Chapter 451: What a Confucian Merchant

Gu Mu’s eyes shone with approval. “It’s true—cultured people speak so well. That’s right, that’s the phrase: ‘Fate brings people together from a thousand li away.’ Isn’t that destiny? Qingzhou liked her, and she liked him too.”

His young wife was also the one she had chosen; Gu Mu’s face beamed with perfect satisfaction.

Huang Xiulan said, “Qingzhou is handsome, a skilled technician, and has a house allotted by his unit—anyone with good eyesight would take him.”

Lin Zhao nodded in agreement.

“In our Gu family, whether boy or girl, finding a match is never hard,” she said.

Zhao Liuniang couldn’t help herself. “But none of them actually have the heart for it.”

Gu Chan laughed. “My two are the same—not one of them is easy to manage. Let them be. When they’re ready to marry, they’ll find someone themselves. No matter how much we nag, it’s useless. Better to relax and let them be.”

The table was set with candies, pastries, and fruit.

Lin Zhao peeled a banana and ate it, no longer joining the conversation. She was easygoing, never desperate for grandchildren, and couldn’t relate to her sisters-in-law’s urgency.

Nearby, Gu Qingzhou was surrounded by his brothers, all asking him about his wedding.

They asked whether he was ready, whether he needed anything, whether he wanted help.

Gu Qingzhou naturally denied it. “Nothing’s missing. I prepared during holidays—I’ve got it mostly done. You just need to prepare your gift money.” He half-joked.

Gu Yuanshan clicked his tongue. “No wonder you’re the family’s best accountant, little fourth.”

“That’s right,” Gu Yucheng said with a smile. “Little fourth, you didn’t give us gift money when we got married.”

Before Gu Qingzhou could reply, Gu Zhihang spoke up. “Uncle didn’t escape the gift money, but he never skipped giving us New Year’s money. We owe Uncle gift money.”

“Hengbao really stands up for his uncle,” Gu Yucheng laughed, addressing his eldest and third brother.

Gu Yuanshan smiled. “When all four of you were little, you grew up on Qingzhou’s back. The age gap between uncle and nephews wasn’t big—your bond is naturally deep.”

Gu Zhihang quickly said, “Big Uncle and Second Uncle are my real uncles—I’m close to you too. But Uncle’s the groom, he’s the most important. We all need to make way for him.”

His tongue was truly skilled—whatever he said made people feel warm inside.

“You’re right. On Little Fourth’s wedding day, he’s the most important,” Gu Yuanshan said.

Gu Qingzhou tilted his chin slightly, slinging an arm around Gu Zhihang’s shoulder. “Zhihang, you’re truly my good nephew.”

He boasted to the family. “Zhihang says he’s giving me a big color TV for my wedding.”

He only told the family this because he knew his nephew had already bought it.

“Wow, big spender, Boss Gu,” Gu Yucheng teased.

Gu Zhihang immediately said, “If there’s a wedding in your house, Second Uncle, I’ll give you one too.”

Gu Yucheng loved listening to the radio and didn’t care much for TVs. Hearing his nephew’s words, he felt pleasantly satisfied.

“Alright, if I need it, I’ll tell Boss Gu,” he said, his smile deepening, fine wrinkles gathering at the corners of his eyes.

Gu Yuanshan and Gu Yucheng had lived through hard times. After things improved, they’d skimp on everything else—but never on their mouths. Over the years, both had grown much fatter, now radiating the air of wealthy patriarchs.

After Hengbao’s business grew, the Gu family began calling him Boss Gu or Little Boss Gu.

At first he felt uneasy, but after a while, he adapted perfectly.

The New Year’s Eve dinner was prepared by the men of the house. For years, the Gu men had honed their cooking skills just for this day. Whoever failed to finish their dish would be looked down upon—and forced to eat it all themselves.

Lin Zhao and the others had set up a table to play mahjong.

Gu Yu, having heard from Yaobao that Gu Zhihang had bought a sleek motorcycle, stared with sparkling eyes.

She came downstairs and found Gu Zhihang. “Brother Zhihang, I heard you have a motorcycle. Can I take a look?”

Gu Zhihang was always kind to his cousins. “It’s parked outside. Go ahead.”

Gu Yu cleared her throat and said bluntly, “I want to ride it.”

“No license, no ride.”

“I have a license.” Gu Yu pulled out her license—she had come prepared.

Gu Zhihang took the license and examined it carefully—it was real. He looked at Gu Yu. “Why did you even get this? Few girls take this test. Didn’t you suffer?”

“Nope! Passed on the first try!” Gu Yu bragged. “It’s real—I’d never fool anyone with a fake. Brother Zhihang, let me ride once. I’ve never actually ridden it since I got the license.”

