Chapter 43 - 39: Turning the Table - Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity - NovelsTime

Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity

Chapter 43 - 39: Turning the Table

Author: Flying Waterfall
updatedAt: 2025-07-01

CHAPTER 43: CHAPTER 39: TURNING THE TABLE

Gu Chengyu looked around, observing the expressions on everyone’s faces. Gu Chengli looked bewildered, as if he still couldn’t believe he really had to do conscription labor; Mrs. Fang was also at a loss, a typical housewife with no opinions of her own; Da Lang remained silent, glancing worriedly at his father; Da Ya was expressionless, this girl had been like this ever since she recovered from her illness, uninterested in anything except doing work, Gu Chengyu speculated she might have autism; the other three little girls were just following the development, somewhat confused; Gu Chengyi was vaguely anxious, and the nervous expression on He’s face was especially obvious; the two little ones, well! They didn’t understand anything, only knew how to eat.

After observing, Gu Chengyu also had an understanding in his heart. The eldest family was loyal and honest, only followed the household arrangements, even if Gu Chengli was sent, Mrs. Fang would only cry, the only one who might resist a bit was Er Ya Gu Lan; the second family feared this task would fall on them, eagerly waiting, hoping their father would agree.

Gu Chengyu looked at his father again, only to see him touching his smoking pipe but not smoking, just staring at Gu Chengyi, making Gu Chengyi lower his head.

Suddenly, there was a clattering noise. Upon further inspection, it turned out Mrs. Lv had overturned the dining table, with dishes and soup spilled all over the floor, breaking several big bowls, then she grabbed a small bamboo basket used for sewing from the bed and threw it in Gu Chengyi’s direction. Everyone was stunned and hadn’t reacted yet, even Gu Chengyu was taken aback. By the time he wanted to stop it, it was too late.

There was a sound of a chair falling, followed by a scream, "Dad, what’s wrong with you? Murder! Mother-in-law wants to kill someone!"

"Dad!" The second son shouted anxiously. The other younger ones turned pale with fright.

Even Gu Wan, who was stubbornly refusing to eat, came out of the room upon hearing such a commotion.

"Quick, help the second one up, see if he’s hurt?" Mr. Gu stood up hurriedly, giving orders in quick succession. After speaking, he shouted at He: "Second family, keep quiet, if you don’t want to stay here, then get out!"

He was also so angry that he felt a bit dizzy, "What are you doing? Can’t you talk it out?" Turning around he saw Mrs. Lv with bloodshot eyes, panting heavily, glaring fiercely at the second son. Mr. Gu was taken aback, "Jin Niang!"

Mrs. Lv ignored Mr. Gu, "Second, do you want to exchange ten taels of silver for my son’s life? How old is the third? Only fourteen, and you can bear to let him go? Isn’t this sending him to his death? You dare to scheme against my son? What kind of thing are you? You think with a little cunning you can take others for fools. I don’t normally want to bicker with you and your wife, otherwise, do you think you can hide anything from me? I’ve turned a blind eye to it, but it seems to have grown your ambition. If you dare send my son for conscription labor, I’ll dare to go to the government office and accuse you of being unfilial. Try me if you don’t believe it?"

Gu Chengyi had been helped up by Gu Chengli, hand holding his head, blood seeping through his fingers mixed with the dust on his face from when he fell, indeed looking quite miserable. Gu Chengyu glanced, unsure if it was serious, if it was really badly hurt, what to do? Moreover, it would sound bad when word got out, his mother was indeed too impulsive. Signaled Da Lang to come over and hurry to get Doctor Li.

Gu Chengyi, covering his forehead, possibly due to the injury, spoke weakly. "Mother, how could I think like that? I was thinking how much silver the family could produce, then see who else we could borrow from, submit it, and repay slowly afterwards."

"Dad, if I didn’t mention the third, I’m afraid the family wouldn’t be willing to pay silver to replace us. I and elder brother still have wives and children to support, repairing the river bank is dangerous, you all know that. I don’t know if we go, whether we’ll return. Should our wives and children be left for brothers to take care of? How many years can they possibly take care?"

Gu Chengyu suddenly felt these words were particularly helpless, and quite heart-wrenching too.

Gu Chengyi raised his head, pleading with Mr. Gu with his eyes, the blood mixing on his face made him seem particularly miserable. Gu Chengyu’s heart felt heavy, like a huge stone was pressing on it, making it hard to breathe.

Closed his eyes slightly, not wanting to see anymore, he paced into the yard. By now, it was dark, the moon hung like a large dish in the sky, the bright moonlight making the small path outside the yard clearer. Actually, sometimes in life, choices are forced upon us! Gu Chengyu took a deep breath, looking at the far and undulating Changling Mountain, just wait, tomorrow, he would change the current situation.

Outside the courtyard, there were hurried footsteps, Gu Chengyu took a look in the moonlight, it was Da Lang bringing Doctor Li. He hurried forward to welcome them in.

Doctor Li, before entering, had already learned from Da Lang who was hurt, though not the reason. Upon entering, the sight of a blood-covered face startled him, put down the medicine chest, and asked for a basin of water to be fetched to clean and check if the wound was deep.

There was no hot water at the moment, Mr. Gu instructed Da Ya to bring over a basin of clean water. Doctor Li simply cleaned Gu Chengyi’s wound, and checked carefully.

"There shouldn’t be much trouble, it’s just a long scrape, the wound isn’t deep, just the bleeding is alarming, I’ll apply medicine and bandage it, it needs to be redressed every other day, after changing twice, the scab should form." Doctor Li upon entering saw the mess on the ground, and noticed some blood on the edge of a small basket, had a sense of it, though unaware of the reason. This Gu Family was in a troublesome period, two matters in the afternoon had stirred up quite a fuss, and now another issue tonight. Alas! What could a farming family have? Isn’t it mostly for the sake of money?

"Brother Li, really sorry, calling you over so late, how much is the medicine?" Mr. Gu also felt embarrassed, had the doctor over during the day for the fourth, now again for the second, his family requiring medical attention twice in one day.

"These medicines I picked from the mountain, but there’s one main ingredient to buy from the shop, an estimate of three applications would be about a hundred wen. Just nice, you still have three taels of silver with me, I’ll deduct from that, if it’s not enough, you can add later, if more, it will be refunded to you." Doctor Li tidying up the medicine chest, thinking surely the silver wouldn’t be enough, allow the Gu Family more days if they couldn’t repay later.

"In the future if it’s not enough, Brother Li just let me know, I trust your character. Have you had dinner? If not, have some at my place..." Mr. Gu was about to invite Doctor Li to eat, an acquaintance visiting at meal time would usually be courteously offered a meal, out of habit. Then suddenly remembered the table had been overturned, what meal would remain? His expression turned somewhat awkward.

Doctor Li wasn’t oblivious, even if he hadn’t eaten, under these circumstances wasn’t suitable to stay for dinner. "Had dinner, it’s late, I’ll leave now, next time we’ll have a drink together, I’ll come tomorrow to apply medicine for the fourth."

"Then I won’t be courteous, let’s drink another day, I’ll see you out." Mr. Gu said he’d see him out, but walked ahead.

Doctor Li, seeing this, knew Mr. Gu had something to say, didn’t refuse.

Gu Chengyu knew he definitely wanted Doctor Li to keep it quiet. Doctor Li seemed quite understanding, also upright, he wasn’t concerned, what should be worried about now was his mother.

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