Chapter 64: Gu Family, Mother and Daughter

Evening passes, morning comes.

Time flies.

At the time the morning sun rose, a merchant convoy slowly entered the city.

Inside the city.

A woman in faded clothes, looking about thirty or forty years old.

She was leading a girl about twelve or thirteen, washing clothes by the river.

The little girl had bright eyes and white teeth, enviously watching the children playing not far away in the alleys.

But she knew that because of her status restrictions, she could not join the children's play; she could only watch from afar.

"Aunt Gu, you've come to wash clothes so early."

Not far away, an old woman carrying a wash tub likewise came over, smiling and greeting Xu Xin Zhu.

Xu Xin Zhu rolled up her sleeve, wiped the sweat from her forehead, and said with a smile,

"I've been waiting for you."

She moved the small stool aside to make room for the old woman, then looked at the little girl,

"Pan'er, go play for a while, but don't run far."

Gu Pan's face quickly blossomed into a youthful, radiant smile; she laughed sweetly,

"All right, Mother."

After saying that, Gu Pan happily ran off toward the playing children.

The old woman watched Gu Pan's innocent, lively back, then thought of Xu Xin Zhu's situation, and couldn't help but sigh,

"It seems marrying into a wealthy noble family isn't much better than our humble commoner life."

Xu Xi Zhu gave a bitter laugh and continued scrubbing the clothes.

They are merely a branch of the Gu Family, far from being able to enter the main line's circle.

Yet part of the Gu Family's main line looks down on ordinary households.

They believe befriending those ordinary families would disgrace the Gu Family.

To avoid being provoked by Gu Family youths, Xu Xin Zhu had no choice but to restrict Gu Pan's freedom.

Otherwise, as her mother, how could she bear to let Gu Pan, so young, have no playmates?

"Sigh, your family wasn't originally like this; it's mainly because there's no pillar in the household."

Although Gu Pan's family is not the main line, the Gu Family's branches still stick together for mutual support.

Moreover, Gu Pan's father, Gu Leng Shan, was originally a Martial Master; his standing in the Gu Family was still decent.

He also had fairly close ties with some of the main line.

But after Gu Leng Shan met with misfortune, the treatment of Gu Pan's household has steadily worsened.

Even now, they have long been excluded by those main line relatives who once had some affection.

Xu Xin Zhu smiled helplessly,

"When Han'er grows up, the family's circumstances will surely improve somewhat."

"By the way, I heard your family's Gu Han went to Mu Shan Cheng to join the army; have you received any letters lately?"

Xu Xin Zhu shook her head, a hint of regret in her eyes,

"The road to Mu Shan Cheng is too far for letters to be convenient, but whenever a merchant convoy returns, it brings news of the enlisted youths."

As they chatted, more and more people came to wash clothes by the river.

Xu Xin Zhu did not look down on these commoners because of her status as a Gu Family relative;

thus she got along well with the nearby townsfolk.

"Aunt Gu, do you see if that's the Gu Family's merchant convoy?"

A woman hurriedly came up to the riverbank, loudly calling out to Xu Xin Zhu.

Upon hearing this, Xu Xin Zhu's eyes lit up immediately.

She quickly wiped her hands, put the clean clothes into the bucket, and trotted toward the merchant convoy.

"Captain Sanhe, do you have any news of my Gu Han?"

The convoy's escort captain, Gu Sanhe, not only guarded the convoy,

but also transmitted news of Gu Family youths enlisted from various places.

He was hurrying back to report to the Gu Family, yet he hadn't expected to meet Xu Xin Zhu here.

Gu Sanhe was an orphan who had grown up in the Gu Family since childhood.

Because of his good performance, he was granted the surname Gu.

Whether with the branches or the main line of the Gu Family, he got along well.

"Oh, it's Sister-in-law Xin Zhu; I've rushed back this way, bringing plenty of news—Gu Han's should be among them—but I must first report to the elders."

"Understood, I understand; as long as there's news, that's good."