Gu Zhihang couldn’t resist her persistence and handed her the keys.

“Go slow. It’s the New Year—don’t ruin everyone’s mood.”

Gu Yu took the keys happily. “Don’t worry. When have I ever done anything dangerous? I care more about my life than anyone.”

“Come back for dinner,” Gu Zhihang called after his excited cousin as she dashed outside.

“Got it!”

Zhao Liuniang saw Gu Yu leaving and called out, “Yuyu, dinner’s almost ready—where are you going?”

“Just outside.”

Seeing Lan and Yaobao were with her, Zhao Liuniang didn’t stop her daughter—let her enjoy herself.

Yaobao noticed Gu Yu’s riding had a different kind of beauty—she was utterly dazzled.

When Gu Yu pulled up to the door, Yaobao clapped and cheered, eyes shining brightly. “Fish-sis, you ride so well! You look even more handsome riding than you do normally!”

Gu Yu’s lips curled upward. “Really? When I save enough money, I’ll buy one of these myself. Then I’ll take you for rides every day.”

“Yes! Yes!” Yaobao exclaimed happily.

Feeling today was worth remembering, she asked, “Fish-sis, do you want to take a photo? I’ll go get the camera.”

“Yes!” Gu Yu said at once.

Every New Year, the Gu family took a group photo—they owned a camera.

Yaobao immediately fetched the camera.

Gu Yu sat on the motorcycle, one leg on the ground, long hair fluttering freely, left hand holding her helmet, posture relaxed.

Click.

“Done,” Yaobao said, oddly thinking her cousin looked better with short hair. “Fish-sis, I think you’d look better with short hair.”

“I think so too. But long hair isn’t bad—it’s just a different style,” Gu Yu said confidently.

“Right,” Yaobao nodded.

Gu Lan reminded her. “Yuyu, lock the bike. Dinner should be ready soon.”

“Got it.” Gu Yu locked the bike and pulled her cousins back inside.

For the New Year, the mansion was decorated festively—red window paper, bright floral arrangements… everything looked vibrant and prosperous.

…

After the New Year passed, Gu Qingzhou’s wedding day arrived.

When Gu Qingzhou had entered university, he had taken unpaid leave. After graduation, the factory recommended him to a state-owned factory in Haicheng—he was now Comrade Gu.

His fiancée was from the Haicheng Theater Troupe, named Zheng Yue. Her family background was good—both parents were workers, now retired, receiving generous pensions, spending afternoons sipping tea and listening to symphonies… life couldn’t be more comfortable.

The couple had only one daughter. They asked nothing of their son-in-law except that he treat their daughter well.

Before their daughter brought Gu Qingzhou home, they had already heard of Comrade Gu’s reputation.

They liked him very much.

They had once sighed, wishing their daughter could bring home a man like him.

Who knew—her dream had come true.

The wedding was held at a grand hotel in Haicheng.

Almost every guest could be named—attendance was truly impressive.

Lin Zhao’s family sat below, clapping warmly as they watched the bride and groom on stage.

“Auntie looks so beautiful today,” Yaobao’s hands ached from clapping, her lovely face flushed with excitement.

“There’s no ugly bride. Your uncle looks sharp too—handsomer than ever,” Lin Zhao mimicked Yaobao’s pose, tilting her head.

“Uncle’s the most handsome,” Yaobao said proudly.

Gu Chenghuai: “Cough…”

Yaobao heard the sound and quickly added, “Dad is the most, most, most, most, most handsome—no one compares.”

She whispered, careful not to let her second brother hear, who was talking to Zhi-li.

Lin Zhao: “...”

The Zheng family met all of the in-laws and learned that the groom’s third brother was a senior officer in the military district. Seeing his eldest and second brothers, they realized they had business ties with several restaurants; their wives ran shops, all capable. And the younger Gu generation—each one extraordinary.

Zheng relatives asked Zheng Mu, “Yueyue’s mom, does that young man have a girlfriend?”

Zheng Mu followed her finger and saw the eldest son of the groom’s third brother. The young man’s father was a high-ranking official, his mother a published illustrator, rumored to be from the Lin family. His siblings all attended top universities; he himself was a pilot.

No family without deep roots would dare suggest a match like that.

“Of course he does,” Zheng Mu said firmly, fearing the relative wouldn’t let it go.

“What about the one next to him?” the relative asked again.

Zheng Mu looked again—she meant the second son of the groom’s eldest brother. “They all do. The Gu kids are all college graduates—how could they not have partners? They’re all classmates.”

The relative’s face fell with regret. But since it was Zheng Yue’s wedding, she didn’t press further—only felt it a pity.

