Chapter Thirteen: The Gu Family

“Five hundred taels? You might as well be robbing us!” It was Yun Niang who spoke. She could still stomach a price of several dozen taels, but five hundred was, in her mind, a staggering sum. She knew well that even with Gu Shen’s help, there was no way they could produce that much silver in a short time.

“Very well! The boss is straightforward, and so am I—five hundred taels it is!” Gou Ye agreed at once, startling both Gu Shen and Yun Niang.

Yun Niang nudged Gou Ye at her side, her expression full of disbelief. Even Gu Shen’s brow furrowed. If his calculations were right, even without cutting household expenses, his annual allowance did not amount to five hundred taels.

But Gou Ye’s next words immediately revealed the meaning behind his earlier hint about selling a great favor.

“Boss, do you see this elegant gentleman beside me? Do you know who he is?” Gou Ye glanced at Gu Shen, giving him a little push to prompt him to answer.

“I do not,” the shopkeeper replied. No sooner had he spoken than Gu Shen stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and said in earnest, “I am Gu Shen, the eighth son of Gu Yuan, Duke of Jing.”

At this, the shopkeeper hurried out from behind the counter and offered a deep, sincere bow. “My humble respects to Young Master Gu. The Duke of Jing is a pillar of our dynasty. To have your esteemed family reside in our county is a blessing for the common folk. Please forgive my ignorance for not recognizing your status.”

Gou Ye helped the bowing shopkeeper to his feet, laughing heartily. “No need for formalities, shopkeeper. Young Master Gu is not a petty man. The reason I mentioned him is in hopes you might extend him a small favor.”

The shopkeeper was quick-witted, immediately grasping the implication. He hurriedly replied, “I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare. May I ask what instruction you have for me, Young Master? My humble shop has been open for over ten years, supporting my whole family. I would not dare raise the price to deceive you. Since Young Master Gu is present, would four hundred taels suffice?”

Gou Ye clapped the shopkeeper on the shoulder, smiling. “I have absolutely no intention of leveraging Young Master Gu’s name to pressure you. Since you speak so candidly, let me be clear: I promise you an annual dividend of at least thirty taels. In just over three years, you’ll have earned back the hundred taels you’re conceding. And you can rest assured—if you continue working with me, you won’t be treated unfairly. But that’s not the favor I seek.”

“Please, speak plainly, young master.”

“To be honest, four hundred taels is still no small sum. I cannot gather it all at once. Tomorrow, I can pay you thirty taels for this month, and by the end of the month, I will pay the remaining balance in full. So, I ask you to grant me and Young Master Gu a month’s grace. What do you think?”

Such a buyer was unheard of in the shopkeeper’s experience. The terms Gou Ye offered were indeed tempting. If he kept his word, by the end of the year, with the dividends, the shopkeeper could earn nearly four hundred taels—a profit more than double that of previous years. Yet, to sell the shop before receiving full payment—how could he explain that to his family? As he hesitated, Gou Ye feigned indifference, turned to leave, and called out loudly, “Well, let’s not trouble him. Since the shopkeeper does not trust Young Master Gu’s integrity, let’s go. There’s a rouge shop over there, looks nice enough. Let’s have a look.”

The shopkeeper hurriedly grabbed Gou Ye. “Wait, wait, young master! Today you have brought Young Master Gu here, and I am not ignorant of the Gu family’s reputation. I will draw up the deed with you at once, and tomorrow I will hand over the title to the shop.”

“Good! Good! Good!” Gou Ye exclaimed three times, his spirits soaring. He then drew up an agreement with the shopkeeper, to pay thirty taels the next day. As they got acquainted, Gou Ye learned that the shopkeeper’s name was Cai Sheng—meaning ‘wealth born’ or ‘born for wealth’. The name delighted Gou Ye, and he took note of the man’s shrewdness, certain he would be useful in the future.

Watching the three of them leave, Cai Sheng felt a bit at a loss. Perhaps he still harbored some doubts about these young people, not realizing that this was the wisest decision he would ever make.

One could say that being able to acquire the shop smoothly, and at a hundred taels less, was all thanks to the prestige of Gu Shen’s family. It was then that Gou Ye’s curiosity about Gu Shen’s family was truly aroused.

On the way, Gou Ye asked, “We were able to secure the shop today thanks to you, Young Master Gu, for lending us your esteemed name. I’m also very curious. I’ve always heard you mention your father, the Duke of Jing, but may I ask why the shopkeeper holds your family in such respect? What is your family’s standing? If your status is so exalted, why do you live in this county town?”

At the mention of his family, Gu Shen’s face immediately showed pride, then he sighed lightly. “My father, the Duke of Jing, was a great minister under the late emperor. In his youth, he helped the late emperor expand the realm, fought in countless battles, and earned great military honors. He was granted the title of Duke of Jing and put in charge of the Ministry of War, also entrusted with the defense of the capital. Those were the days of our family’s greatest glory, though I was just born then and did not witness it myself. But soon after, the late emperor passed away, and the new sovereign ascended the throne. At first, to maintain stability, the new emperor relied heavily on the old ministers. But later, treacherous courtiers gained power, deceived the throne, and many loyal officials were persecuted. Though my father could not change the course of events, he refused to join the corrupt. These villains were relentless, slandering and framing my father before the emperor. My father was imprisoned, and our family was in grave danger. It was only because the Empress Dowager had close ties with our clan and intervened that we were spared. The current emperor, remembering my father’s great service to the state, did not punish us harshly, only stripped him of his military posts, allowed us to retain our title, but revoked the right of hereditary succession, and exiled our family to this place.”

Who would have thought that this seemingly frivolous Gu Shen would have such a family history? To think of the Duke of Jing once so spirited, his family basking in his glory, only to fall so low, made Gou Ye sigh. Unwittingly, he felt greater affection for this Young Master Gu, and his respect for the family deepened.

“So now, Brother Gou Ye, you understand why my family’s rules are so strict. To survive here, unscathed by our enemies, is already a blessing. All members of our household strictly abide by family rules. No one dares do anything to disgrace our name, for fear of giving those villains a handle against us. Alas, though I am nearly of age, I am powerless to restore our family’s honor, to wash away past shame. It is bitter, so bitter.”

Gou Ye slung an arm around Gu Shen’s shoulders in comfort. He wanted to say, “I’ll help you,” but, thinking of his own limited means and disinterest in court affairs, the words stuck in his throat and never left his lips.