CHAPTER 288: CHAPTER 219: TALKING BUSINESS AT THE GUESTHOUSE (PART 2)

The patriarch and the elders came and said that if your grandfather’s branch didn’t bring in a son-in-law, they’d have to adopt. However, if they were to adopt, it could only be from the concubine’s side. Besides, if they were going to adopt, it would have happened long ago; who would still agree?

Your grandfather declined several times. Seeing that he was about to pass away, coincidentally, that’s when your father returned to the Gu Family. Your grandfather saw through the allure of money, and even your father and mother couldn’t resist the pressure from the relatives. On his deathbed, he repeatedly told us younger generations to go far away and never come back.

After he passed, your grandmother always blamed herself, for she regretted not having given birth to a son. At this time, those relatives visited again, blaming her incessantly for holding onto your grandfather, not allowing him to take a concubine, which worsened his illness until she collapsed.

Your father and mother had to deal with those relatives while also taking care of the bedridden old lady. Those people were relentless, no longer speaking of bringing in a son-in-law, but emphasizing adoption. Other than having a good name and befriending a few scholars, your father had no background in Jiangnan. There was some in Beijing, but distant water doesn’t quench present thirst, and there’s always more embellishment than genuine help in a crisis throughout history.

Besides a few family friends busy helping your father with official matters, who could have foreseen issues arising in the in-laws, the Gu Family? In Jiangnan, your grandfather had some connections, but they were all scholars. When they tried to intervene, the Gu Family said it was their own family matter. Even when your Grandpa Cheng went to find the Gu Family patriarch, he too said that as he was merely a foster daughter, he couldn’t be counted as part of the Gu Family. They had their family rules where the main line shouldn’t be cut off, unless your father got adopted. But the Zhou Family only had your father’s bloodline, how could he be adopted out?

Your Grandpa Cheng, after repeated efforts, managed to persuade them to agree that once your father and mother had a second son, they would adopt him to the Gu Family. This stopped the relatives from forcing adoption. However, they wouldn’t give up the opportunity to cry poverty, and rumors spread that all the Gu Family’s wealth belonged to the main house, with gossip circulating.

Just as your grandfather said, the family did not help but looted amid chaos. Throughout the years, countless relatives were saved and helped by your grandfather. Yet, once he passed away, those ungrateful people stood by, gloating over others’ misfortune.

By the time your Grandpa Cheng heard about bandits forming gangs at the door, apart from a few of your father’s scholar friends, there was no one else willing to help. Even those from the side houses of the Gu Family, who held positions in the government, distanced themselves or even pushed the matter further down. After your grandmother also passed away, the main house of the Gu Family became a piece of meat coveted by everyone.

If it weren’t for being forced into a corner by those people, how would we have deceptively faked deaths and left in a hurry, abandoning everything? Sadly, we hadn’t followed your grandfather’s advice to go abroad at that time, otherwise, my sister and brother-in-law might not have died young."

Zhou Xiaozheng remained unchanged in expression upon hearing this, nodded gently, and asked, "Aside from the branch in Beijing, how is the Gu Family’s clan doing in the old family home nowadays?"

Old Mrs. Cheng sneered disdainfully, "When one pushes even their own family, how can they expect kindness from others? Many are dead, many scattered. No need for revenge; besides a few households that remain, all have met their comeuppance. Even those few will eventually meet theirs."

Mr. Cheng chuckled helplessly and turned to the important topic, "Alright, let’s talk about the next step. After we go into the ancestral hall, we must first inform those above, and the most important thing is to make public those donation documents. This document in our hands must be disclosed; otherwise, rumors about the Gu Family remain a hidden danger. Apart from what the sister donated, the Gu Family’s property should still exist, but now with people gone, clues are lost too. So Xiaozheng, the Gu Family really has nothing left except the old house. My sister-in-law and I will handle all these matters of the Gu Family, but you have to go around with me so that people know that there is still someone from the Beijing Zhou Family."

Old Mrs. Cheng recalled the scene before Gu Mingzhu’s death, painfully closing her eyes, "At that time, the sister must have wanted to tell me something, but I was too stupid, only thinking that she couldn’t just leave, and wondering where the child was, not thinking about anything else. Well, gone is gone, as long as the child is well."

Zhou Xiaozheng nodded in agreement upon hearing this, "Money is an external thing, it’s okay if it’s gone. Nowadays, we do not rely on ancestral fortunes to live."

Mr. Cheng listened and smiled with relief, "That is the right mindset. Our ancestors came from poverty; you youngsters will restore the family tradition someday."

Cheng Sijin was planning the itinerary and said, "So elder brother, when do you plan to leave? The day after tomorrow, we can still take a military plane back."

Zhou Xiaozheng calculated in his mind that he wouldn’t make it for the child’s full-month celebration. Jiao Jiao had promised to return to Beijing by the end of the year; there was nothing urgent currently, so after considering, he said, "The day after tomorrow works. In the meantime, I will settle Jiao Jiao and go back with you. The child’s full month is on the twelfth; I won’t make it, so we’ll celebrate when the three of them return to Beijing at the year-end."

Mr. Cheng looked over towards his wife, seeking her opinion.

Old Mrs. Cheng, after hearing, said, "Jiao Jiao and the three of them must also go to Beijing to pay respects to her biological grandparents. We’ll discuss it after seeing the child tomorrow."

Seeing that they had talked nearly enough, Cheng Sijin pulled his father out, "Elder brother, why not open the box now and take a look, you and mother can have a good talk."

After they left, Zhou Xiaozheng bent down to open the box and saw the neat arrangement of notebooks, letters, a pocket watch, and a pen, his eyes turned red.

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath upward to calm himself, then gently touched them with his hands. Afraid of mishandling, he wiped his hands with a handkerchief and carefully picked up the topmost yellowed letter, listening to his aunt’s explanation, as if scenes from the past vividly reappeared.