Carrying the little lucky star, leading the villain on the road to exile

Chapter 292. Endure
“I’m in a good mood every day,” Xu Yulan chuckled, “but today I’m even happier than if I found silver.”

Gu Antong said, "Second Aunt, it's better to share happiness than to keep it to yourself. Let's share this so that everyone can have a good laugh."

"That's not impossible. You all know what happened in the village today, right?"

"You mean the villagers went into the mountains?" Gu Kaichen had done some work today and then lazed around the village, so he had overheard some things. "What does this have to do with us? Do you know where those two people are?"

Even if we knew where those two people were, so what? The people in this village are dirt poor and can't afford a generous reward.

“How could I know where they are?” Xu Yulan covered her mouth and kept laughing. “Well, the villagers have searched everywhere in the mountains, but no one wants to go back in. I felt sorry for their family, so I pointed them in the right direction.”

Everyone looked at Xu Yulan with curiosity. Would she really be so kind?
"Why are you all looking at me like that? I'm doing good deeds and accumulating merit."

It wasn't that no one dared to go into the mountains, so I told them to go find Gu Kaiyuan. Gu Kaiyuan was quite good at hunting, so he knew a lot about the deep mountains and was perfect for the job.

After hearing what I said, the village chief went towards the end of the village without saying a word.

When I came back just now, I saw them heading into the mountains. It's so cold; they're going to have a tough time."

“It has to be you,” Gu Kaichen said, having no brotherly affection for Gu Kaiyuan and even feeling a bit gloating. “The locals don’t dare to go into this mountain area. Gu Kaiyuan is playing the hero now, he’ll be in for a beating.”

Gu Baijiang didn't even lift his eyelids, but he was thinking to himself that if something happened to Gu Kaiyuan in the mountains, it might be more advantageous for them.

Bai Suihe, a woman, managed so much of the family business, and the Bai family sent her so many things. Without Gu Kaiyuan, she wouldn't be able to make decisions for them anymore.

However, the last shred of conscience made Gu Baijiang shake off the thought in his mind. Even if Gu Kaiyuan really got into trouble, the people sent by the Bai family were not to be trifled with. Forget it, let them fend for themselves.

He only had a few taels of silver on hand. Before, in order to make a living for his family, he had specially gone to the embroidery shop to help his daughter-in-law and granddaughter get some work.

With only this little bit of money left, this winter is sure to be tough.

"The snow isn't too heavy right now. Eldest brother, second brother, hurry up and go into town again to buy more grain."

"Dad, is this necessary?" Gu Kaichen really didn't want to leave; it was too cold outside.

"No need? Then when the food runs out, we'll all be starving." His son wouldn't listen, so Gu Baijiang's tone turned icy. "Go and come back quickly. We'll start chopping firewood tomorrow. Everyone except my eldest daughter-in-law and An Tong, get moving."

"Are so many people going to chop firewood tomorrow?" Xu Yulan's good mood vanished instantly. Her delicate hands were gone forever. Now, in addition to frostbite, would she have to get new scars?
“Yes, they all went to chop firewood,” Gu Baijiang pointed to the Chen family not far away. “Look at their tarpaulin, which is covered with firewood. Even so, they are still busy every day.”

"Look at that corner of our wall again. That was bought from the villagers before; it can only be burned for another two days at most."

"Dad, how about we go and buy some more firewood from the villagers?"

As soon as Xu Yulan finished speaking, Gu Baijiang immediately asked, "Are you here to pay?"

This bundle of firewood costs two coins, and the amount burned over the winter is quite a lot. Xu Yulan was so frightened that she quickly shook her head, "Where would I get the money?"

"Then hurry up and get busy. While it's still early, everyone except those two brothers who are going into town, everyone else, go into the mountains."

Upon hearing this, Xu Yulan stared at Xu Shuanghong and her two daughters with ill intent. "Father, what about Madam Xu and the others?"

“Let’s all go together,” Gu Baijiang said, not softening his stance even though Xu Shuanghong had been taking good care of him these past few days. He knew roughly what kind of people this family was; if Xu Shuanghong and her daughter didn’t contribute, the others would definitely go on strike.

Xu Yulan was almost in tears. She never expected that by tricking Gu Kaiyuan into going into the mountains, she would also suffer the same fate.

"Dad, should I stay home and cook?"

"You don't need to cook, Liu. You cook the meal first, then you can do your work."

Liu Yun readily agreed. She had been able to wash up these past few days, and with the medicine she had obtained in the county town, her skin was already improving, so she could certainly settle down and embroider.

Compared to going into the mountains to cut tree branches, she instantly felt that her father-in-law had taken on the embroidery work very well. Because of these embroidery hands, she and her mother would never have to do any heavy housework again.

Once the whole family had left, Gu Antong sat down by the stove and said, "Mom, let me help you start the fire."

In this weather, tending a fire is a good job.

"No rush," Liu Yun said, making sure the family was out of sight before going back to her room. When she came out again, she was holding a bag of pastries. "Let's eat something first."

"Mother, where did this come from?" Gu Antong couldn't remember how long it had been since she had eaten pastries. Forgetting all about being reserved, she eagerly unwrapped it, took out a piece, and stuffed it directly into her mouth.

"Eat slowly, don't choke," Liu Yun said slowly after taking a bite. "I bought some medicine when I went to town a couple of days ago, but I just haven't had a chance to take it out yet."

There are only three rooms now. Apart from Gu Baijiang and Xu Shuanghong, that despicable couple, the other two rooms are one for men and one for women. She didn't find a chance to eat the pastry at all.

"My second aunt is so annoying," Gu Antong complained, thinking of Xu Yulan, who had been sleeping next to her these past few days. "She even grinds her teeth in her sleep."

"Just bear with it a little longer," they said. With only a few rooms, this was the only arrangement they could make.

"We don't know when we'll hear from the Third Prince. Once he's dealt with things, our hard times will finally be over."

If it weren't for this sliver of hope, Liu Yun was afraid she wouldn't have been able to persevere.

"Mother, you always tell me to endure, haven't I endured enough?" Gu Antong felt like she was about to collapse. "That Fan Meilin is always in front of me, asking about everything and wanting to learn everything. I'm not her free tutor."

Moreover, I find this person terrifying. She's very good at pretending. No matter what I say or ask her to do, she agrees readily, but when it comes to actually doing things, she's very perfunctory.

These past two days, my grandfather has spoken to me and told me to teach him diligently…

Living together in such a small place, how could Liu Yun not know the grievances his daughter had suffered? But now, besides enduring it, he didn't know what else to do for his daughter.

"I'll talk to your father later and have him talk to your grandfather."

Gu Antong had no hope, "Father actually knows, but he simply doesn't want to help me."

These days, they're constantly asking their two younger brothers about their homework; I know they're placing all their hopes on them.

(End of this chapter)