Another asked Zheng Fu, “Does that girl have a boyfriend? She looks about twenty—surely she doesn’t?”

Zheng Fu looked—she meant Yaobao.

“Yaobao hasn’t graduated yet—she’s not suitable for your son,” he cut in before the relative could press further. “Her father is a combat hero, now a senior officer in the military district. She has three older brothers, each more capable than the last. Do you know who her mother is? Her mother is from the Lin family. Yes, you heard right—the Lin family you know.”

“...”

After hearing this, the Zheng relative gave up on matchmaking Yaobao to his son.

“...Yeah, definitely not suitable. Forget it. Let’s eat.”

Even one of their ordinary relatives could crush them with a single stomp—they dared not provoke them.

The Gu family didn’t know any of this gossip.

If Huang Xiulan or Zhao Liuniang had heard, they might have agreed—just meet, make a friend, no harm done.

……

After attending their younger brother’s wedding, the busy brothers Gu Zhiyu and Gu Zhiqian returned to their units to cancel their leave; Xiang Yaobao, who also had matters to attend to, left with her two brothers.

Lin Zhao and her husband stayed at the Gu household for several days, then returned to the Lin ancestral home; her seat had barely warmed when Lin Heling said, “Zhaozhao, do you have anything this afternoon? If not, come with me to burn incense for your great-grandfather.”

“Sure.” Lin Zhao paused, then agreed without asking why.

Though she didn’t voice it, her eyes betrayed unmistakable curiosity.

Lin Heling explained voluntarily, “Du Sheng is dead. We’re going to tell your great-grandfather this good news.”

“Mm, we should indeed inform him.” Lin Zhao asked no further—this man should have died long ago; it was a waste letting him live so long.

Even at his death, Du Sheng felt no remorse or shame—he only regretted having lost by a single move.

Victory goes to the winner.

Lin Laoyezi died by his own hand—he was the loser; Du Sheng fell into the hands of the Lin family—he too was the loser.

It was all fate.

He only cursed himself for not fleeing before the Lin family returned. Sigh—he truly should never have underestimated his enemy.

He was too arrogant.

Du Sheng secured a final meeting with his family, revealed the locations of his hidden treasures, then faced death calmly.

What he didn’t know was that the wealth he had acquired through dirty means would never reach the Du family’s hands.

Those valuable items had already been moved before the Du family even arrived.

The money was later used for road repairs and upgrading Haicheng’s police equipment.

The Du family: “...”

Lin Fu always knew how to kill with words. He kindly arranged for someone to tell Du Sheng that the Lin family, in the name of Lin Laoyezi, had donated all the money—thanks entirely to Du Sheng’s “contribution.”

Du Sheng spat out a mouthful of old blood, his body curling into a hunched shape.

He burst into wild laughter. “Hahahaha! So cruel! Merchant of Confucian virtue—what a true Confucian merchant! Killing without drawing blood!”

He died with eyes wide open.

Du Sheng had been the most accomplished of the Du family; after he was imprisoned, their standard of living plummeted, younger relatives were bullied, and ignorant children gave them nicknames like “True Greedy Du” and “Du the Parasite...”

They could barely endure life in Haicheng, thinking they might still recover—only to learn Du Sheng’s savings were gone and he himself was gone.

For days, the Du family could muster no spirit.

When they finally came to their senses, they lost even the jobs they had once looked down upon.

The Du family: “...”

Helpless, they chose to leave Haicheng.

Their house belonged to their unit—they couldn’t sell it. The whole large family felt utterly hopeless.

Back to square one.

How they entered the city, so they returned—except the villagers they had offended would never forgive them; they didn’t know how they’d be mocked upon returning.

Each member of the Du family wore a sour face, their steps heavy as lead.

The relatives of Du Sheng’s long-dead first wife, witnessing this scene, finally felt the blockage in their chests lift.

They laughed loudly and freely, drawing stares from passersby.

“The Du family—this is what they deserve! Heaven has finally opened its eyes!!”

Seeing the familiar faces filled with hatred, the Du family grew fearful, covered their faces, and hurried away, afraid they’d be beaten.

Those years, they had truly provoked too much hatred—who could have imagined the world would change so fast? If only they’d known...

The Du family all knew Du Sheng was cruel—he entered the city through his first wife’s connections, then looked down on her once he became successful, took mistresses, and drove her to death with his cruelty; when she died, her eyes remained open, filled with bone-deep hatred—anyone who saw it would have nightmares.

Now.

The wheel of fortune has turned.

After over a decade of good fortune, returning to hardship—they didn’t know if the Du family could survive it.

Survival was impossible. Du Sheng had made countless enemies; with him gone, the Du family would bear the brunt of their rage. Any hope of revival? Completely gone.