Published at 24th of November 2024 1:46 am

Chapter 133: 104 Baby (First update)

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

When Marquis Gu and Huang Zhong returned to the villa, hobbling and limping, it was already late at night.

They wanted to return earlier, but for several hours, they couldn’t budge.

When Gu Jinyu saw the two men covered in wounds, he couldn’t help but wonder, “Dad, Guard Huang, what happened to you guys?”

Marquis Gu was too embarrassed to tell the truth and grumpily said, “We had a car accident.”

Gu Jinyu froze, “What happened to the carriage? Why would there be a car accident?”

Marquis Gu glanced at Huang Zhong, “Huang Zhong was drunk driving.”

Huang Zhong: “…”

They say trouble always comes looking for you, well, here it is!

Gu Jinyu furrowed his brows, “Guard Huang, why were you drinking?”

Huang Zhong glanced at Marquis Gu, “Marquis Gu made me drink.”

Marquis Gu: “…”

—

At the end of April, the ten-day holiday of Tianxiang Academy arrived. Gu Xiaoshun, who had been living in the dormitory for many days, could finally go home!

Even though he wasn’t in the village, he knew exactly what was happening at home. To be precise, as long as Little Monk knows, he would know too.

Because since Little Monk started private school, the three of them would have lunch together daily.

Little Monk’s private school originally provided lunch, but he couldn’t eat it because it had pork fat. Xiao Liulang had no choice but to bring him out to eat.

Since they are brothers, he naturally would not leave one out.

In his private school, Little Monk was a quiet kid who rarely spoke. But in front of Gu Xiaoshun, he transformed into a little chatterbox, babbling on and on about the entire house’s affairs.

When Gu Xiaoshun first heard that Gu Jiao was the wrong child they brought up, he was so shocked that he could hardly stand. Then, hearing that the young master of the Marquis Residence moved in, Gu Xiaoshun was almost about to faint from surprise!

Little Monk was clearly unhappy with this sudden rival, Gu Yan, who was now competing for attention in the house, his words filled with helpless undertones.

“But, there are some bright sides too, you have your own room now, and you can stay at home from now on!”

Gu Xiaoshun cheered up pretty quickly.

No wait, he was always quite cheerful.

Gu Xiaoshun was not a child who craved attention. He was neither sensitive nor delicate, and people’s jealousy and envy went straight over his head.

Perhaps it was related to the environment he grew up in, where he was always the overlooked one, the one whose heart gradually numbed. Therefore, he did not develop the possessiveness that Little Monk and Gu Yan had.

Probably for this reason, Little Monk was very accepting of Gu Xiaoshun.

Once home, Gu Xiaoshun met Gu Yan.

“Wow…”

Little Monk had been complaining about Gu Yan for the past few days, but never mentioned that Gu Yan was indeed very good-looking.

Gu Xiaoshun was transfixed.

Seeing Gu Xiaoshun looking so simple-minded, Gu Yan quickly came to the conclusion that he was not a rival to be worried about, and took a liking to him.

Though he was a bit jealous that Gu Xiaoshun had grown up with Gu Jiao, he was still grateful for his companionship during the loneliest days of Gu Jiao’s life.

He even took a beating for Gu Jiao.

That’s solid camaraderie.

Gu Yan clapped Gu Xiaoshun on the shoulder, a brotherly gesture, but before he could say, “From now on, we’re brothers,” he felt his hand going numb…

Darn it!

Was this big lug’s shoulder made of iron?

So hard!

The pampered Gu Baobao’s palm instantly turned red…

Gu Jiao went to fetch water.

“Jiaojiao! I’ll go too!” Little Monk quickly grabbed his mini yoke and small wooden bucket, picked them up and went off with Gu Jiao to fetch water.

Gu Yan also wanted to go.

He could only manage to lift Little Monk’s mini yoke and small wooden bucket, but that would be too embarrassing, wouldn’t it?

Gu Yan tried to lift the wooden bucket lying next to the water vat but couldn’t budge it after a long while.

Gu Xiaoshun said, “Let me do it!”

Gu Yan asked, “You’ll fetch water for me?”

Gu Xiaoshun thought to himself, I just need a bucket for fetching my water, but if you want to put it that way, sure!

Thus, Gu Xiaoshun “helped” Gu Yan fetch water.

Having been made to do all the hard labour by Mrs Liu while growing up, Gu Xiaoshun’s strength had no way of dissipating except by fetching water vigorously!

Watching Gu Xiaoshun dumping bucket after bucket of water into the vat, Gu Yan’s lips curled up in satisfaction.

It was water fetched by Gu Xiaoshun; it was his!

After merely looking at Gu Xiaoshun, Gu Yan’s perception improved significantly. Then, during a meal, when he and Little Monk were both waiting for Gu Jiao to serve them food, there was only one sweet potato ball left.

“Give it to Xiaoshun!” he said generously.

“Mm.” Little Monk nodded seriously, he had no objections.

After the meal, Gu Jiao cut some fresh fruit, leaving only one piece once again.

Gu Jiao hated having to decide who to give the last piece to, so she’d normally plan everything beforehand. However, today Gu Xiaoshun came home and disrupted their normal dining routine.

