Chapter 847 - 850: Dispute

Chapter 847: Chapter 850: Dispute

Seeing that everyone in the courtyard was family, Gu Wenheng finally began to speak slowly.

"I assume everyone has heard about what happened yesterday.

"This isn’t a major issue in itself; brothers having disagreements, fighting, and cursing at each other is something that usually passes.

"But you need to realize what time it is. The mourning period for our elder hasn’t even passed yet. Do you want your future descendants to bear a bad reputation?

"Don’t give me that dismissive look," Gu Wenheng said, pointing at the young men below. "Do you think just because you aren’t taking the imperial examinations, these things don’t matter?

"But what about your descendants? Right now, there are already a few promising students in our village’s clan school. If these children were to come from your families, wouldn’t you consider their futures?"

Hearing this, Gu Yuanjin and his brothers all sat up straight. Previously, they had felt that gathering everyone together was making a mountain out of a molehill. After all, who hadn’t been in a fight? Even they, as blood brothers, used to scrap frequently when they were young.

But now, hearing Gu Wenheng’s words, their expressions turned solemn.

They might not have the talent or ability, but what if their grandchildren did? With their granduncle, Old Seventh, as a role model, and with the family’s financial situation improved enough to hire a tutor—plus Old Seventh’s personal guidance—it was entirely possible for a second official to emerge from their ranks.

Old Seventh alone had brought so much glory to the clan. Who wouldn’t want to see this kind of glory manifest in their own descendants?

Gu Yuanjin looked at the culprits, feeling that making these two boys kneel for a single night as punishment was letting them off easy. He stood up immediately, pointing at Le Di and Gu Lejia. "You two, come here and kneel!"

By this time, Le Di and Gu Lejia were filled with bitter regret. Fighting might have felt good in the moment, but now they had completely lost all their face and dignity. Under the gazes of their elders, brothers, and nephews, the two knelt there with their faces flushed red, unable to even lift their heads.

Seeing her husband subjected to such humiliation, Song Xiuyang felt completely disgraced. "They are already brothers who have divided the household. Seventh Uncle is taking this a bit too far."

Although her voice wasn’t loud, Xie Yuewei, who was standing in front of her, heard it clearly. Since there was already the previous grudge of her trying to snatch her son, Xie Yuewei naturally wouldn’t tolerate her.

"We are all one family sharing the Gu name, but since you don’t know how to read, sister-in-law, I suppose you wouldn’t know that.

"For the sake of our children and grandchildren, we have to plan things out early, rather than just acting on impulse.

"This time, if Gu Lejia hadn’t struck first, my husband wouldn’t have even bothered to pay him any mind."

Song Xiuyang understood the implication. This was mocking her for being illiterate and childless. A wave of grievance washed over her. Her eyes turned red, and tears fell continuously. "What sins did I commit in my past life to marry into the Gu family..."

"Shut up!" Xie Ruyi, who was standing at the front, suddenly turned around and glared fiercely at this daughter-in-law. She was the real source of all this trouble. If only her belly had been productive, these conflicts wouldn’t exist at all. Yet she still had the nerve to make a scene here.

The one who had truly committed a sin was Gu Lejia. For the sake of a woman like this, he had incurred his Seventh Uncle’s disgust and caused so much trouble. Now their whole family had become a joke within the clan, and she still dared to cry foul.

At this moment, Song Xiuyang threw caution to the wind and caused a total uproar. "Don’t all of you just look down on me? Isn’t it just because Gu Lejia and I haven’t had a son or a daughter? Is this all my fault? If you really can’t tolerate me, give me a letter of divorce, or just take a concubine for Gu Lejia directly!

"I’ll agree to it all. Will that suffice?"

Everyone was stunned. They hadn’t expected Song Xiuyang to be so unreasonable and hysterical this time.

Xie Yuewei laughed from the side. "Song Family, the clan rules of the Gu family have really become your shield and talisman. If you have the guts to say these words so righteously in a few years, then I will truly admire your courage."

Everyone realized then that Song Xiuyang was clamoring like this because she knew they couldn’t do anything to her.

"Song Family, shut your mouth! Haven’t you embarrassed us enough?" Xie Ruyi gritted her teeth, feeling another wave of headaches coming on.

"I didn’t say anything wrong! You constantly use my inability to bear children as a talking point, but have you ever considered my feelings?

"Besides, it might not even be my problem. I’ve already seen a doctor, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with me. If you have the guts, let Gu Lejia see a doctor too!"

To have a child, Song Xiuyang had even traveled to the Prefecture City. Although the doctors there had been hesitant in their words, none of them had directly declared that she was barren.

Everyone’s eyes turned to Gu Lejia, causing his newly faded blush to flare up into a bright red again. He even felt his second older brother beside him cast a sympathetic glance his way, but this wasn’t what he wanted at all.

Xie Ruyi suddenly slapped Song Xiuyang across the face. "Keep your mouth shut! My Gu Lejia has no problems; I’ve taken him to see a doctor myself."

At this moment, it was impossible for Xie Ruyi to watch her son fall into such an embarrassing situation. She said through gritted teeth, "Even if the clan rules protect you now, once you reach the age, you will still have to obediently step aside and make room!"

As for the matter of adoption, she no longer wanted to consider it. Just as her younger sisters-in-law had said, doing so wouldn’t be good for the child. Even if Gu Lejia truly couldn’t have children when the time came, it would be better to adopt a child from the outside than to adopt a brother’s child. This time, the conflict between the brothers had woken her up to reality.

"Heh, I knew you all thought like this. For so many years, you’ve all looked down on me. I’ve been well aware of it in my heart." Song Xiuyang suddenly glared at Jin Qianqian, who was sitting in the front. "Certain people find me an eyesore. To curry favor with her, you naturally won’t give me any good looks. No matter how much I do or how well I do it, you’ll always despise me."

Jin Qianqian had a look of utter bewilderment. How did this matter even drag her into it?

At this moment, Li Cuicui slammed her hand heavily onto the table and said loudly, "Eldest daughter-in-law, is this how you discipline your daughter-in-law?

"In front of her elders, where does she get the nerve to yell and scream like this?

"She claims people look down on her, but she doesn’t reflect on what she’s done all these years! Even an old woman like me who minds her own business can’t stand the sight of it, let alone the other people in the village.

"If you don’t know how to teach her, then this old woman will lend you a hand when the time comes."

Xie Ruyi felt her face flush hot with embarrassment. "Mother, they’ve long since divided the household and live on their own. I..."

Li Cuicui turned her head to look at her sons, asking loudly, "You brothers have also divided your households and live on your own. Does that mean this old woman can’t control you anymore either?"

Gu Yuanjin hurriedly stood up and said, "Mother, these women don’t know how to speak properly. Please don’t get angry with them."

Gu Wenheng looked at the two kneeling on the ground and asked coldly, "Having a fight might have felt satisfying for you, but look at all this resentment. How is it going to be quelled?

"You can’t even handle your own household affairs, yet you still try to one-up each other. Is this what you’ve learned over all these years?

"Raise your heads and look. Look at the disappointment in your elders’ eyes. Can you really feel at peace?"

Gu Wenheng knew that this incident was definitely instigated by the women in the inner courtyard, but he wouldn’t stoop to bickering with them. After all, the ones who truly handled affairs and called the shots on the outside were these grown men.