Xu Xin Zhu wiped her sweat and said with a smile,

"Captain Gu, you go ahead and attend to your duties; I'll return after I finish washing the clothes."

Gu Sanhe nodded, leading his unit onward.

Xu Xin Zhu absentmindedly returned to the riverside.

"Aunt Gu, is there any news of little Han?"

Xu Xin Zhu beamed, nodded, quickly finished washing the clothes, then called back the eager Gu Pan.

Mother and daughter returned together to the Gu Family.

Wu Shan Cheng's Gu Family, counting the branches, numbers thousands of households, tens of thousands of people!

All those whose children had gone to enlist stood outside the Gu Family's Yishi Ting at this moment, anxiously waiting for news.

Xu Xin Zhu, wearing coarse hemp clothing, came here and greeted a familiar middle-aged man.

"Fourth Brother, how is the situation?"

This middle-aged father had five children; he was the fourth son, so he was called Gu Si.

Gu Si wanted to speak but held back, sighing, he said,

"The specific news isn't clear yet; we still have to wait for a few elders to handle the information first."

The vast Gu Family had not a small number of people heading to various places to enlist.

Those inside the Yishi Ting at this moment were the Gu Family's direct lineage.

Only after they left could it be Gu Si and his group's turn to enter.

Xu Xin Zhu anxiously waited outside the door, while more and more people gathered around here.

After an unknown amount of time, the gate finally opened.

Several middle-aged men strode out laughing, full of vigor, from the Yishi Ting.

Obviously, they were very satisfied with their own children's performance in the military camp.

The direct lineage disciples, having abundant cultivation resources and personal guidance from elders, were far stronger than the branch lineage disciples.

Those who passed the background check and strength test would not stay in the first-tier Warrior Camp like Gu Chen and the others.

Those who had not yet reached Martial Practitioner level would train in the veteran camp together with Lei Chao and the other veteran soldiers.

Those who had reached Martial Practitioner level would become official soldiers.

And they would have no contact with Gu Han and the others.

"Branch lineage folks, go inside."

Gu Si and the others had been waiting anxiously; upon hearing the summons, they rushed inside immediately.

Among the dozens who entered, only Xu Xin Zhu and two other women were present; the rest were mostly men.

Upon entering the Yishi Ting, Xu Xin Zhu noticed that a few direct lineage elders remained inside.

Family Head Gu Xiao Dao nodded at Gu Sanhe, and Gu Sanhe then said to the crowd,

"This time, our Gu Family's branch lineage has eighteen people enlisting: eleven at the Green Mountain City military camp, and six at Mu Shan Cheng military camp."

"Among them, Gu Chen, Gu Lin, Gu Hai, Gu Fan, and others have joined the Warrior Camp."

Upon hearing this, Gu Si and the others' faces all showed expressions of delight.

Saying this, Gu Sanhe looked at Xu Xin Zhu, whose eyes were full of expectation, with a slight hint of regret.

"Only Gu Han has joined the Logistics Camp."

The smiles on Gu Si and the others' faces froze, and they looked at Xu Xin Zhu with some worry.

Among the Gu Family's branch lineage, there wasn't much scheming; their relations were harmonious.

Gu Si naturally did not wish for Xu Xin Zhu to be hurt because of this.

Xu Xin Zhu asked softly with some doubt,

"Captain Sanhe, what's the difference between Logistics Soldiers and Combat Soldiers?"

Gu Sanhe patiently explained,

"If Combat Soldiers perform well, they can go to the battlefield to achieve merit, be ennobled and granted land, benefiting their descendants."

"Logistics Soldiers are responsible for cleaning the camp and handling other logistical affairs."

Apparently afraid Xu Xin Zhu would be disappointed, Gu Sanhe hurriedly said,

"However, being a Logistics Soldier also has its advantages—at least you don't have to risk your head on the battlefield, living with your neck on your belt."

Anyone with common sense could tell that Gu Sanhe was merely comforting Xu Xin Zhu.