Chapter 383: Scholars, Farmers, Artisans, Merchants

Gu Sen frowned and looked at the mother and child; the woman's eyes grew more panicked, and the child tucked his neck, trying to hide behind his mother.

Jiang Lai felt an innate fondness and tolerance for the child, bent down to meet his gaze, and said lightly, "Don't worry, you can always call her aunt."

It was meant to soothe the child, but the mother's lips turned white.

What good is calling Gu Yinxue aunt?

Gu Yinxue is just a photographer; the fame brought by her resources and connections is all thanks to the Gu family, built with money.

Jiang Lai is different; relying on her own strength she has reached her current position, causing the old master to step in personally, making a big show to invite people back home, which will bring many blessings to the younger generation.

Jiang Lai making her son forever call Gu Yinxue aunt is just refusing to acknowledge this nephew, isn't it?

"Jiang Lai, when I go back I'll properly educate him," the woman pulled her son out, shouting, "Call aunt."

The child seemed a bit stubborn, refusing to call.

Seeing the woman about to trouble the child, Jiang Lai hurriedly said "It's fine," and walked straight ahead.

Gu Sen said, "That's the Jia Tree from your second uncle's family."

Gu Jia Shu.

Jiang Lai had seen this name on the relationship chart; he is the direct grandson of her second uncle Gu Hai, also the only beloved grandson.

Entering the hall, there were fewer people inside than in the courtyard, some standing, some sitting; the old master sat high on the main seat, all the Chinese furniture in the house stood quietly, making the sense of oppression even stronger.

Everyone's eyes immediately fell on Jiang Lai and Ke Zhongyu, a silent stare.

Though it was a newly renovated modern Chinese style, the doors and windows were bright, light poured in, the outside also had greenery, and there were many plants inside, yet Jiang Lai found it hard to breathe.

The Gu family exuded an invisible suffocating feeling everywhere.

"You're back," the old master placed both hands on his cane, his authority like a mountain; he turned his head to Gu Sen, "Call everyone into the house, let Jiang Lai meet them, then we'll go to the ancestral hall to offer incense."

Gu Sen looked toward Gu Hui standing at the doorway.

Gu Hui quickly summoned the courtyard people inside; once almost everyone had entered, he saw Song Shiwei, Gu Zhiyan, and Gu Yinxue, and stepped forward, "Sister-in-law, hurry up, the old master is already calling people inside."

Song Shiwei, supported by Gu Yinxue, said lightly, "Got it."

In the end she couldn't stubbornly resist Gu Sen, and after a son‑and‑daughter's persuasion arrived late.

Others, seeing them, voluntarily stepped aside to indicate they could go forward.

Jiang Lai stood in the middle of the hall, luckily there was still a Ke Zhongyu beside her.

She glanced sideways with her peripheral vision; families were seated fully, some stood near the door, and if a child couldn't stand, an adult would hold them.

A three‑year‑old little girl stood wobbling; her mother tried to pick her up, but the girl shook her head and refused, very sensible.

"Is there a small stool?" In such a solemn and imposing atmosphere, Jiang Lai's single sentence broke the silence, asking something no one expected.

The old Gu gave a glance, and someone brought a round chair.

Jiang Lai, holding it with one hand, came to the little girl and indicated, "Sit here."

The little girl opened her big, fluttering eyes, clutched her mother's arms tightly, trying to pull her mother to sit.

The mother gave an apologetic look to everyone, then said to Jiang Lai, "It's okay, you don't have to sit. I'm Gu Jin, this is my daughter Youyou. Youyou, call auntie, and thank auntie."

Youyou bent her upper body half, lifted both little arms high, stuck her bottom up, and shouted loudly, "Thank you, auntie!"

It was just too cute.

"Alright, Youyou, sit," Jiang Lai reached out to pat her head; the little one lifted herself, stood on tiptoe and planted a kiss on Jiang Lai's face, startling Gu Jin, who rushed for a tissue for Jiang Lai, fearing the child's saliva would smear her face.

Jiang Lai took the tissue, gently wiped Youyou's mouth, "I have makeup on my face; children shouldn't kiss freely."

Youyou obediently said "O‑o" twice.

