CHAPTER 750: CHAPTER 750: SCOLDING

Xu Chongfeng was right, the Gu Family truly is a fortunate household. Previously, Gu Jincheng was studying under Xia Gu, and just as Xia and his wife left, he encountered Master Ouyang. With just a few words, Master Ouyang agreed to stay and teach Brother Cheng.

"It’s not fair, it’s not fair, how can it be this unfair?" County Magistrate Zheng was both envious and jealous, but he couldn’t force Master Ouyang to accept his own Brother Qing as a student, and could only fret helplessly.

Brother Cheng is an extremely sensible child, and he gets along well with Zheng Qing. After spending some time with Ouyang Hu, he mentioned Brother Qing: "Brother Qing is very well-behaved. Teaching me alone is all the same as teaching another; why not call Brother Qing over so you can teach us together?"

Although Ouyang Hu felt Brother Qing was somewhat dull, teaching him as well wouldn’t hurt.

However, he did not agree right away but spent a few days matching wits with Brother Cheng. After being unexpectedly outsmarted by Brother Cheng twice, he finally agreed to let Brother Qing come and study with them.

County Magistrate Zheng was very pleased upon hearing this, and was so excited that he couldn’t sleep that night, consulting with his wife on what gifts to prepare for Master Ouyang as a gesture of apprenticeship.

As a result, they stayed up all night, and the next day, with dark circles under his eyes, brought a plethora of gifts to offer, but Master Ouyang refused to accept any. He said, "It’s just teaching some knowledge, why bring so many things? I wouldn’t even know where to put them all. Take them back, or else take Brother Qing back with you."

County Magistrate Zheng was terribly frightened and quickly replied, "It’s the younger generation’s vulgar taste. I will certainly take these vulgar items back and not taint your discerning eyes."

To his surprise, Master Ouyang responded: "Do you take me for Xia Gu? I’m not refusing these items because I’m putting on airs; I feel that teaching your child is merely a minor affair and doesn’t warrant such grand gestures. Bringing a cartload of gifts is not only cumbersome, but I might not even like the items you sent. It really is adding legs to a snake — thoroughly unnecessary."

After saying that and letting out a cold snort, County Magistrate Zheng was scared out of his wits, wiping cold sweat in the dead of winter and apologizing profusely, and Mrs. Zheng also hurriedly made amends.

In any case, the day Brother Qing started studying with Ouyang Hu, County Magistrate Zheng was almost frightened to death, fearing that Ouyang Hu would dislike his son and refuse to teach him.

Fortunately, in the end, Brother Qing was allowed to stay.

Because of the opportunity for Brother Qing to study with Master Ouyang, County Magistrate Zheng was extremely grateful to Brother Cheng, now treating him as if he were his own nephew.

Mrs. Zheng was the same, whenever there was anything delicious at home, she would always have Brother Qing bring a portion for Brother Cheng.

However, Brother Qing really wanted to tell them that Brother Cheng’s family owns Yanfu Building, and he really isn’t lacking in good food.

But Brother Qing didn’t want to upset his mother, so each time he would bring the food his mother prepared for Brother Cheng.

He brought some today as well, and now he is waving at Brother Cheng, signaling him to come over and eat.

Brother Cheng trotted over.

"I’m back, everything went smoothly," Gu Jin’an responded to the earlier words of Ouyang Hu.

Scholar Shang also bowed to Ouyang Hu: "Wenyuan pays his respects to Master Ouyang."

Master Ouyang was in a poor mood, simply nodding his head in acknowledgment and continued looking into the distance.

Gu Jin’an followed Ouyang Hu’s gaze to see the waterfall that was so frozen that its water couldn’t flow, instantly understanding what was troubling Master Ouyang.

He started to laugh, pulled out the prepared house and land deeds, and handed them to Master Ouyang with both hands: "Master Ouyang, my family has a shop with a residence at the back in the town. We don’t need this property, so I’m selling it to you now, and you can demolish it however you like."

Master Ouyang instantly perked up upon hearing this and took the deeds, saying, "You’re quite clever, young man. Then I will not stand on ceremony. But rest assured, when I pass away, this property will be sold back to your family at the price I paid, and not to anyone else."

Qingfu Town was small, but densely populated, therefore it was difficult to buy houses there.

Brother Cheng laughed and said, "Grandpa Ouyang, are you trying to tell Big Brother not to sell it to you at too high a price?"

With a thud, Ouyang Hu knocked on Brother Cheng’s head: "That is exactly what I’m afraid of. What, can’t I be worried?"

Brother Cheng, holding his head, laughed: "It’s natural for Grandpa Ouyang to worry, but rest assured, my big brother is the best, especially kind to the elderly, and won’t charge you too high a price."

Ouyang Hu glanced at him: "Can’t you go a day without praising your big brother?"

This Brother Cheng truly admired Gu Jin’an greatly, almost every day he had a bundle of good things to say about Gu Jin’an, to the extent that his ears were forming calluses.

Gu Jin’an cut straight to the chase and said, "Although houses in the town aren’t expensive, most cost around one hundred to two hundred Silver, and the most expensive wouldn’t exceed five hundred Silver, but this property is newly refurbished, not small in size, and even has strange stones and famous flowers in it, so how about three thousand Silver?"

Xia Gu, styling himself as a Madman, disdained the Wan Family’s small property and over three years, purchased three neighboring residences to expand the Xia Mansion, now benefitting his family cheaply.

Ouyang Hu nodded in agreement: "Paying three thousand Silver for this property is indeed just right. You’re capable indeed, possessing a clever mind."

Gu Jin’an smiled and said, "I wouldn’t dare claim to have a clever mind, I just want to ensure you reside comfortably and stay longer, which would benefit my family."

Master Ouyang laughed heartily, and said to Scholar Shang: "This disciple of yours is truly exceptional, steady yet agile, mature but with the vigor of the youth, very good, very good, you’ve taken a fine disciple."

Seeing how Gu Jin’an handled the matter and even sent him two hams, he decided to lend him a hand.

Gu Jin’an was very grateful, but Scholar Shang said, "Wenyuan is not actually Brother An’s mentor, just his tutor, the Gu Family has provided tuition fees, and Brother An should pay obeisance to officially take a mentor."

However, Master Ouyang frowned and scolded, "Shang Wen Yuan, do you realize using such words can hurt the child’s feelings? Initially, I wanted to teach Brother An and even purposely asked him if he wished to accept me as his mentor. Brother An said he had already chosen his mentor in his heart, although a Scholar, he treated him like a son, and he regarded the Scholar as a father."

"I ridiculed him then, saying taking a mere Scholar as a mentor would be of no use given his abilities. But he said, finding a famed teacher is easy, but finding a mentor who treats him like a son is hard. As for the path of officialdom, he would walk it on his own, without needing a mentor’s protection."

Ouyang Hu, looking at Scholar Shang said: "The young man has already spoken such words, are you still going to refuse him? Observing your articles, you, too, have a broad vision in your heart, why must you be so humble?"

Scholar Shang, scolded to shame, said, "I just want Brother An to have a good mentor who can ensure his official path is smooth."

"No need." Gu Jin’an immediately knelt down, and said to Scholar Shang: "Master has imparted teachings to me, treated me like a son, and that is the mentor I have always desired. Please accept me as your disciple."

He then looked up at Scholar Shang and said, "Returning this time, I’ve noticed Master has aged a lot, and I know Master is worried about Yuanyuan’s future. I wish even more to formally take you as my teacher, to rightfully take care of Master in the future, and support Yuanyuan."