After seeing Chang Shan off, Qi Zhenzhen pondered whether to go to the county town to find someone or to have Qian Yuanbao find someone for her. Building a house was no trivial matter. She had hired Chang Shan and his crew because she trusted Zhang Erniu, but she feared that people found in the county town might not be suitable.
After much thought, she made up her mind and asked Shopkeeper Lin to send a message to Qian Yuanbao, requesting his recommendation.
"A two-story manor?" Qian Yuanbao mused upon hearing the report from his subordinate. That young girl from the countryside was quite resourceful. He had only recently learned about the task Ah Nian had asked Qian Ji to undertake, and upon inquiring further, discovered it was all for this young girl. She was indeed interesting; the medicinal recipes she sent were good, and he was particularly fond of the spicy dried tofu and Jianbing Guozi. Da Feng Novel Network.
"Young Master, should we lend this person or not?"
The Qian family employed a group of craftsmen, some of whom had retired from the Ministry of Works. In short, anyone Qian Yuanbao took a liking to was no ordinary person.
"Lend them, why not? But it won't be me lending them," Qian Yuanbao said with a sly smile. He was doing Ah Nian a favor, and he wondered how Ah Nian would repay him.
Unable to contain his excitement, Qian Yuanbao changed his clothes, called for a carriage, and headed straight for the Duke's mansion.
The Duke's mansion was still festooned with decorations, with red silk streamers and lanterns hanging everywhere. Qian Yuanbao frowned at the sight, finding it too ostentatious. The wedding was over, yet they hadn't taken them down; it was an eyesore.
Speaking of Gu Siya's wedding, it was quite eventful. Both the Duchess and the Old Madam fell ill simultaneously, to such an extent that they couldn't accept the newlyweds' kowtows. It was rumored that neither the Duchess nor the Old Madam had yet accepted tea from their daughter-in-law and granddaughter-in-law. The new bride, Lin Duoruo, became a laughingstock, and the Minister's mansion was also the subject of much gossip.
It was said that when Gu Siya accompanied Lin Duoruo for her return visit, neither Lord Lin nor his wife appeared, leaving their son to entertain the newlyweds.
"Why are you here at this hour?" Gu Sinian raised an eyebrow. He had been feeling inexplicably agitated lately, annoyed by everyone he saw.
"Why does your face look like a bitter gourd?" Qian Yuanbao exclaimed dramatically. "Did your elder brother provocatively challenge you again? Or did your father find some new excuse to torment you? You're my man, you know. If they continue to bully you like this, I'll beg my grandmother to go into the palace and complain to the Emperor, asking him to support you."
Gu Sinian shot Qian Yuanbao a glare. "Watch what you say. What do you mean, 'you're my man'? " He paused, then added, "It's nothing, just a bit vexed."
"Vexed?" Qian Yuanbao's eyes darted around. "Let me tell you something, and you won't be vexed anymore. That dry little girl wants to build a two-story manor. In the countryside, there are no skilled craftsmen. Building a two-story manor isn't something that can be done casually. A message was sent to me, and it's such a good opportunity to show off. I didn't delay for a moment in bringing it to you."
Gu Sinian's expression was inscrutable. Qian Yuanbao saw no joy on his face. What was going on? He had been so eager to stand up for someone just a few days ago, and now he looked like he was facing a formidable enemy. Had they fallen out? It couldn't be!
"Miss Qi is already betrothed," Gu Sinian said slowly.
"What?!" Qian Yuanbao practically leaped up. "She's betrothed and still seducing you? How can this girl have such poor character? She's so fickle!"
Gu Sinian glared at him. "What are you talking about? From beginning to end, she kept her distance from me. After I confessed my feelings, she was the first to tell me she was betrothed. How is that seducing me? How is she fickle?"
"Gu Sinian, no way, it's really you chasing after that little girl?" Qian Yuanbao had always thought that it was Qi Zhenzhen who had feelings for Gu Sinian. Previously, he had dismissed Gu Sinian's words as him deliberately speaking to protect the girl's reputation, but now...
"Ah Nian, there are plenty of fish in the sea. Aren't there many girls who are good-looking and have good temperaments? As long as you want them, just beckon, and plenty of girls will flock into your arms!" Qian Yuanbao advised.
"Everyone I know sees me as a wolf," Gu Sinian retorted with a glare.
Qian Yuanbao chuckled sheepishly. "Those are all rumors, rumors. If people believe rumors so easily, they're certainly not the right person for you."
He had just casually spread those rumors, and everyone had believed them. They believed that the untalented Qian Yuanbao and the Duke's heir were a pair of effeminate men. He had tried to clarify, but no one believed him. It wasn't his fault anymore, was it?!
"Don't be so dejected," Qian Yuanbao cautiously offered a suggestion. "It's just a betrothal, isn't it? Breaking it off isn't impossible. Besides, how old is that girl? She probably has to wait a few years for her coming-of-age ceremony, right? If you try harder and make that girl completely devoted to you, won't that solve everything?"
"Terrible idea!" Gu Sinian gave Qian Yuanbao a cold glance.
How was it a terrible idea? It seemed like a pretty good idea. Qian Yuanbao felt incredibly wronged.
"Since she has asked you for help, you should help her. Don't forget, your life was saved by her. A life-saving grace cannot be repaid with mere favors!" Gu Sinian added. "If you have nothing else to do, hurry back. Don't be an eyesore here."
Even with Qian Yuanbao's thick skin, he couldn't stand being treated with such disdain. As he was leaving, he said, "Think carefully about what I just said. If you want to win the heart of a beauty, you need to be thick-skinned and have the means to achieve it. Although that girl isn't exactly a beauty, the approach is pretty much the same."
Gu Sinian picked up an inkstone as if to throw it, and Qian Yuanbao quickly fled.
Gu Sinian, now seated again, mulled over Qian Yuanbao's words. They didn't sound very reliable, but upon closer thought, they seemed to hold some truth. When he had confessed his feelings that day, he had seen shyness on her face, which meant she might have some feelings for him too. As for the betrothal, it was arranged by their elders, and she probably hadn't even met the person.
Therefore, if he followed Qian Yuanbao's advice and made her fall for him before her coming-of-age ceremony, the betrothal could be broken.
Gu Sinian called for Gu Qing. "I remember your elder brother used to work as a craftsman in the Ministry of Works?"
Gu Qing was somewhat puzzled. Why was the heir asking about his elder brother?
"Yes, but he's currently unemployed because he couldn't adapt to the scheming there," Gu Qing replied.
"Bring him to me and say I have something he can help with."
Gu Qing, not daring to disobey the heir's request, brought his elder brother over that afternoon.
"You go out first. I need to speak with your elder brother," Gu Sinian said, dismissing Gu Qing.
After Gu Chengyang left the Duke's mansion, he simply packed his belongings at home and headed straight for Xinghua Village.
Gu Qing privately asked his elder brother what the heir had wanted him for, but was instead reprimanded. He was told that as a capable person by the heir's side, how could he be so clueless? Things the master wanted you to know, you should know, and things he didn't want you to know, even if you knew them, you should pretend not to. This stern lecture left Gu Qing quite dejected. Wasn't he just concerned about the heir?