Jiang Lai simply picked her up and sat her on the chair; Youyou felt sorry for her mother, kept trying to pull her mother onto the seat, but Gu Jin dared not, only lowering her eyes and softly coaxing her daughter to sit.

Jiang Lai's action stirred many waves in the Gu family's hearts; they looked at each other, not knowing what anyone was thinking, yet no one spoke.

Gu Sen looked at Jiang Lai, his gaze growing ever more kind.

Ke Zhongyu's eyes twitched with a faint smile at the corners.

The old Gu said nothing to Jiang Lai, focusing on business; his gaze swept all present, and his solemn voice fell: "Jiang Lai is Gu Sen's daughter; a parent‑child DNA test was done twenty‑eight years ago in a G Province hospital, and she was mistakenly held by Gu Yinxue. Mistakes must be corrected, and Gu family children cannot be left out. Today's family‑recognition banquet is also Jiang Lai's homecoming welcome feast."

The old master was old, his breath weak, speaking slowly; after each sentence he paused before continuing.

"These years Jiang Lai has lived rough outside, yet her Gu family spirit remains; she clawed her way from the welfare institute to study under the late Academician Cui, became the chief engineer of the nation's first self‑developed chip, then co‑founded the Three‑Domain project with the Ke clan, and was invited by A Da to serve as associate professor."

"Jiang Lai brings glory to the Gu family," the old master praised, nodding, his gaze landing on Ke Zhongyu, "Jiang Lai and Ke Zhongyu are now a couple; good things come in pairs."

He then turned to Gu Sen, "Introduce your daughter to the family; now that you're back, get to know the relatives, and the relatives should also get to know each other, don't go out and let the flood wash away the Dragon King Temple."

After speaking, he had someone bring a stool for Ke Zhongyu.

Actually the old master was quite surprised; Ke Zhongyu is usually the most imposing wherever he goes, yet today, accompanying Jiang Lai back, he restrained himself a lot, never pressing Jiang Lai, instead standing silently like a bodyguard.

Jiang Lai is not only talented, but also adept at handling men.

Gu Yinxue really can't compare a bit.

"Jiang Lai, this is your eldest uncle," Gu Sen first introduced Gu Kai's family, then introduced his own younger brother Gu Hai, "These are your second uncle and second aunt, cousin brother and sister‑in‑law, Jia Tree."

After introducing the closest blood relatives, the others were introduced one by one according to seating.

Jiang Lai had already seen the family relationship chart, so she knew roughly; besides politics, the Gu family also has people deeply farming in the desert, and this person's seat was also near the front.

After the introductions, the Gu family marched grandly to the ancestral hall; originally Ke Zhongyu as an outsider could not go, but an exception was made.

Anyone could see the old Gu's intention to bind the Gu and Ke families together.

At the hall, Jiang Lai found everyone's positions had changed; no longer grouped by family, and Jiang Lai, who knew little, felt a bit chaotic, and this "chaos" persisted through the ancestral incense offering and the family feast.

Four round tables were set in the courtyard; Jiang Lai was taken to the head table, but Ke Zhongyu was not; he had to sit at the third table with Gu Sen's group.

Jiang Lai frowned.

The old master saw this and said, "Zhongyu, step forward and sit."

Ke Zhongyu sat beside Jiang Lai, turned his head and whispered in her ear, "I'm riding your light; in the Gu family I can sit at the main table."

Jiang Lai whispered, "I know the Gu family follows rules and order, but I can't quite understand it."

Ke Zhongyu picked one person from each table to introduce the other's occupation and social standing: "Main table, what does your second uncle do?"

Politics.

"What does the paternal uncle at the second table do for a living?"

Manufacturing.

"What does Gu Zhiyan do?"

Lawyer.

"What do your father and Gu Hui at the third table do?"

Commerce.

The fourth table is women and children.

Ke Zhongyu again spoke about the main table: "Others not mentioned, this paternal uncle who plants trees in the desert—what does he do?"

Agriculture.

Ke Zhongyu: "Do you understand?"

Jiang Lai's eyes gradually cleared, and she softly uttered four words: "Scholar, farmer, artisan, merchant."

The Gu family has actually always maintained a traditional strict hierarchical system.