"Ah Niu!"
Yang Fan made up his mind and called out to the outside of the screen. The servant, Ah Niu, was sitting on a stool outside the screen, looking after the fire. When he heard Yang Fan's call, he quickly ran in and stared at Yang Fan with wide eyes.
This servant came from the countryside and was illiterate. He was not qualified to be a servant, but he was honest and obedient. Yang Fan did not usually study, so he did not care about this. Yang Fan said, "Go and ask Miss Gu to come here!"
"Oh!" The little servant answered and hurriedly ran out. Yang Fan was determined to fight back. Firstly, he was worried that Shen Mu would take advantage of him. Shen Mu had quietly returned for more than a year. He must be on guard against him with ulterior motives. Moreover, he did not like the feeling of being schemed against. He especially did not like being manipulated by others.
Personality was something that determined a person's actions to a large extent. It was even more important than reason. When Princess Taiping wanted to make him her little lover, Yang Fan was disgusted and opposed it because of his personality. It was the same now.
Ah Niu hurriedly ran out of the study, but before he could step out of the courtyard, he bumped into someone's embrace. He looked up and saw a white-haired, burly old man with only one arm. The old man used his remaining arm to support him and said with a smile, "You brat, why are you so rash?"
The boy did not recognize the old man, but someone came out from behind the old man and asked with a smile, "Ah Niu, where are you going?"
When Ah Niu saw the person, he was delighted. He called out according to the countryside custom, "Eldest Aunt, Ah Lang asked me to look for you."
The person was Gu Zhuting. Gu Zhuting said, "My father and Second Uncle are going to see Ah Lang. Please go and inform them."
"Oh!" Ah Niu turned around and ran back. When Yang Fan heard that the Gu brothers had come, he pondered for a while and replied, "I know. Go and ask Miss Gu to come in first. As for the two elders, ask them to go back first. Tell them that I will visit them later!"
"Oh!"
Ah Niu turned around again and ran outside. By this time, Gu Zhuting, father and daughter, three people had already arrived at the veranda. Ah Niu stood still in the veranda and loudly said, "Gu Da Gu, Ah Lang said that he only wants to see you. Tell the two Uncles to go back first and wait. After Ah Lang has seen you, he will go and pay his respects to them."
Gu Zhang was very surprised. He looked at his brother and then said to his daughter, "Since Ah Lang has given the order, you go first. Your uncle and I will go back and wait."
Gu Zhuting nodded and stepped into the room.
Yang Fan guessed that Gu Zhang and his brother were here to talk about getting rid of their slave registration and their future living arrangements. He now wanted to strengthen his control over the Succession Hall and start a tacit contest with Shen Mu. This was the time when he needed people. The Gu family was very familiar with the situation of the aristocratic families and would be of great help to him. Therefore, he did not want to let the Gu family freely choose.
If he met them first and listened to their intentions, such as Gu Zhang wanting to sell date cakes and Second Uncle Gu wanting to carry a pole to sell vegetables, Yang Fan would not be able to stop them. Then, he would lose a group of extremely capable helpers. It would be better to talk to Miss Gu first and test her opinion. If the Gu family did not want to continue living on the edge of a knife, he could also make a request. At least, he would need them to help him get through this obstacle first.
"Oh, Miss Gu is here. Sit! Sit down and talk! "Seeing Gu Zhuting come in, Yang Fan stood up with a smile. Although he had the intention to use the Gu family, he had previously agreed to let the Gu family choose their own way of living in the future. Now that he wanted them to help him, it felt a bit like he was holding a debt of gratitude.
Feeling flattered, Gu Zhuting thanked Ah Lang and gently sat down on a seat nearby. She bit her lower lip and looked at her toes that were peeking out of the hem of her skirt as she said, "Ah Lang, I have discussed with my father and uncle about the future arrangements. I came here today to report to Ah Lang. May I know why Ah Lang has summoned me alone?"
Yang Fan's heart tightened and he said, "I have something to discuss with you. However, this matter isn't urgent. Tell me, what did your father and uncle decide? "
Gu Zhuting said, "This servant's father and uncle have discussed it carefully. I don't know if Ah Lang still needs people. Our family is willing to work for Ah Lang."
Yang Fan was delighted. He suppressed his joy and calmly asked, "Work for me? What do you mean? Hehe, my family has more than 20 shops in Nan City. It's still possible to arrange a few people. "
Gu Zhuting shook her head and glanced at Yang Fan. She said, "Ah Lang's kindness to my Gu family is as heavy as a mountain. My father and uncle have always wanted to repay it, but we can only use our flying eaves and vaulting over walls for Ah Lang's use. There's really nothing we can do to repay him. Therefore …
In the Hall of Succession, although Ah Lang had a lot of men at his disposal, they were, after all, involved with the seven big families, so he could not command them as if they were his own arms. Otherwise, when the Prince of Luling returned to the capital that day, Ah Lang would not have to personally take the risk, but he would not dare to use one of them.
The Gu family is willing to work for Ah Lang to repay his kindness. At the same time, I don't dare to hide it from Ah Lang. Although we don't practice martial arts, we were originally working as servants in the Cui family's manor. If we really ask them to leave and live alone in Luoyang, it won't be easy to find a job … "
Gu Zhuting smiled bitterly. She said, "Uncle is a gardener and disabled. No one is willing to take him in. As for my father, he only knows how to kill people and has never learned anything else. He's so old, but he doesn't know how to farm, work, or run a business. Yesterday, I thought about it for a whole day and couldn't think of anything else he could do other than this. But … "
Yang Fan didn't expect the Gu family's plan to coincide with his. He was overjoyed. When he heard Gu Zhuting say hesitantly, "But …", he hurriedly asked, "But what?"