In the past, the elder and younger ones would have started arguing over who Jiaojiao should give the last piece to.

But today–

“Give it to Xiaoshun! He hasn’t been home for these past few days; he should eat more!” Gu Yan said generously again.

Xiao Jingkong responded with a nod, still without an opinion.

Gu Xiaoshun felt that Gu Yan was quite nice, not like Xiao Jingkong described. He felt he should reciprocate and be more concerned about him.

Gu Xiaoshun looked at Gu Yan, “Are you comfortable living at home?”

When he said “home”, it pleased Gu Yan, who smiled, “Very comfortable! Our rooms are very close!”

We can visit each other frequently!

“So you live at the back…” Gu Xiaoshun thought differently than Gu Yan, “Who do you play with when I’m not here?”

With one sentence, he stumped Gu Yan.

Gu Xiaoshun continued, “What do you do during the day?”

Indeed, what does Gu Yan do during the day?

Gu Jiao was busy with the mountain affairs, and was seldom home during the day. If she was home, Gu Yan would tag along with her, but what if she wasn’t?

When Xiao Jingkong was at home, Gu Jiao never worried about what he did during the day. He was a child with solid plans, had many peers in the town that he could play with.

The old lady often stayed home alone too, but Gu Jiao didn’t worry about her either.

She could play with dogs, chat with Xue Ningxiang’s mother-in-law, narrate stories to villagers. Her life was even more exciting than Gu Jiao’s.

But Gu Yan was a very introverted person.

He found it hard to blend in with the young people in the village.

He had been here for several days, and he hadn’t even stepped out of the front door.

He was someone waiting for death since birth. Unlike Xiao Jingkong, he couldn’t find things to keep himself busy. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to but that he really couldn’t do many things.

The situation that scared him most was the sudden silence…

However, Gu Xiaoshun hadn’t sensed the tense atmosphere at all.

“Don’t you feel bored?”

Strike one!

“Actually, you could hang out with Zhu and the others during the day. But with your soft and tender skin, you probably can’t blend in with them.”

Strike two!

“We don’t have any land for you to farm…”

Strike three!

“I’m sure you’re not good at helping me with my chores. The work is heavier than you can handle.”

Strike four!

“Ah? Right! Since you’re this good-looking, why aren’t you studying?”

Strike five!

Gu Yan collapsed on the chair, his soul all but flown away!

What does being good-looking have to do with studying?

I thought you were my bro, but you turned and stabbed me in the back!

Gu Yan never dreamt that such a situation would arise.

He hated studying.

When he was in the Marquis Residence and the villa, his family hired tutors for him. But he either came late or left early or slept through the class. Because of his weak health, the tutors didn’t dare scold him and couldn’t control him. In the end, they just gave up.

The villa had resident tutors, but the total number of days they spent teaching him in a year did not even reach two weeks.

In Xiao Xiaoshun’s words, he was a slacker!

Gu Yan looked at Gu Jiao with a pitiful expression, hoping his eyes could convey: He didn’t want to go to school, no no no!

Gu Jiao didn’t object to Xiao Jingkong going to school before, so she certainly wouldn’t object to Gu Yan. Plus, his health was quite stable now, so studying wouldn’t be a problem.

In everything else, she could indulge him unconditionally, but going to school was non-negotiable.

Gu Jiao ignored Gu Yan’s imploring eyes, “You’re grown up, it’s time for you to go to school.”

In his heart, Gu Yan screamed: No! I am still a baby!

Gu Jiao began discussing Gu Yan’s schooling arrangements seriously with Xiao Liulang.

Gu Jiao said, “I hope he can stay with you as much as possible, so you can help each other. Tianxiang Academy and Xiao Jingkong’s private school are both good options.”

“Let’s go with the private school.” Xiao Liulang decided after some deliberation.

Getting into Tianxiang Academy was difficult. Xiao Liulang could ask Headmaster Li to get Gu Yan in, but the real challenge would be after he got in.

Most of the students in Tianxiang Academy had a good academic foundation. At the very least, all were child students and the majority were scholars, so the learning pace was fast and the atmosphere intense. Gu Xiaoshun was an exception. He was carefree and unaffected, but Gu Yan might not be.

Gu Jiao also preferred the private school. She turned to Xiao Jingkong, “How’s your private school?”

Xiao Jingkong said earnestly, “It’s really good! The teachers are talented and virtuous! Their lectures are especially lively!”

The teachers, who got cursed by Xiao Jingkong every now and then, were speechless…

The private school was not as academically rigorous as Tianxiang Academy, but it also didn’t have as much academic pressure. It was suitable for Gu Yan, who couldn’t stand a high-pressure environment.

Gu Jiao found this arrangement perfect!

“What do you think?” Gu Jiao asked Gu Yan.

“Can I say no?” Gu Baobao asked weakly.

If the Marquis had arranged for him to study, he would have torn all the old man’s antique paintings to shreds! But he couldn’t bring himself to be angry with Gu Jiao. He loved her so much, how could he raise his voice to her?

Gu Jiao pondered, then nodded, “Then let’s ask a different question. Do you want me to send you to school, or do you want your brother-in-law to?”

Gu Baobao: “You send me to school!”

Hmm? Seems something isn’t quite right?

Share