Chapter 271

Jiang Mingyuan watched the direction the donkey cart had gone, a faint warmth rose in his eyes.

But when he turned to the Gu Clan Elder, his gaze was calm as water, already showing no trace.

"Gu Xixi is indeed extraordinary; although she is a daughter, the Gu Clan still has an heir."

"As long as everyone follows her obediently, whether we become rich and noble later depends on each person's fate, but to make our present days better and better, I think there is considerable hope."

The Gu Clan Elder stroked his beard and laughed, "You don't need to say these; I, an old man, can see them too."

"I don't want to hear you say this; you've been clever since childhood, don't you know I specially summoned you for what purpose?"

Jiang Mingyuan fell silent, facing the Gu Clan Elder's piercing gaze.

He knew he could not avoid it, so he feigned helplessness and sighed, "Elder, please don't joke with me."

"Gu Xixi already has a fiancé."

The Gu Clan Elder said, "That lad has already run away."

Jiang Mingyuan laughed, "You're just trying to amuse me; just now I heard people talking, a few days ago at their village Tudimiao, Mister Chen entrusted someone to bring something to Gu Xixi."

"They are on good terms."

The Gu Clan Elder snorted coldly, "Whether he's good or not, he's still an exiled criminal who committed a crime!"

"Whether he has registered his reform or not, even if he is now a commoner, being exiled to Xi Bei in the first place was a serious crime! Unknown origins, who knows what bad deeds he did in the past?"

"He is also a rootless outsider; aside from having studied and being good-looking, what qualifies him for Gu Xixi?"

Jiang Mingyuan stared, "Elder, you've inquired quite thoroughly."

The Gu Clan Elder said, "Gu Xixi is the hope of our Gu Clan; since I know this, I naturally must worry for her."

Bringing this up, the Gu Clan Elder grew angry and sneered, "Gu Xixi's grandfather, great-grandfather, and her third uncle—each one more useless than the last!"

"Such a capable lass, they don't offer more guidance or help from the side, neglecting what should be cared for; instead, they resent others' success and trip them up everywhere."

"If it weren't for them lacking the demeanor of elders, Gu Xixi's marriage could have fallen to that unknown-background exile criminal."

"Why has our Gu Clan long failed to flourish?"

"It's all because of these useless good-for-nothings, incapable of proper work, full of scheming against their own kin!"

Seeing the Gu Clan Elder grow angrier the more he spoke, Jiang Mingyuan hurriedly advised:

"Now it's not just a matter of your discerning eye recognizing pearls; from now on, it's also a case of the willows darkening, flowers brightening."

The Gu Clan Elder nodded angrily, "That's the reasoning; the previous incidents already show Gu Xixi has her own opinions. Don't look down on her youth; since she became the person in charge, whenever major issues arise later, she will surely suppress those who love to gossip."

Jiang Mingyuan smiled, glanced left and right, and said softly, "It seems you've been managing affairs these years and are thoroughly fed up?"

The Gu Clan Elder was amused by the teasing, "Some things you just need to know in your heart; don't always say them out loud, making yourself seem overly clever!"

He glanced sideways at Jiang Mingyuan and said, "You ought to be more promising."

"This match that I, an old man, have taken a liking to, will shortchange neither of you."

Jiang Mingyuan gave a wry smile, "Elder, I thought we had drifted off topic; why are you bringing this up again?"

The Gu Clan Elder stared at Jiang Mingyuan, "Don't you like Gu Xixi?"

Jiang Mingyuan answered truthfully, "It's not quite that; upon first seeing Gu Xixi, I indeed admired and respected her."

The Gu Clan Elder said, "That's right; as long as you have the intention to get close to her, feelings will naturally develop."

"But she..." Jiang Mingyuan still wanted to argue his point.

"What 'but' is there!" the Gu Clan Elder glared, "In appearance and learning, do you think you're inferior to that surnamed Chen criminal?"

Jiang Mingyuan helplessly, "This isn't necessarily about having to compare superiority..."

The Gu Clan Elder said, "I've discussed this matter with your parents as well."

"When the time comes, I will handle the betrothal, uniting the two surnames; you need not become a son-in-law, and when we have children, half will take your surname Jiang, half will take Gu Xixi's surname Gu."

The Gu Clan Elder had long been troubled by the local Gu Clan's difficulty in prospering; as he grew older, he finally managed to secure Gu Xixi, a talented member of the Gu surname, which let him see hope for the clan's rise.

This year Jiang Mingyuan again passed the provincial examination, so the Gu Clan Elder turned his gaze toward Jiang Mingyuan and Gu Xixi.

Considering that Jiang Mingyuan, even if he grew closer, would still be an outsider surname, the Gu Clan Elder suddenly thought of a plan.

If these two could become husband and wife, one talented in farming and enriching the family, the other destined to enter officialdom.

With them, they would surely drive the entire Gu Clan forward.

Moreover, there is the saying that dragons beget dragons and phoenixes beget phoenixes; the offspring of two excellent people united will certainly be not bad.

Then, by separating out the Gu-surname heirs, the future of the local Gu Clan will be even more secure!

Although the Gu Clan Elder has his own private motives in this, his scheme may not necessarily come to fruition in his lifetime.

But he also genuinely wishes well for Gu Xixi.

After all, someone like Jiang Mingyuan, who at eighteen already passed both examinations and ranked top in both, in appearance, demeanor, character, learning, and even prospects, is hard to find even with a lantern throughout Xi Bei.

The Gu Clan Elder sincerely believes that Gu Xixi ought to be matched with the finest young man.

He despises Chen Fang for having been an exile criminal, and this is not merely picking faults; he is seeking excuses.

Yet the Gu Clan Elder still doesn't understand that the more outstanding the juniors he sees, the more they have their own ideas.

Marriage is a major affair; how could it be decided by just a few words from others?

Earlier at the banquet, Jiang Mingyuan and Gu Xixi whispered, yet deliberately kept their distance before everyone, fearing that any move would be noticed by the clan elder and other overseers, who would think they had something going and redouble their matchmaking efforts.

Finally, seeing the Gu Clan Elder's fantasies become ever more unfounded, Jiang Mingyuan had to adopt a serious tone: "I don't want to make things difficult for others, letting Gu Xixi feel embarrassed."

"She is now close to the Gu Clan to work, not to seek a marriage. Especially since she just became the person in charge, only after the millet harvest will she have finished her inaugural blaze upon taking office, truly winning people's hearts."

"Before that, if she senses your intention, do you think she will feel embarrassed or be hindered while working among the Gu Clan people?"

Although Gu Xixi has never explicitly said so, after Jiang Mingyuan's candid chat with her today, he feels she intends to undertake a great undertaking.

He then added firmly, "Or perhaps if you press too hard, she would rather relinquish this position and return to the past, keeping a clear boundary from the local Gu Clan."

The Gu Clan Elder was taken aback, and instantly all the wrinkles on his face furrowed.

"Exactly..."

What you said makes sense; this matter can't be rushed. That girl, in their village planting fruit trees, had said before: whoever is willing to work can stay, whoever isn't can leave.

If she isn't happy, she might very well just walk away and refuse to do it.

So we still need to take it slow; we must wait until she convinces everyone and settles into the role of person-in-charge, but...