Gu Zhuting said, "However, this agreement can only be limited to my father and daughter's generation. The next generation is still children. It's not too late to let them learn a hundred things now and have a proper life in the future. My Gu family is willing to be used by Ah Lang, but I hope that the Gu family's descendants can do something else. This life of licking blood on the edge of a knife is really … "
At this point, Gu Zhuting was on the verge of tears.
Yang Fan nodded solemnly and said, "Alright! To be honest, I've only been running the Succession Hall for a short period of time. There are some matters that I don't want my trusted subordinates to handle. Right now, I have an important matter that I need your family's help. Today, I asked you to meet me alone because of this. I didn't expect you to have the same plan. Since it's like this, let's go see your father. "
Gu Zhuting hurriedly stood up and said, "How could I dare to trouble Ah Lang? Your servant will go and call my father."
Yang Fan shook his head and said, "You can't! Remember, you're no longer anyone's slaves. Since I want to marry your father, I should go and pay my respects! "
Gu Zhuting was indescribably grateful. Her eyes were brimming with tears. Her knees went soft and she wanted to kowtow again.
Yang Fan hurriedly held her up and said, "I've already said it, why do you want to kowtow again!"
Gu Zhuting said, "Your great kindness, I really don't know how to repay it."
Yang Fan was helpless and could only shake his head and sigh. Once slavery was deeply rooted in one's bones, it was not something that could be changed just by changing one's identity.
…
Elder Gu and his brother walked back. The two of them walked in silence for a while. Suddenly, Gu Er said without any rhyme or reason, "Big Brother, I think what you said makes sense!"
Elder Gu was thinking about something and asked casually, "What did I say is right?"
Gu Er said, "It's that Xiaoting might have something going on with Ah Lang …"
"Oh …" Elder Gu touched his nose and did not say anything.
Gu Er said, "From the looks of it, our Xiaoting isn't just a burning stick. Ah Lang is also a little interested in her."
Elder Gu guessed, "That can't be right? With Xiaoting's background, how could she have such good fortune? "
Gu Er said, "That's why Ah Lang wants to help our family get rid of slavery. Think about it, it's not difficult for a master to help a slave get rid of slavery. However, it's a great favor to get a few slaves from someone else to help them get rid of slavery. That person is from the Qinghe Cui family. This favor is even greater. If it wasn't for something, would Ah Lang owe the Cui family a favor? Is it so easy to owe the Cui family a favor? "
Elder Gu was doubtful. He felt excited but was also afraid that it was all for naught. He said nervously, "In the end, isn't it just your wishful thinking? Maybe it's because Xiaoting has done him a great service and Ah Lang is a person who rewards meritorious deeds. That's why he gave us such a great favor. "
Gu Er rolled his eyes at him and said, "Brother, don't look down on yourself too much. Our family doesn't have a great background, but if we get rid of slavery, we'll be good people in the future. Our family doesn't have much status, but with Xiaoting's looks, she can be Ah Lang's concubine, make his bed, and serve his food. It's not considered climbing up the social ladder, right? "
Old Man Gu said, "Little Ting is quite handsome, but it's a pity that she's a little old. With Ah Lang's current status and wealth, isn't it a piece of cake for him to get a few thirteen or fourteen-year-old girls as his concubines? Especially since Ah Lang is so young and handsome … "
Gu Er said impatiently, "Then tell me, why did Ah Lang ask us to go back first and visit you later? Right now we are still Ah Lang's slaves, is there a need to do this? With such thorough etiquette, there must be something to it. I think although the concubine's father can't be considered a proper father-in-law, Ah Lang is a well-mannered man, so he didn't want to neglect us. "
"Hmm …"
Elder Gu began to agree with his idea. He stroked his beard and was secretly delighted.
Gu Er fully unleashed his imagination and continued to analyze, "You said that as soon as Ah Lang returned, he didn't even go to the back courtyard but went to the study to see Xiaoting. What does he mean by visiting you right after? I guess Ah Lang wants to tell you that he wants to take Xiaoting as his concubine. "
Hearing this, Elder Gu panicked and said, "Then … if he tells me, what should I do?"
Gu Er said, "You can be a good father-in-law!"
Elder Gu hastily said, "You can be a good father-in-law, of course you can be a good man. This is a good thing that is hard to find. If our family can really climb up the social ladder … I mean, if son-in-law comes to visit me, what should I do? "
Gu Er said, "You go back first and change into new clothes. When son-in-law comes, we'll act according to the circumstances. Don't agree so easily, you must be a bit reserved so that you won't disgrace our Xiaoting. You must speak tactfully, don't annoy Ah Lang and ruin our Miss's affair. "
Elder Gu panicked and said, "Speak … I don't know how to speak, Xiongdi. All my life I only know how to kill people, I don't know how to speak. How about … how about you speak on my behalf? "
"What are you talking about? You are Xiaoting's father! You are not dead, yet you are still standing here, who do I think I am? Let's go back first and think carefully about how to answer Ah Lang. "
The two brothers, one with only one arm and the other with a lame leg, could be said to be crippled by heaven and the earth. They excitedly returned to the guest room arranged for them, waiting for the new son-in-law to visit them.
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