CHAPTER 44: CHAPTER 40 NIGHT TALK

Gu Chengyu saw that everyone looked pale and somewhat helpless, so he could only sigh. The ground was still a mess, and no one was tidying up; it looked like nobody could handle things. Mrs. Fang clutched her collar, wishing she could shrink her face back into her neck, while Gu Chengli also looked flustered and at a loss. He supported Gu Chengyi, still wiping her tears, but at least she wasn’t wailing anymore. It seemed that Mrs. Gu had given them quite a fright.

Gu Chengyu instructed the younger ones to tidy up the ground, and he also went to help. The farm kids were quick with their hands and feet, and it didn’t take long to set things right. Seeing that Mr. Gu hadn’t returned, he reckoned he had gone out some distance. Observing everyone looking listless, he urged them to return to their rooms to rest, using the excuse that Gu Chenglian and Gu Chengchi’s mother was exhausted, persuading them to leave and discuss things tomorrow. Today wasn’t suitable for conversation; discussing matters that could be resolved tomorrow now would only lead to more conflict.

After everyone had returned to their rooms, Gu Chengyu glanced at Mrs. Lv lying back on the kang, her eyes closed. At this moment, she seemed extremely tired, her brows furrowed, her breathing somewhat heavy, appearing not to have calmed down completely.

"Mother!" Gu Chengyu had never seen Mrs. Gu like this, so lacking in vitality, and felt a pang of heartache. He went beside her, grabbing her hand, and found it slightly trembling.

Upon hearing her youngest son call her, Mrs. Lv opened her slightly red eyes. Seeing Xiao Bao looking at her worriedly, she assumed he was scared and forced a weak smile, patting Gu Chengyu’s head. Gu Wan, having long forgotten about being angry, gathered around the kang.

Looking at her two children, Mrs. Lv paused. "You must remember, brothers not born of the same mother are bound to have some differences. Among the family, your second brother is the most calculating, though it doesn’t show usually, I’m afraid he might scheme against you in the future; you must stay vigilant. Your eldest brother, though honest, is of little use in critical matters, you can’t count on him for big issues. Your father is getting old, and I’m afraid he won’t be able to manage things in the future. I originally planned to find apprenticeships for your third and fourth brothers, so they could learn skills and earn money, without being said to be supported by the eldest and second sons, so they could also help you in the future. You’re still young, if not for brothers, who else could you rely on? Who would have thought so many things would happen?"

Gu Chengyu understood Mrs. Gu’s intentions, knowing that in caring for her own children, she would inevitably wrong others. His second brother planning for himself was only natural. It’s hard to say who was right or wrong; perhaps both were right or wrong, depending on the perspective.

The sound of the courtyard gate opening came, indicating Mr. Gu had returned. Mrs. Gu sent Gu Wan to ask Mrs. Fang to boil some water for washing up before resting.

Gu Chengyu was only five years old. Mrs. Gu initially disagreed with him sleeping separately, but was headaches by his insistence. Thinking the weather was warming and it wasn’t cold, she hung a curtain on the right side of the kang and placed a small bed. Even so, the first several nights she wasn’t at ease, checking on him several times. As for sleeping in a separate room, that was even more impossible. Lately, seeing Gu Chengyu sleeping soundly, she stopped getting up to check.

Gu Chengyu knew that tonight Mr. Gu and the others would definitely discuss things, so entering the space would have to be delayed. During the day, he couldn’t enter the space; even at night, Mrs. Gu checked on him several times, leaving little time for cultivating inner strength, martial arts moves, qinggong, and sword practice—all these needed to be prioritized. Gu Chengyu lay still on the small bed, closed his eyes, and after a while, pretended to be asleep, while actually entering the space with his consciousness.

Indeed, Gu Chengyu had acquired this ability at two years old. His consciousness could enter the space alone and manipulate objects within, but activities like drinking from the Spiritual Spring, bathing, and cultivation required physical presence.

Over the past five years, the space had undergone significant changes. The farmland was full of crops, nearly ripe. Over these years, the grains grown in the space had gone through countless harvests, and if not for the Jiezhi Space as a granary, they’d have nowhere to store it. Decided to pause planting until they used up the stored grains; they grew too much to consume all. The pitiful Gu Family still survives on pickled vegetables, radishes, dark porridge, and cornmeal buns, often left hungry, while the space’s grains stay untapped. Alas! Gu Chengyu seldom sneaks in to feast, indulging only occasionally, as eating alone doesn’t feel pleasant; knowing Mr. Gu and others eat poorly makes his own food tasteless.

There was also a variety of fruits, initially picked enthusiastically, but later left untouched, growing unattended yet remaining fresh.

Taking a detour to the herb field, the medicinal plants thrived; having harvested ample ordinary herbs, he paused gathering, waiting to plant more as needed. The oldest Purple Ganoderma and ginseng were left to grow, surrounded by numerous offspring seedlings spawned from fallen seeds. He searched among these for a smaller ginseng. Judging by eye, it knotted age could be around a hundred years. Unsure what such older ginseng valued in this era, a century-old wild ginseng might fetch hundreds of taels, right? Those too aged best not to display.

Identifying the ginseng, he refrained from picking it, planning to do so the next day. He then went to the study, where he had sorted books useful in business undertakings, pondering what enterprise the family could engage in.

Browsing the shelves briefly, he couldn’t settle on a plan, mainly due to the unviability of some ideas. One moment’s thought revealed money from women’s products is easiest to earn; he could possibly make lip balm or face powders. Also, he forgot a major asset upon traversing: soap-making! Gu Chengyu hadn’t encountered soap yet, the Gu Family relied on wood ash for washing, and only rarely did his mother use bath beans, which are precious. She’s mentioned their secret recipe.How he saw soap beans were small flattened porcelain boxes, resembling and sized similar to lip balm containers, costing 300 wen each. If he could produce soap or perfumed soap, profit seemed attainable.

Yes! There’s also foodstuffs—green bean cake, red bean cake, beauty cakes, jujube-yam cake, etc., all mentioned in books, was an option too. Oh, he could make cakes, not too difficult. Considering all this, many potential money-making ventures emerged. However, implementing them required insights from Gu’s father and Mrs. Gu, best to inquire in the town or even county. Only then could he discern profitable sales or existing items.

His gaze turned to a cupboard of medical books, realizing their necessity—not for elaborate mastery, but at least for common ailments. Most crucially, knowing medicinal herbs allowed for harvesting and selling, or perhaps growing them. At this thought, Gu Chengyu’s eyes lit up; didn’t Doctor Li often collect herbs on the mountain? It seemed he should find an opportunity to connect with Doctor Li, seeking guidance on herb gathering locations.

He just picked up a medical book for a detailed study when he heard Mr. Gu and Mrs. Lv conversing outside the space. He set the book down, delaying his reading for later.