Yang’s third son’s wife is sharp-tongued but soft-hearted, don’t take it to heart." The Zhang family’s daughter-in-law, Mrs. Huang, intended to just watch the fun, but since it started with her words, it wouldn’t look good if it escalated to a quarrel or fight.

Gu Chengyu glanced over to that side. At the entrance of Shangling Village, there was a large banyan tree. The banyan tree was very old, lush and suitable for cooling off underneath in summer. It was also a place where the village women gathered for gossip.

"Hmph! Xiao Bao, let’s go. Some people like to gossip all day about others, yet can’t even manage their own tiny patch of land, but they still meddle in others’ affairs." Mr. Gu felt quite displeased as he heard the villagers gossiping about his family as soon as he stepped out in the early morning.

Living near the village entrance, Mr. Gu raised his voice, and those women certainly heard him. Seeing the subject of their gossip, they felt a bit awkward and moved on to other topics, like whose little dog gave birth to puppies, whose old mother fell ill again.

Big Lazy’s wife felt even more embarrassed and stood up straight, ready to head back. She wasn’t going to ride an ox cart to Xiasang Village for the small market, so it was better to return home. Besides, she knew that the villagers looked down on her family; she typically wouldn’t come by, but today she was going to the fields, so she stopped by to listen as she passed.

Gu Chengyu thought that this was actually just idle chatter, as it wasn’t yet the true busy farming season, and these women still had time to prattle and browse the market. But Wang Yue really did appear frequently! How come she was everywhere?

Last time, his old man had an unpleasant encounter on the path behind the village, and even though this time the person involved was present, they didn’t want to take that path again lest there be other people there.

Gu Chengyu and Mr. Gu arrived at Doctor Li’s courtyard gate and knocked ceremoniously. Country folks woke up early, and there were very few villagers who hadn’t yet risen, except for little kids. Of course, that Big Lazy was an exception.

"Who’s there? Coming." Doctor Li’s voice came from the courtyard, muffled as if he had something in his mouth. Gu Chengyu guessed he must be having breakfast, as Doctor Li, due to having to get up early to see patients, usually ate a few cakes to fill his belly in the morning.

Doctor Li opened the courtyard gate and saw that it was the father and son from the Gu Family standing outside. He assumed it was about the ginseng. "Oh, it’s Brother Gu and Xiao Bao! Come on in!"

"Brother Li, were you busy? Sorry to disturb!" Mr. Gu saw that Doctor Li had just eaten and felt a bit guilty.

"No worries, Brother Gu, come in and let’s talk!" Doctor Li stepped aside, making way for them.

"Husband, who is it?" Mrs. Yao’s voice came from the kitchen.

"It’s Brother Gu and Xiao Bao; bring out two cups of tea."

"Is it Xiao Bao? Come in and sit," Mrs. Yao was quite fond of this little one.

"Hey~ there’s no need to serve tea. Every time we come, you’re always so hospitable. Xiao Bao and I just came to sit for a bit, and then we’ll leave," Mr. Gu felt a bit embarrassed since Xiao Bao had freeloaded a meal the last time they were there.

The three entered the main room as Mrs. Yao came in from the outer courtyard, carrying a tray with three bowls of tea and a dish of mung bean cakes.

"Madam!"

"Ah! Isn’t Xiao Bao fond of mung bean cakes? Here, take one, we saved some specially for you," Mrs. Yao put down the teas and placed the mung bean cake in front of Gu Chengyu.

Gu Chengyu felt a bit awkward hearing that. Who had spread the rumor that he liked mung bean cakes? Nevertheless, it wasn’t good to refuse Mrs. Yao’s kind offer.

"Thank you, Madam." He had no choice but to take a piece of mung bean cake and nibble it, then he looked up to see Mrs. Yao gazing at him with a loving expression. That strange feeling returned, was he overthinking or was there really something off?

"Brother Li, as per your instructions, I went to the county town and found Manager Liu of Huichun Hall. Knowing that it was on your recommendation, he even asked me to greet you on his behalf and mentioned it’s been a long time since he last saw you." Mr. Gu recalled yesterday’s incident and almost couldn’t find Manager Liu.

"Ah! It’s been over three years since we last met. Did you sell the ginseng to him? How much did he give you? I suppose he wouldn’t shortchange you," Doctor Li felt a sense of nostalgia. Former friends had now gone their separate ways, leaving just the two of them. Nonetheless, he didn’t want to linger in the past, and he had become accustomed to the quiet and leisurely life in Shangling Village.

"Manager Liu, out of respect for you, gave me 500 taels of silver!" Mr. Gu was excited as he spoke about the 500 taels.

"Oh? Such good ginseng is indeed worth that much; this time he wasn’t stingy. And what about the honeysuckle?"

Mr. Gu initially didn’t want to mention the honeysuckle, as Doctor Li had given him less than Manager Liu, and in fact, Manager Liu had added five wen per jin for the ginseng’s sake. He feared Doctor Li might misunderstand and think he was complaining, so he didn’t bring it up, but he didn’t expect Doctor Li to ask. As they were old acquaintances, he couldn’t lie.

"Oh! He gave me 100 wen per jin out of consideration for the ginseng sale," Mr. Gu hesitantly admitted.

Unexpectedly, Doctor Li wasn’t angry; instead, he laughed heartily. "Brother Gu, there’s no need to feel embarrassed. Manager Liu is the manager of a medical hall, with plenty of silver, so giving you a bit more is nothing. I’m just a village doctor and can only offer less, as long as Brother Gu doesn’t mind it being too little."

Gu Chengyuzi had been observing Doctor Li’s expression, and he could tell he wasn’t really angry, being a generous and broad-minded person. Hmm! He was quite satisfied!